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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black 75¢ Counter Copy Price Gunnison Valley Edition www.sanpetemessenger.com VOL. 86 • NUMBER 47 Freak accident takes life of Gunnison man SANPETE WEATHER By Karen Prisbrey FORECAST High/Low % precip. Wednesday Rain/Snow, 43/20 ..................20% Thursday Flurries, 40/23 .......................10% Friday Rain/Snow, 40/26 ..................50% Saturday Rain/Snow, 39/21 ..................35% Last Week’s Weather (Courtesy Ted Olson, Snow College) Date Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Dec. 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 AT Max. 49 51 43 35 37 36 36 A Min. 8 19 19 13 14 19 15 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007 Prec. .65” .32” GLANCE Final count on court bond released Yesterday, the Sanpete County Commission accepted the results of a recount of votes cast in the courts-building bond election, which took place last Tuesday. The recount verified the outcome of the initial count, showing the measure failing by a margin of seven votes, rather than the five originally reported. The final vote count was 2957 for the bond, 2964 against. Staff writer GUNNISON—The life of a man held in high esteem in the Gunnison Valley was taken tragically in a freak accident last week. Vern Hatch, 71, Gunnison, was killed when a bale of straw weighing nearly 840 pounds fell off a trailer and hit the Chevy Astrovan he was riding in, according to Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Cameron Roden. Roden said that Hatch, his daughter Maxine Hatch, 46, and her dog Winston, were traveling southbound on SR-28 about four miles out of Nephi on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at approximately 8 p.m. A pickup truck driven by Parry Allred, 39, Nephi, was headed northbound towing a fifth-wheel trailer loaded with four of the large bales. The load, which was secured with a single tie-down strap to the trailer, came loose as Allred rounded a curve, said Roden. Two bales on the driver’s side fell off the trailer into oncoming traffic. Hatch was able to avoid hitting the first bale which rolled off the side of the road, but hit the second bale which had landed in the travel lane. Hatch’s vehicle hit the bale with the front driver side area, rotated to the left and began to overturn, rolling once and coming to rest on the right shoulder of the northbound lane. Hatch was killed instantly. His daughter sustained nonlife-threatening injuries and was transported to the Central Utah Medical Hospital at Nephi, and later taken by ambulance to the University of Utah Medical Center for additional treatment. She was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon. Winston the dog was also a casualty. According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the case will be referred to the Juab County Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution. Allred could be held liable for the accident because of improperly securing the load. The attorney’s office had no comment as of yesterday, except to say that it was still awaiting the police report of the accident before screening the case to see if any laws were violated. Hatch, whose funeral was Monday, was well-respected in the area, a man of all seasons who gave of himself often. His service to others was acknowledged by a large poster that was presented to his family following the accident that read, “We will miss you Vern,” and which many people had written their sentiments upon. Hatch had been a bus driver for the South Sanpete School District and the Gunnison Schools. He enjoyed spending time with the youth and taking them on their various field trips and to sports events. The marquee at Gunnison Valley High School expressed the feelings of students, faculty, and members of the community about Hatch. Hatch participated willingly and enthusiastically for many years in the Gunnison Lion’s Club. (See “Hatch” on A2) Snow plow Butler, weather conspire to dash Badger's hopes of national title MT. PLEASANT—Scouts from all over the county are invited to participate in the 22nd Mt. Pleasant Stake Pow Wow January 12, 19 and 26. The Pow Wow is an opportunity for scouts and leaders to work on various merit badges. Classes for more than 20 merit badges will be offered and will be filled on a first come first serve basis. The classes are offered free of charge except for two, Art and Leatherwork, where participants are required to pay a minimal fee to cover the cost of the supplies. Registration forms will be given out to troop leaders and are also available at the Boy Scout Shop in Ephraim. Forms may be mailed or emailed to Lynn and Pat Olson at 190 S. 100 E. #96 Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647, or lynnpat@cut. net. By John Hales Managing editor Sub for Santa seeks more cash donations GUNNISON—Donations for Sub-for-Santa are still needed and may be dropped off at two locations in Gunnison: Rasmussen Ace Hardware and Moroni Feed Credit Union, inside Gunnison Market. See story on Page A3. Opinions .......... A4 Lifestyle...........A5 School ...............A7 Sports ...............A8 classified ......A11 Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 In life, Vern Hatch was ever the prankster. Here, he warmly enjoys having a hot cinnamon bun while fellow city workers work in the cold, hanging Christmas lights. Hatch was killed in an accident last week when a bale of straw weighing over 800 pounds smashed into a vehicle he was riding in. nJcaa national championshp - ButlEr 56, snow 27 Pow Wow in Mt. Pleasant offers classes INSIDE kAREN PRiSBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO SEAN HALES / MESSENGER PHOTO SALT LAKE CITY—Last Saturday saw the first two big snowfalls of the season, and only one of them was weather-related. The other, and to many in Sanpete County the bigger, was the first defeat of the year for the Snow College Badgers. And it was a big one. In their final game of the year, one being played for the NJCAA national championship, Snow fell hard, 56-27, to the Grizzlies of Butler Community College in the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. It was an anticlimactic end to a superb season, one in which Snow went undefeated, won a Western States Football League conference title and held the NJCAA’s No. 1 spot for several weeks, including the week going into the bowl game. The first half of the game was played in a blizzard, the first of the winter season, which covered the field in white just as fast as snow-clearing tractors could brush it aside. The field seemed more suited to hockey than to football, creating a slip-sliding fiasco until both teams got acclimated and until halftime when the storm let up enough to allow the field Butler running back Beau Johnson plows through snow and Snow defenders on his way to his first of four touchdowns. (See “Snow” on A8) Football players booked for burglaries By John Hales Managing editor EPHRAIM—Sanpete County police authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with burglaries and theft at the Splish Splash Car Wash and the Malt Shop in Ephraim, and arson at the car wash. Ephraim Police Chief Ron Rasmussen said three Snow College students, all members of the Badger football team, were booked in the Sanpete County Jail on charges stemming from the burglaries. Stephon Thrash, of Crestview, Fla., was arrested Wednesday Andrew and booked into jail Castaneda on arson, burglary, theft and criminalmischief charges. Bail was set at $61,274. Andrew Castaneda, of Caldwell, Idaho, was also arrested on Wednesday on similar charges. For CasStephon Thrash taneda, bail was set at $76,724. Troy Cummings, of Las Vegas, Nev., was arrested Friday on a burglary charge. His bail was $10,000. As of Tuesday, all three were still in jail. Troy Cummings Rasmussen said the arrests appeared to solve several burglaries throughout the county, including at car washes in Manti (See “Arrests” on A2) Elementary kids present ‘Sounds of Christmas’ By Karen Prisbrey Staff writer kAREN PRiSBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Fourth grade students perform Christmas carols on their recorders at the Christmas program. GUNNISON —Gunnison Valley Elementary School students brought in the holiday season with their annual “Sounds of Christmas” program at the high school gym Monday. A capacity crowd began arriving early to get the best seats. The arrangement of the gym enabled everyone to see their children as they performed lighthearted holiday songs. The program began with all the children singing “Once Upon a Christmas” in harmony under the direction of conductor Jody Allred. Kindergarten and first grade students belted out their numbers with gusto and demonstrated that they weren’t afraid to add actions and interpretation to Christmas songs. The audience was delighted. Students in the second and third grades followed with (See “Sounds” on A7) |