Story Archive for 12/24/2009
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Officers Use Taser To Subude Man
Published on December 24, 2009 at 02:17PM
(TAYLORSVILLE)—Officers had to use Tasers to subdue a Taylorsville man accused of slashing up his estranged wife’s home and threatening to kill her. Officers were called to the home near 5900 South and 4000 West Tuesday and upon their arrival, they found 29-year-old Jack Lee holding a machete. According to a probable cause statement, Lee told the officers to shoot him and refused to drop the weapon. The officers used Tasers on him and took him into custody. Lee’s wife, Amber, told authorities she’d been watching television in bed when her estranged husband entered her house and started slashing up the doors, furniture and walls. Amber then yelled for her roommate to get a gun and the pair locked themselves in her bedroom. The probable cause statement goes on to state Lee followed the women upstairs, slashed down the door and started strangling Amber. Lee faces charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and criminal mischief. According to the probable cause statement, the couple had been separated since July and Lee had not lived in the home since that time.
Police Arrest Home Robbery Suspect
Published on December 24, 2009 at 02:11PM
(OREM)—Police arrested a man in connection with a violent home invasion in Orem. Thursday morning, 22-year-old Courtney Eagleston, was booked into the Utah County Jail. The suspect had been in the hospital while doctors treated him for serious stab wounds. On December 20, Orem police were called to a home after it was reported that a man, armed with a shotgun, broke in around 7:15 p.m. and began stealing electronic devices. Four roommates in their early 20s woke up to find the man in the house and confronted him, armed with a knife. The robber was stabbed several times and suffered a punctured lung along with wounds to his head, neck and back. He will be facing charges of aggravated burglary, assault, theft and possession of stolen property.
GOP Looking at Salt Lake City To Host 2012 Convention
Published on December 24, 2009 at 02:06PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah Governor Gary Herbert has organized a team to coordinate Salt Lake City’s bid to host the 2012 Republican National Convention. A formal application is due January 15. Jeff Hartley, the former Utah Republican Party executive director, has been named acting chairman of the city’s bid committee. Hartley said it will work through the holidays to complete the city’s proposal, putting together detailed plans for transportation, security, convention facilities and lodging. The Republican National Committee will pick four cities as finalists and send a site selection team to visit each one in the spring. The final selection is expected by the end of the summer. An estimated 45,000 people, including 15,000 media, attended the 2008 Republican convention in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. and rented 16,000 hotel rooms, according to the Minnesota host committee. Hartley said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, both Democrats, have written letters supporting Salt Lake City’s bid.
Utah Senators Say Battle Isn't Over For Health Care Reform
Published on December 24, 2009 at 02:02PM
(WASHINGTON D.C.)—An $871 billion health care reform bill passed the U.S. Senate by a 60-39 vote early Thursday morning. No Republicans voted for it, including Utah’s senators. Both Utah Senators, Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, say the battle isn’t over as the Senate’s bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before President Obama could sign a final bill in the new year.
Truck Owner Arrested For Insurance Fraud
Published on December 24, 2009 at 01:57PM
(WEBER COUNTY)—Police arrested a West Ogden man who they say paid an acquaintance to torch his truck so he could collect the insurance money. The Standard-Examiner reports police arrested the truck older, 35-year-old Brian Fain, on Wednesday. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office says on October 29, Fain drove 23-year-old Chad Steven Fisher to a club and told him to get “rid of” a 2000 Dodge pickup truck. A police affidavit says Fain gave Fisher a full can of gasoline and keys to the vehicle. Investigators stated that then Fisher drove the vehicle to an area near 1200 South, dumped gasoline inside and set it on fire. The vehicle was a total loss. Fisher was arrested, then pleaded not guilty to a felony count of arson on December 16. Fain now faces arson and fraud charges.
Redevelopment Agency Acquires Old Utah Theater
Published on December 24, 2009 at 01:52PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City has taken a step toward revitalizing downtown by acquiring the old Utah Theater. The RDA will buy the Main Street theater for $5.5 million from a developer. The purchase of the building is part of an effort to create a cultural district in downtown Salt Lake City. RDA director DJ Baxter says the RDA board voted unanimously to purchase the facility on Wednesday. The sale will be final in early 2010. Plans for the cultural district include increasing the number of art galleries, retail shops, performing arts centers and commercial space. A permanent use for the Utah Theater is not yet known and will be determined through a public process. RDA money comes from tax increment financing on property taxes.
