(BEAVER) – Forest officials have announced further road closures due to high winds increasing fire activity in a wildfire burning northeast of Beaver. Fishlake National Forest personnel say the Twitchell Canyon Fire, burning about 14 miles northeast of Beaver, is spreading, causing the closure of Sevier Canyon Road FR-116. Officials say the Indian Creek Road from Pole Canyon to Manderfield Reservoir remains closed due to fire activity. The lightening-caused wildfire has been burning since July 20 and has consumed more than 4500 acres. The fire is being managed for resource benefits and no injuries have been reported or structures threatened. The wildfire is now established on the east side of Fish Creek. Smoke from the fire is visible along travel corridors, including I-15, I-70 and Hwy 89.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-Monday afternoon, northbound U.S. Highway 89 at Hank’s Trading Post, about 28 miles north of Flagstaff, Ariz., was closed due to two separate traffic collisions in the same spot.

According to information from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, officers originally responded to the call of a two-vehicle injury collision around 12:15 p.m. as one vehicle rear-ended another and a driver was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

While the collision had been moved to the side of the road around 1:20 p.m., the driver of a semi crashed into cars involved in the first crash.

Two people involved in the crash were seriously injured and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center.

The roadway was reopened around 4:20 p.m. and both crashes remain under investigation.

(ST. GEORGE)-The Arizona Strip District Bureau of Land Management Unit continues to monitor the Mustang Wildfire, which started August 8 and has burned nearly 2,600 acres in northern Arizona.

Since last Wednesday, August 25, approximately six small fires have been ignited by lightning, while two of them are contained/controlled and three remain in “monitor status.”

Within the past week, firefighters have responded to two abandoned campfires, one in the Black Rock area near St. George and the other near Wildcat Ranch.

While both abandoned campfires were still contained within fire rings when firefighters discovered them.

Fire managers continue to remind the public to practice fire safety by ensuring all campfires are sufficiently extinguished.

(FISHLAKE) – Sevier County Search and Rescue took top honors in a competition with other rescue teams across the state at the Rescue Conference held at Fishlake over the weekend. A sheriff’s report said that over 100 search and rescue volunteers arrived for three days of training, including classes that ranged from GPS use to man tracking, first aid, rope rescue, dive search and the use of animals to aid in the search for missing persons. Part of the training included a competition between several teams that featured three areas of skill tests, including tying knots, first aid scenario and a GPS course. Sevier County Search and Rescue won the competition by seven seconds, with Salt Lake County coming in second and Sanpete County in third. Lifeflight was also part of the training, showing how to set up a landing zone properly and how to load a patient for hoisting.

(RICHFIELD) – The Sevier County Sheriff’s SWAT Team returned home Monday after assisting Kane County in their search for an alleged killer of a deputy. The SWAT Team spent several days in the manhunt for 23-year old Scott Curley of Fredonia, AZ., who is accused of shooting Kane County Deputy Brian Harris Thursday, in a foot chase after a burglary at a high school. Curley is currently incarcerated at a Utah jail awaiting extradition to Arizona on murder charges.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Incumbent Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, has received more criticism for the “religious tone” of his comments last week.

Gregory Glenn, the Madeleine Choir School’s pastoral administrator, said Herbert took a “cheap shot” at his opponent, Salt Lake County Mayor, Peter Corroon, when he critiqued him for sending his children to private Catholic school.

Herbert called Corroon “hypocritical” for being in favor of sending his kids to private school when he strongly advocated for strengthening public schools in the state of Utah.

Nevertheless, Herbert’s campaign spokesman, Don Olsen, said Glenn’s statement is a “gross distortion” because Herbert never made any reference to Catholicism in any way.

However, Glenn has called it “disingenuous” for Herbert’s campaign to suggest the governor wasn’t talking about Catholic schools when criticizing Corroon.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-St. George attorney John Christian Barlow believes that banking magnate, Bank of America, is foreclosing illegally in Utah and that the judge who is hearing an important case in the state Tuesday has a conflict of interest.

Barlow thinks that federal judge, Clark Waddoups, who once worked for a law firm that represented Bank of America, has a conflict of interest.

The issue is controversial, stated Barlow, because Bank of America is not a registered business or corporation in the state and therefore, lack authority to do business in Utah.

(OREM)-Utah Valley University has signed a 10-year, $250,000 deal with Utah Community Credit Union to rename the Events Center the UCCU Center.

The agreement was announced Monday.

Funds for the naming rights agreement will go toward scholarships and educational programs while the athletic department will also receive some of the revenue.

The arena was known as the McKay Events Center until January 2010, when the anonymous donor insisted on the change.

Sources say the change was also instigated by the desire to free up sponsorship rights for the building.

(UTAH COUNTY)-The federal government has given the Central Utah Water Conservancy District $100,000 to rid Utah Lake of non-native fish.

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded the money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help save the native June sucker.

This particular project is expected to allow for the removal of up to 500,000 pounds of carp from Utah Lake while the money is to go to the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program.

The goal is to remove at least 500,000 pounds of carp from the lake for the next six years while wildlife officials believe this should reduce the number of carp in the lake by 75 percent.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enacted in 2009, gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.

(DELTA) – The Millard County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday night concerning proposed amendments to the Millard County General Plan. Discussions on the Utilities Element and the Major Utilities Corridor Official Map will also be held and the public is welcome to comment. The meeting will be held Wednesday at 7pm at the Millard County Offices in Delta. Also, Millard County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Sept. 7 to gain input on several amendments to the goals, objectives and implementation strategies concerning the Housing Element in the General Plan. The amendments are being proposed to develop a moderate income housing plan as part of the General Plan.

(FAIRVIEW) – A Salt Lake City motorcyclist was injured up Fairview Canyon Sunday afternoon when he was thrown from his motorcycle. According to a UHP report, 22-year old Phillip Meitner was riding his 1999 Honda CIX motorcycle about 15 miles east of Fairview, when he drifted off the right shoulder and went down an embankment into a wash. The report said Meitner was wearing his helmet and was thrown from his motorcycle. He was transported to the Sanpete Valley Hospital with possible broken bones. Meitner was cited for improper lane travel.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has announced plans to participate in talks to “regularize” operations in China. In a statement released today, the First Presidency said they have had discussions with a senior official of the People’s Republic of China from Beijing, to regularize activities between the Church and China. On Aug. 24, a senior Chinese official met with the First Presidency in Salt Lake City. Previously, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy attended two meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing in February and May of this year. Church Spokesman, Michael Otterson indicated that “regularizing” relations between the Church and China does not mean sending missionaries to China.

(SPRINGVILLE) – A 12-year old Springville girl was struck by lightening Friday night during a football game she was attending. Officers said lightening hit the ground at a corner of the field at Springville High School and traveled underground about 100 yards to a refreshment stand, where the girl was holding on to a metal pole. The charge apparently went up the metal pole, throwing the girl backward to the ground. The pre-teen complained of weakness to her left arm and side and was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries. The lightening strike prompted officials to evacuate the field and delay the game for about an hour. Springville went to defeat Wooster High of Reno, NV. 40-0.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix, reports that National Guard troops will deploy to the Arizona-Mexico border Monday.

The first wave of 30 troops will assist Customs and Border Enforcement agents working at ports of entry.

Eventually, more than 500 troops will be deployed to help secure the border.

Critics say more troops are needed to solve the problems related to drug and human smuggling.

(PAGE, Ariz.)-Kym Hall, a 23-year National Park Service veteran has been named as acting superintendent of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

Hall began her new job last Monday, August 23, in Page, Ariz. that will continue until a permanent superintendent arrives.

Hall replaces the outgoing Stan Austin who began his new assignment this week as superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.

Hall began her career with the national park service in 1986 as an administrative clerk before developing an interest in law enforcement where she worked in various capacities for 14 years.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah is on pace this year for the lowest number of wildfires and acres burned in a decade.

As of August 24, officials had recorded 841 wildfires and 9,825 acres burned in Utah.

The other year in the past decade which was this light was 2008, when there were 999 reported fires and 28,490 acres burned.

Ed Delgado, of the Eastern Great Basin Predictive Service said presumably one of the reasons the fire season has been so mild is because of a wet spring that lasted well into June although it’s hard to pinpoint one weather factor for the phenomenon.

The most prominent fire this year was the Twitchell Fire in Beaver County which is still burning.

Authorities say that while the fire season will last through mid-September and that grass and brush below 7,000 feet are still dry, weather conditions aren’t expected to warm up enough to cause any new fire threats this year.

(VISALIA, Calif.)-Visalia, Calif. police are searching for clues in the fatal shooting of a bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the community.

The shooter has been identified as Kenneth James Ward of Modesto, Calif. while he killed 42-year-old bishop Clay Sannar, who died in his office at the Visalia LDS chapel where his congregation meets, according to Visalia police chief, Colleen Mestas.

After the shooting, the killer admitted to authorities that he had shot Sannar and as police responded, several shots were exchanged.

Tulare County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office deputies are taking over the investigation of the shootout while the office did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

Local Church leader, Ralph Jordan, said Ward, who is not a member of the Church, walked into the church’s foyer and asked to speak to a local leader.

When Bishop Sannar arrived to speak with Ward, he shot him several moments later.

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the church’s thoughts and prayers are with Sannar’s family.

Prior to his death, Sannar was the general manager of Soil Basics, a fertilizer company in Visalia, a city of nearly 126,000 about 44 miles southeast of Fresno, Calif.

He had six children, including a 6-month-old infant and he had been the bishop for about four months.

(FILLMORE)-Federal authorities stated they plan to round up hundreds of wild horses in Utah’s west desert as of next week.

The Bureau of Land Management is also inviting spectators to witness the event, which is slated for September 7 at Baker, Nev.

Officials say the population of wild horses far exceeds the ability of parched range lands to support them.

The plan is to remove 400 horses, leaving about 250 to roam around the Conger and Confusion mountains.

The BLM says it plans to put captured horses up for adoption or relocate them to pasture lands.

(KYIV, Ukraine)-Ukrainian members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints met Church president Thomas S. Monson and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Church’s First Presidency as they participated in the dedication of the Church’s 134th temple at Kyiv, Ukraine Sunday.

Prior to the dedication, President Monson spoke to the Ukrainian Saints about what this historic temple means, as it is the first to be built within the borders of the old Soviet Union.

As is customary during temple dedications, President Monson invited several children to assist him in applying mortar to the edges of the temple prior to the dedication.

Previously, Ukrainian Saints traveled 33 hours to the Frieberg, Germany Temple and the temple will serve 31,000 Latter-Day Saints in Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A new poll shows that President Barack Obama’s approval rating among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is at an all-time low in the country’s major religious groups. In a Gallup poll released Friday, LDS approval of the president’s job is at 24%. The highest approval during the rating’s period came from Muslims at 78%. His approval is also high among atheists and non-Christians. Overall, approval for the president among all religious groups has dropped. The poll was conducted by telephone, with a random sample in all 50 states, including over 4,600 members of the LDS Church. The poll’s results came as no surprise to Utah political observers.

(PANGUITCH) – Two motorcycles crashed last week on SR-143 in a construction zone. Utah Highway Patrol reported that 55-year old Kenneth Pascoe of Hesperia, CA., was traveling eastbound on a 2002 Harley Davidson, when he rounded a corner and attempted to stop for construction along the highway up to Panguitch Lake. He, along with 54-year old Jesus Monarrez of Claremont, CA., riding a 2001 Harley Davidson, both locked brakes and flipped their motorcycles. Both men were wearing their helmets but sustained injuries and were transported to the Garfield Memorial Hospital. No citations were issued.

(SIGURD) – A trio of local teenagers were taken to the hospital Friday night after a rollover several times on SR-118 near Sigurd. According to a UHP report, 16-year old Tyler Dalton of Central Valley was traveling northbound when he was distracted by his passengers and drifted off the highway at about 7:30pm. The report said Dalton overcorrected and rolled multiple times, coming to rest on the side of his 2005 Chevy Silverado. He was wearing his seatbelt and was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with unknown injuries. A passenger, 14-year old Tyler Bingham of Monroe, was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected out the rear window. Another passenger, 14-year old Cody Dalton of Central Valley, was wearing his seatbelt. Both boys were taken to the hospital. No information is available as to the condition of the teens. Dalton was cited for improper lane travel.

(SIGURD) – A Colorado man wanted on a sex assault warrant was caught after fleeing UHP troopers on I-70 near the Sigurd exit Wednesday night. According to a UHP report, 37-year old Douglas Farr was traveling westbound, when he was pulled over for speeding at about 9:15pm. The report said the trooper ran a check on Farr and found the warrant and in an attempt to put handcuffs on the man, he broke and sped off in his 1998 Rangerover. UHP said Farr continued westbound on I-70 at speeds reaching 90 miles-per-hour and was eventually spiked, deflating both front tires. Farr ran on foot for about 300 yards before he gave up. UHP said the man was taken into custody without incident and his car was towed. Police are following up on possible DUI and several other charges.

(DENVER)-KREX-TV, Channel 5 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that some Colorado lawmakers are sharing what they brought back after spending a few days with Arizona legislators about SB1070, Arizona’s immigration law.

Colorado Representative, Laura Bradford, says the group had the chance to talk with border patrol while officers admitted there are some areas so dangerous they’re specifically told not to patrol them.

Fully-armed officers guided Colorado officials through parts of the border, wherein at some locations, the lawmakers were told to be armed themselves.

Although Colorado is nestled well above the U.S. Southwest, state representative Ray Scott said violence instigated by illegal immigrants is still alarmingly high in the state.

Scott also said there is evidence suggesting SB1070 is working in the first month of its existence as Arizona has seen a 25 percent deduction in emergency room visits while other empirical data suggests illegal immigrants are heading back to Mexico.

Colorado lawmakers have said they’re in the process of drafting two bills to combat illegal immigration, one in the House and one in the Senate. Both are expected to be introduced in the state’s 2011 legislative session.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports the woman accused of helping three inmates escape from an Arizona state prison in Kingman, Ariz. is set to appear in court Friday on drug charges.

Casslyn Welch is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday afternoon in Kingman Justice Court.

She faces six counts of narcotics violations for the drugs she is accused of bringing to the medium-security prison in June. Authorities said a random search of Welch and her vehicle turned up marijuana, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Welch was visiting John McCluskey, her cousin and fiancee while she lost her visitation rights but was still able to call him.

Authorities said she wasn’t immediately jailed because she agreed to become an informant. She was charged following the July 30 escape of McCluskey and two other inmates.

All have been captured.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah Supreme Court has ruled a polygamous sect waited too long to fight the state’s takeover of the church’s finances in a ruling issued Friday.

The finances, known as the United Effort Plan Trust, was established in 1942 and fashioned after the United Order, a 19th Century religious concept under which church members donate all assets to a communal organization.

Utah overtook financial oversight of this trust in 2005 amid allegations of mismanagement by the group’s leader, Warren Jeffs.

When the sale of Berry Knoll Farm, a 438-acre stretch of land set aside as a building site for a temple, was proposed in 2008, the sect filed a lawsuit to block the sale.

Third District Judge, Denise Linberg, authorized the land for sale in August 2009, a decision the Church asked the Supreme Court to reverse.

(SANDY)-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints-sponsored Family History Expo will take place Friday and Saturday August 27 and 28 at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.

Four free courses will be offered, in addition to more than 100 family history classes presented by 30 local and national speakers, including personnel from the Church’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Exhibitors from throughout the United States will teach about the latest products and services available for family history researching.

The free exhibit area is open to the public and all Church members who hold family history callings in their congregation, at either the stake or ward levels, are welcome to attend any of the free courses Saturday.

The cost is $65 to participate in all classes both days while it’s $40 for one day or $12 per individual class.

Registration is $75 at the door.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah collegians can vie for a $2,500 cash prize for an original short essay as part of the McCarthey Family Foundation Lecture series, “In Praise of Independent Journalism.”

The fall series at Utah State University will feature a free lecture by global human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ingrid Betancourt.

Betancourt was captured by guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia during her campaign for the mercurial country’s presidency in 2002.

She and 14 other hostages were freed in a daring rescue by the Colombian army in 2008 and she will speak on the role journalists played in her release.

The topic for the essay contest is: “How Might a Journalist’s Reporting Affect the Outcome of A Hostage Situation: Risks, Rewards and Responsibilities.

Entries must include the student’s name, contact information and the name and department of the university/college where the student is enrolled.

Entries must also be 500 words or less, typed or double-spaced and postmarked no later than September 10.

The mailing address is Essay Competition c/o MKL Public Relations P.O. Box 581198, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158-1198. The winner will be announced in early October.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thursday, the Deseret News announced plans to accelerate its digital growth with the addition of three new media members to its leadership team.

Each of them are accomplished in the newly formed digital world, according to Clark Gilbert, the president and CEO of the newspaper.

These individuals: Christopher M. Lee, the CEO of Heritage Makers, Dave Bascom, the former president of SEO.com and Matthew R. Sanders, the former director of online instruction at Brigham Young University-Idaho, will have access to the leadership and guidance of those team members through its sister company, Deseret Digital Media, a leading digital media company in the Intermountain West.

Sanders will lead a new organization, entitled Deseret Connect, which will cultivate a network of local and national contributors to create relevant, insightful and engaging content for the Deseret News.

(RICHFIELD) – A Richfield man reported missing Thursday afternoon has been found safe. A police report said that at about 1pm, a call was received concerning 41-year old Jody Wilcock, who walked away from his home at 155 South 100 East in Richfield. The report said that Wilcock is disabled and was under the care of his guardian. His caretaker called police who found Wilcock about an hour later three blocks away. His guardian took him back to his home in good condition.

(PANGUITCH) – The Utah Department of Transportation is advising travelers of road construction on SR-12 east of Panguitch beginning Monday. Workers will begin construction at the Junction of U.S. Highway 89 and extend nearly eight miles to the east. UDOT says motorists need to be prepared for one-way traffic through portions of the project during work hours, along with 15-minute delays for the first week as workers install and replace guardrail and safety barriers. Construction should be complete by the end of September.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert says he’s leaning toward supporting an end to birthright citizenship.

Herbert made these comments regarding a potential repeal of the 14th Amendment Thursday during a taping of his monthly KUED news conference.

Herbert says he has concerns about immigrants coming into the country illegally to have children in hopes that it will allow them to gain citizenship more quickly than other people.

Herbert has said he would sign an immigration bill into law next year if he’s reelected in November, but hasn’t said what the bill will entail.

