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Show 1 Kim: 10- - UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. Slcinlvr 4. 2IHJ1 Federal drug law changes led to longer prison sentences Mure thun 38,200 x.fjpl; were rcrerred to federal prosecutors Tor alleged drug oIToiikob during fifJU, the Justice I)ofartment's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJSi announced today. About 84 ftorretil of these sus; lecls were subsequently charged in a district court. Oft lie 38,288 susjs.fts federal law enforcenient agencies sent to U.S. uttorneys, 81 percent were involved with murijuanu, 28 ijorcont cocaine I.J.S. jviwder, 15 percent cruck cocaine, 15 jKjrcenl. niolliamphutamine, 7 percent opialesand 4 percent other drugs, been arrested previously-2- 8 percent had Tive or more prior arrests. Almost 90 percent of drug defendants charged were convicted. Most (95 percent) of those convicted pleaded guilty to at least one of the offenses charged. Ninety-on- e percent of those convicted were convicted of drugtrufllcking. Only 3pcrcent were convicted of simple possession of the BJS rojxirt said. Comparing 1984 and 1999, the nuniberoi'drugilerendants increased from 11,854 to 29,808. During this drug prosecutions increased from 18 percent of the criminal caseload in 1984 to 32 percent in 1999 drugs. percentofthose charged wit It a drug offense during 1999 had Sixty-tw- o percentofthe convicted drug offenders were subject to a statutory minimum prison sentence-2- 9 percent to 60 months or less, 30 percent to 61 to 120 months and 3 percent to 121 months or more, including life sentences. Based on a survey of federal prison inmates, 16 percent of the incarcerated drug offenders reported being aii importer, grower or manufacturer of illegal drop, 25 percent said they had distributed drop to street deaf-- Sixty-fiv- e ere. T wenty-eig- percent ofthe con- ht victed drug defendants received a reduced sentence for providing substantial assistance to prosecutors. Additionally, 21 percent received a reduced sentence because they were identified as a first-tim- e, drug offender. Changes in federal statutes during the 1980s and 1990s have had a substantial effect on the processing of defendants convicted in federal courts - especially drug law offenders. All federal offenders sentenced to a prison term are now required to serve at least 87 percent of tha sentence imposed, and many drug offenders are subject to minimum terms of imprisonment based on the type and quantity of the drug invol ved. Between 1986 and 1999, prison terms imposed on drug offenders increased from an averap of62 months to 74 months. The average term drug offenders entering prison could expect to serve rose from an averap 30 months to 66 months. non-viole- nt Runscvell Maor Dennis Jenkins is introduced to Derek Nelson, the newest officer on the Roosevelt Police force. Nelson, who resides in Roosevelt, is a former Duchesne C ounty Sheri ffdeputy. Me fills the ecil (iurr. vacancy left on the force by the dentil of police chiel I Ni:w OFMCT.K - 89-year-- old scales Checkout Utahn Kings Peak Richard Pratt, 89, Provo, conquered Kings Peaks bed month durbackpacking trip that ing a five-dacovered a totul of 48 miles. 1 Ic claims to be the oldest person to summit Kings Peak under his own power. Kinj Peak at more than 2.5 miles uhove sea level and some 14 miles from the nearest road is Utah's highest point and a rugged physical challenge for a hike of any age. Pratt thought that his legs would lie the biggest problem, but it was his breathing that was the mgjor concern. Its rough, hut you just keep putting one foot forward." He reached the top on July 27 after walkingubouL three miles from huge camp in the Yellowstone Creek drainage, southwest of King-- i Peak. Steve Pratt, 80, a sou, and three grandsons, Ben Pratt, 30; Chad Van Orman, 28, and Jonnthan Pratt, 26, also hiked to Kings Peak the same y day to form a from the Duchesne side. three-generatio- n our Classifieds! To order call 435-722-51- 3! climb His daughter, Carolyn Mock, Orem, reported that if isa wonderful feat for someone, w ho will turn 90 in May 2002. Pratt Uxiklwoofthegrandrionson a Kings Peak hike in 1983 when he wasonly 7 1 . They couldnt make itull the way hack then because of their yoiingagc. Ben challenged his grandfather In another shot at KingB Peaks this year. This time ittook Pratt seven hours to reach the summit vs. five from base camp in 1983. Ilis grandson, Van Orman reported that Richard walked over logs, boulders and rivers, and said that lie was "awesome. He might do it again ifheisinas good of shape next year. 1 don't see my doctor much, but he said I have the body of a he