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Show The Park Record A-20 A quick look at Utah news SHOOT TO Monson cuts back duties, outhouse ban lifted THRILL! Associated Press We’re Park City’s Home On The Range Public Always Welcome! Monday-Saturday: 10-7 • Sunday: 10-5 After a day on the mountain, experience a higher caliber of fun on any of our 12 state-of-the-art shooting lanes over 3 separate ranges. Featuring a full selection of top-brand pistol & rifle rentals, and the most modern, thrilling machine guns in the world. TheParkCityGunClub.com NO MEMBERSHIP, EQUIPMENT OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! 4285 Forestdale Dr., Park City (Home Depot Frontage Rd.) | 435.333.GUNS (4867) MOTORIZATION | DESIGNER DRAPERIES | Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, May 27-30, 2017 CUSTOM SHADES | WINDOW COVERINGS WINDOW DRESSING AS AN ART INTRODUCING SMART SHADES EXCLUSIVELY AT PARK CITY BLIND & DESIGN Smart Shades is the only innovative motorized window covering technology on the market by combining a motorized sunshade with motorized drapery. Visit our showroom or schedule a FREE in-home consultation today! Utah prison tackling problems with sex offender treatment SALT LAKE CITY — Utah prison officials are scrambling to reform the sex-offender treatment program after an audit found serious flaws in the system that treats nearly one-third of the prison population. New programs for Spanishspeakers and developmentally disabled inmates are being established, corrections authorities told lawmakers. In addition, treatment will be offered seven days a week rather than five, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The changes are designed to tackle a backlog that has left inmates waiting months for treatment when they would otherwise be eligible for parole, the state audit found. The delays also drive up costs for taxpayers because the state prison population has a relatively high portion of sex offenders and most of them must complete treatment before they can be released. About 114 inmates complete the treatment every year, with each inmate’s treatment taking about 18 months. The audit released in April also found that staff don’t use the most current treatment practices or keep records about performance and progress. The prison is stopping use of the penile plethysmograph — an outdated system designed to gauge sexual arousal — that is now considered intrusive and inaccurate. Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook updated lawmakers on the reforms last week along with Victor Kersey, a program director tasked with reforming the system. Kersey plans to start conducting regular internal audits of the programs’ effectiveness, something that was rare in the past. “We need the chance to get this program right,” Cook said. “We need to get this system running, and moving in the right direction.” Rep. Eric Hutchings, a Kearns Republican, said many inmates and their families have contacted him about the issue, so he’s glad to see reforms underway. Mormon President Thomas S. Monson scales back duties SALT LAKE CITY — Mormon President Thomas S. Monson is no longer coming to meetings at church offices regularly because of limitations related to his age, church officials said Tuesday. Monson, 89, communicates with fellow leaders on matters as needed, according to a statement from Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The news that Monson is scaling back his duties marks the latest sign that his health is slowly deteriorating. Monson was hospitalized in early April after he reported “not feeling well” and released a few days later after receiving treatment in fluids. The church didn’t offer any more details. The hospitalization came after Monson spoke to church members at the religion’s twice-yearly conference in Salt Lake City, but skipped some sessions. He has been handling recent conferences with similar partial participations for the last couple of years. In October 2016, church officials said Monson was “feeling the effects of advancing age” but still coming to the office every day. Monson, considered by followers to be the religion’s prophet, has been the church’s leader since 2008. Church presidents serve until they die. Past church presidents also scaled back duties as they got older, including Ezra Taft Benson. He was limited in the final years of his life until he died in 1994. Per church tradition, the next longest-tenured member of the church’s governing Quorum of the Twelve Apostles becomes the next president. Right now, that is Russell M. Nelson, 92. Hawkins said in the statement that Monson is appreciative of thoughts and prayers from church members and appreciated that his two top counselors in what is known as the “First Presidency” and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve are making sure church business is taken care of. Monson himself wrote about the aging process in a 2013 article reflecting on his first five years in the post. “Age eventually takes its toll on all of us,” Monson said. “Despite any health challenges that may come to us, despite any weakness in body or mind, we serve to the best of our ability. I assure you that the Church is in good hands.” This brief was written by AP writer Brady McCombs Suspicious fire at Bears Ears monument under investigation SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Management is investigating a suspicious fire that damaged a remote guard station in Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that damage to the structure had been discovered shortly before U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s arrival in Utah on May 7. Zinke had visited the monument to tour Bears Ears as part of a national review. The fire is the third suspicious incident targeting remote land management structures in the past year. Last year, someone might have attempted to burn down a guard station in Beef Basin. The incident, which left the building unscathed, remains under investigation. Also last year, anti-federal militia leader Bill Keebler had been indicted in an undercover sting for trying to blow up a guard station in Arizona. Utah residents launch new moderate political party SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Republicans and Democrats are joining forces to create a new, moderate political party to give voters frustrated with both groups’ extremism a more centrist option. Members of the group announced the formation of the United Utah Party on Monday at the Utah State Capitol. Party chairman Richard Davis says the group supports term limits, more nonpartisan elections, an increase in school funding and the right to own guns. The party is working to get a candidate on the ballot for the special election to replace Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who is stepping down next month. Members of the group are attempting to gather 2,000 signatures by Friday in order to qualify as a registered political party and get their candidate’s name on the ballot. Utah County moves to lift outhouse ban PROVO, Utah — Utah County is moving to lift a 1950s-era ban on outhouses. The Daily Herald in Provo reports the Utah County Board of Health voted Monday to allow the outdoor bathrooms, provided that builders put up a $2,500 bond to guarantee they will be maintained. The change must also clear the county commission, which has its own ordinance banning outhouses. The health board regulations would allow permanent, seasonal outdoor restrooms with a fiberglass or cement vault. Possible locations for outhouses could include Sandy Beach on Utah Lake, stops along the Provo River and locations in American Fork Canyon. Homeless shelter for single men coming to South Salt Lake The director of the nonprofit that’s leading homeless-reform in Utah’s Salt Lake County has announced where its new shelter for men will be located. A shelter for single men will be built in South Salt Lake, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday. Two additional shelters will be built in Salt Lake City: one for women only and the other for single men and single women. The new shelters will replace The Road Home shelter in downtown Salt Lake City, which state and county officials are in the process of closing. The nonprofit leading the charge is Shelter the Homeless, which also owns the closing downtown shelter. Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams didn’t respond to a request for comment about the process of deciding where each population would be housed. Why South Salt Lake had been selected for the single-men-only shelter remains unclear. “Our organization didn’t make that decision and therefore didn’t vote on that,” said Janell Fluckiger, executive director of Shelter the Homeless. “The subpopulation was a decision that was made that we did not make.” West Valley City, South Salt Lake and Draper had all been identified as potential locations for the shelter. Residents had feared if their town landed a shelter for single men, the area would become crime-ridden, similar to the Rio Grande neighborhood. County officials disputed that homeless men are a higher risk than women. Looking for a JoB ? Check our HELP WANTED section in CLASSIFIEDS ! |