(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council is discussing ways to balance a conflict between the city’s animal ordinance and the zoning code in allowing chickens in residential areas within city limits. Mayor Brad Ramsay says the conflict was discovered in a recent research of the ordinance. City Recorder Michele Jolley said she was asked by the Mayor to research the original code to find out if it conflicted with the most recent amendments to the animal ordinance. Jolley said the Municipal Code in 1953 allowed the keeping of chickens within city limits, as long as they were penned but in 1976, the city council amended the code that prohibited chickens. She said the 1974-1976 minutes showed there was no mention of any problems with chickens or any other animal, except for a document that stated, “livestock should not be permitted within the city limits.” Mayor Ramsay said that the city council back in 1976 wanted the community to progress more towards an urban area. The City Planning Commission will take up the issue at their next meeting.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As of September 1, all small claims cases will have to be filed in Utah’s city or county justice courts.

While a mutual jurisdiction between justice and district courts currently exists, small claims will no longer be accepted in district courts as a “cost-saving-measure,” stated Utah State Courts spokeswoman Nancy Volmer. She said small case claims cover disputes $10,000 and under.

She said the change primarily will affect counties along the Wasatch Front, as the majority of counties already require small claims to be filed exclusively in justice courts.

The only exceptions to the new requirement are some areas of Cache County where there are currently no justice courts.

Any small claims cases filed in the state’s district courts before September 1 will be heard in the district court while any appeals on small claims cases already pending in district court will also remain in the district court.

The location of the justice court in which a small-claims case should be filed will depend on either the city or county where the defendant resides or the city or county from which the case stemmed.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah State Film Commission is offering a chance for participants in their latest contest to have their image put on a marketing plan and win $1,500, plus credentials to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

The eighth annual “spot on” contest is open to all Utah residents willing to produce and direct 30-second spots to market Utah as the right location for television series and movie productions.

The contest is free to enter and selected commercials will be aired on Park City Television during the Sundance Film Festival (January 20-30, 2011).

While Utah has a rich history of being the site for numerous film and television productions, movie producer John Kelly said the state often loses productions to neighboring states, such as New Mexico and Arizona because filmmakers and producers get better deals on taxes in those locations.

Tax incentives are part of the mix of marketing Utah to the film industry and it’s ultimately up to lawmakers to decide whether those incentives should be increase when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Commission director Marshall Moore said those entering the contest may take any approach they like but all submissions must be creatively original to generally illustrate to filmmakers why Utah is ideal for their productions.

Entrants may submit up to four commercial spots and can be individual or campaign style.

Efforts will be judged by an independent group of industry professionals with backgrounds in film and advertising.

An award to entrants 18 and younger will also be selected.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz is speaking out against vans containing scanning technology inside them that allows drivers to see through walls, cars, trucks and even homes they pass by.

The technology is reportedly similar to the full-body scanners used at airports which Chaffetz has also openly criticized.

Chaffetz says the van does have some legitimate purposes during hostages and other comparable activities, such as inspecting incoming trucks into the country, but other uses should be limited.

The congressman says he’s already working on legislation aimed at limiting what circumstances these Z Backscatter vans, or ZBV’s, as they are called, could be used for.

(PROVO)-Nathan Herbert, the son of incumbent Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, is accused of stalking a Utah County woman.

The 39-year-old was in 4th District Court in Provo Wednesday for a hearing in a civil stalking case.

Nathan Herbert has a court record including disorderly conduct and a dismissed assault charge.

He was also charged in a 2005 case against Talei Weingarten, but that change was dismissed in 2008.

Herbert made a plea of abeyance in that case, meaning he had to agree to certain conditions to have the charge dismissed, which included completing a life skills course and having no more contact with her.

Herbert and his attorney, Scott Card, had no comment after departing from the courtroom.

While this causes embarrassment to Governor Herbert, University of Utah political analyst, Kirk Jowers, said he believes this incident will not affect the upcoming election.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A recently released political poll shows U.S. Senate candidate Mike Lee leading Sam Granato and Gov. Gary Herbert ahead of Peter Corroon for governor. Rasmussen Reports, LLC conducted the poll this week and found that Republican Mike Lee is leading Democrat Sam Granato for the U.S. Senate seat by a 54-29% margin. Lee ousted Sen. Bob Bennett in the Republican primary in June. The poll also showed Gov. Gary Herbert with a 60% vote over Peter Corroon’s 29% in the governor’s race. The General Election will be held this November.

(RICHFIELD) – Outdoor enthusiasts may soon be able to use an RV dump in Richfield. At the city council meeting Tuesday night, City Manager Mike Langston said the city is working on purchasing land south of the Industrial Park at the south end of the city. Langston said the city is looking at about a half and acre where water and sewer is available for use as an RV dump. The city council will continue to discuss options in the setup.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Cam Fawson doubled to lead the Panguitch Bobcats to a 23-1 rout of the Escalante Moquis Wednesday in Region 20 baseball action.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Brennan Rees had two doubles and Rhett Taylor also doubled as the Wayne Badgers blanked the Bryce Valley Mustangs, 9-0 in Region 20 baseball action Wednesday.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Aubrey Smith, Erin Peterson, Faith Johnson, Jiselle Sorenson, Kaleshia Dean, Madison Utley and Marisa Henrie each scored as the Richfield Lady Wildcats blanked the Grantsville Cowgirls, 7-0 Wednesday in non-region soccer action. Smith and Johnson combined on the shutout for Richfield.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Kaytee Glover posted nine kills and Calli Jackson added eight more as the Kanab Cowgirls swept Fredonia (Ariz.), 3-0 in non-region volleyball action Wednesday.

(CEDAR CITY) – An Enoch man was arrested Monday in connection with two separate fires at a Cedar City business. According to police reports, 27-year old James Arnold was booked in the Iron County Jail for investigation of arson and theft at a business at 911 South Main in Cedar City around 1:30am Monday. The report said Arnold allegedly started a fire under a natural gas meter that led to an explosion. Officers arrived at the scene to find pallets burning underneath the natural gas meter at the business. Police said a second fire was found in the area that appeared to have also been started by an accelerant. No one was injured in either blaze but it’s believed several thousands of dollars worth of damage was done. Evidence from the scene and alert business owners helped police to compile information in the arrest of Arnold. Police said Arnold eventually confessed to starting the fires.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix, has reported that former fugitive, John McCluskey, was treated and released from a Kingman, Ariz. hospital and returned to jail after he tried cutting himself with a plastic razor.

McCluskey suffered cuts to his neck and a forearm that were sutured at Kingman Regional Medical Center before he was returned to the Mohave County Jail, according to Mohave County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Trish Carter.

Carter also said his wounds were considered serious, but not life-threatening and that McCluskey and his fiancee, Casslyn Welch, has been incarcerated in Kingman since August 20, while they were captured last Thursday, August 19.

(CEDAR CITY)-The in-home visitation program provided by the Family Support Center of Southwestern Utah has been selected to receive a 2010 Smart Women grant from Zions Bank.

Executive director, Shandra Powell, was awarded a $3,000 grant in the category of child and elder care. Her project was selected from among 113 applications submitted this year.

The grant recipients were announced at the Zions Bank Smart Women Smart Money conference in Salt Lake City August 19.

The Family Support Center is dedicated to keeping families together, wherever possible, while still protecting children and ensuring they have good environments in which to live.

Through the organization’s In-Home visitation program, families work closely with parent advocates who promote healthy parent-child interaction an attachment, increase knowledge of child development and appropriate expectations and other constructive practices.

This was the sixth year Zions Bank offered a series of micro-grants to recognize women throughout Utah and Idaho who excel in a variety of categories such as small business start-up and expansion and community development.

(Utah) The Arch Coal Foundation has begun its fifth annual Teacher Achievement Awards program. Five teachers from Carbon, Emery, Sanpete, and Sevier Counties will be honored for outstanding service and student support. Winners will be given a $3,500 dollar personal cash award. Students, parents, and colleagues can submit nominations now through January 10th, 2011. Nomination forms are available at local schools, as well as online at www.archteacherawards.com. Judging will be performed by a blue ribbon panel of former winners. The awards program is sponsored by Arch Coal, which operates the Skyline, Dugout, and Sufco mines through its subsidiary Canyon Fuel Company.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As the gubernatorial race percolates in Utah, controversy has also increased insomuch that Democratic candidate, Peter Corroon is demanding an apology from Republican incumbent, Gary Herbert.

In their sharpest exchange to date in the race for governor, Corroon wants an apology from Herbert for supposedly attacking his children.

In a campaign news release Herbert provided, Corroon says Herbert called him hypocritical in regard to his stance that public education should be toughened because his children attend private schools.

Corroon, the father of three children, and his campaign spokesperson, Stella Thurkill, are calling this a “personal attack.”

Nevertheless, Herbert’s campaign has called these charges “ridiculous,” saying that his statements had nothing to do with Corroon’s children, nor are they being dragged into the campaign.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Westminster College in Salt Lake City is opening this school year with record numbers.

The liberal arts college located on the city’s east bench says about 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled, which is up from last fall’s total of 3,100.

Westminster says this is the sixth straight year enrollment has increased, while the 530 new freshmen are also a high for the school.

Overall enrollment at the school has increased by more than 30 percent since 2004.

(MIDVALE) – The Utah High School Activities Association is considering shortening realignment cycles for school sports due to the outdated alignment process. UHSAA Executive Director Rob Cuff said the four-year process is too long. Cuff said in the nine-team region, schools are misplaced in classifications because of old enrollment numbers and other factors. He said he would like to see the process shortened to two years with an even number of regions and an equal number of schools in each region. Cuff commented that two other major changes would go into effect if the proposed procedure change passes, including counting only junior and senior classes among enrollment numbers because of the mobility of students and eliminating region splits between classifications. He said that would end the arrangement in Region 9 schools playing in two different classes. Cuff said public comments will be taken at a hearing today at 5pm at the UHSAA offices and online. The board of trustees will vote on the proposed alignment procedure on Thursday.

(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council met Tuesday night to gain information and discuss the replacement of about a dozen trees along Main Street in the downtown area. Councilmember Mike Turner said he thought downtown business owners should be able to comment before any tree is replaced. Jones and DeMille Engineering of Richfield commented that they have no idea why the trees died after being planted last year as part of the Main Street Enhancement Project. Tristan DeMille said if the city wants to replace the trees, the Musashino Zelkova tree is recommended, which is a tree that grows tall and wide, above the signage of businesses along main street. City leaders will consider the information and decide on the tree replacements at a later meeting.

As a Broncos fan, I hate all things silver and black. Nevertheless, since I’m also a journalist, objectivity is something I should always appertain to.

It’s time for my report on the Oakland Raiders, a team which may have its best chance at making a potential playoff run since 2002.

The reason is that in a quarterback league, the Raiders made a wise decision in bringing in Jason Campbell from Washington. I’m pained to admit this, but my archenemies have done something right for the first time in years.

It’s not often when you can obtain a quarterback on the open market who completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for nearly 4,000 yards, but kudos to the Raiders for finding a passer with those credentials in Campbell.

Additionally, I have to admit the Raiders made a good pick in selecting Rolando McClain from Alabama.

Nevertheless, until proven differently, the Raiders are the Raiders and true to my Bronco roots, I expect them to win only a maximum of six games.

Denver has markedly improved this offseason and while the Raiders have stockpiled talent, such as wideout Louis Murphy and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, among others, the losing mentality is hard to shake when you’ve not won more than five games in a season since 2002.

Well, Raiders fans, I am what I am so don’t be so surprised. I did compliment you a little so that counts for something.

Unlike the stupid BC$ where reputation determines what you are, here in the NFL, you determine your own fate without the meddling of computers and biased voters.

I will admit that the Broncos have just as much to prove as the Raiders. I just think Denver is a bit farther along and will be for the next 30 years or so.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Katelynd Woolsey posted a hat trick and Rachel Roberts added two more goals as the Beaver Lady Beavers stymied the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 6-1 Tuesday in Region 13 girls soccer action.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Keri Brunson and Krystyn Stevens had two goals apiece and the Millard Lady Eagles smoked the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 6-1 in Region 13 girls soccer action Tuesday.

EPHRAIM, Utah (AP)-Ali Rosquist and Shaylie Prignore had two goals apiece and the Manti Lady Templars smacked the Carbon Lady Dinos, 9-0 Tuesday in non-region girls soccer action. Heidi Richardson and Leah Christensen combined on the shutout for Manti.

SALEM, Utah (AP)-Adrienne Clark, Erica Egbert and Madisyn Kogianes each scored for the Salem Hills Lady Skyhawks and Hailey Ingram posted a shutout in a 3-0 win over the Delta Lady Rabbits in non-region girls soccer action Tuesday.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Mary Allphin had two goals for the Payson Lady Lions as they blanked the North Sanpete Lady Hawks Tuesday in non-region girls soccer action.

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Jessica Gibson and Serena Benish each scored a goal as the American Leadership Lady Eagles doubled up the Richfield Lady Wildcats, 2-1 in non-region girls soccer action Tuesday.

(EPHRAIM) – Snow College began student orientation Monday for freshman on the Ephraim and Richfield campuses with classes officially beginning Wednesday. Communications Director Greg Dart says a boost in enrollment is expected this year. Dart said the bulk of the growth of students at both campuses is a pleasant surprise to the administration because the growth is coming from the local area. He said traditional high school students are graduating and moving to the Ephraim and Richfield areas to attend college instead of coming from outside the local areas. Dart said legislative budget cuts haven’t affected enrollment numbers as much because of the growth.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-A man died in a vehicle crash at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Monday evening.

According to information obtained from the National Park Service, rangers responded to a call around 6:30 p.m. concerning a vehicle that crashed into a tree on Center Road near the intersection with Shuttle Range.

While there, rangers found a pickup truck crumpled into a tree while two men inside the truck were taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment for injuries. The third was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed for investigation until 11:00 p.m. while the body of the man who died was taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. The name of the man who died is being withheld until his next of kin have been notified.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by Park Service rangers, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

(WASHINGTON CITY)-Washington City Public Safety Director, Jim Keith, issued a news release Monday about a bank robbery at the community’s Zions Bank branch.

Keith said the police were called at about 2:00 p.m. and that the suspect is a woman in her 50s who handed a note to a bank teller, demanding money.

Keith said the robber left on foot with an undetermined amount of cash while the suspect was in a vehicle believed to be headed southbound from the bank in a gold/champagne-colored Chrysler Sebring with a different colored front bumper.

Police report the woman was Caucasian with medium-length dark hair (possibly tucked up in a bun), a creme-colored fully brimmed hat and dark-rimmed sunglasses.

She is about 5,7” and 175 pounds and wore blue jeans, a dark-colored short sleeved T-shirt and white shoes.

Investigators believe the bandit may have used a silver 4-door Nissan sedan in addition to the Sebring and was headed toward the Jack in the Box and El Pollo Loco restaurants north of the bank on Telegraph Road.

Washington City police detectives and special FBI personnel are interviewing people and following leads as the matter is a joint investigation between the Washington City Police Department and the FBI.

Citizens who find the suspect are encouraged to call police immediately instead of apprehending her.

(ESCALANTE)-A group of Brigham Young University students doing archaeology work in the Escalante/Boulder area may have pulled back the first layer of potential evidence suggesting Utah was inhabited as long as 11,000 years ago.

The research, which is being conducted at the North Creek Shelter, near the property hosting the Slot Canyons Inn of Escalante, will be published in subsequent months in Kiva, the university’s scientific journal.

A pivotal finding points to a possible shift in gender roles as well as to adaptations which may have been made due to climate changes in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin regions.

Researchers have at least discovered that the climate was beginning to warm up and the earth was drying out about 9,000-10,000 years ago, which precipitated changes in the animal species in the area.

This may also explain why the vegetation changed from aspen and Douglas fir to pinon and juniper while beavers and ducks also went to cooler climates.

Multiple funding sources were involved in the extensive project such as the National Science Foundation, the Charles Redd Center of Brigham Young University and grants from the Graduate and Professional Student Association of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah health officials are advising parents of school-aged children to ascertain their children are up to date on all required immunizations.

While the vast majority of students receive necessary immunization, some parents have voiced concern on various side effects and although parents cannot be forced to immunize children, health experts say a failure to do may have far-reaching consequences.

Some illnesses, such as pertussis (whooping cough), have been on the rise in Idaho, Oregon and California and officials at Primary Children’s Medical Center, such as Charles Pruitt, say parents who don’t immunize their children only increase the probability of disease spreading.

Currently, the state health department requires all children entering early childhood programs to receive immunization for diphtheria, polio, tetanus, haemophilus, influenzae Type B, pertussis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pneumococcal, rubella and varicella, (Chicken Pox).

Rotavirus and influenza vaccines are recommended but not required for students in early childhood programs which includes licensed daycare centers, nursery or preschool childcare facilities, family home care or Head Start programs.

Children born after July 1, 1991 and entering the seventh grade must be vaccinated with a combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster, as well as varicella and Hepatitis B.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday, the Deseret News introduced its new Editorial Advisory Board, a collection of thought leaders from around the country who will provide insight into the newspaper.

The board will work closely with editor Joseph A. Cannon and opinion editor Paul Edwards.

Clark Gilbert, the president and CEO of Deseret News, says the board brings together individuals who champion values the paper believes in which will enable the paper, as well as other media entities under the Deseret Media Companies umbrella, to best serve the public.

Gilbert introduced six areas of focus that will be emphasized in the insight provided by the editorial advisory board: the family, financial responsibility, excellence in education, care for the needy, values in the media and faith in the community.

The board is comprised of scholars, politicians, community activists, educators and philanthropists throughout the country.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, has asked the Utah Supreme Court for clarification on jury instructions in the trial of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs for alleged accomplice rape charges.

The court overturned Jeffs’ conviction last month saying faulty jury instructions denied Jeffs a fair trial.

In a court petition Monday, the state requested that the court visit the case but specified it was not asking for a change of opinion. Assistant Attorney General, Laura Dupaix, says the state wants the court to clarify how the jury should be instructed in the Jeffs case and others involving accomplice liability.

Utah’s attorney general has said he will not seek a retrial until criminal charges Jeffs faces in Texas are resolved.

An extradition hearing is scheduled for 3rd District Court Thursday.

(RICHFIELD) – Construction projects in the Sevier School District are either complete or nearing completion in time for students to go back to school. District Business Administrator Pat Wilson says the projects at schools in Salina were finished over the summer months. Wilson said one of the major projects earmarked for completion was Ashman Elementary in Richfield where the bulk of the project was finished over the summer. Ashman Elementary will provide modular units for students in the first grade for the first two weeks of school and kids in the second grade will be moved to the north wing of the school. Wilson commented that most of the remainder of the remodeling in schools in the district will be completed by October this year.

