By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The cold, wet, muddy and mostly unpleasant weather
during the Easter weekend kept a lot of people home who
might have visited the Little Sahara Sand Dunes
otherwise.
"There were 20,000 visitors which is down
approximately 11,000 from last year," said Alden Orme, Juab
County Sheriff.
Those who were interested in riding ATVs and spending
time with their family did show up, said Orme. The ones to
stayed home and found other things to do were the people who
like to party.
Three people were transported via air med to hospitals
out of the county. In addition, West Juab Ambulance
Emergency medical Technicians were kept busy but there were
no deaths reported.
The EMTs did man an emergency medical site at the
visitor's center and were kept busy with the usual minor
injuries.
The were a couple of assault victims, said Orme.
"One of those sustained head injuries after being
struck with a beer bottle," he said.
"Under-age consumption of alcohol was also down this
year from what it has been in the past," Orme said.
There were also fewer visitors to Cherry Creek and to
Topaz Mountain, West Juab sites. There was still snow on the
tops of the mountains which discouraged visitors from
camping at those areas.
"Because of the heavy law enforcement at the Little
Sahara Sand Dunes," said Orme, "the trend is for families to
travel to the site to enjoy the Easter holiday and those who
party and use illegal alcohol and other substances are
staying away."
The new rule, set by the Utah Division of Parks and
Recreation, at Burraston Ponds is being enforced by the
county sheriff's department, said Orme.
That rule is that there is to be no alcohol
consumption at the recreation site.
"Signs have been posted warning those fishing and
camping there that there is a no alcohol rule," he said."We
issued warnings to those who did not obey the signs during
the Easter holiday."
From now on out, said Orme, tickets will be issued to
those who do not obey the law and try to consume
alcohol.
In spite of some senior citizens who would like to
take a can of beer to the water while they fish, he said,
the rule has been set to keep those who were spoiling the
site for families and boy scouts from doing so.
Drinking parties will no longer be tolerated at
Burrastons.
Orme said, thanks to law enforcement, Burrastons
should once again be a place where boy scout troops can
spend an over night or a weekend,
"That is our goal," said Orme.
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