OCR Text |
Show c The Daily Herald Monday, February 22, 1993 'tah's elected officials get "Cadillac" health plan Brfnte. Davis students may fight prayer ruiing fi SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -S- tudents at four of Davis County's six high schools aren't that concerned about not having prayer at graduation ceremonies, according to senior class officers and advisors. But seniors at Clearfield and Viewmont high schools are angry and may organize alternative meetings to make sure prayer is a part of their commencements. "A lot of people feel like we've had another right taken away from us," said Chris Volk, senior class president at Clearfield. "We don't understand why the (school) board has made this decision and why the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting against (prayer at gradua- tion)." Davis School Board members voted 1 last week to ban prayers at graduation in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Rhode Island case upholding the court's ban on graduation prayer. Volk said his class is thinking about holding a prayer ceremony an hour before Clearfield's scheduled graduation ceremony. 4-- 30-ye- ar Poll: Utahns want educated police SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Most Utahns believe police should be better educated and favor pay incentives as a reward for added training, according to a poll commissioned by law enforcement agencies. Release of the poll, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, coincided with the release of a comprehensive plan by the Utah Strategic Planning Committee for Law Enforcement. 'Chairman Wayne D. Shepherd, who represents the Utah Chiefs of Police Association on the board, said the poll results are no surprise. But they have focused the board's attention on the issue. "Until we see what the problems really are, it's hard to fix them," said Shepherd, the police chief at the University of Utah. of those surNearly two-thirds veyed believe police officers should have more than a high school education. Two in five residents believe officers should have an associates degree. Veterans want funds for nursing home SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Sthe 200,000 uninsured Utahns could have a premium health care package for just $40 a all they have to do is get month 'You can't get around to getting me health coverage, and you're sitting there with the best plan I've ever seen, " said Sara Nichols, who has studied the issue for Ralph ome of elected. Utah's top elected officials get a sweetheart of a health care plan while many work other jobs ail are on Capitol Hill an average of 59 days a year, according to a copyright story in Sunday's Salt Lake Tribune. Meantime, the uninsured wait for lawmakers to come up with a solution to spiraling health care costs. Gov. Mike Leavitt, who has signed on the state's plan, has proposed no action until a task force can come up with solutions sometime in the next year and a half. Campaign reports show Leav-itt- 's campaign took almost $100,-00- 0 in contributions from hospital, indusdoctor and action try political groups. "The governor's proposal for a task force has postponed any decision on reform," said Quinn McKay, a consultant for the Utah Health Cost Management Foundation, which tracks insurance costs. While a Leavitt supporter, McKay said, "I have to say that his health-insuran- ce ft ft signing up for a state health-car- e plan at the same time doesn't do much for his moral credibility." Then there's Kristen Chambers, a single mother who works part-tias a clerk at a convenience store. She faces the choice of either scraping up $80 a month to sign up for Medicaid to treat a disabling back injury, or giving up her $632 a month check that keeps her and her two sons off welfare. "If they're paying $40 a month," Chambers said, "they're getting a better deal than I am. I can't believe it. It makes me sick." Some advocates think the availability of cheap health care has insulated elected officials from the crisis constituents face. "It's just a slap in the face to any taxpayer to see them (and think), me Nader's group, Congress Watch. "A lot of people think that if you suspended legislators' health-car- e benefits and Congress' health-car- e benefits indefinitely, then you would have a national or statewide health-car- e plan in no time," she said. Utah's lawmakers are among the first to acknowledge their health-car- e package is outstanding its value exceeds the $5,000 annual pay for the y session plus official workdays. However, they won't reveal which of the 104 legislators subscribe to the plan. The Tribune reported it was denied access to the 45-da- information and has filed an appeal However, Kevin Howard, a lawyer for the Public Employees Group Insurance program, which administers the insurance, said 21 of 29 senators have bought state insurance. House Speaker Rob W, Bishop of Brigham City said 57 of the 75 representatives have opted for the state plan. "I'm glad to say this is e makers from the one list I am not on," he added. All of Utah's lawmakers serve headaches facing constituents. "That perception might be in the state only part time and most the community, but it's not based have other jobs through