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Show a'ft,af The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, June 8, 2000 3 ComiBMimty Convicted slayer of WVC woman, Magna girl is ready for firing squad by GARY R.BLODGETT identified as Lisa Martinez, 16, and Tuesday Roberts, 14. , EDITOR Third District Judge David Young has agreed with three Convicted serial killer Roberto Arguelles, who has admitted to mental health exerts who say the confessed killer is legally competent and can be executed. However, the case has been killing three children and a woman - including a West Valley City woman and a Magna girl is ld back on track with his desire to be executed. He pleaded guilty to four counts of capital murder for the deaths of returned to the Utah State Supreme Court where justices must perform a mandatory evalu- Margo Bond, 42, a janitor at Kennedy Junior High in WVC, Baby boy born to Mother Chrisitie Wright of Salt Lake City on May 9. whose body turned up buried in a shallow grave near Tooele, and Stephanie Blundell, age 13, of Magna, who Arguelles admitted forcing her into his car as she waited for a school bus. Blundells body was identified -- onMay31. on May 28. Carlene Cook and Father Mark Cook of West Valley City on May 31. Baby boy bom to Mother Silvia Carmona axl Father Julian Carmona ' and of Magna on May 30. -- -- Compared to other bodies of deadly for unsuspecting swimmers or boaters. An Arizona man was the first known drowning victim txf the small, recreational lake located just He drowned last Sunday as he attempted to swim across the lake, but he apparently became fatigued. east of Witnesses told rescuers that James Pinto, 36, swam about 300 yards -- more than half way across the lake - when he suddenly became too tired to continue. A bystander watched helplessly as the victim first floated motionless in the water and then sank out of sight Sunday about 4:30 p.m. West Valley emergency personnel responded and WVC Fireman Joe Walls and WVC Police Officer Darren W'atson went into the lake and pulled the man out. He was treated at the scene and pronounced dead at Pioneer Valley Hospital. As the weather gets warmer, there will be more enticement to swim or boat in Decker Lake, said Sgt. John Rasmussen, spokesperson for the West Valley City Police Department Swimming in Decker Lake is not prohibited, but its not a clean place to swim, either, he said. It definitely is not encouraged." t see Proposition 22 as a last straw in my lifelong battle to see peace in the world I live in. Brian David Tompson, 32 wrote these last words in his personal web site minutes before he was found in his house in Mohave County, Arizona with a .357 colt revolver in his lap and a bullet through his head. Six days earlier, Matis, 32, was found with a similar bullet in his head. In his suicide not he wrote this: I am now free. I am no longer in pain and I no longer hate myself. As it turns out, God never intended me to be straight Perhaps my death might be the catalyst for some good. Later in his suicide note, Matis wrote that he had been distraught about his homosexuality since he was seven years old. Before his death, Matis prayed that he would be able to change his homosexually, but had no success. I self-inflict- I agree with California Gay activists and their supporters that are opposed to Proposition 22, which states, Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Mormon Church and Roman Catholic officials have donated large amounts of time and money to help ensure this initiative passes. Within the past year, Mormon Church Officials in California have circulated private letters that urge their members to support Proposition 22. I have also been raised in the Mormon church. I was a strong and devoted member of the LDS church for many years of my life, before I admitted to myself of my own homosexuality. 1 always knew I was different and it scared me deeply. The power of denial was strong because of all the years of being taught that homosexuality was a sin. I deeply regret what I said to a gay man in my ward (designated area of Moimon members that share a chapel). I told him it was okay that he was gay, but it dri cofit i Cnt&dohuzzzd Oldies Fest 2000 attempting to swim across Decker Lake water. Decker Lake in West Valley it can still be City is tiny. But voiced frustration that his attor entice other children of the WVC-Magn- a area, according to police documents. buried on a Salt Lake County pig farm. The other two girls were Baby girl born to Mother Man drowns by GARY R.BLODGETT EDITOR Arguelles has repeatedly parole for rape and attempted murder of 15 and girls. He allegedly attempted to among bodies of three girls Baby Girl born to Mother Stephanie Haslam and Father Stuart Haslam of South Jordan -- Baby girl born to Mother Johanne Maycock and Father Chad Lance of Salt Lake City -- ation of the confessed killer. Arguelles told the judge that Ill just wait and see what happens. I want to die as soon as possible for my crimes. neys are stacking thing against him by denying him court documents, and that while in jail other inmates put bleach in his shampoo and pumped toxic fumes into his cell. So Judge Young ordered the court to provide the defendant with a copy of every court paper on file and Arguelles returned to his cell with a foot-hig- h stack of court documents. The killing allegedly occurred in 1992 when Arguelles was on 3iU 4 It doesnt really matter where you were in 62, all that matters is where youll be Saturday, June 17, 2000 when this years edition of Oldies Fest rocks Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. Tickets are on sale at Smith Tix and the Franklin Covey for the fifth annual oldies music