I mean, we'll hear how Cedar City has the second- (or, third-, depending on point of view) largest runway in the state. How the city recently poured a ton of entitlement money into building a new terminal, how air service there is substandard.

I just don't buy it any more. I no longer believe that the sun, the moon and the stars revolve around Cedar City.

It's a great place, I love the Utah Shakespearean Festival, I love the mountains and scenery. But, contrary to a once-soiled viewpoint, I have found that there IS intelligent life south of Exit 33.

Cedar City, with Mesa Airlines now servicing it through the essential air service program, now can fly you to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, which is more than it had before.

St. George, with a new airport, will be able to land the larger commuter jets and take you to, if what I am hearing is true, destinations other than Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, which it now serves directly.

What more does the Southern Utah traveler need?

It's time to tie a knot in this rivalry thing. Cedar City needs to join forces with St. George on a number of issues -- from economic development to water and transportation.

I realized this about three years ago when instead of the narrow view I had, I took a step back and looked at the area as a region. When I did that, I saw how dependent these two areas actually are on each other and how some held tightly to mostly outdated, no-longer-practical grudges that continue to divide the two cities.

Competition is good. It keeps us all on our toes. I hope there continues to be a competition between the two cities. But, when it comes down to matters of importance, we need more cooperation.

I don't want to hear how Dixie State College takes precedence over SUU. If you truly believe that's the case, take it up with the president of the university (maybe the new one will act more and whine less) and the state regents. I don't want to hear how Cedar City residents are disloyal by purchasing their goods in St. George. If that's such a problem, bring in a developer up there who will bring in more choice than Wal-Mart.

I mean, other than Jolley's and the jewelry shops on Main Street, you really don't have a lot of other choices.

And, we all better take a look at who is settling here. It's not your daddy's in-migration crew.

We've got very bright people with a lot of money and higher expectations who are coming here to get away from the crime and smog, but expect a certain level of sophistication. They want to live in a town that looks like Mayberry, but is as progressive in thought and deed as Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.

That rivalry business?

Leave it to the high school football teams.