(RICHFIELD) – A Richfield grocer says the eggs at his store have been found to be safe from any presence of salmonella. Lin’s Marketplace manager, Dave Adams, says his store only buys eggs from Utah producers. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food says officials have contacted egg distributors and retailers in the state and have found no evidence that any of the tainted eggs from Wright County Eggs in Iowa have been shipped to the state. UDAF found that nearly all eggs in the Utah market come from Utah producers. Utah also operates under the Egg Quality Plan, which has helped the state produce some of the safest eggs in the nation. Utah produces around 330 million eggs each year. UDAF officials will continue to monitor the presence of tainted eggs around the nation and ask consumers to thoroughly cook the eggs they eat.

The New Orleans Saints, although traditionally losers, have obviously turned things around and shown the world what great football is all about.

Naturally, the sustained success starts at the top with classy gentleman signal-caller, Drew Brees (363 of 514, good for nearly a 71 percent completion rate, 4,388 yards, 34 TD’s, 11 INT’s) although he has plenty of help.

With a solid tailback in Pierre Thomas and swift receivers Marques Colston (70 rec, 1,074 yards, 8 TD’s), Devery Henderson and one of my favorite NFLers, Robert Meachem, along with solid tight end, Jeremy Shockey, Brees has plenty of targets to involve in New Orleans’ high-octane offense.

While the Saints’ defense only ranked 25th in NFL annals last season, their proclivity to force turnovers at the worst possible time for opponents enabled them to make numerous game-changing plays.

Darren Sharper, fresh off a nine interception season is playing as well as I’ve ever seen him perform entering his 14th season. Additionally, Jonathan Vilma, Sedrick Ellis, Tracy Porter are all magnificent defenders which helped the Saints post an impressive +11 turnover ratio.

When you add Sean Payton’s peerless coaching acumen to the equation, the Saints look as good as ever.

I will admit that the Atlanta Falcons could be on the verge of a successful season but the road to the Super Bowl runs through the Louisiana Superdome until proven otherwise.

Thus, I see the Saints winning 11-12 games while Brees continues to bolster his credentials for admission into Canton.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Peter Corroon, has proposed new high school graduation requirements for youth in the state.

Corroon released his education plan Monday, saying students who graduate with only the required 18 credits of core academic classes are unprepared for college or the workforce.

Corroon wants to raise graduation requirements to 22 core credits and automatically enroll every high school student in a collegiate preparatory program. Students could still opt out of the college track with parental consent.

Corroon also says more Utah students need to go to college in hopes of percolating economic development. He has also proposed incentive programs for students who become teachers, including a loan forgiveness program.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show Utah’s unemployment rate remained steady at 7.2 percent from June to July.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services says the state has gained about 17,000 jobs over the past year, leaving total employment at about 1.19 million. The department issued these July figures Monday.

Workforce Services says Utah’s economy continues to exhibit signs of recovery with the state adding jobs at a slightly faster pace than the economy’s rate at losing jobs.

The department says 98,000 Uthans were considered “unemployed” in July. In July 2009, the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent.

Utah also remained well below the national unemployment rate of 9.5 percent.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KREX-TV, Channel 5 in Grand Junction, Colo., has reported law officers in northeast Colorado are searching for a 48-year-old inmate convicted of attempted murder who escaped from a maximum security prison.

Around 11:20 p.m. Sunday, Douglas Alward escaped from the Sterling, Colo. Correctional Facility, about 100 miles northeast of Denver.

Alward is already serving a 20-40-year sentence for convictions of attempted murder, assault, burglary and kidnapping.

A department spokeswoman says he was last seen shortly after 9:00 p.m. and didn’t appear for roll call an hour later. She said he could be “dangerous.”

He is described as a 6’1”, 152-pound white male with a shaved head

(RICHFIELD) – A Constitution Party candidate running for the Sevier County Commission has been accused of physically attacking the County Events Coordinator. According to Fair Director Paula Martin, Elaine Bonavita of Salina was asked not to hand out leaflets during the Commissioner’s barbeque during the kick off of the county fair Aug. 11. Martin said when she approached Bonavita to stop campaigning, Bonavita physically attacked her. Bonavita claims that’s not true. Martin countered that the altercation did happen and informed Bonavita to not touch her. Bonavita said she wasn’t aware that campaigning was not allowed at the fair. She has filed a complaint with the Lt. Governor’s Office claiming her right of free speech was violated. Martin said prior to the barbeque, she asked Commissioners and the County Attorney if campaigning should be allowed and all agreed it should not. Bonavita claims the unofficial policy is unfair because her opponent, Commissioner Gary Mason, was passing out free hamburgers, an activity she considers a form of campaigning.

(ST. GEORGE)-Sunday, hundreds of Washington County-based Catholics gathered at the newly renovated St. George Catholic Church to celebrate the culmination of a two-year project of faith and charity.

Parishioners and civic dignitaries, such as St. George Mayor, Dan McArthur, attended a dedicatory Mass celebrated by Bishop John C. Wester of the Salt Lake City Diocese.

The Reverend, Gustavo Adolfo Vidal, the parish priest of St. George Catholic Church said the renovation of the Spanish-style church began two years ago and was paid for with donations and money collected at fundraisers and sales at the church’s thrift store, near St. George Boulevard on 500 East.

Vidal said the church serves 1,400 families or roughly 7,000 individuals. The church opened in 1991 and originally cost $650,000 to build.

Sunday’s Mass was part of a celebration which began August 16 and will run through Sunday August 29.

Sunday’s events also included a fundraiser dinner including an appearance by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Utah judge has taken a step toward sending polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs to Texas to stand trial on charges of bigamy and sexual assault.

Judge Terry Christiansen signed a warrant for Jeffs’ arrest Friday following an extradition request from Texas Governor Rick Perry.

The charges stem from alleged sexual relations with two underage girls in the sect’s ranch in Eldorado, Texas, which Jeffs leads.

Currently, Jeffs is being incarcerated at the mental health unit at the Utah State Prison at Point of the Mountain near Draper.

His initial appearance is slated for Thursday in Third District Court.

(GOSHEN)-One man was killed and another was critically injured in a rollover crash on U.S. Highway 6 near Goshen early Sunday morning.

The Utah Highway Patrol reported the two men were driving eastbound in a Dodge pickup just after 4:30 a.m. when the truck rolled about 100 yards off the road. Both men were thrown from the vehicle.

Troopers say the passenger, 21-year-old Riley Obrian of South Jordan, died at the scene while the driver, 20-year-old Joshua Kearl of Santaquin, was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Neither man was wearing a seat belt.

Troopers say alcohol and drugs may have played roles in the crash.

(CEDAR CITY)-Cedar City residents will soon have a more convenient way to dispose of recyclable goods such as paper and cans as the community will launch a community recycling program Wednesday.

Public Works Director, Rick Holman, says bins for paper, plastic, metal and glass will be placed at five drop-off locations across the city.

Drop off sites include Southern Utah University, Homestead State Park and several other area schools. Holman says all the drop off sites have not yet been declared.

A contractor will haul the bins away weekly and the city’s one-year contract for the service is $7,800.

Mayor Joe Burgess says the city began considering vendor proposals for the program in the spring and stated money has been set aside in the city’s budget for the program future.

(RICHFIELD) – A Sandy man was taken to the hospital after crashing his ATV Sunday night near Lost Creek Reservoir. According to a Sevier County Sheriff’s report, 35-year old John Lampshire had left camp to pick up some friends who were hunting and crashed on Seven Mile Road with several injuries. The report said Lampshire’s friends had started walking back to camp and found him laying in the road. Deputies said Lampshire was not wearing a helmet and sustained multiple head injuries. He was transported by his friends to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield and then lifeflighted to another hospital up north early this morning.

(COVE FORT) – Organizers at a historic LDS site in South-Central Utah were exhilarated at the number of visitors who came to their annual event. Tallies showed that more than 4,600 people came to the Cove Fort Historic Site at the Junction of I-15 and I-170 on Aug. 6 and 7 to share in a look back at the pioneer heritage of Utah. Visitors were greeted by the 26 senior missionary couples dressed in period clothing, who demonstrated pottery making, blacksmithing, beekeeping, soapmaking and other pioneer crafts, while intertwining gospel messages. The fort was built in 1867 under the direction of Ira Hinckley, the grandfather of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who accepted a call from Brigham Young to leave his Coalville home and travel to Cove Creek to build a fort as a refuge for travelers. The fort was dedicated in 1994, providing a modern spiritual way-station for travelers.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Allen Fowles had three touchdowns, Jeremy Palmer ran for two more scores while Braden Jackson hauled in a 22-yard scoring pass as the Manti Templars smacked the American Leadership Eagles, 37-0 Friday in non-region football action.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (AP)-John Ursua threw for four touchdowns and ran for another as the Westlake Thunder tripped up the Delta Rabbits, 35-21 in non-region football action Friday. Colin Christensen had touchdown runs of 16 and 3 yards for the Rabbits in the loss.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Tyler Giddings had touchdown runs of 38 and 5 yards and Eric Peterson and Jerry Thomas also scored touchdowns as the Richfield Wildcats pummeled the Grand Red Devils, 31-7 in non-region football action Friday.

NEPHI, Utah (AP)-Lawson Toomer ran for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Tad Sargent added a 55-yard touchdown as the Morgan Trojans waxed the Juab Wasps, 21-6 Friday in non-region football action. Curtis Orme scored the sole touchdown of the game for Juab.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Colton Dunn passed for two touchdowns and Rhett Bird threw for another score as the North Sanpete Hawks gashed the Millard Eagles, 19-6 in non-region football action Friday. Nate Robison had a 2-yard touchdown run in defeat for the Eagles.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Zack Wood had scoring runs of 13 and 27 yards and the Parowan Rams edged the North Sevier Wolves, 14-12 Friday in non-region football action. Kade Larsen hauled in a 73-yard scoring reception and Chase Argyle ran for a 15-yard touchdown in the loss for North Sevier.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Slade Edwards ran for 140 yards and Anthony Gibson added a pair of short scoring runs as the Beaver Beavers snuck past the North Summit Braves, 14-12 in non-region football action Friday.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Chris Manzanares homered and went the distance on the mound as the Wayne Badgers bested the Piute Thunderbirds, 5-1 Friday in Region 20 baseball action.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Britton Leavitt and Elle Roberts had two goals apiece as the Dixie Lady Flyers blew past the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 9-0 in non-region girls soccer action Friday.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Ali Wagner had two goals to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Desert Hills Lady Thunder stormed past the Delta Lady Rabbits, 5-0 Friday in non-region girls soccer action.

(RICHFIELD) – A 12-year old boy pushing his bicycle across Main Street in Richfield Thursday afternoon was hit by a driver. According to a UHP report, 24-year old Keisha Allen of Richfield, was traveling southbound in a 2004 Chevy Malibu and hit the child while he was in the crosswalk at 100 North at about 4pm. UHP said the boy was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with possible injuries. The boy was carrying an orange crossing flag while in the crosswalk. Allen was wearing her seatbelt and was not injured. She told police that she was distracted by her children in the back seat and didn’t see the boy. UHP said that another motorist was stopped in the outside lane at the crosswalk to allow the boy to cross. Allen was cited for failing to yield at a cross walk and driving on suspension.

(LAS VEGAS)-KPNX-TV, Channel 12 in Phoenix reports that more than five years after work began, the Hoover Dam bypass bridge is nearly complete and drivers will likely begin crossing it in November.

When the bridge opens, motorists traveling between Phoenix and Las Vegas will save an average of 17 minutes on their trip and potentially hours under the worst possible conditions that may strike the Mojave Desert.

Additionally, truckers will be spared lengthy detours while all drivers will have access to picturesque views while traveling near Hoover Dam and the Colorado River.

The Federal Highway Administration has not yet selected an exact opening date for the $114 million span, officially named the Mike O’Callagahn-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

At a sneak preview to showcase the completion of the bridge deck Thursday, officials announced an opening gala on October 16. A federal spokeswoman also said the bridge will open in early November.

Workers are finishing the final details on the bridge as well as the highway connections and access paths for walkers, tourists and bicyclists. The work includes installing a pedestrian parking rail, building a parking lot for visitors and adding lighting, striping and crash barriers to approaching roads.

The bridge is part of an overall $240 million bypass project which includes new, gently curving and sloping highways on both sides of the gorge while the FHA says the work will finish within budget parameters.

After the new bridge opens, the existing entrance from Arizona to Hoover Dam will close to the public, meaning motorists won’t have to wait at a Homeland Security Department checkpoint. Thus, tourists need to remember they can only reach the dam from the Nevada end.

This work is all a part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s ultimate goal of converting all of U.S. Highway 93 from Wickenburg, Ariz. to the Colorado River into a four-lane divided highway.

Powerful interests in Arizona, Nevada and California have been lining up to designate the steadily improving route as a future Interstate, which would be called Interstate 11 as part of a goal to create a major north-south corridor which would boost the region’s economy.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A total of 158 gang members and individuals with gang ties, including many with previous criminal records, are facing new criminal charges or deportation following a four-month, multi-agency gang surge spearheaded by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations that represents the largest sting of its kind ever carried out in the state.

The arrests are the result of a coordinated effort by the new Homeland Security-led Operation Community Shield Task Force comprised of personnel from ICE and five local law enforcement agencies, including the St. George Police Department.

Utah is one of the first HSI offices in the nation to establish an OCSTF, along with Dallas, St. Paul,Minn., and Charlotte, N.C.

Of the 158 gang members and gang associates arrested during the operation, 125 are foreign national from five different countries, including national representing Argentina, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Peru.

Additionally, 29 of those arrested emerged from St. George while Washington City had four arrests with Santa Clara, Delta and Cedar City each having one arrest apiece.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff may be about to fire his opinion that the right to free speech extends even from the most violent video games to the country’s top court.

Stanford law professor and CEO of the not-for-profit Common Sense Media, James P. Steyer, says Shurtleff is considering adding his name to a document in support of Entertainment Merchants Association, a video game trade association embroiled in a lawsuit in California.

If he does sign off, Shurtleff will be asking the Supreme Court to rule if it’s an unconstitutional violation of free speech for the government to ban any video game’s sale to children, regardless of how violent the game’s content may be.

When he was reached for comment Wednesday, Shurtleff said he doesn’t mind people lobbying him on issues, but he has not made a decision as of yet.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to hear arguments this fall in Schwarzenegger vs. EMA. The video game law never took effect because the industry trade group, the Entertainment Software Association, sued in federal court on the grounds that such a law would violate constitutionally protected rights of free speech.

The case has been in litigation ever since.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Engaging socially, physically and mentally are key to maintaining brain health while research shows that people who embrace activities in all three elements are less likely to develop dementia, Utah senior citizens learned during a seminar at the University of Utah Thursday.

The seminar, which saw 400 people attend, featured a lecture by University of Utah neuropsychologist Kevin Duff of the university’s Center for Alzheimer’s care wherein he told seniors what they can do to avoid dementia.

Duff defined dementia as a loss of mental functions, usually multiple losses in cognitive and behavioral areas. It is typically persistent, so if the mental lapses aren’t overly prevalent, there usually isn’t a problem, Duff said.

Duff said that seniors who remember to be active and learn new things are less likely to develop dementia and that the most common type of Alzheimer’s occurs after the age of 65 and seems to have only a small genetic component.

(ST. JOHN’S, Ariz.)-A forest ranger who alertly spotted a pair of fugitives at a remote northeastern Arizona campsite was hailed as a “true hero” Friday after his tip allowed a heavily armed law enforcement contingent to capture the couple.

The ranger’s efforts came at a great risk according to Apache County (Ariz.) authorities as notorious fugitive, John McCluskey, had a gun in his possession and told officers he wished he would have shot the ranger when he had the chance.

McCluskey and his fiancee, Casslyn Welch, were captured after a three-week manhunt which began when they escaped from a Kingman, Ariz. prison.

While reports have previously surface that the couple had traveled as far as Arkansas, it’s unclear where they have been for the most part, although they are charged with a murder in New Mexico since they’ve been on the lam.

Authorities finally detained the 45-year-old McCluskey and the 44-year-old Welch at a campsite in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near the White Mountains of northeastern Arizona.

Welch reached for a weapon but dropped it upon realization that she was being outgunned by an incoming SWAT team, said Arizona U.S. Marshal David Gonzales.

Officers apprehended McCluskey without incident after finding him lying in a sleeping bag outside a tent. He informed authorities he had a gun in his tent and would have shot the ranger if he’d been able to reach for it.

The fugitives’ ruse began to crumble around 4:00 p.m. Thursday when a U.S. Forest Service ranger investigated what appeared to be an unattended campfire, Gonzales stated. He then found a silver Nissan Sentra nearby that was suspiciously backed into the trees, suggesting the drivers were trying to hide it.

The ranger had a brief conversation with McCluskey, wherein he appeared nervous and fidgety while within the next three hours, a SWAT team and surveillance unit surrounded the campsite.

McCluskey and Welch are currently being detained at the Apache County Jail in St. John’s, Ariz.

Arizona state Corrections Department Director, Charles Ryan, said he now hopes that American citizens can sleep better with the capture of these criminals.

Authorities plan to spend Friday scouring the campsite and looking for evidence that could link the fugitives to any other crimes during their time on the lam.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-U.S. Senator, Orrin Hatch, says his push for reform in the Bowl Championship Series, which robs Division I-A college football of a true national champion in many fans’ eyes, will not change notwithstanding the University of Utah’s acceptance into the Pacific 10 conference and Brigham Young University’s potential move to football independence.

The Utah Republican says the BCS is the impetus for the UofU and BYU’s move away from the Mountain West Conference and that he’s still fighting to get revenue fairly distributed to all schools.

(WASHINGTON CITY) – Police arrested five suspects this week in two illegal marijuana growing operations in southern Utah. Local and federal law enforcement officials on Wednesday eradicated more than 1100 plants at an abandoned field near Central in Washington County. Police believe the growers at that site may have fled after several other fields nearby were raided last week, netting almost 10,000 plants total in the double raids. Official reports said more than 50 officers raided a field Thursday perched high in a remote canyon just north of Pine Valley and arrested five suspects. A sixth man is believed to have gotten away. Officers also seized about 150 pounds of processed marijuana. The five men in custody represent the most arrests made at any one field since seven people were arrested in one raid last year. Three raids in the Pine Valley Mountains last week resulted in five arrests.

