Story Archive for 06/04/2009
Show/Hide Archive Navigation
Pens Deadlock Wings At 2-2 in Stanley Cup Finals
Published on June 04, 2009 at 10:51PM
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Evgeni Malkin ensued in his Stanley Cup Finals renaissance with a goal, while Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy also scored as the Pittsburgh Penguins tied the Detroit Red Wings at 2-2 games apiece with a 4-2 win Thursday at Mellon Arena. Additionally, Marc-Andre Fleury amassed 37 saves while the younger Penguins had their way with Detroit consistently throughout the game. Malkin now has 35 points this postseason while he and Crosby posted their 12th multi-point game of the playoffs. Darren Helm and Brad Stuart each scored for the Red Wings, who fell to 4-5 on the road this postseason. Game 5 will take place Saturday at Detroit.
Lakers Pummel Magic; Take 1-0 Lead in Finals
Published on June 04, 2009 at 10:30PM
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant posted 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, commemorating his first 40-point performance in the NBA Finals as the Los Angeles Lakers smoked the Orlando Magic, 100-75 Thursday in Game 1 at STAPLES Center. Although the Magic hung around early on and led 24-22 after the first quarter, things swiftly went downhill as Orlando shot just below 30 percent for the game. Meanwhile, Bryant got plenty of assistance from teammates such as Pau Gasol (16 points, eight rebounds) and Lamar Odom (11 points, 14 boards) as Los Angeles built an insurmountable 26-point lead in the third quarter. Bright spots were difficult to find for the Magic as they lost their fifth consecutive NBA Finals game which dates back to 1995 when they were swept by Houston and they were led by Mickael Pietrus’ paltry 14 points. Game 2 will take place Sunday at Los Angeles.
Smithfield Leaders Consider Disaster Declaration After Flooding
Published on June 04, 2009 at 03:17PM
(SMITHFIELD)—Rain from a heavy thunderstorm flooded nearly 24 buildings in Smithfield, including parts of Sky View High School and an auto body shop. Smithfield Police Chief Johnny McCoy said seven homes were flooded and three sustained damage in excess of $100,000. Smithfield Mayor Chad Downs said the Tuesday evening storm poured more than an inch of rain on the town and overwhelmed the drainage systems. Downs said city officials are looking at trying to get a disaster declaration for the area.
UVU Business School Evacuated
Published on June 04, 2009 at 03:14PM
(OREM)—A building at Utah Valley University has been evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious white powder. Chris Taylor of UVU reported that around 10:45 Thursday morning, an employee discovered the powder sitting on a table in a hallway of the Woodbury School of Business. 200 people have currently been evacuated from the building and classes are on hold while HAZMAT crews investigate.
Utah Officials Report Second Swine Related Flu Death
Published on June 04, 2009 at 03:01PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Salt Lake County health officials are reporting a second swine flu-related death in Utah. Gary Edwards, the executive director of the Salt Lake Valley Health Department said the person who died Tuesday was under 18. Edwards said that due to the patient’s age, he was unable to release additional details, including the patient’s gender or the hospital where the death occurred. Edwards stated swine flu played a role in the death and that the person had numerous underlying health conditions.
Utah Ranks High For Home Internet Use
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:57PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Nearly 75 percent of Utahns have Internet access at home according to a new report from the census which ranks sixth nationally. Utah ranks fifth in terms of Internet use and numbers are continually on the upswing stated XMission founder Pete Ashdown. This is a major increase from 2001, when only 54 percent of Utahns had Internet access at home.
Ski Season Over @ Snowbird
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:53PM
(SNOWBIRD)—Due to a recent warming trend, rain and rapid snowpack deterioration, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has closed for the season and will not be reopening this weekend. The Utah resort is currently offering summer Tram operations for foot passengers daily from 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Summer activities include the Peruvian Chairlift, the Alpine Slide, and much more. Horseback and ATV tours are tentatively scheduled for the 4th of July weekend. More information is online at www.snowbirdrc.org.
UTA Offers Front-Runner Group Pass
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:48PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—This week, the Utah Transit Authority is offering a summer promotional pass for FrontRunner. The Party of Four campaign is a group pass that allows up to four people to ride and passes are currently available for $10. The new group pass is valid anytime and whenever FrontRunner operates, there are no time restrictions. Group passes can only be purchased at FrontRunner ticket vending machines and can be accepted as a transfer to bus or TRAX. The pass will be validated by the FrontRunner ticket machine and expires the day of purchase. The FrontRunner pass is being offered on a trial basis this summer but depending on its success, UTA will continue offering the pass and expand it beyond FrontRunner.
Children To Release 100,000 Ladybugs
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:38PM
(SOUTH JORDAN)—Thousands of bugs are slated to be released in South Jordan which is bad news for plant-devouring aphids. The children at Daybreak, a South Jordan neighborhood, released about 100,000 ladybugs, each of which reportedly eat anywhere from 200-500 aphids a day. The ladybugs are used to control the pest population in community gardens, Daybreak lifestyle director Tina Torres said. The ladybugs will all have been released by Thursday evening and children will be given bags full of 4000 ladybugs each.
