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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY News Man pleads guilty to 2 MAY 5, 1999 shooting California Condor in Grand Canyon Admitting to shooting a California Condor in the Grand Canyon last month, Flagstaff defendant Ronald T enney Owens (24) pled guilty to taking an endangered species and possessing and discharging a firearm within a National Park. On April 26, 1999, U.S. Magistrate-Judge Stephen Verkamp accepted the plea and the sentence recommended by the U.S. Attorneys Office. Owens was fined $3,200, ordered to forfeit the firearm used in the commission of the violations, placed on one year supervised probation, and as a condition of probation ordered to perform 200 hours of community service under the direction of Grand Canyon National Park, Wildlife Branch. Owens turned himself into federal and state wildlife officials the week after shooting the California Condor with a hand gun while on a March 11, 1999 hiking and fishing trip along the Colorado River near Soap Creek Rapids. Peregrine Fund biologists-whroutinely monitor the condors-foun- d and recovered the body of r old female condor the after receiving a tip and noting that Condor 24 had not returned with other condors following a sortie to the Soap Creek Rapids about six miles south of Navajo Bridge (Marble Canyon). The orPeregrine Fund (a ganization for the conservation of birds of prey) is largely funding and performing the release activities and the monitoring of the condors in the Southwest. This case marks the first prosecution for a violation of the Endangered Species Act at Grand Canyon National Park. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and National Park Service conducted the investigation into the incident. Since December of 1996, 20 o four-yea- non-prof- it condors have been released at the Vermillion Cliffs-- a location The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime , does not mean 20 miles west of the shooting. he is guilty. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven Condor 24 was hatched at the guilty. Names will be withheld in some cases due to the sensitive nature of San Diego Wild Animal Park on the crimes, or if the defendant is a juvenile. April 4, 1999, and released at the Vermillion Cliffs in May During the period from April Arrested and booked into jail. 1997. Today, 14 Vermilion Cliffs 23 through the 30th, the Kanab April 25 condors survive and an addi- City Police Department handled Harassment complaint. Letter tional six birds occupy the Hur- 9 cases, 33 incidents, issued six received at the local newspaper ricane Cliffs area on the Arizona warnings and five citations. concerning alleged intimidation southeast of St. and harassment at Kanab High 24 & 19 Strip, April release since their School. Reported to school offcalled Utah, Unit George, Canine in November 1998. The Service to search vehicles. N o drugs were icials and meeting held with alanticipates reestablishing a found. leged victims. the 150 coitdors in of population April 26 April 20 Ariof northern lands Male Threats. Home entered canyon juvenile making Burglarytheft. zona and southern Utah. late at night and a pair of bin- threats on school bus. Handled The condors reintroduced in oculars, valued at $300 taken. through school and mental northern Arizona and southern Item recovered at pawn shop. health counselors. 50-mil- es it. Utah are designated as an experimental population under the Endangered Species Act. While this designation adds management flexibility for agencies in the area, the condors are still fully protected from being harmed or killed. Local conservation needs assessment announced ValThe Littlefield-Hurrican- e ley and Fredonia Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD) in association with the Fredonia Office of the USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are seeking information to determine what natural resource concerns occur within the boundaries of the Littlefield-Hurrican- e V alley and Fredonia NRCDs. The information gathered will be used to ensure funding assistance available through USDAs Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP.) to help farmers and ranchers conserve and protect natural resources land in their control. A sample of the resource concerns previously identified in- clude soil erosion, ecological condition, sediment is causing streams to be more turbid than they should be, and in some areas brush and tree species have increased beyond the amount they should be. Two meetings are planned. The first will be held Tuesday, May 11, at the Arizona Strip BLM conference room, 345 East Riverside Dr., St. George, Utah, at 7 :30 PM (UT time). This meeting will deal with resource conservation issues within the boundaries ofthe Littlefield-Hurrican- e Valley NRCD which covers the Arizona Strip west of the Hurricane Cliffs. The second meeting will be held May 19, at the Fredonia Senior Citizen Center, 80N. 100 W., Fredonia, beginning at 7:00 PM (AZ time). This meeting will deal with issues in the boundaries ofthe Fredonia NRCD which covers the Arizona Strip east of Hurricane Cliffs. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. If you cannot attend, you may send written comments to the National Resources Conservation Service, Fredonia Field Office, PO Box 520, Fredonia, Arizona Name withheld pending charges on out of town suspect. April 23 Warrant. Shelli Lewis, 20, Kanab. Arrested and booked into jail. Probation violation. Stephen E. Schumacher, 20, Kanab. April 28 Burglarytheft. Purse stolen from vehicle while parked at business. Note Even though we live in a small community, it is very wise to make sure all vehicles are locked whether at home or down town. Kane Comity Sheriff April 23 Orderville on an outstanding a single car accident west of Todds Junction on SR 14. A single car accident was investigated near Swains Creek. April 24 A structure fire was investigated in Glendale. April 25 One petson was arrested in and no insurance. A theft complaint was investigated on SR9. The case is under A deputy assisted the UHP on warrant, no valid drivers license investigation. April 26 ?One motorist was arrested for reckless driving north of Kanab. April 28 ,A telephone harassment was reported in the Johnson Canyon area. SuiESiti texiteSiffli Don'r forget your Cor or Truck! Complete Auto Detailing Shampoo Wax & Buff To the Rescue! By Jessica Ferrand, EMT We held our first CPR class for kids only on April 30th and it was a great success! The class was taught by Rick Decker and myself. We had 16 kids become our newest junior lifesavers. They received their heartsaver cards and an official certificate of achievement. Congratulations to these bright kids. May 16 thorugh May 22 is National EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week, so ifyou know someone who dedicates their lives to savingot hers, shake Jteam Cleaning Tires & Wheels '"M 0 their hand! Ifyou happen to know Dilworth Perkins, definitely pat him on the back! Hes our EMT president, and we appreciate his dedication. Kanabs Between April ambulance was called to nine scenes, six were medical ands three were trauma. Orderville ambulance responded to one to scene, six patients were taken Dixie Regional, and four patients were flown north by plane. Until next month, stay sate and wear your seatbelts! 0, Call Kanab Country Auto & Detailing ior prices at 0 644-351- or toll free 0lCCk out our cars & trucks - Mfe case never sell at retail! |