Today, I maintain my prestigious journalistic standards by reporting on the Minnesota Vikings notwithstanding my disdain for Brett Favre. Favre, of course, threw for 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year while completing 68 percent of his passes and throwing for 4,202 yards in 2009. In other words, he had one of the best statistical seasons of his decorated career. Nevertheless, I’ll admit he has agitated me with his drama but if Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and head coach Brad Childress are willing to indulge him, that’s their choice. Again, I don’t like him, but he has put up impressive stats of late. The good news for the Vikings is even if he can’t sustain this level of play in 2010 or gets injured (there’s a reason only a handful of NFL players have ever played well into their 40s), there are other options in the stable. For instance, from watching film on the Vikings-Rams game last week, I saw that Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels both did a solid job in running the Minnesota offense. Of course, with weapons such as tailback Adrian Peterson (1,819 combined rushing and receiving yards in 2009 as well as 18 rushing TD’s), and wideouts Sidney Rice (83 rec, 1,312 yards, 8 TD’s) and Percy Harvin (I hope he gets over his migraines) are all solid options. Of course, Visanthe Shiancoe (56 rec, 566 yards, 11 TD’s) is about to make me a happy fantasy owner, but lest I should show my hand any further, I digress. It also bears mentioning that the Minnesota defense was also an elite unit as they ranked 6th in league annals in 2009, including a stellar #2 against the run. Jared Allen returns without his illustrious mullet (incidentally Jim Rome and I both cried when this occurred) but still maintains his impressive pass rushing skill which netted him 14.5 sacks last year. Additionally, Ben Leber, Chad Greenway, Madieu Williams, Cedric Griffin, the Williams Wall and other defensive stalwarts promise to give the Vikings an impressive unit once again. Personally, I don’t think Favre will make it through the season, but fear not Vikings fans, as Jackson has improved enough and was able to quarterback the team for much of 2008 to a 10-6 record. For all intents and purposes, I do believe this is the Vikings’ moment to strike. The cupboard is full and the special teams (Ryan Longwell, Chris Kluwe, Harvin and Darius Reynaud were all magnificent in helping Minnesota win what NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi calls the “hidden yards battle on a weekly basis last year) are as strong as any other unit on the team. With that said, I see the Vikings winning anywhere from 10 to 13 games but I give no take on the postseason as all bets are off at that point. We’ll see what happens. Thanks for reading!

(BEAVER) – Fishlake National Forest officials have closed several forest roads due to the expansion of a wildfire burning northeast of Beaver. Forest personnel say the Twitchell Canyon Fire, burning about 14 miles northeast of Beaver, has grown to over 4500 acres and roads have been closed for public and firefighter safety. The wildfire has already caused the closure of Indian Creek Road to the Forest boundary and is being managed for resource benefits. A map of the road closures is also available online on the Fishlake National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/fishlake.

(ST. GEORGE)-A 40-member law enforcement team seized over 3,000 plants in another marijuana growing farm near Central, in the Pine Valley mountains north of St. George Wednesday.

Agencies involved in the bust included the Washington County Area Drug and Gang Task Force, under the direction of task force commander, Lieutenant David Moss, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the St. George Police Department, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Nate Abbott, said the seized crops appeared to be part of the same marijuana farm cultivation seized earlier in the week.

This is the seventh marijuana grow seized in the last two months in southern Utah.

(PHOENIX)-Arizona officials are preparing to release a report on a security review of a privately operated state prison where three inmates, including two convicted of murder, escaped July 30.

The state’s Corrections Department says it will release the report during a Thursday briefing. The Kingman, Ariz. prison is operated by the Management and Training Corporation of Centerville.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Wednesday, a report from the Department of Homeland Security said federal officials deported a record number of illegal immigrants last year for the seventh consecutive year.

However, the number of people agents caught actually trying to cross the border was down by 23 percent.

The report also said 393,000 foreign nationals were removed from the United States by formal order, while the leading country of origin for illegals was Mexico, accounting for 72 percent of all illegals.’

Besides those formally deported, the report said another 580,000 foreign nationals were allowed to return to their home countries without a removal order.

Among those formally removed were 128,000 immigrants convicted of crimes, nearly 30 percent of which were drug related.

At the border, the report said Border Patrol and other Homeland Security agencies apprehended 613,000 foreign nationals, 86 percent of which were natives of Mexico.

About 88 percent of entry arrests were made on the Mexican border, the report said.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-On the same day a group of lawmakers was pressed about the need to increase “mineral literacy” in Utah, a new report showed the state now ranks third nationally for the value of non-minerals produced in 2009.

Overall, the state’s contribution was logged at 7 percent of the total value of the country’s production, according to a report issued Wednesday by the Utah Geological Survey.

This is the first time, Utah geologists believe, the state has been able to edge out rival California, which has traditionally ousted Utah for third place, behind mineral-rich Arizona and Nevada, due to its production of industrial materials for the construction industry.

The ranking comes even after a recession-driven dip in 2008 peak prices while the outlook predicts moderate increases because the price of metals is going up. Utah’s gross value production from mineral and energy contributions nearly reached $7 billion last year according to the report.

Nevertheless, John Baza, the director of the state’s Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, says many Utahns remain ignorant about the true value of these natural resources.

Baza noted that his agency, by nature, is focused on the regulatory side of mining and the extraction of other natural resources, not necessarily public education outreach.

Baza has run through numerous statistics in the state, noting that Utah is the home of four of the nation’s largest oil fields and two of the country’s 100 largest gas fields.

In national standings, Utah ranks 15th in total energy production, 13th in crude oil production, eighth in natural gas production, and 14th in coal production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

North Logan Republican Representative, Jack Draxler, said he would be willing to sponsor legislation ensuring Utah receives the majority of the benefits of these resources and was huddling with Baza after the presentation.

(ATLANTA)-A salmonella outbreak involving eggs has brought illness to hundreds in four states and the issue may be increasing.

Federal health officials are focusing their investigations on restaurants in California, Colorado, Minnesota and North Carolina while suspicious cases have arisen in five other states.

Initially, 228 million eggs were recalled, but the number increased to the equivalent of nearly 32 million.

No deaths have been reported from the outbreaks in California, Colorado or Minnesota, although spikes or clusters of suspicious cases have also been reported in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin.

Because the strain involved is the most common form of salmonella, health officials say determining the size of outbreak is more challenging.

The eggs, from Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, were distributed around the country and packaged under the names, Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.

(ZION NATIONAL PARK)-The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood warning for Washington County, citing reports of dangerously high water on the North Fork of the Virgin River through Zion National Park.

The weather service in Salt Lake City says rain in the area has tapered off, but the flood warning has been extended through 11:15 a.m. Thursday MDT.

The warning implies that people among streams and creeks should move to high ground and that flooding is either occurring or imminent.

(CEDAR CITY) – A former Iron County Sheriff’s deputy is facing multiple charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. Court records said that David Fischer was booked into jail on Tuesday on charges of knowingly producing, distributing and possessing child pornography. According to the St. George Spectrum, Fischer was terminated from his post with the sheriff’s office in March for reasons unrelated to the case.

Today, we discuss the Miami Dolphins, a team that traditionally has dominated through the years. While names such as Marino, Shula, Csonka and Buoniconti are absent, there are plenty of studs ready to fill in the gaps. Chief among them is the Dolphins’ best quarterback since the aforementioned Marino in Michigan prospect, Chad Henne. Last season, Henne (60.8 completion percentage, 2,878 yards, 12 TD’s, 14 INT’s) showed promise and may now be ready to take the reins of a darkhorse Super Bowl contender. With other resourceful players, such as jack-of-all-trades Ronnie Brown (648 rushing yards, 8 TD’s in 2009 despite lingering injuries) and Ricky Williams (1,121 rushing yards, 11 TD’s), the Dolphins have one of the best backfields in the NFL. Of course, ex-Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall also promises to enhance an already solid receiving corps including Davone Bess (76 rec, 758 yards, 2 TD’s), Greg Camarillo and the underrated Brian Hartline (a team-best 16.3 yards per reception and a team-high among receivers, 3 TD’s). Nevertheless, I still haven’t explored the Dolphins’ greatest strengths in my opinion. Without further redo, I believe those to be Dan Carpenter (25 of 28 on FG’s, I hope you south Floridians realize just how hard it is to kick at sea level) and head coach Tony Sparano, who like most of us lucky enough to be Italians is tenacious, hard-working and ingenuous, all characteristics which will make the Dolphins successful in 2010. I also expect big things on defense from the likes of Cameron Wake, Kendall Langford and Sean Smith while Smith’s collegiate teammate at the University of Utah, Koa Misi, could be one of the best rookies of 2010. With that said, I honestly believe a solid foundation is being laid at South Beach and things will only improve in the future. The only question is: will this team get more chances at a Super Bowl championship than the teams led by the legendary Marino? Time will only tell and I for one am excited to watch it unfold. While it’s always GO BRONCOS for me, I have also liked the Dolphins for years as well, so I hope you guys appreciate my efforts.

(PRICE) – The former Garfield County School District Superintendent faces several felony charges on misuse of public funds and signing a fraudulent contract. According to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, 66-year old George Park was arrested Aug. 9 and charged with one count of second-degree felony for helping a former administrator steal tens of thousands of dollars and signing his fraudulent contract. Former Garfield School District Administrator, Justin Baugh, has been arrested and charged with stealing between $50,000 and $80,000, while working for the District. Park is believed to have been involved with the theft and was terminated by the school district. He was also charged with giving himself unauthorized bonuses, a larger 401-K contribution that had been approved by school board members and giving himself an unauthorized raise, when he was superintendent at the Garfield School District. He was arrested in Price while he was the Carbon County School District Superintendent. Mid-Utah Radio reported that Parks was hired by the Utah Board of Regents but those reports are not correct. The Utah Board of Education says that school board members hire school superintendents. Former Carbon County School District Superintendent Patsy Bueno, who was brought back out of retirement, said the school board conducted due diligence in hiring Park.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix, reports that while Arizona’s SB1070 bill has been fairly successful in suppressing illegal immigration in the state since its inception in July, the Border Patrol still finds itself busy at times near Nogales, Ariz. A report that emerged Wednesday confirmed agents have recently recovered $260,000 while operating checkpoints near Nogales. Monday, agents at the Nogales port of entry said they seized $240,000 near Interstate 19 while back on August 5, agents reported they seized $20,000 belonging to drug smugglers. In the most recent incident, a canine team alerted agents to a tractor-trailer, filled with 27 packages of money hidden among the truck’s cargo, agents said. The driver of the truck was arrested. The patrol agent in charge of the Nogales station said the seizure of cash impacts the smugglers in the area where it hurts most, their pockets.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah BLM netted nearly $1.3 million in total revenues at its quarterly oil and gas lease sale Tuesday in Salt Lake City. Reports indicated that the BLM sold eleven of the twelve parcels offered in the sale with a total of 9,200 acres of federal land sold in the Vernal Field Office. BLM officials said that Tendy Management LLC of Henderson, NV., submitted the highest total bid per acre at $560 on parcel number 39 containing 80 acres. The highest total bid per parcel was by Rosewood Resources, Inc. of Dallas, TX., for $518,400 on parcel number 56 containing 2160 acres.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A hearing to consider polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs’ request for a new trial has been postponed. Jeffs filed a motion for a “speedy” new trial July 27, hours after the Utah Supreme Court reversed his convictions on accomplice to rape charges saying the case should be reheard. Fifth District Judge James Shumate was to hear the request Monday. Prosecutors and defense attorneys asked that the hearing be put on hold because the Supreme Court has not yet returned Jeffs’ case file and is not likely to do so by then. State attorneys have confirmed they plan to ask the high court to reconsider its ruling while prosecutors have until Monday to submit this request to the court. Meanwhile, Jeffs is facing an extradition proceeding which would transfer him to Texas to stand trial on charges of bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault. These charges are based on evidence seized from the Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. One of Jeffs’ attorneys, Walter F. Budgen, said he’ll file a habeus corpus motion opposing the extradition until there’s a resolution of the Utah case.

(SPRINGDALE)-Although Springdale is becoming a renowned town nationwide, due to its proximity to Zion National Park and recent ranking in Forbes Magazine’s 2008 article on the “20 Prettiest Towns in America,” town officials are still reticent to allow national chain restaurants to permeate the community of 500. Thus, community leaders have crafted an ordinance banning what they call “formula restaurants” from opening within city limits. A group of eight investors challenged the ordinance suing the town, 16 town officials and the town’s attorneys for what the plaintiff calls their “constitutional right” to open a Subway franchise. Springdale’s zoning ordinance, similar to others across the nation, prohibits numerous businesses, such as formula restaurants and delicatessens because they’re found to be in conflict with the town’s general plan. The national League of Cities supports leaders who strive to protect their community’s “character and economic development,” stated league spokesman Gregory Minchak. While preparing the ordinance, Springdale officials explored the rulings of other communities regulating these types of businesses, such as Bristol, R.I. and Cannon Beach, Ore. Currently, Zion National Park tourists have given Springdale’s ordinance mixed results.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Both the University of Utah and Brigham Young University slipped slightly in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report for “America’s Best College” rankings. The University of Utah fell to 129th place from 126th place and Brigham Young fell to 75th place from 71st place after jumping 42 spots last year. This puts BYU in a tie with the University of Indiana at Bloomington, Ind., the University of Delaware at Newark, Del. and Marquette University in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the UofU is tied with the University of Kentucky at Lexington, Ky. and the Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla, Mo. Utah State University checked in at 170th place being tied with such institutions as South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C. and Bowling Green State University of Bowling Green, Ohio. The list, criticized by some as nothing more than a glorified popularity contest, also includes the opinions of high school counselors for the first time which ranked both BYU and the UofU in comparable positions to the national rankings. As far as regional universities throughout the West are concerned, Salt Lake City’s Westminster College is ranked 23rd overall, while Ogden-based Weber State University is in 56th place and Southern Utah University of Cedar City checked in at 75th place.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A commission created by Utah Governor Gary Herbert to make state government more efficient is preparing to release its report. The Utah Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government is scheduled to make its recommendations public Thursday. The commission is led by former Republican Governor, Norm Bangerter, and includes numerous businesses and government leaders. However, it’s unclear how influential the report will be. When Herbert created this commission last fall, he didn’t commit himself to following its recommendations and ultimately the Legislature will decide what the budget is.

(ST. GEORGE)-A wildfire burned dangerously close to Interstate 15 Tuesday afternoon in Washington County. The fire, near Ash Creek Reservoir, is approximately halfway between Cedar City and St. George. Firefighters reported the fire has primarily been extinguished but it caused considerable difficulty for motorists in both directions. As of Tuesday evening, northbound I-15 was reopened and while investigators are not sure what caused the fire, it is estimated to have burned about 17 acres.

(HOLLADAY)-A major outdoor retailer is expanding into Utah as part of a trend The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has been anticipating. Tuesday, Black Diamond Equipment Inc., which already makes numerous outdoor products in Utah, announced it will be moving the operations of Gregory Mountain Products, formerly of Sacramento, Calif., to Holladay. Riley Cutler, the overseer of Utah’s Outdoor Products and Recreation strategic industry at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, said there are numerous reasons why Utah is so attractive for the business, including the various sites the state boasts for outdoor adventure. The Black Diamond expansion is expected to add 55 jobs to Utah’s economy over the course of the next 10 years.

(MONROE) – A Monroe woman was taken to the hospital and then to jail after crashing her vehicle near the Richfield Livestock Auction Tuesday night. According to a Sevier County Sheriff’s report, 38-year old Camille DeMille went off the road at about 150 West 3000 North and crashed through a barbed wire fence into a corn field. Deputies arrived to find DeMille unconscious in her vehicle. The report stated that DeMille had taken some prescription medication and then consumed some alcohol. She was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield for treatment because she was unresponsive and then released to county deputies. Deputies said DeMille became violent when she started to wake up and had to be restrained. She was transported to the Sevier County Jail and charged with DUI, open container and resisting arrest.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars have an uncertain future ahead of them in subsequent seasons, I have give owner Wayne Weaver credit for doing a solid job in trying to improve Jacksonville. Since my Denver Broncos play the Jags opening week, undoubtedly I will be paying close attention to them throughout the preseason. Obviously, the Jaguars’ major issue last season was a defense that posted a league-worst 14 sacks. To remedy the problem, the Jacksonville brass has brought ex-Packer defensive end Aaron Kampman in while drafting four more defensive linemen, Tyson Alualu, D’Anthony Smith, Larry Hart and Austen Lane. It doesn’t surprise me that hard-nosed head coach, Jack Del Rio, subscribes to the theory that you can never have too many defensive linemen. Thankfully for Jacksonville, their secondary features longtime stalwart cornerback Rashean Mathis and impressive second-year man Derek Cox among others. On offense, the Jaguars also have sufficient potential as despite David Garrard’s (314 of 516, 3,597 yards 15 TD’s 10 INT’s, completing 61 percent of his passes) lack of recognition from the national media, he still did a solid job. As always, Maurice Jones-Drew (1,765 combined rushing and receiving yards, 16 total TD’s) should be a force while the emergence of Mike Sims-Walker (nearly 14 yards per catch and seven touchdown receptions last season) should only help the Jaguars’ offense. With all of this said, I am leery to give Jacksonville the benefit of the doubt on a weekly basis. Although the Jaguars gave Indy all they wanted in Week 1 last season and actually beat the Jets at the old Giants Stadum, there were also numerous headscratchers such as their 41-0 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. Ultimately, I see the Jaguars winning about six or seven games on the season but if they don’t become the Los Angeles Jaguars in the interim, to me the season will prove successful.

(GREEN RIVER) – A Price man was accidentally shot Saturday night while on a fishing trip at the Green River. According to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, 28-year old Colin Tucker and his family were down river from Crystal Geyser, when he attempted to retrieve something from a cooler and his .17-caliber rifle went off, hitting him in the abdomen. The accident occurred about five miles from Green River. The family drove Tucker to Green River, where a helicopter picked him up and flew him to Utah Valley Region Medical Center in Provo. No information is available as to his present condition.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A state lawmaker who unveiled his anti-illegal immigration bill on Monday is being blasted by his adversaries. Orem-based Republican, Stephen Sandstrom, said his bill is widely accepted by the general public and will stand the test in the courts but Democratic representatives say the bill is “fiscally irresponsible” and out of the state’s price range. Democrats Luz Robles and Rebecca Chavez-Houck argue the state and counties would incur costs by having undocumented illegal immigrants detained by local law enforcement. Robles says she’s working with a coalition of members of the business community, churches, the immigrant community and a bipartisan faction of legislators to put together a comprehensive immigration bill. Sandstrom says he’s worked with attorneys from the Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington to make the bill palatable to the courts.

