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Show 4A Emery County Progress, Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday. March 2, 1999 Burglar arrested in Green River Festus Missouri man suspects bulging pockets. Sgt. Vetere asked the man, later identified as 26 old, year Christopher ter Emery County Sheriffs ' Michael Dennis of Festus A was arrested in Green River Thursday on burglary and criminal mischief charges af- Sgt. Mitch Vetere answers a Missouri, if he was carrying any weapons. Vetere did a pat search for weapons and suspicious persons call. When Sgt. Vetere had checked on shift that morning he was informed by the deputy signing off that there had been a burglary at one of the Grand County residence located near the truck stop and that a large amount of jewelry had been taken from the residence. could detect what felt like several rings in his front pants pockets. He also noticed the suspect was wearing a gold ring with a watch in it, the type that is most commonly worn by women. The suspect was then asked to empty his pockets where Shortly after this Sgt. he then produced 6 or 7 Vetere was dispatched to the rings, numerous bracelets River Terrace Hotel after reand several watches. The suspect was then ceiving a call about a man the hotels security had taken to the Emery County rousted out of one of their Sheriffs Sub station in Green River for further quesupstairs hallways. Sgt. Vetere quickly located tioning. Vetere then asked the suspect as he was walk- the suspect if he knew anying back towards the hotel, thing about the burglary however when the suspect that had occurred the night before were coincidentally a saw Vetere, he turned heading south towards a vacant large amount of womens field. jewelry had been taken. The Vetere caught up with the suspect knowing he had suspect and began asking been caught red handed so him questions-t- he suspect to speak decided to come stated he was just passing clean. He told Sgt. Vetere that through Green River, he was acting nervous and Sgt. he had arrived in Green Vetere became even more River by hitching a ride with suspicious as he noticed the a truck driver who had let -- him off at the truck stop and that he had been in Green River a couple of days. He stated that he had been watching the home he burglarized long enough to determine that no one was home, walked up to the front door and knocked just to be sure, and kicked the front door open to gain entry. While inside the suspect who decided he was hungry, decided to make himself at home, fixing himself something to eat and even took a shower before taking the jewelry and leaving. After leaving the house he walked to the hotel were he gained entrance a through backdoor and spent the night on a couch in an upstairs lobby before being Snapped power line cause local outage: (Continued from page 1A) a call Orangeville Fire Department failed to get a response from Orangeville Fire Fighters. When Castle Dale Fireto-th- men arrived at the scene they helped Nielson and Jensen with the mopping up of the fire. Ferron City residents to the first fire, and the fire men from the Castle Dale would like to express appreciation to Nielson and fire department for their Jensen for their efforts to as- assistance with the secsist Utah Power in putting ond fire. Utah Power workers at out the grass fire when no one else was available. the scene stated, It was Thanks ladies. ' just a fluke the power line Appreciation also goes to snapped twice in one day, the fire men who responded in two different places. rousted by hotel security that morning. Dennis admitted to Sgt. Vetere that some of the jewelry had fallen out of his pocket while he was sleeping on the couch and that he was going back to the motel to pick it up when he was appre- hended. The suspect, Christopher Michael Dennis, was turned over to Grand County Deputys and was charged with burglary of a dwelling and criminal mischief. snapped near Clawson causing a brush fire. The fire was put out by the Ferron Fire Departments Womens Auxiliary. A power line Legislative Report The problem in many of our smaller rural districts has been a significant increase in the cost of health insurance. This could cause a reduction in salary over what teachers are receiving this year. Some districts health care costs are increasing as much as 86 percent over what they were last year. We will also be putting money in the hands of our school districts for reading improvements focusing on grades. Recent statistics show that our children have fallen behind in reading skills and By KEELE JOHNSON State Representative Although there arc a few lose ends yet to be tied up, overall the 1999 Legislative Session has been a successful one. We have all but finalized the year 2000 budget package of approximately $6.5 billion and did it without raising taxes for transportation funding. This year, we were presented with revenue figures that fell short of earlier revenue projec- K-3r- d tions. Those shortfalls