Ceran's prior insurance expired Nov. 30 after he started a new job. But he had to wait a probationary period with the new employer before his health benefits could begin. On Friday, he completed the paperwork and attempted to turn it in, but because of the holiday weekend, the official handing those duties had left early.

The application was still in Ceran's possession when a car plowed into his family car early Sunday, killing his wife, Cheryl, 15-year-old son Ian and 7-year-old daughter Julianna. His 19-year-old daughter Clarissa and 12-year-old son Caleb were hospitalized.

No room at the inn: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has been disinvited as a regular participant of the Salt Lake County Conference of Mayors.

The conference, made up of mayors of the 15 municipalities, decided that because the county's interests often conflict with the city's, the county mayor should only be invited when specific county business is discussed.

Former County Mayor Nancy Workman was a regular participant, but of course she is a Republican and Corroon is a Democrat. Most of the city mayors, while officially nonpartisan, lean Republican.

Another issue: The cities will be battling the county for a portion of the restaurant, car rental and hotel tax at the Legislature this year.

The last of a breed: Besides being the longest-living president and the only one never elected, Gerald R. Ford, who died Tuesday, is the answer to a third great presidential trivia question.

Ford was the last of the 14 presidents who were Freemasons. The others were George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

A pretty good dodger: President Ford is remembered for his decency and humility, but he also was a skilled and cagey politician.

After he was defeated by Jimmy Carter, he was in Salt Lake City during one of his frequent trips to Utah and took time to hold a news conference endorsing Republican Rep. Dan Marriott for re-election.

One reporter asked Ford his position on the Kaiparowits Plateau, a southern Utah wilderness area at the center of controversy at the time because of a proposal to launch a major coal mining operation in the pristine area.

Ford didn't miss a beat. "I support Congressman Marriott's position." He then ignored the reporter after that, lest he be asked what Marriott's position might be.

prolly@sltrib.com