Story Archive for 04/29/2009
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Ogden Youth Charged In Deadly Chase
Published on April 29, 2009 at 04:05PM
(OGDEN)—A 17-year old driver involved in a deadly car chase last week has been charged for his role in the incident. Wednesday, the Weber County District Attorney’s office charged Mark Mora with two counts of criminal homicide, automobile homicide, each of which are second degree felonies. Mora also faces charges of failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop resulting in injury or death and a misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors say Mora was the driver of a car when it sped through an Ogden intersection while running from police. Mora is being charged as an adult.
Man Pleads Guilty To Goat Killing
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:54PM
(TOOELE)—A man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges for cutting off the heads of two pet goats last Halloween. 20-year old Orion Kent Mitchell Stoltman of Springville also pleaded guilty to class B misdemeanor theft in exchange for having prosecutors drop two other charges. Stoltman faces up to 2 1/2 years in jail with sentencing slated to take place June 9 in 3rd District Court.
Missing Hiker Likely Lived For Two Days
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:44PM
(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)—An autopsy has confirmed that a Colorado woman whose body was found in a slot canyon in eastern Utah died of exposure. Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon stated three hikers found the body of 54-year old Rose Backhaus in the upper Chute Canyon on Saturday. Law enforcement officials discovered her body Sunday. Beckhaus, a resident of New Castlel, Colo., was last seen November 16 when she checked out of a Moab hotel and left the parking lot at a canyon trailhead. Crews searched for her for about a month after she was reported missing and intermittently afterwards.
Residents Lobby Utah/Arizona in Land Fight
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:38PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A handful of residents in polygamous communities on the Utah-Arizona border are voicing concerns over settlement talks for control of the property trust that holds their homes. In letters to the attorneys general of Utah and Arizona, residents state they fear control of land in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz. will go back to the members of the FLDS faction. Reportedly, this would leave residents who are not part of the cult homeless. The trust was seized by Utah in 2005 after allegations of mismanagement. State changes have allowed former church members to return to the community.
Evidence of Beating To Be Shown For Accused Kidnapper's Trial
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:20PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A last minute withdrawal by state prosecutors has attorneys for an alleged kidnapper please. Due to the fact, state prosecutors withdrew their motion, evidence of Roger Bell’s beating will come into play at the trial. Bell’s defense attorneys say that evidence will include photos of the damage done to Bell and his partner, Dan Fair, as well as from a medical professional about the state of mind he was in when he allegedly confessed to taking the children. During the proceedings Wednesday, the defense also argued prior convictions of the family members who attacked Bell and Fair should come into play. Bell’s defense attorneys also asked the judge to allow the jury, once it’s selected to know that Bell is facing two first-degree felony charges of kidnapping. The judge has set another hearing date for May 19 at which time he’ll come to a decision on the prior convictions, whether or not the jury will be allowed to know the weight of the charges, and if council will be appointed to the involved families.
Woman Sentenced Up To 15 Years in Baby's Death
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:11PM
(PROVO)—A judge has sentenced a babysitter ranging anywhere from one-15 years in prison for the death of a Provo baby. Daniella Ruiz was convicted in November in 4th District Court of child abuse homicide in the shaking death of 5-month old Brandon Zamora and was sentenced Tuesday. The 27-year old Ruiz said the baby was brought to her asleep and later became pale and unresponsive while the baby was hospitalized and died the next day. Judge David Mortensen said the case was too serious for the problem, despite Ruiz’ pleas that she not be sent to prison because she has children. Prosecutor Chad Grunander says it can be difficult to recommend prison, but in this case it was a deserved penalty. Ruiz’ attorney, Shelden Carter, plans to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Utah Getting $321 Million In Education Stimulus
Published on April 29, 2009 at 03:02PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The U.S. Department of Education says more than $321 million is now available to the state of Utah under the stimulus funds package passed earlier this year. The department says the funds will help with educational reform and will save teaching jobs made vulnerable by budget cuts. The money is being made available following Utah’s completion of the first part of the State Stabilization Application. To get the money, Utah has assured it will collect and analyze information on elements such as teacher quality and student improvement. The state is also required to report the number of jobs saved through the funding. The education department says Utah, which has already received $86 million in education stimulus funds, will be eligible to apply for another $158 in the fall.
Two Utah Cities Get Low Marks For Dirty Air
Published on April 29, 2009 at 02:51PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A new report from the American Lung Association states Salt Lake City has the sixth-worst air pollution in the nation for short-term particle pollution. Additionally, the 2009 State of the Air report released Wednesday says Logan is eighth-worst in short term spikes of fine-particle pollution. Neverthless, San Juan County was names as one of the nation’s cleanest counties in terms of ozone pollution. Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Donna Spangler said state air quality workers disagree with how the rankings are compiled. The report gives Utah communities that are non-compliant with federal ozone standards five times a year the same score as California cities that don’t comply 90 times a year.