(PAGE, Ariz.)-Recent monsoon rains in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area have washed out portions of several backcountry roads in the region. Portions of Hole-in-the-Rock Road, the Burr Trail and Blue Notch Road may be impassable even for high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles. County road crews are working to repair storm damage while visitors are advised to contact local ranger stations regarding road conditions before embarking on backcountry travel

(ST. GEORGE)-Dixie State College of Utah President, Stephen D. Nadauld, announced that Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, will speak at the college’s convocation Sunday August 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the campus’ Cox Auditorium. The convocation will feature addresses by the governor and Utah’s First Lady, Jeannette Herbert, to set the pace for Dixie students as they begin their academic year. The program will also be attended by prominent community members and local ecclesiastical leaders from various denominations. Additionally, a choir from the Shepherd of the Hills Methodist Church will perform. Nadauld first introduced this tradition in 2008 as a way to establish a four-year education culture at the long time junior college and said these types of gatherings occur at various institutions of higher learning throughout the country.

(WASHINGTON)-The National Institute of Health has awarded University of Utah biologist, Andres Villu Marciq, $3.75 million to study memory and learning in action. The grant will come from an NIH Director’s Pioneer award program meant to encourage promising, albeit risky, research in a news release issued Tuesday. Maricq plans to use the money to fund a five-year project, studying how nervous systems process information and learn and remember, the release said. The biologist and his co-workers will also develop new techniques, such as the movement of nerve cells or neurons as they engage in learning. The researchers will use the nematoad or roundworm C elegans for their focal study. They believe the study of worms, which serve as simple models for the human nervous system, may someday lead to new treatments for various human neurological disorders, according to the release.

(SALINA) – Sevier County deputies are on the lookout for vandals that damaged equipment and a camp trailer at the Sand Ledges parking lot and Accord Lakes area over the weekend. A sheriff’s report said deputies took a report of vandalism on a county grader that had been parked at the Sand Ledges parking lot. The report said that someone had thrown a rock through one of the windows of the grader, causing $500 in damages. Also, a report of a break-in of a camp trailer at Accords Lake was taken by deputies. Suspects had gained entrance through a vent on the trailer but nothing was found missing. The trailer had been left on private property for four weeks and a friend reported the vent had been broken off. Damage to the vent and a window was estimated at $200.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The federal government wants to give the state of Utah more than $100 million to reduce classroom sizes during the 2010-11 school year and already the idea is starting to stir controversy. Holladay-based Republican Representative, Carol Moss, says the average elementary school in Utah consists of anywhere from 28-32 students per teacher. Furthermore, Moss said, in high school, there are 38-45 students per teacher in the state. Moss says that as a parent herself she is concerned with how little one-on-one teaching her children are receiving. She proposed the money could be used to pay teachers or support staff which would help reduce class sizes, enabling students to be taught more effectively. Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett both voted against the use of federal money to pay for Utah schools, saying the majority of the multi-billion dollar spending bill would go to other states that don’t work while Utah strives for a balanced budget.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah’s Department of Insurance will soon be more able to monitor health insurance premium increases and crack down on insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes. The department will receive a $1 million share of $48 million in grant funds from the Federal Office of Health and Human Services. Department Secretary, Kathleen Sibelius, announced the grant awards Monday. Utah was among 45 states, along with Washington D.C., that sought grants. State regulators say they want to expand the scope and number of reviews the agency conducts. In its application, the agency says it will seek expanded powers over individual and small group insurance markets from Utah lawmakers. The agency will also seek permission to add large-group market reviews.

(SPANISH FORK CANYON)-A significant project to improve Utah’s section of U.S. Highway 6 is nearing completion and Monday, the Utah Department of Transportation opened a new rest stop along the road in Spanish Fork Canyon. Instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony, a rail splitting ceremony took place at the Tie Forks rest area which replaces the old Tucker area, which was demolished to eliminate a dangerous curve in the roadway. The building is modeled after a railroad depot and shares tourist information about the area, giving travelers a look at the history of southeastern Utah. The rest stop also boasts a model of a vintage locomotive, stressing the importance of the railroad to Utah. UDOT says the rest area is the “capstone” to significant investments in improving this traditionally dangerous highway’s safety. UDOT lists 56 separate improvement areas along the highway over the past 10 years at a cost of $239 million. Over the past five years, UDOT says fatalities along U.S. Highway 6 are down and believes road improvements are a major reason why.

In this age of parity, which I love, the Indianapolis Colts are a paragon of excellence, a team that continues to be a consistent contender, notwithstanding the numerous factors in play that usually prevent such things. When Peyton Manning (just another year at the office in 2009, 4,500 passing yards, 33 TD’s, 16 INT’s while completing almost 69 percent of his passes) is your quarterback, it’s easy to overcome “deficiencies” such as being dead last in rushing offense in NFL annals. Of course, Manning gets plenty of help from the likes of Reggie Wayne (100 rec, 1,264 yards, 10 TD’s), and the currently injured Dallas Clark (100, rec, 1,106 yards, 10 TD’s) as well as Austin Collie (60 rec, 676 yards, 7 TD’s) and, if healthy, Anthony Gonzalez. Perhaps the thing that will make Manning the greatest signal-caller the game has seen upon his retirement (in my opinion) is the excellence that was Wayne’s and Clark’s stats in 2009. Manning not only is in command of virtually every offensive set known in modern-day football (much credit goes to ageless senior offensive assistant Tom Moore for that), he has a peerless ability to equally use all of his weapons. Spreading the ball around is obviously only one of Manning’s litany of strengths, but it’s the most apt for my statement. Meanwhile, whether the kicker should be Adam Vinatieri or Matt Stover, the Colts are in good hands as they made a respectable 16 of 20 field goals in 2009. In the rare event when Manning does not lead a touchdown drive, the kicking has been solid. Furthermore, with a pass rush featuring the likes of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (a combined 23 sacks in 2009) and a secondary that even in Bob Sanders’ absence is solid, the Colts look like elitists in the AFC once again. Although Jeff Saturday’s injury on the offensive line could potentially create some concern early in the season, the Indianapolis offensive line is still virtually bereft of weakness as with Manning’s quick release, mistakes can easily be mitigated. If I were a betting man (which I’m not since I try to be a good Mormon like Collie), I would definitely lay a few bones on the Colts winning 12 games as they have won at least 12 for the past seven years, obviously an NFL record. Of course, the same parity that the Colts have eluded in terms of amassing postseason appearances has at times kept them from hoisting the Lombardi as only 2006 in the Manning era has netted Indianapolis the NFL’s most prestigious prize. With that said, Manning’s greatness makes for compelling theater and I for one hope the Denver Broncos can contend with this illustrious franchise consistently. A litmus test awaits in Week 3 when the Colts visit the Mile High City, but ultimately, I tip my hat to the Indianapolis Colts who should win the AFC South again. The question is: will they fulfill their vast potential and bring prestigious hardware back to the Circle City? My initial response is “yes,” but as always, the beauty of the NFL is no one knows. Stay tuned to another magnificent NFL season and enjoy the ride, Colts fans.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners ratified an agreement Monday between the county and the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation for the purchase of culverts on county roads. At the County Commission meeting, Commissioner Gordon Topham addressed the Commissioners on an agreement of providing funds up to $12,000 to install culverts on county roads. Topham said the funds would come from Special Service District #1 to pay for the culverts and the State Parks would then reimburse the county for expenditures.

(RICHFIELD) – Representatives of the Sevier Power Company are at odds with Sevier County Commissioners over the process of moving forward SPC’s application to construct a gas-fired power plant near Sigurd. At the Commission meeting today, Commissioners discussed requiring SPC to gain an air quality permit from the state before approving or denying their application. SPC President Rod Clark said his company wants to gain approval for the application before securing an air quality permit due to problems that existed with the county on SPC’s permit for a coal-fired plant application. Two weeks ago, the Sevier County Planning Commission gave final approval on SPC’s application and moved it forward to the County Commissioners. Commissioner Gordon Topham said County Commissioners can hold a public hearing on the application within 45 days of approval of the Planning Commission but questioned SPC’s hold on securing an air quality permit from the state. At the end of the meeting, Commissioners set a public hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 7pm at the Exhibit Hall at the County Fairgrounds.

(PHOENIX)-KPNX-TV, Channel 12 in Phoenix has reported residents of the north Phoenix neighborhood where a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is proposed to be built have a chance to hear a presentation about a modified plan for the temple’s height. An LDS spokeswoman, Jennifer Wheeler, said a neighborhood meeting concerning the revamped plan is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6:00 AST. The church, which initially proposed a 40-foot tall building, has lowered the height to be within existing zone regulations, a limit of 30 feet. Details of the plan won’t be revealed until Tuesday but local Church authorities have been contacting area residents, letting them know about the meeting. A presentation will include a rendering of the temple, a sample of the exterior color, a site plan, displays about traffic and information about parking and information about parking and how the temple will be used. An estimated construction timeline will also be provided.

(HURRICANE)-For the third consecutive year, members of the Hurricane Valley Lions Club and Hurricane Rotary Club are beating back economic difficulty by making a significant contribution to the Hurricane Police Department’s bike patrol unit. Lions Club President, Terry Hafen, recently presented a $1,500 check to Hurricane Police Sergeant Brandon Buell during a short ceremony, while the Hurricane Rotary Club donated almost $1,700 to the same cause. The money will be used for the purchase of a new bike and another bike purchased last year. The five-member, part-time bike crew is used primarily during special events, such as this week’s Washington County Fair and next month’s Peach Days celebration. Mid-Utah Radio thanks KCSG-TV of St. George for their assistance on this report.

(Ephraim) The South Sanpete School District’s new elementary schools are complete and ready to open their doors. The new buildings are located in Ephraim and in Gunnison, and replace the old elementary buildings that had become run down and outdated. The new buildings will provide a more conducive learning environment, and will improve student safety by moving away from busy streets. District officials have invited the public to tour the new facilities this week before the formal dedications and the start of the school year. An open house will be held at the Ephraim Elementary tomorrow (Tuesday) night from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, and at the Gunnison Elementary on Thursday night from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The dedications for the new buildings will take place on September 2nd in Gunnison and on September 8th in Ephraim.

(MANDERFIELD)-A lightning-caused fire in the Twitchell Canyon area near Manderfield Reservoir has surpassed the 4,000-acre threshold as of Saturday, according to the Deseret News. Officials are managing the fire to promote forest health and expect it to burn throughout the rest of the summer. In an update Saturday evening, officials said crews are seeking to protect private property near the historic Kimberly mining area. Indian Creek Road is still closed from Pole Canyon Road to the reservoir. Officials have stated visibility along I-15 and I-70 in Beaver County may be significantly reduced during the early morning hours.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. is proposing an expansion of its Bingham Canyon mine that would extend the mine’s life to 2034. The company is asking regulators to allow it to excavate about 1,000 feet from the south wall, deepening the massive mine by another 300 feet to reach an additional 700 million tons of copper ore. Company chief executive, Kelly Sanders, says the expansion, entitled the “Cornerstone Project,” would keep 2,000 jobs and prevent a five-year shutdown, which would begin in 2016.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A group of Utah lawmakers has come out against a proposed immigration bill in the state similar to Arizona’s SB1070. The lawmakers, such as Democratic Representative Luz Robles say the bill has been flawed from the start and that the state simply cannot afford the legislation. The bill’s instigator, Orem-based Republican, Stephen Sandstrom, says the bill discourages racial profiling by stating “race is not probable cause.” Additionally, there are extra status checks to qualify for entitlements and law enforcement agencies that don’t crack down could be fined up to $5,000 per day. Robles countered by saying opposing lawmakers can’t afford the bill’s cost, especially with all the cuts that are having to be made. She also said the state would have to spend “precious dollars and resources” for police to uphold this law and that the jails and courts would be excessively strained. In the interim, Sandstrom’s bill has gained another proponent, Representative Paul Ray of Davis County. Robles will address the issue later Monday at a Salt Lake City press conference.

(SPRING CITY) – Several travelers on SR-89 escaped serious injury in a vehicle crash at Strait Junction in Sanpete County over the weekend. UHP said that 32-year old Mindy Hardy of Spring City was making a left-hand turn in her 2003 Ford Excursion at the intersection Friday afternoon, when a 1995 Ford Ranger, driven by 41-year old Steven Carson of Salt Lake City, hit her broadside. Troopers said that both Hardy and Carson were wearing their seatbelts and were not injured. A seven-year old boy traveling with Hardy was also not injured and another passenger traveling with Carson, 62-year old Burt Johnson of Spanish Fork, was not injured. UHP said the passengers were also wearing their seatbelts. Hardy was cited for making an improper left turn.

(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield Fire Department responded to a double home fire Friday night after some children started a mattress on fire while playing with sparklers. Richfield Fire Chief Bryan Burrows reported that at about 7:30pm, fire crews were dispatched to a home located at 400 North 550 East, owned by Terry and Chanda Landon of Richfield, to find the fire had spread to their garage and also burned a fence, garage and outbuilding, owned by Jeff Teeples at 400 North 560 East. Fire crews were able to douse the flames before extensive damage was done to the property. Burrows also said the fire department responded to assist the Koosharem Fire Department on a dumpster fire at the Fishlake Lodge Saturday night and also a minor brush fire near Sigurd. Those fires were quickly put out.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Zach Brophy doubled and the Panguitch Bobcats edged the Wayne Badgers, 7-6 Saturday in Region 20 baseball action. Troy Stevenson doubled in the loss for Wayne.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Zack Taylor homered and Randy Ellett, Trevor Behunin and Ty Rees each doubled as the Wayne Badgers smacked the Bryce Valley Mustangs, 12-3 in Region 20 baseball action Saturday.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Anna Ledingham, Shakara Merrill and Stephanie Mower had two goals apiece and the North Sanpete Lady Hawks pounded the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 7-2 Saturday in non-region girls soccer action. Breanna Young and Mikayla Allred each scored in defeat for Gunnison.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The latest farm survey shows that residents along the Wasatch Front overwhelmingly support farming and ranching as important to the future of the state. Ag Spokesman Larry Lewis says the survey was conducted in an effort to help Utahns understand where their food comes from. Lewis said the survey also showed that 77% of respondents believe that the loss of farmland will lead to a greater dependence on foreign food and 75% believe a small portion of the existing tax on food should be spent to protect farmland. The survey said that 84% believe farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of the land and 43% don’t believe that wolves should be allowed to roam free in Utah. 38% believe they should. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food wanted to conduct the survey to compare responses between urban dwellers and rural residents.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-An intensely-anticipated illegal immigration bill for the state of Utah has finally been unveiled as Orem-based Representative, Stephen Sandstrom, made the announcement at the Capitol building Friday. The core intent of the bill is comparable to Arizona’s SB1070 and the differences primarily consist of fine legal details, intended to adhere to a federal judge’s concerns about the Arizona law. Sandstrom literally stood alone among protesters who derided him as he outlined the bill’s details. The bill, entitled the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, allows law enforcement authorities to detain a person stopped for another illegal act. The officer must have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is an illegal alien according to the bill. Sandstrom said the bill is legal and compassionate to those adhering to the law.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KREX-TV, Channel 5 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that Colorado Department of Transportation officials say Interstate 70 near Clifton, Colo. is receiving an upgrade from federal funds. The $1.94 million project came from Funding Advancements For Surface Transportation and Recovery, also known as FASTER, which was developed to address safety projects throughout Colorado during a budget crunch. The project is scheduled to finish in October and until then, there will be periodic single-lane closures in both directions. Clifton is about nine miles northeast of Grand Junction.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Controversial filmmaker, Spike Lee, will deliver the annual Tanner Lecture on Human Values at the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall next month. Lee, the writer and director for such movies as “Malcolm X,” and “He Got Game,” has been a provocative voice in mainstream U.S. culture, particularly with his affinity for touching upon racial issues. Admission is free for the September 14 event, but tickets are required and will be available Monday at the Kingsbury Hall box office. Lee, who is also a staple at New York Knicks games and known for playful feuds with NBA stars, such as ex-Indiana Pacers guard and current TNT analyst, Reggie Miller, has produced 35 feature and documentary films with his New York City-based production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks.

(SEVIER) – A Nevada woman escaped safely from a fire when her motor home burned to the ground at the Marysvale exit on I-70 Tuesday afternoon. According to a UHP report, 67-year old Lucille Drown of Mesquite, NV. told authorities that at about 4:30pm, her 1989 Aljo Alle motor home stalled and wouldn’t start. Drown said she noticed the RV was on fire and got out before it was consumed. She sustained no injuries in the incident.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Both Utahns for Ethical Government and Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell’s office believe a judge is likely to decide the fate of signatures gathered for a legislative ethics reform petition. The problem is a section of Utah law that UEG and Bell’s office interpret differently. Thursday, UEG officials announced they believe they have secured enough signatures, more than 110,000 in 26 Utah Senate districts, to get their ethics reform initiative on the ballot in 2012. Bell’s office says UEG has not collected enough signatures by the April 15 deadline to get the initiative on the 2010 ballot and, according to state law, the group should have started over with a new petition and new signatures to get the required number for 2012. UEG says the law gives the group a year to collect signatures, including the more than 73,000 collected by April 15. UEG chairman, Kim Burningham, said Bell should acknowledge those who have spoken and their question should be heard and addressed. Mark Thomas, Bell’s office administrator, said this is the first time the election law has been tested this way. Wednesday, Bell’s office instructed county clerks to process and count any signatures turned in Thursday which served as UEG’s interpretation of the one-year petition period.

(ZION NATIONAL PARK)-Zion National Park superintendent, Jock Whitworth, is temporarily suspending usage fees for oversized vehicles using the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Whitworth says the free suspension begins Tuesday and will continue for up to five weeks. For safety reasons, the $15 fee is normally charged to all vehicles 7×10 or 11’4” or taller. Whitworth confirmed the suspension is related to road construction along S.R. 9, (the Zion-Mt. Carmel highway) and he said the project will restrict highway travel to one lane and the fee isn’t justified. The project will start near the tunnel’s west portal and crews will be constructing two historic rock retaining walls. Furthermore, the highway will be closed to all vehicles during the project between Sunday and Thursday evenings.

