Story Archive for 02/23/2010
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Lady Irish Clip Marquette
Published on February 23, 2010 at 11:24PM
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)—Melissa Lechlitner posted a career-high 23 points and the #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish bested the Marquette Lady Golden Eagles, 82-67 Tuesday in Top 25 womens’ college basketball action. Lechlitner made eight of 13 shots on the night including a 4 of 7 performance behind the arc as the Lady Irish improved to 24-3 on the season. Courtney Weibel had 15 points in the loss for Marquette, which dropped them to 14-13. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #11 Georgetown hammered Villanova, 70-54 and #7 West Virginia bludgeoned Cincinnati, 64-43.
Lobos Trip Up Rams
Published on February 23, 2010 at 11:16PM
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP)—Dairese Gary amassed 23 points and Roman Martinez added 17 more as the #12 New Mexico Lobos won another close call with a 72-66 victory over the Colorado State Rams Tuesday at Moby Arena in Top 25 mens’ college basketball action. Former College of Eastern Utah star Darington Hobson stepped up with 15 points and 10 rebounds for New Mexico, who improved to 26-3 on the season, keeping themselves in line for one of the top four seeds in a regional for the NCAA Tournament according to several prominent college basketball analysts, such as Joe Lunardi and Seth Davis. The Rams, obviously motivated by hosting a national power, actually led 32-29 at halftime, before the Lobos overpowered CSU with 43 points in the last stanza, including a late 7-0 surge to repel the last Ram run of the evening. Adam Nigon amassed a career-high 23 points in the loss for Colorado State. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #13 Georgetown humbled Louisville, 70-60, #4 Syracuse downed Providence, 99-85, #6 Kansas State bludgeoned Texas Tech, 83-64, Evansville stunned #22 Northern Iowa, 55-54 and Florida stymied #17 Tennessee, 75-62.
Suns Pull One Out Late Against Thunder
Published on February 23, 2010 at 11:04PM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Jason Richardson made the winning shot with 0.7 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns overcame a double-digit deficit in the closing minutes in a 104-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday at Ford Center in NBA action. Amar’e Stoudemire had 30 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, while Grant Hill added 21 points and nine boards for the Suns in the win. The loss for the Thunder spoiled Kevin Durant’s latest great performance which saw him post 36 points and eight rebounds. The win improved Phoenix to 35-23 on the season, while the Thunder fell to 33-22. In other NBA action Tuesday, Cleveland bested New Orleans, 105-95, Boston outlasted New York, 110-106, Minnesota doused Miami, 91-88, Portland overpowered New Jersey, 102-93, the Los Angeles Lakers edged Memphis, 99-98, Detroit stymied Sacramento, 101-89 and Philadelphia held off Golden State, 110-102.
BLM releases geothermal lease results
Published on February 23, 2010 at 04:38PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah BLM has released the results of the competitive geothermal lease sale that was held in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The sale included 17 parcels on BLM Utah lands and ten parcels on BLM Idaho lands. The BLM sold 17 of the Utah parcels on 60,320 acres of federal land in the Fillmore Field Office and four of the Idaho parcels on 10,592 acres. The total revenues for the sale netted the BLM nearly $335,400. Geothermal energy accounts for 8.5% of renewable electricity generation and 0.3% of total U.S. electricity supply. Reports say that almost 50% of the nation’s production of geothermal energy is on federal land. Utah’s current geothermal production is primarily in Beaver County where two plants produce 24 megawatts per year.
Bennett blasts Obama for low lease sale
Published on February 23, 2010 at 04:13PM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett is warning the Obama Administration that they’re on a reckless path of hurting job creation in Utah due to the low turnout of the oil and gas lease auction held Tuesday in Salt Lake City. Bennett said the lease sale was undoubtedly one of the smallest lease sales in Utah history and raises red flags for the future of the industry. He said Obama is trying to drive the oil industry into an anemic state through the implementing of his policies. Bennett said the low turnout was not a result of a slow economy but a result of Obama’s disruption and uncertainty of the already byzantine oil and gas process. Tuesday’s sale only netted the BLM a little over $6300.
Utahn Accuses Feds of Misconduct in Artifact Case
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:50PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The brother of a Utah sheriff is accusing federal agents of misconduct when they arrested him last June for allegedly trafficking in ancient American Indian artifacts. Tuesday, David Lacy testified that heavily armed agents stormed his house and held him for hours while grilling him incessantly about his artifacts collection. Incidentally, this was all done without reading him his Miranda rights against self-incrimination. Earlier Tuesday, the agents testified they did everything properly. Lacy, a teacher at San Juan High School in Blanding, is the brother of San Juan County Sheriff Mike Lacy of Monticello and one of 26 collectors and dealers in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico who were arrested after a two year sting operation. Lacy remains insistent his collection of American Indian artifacts was legally obtained.