which inin fact because we all care about surance could be purchased. health-car- e the reform," said MontAccording to newspaper, each pays $40 a month, with the gomery, a retired surgeon and state picking up $377.28. Dental head of the Senate Health and Encare costs an additional $9.12, vironment Committee. with the state paying $36.42. Rep. J. Reese Hunter, head of In the executive branch, all five the House Health and Environment elected officials have signed on: Committee, said that lawmakers Leavitt, Lt. Gov. Olene Walker, are unable to ignore the trouble Attorney General Jan Graham, people have and paying obtaining Treasurer Edward Alter and Audifor health insurance. tor Tom Allen. The plan is similar to those of"We're trying to get to a situafered by the state's top employers, tion where everybody can get such as Novell Inc. and Geneva health care," said the Salt Lake Steel. Subscribers can elect to join City Republican. a preferred-providorganization Hunter said many lawmakers or a organizabe able to afford worknot might intion, which gives employees in the Legislature without the ing centives to use certain doctors or facilities. They also can opt for benefits. An optometrist, he points traditional health insurance, which out that it is tough to keep his practice going while doing the has fewer limits. state's business. John J. Petersberger, an insurance broker for Rollins Hudig Hall The committees headed by these of Utah Inc., said the state plan "is two lawmakers are reviewing a unquestionably a good deal." handful of reform bills, including a Sen. Robert F. Montgomery, pair recommended by interim health-car- e Ogden, disputed the suggesadvisory panels that tion that the state plan shields law- - met in 1991 and 1992. health-insuranc- er health-maintenan- events limited parking for handicapped All-St- ar Bomb remains shipped off, security increased By MIKE CARTER Associated Press Writer - The reSALT LAKE CITY mains of a homemade bomb found outside a middle school have been shipped to a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms laboratory in San Fran-- , cisco for analysis. And the Jordan School District security force of four certified police officers on Sunday increased patrols of 72 school buildings in the district. Clyde Shaw, security chief for the district, said he also has in General authority dies in Australia SALT LAKE CITY (AP) "Basically, we've stepped things up. We're looking at things a little closer," he said. "Once we found out what this thing was, we're taking it seri- ously." Church spokesman Don said Sackley died about 2 MST Sunday in his hotel SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- p.m. in the Australian town of room Gov. Mike Leavitt is considering a He had been $2.3 million funding request from Surfer's Paradise. in the as first counselor veterans who want the state to help working Pachurch's 8.7 build them a nursing home. in based cific Area Presidency, . George Wahlen, Utah's only living Medal of Honor recipient, Sydney. sat across a table from Leavitt last A church news release said only week and cut through 15 minutes that Sackley died of "natural causof budget talk with a plea from the es." heart. edition of the The 1993-9- 4 ,"I hope I never have to be in a church's almanac claims there are I've never been 78.000 Mormons in Australia. nursing home sick a day since World War II," . Sackley was sustained as a Iwo Jima survivor member of the Seventy in 1988 the told the governor. after serving as a managing direc"But these people that sacri- tor in the church's missionary deficed so much for their country. . . partment and as a counselor in the . You see them in a civilian nursing North America Southeast Area home and it's not the same," he presidency. said. "It's important for them to He also had served as a mission know that the state cares about in the Philippines and Nipresident them." He had been an administrageria. During the meeting, the goverin the Salt Lake associate tive nor was sympathetic but noncomof the Washingdirector Temple, mittal to the request laid out by a Visitors' Center D.C. ton Temple n veterans from the Utah and served a proselytizing mission Military and Veterans Affairs in Sydney. Committee. Le-Fev- re er ld half-doze- other," said Sandy Police Detec- tive Michelle Fenley. "There are no notes from supposed suspects. It's just people thinking it may have been directed at them for various reasons." Officials say they doubt the device was left as a mere prank. "This is not a teen-ag- e pipe bomb," Fenley said. Shaw said the softball-shape- d Meantime, police investigators are looking into reports by two people, including a coach, who bomb was "too sophisticated" think the device left behind the for students to manufacture. Union Middle School gym in "If any child or adult had it up, it would have gone been intended have picked Sandy may off and probably could have amfor them. "We don't have an real evi- putated arms or legs or killed dence right now one way or the someone," he said. Shaw said the device apparently consisted of batteries, a blastmering cap, a pressure-sensitiv- e and switch unknown some cury explosive material. Fenley could not confirm that a mercury switch was used for