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Show ° TheSalt Lake TribuneUTAH Thursday, May1, 1997 Officials Hung Up on Full Circuits @ Continued from B-1 “We have to be able to cover our investment,” said Jim Farr. US WEST’s regulatory manager for Utah. “It adds up quickly.” Internet companies and new phone companies said their cus- tomers are blaming them for US WEST'’spoor forecasting. Those companies have agreements with US WESTthatallow Legislator Decries Utah Welfare Bill 435 Will Be Your Area Code If You’re Living in Rural Utah It's official. A newarea code — 435 — existing 801 area code. Exchangesin thestate's other 24 has been approved for Utah by telecommunications industry officials who oversee the North American Numbering Plan, which assigns area codes counties will change to the for the United States, Canada and parts of the Caribbean. Under the plan, telephone Colleagues ‘Took the Low Road’ By Limiting Benefits to Needy BY NANCY HOBBS new 435 area code. Sen. Millie Peterson, D-West Valley C familiar place when she voted against fare-reform bill last session: the minority that time, callers will be able to use either 801 or 435 to Use of the new area code and Morgan — will retain the will be required on March 22, 1998 to voicing a contrary opinion. When it came to changing the way Utah handles low-income families. Petersonsaid, the Legislature “took the low road” by limiting education assistance and job training to 24 monthsand welfare benefits to 36 months Even the federal bill that eliminated Aid to Fam- customers to use the public telephone network that US WEST _ built and operated for decades. But because customer demand was so much greater than US WEST projected, the network ilies with Dependent Children and left welfare rein Utah, that prompted the dis- cussions. ELI contends US WEST companies and through improve- ments to the networks. form in states’ hands was moreliberal than that, Peterson said Tuesday during a ‘Coffee and Poli- “I’m being told I am causing all these problems . . . but I am not ties” discussion at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics. out going out of business,” said months. In fact, it was a complaintfiled on behalf of Electric Lightwave its customers. Internet providers indicated they want to help solve the problem bycontributing to better in- Lake City-based company inQuo. The next meeting is set for May tive? That's howI seeit,"’ Peterson said. Inc., US WEST’s first competitor formation sharing betweenall the 29 Missionary Arrives in Utah To Love, Hope his wife, Florence, and son Lyle along Pleasant Grove’s Main flew to Orin’s hospital bedside two days after the shooting.” Street Wednesdayin anticipation of Voorheis’ return to Utah. stayed beside their missionary ing and praying since the inci- simply does not have enoughlines to accommodate all the phones and computerstrying to useit. is violating its mutual-service contract becauseit is promising lines that it cannotprovide to ELI and told how I can address that with- Pete Kruekenberg of the Salt The federal bill limits welfare dependency to 60 “Was it necessary for the Legislature to be puni- But that’s not the view of Rep. Lloyd Frandsen, RSouth Jordan, who sponsoredthe reform legislation. He basedthebill's provisions on data collected over several years indicating that the faster people are @ Continued from B-1 The patient quickly was transferred to an ambulancewaiting in the hangarandtaken to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, wherehewill be caredfor in the neuro-critical care unit. “The only way we can thank {the Huntsmans]is to do whatever we can whenever we have an opportunity to help someone else,” said Wayne Voorheis, who with The three family members throughout the long flight from BuenosAires, interrupted only by a brief fuel stop in Panama. “The entire ward has been fast- dent,” said Davis. The prognosis for Voorheis is uncertain, but that is an improve- “This has molded our family evencloser together,” said Florence Voorheis, who missed her mentoverthe early pessimism ex- Brigham Young University graduation ceremonywhile in Argenti- presence in a conscience sense, but he definitely felt it in a spiritual sense,” said brother Lyle. na. Her daughter, Jacynthia, marched downtheaisle and accepted the diplomain zoology for her as the rest of the Voorheis clan sat in the audience. Membersofthe 1st Timpanogos LDS Wardhavebeentying yellow ribbons on trees during the week, said Bishop Dean Davis. The whole community tied ribbons pressed by Argentine doctors. “I don’t know if he felt our “When we wouldreadhimletters from his sisters and his grandmother, his hands would shake andhe would try to movehislegs. “WhenI read letter from Jaeynthia [with whom Orinis particularly close], his pulse went from 93 to 175. I had to stop reading so he would calm down.” shifted from dependency to employment, the longer theystay at