Story Archive for 07/21/2010
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Yellowstone Fire Grows To 500 Acres
Published on July 21, 2010 at 02:05PM
(YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo.)-Nearly 170 firefighters are battling a 500-acre wildfire burning in the back country near the center of Yellowstone National Park. Firefighters are currently building control lines around the west and southern edges of the fire Wednesday while more warm and dry conditions are expected, with possible wind gusts later this afternoon. Tuesday, gusty winds were a factor while the fire grew as small spot fires kept igniting standing trees as well as downed logs. Officials are not yet certain how the fire started. Tuesday, a separate fire was discovered near the Slough Creek Campground in the northeast corner of the park and was swiftly contained. Additionally, fire managers have elevated fire danger to “high” for Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Dixie State Football Coach Diagnosed With Cancer
Published on July 21, 2010 at 12:56PM
(ST. GEORGE)-This past week, Dixie State head coach, Scott Brumfield, a former NFL offensive lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals in the mid-90s, was admitted to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George with back pains. During the evaluation period, medical personnel felt it was necessary to run more tests on Brumfield, after which they discovered he had tested positive for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While Brumfield undergoes his medical treatment in St. George, his assistant coaches will run the day-to-day football operations. The Red Storm begin their season with an August 28 game @ Adams State (Colo.)
Floods Strike Flagstaff
Published on July 21, 2010 at 11:36AM
(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-While northern Arizona has experienced numerous fires through the past few weeks, the scene has shifted to flooding with extensive rain falling in the area. Tuesday, a flash flood struck Flagstaff, Ariz., which originated from a cloudburst in the San Francisco Peaks that fell on the area where the 15,000 Schultz fire occurred in June. Residents in the area said the approaching water and ash sounded like an avalanche as it came off the mountains into the Timberline area of Flagstaff. Currently, at least one death has occurred, as 12-year-old Shaelyn Wilson was killed Tuesday after falling into a flooded wash south of the old white Vulcan pumice mine in her neighborhood. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deputies said floodwaters pushed the girl through a culvert and under northbound U.S. Highway 89 but were unable to save her life.
With Immigration Law Looming, Phoenix's Police Department Under Scrutiny
Published on July 21, 2010 at 11:23AM
(PHOENIX)-Arizona’s new immigration law is set to take effect next week, but there is still controversy looming. Officers in the Phoenix Police Department, according to Phoenix’s ABC-15, say there is a conflict between jurisdictional policy and state law underway. The issue at hand is a clause in a draft of the law that says for all those arrested not being booked, the arresting officer/employee will call or otherwise contact authorities to verify the immigration status of these individuals. Furthermore, all arrested people, including juveniles, shall have their immigration status verified prior to the arrestee being released. Phoenix Law Enforcement Association President, Mark Spencer, said the law was intended for officers to assume all people they come in contact with are in the country legally, unless reasonable suspicion exists that they’re in the country illegally or have committed a crime. PLEA is hoping for a revision of the draft before the law takes effect July 29.
VA Mobile Unit visits rural Utah
Published on July 21, 2010 at 11:19AM
(ST. GEORGE) – The V-A Hospital in Salt Lake City is making a swing through Southern Utah with its Mobile Veteran Outreach Center. The unit will visit St. George, Cedar City and Beaver next week to assist families of veterans in rural Utah with resources and counseling services. The RV unit will be at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Office in St. George on Monday, July 26 from noon to 5pm and on Tuesday at the DWS in Cedar City from 9am to 2pm. The mobile unit will then head to the DWS Offices in Beaver Tuesday from 3-5pm and Wednesday from 8am to noon. The V-A Hospital says if you need to make an appointment with the readjustment counselor, to call the Provo Vet Center at 801-377-1117.
Juniper Fire on Kaibab Allowed To Burn
Published on July 21, 2010 at 10:45AM
Updated on July 21, 2010 at 06:20PM
(SPRING VALLEY, Ariz.)-Spring Valley, Arizona residents are experiencing the latest forest fire in northern Arizona which was allowed to burn Tuesday. The lightning-ignited fire, northwest of Kendrick Peak, is at more than 415 acres and growing slowly, about six miles from Spring Valley, a town about 84 miles southwest of Flagstaff, Ariz., according to officials from the Kaibab National Forest’s Supervisors Office. Spring Valley was partially evacuated a little more than a month ago due to a large wildfire that burned 3,374 acres. This new fire, the Juniper Fire, is being allowed to burn within a 1,600-acre boundary and is located about 18 miles northeast of Williams, Ariz. Punky Moore, the fire spokeswoman for the Kaibab National Forest, said the fire is in a good location with roads surrounding it because of ridges along roadways which prevent the fire from spreading. Traditionally, the U.S. Forest Service has allowed such lighting-ignited fires to burn in locations where they don’t threaten property, don’t enter wilderness areas and are forecast to burn moderately, as prescribed burns would.