New Species of Dinosaur Found in Eastern Utah Rock
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:46PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Paleontologists say they have found fossils from a previously undiscovered species of dinosaur hidden in slabs of Utah sandstone that were so hard explosives had to be used to free the remains. The bones, found at Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, are from a type of sauropod. Sauropods were long-necked plant eaters who were reportedly the largest animals to ever roam land. The new species is called Abydosaurus mcintoshi. Monument paleontologist Dan Chure says the fossils offer fresh insight into lives of dinosaurs some 105 million years ago, including the evolution of sauropod teeth. Details of the find were made public Tuesday and are being published in a peer-reviewed science journal.
Anger Grows Over Possible National Monument List
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:41PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Anger in Utah continues to grow over the possible designation of two national monuments in the energy-rich southern part of the state. A U.S. Department of the Interior document lists more than a dozen sites throughout the West for possible monument designation, which would make them off-limits to development. Presidents have the sole authority to designate national monuments through the Antiquities Act. The Interior department insists the list is a product of brainstorming and nothing more. However, in Utah, fear of a possible land grab persists as a result of the Clinton administration’s designation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Tuesday, a Capitol rally supported a measure to require congressional approval of future Utah monuments.
Utah Senate Strikes Blow Against Citizen Measures
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:35PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Utah Senate has voted to make it easier to keep citizens’ initiatives off the ballot. Tuesday, the Senate gave its initial approval to a measure that would make it easier for Utahns who change their minds to remove their names from a statewide initiative or referendum. The bill is primarily in response to a citizens ethics initiative that many GOP lawmakers oppose. Among other things, the initiative would ban gifts by lobbyists to lawmakers, place caps on campaign donations and ban corporations from giving directly to candidates. To get it on the ballot, about 95,000 voter signatures from 26 of the state’s 29 Senate districts must be collected by April 15. Senate Bill 275 was approved 22-7. It needs one formal vote before advancing to the House.
Utah AG's Subpoena Powers Could Be Expanded
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:31PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Utah House will consider greatly expanding the ability of the state attorney general’s office to issue administrative subpoenas for online and cell phone records. A House panel approved a measure 10-1 on Tuesday that would allow the subpoenas to be issued anytime the attorney general’s office suspects the Internet or a cell phone has been used to commit a felony. They could also be used when stalking and electronic harassment are suspected. Currently, the subpoenas can only be used to force Internet companies to provide certain information about someone suspected of committing a sex crime against children. The bill is opposed by some criminal defense lawyers who say it lacks appropriate checks and balances from the judicial system.
Man Gets 180 Days in Jail For Auto Homicide
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:28PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A South Jordan man will spend 180 days in jail for a 2008 car crash that killed his passenger. Chad Moyes pleaded guilty to automobile homicide with criminal negligence Monday. Moyes was speeding in his Corvette in Riverton November 12, 2008 when he slammed into a semi truck as it was backing out. Moyes was going about 90 miles an hour, twice the speed limit. The corvette burst into flames and witnesses had to pull Moyes and his passenger, Carlos Contreras, out. Contreras later died from massive head trauma sustained in the accident. Moyes was also ordered into a drug treatment program while in jail.
Father and Son Busted For Drug Operation
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:24PM
(OGDEN)—A father and son in Ogden are now behind bars after being accused of running a drug distribution operation according to the Ogden Standard-Examiner. Those arrested were 26-year-old Michael Martinez and 46-year-old Nick Martinez. They were booked into the Weber County Jail over the weekend after members of the Narcotics Strike Force, Ogden Crime Reduction Unit and the Ogden Metro Gang Unit raided their apartments in Ogden. Officers found nearly two pounds of methamphetamine, a large amount of ecstasy pills, a number of firearms and thousands of dollars in cash, which police say was drug proceeds. At the time of their arrests, Michael was also wanted on parole violations and Nick was on parole. Both are facing multiple charges.
Fire Destroys Man's Home Again
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:20PM
(ST. GEORGE)—A homeowner in southern Utah experienced his house burning down for the second time in four years Monday. According to the Spectrum, Jarrod Memmott’s second home burned down to the ground and Harmony Valley Fire District Chief Greg Gonzalez tells the paper the fire at the first home was caused by a wood-burning stove sparking a fire in the attic. Investigators are looking into whether the same thing caused a fire at Memmott’s second home, which was built on the same property as the first residence. It took firefighters more than three hours to extinguish the fire and no one was injured.