Salt Lake City Council Inches Closer To Hard Liquor
Published on April 29, 2009 at 02:46PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Salt Lake City appears poised to enter a new era, at least in terms of liquor laws. Next Tuesday, the city council will vote on a bill that will give a specific tavern, Andy’s Place, in downtown Salt Lake City, the right to sell hard liquor. The measure also promises to permit pubs within a 12-block radius east of downtown as well as those near Capitol Hill, and south of Spring Communications Field, to be open bars. City Councilman Carlton Christensen said the bill would work if bar owners comply. Naturally, there will be conditions as the planning commission has to approve all signage and bars are required to have security plans, lighted parking, and landscaping buffers.
Home Sales Decline in 1st Quarter
Published on April 29, 2009 at 02:34PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The number of home sales in Utah is currently falling according to a report by the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. In the board’s report, data shows the number of homes sold in the first quarter of 2009 declined sharply compared to the same time period last year. Sales are down at least 24 percent in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Tooele counties. Median home prices fell by about 1 percent during the first quarter, but they’re off 6 percent from the high two years ago. Kendall Oliphant, the senior vice president of Thredgold Economic Associates said he believes declines are decelerating and there is a limit to how low home values can go. Experts also say interest rates are so low that those who buy now may have the same mortgage payment as those who wait to buy at lower prices next year.
Snow College plans graduation Saturday
Published on April 29, 2009 at 12:24PM
(EPHRAIM) – Snow College-Ephraim is set to graduate over 500 students in ceremonies this Saturday. Snow will award 570 degrees and diplomas to students on its Ephraim campus with 58% females to 42% males receiving degrees. Statistics show that students come from 27 of the 29 counties in Utah, 12 of the 50 states and 10 foreign countries to attend Snow College. Laurie Carter, a Julliard School of Music executive, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremonies, which will be held at the Activities Center on the Ephraim campus Saturday starting at 10am.
Grounbreaking planned for St. George bridge
Published on April 29, 2009 at 11:02AM
(ST. GEORGE) – A groundbreaking ceremony will be held this Friday in St. George for a bridge that was destroyed during the 2005 flood. Congressman Jim Matheson will join representatives from UDOT and the City of St. George to break ground on the Valley View Bridge, which was destroyed, along with 20 homes, during the devastating flood of 2005. The $6.2-million bridge replacement was put on hold several times over the past four years due to budget constraints but became one of the 56 federal stimulus projects. The new bridge will alleviate a bottleneck on a five-lane road in that area. The groundbreaking will be held Friday at 1:15pm at 400 South Valley View Drive in St. George. The public is invited to attend.
Bennett opposes Sebelius confirmation
Published on April 29, 2009 at 09:46AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett spoke on the Senate floor this week in opposition to the appointment of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. Bennett said in his speech that Sebelius is not the right appointment for this position and that she carries a little bit too much baggage. He said he’s worked well with Sebelius in the past but with the country dealing with health care problems, she’s not the solution. The Senate confirmed Sebelius in a 65 to 31 vote.
Richfield council discusses sidewalk sales
Published on April 29, 2009 at 07:04AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council discussed the regulation of sidewalk sales within city limits in their council meeting Tuesday night. The mayor and council are concerned about a clear pathway on city sidewalks while the sales are in progress and also the length of the time sidewalk sales are conducted. Mayor Brad Ramsay also commented that the city has no ordinance for sidewalk sales. Several business owners attended the meeting, commenting that sidewalk sales help promote their business in ways that regular sales don’t. Mayor Brad Ramsay and some councilmembers want sidewalk sales to run Thursday through Saturday and be an organized event while some business owners don’t want a requirement to hold a sidewalk sale as part of an organized event. The mayor and council appreciated the comments from business owners and will decide on the issue in future meetings.
Richfield Council plans ordinance changes
Published on April 29, 2009 at 06:52AM
(RICHFIELD) – Several public hearings were held Tuesday night at the Richfield City Council meeting concerning changes in the nuisance ordinance, property petitions and secondary advertising signs on buildings. No one offered any negative comments in the hearings and Mayor Brad Ramsay closed the public comment period. City officials want to amend the nuisance ordinance to include the accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts on private or public property, not including highways. The city council said recently that their desire for the change in the ordinance is to clean up the city of unsightly yards and property. City officials also want to require businesses to obtain a sign permit to erect secondary signs on their buildings. The city wants non-illuminated signs not to exceed 24-inches-by-12-feet and not to exceed a maximum of four signs per side on no more than two sides of the building. Changes in the nuisance and sign ordinances will go into effect in a future council meeting.