OCR Text |
Show -- DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, WEEKLY REFLEX NORTH DAVIS LEADER, JULY 16, 1981 Month ix By GARY R. BLODGETT Six FARMINGTON months of intensive investigation and stakeouts resulted in the arrest of more than two dozen big time drug users and pushers, many of whom had been operating throughout Davis County. A POLICE dragnet of Davis County sheriff deputies working with city police and state narcotics officials made the arrests late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. Sheriff Brant Johnson said the arrests will result in about 84 or more charges against persons believed to be involved in drug traffic in Davis, Weber and Salt Lake counties. CONSUL GENERAL RELAXES By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL Despite a top official of that country said this week that he sees the future of that central America country as being bright with a new society, new culture and new attitudes of its people." the turmoil of El Salvador, HUGO STANLEY Orantes, consul general of El Salvador, whose office in Los Angeles has jurisdiction over 280,000 El Salvadorians, was in Bountiful visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bill (Hinauri) Tribole. They met a year ago at the World Trade Fair in Los Angeles. Mr. Orantes was visiting with his daughter, Martha, and a Spanish interpreter, Alicia Varela of Salt Lake City. WE ARE having a lot of problems in El Salvador with Consul General Hugo Stanley Orantes of El Salvador relaxes on lounge chair in Bountiful where he is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bill n hammock is a gift from Mr. (Hinauri) Tribole. The Orantes and his daughter--, Martha, center. Alicia Varela, of Salt Lake City, acted as interpreter. hand-wove- the Communist regime, said Mr. Orantes, "But the country is still free and 1 believe it will survive the communist terror. 1 look to El Salvador to be a leading country, in Central America. The communists may have damaged our economy but they do not rule our country. We are a strong people and if we were to fall to the communists, we would have already fallen. Depending On Tax, Layton Library Could Be Delayed By TOM Bl'SSELBERG FARMINGTON The proposed Layton headquar- ters library is still in the deck but it's questionable when it will be played. RATHER THAN commit funds for that project. County Com. Glen Saunders said the commission may use one mill taxes (about 1430.000) for general fund needs to cover the anticipated shortfall in revenues. He made that comment to the library board Monday. emphasizing he was not speaking for the entire commission. Noting that final information from the auditor is expected within a week, he said one mill may be used along with two mills in storm water funding that has gone for intact, including the approximate $780,000 library budget, he explained. SUCH NEWS may not sit well with Layton residents, however. Board Chairman Evan W hitesides, himself a Layton resident, said. Relating a conversation held recently with Layton Mayor Glen Shiels he said, The mayor said there is some pressure from the Layton library committee. This group is active again and concerned we're not moving as rapidly as pos- sible." A headquarters library has been approved for Layton and a site donated by the city near its municipal building. Plans at one time or another have called for completion in 1982 or in 1983. but as of yet, activity has Y ing furture action. The cutbacks in many depart- ments. utilization of the three mills library and storm sewer could mean keeping budgets architect has received SIO.OtiQ thus far. having prepared an original Layton headquarters plan and a revised branch plan that wav dropped when it was found costs would near those of the heaJuuartcn. ASKING If a modified letter could be vent to the Layton group. Mr. Whitesides said there could "even contain a threat to withdraw' that would mean a percent revenue km, Kaysxille is currently the only county city not participating m the county lib 20-2- DEADLINES FOIt REFLEX , JOURNAL, LEADER , BULLETIN PICTURES 12:00 NOON FRIDAY WedJnjS. M Bat ei, ArvJ Arirsoafcef-e,!- s $78,000," he said, adding he felt such a budget would have developed as the county's population grew. Criticism is received for the limited hours libraries are open, he said, noting the schedule of 12:30 to 9 p.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. That compares. for instance, to a 0 a.m. opening daily at the Weber County library and similar longer hours in Salt Lake City and county systems. 1 WE GET rumblings (for longer hours)," Library Director Jeanne Layton agreed. fairy I don't think the city council would okay f such a move to withdraw). he Said, "but I think we should act, I really thunk wt can head off some bfEAKING OF the storm water levy. Board Member Robert ArbucUe. w ho also sits on the Centerville city council, satd ernes could be concerned if such monies were poured into the general county fund. I don! anticipate it would be a0 of the two mills." Mr, ttovo-kd- . R UxNG A related concent Mr, Whitesides expressed concern at building libraries without funds to adequately staff them. 'That's what worrits me. If wt hast all this reserve and then don't pay to siaf! it t hast to be carc'ul. We've to have a budget of HE NOTED that El Salvador is a economically strong coun- try and a leading country for exports of fish, coffee, cotton, sugar, grains, beef and rice. Mr. Orantes admitted that there are many El Salvadorians who are fleeing to asylum in the United States. I HAVE approximately 280,000 under my jurisdiction in the Los Angeles area and there are another 50,000 or more living in San Francisco, he said. "Until a few years ago they were coming to the U.S. for cultural and educational reasons, but now most of them are fleeing their homeland for asylum here. He is one of seven consul generals from El Salvador in charge of consul offices in the United States. In addition of being in charge of all personnel, Mr. Orantes oversees all immigration duties and assists in finding jobs, getting families settled, and varifying records. MR. ORANTES praised the help of President Reagan in helping to keep the El Salvador government from