is largest of kind in North America

The National Alpaca Show is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy for what organizers say is the largest event of its kind in North America.

The event will showcase more than 1,000 alpacas, and will include demonstrations of hand spinning, weaving, shearing, felting and other folk arts associated with alpaca fibers. Alpacas, originally from South America, produce a luxurious, soft fiber that is one-third the weight of wool.

The show runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

For information, visit www.alpacainfo.com.

- Dawn House

Good sports

Triathlon to aid Emery County Sheriff's Office

A triathlon to raise funds for the Emery County Sheriff's Office's search and rescue team will be staged June 28 at Huntington State Park.

The first San Rafael Classic Sprint Triathlon will feature a half-mile swim across Huntington Lake, two miles north of the town of Huntington, a 15-mile bicycle ride on a side road to the coal ghost town of Mohrland, and a 5-mile run on the same two-lane highway.

Triathlon spokesman Ben Orgill said the main event will be capped at 400 participants. There also will be a team relay triathlon, a duathlon and a triathlon for kids. Registration fees are $60 per person and $180 per team for the triathlon, $60 a person and $120 per team for the duathlon, and $25 per child in the kids' triathlon.

To register, go to www.sanrafaelclassic.com.

- Mike Gorrell