Story Archive for 05/24/2010
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Thorne retires as Sevier Superintendent
Published on May 24, 2010 at 03:55PM
(RICHFIELD) – An open house was held today for the Superintendent of the Sevier School District who is retiring at the end of June. At the open house, Dr. Brent Thorne said he’s enjoyed his career as superintendent. Thorne is retiring from public education after a 42-year career. He started as a teacher and middle school principal and served as Sevier School District as Superintendent of Schools in 1992. Thorne also served as North Sanpete School Superintendent prior to his current position. His last day on the job will be June 30. Current Assistant Superintendent Myron Michelson has been selected by the Board of Education as the new superintendent and Gail Albrecht as the new Assistant Superintendent. Both will assume their new duties on July 1.
Coal Mine Reopens After Fire Quarantine
Published on May 24, 2010 at 02:55PM
(WELLINGTON)-Arch Coal Company has reopened a Utah coal mine after closing off a section that caught fire. St. Louis-based Arch Coal shut down the Dugout mine for nearly three weeks to deal with rising levels of deadly carbon monoxide from the smoldering fire. The company stated it removed water pumps and left the section at the mine to flood. Arch Coal believes a chemical reaction likely caused a coal seam to ignite, but it did not produce any open flames. Arch Coal spokeswoman, Kim Link, says none of Dugout’s 275 workers were furloughed due to the shutdown. They were reassigned to other duties, while some picked up highway litter. Link stated the mine reopened late last week.
Snowmelt To Raise Lake Powell, Keep Shortcut Open
Published on May 24, 2010 at 02:47PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says snowmelt will raise Lake Powell to levels higher than last summer, keeping a notable boating shortcut open. Lake Powell Resorts & Marina stated houseboat reservations are up by a third over this time last year. Resort vice president, David Sloma, says 85 percent of available houseboat slots for the summer are already reserved while onshore lodging bookings are up 20 percent. Sloma credits a turning economy and ideal boating causes as impetuses for the surge. Castle Rock cut, which shaves off about 12 miles from Wahweap Marina to the most popular beaches at Lake Powell and Rainbow Bridge National Monument, has remained open since last summer. Previously, low water had kept the cut closed for five years.
SSD announces principal changes
Published on May 24, 2010 at 12:51PM
(MONROE) – The literacy coach at Monroe Elementary School will become the principal of the North Sevier Middle School on July 1. The Sevier School District Board of Education recently made the announcement that Rod Hinck will become the principal at the same time current North Sevier Middle School Principal Cade Douglas leaves to become the Director of Student Learning at the District Office. Hinck commented that he’s excited for the move and is looking forward to working with educators, staff, students and parents in the North Sevier area and getting better acquainted. Douglas said he wants to build upon the outstanding educational traditions in the Sevier School District. He served as the principal of the middle school since 2008. Hinck was the speech-language pathologist at the Richfield Care Center before joining the District in 1999 as the literacy coach at Monroe Elementary School. He lives in Richfield with his wife, Kristi and five children.
Monroe man arrested after crash
Published on May 24, 2010 at 11:23AM
(MONROE) – A Monroe man was arrested for DUI over the weekend after injuring himself in a crash on Monroe Mountain. Sevier County Deputies investigated the crash, involving 26-year old Chris Christensen, who crashed his 1997 Ford Explorer about a mile east of the mouth of Monroe Canyon on Saturday. The sheriff’s report said that Christensen was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield and treated for his injuries. He was then immediately arrested for driving drunk. The report said Christensen was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Elsinore kids found safe after canal incident
Published on May 24, 2010 at 11:01AM
(ELSINORE) – A couple of Elsinore families got a scare Friday afternoon when their two five-year old children didn’t come home from school. According to a sheriff’s report, a boy and a girl, belonging to Jamie Dalton and Heather Robertson, were dropped off by a bus driver after school at about 2pm but the children didn’t show up at home at the normal time. The report said the grandmother of one of the children went looking for the kids and found one of their backpacks on the ground near the canal at about 100 North 350 East. She immediately dialed 9-1-1 and found the children about a quarter of a mile from where she found the backpack. Apparently, a pillow fell into the canal and the boy jumped in to rescue it but couldn’t get out due to steep canal banks. The girl attempted to help the boy but couldn’t get him out. The sheriff’s report said the grandmother was able to rescue the child and both children are in good condition.
LDS Church president dedicates Gila Valley temple
Published on May 24, 2010 at 10:04AM
Updated on May 24, 2010 at 08:47PM
(GILA VALLEY, Ariz.) – President Thomas S. Monson of the LDS Church traveled to Gila Valley, Ariz. this past weekend to dedicate the Church’s 132nd temple. Pres. Monson said the temple dedication is a highlight of fond memories of President Spencer W. Kimball, who lived in the area for many years, and was actually called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church in the nearby community of Safford, Ariz. The Gila Valley Temple is the first temple Pres. Monson announced shortly after he became Church president in 2008. Two of Pres. Kimball’s children attended the temple dedicatory proceedings. His son, Andrews Kimball, said his father envisioned a temple being built in the Gila Valley area. Pres. Monson was greeted by dozens of children, who helped seal the cornerstone of the temple on Sunday morning.
