UPS HONORS UTAH DRIVERS
FOR 25 YEARS OF SAFE DRIVING
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 26, 2019 -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that seven elite drivers from Utah are among 1,436 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.
Utah boasts 49 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 1,441 years of accident-free driving. Steven Jensen of Riverton is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 39 years of accident-free driving under his belt. There are 995 total full-time UPS drivers in Utah.
“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Kenneth Cherry, president, UPS Desert Mountain District. “Their attention to detail has kept them safe and has helped improve public safety.”
Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, Mich., with 56 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 50 years of safe driving. One hundred twenty six others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.
UPS’s 125,000 small package drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging close to 4 billion miles a year and delivering 5.2 billion packages annually.
Collectively, these drivers have achieved more than 298,957 years of safe driving throughout their careers. That’s enough time behind the wheel to drive non-stop from Miami to San Diego – 68 million times. And they’ve done it while helping to deliver 3 percent of the world’s GDP – 20 million packages a day.
Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established its safe driving honor program in 1928.
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Following is a list of Utah drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.
Driver
Hometown
UPS Work Location
Jackson, Roger
Lindon
Provo
Kennington, D. Kory
Layton
Ogden
Kessler II, Marv
Fillmore
Holden
McNamara, Brian
Vernal
Vernal
Thalman, Michael
Nibley
Logan
Turpin, Eddy
Draper
Salt Lake City
Zaugg, Kelly
Farr West
Salt Lake City
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Contact:
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2019 – Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today announced that USDA is investing $485 million to upgrade rural electric systems (PDF, 102 KB) and reduce energy costs. The funding includes nearly $7.1 million for smart grid technologies that improve system operations and monitor grid security.
“Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is a proud partner to utilities and cooperatives delivering reliable, affordable power to rural communities,” Baxley said. “These loans will enhance rural economic development and help improve the quality of life for people who live and work in rural America.”
USDA is providing financing through the Electric Loan Program to improve rural electric infrastructure in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. These investments will help build or improve 2,635 miles of line.
South Dakota’s Northern Electric Cooperative is receiving a $24.8 million loan to build or improve 360 miles of line. The loan includes $351,000 to incorporate smart grid technologies such as computer applications, two-way machine-to-machine communications, geospatial information systems and other tools to increase the reliability and efficiency of electric power systems. Northern Electric serves more than 6,300 consumers over 2,600 miles of line in 10 counties in northeastern South Dakota and one county in southern North Dakota.
Missouri’s Central Electric Power Cooperative is receiving a $72 million loan to finance electric distribution and transmission facilities. The upgrades will supply peak loads, conform to safety requirements and improve the reliability and resiliency of the transmission system. Central Electric also will construct backup control center facilities to ensure the continuity of operations in the event of catastrophe. It serves approximately 187,000 residential and business consumers across 22,000 square miles in 28 counties in central Missouri.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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Thornhill
Share New Single
"Coven"
Australian Headline Tour Kicks Off This Month
Melbourne, AUS - April 4, 2019 - Melbourne outfit Thornhill have released their new single "Coven" - an unrelenting blast of metalcore teeming with emotion. Their first output since their Butterfly EP in February 2018, "Coven" marks a mature return for the five-piece. Fans can listen to the track here: https://unfd.lnk.to/Coven
"'Coven' is about identifying anxiety and realizing how much control it can have over your life," explains lead vocalist Jacob Charlton. "We tend to feed anxiety with fear and I think this song is about my constant battle with it before playing a show, releasing new music or meeting new people. I think it'll be a reminder every time we play it live that it's all in my head."
After an unlikely start in high school, Thornhill quickly went on to land supporting roles with legends of modern heavy music including Northlane, Architects, Parkway Drive, In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Polaris and The Plot In You.
"Our new music is definitely a progression from Butterfly," explains guitarist Ethan McCann. "There are some songs that are a refined take on our current sound accompanied by an array of new genres/instruments as we never want to get too comfortable in one place. I think we left ourselves fairly open to exploring some different avenues while not straying away from previous releases."
Throughout the writing and recording process of their new material, Thornhill reveled in the opportunity to explore their musicianship, and purposefully took influence from a wide variety of genres.
"All of us listen to a wide range of bands and genres and enjoy playing different music as well," McCann adds. "I think a goal of ours for the future is to never fully be locked into one genre, throw the odd 'oh I didn't expect this' kind of track in the mix sometimes. To me personally it's more entertaining because you hear a band's ability and taste progressing over their career which I really enjoy."
Thornhill is Jacob Charlton (vocals), Ethan McCann (guitar), Matt Van Duppen (guitar), Nick Sjogren (bass) and Ben Maida (drums).
Upcoming Australian tour dates:
w/ special guest Diamond Construct
**Diamond Construct not appearing
April 27 - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
w/ Reactions + Weighbridge
May 2 - Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
w/ Apate + Vitals
May 4 - Chippendale Hotel, Sydney
w/ Above, Below + Inertia
May 9 - Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
w/ Reactions + Days of Deceit
May 10 - The Boston, Perth**
w/ Idle Eyes + Worlds Apart + Among Them
For more information, please visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thornhillmelb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thornhillmelb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thornhillmelb