Fugitive Murder Suspects Went Unnoticed By Police
Published on February 23, 2010 at 02:15PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Two fugitives accused of killing a Millard County sheriff’s deputy were told to leave the area by officers who were looking for them, but apparently didn’t recognize them. Roberto Roman and Ruben Chavez-Reyes are accused in the murder of Millard County sheriff’s Deputy Josie Fox early on the morning of January 5 near Delta. Later that morning, police believed the two were hiding in Salt Lake City and evacuated the neighborhood where they were believed to be. A resident who lives nearby, Shirley Cleverly told the Salt Lake Tribune she’d arrived at home early that morning because the suspects knew her sons. Cleverly said she didn’t know they were fugitives and didn’t know they were at home until police evacuated the premises. They were found the next day in a shed near Beaver and arrested. Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank confirmed Cleverly’s story and wants to identify the officers who didn’t recognize the wanted men so he can talk to them.
BLM releases results of lease sale
Published on February 23, 2010 at 12:18PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah BLM has released the results of its quarterly oil and gas lease sale held in Salt Lake City today. The BLM sold one of the four offered parcels, totaling 1762 acres of federal land located in the Cedar City Field Office. BLM received $3,526 in bonus bids for the federal oil and gas lease rights and in addition to the bonus bids, netted $2,645 in rental fees and $145 in administrative fees. The total revenue from the sale amounted to $6,315.
Farmers rally against environmentalists
Published on February 23, 2010 at 10:57AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – A group of farmers and ranchers met on Capitol Hill on Monday in a tasty show of force against the environmentalists’ agenda to attack the agriculture industry. The “Celebrate Agriculture” rally coordinated by the Utah Farm Bureau, featured locally produced beef jerky, string cheese and slices of Norbest turkey. The event also included remarks by Rep. Kerry Gibson of Ogden, a dairy farmer and Rep. Mike Noel of Kanab, a cattle rancher. Gibson said farmers and ranchers often suffer personal attacks despite being the “ultimate environmentalists.” Noel took his turn at the bully pulpit to call for the defeat of “cap-and-trade” legislation aimed at crushing agriculture in Utah. He also rallied farmers and ranchers to remain at the Capitol for the afternoon debate on a controversial bill that spells out access to public streams and waterways on private property.
Central Utah Mental Health Building
Published on February 23, 2010 at 09:18AM
(Ephraim) The Central Utah Mental Health Network will soon have a new administration building in Ephraim. Sanpete County Commissioners approved the building at their recent meeting and construction should take about a year. According to Commissioner Cox, the current administration building in Mount Pleasant was built mostly by high school students in the 1970’s and has not seen much in the way of upgrades since that time. The new building will be built using funds saved by the Network and a grant from the Community Impact Board. According to Cox, the facility will be built across from Snow College’s West Campus in Ephraim and will house the Administrative Staff as well as serving as a clinic.
ACS kicks off Relay-For-Life event
Published on February 23, 2010 at 09:04AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Central Utah American Cancer Society 2010 Relay-For-Life Event is kicking off this Saturday at the Red Hills Middle School in Richfield. The event will run from 6:30 to 8pm with a special invitation extended to all cancer survivors. Event organizers say that all individuals wishing to honor a loved one who has battled cancer, luminaria bags will be available at a cost of $5 each. The event will feature booths, including balloon ties, balloon darts, fishing games, bean bag and coin toss, face painting and a cakewalk. The public is invited to attend the event free of charge but booths will be provided at a cost of $.50 each.
UHP investigates double crashes
Published on February 23, 2010 at 07:34AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Utah Highway Patrol investigated two automobile crashes near Richfield and Salina Monday afternoon. The first happened at 1:30pm on I-70 east of Richfield where 73-year old, Boyd Mower apparently fell asleep at the wheel in his 1987 Chevy S-10 and drifted into the median and rolled. He was not injured in the accident but was cited for improper lane travel. The second accident took place at about 3pm on SR-24 south of Salina where 51-year old, Igor Chavarria of Sacramento, CA. was preparing to make a left turn in a 1999 Freightliner semi and spotted a 1982 Ford Futura, driven by 64-year old, Larry Sessions of Richfield, suddenly vear to the right, impacted a stop sign, a large rock and rolled. Neither driver made contact with each other and no one was injured in the accident.
Richfield considers further budget cuts
Published on February 23, 2010 at 07:03AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council met in session Monday night to discuss more ways to cut an already tight budget. Finance Director Mike Langston presented the council with the 2010-11 proposed draft budget, showing areas where the city can reduce expenses in spite of loss in revenue to city coffers. City councilman Richard Barnett said he, the mayor and some members of the council would be willing to give up their monthly pay to help. Mayor Brad Ramsay said the city may push back the possible increase in an energy tax by three months if other services can be cut, including the swimming pool, golf course and other services. Langston said city employees will have to pay 100% of a 10-15% increase in insurance premiums this year, which amounts to a pay cut. Councilmembers determined to have public hearings on the budget cuts before any action is taken.