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Show tbeUTAH Letter Reminds LDS Faithful of Church’s Stand on Candidates TheSalt Lake Ti Monday, Octobe! Unsignedfliersrz have also caused fi BY CONNIE COYNE THESALTLAKI TRIBUNE | Aletter fromthe governing First Presidency MormonChurch reaffirming its policy of political neutrality was read during sacrament meetings throughout Utah andthe United States on Sunday. “Thisis a fairly routine reminderletter thatis sent out during everypolitical season,” said Mike Otterson, media relationsdirector for The ChurchofJesus Christ of Latter-daySaints. But the letter could be more than routinethis year in the minds of church members | | "So now, when you wantto knowwhat'sfor dinner or whensoccer practice is, don't come bug me! confrontedwith the contentious race for mayor of Salt Lake City, where two descendants of a Cache County polygamist want the office RockyAnderson andStuart Reid are both Demo- crats. but the resemblance, according to many, ends there. Anderson acknowledgeshis Mormonroots and Reid advertises his in campaignliterature touting his an LDSpolice chaplain and publicaffairs | for the church The fund.-raising aspect of the California campaign ve memberssent contribution to a post office bi ng with information on their church membership so that individual stake president. could see how they were doing — has caused some Californiapoliticalactivists to raise questions about the use of tax-exempt contributions to the LDS Church for political Ee ising questions about Anderson Anderson maintains that Reid’s supporters sponsible for the fliers contending that Ande ownsgaybars and may be gay himself. He is not. Reid states that Anderson may be producing thefliers to get a sympathy vote. Despite the LDS letter’s assertion “the church does not endorse political andidates or parties in elec: Sun separate is- sue,” Ottersonsaid. “This letter deals with supportof candidates or parties or platforms; the church does not support candidates.” In California, the Mormon churchinstructedfollowersto offer political andfinancial supportfor the ballot initiative that would deem only heterosexual marriages “valid andrecognized.” d by LDS President Gordon STsalone! Presidents Thomas S. Monson and JamesE. Faust,points out that church facilities are notto be used forpolitical purposes, nor are church directories or mailinglists. Political candidates should not imply that their candidacyis endorsed by the churchorits leaders,” plications, such astheballot initiative banning gay marriages in California, Otterson said on Sunday. “TheCaliforniainitiative is a totally letter, B. Hinckley and tions nor doesit adv Mormonleaders sti iononpolitical issuesit considers to have moral im- theletterstates. Addressed to “dear brethren andsisters,”the offi- cial letter encourages membersto support “measures and candidatesthat strengthen society morally, eco- nomicallyand cultural: Otters n said the “wordingofpastletters is very similar” to the most recent one. “This is something members have becomemostfamiliar with.” Must log onto the family Web site and you'll beall set." FOR THE RECORD Pumpkin Carvers Scuba With the Sharks TEEN-AGER SHOT A 19-year-old manwasflownin critical condition FIRE KILLS DRIVER A St. George womandied Sundayafter her van to University Hospital Sunday night after a gangrelated drive-by shooting, Midvale police Sgt. Steve ,Shreeve said. The man was sitting with three other men on his porch at 179 W. Foxbridge Drive in Midvale whenthree cars pulied up, then several men got outof the cars and began yelling gang slogans. Witnesses told police the men then opened fire on the men on the porch, Shreeve said. The 19-year-old was shot in the chest and doctors performedsurgerylate Sundaynight. Shreeve said police foundatleast four casings from a 9 mm anda .22-caliber pistol, but witnesses said as many as eight shots may have been rolled then caught onfire just south of St. George. fired, Utah HighwayPairol Sgt. dim Lioyd Angeles Blanco Perez, 42. was driving on Old y 91 near milepost 10 whenhervandriftedoff the right edge of the road. She overcorrected to the left, then backto the right, police say. Her vanrolled down an embankment, then landedupside down. Her passenger, JorgeCastillo Rosas, alsoof St. George, was