Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A2 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Gunnison man (Continued from A2) dropping by for a visit. Friends and neighbors started driving around the Gunnison area in hopes of locating Dick, but by the next morning Pat called Gunnison Police Chief Blaine Jensen and an organized search began. The pickup truck was located Jan. 2 in the county’s jurisdiction so the search was joined by Sanpete Sheriff Department and Search and Rescue. According to Deputy A n d y Ly o n , “ T h e s e a r c h stopped at dark and was restarted the next morning, January 3, and continued until he was found that day at approximately 10 a.m.” Dick, who had left his pickup truck where it was stuck in the deep mud of a roadside ditch on a seldomused power line road, had started walking. Searchers found his gloves and cane Sunday night about 170 yards from the truck. “I was warned about hypothermia and that Dick’s chances weren’t good,” said Pat. “The next day they found him 100 yards away from where they found hid things. I believe he lost his sense of direction. It looked as if he had sat down to rest and had his glasses flipped up on his forehead.” Many of Dick’s friends said it looked as if he took the wrong turn on one of the many country roads in the area. The consensus is that he became disoriented. “Dick was looking forward to moving into a senior apartment where he would have no more grass to mow,” said Pat. He had been having some health problems and was seeing a doctor. Recently diagnosed with low blood sugar, Dick had trouble putting his shirt on correctly lately. His kids had joked about buying him a shirt that said front and back on it. “I usually am very pushy about him taking his jacket and the cell phone, but that day I wasn’t,” Pat said. “Dick had $350 in cash with him to pay bills,” Pat said. There is no evidence of foul play and the cash was still with him. According to his wife, the autopsy refers to weather-related exposure as the cause of death. “I am so honored that so many people came out to help find Dick,” said Pat. “They have shown their love and friendship for my husband. I never dreamed that so many people cared.” By Kathy Lin Eggleston MATINEES (BEFORE 6 P.M.) AND TUE. NIGHTS (EXCEPT DRIVE-IN): $3.50 MOVIES SUBJECT TO CHANGE CLOSED SUNDAYS A special caucus of Republican state delegates will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Snow College Greenwood Center to elect replacements to two legislative seats vacated because of Gov. John Hunstman Jr.’s cabinet appointments. The election for Senate District 24 will be held first, followed by the election for House District 68. SOUTHTOWNE CINEMA 1&2 687 So. Main • Ephraim • 283-6121 Starts Friday 6:15 & 8:45 Sat. Matinee 3:45 Elektra [PG13] Meet the Fockers [PG13] TOWNE THEATRE 21 No. Main • Ephraim • 283-4711 Starts Friday 7:45 Sat. Matinee 5:30 Racing Stripes Staff writer Senate District 24 Two Sanpete County candidates will vie for the seat vacated by Republican Sen. Leonard Blackham of Moroni, who joins Huntsman as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food. Each candidate will make a five-minute presentation to the delegates. Eddie Cox [PG] Sanpete News Company, Inc., publishing the GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION Member Utah Press Association Deadlines, Post Office & Contact Information UPS# 232-020 Copyright, Sanpete News Company, Inc.©2004. All rights reserved. Reproduction, re-use, or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Published each Wednesday for 75¢ each, $24.00 inside Sanpete County, $27.00 outside Sanpete County, by Sanpete News Company, Inc., 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Phone 1-866-620-1935, 435-835-4241, fax 435-835-1493 E-mail publisher at: suzanne@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail sports to: sports@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail school items to: school@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail news to: news@sanpetemessenger.com ads@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail ads to: Deadline: Thursday, 5 p.m. Manti: 35 S. Main, Hours: M-F, 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah 84642, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sanpete Messenger, 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Editor & Publisher ............................................. Suzanne Dean Associate Publisher .................................................. Lloyd Call Senior Reporter ..................................................... Sean Hales Assignment Reporter .............................................. John Hales Office Manager .................................................. Jacque Marsh Administrative Assistant ............................. Lindsay Kogianes Webmaster ........................................................ Kelly Hancock Staff Manti ................................................. Judy Chantry (835-8010) Ftn. Green, Moroni ............................... C. R. Truitt (445-3326) Gunnison ........................................ Darlene Agren (528-3922) Centerfield ......................................... Elva Jensen (528-3382) Axtell ................................................ Audrey Boore (528-3309) Mayfield .......................................... Margaret Amy (528-7076) Spring City ...................................... Holly Nicholes (462-2758) Staff Writers .......................... Erika Johnson, Kathy Eggleston Sports Writers ........................... Doug Johnson, Jeff Ericksen, Craig Cox and Coaches Photographers ........................... Sean Hales, Vern Buchanan, Peter Goss, Russ Beck Columnists ........................... Roger Baker, Corrie Lynn Player Contributing Writers Jana Wahlquist, Karen Buchanan, Anita Lyons. Bob Bessey Rick Wheeler Candidates scramble for votes in race for open legislative seats ADULTS: $5.50 CHILDREN & SENIORS: $3.50 For the Week of a Jan. 14-20 Starts Friday 6:45 & 9:00 Sat. Matinee 4:30 Brad Johnson Dan Jorgensen Darrin Peterson John Keeler Eddie Cox Businessman and former Sanpete County Commissioner Eddie Cox of Fairview says he will not vote for any increases in sales, personal or property taxes. “I will work hard for economic development in our rural areas,” says Cox, “to put the tools for economic development in the hands of our local leaders. At the same time we need to make sure that we protect our rural lifestyle.” Cox served as chairman of the Sanpete Economic Development Committee and later oversaw economic development in Sanpete County for 10 years as a county commissioner. “I will work to develop rural Utah so that our kids, after gaining their educations, can come home if they so choose, to challenging jobs with good benefits.” John Keeler As regional manager of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, John B. Keeler has worked for 30 years in 