Story Archive for 08/04/2010
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Utah Public Employees Association Endorses Herbert
Published on August 04, 2010 at 02:13PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah Public Employees Association is endorsing Utah Governor Gary Herbert as confirmed in a statement made by the association’s executive committee Wednesday. Herbert will be squaring off against Democratic counterpart, Peter Corroon, in a special election this fall to fill out the remainder of ex-Utah governor, Jon Huntsman Jr.’s term. UPEA executive director, Audry Wood, says Herbert has demonstrated concern for public employee issues and given public employees fair consideration during his first year in office. Herbert has elected to keep a four-day work week intact that many employees and public like despite cost savings which are less than the state hoped.
Southern Utah Lawmaker Wants Expanded Whistleblower Law
Published on August 04, 2010 at 01:03PM
(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.
Prescribed Burn Scheduled Near Flagstaff
Published on August 04, 2010 at 11:43AM
(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix, has reported that a prescribed burn is slated for Flagstaff Wednesday. City officials say firefighters plan to burn some piles north of Flagstaff ranch, near the Westwood subdivision. Residents are most likely to see smoke drifting toward the north.
Car Fire Slows Traffic Near Washington
Published on August 04, 2010 at 11:34AM
(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.
2 Navajo Officials Vying For Tribal Chief Seat
Published on August 04, 2010 at 11:19AM
(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-The first woman to ever make it through the Navajo Nation’s primary election for president continued in a potentially historic quest Tuesday and will now face the tribe’s vice president in the general election. New Mexico state Senator, Lynda Lovejoy, gained twice as many votes as any other candidate and will now square off against Ben Shelly in the November 2 general election, although she suggests it won’t be much of a race. Unofficial results from all 110 Navajo precincts confirmed Lovejoy received almost 36 percent of the votes, more than twice of Shelly’s votes, which were just over 16 percent. Interestingly, both of the final candidates are New Mexicans, Lovejoy from Crownpoint, N.M., and Shelly from Thoreau, N.M. Due to tribal law, two-time tribal leader Joe Shirley Jr. is ineligible for the election and if Lovejoy can maintain her lead, she will become the first female leader on the country’s largest American Indian reservation.
Flash Floods Damage Southern Utah Roads
Published on August 04, 2010 at 10:44AM
(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.
Unusual Group May Join Forces To Oppose Scott Burns
Published on August 04, 2010 at 10:18AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-The possible Republican nomination of Republican Scott Burns to be Utah’s new U.S. Attorney may be about to hit some speed bumps, according to KTVX-Channel 4 in Salt Lake City. Reportedly, a group comprised of both progressives and conservatives may be joining forces to oppose Burns. Progressives are against him because they don’t want Burns, a Republican, to get such a prestigious job while conservatives are upset about the process.
Zion National Park Opens Plan To Public Review
Published on August 04, 2010 at 10:11AM
(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.
Utah Board Upholds Strip Mine Near Bryce Canyon
Published on August 04, 2010 at 09:58AM
(BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK)-Tuesday, a coal company claimed victory when a Utah state board rejected a challenge brought by environmental groups saying a proposed strip mine will pollute waterways and kick up dust at Bryce Canyon National Park. The Utah Board of Gas, Oil and Mining said Alton Coal Development LLC could possibly strip as much as 440 acres of private lands, the potential impetus of a project that could take in thousands of acres of surrounding land from the Dixie National Forest in southern Utah. Alton is currently seeking federal approval to enlarge their project. Tuesday, the state board claimed an October decision by regulators at the the Utah Board of Gas, Oil and Mining ensured the company has followed all legal and technical requirements in approving the mine. The regulators’ approval came after the developer donated $10,000 to Utah governor, Gary Herbert, complaining the state was taking too long to approve the project. The company, which is comprised by a group of investors led by James J. Wayland of Naples, Fla., must secure a multi-million dollar reclamation bond before it can start mining. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has promised to take the case to state courts, if necessary, keeping the project tied up. Staff lawyer, Steve Bloch, said he studied the 29-page decision before making a decision on further appeals. The matter was also discussed in September 2009 according to a 33-page memo from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining said the result of the coal company’s meeting with Herbert was a fast track to a decision by regulators. Nevertheless, the author of the memo, Priscilla Burton, has had her assessment of the time frame denounced by her superiors.
Bacon Rind Road Closure
Published on August 04, 2010 at 09:50AM
(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.
Drilling Compromise in Utah Receives National Praise
Published on August 04, 2010 at 09:48AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-A compromise announced last week over energy development in Carbon County has received national praise as a template in settling environmental disputes. Tuesday, a member of United States president Barack Obama’s cabinet cited the “deal on drilling” as an example of what can happen when natural enemies sit down to overcome their differences. Bill Barret Corp. said the deal raised their costs considerably but it will allow them to increase the amount of natural gas they’ll receive at their site at Nine Mile Canyon near Wellington. The amount is expected to supply half of Utah’s demand over the next couple of decades.
Snow College opens new library
Published on August 04, 2010 at 09:03AM
(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.
Kearns man killed in I-15 crash near Parowan
Published on August 04, 2010 at 08:45AM
(PAROWAN) – A Kearns man was killed on I-15 near Parowan when his vehicle crashed into a concrete pillar Tuesday morning. According to a UHP report, 19-year old Eric Blair was traveling northbound when his car veered off the roadway and slammed into a concrete pillar at about 6:45am. UHP Trooper Cameron Roden said that Blair was not wearing a seatbelt and died on impact. Roden said that there was no immediate indication that alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash but investigators are considering fatigue as a possible factor.
Millard County Sheriff's Office under investigation
Published on August 04, 2010 at 08:38AM
(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.
Law enforcement shines at crime event
Published on August 04, 2010 at 07:02AM
(RICHFIELD) – Local law enforcement participated in the National Night’s Out Against Crime Tuesday night in Richfield. Lt. Mitch Blackham of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department said the purpose of the promotion is to help the public be more aware of criminal activity in their own neighborhoods. The Sevier County SWAT Team also participated in the event through training at old empty homes at 400 West and Center Street in Richfield. Lt. Shawn Robbins with the Sheriff’s Office said the training is good for team members. The Annual Night’s Out Against Crime was held at the Richfield Walmart parking lot and featured law enforcement agencies, music and food.