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Show Don’t miss the Inserted in this week’s paper! SAMPLE COPY 75¢ Counter Copy Price Messenger Subscription flyer inside Gunnison Valley Edition www.sanpetemessenger.com VOL. 86 • NUMBER 11 Gas cleanup exceeds $1 million mark SANPETE WEATHER FORECAST High/Low WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008 Chance precip. Wednesday 50/31 ........................ 20% Rain Thursday 46/30 ........................ 20% Rain Friday 45/26 ........................ 15% Rain Saturday By John Hales Managing editor GUNNISON—Six months into what could be a decade-long effort, the cost of cleaning up the Gunnison Top Stop gas leak has exceeded the $1 million mark. That mark is the amount of a state fund that could be used for remedia- tion of the spill; beyond that mark, the cost will be borne by Top Stop’s parent company, Wind River Petroleum. “We’re on my nickel now,” said Wind River’s president, Craig Larson, at a meeting two weeks ago to update residents on the cleanup’s progress. At the time, the cleanup had cost about $280,000 more than the $1 million. Though the cleanup is moving forward, and officials overseeing it seem to be pleased at the progress, the milestone means that the state fund will have nothing left to help pay thirdparty damage claims. Those claims instead will have to be paid either by Wind River willingly, or through judgments of the court in at least two lawsuits, or not at all. Last Week’s Weather (Courtesy Ted Olson, Snow College) Date 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 AT Max. Min. 47 49 48 54 38 36 43 19 20 23 22 29 22 21 A Snow trace 1” By John Hales GLANCE Managing editor Gunnison Library announces new hours The Gunnison Civic Library has new hours as of Monday. The new schedule is Monday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and closed on Sunday. Beautification committee seeks volunteers The Gunnison City Beautification Committee is seeking volunteers, men or women. “If you have a green thumb, creative mind, or civic pride, we want you,” says Councilwoman Lori Nay. Contact the city if you would like to serve. KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Gunnison City council members Jerolyn Young and Lori Nay (left) listen as the city’s attorney, Peter Stirba (right), announce that the city, businesses and residents have filed a civil suit against Wind River Petroleum, parent company of Top Stop convenience stores. By Suzanne Dean and Catherine Gardner Staff writers MANTI—Republican primary races are shaping up for the U.S. Congress and state senate seats representing Sanpete County as well as for two Sanpete County commission seats. The first step in narrowing some of the candidate fields will be Republican and Democratic caucuses next Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. Republican gatherings are scheduled in 27 precincts in Sanpete County. The Democrats, who will gather more on a town basis, plan seven caucuses. (See chart on page A7 for caucus locations.) Besides electing precinct-level officers and raising a little money for the parties, caucus participants will elect delegates to Spring break will be Monday through Friday, March 2428. Schools will be dismissed at regular times on Friday, March 21. Classes will resume regular schedules on Monday, March 31. You said It! “None of the —Kathy Hopkins of Elkridge Financial said, referring to a home in the Top Stop gas leak affected zone LLOYD CALL / MESSENGER PHOTO UDOT crews are replacing irrigation pipes and culverts that run under U.S. 89 between Ephraim and Manti prior to the beginning of a major construction project that will extend the road to four lanes for a 3-mile section. U.S. 89 widening project underway near Manti By Lloyd Call Associate Publisher Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 GUNNISON—In the months following the report of Gunnison Top Stop’s 20,000-gallon gas leak last August, there has been the palpable sense of an impending courtroom clash between the city and the company . Last Wednesday, the “impending” became virtually “inevitable.” “The legal process has been started, and now the matter is before the court. The process will unfold as it would in a civil lawsuit,” said the city’s attorney, Peter Stirba, on Wednesday shortly after filing a lawsuit against Wind River Petroleum— (See “Lawsuit” on A2) Candidates slate filled, parties prepare caucuses South Sanpete School District spring break imminent lenders will take it. If they have to foreclose on that home, it’s not sellable. It’s basically at zero value,” (See “Cleanup” on A2) Gunnison City, residents start legal action against Wind River Corp. 44/24 ...................... 15% Snow Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. According to information given at the meeting, approximately 6,800 gallons of fuel have been removed from the soil, and 2,500 tons of contaminated soil (rather than the erroneous 25,000 tons that had been reported previously) have been removed. Monitoring of air quality in homes and business continues. MANTI—A long-awaited $5 million widening project on U.S. 89 between Manti and Ephraim is underway, according to Myron Lee, public involvement manager for UDOT Region 4 in Richfield. “The first step is to extend culverts and replace irrigation pipes under the road prior to April 1, because irrigation water will soon begin to flow,” Lee said. Construction crews are making those changes now. The project, which is under the direction of Staker and Parsons, general contractors from Payson, has a 90-working days project deadline, which means construction (See “Widening” on A2) county and state nominating conventions. The county conventions will narrow partisan county races to a maximum of two candidates, while state conventions will narrow the field in statewide races. U.S. Congress, Third District Challenging Rep. Chris Cannon, RUtah, for the Republican nomination in the Third Congressional District is Jason Chaffetz of Alpine, former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman; David O. Leavitt of Nephi, former county attorney in Juab County and brother to former Gov. Michael Leavitt; Joe “NPC” Ferguson of Cedar Hills (Utah County), a former commercial airline pilot whose website touts his membership in the John Birch Society; and Stoney Fonua, Herriman, who ran for governor on Constitution Party ticket in (See “Caucuses” on A7) Inmate poster is theme for substance abuse conference By Karen Prisbrey Staff writer RICHFIELD—“Know More” is the theme of an upcoming substance abuse conference sponsored by the Sevier Valley Substance Abuse Council (SVSAC) in Richfield. The free, family-oriented conference will be held April 18-19 at the Sevier Valley Center and Richfield High School in Central Utah and will address drug addiction. Families throughout Utah are welcome to attend. The logo for the conference is a colorful 5-foot by 5-foot poster showing a serious Uncle Sam saying, “Know More.” Emerson Curley, an inmate at the Central Utah Correctional Facility, painted the picture (See “Know more” on A7) “Know More” poster points finger at substance abusers for conference. |