festival. Tickets for the event are $12 for adults, $5 for children. The concert is genera! admission seating at Franklin Covey Field. Door open at 3 p.m'. The concert is scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oldies Fest 2000 is a Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Division Special Event. More than 13,000 fans attended last years concert. This year Oldies Fest Welcomes Fankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Association, the Grass Roots, Micky Dolenz of the and a Tribute to Elvis. Monkees, the Shangri-La- s, Would you believe she decided on the flowers for her own funeral just this morning? Utah Shakespearean FestSval Of course, she has too many secrets and telling stories other things to talk to her knowing that everything is in grandaughter about before she order. All expenses and ever uses those flowers! But arrangements have been thanks to a carefully considprepared for. ered plan with McDougal,' Take the worries away. Sarah isnt worried anymore Call today for an informative, about the preparations pressure-fre- e appointfor her eventual ment with a I1 Wllftf funeral. She McDougal can spend representative. care-fre- e afternoons Youll find that peace on the porch listening to of mind can be planned. Signed performances and schedules for the summer season are as follows: The Merry Wives of Windsor on July 3, Noises of on July 4, The Merchant of Venice on July 5. Peter Pan on August 21. The War of the Roses on August 22, and The Cherry Orchard on August 23. All signed performances for die summer season begin at 8:30 p.m. The two signed performances for the fall season are: Always...Patsy Cline of September 20 at 2:00 p.m., and Driving Miss Daisy on September 20 at 7:30 p.m. For more information of this years Utah Shakespearean Festival performances, call the Festival box office at: or You can also find complete information of the Festival web site: www.bard.org. dill; FUNERAL HOMES was not okay that he live that way. I saw the deep hurt in his face in response to my comment, but it was not until years later that I realized what I had said and what I had done. Many years later, at 20, I finally acknowledged that I was a homosexual. I came out in an environment that was mainly unsupportive. Many people told me the same phrase that I had told the gay man and like the gay man I met earlier, I was deeply hurt by such words. My friends and family members told me that I could be gay and not act on the lifestyle. As a Mormon homosexual, I tried really hard to follow their advice, but I was not able to do one without the other: to be homosexual and not live that way. .1 liken my struggle to straight people being able to not look or desire a member of the opposite sex, to never be close to them and to never imagine spending the rest of their life with someone they truly love and are attracted to sexually. Recently, when I was first coming out, I went to see my Mormon bishop, the leader of my ward, and tailed to him about my homosexuality. He told me it was a choice of mine to be gay and that abuse as a child had likely made me that way, even though I had little abuse as a child and did not want to be gay. He said that God could not have made me that way originally. Only as a homosexual can, I know that is not true. After that discussion, I was more confused, frustrated and hurt than Id ever been in my whole life. The bishop kept on telling me I could fight these evil desires of the same sex as if they were a disease I caught, rather than a strong part of me that has always been a part of me. For months, I struggled with accepting my sexual orientation vs. my belief in God. I became deeply suicidal over my internal conflict. Many of my friends quoted passages from the Bible stating that homosexuality was a sin and that I could control my desire for the same sex. I knew that was not true, because my whole life I had tried to control my desire without much success. It is my deepest wish that people in the West will someday understand it is not right to force ones beliefs onto someone else and make them law. The second amendment states: freedom of religion. Not allowing homosexuals to get married is discriminaand tion, plain simple. Proposition 22 states that if a couple has the same sex organs they cannot get married. Like those men who killed themselves truly can understand why and how that happened. I know that suicide is a very complicated issue, but I also know that ones faith in god vs. dealing with ones homosexuality is also very complicated and difficult. Many members of the West today are not making the transition for us any easier. The west is one of the only places where depression is evident in two out of three homosexuals. In other parts of the world, where homosexuality is more accepted, the depression is the same in homosexuals as in heterosexuals. My prayer is for all those who supported Proposition 22 to be able to see into every gay, lesbian or transgender, spiritual and tortured soul. Then and only then will they truly understand the harm and pain that religions and individuals in the west, supposedly in the name of God, have caused to other individuals. (Author Chooses to Remain Anonymous.) 968-380- also 0 4330 South Redwood Rood, Salt Lake City 1861 West 7800 South, West Jordan Serving Salt Lake County on oven, 70 yeane With the services you want and the convenience you need. M-- F 8:30-5:3- I Drive-u- p 0 8:30-6:0- Saturday 0 9:00-1:3- 0 I Free TouchLine account information. 24-ho- ur Free Home Banking, Bill Payer and more, www.cypruscu.com. Free 24-ho- ur ATM access at all branches. A Cyprus CREDIT UNION www.cypruscu com Your future is our future Membership and Eligibility Required. |