Miss Fairview
Published on May 24, 2010 at 08:19AM
The royalty in Fairview changed over the weekend. The new Miss Fairview is Alyssa Hall ,with Samantha Laney as the first attendant. Amy Bangerter is the second attendant and the Miss Congeniality award was given to Roberta Garlick.
Canadian motorcylist injured at Capital Reef
Published on May 24, 2010 at 07:30AM
(FRUITA) – A Calgary, Canada man sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident at Capital Reef National Park Friday afternoon. According to a UHP report, 58-year old Perry Prete was traveling westbound on SR-24 on a 2005 Kawasaki 600 motorcycle, when he skidded east of the Petrocliff intersection at the Park at about 1:30pm. The report said Prete went off the right shoulder of the highway and hit a delineator post. He was wearing his helmet and suffered multiple abrasions and a possible broken wrist. Prete was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield for treatment.
Motorcycle crash injures Ephraim man
Published on May 24, 2010 at 07:20AM
(GREEN RIVER) – A motorcycle accident injured an Ephraim man Saturday afternoon west of Green River on BLM land. Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) investigated the accident and found 22-year old Brett Butterfield injured on a dirt road at about 1:15pm. The report said Butterfield lost control of his 2008 off-road motorcycle and was thrown from the bike. The accident happened about 40 miles west of Green River. The report had no information of Butterfield’s injuries.
New Miss Ephraim
Published on May 24, 2010 at 07:14AM
Updated on May 24, 2010 at 02:22PM
Taylor Jones was crowned the new Miss Ephraim this weekend. The Ephraim royalty also consists of Amelia Osmond as 1st attendant and Miss Congeniality and Sha-ree Rasmussen as second attendant.
Mt. Pleasant man dies in truck accident
Published on May 24, 2010 at 07:02AM
Updated on May 24, 2010 at 01:03PM
(FAIRVIEW) – A Mt. Pleasant man died over the weekend in a rollover north of Fairview. According to a UHP report, 73-year old Roy Walker was driving a 2004 Chevy 2500 pickup on U.S. 89, when he crossed the center line, overcorrected and rolled his truck. The report said Walker was not wearing his seatbelt and was thrown from his vehicle at about 6:30am Sunday. He died at the scene. UHP investigators said that Walker had several medical conditions which may have contributed to the crash.
Random Musings
Published on May 24, 2010 at 01:03AM
Updated on May 24, 2010 at 07:31AM
Since it’s been quite a while from the time I penned my last thoughts, here goes. The Phoenix Suns were masterful in their 118-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. If Amar’e Stoudemire (42 points, 11 rebounds) continues to produce like this, Los Angeles could have significant problems. From the get-go, the Suns looked like the aggressors and the Lakers never really got into their groove. Steve Nash stepped up in a major way with 17 points and 15 assists and I guess Robin Lopez (20 points) can play after all. Kobe Bryant (36 points, 11 boards) and Pau Gasol (23 points, nine rebounds) showed up, but no one else did (no, Derek Fisher’s 18 points don’t count, when you make your living by flopping, it’s hard to give you any credibility). If this keeps up, the Suns have a better shot of winning this series than many thought and perhaps my mentor, Jim Rome, will have to eat crow. As for the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks were proficient and masterful in their 4-0 sweep of the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals. Sunday, the Hawks cemented their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 1992, with a 4-2 win in Game 4 and from start to finish in this series, Chicago asserted themselves as the superior team. Whoever wins in the East between Montreal and Philadelphia (the Flyers currently nurse a 3-1 lead) will have their hands full against the Blackhawks. Their athleticism masks much of their youth so as far as I’m concerned, they’re the team to beat. It’s a shame that the Orlando Magic are missing out on what could have been a great Eastern Conference Finals in the NBA, however, as they’re now on the cusp of elimination while the Celtics are making me eat my words. I have often stated that the Celts are too old, but Rajon Rondo’s magnificence gives me no alternative but to think differently. Finally, Ohio State, perhaps the most ambivalent institution against a college football playoff continues to incur the wrath of the tournament gods. The Buckeyes, who comprise what the Wall Street Journal calls, “the biggest money machine in college sports,” had their softball and mens’ tennis teams fall short of expectations. In collegiate sports with playoffs, (everything but I-A college football), this always seems to happen to the Buckeyes, despite the fact that, according to the WSJ, the athletic department receives three times the funding of educational departments. I guess that the BCS school presidents who suggest it’s all about the kids getting an education are rife with garbage Many college administrators who represent BCS schools are the most heartless and cutthroat people this side of the Gadianton robbers, in fact, many of them are latter-day Gadiantons. Thanks for reading, I’m out.