Story Archive for 02/11/2010
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Sens Finish Off Capitals
Published on February 11, 2010 at 11:53PM
OTTAWA (AP)—Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Neil, Chris Phillips and Alexei Kovalev each scored and the Ottawa Senators outgunned the Washington Capitals, 6-5 Thursday at Scotiabank Place in NHL action. Brian Elliott added 19 saves for the Senators who won for the 13th time in their past 14 games to improve to 35-22-4. Alexander Semin amassed a hat trick in the loss for the Capitals, while Tomas Fleischmann and Jeff Schultz also scored for Washington, who fell to 41-13-7 with the loss. In other NHL action Thursday, Carolina downed Buffalo, 4-3 in overtime, San Jose clipped Detroit, 3-2 in a shootout, Boston gashed Tampa Bay, 5-4, Vancouver blanked Florida, 3-0, Dallas tripped up Calgary, 3-1 and Edmonton humbled Los Angeles, 3-2 in a shootout.
BC Stonewalls Lady Heels
Published on February 11, 2010 at 11:47PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)—Carolyn Swords had 14 points to lead the Boston College Lady Eagles to a 69-62 win over the #20 North Carolina Lady Tar Heels Thursday in Top 25 womens college basketball action. Kerri Shields added 13 more points and Mickel Picco stepped up with 12 more for Boston College in the win, which improved them to 14-10. Italee Lucas posted 13 points in defeat for North Carolina, which dropped their fourth straight game. In other Top 25 action Thursday, #5 Tennessee got past Mississipp, 61-58, #7 Duke pummeled North Carolina State, 70-39, #9 Ohio State bludgeoned Purdue, 75-45, #10 Florida State gashed Clemson, 67-50, #16 Kentucky ousted #18 Georgia, 64-48, #21 Virginia got past Miami (Fla.), 69-63 and #23 Gonzaga bested Saint Mary’s, 88-75.
Zags Blitz Gaels
Published on February 11, 2010 at 11:43PM
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)—Elias Harris had 19 points and Matt Bouldin added 18 more as the #11 Gonzaga Bulldogs won 20 games for the 13th consecutive season with an 80-61 rout of the Saint Mary’s Gaels Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center in mens Top 25 college basketball action. Robert Sacre also stepped up with 13 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 54 percent from the field in the win. Omar Samhan had 21 points and 11 boards in the loss for the Gaels. In other Top 25 action Thursday, #15 Butler bested Youngstown State, 68-57.
Cavs Best Magic; Maintain Supremacy in East
Published on February 11, 2010 at 11:38PM
CLEVELAND (AP)—LeBron James posted 32 points and 13 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers overpowered the Orlando Magic, 115-106 Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena in NBA action. The win was instrumental for the Cavs in maintaining momentum headed into the All-Star break as they won their 13th straight game and managed to stymie their nemesis from last season for the second time this season. After the Magic managed to take a 7-point lead in the 3rd Quarter after trailing by as many as 14 in the first period, the Cavs oustscored Orlando, 28-23 in the last stanza to win going away. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 11 boards in the loss for the Magic, which dropped them to 36-18. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers improved their NBA-best record to 43-11. In other NBA action Thursday, San Antonio embarrassed Denver, 111-92.
Prep Sports Roundup: 2/11
Published on February 11, 2010 at 10:05PM
CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)—Taylor Mann had 21 points and the Emery Lady Spartans crushed the Delta Lady Rabbits, 65-43 Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Kaity Diaz had 13 points in the loss for Delta.
RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Brooke Bliss posted 16 points and the Richfield Lady Wildcats decimated the Juab Lady Wasps, 65-34 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. Kiz Farrer had 15 points in the loss for Juab.
MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)—Erica Draper had 15 points for the North Sanpete Lady Hawks in a 55-24 rout of Manti Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Shauri Lyon had eight points in the loss for the Lady Templars.
FILLMORE, Utah (AP)—Calli Jackson keyed a balanced scoring attack with eight points as the Kanab Cowgirls overpowered the Millard Lady Eagles, 36-22 in Region 13 girls basketball action Thursday. Keri Brunson paced Millard with nine in the loss.
BEAVER, Utah (AP)—Hannah Snyder had 12 points for the Beaver Lady Beavers in a 42-27 win over the Parowan Lady Rams Thursday in Region 13 girls basketball action.
SALINA, Utah (AP)—Sydney Asper amassed 21 points and McKinzie Robins added 18 more as the North Sevier Lady Wolves hammered the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 62-15 in Region 15 girls basketball action Thursday. Amberlyn Stratton had five points in defeat for Gunnison.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Lindsay Phillips had 27 points but it wasn’t enough as the Escalante Lady Moquis fell to the Milford Lady Tigers, 46-33 Thursday at the Region 20 tournament.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Kalani Norris had 20 points for the Panguitch Lady Bobcats stonewalled the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs, 47-28 at the Region 20 tournament Thursday. Ashley Nelson had nine points in the loss for Bryce Valley.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Amanda Bagley had 20 points and Kandice Gleave added 19 more as the Piute Lady Thunderbirds drilled the Valley Lady Buffaloes, 69-47 Thursday at the Region 20 tournament. Kayla Maxwell posted 19 points in the loss for Valley.
