Show A2 Sanpete Wednesday September 29 2004 Valley Edition Messenger-Gunniso- Hansen (Continued from A ) counting because the income wasn’t what it should have been” he said The plea agreement further that the charges will he reduced to misdemeanors if Httnscn pays all required resticomtution and successfully slates he refused to give Although a name Bjerragard said he turned the books over to a local accountant who determined that Hansen had been depositing about said a year ago” Bjerregard ' When Ephraim officials learned of Hansen’s misuse of landfill money they began checks made out to the landfill into her own account “We knew we were on firm ground making the accusations looking at her handling of city funds as well For many years her city clerk duties included handling the city’s finances That search too turned up inconsistencies From the evidence currently available it appears Hansen embezzled about $60000 from the city and Hansen terminatedwith thanks pletes probation The case has now been turned over to the Division of Adult Probation and Parole for a investigation With Hansen’s plea more about the case is information By John Hales Staff writer EPHRAIM available although questions remain about how much Hansen took her motives and how she was able to deposit checks made to government entities into her personal bank account - “Wendy Hansen’s employment with the is terminated from this city point” Those were Ephraim Mayor Morris Casperson’s Casperson said was that the council feared that if they fired her and she was found innocent she could file a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city words after the city council formally sacked Hansen as city clerk during its meeting on Wednesday Sept 22 The firing stemmed from Hansen’s guilty plea earlier that day to two counts of misusing Doug Bjerregard mayor of Mayfield and chairman of the landfill cooperative said the investigation leading to the criminal charges began over a year ago after he discovered discrepancies in the landfill's accounting books After the council’s vote Councilman Don Olson with obvious emotion moved to include a thank you in her termination letter public money One of the counts dealt with Ephraim City funds ”1 knew that there was something wrong in the ac- - Until the council's vote Hansen had been on paid administrative leave from the city When the charges against her first surfaced the council decided not to fire her but to wait for the outcome of the case One consideration “Even though there might have been some improprieties she served the city for 14 years I think there needs to be some kind of thanks for what she’s done” he said Council $40000 from the landfill Morris mayor Ephraim members Anderson and Kim Cragun voiced their agreement and the council accepted the motion by consensus But after the meeting Casperson said His figures correspond with court documents that show $1 16356 in checks is in question However the exact total Hansen allegedly stole may exceed that Casperson expressed reservations “I don’t think we should thank someone who stole from us” he said For purposes of prosecution the investigation only went back to 1999 Hansen however became treasureiof the landfill ules" says that a look back entire time with the is “more than likely” Casperson said Ephraim has turned over city records to the state auditor who has promised a report in But Blackham commenting after Hansen’s court appear Jannctle several Star Theater front (Continued A landfill ) Theater in Payson bought it Mower decided Recently to retire and put the theater up for sale Last week Save our Star signed a sale agreement and put down earnest money Save our Star has until January to pay the rest of the sale price Now the work really begins Save our Star hasn’t really been functioning for the past several years So not only does the theater need to be revived but also the group who will spearhead the effort Currently the group’s core consists of Nay and her husband Dr Richard B Nay and evolved into a group known as Save our Star For more than a decade Nay and others have been trying to acquire and restore the structure thought to be one of the last Beaux theaters west of the Mississippi In the l9X0x and 1990s the Gunnison Valley Arts Council and art performances to the Star In 1987 people involved with the arts council got the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and brought exhibits slatted raising funds to purchase it But before they could Diana raise enough money Paul Mower owner of the Huish Mayfield Major Spencer of Dean of Humanities Reform (Continued from AI) to promote educational scholarships for all eligible inmates regardless of their race color or creed The intent of these committees is to break down barriers and to promote understanding among the groups The luncheon included an and served southern menu of barbequed ribs and thicken fried catfish collard greens with ham hocks baked beans with honey and brown sugar peas and salt macaroni and pork cheese potato salad combread and iced cold soda To top it off were generous helpings of sweet potato pie a la mode After an awards ceremony for service rendered by both staff and inmates the luncheon was adjourned until next year Sanpete News Company Inc publishing the Sakpcte Messenger GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION Member Utah Press Association Deadlines Post Office UPS & Contact Information 0 Copyright Sanpete News Company Inc ©2004 All rights served Reproduction or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher Published each Wednesday for 75c each $24 00 inside Sanpete County $27 00 outside Sanpete County by Sanpete News Company Inc 35 S Mam Manti Utah 84642 Phone