November 2014 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

November 2014 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

St. George, UT, November 24, 2014 — The November Students of the Month recipients were recently honored by the St. George Exchange Club.  The St. George Exchange Club sponsors the Student of the Month Program, which honors one student from the area high schools each month. This program recognizes the students’ accomplishments in academics, service and leadership in their respective schools. Dixie State University recently partnered with the St. George Exchange Club and will provide each of the Student of the Month recipients a one-year, full-tuition scholarship. 

The 48 students recognized each school year by the St. George Exchange Club equates to a commitment of over $175,000 from Dixie State University. The Exchange Club is honored to work with Dixie State University in recognizing and supporting the outstanding high school students of our community.

In addition, one student from the eight students honored as Student of the Month from each high school will have the opportunity to become Student of the Year for their school and receive a college scholarship to the college of their choice from the St. George Exchange Club. Last year, the Student of the Year, EmRee Moody from St. George, was selected as the National Student of the Month and received a $10,000 scholarship from the National Exchange Club.

The St. George Exchange Club meets Thursday mornings at 7:30AM at George's in Ancestor Square. For more information about the St. George Exchange Club, contact Shonie Christensen at 435-767-9000.  We congratulate the St George Exchange Club 2014 November Students of the Month.

Back Row:  Chance Thorkelson (SCHS); Madison Browne (MHS); Shonie Christensen (Exchange Club President)  Front Row:   KayLee Fordham (DHHS);  Mary Quinn (DHS); Tristan Duffey (THS)

Rucci European Service

Rucci European Service

Rucci European Service, formerly known as St. George BMW & Mini, is located at 15 South Bluff Street in St. George and in Washington just down from COSTCO. This European service shop, operated by Nick Rucci, has been providing outstanding service to southern Utah and the surrounding area for the last 4 years. Equipped with state-of-the-art software to diagnose all electrical and software issues, Rucci’s has the ability to accurately read the system for all European vehicles. Rucci’s offers a dealership alternative for makes such as BMW, Mini, Volvo, Mercedes, Audi and Volkswagen. Nick said, “Our electrical diagnostic is heads above any local service center in St. George. We pride ourselves on our pinpoint diagnostic.”

A staff of experience and expertise

One of the skilled mechanics, Robert Dennard, is from Poland and joined the Rucci team 6 months ago. He brought with him a vast knowledge of European motorcars, including older automobiles. He also specializes in repairing vehicles from 1960 to 1990. For those automobiles that cannot be analyzed with software, Robert is able to manually diagnose any issues and make the needed repairs. Having worked on European motorcars for 39 years, Robert has a passion for his work, and his expertise has added to the strength of the Rucci staff.

What makes Rucci European Service different from dealerships?

Because there are a number of dealerships in the area, I wanted to know what really makes Rucci’s European Service different from other service centers. Nick said, “It’s simple, really. Our technicians and managers are not motivated by performance-based pay. The entire highly trained staff works together as a team, collaborating and assisting when needed to fix vehicles quickly, and at the highest level of quality.”

When Nick opened his service center, he wanted to offer something better to the St. George area. He saw a need for European auto specialization, and wanted to provide an environment of genuine service and expertise. He said, “At the dealerships, most technicians and service writers are paid commission or performance-based pay. This fosters a ‘look out for myself’ attitude and sometimes even motivates individuals toward unscrupulous decisions or actions.”

Did you ever feel pressured to do a repair or service at the dealership?

The mention of unscrupulous decisions or actions made me think of my last oil change. I went in for the $19.99 oil change, and walked out having paid $67.00! I was told everything that I should repair or replace in my car. It was probably true, but I usually feel like if I don’t take their recommendation, my car is going to blow up as soon as I drive out of the parking lot! So I asked Nick if that is just the way car repair service centers are. He replied, “Not at Rucci European Service! Stop by one of our locations and see for yourself: any person from our relaxed, happy team is ready to help you, not pressure you.” And he also added, “Always know that we stand behind our work for 24 months or 24,000 miles, and we try to offer the finest quality workmanship in the area.”

Knowing the European vehicles is the key to effectively servicing them.

