By Emily Sanderson — 1/07/09
Affordable housing database available
The Utah Affordable Housing Database, an online search engine for low-income housing vacancies throughout the state, allows landlords to advertise their properties at no charge, said Gordon D. Walker, division director of the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development.
The service site, www.findhousing.utah.gov, debuted in October 2008 and has averaged 5,100 hits per month, according to a recent press release from the agency.
“With the economic crunch, we have more and more households needing affordable rental units,” Walker said. “The tool is more useful as more landlords and property managers choose to participate.”
The online service, which provides detailed information about available properties and rental units, is also free to consumers. Searches can be customized by people with special needs including seniors, large families, homeless individuals and people with disabilities. Presently, the site represents 7,928 rental housing units statewide, including 1,066 assisted living units.
Utah’s need for affordable housing continues to outpace availability.
“We want to make certain that existing, affordable units are filled by eligible renters as soon as a vacancy occurs,” Walker said.
Feminine art exhibit set
EPHRAIM — Utah-based artist Kathryn Knudsen focuses on violent acts. Abigail Quist, also Utah-based, chooses careful and tender placements, but both arrive at feminine, according to a Central Utah Art Center (CUAC) press release about “Feminine: Constructive,” a new contemporary exhibit on display at the center, 86 N. Main St., in Ephraim, from Friday, Jan. 9 to Feb. 11.
Snowmobiler rescued
Sanpete County Search and Rescue crews found a snowmobiler above Fairview Canyon on Saturday just hours after he was reported missing.
Steve Jackson, 58, Millard County, was reported missing by friends at 10:30 p.m. Friday and was found at 11 a.m. Saturday morning in good condition, said Sgt. Greg Peterson of the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department.
Search and Rescue crews scoured the area until 3 a.m. White-out conditions from the falling snow prohibited their search until daybreak, when their search continued. Jackson was spotted by a crew in a search and rescue airplane, which later directed on-the-ground crews to his location, Peterson said.
Jackson took a wrong turn at a “Y” intersection just past a warming station, turning off Skyline Drive and going into the neighboring “C” Canyon. His snowmobile got stuck crossing a creek at the base of the canyon. Jackson, who was well-dressed for the elements, had stayed warm by walking around the area.
Peterson thanked the Sanpete Search and Rescue team, who risk their lives on a volunteer basis.
“It’s pretty amazing what they do out there for free,” Peterson said. “These men do it because they care.”
The Utah Avalanche Center rated the danger in the mountains of the entire state as “high” on Monday, with the exception of Skyline, which on Jan. 3 was rated by the agency as “moderate” danger on slopes above the tree line. However, additional snowpack on Monday has most likely increased the danger.
