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Show Wood Chooses To Hang March 26 Delivers Death Penalty To Lmtheran Minister Killer Jwh OmvktrJ killer Waller Wood today al 3 p.m. wax aenlciKrtl to hang ini Marvli 26 al the Utah Slate Privin, After announcing I he lenience Third Di4ikI Court Judge Ernest F. Baldwin gave Wood the all email ve to lie hung, or to fare a finng squad. Ill hang'," Wood lold ihe judge. A Tooele jury found Wood guilty on Jan. 15 of first degree murder in ihe June JO, 1978 roirltery-slavin- g irf an Indiana lailheran minix-le- r east of Wendovcr. Tlie laxly of Rev. David E Aasved was found near Knolls by Tooele County Shenffs deputies and Utah Highway Pal ml tmoperv The minister had Itcen shot three times in the head and five times in ihe chest with a .22 calilier weaxm. UNDER UTAH LAW, the defendant has the const it utiimal nglit to have either the jury or the judge determine the penalty, and Wood selected Judge Baldwin to make the decision. If the jury were to impose the death penalty, it would have to lie a unanimous decision of the jury. If one mem-lie- r, for any reason objected to the death penalty, the defendant would be granted life imprisonment. Prior to Thursdays proceedings, and out of the presence of the jury, Defense Attorney Roliert Van Stiver brought the convicted murderer before Judge Baldwin to discuss Wood's decision to waive the jury. DO YOU understand that the jury mrtnlirrv come burn diverted economifrom Mr. Wood was given to the judge as evidence. cal, niigiiNis and ther Itatkgnmndv, t Van Stiver asked the defendant. Betty Varner, the r wife of Wood, I understand everything." testified Thursday that during their Yes, Wood said. I waive the jury and de17 yrais uf marriage, Wuod was a 'good mand the death penalty." provider! Imt had a serious drinking Judge Baldwin told Wood that he proidem. Mrs. Varner also testified that none (the judge) was a Christian Iwhever, had served in World War Two and of their three children were aware of had sren death mam, many times." Woods drinking problem, he never had a gun In the house, and wa truthful HE Al.SO TOLD the defendant that he had lieen swom to iiihold the alma going out with other women. THE REASON why Wood divorced law, avparently reminding Wood of of a her, she explained, was dab s death penalty law. 1 conflict in religious lieliefs. "I lieliev-e- d lodge Baldwin also told Wood, in a Supreme Cud, he did not," cant Ulieve a human Wing wants to Mrs. Varner testified. tie put to death, and I dont lielirse it. At one time during their marriage During a sentence hearing, the state Wood said, "If I took you out in a Imat and prosecution can bring out the mental and diysical caabilities and the and drowned you. and raised you from diaractcr and Iwckground of the accusthe dead, then I would lie your god," die testified. ed. After the divorce, the w ife was grantA former roommate of Wood, Jay ed $2000 from the house sale, the houseB. Nut tall testified that the accused hold goods, $100 per child each month killer had waved a gun during an argufor child ment while they were roommates in supioit and no alimony, Mrs. Varner said. 1977. Sepiemlter MIE NOTED that she had received Nuttall said the air had several confrontations during the six week peronly $100 in child support from Wood since their divorce in April of 1975. iod they lived together, most of them Miles Patrick, an alcohol and dnig liecause Wood was "going out" with NuttaU's wife. Nuttall and his wife were separated, hut not divorced at that time. jTHE STATE called three witnesses Thursday which testified of a letter that Wood had written to County Attorney Ed Watson. The contents of the by Hugh Barm letter were not brought before the court, Committee work is occupying the but that letter and a retraction letter major part of legislators attention. Too-e Vf .- M .Vi TKf'r I toms test. "I have no ckMilit that he (Wood) was an alcoholic, liecause he had all the ssinptums of alcoholism," Patrick told the court. Tlie ck'fense attempted to bring in a It ah lawyer David Yocorn and Tooele County Deputy Attorney Ron Elton to testify concerning previous criminal homicide cases. However Judge Baldwin forcefully denied the request, "You put me on the spot and I will sit on it lv myself without a lawyer telling me what a judge, jury or lawyer has done liefore." "I don't want to hear Mr. Yoeorn or a county attorney, the judge told Van Silver. Lawmakers Bogged With Committee W ork 8 ni, hIxiv councilor for Western Airlines testified that he had a lengthy interview with Wuod In Fcbmary. 1978. He wnl Wood asked to visit him concerning possibilities of reemployment with Western. Wood had leen employed hv Western Airlines for approximately 16 years More he was terminated for alcohol problems, in Septrmlier. 1977. PATRICK TESTIFIED that Wood had tlie highest score of any prior clients on a standard alcohol abuse symp- I Ci, - ' V K a" ele (anility legislators. Rep. Jack Smith, Sen. Karl Swan and Rep. Beverly White rrMirt that the emphasis is now on appropriations hearings. , SENATE BILL 9 which would have reduced retirement income allowances on state income tax forms was tabled by the Joint Revenue and Taxation Committee, Sen. Karl Swan reports. He feels that the hill is dead for this session of the legislature. He had planned on local hearings in Tooele on the measure but feels that this will not he necessary now as the bill has little chance of being introduced on the floor of either house for consideration during this session. Tooele County legislators met with Salt Lake City legislators to discuss the agreement Iretween the state and the Southern Pacific Railroad to main- tain the present culverts through the causeway. REP. SWAN says that under the law the Southern Pacific Railroad has the responsibility of keeping the culverts clean, but legislators feel that they are not living up to that respon- Pictured above are the eleven Tooele High students who will represent the area in state Sterling Scholar competition. Today, Walter Joseph Wood wav sentenced to hang by 3rd District Court Judge Ernest F. Baldwin. He is scheduled to he hung March 26 at the I'tah State Prison. Trial Date Postponed The trial for a Tooele father of a Iwy accused of the Octolier 7 shooting of a Utah Highway Patrolman, was postponed Tuesday pending the outcome of psychological tests. Pablo I a1 Roy Rorrego, 37, 116 No. First Street, was scheduled to stand trial in 2nd District Court on January 31. February 14 was tentatively set for the trial. BORREGO'S attorney, Robert