Rucci also emphasized the importance of really knowing these European vehicles in order to truly give the best service. Rucci said, “My mechanics own European autos, and I personally own both BMW and Mini vehicles. This gives us extensive knowledge and experience that can’t be found elsewhere. Together, we at Rucci European Service have 59 plus years combined experience. This truly does make a difference as we diagnose and repair these unique and beautiful European automobiles. Many of our technicians have earned the highest level of training BMW offers, which is Level 1 Master. We take pride in the fact that we know every nut and bolt in a BMW or a MINI. Having two shops helps cut expenses, as we can share information and tools. This saves our customers money and time. We can honestly say we are better than the dealer in many ways, not just because we are less expensive. We invite you to drop by any location and meet our staff.”

So before you head down to Las Vegas and waste a whole day, stop in at Rucci’s European Service and see if they can save you time and money, and show you how automobile repair really should be.

Building in Ancestor Square - St. George Utah Now Available

 The Hardy Home in Ancestor Square

This building is located in Ancestor Square in the historic district of St. George, Utah, USA.  It is going on the market and if you would like to buy it before I list it here are the details of the building and photos. The Hardy Home was built in 1871 by August Poore Hardy, one of the first Sheriffs of Washington County.  It has 2880 square feet. It is currently being used as office space, but has been retail and a restaurant in years past. There have been recent improvements and paint to the interior and exterior.

It has amazing street presence and located in the center of town. The traffic count range from 35,000 to 45,000 vehicles per day passing by this building. It is near to any number of fine and established restaurants, retail, galleries, banking, and other businesses.  Its location offers easy access to the interstate and other main arteries across the county. The weekend Farmers Market brings people from all over to Ancestor Square on the weekends, as do other downtown businesses, restaurants and activities including St. George Music Theater in the Historic Opera House. Give me a call at 435-467-2103 if you would like to have more information about this building.

October 2014 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

St. George, UT, November 3, 2014 — The October Students of the Month recipients were recently honored by the St. George Exchange Club.  The St. George Exchange Club sponsors the Student of the Month Program, which honors one student from the area high schools each month. This program recognizes the students’ accomplishments in academics, service and leadership in their respective schools. Dixie State University recently partnered with the St. George Exchange Club and will provide each of the Student of the Month recipients a one-year, full-tuition scholarship.

The 48 students recognized each school year by the St. George Exchange Club equates to a commitment of over $175,000 from Dixie State University. The Exchange Club is honored to work with Dixie State University in recognizing and supporting the outstanding high school students of our community.

In addition, one student from the eight students honored as Student of the Month from each high school will have the opportunity to become Student of the Year for their school and receive a college scholarship to the college of their choice from the St. George Exchange Club.

The St. George Exchange Club meets Thursday mornings at 7:30AM at George's in Ancestor Square. For more information about the St. George Exchange Club, contact Shonie Christensen at 435-767-9000.  We congratulate the St George Exchange Club 2014 October Students of the Month.

Back Row:  JD Robertson (Dixie State University); Harrison Goebel (Pine View High School); Clay Staheli (Desert Hills High School); Courtney Atencio (Millcreek High School); Shonie Christensen (St George Exchange Club President).
Front Row: Addison Smith (Snow Canyon High School); Gabe Szczerbiak (Tuacahn High School); Emily Cottam (Dixie High School); Kyleigha Gibson (Millcreek High School Sept SOM).

JensenBayles - I am the Trustee or Personal Representative of an Estate – Now what do I do?

Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles, Attorneys at Law

            When someone passes away, you may find yourself in charge of administering the decedent’s estate.  You may have been nominated as successor trustee through a Trust, the personal representative (executor) through a Will, or the court may have appointed you to administer the estate.  As the trustee, or personal representative, one of your responsibilities is to determine what assets are owned by the estate or trust.  When you inventory the decedent’s property, will also need to be aware of how the property is owned.  There are four primary forms of ownership:  Individual, Joint, Trust and Beneficiary Designation.

            Individual Ownership:  It is fairly common for an individual to own property, both real and personal, in his or her own name.  Individual ownership will trigger a probate if real property is owned.  In limited circumstances individual ownership of non-real property assets can be transferred based on the decedent’s will without a probate.  

            Joint Ownership:  Property held in “joint tenancy with full rights of survivorship” will pass to the surviving joint tenant.  A certified death certificate and an Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant will be needed to show clear title in the survivor when dealing with real property.  A certified death certificate is likely all that will be needed to clear title on bank accounts held as joint tenants with full rights of survivorship.  The decedent’s fractional interest in property held as “tenants-in-common” will transfer to beneficiaries or the heirs of the decedent as if that interest had been owned individually.

