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Show y gtn'pnnur (jiVtijy ptl pf y V1WJllr'J m? p'i jai ign o j qm. 'g& "11 ign WEDNESDAY, September 11, 1985 Vernal, Utah 84078 93rd Year No. 73 28 Pages Single Copy 25e Conunrfiy troadiv The new Uintah Countys Correctional Facility was turned over to the county Thursday of last week, and will be up and going by Sept. 25, projects Sheriff Arden Stewart. 60-be- d The new facility, over double the size of the current jail, meets all state, federal and fire codes requirements. Talk of a new jail facility for Uintah County began almost 2 years ago when a survey of the then jail showed numerous deficiencies. A citizens committee was formed and a facility was proposed. The citizens committee determined that with not too much more jail could be built givmoney a life, Sheriff ing the facility a Stewart told Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday. Construction of the new $2.25 million facility began almost a year ago, and is now near completion. A few minor items are still left to complete. The facility was built solely with county funds. Stewart said he and his staff have been right on the edge trying to be in line with the many regulations involved with building a new jail. The jail is equipped with the latest technology for monitoring and controlling residents. Doors in the facility will electrically open and close so that one door will not open without another being closed. Also 100 percent of the facility can be monitored cameras. video by d d . H There will be no public contact with residents. All contact will be through windows and telephones-i- n the jail. Hopefully this will stop some of the drug and contraband traffic that goes on in the jail, Stewart said. Since residents may be required to few documents and other court-relatepapers, a residents attorney will have direct contact. Although the new facility will not be a satellite prison, provisions are being made so minimum security Uintah Basin prisoners from the State Prison can be housed at the jail on contract. The contract allows the county the full right to refuse and send back for any reason any state prisoner housed or to be housed in the facility. The county will be paid $23 per day to detain state prisoners. This money will be used to offset the cost of operating the facility. Twenty beds have been set aside for state and other types of prisoners. Twenty state prisoners for six months could generate $100,000, Stewart sign d said. It still requires the same staff whether there are one or sixty in the jail. The new jail will have 12 employees, a jail commander, a cook and part-tim- e cook who will operate the facility on a basis. Other are programs being evaluated as ways to keep the jail filled. A block of beds are being set aside for probation violators and possibly for evaluations ordered by the court. Such evaluations can be done better locally and are usually 45 or 90 The problem with this prodays. posal is that we dont have a resident psychologist, Stewart said. The jail facility will be staffed by both male and female jailers who will b required to visually monitor each resident once an hour. There will be a male and a female jailer on duty at all times. The jailer making the rounds will be timed from one point to another so that if anything happens, the other jailer will be immediately advised. The tentative grand opening will be Sept. 19, with tours of the facility and refreshments from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 20, all school children will be given a tour of the facility. The point Id like to make is that it may be fun now, but when the door slams and you are locked in, you cannot get out until someone lets you out, Stewart said about the child tours. There will be a square dance in the jail Thursday night Sept. 19. Saturday, Sept. 20, the jail will be open to the public for tours. For $5 anyone can stay in the jail over night Sept. 20. Stewart will cook breakfast Saturday morning for the those staying in the jail. Sunday the jail will be closed, Monday and Tuesday it will be cleaned and hopefully Thursday, Sept. 25, we will be putting people in the jail, Stewart said. v&' LOADS OF RECORDS are sorted by Vernal City Police records clerks after a short trip to their new location in the previous Forest Service Superintendent's office on Main Street. Vernal Police made the move into the new facility upon the advise of the Fire Marshall. Police make move to bigger building After investigating several alternatives, the Vernal City Police Department finally got the go ahead to move to a new, larger building Thursday. Furniture, files, computer and other equipment were being hauled by officers from their offices on the second floor of City Hall to the former location of the U. S. Forest Service Supervisors office in the Slaugh building. The new building is about 50 yards west of Citv Hall. The new building offers the department about twice the work area of the former location. The main reception area will be on the first floor's west entrance to the building. Police records, receiving area, and fotfnge will be on the first floor. two-stor- y The second floor will be detective, watch, and chiefs offices along with a computer and training area. o "mi Continued on page 2 Cattle rustling still proves to be burr under saddle for cattlemen By Traci Menke Express News Writer Although the cattle industry has changed considerably during the past 100 years, the threat of cattle rustling still remains. The Utah Cattlemen's Association is concerned about the epidemic of cattle rustling in Utah. Within recent months the problem has affected ranchers in Utah, Carbon, Iron and Washington counties as well as in the Uintah Basin. Presently there are three active cases of cattle rustling in court in Uintah County. The loss of just a calf is a very real problem for cattle producers. In addition to the loss of the calf the rancher also loses approximately in operating expenses that went into the calfs mother just to maintain her the year before the calf was born. Ranchers say their profit margin is already slim and when they lose a calf, it is nonexistant. $200-$30- 0 That calf is our paycheck, said Dorothy Luck, president of the Uin- tah Cattlemens Association, If someone made off with a persons paycheck as often as the livestock producer is hit, the public would do something about it. During the old days of cattle ranching, punishment was swift and severe for those caught taking anothers cattle. After being caught, cattle rustlers were seldom given the opportunity to commit another crime. In 1876 it was considered a capital offense to rustle cattle. While many of the local cattle ranchers say they are not asking to return to the days of the Old West, they are asking for maximum prosecution of all convicted rustlers. Statewide as well as locally, members of the cattlemens association have made a pledge not to support any plea bargaining among attorneys or reduced charges for cattle rustling. 