Sens. Lee and Romney Introduce the Protect Utah’s Rural Economy Act
WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) reintroduced the Protect Utah’s Rural Economy (PURE) Act. The bill would protect Utah from presidential Antiquities Act abuse in much the same way Alaska and Wyoming are currently protected.
“Rural Americans want what all Americans want: a dignified decent-paying job, a family to love and support, and a healthy community whose future is determined by local residents – not their self-styled betters thousands of miles away,” Sen. Lee said. “That is why I am reintroducing the Protecting Utah’s Rural Economy Act today, a bill that would protect Utah from future abuses under the Antiquities Act. The PURE Act would give Utah’s rural communities a real voice in local land management policies, a voice they currently do not have today, by prohibiting the president from establishing or expanding a national monument in Utah unless the proposed monument has been authorized by an act of Congress and the state legislature.”
“For too long, Washington bureaucrats have dictated to our counties, ranchers, and recreators how and if they can use their lands,” said Senator Romney. “The PURE Act returns the decision-making and management power of our public lands to those closest to the land. I’m proud to sponsor legislation that puts an end to excessive landgrabs and provides rural Utahns a voice in land management.”
Passed in 1906, the Antiquities Act was originally intended to protect objects of historic and cultural interest like artifacts and religious sites. Unfortunately, what was once a narrowly targeted tool for preventing looting on federal lands has become a tool distant elites use against rural Americans. Two states, Alaska and Wyoming, currently enjoy protections from future Antiquities Act designations after millions of acres were restricted in those states.
An online version of this release can be found here.
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5 Ways Parents And Coaches Can Take The Toxicity Out Of Youth Sports
For many kids, organized sports aren’t much fun anymore.
Overbearing parents, over-the-top coaches and overzealous competition are frequent images associated with youth-athletic leagues today. Though playing ball often used to embody the enjoyment of being a kid, the experience for many youngsters is too serious and stressful – and ultimately not worth it.
One study revealed 70 percent of U.S. children drop out of organized sports by age 13, with pressure and burnout among the main reasons cited.
“The politics, as well as the over-emphasis adults put on kids to see a college scholarship as the ultimate goal, is ruining a kid’s ability to get the most out of sports,” says Maya Castro, author of The Bubble: Everything I Learned as a Target of the Political, and Often Corrupt, World of Youth Sports (www.thebubbleweb.com).
“This over-emphasis has created an environment amongst the parents and coaches that is similar to a mafia. We badly need changes in this toxic, political and corrupt environment. And it must start with the parents.”
Castro, who says her own experience as a young soccer player was tainted by misguided and misbehaving adults, offers ideas on how adults can improve the youth-sports culture:
Strive to be a mentor. Castro says parents and coaches have a great opportunity to use sports as a teaching tool for life. “The learning aspect of the game needs to be the focal point of youth sports,” Castro says. “Sports should be an extension of family values and behaviors. Good parents and coaches tie in the ups and downs of competition with the challenges in navigating adult life.”
Model positive behaviors. Part of the negative image of youth sports is related to parents yelling at coaches, referees, opponents, or even their own kids. “There are enough critics in the stands hurling profanities and insults during a game,” Castro says. “Parents should set the right example for their kid – and for adults who obviously haven’t grown up.”
Enjoy the moment. Too many parents and their young athletes are fretting the future. “Too often it’s all about winning and getting the scholarship,” Castro says, “but my parents told me there was a time when kids actually enjoyed playing for the sake of playing, and parents won just by getting to watch them play. We need to get back to that. Without it, memories are wasted.”
Be encouraging. “Celebrate the effort, not just the result,” Castro says. “This goes for youth coaches as well as parents. When kids do some good things, don’t let the mistakes cloud your post-game comments. Be honest in discussing room for improvement, but not at the expense of making them feel like they have to play perfect to get praise.”
Make education first. Castro and many observers of youth sports say parents have lost perspective by thinking their kid is on the fast track to a scholarship or a pro career. Statistics show few advance that far. “In the meantime, kids are exhausted from travel leagues and tournaments,” she says, “and the way their future through sports is emphasized, education becomes a distant second.”
“Whether a kid decides to keep playing sports or to walk away,” Castro says, “he or she should be able to do so without deep regret in having wasted their time.”
About Maya Castro
Maya Castro (www.thebubbleweb.com) is the author of The Bubble: Everything I Learned as a Target of the Political, and Often Corrupt, World of Youth Sports. A recent graduate of Sonoma State University with a degree in finance, she played soccer from sixth grade until her senior year of high school, giving the sport up “because of the politics.”
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Now that the sale is done, what next? First things first: we’re working on our 2019 schedule, and it will be released soon. We’ll have a few less major events this year. The sale negotiations went on so long that we were unable to commit to some of the events we’ve had in years past, but we maintain good relationships with all the series that have raced here and we’re laying a solid foundation for our events in 2020 and beyond (until now, we couldn’t commit to multi-year deals because we didn’t know if we were going to be here).
With the closing of Rocky Mountain Raceway, we have had many requests to build a dragstrip and/or oval track. We are investigating those possibilities, as well as a possible hotel and other additions/improvements to the facility. The primary consideration will be profitability; we’re not opposed to any of these options, but each will have to be able to sustain itself.
We will continue to pursue other, non-racing events, concerts and car shows, and hope to attract auto manufacturers to host media events.
We’re also investigating how we can work with and support our parent company, Geely, with the multitude of projects and programs that they are working on.
So, 2019 will be somewhat of a rebuilding/stabilization year as we prepare to take UMC into the next decade and beyond. We are very appreciative of the Tooele County Commissioners and other entities who helped put the deal together to buy the track, and we thank the residents of Tooele County for their patience and understanding.
We’re super excited for the future, and hope you are too. Now, let’s go racing!
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to drive your street car on our racetrack? You can do it this Saturday, in Round 2 of WinterX! No previous experience is required; all you need is $45, a reasonably safe car (no parts falling off, nothing leaking, doors, windows, roof, seatbelt) and a helmet (and we’ll rent you one of those!). You can go as fast or as slow as you like; whatever your comfort level is.
When Larry Miller built this track in 2006, one of the reasons was “so people will come out and have fun with cars.” That was good thinking then, it’s still good thinking now and it’s something we’re committed to.
So, what are you waiting for? Get signed up now!
Was one of your New Year’s Resolutions “Find more great places to eat in Tooele Valley?” If not, it should have been; if so, we’ve got you covered! Rodizio Grill is serving some of the best (if not THE best) food in the valley, and they’re open right here at UMC every Friday and Saturday night. You can thank us later!
