Story Archive for 05/04/2009
Show/Hide Archive Navigation
Missing Sandy Girl Found Safe
Published on May 04, 2009 at 03:01PM
(SANDY)—An 11-year old girl who was reported missing and endangered due to a medical condition has been found safe. Police say Stephanie Brook Sotelo ran away from a foster home around 2:00 a.m. Sunday. Sotelo is on anti-depressants, but did not have any with her. Monday morning, Sotelo was found when a citizien called West Jordan police. Authorities state Sotelo was taken to a hospital when she was found due to a low core body temperature. Sotelo did not have any food or money, police said while they believe she was trying to leave the state. Sotelo has also run away before and has a tendency to make up stories.
Woman's Body Found on I-215
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:57PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Utah Highway Patrol is working to identify a woman whose body was found near an overpass on Interstate 215. The woman’s body was found Sunday morning after a passing driver spotted it. Trooper Ted Johnson says the condition of the body indicates the woman was likely hit by a semitrailer which didn’t stop because the driver probably didn’t know the rig had hit someone. Johnson says the investigation into the incident is ongoing and that the medical examiner is trying to determine a cause of death.
West Valley City Clerk Attacked With Crowbar During Robbery
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:52PM
(WEST VALLEY CITY)—A suspect used an unusual weapon to pull off an aggravated assault robbery Monday in West Valley City. Just before 5:00 a.m., West Valley Police say a man used a crowbar to pry open the back door of a Holiday Oil convenience store. Once inside, the man assaulted an employee with the bar, grabbed some cash and fled the scene. Officers reported the man was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with patches on the sleeves and tan pants. The employee was treated at the scene and is reportedly in good condition.
Man Kidnapped, Beaten and Robbed
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:46PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A Salt Lake City man is recovering after he was kidnapped, beaten and robbed while officers are looking for his attackers. The man reported he was riding his bike home from a friend’s house and a car pulled over with the passengers asking if he had any drugs. At that time, the two men pistol-whipped the biker stated Salt Lake City Detective Dennis McGowan. They also took the man’s phone, shoes, wallet and jewelry while pushing him out the door. The suspects’ car has been described as a late model brown Sedan, perhaps a Chevy Impala.
Parole Officers Say Visting Offenders Are A Challenge
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:42PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Probation and parole officers say an increase in the number of offenders in the Salt Lake Valley is making it difficult to keep up with regular visits. Officers are required to visit the highest-risk offenders at home or work once a month and the lowest-risk offenders every 90 days. According to the Department of Corrections, there are more than 11,000 probationers and nearly 3700 parolees statewide, with nearly half of them living in Salt Lake County. Officers are downgrading more high-risk offenders and ending supervision earlier for others in hopes of coping with the increase.
Hand Sanitizer Rare Commodity With Swine Flu Outbreak
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:39PM
(PROVO)—Concerns over the swine flu are making it increasingly difficult to find hand sanitizer in Utah. At such stores as the Macey’s in Provo, several brands of hand sanitizer have sold out although store director Steve Bitter said they’re gradually replenishing their supply. Bitter encouraged shoppers throughout Utah to try several stores in case the kind of sanitizer they prefer is unavailable.
Hipster Grifter Caught in Pennsylvania
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:33PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—One of Salt Lake City’s most wanted criminals will soon be headed back to Utah for sentencing after becoming an Internet sensation. 22-year old Kari Ferrell is wanted on a number of felony fraud warrants in Utah and she fled the state last year. Eventually, she showed up in New York where the New York Observer christened her as the “hipster grifter,” while accusing her of scamming people out of money as she had done in Utah. Ferrell is also accused of lying about diseases and even pregnancies in order to scam people. Ferrell was arrested Sunday night in Philadelphia and she will now be extradited to face charges in Utah.
Fire Damages Salem Cabinet Company
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:26PM
(SALEM)—Monday morning, a fire in Salem burned a company that has been in business for 14 years. Rocky Mountain Woods caught fire around 6:00 a.m. and an employee working inside was able to get out once he smelled the smoke. The Salem Fire Department fire marshal is currently investigating the scene and at this time, the fire’s cause is still unknown. The fire was reported by an employee at Rocky Mountain Woods and upon the arrival of property manager Bart Mortensen, one of the buildings was fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews shut down Utah SR-198 in Salem in order to get their crews in position to fight the fire. Mortensen said the damage caused to the building is devastating, especially for the owners of the buildings because he believes they don’t have insurance on any of their equipment.
Motorcyclist Killed After Crash Near Blanding
Published on May 04, 2009 at 02:22PM
(BLANDING)—A motorcyclist died after crashing on a San Juan County road Monday. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said wet roads may have been a factor in the crash of Aleck Leon Foulks Jr. Saturday. The sheriff’s office said that Foulks, a Phoenix resident, was traveling west behind a group of fellow riders near Blanding. The group noticed he was no longer with them and backtracked about a mile where he lied motionless on the side of the road. Foulks, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Amendment approved on water wells
Published on May 04, 2009 at 01:52PM
(RICHFIELD) – An amendment to a Sevier County subdivision ordinance requiring dwellings to have their own well was approved in a Commission meeting today. For several weeks, Commissioners have been discussing problems with residents who have dwellings in unincorporated areas in the county, creating partnerships with others using a well for water on two dwellings. Commissioners discussed legal problems the county faces when those partnerships are dissolved. The amendment was unanimously approved for each dwelling to have a well or be connected to a public water delivery system.