10 central and southwest counties of Utah. He has worked with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and several workgroups on issues such as weed control, prairie dogs, sage grouse, elk, buffalo and county land plans. Keeler is involved with policy development and implementation at the grassroots level regarding issues as wilderness, endangered species, land-use plans, taxes, public land grazing, logging, fire management, planning and zoning, safety, transportation, education, wildlife and others. Darrin Peterson Darrin Peterson of Nephi is a farmer, rancher and former representative in House District 67. He believes he can have more influence on tax policy and other important issues as a state senator than he had in the House of Representatives. Peterson is a strong advocate of local control. He opposes reductions in the state highway money on which counties and cities depend to build and maintain county and local roads. He also opposes efforts to shift money from water projects and dam safety to education. Bradley Johnson Rancher and agri-businessman Bradley Johnson of Salina was named one of the top five most effective legislators in a 2003 Deseret News Poll. A member of the House of Representatives for 14 years, Johnson says, “My real passion is to represent the people and their interests.” Johnson is part of the Cowboy Caucus, a group of 22 House members and 8 senators. He has also served as House Republican Retires (Continued from A2) programs and facilities so our South Sanpete students enjoyed an educational experience of truly the highest quality. “I felt the same at the district level. Our district has many extraordinarily caring, talented, and dedicated teachers, administrators, and staff members. Certainly the reading incentive programs we developed were a lot of fun and beneficial to students. Many of them continued long after I was no longer principal,” he concluded. When asked whether schools were better 30 years ago than now, Petersen said he believes never in the history of education have teachers been better trained and supported to insure that every student has an opportunity to reach their full potential than now. “We know so much more now about effective teaching practices than ever before. Also, I think we’ve made great strides in having policies, practices, and facilities in place to insure schools are safe, orderly and inviting,” Petersen said. “Kids today have virtually unlimited opportunities in South Sanpete School District, and I’m very proud to have been a part of that.” Petersen believes public education still has plenty of challenges. “Public education has a number of very poorly informed, misguided, but vocal critics. There are those who, I believe, try to undermine the confidence the public has in their schools with misinformation and misrepresentation. “I know from firsthand experience that public schools give every student, regardless of their family background, ethnic group, or socio-economic whip and chaired several legislative committees. He says he offers experience and the ability to help his constituents resolve problems with state government. “I have the time to devote to the people at this time,” Don Jorgensen Farmer, rancher and businessman Don Jorgensen of Salina believes he understands the district’s needs. He said he would fight for local people on “the important issues of water, roads, education and multiple use of public lands, adding, “I support smaller government and balanced budgets, and will make sure law enforcement and government agencies are adequately funded so that our towns and counties are safe.” Two candidates from Sanpete and four from Millard County will compete for seat vacated by Republican Rep. Mike Styler of Delta, who joins Huntsman as executive director of the Department of Natural Resourses. Styler’s former House district takes in central Sanpete County, including Manti and Ephraim. House District 68 Candidates from Sanpete are Bob Bessy of Manti and Richard Wheeler of Ephraim. Bob Bessey Activity in his community and local government has been a top priority for Robert D. Bessey of Manti. With 14 years of experience as Sanpete county commissioner, Bessey says, “I just want to represent District 68 with honesty and integrity.” “I am a strong supporter of rural Utah in the areas of agriculture, light industry, public health and education. I understand our water issues,” says Bessey. “I can take care of all status, the opportunity to be anything they wish. Few other countries provide such an opportunity for all students. “I feel badly that, for whatever reason, some students choose not to take full advantage of their educational opportunities. I hope the public always realizes the value of our public education system and how much it contributes to our society and never allows anything to diminish it. “I also worry about the misuse of testing. Used correctly testing provides information critical to monitor student learning. But a good portion of the projects and institutions that different groups are concerned about without sacrificing others’ interests.” Richard Wheeler Richard Wheeler, vice president of government affairs of Snow College and a former interim president of the college, says he has experience dealing with the Legislature. “I will ensure opportunities for rural economic development and jobs,” he says. Wheeler believes that “less government is almost always better government.” He says, “I will fight with all my might to preserve our rural values. Legislation that will erode the family must be opposed.” The delegates who will be voting on Saturday were selected at voting district caucuses in early 2004. Thirty-nine delegates will represent Sanpete County on Saturday. One vote will be taken where the delegates are asked to rank the candidates according to preference. The candidate receiving the fewest first place rankings will be eliminated. This process will be repeated until one candidate is left for each office. Those names will then be sent to the governor, who will make the final appointments. The special caucus is open to the public. “This is a good opportunity to see how our government works,” says Eddie Cox. Millard County candidates Millard County residents seeking the seat are Warren H. Peterson of Oasis, Mary G. Greathouse of Lynndyl, and Curt Crosby and Ronald G. Peterson, both of Delta. testing done today is being used to try to evaluate schools and teacher performance when it was never intended for such a purpose. To believe that testing alone provides an accurate picture of what happens in any school reflects a pretty limited understanding of what schools and teachers really accomplish,” he said. Petersen says he has no immediate retirement plans, but would like to travel and complete some home remodeling projects. He will also pursue a hobby raising a Laborador retriever he plans to train and enter in field trial competitions. .com Justaclickawayfrom home.