Bicycle/walking path gets approved
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:25AM
(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City’s bicycle/walking path may see an extension from Snow College to 800 South along College Avenue. At a special council meeting Tuesday night, councilmembers adopted a resolution in support of the City’s application to UDOT for Transportation Enhancement funds. Business Administrator, Woody Farnsworth says the city is committed to match funds for completion of the project. Farnsworth said conditions were discussed and set in the resolution which gained unanimous approval at the meeting.
Richfield Ranger retires after 39 years
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:24AM
(RICHFIELD) – A longtime Richfield District Ranger has announced his retirement after many years in the Fishlake National Forest. Public Affairs Specialist John Zapell says Ranger Fred Houston plans to retire at the end of the year after 39 years in the Forest Service. Houston began his career with the Forest Service in 1970 as a seasonal timber technician and engine foreman on the Dixie National Forest. Before taking the job as the Richfield District Ranger, he worked on the Kootenai and Deerlodge National Forests in Montana, the Fishlake National Forest on the Beaver Ranger District, the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
Caineville man killed on SR-24
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:23AM
(TORREY) – A Caineville man was killed in a single vehicle rollover on SR-24 east of Torrey Tuesday at about 6pm. According to a UHP report, 68-year old, Keith Durfey was traveling eastbound in a 2008 Ford F-250, when he went around a bend in the road about 30 miles east of Torrey and hit an icy spot. The report said Durfey went off the left shoulder of the highway and rolled once. He was not wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected from the passenger side of his vehicle and died at the scene. UHP said road conditions along SR-24 were slick and icy and Durfey was traveling too fast.
Richfield council approves dumping fees
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:21AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council held a special meeting Tuesday night concerning the approval of a fee schedule for the dumping of septic and portable waste in the city’s sewer lagoons. Mayor Brad Ramsay says approving the fee schedule is necessary to separate local resident use with out-of-area use. Ramsay said septic haulers for in-county waste will be charged $60.00 per load and out-of-county haulers $90.00 per load, not to exceed 3300 gallons per load. Councilmembers were concerned about the over-use of city lagoons for out-of-area septic haulers. Haulers will be monitored periodically to make sure they’re complying with city recommendations. The council approved the resolution which will take effect Jan. 1, 2010.
California man arrested for drugs on I-70
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:20AM
(ELSINORE) – Sevier County Deputies arrested a California man Tuesday afternoon on I-70 after discovering nearly 5 grams of cocaine hidden in his car. A sheriff’s office report said that 26-year old, Abel Guerroro of Conaga Park, CA. was pulled over near the Elsinore exit on I-70 for safety violations. Deputy Adrian Hillin said that he was given permission to search Guerroro’s vehicle and found the drugs. Guerroro was arrested on charges of cocaine and opiates and booked into the Sevier County Jail.
Drilling battle coming to an end
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:19AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The battle over natural gas drilling in eastern Utah’s Nine Mile Canyon may be coming to an end. According to the State Division of History, energy and environmental groups have been fighting for years over drilling in the canyon, famous for its ancient Native American archaeology and has been labeled “The World’s Longest Art Gallery.” On Tuesday, the History Division announced what they call a “historic” agreement, hammered out in many hours of monthly meetings over the last year. The meetings included energy companies, government officials, environmentalists, as well as history and archaeology buffs. The division said the deal will allow energy development to go forward while protecting archaeology. A signing ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 5.
Richfield Police warn motorists on road conditions
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:18AM
(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City Police are asking motorists to slow down and be careful while driving along city streets in snowy conditions. Police said they were called to at least eight reportable accidents since 3:30pm Tuesday and there were more not reported. Officers said most of the accidents were minor fender-benders and no one was reported to have been injured. Police warn that you should give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination until the roads are clear of ice and snow.
Richfield KOA honored
Published on December 24, 2009 at 07:16AM
(BILLINGS, MT.) – The Richfield KOA Campground has been given an award for being the “best of the best” in the Kampgrounds of America system. The local KOA received both the 2009 Kampgrounds of America Founder’s Award and the President’s Award at a special ceremony recently at the KOA’s Annual International Convention in Houston, TX. The Richfield KOA is owned and operated by Ray and Lora Jones and was selected for the awards out of more than 470 campgrounds in North America. The KOA President’s and Founder’s Awards are given annually to campgrounds that receive the highest customer service scores from their campers on KOA’s Kamper Satisfaction Survey. The Kamper Survey is sent to nearly 250,000 KOA campers each year, asking them specific questions about their stay at a particular KOA campground.