Posted: Monday, July 24, 2006 12:00 am
Rafting trips decline in Grand Teton after drownings
JACKSON - Commercial rafting traffic in Grand Teton National Park was down more than 10 percent last month following an accident that claimed the lives of three tourists on the Snake River.
Park officials reported that Grand Teton Lodge Company saw a 20 percent drop in business last month compared with the same month a year ago. Three tourists died early last month when one of that company's rafts hit a dead tree in the Snake River.
Other float trip operators in the park also saw a 12 percent drop this June compared with June 2005, park officials say. The companies run trips on the scenic portion of the river in the park.
Grand Teton Lodge Company saw the number of customers fall from 3,800 last June to 3,000 this June, officials said. Other companies on the river saw their numbers drop from 11,000 last June to 9,600 this June.
Cinda Culton, director of sales and marketing for Grand Teton Lodge Company, said the fatalities had some impact on business immediately after the accident. She said most of the decline in numbers is attributable to the resort's overall decline in business during that time.
Culton said she usually focuses on bringing in large groups of visitors for the first month of summer. But said she this year she was busy ensuring that the company renewed its concession contract with the park and didn't focus on landing visitors. Accordingly, she said there were fewer visitors to take trips down the river.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers taking raft trips in the whitewater portion of the Snake River Canyon was up slightly this June compared with the year before.
Teachers talk about burnout in their profession
CHEYENNE - Even as low pay and prestige discourage many people from becoming teachers, statistics show that half last no longer than five years.
The problem came up at this week's National State Teachers of the Year annual conference.
The organization's president, Art Peekel, said Thursday that part of the problem is students and parents don't respect teachers like they once did.
"It's frustrating for those of us who are quality educators," he said.
Changing that atmosphere could be as simple as creating a mentoring program for new educators, said Joan Brummond, the 1995 Wyoming Teacher of the Year.
Peekel also called for businesses and legislators to support educators. Banks or car dealerships could sponsor a Teacher Appreciation Day, or the owner of a shoe store could post a photo of "My Favorite Teacher."
"Do you know what that would mean to a new teacher who sees that?" Peekel asked. "Here's someone saying, 'I'm a successful entrepreneur because of a teacher."'
This year's National Teacher of the Year, Kimberly Oliver, said she was first inspired by a preschool teacher who taught her to read.
"It's rewarding because we do touch every other profession," she said.