Story Archive for 05/05/2010
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USPS sponsors Saturday food drive
Published on May 05, 2010 at 03:47PM
(RICHFIELD) – The largest single-day food drive will be held nationwide this Saturday. The United States Postal Service is sponsoring the food drive and Richfield Postmaster Curtis Marsh says food sacks will be distributed to residents and food may be left out on Saturday for your local carrier to collect. In 2009, the drive collected 73 million pounds of food. USPS says in the 18-year history, more than 981 million pounds of food has been distributed to local food pantries. Last year, Sevier County collected more than six tons of food for the Central Utah Food Sharing program. USPS says in America, one in six children are uncertain where their next meal may come from. Postal workers are asking residents to support the cause this Saturday.
Thousands support Aguilar funeral
Published on May 05, 2010 at 03:05PM
(RICHFIELD) – Thousands of Sevier County residents, business owners and others around the state gathered along 300 North in Richfield and Main Street to pay their last respects to a fallen county sheriff’s deputy. Waving American flags and standing at attention, supporters honored 36-year old Franco Aguilar, as his casket passed in a procession onto Highway 118. Richfield resident Gina Mortensen said the show of support was amazing. Mortensen’s husband, Kevin, said Aguilar died a hero. Aguilar’s funeral was held today at noon at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Law enforcement from nearly every city in the state participated in the procession on their way to American Fork, where Aguilar will be buried. Allison Vercoe of Richfield said after the funeral is over and crowds leave the area, residents will still support the Aguilar family. Aguilar was killed in an accident last Thursday night, where he was hit and thrown over the Fish Creek Bridge on I-70, while investigating an accident.
Narrows Project Hearings
Published on May 05, 2010 at 11:26AM
Updated on May 05, 2010 at 08:01PM
(Manti) The Bureau of Reclamation recently held two public comment meetings to take input on the proposed Narrows Water Project in Sanpete County. About 35 people attended the meeting in Manti, and 95 people attended the meeting in Price. Those attending the meeting in Manti were largely in favor of the project citing the perennial lack of water for farming in the north end of Sanpete County. Those who attended in price were overwhelmingly opposed to the project with predictions of job losses and environmental catastrophes if water is redirected from Gooseberry Creek. Concern was expressed that water levels would drop in Scofield Reservoir as well as Gooseberry and Fish Creeks. Others complained that the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was inadequate and should be redone. According to an official from the Bureau of Reclamation, only about 30 letters have been received so far regarding the project, but they expect the largest push to come in during the final week of the comment period which ends on June first. For information about the project and to submit comments, you can go to www.narrowsproject.com.
Chaffetz endorses Philpot against Matheson
Published on May 05, 2010 at 11:15AM
(AMERICAN FORK) – Rep. Jason Chaffetz of the 3rd Congressional District in Utah has endorsed Morgan Philpot for the 2nd Congressional District. Chaffetz said he’s witnessed first hand Philpot’s work in the state legislature and was impressed with his commitment to Utah, the Constitution and conservative principles. Philpot is the GOP nominee picked to run against Democrat Jim Matheson. Chaffetz said in 2008, he successfully challenged then incumbent Chris Cannon with an all-volunteer staff and defied conventional wisdom by passing on the normal practice of feeding delegates in an effort to get them to come meet with him. Philpot said he’s pleased with Chaffetz’ endorsement in his effort to fight earmark spending.
Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area
Published on May 05, 2010 at 10:49AM
(Sanpete) After ten years of work, the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area has officially begun funding demonstration projects. The area received final approval on March 2nd of this year. According to Monte Bona, Director of the Utah Heritage Highway Alliance, two hundred thousand dollars has already been committed throughout the area and one hundred thousand dollars will be dispersed this season. Some of the projects receiving money include the Ephraim Co-op, the Central Utah Pioneer Heritage Museum in Manti, the Casino Star Theater in Gunnison, Arapeen Community Advisors in Mount Pleasant, and The Karen Huntsman Library Plaza at the new Snow College Library. The Heritage Area runs beyond Sanpete County to include Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Garfield, and Kane Counties. The Management Plan for the area calls for up to one million dollars each year in funding from the US Park Service, but according to Bona, the amount will likely be less as the park service faces its own budget crisis. The mission of the Heritage Area is to preserve, promote, develop, and interpret Mormon pioneer heritage along the corridor where travelers experienced the stories of the settlement of the West.
USU pushes wind farm in Monticello
Published on May 05, 2010 at 10:27AM
(MONTICELLO) – Utah State University researchers say a wind power project near Canyonlands National Park would generate jobs, tax revenue and lease payments for ranchers. A measuring device left in place for a year near Monticello found that winds blow at an average of nearly 12 miles-per-hour. Researchers say that’s enough to justify a wind farm. Professors Edwin Stafford and Cathy Hartman of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business evaluated the suitability of a modest-sized wind farm near Monticello. They calculated a 50-megawatt project would support 51 construction jobs and four permanent jobs. The professors say the project would pay $150,000 in annual lease payments and $1.3 million in property taxes. They filed a 28-page study in March for the U.S. Department of Energy.
LDS Church digitizes microfilm
Published on May 05, 2010 at 08:46AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has announced that millions of rolls of microfilm will soon be digitized and published free of charge to the general public. The Granite Mountain Records Vault, the official storage unit for 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, contains more than 3 billion images belonging to the church. Church officials say the digitized images will be available to the public through FamilySearch, a genealogical resource provided free to the public. Information on the films is currently being digitized by use of complex computer programs which adjust for density variations in each film. Officials say the vast majority of the collection will be available for online research.
Richfield holds three-hour budget meeting
Published on May 05, 2010 at 07:33AM
(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City officials held a three-hour budget session Tuesday night to work over the 2010-11 budget. Three members of the city council, along with the Mayor and City Manager gathered to pour over general fund revenues, expenditures, road funds, taxes and department budgets. City Manager Mike Langston said the city has laid off four employees and combined positions to save the city money in order to balance the budget by the end of June. Langston said that several budget work sessions and public hearings will still need to be held before final passage of the budget. He was selected as the Richfield City Manager last week, in combination with his current position as Finance Director. Langston replaces former Business Administrator Woody Farnsworth who retired at the end of last year.
Richfield approves parking closure for BMX
Published on May 05, 2010 at 07:00AM
(RICHFIELD) – A Richfield business owner has gained approval from the city council to block off a section of a parking lot in the city to host a BMX exhibition this month. David Christensen, owner of Christensen’s Department Store in Richfield, says a national shoe company is traveling across the country and will stop in the city May 19. Sevier County Events Coordinator Kevin Arrington also addressed the council prior to a special budget work session Tuesday night in support of the BMX exhibition. Christensen and the city will work out logistics of the parking lot closure to allow traffic to flow freely on May 19 in that area. The event will be held from 4-6pm.