Story Archive for 06/01/2009
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Washington Takes Early Lead on Gators
Published on June 01, 2009 at 11:31PM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Ashley Charters, Jenn Salling and Morgan Stuart each had two RBI as the Washington Lady Huskies downed the Florida Lady Gators, 8-0 in the Womens’ College World Series Monday. The loss was a rare one for the Lady Gators as they fell to 63-4 on the season, while Washington improved to 50-12. The Lady Huskies now lead the best-of-three championship tournament, 1-0, with Game 2 slated for Tuesday.
O's Down Mariners To Retain Hot Streak
Published on June 01, 2009 at 11:26PM
SEATTLE (AP)—Aubrey Huff had the game’s only RBI and Rich Hill pitched a two-hit masterpiece as the Baltimore Orioles ensued in their recent success with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners Monday at Safeco Field. The win was the eighth in the last 11 games for the Orioles as they improved to 28-24. Meanwhile, the Mariners fell to 24-28 while only Ichiro Suzuki and Yuniesky Betancourt were able to get hits for Seattle. In other MLB action Monday, the New York Yankees downed Cleveland, 5-2, Pittsburgh bested the New York Mets, 8-5, Florida downed Milwaukee, 7-4, Houston ousted Colorado, 4-1, the Chicago White Sox smacked Oakland, 6-2, Cincinnati tripped up St. Louis, 5-3, Philadelphia gashed San Diego, 5-3, and Arizona stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1.
Bees Down Aces @ SLC
Published on June 01, 2009 at 10:36PM
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—Bobby Wilson had three hits, while Gary Patchett added a two-run homer as the Salt Lake Bees bested the Reno Aces, 6-5 Monday at Spring Mobil Field. Bryan Byrne had two hits in the loss for the Aces.
Woman Busted in Prostitution Investigation
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:36PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A 24-year old woman is behind bars and a teenage girl is in protective custody following a prostitution investigation. Last Thursday, Salt Lake City police were browsing the Internet when they found an advertisement for illegal services. Officers then arranged a meeting with the advertiser in question in downtown Salt Lake City. When officers arrived, they found Linnea Darcel Buckner and a 14-year old girl waiting for them. Buckner was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Solicitation, and Operating a Sexual Business Without a License.
Heart Valve Surgery Successful Without Heart Opening
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:30PM
(MURRAY)—A Carbon County woman has become Utah’s first patient to get a new heart valve through a small catheter inserted inside her leg. At Intermountain Medical Center, Monday, 87-year old Rose Felice talked to reporters just three weeks removed from this revolutionary surgery. Surgeons were able to snake a special catheter from an artery in her leg up to her heart. From there, the valve on the end of a catheter was deployed like a little inflatable balloon. Felice is among more than 1000 heart valve patients who have participated in a study to see if this procedure could be done. Furthermore, IMC is one of only 25 medical centers in North America and Europe involved in the pioneering clinical trial.
Salt Lake City Leaders Issue 'Clear the Air' Challenge
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:26PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Governor Jon Huntsman, along with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Salt Lake City mayor Ralph Becker issued the 6-week Clear The Air Challenge to Utahns Monday. The goal is to get more than 10,000 Utahns to ride bikes, walk, and use public transportation. Participants can win prizes ranging from new bikes to having trees planted in their honor. According to the Utah Division of Air Quality, if Utahns park their cars for just one day a week, vehicle emissions could be reduced by almost 7000 tons a year.
DABC Chairman Seeking Bennett's Senate Seat
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:20PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Sam Granato, chairman of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission said Monday he’s seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for U.S. Senator Bob Bennett’s seat in 2010. In a speech Monday, Granato told supporters, including party leaders, that he would listen to voters when developing his platform. Granato was appointed to the DABC board by Republican Governor Jon Huntsman and he has helped steer things in a more moderate direction. Granato’s previous experience also includes serving as Beehive Credit Union chairman and the chairman of the Salt Lake Valley Board of Health. Party leaders are hoping recent gains made by Democrats in the West will finally spill over to Utah in 2010. Currently, Bennett is facing opposition for the Republican nomination from Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
Utah Swine Flu Cases Increasing
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:17PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—State health officials in Utah say the number of confirmed swine flu cases in Utah has jumped by 122 since late last week. Monday, the Utah Health Department stated there were 369 cases of swine flu in the state. One person has died and 28 people have been hospitalized, including three pregnant women. Thirteen cases have been health care workers with the majority of cases coming out of the Salt Lake Valley.