said. All the walking might explain the reason for his vigor. Nine Mile Canyon Road in need of improvements Carbon County CoiiiinissiiincrR have requested u meet ing with Duch- esne County Commissioners and representatives from the Utah Department of Transpo: lation to discuss the possibility of having Nine Mile Canyon Road designated as a collector road, a major road connecting communities. The designation would federal make the mad eligible funding in the event that the two counties that shure the mad would ever decide to puve it. Residents who live on the Carlton County section of the mud are seeking mitigation to control the dust problem that is created hy an increased amount of traffic in the canyon . The canyon mad winds uist ancient American petmglyphs and ruins between Wellington and Duchesne County. Tourism has increased in the area as the sites become more due to increased promotion. Thedust problem is intensified even more by an upswing in heavy logging and oil trucks that are using t lie road more than ever before. According to residents of the urea, the dust is not only coating their homes, it is also obscuring munv of the peLmglyph panels anil parking along the mad is marginal. fr well-know- n As ic cun von grows as a popular tourist destination, we are going to have more problems, said Kathy Hanna-Smita resident from the Carbon County section of the road. "The dust is not only coating everything, it is destroying the experi1.1 ence. But many individuals are opposed to paving the road, fearingthat it will bringincreoscd traffic. Another concern is that the pavement will easily he destroyed by the heavy trucking truffle. Duchesne County has paved por-- t ions of the mud where the traffic caused dust problems for its residents. But even that attempt to curtail the dust has had a minimal effect . There is Bt ill a danger presented by high speed vehicles going through the canyon, not being able to see because of the flying dust. And unregulated t raffle has turned portions of ( lie mad into fine silt that is a foot deep in places. ir the road were to become a collector road, it would still require ciMipc ration on tlie federal, state, and levels to pave it. Another partial solution might be to place weight restrictions on the traffic using the mad to minimize its use. Duchesne County's per capita income increases 1 percent Utah's wealthier counties continue to see per capita income increases while many of the states poorcrcounties, including Duchesne and Uintah, lag behind. Duchesne County had a per capita income of $16,369 in 1999 a one percent increase from 1998 according to the Lhiiversity of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. (Income data for 2000 from the UJS. Census and other sources will not be available until next year.) The county, which ranked No. 24 among the 29 counties in terms of per capita income, faired higher in the study than neighboring Uintah County. Although Uintah Countys per capita income increased three percent from 1998 to 1999, it wee still low at $15,453. Wasatch and Carbon counties which border Duchesne to the west and south, were both ranked above ten in per capita increases. Carbon County was listed ninth in the state for per capita income. The countys per capita income increased 3.4 percent from 1998 to 1999 topping off at $20,684. Wasatch County had the fourth highest per capita income in 1999 of a 5.7 percent increase $22,643 from 1998. However advocates for the poor say that per capita income of Summit, which ranked number one in the state, and Wasatch counties is wealthyfemilies who live in cities such as Park City and Heber. City . As a result those with lower or moderate incomes struggle to find affordable housing. Statewide, Utah had a per capita income of $23,276, up 4.4 percent from 1998. The state also moved up three places among the states to No. 40. Utahs most populated counties traditionally have had the highest incomes, said Alan Imicsmi, research analyst with the University of Utah Research Bureau. The state is trying to change that by directingeconomic incentives such as grants from Industrial Assistance Fund (IAF) to companies that agree to expand in rural areas. Even when employers have been offered incentives, they pass over many rural areas of the state. The small increases in income in counties such as Duchesne, Juab, Piute, Sanpete and San Juan reflect the difficulty those areas have in attractg jobs. ing good-payin- Made In America? Utah lawmaker fights to put labels on meat country-of-origi- n Traditionally beef has been what's for dinner now. Republican state Rep. Dave Ure, contends that consumers deserve to know where dinner comes