falling into the hands of the communists. He said the real enemies to El Salvador besides Russia are the Cubans. He said the El Salvadorians have been fighting the communist guerrillas for about a year and a half. At stake, he said, is the country which is about the size of Massachusetts and has a population of nearly 5 million. El Salvador is located about 1,000 miles south of the United States in Central America. county and began making arrests SHERIFF JOHNSON said most of those arrested were surprised when apprehended by lawmen, but admitted that a few may have gotten word of the raid and managed to escape the mammoth drag net. He said the success of the raid should put drug traffic underground for a while. But he added that drug traffic will probably be out in the open again within a few months. NEARLY $50,000 worth of drugs were confiscated during the six months of investigation. Additional drugs, mostly marijuana, was recovered during the raid, but no dollar value has been placed on this amount. It is important that we have these kind of raids to make the public aware that there is a serious drug probem in Davis County, he said. THE SHERIFF noted that profiles of the suspects were given to each officer to alert them of the type of person involved and whether or not he should be considered dan- gerous. Chief Deputy Harry Jones said the largest single possession was about $20,000 worth of hashish. Refuse Disposal Closed Holidays By unanimous decision July 8, 1981, the North Davis Refuse Disposal Board voted to be closed the following holi- days: New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4, July 24, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. THERE WILL be no activity at the land fill on those hol- idays . The locks will be changed on the gates those days to secure the area. This policy will take effect beginning with Labor Day, 1981. Sanity Hearings Hit By MARK D. MICKELSEN FARMINGTON The Davis County Auditors office is investigating the reasons behind a mysterious $9,230 bill charged to the county several weeks ago for sanity hearings. UNLIKE MOST bills the county receives on a day to day basis, this one caught the immediate attention of Auditor Ludeen Gibbons and a couple of inquiring county commissioners. The reason: Past sanity hearings cost the county an average of $30-$7- 5 per case. The newest bill, totalling well over $9,000 is for only three such cases. ACCORDING to Mrs. Gibbons, the county tionally makes the sanity hearing checks out to Utah County, because patients from Davis County are transferred to the State Mental Hospital in Provo for evaluation. But she said she has never had to deal with a cost factor like the one that has come up. I ONLY set up $4,000 total in the budget for sanity hearings. Bafficd by the sudden increase, Mrs. Gibbons reflected back on previous years and went looking for some answers in the case. She said "now and then we do have an attorney on the hearings that has a meeting with the client," but noted that the increase is not totally justified. THE ONLY change in the billing procedure for psychological evaluations is that the checks are sent directly to the mental hospital, rather than to the Utah County Auditor, she said. In his six months as Second District Court Judge, Douglas Comaby said he has not come across one single sanity hearing. In fact, the judge said he is not sure if the incidence of sanity hearings is on the increase or decrease. HE SAID the court usually appoints two psychiatrists for the trial and noted that the county ends up paying for their services when the trial is over. You could have an unusual case that's hard fought, Judge Comaby said, and spend $9,000 all on that one case. RESPONDING to the countys concern over san- ity hearings, he said most people charge with a crime shy away from the sensationalized guilty by insan- ity" plea. People dont like to go for that, he said. IF CONVICTED on a plea of insanity, Judge Cor-nab- y said most Utahns will spend more years hospitalized than they would have in prison. ' Theyre too smart to do it. MEANWHILE, the auditing department is investigating the surge in costs for sanity hearings. Referring to the recent billing from Utah County, Mrs. Gibbons says, apparently, thats the way it is. A CHECK for $9,230 was sent out last week by county officials. Future Funding drawing stage due to funding problems. THE LAYTON group has storm sewer construction during the past few years. Such tactics are called for in light of written the library board the 106 percent taxing limitaasking the hoard's intention mandated by the Legislations," Mr. Whitesides said, ture. indicating the board had drafted a letter months ago EVEN W ITII an anticipated four percent growth factor that outlining board plans but it didn't gain commission would raise the potential revenue up 10 percent, the counapproval and was never sent. Bountiful Architect Robert ty expects tight sledding, due largely to an 1 1 percent across Dewey, retained for the headquarters project last year, rethe board salary increase approved f.r r:: L .r-year cently asked what action he on top of a three percent merit . should lake with the plans and was told to retain them awaitincrease many are receiving. That would leav e the county short for four or foe percent, he told the board. Instead of forcing what coulJ be major $1.23 million instead of stopped at the preliminary UNLIKE AN earlier drug raid in Davis County, most of those arrested last week were adults and were classified as fairly big dealers and most were charged with distribution of drugs primarily marijuana and cocaine. Law officers from throughout the county gathered for a briefing about 4:30 a.m. Thurs day and a short time later they dispersed to all corners of the Service Saved For Now Title 20 Funds Mixup by federal Tule 20 official. By TOM Bl'SSELBERG - More FARMINGTON than 7.000 county residents have placed in e xccss of 1 2.000 call for assistance to the Das is Couni) Information anJ Referral Sen ice. THAT AGENCY either answers question to the satisfaction or refers them to the proper social service or other agency for help. It has cal-Ict- V received funding from federal Title 20 sources and United Way. But like the county mental health program, funding could be a problem from lule 20 sources that are to be cut back That has but the by county commissioners in a hod as they try to determine where the allocation should be spent. one-fourt- IN A recent meeting with Marilyn Kelsey, IAR coordinator. and Larry Burden, United Way executive director. Com. Ernest Lhcrhard and Harry Gcrlacti Sr. voted to continue funding the progCom. Gkn ram at $22-5Saunders was abnt. The Un- ited Way match is set at But that doesn't put things into the clear. That funding guarantee by the commission- ers was made with the stipulation they cou'J cut the program on ten days notice. That wasn't their idea, however. They're just flowing on the heels of a similar clause ued AND EVEN if the commissioners don't opt for the ten day bow-ou- t. funding assurances are iffy. depending on what happens at the slate level. Mr. Burdctt explained in a Friday morning interview. Under the new block grant procedure of the Reagan Administration, federal funds will be sent directly to the states rather than through regional channels to. in Utah's cave. Denver. It hasn't been set how the state will handle fund issuance after it receives the money, and that's what is worrying people like the county com missionc is anJ Mr. Burdctt. ON TOP of that, federal funding for the future year won! be set until about Oct. I start of the fiscal year. So a tot could happen in the next few months. The program's future isn't being left entirely to fate, however. The information anJ referral citizens committee is set to hold a meeting this neck to determine what assistance can be provided including possible use of volunteers to keep the program going. AND UNITED Ways citizens committee is also studying ways it could help although any funding assist ance chances would be slim until January when the new funding year starts. Mr. Bur dert said. . Davis Countys lAR serves a higher percentage of its population than any other such agency in the state. Mr. Burden noted. We're dealing with human beings, people with problems who need help. If we can do something immediate. that will save the problem from becoming a cn'iv. COOPERATION between l&R and the county has been very good, he said, noting knowledge of the county budget con- straints.' But the constraints should be handled fairly, he added. "Every agency win be hurt hut to do aw ay with one at the expense of others is greedy and unrealistic. It would doubt the county commission would do away w uh a department due to a budget problem and I don't believe you can eliminate a service because others" de- mand is up (for funds). COMPARING HIS feelings to that of Rep. Jim Hansen, Mr. Burdctt said. A lot of people agree with the President's cuts untd it affects their agency . Wese all got to take a cut. tighten our belts and with it and make it through thee tough times. But to totally do away w ith one program and spread that be $2230 out over other programs won't do that much gtxx) even it was plowed into one program. I think Title 20 was organized to provide a range of services based on the needs of the community." By M ARK D. MICKELSEN - FARMINGTON Unless Davis County Mental Health officials come up with $27,000 d soon, some family and treatment programs sponsored through the department will have to be cut back before the end of the 1981-8- 2 budget year. youth-oriente- SO SAYS Mental Health Director Russell Williams, who, along with department heads from four other ored federally-spons- programs, was told by county commissioners he w mild have to come up w ith matching money to meet this year's federal Title 20 con- tracts. The couniys decision will result in a direct curtailment of services. he said. WILLIAMS SAID his department will be forced to cutback those services that are least severe, including psy chological and psychiatric- al evaluations for adolescents as well as early intervention services for families. "W hen cuts come, they come in the area of 'least se sere." he said, but the cuts affect families and youth. AS A result of the reduction in services. Williams says the department is forced to treat cases later on that might have been eliminated with rrooef early care. And. he added, we are treating them later at a much accelerated cost. "It is cheaper to pay the cost of an immunization, than to treat the illness, he added. THE CUTBACKS are a result of what Williams calls a fiscal oversight" in which some department heads were not notified they would be overseeing the matching funds through their own departmental budgets. In past years, a separate account was devised for Title 20 money only. Those departments participating had access to the funds when the Title 20 contracts came due. a decision was made by the county that each separate department involved m the program should handle the match- ing funds appropriation through their own budcct. "The frightening part of that b that no one told us. he said, resulting in a deficit of money for the Title 20 match. Williams said he understands that starting next year, the county will allow for the reinstatement of that revenue. L CT TH E depart me nt is still left with a sizeable deficit many believe will seriously courtail services. As a result of the cuts, one vacant staff position has not been filled, Williams noted. . And while he said the funding shortage will not cripple the operation of the department, Williams is angry that neither he or any of his assi v tarns heard about the Title 20 changeover until four or five months alter the budget process was finalized. EACH DEPARTMENT should be responsible for the revenues that come in." he aid. noting that it is "m the department head's best interest' if he has fiscal for the ccountablility money in that department. The most unfortunate circumstance in the Title 20 mix-ti- p is that I was not involved in that decision-makinprocess. said W illiams. It was a fiscal oversight." BUT WILLIAMS doesnt blame the county commission. They were acting in good faith, he say s. He supported changes in the program and said departments should no be able to match federal revenues and expedite the process. I would hope that there will be continual change. g I |