Taskforce To Look at Utah State/CEU Affiliation
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:12PM
(OGDEN)—The Utah Board of Regents has voted to assign five of its members to a task force that will consider whether to affiliate the College of Eastern Utah in Price with Logan’s Utah State University. The task force will hold a series of public hearings over the next few weeks and offer a recommendation to the regents at their July 16 meeting. The board last met on Friday wherein former CEU president Michael Petersen offered a proposal for this arrangement. However, some of CEU’s trustees and faculty say they are doubtful the proposal addresses declining enrollment and other challenges.
Woman Accused of Blackmailing Man Over Rape Claim
Published on June 01, 2009 at 04:01PM
(FARMINGTON)—A woman has been charged with felony extortion and accused of blackmailing a man at Hill Air Force Base over a rape allegation. The 31-year old woman appeared in 2nd District Court Monday where her attorney, Rich Gallegos, stated she was hoping to discuss a plea deal with prosecutors. She is being charged with theft by extortion, which is a second-degree felony. According to charging documents, the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations received a July 2008 report of a possible blackmail involving rape allegations. Investigators were handed e-mails from a woman demanding an additional $5000 from a Hill Air Force Base employee for allegedly sexually assaulting her. The woman is due back in court later this month.
Teacher Charged in Junior High Sex Scandal To Take Plea Deal
Published on June 01, 2009 at 03:54PM
(FARMINGTON)—A math teacher at Bountiful Junior High charged with a middle school sex scandal is considering a plea deal. During an appearance in 2nd District Court Monday, Valynne Bowers’ attorney announced to the judge that they were working on a resolution with Davis County prosecutors. Defense attorney Rich Gallegos asked for more time to work on a plea bargain. The 40-year old Bowers is charged with first-degree felony rape and forcible sodomy and is one of two teachers at Bountiful Junior High, along with Linda Nef, accused of having sex with the same teenage boy. Bowers recently underwent a psycho-sexual evaluation and is in counseling. Gallegos declined to elaborate on what the evaluation said, but indicated it did not label Bowers as a pedophile or predator. Nef is accused of having a relationship with the boy from December 2007-February 2008, while Bowers reportedly had sexual relations with the boy from January-February 2009.
HUD provides funds for Moab hospital
Published on June 01, 2009 at 01:26PM
(MOAB) – Moab may get a new 17-bed hospital to replace its 52-year old facility. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a promise to insure a mortgage loan that would help Moab Valley Healthcare Inc., construct a new hospital, which would support its expanding volume of patients. HUD said the loan would save the hospital an estimated $9.6 million in interest and provide higher levels of service to the community. The construction project will also create almost 500 jobs and provide an economic stimulus to the community.
Commissioners vote on recreation changes
Published on June 01, 2009 at 01:18PM
(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners voted today to approve an amendment in the Grazing, Recreation and Forestry Zone in the allowance of recreational use on property. Changes in the zoning include property being used for recreation, camping, travel and seasonal use, not for use as primary dwellings. Other changes include recreational vehicles temporally stored on property that must be winterized and holding tanks emptied into a state approved system. Vehicles stored permanently on property must be connected to a state approved septic system and be protected from weather damage. Those vehicles will also be taxed as real property. Other dwellings or recreational vehicles which need repair, or are damaged, must be removed within 60 days of county notice and trash, refuse and waste must be contained and disposed of properly. Commissioners voted on the measure in their bi-monthly meeting and recreationists who attended the meeting were generally pleased with the vote.