(BEAVER) – A lightening-caused wildfire burning northeast of Beaver has now consumed about 3,000 acres. Fire personnel say the Twitchell Canyon Fire, burning about 13 miles northeast of Beaver, has grown from about 1100 acres to nearly 3,000 acres due to heavy winds and hot, dry weather. The active fire started July 20 and has continued to burn through ponderosa pine, spruce and other brush fuel. National Forest Service officials are managing the fire for resource benefits and expect the fire to burn throughout the rest of the summer. No injuries or damage to structures have been reported but Indian Creek Road is closed above the Pole Canyon Road Junction.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Daniela Serrano keyed a balanced scoring attack with two goals as the North Sanpete Lady Hawks pummeled the Carbon Lady Dinos, 9-0 Thursday in non-region girls soccer action

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Courtney Acosta and Shandy Elliott had two goals apiece as the Spanish Fork Lady Dons stymied the Manti Lady Templars, 4-1 in non-region girls soccer action Thursday.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Marisa Henrie had two goals for the Richfield Lady Wildcats but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the Parowan Lady Rams, 6-2 Thursday in non-region girls soccer action.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Callie Stewart posted two goals and Meghan McKenna added another score as the Snow Canyon Lady Warriors blanked the Delta Lady Rabbits, 3-0 in non-region girls soccer action Thursday.

(SAN FRANCISCO)-A federal judge has ruled that gay marriages in California should remain on hold, at least until August 18. Judge Vaughn Walker set the deadline Thursday in hopes of giving gay marriage opponents time to appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If the appeal court fails to act by 5:00 p.m. PDT next Wednesday, gay marriages will be able to go forward. Walker struck down the state’s voter-approved gay marriage ban last week in a case many believe is destined for the Supreme Court. However, he moved to suspend gay weddings until he could consider arguments from both sides on whether the marriages should be allowed during an appeal of his ruling.

(RICHFIELD) – The Sevier County Planning Commission gave final approval Wednesday night to the Sevier Power Company to construct a gas-fired power plant near Sigurd. SPC President Rod Clark said he’s pleased with the action. Prior to the approval, the Planning Commission held final discussions on infrastructure issues and water extraction for the plant. SPC representatives said the State Water Engineer requires the company to use all the water allocated to them, or it would be taken away after a five-year proof of use. All Planning members voted to approve the application with the exception of Caryl Christensen, who voted no. She had no comment as to her negative vote.

(PHOENIX)-The U.S. Marshal’s Service says an escaped Arizona inmate and his fiancee may now be in northwestern Arkansas and are suspects in an armed robbery. The U.S. Marshal for Arizona, David Gonzales, says a couple who robbed a store Wednesday morning in Gentry, Ark. fit the description of John McCluskey and his fiancee, Casslyn Welch. ATVs, helicopters and search teams focused on a wooded area behind a local church after a 3-mile radius was set up around the Kut and Kurl beauty salon that was robbed Wednesday morning, according to a report from KFSM-TV of Fort Smith, Ark. Gentry is in northwestern Arkansas, about 34 miles away from Fayetteville, Ark. and nearly 1,600 miles away from the Montana town where the pair was spotted Sunday. The Benton County (Ark.) Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating the salon robbery in Gentry. Gonzales reported Welch’s mother lives in Bentonville, Ark., about 22 miles east of Gentry and authorities were attempting to obtain surveillance film from the robbery. McCluskey and Welch have eluded authorities since he and two other inmates escaped from a prison in Kingman, Ariz. June 30.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-More slash burns are scheduled on the Coconino National Forest Thursday. According to information obtained from the U.S. Forest Service, piles on another 50 acres will be burned north of Lake Mary Road near the Canyon Vista campground. Light smoke may be noticeable in the area during the morning ignition. The piles consist of leftover branches and small diameter trees from forest restoration projects.

(CEDAR CITY)-The tour company hauling Japanese tourists from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon National Park Monday did not have the authority to transport paying passengers across state lines according to authorities. Bob Kelleher, the administrator for the Utah Office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said that Salt Lake City-based Canyon Transportation was authorized to carry passengers within Utah but not across state borders. A check of Utah records show the driver, 26-year-old Yasushi Mikuni, had a valid Nevada driver’s license, according to Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant Ryan Bauer, while last May, he was ticketed for driving 86 mph in a 75 mph zone near Fillmore. He pleaded guilty to speeding and paid an $115 fine on June 1 and was also ticketed in May for having tinted windows that violated state law in Juab County. Kelleher said companies that transport paying customers across state lines need federal approval that is based partly on proof of insurance as well as compliance with all relevant state and federal laws.

(OREM)-Thursday, Utah Valley University officials will unveil a new proposed master building plan which takes an updated look at the needs of a school that has received university status since the previous plan was drafted in 2005. In addition to the science building, which was funded by the Utah Legislature in its 2010 session, plans call for a new student and wellness building, a performing arts facility, a new business entryway, relocation of the fieldhouse, a link to the 800 South and I-15 interchange and more. All of the proposed new buildings would be constructed on the 235-acre campus in Orem, according to associate vice president of UVU facilities, Jim Michaelis. Michaelis said the ever-evolving and changing student population is the impetus for creating more space. Michaelis also said this is a good time for new college building because of a favorable bidding climate. Legislative funding will be needed for the performing arts building and the business entryway. A student bond would fund the student and wellness building while a new fieldhouse would be funded through donations.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Former Utah governor, Olene Walker, released a statement Thursday in response to an exclusive report by KTVX-Channel 4 in Salt Lake City about her appearance at an upcoming campaign event in St. George. Walker reported that she would headline a fundraiser for Utah Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon at the end of August. Walker, a Republican, confirmed she will host a “meet-and-greet” event for Corroon, who is competing against Republican Gary Herbert. Walker confirmed she will host the event on behalf of her close personal friend, and Corroon’s running mate, Sheryl Allen. Although Walker will be hosting the event, she released a statement Thursday saying she does not endorse either candidate. Walker was sworn in as Utah’s governor in 2003 after Mike Leavitt accepted an appointment from George W. Bush to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A pair of high-powered lawyers on opposite sides of the political spectrum Wednesday rallied around Republican Scott Burns, the White House’s possible nomination to be U.S. Attorney for Utah. The support comes after Tuesday’s bipartisan attack on the nomination, which concerned parties believed to be the fruits of a backdoor deal. Nevertheless, Republican District Attorney, Lohra Miller and Democratic defense lawyer, Ron Yengich issued a joint statement calling Burns an “excellent choice.” Yengich said the Obama Administration called him concerning Burns’ nomination after first calling about Dave Schwendiman before switching to Burns. Yengich supported both decisions.

Yes, at long last I’ve reached my Denver Broncos in my NFL predictions and I do believe they’ll be better than many of the national experts think. The Broncos are blessed to have a solid signal-caller in Kyle Orton, who last season passed for a career-best 3,802 yards while he undoubtedly impressed Rush’s Geddy Lee with 21 touchdown against just 12 interceptions in 2009. Furthermore, when healthy, Correll Buckhalter (who averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry last season) is among the more solid tailbacks in the league. With that said, Buckhalter is once again injured as are several other Broncos, such as fellow tailback Knowshon Moreno and Elvis Dumervil, who sadly may be out for the regular season with a torn pectoral muscle. Nevertheless, the Broncos have plenty of others to pick up the slack such as linebackers Robert Ayers and Mario Haggan while the acquisition of ex-Raider tailback Justin Fargas could also pay huge dividends. I, for one, am most intrigued by the new wideouts who are taking the place of Brandon Marshall and his 101 catches last season. While solid rookie prospects Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are both injured currently, expectations for them are sky high and for good reason as many NFL analysts have called them polished prospects who can contribute on the field when given the opportunity. I, for one, am hoping for Eddie Royal to return to his rookie season wherein he amassed 91 receptions and created numerous headaches for opposing defenses. Ultimately, though, the Broncos will be successful because of their bolstered defensive line. With the offseason acquisitions of Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan as well as Jarvis Green, Denver has sufficient depth along the defensive front. Obviously, the secondary promises to be stout once again as Denver returns virtually all key performers from a unit that ranked third against the pass. Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey still have a few good seasons in them and new blood, such as Darcel McBath and standout rookie Perrish Cox have walked into a propitious situation. In short, I am quite confident in giving the Broncos 10 wins this season with a possibility of 12 in the best case scenario. Yes, I am an unabashed Broncos supporter and am pounding the orange and blue Kool-Aid with impeccable alacrity to say the least. Also, don’t be surprised if renowned rookie Tim Tebow and jack of all trades Spencer Larsen find a way to make major contributions in one way or another this season.

(NOGALES, Ariz.)-ABC-15 in Phoenix has reported that workers are putting up a fence at an elementary school outside Nogales, Ariz. with barbed or concrete wire to curtail border crime at this popular border crossing. The school in question, The Little Red Schoolhouse, sits about 3.5 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border alongside the Santa Cruz River. The superintendent of Santa Cruz District 28, James Cruice says the school is completely exposed due to its proximity to the border. Cruice said he also wants to discourage Border Patrol agents and sheriff’s deputies from crisscrossing school property while pursuing border crime suspects.

(PHOENIX)-A dangerous inmate who has escaped from a Kingman, Ariz. prison has likely changed his appearance in a report published by KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix. Chief Deputy Marshal for Arizona, Fidencio Rivera, told the Associated Press his office has developed information that escaped convict John McCluskey and his suspected accomplice, Casslyn Welch, dyed their hair in an effort to elude capture. The Marshal’s Office confirmed Welch has dyed her hair blonde and McCluskey has dyed his hair black and is now also sporting a black beard. Rivera said agents developed the information through interviews with people who last saw the couple. At this stage, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they don’t believe McCluskey and Welch have entered Canada. Furthermore, RCMP spokesman, Sergeant Patrick Webb, said no physical evidence exists to confirm either has slipped the border. In the interim, authorities have tightened security along the Montana-Canadian border and in small towns near Glacier National Park. Tuesday, a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter joined the search, but authorities on both sides of the border acknowledged it was impossible to completely secure it. Inmates Tracy Province, McCluskey and Daniel Relwick, escaped from Kingman July 30 while Province and Relwick have been recaptured. The 36-year-old Relwick was caught in western Colorado and is due in court at Glenwood Springs, Colo. Wednesday. Police confirmed Relwick fired shots at them during a chase in and near the town of Rifle, Colo. August 1 while Province was captured in northwestern Wyoming Monday.

(CEDAR CITY) – The Utah Highway Patrol has released a name of one of the victims killed in a bus-van rollover on I-15 near Cedar City Monday night. UHP said that 20-year old Hiroki Hayase was killed in the accident, when the 26-year old driver apparently was distracted or was driving drowsy and drove off into the median and rolled. Hayase was one of 15 passengers involved in the accident. UHP reports also said that a 38-year old man and a 40-year old man were killed in the accident. Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City Spokesman, Scott Monroe said that 30-year old Yuki Yoshita was released on Tuesday. The others were taken to area hospitals for treatment and are listed in serious to stable condition. The Japanese tourists were on their way from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon National Park when the accident occurred.

(MONROE) – Monroe City officials have accepted a donation from an environmental activist group to go towards a hydro-electric project proposed for the city. At the city council meeting Tuesday night, Dick Cumiskey, President of the Sevier Citizens for Clean Air and Water, gave the city a $1,000 check as part of the cost of constructing the project up Monroe Canyon. Cumiskey said the desire of his organization is to reduce the dependence on carbon fuels, while trying to keep the cost of power as low as possible. Also at the meeting, the Monroe City Council discussed regulating private car sales within city limits but found no problems with the issue. The council also discussed revising the nuisance ordinance by clarifying language in the ordinance.

Officials with the Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival are currently searching for volunteers for the festival which will run from Thursday September 16-Saturday September 25. The venue will occur at 13 venues throughout southern Utah, including Dixie State College as well as various other locations through Washington and Kane Counties. Volunteers are needed in theater venues, special events, education information and merchandise, operations and guest services, volunteers and transportation. Prospective volunteers may either sign up in either full or part-time capacities. There will also be a special volunteer group orientation meeting Monday August 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Gardner Center ballroom on the Dixie College Campus in St. George.

(EUREKA)-Two motorcyclists who had been riding together were killed in separate crashes Monday evening near Eureka. The two victims had been riding westbound out of Eureka with a third rider on U.S. Highway 6 around 11:45 p.m. when a 31-year-old rider lost control on a curve, falling into a grassy shoulder. The motorcyclist, later identified as Eureka resident Jeremy Jon Goodman, was thrown from the bike and later skidded several feet before hitting a cedar post and barbed wire fencing. Later, Goodman was flown via helicopter to University Hospital in Salt Lake City but eventually died from his injuries. Another rider headed back toward Eureka for help, but missed a turn and slammed into a rock embankment after which the motorcycle vaulted and came to rest on the embankment. This rider, 49-year-old Darby Sharp of Eureka, was pronounced dead at the scene. Utah Highway Patrol troopers said neither rider was wearing a helmet at the time and officials believe alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

(OGDEN)-Jerry Stevenson, the man who Utah Republicans have selected to replace Sheldon Killpack after Killpack’s DUI in January, is stepping down from his position as chairman of the Weber State University Board of Trustees. The former Layton mayor did so because he wants to avoid a conflict of interest. Stevenson stated he will resign from the board of Davis Applied Technology Center next week and also plans to leave the board of the state’s Military Installation Development Authority before the next legislative session. He and his brother co-own J&J Nursery & Garden Center in Layton. Tuesday, Weber’s Board of Trustees selected businessman and philanthropist, Alan Hall of Roy, to be chairman. Additionally, Jim Beardall was chosen as vice chair. Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, will appoint a trustee to fill out the board in subsequent months.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, said polygamous sect leader, Warren Jeffs, will not face a retrial of a 2007 state case until his pending criminal prosecutions in Texas are complete. Jeffs’ 2007 criminal convictions on accomplice rape charges were overturned last month by the Utah Supreme Court. Shurtleff says Utah prosecutors have discussed a retrial, but are content to let Texas go first. Texas authorities have previously charged Jeffs with bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault related to alleged incidents with underaged girls at a Texas ranch. Utah’s governor, Gary Herbert, signed a warrant for Jeffs’ extradition Tuesday. Jeffs’ Utah attorneys can still fight extradition.

(WASHINGTON D.C.)-A small plane crash in southwestern Alaska resulted in the death of long-time Alaska senator, 86-year-old Ted Stevens Tuesday and Utah senators did their best to honor his life to his family. Senator Orrin Hatch called Stevens a “staunch supporter” of Utah when it hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics especially at a time when terrorists were ready to bombard the Olympiad after the 9-11 attacks. Hatch also called Stevens a “legend,” “patriot” and “gentle warrior,” and said he was “irreplaceable.” Additionally, Senator Bob Bennett said “he leaves a legacy of towering achievement.”

For better or worse, the Dallas Cowboys are a team that has been in the spotlight since the days legendary Tom Landry roamed the sidelines in his trademark fedora. Through the years, the Cowboys have meant ratings, content in their role as one of the most polarizing sports franchises in North America. Now, expectations are as big as the dazzling Metroplex skyline that I’ve seen on television since the days my dad dutifully watched Dallas on CBS every week. Much like J.R. Ewing’s motley crew, the Cowboys have plenty of drama and will be must-see television throughout much of the upcoming NFL season. For starters, the eyes of Texas (and everyone else) will be on Tony Romo who is coming off a season where he tossed for a team-record 4,483 yards with 26 touchdown against a paltry nine interceptions. Furthermore, his arsenal is rife with solid weapons such as Miles Austin (an NFC-leading 1,320 receiving yards last season), Jason Witten (94 rec, 1,130 yards) and a triumvirate of talented tailbacks in Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. Of course, the Cowboys’ defense, (fourth against the run last season, surrendering just under 91 yards per game), is also an elite unit and Jay Ratliff is quite possibly the best nose tackle in the game today. With all of that said, we have seen the Cowboys choke before and as a Broncos fan, I know how good of a coach Wade Phillips is NOT. Be assured that if the Cowboys fail, owner Jerry Jones will not stand for the insolence and shake things up considerably.

Meanwhile, the New York Jets find themselves embroiled in an undesirable controversy with elite cornerback Darrelle Revis who is showing no indication of showing up at Jets training camp at Cortland, N.Y. until he receives his money. Numerous analysts have spoken on this matter throughout the past 24 hours. Thus, lest I should echo their sentiments needlessly, I’ll be succinct. The Jets are not batting an eyelash in this high stakes game of poker and have placed talented Boise State product Kyle Wilson in Revis’ stead. In the NFL, there is little patience for holdouts or standoffs, so regardless of how good Revis is (and he is magnificent), he could be supplanted by the upstart Wilson. As one of my favorite football coaches of all time, Jerry Glanville, infamously said, the NFL stands for Not For Long. Perhaps this is true for Revis and the romanticism of Revis Island, which may disappear in a way he never imagined.

(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are inviting the public to tour Eastern Europe’s first LDS Temple in Kyiv, Ukraine. Free tours began last Saturday and will continue until Aug. 21, excluding Sundays. Tours are available Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm. Church officials say the temple will be dedicated on Sunday, Aug. 29 and will be the Church’s 134th operating temple worldwide.

(WEST GLACIER, Mont.)-Federal authorities say they will focus on western Montana and southwest Canada in the search of an Arizona fugitive and his suspected female accomplice. Tuesday, a Canadian border patrol helicopter is expected to join the search authorities said, according to KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix. U.S. marshals also stated they’re pursuing leads in other states, such as Indiana and Pennsylvania, where they said the fugitives have family and connections. They promised more arrests of people accused of helping the pair throughout the day. Monday, the Attorney General’s Office charged McCluskey’s ex-wife, Diana Joy Glattfelder, with hindering prosecution and conspiracy. Marshals arrested McCluskey’s mother, Claudia Washburn, on Saturday. Both women are accused of giving money and rides to the escapees and Welch, marshals said. Additionally, KKCO-TV, Channel 11 in Grand Junction, Colo. stated the escapees used wire cutters that one of the women threw over the fence at their jail in Kingman, Ariz. Monday, Montana-based marshals said they received a tip that Welch was spotted at a restaurant in St. Mary, Mont., on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park, confirming this was one of multiple reports of sightings in the Glacier area. The first arrestee, Tracy Province, is currently being detained in the Hot Springs County Jail of Thermopolis, Wyo., pending extradition to Arizona, according to Arizona U.S. Marshal, David Gonzales.

