Ear to the ground

“Did you know you have to go to a special school to be Ronald McDonald? Not just anyone can wear the funny shoes and red wig.”

– Local woman after hearing that the McDonald’s mascot would be traveling from afar to grace this year’s Snowdown

Monkey wrenching Hollywood

Hayduke is packing up and heading for Hollywood. According to a recent report in theDeseret News, a film-version of Edward Abbey’sThe Monkey Wrench Gangis currently in the works. Ironically, it’s not being filmed in Utah.

Just in case you’ve been remiss with your reading, the book follows a group of Utah activists fed up with the overdevelopment of the West. Their ultimate goal is blowing up Glen Canyon Dam and draining Lake Powell, and there’s plenty of blowtorching, Karo syrup-pouring and explosions along the way. The film version (yes, Abbey is turning over in his unmarked grave) is set to begin filming in coming months. The director, Catherine Hardwicke, does bring some credentials to the task. She has directed “Thirteen,” “Lords of Dogtown” and the recent “The Nativity Story,” and she has high hopes for “Monkey Wrench.”

“The characters are very hysterical, they’re very funny, very eccentric and just a blast to read,” she told the Deseret News. “So it’s not preachy. It’s a wild rumpus, an anarchist’s romp, about people that care passionately about the land.”

Hardwicke is currently offering big-name stars low-ball figures to appear in the film. Rumor has it that Robert Redford may have even signed up for a bit part. The film’s real star – Utah’s Canyon Country – will not be a part of the film, however. The filmmakers received a better deal from New Mexico, which offers tax incentives for film production.

Filming will begin in May somewhere in New Mexico, and Hardewicke hopes to premiere “The Monkey Wrench Gang” at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Getting on the Iron Horse

The clock is officially ticking. Registration has opened for the 36th running of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, and it’s time to put down that Twinkie and start pedaling. The event will be held May 26 - 27.

The Iron Horse features a 47-mile road race, and 52-mile road tour between Durango and Silverton. Returning again this year as part of the weekend is the downtown Criterium, including the popular Cruiser Crit and kid’s races. New for 2007, the classic will offer an overall omnium classification for specified categories. The omnium is a points-placed scoring system that combines finish-place results in both the road race and criterium.

To get your bib number, visit www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.