This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

From my point of view, Utah's Republican delegates do a heck of a lot better job at providing disaster relief than Brownie ever did.

The 77 delegates and alternates, along with about 100 other Utahns in Tampa, Fla., for the Republican National Convention, spent several hours Monday putting together 1,000 personal hygiene kits for Gulf Coast residents in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac.

The kits certainly fall short of a two-year supply, but they will help storm victims with basic needs if they are forced from their homes by the hurricane.

The kits include four toothbrushes, two towels, two bars of soap and one tube of toothpaste all purchased at a nearby Costco. The $15,000 to purchase the kits was donated by Republican activist Fred Lampropoulos' Merit Medical.

The delegation connected with local officials of the LDS Church who will help distribute the kits.

At every national GOP convention, the Utah delegates engage in a humanitarian project to benefit residents of the host city.

This year's project actually is to make back-to-school kits for elementary kids in Tampa, which is still planned. But when most of Monday's conventions activities were canceled because of the storm, delegates, with Merit's donation, decided to perform an extra act of charity.

In 2008, at the Republican Convention in Minneapolis, Utah delegates put together hygiene kits that were shipped to victims of Hurricane Gustav. In 2004, they restored an inner-city playground in New York City.

Try, try again • The online edition of the Davis County Clipper on Aug. 22 ran this simple little story:

"WEST BOUNTIFUL — Democratic Congressional hopeful Chris Stewart will hold a town-hall meeting Thursday, Aug. 23 at West Bountiful City Park, 550 West Pages Lane.

"Stewart hopes to discuss the miracle of freedom and other issues affecting Utah's second congressional district, according to a press release from his campaign ... Stewart is hoping to unseat Congressman Rob Bishop, R-Utah."

A short time later, this revised story ran:

"WEST BOUNTIFUL — Republican Congressional hopeful Chris Stewart will hold a town hall meeting… Stewart is hoping to unseat Congressman Jim Matheson, D-Utah."

Then, a third version:

"WEST BOUNTIFUL — Republican congressional hopeful Chris Stewart will hold a town hall meeting …Stewart is running against Donna McAleer."

Then a fourth version ran that didn't mention Stewart's opponent.

Actually, McAleer, a Democrat, is running against Republican incumbent Rob Bishop in the 1st Congressional District. Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson is running against Republican Mia Love in the 4th Congressional District, and Republican Stewart actually is running against Democrat Jay Seegmiller in the 2nd Congressional District.

Quote of the day • During a Utah Democratic Party fundraiser Tuesday featuring Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Montana Sen. Jon Tester, one participant asked McCaskill how a guy like Congressman Todd ("legitimate rape") Akin could end up on the Science Committee.

McCaskill's answer: "How does Michele Bachmann end up on the Intelligence Committee?"

Like mother, like daughter • The annual Bear Lake Brawl Triathlon Competition that began Saturday turned into a family affair.

In the sprint event, Angela Acord of Riverton won the gold medal in the intermediate female division for ages 45-49.

Then, Angela's daughter, Rylee Wood, who lives and trains with her mother, won the gold medal in the female 14-and-under division.