required us to do a little belttightening, but did not call for rather than mandating reading program details from the state level, we will provide funding for local districts to decide how to best improve any new taxes. And we were still able to fund several priority areas: education, with more than $64 million and crime, with almost reading skills. That may be teacher training in reading, 'books for the classroom, or maybe an afterschool program for those children who need some extra attention. But the important thing is that we want those who are in $20 million in anticrime pro- grams. In education we passed legislation that will increase the weighted pupil unit that is used to fund teacher pay and insurance, which should mean an increase in teacher salaries. the local districts to make that decision. Those are just a few examples of education options. Others deal with the removal of disruptive students from the classroom, more funding for classroom supplies and the passage of a $55 million bond for state capital improvement projects, much of which will go towards building improvements at Southern Utah University. As we experience such rapid growth in our state, we have also seen an increase in crime rates and over crowding in our prisons. It is critical that we provide our law enforcement with the resources they need to fight back. We passed legislation that will allow for the hiring of six new state highway patrol officers and their vehicles. Lack of bed space is a major problem in our correctional facilities. This session we allocated monies for the creation of more than 600 new beds and supported legislation to de- vote $3.5 million toward salary increases for correction workers. I realize more must be done, but in light of the revenue decided and a handful of bills left to be heard. Overall, this has been a very productive ses- sion. Although there have been a few controversial issues, I am pleased with what shortfalls and the fact that we accomplished - no new some departments had to take taxes. To begin, I will update you cuts, this is a good beginning. On a different, but related on those bills 1 sponsored. HB topic, I would like to respond 175, Registration Requireto some who have questioned ments for Falconry has been the strength of the Rural Cau- signed into law by Governor cus. Leavitt; HB 226, County AnEach session we most match nexation, HB 182, Wildlife Lilegislation that comes with a cense Fee, and HCR 2, Resoprice tag with the revenue that lution to Consider the Need for is available that year. We do Greater Flexibility in Agricuthis by creating a priority list. ltural Lending have all passed; I would point to the fact that HB 334, Mapping and Docuthose projects the Rural Cau- mentation of R.S. 2477 Rights-ancus put at the top of our priorOther Structures passes ity list, also becahie the priori- the House and received a faties of the Majority Caucus. vorable report in Senate comThe list mittee and should pass the funding contained six of the top seven Senate today. Another of my bills that I projects that were at the top of our list. The number one prihave introduced since I last ority of the Majority Caucus submitted a report to you, this year was HB 25, Michael HCR 5, a concurrent resoluincome tax detion of the legislature and the Styler duction for health care insur- governor on the preferred apance. proach to the designation of wilderness. This resolution is Essentially, what HB 25 accomplishes is it gives an in- to encourage a regional apcome tax deduction to those proach to wilderness designawho pay their own health intion; and to urge all parties to surance. The cost of that insur- work together with the goverance can now be taken as a nor to develop a congressional deduction for proposal for the designation of individuals or small business wilderness in the state of Utah owners. which protects valid existing The income tax deduction is rights on federally managed hoped to encourage the pur- land and on all land contiguchase of health insurance for ous to federally managed land. those who currently cannot af- I have introduced this resoluford it. Other top priorities in- tion to emphasis how imporclude: My bill HB 311, Approtant it is that we all work topriation for Rural Growth gether on such a massive unManagement, which provides dertaking that will affect all money to hire planners for our the people of Utah. Left to just rural areas, reauthorization of one side to make the decision, state water development, and we will never have an accurate the Cedar Mountain Initiative. wilderness designation From the onetime funding One of the controversial islist, the Rural Caucus had six sues you may have been hearof the top projects, including ing about is HB 139, dealing funding for statewide repair of with the duties of public attorsenior citizen buildings, the neys. I support HB 139 and mapping and documentation think it is good public policy, of R.S. 2477 and assistive techhowever, some have criticized this