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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1994 News Poachers arrested Sunday night. October 30. Kane County Sheriffs Lt. Shawn Draper and BLM Enforcement ranger Jeff I xng stopped two Arizona men for spot lighting 25 miles On east of Kanab. The officers observed blood on the tailgate of their vehicle and located a 6xS point buck deer which had just been illegally taken. Arrested were Daniel DeWitt 32. and Michael Stapely 31. both of Mesa. Arizona. Officer Scott White of the Utah DXR was notified and an interagency investigation into this incident and others are continuing. To I Drugs Continued from Page 1 culminating perhaps one of the biggest undercover drug operations in Kane County history, said Jackson. He denies the bust insistwas politically-motivatewas decision raid the ing that force made by the entire strike d, board. We wouldve done it regardless of the election. Jackson said he was pleased with the operation. Were confident that we got two main players getting marijuana into the high school. THE PEOPLE OF KANE COUNTY from RICHARD NEGUS promise, if you elect me. to serve just one term. promise to deal with each and every citizen of Kane County in a fair and evenhanded mannSr. I promise to listen to the concerns of all County employees and. with the help of the other two commissioners, to set up standards and procedures so each employee will know exactly what his or her duties are. and what to look forward to in the future in regard to increases and benefits. As a reporter 1 cover our commission meetings, 1 have seen problems in the present government of our county. These include a lack of planning for the future, failure to consult with heads of depart-- ; ments. and disregard for the valuable advice and experience of our employees. This must not conI j ; j tinue! Meetings should be held when the most people can attend. If this means meetinc in the evening in Kanab or in other communities than Kanab from time to time, so be it! An accurate record has not always been kept of the Minutes of the meetings. If elected, I will do my utmost to convince my fellow commissioners that every second of each meeting must be taped so there is never any question as to what transpired. As we come to the threshold of the 21st Century. I want to see Kane County become an even better place to live, with good planning and a commission that encourages growth by providing an atmosphere that is positive and constructive. Together we will solve the problems of con- - . serving our water, maintaining our right to the 2477 roads, and deal with both Federal and State Governments in a firm manner that preserv es the rights of all our Kane County citizens, I want your vote on November Sth. and. for the e Commis-- : next four years. I will be your sioner - ready, willing and able to listen to each and even' one of you, and to make the decisions demanded of me, knowing that, together, we have done our best! Candidates imformative and u Brunner The October 26 Candidate 5 Night started out ci'il but turned ugly, when the two Kane County Sheriff candidates squared off. He (Lamont Smith) doesn't have the aptitude to write a report, charged candidate Maxwell Jackson. "If you dont have the ability, you attack the guy in office. Current Sheriff Jackson camhas mounted a write-ipaign, after being narrowly-defeateby opponent Lamont Smith in the Republican Primary'. "I feel sorry for the people of Kane County, commented Smith of current law enforcement. They ithe Sheriffs Department are just giving them excuses. The verbal volley went on through the evening. In the Commission race, things were much.more congenial with people behaving like adults. C ont ending for Commission seat B is Kanab City councilman Steve Crosby, facing off City mayor against Bernie Ripper. Crosby said that the community needs to be more involved in its government. He criticized the current Commission for having an excess and some unwise road budget expenditures. Crosby expressed interest in assistingthe Kanab City Library. In responding to whether he has the time to dedicate to the job, Crosby said that since he was a partner in. his own business, he would take the time needed. By Dixie n d ex-cit- y ex-Kan- Many audience members were concerned about county employee issues. Your whole county funct ions on county employees," said Crosby. But its not a quick fix solution." Bernie Ripper said that he has disagreed with many of the Commission's decisions. He said that while he wants to support county employees, there has to be money for a raise." Ripper feels that merit raises may be a positive way to go. "You need to earn a raise, but you shouldn't have to climb the Empire State Building. Ripper is concerned that the Cedar Mountain area is taxed without representation. He supfire district, ports a county-wid- e and feels like the Commission needs to show more diplomacy when dealing with the Federal government. In the race for the A seat, Richard Negus is facingoff against Joe Judd. Richard Negus said that he felt county employees needed more voice to express job concerns. He cited his experience in running different businesses as qualification for Commissioner. Negus, in making reference to his humane job of removing the asses from the Grand Canyon in the '70's, that probably won't be nearly as hard as removing the asses from Kane County. Kane County has a right to expect good government," said Joe Judd. He feels that many of the important county issues should go to the people. As for county employees, I'd like to standardize hiring practices. Everyone should understand the playing rules." . In the County Clerk Auditor race, current Clerk Karla Johnson is being challenged by write-icandidate Georgia Baca. Johnson said she was used to living on a budget, having married a cattle rancher.T love my job." Johnson proudly pointed to the county's maintenance of a AAA bond rating during her tenure as Clerk. Baca cites her experience under former clerk Kathy Chamberlain as giving her experience to run the office. She wants to see better recording of Commission minutes, as well as better treatment of county employees. Im concerned with the quality of life in Kane County, said candidate Maxwell Jackson. He stated that he supports a countvwide fire department, and wants to continue supporting the successful Kane Drug Strike Force. In this vein and to the audience's surprise, Jackson an- n Now Showing at Kanab Theatre Ul full-tim- -- - - Paid for by Citizens to Elect Richard Negus 2 Rated PG Wednesday (11-2- Saturday ) through (11-5- ) Showtime 8 p.rn. 29 W. Center Take a friend to the movies! nounced that the Strike Force would be making a large drug bust the nextgay. Tommorrow, we will be culminating one of the biggest undercover drug operations in Kane County history. Arrest warrants are being prepared as we speak. The Sheriffs Department hiring practices, as well as its budget were brought up as important issues. What is your hiring policy anyway? Questioned Rosalie Coleman. The county commissioners are the ones that hire and fire, responded Jackson. But we are going to try to tighten up on that. Jackson went on to say that part-tim- e personnel do not have to test for jobs. You must test even for part time, responded Deputy Dan Watscn. Thats in your own policy. Smith hammered on Jackson for department overspending, and the borrowing of monies from one line item to the next. Investigator Ginger Kitchen asked Clerk Karla Johnson about the budget question. Isnt it common (for a department) to borrow from one line item to another? That happens only on written permission from the Commissioners, "responded Johnson. There are so many things that come up that we dont have control over, explained Jackson. You may be over on some items and under on the others. But Jackson supporters question Smith's budgeting ability as well. Jacksons deputy, Sean Draper, produced bankruptcy papers of a former business ofSmiths. Smith explained that the business fell on hard times after his partner was hospitalized, and the economy took a nosedive. I learned from the bankruptcy, said Smith. And I wouldnt of had a bankruptcy if Id of had a Commission to fall back on, he said with humor, in reference to the Sheriff Departments budget. The honesty ofbotfi candidates was also brought up. Smith pointed out that Jackson had announced at a previous candidate's night that a law enforcement contract had already been signed with the community of Big Water. Smith said that the topic wasn't even seriously discussed until the following Commission meeting, and that no such contract has even yet been signed. Audience member Lou Pratt said that Smiths business records, do not verify the number of years he claims to have been in business. The night was ugly, and there were clearly no winners. |