sure. "But we suspect it," she said, because when the bomb squad set off a small explosive device intended to disarm the device, the bomb itself detonated. Shaw said the bomb found at the school produced a powerful blast, obviously intended to maim or kill. Western state governments struggle amidst diminishing prosperity, growing popularity -- Mormon Church general authority Robert E. Sackley, a member of the church's Second Quorum of the Seventy, has died while on church assignment in Australia. He was 70. million-memb- structed custodians to conduct sweeps in each building before opening the schools. By PEG McENTEE Associated Press Writer - SALT LAKE CITY The governments of 13 western states are struggling to make ends meet at a time when populations are growing but prosperity is diminishing, Utah legislators were told last week. While the region's population grew more rapidly than any other in the United States from 1980 to 1990, per capita economic growth has been slower, said Andrew P. g Grose of Westrends, a arm of the San Francisco-base- d West Office of the Council of State Governments. "If it's an ongoing trend, it's something to be concerned trend-trackin- about," he said. Grose has been visiting state legislatures throughout the region in advance of Westrend's report, "The West Comes of Age: Hard Times, Hard Choices," which is due out in April. There are a number of reasons for the region's troubles, he said. First, the population is expanding at twice the rate of the rest of the country, much due to foreign immigration that accounted for 40 percent of the growth. For example, the region's population grew 22.3 percent between 1980 and 1990, compared to 13.4 There are more children under than anywhere else in the United States Utah's undNortheast. The West also has slipped from er-18 population ranks No. 1 its War II position as and the over-6- 5 population grew at the nation's economic leader in indouble the national average. Since most of those people don't come and gross state product, Grose said. pay taxes but do require education, Per capita personal income health care, social services and overall grew 77. 1 percent over the other state programs, states are decade, compared to a national av- finding it increasingly difficult to erage of 84 percent. But in the cope, Grose said. "This report is a wake-u- p call Northeast, Grose said, income is for western leaders," said Rayup 106 percent. That means an Idaho resident mond G. Sanchez, speaker of the New Mexico House of Representisn't keeping pace with a Connectiin buying power atives and chairman of Westrends. cut despite differences in the cost of "The solution lies in improved living and quality of life in each economic development ... and innovative education opportunistate, he said. "We're saying, 'You didn't ties." gain as much as they did,'" he Grose said finding answers said. won't be easy. One option would Gross state products between be to form a regional economic 1977 and 1989 also trailed the a suggestion to be made to council, Northeast, Grose said. Regionally, the Western Governors Associathe West showed a 124.9 percent tion and the Western Legislative increase, while the Northeast Conference. marked a 6 . 2 percent boost. The rate in individual states varThirteen southern states, exied. Utah showed a 114.2 percent cluding Texas and Oklahoma, increase and Colorado 112.3 perhave establisled the Southern cent, but Wyoming trailed at 74.3 Growth Policies Board that helps coordinate regional brainstorming percent. At the same time, Grose said, on growth, population and eco"The West is both older and nomic issues, he said. Some experts question the accuyounger than the rest of the nation." racy of the report. percent in the South, 1 .4 percent in the Midwest and 3.4 percent in the post-Wor- 1 8 in the region ld wage-earn- er 1 1 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -Delta Center security officials blocked off a row of handicapped parking spaces on the arena's north side for the NBA events. d bus riders could walk 100 yards to the events. But Wayne Ruben and other disabled basketball fans were forced to pay $5 dollars to park in lots farther All-St- ar Able-bodie- away. Ruben. 33, had to roll his wheelchair three blocks through 4 inches of snow Saturday to get into the All-Stshow. The Salt Lake City man suffers from an unusual neurological condition that can lead to spasms and tears in his muscle and skin when he gets agitated. He said his arguments with Delta Center security over the parking conditions got him so upset that a tear opened up in his thigh and he began bleeding during the show. An aide ran back to get the van, picked Ruben up and rushed him to University Hospital. He was released Sunday afternoon. "That's why I had to have immediate access to the van. so if I started to split, I'd be able to get '' right out there to it, Ruben said. "It's a big event, that's true, but they still have to accommodate the ar handicapped, especially someone in his condition," said Bruce Ney, Ruben's medical aide. "If he was to explode worse than he did, he could have bled to death in a matter of a few min- utes," Ney said. Delta Center security officials said they typically close roads surrounding