Schools all across the country are starting back up. Now more than ever its important to keep your eyes on the road and watch out for children. Paula F. Downey, President of Via Magazine wrote an article in the September-October 2009 issue about The importance of safety patrol and a hero from right here in St. George.

Paula writes:
Lulu Beltra thought the driver of the oncoming car would notice her yellow green safety patrol uniform as she helped a first grader cross the parking lot at Dixie Downs Elementary School in St. George, Utah last December. Then Lulu, who was 10, saw that the driver was talking on his cell phone and she sensed that he might not even slow down. She yanked the first grader back by the hood of her sweatshirt just as the car passed them. Lulu’s first action saved the other girl’s life.
In 1935 when such records were first kept, children had the 2nd highest pedestrian death rate of any age group in the US; today, they have the lowest. Experts credit the AAA School Safety Patrol with helping to bring about this change. And with schools facing budget cuts, the safety patrol is needed now more that ever, education officials tell us. Teachers say that it provides a cost effective way to keep children safe around congested drop-off areas at the same time that it teaches leadership and responsibility. In northern California, Nevada and Utah, the AAA safety patrol program has grown by more than 20% over the past two years. 555 elementary schools now participate. If you are interested in starting a patrol at your child’s school, please visit AAA.com/safetypatrol.

Monday August 10th The Humane Society of Utah scheduled a press conference to announce its intention to ask for an ordinance in Salt Lake County that would prohibit people from keeping their dogs tethered outside on a chain for more than eight cumulative hours in any given 24-hour period, or for any time under extreme weather conditions.

“This law would provide exemptions under appropriate circumstances,” explains HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt, “for example, if the dog’s tether is attached to a running line, or during training activity, shepherding or herding of livestock, or conduct related to the business of carrying out agricultural projects.” More than 100 jurisdictions in 30 states have already passed anti-tethering ordinances, from places as small as Live Oak, TX, to Los Angeles. Says Mr. Baierschmidt.

“It’s up to the public to improve the lives of chained dogs,” Mr. Baierschmidt says and cites the following specific reasons why a tethering ordinance is needed:

Dogs who live chained up outside suffer from extreme isolation. The lack of socialization creates fearful dogs who act quickly and fiercely to defend their territory from all intruders, including other animals, people, and small children.

Dogs are pack animals, which means that they naturally crave companionship. Chained dogs live an existence which is contrary to their instincts. The lack of socialization is a large part of what makes chained dogs more dangerous.

Chained dogs are at risk of getting hurt. They are vulnerable to dangers like extreme weather, inability to escape attacks from people or other animals, and strangulation from getting the tether tangled or caught.

Chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite, and 5.4 times more likely to bite children, than are dogs who live indoors as part of the family.

Outdoor dogs who bark at all hours can result in late-night police calls and problems with neighbors. Ordinances which require dogs to be inside overnight significantly reduce (and possibly eliminate) such issues.

The Humane Society is quick to refute common objections they hear to anti-tethering ordinances. To the claim that the government can’t interfere with people’s “property” — i.e., their dogs — officials point out that the government already has laws in place to protect both animals and citizens from abuse and danger; a chaining ordinance would simply be an extension of regulations already in place.

If passed, punishment for violation of this ordinance would be anything from issuing a warning citation on the first offense up to charging the dog owner with a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of as much as $1,000 for repeated offenses.

A traffic accident was reported August 5th at the 200 south block of River Road, along with an accident with injuries on Bluff Street.
A fatal motorcycle accident claimed the life of one man while traveling on I15 Thursday August 6th.  Also on Thursday A Dodge Durango pulling a trailer rolled on I15 near the Bloomington exit.
A Cedar City teenager was struck by a car while crossing at an intersection Saturday.
A California man was struck and killed Saturday morning while he was traveling on his motorcycle on Telegraph.
Sunday afternoon a couple traveling on their motorcycle crashed after a deer ran in front of them on State Route 257. The female passenger died from head injuries even though she was wearing a helmet, the male passenger was taken to Delta Hospital then later flown to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

Apparently the officials within President Barack Obama’s administration seem to agree with Utah’s No Text Messaging While Driving Law. Officials have called a summit next month where experts will give statistics and advice on the effects of texting while driving. Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, held a press conference Tuesday where he spoke of recent incidents of texting that lead to fatalities. LaHood recounted a recent California train crash that killed 25 people, including the operator who was texting at the time of the crash. LaHood plans on making an announcement after the summit.

Fox 13 in Salt Lake City Utah reports that the Utah Supreme Court will implement a new program for rookie attorneys. This program will pair new lawyers with veteran mentors to help them navigate the legal world, from how to go through metal detectors at the court house to how to find the building in the first place. Stephen Owens, recently elected Utah State Bar president, is implementing the mandatory New Lawyer Training Program.
He says Utah’s bar is young — many are recent law school graduates — and the training new lawyers get could be essential. Utah Supreme Court Justice Christine Durham says she hopes the new program will give lawyers better training in ethics, civility and professionalism.
This program is the only one of its kind, it is mandatory for all those that pass the bar in Utah and those attorneys that move to Utah and have practiced less than 2 years.