            Ownership in Trust:  The decedent may have created a trust and transferred all ownership interest to the trustee of the trust.  In that case, you will need to inventory the assets and distribute as outlined in the trust document.  Utilization of a trust typically accomplishes a smoother transition of the assets to the beneficiaries of an estate with less cost and less time delay.

            Beneficiary Designation:  Certain property may be designated to transfer to a beneficiary at the death of the decedent.  Personal property such as life insurance, pay-on-death bank accounts, and brokerage accounts, will require a certified death certificate to effect a transfer.

      Taking an inventory of the property and its ownership is just one of the first steps in administering an estate or trust.  It is recommended that you retain an experienced attorney to help you through this administrative process.  Please contact our office and mention this article for a complementary ½ hour consultation if you are involved in trust or estate administration and would like to discuss the administration process in your situation.

JensenBayles, LLP provides a broad spectrum of legal services.  Thomas J. Bayles has been actively providing advice in the areas of trusts, wills, probate and tax planning in the St. George area for over 15 years. Please visit our web site www.jensenbayles.com or call 435-674-9718 and ask for Thomas J. Bayles or Phillip G. Gubler. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice.  

BYU Management Society to Hold Luncheon on October 23

Speaker: Eric Pedersen, Ph.D.
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014
Time: 12:00 pm
Where: Courtyard by Marriott, located at 185 South 1470 East, St. George. Cost is $15.00.
Notes: Please put in the email a reminder for everyone to bring a business card to enter the drawings for door prizes.

Please RSVP to Drew Gubler at drewgubler@gmail.com. 


https://stgeorge.byums.org/

About Eric Pedersen
Eric Pedersen is the current Dean of the School of Science & Technology at Dixie State University. Eric has served as a faculty member in the Computer and Information Technology Department at Dixie State University since 1989 and teaches courses on web development and tech entrepreneurship at DSU. Pedersen has also held numerous leadership roles on campus as he was director of the institution's business and development resource center from 1989-94, director of the center of excellence for computer graphics, and served as dean of continuing education at Dixie State from 1994-97. Eric received his Ph.D. in Management Information Systems at Utah State University and has conducted extensive work in tech entrepreneurship. He also holds degrees in Business, Economics and Spanish. In addition to his academic career, Eric is a successful entrepreneur. He directed a research team that developed and launched the first website in Utah. In addition, he co-founded InfoWest, the first regional internet service provider in southern Utah, along with several other tech companies and businesses.

Eric Pedersen, Ph.D.

JensenBayles: You May Regret Transferring Assets to Your Children Now

Attorneys Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles

Parents often think about transferring assets to their children outright or as joint-tenants during their life.  They may believe that the transfer will avoid probate and make it easier for the children upon the parent’s death.  Lifetime transfers are sometimes used as an estate planning tool in limited circumstances and may avoid probate; but, for most of the population these transfers could trigger unfavorable consequences.    

There are several problems associated with an outright gift of an asset to a child or children.  What if you regret your decision or realize later that you need the asset for your daily needs?  Your child may choose not to give it back, or your child may not be in a position in which they can give it back.  For example, your child could be involved in court proceedings with creditors or in the midst of a divorce, and now your assets look like they are your child’s assets, because they are. 

Let’s look at some risks involved in transferring your home to your child by gift during your life.  First, you may lose your ability to access the equity of your home if that becomes necessary for your living expenses.  You will not be able to apply for a reverse mortgage, and you may be disqualified from receiving Medicaid benefits if you need full time nursing home care.  What if the child you give your home to predeceases you?  Will your son-in-law or daughter-in-law take care of you? 

There are big income tax disadvantages, and maybe gift or inheritance tax consequences to giving assets away to someone other than your spouse.  Before transferring assets during life or at death you should consult with an attorney experienced in income, estate and gift tax planning.  In addition, you should never transfer an asset that you may need later in life for your health care, maintenance and support.

JensenBayles, LLP provides a broad spectrum of legal services.  Thomas J. Bayles has been actively providing advice in the areas of trusts, wills, probate and tax planning in the St. George market for over 15 years. Please visit our web site www.jensenbayles.com or call 435-674-9718 and ask for Thomas J. Bayles or Phillip G. Gubler.