Story Archive for 05/07/2010
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Man Killed in Topaz Mountain Rock Slide
Published on May 07, 2010 at 01:50PM
(JUAB COUNTY)-A man searching for topaz on Topaz Mountain in Juab County was crushed to death in a rock slide Thursday afternoon. The Juab County Sheriff’s Office stated they received the call around 3:00 p.m. Authorities said a 57-year-old man was searching for topaz with a couple of friends about 1,000 yards up the mountainside amid steep terrain. Deputies then said a massive rock broke loose above the man and landed on him. He died before rescue teams arrived. Authorities are granting the man’s family common courtesy by not revealing his name until family members are notified of the incident.
Former Garfield County School Official Arrested
Published on May 07, 2010 at 01:43PM
(WEST JORDAN)-Authorities say a former Garfield County School District official has been arrested in the alleged theft of thousands of dollars of district funds. The sheriff’s office says Justin Baugh was arrested Thursday night in West Jordan on felony charges of misuse of public money, communications fraud and tampering with a witness. The Garfield County Attorney’s Office says the Utah state auditors found that Baugh had allegedly stolen between $50,000 and $80,000 while working as the district’s business administrator. The audit found multiple checks that Baugh had written to himself and his wife, one of which was for more than $30,000. Furthermore, the audit discovered Baugh allegedly gave himself a travel stipend of $12,000 yearly while he also wrote large travel expense checks. Baugh is currently being held on $25,000 bail and his first court appearance is set for May 13. If convicted, he could face up to 35 years in prison. Baugh started his job as business administrator with the Garfield County School District in June 2008. Last May, he resigned to take a job at the Canyons District in Sandy as assistant director of finances.
GOP candidates prepare for convention
Published on May 07, 2010 at 12:58PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – Sen. Bob Bennett is hoping Mitt Romney will give him a boost at Saturday morning’s GOP convention at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Romney is scheduled to introduce Bennett but a Dan Jones & Associates poll for KSL-TV and the Deseret News shows Romney isn’t as popular with delegates as he is with the general population. The poll showed that 76% of Utah Republicans pick Romney as their top choice for president but that drops to 54% among GOP delegates. Bennett faces seven GOP challengers at the convention. They all claim the three-term incumbent is not conservative enough for Utah. Recent polls show Bennett is still favored by a plurality of Utah voters but among delegates, he trails attorney Mike Lee and some polls show him trailing entrepreneur Tim Bridgewater. Three rounds of voting will take place at the convention Saturday. If a candidate gets 60% of delegate votes, the party nomination is secure; otherwise, the top two candidates will face off in a primary election on June 22.
Chaffetz demands DOI land documents
Published on May 07, 2010 at 12:42PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – 3rd District Congressman Jason Chaffetz says the Obama administration has been planning for months to designate parts of Utah as wilderness. Chaffetz says he’s asked the Interior Department for documentation on the designations but has been rebuffed in his efforts. He says his worry is that the Obama administration is going to use the Antiquities Act to grab millions of acres of land in the western United States, including Utah. Chaffetz says Utahns and members of Congress have a right to know what the administration is working on. He says he’s working with Rep. Rob Bishop to sponsor legislation to force the administration to turn over the documents.
Judge rules separate hearing in Fox murder
Published on May 07, 2010 at 11:35AM
(FILLMORE) – A Fourth District judge has ruled the two men charged in the murder of a Millard County Sheriff’s deputy will have separate hearings. Judge Donald Eyre said that 36-year old Ruben Chavez-Reyes can have a separate hearing from that of his co-defendant, 37-year old Roberto Roman, who is charged with the killing of Deputy Josie Fox of Delta on Jan. 5. A joint preliminary hearing had been set for Aug. 9-11 for both men but Chavez-Reyes objected. Court documents said that Chavez-Reyes wants to exercise his right to a speedy trial. Prosecutors had argued that it would be more cost-effective and efficient to hold the same preliminary hearing for both men, since there is overlapping evidence and witnesses and conduct arising from a single criminal episode. The judge disagreed and issued a written ruling on Tuesday. Police said that Chavez-Reyes has role in the killing of Fox but don’t know to what extent.
