| Show A2 Sanpete Blackham Ludvigson (Continued from A But Norton assures that with regard to this particular scandal “there w as no danger to depositors It was solely a hank problem and involved only bank money” No date has yet been scheduled for Ludvigsion’s initial court ) When far West Bank succeeded the Bank of Ephraim Ludvigson was kept on as a member of the transition team until last September says Don Norton president of Far West appearance Each charge if she is convicted carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 30 years in According to Norton Far West uncovered the embezzlement when “errors were discovered” garding credits to Ludvigson’s count which f ar West had inherited from the Bank of Fphraim The bank took the information to FBI investigators who then turned the case over to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah Four instances of fraud are listed in the indictment: two that involve the Bank of Ephraim and two that involve f ar West Bank Those charges however may represent a much larger scheme The indictment indicates that prison Ludvigson’s indictment is the most recent development in a spate of accusations of crime andor mismanagement involving the former bank The bank caused a stir when it went under last June after bank managers had denied for months reports that the bank w as unsound At the same time federal prosecutors were waging a bank fraud case against former bank einpl yee Randy McArthur and an associate Dean Johnson for embezzling $5 million from the hank More recently people have wondered whether certain Bank of Ephraim employees “looked the other way" while allowing Wendy Hansen a former Ephraim C’ity clerk to il'egally deposit public funds into her personal account Norton is a bit dismayed by the ongoing crime discoveries volving tlie Bank of Ephraim but says “We’re trying to maintain a community banking image but we keep encountering a few bumps in the road "But we’ll work through them” he assures hoping this will be the last mess to clean up from tlie former bank although the lour instances occurred during 2004 the fraud may go back as far as 2000 Norton says the scam could have started as far back as 1909 and that ongoing research will determine the extent of the embezzlement “We’re trying to get our amis around tins" he says “and we have authorization from die fD!C Federal Depositors Insurance Corporation! to research the matter” Even though only $4MX) is involved in the indictment’s four charges Notion says the investigation so at has uncovered fraudulent deposits in excess of $5()(XX) SaMRis uSmsima" HEADCOUNT: 1747 121404 DATE: Wednesday December 22 2004 Valley Edition Messenger-Gunniso- n (Continued from AD Cox into the Senate in order to in retain Sanpete representation the Lltah Legislature Johnson who represents the Gunnison Valley northern Sevier County and the eastern part of Emery County in the LTtah House of Representatives said Monday he had mailed a letter to Republican state delegates in Senate District 24 Blackharn’s district saying that if an opening occurred he was interested "I’m serious I’m committed to it" he said Another potential replacement is Darrin Peterson a must file a notice of candidacy with the party at least seven days before the caucus The caucus determines the winner Blackham’s district in Sevier cludes Juab Sanpete Piute and Wayne counties and Tooele of County a small part 125 are approximately delegates in the six counties Sanpete and Sevier of each have about 30 percent the delegates while the ing four counties combined count for about 40 percent former state representative from Nephi Ironically Peterson is the son of Cary Peterson the man Blackham would replace as head of UDAF Peterson challenged Blackham for District 24 seat in a Republican primary earlier this year and lost by just 58 votes (In the final election Blackham easily beat a Democratic challenger to w in his third term in the Senate) Peterson said Monday that he’s been campaigning for weeks "I’m defiand I’m running as can” he said Under Utah law when a state senator resigns the party to which the senator belonged nominates Under a successor state law the party must submit bylaws describing the process it follows in filling vacancies The party submits a name to the governor who under law must appointed the named person until the next regular general election Blackham is a Republican Republican Party bylaws on vacancies in multilegislative county districts say that when a senator resigns the state party chair must schedule a caucus of state party delegates within 30 days A notice must be mailed to delegates at least 14 days before the meeting Candidates about three nitely in hard as I Till the end of Ife Vear Because we loie Vbu! a HA-fU1 W Main Mt Pleasant 462-243- 4 Sanpete News Company Inc publishing the Sanpete Messenger Whether you’re starting out WITH YOUR FIRST CAR OR MOVING UP WE CAN HELP WITH Stair Gnmal lxu lli TIT- - I1" fiu’ H imii'r 2011 2002 2003 Deadlines Post Office & Contact Information UPS CAR FINANCING Copyright Sanpete News Company lnc©2004 All rights or transmittal ol all matter herein is served Reproduction prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher Published each Wednesday for 75e each $2400 inside Sanpete County $27 00 outside Sanpete County by Sanpete News Company Inc 35 S Main Manti Utah 84642 Phone fax publisher at suzannesanpetemessengercom sports to sports ©sanpetemessenger com school items to schoolsanpetemessengercom news to com newssanpetemessenger ads to com adssanpetemessenger Deadline: Thursday 5 pm Manti: 35 S Main Hours: 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti Utah 84642 I’OSTM STER: Send Sanpete Messenger Reliable transportation is an important need Let us help you drive down the road with confidence and security address changes to: Main Mann Utah 84642 15 S Editor & Publisher Associate Publisher Senior Reporter Suzanne Dean Lloyd Call Sean Hales John Hales Jacque Marsh Lindsay Kogianes Kelly Hancock Assignment Reporter Office Manager Administrative Assistant Webmaster Staff Manti Ftn Green Gunnison Centerfield Axel1 Mayfield Spring City Staff Writers Sports Writers Photographers Columnists Jana ( 4440 Judy Chantry c R Truitt Darlene Agren Elva Jensen Audrey Boore Margaret Amy Holly Nicholes Erika Johnson Kathy Eggleston Doug Johnson Jeff Ericksen Craig Cox and Coaches Sean Hales Vern Buchanan Peter Goss Russ Beck Baker Corrie Lynn Player Roger Writers Contributing Karen Buchanan Anita Lyons Moroni Wahlquist 528-722- 1 i V iniiftnlhtiti j Vffrif Tit frf - POOR |
