OCR Text |
Show MT. PLEASANT, UTAH 84647 - July 30, 1997 Volume 105 Price 50$ Number Thirty-On- e Moroni votes to keep same road tax levy by C.R. Truitt After a public hearing held July 9, council members voted to keep the road tax levy at the same rate for upkeep of roads in a July 23 meeting. Council members decided to table the final decision concerning switching retirement plans for employees to the state employee retirement plan after questions were raised that no one had answers. Scott Cook, city treasurer, who was supposed to be able to explain the plan in detail was unable to attend the meeting. Barbara Gordon, city recorder, reported that all city employees were in favor of the move and were willing to reduce their wages $750 yearly to cover the difference of the costs. She said it was her understanding that most employees wouldnt see much difference in their because the amount would lessen taxes withheld. MORONI-- - pay-chec- Mayor Cook expressed concern that once the plan was started, state law prohibits the city from ever making another choice. There was also some confusion about actual costs and withdrawal details. Barbara Gordon reported that bad checks coming from the Justice Department were hard to collect. She stated she has two checks for $300 and $30 which she was told by the bank that no funds were in the account. She said it was nearly impossible to collect a $15 charge on bad checks from people not from Moroni. In other business, the council discussed the final hookup bill for Farmers Co-o- p Service Station and a homeowner. A final bill will be sent to each. p, Councilman Pipher announced the citys parade float had about $1,000 damage from wind and sun. He reported the royalty has the use of a new truck for the rest of the summers celebrations. They also discussed where to store the float and looked into plans to repair it. Councilman Reed Christensen raised concern about the Heritage' Commission. Council members their support for the heritage project, but were concerned how Joe Blain would view Donnell Blackhams resignation. Gordon said she had tried to contact Blain, but was unsuccessful. The council plans to contact Leonard Blackham and Blain to find out where the project stands with them. ed Council members considered a suggestion that the city only accept cash or certified checks until Councilman Fredrickson raised the question about the legality. They assigned Gordon the task of checking the legal aspects with the Utah Local Government Trust. Councilman Pipher also reported that in spite of the ycuth dance being held on the Friday before Fountain Greens Lamb Day, it was still a success. After it was discovering the mix-utoo late to change the date. Councilman Larsen reported that damage to the new ball park grounds occurred because some and Nikki Benge, greeted the crowd during the Pioneer Day parade in Fairview. Spring Citys royalty. Queen Kristy Harmer their charm to the Pioneer Day festivities in and attendants Holly Hansen, Kati Winona, Fairview and Spring City. Elizabeth Parnell, and Jenny Watson, added The council also discussed contracting lawn care of city property to Dave Sammons of Quality Lawn Care, Spring City. The change may be cheaper and it would free city employees for critical jobs and reduce compensated time. At the end of the meeting, a citizen praised the council for doing a good job running the city. Pleasant man faces aggravated assault charges !Mt ,, MT. PLEASAN- T- A Mt. Pleasant man who turned himself in to authorities following an altercation at a mobile home park here July 18 could face felony assault charges. David Shepherd, 44, one of four individuals involved in the "fight" which took place between 300 and 400 East 30 North, turned himself in on July 2 1 , was charged with aggravated assault and a warrant out of Sanpete County Justice Court with a $5,050 bail, and was released after posting a bond. Another Kevin individual, Paul Shepherd, 35, Fairview, turned himself in the night of the incident. He was also charged with aggravated assault charges and his bail was set at $5,000, but no formal charges have been brought against him by the County Attorneys office. The two other men, Ricky Reese and Doug Snow, are listed on the Court Information as the victims of the alleged assault and witnesses to the incident which, according to the information, was an aggravated assault involving the use of a dangerous weapon, a hand gun. Other witnesses at the scene, however, have no knowledge of any gun. The All smiles, Fairviews royalty. Queen Jessica Robison and attendants Andrena Chamberlain people were using it as a rodeo ground. The council discussed ways to let people know that horses shouldnt be ridden on any city parks, especially the new ball field under construction. incident originally stemmed from an ongoing domes- tic violence situation involving the Shepherds niece, Janna, and her male friend, Ricky Reese. According to Kevin Shepherd, who agreed to an interview Monday, Janna had on numerous occasions over an extended period of time suffered physical abuse at the hands of Reese. She would leave him and then go back. The last abuse occurred the night before the alleged assault took place and Janna had found safety with her family. "Ricky ran her off the road, pulled her out of the car by her hair and transported her to Moroni," Kevin said. Janna and her mother, Geniel, wanted to file charges but the officer on duty refused because of the paper work, he said. After that incident Ricky wanted her back and began threatening her family. "He threatened to burn down my shop and my moms house next door," Kevin related, expressing concern for both his niece and his mother who was recently widowed. When Ricky began "calling me (Kevin) on Kevin got in his vehicle and chased him to Spring City. Ricky kept "taunting us", Kevin related. The night of the fight Ricky was "burning up and down our street (200 North)" and "flipping brodies", according to Kevin who reported that he went to the "cops three times. He understood that others living on their road also complained. Kevin said he found where Ricky was and told Officer Lance Graham who was on duty. He said Officer Graham told him he had a report that Reese was in Nephi and headed to Moroni. Kevin said his brother, David, and a sister. Lynn, went with him to locate Reese and found him at Doug Snows trailer in the trailer court. Kevin said he didnt know if there was a gun. He began fighting with Ricky when he thought he heard someone say that "he was going to blow my (Kevins) head off." Thats when David got into the fight, Kevin said. David hit Snow and then began fighting Ricky. Both men had to be transported by ambulance to Sanpete Valley Hospital. "Doug Snow had a little bump on his cheek, but Ricky was beat up pretty bad," Kevin said. County Attorney Ross Black-haexplained in a telephone interview Monday that the charges against Kevin were under review. However formal charges have been filed against David His preliminary court appearance before Judge Kay L. Mclff on July 23 was continued until 10 a.m. Aug. 6. No official report of the incident had been filed by Officer Graham as of Monday and he was not available for comment. m NS High School to accept fees MT. PLEASAN- T- North Sanpete High School will be accepting fees, issuing student class schedules and taking student pictures Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 5 through 7 from 8.30 a m. to 3:30 p.m. Allen, Snow sentenced for attempted murder MANTI-- - Two Mt. Pleasant residents convicted in the March 30, 1996 attempted murder of a Mt. Pleasant man were sentenced to not less than one, nor more than 15 years in the Utah State Prison on July 23 in the Sixth District Court with Judge Kay L. Mclff presiding, according to a press release from the Sanpete County Sheriffs Office. Soncerae Allen and Brian Keith Snow were arrested and charged with attempted murder and booked into the Sanpete County Jail on the same day of the shooting. It was reported that Allen and Snow drove the victim, Joel Breinholt, to an abandoned home east of Fairview, on the Fairview Canyon Road where an altercation took place, resulting in Breinholt being shot in the head with a large caliber handgun. Breinholt survived the shooting and ran up the roadway to obtain help, at which time Snow and Allen fled the scene. Breinholt was later interviewed at Sanpete Valley Hospi-t- al by Sanpete County Deputy Blake Edwards when he identified Snow and Allen as the responsible parties of the shooting. Allen and Snow were convicted of attempted murder, a second degree felony, by a jury on May 10 before Judge Kay L. Mclff in Sixth District Court. Each received an additional mandatory one- - year enhancement sentence for the use of a firearm. According to the county attorneys office. Snow, who has been incarcerated since he was arrested. will receive credit for time served. Allen was free on bail until her conviction at which time her bail was revoked and she was also incarcerated. She will also receive credit for time served. Edwards in the Assisting successful capture of Allen and Snow as well as securing the crime scene were Mt. Pleasant Police Department Chief Kay Larsen, and officers Lance Graham and Chris Larsen; Jim Cheney, Fairview City Police Department; and Chief Ron Rasmussen, Ephraim City. Assisting deputies from the Sheriffs Office were Gary Larsen, John Cox, Robert Henningson and Tim Herbert. |