(ZION NATIONAL PARK)-United States Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has announced free admission to all National Park Service sites this weekend, Saturday August 14 and Sunday August 15. The free weekend provides encouragement for all Americans to visit national parks and monuments. Visitors are asked to remember that the fee waiver applies only to entrance fees and does not include special use fees such as camping and backcountry permits. For a list of park service managed sites which offer free entrance fees this weekend, please visit www.nps.gov. Additional fee free days are scheduled for September 25 and November 11 and are intended to help Americans enjoy the outdoors and experience their public lands.

(ST. GEORGE)-Dixie State College, like many other institutions of higher learning in Utah, is experiencing an unprecedented surge in enrollment. Therefore, students are scrambling to find open slots before the fall semester commences in the next few weeks. Dixie State student government vice president, Thomas Leavitt, says students are being forced into Saturday and evening classes, an egregious inconvenience for many students who work. Enrollment at the college, which will soar past 9,000 this fall, has grown 50 percent within the past two years and administrators say the pool of adjunct professors is dry, while full-time teachers are too expensive. The college has tried to adapt to these changes by setting up remote broadcasting to its Hurricane campus for larger lecture classes while they are working on various other ideas.

(JUNEAU, Alaska)-A plane carrying nine people crashed amid southwestern Alaska’s remote mountains and lakes near the town of Dillingham, Alaska, about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage, killing five people aboard, authorities stated Tuesday. Reportedly, former Senator, Ted Stevens, and ex-NASA Administrator, Sean O’Keefe, were aboard, although it’s unclear if they were numbered among those who were killed. Reports from officials in Alaska stated that nine people were aboard the aircraft and there are believed to be five fatalities. A U.S. government official told the Associated Press that Alaska authorities have been told that the 86-year-old Stevens was aboard while the officials, speaking on terms of anonymity, said his condition is unknown. The federal official declined being identified because the crash response and investigation are currently underway. Stevens has been in this type of situation before as he was one of two survivors of a 1978 plane crash in Anchorage, which killed his wife, Ann, and several others. A second U.S. government official in Washington said the National Guard in Alaska reported a private medical team had been dropped near the crash via commercial helicopter. Coast Guard Petty Officer, David Mosley, said the agency has a plane flying over the crash scene, scouting it to ensure it’s safe for helicopters to come into the area with pararescuers. Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported rain and fog in the crash site area with low clouds and limited visibility. In Washington, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the aircraft is a DeHavilland DHC-3T registered to Anchorage-based General Communication Corp.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert is pleased with another high ranking for the state. Utah landed in second place on a list of 10 “pro business” states in what the governor’s office called a “gold standard” for rankings. Virginia was ranked first by the consulting and brokerage firm of Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. of Park Ridge, Ill. The states were ranked on 31 factors including taxes, human resources, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers compensation laws and economic incentives.

(CEDAR CITY)-A rollover accident on Interstate 15 near Cedar City has killed two adults and one child. Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cameron Roden said the bus, carrying Japanese tourists, was en route to Bryce Canyon National Park from Las Vegas heading northbound on I-15 around 7:00 p.m. Monday evening when the driver somehow lost control. The van hit the median and rolled near milepost 66, four miles north of Cedar City. There were 15 tourists in the vehicle at the time, many of which were ejected at the time of the accident. The two adults who died were among those who were ejected while the child was trapped inside the vehicle. With the seriousness of the injuries, Roden said the number of fatalities could grow.

(PAROWAN) – A vote on a geologic hazard ordinance in Iron County was about to be approved when a Commissioner halted the action. At the County Commission meeting Monday, Commissioners were poised to vote on the ordinance, when Commissioner Lois Bulloch stopped the process. She said she wanted an independent group to review the proposed ordinance and make recommendations, including a committee made up of the county’s six municipalities, a city attorney and engineers. Bill Lund, a geologist with the Utah Geological Survey, told commissioners a review by new eyes is a good idea but Jennie Hendricks, representing the Iron County Board of Realtors, said a review is good but the lack of an ordinance is creating uncertainty and is already having an impact on some people who want to sell property or obtain loans. The rest of the Commission agreed with an independent review and set a deadline of Oct. 15 for a report.

As the Cleveland Browns prepare for their preseason opener Saturday at Green Bay, there are plenty of questions in C-Town in need of addressing. While Clevelanders still remain upset with the fact native son LeBron James spurned them, it’s obvious that this metropolis on the banks of Lake Erie is still a football city, come what may. While I do believe Colt McCoy, the franchise’s third-round pick from Texas, will be a solid quarterback for years to come, I’m not sure if Jake Delhomme is the answer in the interim. While it’s apparent that Delhomme and McCoy make a quality comedy duo, as heard on Jim Rome’s radio show last week, the jury is still out on whether or not they can work together solidly through training camp as they strive to make the Browns the best they can be. Nevertheless, let’s accentuate positives for Cleveland, such as Josh Cribbs. The swift of foot, six-year veteran out of nearby Kent State has proven to be the Browns’ most consistent weapon. The explosive Cribbs has numerous talents that served Cleveland well last season and with his vast skill set, he is a weapon that other teams have to focus on all week in preparation prior to a game against the Browns. Additionally, tailback Jerome Harrison (194 car, 862 yards, 5 TD’s) showed some signs of improvement last season while the acquisition of Peyton Hillis from the Denver Broncos adds another weapon to what could be an excellent backfield. Ultimately, I’m not sure how the Browns season will play out but it will be intriguing to find out.

As for the New York Knicks, the sole reason you divorce someone is because you want nothing to do with that person anymore. Nevertheless, Knicks owner, Jim Dolan, is willing to let bygones be bygones with Isiah Thomas, notwithstanding the fact he is the sole reason New York was in financial bondage they are still trying to work out of. I’d say I feel sorry for the Knicks, but how can you be this stupid?

(PHOENIX)-Monday, federal agents captured one of two inmates who escaped from an Arizona prison as he walked, armed with a handgun outside a Wyoming church, while they are still hunting for the other fugitive and an alleged accomplice. Convicted killer, Tracy Province, informed authorities he was relieved the manhunt was over when was arrested around 6:20 a.m. Monday morning around Meeteetse, Wyo., about 60 miles away from Yellowstone National Park, stated David Gonzales, the U.S. Marshal for Arizona. The other inmate, John McCluskey, along with suspected accomplice, Casslyn Welch, are still on the lam. Gonzales reported agents are working on leads in Wyoming and he said he believed McCluskey and Welch are no longer at Yellowstone, where more than 100 armed park rangers are searching amid 30,000 tourists and visitors. Authorities tracked down Province in Meeteetse when a resident told them they saw him on the steps of a church and chatted with him about getting odd jobs, Gonzales said. When marshals and other law enforcement officials arrived on the scene, he denied being Province and was carrying a 9mm handgun at the time. The trio has been pursued by law enforcement officials since they were linked to a double homicide in Santa Rosa, N.M. Since then, they have kidnapped two semi-truck drivers at gunpoint, leaving the drivers unharmed at a Flagstaff, Ariz. truck stop, authorities said. The manhunt percolated Saturday when forensic evidence linked the two inmates and Welsh to the killings of an Tecumseh, Okla. couple, Linda and Gary Haas, each of whom were 61 years old. Before his arrest Monday, Province was currently serving a life sentence for murder and robbery out of Pima County, Ariz. while McCluskey was serving a 15-year prison term for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm out of Maricopa County, Ariz. The trio was featured on America’s Most Wanted, thus causing more people to know about their whereabouts, investigators said. In the future, a billboard featuring the trio has also been planned.

(DELTA) – A retail business in Delta was burglarized over the weekend. A Millard County Sheriff’s report said employees of Courtesy Ace Hardware arrived at work Saturday morning to find the rear entrance to the business had been broken into. They said that display cases in the store had been damaged and several items were taken. Store employees said that the store lost over $3,000 in merchandise in the burglary and damage has yet to be determined. No suspects have been arrested in the theft and the investigation continues.

(HERSHEY, Pa.)-For over 30 years, the Hershey’s Track and Field games in central Pennsylvania have provided opportunities for youth to not only compete in track and field events but make long lasting relationships. Ten students, six of which are from the St. George area, are currently competing on both state and regional levels with other students from such places as Arizona, California and Hawaii. The Hershey’s Track & Field program was created over 30 years ago to promote youth physical fitness and provide a fun, learning experience for children from 9 to 14 years old. The program takes great pride in providing experiences for youth to engage in a fun physical activity and helping them learn the value of competition. For more information, please visit www.hersheystrackandfield.com

(BEAVER)-An approximately 1,000-acre wildfire about 13 miles north of Beaver continued to burn Sunday. The Twitchell Canyon fire, which was started when two bolts of lightning struck the area July 20, is being managed to destroy excess fuel. The forest, which consists of spruce, fir, ponderosa pine, aspen stands and pinyon juniper is still burning notwithstanding recent monsoon conditions in the area, stated U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Esther Benson. The blaze has closed Indian Creek Road above the Pole Canyon junction. Authorities still expect the flames to smolder through the end of summer and into the early fall.

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.)-Federal authorities say two men who escaped from a private Arizona prison and a woman thought to have helped them are believed to be in the Yellowstone National Park area. U.S. Marshals Service personnel say information has emerged over the course of the past two days indicating Tracy Province, John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch may be hiding in portions of the vast national park, spanning parts of Wyoming and Montana. Authorities stated it’s now believed that Province has separated from McCluskey and Welch. This manhunt intensified with the emergence of forensic evidence linking at least one of the inmates to the killings of an Oklahoma couple in New Mexico earlier this week. The couple’s body burned skeletal remains that were charred in a camper on a ranch in Santa Rosa, N.M. New Mexico State police spokesman, Peter Olson, has called the search “urgent” considering the New Mexican slayings.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-New statistics from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Information show violent crimes dropped in 2009, but thefts of goods, such as gasoline and food, rose considerably. The preliminary report, including data from four Utah cities, Salt Lake City, Provo, West Jordan and West Valley City, shows that overall, violent crime was down 6 percent during 2 percent while larcenies increased. Provo saw the most dramatic jump in crime with statistics showing $458,000 worth of goods being stolen, up from just $6,700 the previous year. Provo City spokeswoman, Heather Anderson, said this was primarily due to an alleged theft of about $450,000 from NuSkin. Salt Lake City Police Sergeant Bryan Jewkes says the poor economy is partially to blame, but there were also many crimes of opportunity aligning with these thefts.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Peter Corroon’s campaign says it raised more than $36,000 in three days through small donations. The three-day effort took place last week and the most common donation was $25 and the lowest was $2. Campaign co-chairman, Ken Gardner, matched the first $25,000 brought in through small donations, bringing the effort’s total to more than $60,000. Through July, Corroon’s campaign says it has raised more than $1.1 million. Corroon is facing off against GOP Governor Gary Herbert in a special election this year to serve the rest of former governor Jon Huntsman’s term.

While the Cincinnati Bengals fell, 16-7 to the Dallas Cowboys Sunday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, this is still a team that is rife with potential. Nevertheless, I would suggest the Bengals get more solid play from signal-caller Carson Palmer who didn’t look comfortable when stepping into his passes. Of course, he was light years ahead of his younger brother, Jordan, who is one of his backups. It only is the preseason but football coaches always stress the importance of playing your best all the time, so obviously Cincinnati has a lot of work to do before they host the Denver Broncos next Sunday in their second preseason game. Since I already discussed the Bengals in a previous post, there is no need for a team evaluation. In closing, I will end on a good note, though, as Cincinnati rookie wideout, Jordan Shipley, set up the Bengals’ only score of the night with a 64-yard punt return in the 4th Quarter. Finally, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth are a magnificent broadcast team and we’re lucky to hear their talents throughout the autumn on Sunday evenings.

(GUNNISON) – A Centerfield woman was arrested for DUI Thursday morning after causing an accident on SR-89 near Gunnison. According to a UHP report, 32-year old Nan Larson was traveling southbound in a 2000 Jeep and attempted to make a left hand turn, when she crashed into a 2008 Ford Taurus, going northbound at about 11:30am. The report said the driver of the Taurus, 37-year old Josie Blackburn of Axtell, sustained a neck injury and was taken to the Gunnison Valley Hospital. Her passenger, 80-year old Walter Kling, also of Axtell, was transported to the hospital with broken bones. Both Blackburn and Kling were wearing their seatbelts but Larson was not wearing her seatbelt and was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. Larson was arrested and booked into the Sanpete County Jail for DUI, driving on suspension of her license, no seat belt and failing to yield right of way.

(SAN ANGELO, Texas)-A polygamist leader in West Texas has agreed to pay child support dating back to 2003 when his then-wife left the sect with their eight children. Frederick Merrill Jessop, the bishop of the Yearning For Zion Ranch signed the order in court Thursday. He will pay his former wife $148,000 for seven years of back child support. Natalie Malonis, Carolyn Jessop’s attorney, said Friday that the bishop will pay $2,000 a month for the first six months and then $100 a month thereafter to cover the delinquent child support. Jessop will also pay $2,450 a month to stay current on his payments.

(PAGE, Ariz.)-The Page Police Department went 1 for 2 in its requests before the Page City Council Thursday night. Council denied a request by the department to add two more officer positions, bringing the total up to 25, then approved a one-year legal services contract worth $15,000 with Edwards and Ginn P.C. The pact allows the department to obtain rulings on a 24-hour basis.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-A French tourist who slipped while taking pictures near the popular Mather Point at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park fell 75 feet below the rim and was rescued by Park Service rangers Thursday. Around 2:45 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that a man had fallen over the edge near Mather Point. Upon their arrival at the scene, park rangers spotted the man, conscious but in need of medical assistance. According to witnesses, the 18-year-old French national, had slipped while taking pictures near the Rim. Park ranger paramedics rappelled down to the man’s location in hopes of assessing his injuries, stabilizing him and preparing for his transport out of the canyon. Around 4:15 p.m., the park helicopter lifted the man out, transporting him to the park’s helibase. He was then transported to Flagstaff Medical Center where he is being treated for wrist, ankle and neck injuries. The National Park Service reminds all visitors to the Grand Canyon that approaching the Rim is hazardous, due to uneven terrain and loose rock. Visitors should remember to stay on the paved Rim Trail which provides a safe vantage point and still allows tourists to take pictures of magnificent scenery, the service stated.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Los Angeles-based Sezmi, a television and video company, announced Thursday that it has expanded its reach into the Salt Lake City market. Sezmi plans to take advantage of the changing market for video by using Internet connections and excess local broadcast capacity to provide services at just $5 a month. For this cost, with the addition of a one-time cost of an $150 DVR box, customers receive cable and television movies, access to online video sites (such as YouTube), personalized remote buttons and a program guide. The DVR offered by the company holds up to 1,400 hours of programming while expanded services cost an additional $20 per month. The system will work with various Internet connections, such as those provided by Qwest, UTOPIA and Comcast.

(JUNCTION)-A public lands conservation proposal involving Piute County is inching forward, envisioning the possible creation of two new wilderness areas within county borders. In an update presented Thursday to board members of the state’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, associate director John Andrews said the wilderness areas would be in the western part of the county in the Tushar Mountains and the Rocky Ford area on the east fork of the Sevier River. The trust lands administration has proposed exchanging about 7,000 acres of land that would be locked up if wilderness designation goes through. Motivated by the success of the Washington County Lands Bill pushed by Utah Democratic Representative, Jim Matheson and his Republican counterpart, Bob Bennett, may of Utah’s rural counties are attempting to piece together land conservation plans meeting with the agreement of environmentalists, residents and county officials. The impetus behind planning is to craft legislation acknowledging wilderness, instead of risking sweeping designations such as declarations of national monuments or the Red Rock Wilderness Bill. Piute County Commissioner, Rick Blackwell, said an exact amount of acreage in the wilderness area remains on the negotiating table with a field trip in these locations planned for next week, consisting of elected officials and representatives from environmental groups, among others. SITLA associate director, John Andrews, said Utah Senator Orrin Hatch would carry the measure should it be crafted. Incorporating SITLA’s interests in a land exchange as part of the bill, however, has been met by opposition by congressional staffers who Andrews characterized as an “anchor” to bog down the legislation. Margaret Bird of the state’s Office of Education predicted that if school childrens’ financial needs are not met, a much larger obstacle may remain.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A court-appointed receiver is suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the return of tithes made by a Utah man accused of securities fraud. Wednesday, a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges Robert Casey Hall fraudulently transferred more than $160,000 to the Church through one of his companies and its entities. The money is among assets receiver Lon A. Jenkins is seeking in a civil enforcement suit by the federal Securities Enforcement Commission. The SEC action claims Hall and RCH2 diverted real estate investment funds into high-risk trading accounts in 2006. The SEC alleges that investors are owed more than $14 million. Church spokesman Scott Trotter says the lawsuit is being evaluated and the church has a policy of not profiting from ill-gotten gains.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A huge welding job that went awry at a PacificCorp power plant in Wyoming has created concerns about a similar job with actors at a Utah power plant. The problem involved an unknown number of workers for a California contractor who secretly used substandard welding procedures. Utah’s top boiler safety official says he hasn’t ruled out a temporary shutdown at a power plant in Utah because of the same concerns. PacificCorp officials say the guilty welders were swiftly fired and no safety issues exist in Wyoming or Utah. Nevertheless, union officials are upset PacificCorp plans to use the same welding contractor on another Utah power plant. At Wyoming’s Jim Bridger power plant, one of the four giant boilers needed an overhaul. Thus, PacificCorp contracted with California-based PMSI, putting dozens of welders to work. One of them triggered an investigation by alleging widespread cheating. The Boilermakers Union is upset a non-union company got the contract and set up a demonstration showing how stainless steel welding rods should have been used. Instead, carbon steel rods were secretly used. Last spring, the same welders allegedly did the same thing when refurbishing the Hunter power plant near Castle Dale. Currently, Utah’s chief of boiler safety, Pete Hackford, hopes to avoid a shutdown of the Hunter plant. Meanwhile, PacificCorp has angered the union by using PMSI again for next month’s project at the Huntington power plant. PacificCorp spokesman, Dave Eskelsen has justified his decision by saying they do quality work and have begun to dismiss insubordinate welders.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A Utah congressman has obtained a document outlining a huge change in how the government manages federal land in Utah. Congressman Rob Bishop says he’s furious over the document because it would put virtually all land management power in the hands of the White House. A portion of the document was leaked back in February and led to speculation about a federal land grab in Utah. It spoke about the creation of 12 new national monuments. The BLM’s document is stamped with “Internal Draft. Not for Release” and titled, “Treasured Landscapes.” It lays out what some consider a sweeping and detailed plan for the next 25 years. Bishop says portions of the document gives the president power to designate a national monument with no public or legislative input. Executive Director of the Western Wildlife Conservancy Kirk Robinson, says the vision within the pages is urgently needed. The BLM manages 264 million acres of federal land nationally with 130 to 140-million acres worthy of consideration as treasured lands.

