Dixie Center Blog
 The 102nd annual Utah State Fireman’s Convention was held at the Dixie Center June 10 – June 12, 2010. Though attendance was less than in previous years, those that attended gained from their experience and exposure to the various training sessions that were offered throughout the event. BYU coach, LaVelle Edwards, was the keynote speaker, and optional pre-event activities included: Sport shooting; a golf tournament; and a motorcycle poker run.
These are the men and women who are committed to the Protection and Preservation of life, property, and the environment from fire and disaster, whether it be natural or man made, and other emergency situations that the fire department may respond to. Through aggressive training, such as that offered at their annual conventions, fire prevention and community programs, and being committed to a positive attitude towards safety, customer service, and community relations, they are there to serve their communities when and if needed. The Dixie Center was proud to be able to host their 2010 event here at St. George!
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 “Slim Thug”, rap and hip-hop music concert, coming to the Dixie Center, Friday, June 18th! For more information please go to: www.utahstgeorge.com/calendar or www.dixiecenter.com/calendar
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 On Wednesday, June 2, 2010, Dixie Escalante Electric hosted their annual meeting and banquet for approximately 1500 of their co-op members, staff and families! Offering nine buffet tables, one could choose from a delicious assortment of crispy mixed green salad, rolls, oven roasted red potatoes, rice, baked beans, assorted crisp vegetables, green beans, herb roasted chicken with tomatillo salsa, BBQ shredded roast beef, assorted desserts and ice cream for the kids (and adult kids.) It was certainly a well-prepared feast, fit for a king, leaving no one who attended hungry or without plenty to eat! The tables were lined with white linen with crafes of water and fruit drinks, offset with pretty vases of flowers. On stage, the Virgin River Band played knee-stomping, hand clapping country western music. A room was set aside where the chidlren could go and have a masterpiece painted on their faces. Inside the Garden Room ( where more tables were set up) a bouncy house and large blow-up slide were erected to keep the youngsters entertained and delighted, while the Dixie Escalante leaders conducted their meeting.
An electric cooperative providing electric utility services to approximately 15,000, customers in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, Dixie Escalante Electric is headquartered in Beryl, north of St. George, but also has an office in Bloomington. The mission of Dixie Escalante Electric is to provide its members with safe, reliable, efficient and equitable energy services that will enable its members to survive, and the community to thrive in an economically volatile environment. It has managed to do both with much success and today offers some of the cheapest utility cost in the surrounding area! As owner, producer and manager of its own utility sources it is able to keep the middle-man cost at bay, which works to the benefit of all its participating members.
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 COMING TO THE DIXIE CENTER! June 23 and 24, 2010. For more information please check their website: http://www.stgeorgechamber.com
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More than 400 attendees from around the world gathered at the Cityworks 2010 User Conference at the Dixie Center in St George, May 17-19. Hosted by Azteca Systems, Inc., the leading provider of GIS-centric asset management solutions, the conference attracted Cityworks users and partners from the United States, Canada, and Sweden, despite challenging economic conditions and strained budgets.
Exceeding everyones expectations, it was the first time the Dixie Center had hosted the event, which began with an impressive plenary session where President and CEO, Brian Haslam, introduced the attendees to Cityworks 2010, Azteca Systems next-generation of GIS-centric maintenance and land management products. With an impressive, staged light show, by Modern Display, Haslam shared his vision of Cityworks, while presenting upcoming new products and features. Touching on the challenges facing public agencies – economic uncertainty, reduced resources, technology-driven expectations – he recognized the critical and crucial services Cityworks users provide to their constituents and emphasized Azteca Systems’ continuing commitment to provide software and services to support them in meeting these challenges.