from. Livestock or slaughtered stock imported to a U.S. plant for processing isnt labeled. In fact, there is nothing on a package of ground beef or any other kind of meat that tells wether it came from Argentina, Japan, or a ranch in Texas. Ure, who is a Kamas cattle rancher, wants to change that situation with a state law. However, at a meeting ofthe Legislatures Administrative Rules Review Committee last week, agriculture officials said his plan is destined to collide with the UE. Constitution and other federal laws coveringinteraational trade. If Utah passed a law regulating imported meat, it would not be alone. Five otherstates have passed similar laws. None ofthose laws are enforced because oflegal problems, noted Chris Crnich, manager of Utahs meat and poultry inspection program. Crnich went on to tell membereof the Administrative Rule Committee that several state attorney generals have determined it is "unconstitutional and illegal for a state to mandate country of origin. Its a states rights issue, and were going to make some headway somewhere, said Ure, who isnt through pushing the matter. Ure believes he can make an argument for labeling based on what he perceives as inferior health and safety standards in overseas processing plants. He intends to pursue that angle with the office of Sen. Orrin Hatch, in the 1 month old boys division are: TAKING THEGOLD-Winn- ers Monica and Paul son Quick; 2nd- - Tyler Witt, son of Brian of Quick, and Lisa Witt; and 3rd- - Anthony Downs, son of Darren and Tonya Downs. Prices at the pumps are increasing Extra duty over LaborDay cracked down on DUI and? Labor Day weekend was more expensive for UJS. motorists, particularly those in the Midwest and along the West coast, because ofa fire at a mqjor refinery in Illinois and dropping inventories of gasoline elsewhere. The national average for a gallon ofregular was $ 1 .48 on Monday, Aug. 27, up ten cents from earlier this month. Cities from Tulsa, Okie., to Chicago are seeing price increases of a uickel a gallon in one day, according to the Oil Price Information Service. Gasoline prices in Kansas City, Mo., hit $1.68 a gallon Monday, up from $1.48 over the weekend. Wholesale gasoline prices, particularly in the Midwest and on the West Coast, have shot up between 30 cents and 50 cents a gallon in recent weeks. The national average was expected to be over $ 1 .50 a gallon by the weekend. In the Midwest it was ex- pected to be as high as $1.75, says Geofff Sundstrom, a spokesman for rl safety concerns Roosevelt Police officers spent their Labor Day holiday workingtheir days off to help keep local roads safe for heavy travel. Police made over 200 traffic stops from Friday afternoon through Monday. About half of those stops resulted in citations being issued for seatbelt violations, said Roosevelt Police Chief Steve Hooley. In addition, numerous DUI citations were also issued, and outstanding warrants were served. The officers were puid through a Utah Highway Safety G rant. The police department appreciates the families of the officers who participated in helping keeping the roads safe rather than taking the holidays off, said Hooley. Story Ideas? See a story? See it in Print! Call us King-Chandl- er 1 7-- WINNER-S- Winners of the month old boys divison are: Rielley,. son ofJody and Mitchell, son ofPaula and Vicki Mitchell; Karl Rielley, and 3rd- - Braiden Nebeker, son of Monica and Jason Nebeker. 4-- King-Jonath- on 6 2nd-Gai- ge AAA. Sundstrom blamed the auree in 14 at a Citgo refinery in Romeoville, 111., which is expected to be out of service for six part on a fire Aug. months. The refinery produced 60,000 to 70,000 barrels of gasoline a day. Nationally, refineries produce 8.4 million barrels a day. There are . 722-513- 1 42 gallons of gas in a barrel. The fire came as production slowed at other refineries in response to a plunge in gasoline prices earlier this summer, Sundstrom said. SHINING BEAUTI ES Winners in the 1 1 month old girls division are: Queen- - Tiffany Winterton, daughter of Devan and Susan Winteiton; Price, daughter of Randy and Jamie Price; and 3rd- - Cailee Price, daughter of Randy and Jamie Price. 7-- 2nd-Jayl- ee Read The Uintah Basin For Delivery IN the Uintah Basin Area ONE YEAR $24.00 TWO YEARS $37.00 THREE YEARS $49.00 Give A Gift I Or Call 435-722-51- Subscription!! 800-427-86- We will send a Card in your behalf Announcing Your Gift! Name 31 Toll For Delivery OUT of the Uintah Basin Area ONE YEAR $36.00 TWO YEARS $56.00 n Uintah Basin Standard Clip and Send To: 268 South 200 East Roosevelt, Utah 84066 Free at Address Imm r 79 Use your VISA or MasterCard St. City ZjP Year 2 Years 3 Years I NEW RENEWAL ( |