Story Archive for 12/29/2009
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Coyotes Get Past Canucks
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:50PM
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Lauri Korpikoski scored the game-winning goal in a shootout and the Phoenix Coyotes edged the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2 Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena in NHL action. Jason LaBarbera added 28 saves for Phoenix, while Ed Jovanovski and Petr Prucha also scored for the Coyotes who improved to 25-13-3 in the win. Mikael Samuelsson and Kyle Wellwood each scored in the loss for the Canucks, who fell to 23-16-1. In other NHL action Tuesday, Buffalo downed Pittsburgh, 4-3, the New York Islanders doubled up Columbus, 2-1 in a shootout, Dallas surged past Chicago, 5-4, Nashville tripped up St. Louis, 4-3, and Anaheim stymied Minnesota, 4-2.
Lady Horns Edge Miami
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:46PM
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP)—Kathleen Nash amassed 22 points and 14 rebounds and the #22 Texas Lady Longhorns got pas the Miami (Fla.) Lady Hurricanes, 76-65 Tuesday in Top 25 women’s college basketball action. Brittainey Raven added 17 points in the win for Texas. Shenise Johnson had 17 points in the loss for the Lady Canes. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #3 Notre Dame smacked Central Florida, 85-52, #7 North Carolina pummeled Kennesaw State, 89-44, Duquesne upset #18 Pittsburgh, 72-63, #21 Virginia smoked Liberty, 74-63 and #25 James Madison dismantled Lafayette, 86-54.
Lobos Assert Themselves in Rout
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:36PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Former College of Eastern Utah star Darington Hobson amassed 23 points and 11 rebounds as the #17 New Mexico Lobos crushed the #24 Texas Tech Red Raiders, 90-73 Tuesday at the Pit in Top 25 men’s college basketball action. The Lobos, fresh off a loss to Oral Roberts, raced out to a 41-29 lead at intermission and used a deafening home crowd and proficient offense to run the Red Raiders out of the gym early in the second half as after amassing a 53-38 lead early in the latter stanza, New Mexico never looked back. With Tuesday’s win, the 13-1 Lobos have now defeated three teams from supposed major conferences, California and Texas A&M being the others. David Tairu had 18 points in the loss for the Red Raiders. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #1 Kansas smacked Belmont, 81-51, #2 Texas hammered Gardner, Webb, 95-63, #3 Kentucky decimated Hartford, 104-61, #4 Purdue tripped up Iowa, 67-56, #5 Syracuse outlasted Seton Hall, 80-73, #6 West Virginia held off Marquette, 63-62, #7 Duke bludgeoned Long Beach State, 84-63, #12 Kansas State stymied Cleveland State, 85-56, #18 Clemson edged South Carolina State, 70-67, #20 Georgia Tech pummeled Winston-Salem, 78-43 and #21 Mississippi overpowered Jacksonville State, 90-75.
Late Lakers Surge Foils Warriors
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:31PM
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant amassed 44 points and 11 assists and the Los Angeles Lakers went on a late 4th Quarter surge to outlast the Golden State Warriors, 124-118 Tuesday at STAPLES Center in NBA action. After nursing a 116-115 lead late in the game, key plays by Bryant and Lamar Odom enabled the Lakers to escape in a matchup which proved closer than many experts predicted. Corey Maggette had 25 points in the loss for Golden State which dropped them to 9-22 on the season. The win enabled the Lakers to hold onto the NBA’s best record as they now boast a mark of 25-6. In other NBA action Tuesday, Cleveland dismantled Atlanta, 95-84, Oklahoma City stormed past Washington, 110-98, New York pummeled Detroit, 104-87, Chicago surged past Indiana, 104-95, Houston humbled New Orleans, 108-100 and San Antonio stymied Minnesota, 117-99.
Prep Sports Roundup: 12/29
Published on December 29, 2009 at 10:53PM
TABIONA, Utah (AP)—Eddie Dunham had 13 points and the Bryce Valley Mustangs got past the Tabiona Tigers, 42-35 Tuesday in non-region boys basketball action.
