Story Archive for 04/23/2009
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Hatch opposes impeachment of judge
Published on April 23, 2009 at 01:20PM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – A BYU law graduate, who is now a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge in California, has received calls for impeachment over written memos allowing harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists. Judge Jay Bybee, as a Bush administration lawyer, authorized the CIA to waterboard detainees in Guantanamo Bay, slam them into a wall, hit them, lock them in small boxes with insects and deprive them of sleep for up to 11 days. Jerrold Nadler, a House Judiciary subcommittee chairman, along with other groups, have called for Bybee’s impeachment. Sen. Orrin Hatch is opposed to impeachment because it would distort and misuse the impeachment measures under the Constitution. Hatch said it would further a very destructive and poisonous trend of seeking to criminalize or otherwise punish differences of opinion. He said Bybee is one of the most honorable federal judge’s in the country that anyone would ever meet and believes Democrats are looking to score political points by tarnishing Bybee.
Hikers are warned of higher elevations
Published on April 23, 2009 at 12:51PM
(ST. GEORGE) – Dixie National Forest personnel are warning hikers of winter-like conditions along hiking trails in the high country. Bevan Killpack, District Ranger for the Pine Valley Ranger District, says even though spring is in the air and temperatures are like summer, conditions on Pine Valley mountains don’t reflect what’s near the ground. Killpack said that the big, grey mountain looks dry but there’s still three to four feet of snow on top. He said that conditions on the mountain can change in seconds and hikers can get stuck quickly. Seasonal employees are hired each year to open and maintain trails in the Pine Valley mountains and they usually don’t start until late May or early June because of the snow conditions. Killpack said that there’s plenty of trails in lower elevations that hikers can use.
Aurora refuses stimulus money
Published on April 23, 2009 at 12:43PM
(AURORA) – Aurora City officials are preparing to set the 2010 tentative budget on May 18 and conduct a final budget hearing on June 15th. At this week’s council meeting, councilmembers discussed several issues, including replacing the emergency siren with a new siren ordered by Homeland Security. Sevier County Deputy Chief, John Hunt, said old sirens will be given to unincorporated communitees in Sevier County. Also at the meeting, the council refused federal government stimulus money for water projects and discussed the UDOT Pedestrian Safety Funding Program which allows money to be used for sidewalk replacement and construction within city limits. The council also announced the filing period, July 1-15, for the election in November for the mayor and two council positions.
Bennett blasts Napolitano on terrorist report
Published on April 23, 2009 at 09:46AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, regarding the department’s recent report on “Rightwing Extremism”. The report states that veterans, gun owners and groups against abortion or immigration could be considered potential “terrorists.” Bennett said he’s deeply troubled by Napolitano’s lack of concern over the misguided perception that is given by the report. He said that it’s offensive to him and his fellow veterans that those who defend this country both past and present, are branded as terrorists. Bennett said he believes the secretary owes veterans and their families a heartfelt apology.
Hatch warns administration on union corruption
Published on April 23, 2009 at 09:12AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Orrin Hatch said Wednesday that the Obama Administration is unwisely doing a favor for political allies in labor by rescinding a regulation approved by former Pres. Bush to help root out corruption in unions. The new rule would have required unions to disclose additional information in annual reports about compensation to union officers and employees, details about buying or selling union assets and additional information about union receipts. The Bush administration said it would discourage embezzlement by making it easier to find. But the Obama Administration said Tuesday, that labor unions made compelling arguments that the rule was overly burdensome and would have little effect on efforts to detect fraud. Hatch said it’s disappointing to him that the Obama Administration has chosen to cut investigations into financial corruption, soley because it may reside in its own political constituency.
Religious groups petition Senators on wilderness
Published on April 23, 2009 at 08:47AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – Representatives from ten different religious groups, including the LDS Church, have banded together to call for more wilderness protection. On Tuesday, the group took their concerns to Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City. The group’s statement called on the leaders of the community to join them in recognizing the spiritual importance of Utah’s wild landscapes and to act now to help ensure their protection. The statement said the “astounding beauty, utter vastness and enveloping silence of wild places awaken our sense of awe and connect us to something larger than ourselves—God, Allah, the Divine, spirit, the un-nameable mystery of life.” The interfaith group took letters to Hatch and Bennett and urged the Senators to craft more legislative protection for the state’s wilderness heritage.
Funeral planned for Reaper publisher
Published on April 23, 2009 at 07:25AM
(RICHFIELD) – Funeral arrangements are scheduled for Mark Fullenbach, the owner and publisher of the Richfield Reaper, who died of an apparent heart attack on Wednesday in Price. Fullenbach had been attending business meetings when he collapsed and died. He was 60-years of age at the time of his death. His funeral is planned for this Saturday at 11am in the Richfield Tabernacle at 200 West Center. Friends and family may call at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield Friday from 6-8pm and again at the mortuary Saturday from 9:30-10:30am. Burial will be held at the Richfield City Cemetery with Military Rites by the Battery-A 2nd Battalion of 222nd Field Artillery. Fullenbach was named publisher of the Richfield Reaper in 1977, which had just recognized the 75th anniversary of the publication in March. He was an active part of the South-Central Utah community, including the Richfield Rotary Club, Utah National Guard 222nd Field Artillery Battalion, Sevier Valley Medical Center board and many other organizations.
Jail guard gets sentenced for sex
Published on April 23, 2009 at 06:46AM
(CEDAR CITY) – A former Purgatory Correctional Facility employee has been sentenced to probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service for having a sexual relationship with an inmate last year. According to court documents, 36-year old, Stephanie Alldredge of St. George, was charged in 5th District Court with two counts of third-degree felony custodial sexual relations. She pleaded guilty to one count earlier this month and the other was dismissed. St. George Police Sgt. James Van Fleet said that Alldredge met a female inmate in the Hurricane jail’s public area last summer while the inmate was on work release. Van Fleet said the inmate was jailed for a parole violation. In 2006, five Purgatory employees lost their jobs after three former female inmates alleged they had sex with guards at the jail.
Prep Sports Roundup: 4/22
Published on April 23, 2009 at 12:49AM
GUNNISON, Utah (AP)—Matthew Harris had two RBI for the Gunnison Bulldogs as they pummeled the Layton Christian Eagles, 22-1 Wednesday in non-region baseball action.
MONROE, Utah (AP)—Aubrey Lindgren had a home run and earned the win on the mound as the South Sevier Lady Rams crushed the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 15-0 in Region 12 softball action Wednesday