Denver driver arrested in Salina on drugs
Published on June 01, 2009 at 01:01PM
(SALINA) – A Colorado man was arrested for drugs and reckless driving in Salina Thursday afternoon. According to a sheriff’s report, Sevier County Deputy Mark Crane stopped to check on a vehicle driving erratically down 200 South State at about 1:30pm and indicated illegal drug activity. Crane called in a K-9 Unit and discovered marijuana, cocaine and numerous pills of different types. Distribution paraphernalia and several fake I.D’s were also found in the car. 21-year old, Daniel Futa of Denver, CO. was arrested and booked into the Sevier County Jail on charges of possession of marijuana, cocaine, paraphernalia, metabolite DUI and possession of fraudulent identification.
Semi and UDOT trucks collide
Published on June 01, 2009 at 12:02PM
(RICHFIELD) – A semi and pickup truck collided this morning at 300 North Main in Richfield when both vehicles attempted to turn right at the same time. UHP Trooper Brad Peterson was at the scene and said the truck driver didn’t realize the semi was turning in his lane. Peterson didn’t release the names of the DP Curtis truck driver and UDOT driver until the investigation is complete. The UHP Trooper said the semi was attempting to turn right onto 300 North in the inside lane while the UDOT driver was turning in the same direction in the turning lane. Neither driver was injured in the accident and damage was done to the semi and truck.
Development studied in landslide area
Published on June 01, 2009 at 11:39AM
(CEDAR CITY) – A proposed development on one of the state’s largest mapped landslides is being studied for safety reasons. Iron County geologists are studying whether the landslide on Cedar Mountain is still active. County engineer Steve Platt says that needs to be determined before the Iron County Planning Commission can decide whether to allow the development to be built. Homeowners from a subdivision already built on Cedar Mountain say they have not seen any landslide damage but geologists says so far, there’s not enough data to determine whether the landslide is stable or not.
Cedar City man arrested for beatings
Published on June 01, 2009 at 08:47AM
(CEDAR CITY) – A Cedar City man was arrested early Sunday after he allegedly beat two of his friends severely as they slept. Cedar City Police say that 23-year old, Zachary King, became angry with the two men, ages 20 and 23, as they hung out together at the 20-year old’s home Saturday night but it doesn’t appear he had fought with them that night. Lt. Darin Adams, with the Cedar City Police Department, said King went home, selected an unidentified household tool and brought it back to the house at 2400 West and 400 South, where the 23-year old was spending the night. The police report said that King walked into the bedroom where the 20-year old was sleeping and repeatedly beat the man until he passed out. King then walked into the bedroom of the 23-year old and began beating him in the head but the man convinced him to stop. The mother of the 20-year old called 911 and police arrived at about 1:30am and arrested King. He was booked into the Iron County Jail on suspicion of two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of burglary. The first victim was flown to the Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition and the second one was taken to the Valley View Medical Center in stable condition. Authorities continue the investigation of the case.
Beck throws barbs at Huntsman
Published on June 01, 2009 at 07:38AM
(CEDAR CITY) – Conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck, said if Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. is the future of the GOP, then the Republican Party is over. Beck made the comments at a $500 a plate fund-raiser Friday night for small, conservative college, George Wythe University in Cedar City. He said the Republican Party needs leadership and defines Huntsman as too moderate, commenting the Party needs to stand for something and not “democrat lite” or “progressive lite”. The conservative talk show host did say that Huntsman was the right guy for the job of America’s top diplomat to China.
LDS Church Apostle survives attack
Published on June 01, 2009 at 07:28AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – LDS Church Apostle Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife are wrapping up what turned into a dangerous weekend in Mozambique. According to first reports from KSL-TV, Elder Nelson and his wife, Wendy, were in the capital city of Maputo for weekend meetings with Church leaders, when they were attacked by militant assailants. The Nelson’s were having dinner with mission president, Elder Blair Packard and his wife, Cindy, when the assailants broke into their home and robbed them. News reports said that Cindy Packard’s arm was broken and others received some cuts and bruises. Despite the attack, the Church said the Nelson’s chose to finish out their weekend assignments there and will return home to Salt Lake this week.