| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 7:34 am |
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Nation & World 
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Parks offer three free weekends WASHINGTON -- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday that entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments will be waived three weekends this summer: June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16."During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families," Salazar said at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. "I encourage everyone to visit one of our nation's crown jewels this summer and especially to take advantage of the three free-admission weekends." Most Americans live less than a day's drive from a national park, Salazar said. Last year, national parks attracted more than 275 million visits, generating an estimated $10.6 billion for local economies and supporting more than 213,000 jobs, he said. For the Park Service, the free weekends will mean a loss of an estimated half-million dollars a day from entrance fees that range from $3 to $25. A total of 147 parks and monuments charge entrance fees; the nation's other 244 parks are already free. Kendra Barkoff, a spokeswoman for Salazar, said the lost revenue should be more than offset by an increase in park tourism. Many tour operators, hotels, restaurants, gift shops and other vendors near national parks will offer other discounts and special promotions on the free weekend dates, she said. The waiver applies only to entrance fees and does not affect charges for camping, reservations, tours or concessions, Salazar said. |
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- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
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- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
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- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- Schools do well in levy elections (7)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (7)
- Cat wanders into police parking lot, is euthanized (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- Lynnwood makes law against too tall lawns (4)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- Boeing now favored to win tanker, experts say (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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