Story Archive for 02/12/2010
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Prep Sports Roundup: 2/12
Published on February 12, 2010 at 10:23PM
DELTA, Utah (AP)—Colin Christensen had 15 points and Taylor Shamo added 13 more as the Delta Rabbits edged the Emery Spartans, 58-57 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action at the Palladium.
MANTI, Utah (AP)—Nathan Aagard had 14 points and Dylan Larsen added 11 more as the North Sanpete Hawks got past the Manti Templars, 70-64 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Russ Hugentobler posted 24 points in the loss for the Templars.
NEPHI, Utah (AP)—David Bean keyed a balanced scoring attack with 19 points as the Richfield Wildcats got past the Juab Wasps, 59-51 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Jake Bradford had 17 points in the loss for Juab.
PAROWAN, Utah (AP)—Zack Wood posted 15 points and Josh Curtis added 13 more as the Parowan Rams bludgeoned the Beaver Beavers, 59-40 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Robbie Gurr had 13 points in the loss for Beaver.
KANAB, Utah (AP)—Craig Brinkerhoff had 23 points and Rhees Jackson stepped up with 18 more for the Kanab Cowboys in a 72-51 rout of the Millard Eagles in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday. Kegan Carter had 14 points in the loss for Millard.
GUNNISON, Utah (AP)—Colton Piep had 18 points and Colton Bates had 15 more as the North Sevier Wolves got past the Gunnison Bulldogs, 61-54 Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action. Erick Rosenvall had 12 points in the loss for Gunnison.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Brittani Nelson posted 15 points for the Wayne Lady Badgers in a 47-38 win over the Milford Lady Tigers in the Region 20 girls basketball tournament Friday.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Sydney Cornforth had 16 points for the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs in a 51-48 win over the Valley Lady Buffaloes Friday at the Region 20 girls basketball tournament. Kayla Maxwell had 19 points for Lady Buffs while Nikki Milligan added 18 more in the loss for Valley.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Kandice Gleave had 22 points to lead the way for the Piute Lady Thunderbirds as they earned the Region 20 tournament championship with a 53-44 win over the Panguitch Lady Bobcats. Kalani Norris had 22 points in the loss for the Lady Bobcats. Thus, Piute will be the #1 seed from Region 20 headed into next week’s state tournament.
Malone Named 2010 Naismith HOF Finalist
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:51PM
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named an elite list of players, coaches and teams as finalists who will be considered for election to the Springfield, Mass.-based Hall in 2010. Among the inductees on the list are former Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers power forward Karl Malone. Also headlining the list is Malone’s longtime teammate with the Utah Jazz, John Stockton, who was instrumental in Malone’s 14 NBA All-Star game appearances and two league MVP awards. The announcement was made in Dallas Friday in conjunction with other NBA All-Star game festivities. The Class of 2010 will officially be announced Monday April 5 at a news conference in Indianapolis prior to the NCAA Division I mens’ basketball tournament championship game. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2010 will be enshrined during Hall of Fame induction festivities at Springfield, Mass. August 13.
Lawmaker calls for cancelling green agreement
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:49PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – A state lawmaker wants Utah to get out of the green power agreement between the state and California. Rep. Mike Noel of Kanab says the state should stop worrying about the global warming scam and keep its focus on keeping cheap energy. Two years ago, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger came to Utah to sign the western climate initiative with former governor, Jon Huntsman. The agreement stated that the country needs to cut down on the use of coal for electric power and cut down on global warming. Noel says Utah should pull out of that agreement because 97% of Utah’s energy is fossil-fuel generated and the initiative would raise electricity rates enormously and damage Utah’s economy. Engineering professor Dr. Joe Andrade says lawmakers are foolishly trying to hang on to the past. It’s unclear how Governor Herbert will react to the Legislature’s decision.
Weber County Busts Fake Deputy
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:44PM
(WEBER COUNTY)—The Weber County Sheriff’s Office has announced a man who so desperately wanted to become a deputy that he produced a fake badge off the Internet, has no chance of ever becoming one. Office captain Klint Anderson said the aspiring deputy, 22-year-old Cooper Griffin, gave his phony badge to an ex-girlfriend as a present. After her suspicion was aroused, she called North Ogden police who then turned it over to the county, thinking it belonged to them. The sheriff’s office discovered it to be a fraud which is troublesome because many stories of people pretending to be officers have often robbed or assaulted innocent citizens. Anderson said he thought Griffin had pure intentions, but impersonating an officer is still a Class B misdemeanor. Griffin has subsequently been booked into he Weber County Jail.
Utah Trust Lands Agency Finds Way To Cover Bonuses
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:42PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah’s trust lands agency has resolved a political controversy with state lawmakers over the bonuses it paid its top executives last year. The board chairman says the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration will cut its operating budget to cover the $165,000 in bonuses paid to six of the agency’s top executives. The bonuses added about $36,000 to director Kevin Carter’s nearly $165,000 salary.
Teen Dies Following Crash in Sardine Canyon
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:38PM
(LOGAN)—A Tremonton teen who was seriously injured in a multi-car crash in Sardine Canyon last week has died. The boy, identified as Michael B. Higley, was one of two 17-year-olds in a car that was involved in a February 1 crash. The Utah Highway Patrol has said a moving truck crossed the center line of U.S. 89/91 and hit two passenger cars head-on. Robert L. Smith of Wellsville, who was in the other car hit head-on, was killed instantly. Utah Highway Patrol Lieutenant Lee Perry says Higley died Wednesday at an Ogden hospital. The other teen who was in the car remains in intensive care. The driver of the moving truck was treated for minor neck injuries and released.