The plenary session adjourned with a tour of the spectacular scenery of nearby Zion National Park followed by dinner, entertainment, and socializing. The remaining two days were filled with user and partner presentations featuring topics such as performance-based budgeting, fleet and facilities management, operational awareness, advanced asset management, field mobility, migrations to Server, integrations with other business systems, emergency planning, and specific Cityworks applications. A variety of exhibitors were on hand in the Exhibit Hall to answer questions and showcase services and offer complementary solutions. Sixty members of the Azteca staff were also present at the conference, and could be found throughout the facility, hosting and sitting in on technical sessions, answering questions, and meeting with clients
Exciting and impressive from beginning to end, the provided hospitality, the ability to look at future releases, network, and have access to key Azteca staff made the conference incredibly valuable to all who attended.
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Don’t you just love it when you are on vacation and you stumble across a really fun local event that is FREE! Doesn’t it just tickle your senses to enjoy something that doesn’t cost you a dime? Well, Washington County has some really neat events you need to expose yourself to while vacationing or holding a convention/meeting at the Dixie Center, and I’m here to share the where too’s with you! First off, let me explain that this area has some of the best talent in the state, and while it may be FREE, it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be great! Some of the events may have a nominal fee to them, but trust me, if they do, they will be well worth the cost. So, if you are visiting with us this summer, here are some events you just might want to check out:
Every second Monday of the month–now through September, the City of St. George has a “Concert in the Park”, which is held in the heart of downtown at Vernon Worthen Park, 300 South and 400 E. A great way to relax after a full day’s activities, one can sit back and enjoy the warm summer evening, with its overhead canvas of stars, while previewing a FREE evening of musical entertainment! Be sure to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on. To complete your evening, don’t forget to stop and pick-up take-out from a nearby deli or restaurant on your way. Concerts start at 7:30p.m. For more information you can call 435-627-4525 or go online to: www.sgcity.org or check out our county calendar at: www.utahstgeorge.com
Want a great evening of fun with the kids? Then be sure to come to the Town Square, located at Main Street and Tabernacle, every second and fourth Friday of the month through September. Let the kids romp on the grass lawn or cool off in the splash pad and then settle down to enjoy a family friendly movie on the Big Screen. Beginning at dusk (around 7:45 to a little later as we move more into the summer months), this evening of “Sunset on the Square” is sure to please the entire family! To check out what is showing you can look online at the county calendar: www.utahstgeorge.com or go to the city website: www.sgcity.org You’ll want to bring your own refreshments, lawn chairs, blankets,and maybe pajamas or a change of clothes for the kids. There will be vendors present with theater treats and pizza to buy, if you choose.
Saturday mornings, we have two local markets to enjoy, offering FREE live music and entertainment:
The Ancestor Square Market, which is in the heart of downtown St. George, just off of Main St. and St. George Blvd., offers all sorts of locally grown and organic seasonal fruits and veggies, as well as homemade handicrafts. Surrounded by boutique-type stores and restaurants, you’re sure to have an enjoyable morning browsing and shoppping, while enjoying the free entertainment! Hours are from 8:00am thru 12:00pm – May through October.
Tuacahn Saturday Market,1100 Tuacahn Drive, in Ivins, is also open Saturdays from 9am-1pm, April through December. Highlighting different features each weekend, the market is filled with crafters, artist, and vendor booths for your enjoyment. In close proximity to the Coyote Gulch Art Village in Kayenta and the town of Santa Clara, with the only local fruit stand in the county, and offering a street lined with boutique-type shopping, as well as the historical Jacob Hamblin Home, you could spend a whole day in the surrounding area and not spend a dime. (Except for the shopping, of course!)
Every third Thursday of the month, the City of Hurricane also provides an evening in the park at Pioneer Park, located at Main and 200 North, now through August. Offering a different selection of music each event, it is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful summer evenings! Starting at 8:00pm, their schedule of entertainers can be located by going to their online website: www.cityofhurricane.com or www.utahstgeorge.com
Starting in June and continuing through August, Tues. through Sat., at 9:00am and 10:30am, each morning, come meet Dixie’s famous pioneers! Every summer, community volunteers present the St. George Live historic tours in downtown St. George. Your journey will start at the Art Museum at 250 North just off Main Street. You will visit the old Opera House, the Tabernacle, the Old Courtroom, and Bringham Young’s Summer Home, and partake in a moment of the past, as these historic figures come alive and describe what their days of pioneering were all about! While a nominal fee of $3.00 is charged for those over the age of 12 years, this educational and entertaining presentation is fun for the whole family!