(MONROE) – The Monroe Fire Department with help from Sevier County deputies were called to a truck fire on U.S. 89 near Monroe Thursday morning. According to a sheriff’s report, 44-year old Roxie Roundy of Panguitch was pulling a horse trailer at about 7am and smelled smoke coming from the hood of her truck. The report said Roundy stopped and saw flames under the hood and called the fire department. Crews arrived to extinguish the flames and discovered that a hose had fallen on the exhaust and caught fire. They were able to make repairs for the truck to be drivable. Roundy was not injured in the incident.

With Jake Delhomme taking his eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions to Cleveland in 2010, the Carolina Panthers are ready to enter a new epoch, one which could be intriguing and exciting for Panthers fans. Obviously, there are numerous questions, but Carolina made numerous solid moves in last April’s NFL Draft. Among them are a 3rd round pick, Armanti Edwards, formerly of Appalachian State, who I instantaneously fell in love with as I watched the I-AA playoffs the past two seasons. Edwards was magnificent for the Mountaineers as a signal-caller and could easily be just as effective in wildcat packages the Panthers may employ. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Matt Moore beating out Jimmy Clausen for the starting quarterback job while whoever earns the position will have the good fortune of throwing to Steve Smith who averaged 15.1 yards per catch last season while also amassing seven touchdown grabs. Of course, the Panthers’ strength is in their backfield as Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams (2,250 combined rushing yards, 17 TD’s in 2009) spearheaded the NFL’s #3 rushing offense a year ago. Nevertheless, while Carolina does have some defensive talent in the likes of Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, it will be challenging to replace prolific defensive end Julius Peppers who went to Chicago in the offseason. Still, I think the Panthers could be a surprise team in what could easily be the NFL’s most competitive division. I even expect Tampa Bay to be considerably improved, but that’s an assessment for another day. Thanks for reading. Be assured that more sports are coming so there will be more to talk about.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-In hopes of obtaining goodwill in his upcoming gubernatorial race with incumbent Gary Herbert, Utah Democrat Peter Corroon is proposing a rebate program for those trading in older cars for lower-emission vehicles as part of his plan to clean up Utah’s environment. Thursday, Corroon released his plan, accusing Herbert of not doing enough to clean up Utah’s dirty air. Corroon did not say how large a rebate he’s proposing or how he’d pay for it although other portions of his environmental platform were more elaborate. Ultimately, Corroon is calling for air quality standards to be raised so that cars sold in Utah would be required to be 30 percent more efficient by 2016. Most of Utah’s air quality problems are caused by automobiles.

(SEVIER) – The Sagebrush Gallery at the Fremont Indian State Park and Museum will display the artwork of a Utah artist and another from Colorado. Park Supervisor Kari Carlisle said the artwork of Valerie Orlemann of Parowan and Greystone Abbott of Pagosa Springs, CO. will be featured from Aug. 7 to Oct. 3rd. She said Abbott’s hand-painted pottery is remarkable. Carlisle said that Orlemann studied at the University of Utah and creates realistic western landscapes. The Fremont Indian State Park is located 21 miles south of Richfield on I-70 and is open daily from 9am to 6pm.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-More than 26,000 Utah high school juniors will get to take the ACT college admission exam this school year for free during the school day. Throughout the state, 84 high schools will offer the test this school year, including virtually all juniors. Administrators say the ACT has often been delayed by students because it costs $33 and takes away free time on Saturdays. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that making the test free will increase students’ interest in taking it and preparing for college.

(NEW YORK)-St. George-based Sky West Inc. stated Wednesday its Atlantic Southeast Airlines unit will buy ExpressJet Holdings Inc. for about $6.75 per share. The two of them will now operate as Delta Connection and United Express, respectively. The Houston-based ExpressJet operates as Continental Express. Wednesday, the deal is expected to be closed in the fourth quarter. The airlines will now be based in Atlantic Southeast’s homebase of Atlanta and will continue to serve Continental’s current hubs in Houston, Cleveland and Newark, N.J., as well as United’s hubs of Chicago (O’Hare Airport) and Washington (Dulles Airport). The move comes as Continental Airlines and UAL Corp attempt to move ahead with plans to combine in a $3 billion merger creating the world’s largest airline. Wednesday, a SkyWest official said the airline would consider purchasing Comair from Delta. SkyWest chief financial officer, Brad Rich, said SkyWest’s interest in Cincinnati-based Comair also depends on what kind of transaction Delta would want.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Deseret Book Company has announced the release of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints president Thomas S. Monson’s biography for September 27. The announcement was made Thursday morning at the annual LDS Booksellers Association Conference. The book was written by award-winning author Heidi S. Swinton and is titled “To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson, including numerous photographs from President Monson’s lifetime of service.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $9.2 million to a rural Utah telephone company for broadband infrastructure. The department announced that the South Central Utah Telephone Association (South Central Communications) will raise another $3 million on its own to expand the reach of its high speed services. The phone company serves remote and rural areas as well as state and national parks. Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, made the announcement Wednesday as parts of grants for 126 broadband projects nationwide. His department reported that the South Central Utah Telephone Association will improve phone and data services for 7,200 people, 212 local businesses and 47 community institutions.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s radio broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word, has been selected for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame. An official from the National Radio Hall of Fame notified the president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mac Christensen, of the award via phone Wednesday afternoon. The inductees for 2010 were chosen after an open online vote. Music and the Spoken Word is the longest running national radio program and broadcast Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Mountain time with the first broadcast occurring on July 15, 1929. Other inductees include music icon, Ralph Emery, Terri Hemmert, the first female morning drive personality in Chicago, NPR broadcasting veteran Carl Kassell, Radio One founder and chairman, Cathy Hughes, and the late Sam Phillips, the radio station owner and record producer who discovered Elvis Presley. The two-hour induction ceremony will take place November 6 from Chicago’s Mayne Stage. Music and The Spoken Word can be heard weekly on Mid-Utah radio stations as part of our Sounds of Sunday programming.

First of all, congratulations to the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez for hitting his 600th career home run in New York’s 5-1 win over Toronto. Of course, the national media remains indifferent because of Rodriguez’ previous use of steroids but I’ve found the perfect solution for A-Rod to retain any semblance of a clean image. First of all, he should inform kids who look up to him that he used these illicit substances and that they caused him shame, insomuch that after a while no one believed in him anymore. A commitment for integrity to America’s youth would be a major step in the right direction for the embattled Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills have lots of question marks and not many answers heading into the 2010 NFL season. For starters, head coach, Chan Gailey, who is still has an excellent football acumen has much to address concerning his ability to excel in the modern-day NFL. His methodology has always been a bit antiquated and Buffalo signal-callers, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards have considerably disappointed through the past few seasons. However, Buffalo’s first-round draft pick, C.J. Spiller, promises explosiveness in the backfield and may be the Bills’ best tailback since Thurman Thomas. The Bills are an enigma to me but I’ll give a team in flux the benefit of the doubt for now.

(CEDAR CITY)-A Utah lawmakers says he wants to sponsor a bill that would provide greater protection for whistleblowers who provide information about illegal immigrants. Republican Senator, Dennis Stowell of Parowan, says he hopes to create a way for those who have information on illegal immigrants to inform immigration officials without the fear of being punished. As has been widely publicized, two former Workforce Services employees were fired for their alleged publishing of a list consisting of 1,300 illegal immigrants. Stowell’s proposal may potentially clash with state and federal privacy laws and a formal bill has not yet been drafted. Utah lawmakers will likely discuss this when the state Legislature reconvenes in January.

(WASHINGTON, Utah)-Last Monday, quick thinking by a St. George resident enabled a potentially devastating fire to be doused by local authorities. Monday afternoon, Matthew Staheli of St. George was traveling on Interstate 15 near Exit 10 and noticed the car ahead of him had caught fire. Staheli was adroitly able to help the driver remove all valuables from his trunk while Washington City police officer Kellen James Hudson and his partner were the first responders on the scene. They were able to contain the flames until fire engines arrived to douse the fire.

(PANGUITCH)-U.S. Forest Service officials say heavy rains have left numerous mountain roads and trails, rutted and washed out in southern Utah. Monsoons over the course of the past week caused flash floods that took a heavy toll in some areas of the Dixie National Forest, spokesman Kenton Call said. Crews are working to place warning signs in affected areas but because so many areas have been affected, Call exhorts visitors to check with Forest Service officials before heading off main roads. According to a Forest Service statement, the Powell Ranger District east of Panguitch sustained the most damage and several ATV trails are closed. Additionally, in the Escalante District, east of Bryce Canyon National Park, officials have closed the Corn Creek Road and the Hell’s Backbone Road is down to one lane. As we have reported with our numerous weather forecasts on Mid-Utah Radio stations, the chance for flash flooding remains until further notice.

(ZION NATIONAL PARK)-A soundscape management plan designed to protect the ambient sounds of Zion National Park is being made available to the public for review. The plan is meant to define the park’s currently existing soundscape and provide a road map for the management of the park’s sound environment in the future. The public can provide comments on the proposed plan and an environment assessment until September 3. Comments may be submitted online or mailed to Zion National Park. Open house sessions are slated for August 19 in Springdale and August 20 in Kanab.

(Manti) The Forest Service has closed Bacon Rind Road, also known as Potters Canyon Road, from the junction with Skyline Drive to the end of the improved road above Potters Pond. The closure should last about a month as crews resurface the road. Crews will be crushing rock for the new surface, and the closure is to ensure the protection of life and property around the crushing operation and other large equipment in the area.

(EPHRAIM) – Snow College students returning to the Ephraim campus this fall will be introduced to a brand new library. The library, named after chemicals magnate Jon M. Huntsman’s wife, Karen, will feature study rooms, a café, an outside terrace on the third level and two high-tech auditoriums. Snow College President Scott Wyatt, says the Karen H. Huntsman Library will have books but more digital sources than ever before. Jon Ostler, Director of Snow’s libraries, says moving towards digital library sources gives students more freedom to move furniture around to create their own environment for studying and socializing. He said the library now has more e-books than print titles, from 65,000 over 50,000 print titles, with online journals outnumbering print subscriptions. The 72,000-square-foot building was completed over the summer after 18 months of construction at a cost of $18 million. The structure was aided by a $2-million gift from the Huntsman family.

(FILLMORE) – The Millard County Sheriff’s Office is under investigation by state agents on falsifying reports and hiding evidence after a detective’s father was found with a rifle despite being a felon. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that on July 30, 2008, deputies from the Millard County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical emergency at the home of 76-year old Merlin Jackson west of Fillmore and found a high-powered rifle in the home. Iron County Sheriff’s sergeant Jody Edwards, said a Millard County deputy prepared a report on the firearm but didn’t enter it until months later. Court records show that Jackson was convicted in 1997 of felony forcible sexual abuse and received a one-year jail sentence and three years probation. He remains on the state’s sex-offender registry and as a felon, cannot possess a gun. Edwards said that Jackson’s son, Detective Bill Jackson, went to his father’s home and removed the rifle but did not enter it into evidence. The rifle has not been found. Investigative reports say that Detective Bill Jackson and Lt. Roger Young prevented a deputy from filing the report and instead, falsified a report and hid the gun. Jackson’s father was charged in state court in Millard County with illegal possession of a firearm. The investigation continues.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz is proposing ways to shrink the size of the federal government while at the same time accepting campaign contributions from public sector unions. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Chaffetz has accepted $26,500 from unions with ties to the U.S. Postal Service, which tops the money he received from other politicians, banks, lobbyists and dietary supplement companies. The newspaper conducted an analysis using campaign disclosure reports and data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics. The report indicated that unions overwhelmingly donate campaign money to Democrats but Chaffetz is the top Republican on the House Subcommittee that oversees the financially troubled Postal Service. Chaffetz says that the five major unions all have to renegotiate contracts in the next couple of years and are currently fond of donating money to those in charge of the contracts. Democratic opponent Karen Hyer decided to run against Chaffetz in this year’s election, saying that accepting those kinds of donations, encourages corruption. Chaffetz denounces her claims, saying that his bill has nothing to do with campaign contributions but rather his own idea to reduce the cost of the population count.

(FAYETTE) – A Central Valley woman and two children from Pleasant Grove were taken to the hospital after a rollover north of Fayette on SR-28 Sunday night. According to a UHP report, 54-year old Susan Faackrell was traveling southbound in a 1995 Ford Explorer, when she drifted off the right shoulder of the highway at about 8:15pm. The report said Faackrell overcorrected to the right and rolled twice. She was transported to the Gunnison Valley Hospital with unknown injuries. Her passengers, 9-year old Rebecca Alvey and 7-year old Emma Alvey, both of Pleasant Grove, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

(BEAVER) – A lightening-caused wildfire continues to burn north of Beaver. Fishlake National Forest personnel say the Twitchell Canyon Fire, burning about 14 miles northeast of Beaver, has now consumed about 700 acres. Fire managers are allowing the fire to burn to reduce fuels in the area. They say the fire started on July 20 and is about 50% contained. Due to firefighter operations, the Indian Creek Road above the Pole Canyon road junction is closed until further notice. Forest personnel are inviting the public to an open house at the Beaver Ranger District office Aug. 4 from 5-7pm to give people a chance to ask questions on the Twitchell Canyon fire and the management of other fires in Utah.

(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City Police are investigating a rash of car burglaries Sunday night. Detective Trent Lloyd said a half dozen reports were taken on seven vehicles broken into sometime during the night Sunday in the McIff Addition from 500 North in Richfield to North Main. He said it appeared the burglars conducted a smash-and-grab operation, taking anything available in unlocked vehicles. Lloyd is asking residents to be aware of any suspicious persons in the area and to report any criminal activity.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners have amended the Community Impact Board Capitol Improvement List in order to include funding for a study on a sewer line connection for Central Valley. At the commission meeting today, Commissioners amended the improvement list to include a CIB request for $30,000 to go to Central Valley in their efforts to tap into a proposed trunk line from Monroe City to the Richfield sewer lagoons as part of a sewer project for Monroe City. Monroe City officials have expressed a desire to construct a sewer line from the city to Richfield in an upgrade to their proposed sewer project and Central Valley officials want to conduct a study to determine the feasibility to connect to their trunk line for a possible future sewer project. Monroe City has already gained preliminary approval from Richfield City to extend their sewer line to the lagoons south of the city. County Commissioner Gary Mason commented that the county’s only involvement in the project is to include projects around the county on the improvement list.

(FREDONIA, Ariz.)-Eight teenagers from Fredonia and Kanab graduated from the seven-week Youth Conservation Corps program at the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest last month. The ceremony took place July 23 and during their time on the district, the youths learned numerous forestry skills and assisted forest program leaders complete some much-needed work. The YCC program is organized through Coconino Rural Environment Corps of Flagstaff, Ariz., a program of the Coconino County Community Services office. This was the second year in a row the YCC was offered on the North Kaibab. Through June and July, the YCC crew worked for almost 300 hours under the supervision of two full-time CREC staff and various U.S. Forest Service personnel. The students received training in emergency first aid, GPS technology, horsemanship among other things and engaged in numerous projects such as posting fire fence repair in the Warm Fire Recovery area.

(BOSTON)-Milford High School graduate, Dalaki Livingston, will be the recipient of a one-time scholarship of $3,000 through the First Wind Scholars program. First Wind has awarded 11 scholarships to college-bound students that live in communities close to the company’s wind projects. The young men and women receiving these scholarships are exceptional, stated Senior Vice President of External Affairs for First Wind, Carol J. Grant. The announcement, which came out Friday, said that First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company has awarded Livingston the scholarship as part of the 2010 First Wind Scholars program, which launched in October 2009, offering $3,000 scholarships to support local high school students who display strong potential for a successful college experience. Livingston will use his scholarship toward tuition at Southern Utah University where he plans to study environmental science and communications. Earlier this year, Millard High senior, Kelsey Mitchell, was the inaugural recipient of the First Wind Scholars Award. Mitchell received a scholarship toward tuition at SUU as well, where this fall she will begin to study Forensic Science. First Wind owns and operates the largest utility-scale operating wind farm in Utah, just north of Milford, which serves Beaver and Millard counties.

(FORT A.P. HILL, Va.)-About 3,500 Boy Scouts and their leaders gathered at a grassy slope Sunday during Scouting’s 100 year anniversary and were addressed by Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of the young men served the congregation of some 200 Scouts in attendance by passing the sacrament to them while many others comprised an Aaronic Priesthood choir. Elder Hales primarily spoke on the importance of preparedness and how it can help people be ready to serve at a time of need. In closing, Elder Hales told the youth to pay tribute to many leaders volunteering at the time of the Jamboree.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A family bible, which reportedly belonged to early LDS prophet, Joseph Smith, has surfaced in Salt Lake City and is available for the asking price of $1.5 million. Rare books dealer, Ken Sanders, has been keeping the book locked up in a safe at his Salt Lake City store as he seeks for a buyer. Sanders says the book was purchased by Smith at a Kirtland, Ohio store in 1831 and is worth so much money because it contains a Smith family genealogy chart with authenticated handwriting provided by Joseph and Emma Smith. Along with his announcement of the sale, Sanders has released a statement outlining the chain of ownership going back to at least 1879, when it was inherited by Emma’s son, Alexander Hale Smith.

(FILLMORE) – A Fillmore man charged as an accomplice in the slaying of a Millard County deputy in January will appear in 4th District Court in Fillmore today. According to court records, 37-year old Ruben Chavez-Reyes will appear before a judge for a status conference on charges related to the killing of Deputy Josie Fox of Delta in the early morning hours of January 5 this year outside of Delta. Chavez-Reyes was apprehended a few days later in Beaver, along with 38-year old Roberto Roman of Delta, who was charged in the slaying of the deputy. Chavez-Reyes will appear in court on charges of obstruction of justice, burglary, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and tampering with evidence.

(KANAB) – A heavy monsoon-type storm hit Kanab Saturday morning causing extensive flooding and some damage to the area. Kanab Fire Department Chief Joe Decker said Kane County Search and Rescue, utility companies and scores of local volunteers were out before dawn unclogging storm drains, building sand bag barricades and engineering the clean up. Decker said the clean up effort kept roads clear and open to traffic and emergency response teams.