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CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) -- The host of a popular Cedar City radio program has been fired after making an on-air joke that offended at least one Mexican listener.
Paul Fice, a former California Highway Patrol trooper known to his listeners as "Sarge," hosted the show "Trade-io" on station K-S-U-B. Listeners who want to sell or trade something call in, describe the item and leave a telephone number.
Last Thursday, a man called to sell a "Mexican roping saddle," and Fice, who often makes comments about the items, joked that the saddle probably could be used to "rope Mexicans" coming across the border.
Later in the program an unidentified woman called in and said Fice's comment offended her.
The company, Cherry Creek Radio, moved fast, firing Fice on Friday.
Fice says he's disappointed that he was let go and that he meant nothing derogatory by his comment.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