If you are staying and visiting in the town of Springdale, you won’t want to miss out on the Tanner Amphitheater Summer Concert Series. Concerts start at 8:00 and do charge a nominal fee of $10.00pp. Please be sure to check out their event schedule by going to www.dixie.edu/tanner
Other FREE and enjoyable events can be located by looking up the dates you will be visiting and comparing the list of activities on the county calendar at: www.utahstgeorge.com
At other times of the year, highlights to consider while visiting are: The St. George Parade of Homes and the Art in Kayenta Festival in the the month of February; Springdale’s St. Patty’s Celebration in March; the St. George downtown Arts Festival and the Hurricane Car Show every Easter weekend; the Ironman Triathlon, What Women Want, and the Days of Camelot in May; Tuacahn’s Summer Broadway Productions June through October; the Ford Country Talent Showdown and the Gunlock Rodeo, both held during the 4th of July weekend; the Enterprise Corn Festival and the Washington County Fair in August; Santa Clara Swiss Days in September; the St. George Marathon, Huntsman World Senior Games, and What Women Want in October; Jubilee of Trees in November; and the Dickens Festival and Tuacahn Light Festival and Live Nativity in December.
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For all you Trivia buffs out there and for those of you that just enjoy “knowing” here are some compiled stats from the St. George 2010 Ironman Event:
Atheletes Registered – 2150
Additonal People Traveling with Athletes (3.2) – 6680
Ironman Staff/Media, etc. – 50
Total Athletes/friends/crew – 9080
- 52% said Ironman was their first introduction to this area
- 40% visited the area prior to race week to train
- 78% said they planned on visiting Zion while here
- Economic impact – $7.85 million
- Racers that started – 1916
- Finishers – 1634 (40 did not finish the swim; 150 did not finish biking; and 92 did not finish the race)
- The first athlete from Utah to cross the finish line – B.J. Christenson, 32, North Salt Lake City, UT
- The first local athlete to cross the finish line – Randall Olsen, 43, St. George, UT
- Life-long goal to complete his first Ironman event-Lindsey Merrill, 52, St. George, UT
- Finishing his 64th Ironman – Luis Alvarez, 48, Tlalnepantla, Mexico
TOP FIVE PROFESSIONAL MEN:
- Michael Weiss, 29 (AUT) 8:40:08
- Ben Hoffman, 27 (USA) 8:52:54
- Chris McDonald, 31 (AUS) 8:54:42
- Kirill Kotsegarov, 24 (EST) 8:58:19
- Clemens Coenen, 32 (DEU) 9:02:14
TOP FIVE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN:
- Heather Wurtele, 31 (CAN) 9:35:26
- Meredith Kessler, 32 (USA) 9:46:58
- Caitlin Snow, 28 (USA) 10:07:26
- Gina Crawford, 29 (NZL) 10:11:50
- Kathleen Pallardy, 25 (USA) 10:20:45
Congratulations to each and everyone of the 1,634 finishers!! What an accomplishing feat!
To all the wonderful hands of volunteers , a warm and hearty “Thank You!”
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A heartwarming event happened last week that I thought would be worth sharing, especially in these times of dismal news reporting.
On Saturday of the Ironman, a family was rooting the participants on in the area of our downtown Town Square. The Mother, who was wearing a family heirloom ring, containing a 4 karat diamond, took the ring off because it was bothering her and placed it in her camera pouch. In the excitement of the day, she pulled out her camera to take pictures of the runners as they came in, forgetting about the ring. The ring fell out. Some kind soul (and God Bless you, whoever you are) saw the ring on the ground, picked it up and turned it into the Dixie Center, realizing that it had to be someone involved with the Ironman Event that had lost it.
