By unanimous vote, the State Board of Regents Thursday named Dr. Richard E. Kendell as Utah’s sixth Commissioner of Higher Education. Dr. Kendell, currently Deputy to the Governor for Higher Education, Public Education, and Economic Development, has had a long and distinguished career in education in Utah. Beginning his career as a high school English teacher at Ogden High School, he was a research and planning analyst for the office of Commissioner of Higher Education from 1971-1973, Associate Dean of the University of Utah Graduate School from 1973-1979. He later served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Education and Assistant Professor and Acting Chairman of the Department of Education and Leadership Policy at the University Utah. After leaving the University he taught as an adjunct professor in the College of Education for 13 years. Dr. Kendell also distinguished himself as a leader in public education as an Associate Superintendent for the State Office of Education (1982-1985), and as Superintendent of one of the state’s largest school districts, the Davis School District, for ten years (1987-1997). He has twice been in private business, as Director of Research and Development for Personal Computer Courseware, WICAT Systems (1985-1987) and Project Manager for Medical Facilities for the Boyer Company (1997-2001). He has been Deputy to Governor Michael O. Leavitt since 2001.

"Commissioner Foxley has served so long and so well. As Regents we have worked very hard to find someone who could follow her and pick up where she left off. Dr. Kendell’s rich experience at all levels of education, both in the public school system and in higher education, as well as his experience in the worlds of business and government, uniquely qualify him to serve as the state’s next Commissioner of Higher Education," stated Board of Regents Chair Nolan E. Karras. "We have a diverse system, providing a wide range of educational opportunities at our ten institutions. Rich’s experience and proven track record of success indicate that he is the right person to fill this position, and help us meet the challenges facing higher education now and in the future."

Utah's AMBER Alert Plan will now be put to the test at least twice a year. Today the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and Utah Department of Public Safety initiated the first regularly scheduled checkup to make sure the child abduction alerts are immediate and effective.

The biannual tests were spurred by findings presented at last month's National AMBER Alert Conference. Although not every kidnapped child is killed, Justice Department research into child abduction murders produced a startling time line:

• 44% die within the first hour
• 74% are killed in the first three hours
• 99% are dead after the first day

The AMBER Alert Plan will be tested each year on March 25, Missing Children's Day, and September 19, the anniversary of the day Rachael Runyan was found. The three-year-old was kidnapped on August 26, 1982 while playing with her brothers at a park in Sunset, Utah. Her body was discovered 24 days later.

"The day my daughter was found was such a relief because I finally knew what had happened to her," says Elaine Runyan-Simmons, Rachael's mother. "It is an honor to remember Rachael on this day by testing the system that helps us bring our missing children home safely."

Utah's AMBER Alert Plan has been modified and expanded since it was launched on April 2, 2002. Those who administer the plan will now place the emphasis on training, testing and education.

"When it comes to the AMBER Alert-the need for speed is a matter of life and death," says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "After each AMBER Alert, we have looked at ways to make it easier, faster and more effective. These tests will help us keep our duty to save abducted children."

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office was asked to initiate today's test because of its commitment towards AMBER Alert training. The Department of Public Safety will now oversee efforts to make sure every Utah law enforcement agency receives training.

"I applaud the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies who have taken the initiative to train their officers and establish protocol for initiating the AMBER Alert," says Col. Claron Brenchley, Department of Public Safety. "I challenge all agencies to get this vital training."

In other AMBER Alert news:

• Law enforcement agencies will now call the Bureau of Criminal Identification at 801-965-4446 to verify that an AMBER Alert has been initiated.
• Utah now has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nevada and New Mexico for the AMBER Alert Plan. Those states have agreed to issue an alert if a victim crosses state borders. Idaho and Wyoming are expected to sign a similar agreement soon.
• The Hard Rock Café in Salt Lake City will present a check to the Utah AMBER Alert Fund on October 4 at its annual pin collecting event called Pinapalooza. The restaurant raised thousands of dollars for training materials by creating and selling a special limited edition Utah AMBER Alert pin.
• The public can now find out which businesses in their community post the AMBER Alert messages on their electronic signs. The list of businesses can be found at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/AL/albusinesssigns.htm.

The public can still sign up to receive the AMBER Alert on their pagers, cell phones and computers at www.bci.utah.gov . They can also register to receive the alerts on a computer ticker at www.fatpot.com.