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Show - 002 z.0 scna 3Ny3 (U3H0 ROC US woiiyiaossy ss3yd min Bud Peterson attends Korean UIVI3IVII WI 66 ......... 1 0 1 rotenone treatment for Joes Valley. Page War memorial dedication in Washington. Page 2 Coach McBride begin Camp Carbon in Price. ders Utes, 8 Page o Thursday August 104th Year 17, 1995 - 9 0 No. 66 Price, Utah 500 Commitment order filed in Pearson murder conviction By LYNNDA JOHNSON Sun Advocate editor On Tuesday, the 7th District Court delayed pronouncing final judgment and sentence in Jason Scott Pearsons capital murder conviction until Oct. 17. But with no objections from the prosecution or defense y counsels, Judge Bruce K. filed an order commitIndiana ting the man back into the custody of the Emery County Sheriffs Office for transport to the Utah State Prison. Dated Aug. 15, the written order formalized the courts previously announced decision to impose a life sentence on the defendants conviction in the aggravated murder of Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Dennis Dee Lund. Pearson appeared before the district court Tuesday in the custody of the Emery sheriffs office for pronouncement of judgment on four additional felony level counts. The charges included two separate first degree attempted aggravated murder offenses, one Hal-lida- ld third degree aggravated assault and one third degree failure to respond to a police officers signal to stop (evasion) count. Judge Halliday presided on the bench and Emery County Attorney David Blackwell acted on behalf of the prosecution. Ken Brown represented the defendant at the Aug. 15 proceeding. After determining a court reporter was not present, Judge Halliday postponed pronouncement of judgment in the matter and reset the cases final sentencing phase on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. in the Castle Dale courtroom. June On 30, an Emery and George Todd Kennedy purportedly fired a rifle and a shotgun repeatedly at pursuing law enforcement .22-calib- er 12-gau- ge officers. One gunshot fatally wound- County jury deliberated near- ed Lund. verdicts at the conclusion of Pearsons trial, finding the defendant guilty on the aggravated murder, attempted cap- The incident reportedly climaxed after the suspects Ford Thunderbird rolled off the roadway and the two subjects were taken into custody. ly six hours before rendering ital murder, aggravated assault and felony evasion counts. On July 3, Pearson appeared at a sentencing hearing in the felony level convictions. After weighing the evidence presented at the cases penalty phase, Judge Halliday announced the courts decision to impose a life sentence with the possibility of parole on the capital murder charge. The district bench deferred pronouncing judgment on the four remaining counts contained in the felony level complaint pending the preparation of a presentence invest- igation. Judge Halliday were Both teenagers at the time of the d pursuit and fatal incident. Pearson, shooting has remained incarcerated for more than two years awaiting high-spee- trial. In July 1994, the then Kennedy pleaded guilty to an amended information containing one first degree felony level criminal homicide count plus two addi-tional second degree attempted murder charges. In September 1994, Judge Halliday sentenced Kennedy three indeterminate terms the state prison. The prison sentences included one to in one consecutive and one concurrent subsequently scheduled Pearsons sentencing on the attempted capital murder, aggravated assault and eva- sion offenses on Aug. 15. The aggravated murder, attempted capital murder, aggravated assault and felony evasion charges stem from an alleged June 16, 1993 highspeed chase incident along Interstate 70 and Grand counties. During the chase, Pearson School year starts Aug. 22 incarceration period. In addition, the district court ordered Kennedy to satisfy $1,400 in victim restitution and imposed concu- rrent one-yea- r firearm enhancements on each of the three felony level offenses filed against the defendant in the amended criminal complaint. drive carefully! One of the climbers on top of balanced rock near Helper reaches up to take down the barrel that has rested there since 1 929. The incident Pranksters sparked a great deal of concern and disgust among local residents, escapade creates uproar among Helper citizens By LAYNE MILLER Staff writer An apparent prank has created an uproar among Helper residents. Im livid, said restaurant owner Sandra Fossat. Its a landmark. That barrel is a focal point for us and for tourists coming into Helper. A group of five mountain climbers scaled the balanced Helper and rock above removed a barrel that has graced the top of the stone formation since 1929. Helper Police Chief Jim Robinson said the prank Monday night created a flurry of phone calls from angry residents to the city offices and Mayor Mike Dalpiaz. The Price public safety dispatch center even received several 911 calls involving the incident. 55-gall- I pointed sat researched its history and it back up. They didnt have a motive and I dont think they meant it to be any sort of vandalism. They just thought it would be something fun to do, added Robinson. how long ago it happened. I now have a handout I can give them with the history on it, Robinson said the climbers replaced the barrel with a small Welsh flag. He believes the group is made up of Car- Fossat said the history of the barrel and the flags placed on top of it was the first story her father told her when he returned his family to Helper. ple are really upset, dont think what they did the law, but peo was against out Robinson. The chief has a handout available for those interested. believes he knows who the culI got tired of answering the prits are, but said he cant same questions all the time. prove it. People want to know who put They denied involvement in it, but they did agree to put it up there, why they did it and bon County residents. Balanced rock is part of a patch gracing the uniforms of the Helper police department. I designed the patch when I took over the department. On top of the rock is a little black thing the barrel, commented Robinson. The barrel and balanced rock attract the attention of so many tourists each year, Fos she said. Fossats Drive-I- n sits at the base of the rock. I was only 7 years old. When we came around the corner, he told me he knew the kids that put it up there. It was the first story he told us about the area, she said. Robinson believed the group suspected of toppling the barrel planned to return it to its rightful place either Thursday or Friday. Water board awards funds for East Carbons culinary project The Utah Board of Water Resources awarded more than $5.5 million to eight projects in six counties at its Aug. 11 meeting in Garden City. The board committed $1.75 million to help fund East Carbon Citys culinary water system improvement project. Other projects receiving funding included Bear River Water Conservancy District, water system in eastern Box From right, Danielle McPhie shows younger sister Jaimee how to carefully cross streets on the way to school. Danielle will attend1 first will attend pregrade this year and Jaimee school. Local law enforcement officials will closely monitor school zones and Utah Highway Patrol troopers will follow school buses when sessions start T uesday . Fines for speed ing through a school zone have increased dra- matically. The fine for traveling up to nine miles over the 20 mile per hour speed limit is $67.50. For mph over, the fine is $168.75 and possibly community service. For 20 mph and above, the fine is $371 .25 and possibly community service. 10-1- 9 Elder County; $1,110,00; $594,000; Summit Special Service District, Iron County, culinary water system improvements, $41,000; West Cache Irrigation Co., Cache County, canal repair, $199,000; Cub River Irrigation Co., Cache County, canal repair, $54,000. Project sponsors will repay board funds over periods ranging from four to 30 years. Board members also $1,877,000; Town of Paradise, Cache County, well, pump authorized feasibility studies by the Utah Division of Water Resources on five applications for board funding. Minersville Reservoir and Irrigation Com- Beaver County, requested funding to construct a pressurized irriga- Twin Creeks Special Service District, Wasatch County, culinary water project, house and chlorination station, $81,000; Milford City, culinary water system improvements, pany, Beaver County, tions system in Minersville estimated to cost $100,000. Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company wants to put section of irrigaan 800-fotion canal near South Weber into a pipeline estimated to cost $600,000. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District has requested funds to expand a culinary water treatement plant serving South Davis County. Estimated cost is $7 million. Farm Creek Irrigaot tion Company, Duchesne County, is seeking funding to convert its open ditch irrigation system to a pressurized pipeline system estimated to cost $2,600,000. The town of Oakley, Summit County, wants to expand and improve its culinary water system. Estimated cost is $1,720,000. A |