DELTA, Utah (AP)—Zach Sorenson had 11 points to key a balanced scoring attack and the Hurricane Tigers edged the Delta Rabbits, 46-43 in non-region boys basketball action Tuesday at the Palladium. Colin Christensen had 10 points in the loss for Delta.
MONROE, Utah (AP)—Dillon Bishoff amassed 20 points and Race Parsons added 15 more as the South Sevier Rams hammered the Juab Wasps, 75-56 in non-region boys basketball action Tuesday. Taran Wright had 17 points in the loss for Juab.
CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP)—Collin Boren had 20 points to lead all scorers and the Uintah Utes got past the Richfield Wildcats, 64-53 Tuesday in non-region boys basketball action. Robert Torgerson had 17 points in the loss for Richfield.
BICKNELL, Utah (AP)—Cason Chappell posted 22 points and the Wayne Badgers outlasted the Intermountain Christian Lions, 66-58 in non-region boys basketball action Tuesday.
BICKNELL, Utah (AP)—Maray Filfred had 17 points for the Whitehorse Lady Raiders in a 45-27 win over the Wayne Lady Badgers Tuesday in non-region girls basketball action. Cassey Manzanares had 10 points in the loss for Wayne.
Family Hospitalized For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:26PM
(WEST VALLEY CITY)—A family is recovering from a carbon monoxide scare they received Tuesday morning. The West Valley City Fire Department reported a girl woke up sick complaining of a headache. After telling her parents, her father realized what was happening and swiftly got everyone out of the house. Four people were transported to the hospital after being poisoned by the carbon monoxide and another person was being evaluated.
Woman Killed While Trying To Help People Involved in Rollover
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:21PM
(SALT LAKE COUNTY)—A woman was killed Tuesday morning after she got out of her car to help someone involved in a rollover on westbound Interstate 80 at 1600 West. Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant Robert Breck said a bystander stopped to help and as she got out of her vehicle, crushing her between his truck and her car and she was killed instantly. Breck said people involved in the rollover received minor injuries. All westbound lanes of I-80 have been affected and there is no access to Interstate 15 in the area. Troopers exhort motorists to remember to slow down and leave more room in between cars in winter weather.
Police Suspect Suicide in Burned Body Case
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:17PM
(PERRY)—Investigators are seeking to determine the identity of a body found burning close to Interstate 15 near Perry in Box Elder County. Police believe the body is that of a woman between the ages of 40 and 55 and they now say they believe her dramatic death is the result of a suicide. A passerby called authorities around 6:20 Monday evening to report a fire near the Perry/Brigham City exit from I-15. Nearby, troopers found a smoldering body. Perry City Police Chief Mike Jones said it appears the woman poured some flammable liquid on her body before lighting herself on fire, saying evidence of the liquid was found next to her as well as a cigarette lighter. The state medical examiner is currently performing an autopsy on the body and police say they’re hopeful the results will provide more information in the case.
Utah Lawmaker To Scrap Limit on Some Liquor Licenses
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:11PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A Republican state lawmaker says he wants to eliminate the state’s quota system for granting liquor licenses to restaurants. Representative Gage Froerer of Huntsville says he’s having a bill drafted to address the shortage in liquor licenses. In Utah, the number of liquor licenses available is determined by the state’s population. In recent months, the state has come close to running out of licenses. Froerer says the quota system hampers economic development in the state. The Legislature convenes in January but Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Senate leaders have said they don’t want to make more licenses available anytime soon.
Cache County Likely To Keep 4-Day Work Week
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:08PM
(LOGAN)—Cache County’s executive says most county offices will likely stay on a four-day work week through 2010. Lynn Lemon said that county offices currently on a Monday-Thursday schedule will likely stay that way. He also expects the Cache County Council to take up the issue next month. The county switched to a four-day work week in August 2008, the same month that most state offices in Utah made the move as a way to save money and energy. Councilman Gordon Zilles says he’s heard mixed reviews, both from the public and county employees, on the county’s four-day work week.
