Latest news with #RyanPowell
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Utah Lake Authority launches comedic campaign to improve public opinion
For some residents, Utah Lake may bring to mind concerns of harmful algal blooms, invasive carp and murky water. But Utah Lake Authority is hoping to change that perception through their Utah Lake is My Lake campaign to improve public opinion and dispel myths about the state's largest freshwater lake. The lake authority partnered with Harmon Brothers ad agency to create a series of ads and billboards that encourage locals to take advantage of the lake. While many tourists and new residents enjoy Utah Lake, there are still Utah County natives who refuse to use the lake due to a misconception that it is dirty or dangerous, according to Ryan Powell, Harmon Brothers creative director. 'This widespread perception is based on misinformation and facts that are 30 or 40 years out of date. In reality, Utah Lake is a beautiful lake, albeit a little quirky,' said Powell. '(Utah Lake has) undergone incredible restorative work and ... despite the progress, the stigma has stuck. So, we knew a typical awareness campaign wouldn't cut it, and we asked ourselves: Who would be best to fight these outdated ideas and spread the good news? The answer couldn't have been more obvious: the Germans.' The ads feature two German tourists — played by veteran Studio C actors Jason Gray and Whitney Call — who discuss what makes the lake great while making comedic and Utah-specific references. They demonstrate the variety of activities the lake can be used for, like paddleboarding and fishing, while also correcting some of the most common misconceptions about Utah Lake. While harmful algae may be a health concern at certain times of the year, Utah Lake has seen a 50% decrease in algal blooms since 2016. The lake is nutrient-rich and shallow in certain areas, providing ideal conditions for algal blooms to grow, but the blooms are not always harmful. When harmful algae blooms do occur, Utah Lake Recreational Monitoring issues an advisory so lake patrons can avoid illness. Over the last several decades, efforts to remove invasive carp from the lake have resulted in an around 80% decrease in the species' presence. Utah Lake is also home to a native species of fish called the June sucker, which was previously an endangered species. The June sucker is now only classified as a threatened species, marking a massive win for the lake, according to the Utah Lake Authority. Slapstick ads are a small part of Utah Lake is My Lake's yearlong awareness campaign. Utah Lake Authority plans to hold several events to increase community engagement and education about the lake, such as their Great Carp Hunt that includes a grand prize of $10,000. The authority also plans to gather more data on how many visitors the lake receives annually between the 35 access points along the 70-mile perimeter of the lake. Data on visitation will be gathered through eco-counters, a device that emits an infrared beam and counts the number of times a person or car passes through the beam. The first couple eco-counters, placed in August last year, have counted nearly 600,000 patrons so far and highlighted several boat marina access points as the most visited. This data will be used to understand what areas are most frequented and may suffer from overuse if not monitored. 'We want people to recognize that the lake is actually doing really well,' said Luke Peterson, Utah Lake Authority executive director. 'This is an asset that we have treated as a deficit up to this point. So, Utah Lake is My Lake is really focused on helping people to see the value of the lake, taking ownership and recognizing that they have this wonderful resource in their backyard. There is always room for improvement — and Utah Lake has room for improvement — but it is just getting better with each day.' Utah Lake Authority conducted a study to gain insights into the public perception of the lake and found that many felt it was more important to conserve the Great Salt Lake rather than Utah Lake. This becomes problematic, Peterson explained, because many don't understand that one-third of the Great Salt Lake's water runs through Utah Lake, and the larger lake would die without its smaller partner. Additionally, Utah Lake provides several streams of income for the area, made up of hundreds of jobs created by the lake and resulting in millions of dollars in economic activity, according to Peterson. '(Utah Lake Authority has) done tremendous work to get us to where we are, to change the perception in Utah County,' said Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran. 'We've invested in this — not only financially, but emotionally and ecologically — because we care. We care, as a commission, that this is a resource that our community can use to recreate. If we can get people to the lake, we can boost our economy; we can boost local business. The opportunities are really endless for this lake.' To help plant more native wildlife along the lake, Utah Lake Authority will host an Earth Day Planting Party on Monday, April 26. The lake authority has been working to remove phragmites — an invasive reed grass— from the area, and wants to replace them with more attractive and productive pollinating plants. The event will be held at 9 a.m. at 282 W. 1600 North in Vineyard. More information and updates on the Utah Lake is My Lake campaign can be found on the Utah Lake Authority's Facebook page.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Urgent search underway for missing 10-year-old Atlanta boy
The Brief Ryan Powell, a 10-year-old boy, is missing after leaving Centennial Academy on foot around 3 p.m. on Thursday. He was last seen walking south on Luckie Street toward Merritts Avenue NW, wearing a gray Nike hoodie, black polo shirt, gray pants, and black shoes. Authorities urge anyone who sees Ryan, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, to call 911 immediately. ATLANTA - Multiple agencies are searching for a missing 10-year-old boy who never returned home from school. Big picture view According to the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department, Ryan Powell, a fifth-grade student at Centennial Academy, was last seen around 3 p.m. on Thursday, leaving the school on foot. Authorities said he was walking south on Luckie Street toward Merritts Avenue NW. Dig deeper Ryan is described as a Black male, approximately 4 feet 5 inches tall, weighing between 70 and 80 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and does not have any known tattoos. He was last seen wearing a gray Nike hoodie, black polo shirt, gray pants, and black shoes. According to the police, Ryan has been diagnosed with ADHD. What you can do Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911 immediately. The Source The Atlanta Public Schools Police Department provided the details and photo for this story.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunday Funday for Summit League Championships
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Summit League Basketball Championships are off and running in Sioux Falls, days earlier than in the past. The Summit League Basketball Championships have been won and lost on a Tuesday every year since moving to Sioux Falls in 2009. That won't be the case this year, as the league shifted the tournament schedule to Wednesday through Sunday. 'CBS Network had a few more windows of availability for us so we kind of looked at it and talked to the Premier Center and they had the dates open, so it just kind of worked,' Summit League Assistant Commissioner for Communications Ryan Powell said. Ryan Powell is the assistant commissioner for communications and says so far the feedback from fans has been nothing but positive. How tariffs could impact South Dakota farmers 'It's easier to take off a Thursday and a Friday at the end of a work week sometimes than it is a Monday and a Tuesday when you're just getting started, so I think that's helped,' Powell said. 'In my opinion, it's a minor adjustment but I think it's a good move,' SDSU fan Darryl Nordquist said. Darryl Nordquist is an SDSU alum and believes the new schedule will benefit attendance numbers. 'I may come to the championship game even if SDSU's not in it because it's on a weekend rather than a Tuesday,' Nordquist said. 'Just makes more sense to have the championship on Sunday, more people can go. I used to have to take my kids out of school for the women's games on Monday, Tuesday back in the day, so this way it's kind of nice,' USD fan Kelly Gellerman said. Kelly Gellerman is a regular at USD games, and says the new setup will benefit fans of every team, from Sioux Falls and beyond. 'From an experience standpoint, they can make it a whole day, they don't have to run back to work, you always saw people coming in suits and that kind of thing to run to the game,' Gellerman said. Now that the field is set, all that's left is to crown a men's and women's champion. 'Hey, we're Coyote fans, we're always optimistic, it's always 'go Yotes',' Gellerman said. And bring on the weekend. 'We're one of the earliest conferences to cut down the nets so that's kind of exciting to get people really rolling into March Madness,' Powell said. The women's championship game is set for 3:00 Sunday afternoon, while the men's title contest will tip off at 8:00 p.m. Both games can be seen on CBS Sports Network. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
