OCR Text |
Show 1 in assure DWR 1 1 o VVI t delays rainbow trout stocking for Grassy Trail raaauB , 1996 graduates grab diplomas, head for celebrations, job openings. 3-- H in mu.. .. Reservoir. t'i. j Page 4 Page rtnT w h'fifn'iii,iHTmntiiniirinfirtiirilmrrr-nfiiMiftftnaflMffnim'irii t mirr ifnyaiWtffMiiaTntrf-r- Sm i fcy MiftMTfTfcrfiliifi iMnn t, !& iiiJr.H n4 ffit n am i 8 m if Hit -- Ors Thursday May 30, 1996 105th Year - No. 44 r of Set Price, Utah 509 traffic stop results in high-spee- d pursuit, crash UHP By LAYNE MILLER Staff writer A routine traffic stop by Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Don Kelly on Monday afternoon turned into a chase and ended when the suspect vehicle careened off U.S. Highway 6. The suspect, high-spee- d end-over-e- ld Gilbert James Hunt, 34, South Jordan, was critically injured when the 1992 Saturn he was reportedly driving left the road east of Wellington at a speed exceeding 100 miles per hour and rolled six times before coming to rest near a cement-lineirrigation ditch. Hunt was ejected from the vehicle and taken by ambud lance helicopter to University of Utah Medical Center with a broken pelvis. The car was reported stolen from a convenience store Monday at 10:30 a.m. in Grand Junction, Colo. I was heading westbound near Woodside when I looked in my rearview mirror and saw this black car making a bad pass. The driver pulled in back of the car behind me and stayed there, said Kelly. The veteran law enforement officer pulled over and waved the two vehicles past him. Kelly followed the suspect vehicle and turned on his patrol cars emergency lights. The driver pulled over after hitting 68 mph, according to trooper. approached the vehiappeared really stiff. He then bent down and did something on the seat of the car. My gut instinct told me he As I cle, he was loading rifle. I stopped, put my hand on my gun, pointed my other hapd at him and was about to tell him to keep his hands where I could see him when he took off again, indicated Kelly. The pursuit last 15 minutes and covered nearly 30 miles, with the vehicles reportedly reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph. He was weaving in and out of traffic, even passing cars on the right side. Several cars had to pull off the road to avoid being hit by the fleeing vehicle, said Kelly. Police officers set up east of Wellington in an attempt to stop the suspect vehicle before it entered town. Wellington Police Chief Lee Barry attempted to set up a rolling roadblock to stop the vehicle. I made the decision to stop him before we went through Wellington, pointed out Kelly. The driver attempted to pass some cars on the left and couldnt, then attempted to pass some on the right when he looked up and saw Chief Barry. He then hit his brakes and skidded out of control and left the highway. Hunt was reportedly ejected from the Saturn at the top of a small hill. The suspects car continued to roll and ended up at the bottom of the hill, spilling its contents as the vehicle bounced. Officers found silver 13 rifles, dozens and dozens of pieces of jewelry, a flat-war- e, purse, wallet and many other (Continued on Page 2A ) Foundation report highlights UMA applauding government RDA eminent domain issues action in dust sampling case Redevelopment agencies have grown substantially throughout the state during the last 15 years. And with growth has come an increasing number of complaints about the agencies significant powers, according to Utah Foundation. The number of RDAs has increased dramatically over the last few years, growing from just a handful a decade ago to 55 as of February. The amount of tax increment financing has likewise increased, from $2.4 million to $30.6 million during the same period of time. It is this taking of property tax revenue and their power of eminent domain that causes most of the controversy, stated Michael Christensen, Utah Foundation director, in releasing the private public policy research agencys latest report. RDAs were first authorized by the Utah Legislature in 1969 for two main purposes: to revitalize blighted inner-citareas and to take advantage of the availability of federal grants for urban renew-- ( y Continued on Page 2A) ' Following more than four and the Mine Safety and be close to dropping the case, years of legal wrangling, the Health Administration which has been referred to as civil their most Utah Mining Association (MSHA) failed to prove wideclaims the credibility of the spread deliberate tampering litigation in recent years. American coal industry has with respirable dust samples In an April 25 letter, collected