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Show 4A Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Uteh Tuesday August 20, 2002 Uiah metih problem growing After one and a half years of prosecuting methamphetamine eases, the stories are starting to sound the same for Colleen Coebergh. The man has a wife, kids, job and a mom who loves him. He starts abusingmeth and learns to make it. Chances are the man, or just as often the woman, will then be convicted of manufacturing meth and spend a long time in prison to consider what has been lost. The work can be routine but it is always challenging for the two lawyers working in the Methamphetamine Unit at the Utah Attorney Generals Office. Coebergh and Brenda Beaton have been assigned to fight what has become the number one menace in Utah. Police officers are getting killed, apartments are blowing up, homes are being burglar- ized and lives are being destroyed by those who wont let anything or anyone get in the way of their meth cravings. On a typical week the Meth Unit attorneys will make 44 appearances in court, attend three grand jury hearings, file five new cases, send three people to jail, put two on probation and help ship off one meth cook to prison. During the last 30 months the Meth Unit has handled more that 700 cases, sent more that 120 people to prison and more than 100 to jail. On this day, Beaton is waiting for a federal magistrate to set a trial date for a man facing weap- ons and clandestine lab charges. The accused meth cook sits across the courtroom in a grey and black striped prisoner uniform. He smiles and chats with his father and sister and doesnt appear to be worried. Court papers state that when the man was arrested he had two weapons, surveillance equipment , a stack of money and a tupperware container full of semi-automat- ic methamphetamine on the kitchen counter top. The hearing begins and when the suspect talks about his case he appears to have the same legal understanding as the attorneys. What is your plea? the Magistrate asks. Not guilty your honor. A few blocks away, Coebergh is getting ready for hearings in state court. The top of a cherry wood table is nearly invisible as Coebergh spreads out all of the meth case files she will handle this morning. Each day she is reminded that Utah has a drug problem. Some of the defendants look like they could have been pulled from a Hollywood casting call for drug dealers. But one suspected meth dealer could be mistaken for a soccer mom. Her stylish blonde hair doesnt give away that she was caught oper- ating a clandestine lab or her long criminal history. Back at federal court, Beatons hearing is over and defense attorneys are eager to talk about a plea bargain. The pressure to make a deal is intense because the penalties are so high. I send people to prison longer than I have for murder, says Beaton. But she makes no apologies for the lengthy sentences given to meth cooks. The size of the problem they create for the community is enormous. While walking back to her office, Beaton considers another deal with a man who was caught with a pound of meth in Davis County. Hes willing to testify against everyone he knows to get a better sentence. Even if he takes the deal, the defendant would still face five years to life in prison. The hours are long, the trials are stacked on top of each other but these meth prosecutors take pride in the fact that they are making a difference. Division conducts free seminar on oil and gas leasing for private landowners Benefit A free seminar on the fundamentals of oil and gas leasing will be held Aug. 22 at the College of Eastern Utahs College Center Room, 450 North 300 East, Price. The seminar begins at 6 p.m. Experts in the oil and gas industry will present a wide variety of subjects to help private understand their rights when dealing with oil and gas benefit was held for Rocky Olsen on Saturday at the Huntington Park. A dinner, raffle and country hoedown was held to raise needed funds for A Multi-purpo- se the leukemia patient. land-ow'ne- rs developers. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining is conducting the seminar in conjunction with the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Subjects to be dis cussed include specific Utah regulations that affect private landowners, statutory requirements for royalty payments, surface rights vs. mineral rights, the difference between a royalty and a working interest owner, and an overview of oil and gas development in Utah. On hand to help landowners learn about this process will be John Baza, from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, and Strudwick Marvin Rogers, Assistant Attorney General for the Alabama Oil and Gas Board. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining regulates explora tion and development of oil, gas, coal, and other mineral resources in Utah. The Division also ensures the oil and gas wells are properly abandoned when development is complete. The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission is an organization of states that promotes conservation and efficient recovery of oil and gas resources while protecting health, safety, and the environment. For more information about the free Oil and Gas Fundamentals Seminar, contact the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining at BRIEFLY Utah to Host Abandoned Mine Conference In just the last four years nearly 100 people in the United States have lost their lives in accidents at abandoned mines. In September people who work diligently to prevent these tragedies will gather in Park City for the 24th Annual National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs Conference. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Miningwill host the Conference at the Yarrow Hotel, Sept. 15-1- 8. Representatives from across the nation will participate in technical session, field trips,' and workshops. On Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Phil Notarianni, Acting Associate Director of the Division of State History and Associate Professor Lecturer at the University of Utah, will present Utahs Mining Heritage." The public is invited to attend free of charge. For more information contact Luci Malin, conference cochair, at Emery County Adult High School Completion Adult Basic Education & GED Fall Registration Signing Bonus: .10 When you add any Far West Bank premiere service. (visa, debit card, checking & savings) mm, VC7)at BYU, Dixie your bank should be" St College, Utah, Weber State, Utah State, Snow Registration for the Adult Education program will begin Wednesday, August 28, 2002 and run through Friday, September 20, 2002 at the Emery School District Office. Registration will be from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. There will be a $40.00 fee. Classes will begin on September 17, 2002 and be held at Emery High School. Class times are from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednes days. Those people who may be interested in earning a GED may also register at this time. GED classes are currently being held at the Department of Workforce Services offices in Castle Dale. A copy of your most recent school transcripts, a birth certificate, and Social Security card is needed at the time of registration. Assessment Testing and Counseling Services will also be provided during the registration process. Those persons enrolled in the program last year who did not complete it may call Mr. Clark at and will not be required to pay additional fees. Please contact: Ed Clark Emery County School District Adult Ed Supervisor 687-984- 6, 687-984- 6 T |