Tooele Valley: ‘So Much, So Close’ and Now ‘So Safe’ County Consultant Reports on Tourism Campaigns Success
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TOOELETRANSCRIPT S T C BULLETIN S THURSDAY May 14, 2020 www.TooeleOnline.com Vol. 126 No. 100 $1.00 Tooele Valley: ‘so much, so close’ and now ‘so safe’ County consultant reports on tourism campaigns success TIM GILLIE Tooele County’s relation- EDITOR ship with State Street Partners Tooele County’s tourism began in January 2016 when taxes collected in 2019 jumped the County, at the suggestion 10.4%. That’s double the aver- of the Tourism Tax Advisory age increase for the last three Board, hired the group to years. study Tooele County’s tourism The County’s tourism con- potential, prepare possible sultants lay claim to the credit tourism promotion strategies, for the lion’s share of that and develop a brand for the increase. County. The 2016 contract was “There’s been no change in awarded to State Street after a the tax rate, no new attrac- competitive bid process. tions, tourism growth out- State Street released the paced population growth in findings of their study in 2017. the county, and most tourism In October 2018 the County event attendees come from contracted with State Street for outside the county,” said Devin a $450,000 tourism campaign Shelley, managing partner to include print, television and with State Street Partners.”We print media. can reasonably conclude that State Street Partners held the advertising efforts them- a launch campaign at Utah selves were the marketplace Motorsports Campus and interventions responsible for unveiled the County’s new the most recent increases in “so much ... so close” brand in Tooele County tourism rev- CLAYTON DUNN/TTB PHOTO enues and growth rate.” SEE TOURISM PAGE A10 ® A family watches a herd of wild horses near Simpson Springs in Tooele County in May 2020. Watching wild horses is one of many outdoor activities that can be done in Tooele County while maintaining appropriate social distance, according to Tooele County’s tourism consultants. FILE PHOTO Tooele County’s salt flats are good for solitary enjoyment. Source: Utah State Tax Commission, January 2020 Utah Motorsports Campus provides safe option for fun DARREN VAUGHAN SPORTS EDITOR entertained, and at the moment, one of the At the beginning of the month, Utah few places to be entertained because we are Motorsports Campus began a gradual reopen- open,” UMC Marketing Director Phil Wright ing of its facilities with new safety protocols said. “We have food and fun, so if people are in place. itching to get out, they can take a short drive So far, those protocols have been met with out to Sheep Lane. positive reactions from the public and UMC “The feedback on social media is over- employees alike, making the Grantsville facil- whelmingly positive,” Wright added, noting ity a safe option for those who are looking for that many other karting facilities in Utah an entertainment option after having spent remain closed. “There’s a lot of people who JOHN HAMILTON/TTB PHOTO the past two months at home because of the are anxious to just do something again. A line of vehicles wait to get into Settlement Canyon. Settlement Canyon has become a popular site for COVID-19 pandemic. Nobody likes being quarantined to their home. COVID-19 safe outdoor recreation. “We want to support Tooele County and Tooele Valley as one of the best places to be SEE UMC PAGE A10 ® Settlement Canyon attracts PEACEFUL more users than usual GRAZING TIM GILLIE In Settlement Canyon the pavilion and EDITOR group site are not available. People are TIM GILLIE/TTB PHOTO Tooele County’s Settlement Canyon opened advised to use the playground and picnic area A flock of sheep graze May 1 to what may have been the largest at their own risk as these areas are not being on the land east of the group of users ever. sanitized. Union Pacific Railroad The County sold 91 day passes for above Lake Point. Sheep State and county moderate risk guide- husbandry has played a Settlement Canyon on the first Sunday it was lines call for maintaining a ten foot distance role in Tooele County’s open, according to Tooele County facilities between household groups with no congre- agriculture for over 150 management staff. gating. Groups should be kept to a maximum years. The History of “That’s quite a bit more than usual,” said size of 20. Tooele County reports Misti Williams, facilities management assis- People using the canyons are advised to that Eli Kelsey first tant director. carry their own hand sanitizer as some rest- brought a flock of 300 The use of Tooele County’s canyons come rooms do not have running water. sheep to Tooele County with some changes this year due to the in 1863. COVID-19 pandemic. SEE CANYON PAGE A10 ® INSIDE BULLETIN BOARD A7 CLASSIFIEDS B4 New Life Mountain West New