their jobs andoff public assistance. He quoted statistics indicating 44 percent of the jobs available today require less than six months training, and added that employers are increasingly teaching workers on the job. Though Frandsenacknowledged that many of those may be low-paying jobs to begin with, he said they can be stepping stonesto better-paying positions. The Utah Transit Authority board on Wednesdayofficially accepted the low bid for the first phase of light-rail construction along a railroad right of way from 10000 South in Sandy to a point near 1200 Southin Salt Lake City. Low bidderis Gibbons & Reed Co. of Watsonville, Calif., which won with a $27.9 million propos- 17.6 percent of the contract to a Utah County proposal near the mouth of Provo Canyon. Snowbasin did notfill out a formal proposal, Aalberg said, but let SLOC knowits land could be used. A hand-written proposal also @East Canyon Reservoir, a venture by East Canyon resort and the Clayton Macfarlane Co. ® Jordanelle Overlook, by Sorensen’s JLS Properties, LLC. @ Wasatch Mountain State Park, a combined effort of the Utah Division of Parks and Re- Lawsuit Against Short To Be Dropped @ Continued from B-1 anycriminalallegations. “Wefelt strongly we could get a judgment against Doug Short,” McConkiesaid. “But Mr. Gibbsis nota vindictive man.Hefelt, and rightlyso, that the county stepped up and reimbursed him for a wrong.” Short and his attorneys were perplexed by the county's April 18 settlement, considering the court had yet to rule on a motion to dismiss the entire case. Short called Wednesday's announcement “convenient.” “Sure, now that Mr. Gibbs has $107,500 of taxpayer dollars for a questionable claim, he’s concerned about protecting county taxpayers,” Short said. “If his motives are so altruistic, why doesn't he let my motion go forth came in from Woodruff, he added, while several other suggestions were rejected for not meeting the criteria. Aalberg plansto lead an inspection team, composed of SLOC staff and board membersand representatives of the local cross- since the county attorney took of- fice in 1995. “Had Doug not done what he had done, we wouldn't have had to pay anything,” Horiuchisaid. But Horiuchi acknowledged he was somewhatdisappointed that Gibbs let Short off the hook. In the wake of the planetarium incident, commissioners sued Short for allegedly abusing his power. “On one hand,a protracted lawsuit with Gibbs would have continued to prove Dougactedillegally, which is what we are arguing in our lawsuit against him,” Horiuchisaid. “On the flip side, I’m glad the county taxpayer is no longerat risk.” Not exactly. Short said he will submit his legalbill to the county, although he couldn't say how muchitwill be. On Friday, 3rd District Judge Anne Stirba awarded Short $10,000 for his legal fees in an- long run. He dismissed the idea that commissioners freely opened the county checkbook to incriminate Short, with whom commissioners have tangled r “Manyofthelegislators are Pollyannain nature. They expect everyone hasfamilies like theirs,” said Peterson. As the only womenin our Senate, I asked the other 28 senators how manyof their wives could make their house payment? How many of their wives could support their families? I got a great deal of silence,” she said, taking the opportunityto shift the discussion’s focus to women in politics. Jntil women are there to represent that perspective, the perspective in our Legislature will be the white, male perspective.” Frandsen pointed out that the new welfarebill also comes down hard on child-support collection, including allowances to revoke driver licenses and professional and recreational licenses for chronic non-payment. “All of those are pretty well targeted at men, so I got a lot of complaints about that,” Frandsen said. “In fact, I got more complaints from men [than women] about this package as a whole.” Sandy. Other phases of the project — the construction of tracks and sta- tions on Salt Lake City streets from 1200 South to the Delta Center — will be put out to bid later this spring. Lightrail, also known as TRAX, is scheduled for opening in March 2000. In other business, the UTA board deferred action on an en- transit company is recommending that it hire three off-duty Salt Lake area police officers or sheriff's deputies to work part-time riding buses and responding to emergencies. Some board members wanted to study the issue to determine whether three are enough or whetherthe UTA shouldcontract with the the Salt Lake County sheriff for the services. Pingree Weber commissioners. Weber Chairman Joe Ritchie acknowl- said. It was Berman who submitted Firing Appears Likely by Board the special-meeting request with line for delivery because we’ve wasted almost a year on this already,” Aalberg said. edged Wednesday that commissioners gave Davis ‘‘marching orders” to join with anti-Pingree forces. directors Bonnie Fernandez, Sam