'J I regret to state that because of the efforts in the past decade to plea bargain, reduce charges, and judges rwilling to simply slap the wrist of cattle rustlers, it has led to the condition of virtually every county in Utah being effected, said Richard Probert, president of the Utah Cattlemen's Association. Of the three court cases in Uintah County, two are still going through the court system. In the two cases, both perpetrators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing on the charges. As recent victims of cattle rustlers, Ken and JoeAnn Huber, say they have experienced a number of frustrations. One of their major concerns was the length of time it took for law enforcement officials to return their cattle after the theft was discovered the and alleged perpetrators were arrested. Because the cattle had been positively identified, the Hubers said they thought their cattle would be returned in a short time. It shouldnt take three months to have stolen property returned when theyre only 18 miles away, said Ken Huber. Local law enforcement officials say that they agree with ranchers that cattle rustling is a growing problem. It causes financial hardships not only for victims of the crime, but for the ranchers who have paid for cattle which is later identified as being stolen. In the Huber case, Lt. Pete Pickup of the Uintah County Sheriffs office said the delay in returning the cattle was to help protect the interests of the individuals w'ho purchased the cattle in good faith as well as the interest of the individuals who lost them. Prior to returning the cattle to the Hubers, law enforcement officials photographed the cattle for legal purposes. an effort to reduce the financial loss to the parties that purchased the stolen cattle, the county has paid restitution for the cattle and pasture fee out of the general fund. Pickup In said he thought the county acted in good faith by paying restitution and fees. Neal Domgaard, county commissioner, authorized the payment of $1,317 to the two parties for restitution and pasture bill. "I thought it would damage the credibility of the sale barn if protection is not available for persons w'ho purchase cattle at the sale," said Domgaard. Not all ranchers in the county, however, support the county's decision to make restitution for the persons who unknowningly purchase stolen cattle. Certainly Uintah County was not responsible and should not have paid the restitution and pasture bill, said Dorothy Luck. There seems to be some confusion as to the proper procedure to follow in the case of cattle theft. Sheriff's representatives, Lt. Pete Pickup and Deputy Wayne Hollebeke said they are willing to work closely with local ranchers to help reduce cattle theft in the county. In addition to being law enforcement officials, both Hollebeke and Pickup are also livestock producers and say they understand the plight of the area ranchers. They say the first step in reducing cattle theft is to report any missing cattle to law enforcement officials. Ranchers should not assume that cattle has wandered off or died. Cattle rustlers will generally leave some type of evidence at the crime scene," said Hollebeke. "The sooner we are called, the better chance we have of locating the person or persons who have stolen cattle. Pickup said he recommends that ranchers keep an accurate record of of how many calves are born annually. And a further reduction of theft is possible w'hen ranchers mark their calves as soon as possible with a brand and jar marks and if kept in pastures, make sure they maintain Continued on page 2 vs wWi V i! V;V. av , : . t; 1 V , POLICERS SHUCK uniforms and put on gloves to move fur- niture and equipment to their new location. 25,000 lights to shine is wish for Christmas 25,000 lights, live Christmas music and a snowy Dinosaur Gardens will create a lot of Christmas spirit, or at least thats what the Community Christmas Committee decided at their Friday meeting. The idea of lighting up the gardens was suggested in September by Irvin Haws, Dinosaur Gardens chairman. At Fridays meeting, Cliff Wardle of the Museum staff, reported that to decorate the gardens property, it would take at least 25,000 lights at an initial cost of $4,000 to $5,000. Enthusiasm for the project is high, reported Dwight Wetenkamp, committee chairman. Vernal City, the Area Chamber of Commerce, Uintah County and several clubs have been approached for funds. The committee is looking for assistance from community members, groups or club,. Lighting the live trees on downtown Main Street was another project undei consideration by the committee. It w as estimated by Marge Gagon, committee member from Current Topics Club, that each tree would take five strands of 35 lights to decorate it attractively. The lights for the trees could be purchased for approximately $2,000. Funds for the lights are being sought from local clubs. The committee suggested that the large pole decorations used in past years could be hung further east and west on Main Street if downtown had lighted trees. Rhoda DeVed from the Community School program reported that the community orchestra has volunteered to provide live Christmas music for local stores on Dec. 14. The committee accepted the idea and discussed ways to coordinate it. Groups from Vernal Junior High and Uintah High School are also going to be asked to participate. Merchants will be contacted and signed-u- p to have students come to their store. A small group of performers will entertain in each par- ticipating business at times. The schools are again being asked to coordinate and paint store windows with Christmas pictures. Prizes will be given for the best windows. A community Christmas tree is be- ing planned for the Southeast corner of Vernal Avenue and Main Street. Decorations for the tree have already been provided by the art department at Vernal Junior High and Middle School. Santas annual visit, the beginning turkey drawings and the lighting of Main Street decorations will be on Nov. after 30, the Saturday of Thanksgiving. The meeting concluded with a reminder from Irvin Haws, Because Thanksgiving is late in the month of November, there are fewer shopping days until Christmas. |