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Show ; I-'.' BLAZE, AN AMAZING TAIL' OF RESCUE Bl PROGRESS REPORT ON UINTAH REC CENTER UHS WOMEN'S TRACK TEAM HURDLES TO VICTORY 50 CENTS www.vernal.com Wednesday April 11, 2007 114th Year No. 52 Vernal, Utah 84078 ? :;.f?g;ll WEATHER UTA PRESS 1 521 E 3QPP c iPTZm r -XC I State Parks found High A tire that sheared off from another motorist's trailer caused a crash on Highway 40 east of Gusher last Sunday, April 1, that did extensive damage dam-age to this 27-foot Utah State Parks boat. Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Jeff Chugg said the boat was being trailered from Salt Lake City, where it had just undergone under-gone routine maintenance and received- upgraded equipment, to Flaming Gorge when the truck hauling it was struck by the errant tire. Chugg said the tire, which came off a trailer being towed by 40-year-old Russell Christenson, went under the state truck towing the boat and ripped its drive- Fatal rig accident in Bookcliffs reported An industrial accident claimed the life of a 23-year-old Oklahoma man Thursday night in the Bookcliffs. Uintah County Sheriffs Lt. John Laursen said Central Dispatch received a report of an injury at Patterson Rig 51 near Atchee Wash at 9:38 p.m. Because of the remote location, a Care Flight medical helicopter helicop-ter from St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., was immediately dispatched, as were Uintah County sheriffs' deputies and -mtanrrMahce '; from Vernal. . Upon arriving at the rig loca Sex abuser's deceit severs family ties By Geoff Liesik At his sentencing hearing last month in Vernal, Isaiah Tyrone Drake was told to turn and face his supporters in the back of the courtroom, including his wife, and admit to what he'd done. "You've hurt people, so many people, deeply," 8th District Court Judge A. Lynn Payne told Drake after the 31-year-old acknowledged that he had touched the genitals of a 10-year-old female relative. Drake's admission to his family fam-ily that he had committed the crime of second-degree felony child sex abuse was of little comfort to Diana, (not her real name), the mother of his victim, Lexie Haslem represents Children's Miracle Network by Megan MacLeod Spokesperson of the Children's Miracle Network Lexie Haslem, 13, from Vernal, who has battled leukemia, was in Washington, D.C., to share the message that children's hospitals are uniquely important impor-tant to all children and need public and private support to continue their life-saving work. Lexie shared that message with President Bush and members of Congress Thursday through Children's Miracle Network Champions Across America, presented by CO-OP Financial Services, a program that brings Exit Realty Professionals 1285 West Hwy 40 Vernal, Utah 84078 (435) 789-EXIT (3948) mil- boat is and dry line out. The state truck, driven by 55-year-old John Laursen, went into a spin, causing the boat to break free from the trailer and roll onto the shoulder of . the road. A third driver was able to avoid the crash, Chugg said. No one was injured in the accident and Chugg said no citations were issued. ! Mike Murray, park manager for the Steinaker, Red Fleet and Flaming Gorge boat areas, estimated esti-mated that the boat sustained $150,000 in damage. An insurance insur-ance adjuster is expected to tell Murray this week whether the boat can be repaired or is a total loss. tion, medical personnel confirmed con-firmed that Glenn R. Owen had died. Laursen said the sheriffs department investigation revealed Owen was killed immediately when he was struck by a large piece of metal that pinned him to the ground. Owen was an employee of Caliber Casing Service. He had worked for the company for more than a year. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is con-'fihuing con-'fihuing 'to" investigation the accident. "He lied the whole time," "Diana said. "He came to our house and told us that (the allegation) alle-gation) was a lie. My husband's side of the family has turned their back on us. It's been rough." In June 2006, Drake spent the day with Diana's daughter, which was nothing unusual. Drake was a trusted family member, one of the few who had visited the girl when she was seriously injured in 2005. What was unusual, Diana said, was the attention Drake heaped on her daughter that day. He bought her ice cream twice, took her to a movie, and took her to dinner. Then he sexually See Abuse on page 3A children from every state to the nation's capital as ambassadors for 17 million hospitalized kids. Lexie, who was selected to represent rep-resent the state of Utah in this , national program, was treated at Primary Children's Medical Center, one of the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Many people see the hospital as the last place any child should be. Yet for children like Lexie, a children's hospital can sometimes some-times be the best place of all. "Our children's hospitals save and improve the lives of millions mil-lions of children each year and advocate for the health and well- ; See Lexie Haslem on page 3A 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms Double car carport, New kitchen with all stainless steef appliances, built-in wine fridge and trash compactor. ;. YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER A tire that sheared off from another trailer caused the accident that ended with this State Parks' boat off the road near Gusher upside down. Garbage services in Vernal discussed Vernal City Council members mem-bers discussed garbage pickup services during their council meeting after receiving a notice from RDT detailing economic reasons to cancel their current contract with the city. After a thorough discussion with RDT owner Rick Dayton, Rick decided decid-ed to withdraw the request, stating stat-ing that he would finish out the contract under the present rate structure struc-ture until