SLOC, which will contribute about $17 million to thesite’s de- Taylor, Robert Black, Karen Mayne and Kuchinsky. @ Continued from B-1 “If it appears [during the May 12 meeting] that John Pingree should be fired, we'vetold [Davis] that would be desirable,” said Ritchie. The commissioner said Weber County officials, whose taxpayers surfacing just as Pingree has be- minority-owned electrical sub- and Saturday. “We're trying to be objective, looking at all from each sport's technical perspective, also considering the ease of transportation, cost of construction and the time- velopment, hopes to hold local races there in the winter of 1998- 99, a national championship in “Bill has been so heavily identi- 1999-2000 and international races thereafter. someofthe public-relations prob- other case with the commission. Commissioners tried to put Short on paid leave in December while they conducted an investigation of Short’s conduct. Stirba ruled commissioners cannot suspend another elected official from office, and Short was cleared of any criminal and ethical wrongdoinglast week. Stirba said that commissioners must pay Short’s legal fees with their official bond because they acted outside their statutory authority. Each commissioneris re- quired to post a $40,000 bond to protect the county from lawsuits that arise out of a breech ofduty. Short called the decision “a landmarkruling.” “Judge Stirba said that preserving the autonomyof myoffice is in the public interest,” he said. “It's what I've been arguing all along.” D ORECK fied with John and has produced lems we have with the Legislature,” Bermansaid. Both have to go, he said “to change the fundamentalculture of that agency.” Meanwhile, board member Davis was appointed last month by contribute $5 million a year to the UTA,havelongfelt the transit authority has ignored their pleas for expanded bus service in the northern Utah county, among other complaints. “Weare upset with UTA, and to us, John Pingree is UTA,” Ritchie ENTIRE STOCK WOMEN’S DRESS * CASUAL *SANDALS* ATHLETIC WHAT'S WHAT. TWISTER or FISHERMAN YOURCHOICE $2199 the eight signatures. That request also wassigned by Tronically, the firing issueis re- comeoneofthreefinalists to head a transit authority in Orlando, Fla. A search committee from Orlando is scheduled to be in Salt Lake City within the next few days to interview people about Pingree. A decision on the Florida job is expectedlater this month — likely within a few days of the May 12 special UTA board meeting. 10-ple wise Ice 919° ITALIAN or SAPPHIR’ OR2 PAIR FOR$36.00 OR2 PAIR FOR $40.00 RARER For Mother's Day Ay nent would not have given up if he tlement saved taxpayers in the vorce or abandonment hanced bus-security program recommended by management. The ties, on a tourof thosesites Friday andseeif the court dismisses the case, andifit does, refusethe settlement?” At the time the lawsuit was filed, McConkie said Gibbs wasn’t in it for the money — rather,his client owedit to citizens to stand : up for the constitutional principles that Short supposedly violated. McConkie said dropping the lawsuit after such a settlementis not hypocritical. The important « issueis that police officers or governmentofficials cannot investigate a potential criminal matter without a search warrant. “When is that principle proven? Whenthe countysteps up and gives $107,000, I'd sayit's proven," McConkie said. Short countered that his oppohad a strong case. As for the commission's settlement, Short said “it will be up to taxpayers to decide whether or not it was an orchestrated event and a giveaway of their tax dollars to somebody who maynot deserveit.” Commissioner Randy Horiuchi said Short was wrong,andthe set Several women in the audience, including Utah Children director Roz McGee, suggested that the legislation was biased becauseit was written and passed by a Legislature that is predominantly white, male, Mormon and middle- or upper-income. That contrasts sharply with the program’s target population, which comprises a disproportionate number of young women, manyof whom aresingle due to di- contractor, L & L Associates of country and biathlon communi- Oreck Wet/Dry Vac Weights only 19 Ibs. but powerful enough to pick up dirt and oe ‘anywhere. Work on clogged sinks, wash basins, sinks, tievirtually any kind of wet api RESZREZEEERERERESERZEEERERER REESE @ Continued from B-1 creation and local governments in Wasatch County. @Squaw Peak, a Provo City- whomaresingle mothers — will be forever relegated to “worker bee” status. Their dreams of ever becoming professionals. UTA Accepts Bid for First Phase of Light Rail al. The company promised to give Seven Sites In Contention For Biathlon terson argued that participants — a majority of ual differences is worrisometoher, Peterson said. As the lone womanin the Utah Senate,sheis used place calls to phone users in the 24-countyarea. 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