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Show II TOWNS SECTION m THURSDAY, MARCH 8. 2007 METRO EDITOR Joe Pyrah 344-258- 6 jpyrahOheraldextra.com s Trageiraw OTMiiM sura; Brooke Barker that had lost almost everything, and we could really be of service," said Lorrinda Christerjsen, the school's One Orem class collected more scholar council advisor. than $ 130 with no hopes of winOn Wednesday the school finished its fundraising efforts, and presented ning a pizza party. The class, just one at Noah Webster Roper and his daughter with $555 in Academy in Orem, recently finished gift cards. "He was obviously sad, but really raising money to help Greg Roper and his family. appreciative that the students would n "We came up with the idea, after take the time to help him," here was in said. a need family realizing DAILY HERALD Chris-tense- Hatch seeks aid for head Roper's wife, April, died when their in the explosioa home exploded in Saratoga Spring on Over the past month, donations Feb. 6. An investigation into the cause from around the state have poured in of the accident is ongoing. Investifor the Roper and Radford families. Soon after the accident, memorial gators know that April Roper and Quest ar employee Larry Radford had funds were set up at Utah Community Credit Union for the Roper family, gone back into the home to turn on and at Mountain High Federal Credit the water heater and furnace. A gas line near the couple's home had been Union for the Radfords. More than $2,000 has been depositruptured earlier in the day, and the ed into the account at Mountain High natural gas was turned off while it was repaired. Radford was also killed Federal Credit Union, according to ' J Cody Menlove from the Lehi branch. "I think people just realize the tragedy of the accident, and that it could have happened to anyone," he said. Although Stacey Fife, a branch manager for Utah Commuhity Credit Union, would not say how much had been donated to the fund, out of respect for the Roper family, she said people had been very generous. See ROPER, C2 Building Bonds of Friendship V ill trauma Wtsm victims Alan Choate DAILY HERALD A Utah senator wants to reauthorize a federal law supporting programs for people with traumatic brain injuries, or TBI, a condition that affects 5.3 million Americans, including 40,000 people in Utah. "Those suffering from a traumatic brain injury deserve the best care possible," said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, "That's the goal of this bill to help patients get quality care early, so they can recover from this devastating injury." State legislation establishing a fund for Utahns with brain injuries, meanwhile, stalled in the Legislature last month for the second year in a row. Hatch introduced his bill with Sen. Edward Kento the Senate on nedy, Wednesday. It would make allocations for services to people affected by brain injuries, help states develop treatment capacity and fund projects for injured veterans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would also be charged with surveying how common traumatic brain injuries are in the general population. Hatch and Kennedy sponsored the original TBI legislation in 1996. March has been" christened Brain Injury Awareness Month. The TBI numbers that do exist are striking. There are L4 million reported instances of TBIs in the United States annually, according to the CDC Most injuries are caused by falls or motor vehicle accidents. 5.3 million people about 2 percent of the U.S. populaor lifelong help tion need long-terbecause of a brain injury. An early survey of Iraq casualties found that 67 percent had suffered some level of brain injury. The usual method of attack there high explosives has been blamed. Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability on today's battlefield, Hatch said in remarks prepared for his Senate colleagues. "While not specifically addressed by this bill, the federal TBI program helps to provide resources that supplement the networks which serve our returning soldiers." State funding aimed at the same population didnt quite make it through the Legislature this year. and Rep. James Gowans, tried Sea Darin Petersen, See HATCH, C2 0 ASSOCIATED PRESS SALT LAKE CITY Critics are upset over a bill that eliminates temsites in Utah porary voterrf-egistratio- n counties. d "What bunch of public policy," said Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi, who blamed rural county clerks for pushing the provision in the Legislature. Senate Bill 21L sponsored by Sen. ' Howard Stephenson, R Draper, would require voters to register In person at county offices or by mail 30 days before the election. It is on Gov. Jon Huntsman's desk. Voters have been able to register at multiple locations on two days, including one within IS days of casting a bone-heade- -- ballot. . Salt Lake County's chief deputy V '"'C r r ASHLEY FRANSCEUDaily Herald perform their secret handshake, which involves bumping their heads together, on Monday at the Provo Recreation Center and Pool The two of them spend a couple hours a week together as part of the Best Buddies Program. Devin Dawson Deft and Kai Lawrence Becoming 'Best Buddies' at BYU Kate McNeil DAILY V . Kai Lawrence and Devin Dawson are best friends. They shoot hoops, lift weights and eat at Arby's. "I love my Kai and he's my friend," Devin says. What started as a service opportunity for Kai turned into something much more. Devin, 23, has Down syndrome. Kai, a Brig ham Young University business student, was paired up with Devin in 2002 as part of the Best Buddies program at BYU. The nationwide organization provides friendships for people like Devin, who have disabilities. There are Best Buddies chapters in four Utah colleges and 10 Utah high schools. The BYU chap ter of Best Buddies, with 240 members, is the largest In the nation. In 2005, BYLTs chapter was named national chapter of the year, standing out among the nation's 1,300 - ASHLEY one-on-o- Best Buddies volunteers must commit to a yearlong friendship with their buddy, but most often lifelong friendships are developed. Mason Schmutz, president of the BYU chapter, and his buddy Dust in FRANSCELLDally Herald Devin Dawson shoots a basket over the head of Kai Lawrence on Monday in Provo. clerk, Jason Yocom, said the majority of people who want to vote but aren't registered tend to wait until the last minute. Many move between elections. He said 15,000 county residents registered at temporary locations in 2004. "We were pretty much blindsided by the bill," said Yocom, who is worried about confusion at polling places. The close races will not be decided on election night," he said, referring to a need for provisional ballots for people whose eligibility would have to be determined later. Officials said the biggest impact could be in the south end of the Salt Lake valley, where Urge numbers of registrations came from Herriman and Draper. Residents there would have to travel to downtown Salt Lake Gty if they miss the mail deadline. "It is a relief emotionally to have a friend for Devin. Somebody that knows his limitations and yet can have fun with him." HERALD chapters. Voter registration bill criticized THE T"?J ' Cathy Dawson Devin's mother Forsyth go on double dates together, play sports and have even promised to be each other's best man when the time comes. Kai and Devin get together at least once a week, sometimes up to three times. On Monday, the two met at the Provo Recre ation Center to play some basketball, but Devin was more interested in a wrestling match. "He loves sports," said Kai, a member of the BYU rugby team. "And he loves to talk BYUfootbalL" But mostly he just loves to talk, his mom, Cathy Dawson, said. Cathy said See BUDDIES, C2 Puppy stolen from Orem adoption center Jeremy Duda DAILY HERALD Animal Rescue of Tranquility Valley is hoping to rescue a puppy for the second time , The animal rescue organization is hot under the collar after someone stole a puppy from an animal adoption event Wednesday afternoon. ' . ' St . ; I 't I ' MEUMA IQWUViknal Australian shepher- mix went missing from the parking lot of Animal Medical Services in Orem, where the was holding an adoption drive. The puppy was one of seven in a litter the organization was trying to place in new homes. "We're a nonprofit organization and this is really not fair that we have d-beagle H r.H I The Utter from The ' : orga-nizati- on Medical ScnAoM which th puppy wag stolen Wednesday in Orem. See PUPPY, Cl |