Legislators OK Drug Testing For State Contractors
Published on February 11, 2010 at 03:16PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Employees of companies awarded state construction contracts would be subject to random drug and alcohol testing under a bill passed by the Utah Legislature Thursday. The House passed the proposal 40-31, sending it to the governor’s office. Under Senate Bill 13, the contractor would be responsible for creating its own policy of random drug testing and maintaining it. The bill is sponsored by West Valley City Democrat Karen Mayne.
Man Sentenced in Death of Woman Found in Logan River
Published on February 11, 2010 at 03:09PM
(LOGAN)—A man who pleaded guilty in the 2008 death of a woman whose body was found by a fisherman near the banks of the Logan River has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Robert W. Ferretti, of Pueblo, Colo., was arrested in March 2009. He was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 33-year-old Tiffany Britt Jarmon. In January, the 44-year-old Ferretti pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and an obstructing justice charge against him was dropped. On Wednesday at sentencing, he told a judge he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea but prosecutors told him he couldn’t without showing a good faith reason for doing so. Prosecutors have said detectives linked Ferretti to the slaying when they found Jarmon’s blood in an SUV registered to him.
Bill Would Raise Money For Utah Searches, Rescues
Published on February 11, 2010 at 03:01PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Hikers, bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts in Utah may soon be able to buy a card that will help pay for search and rescue operations. The cards, proposed in a bill at the Legislature, would be voluntary and in no way guarantee rescues for those who buy them. They would add funds to an existing pot of money that Utah sheriff’s offices use to reimburse search and rescue expenses. Senate Bill 60 is being sponsored by Monroe Republican Ralph Okerlund who says the card could be purchased by backpackers, hikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers and anyone else who uses Utah’s backcountry. A one-year card would be $3 and a five-year card would be $12. Most of the money would go toward the state’s search and rescue “financial assistance program,” according to the bill. There were about 520 search and rescue missions in Utah in 2008, most of them in Grand, Utah and Washington counties. Over the last 10 years, hikers have needed rescuing more often than any other group in Utah.
Utah Lawmakers Seek State Management of Wolves
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:57PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah lawmakers have passed a bill asking the federal government to remove wolves in the state from the endangered species list. The House approved Senate Bill 36 on Wednesday 47-23. It now advances to the governor. Removing wolves from the endangered species list would allow the state to manage wolves. Wolves rarely show up in Utah and they’re federally protected in all but the state’s northeastern corner. Republican Senator Allen Christensen of North Ogden has said he doesn’t want the state to be a safe haven for the animals, which he calls dangerous predators. Under the bill, the state would ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove any wolves found in protected areas in Utah. Rural lawmakers in the state fear wolves would pose a significant threat to livestock and wildlife.
Bill Would Allow Utah To Opt Out of Federal Health Care Reform
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:46PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A bill requiring Utah’s legislators to approve any federally passed health care reform before it could be applied on the state was introduced on the House floor Thursday. The bill’s sponsor, Carl Wimmer of Herriman, says the state needs to have the guts to stand up to the federal government. However, not everyone feels this way as a group of health care advocates, led by Judy Hillman of the Utah Health Policy project, brought business owners, Medicare recipients and others to the Capitol Thursday to voice their concerns over the bill. Hillman says if the bill passes, it sets the groundwork for the federal government to pull Utah’s Medicaid funding, leaving thousands of Utahns bereft of any form of health coverage. Wimmer says the talk over Medicaid being pulled is simply a fear tactic, saying the states need to stop being pushed around by federal mandates attached to federal money.
Firefighters Battle Springville House Fire
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:42PM
(SPRINGVILLE)—Firefighters spent five hours Wednesday battling a Springville house fire. The home, located near 700 South and 700 East, has had extensive remodeling done, including additions, which posed problems for firefighters. The additions created dead air spaces throughout the attic and once the fire reached the attic, flames spread quickly into those spaces. Around noon earlier in the day, the homeowner reported he smelled smoke near his wood burning stove. He put out what fire was there but the fire had already spread to the attic. Around 4:00 p.m., smoke and fire alarms went off in the house while the family of four got out unharmed and called 911. Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and were eventually assisted by the Mapleton Fire Department but struggled to contain the flames well into the evening. There is no estimate of damage done to the home. The family is now staying with friends.
Committee OKs Bill To Set New Reading Standards
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:32PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A Senate committee unanimously passed a bill Thursday calling for some elementary students to pass reading tests before moving up a grade. Senate Bill 150 applies to first, second and third graders and the measure requires them to read at or above the grade’s reading level to advance. It also calls on the State Board of Education to define the reading level standards for each grade. Students with learning disabilities would not be subjected to these new standards. Salt Lake City Democrat Karen Morgan is sponsoring the bill and she told the panel the early grades are crucial years to catch students who may be falling behind.