Warehouse Fire Started By Two Homeless Men
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:04PM
(SOUTH SALT LAKE)—Two homeless men trying to stay warm burned down a vacant building in South Salt Lake. Investigators say the men started a fire inside a warehouse Monday and it got out of control, spreading to both floors. When firefighters arrived at the scene, flames were leaping through the second story of the building. Crews brought the fire under control, but the location and freezing temperatures made it difficult to control the flames. Both men suffered minor injuries and firefighters called the building a “total loss.”
Qwest Ending Death Benefits For Retirees Next Year
Published on December 29, 2009 at 02:00PM
(DENVER)—Qwest says it will eliminate death benefits for retirees starting in March. Currently, when retirees die, their survivors receive an amount equivalent to last year’s salary. The families of as many as 27,000 retirees are eligible for the benefit and eliminating it could cut Qwest’s liabilities by $220 million. Qwest says it wants to protect its pension fund’s ability to pay out benefits now and in the future. It’s in good shape now and Qwest hasn’t made a cash contribution for years and won’t need to next year either. Company spokesman Nick Sweers acknowledges that ending the benefit will strengthen its standing on Wall Street. In 2005, retirees filed a lawsuit to stop Qwest from dropping the benefit but they lost their appeal this past summer.
Main water line breaks at Lion's Park
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:13AM
(RICHFIELD) – A 14-inch main water line broke early this morning on the west side of Richfield flooding a large area. City Finance Director, Mike Langston said that crews were called to 300 North 535 West at about 1:30am to control the flood. Langston said water has been turned off from College Avenue in Richfield to about 600 West, affecting four to five homes in that area. He said residents throughout the city should expect low water pressure during the day today until the water line is repaired. Langston said that pipe parts are being met half-way between Richfield and Salt Lake City and crews should have the water line repaired sometime later today. He said the water line break was most likely caused from pipes freezing overnight and the city lost about a million gallons of water as a result of the break.
Movie theaters boast record revenue
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:12AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – Movie theaters across the state and the nation reported record-setting numbers for the Christmas weekend. Theaters reported an estimated $278 million in weekend box-office revenue that broke the previous record of roughly $253 million set in July 2008, the weekend “The Dark Knight” was released. “Avatar”, the 3-D epic, topped all movies, earning $75 million for 20th Century Fox, according to studio estimates on Sunday, followed by “Sherlock Holmes” at $65 million and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” at $50 million. Megaplex Theaters Senior Vice President, Blake Anderson says in the past, movies like “Harry Potter”, “Lord of the Rings” and “Twilight” have been big box office attractions but this year, “good movies go all the way across the spectrum.”
Missing woman's parents express Christmas heartache
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:10AM
(WEST VALLEY CITY) – The parents of a missing West Valley City woman say their holiday weekend was filled with heartache despite time spent with their two grandsons. Chuck and Judy Cox, the parents of Susan Powell, who has been missing since Dec. 7, spent time with their two grandsons, ages 4 and 2 on Christmas Eve and for a few hours on Christmas Day but did not see their father, Joshua Powell. Chuck Cox said their grandsons seemed to be doing well, in spite of the fact that their mother has been missing for almost a month. Shelby Gifford, a spokesperson for the Coxes, said the Cox family arranged to have the boys brought to the Cox home through a friend the Coxes share with Joshua Powell, their son-in-law. Police report that no new developments have surfaced in the disappearance of 28-year old, Susan Powell, when she went missing around midnight, Dec. 7. Her husband, Joshua, claimed it was at that time that he took his two sons camping in sub-freezing temperatures and returned that day to find his wife missing. He has been visiting his family in Puyallup, WA. for the holidays.