railroad HOMETOWN B1 Church chief nurse crossing above OBITUARIES A8 distributes food See A2 Lake Point See A2 See A3 A2 TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN THURSDAY May 14, 2020 New Life food adjusts food distribution to COVID-19 standards as often as they can,” said Donations from D’Anjou New Life has been giving public accepted away food “drive thru style” to protect individuals and volun- CEILLY SUTTON teers from getting sick. STAFF WRITER “So, we’ve had to shift how New Life Christian we’ve been doing things with Fellowship continues food the recent issues that have donation program in midst of come about,” said D’Anjou. pandemic, but with a drive-thru “Before, we were giving away twist. food here in the office without The church has still been a concern regarding the number giving away food but has been of people in the offices. So, we struggling to obtain donations, changed it into more of a drive according to Mike D’Anjou, a thru style.” member of the church in charge According to D’Anjou, indi- of the food program. viduals in need of food can pull “Our food donations have their cars up to the driveway dropped pretty low. We’re and a volunteer for the church definitely giving out more than will put a pre-made bag of food we’ve been receiving,” he said. containing canned food and Even though the church has fresh produce in their car for been struggling to obtain food them. COURTESY NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP to give away, not all hope is lost. Food donations to the Vehicles line up on Utah Avenue in Tooele City for the New Life Christian Fellowship’s food distribution in May 2020. “We’ve had some amaz- church’s program are always ing partnerships during this welcome, according to D’Anjou. as canned food,” said D’anjou. Friday from noon to 3 p.m., but glass door.” p.m. time. With everything going “Our amazing team goes “If someone wants to donate if those hours don’t work, they The food distribution service New Life’s address is 411 E on, Nicholas and Co. has been through and makes sure that food, someone will be in the are always able to leave the will be available Wednesday Utah Avenue. blessing us with fresh produce everything is up to date as far offices on Wednesday through food on the inside of the single and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 [email protected] Fire department sponsors Tooele City may be getting Stansbury dumpster days a Swig soda drive -thru to home, or yard to yard. Please CEILLY SUTTON The double drive thru isles will accom- Dumpsters will also be available in Erda use the dumpsters to help us in STAFF WRITER modate up to 20 vehicles without blocking this effort,” said Willden. People may be taking a Swig in Tooele essential drive ways of Vasa Fitness and CEILLY SUTTON ing to willden. The list of places where City soon. Wells Fargo. STAFF WRITER Hazardous items such as dumpsters will be available is as A conditional use permit was submitted Given the location of the drive thru facil- Dumpsters will start appear- chemicals, tires, mattresses, and follows: earlier this month by Daniel Gonzales with ity, Tooele City officials are concerned that ing in Stansbury today, thanks upholstered furniture will not be • 132 Lakeview-Near the vacant FFG Soda Shop Stores, LLC, which is the this may cause conflict, as the access is cur- to the North Tooele Fire accepted. lot parent company of Swig, home of the dirty rently a right in and right out access. Department. The dumpsters will be placed • 227 Lakeview near the lake soda. The proposal would necessitate a recon- The fire department will place in Stansbury Park, because burn- • 49 Lakeview - near vacant lot If approved, the Tooele Swig will be built figuration of the access to an exit only con- dumpsters in several locations ing items is not allowed and resi- • Spyglass near Woodland Park on 0.15 acres of land located at 220 N. Main figuration. throughout Stansbury Park dents may need a place to dump • Brigham Road near the cem- Street in Tooele City by Vasa Fitness. Tooele City officials also said that the beginning May 14 for residents waste, according to Willden. etary Swig is drive thru only type establish- applicant would need permission from to get rid of waste and reduce “We are attempting to reduce • Delgada Road - Near the boat ment and will be located in a general com- UDOT to limit the access to a right out con- the fire hazard, according to the amount of combustible ramp mercial zone. figuration from its existing configuration. Randy Willden, NTFD chief. materials that people accumu- • 5501 N Hampton - Front of Gonzales requested the use of an acces- The applicant would also need permis- These dumpsters will be for late over time and reduce the house sory drive-thru facility, but according to sion from UDOT to gain access to utilities.