This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Hands-on rehab • The experience third-graders at Riverton Elementary School received in helping to rehabilitate an eagle burned last summer in a Salt Lake Valley human-caused wildfire could serve them — and our environment — very well in the future. First, the kids were able to see what damage a wildfire can do to Utah's wildlife. Helping such a majestic bird recover from its injuries can also boost the empathy the children should have for animals, particularly wild birds and animals that can be hurt by the actions of careless humans. As the children raised money for the project, they also learned how much it can cost to repair the damage done by carelessness.
Keeping up appearances • The Salt Lake City Council did the right thing in passing an ordinance that helps prevent run-down buildings from moldering on city streets, becoming a health and safety hazard and ruining the city's appearance. The ordinance requires building owners to keep vacant buildings fit to house people or businesses. Buildings can be demolished only after the owner obtains a building permit for a replacement plan. Owners of buildings that are too rundown to fix must provide a post-demolition landscaping and maintenance bond.