Small plane crashes off Moab runway
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:08AM
(MOAB) – A small private plane slid off the runway Tuesday at Canyonlands Field in Grand County near Moab. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 49-year old, Dennis Ransom of Salt Lake City attempted to take off from the airfield at about 5pm but slid off the runway. Ransom was not injured in the accident and the plane sustained damage to its nose gear and both props. Canyonlands Field was temporarily closed as a result of the crash due to weather and the FAA was notified to investigate the crash.
Salina officials warn of pipes freezing
Published on December 29, 2009 at 11:01AM
(SALINA) – Salina City officials are asking residents to leave a trickle of water running at households to avoid frozen pipes during sub-freezing temperatures. City workers said they’ve received dozens of reports of frozen pipes with temperatures dipping to well below zero and ask citizens to help with the problem until temperatures warm up.
Residents dig out of Richfield floods
Published on December 29, 2009 at 10:59AM
(RICHFIELD) – Several Richfield residents were awakened this morning to a flood from a broken main water line on the west side of the city. Wendell and Rachael Olsen said they woke up at about 1:30am to a wall of water coming into their basement. The Olsen’s home is located at 357 North 500 West in Richfield and major damage was done to their newly remodeled basement. Rachael said a neighbor’s basement also was flooded with about six inches of water and other neighbors had water running up to their basement window wells. City Finance Director, Mike Langston, said a 14-inch main water line burst in the early morning hours today at the southeast corner of the Lion’s Park. He said crews have been working throughout the day to repair the line and should have the work completed by tonight (Monday). Langston said the water line break was likely caused by frozen pipes.
Bennett decries "victory" in health-care bill
Published on December 29, 2009 at 10:57AM
Updated on December 29, 2009 at 06:18PM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett has issued a statement following his opposing vote to the final passage of the Democrats’ health care bill in the Senate. Bennett says on the eve of Christmas, the Senate Democrats and the Obama administration chose to shut out the voices of the people and jam through a health care bill that the majority of Americans oppose. He said despite overwhelming opposition, the Obama administration is claiming the passage of this bill as a historic victory. Bennett commented that it’s absurd to think that a bill that hikes taxes, increases insurance premiums, slashes Medicare benefits and raises health care costs, is considered “a victory.” He said in a desperate effort to make history, the Democratic leadership bought votes and made backroom deals that will be paid for by the taxpayer. Bennett said that’s not how legislation should be made.
Circleville man cited for SR-89 crash
Published on December 29, 2009 at 10:56AM
(CIRCLEVILLE) – An elderly Circleville man was cited for causing a head-on collision Sunday afternoon on SR-89 about three miles west of Circleville. According to a UHP report, 27-year old, Benjamin Aiken of West Valley City was traveling northbound in a 2003 Honda Civic, when he swerved to miss 86-year old, Howard Whittaker of Circleville, driving a 2004 Chevy Colorado, who took a U-turn in front of Aiken at about 1:30pm. Aiken hit Whittaker head-on in the accident. The report said Aiken was wearing a seatbelt and was taken to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with unknown injuries. His passenger, 27-year old, Bertha Aiken of West Jordan, also sustained unknown injuries and was taken to the hospital. Whittaker was wearing his seatbelt and was not transported to the hospital. He was cited for improper turn.
Juab Sheriff investigates Eureka robberies
Published on December 29, 2009 at 10:54AM
(EUREKA) – Juab County Sheriff’s Deputies continue to investigate gravestone and artifact thefts throughout the year at the historic Eureka cemetery. Eureka Mayor Milt Hanks says thieves have not stolen anything from the grave sites in the past month due to a blanket of snow covering the cemetery and he hopes the robbers don’t come back. He said that it’s a tradition for townspeople to put things on graves that the person liked and people are upset that their trinkets are being taken. Deputies have stepped up patrols at the cemetery and even stopped a Salt Lake City TV crew as they were packing up after doing a story on the thefts. Eureka was settled by miners in the 1870’s and was incorporated in 1891. The small town was once considered the richest silver mine.