Van Sciver, told Judge Thomley K. Swan that his client submitted himself to the Veterans Administration Hospital and an independent psychiatrist for a psychological evaluation. Judge Swan granted the postpone1 recause both studies are incomwith but the stipulation that a plete, report on the case be submitted Jan. ment 30. sibility. The Tooele man faces three charges stemming from his alleged escape help he gave his son after the shooting of Trooper Ralph Evans on near The Tooele Senator is very concerned about a bill that would require voters to register 30 days before an election. This greatly restricts the freedom of voters as compared to present policy of voters not being required to register until much closer to the election. Farmington. Those charges are: obstructing justice, and two counts of aggravated robbery. THE BOY, Pablo Jr., 13 is presently at the Utah State Hospital in Provo undergoing a psychological evaluation. He is charged with attempted crimi- - nal homicide and two counts of aggravated roblrery. Trial for the Borrego Ixiv is scheduled for January 30, in the 1st District Juvenile Court. Professor To Address Lecture A Brigham Young University professor of religion will be the guest speaker at the "Know Your Religion" lecture Friday at 7:30 p m. in the Tooele North Stake Center. Monte S. Nyman will speak on Understand Isaiah and Get Past First at the LDS Church Educational lecture. There Is no admission charge. N'e-p- hi Prof. Nyman received his bachelor's and masters degrees in physical education from Utah State University and his educational doctorate degree from BYU. He has served as a stake mission president, high councilor, bishop, and recently returned from six months in Israel where he dedicated the Jerusalem Study Abroad program. Housing, Water, and Sewer Tooele High Youths Named $372,000 Grant Approved 1979 Sterling Scholar Winners For Tooele Development Tooele High School officials have chosen eleven students to represent the school as Sterling Scholars. PRINCIPAL Paul Skyles said the high school students were chosen by teachers and to represent various educational fields in the annual Sterling Scholar competition sponsored by the Deseret News and KSL. Tooele scholars include: Lexi Hiss, and Literature; Shauna Lawrence, Performing Arts; Tonya Shields, Mathematics; Lloyd DeSpain, Social Science; Carleen Robertson, Science; English James Urena, Visual Arts; Gary Watkins, Vocational Education. Others are: Julie George, Homemaking; Tina Coates, Business Education; Craig Ferrin, Music; and Robert General Scholarship. Ma-tek- See page eight for individual pictures of Tooele High's 1979 Sterling Scholars. Selections of the nominees were based on scholarship, leadership, citizenship and character as demonstrated through activity and interest in the particular categories, Skyles said. THE REASON why the high school favors participating in the Sterling Scholar competition, the principal said, is because it is not limited to a few students. Those who are not especially academically inclined, may qualify by showing strong characteristics in citizenship, leadership and character. Each student will receive an embossed certificate of recognition and now advances to the preliminary judging. A final selection will be made in April prior to a KSL telecast of the state winners. Each Sterling Scholar will prepare a portfolio that will include a list of high school grades, teachers and principal report forms, lists of awards and pertinent exhibits. Tooele High is the only school in Tooele county that participates A $372,000 federal housing and development grant has been approved for Tooele City, Mayor Sagers announced Wednesday. Monies from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant will be used to provide water and sewer services, the building of rental units, and improvements of existing homes within the city. UNDER HUD guidelines, the funds mast be used for projects which will either principally benefit low or moderate income persons or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Any grant funds used for activities which do not meet these requirements, will have to be paid with local funds, according to Betty Miller, regional administrator of HUD. Over the three-yea- r period, the city plans to provide water and sewer service to 150 moderate priced housing units in Tooele. This includes 60 units Fri., ion. 26: Tooele vs Judge TueSv Jan. 30 Tooele vs Union JV 5:30 p.m.; Varsity 7:30 p.m. Adults $2.00; Youth $1.50 - r. - for the elderly and handicapped , ana 90 for other low or moderate income families. THE GRANT will also be used to improve about 70 homes which are owned by low income families in Tooele. A 120 new rental unit project is proposed to meet the needs of low and moderate income renters. An estimated 16 units will be designated for the elderly and handicapped, and 104 units for other families. Approximately 25 existing rental units will be rehabilitated from the federal grant monies, according to the proposed plans. THE GRANT application made by the city says current housing conditions indicate a rapid increase in construction activities in Tooele. The regional economic development has stimulated inflow of new residents, and resultant demand accompanying this growth are placing a burden upon the city to provide adequate facilities, Mayor Sagers said. Sagers noted that the $4.5 million capital improvements bond passed last August will also help provide needed improvements for present and future demands on water and sewer systems. in Tooele. HE SAID improvement will provide additional sewage outfall capacity and water storage and distribution capabilities to meet current and anticipated needs. Health and fire safety will be substantially improved for all residents of Tooele, Sagers said. The reason why the city applied for the grant is because a significant number of housing units owned or rented by low and moderate income persons in Tooele require rehabilitation in order to meet HUD standards, Sagers explained. Tooele also has need of increased housing supply availability to accome modate persons residing and expected to reside in the city, he added. lower-incom- A 1977 study of community devela need for rehabiliand rented housing moderate income fafor new rental units, opment indicated tation of owned units for low and milies, and a need Sagers said. These needs have increased sig- nificantly with the growth of industry within the area, and population increases which have accompanied these developments, Sagers said. v b |