State agencies team up to boost tourism
Published on May 07, 2010 at 11:22AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah Office of Tourism and UDOT are teaming up in a promotion to help reduce the number of vehicles traveling during peak holiday weekend times and to increase in-state tourism. The agencies are seeking participation from lodging properties and attractions willing to offer a discount or other incentives exclusively on the Thursday or Tuesday surrounding each holiday or on a Friday or Monday for any other weekend throughout the summer. UDOT and the State Tourism Office are calling the promotion, “Stay an Extra Day” for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Pioneer Day and Labor Day holidays. The agencies hope vacationers will stay in Utah for an extra day and enjoy Utah’s attractions instead of traveling out of state.
UDOT reminds motorists of highway delays
Published on May 07, 2010 at 11:03AM
(MARYSVALE) – The Utah Department of Transportation is reminding motorists of traffic delays this weekend on highways in South-Central Utah. UDOT officials say that minimal delays and possible stops may occur on SR-89 between Marysvale and Junction due to highway repair. Delays may also occur on SR-9 from Rockville to Springdale, near the south entrance of Zion’s National Park, where crews are working on a chip seal project. Paving work is also being conducted on SR-10 from Emery to Muddy Creek in Emery County. UDOT reminds motorists to be aware of flagging operations in construction areas in the areas affected.
Salina Police nab suspected kidnapper
Published on May 07, 2010 at 10:37AM
(SALINA) – Salina Police were called out early this morning for a possible kidnapping victim and suspect out of Colorado. According to Police Chief Greg Harwood, 23-year old Jacson Quintanilla of Aurora, CO., convinced his ex-girlfriend, 23-year old Cecelia Ramirez of Denver, to get into his car with him at about 1pm Thursday while she was on a lunch break from work. Harwood said Quintanilla headed toward California on I-70 and stopped for the night at the Rodeway Inn at the Interchange in Salina. Chief Harwood said Ramirez was able to send a text message to her sister in Colorado, telling her she had been kidnapped. Sevier County Deputy Mark Crane located Quintanilla’s vehicle at the motel and arrested him in his motel room without incident. Ramirez was not injured and Quintanilla was booked into the Sevier County Jail on hold for Colorado authorities.
Hanksville quarry to conduct tours
Published on May 07, 2010 at 08:54AM
(RICHFIELD) – Education personnel from the Burpee Museum will be on site this spring at the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry to conduct guided tours. Richfield Forest Supervisor John Zapell says a tour of the museum gives people a valuable lesson on paleontology. Tours will run from May 27 through June 9, weather permitting. Travelers can find out whether quarry tours are operating by looking for the signs off of SR-24 towards Hanksville.
Moab included in hot travel spot review
Published on May 07, 2010 at 07:20AM
(MOAB) – A southeastern Utah community has been picked as one of the top ten travel spots in the nation. According to the travel website, TripAdvisor.com, Moab was designated as one of the travel hot spots in America, among the Top 10 U.S. Outdoor and Adventure Destinations. Moab beat out Lake Tahoe, CA. and Yellowstone National Park for the Number Three spot. The No. 1 ranked spot went to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The website combined millions of reviews to determine the winners of the Traveler’s Choice Awards.
Fallen deputies honored at Capitol ceremony
Published on May 07, 2010 at 07:01AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The names of two South-Central Utah sheriff’s deputies will be added to the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial in Salt Lake City. Over 100 people gathered at the State Capitol on Thursday to honor Millard County Deputy Josie Fox, who was shot and killed at a traffic stop in the early morning hours of Jan. 5 east of Delta. The crowd also honored 36-year old Sevier County Sgt. Franco Aguilar, who died in an accident he was investigating on I-70 Apr. 29. As part of Thursday’s ceremony, Fox’s family members affixed a bronze plaque bearing her name on the memorial on the west side of the Capitol. Aguilar’s name will be affixed in next year’s ceremony. The annual event marks the deaths of over 128 fallen Utah peace officers.