December when the contract expires. , Concerns , were raised with the city by Dayton several -weeks ago when he talked with city administrator Ken Bassett, and later sent a letter detailing detail-ing the problems that impact him financially. In the letter Dayton cited several issues that had changed since the signing of the contract three years ago that made doing business for the. city financially unsound. Among several problems listed, Dayton stated that there were no provisions in the contract for higher fuel costs. Also, he explained that the contract con-tract was signed when $16 an hour was a good wage. Now, even at $25 an hour Dayton explained that he can't retain good truck drivers as they go to work in the oil field. : Also, Dayton explained to the council that the amount of garbage gar-bage per household has risen .exie Haslem at the Capitol seen here Washington DC recently. fl 6 v 7 Ml 1 1 I 11 Wfc tt R M dramatically the past year. He explained that he felt that more than one family was living in a lot of households that accounts for some of this increase. This increase in tonnage costs more at the landfill even though the cost per ton at the landfill has not increased. Rick also stated that there are approximately 600 more Rick Dayton of RDT contemplates options as he talks with the keep them jess tnan Vernal City Council about his conract for garbage services. 5 pounds. During the discus-,sion, discus-,sion, City admin containers in Vernal today compared with three years ago. Dayton said that they have to service these additional containers con-tainers in the city with nothing in the contract to fund for pickup pick-up and delivery of these barrels. RDT does receive an additional $1.20 per month for each barrel, bar-rel, but he explained that this was not enough to account for the extra time needed to empty with Utah Senator Bob Bennett and Great family home ki Davis, 2JSX sq.ft. home with 5 bedrooms, 2 34 bathrooms. Spacious home om basement Home is on .81 of an acre with fall landscaping. 24x24 garage with 12x24 storage room. Priced at $245,000. f them. Dayton cited other things that experienced significant increases increas-es in the past couple of years that included truck insurance rates that are set by the oil field rating, an increase of driver hours from 5.5 hours per day five days a week three years ago to now with drivers averaging 7 hours a day five days a week and a second truck working 5 hours a day four days a week. Dayton also was concerned about Vernal City's allowance allow-ance for unlimited garbage and. being able to place it in almost any container that has added additional addi-tional labor costs for his trucks that are set up to handle an automated can system. Residents should put as much of their garbage as possible in the automated auto-mated can, and if using other containers contain-ers make sure they have handles and istrator Ken Bassett explained to the council that terminating a contract was not that simple sim-ple even though the contract allowed for an early out if both sides agreed, especially when you take into consideration the other bidders in the process and reviewing what was fair. He explained to the council that in the bidding process, See Garbage Services on page 3A the Utah contingent while visiting in S ' -' Quiet Rezoning hearings showVernal growing pains A public hearing to discuss the rezoning of property located near 700 North between 100 and 400 West brought with it a gallery gal-lery full of residents voicing concerns against the rezoning, which presented a complex decision deci-sion to be made by the council. During a hearing held on April 4, city council members discussed the pros and cons of changing the zoning from RA-1 (residential agriculture) to R-2 (residential) on property owned by Troy Corless. Basically, the zoning change would allow landowners land-owners to construct duplexes and condos instead of just single family dwellings. And therein was the topic of discussion bjf those who attended the meetinf and voiced their concerns. Concerned citizens voicec opinions ranging from already congested streets without addi ing another 80 possible homes to feelings of wanting the old neighborhood to remain the same. When it was all. over, the; safety issues were enough forj the council to vote to postpone any decisions concerning the property until after a traffic study could be commissioned showing traffic flows in and out of the area, with instruction to look at additional road accesses to the property on 700 North. The ; proposed development shows using existing roads at 100 and 400 West making a loop access road going north. The residents who attended the meeting did not approve of only one access to the propertyand a lot of discussion was based on alternative routes to the property prop-erty that would alleviate some of the existing and future traffic congestion in that area. . Although there were concerns voiced from neighbors about letting let-ting apartments and multi-family buildings in their area, most See Rezoning on page 3A Taco Bell could lose license Vernal City council members voted to hold a special hearing on April 18 to hear information about Taco Bell not paying Utah State. taxes and whether or not to revoke their business license. City Administrator ; Ken Bassett explained to the council coun-cil that his office was contacted by the state of Utah to inform Vernal City that they had contacted con-tacted Taco Bell three weeks ago to give them a final 14 day notice to comply for non payment pay-ment of sales taxes going back to 2006. The State of Utah then petitioned the city to revoke the business license of Taco Bell if the taxes were not paid. The council did not go into much discussion about the accusations, but set the meeting for their regularly , scheduled city council meeting on April 18 at 7:00 p.m. .. 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