Winner: In the old days, Doug Padilla would have been appalled by the time — more than 10 minutes to run a mile. But the one-time Olympic athlete couldn't have been happier with that time last Tuesday, and for good reason.
Padilla was on the verge of losing his left leg entirely four years ago after a fast-moving car hit him during a training run. The recovery was long and excruciating. That made this week's run, with all its huffing, puffing and pain, a triumph of human will and determination — an inspiration to all who are struggling with obstacles.
Loser: A recession in Utah? A survey of purchasing manufacturers has found that the state's economy is hovering close to that point after years of strong growth. Don't get too worried, however. Some experts say the survey is weighted too heavily toward manufacturing, which makes up only about 20 percent of the economy these days. It would be foolish, however, to expect good times to last forever.
Winner: Want to stop crime? Keep your nose clean. That way, you can smell the Meth labs that operate throughout the metro area.
Salt Lake police and the Utah Council for Crime Prevention unveiled a plan to make residents more aware of warnings of labs in the neighborhood. The first tip-off is a chemical smell.
This isn't as rare as it may sound. The Wasatch Front is one of the nation's leaders in illegal methamphetamine production, and the labs, which are extremely volatile, exist in even the nicest neighborhoods. If people develop a nose for crime, they could bring criminals to justice and, just as importantly, keep their neighborhoods from disappearing in a horrific explosion.
Loser: Some people can take a love for animals a bit too far. For evidence, consider the two women charged with neglect in Salt Lake County. They were harboring 53 cats, many diseased and crippled, inside a garage. The cats weren't vaccinated against rabies. They weren't being kept in sanitary conditions. Ironically, the owner is president of a nonprofit group dedicated to helping homeless animals.
With a friend like that, a cat may need all nine lives.