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Show ___ The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Wed CACHE A 24-year-old Logan man has been charged with using the Inter- netto try to arrange to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old Logan girl. County by County Hugh Guthrie was arrested after making arrangements to meet the girl, who was working with police on the case, but met Det. Brad Frankeinstead. 5 exploitation of a minor, a second- degree felony,andis being held in the county jail on $150,000 bail. — Steve Bottorff Lawmakers: Why Does Utah Have An Exclusive Deal With Insurer? — The Park Record TOOELE Residents of Wendover, Utah, Somelegislators question governor's ties to state employees’ group insurance the poor twin to a tinseled gambling town just across the Utah-Ne- BY DAN HARRIE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE to becomeits mayor. It's been three weeks since Mayor KentPeterson resigned, and no one has applied to be mayorof the financially beleagured town. Utah lawmakersare questioning whythestate has an exclusive contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. to offer group auto and homeinsurance to 21,000 public employees. The Legislature's Administrative Rules Committeegrilled state personnel andpayrollofficials about the deal Tuesday. Lawmakers’ questions focused on whether the state should be giving preference to one insurer. They also asked about the fairness of the bid-selection process and questionedthe benefit to the state. State officials defended the five-year contract as providing a valuable benefit to public employees by offering them discount rates on homeand auto insurance. The insurer was selected through competitive bidding. Its coverage plan is advertised in paycheck inserts, and participating employees can pay throughpayroll deduction. Never broached directly during Tuesday’s committee hearing but privately questioned by some members was whether the insurance company received special favors because of a connection with Gov. Mike Leavitt. Judd Turneris a vice president of Fred A. More- The City Council will accept ap- Har CARBON The rivalry between Carbon High School and Emery High Schoolhas the Price police looking for the vandals who painted “Emery” and “EHS” on Carbon High's plications throughits Oct. 7 meeting, so there's still time. — The Associated Press UTAH Athletes from Brigham Young Hi Featured Today football field, concession stand, University are teamingup with In- bleachers and wall surrounding the field. troopers to Gov. Mike Leavitt has “gonein one ear and outthe oth- A welcome sign on state Route 10outsideof Price was also vandal- er.” ized andpolice have good leads in “Everything seems focused on tracking down the vandals,said Officer Julie Ori. — LayneMiller GRAND the Wasatch FrontandI-15 reconstruction and to hell with the rest of us,”Phillips says. _ termountain Health Care and the county Health Department in a campaign targeted at fifth-grade students to discourage smoking. ” started on Tuesday with presentations to fifth-grade classes in Provo, Orem and Santa- quin.It features a video by former Arches winery in Moabis for sale and a group ofSeattle investors has expressed an interest in purchas- The redevelopment agency in Mount Pleasant has received a ing the operation andits gift shop. $250,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Adminis- The winery is in its ninth year of business. Last year it produced 5,000 gallons of wine for its own label and for Park City Cellars. — The Times-Independent tration thatwill be used in developing an industrial park. The city will match the grant with $166,000. The moneywill be used to developinfrastructure and water and sewerlines for the park MILLARD Frustrated with a lack of help from the Utah Highway Patrol, Sheriff Ed Phillips is bringing in nearthe town’s airport. deputies for overtime shifts to crack down on speeders on Interite 15. Hesays the deputies are needed — AnnShields WASHINGTON Hurricane City is in the process of revising its dog ordinance because of an increasing numberof the animals,andit may hit pet own- ers in the wallet. Under the proposal, the city ed an additional $2,300. Those donations were far Turner, Leavitt and state Human Resource Man. agement Director Karen Suzuki-Okabesaid thegov- ernorplayed norole in thecontract award “I’m unaware that Mike Leavitt had an involvement in that process whatsoever. ‘Turner. put or said “Mysenseis that Mikevery carefullystayed out of the process,” Turner added. “I don’t recall any con- versation with Mike about this.” Leavitt also denied any intervention He had no discussions with Turner and “knew nothing about it until Cabinet [meeting].” said zuki-Okabe] broughtit to Leavitt spokeswomanVicki Varela. “He did not influence it at that point either.” Suzuki-Okabe told lawmakers Tuesday sheinitiated the group-insurancebid process withno direction from administration officials. “Tnever had anyinterventionsat all,” shesaid ina later interview. Suzuki-Okabe said she sought the group-insurance plan four years ago to enhancethe state employeebenefit package. At that time, the only home and ton, which brokered the dealwith thestate. Heis a friend and former insurance-business partnerof the Several years ago Turner and Leavitt approached officials in the former Bangerter administration with a group-insurance proposal similar to the one nowin effect. “It went nowhere,” Turnersaid. Turnerlater left the Leavitt Group of insurance — The Pyramid SUMMIT The Park City Planning Commis- The town has already passed an sion has given its approval to the ordinance to allow commercial ton, Turner is broker for the current contract, awarded in 1994 andsetto expire next year. developed by DeerCrest. kennels to operate in areas zoned for agriculture and commerce. — Jackie