Not knowing whether or not the large stone that sat in the middle of the ring was REAL or one of those GREAT IMITATIONS, it was decided to place it into the office safe, just in case……Almost a week passed by, then on Friday a very nice young man came in to the Dixie Center inquirying about a lost ring. He had spent three days with a metal detector going over the area at the downtown Town Square where his mother had stationed herself for the event, to no avail. As a last minute thought he came to our offices hoping somehow, someway, the ring had been found and turned in to us. After an intergation of 50 questions and a phone call to his mother, it was determined, that in fact the ring did, indeed, belong to them! What a wonderful feeling it was to return this beautiful piece of jewelry and family heirloom back to its rightful owner. As we spoke with her on the phone, she tearfully conveyed her deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, but especially to the person who was honest enough to turn it in.
We all sat smiling in the office, as the young man left tightly clutching the ring in his hand. Such a great ending to a very devastating situation. To the person who cared enough to turn the ring in, whoever you are, I hope you are reading this so you will realize the joy you gave to another through your simple gesture of HONESTY!!!! The heavens are surely smiling down on you for your goodness!
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 Ironman has concluded its first event in St. George, with the Dixie Center acting as its central hub. Even before the arrival of the athletes and their families, the staff at the Dixie Center was working ferverishly to get everything set up for a successful event, and a successful event it proved to be!
Like a whirlwind, the participants and their families descended the halls of the center, starting on Wednesday, April 28th, filling the molecules in the air with an electrial impulse of excitement and energy. I can remember, at a former place of employment, when an upper management person used to produce the same level of energy each time he visited our offices. He would exuberate so much energy into the air, that when he left, we would all sit back and go “whew”!! Take that same energy and times it by 2,000 and you have Ironman! One by one as the participants arrived the level of energy rose, and like a contagious virus you were soon consumed by its presence.
Heritage Catering, the Dixie Centers on staff food service, stayed hopping through the whole event, feeding 2200 atheletes and their families Thursday evening, offering a huge banquet luncheon to 2600 on Sunday and rounding out the event with a Monday night dinner for 1600 volunteers! Positive comments about the food and service echoed from all that attended. Heritage Catering’s presence at the Dixie Center continues to be a highlight to the many services we have to offer our clientele. We commend them for their excellence in food and for the outstanding service that they provide to those who host their events here.
What a wonderful opportunity it’s been to have the doors of St. George opened to this extraordinary event, none of which could have happened without all the tiredless efforts and sweat put in to the planning and execution from all the many hands of the volunteers and organizers that involved themselves to ensure its success! Hats off to each and everyone!! Without YOU, it would not be! Once again, it only affirms that the greatest beauty in the area is not in its landscape but in its people! Over and over I heard expressions of how gorgeous the surrounding landscape is, but equally, I heard expressions of appreciation for the generousity and friendliness they felt from the community as a whole. Even “Mother Nature” put on her best face for the day, offering a clear crisp morning with sun and no wind, turning to a few overhead clouds in the afternoon with a gentle breeze to cool the way….all and all it couldn’t have been a nicer day!
Now that it is over we can all sit back and say “whew”, gasp a few breaths of air and then plunge into the planning for Ironman 2011!!
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 The Philanthropic Educational Organization just concluded their first ever convention in St. George at the Dixie Center on April 23 and 24. We were honored that they chose our venue to celebrate their 75th anniversay in Utah at our facility!
This sorority-designed sisterhood of women, gathers together annually to learn and share ideas on how to fund raise and recruit other women. It also serves as a committed connection to their overall cause, bringing hundreds of women across the state together.
The highlight of the organization is to raise money all over the world to help women gain an education. Their mission statement is “promoting women through philanthropy.” As part of their fellowship, they take time to acknowledge long-standing members, and honor those who have passed away. The highlight of their convention, however, is having women who have been supported by their organization come and speak, sharing how the support and money that the PEO provided them changed their lives. For those in attendance, it is a heartwarming testimony to all the dedication, hard effort and long hours that are voluntairly given to support the mission for which they first organized!
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