Show 75 GUNNISON Sanpete VALLEY EDITION VOL 83 MANTI UTAH NUMBER 41 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13 2004 Blackham explains sentence Thursday - 6839 Mostly sunny Friday - 7248 By Mostly sunny John Hales Staff writer MANTI — County attorney Ross Blackham understands why he is under fire for his handling of the Wendy lansen embezzlement case "Ifl didn't know why we did what we did I’d be scratching my head tixi" he said Saturday - 7141 Mostly sunny Last Week’s Weather Reported by Lee J Anderson last week in attempt to squelch criticism of what has been perceived as light treatment toward I lansen "I’m not opposed to full disclosure to tell the ‘whys’ about the case after the senand appeal period has passed” he said emphasizing that until Hansen’s sentencing on Jan 12 the case is tencing still open and that he is wary of doing or saying anything to jeopardize its outcome lansen recently pleaded guilty to two felony counts of misuse of public funds — reduced from the 44 originally brought against her — related to Ephraim City and Desirae county landfill moneys As part of a plea Blackham promised to time and to tecommend duced to misdemeanors all terms of the sentence titution and successfully tion Ball D Gunnison lady takes fourth in statewide pageant PARK CITY— Desirae Ball of Gunnison was chosen as fourth attendant at the Miss Utah USA Pageant on Oct 9 Ball was one of 30 con- testants who vied for the title of Miss Utah USA at the beauty pageant held in Ball Park City on Oct is an attendant to pageant Queen Marin Pool of Logan You — Ryan Evans upon seeing the bear he harvested with a homemade arrow A4 Opinions Lifestyle School Sports Classifieds A5 A8 A10 A14 First Place Group (General Sanpt Excellence Messenger '4focjato?V Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 2C02 - 2003 COPY- - MESSENGER PHOTO “Sentence” on A2) High bids and lack of funding Royal West to work stall Gunnison sewer project with k youth at-ris- Geoffrey Pace Staff writer GUNNISON— At the sewage lines forced representatives from the state and Central Utah Correctional Facility to meet with the city council about Gunnison City council’s regular meeting last Wednesday the council announced that a pro- and upgrading the expanding city’s sewer system to meet ad- posed expansion to the city’s sewer system has stalled due to financial concerns and high bids from contractors and will be tabled until those issues can be resolved prison At According to council member Steve Buchanan only six ditional capacity from the that time the state to finance $900000 of agreed the project but has yet to release those funds to the city Buchanan feels that the state should “come through” with the promised money before the bids were submitted to the council and none met standards established by the council for moves forward Additionally bids for the first phase of the project which the project Also Buchanan ranged between $771000 to $126 million were too high Four years ago flooded “Holy cow that bear’s huge” RIET- - (See said “the city is at an impasse right now until the state funds are released” said It! VAN DER completes proba- Until last week the only thing Blackham had said on the subject was that the three entities involved — Ephraim City the county landfill and his own ollicc — had different priorities saying “We tried to reach a compromise that would satisfy all three of us even if not completely” Can you find the cute little punkin’ among the pumpkins? Conner Ross son of Brenda and Birk Ross of Manti blends In quite nicely among the produce at the Becker family farm See "From our - ---communities Page A7) By The winners were selected based on their performance in the following competitions: private interview evening gown modeling swimsuit modeling and question Marc Reynolds Photography the official photographer of the pageant named Ball as Miss Photogenic Ball is the daughter of Ron and Gayle Ball of Gunnison and currently attends Southern Utah University in Cedar City t BRUCE she handled bargain however recommend no jail that chaiges be if Hansen fulfills such as paying res- project based on initial estimates an engineer To exacerbate this from tion recent oil price increases could easily increase pipe as According to Buchanan it stands now the city has two go ahead with the project and wait for the state to release the funds for it or negotiate with the state to get the funding first Although Gunnison mayor Scott Hermansen said the city is still unsure about a course of options action Buchanan made his opinion clear at the meeting “The city does not want to subsidize the Central Utah Corrections Facility" and continued “It the project is in the hands of the politicians who funded it" (See situa By to help strengthen John Hales “Gunnison” on A2) GUNNISON— our commu- nities” Staff writer prices Royal West Martial Arts has received a $1500 grant from Target Stores on behalf of Project Action a organization that encourages and funds parand ticipation of youth in dance gymnastics and martial arts The vice president of relations at Target Stores of Minneapolis Laysha Ward says “We feel it is not to give only our responsibility back to the community we feel it is our privilege “Project Action with the help of Royal West Martial Arts is doing incredible things Valerie Opoulos head instructor at Royal West says that children who are involved in these activities have a better chance of avoiding antisocial and criminal behavior “A lot of kids come in really shy without a lot of confidence The program helps kids in relations with their families' It friends and communities can help improve their performance in school too” In addition to the grant just received Royal West will be raising funds for Project Action through a on Oct 16 National Martial (See “Royal West” on A2) Messenger sells Sun to Redmond couple By John Hales Staff writer REDMOND Sevier County — The publisher of the Sanpete Messenger signed a contract last week selling the Satina Sun newspaper to Troy and Lora Fielding of Redmond Suzanne Dean purchased the Sun along with the Gunnison Valley News several weeks ago from former owner Jim Olsen She now publishes the Sanpete Messenger and the Sanpete Messenger Gunnison Valley Edition “Our focus is Sanpete County and to try to cover the news in northern Sevier County was going to stretch us too thin” said Dean Dean says that selling the Sun was not only die best thing for the Sanpete News Company — the Messenger newspapers’ parent company — but for the communities of northern Sevier County as well “Lora Fielding has excellent wnling skills and strong roots in the area while Troy has good nance skills Having them take over the paper was perfect" she said Although separate papers with separate owners the Messenger and the Sun will work together to share articles and information as well as cooperate in publishing “society” news such as births weddings obituaries and special announcements such as missionary farewells Readers will be able to place an item in one paper expand coverage to the other papers but receive one convenient bill “We understand that people are accustomed to having their announcements placed in both papers and we w ant to continue to provide that service to both communities” (See “Messenger” on A2) Messenger publisher Suzanne Dean signs agreement to sell the Salina Sun to Lora and Troy Fielding of Redmond The Sun and the Messenger’s two newspapers will continue to cooperate In news coverage and advertising 4AA |