trie center during large events to provide easy access for performers, celebrities and their crews. Dennis Graffi, head of building security, noted that there is a public lot across from the arena, where 15 of the 700 spaces are marked for the disabled. Disabled people only have to cross the street to get to the arena, he said. The drawback is that they are charged $5 for a space that normally costs nothing. Ruben wasn't the only one to cry foul. Salt Lake City civic leader dies l :SALT LAKE CITY (AP) tike 5'inia - City community activist Salt Vir- - L. Gibbons has died. She was She attended Rowland Hall gchool and Pomona College and was active in community affairs, including board positions on the Children's Service Society, Neighborhood House, and Sarah t)aft Home. " Mrs. Gibbons died Friday. The e, daughter of the late George a prominent mining opera-Jo- r in Park City, she is survived by Jier husband. Pat. owner and chair-jna- n of the board of Gibbons and Lam-fcoum- Kecd Co., three daughters, two Ions, and 12 grandchildren. I Honoring her request, a family Memorial service was held. Tuesday DAR meeting The Wasatch Range Chapter of DAR will meet today 1C a.m. at the home of Ellen Powley, 2220 N. 1400 E., Provo. Ellen Powley will speak on "The Richness of the Past Preserved for the Future." For membership 7 information, call Regent Sue Anderson, or Registrar Grace Christensen BYU devotional Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be the speaker at i BYU devotional assembly at 11 a.m. In the Marriott Center. The public la welcome. Wednesday disorder seminar Eating Snow College will host a workshop for anyone who believes they may have an eating disorder. The seminar will be held at 3 30 p m. in the Blue Room at the Student Center on the Snow College campus. Charlotte Cragun. dietician at McKay Dee Hospital, will present the workshop. Cragun has worked with eating disorders for the last three years and has given many lectures. She will give a slide presentation on body image and the problems caused by the distorted view we have of the perfect body shape. Even Is you don't have a disorder, you are encouraged to attend Uie workshop to learn helpful information about the problems for a friend or family member. For more information, contact Judie Johnext. son, Snow College counselor, at 5671, Maxine Black History Month video As part of the Black History Month video conference series, "Beyond the Dream: Discovering the Past Understanding the Future," will be broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon in 321 ELWC For more 0. information, call Nancy Harris at Thursdaylecture 250. Parentteacher conference Orem Junior High will hold parentteacher conferences, today and tomorrow. mid-terStudents will take home grade form should be report, today. This two-pa- rt signed by a parent and the yellow form returned to the school. Singles Super Bowl Join us for the Singles Super Bowl In Lindon Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. All ages, All denominations. For more Information, call Rosa 225- - or Dale BYU health sciences wUl "Hidden Problems of Haiardous Waste" lecture sponsored by the be the topic of The lecture Department of Health Sciences. will be presented at 11 a.m. In 267 Richards Building. Satellite imagery cancer screening For more information, at call Maria Fundraiser Fiesta Executive lecture series Jim Jennard, president of the California-base- d company Oakley, will speak as part of the Marriott School of Management Executive Lecture Series. He will lecture at 2 and 4 p.m. In 710 Tanner Building. For more information, contact Cheryl McBeth at 378- - 4611. Depression association meeting The Utah Chapter of the Depression and Depression Association, will meet In room 108 of the Own City Center, at 7 p.m. Dr. Spencer will be the speaker. For more Information, call Christina Heath, Manic Mothers of Twins Club of civil engiMiller, BYU professor "Satellite Imagery 'and discuss will neering, by the Hvdrogeology" at lecture sponsored lecture wiU BYU Department of Geology. The A W. be presented at 11 a.m. in 233 Eyring Science Center. Admission is free and the public is Invited to attend. For more information, contact Jim Bear The Utah Valley Mothers of Twins Club will hold Its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. &lh floor education room, 1034 N. 500 West, Provo. Dr. Steven Dewey will speak on breast The second annual Fundraiser Fiesta will be held from 8 p m. in the Ephraim South IDS Ward Chapel. 2O0 S. 100 East, Ephraim. The fiesta is a cultural dinner being hosted by various orgamiatiuns and people throughout the community. The dinner will help Integrate various cultural groups in the area who have a desire to acheive common goals and lifestyles. According tc the tphraim KundrHising Committee, this vear's benefits will go to the Kids. Sanpete County Fk1 Bank and The evening will Include plenty of authentic Mexican food and a musical program. BYU Law School ariet) show The Law Women of the BYU Law School will present a variety and talent show at Provo High School to benefit the Coalition for Battered Women. Ticket are V and the Inforpublic U welcome to attend. For more 378- - 6384. mation, contact Carolyn Stewart at |