Today Gov. Olene Walker signed a declaration designating Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 as the official opening of the Moscow-Utah Youth Games and outlining the state’s priorities and goals relating to them.

"My hope is that Friday’s Opening Ceremonies will be the beginning of lifelong personal friendships between the athletes, coaches, spectators and officials," Gov. Walker said. "These games present great potential for continued cultural exchange between the state of Utah and the city of Moscow. It is an honor for our state to host the Russian athletes."

Opening Ceremonies will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Cauldron Park at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7, more than 400 young athletes from Moscow and Utah will compete in events such as alpine and cross country skiing, curling, figure skating (demonstration only), freestyle skiing, hockey, ski jumping, speed skating, tennis and volleyball. Closing Ceremonies will be held in Cauldron Park on Feb. 7.

Former Gov. Mike Leavitt and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov first conceived of the Games during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The Youth Games are designed to foster a favorable environment for economic cooperation and to generate exchanges in the fields of sport, culture, youth programs and the arts.

5:43:41 PM    

As the legislative session moves into full swing, Gov. Olene Walker today announced that her "Read With A Child" initiative’s February Book of the Month is House Mouse, Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes. The governor, accompanied by Utah's legislative leadership, unveiled her book to preschool and elementary-age students.

"February's book is extremely timely and fitting given my background in the legislature," said Walker. "Not only does it provide a great lesson on the legislative process, but its use of rhymes is a great way to help children learn about words and how to read. Reading with a child is the most important thing we can do to change the face of education in our state. Mastering the basic skill of reading at grade level by the third grade sets the stage for a child’s success in school and throughout life."

Each month the governor will choose a new book in an effort to encourage Utahns to read with a child 20 minutes a day. Walker's initiative is designed to have every third-grade student reading at grade level by spring 2005.

To help support the governor with this important initiative Zions Bank, Bonneville International Corporation and The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints Foundation have pledged dollars and in-kind services to spread this critical message.

Their support includes: television, print and radio air schedules; production facilities; a monthly reading column; Web site information; mechanisms for distributing collateral materials; staff involvement in community reading efforts; access to celebrities under contract with their organizations; a reading awards program; and news coverage.

"I am so grateful to these organizations," said Walker. "Their support will allow us to reach every Utahn with this important message and create a strong foundation for our children. It will take every one of us to make this a reality."

Copies of House Mouse, Senate Mouse will be distributed to all 500 elementary schools in Utah.

5:40:31 PM    

Gov. Olene Walker signed an executive order officially launching the Quality Growth Communities Program, an effort to encourage and reward quality growth planning in Utah.

"It’s vital that we plan for Utah’s future," Walker said. "That planning has to begin at the grass-roots level, in our communities. When city, county and other local planners do their jobs with quality growth in mind, the state as a whole benefits immensely."

Cities, towns, counties, special districts, transit authorities and other service providers are eligible for the program. Starting today, eligible entities can apply for certification as a Quality Growth Community.

The Quality Growth Communities Program is sponsored by the Utah Quality Growth Commission. The program has been endorsed by the Utah League of Cities and Towns, the Utah Association of Counties, the Utah Association of Special Districts, the Utah Homebuilders Association and the Utah Association of Realtors.

State agencies participating include the Department of Transportation, Department of Community and Economic Development, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality.

"The purpose of this initiative is to embrace the Quality Growth Commission’s Quality Growth Principles, which speak plainly about local control, but also about state leadership," said Dan Lofgren, Chair of the Utah Quality Growth Commission. "By creating incentives for sound planning this program will encourage more efficient use of state resources, and more efficient delivery of services at the local level."

For more information, visit the Quality Growth Commission’s Web site at www.qualitygrowth.utah.gov.

8:37:12 AM