Trolley Square Hero's Cop Certification Revoked
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:29PM
(SANDY)—The former Ogden police officer lauded as a hero for stopping a killing spree at Trolley Square last year has had his police certification revoked. During its quarterly meeting Thursday, the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council voted unanimously to accept the revocation of Ken Hammond. In other words, Hammond is no longer allowed to be a police officer in Utah. The 34-year old Hammond pleaded no contest earlier this year to sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor for which he is currently serving a 90-day jail sentence. Weber County prosecutors claimed that in 2005, Hammond had a sexual encounter with a 17-year old girl while on duty. Prosecutors also say Hammond responded to a disturbance when he encountered an 18-year old woman and her 17-year old friend. Upon his return to the scene a couple of hours later, prosecutors believe the girl was encouraged to perform a sex act on Hammond. Hammond’s attorney disputed the facts of the case but took a plea deal reportedly in hopes of avoiding a felony conviction and possible prison sentence. Additionally, Hammond is facing a civil lawsuit by a woman who has accused him of misconduct while involved in the arrest of her husband. Hammond’s case was one of 15 considered by the POST council, the body that certifies and disciplines police officers. Another high profile revocation involved a former Cache County Sheriff’s deputy, Shawn Romero, who was caught up in a child pornography investigation. The 27-year old Romero is accused of downloading child pornography and was arrested by a warrant from the Utah Attorney General’s Office. Other offenses discussed at the meeting ranged from sexual misconduct-witness tampering.
Report Says 1 of 20 Utahns Out of Work
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:24PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—New unemployment figures released Thursday show that one out of 20 Utahns is out of work. According to the Labor Department’s Report for metropolitan areas, Utah’s unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in April. St. George is the area with the highest unemployment rate in the state with 6.6 percent, while Logan is the lowest at 3.9 percent. Generally, though, Utah has among the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
Police Dog Drags Suspect From Garage
Published on June 04, 2009 at 02:18PM
(SOUTH SALT LAKE)—An armed man on the run from police hid in an unsuspecting homeowner’s garage, but he was caught by a K-9 who went in after him when he refused to come out. Wednesday evening in Taylorsville, police were trying to run down 38-year old Erik Richards who was wanted for robbery in Sandy. When officers pulled him over, he drove away while hitting another police car. With authorities in pursuit, a K-9 from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office tracked him into a house and later, a garage. Jim Phelps of the Joint Criminal Apprehension Team then said the dog cornered him, after picking up his scent and bit him. Next, Phelps stated the K9 dragged Richards out, thus enabling police to arrest him. After Richards was attacked by the dog, he was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. Upon his recovery, he’ll be booked in the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of robbery, fleeing from police, and assault of a police officer.
Hanksville quarry set for guided tours
Published on June 04, 2009 at 10:28AM
(RICHFIELD) – Guided tours at the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry are set for June 7-20 located about 10 miles northwest of Hanksville. Forest Supervisor, John Zapell, says paleontologists from Illinois have been able to uncover some valuable fossils in a short time. He said tours at the quarry will be conducted from 10am to 3pm on designated days and will last approximately 40 minutes, weather permitting. The area has been known to BLM Utah and the local community for many years but it has only been recently that an in-depth investigation of the site has been performed.
LDS Church leaders meet with Europeans
Published on June 04, 2009 at 08:49AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – Thousands of LDS Church members in Russia and Ukraine gathered in a historic meeting this past weekend to hear from members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Reports say that members traveled hundreds of miles to see and hear from President Dieter and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf and Elder Neil and Sister Kathy Andersen. The couples also visited Kiev, where a temple is under construction. In 1998, Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, announced that the Church would build a temple in the Ukraine but problems with the Ukranian local bureaucracy delayed groundbreaking until June of 2007. Pres. Uchtdorf told members that thousands will join the Church with a new temple. Statistics show that in the last 20 years, Church membership has grown in Eastern Europe, from dozens to 10,000 in Ukraine and 20,000 in Russia. Church leaders also met with government officials and the head of a Diagnostic Medical Center, to which the Church made a donation. Low-income and at-risk patients are treated at the center, including victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
City and school leaders plan project luncheon
Published on June 04, 2009 at 08:05AM
Updated on June 08, 2009 at 06:16PM
(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City and Sevier School District officials will speak on the Community Project Update in the Richfield Area Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on June 10. Finance Director, Mike Langston will offer comments as well as Sevier County Commissioner, Gary Mason. School District Superintendent, Brent Thorne will also speak. The luncheon will be held at the Quality Center at 540 South Main in Richfield at noon. The public is invited to attend.
Bennett holds conference on bailout
Published on June 04, 2009 at 07:33AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett has joined Republican Senators in a planned press conference today to announce Republican legislation to restrict additional taxpayer dollars to auto manufacturers. The legislation would give individual taxpayers ownership of the federal government’s share of stock in General Motors and Chrysler acquired during the current auto bailout and bankruptcy proceedings. The news conference will be held at U.S. Capitol at noon today.
Toddler killed in I-70 rollover
Published on June 04, 2009 at 07:27AM
(SALINA) – A two-year old boy died Wednesday morning on I-70 near Salina in a rollover accident. According to a UHP report, five people from Compton, CA. were traveling eastbound in a pickup truck, when the driver drove off the road, overcorrected and rolled. The report said that four people in the truck were wearing seatbelts but the toddler was partially ejected and died at the scene. Troopers are still investigating as to what caused the crash. They don’t believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.