legislation as a vindictive nology. I would say that the Rural action against the current atCaucus still has a strong prestorney general This is difficult ence in the Utah Legislature issue to explain in just a few and will continue to do so. sentences, but let me try. It has been a whirlwind 15 There are three branches of d on-goin- g self-employ- Public Property 'r&fr Property that everyone uses such as roads, schools, parks and libraries is called public property. Taxes that your family and other families pay are used to take care of public property. Unscramble these community services. I. RARUBESI BR L I 3. OADR O D S B O B EC 4. KARPS P K 6. LYAPOUGRND PL UBPLC P G P L 8. LECCOUOTN PAJRER R 5. COHSOLS S 2. ARGGABE C OOPL O RO D 9. TOSP FFOICE P T O F this problem. HB 139 does not amend the constitution, nor does it take away any prosecutorial responsibilities of public attorneys. The current statutory confusion wastes taxpayers dollars by creating debates about who is in charge rather than the best public policy. HB 1351 corrects this ongoing discord in local and state government by clearly defining the responsibility of public attorneys ant reiterating that the head of the executive breech, the governor in the case of the state, commissioners for the county, are elected to make decisions on matters of public policy. Also, recognize in order to take personalities or partisanship out of the debate, MB 139 will not take effect until 2001, at which time Attorney General Graham will no longer be in office and we could possibly even have Re- publican attorney general but certainly not least budget. Since there is still a few days left, I am not able to give you a complete picture, but thought I would explain some of the process to Lastly, is the you. Throughout the session bills are presented that come with a price tag. Last week we received estimates of the revenues the state would have for the fiscal year 1999 and 2000 It then becomes our responsibility to balance those projects with a price tag, with the monies we have available. We do this by prioritization. As the Chairman of the Cowboy Cau- cus, I must work with the members of the caucus to make such a priority list. To those who suggest the Cowboy Caucus has lost some of our strength, I point to the fact that those projects we put at the top of our priority list,, became the priorities of the entire legislative list. For exe fundample, on the ing list, the Cowboy Caucus top six projects that included funding for statewide repair of senior citizen buildings, the mapping and documentation of R.S. 2477 and assistive technology were the top six days and I certainly look forgovernment: Executive, Legisprojects of the full House. Also ward to getting home. All of lative, and Judicial. There is on the ongoing list, five of the your phone calls and letters not a separate branch for the top seven projects making the with your concerns and ideas attorney general; that position full House list were also the have been appreciated. falls under the Executive priority of the Cowboy Caucus, Stay in touch, its the only branch. Unfortunately, the i.e. income tax seduction for way I know what you are thinkconstitution only defines the health care insurance for self ing, Thanks for giving me the role of the attorney general as employed individuals; reauopportunity to serve you. one who shall be the legal ad- thorization of state water dePlease feel free to contact me viser of the State officers...and velopment, and the Cedar at any of the following: shall perform other such duMountain Initiative (provides Keele ties as provided by law That for an agricultural experiment Representative Johnson, 318 State Capital, is all the constitution says on station). Wouldnt you agree Salt Lake City, UT 84114, the matter. The definition of that we still have a strong fax (801) advisor is one who recom- presence in the Utah Legislaphone (801) mends or suggests. It does not ture and will continue to do so. kjohnson( lc.state.ut.us I certainly am looking forsay one who makes decisions on public policy. ward to getting back to the There has been a long pro- wide open spaces of home, and cession of both Democrats away from the congestion of By BRAD JOHNSON State Representative and Republicans who have ex- the city fife. Your input and pressed concerns regarding support over the last 45 days As we finish our last full the vagueness of the laws dealhas meant so much to me I week of the 1999 Legislative ing with and that the current hope you will continue to call Session, we are in the home statutory confusion wastes upon me with any of your ideas stretch. With the session end- taxpayers dollars by creating or concerns. Thank you for aling on March 3, we have a few debates about who is in charge lowing me to representing you remaining budget items to be rather than the best public and your family. . 538-123- 538-190- When public property gets damaged, your family's taxes help pay for it. policy. HB 139 will clarify t one-tim- |