fax Suzanne 8 sanpetemessenger com publisher news ©sanpetemessenger com stories to' ads to Hoydsanpetemessengercom Deadline: Thursday 5 pm Manti: 35 S Main Hours: 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti Utah 84642 and at additional mailing offices POSTM AST R: Send address changes to' Sanpete S Mam Messenger Manti Editor & Publisher Associate Publisher Senior Reporter Utah 84642 Suzanne Dean Lloyd Call Sean Hales j0hn Hales Jacque Marsh Robbie Davis Lindsay Kogianes Kelly Hancock Ben pox Assignment Reporter Office Manager Circulation Manager Administrative Assistant Webmaster Editorial Assistant Staff Mantl Ftn Green Gunnison Centerfield Axtell Judy Chantry C R Truitt Darlene Agren Elva Jensen Audrey Boore Margaret Amy Holly Nicholes Erika Johnson Kathy Eggleston Bob Bahlmann Doug Johnson Jeff Ericksen Craig Cox and School Coaches Sean Hales Vern Buchanan Peter Goss Russ Beck Roger Baker Corne Lynn Player Contributing Writers Jana Wahlquist Karen Buchanan Moroni Mayfield Spring City Staff Writers Sports Editor Sports Writers Photographers Columnists Shirley Bahlmann years before that Bjerregard over her at Snow College They hope to soon include many more “partners” said Nay “Everyone we talk to has been excited about the project)” she said “and we hope they’ll all want to be volved" In troubled and uncertain times people seem to be finding comfort in reaching back to preserve the past Moves to store the Star Theater follow a number of other significant restorations in Sanpete County They include the Spring City school Manti’s former city hall and the stone LDS church in Centerfield The Star Theater began life in Gunnison in 9 2 as the “Casino Theater" The origin of the name isn’t known In 1936 the name was changed to the Star The building is distin- guished by the many cherubim and flowers on the fagade and the huge urns on the towers Because of its intricate detail Beaux Arts architecture is not often preserved Some of the Star ornamentation is deteriorated but some is intact “boxed in” by an added entrance The theater still has the old dressing rooms an orchestra pit and even an artesian well in the basement of it According to the application that placed the building on the National Historic Register the Star was one of a number of distinctively styled theaters constructed in Utah between 1910 and 1920 Theaters were among the most elaborate examples of architecture in their communities Examples of other Utah theaters "We want to make this an exciting show house to which people will want to come” she adds Fellow committee member Diana Spencer adds “The his- You’re Star Thetorically significant ater in Gunnison restored to its former beauty could be a show place as well as a Blackham said Manti Mayor Kim Ander- son speaking in his role as president of Zion’s Bank in Manti says that conscientious bank employees should have questioned the deposits The fact that questions were never raised leads him to believe that someone inside the Bank of Ephraim was “looking the other way” he said If so that person could also be culpable Since the Bank of Ephraim failure getting to the bottom of collusion by bank employany ees has been difficult because records have been in the hands of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FD1C) said Casperson Both Bjerregard reading The Voire g§ 64 East 100 North of Sanpete Gunnison 1893 County since (435) 528-72- Providing for all your Healthcare Needs! Gunnison Provider Clinics Monday through Friday Kimberly Beck MD 5 Jan Christensen 1 MD Dwight Inouye MD 2 Christine Jackson MD 2 John Jackson MD 2 Monroe Clinic Jan Jonson PA-- 528-72- 2 Cary Judy DO 7 Richard Nay MD 1 7 w r J 1 I 40 1" ’ I Visiting Specialists “talkies” Some of the stage shows were quite spectacular One even included an elephant on the stage There was always a Saturby most of the kids in tow n One of those “kids” now grown up tells about going to the silent movies w ith his younger brother and and paying his brother a nickel to read the subtitles to their grandpa so he grandfather wouldn't have to Restoring the building to its original splendor is only the beginning said Nay Besides running family- - friendly movies the arts councilSave our Star organization plans to hold independent film and other festivals and to bring in performing artists r Home Health & Hospice & 67 East Center Street eerve the counties of Sanpete Sevier Wayne When the arts council was on acquiring the Star it brought in four different acoustical formed guitarists for who percrowds “The performers raved about the acoustics in the theater" said Nay “Some even offered to come back w henever they could fit it Diabetic Education We Available service Include: working from Nursing IV Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Specialist! Referral Aid for Otner Services Nurse is on cell 24 hours day seven days a week If you have questions please feel free to eaU The patmrt is first In at we Oof 5 or Gunnison Valley Hospital into their sched j e t e i i - i and Casperson said that more information would come out once Hansen's sentencing is final GUNNISON VALLEY HOSPITAL style) include the Empress Theater in Magna ( 9 7) the Egyptian in Ogden (1924) and the Capitol in Salt Lake (1912) The “Casino” first showed silent films and stage productions and then graduated to attended also asking that question” The Sanpete Messenger that have been preserved (though not the Beaux Arts day matinee ance said “The total amount of funds involved has not been asand I’m not sure it certained The records and ever will accounting were not the best” How was Hansen able to deposit checks made out to her employers into her personal account? ‘Tni sure the entities are |