ejected fromthe van and wastreated for minor injuries at Dixie Regional Medical Center. Pers pinned : inside the van, which then caught fire Po saythe fire consumedthe van, andthat Perez died at e do have several jeads on this case,” the scene. Police suspect alcohol wasinvolvedin the “Shreeve said. Police were still investigating the crime scenelate Sunday. . accident, but say the crash is still under investiga- tion. Utah firefighters battled two blazes Sunday that investigators believe were started by people, Interagency Fire Center spokeswoman Kathy Jo Pollock jail Friday for investigation of sexual abuse. said Utah County Sheriffs Lt. Ron Fernstedt. When Hal lock did not showfor breakfast Saturday. jailers id. Cne mile northwest of Henefer, the Henefer Lodge fire is threatening several barns. Thefire started at about noonandquickly took over300 acres checked his cell and found him hanging at 7:40 a.m. Attempts to revive Hallockhadno effect and he was pronounceddead at Mountain ViewHospital in Pay: ofsage and grass. Two air tankers, two 20-pe crews and twohelicopters are fighting the f Beaver son. “There were nootherinmates involvedthat we knowof,”’ Fernstedt said. Twoprisoners at Salt Lake County jail used bed sheets to hang themselves in August. Troy Hobbs and Barkley, both that jail’s suicides in two years. Andlast month, convicted robber Ronald L. les died at Utah State Prison after hanging himself from socks. Creekfire up Ogden Canyonon Highway39is threateningrecreation vehicles > campground, Pollock at Sourdough Ranch, said, as well as the The fire began at 3:05 p.m. and has grownto 150a Oneair tankerandfirefighters from Weber County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service 2 fighting thatfire. No one had been evacuated by Sunday evening, Pollocksaid. Forget Halloween, UDOTOffers Daily Nightmare This is a storyof one Halloweennight, Wa atch those orange barrels along yourpath, hey'll comealive like carved pumpkins and So horrible even Doug Short shook withfright If you've got something to hide, and your conscience is haunted, Yourtricks will becomemytreat, if| find you are wanted, LAW ENFORCEMENT qa See, downtown,” Where the hor rible ghost of UDOT rises, as the sun goes down, laugh an evil laugh, “Our terrorshall reign until the year 2002!" the roadsignflashes, The Olympics shall rise up from our emotional ashes, Laughingheadless horsemenride a smokyblack zens of the valley, the roads are possessed, By strange street peoplein bright little ves! So youfear badluck when youcross Just wait‘til you're detouredby ascr haze, As your skeleton is entombed in your Plymouth Alliance, Yourbonyfingerstill gestures your final defiance, It's said Lucifer himself led UDOT's project, Andthesoulsofits management. he’s coming to collect, Before the Angel of Darkness, ourleaders will confess, “It maybe apretty great state. but the roads are a mess,” People closed their sales office andfired four employes Saturday in adis: pute over impact fees “Eagle Mountain Properties, after investing or personally guar: anteeing more than $25 million, simply cannot continue investing more millions in this townas long as these high fees remain,” thein. vestors said ina letter to residents of the Utah County town. Eagle Mountain, population 1,200, is a plush town 15 miles west of Lehi in Cedar Valley that en forces design standards for new construction. It was incorporated in 1996. John Walden, one of a trio of Florida businessmen who bought 9,800acres ofland for the town, has repeatedly complained toofficials about impact fees that run $11,500 for each new home — an amount investors contend is three times the Utah average. The fees pay for water and 4 4 ocean's environmentandbiology. “This is what divers who don't deer huntdo,” said Pat Dunninreference to Saturday's opening day of Utah's hunt. Dunnis a memberof Scuba Schools Internationalthat was sponsoringthe event throughits from the destructive forces of pollution and malignant fishing practices. Divers paid an entry fee and got a pumpkin they had @ half-hourto carve with their clunky looking diving knives moresuitedto prying and digging, than to precision cutting. Following the sculpting, divers were challenged to leap out of the water and grab dangling apples with their teeth. Theycompeted forprizes