Fuller $100 for each additional dog. election, and Fred A. Moreton executives contributfrom the largest in Leavitt's war chest of more than $1.7 million. governor. companies, owned by the Leavitt family and headed Part of the swanky development Philips says his request for more BYU and current San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young with an anti-smoking message. would hike the permit fee for a third dog from $40 to $150 and annexation of the area thatwill because ofincreased traffic. D3 ing planned next to Deer Valley extends into Wasatch County. The City Council will now approve or reject the recommendation. vada stateline, are hardly flocking Guthrie faces 16 counts of sexual 30, 1998 “It was ridiculous to me that the only could get insurance was through the UPE. said Asfar as the contract award, Suzuki-Okabesaid, “We went througha very rigorous process.” She noted five other companies submitted bids, by Mike Leavitt before his 1992 election. At More- and finalists were interviewed. Lawmakers tooknoaction ontheissue. Leavitt's old insurance company, in which he retains part ownership, receives no financial benefit from the state contract with Metropolitan Life. However, the Leavitt Groupstill is one of the largest Utah brokers for MetropolitanLife. said he did not have a “total comfort level” with the Life donated $750to Leavitt's 1992 But committee co-chairman Howard Stephenson state granting employee access and payroll deductions for one companyin a competitive industry. “My main concern is the competitiveness,” said Stephenson. “Where doesthelist of potential ser- vices end?” Commission Hopeful Removed Opponent’s Sign BY LINDA FANTIN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE “I don’t havetime to take down signs.I’m trying to run a real campaign andtalk aboutrealissues,” Reberg said. About the same time Democrat Mike Reberg was in Magnareplacing missing campaign signs,his Salt Lake County Commission opponentwas ripping one down in Sandy. Republican Mark Shurtleff, who has stressed hon- favor. Reberg and Shurtleff are vying for the seat being vacated by Randy Horiuchi. Shurtleff said he was driving to his Sandy home 2,200 signs andlost about900, he said. Shurtleffsaid he hasput up about 250 signs andlost 100. “Everyoneloses signs,” Reberg said. “You hope thatits just kids vandalizing. You don't expect your opponentto get caught wreckingyoursigns.” esty andintegrity in his campaign, admitted his ac- tions to police, but claimed he was only returning the Reberg and his campaign staff have hand-made Shurtleff said he has since returned to the scene and put Reberg’s sign back on the pole because he felt guilty. On the other hand, he suggests he did not wrong. Friday whenhenoticed oneofhis signs andits green post had been stolen from lot near 7553 S. Union “WhathaveI donethat’s dishonest? Other people would have takenit, but that didn’t enter my mind,” Park Ave. Then he saw oneof Reberg’ssigns across the street — nailed to a greenpostthat was left over from the Republican Primary Election. “I decided that I was taking the sign off my post,” said Shurtleff.“I didn’t destroyit. I didn’t throwit in aboutsigns.” Toolate. aDumpster. . . I just left it on the ground and then I called the Reberg campaign and told them to stopit and that I wanted mysigns back.” Butnot before a WestValley City man took down Shurtleff's license numberand reported thesign incident to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Sandy police Sgt. Kevin Thacker said once hereceives the county's report, the city attorney will re- Shurtleff said. “Do I wish I hadn’t doneit? Yes. Now I'm afraid the real issues of the campaign will get lost because wewill be spendingall ourtimetalking On Tuesday, Reberg and fellow Democrat Karen Cromptonheld a news conferenceto blast Shurtleff and Crompton’s opponent, Mary Callaghan, for accepting thousands of dollars in billboard advertising from the Republican Party courtesy of Reagan Out- door Advertising. Reagan successfully lobbied the County Commission last year to loosen the county’s billboard ordi- view the case for possible criminal charges. Thacker nance, making it easier for the hugesigns tobe locat- was unsureif any laws had beenbroken,buthesaid that Shurtleff would get no special treatment. Shurtleff called the witness and apologized for his ed in residential neighborhoods. Reberg and Cromptonhave pledged to reverse the ordinance. “The tragedy is every community council in Salt It is not coincidence that Reberg’s signs keep ap- County Planning Commission unanimously rejected the plan. Calls to county offices ran 100 percent in opposition,” Rebergsaid. “Butstill it passed. behavior, according to the sheriff's report. However, hesaid hehas nointention of apologizing to Reberg. pearing where his used to be, Shurtleff said. The Republican acknowledges he has no proof of Reberg’s involvement. The Democrat denies sabotage. Reberg said he got permission from landowner Duane Rasmussento place a sign on the Sandylot. Lake County opposed the ordinance change. The “For the people of this valley to ever feel good about Salt Lake County government, they need to Anartist's rendition shows how PromisedValley Playhouse would look after reconstruction. Is Theater’s Resurrection Worth $30M? Salt Lake County officials consider bondto restore Promised Valley Playhouse LINDA believe they will be heard. Karen Cromptonand I are listening.” Whenthe hard ground wouldnotyield to his own woodenstakes, Reberg used the green polesticking Tribune reporter Paul Rolly contributed to this story. outof the ground. THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE There isa lot of potentialin the Promised Valley Playhouse,butit will cost $24 million to $30 million to. pry it from the pillars, Envirocare Papers Withheld, lationship. In July, Semnani pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor federal tax charge in exchange Attorneys Cited fees. Envirocare attorney Rodney for his “full cooperation” in the ongoing investigation of Ander- Parkersaid Fuchs misunderstood the nature of the disclosures and uring discovery in the NFS lawsuit, Envirocare attorney Max Wheeler told NFS on Oct. 6, 1997, his ruling. Parkersaid it all boils down to who had controlandpossession of the documents: Enviro- that Envirocarelikely will appeal @ Continued from D-1 that “Envirocare of Utah has no documents or other evidence in coins. On four orfive occasions in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Envirocare bought gold coins, which could have been among those coins Semnani later gave to Anderson. @Banking records regarding transfer of funds from Semnani or Envirocare to Anderson. All of those documents would be central in the Umetco and NFS cases, which allege that NFS court costs and attorneys i and Andersonconspired to make Envirocare successful at the expense of would-be competitors. Semnani and Anderson have ac- its possession showing payments to Anderson.” Uponlearning later that those documents do exist, NFS was int. “Envirocare clearly lied to NFS,” wrote NFS attorney Scott Call in a memorandum to Fuchs. “Envirocare’s conduct is consistent with the obstructionist tactics it has employed throughout this litigation.” Fuchs sided with NFS, ordering Envirocare to turn over the requested documents. The judge also ordered Envirocare to pay knowledged that Semnani gave care the corporation or Semnani the individual. Since NFS discovered the Umetco disclosure, Envirocare has provided the documents to NFS regarding gold coins and has promised to provide the others, said NFS attorney Thomas Karrenberg. With headquarters in Salt Lake City, Envirocare owns and oper- ates a low-level radioactive-waste landfill in remote Tooele County. The company, which closely its market, is the largest private offsite disposal facility for U.S. Department of Energy sites around the country. walls and woodenfloors. Thestageis too short, the auditorium too low,the walls too weak and the seats crammed too close together. Thefloor needsto be rebuilt, and theinterior light well between the second and third floors is filled with dead pigeons. Nothing short of reconstructive surgery will save the old theater that has stood midway between 100 South and 200 South in Salt Lake City for 93 years. The assessment of the build- ing’s current condition was contained in a structural report re- leased Tuesday. “This is nota restoration,” con- thecity’s first vaudeville house. It later was converted to a movie theater and was knownby several namesincluding the Wilkes, Roxey, Lake and Lyric. In the early 1970s, the LDS Church bought and restored the building for church plays, and gavethehallits latest name. The auditorium and main lobby have been refurbished several times. Except for the stage,little remains oftheoriginal building. A hotel behind the theater — built to house performers — will have to be gutted for a larger stage if the county acquires the building from the church andproceedswith restoration plans. What little is left of the build- ing’s historic fabric is surely worth saving, said Grant Dansie. He served as the building engi- neerbefore the church closed the playhousein 1996 for safety concerns. During one of the renova- tions, Dansie found old ticket stubs from the Orpheum in the balcony. He wouldloveto see the theater preserved for posterity. sultant Wally Cooper told Salt So would Commissioners Brent “This is an attempt to recreate a Overson and Randy Horiuchi. But to raise that kind of money would require a bond election, Lake County commissioners. theater that once existed.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants the coun- ty to purchase the building and Oversonsaid. Although the piayhouse could be expanded to a maximum 1,075 seats, sentimen- reopen it for public use. tality is tough to resist. Originally named the Orpheum Theatre, the playhouse served as “My initial feeling was that if it’s not at least 1,200 seats, why bother? Restoring this building is not somethingthat is core to the , county’s mission,” Overson said. “Butit is a beautiful theater, no doubt about it. It's probably worth going forward to ask voters if this is a sufficient community treasure to preserve.”’ If voters say no, it could be curtains for the grand old theater. The churchhassaidit is notinterested in keeping the building. That would be a big loss for downtownSalt Lake City, according to Horiuchi. Given the Gateway developmentunder wayon the city’s west side, Horiuchi fears the downtown area will continue to be ‘a gaggle of office buildings” with no nightlife. project makes it worthwhile,” he said. Lisbeth Henning of the Utah Heritage Foundation says voters would be morewilling to raise taxes to renovate a landmark than to build a new theater somewhere else, Julie Peck, director of the county’s Community and Support Services, says a new theater could be more expensive. Although the theater will not accommodate as many patrons as Peck had hoped, shelikes the idea of fixing up the historic playhouse. “Now we just need to find a moneytree,” shesaid. $600,000 in real estate, cash and gold coins to Andi Semnani says the payments were extorted by Anderson; Andersonsays they were part ofa legitimate business arrangement the two men had. The FBIhas investigated the re- Wind shields! =) Save u to $120.00* Glass Act wii a ECU mee Yoho P ayer waive up to $120.00 of your Insurance Deductible. Free Mobile Service & Free State Safety Inspection, Call for Details. Salt Lake Glass Act 533-8844 ne 373-8726 392-1072 Proudly Serving Utahfor Over 10 Years! - “The civic aspect of doing this Financial Group Inc. 268-0444. 9192 South 300 West Ste. 9 - |