Audit Says State Government's 4-Day Workweek May Cost More Than It Saves
Published on July 21, 2010 at 10:30AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-A new legislative audit of the state’s four-day workweek released questions Tuesday about whether the switch is costing taxpayers more than it saves them. The report by the Legislative Auditor General’s office says the impact of working four 10-hour days a week on employee productivity is not being effectively monitored and that savings were overstated. However, auditors stopped short of recommending the drop on the Monday-Thursday schedule for most state agencies. The report raised concerns about allowing employees to work during their commutes and from home, to exercise during the workday and to skip lunch in order to leave early, as well as other policies that can affect productivity. Utah Lieutenant Governor, Greg Bell, told the subcommittee the savings were “relatively modest and disappointing,” but stood by the four-day workweek. However, Bell also said the state should better monitor employee productivity. The four-day workweek was implemented by former Utah Governor, Jon Huntsman Jr., in July 2008 who promised the state would save $3 million annually for the change. The savings on utility bills turned out to be $500,000, $203,000 in custodial services, $4.1 million in overtime pay and $1.4 million in state fleet costs.
Drivers' License Offices Reopening in Southern Utah
Published on July 21, 2010 at 10:00AM
(BEAVER)-The Utah Department of Public Safety has reopened three drivers’ license offices in southern Utah on a part time basis, in Beaver, Fillmore and Panguitch. The Beaver office is now open on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, 8:30 a.m.-4:40 p.m., the Fillmore office is open will be open on the first, third and (when available) fifth Wednesdays of each month, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and the Panguitch office is open on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Additional information about services and documents needed to obtain a drivers’ license may be found on the division’s Web site, www.driverlicense.utah.gov.
Jobless Utahns Waiting For Renewal of Benefits
Published on July 21, 2010 at 09:54AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-State officials say thousands of Utah residents could qualify for an extension of unemployment benefits. United States President, Barack Obama, thanked U.S. Senators Tuesday for acting to break a logjam and restore jobless pay for individuals who began losing checks weeks ago. In Washington, Senators voted 60-40 in favor of overcoming Republican delaying tactics and clearing the way for a final vote. The Utah Department of Workforce Services says there is no reliable estimate on how many Utahns would benefit, although the number can be as high as 12,000 potentially. Bill Starks, the department’s director of unemployment insurance, says Utah offers 6.5 months of jobless pay. When this runs out, federal extensions can kick in for months longer.
Brigham City Expecting Big Crowds For Temple Groundbreaking
Published on July 21, 2010 at 09:46AM
(BRIGHAM CITY)-Brigham City is bracing for numerous visitors next weekend during the groundbreaking for the community’s new LDS temple, the 14th in the state of Utah. Jim Buchanan, the director of emergency services for the city, told the Ogden Standard-Examiner, that within 12 hours of the groundbreaking’s official announcement, all of the city’s hotels were booked. City officials expect anywhere from 10,000-30,000 visitors for the event which begins Saturday July 31 at 9:00 a.m. Additionally, there will be 2,000 invited guests and the public is invited to attend. Furthermore, the groundbreaking will be broadcast to LDS stake centers throughout the temple district. Other cities will send police officers to help with traffic and road closures while the Standard-Examiner also said Brigham City’s Main Street and 13 intersections will be closed. The temple will be on Main Street in downtown Brigham City and will have four stories and take up 36,000 square feet.
Price man killed in motorcycle accident
Published on July 21, 2010 at 07:35AM
(HUNTINGTON) – A Price man was killed Tuesday when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a reckless driver near Huntington. Emery County dispatchers received a call just before 11am about a reckless Mazda 6 traveling north on SR-10. While the caller was on the line, the Mazda crossed the center line into the southbound land and struck the motorcycle. A sheriff’s report said that 68-year old Glenn Silvis of Price was killed in the accident. The driver of the Mazda was injured and was taken to a local hospital. The accident caused the closure of SR-10 for three hours while crews cleaned up the wreckage. The Emery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident.