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Show BUILDING COMMUNITY IN OREM AND VINEYARD Orem L0TC-018 .TIQN 1 : 00 H4j 24-i50 i THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2007 50 CENTS Times COMMUNITY: Residents reveal how to keep warm TOWN HALL: Singer promotes global awareness SPORTS: Orem shocks limpview, ready for Provo SCHOOLS OAK CANYON STUDENTS STUDY GENEVA STEEL Initial work begins on 800 Worth Michael Rigert NORTH COUNTY STAFF Though the widening and reconstruction re-construction of 800 North is a bit behind schedule because of funding fund-ing issues, preliminary work currently cur-rently at full tilt on the estimated $54 million project will impact motorists in the coming weeks and months. Though initially bid out by the Utah Department of Transportation Transporta-tion as a $49 million project to widen 800 NorthState Route 54 to three lanes in each direction, UDOT Region 3 spokesman Geoff Dupaix said planners found that an estimated $5 million more would be required to complete the two-year project by fall of 2008. The cost increase isn't a result of any one area of the project, proj-ect, he said, but was related to a variety of factors in the overall cost of the reconstruction. He said the Legislature's pending pend-ing approval of the additional funds may have set the major road construction project back "by a few months." But it's still anticipated the project as a whole will be completed on time. "We're still confident that in the first year of construction, we'll get done what we need to and complete it by 2008," Dupaix said. Yet before road reconstruction can commence in May, several preliminary projects must be finished this winter. They include relocating the traffic signal lights at 800 North and State Street, demolition of the structures and homes on the north side of 800 North, and the installa- Ji,- ,-- ill J f MARC HADDOCKNorth County A backhoe removes the remains of a home along 800 North in See ROAD, Page 2 preparation for a project that will widen the road. 2007 LEGISLATURE fit 7 ) f f t'Tv, iff ASHLEY FRANSCELL Daily Herald Utah House District 58 representative Stephen Sandstrom front center is swom into office Monday at the state capitol in Salt Lake City. Plummeting temperatures cause plumbing woes J diD i ... MARIO RUIZDaily Herald Chairs are kept off a wet floor in the Environmental Technologies building at UVSC after a pipe busted and spilled water early Tuesday morning. Michael Rigert NORTH COUNTY STAFF The deep freeze holding Utah and Orem in its icy grip is creating havoc across the city for everyone from homeowners to halls of higher learning. learn-ing. Over the weekend, the city's public works received a total of 21 calls from residents experiencing problems with frozen pipes, 17 calls on Tuesday, and eight calls as of early Wednesday afternoon, said Lane Gray, water section manager for Orem. "It's starting to get busy for us," he said. On Monday, a frozen pipe at Utah Valley State College's Environmental Technology Building caused a sprinkler sprin-kler head to burst, flooding a nearby lab and storage room, said UVSC spokesman Chris Taylor. Because the building also houses chemicals used in the labs near the flooded areas, ar-eas, Orem's hazardous material team was dispatched as a precaution. The amount of damage to the building's interior is still being assessed. "It's not uncommon for us to lose a (heating) coil or two during the course of the winter, but when you throw in these extreme temperatures, tempera-tures, it can make life interesting," Taylor said. g The majority of residents' water woes resulting from frozen pipes See PIPES, Page 2 Briefing OREM TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION COMMIS-SION CREATED - On Jan. 9, the Orem City Council approved an ordinance creating the Transportation Advisory Commission. The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council and City Manager. Man-ager. The term of service shall be four years, but the first members will draw lots to determine staggering terms four members will serve four years and three members will serve three years. Orem citizens interested in being considered to serve on the new Transportation Advisory Commission Commis-sion should submit a letter of interest to the Orem City Recorder's Office at 56 North State Street, Suite 200. The deadline for receiving submittals is Tuesday, Jan. 30 by 5:00 p.m. P.G. MAN GETS UP TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE - A 34-year-old Pleasant Grove man convicted of sexually abusing 10 elderly women was sentenced Tuesday to up to life in prison. Jesus Partida will serve five years to life at the Utah State Prison for four counts of forcible sodomy, first-degree first-degree felonies all consecutively. On 11 counts of forcible sexual abuse, second degree felonies, Partida will serve one to 15 years each. The victims were patients at Heritage Care Center in American Fork, where Partida worked as a certified certi-fied nursing assistant in 2005. Many of the victims suffered from dementia or Alzheimer's disease and several are now deceased. ORVILLE GUNTHER DIES Businessman, community and church leader Orville Gunther died . Jan. 13 at the age of 95. Gunther was president and chairman of the board of the Bank of American Fork. He started his business career in the family sheet metal business which is now known as Gunther's Comfort Air and taught history at American Fork High School. He served in the Utah State House of Representa- . tives, was chairman of the Utah County Republican Party and chairman of the State Tax Commission. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has served in many callings, including bishop, president of the South Germany Mission, Regional Representative and president of the Provo Temple. The Gunther Trades Building at Utah Valley State College was named after the family. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in the American Fork 12th Ward, 673 E. 300 North. There will be a viewing Friday from 6 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30-1:45 p.m. LINDON LOOKS AT NEW SIGN ORDINANCE New signs advertising sales and promotions along State Street in Lindon has prompted the city to take another look at its sign ordinance. The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider proposed changes to the ordinance restricting use of the temporary signs at its Jan. 24 meeting. Those changes were discussed at the commission's Jan. 10 meeting. "One of the biggest problems that has come up with the current sign ordinance is with the seven to eight foot tall, flexible poles holding flags that are along the frontage of many businesses along State Street," said Adam Cowie, Lindon City Planning Director. Direc-tor. Part of the problem, the Planning Commission said, is that the current sign ordinance does not include a definition for these new signs, and therefore there aren't any rules restricting them. CLASSICAL MUSIC ON FILM SERIES CONTINUES CON-TINUES AT OREM PUBLIC LIBRARY - Dave Koralewski continues his family-oriented "Classical Music on Film" series at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, in media me-dia auditorium of the Orem Public Library. This month, Dave will focus on films that aid those "Beginning to Learn a Musical Instrument." .... I."WaSs "4 M Orville Gunther ii 61055 00050 mrssmmmsBsam 2253 Home, Auto, & Personal Loans Open to all of Utah Cmnty: Omammber,ahoaysammbn--n()malterwhereyougo. (gjosfiffliD Copy |