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Show 75¢ Gunnison Valley Edition www.sanpetemessenger.com VOL. 85 • NUMBER 48 SANPETE WEA THER EATHER FORECAST High/Low % precip. Wednesday 42/26, Cloudy ........... 20% Thursday 44/30, Snow ............. 30% Friday 43/28, Snow ............. 35% Saturday 32/23, Snow ............. 50% Last Week’s Weather (Courtesy Ted Olson, Snow College) Date Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Max. Min. 28 32 38 42 42 44 45 6 10 10 15 15 17 15 Prec. Snow FOR AVALANCHE AND MOUNTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION Updated every weekend and holiday www.avalanche.org/~lsafc or: 1-800-OHV-RIDE Provided by Utah State Parks and the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center AT A GLANCE School holiday events planned Gunnison Valley High School The band and chorus will present the Christmas program on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. RiverWalk finished LET’S TAKE A WALK ... Project culminates in Friday ribbon-cutting, enhancements still in planning stage Spring Run Off committees and other partners, have been making plans to add enhancements to the walk, such as trees, Associate editor benches, landscaping, public art, visual GUNNISON—Gunnison’s sixstorytelling and public events such as the year project to create a safe crossing marathon on April 14, 2007,” Nay said. for pedestrians and bicyclists across She said construction of rail fences U.S. 89 will culminate with a ribbon would begin soon to enhance the entrances cutting ceremony this Friday at 1 p.m. of the walk and to block motor vehicles. Gunnison Valley High School’s Also, landscaping and trees will be added musical group Cantus!, as well as the in March. Benches will be placed along elementary school’s children’s choir the trail to provide a place to rest. will perform at the ceremony near the Art projects, such as a 60-foot long bridge on the east side of U.S. 89. mosaic of tiles and mirrors designed and Doughnuts and hot apple created by local students cider will be served. and artists, will personal“Gunnison City ize the trail. The project, would like to thank all of made possible through a the individuals who made grant, will begin in Februthis day possible through ary. Other plans include the donation of their land, underfoot art, and a collage time, expertise, money that depicts Gunnison’s and hard work,” stated city sugar beet industry around council member Lori Nay the turn of the century, (See Story A3) in a release about the among others. event. All residents are inNay said many of the projects would vited to attend. begin as soon as weather permits. The $660,000 Sanpitch River “We would like to encourage everyWalk project has been wrought with one to get involved and become a part of delays since nearly the beginning, but history-in-the-making,” Nay said. “Ideas, as Nay said in a previous interview expertise and muscles are welcome.” about the project, “Some things are To volunteer for river walk beautifiworth waiting for.” cation projects, contact Gunnison City And while the ribbon cutting will Hall at 528-7969 or Lori Nay at 528-7136. officially recognize the completion of The river walk took an extraordinarconstruction on the 1.25-mile walkway, ily long time, largely, said Nay, because Nay says the project is far from comof the unknowns. plete. She said that red tape, such as get“The River Walk Board, in coop(See “RiverWalk” on A3) eration with the Sesquicentennial and By Sean Hales Motorized bridge hearing set for Jan. 4 BEN FOX / MESSENGER PHOTO Gunnison River Walk ribbon-cutting officially opens project for public use after six years of planning and construction. Dr. Shane Young joins staff at Gunnison Hospital Gunnison Middle School The yearly Yule program is tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the school gym. Two citizens will be recognized for their dedication to serving others, their country, and their community. By Karen Prisbrey Staff writer Gunnison Elementary School The students will take part in the RiverWalk ribbon cutting on Friday at 1 p.m. You said It! “The Sanpitch River Walk is a first class trail in the heart of our community and can define our community as we grow into it and use it to its fullest potential.” —Gunnison Councilwoman Lori Nay on the newly completed RiverWalk project. INSIDE Opinion ............. A4 Lifestyle ............ A5 Sports ............... A8 Classifieds ..... A10 Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 MANTI, UTAH • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006 TANYA SPENCER / MESSENGER PHOTO CeCelia Walsh of Spring City helps a MediConnect client locate medical records. The company recently expanded to Ephraim and currently has 71 employees and 26 available jobs. The company’s office manager describes the Ephraim staff as “one big family.” Fate takes a hand New company looking to be one of Sanpete’s biggest employers is not here by coincidence By Tanya Y. Spencer Education Editor EPHRAIM—MediConnect Global, a company that retrieves medical records for legal, insurance and other purposes, might become one of the largest employers in Sanpete County if the company CEO has her way. As the company was looking to expand, CEO Amy Lewis said she was presented with “a list a mile long” of possible locations. But, she said, “The college and Ephraim really stepped up to the plate and blew the other locations out of the water with what they could offer us.” “I am so grateful for the support of Snow College and the community,” Lewis said. Through her service on the state economic development board, Ephraim was suggested to her as a possible business loca- tion. Then her cousin, the former Debi Woods, married Snow College President Michael Benson last year. With a family contact to help her open the door, Lewis contacted Benson. “I don’t believe in coincidences,” she said. “It’s like it was meant to be.” For the time being, the company is looking to fill 97 jobs at its Ephraim office on Snow College’s west campus. Lewis said the number of jobs was determined by the phone system the company brought down to the site. To date, the company has hired about 70 people. Wages begin at $8-10 an hour. Medical, dental and life insurance benefits are available to full-time employees. Team leader and management positions are also open. Part-time shifts are available also. “We are very friendly to single parents,” Lewis, a single mother herself, said. “Ideally, I would like to see a staff of 300-400 in Ephraim, but the startup cost for the phone equipment made me a little nervous, since I had only barely heard of Ephraim,” she said. The equipment for that number of employees comes with a price tag of $150,000, and Lewis just wasn’t sure if Sanpete could support such an investment right from the start. “I will continue to grow this office as long as Sanpete shows me they can handle the growth,” she said. “I need another 250 people in the Salt Lake area, but I would much rather put those jobs here (in Ephraim).” Lewis says she wants to stress to people considering applying for a job, “We are not a call center. There is a lot of phone (See “Mediconnect” on A3) GUNNISON — Dr. Shane Young, who recently began his medical practice in Gunnison at 79 East Center, was welcomed to the staff of the Gunnison Valley Hospital by Administrator Greg Rosenvall on Thursday, Nov. 26 at a Hospital Board Meeting. Young, who grew up in Manti and recently completed his family practice and residency program at the Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania, is excited to be back in the Sanpete Valley and practicing medicine. “His wife Janint, and daughters’ Samantha and Sarah are really enjoying the community and Shane Young good about the decision, and are excited be begin their lives and medical practice here in our valley.” “Dr. Willden will cover the Hospital ER on occasion between now and when he finishes his residency training,” “ ” The couple feels very good about the decision, and are excited be begin their lives and medical practice here in our valley. —Greg Rosenvall appreciate the hospitality that has been extended to them,” said Young. Yo u n g i s t r a i n e d i n a broad spectrum of family practice medicine, including obstetrics and pediatrics. It was also announced that G.J. Willden has officially signed an agreement to be a member of the Gunnison Valley Hospital medical staff after his residency training is completed in July of 2007. Hospital administrator Greg Rosenvall reported that G.J. and his wife Emily gave serious consideration to the Nephi and Gunnison facilities prior to beginning his medical practice, and decided to locate in Gunnison. “The couple feels very Rosenvall said. Construction work on the new clinical facility and the home health care offices continues to be on schedule. While recent snowstorms and cold temperatures are causing challenges with construction, the work continues to move forward with an anticipated completion date of March 1, 2007. T h e G u n n i s o n Va l l e y Hospital Home Health Services was recently recognized for their efforts in reducing the number of patients who have to be readmitted to the hospital for an avoidable condition. Health Insight, an entity (See “Young” on A3) |