offered by organizers. “Divers will do anything for a free prize,” said Dunn, whowasnot di aturdayso he could run the contest. He is no stranger to the watery depths, however, having made morethan 5,000 dives since 1973. He belongs to the Platinum Pro group as do pine Nelson and George Sanders, owners of Bonille Seabase and Neptune Diving school in Salt leis City. The Sea Base consists of natural hot springs witha salinity level comparableto an ocean because salt leaches in from the nearby Great Salt Lake. Those who payto dive at the algae-rich springs doso among a variety of planted tropical fish including clownfish, groupers, angel fish, and timid nurse S , that look upthrough the surface like enormous albino catfish. Josh Dukes, and his friend Eric Degroot, both from Layton, participated in the events even though they have been certified for onlya week. “We love to make are divers coming up without any limbs missing,” he joked. Asthe divers wentinto the water, George Sanders talked about the work of the Platinum Plus Foundation. He id the group is made up of divers from around the world who meet the requirements and have madea significant contribution in raising awarenessofthe ocean’s environment. “One of our primary concernsare saving the reefs in the sea,” said Sanders, who resemblesthe sea god Neptune with a shock of white hair and full white beard. “Everywhereyou go, the oceans are trashed.” Oneofthe most egregious examples, hesaid,is the destruction ofcoral reefs off the coast of Indonesia. “In 1990 when the governmentopened the country to tourists, 95 percent of the reefs werepristine, now 15 percent are not even viable and more than 90 percent havebeen affected by pollution,” says Sanders. He blames most of the damage on sewage from hotels and fishermen whouse dynamiteto kill large numbersoffish. Although Platinum Pro has a Website teachers can use to teach their students, the Internet is for developed nations. Where the real problem is and where the group needs to focus its resources is on educating the young peopleof developing countries. Sanders says what is needed are information packets of printed materials on proper development practices andfishing techniques that will not harm thefragile reefs. “And thatcosts a lot of money,” hesaid. So far, Sanders and Nelson have taken the environmental message to New Guinea,in the South Pacific, ChristmasIsland,in the Indian Ocean, and next weekwill travel to African nations on an education and diving tour whichwill includetheisland of Zanzibaroffthe continent'seastcoast. Afier the divers emerged from the springs with their carved pumpkins , judges gave the mostoriginal design award to Ray Wirick of Salt Lake City. A three-year diving veteran, Wirick’s pumpkin had the bottoms of two green soda bottles poking out like bug eyes with a pair of rabbit-ear antennae shooting out fools of ourselves fora T-shirt,” said Dukes as he drew of its top like aninsect. theoutline heplanned to carve on his pumpkin. Degroot said the trick to carving a pumpkinwasto “most Halloween-like” category. ice diver from Layton, wonfor the ve npires snatch strandedvictims fromthe led highway, “Governor Leavitt, can you savethe da For the copsare possessed by donuts, n atan’s cafe, an ifieds work,” Rogerssaid. “She's riding in the front seat with [Norris] on a towel. Hecalled Kitty Heads for Home After Her Big Adventure @ Continued from B-1 This Halloweenstory is about overbut before you ‘ few words of wisdom every goodparent should know fell your tricksters that if they choseto go out Not to steal candy orkick jack-o-lanterns about, Make sure their candy is wrapped and safe to consume. Ke sure they can see clearly from their chosen costume It’s easy to get lost when it’s dark andthey roal And strangers are everywhere, so stay closeto whitekitty witha black tail and 83-inchblack spots on her back. She's really a weird-looking cat,” her ownersaid. “T’'m glad she’s friendly so she didn’t give him a hard time.” Norris looked up The Tribune's lost-and-found ads on the paper's Web site, found the cat ad and called Rogers. Then, he rearranged his shift so he could makethe13-hourdriveto bring Rogers’ cat backto: day Does Snoring Ruin Your sewer lines and other public “The town council has repeat edly refused to lower these e: sive fees," the investors wrote Saturday. “At a crucial town Monkeyis an oldercat that Rogers didn’t expect to take up with the kittens. “Lunacries all the time since Harleyclimbed into the delivery truck,” Rogers said. “I think Harley's going to be a housecat from now on.” Harleyis short for “Harlequin” because Rogers said herkitty is a clown. “I picked her out at the HumaneSociety because she was really cranky,” shesaid.“I'mglad they found her, but I'll be relieved whenI get her back.” The Humane Society recommendsinserting mi- crochips into pets so they canbeeasilyidentified if theyare turnedin toa shelter. Salt Lake County Animal Servicestells ownersto fill out lost-pet cards just in case ananimal is droppedoff. ‘$100 Oe IN-STORE CREDIT. Night Life? improvements maneSociety in August. JUST BOOKED? eee home As long as every goblin does what is right, ‘There'll be nothing to fear on this Halloween night z wanting to knowif there were anyspecial treats she needed, but she just likes Purina cat chow.” Rogers picked up Harley and Lunafrom the Hu- z EAGLE MOUNTAIN —The devel operof one of Utah's newest towns ming in vain, * ‘Arethe cops on their Eagle Mountain Developers Shut Down OverImpact Fees THEASSOCIATED PRESS came to the thermal springs of Bonneville Seabase off state Route 138 to carve jack-o’lanterns underwater in a fund-raising event to help educate schoolchildren around the world about the Cackling old witches chose the broom, overlight rail jack cat? aming orangehat, You'll drive foreverin somedark, lonely maze, Whereheadless street plannerscan be seen in the ‘adling pumpkins. Joe Matthews, who owns Aquatic Adventures, in FarrWestin northern Utah, said he wasnotthere to dive but to judge the contest. “WhatI'm lookingfor trail, Bewareciti DAVID LUNDBERG suits andairta choolsof the needto protect the oceans GROUND FIRES A Utah County Jail inmate strangledhimself with a bed sheet Saturday, theSheriff's Officesaid. Robert Hallock, 34, of American Fork, had beenbookedinto About a dozen certified scuba divers lookedlost Saturday morning standing amongthe scrubby getationof the desertin Tooele County in their wet PjatinumPro Foundation based in Fort Collins, Colo. The nonprofit group made up of scuba divers who have madeatleast 5,000 dives, is dedicatedto raising a JAIL SUICIDE put plenty of weight inside so it would notfloat. BY MARK HAVNES THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, council meeting, our company pleaded with the council to lower impact fees to a reasonablelevel. Dr. Brian Peterson, an ear-nose-throat specialist, is now offering a new, simple procedure to eliminateor significantly reducesnoring, The mnopla y procedureuses This request was echoed by many residents. Again, the council re: fused to do so.” radiofrequency to gently shrink the excess tissue in the soft palate. It is done in the office and takes 30 minutes. Jones said the Eagle Mountain Properties is gone for good. “It's not a ploy,” said Ben Wal: Dr. Peterson is offering this procedure at nearly Company Vice President Eric ton, a company worker who was packing up his bags. But town administrator John Newmansaid it’s notthefirst time Walden has threatened to aban don Eagle Mountain, The town council scheduled an emergency meeting for 6 p.m Monday in the community center. Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert said he would be disappointed to see Eagle Moun tain fall by the wayside A Patients can resume normalactivities immediately HALF THE PRICE | of other Utah physicians. Dr. Petersonis board-certified andis located in Price, Utah. Call today for more Mill Direct Carpet at the Family Center 7194 8. Union Park Ave #D information It was simple and painless.” patient, Jeffrey Hansen, MD Brian R. Peterson, MD 946 W. Hospital Dr. #1 Price, Utah 84601 toll free: 888-637-4327 er ores "My wholefamily is sleeping better.” patient, Vicky Westergard “Our bed quit vibrating.” Kelly Carlson, wife of patient Arvid Carlson, MD WIRELESS 2000 801-809-4027 779 EB, 9400 80, Sandy, UT ‘ 801-255-2400 Includes: America Toll Free, Voice Mail First Incoming Min., Free Caller 1D. I $010.08 VoleeBtreain includes 60 tree weekday minutos and 808 Nan free weekend ilintes Offer goodwhite supplie ant Must present at purchase 100 applies to the pureh of any cethul |