Police Track Down Stabbing Suspect
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:35PM
(WEST VALLEY CITY)—A suspect in a pair of stabbings that took place last December is now behind bars. West Valley City police captured Jeffrey Vigil Thursday nearly a month after attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges were filed against him and nearly two months after the alleged crimes took place. According to charging documents, Vigil stabbed two men after an argument broke out at a party near 7300 South and 2600 West December 19. Neither victim was seriously injured.
Lawmakers Weigh Dramatic Retirement Reforms
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:31PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah lawmakers may take action on a number of bills that would dramatically alter the state retirement system. A Senate committee is scheduled to vote on the retirement measures from Senator Dan Liljenquist Friday. Liljenquist’s reforms would largely reinvent the state pension fund for new employees hired after a certain date. The economic meltdown in 2008 left many pension funds shortchanged and other states have made similar changes. The crisis stripped Utah of $6.5 billion and returns in 2009 did little to alleviate losses. Liljenquist, a Bountiful-based Republican, says his main goal is to keep the system fit for the state’s current and retired employees.
Provo OKs MTC Expansion
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:16PM
(PROVO)—Brigham Young University has received approval to expand one of the buildings at its Missionary Training Center. Provo’s planning commission approved a permit for more than a 40,000-square foot plot of land where a three-story building will be built housing clinics, a travel office and other services for the center. It will also have rooms for senior missionaries. The Missionary Training Center can accommodate up to 4,000 missionaries.
Snow Goose Festival Set Near Delta
Published on February 12, 2010 at 02:12PM
(DELTA)—Delta is preparing for its Snow Goose Festival at Gunnison Bend Reservoir, just west of town next weekend. The three-day event starts next Friday, February 19 and admission is free. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials say up to 20,000 snow geese have been spotted at festivals in previous years. Except for black tips on their wings, snow geese are pure white. State officials will provide spotting scopes and biologists will also be on hand to answer questions.
Richfield canal relocation faces cost increases
Published on February 12, 2010 at 12:47PM
(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City officials are discussing the costs of relocating the canal to make room for the new airport construction project south of the city. At the city council meeting this week, Finance Director Mike Langston and Jones and DeMille Engineering representatives addressed the council concerning the grade flow of the canal once its moved. Jones and DeMille said the flow of the canal will be worse with its relocation and costs would go up significantly by installing culverts and underground pipe along the airport route. Project planners want the new canal to run along the same route as the current canal but may face some problems with construction. Councilmembers will continue the discussion with the FAA and other project planners on the new construction to resolve the issues.
Council, Planners at odds over metal buildings
Published on February 12, 2010 at 12:37PM
(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council is revisiting some agenda items with the Planning Commission concerning Zoning Code changes on construction of metal buildings and the placing of storage containers in residential areas of the city. At issue is what types and sizes of metal buildings can be constructed on private property within the city limits and the use of storage containers. Both the Council and Planning Commission oppose the permanent use of storage containers within the city limits and can only be used on a temporary basis. At the city council meeting this week, the council said Planning members want metal buildings to be in harmony with existing structures on private property but some councilmembers question what “in harmony” means. Councilmembers Bryan Burrows and Mike Turner say what’s “in harmony” to some Planners may be different to other members, officials and the public. The general consensus of the council is that some members of the Planning Commission are going too far in their personal opinions on the construction of metal buildings. The discussion between the Planners and Council will continue in future meetings.
Williams honored to be at All-Star game
Published on February 12, 2010 at 08:54AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The lone selection from the Utah Jazz to play in the NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas is happy to make his first appearance. Jazz guard Deron Williams says he’s excited to have been picked up for the game. Williams is averaging 18.6 points-per-game, 9.8 assists and a career-high 4.1 rebounds in 37.2 minutes per game. He commented that he was surprised Jazz power forward, Carlos Boozer, was not picked for the reserve spot with several other players out with injuries. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is out of the all-star game with a sprained ankle as well as Jason Kidd, Brandon Roy and others. Williams, who was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Dec. 7-12, became the ninth fastest player in NBA history to reach 3,000 career assists this season.
LDS Leaders speak on religious decline
Published on February 12, 2010 at 08:16AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are saying the battle over same-sex marriage is endangering religious beliefs in political debates. Elder Lance B. Wickman, an attorney for the LDS Church and member of the Quorum of the Seventy, said the greatest challenge facing the Church is the worldwide slide downward regarding the place of religion in the public square. Wickman, speaking at the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Conference Thursday night at the University of Utah, cited the Proposition 8 initiative, passed by California voters in 2008, that would limit marriage to being between a man a woman. Wickman commented that in a current federal court case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, Prop 8 is being challenged and portends to define not just marriage but the ground rules for all future political debate as well. He said Perry seeks a court declaration that, as a matter of law, religious views may not be use to justify the denial of a social civil right. Wickman says the case essentially claims that the voters, from whom all authority in a democracy flows, may not consider religious views and values when deciding alleged social and cultural civil rights.
Homosexuals, lawmakers gear up for fight
Published on February 12, 2010 at 07:39AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The homosexual community is gearing up for a fight with conservative lawmakers over anti-discrimination ordinances at the Utah Legislature. Lesbian lawmaker Rep. Christine Johnson, a Democrat from Salt Lake City, says homosexual activists want to fight to expand protections in housing and employment statewide. Conservative Republican Utah lawmakers are also preparing for the fight, planning a series of bills that would prohibit cities from passing similar measures. Some measures that have already passed the Legislature could be reversed in both Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. Homosexual activists met Thursday night to discuss a “stand down” at the Legislature instead of fighting at the Capitol this year. Republican leaders have pledged to block any homosexual-related bill, even if it’s worded as a “family-friendly” piece of legislation.