Commissioners approve equipment contracts
Published on May 04, 2009 at 01:40PM
(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners approved contracts today for the purchase of arena and stall equipment for animals at the fairgrounds. Economic Development Director, Malcolm Nash, says the contracts were split between two well-known companies to save the county a lot of money. He said a portion of the contract awarded to Powder River would cover small animal equipment and another portion of the contract was awarded to Prefert, with conditions, that would cover large animal equipment. Nash said that the total costs of the contracts amount to $183,000, which would save the county much more than if the contracts would have been awarded to one company. Most of the construction of the arena and stalls should be completed by the time the county fair begins this summer.
New officers elected for Republican Party
Published on May 04, 2009 at 11:37AM
Updated on May 04, 2009 at 06:31PM
The Sanpete County Republican Party held it’s organizing convention last Saturday. Republican delegates elected Beverly Thomas, of Ephraim, as the new chair of the county party. Dean Cox, of Ephraim, was elected vice-chair, along with Judith Olson of Ephraim as secretary and Betty Mikkelsen of Fountain Green as the state central committee representative. The delegates heard comments form elected officials including Congressman Jason Chaffets, Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert, State Senator Ralph Okerlund, and Represenatives Patrick Painter and Brad Winn. Other speakers included Tim Bridgwater and David Hansen, both candidates for Utah State Republican Party Chair.
Sanpete County Princess and Sweetheart
Published on May 04, 2009 at 11:34AM
Updated on May 04, 2009 at 05:42PM
Sanpete County has new Jr. Princess’ and cowboy Sweethearts. The Jr. Princess royalty includes Megan Brotherson as the new princess with her attendants as Jamie Bawden as 1st attendant, 2nd attendants are Shay Lynn Ekker, and Riley Stewart.
The Sanpete County Sweetheart Royalty includes Chelsea Dingmonsuh as the new Queen. 1st attendant is Kayley Jackman and second attendants are Megan Jensen and Tanesha Ekker
Miss Ephraim crowned
Published on May 04, 2009 at 11:31AM
Updated on May 04, 2009 at 05:45PM
Monique Lantz was crowned the new Miss Ephraim this past weekend. Her royalty includes 1st attendant Alex Hancock, 2nd attendant Alexandria Wyatt, 3rd attendant Taylor Rosquist. The Miss Congeniality title was awarded to Christina Aquado.
Utah BLM gets stimulus money
Published on May 04, 2009 at 08:04AM
(LAS VEGAS) – The Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will receive nearly $30 million in federal stimulus money. According to Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, the funds are part of more than $300 million in stimulus dollars to update BLM facilities and jump-start renewable energy projects across the country. Salazar said the 650 approved projects will “restore our landscapes and our watersheds” and help fulfill the Obama’s Administration’s target for renewable energy development. He made the announcement at the Red Rock Conservation Area outside of Las Vegas. Salazar said that 43 projects worth $29.4 million are planned for Utah. They range from trailhead construction at parks and study areas to native plant restoration, to remediation of abandoned mines.
Snow students receive diplomas
Published on May 04, 2009 at 07:35AM
(EPHRAIM) – Snow College-Ephraim completed graduation excercises over the weekend. 570 students received their diplomas Saturday during the ceremony on the Ephraim campus. Laurie Carter, executive of the Julliard School of Music, was the commencement speaker, telling students to “get into the driver’s seat, take control of your life and make it your own.” During her address, Carter said that when she mentioned the Snow-Julliard partnership to her colleagues, they wondered why Julliard would partner with a school in South-Central Utah. She said they soon discovered the quiet, slow-paced lifestyle in a rural setting was a perfect contrast to the fast-paced lifestyle in New York and created a sense of renewal and peace that would not be found in a large city. Snow President, Scott Wyatt, also presented posthumous degrees to the parents of Shilo and Micah Edwards, who were killed in an automobile accident while traveling home to Bountiful in February. Their names will also be placed alongside those of other donors on a monument for the school’s yet-to-be-built Heritage Plaza.
Colorado woman cited for crash
Published on May 04, 2009 at 07:01AM
(SALINA) – A Colorado woman was cited Saturday afternoon in a crash on I-70 east of Salina. A UHP report said that at about 2:15pm, 26-year old, Battina Klattfalstnauer of Denver, CO. was traveling westbound ten miles east of Salina, when she lost control of her 2006 Mini Cooper due to water on the road. The report said she went off the right shoulder of the highway and rolled once, landing on the tires. Klattfalstnauer was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Ephraim woman injured in accident
Published on May 04, 2009 at 06:54AM
(GUNNISON) – An Ephraim woman sustained injuries in a rollover Saturday night on SR-89 near Gunnison. According to a UHP report, at about 6:15pm, 60-year old, Gay Smith, was traveling northbound about two miles east of Gunnison, when she failed to negotiate a curve in the road and rolled several times down an embankment through a fence. The report said that Smith was driving a 1998 Ford Ranger and received unknown injuries.