by more than 500 lawyers for the U.S. Labor been restored. According to UMA, the Fed- coal mine operators in 1991. Department offered to drop Last September, the federal further action if coal operators eral Mine Safety and Health Review Commission previousagencies appealed the compick up their own legal fees. ly concluded that the United mission ruling. But it appears Enclosed, please find a States Department of Labor MSHA and labor officials may ( Continued on Page 2A) high-profi- le Retired judge reveals role Bunnells played in Gibby tradition By LAYNE The group members made MILLER A cleanup campaign at the College of Eastern Utah has resulted in a disagreement over Gibby, the large rock located in front of the administration building. The disagreement illustrates how strong local traditions can become. As CEU staff and administrators began thinking of ways to improve the appearance of the buildings facing 400 North, a new instructor suggested that Gibby was attracting graffiti and embarrassing students and faculty. The instructor recommended getting rid of Gibby, nicknamed after the Rock of Gibraltar. An inspection of the area shows graffiti on the rock, the cement surrounding it, on a nearby lightpole and even a nearby tree. But the idea of ripping Gibby out of its home in the lawn in front of the college enraged those who know its history, revealed Karen Bliss, CEU alumni coordinator. between the staff and administrators flew back and forth, explained Bliss. I told them the history of the rock is important. We recognize the concern over the graffiti, but we are getting really picky about what happens to it. Its an important part of our history. Gibbys history involves several students who are now prominent residents and it involves the wrecker from Bunnell Garage, then located in Helper. During a recent interview, retired 7th District Court Judge Boyd Bunnell admitted to the Sun Advocate that he put the rock there in about 1939. My brother, Louis, who was one of the first to attend the college, had actually picked out the rock and was going to move it. But the night he had planned, he had a date. So he asked me if I would help some of his friends move the their way to the college, with the vehicles front wheels bouncing off the ground each time it hit a bump. Using logs and other material, they backed the Staff writer wrecker over the curb and up to the front doors of the school. Cement was mixed and Gibby permanently planted in the ground. It was right in front of the doors, said Bunnell. You had to walk around it to get into the school. Gibby has created an unresolved disagreement at CEU. Some new instructors believe the rock is drawing unnecessary graffiti and should be removed. But other long-ter- instructors maintain the rock should be saved tradition at the because of its school. long-standin- g m rock down to the campus. The rock had been picked out. It sat up there on the hill where the high school is now. We used the Bunnell Garage wrecker and put a big chain around the rock and lifted it up, revealed the judge. Well, the rock was so h avy, it lifted the front wheels off the ground. The other guys had to stand on the front bumper so it would stay on the ground. Every time we hit a bump, the front wheels would come off the ground and I couldnt steer." Gibby became controversial the first time when CEU president John Tucker decided to remove it without telling anyone. Gibby was placed inside the library and encased in glass. But when space became more valuable than the rock, it was removed and stored in a dark corner of the college. My cousin, Bert, was the studentbody president at the time, explained the judge. So he again used the Bunnell Garage wrecker and moved it to its present location. This time, he had permission of the administration." Many photos grace the pages of the old Carbon High (which was located in the same building) and Carbon College (currently CEU) yearbooks showing beautiful girls sitting on Gibby. Annual tug of wars between sophomores and freshmen would decide which class had the light to paint the rock. Another highlight of Gibbys career occurred when a CEU student asked his girlfriend to marry him via a message on the rock. So what will happen to Gibby? Bliss declared her intention to save Gibby, while other people are standing firm in eliminating the graffiti the rock encourages. CEUs 60th anniversary is coming within the next couple of years and a new student center is just beginning construction. Should Gibby be moved into the new building, perhaps encased in glass with its history prominently stated? V, |