Utah Lawmakers Want Federal Land Returned To State
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:22PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A group of conservative Utah lawmakers wants to use eminent domain to take federal lands in the state. The goal is to spark a legal fight supporters believe will result in the state being allowed to develop resource rich parcels of land. More than 60 percent of Utah is owned by the federal government and policy makers have long complained federal ownership hinders the ability to generate tax revenue and adequately fund public schools. Utah spends less per student than any state and has among the nation’s largest class sizes. Legislation to allow the use of eminent domain on federal lands was introduced in the Utah House Thursday.
Investigators Say Infant Properly Strapped In @ Tooele Crash
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:18PM
(TOOELE)—Investigators now say a 9-month-old baby killed along with his parents in a head-on collision in Tooele was properly strapped into a car seat at the time of the crash. Initially, it was reported that Damian Herrera’s car seat was not buckled in during the January 28 crash. However, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, investigators now say there was confusion at the scene and that a seat belt securing the child seat to the car was in fact cut by rescue crews trying to get the child out. Damian and his parents, 21-year-old Jacob Herrera and 30-year-old Kristi Westfall, were driving on S.R. 36 when Herrera crossed into oncoming traffic. An 18-wheeler smashed into the vehicle, killing all three on impact. Investigators say neither adult was wearing a seat belt.
Ex-Cop Charged in Internet Sex Case Pleads Guilty
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:14PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A former West Valley City police officer has pleaded guilty to a felony charge stemming from his attempt to arrange a sexual encounter with a juvenile over the Internet. Douglas L. Paulsen was originally charged with six felonies and a misdemeanor in 2nd District Court. In a deal with Davis County prosecutors, last week the 41-year-old pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of dealing harmful materials to a minor. The other charges were dropped. Paulsen is facing up to five years in prison at his March 30 sentencing. Paulsen worked for West Valley City’s police and was a high school resource officer. He was arrested October 6 at a Layton mall and police said he communicated with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old for a month.
New State Judge Sought in Vernal
Published on February 11, 2010 at 02:10PM
(VERNAL)—A new state judge is being sought for Vernal. State officials are currently accepting applications for a vacancy on the 8th District Court bench to replace Judge A. Lynn Payne, who is retiring July 1. The district includes Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah counties. To be considered, candidates must be at least 25 years old, a Utah resident for at least three years and admitted to practice law in Utah. Applications are due by March 12. The Judicial Nominating Commission will submit five names to the governor, who will then have 30 days to make a selection. The Utah Senate then has 60 days to approve or reject the nominees.
Ephraim Elementary Building Sold
Published on February 11, 2010 at 09:43AM
(Ephraim) The old Ephraim Elementary Building has been sold to Snow College. The South Sanpete School District agreed to sell the building at it Board meeting on February 10th for one-point-five million dollars to be paid over twenty years at a rate of seventy-five thousand dollars per year. The building and property will be transferred to the college as soon as it is vacated by the district this summer. The college has tentative plans to demolish the two older wings of the building, but use the newer portion for some of its educational programs. The money from the sale will be applied directly to the districts debt payment for its building program. The new Ephraim Elementary is expected to be completed by the start of next school year. According to District officials, the old Gunnison Elementary building and property will also be put up for sale in the coming weeks.
Bennett, Chaffetz sponsor Marriage Act
Published on February 11, 2010 at 08:44AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett has introduced legislation that would require the District of Columbia to put the definition of marriage up to voters. Along with House Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Bennett is sponsoring the Referendum on Marriage Act, saying the reason why voters should vote on the marriage definition was due to the U.S. Supreme Court deciding the abortion issue by judicial fiat, creating a messy and difficult resolution. He said the abortion issue could have been resolved by voters and the marriage issue can be as well. The District of Columbia City Council disagrees. They passed a measure saying Washington D.C. has the right to define marriage, which they say is consistent across the country. Bennett said a small group of people are not justified in defining an institution fundamental to the entire society. He said marriage is too important and the people must decide.
Frisbee inventor dies at home in Monroe
Published on February 11, 2010 at 08:09AM
Updated on February 11, 2010 at 05:34PM
(MONROE) – The creator of the original Frisbee died Tuesday at his home in Monroe. 90-year old, Fred Morrison was born and raised in Richfield and was honored by Utah House Rep. Kay McIff on the House floor Wednesday. McIff said Morrison’s Frisbee found its way onto fields and playgrounds around the world and came with a set of simple instructions, written by his wife, Lu Nay, who died in 1987. The instructions simply said, “Flip, flap, flies straight.” During a Thanksgiving Day family picnic in 1937, Morrison and his wife tossed the lid of a popcorn tin back and forth for fun and eventually moved on to cake pans. Morrison was soon selling “Flying Cake Pans” for $.25 each on the beaches of Santa Monica, CA. The Frisbee had several name changes over the years, including the “Flyin-Saucer”, to take advantage of the UFO craze in the 1950’s and the “Pluto Platter” in 1957. Wham-O, a hunting-goods company, picked up Morrison’s invention and in 1959, changed the name for good to Frisbee. The company has sold more than 200 million Frisbees since marketing the toy, giving rise to the popular new sports, Ultimate Frisbee and Frisbee Golf. A gathering of friends and family will be held this Saturday at 1pm at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore.