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Show i- - ; Jrinf- '' "' EPTr ' l 77k? tfiJS Uintah Basin -- rifl W fill of all warriors arc these two lime and Patience. (4 "' rt" ,f" strongest ;::. o, lftl ;. '0M I fit. I f , ' ( ,. w Leo Tolstoi W 11 I !'! (1 , , , 5O0 . Back on duty Four Roosevelt Police Tuesday officers who were placed on edministrative ; , July 17, leave Roosevelt, Utah following a July 6 gun fight have been cleared by 88, Number 29 www.ubstandard.com Vol. V investigators. See page 3 A QUIET MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE Duchesne County favored ... by parolees Utah State Prison parolees are finding Duchesne County a pretty attractive place to relocate afteran early release from prison. Find out why. Seepage 10 Fellow officers family to honor & community join If "24-hoa day cop ur didnt think he hnd many friends, As powerful and as Get Ready for Longhorn Days! Altamont Longhorn Days stretches over a five day period from July IS- - 21. You can expects week filled with small town fun and friendliness. because in a smull town his police work sometimes required him to arrest his own neighbors. ABall men in lawenforcementdo, Cecil put up a front to make the bad guy think he was tough and made of steel . .. some of the people saw him us a cop. They saw him in a this way because he was a day cop. He was relentless in the fight against crime and the pursuit of justice." Most importantly, said Gardner, Cecil hated drugB and he hated how it destroyed peoples lives, as he witnessed parents neglecting and uhus-in- g their children because all thoy cared about in life was how to get money for their next drug fix. Gardner, who worked with the Chief for 23 years, was out of town when he heard the news. He retired from the police force the week before Gurr was murdered, to accept the position as director of the Children's Justice Center. I cried and I became angry. 1 cussed the thankless, underpaid job of police work ... and then I cureed the man who could take my fricndB life away, and then I became angry with myself. Angry thatl wasn't there toonce again stand by his side to help fight his final great as he was, he had the compassion of an angel. cold-heart- 24-ho- By Lezlee E. Whiting Slain Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Seepage 2001 13 Gurr was eulogized on Tuesday, July 10, during services that brought fel- low law enforcement officers from eight states and filled the Roosevelt West Stake Center to overflowing. Following the services, community members lined the funeral procession route with hands over their hearts, waving flags, and saluting in remembrance of the Chief. Speakers related their memories both humorous and deeply moving of a man who had the compassion of an angel, and would be rolling his eyes and shukinghis head at the praise he was receiving. ChiefGurrwasa Vietnam veteran who rarely spoke of the two years he spent serving with an air mobile infantry unit where he saw war first hand. He joined the Roosevelt Police Department in 1974, in '1978 was battle. made police chief. While raising his The funeral procession for Roosevelt Police ChiefCecil Gun leaves the Roosevelt West Stake SAVING GOOD-BYGardner told those gathered that fellow law enforcement officers and friends. Gun young family of three children and Center. The casket was flanked by Gun's two sons, his lie obtained his working was eulogized as a humble man who had an unending devotion to his community. SEE CHEIF GURR on page 3 bachelors degree in psychology from Utah State University in 1979. He was eulogized as a quiet man Gurr related. My father walked over, POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY who loved people, said his oldest son, took the mans hand and placed it on WBBA Baseball Dax Gurr. He wasn't a great speaker, the rail, and he walked over to his play except for when he said what he (Mends and continued his conversalike nothing happened'. thought was right. He wasnt a loud tion f11'" Roosevelt Fast beats man, except for when hd saw injustice. ' This was thestoryofm father. As Duchesne and Altamont Then he didn't speak, he acted. powerful andas great as he was, he had Tabiona in baseball Gurrs good deeds were demon- the compassion of an angel, said Dax strated daily, through simple acts of Gurr. He wasoneof my truest friends toumamentplay. Roosevelt kindness. On the day of his death he and greatest examples. He was my to host meet this week. was leaving a restaurant when he no- rock and ray support, and most of all Seepage 16 ticed an elderly Native American man he was my hero. clined to identify. The whose sight was failing him, trying to Former Assistant Police Chief By Lezlee E. Whiting The Uintah County woman from the Salt Lake uren , is find the rail to walk up the stairs, Dax John Gardner told mourners that Gurr Wood's girlfriend. will Just hours after slain Roosevelt office reportedly Attorney's Wood allegedly made the woman Police Chief Cecil Gurr was laid to TREND EASING actively seek the get in to a truck a nd dri ve from Verna I rest, capital murder and attempted west on Highway 40 while he physimurdercharges were filed against the death penalty on the man accused of taking his life. cally assaulted hier. When the pair stopped at (he Just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday', July homicide charge. Maverik Country Store on Highway 10, Roy Lee Wood, 35, Vernal, made 40 in Ballard, witnesses said they his first appearance before 8 District Court Judge JohnAnderson in Vernal. pointed attorney. Because the crime heard thetwourguing as they left the store and saw Wood rel rieve t he SKS Wood ischarged by the Uintah County carries a possible death sentence, atAttorneys office with one count of torneys who represent Wood will have riflefrom the truck and int it at the womun while ordering her to get in criminal homicide, two counts of at- to be certified to handle death pene alty cases. Qualified attorneys will and drive. tempted criminal homicide, A store clerk culled 91 and law submit bids for their services. The trend continues the district could have said Aland. The school board previfelony aggravated assault, Aland compared the to cut up to two teaching positions as ously opted not to replace Pat price tagcould run as high as $80,000 enforcement officers arrived at the aggravated kidnapingnnd posscene as the truck was huckingout of soon as the 2002-200- 3 school year Woodbury, a Mytcn Elementary session or use of a firearm by a refor the county, said Wallentine. significant drop to rolls around. He commented, howteacher who retired this year, due to stricted person. Anderson said that as soon as an the parking lot. According to min t the fact that next year the school is Uintah County Chief Deputy Atever, that increased oil and gas activiattorney is appointed for Wood, the documents, when Roosevelt police losing an entire East arrived, Wood exited the truck on t he ties, as well as a growing birth rate expected to lose 12 students, making torney Ken Wallentine said his office court will move forward with a preits overall enrollment 117. would actively Beek the death penalty liminary hearing. The judge will also passenger side and began pulling I lie Elementary. may help stabilize district enrollStaiT at Myton Elementary is alment. consider the issue of hail at the time trigger while aiming at un officer on the homicide charge. When he realized the rifle was nut The decrease in enrollment, which ready at a minimum, with approxiWood is currently being held in the that legal counsel has been appointed. By Katie Hansen is not healthy for district fiinding, has mately five full time teachers. Aland Uintah County jail without bail. loaded, he activated the ri fie ai id swi g According to court documents, made the average district class size noted that if Myton keeps losing enwho is on federal probation the weapon to his left, aiming it a: At the time of his gun battle with Wood Aclose look at 2001 2002 Duchesne ideal for students. Based on projecrollment the school board will have to police officers, the defendant made and state parole is accused of obanother Roosevelt off ccr. County School District enrollment As he pointed the loaded rifle a! look at other options besides keeping claims that he would not be apprean SKS rifle from a Vernal tions, the average class size throughtaining projections con firm that the district is out the district will range from 14 to the small elementaiy open. hended and taken bock into custody man earlier in the day on Friday, July the second officer, he was verbally in a continuing enrollment slump. If 30 next year. Aland stated that class East Elementary is projected to alivef Wallentine told the court. 6, and using the gun to threaten the SEE CHARGES FILED on age the unsettling down trend iu enrollsizes are where the district wants lose almost a whole class with their Wood will be given a court ap- - life of a woman who police have de ment continues it may force district them, however, it is a sacrifice budget-wis- e total enrollment falling from 568 to officials to make unwanted staff cutto be at that point. 539, a decrease of 29 students. We backs and possibly close down one Out of six elementary schools and are watching it closely, said Aland elementary school in the near future. one middle school in the district, all about Easts declining enrollment. Last year studentenrollment and but one has a projected enrollment However he reported that average f this year's kindergarten screening decrease. At least two elementary class size at the school, which is apnumbers indicate the district could schools in the district will see signifi- proximately 17, is ideal especially for lose a total of 35 students in the upcant decreases in studentenrollment. the lower grades. coming school year, taking the numEnrollment at Myton Elementary Roosevelt Middle School is also ber of students enrolled in the district which has decreased at a steady rate SEE SCHOOLS on page 3 from 3962 to 3927. over the last fewyears is a concern, While the decrease may look insignificant, this fall's projected loss may INCLUDES ALL PRIVATE LAND be adding more fuel to a growing fire. According to Duchesne County School District Superintendent John Aland, district enrollment was down by 30 last year. Even more discouraging is the fact that the district has lost over SOOstudentsin the last several years. Aland compared the significant drop to losing an entire East Elementary. It hurts, he said, adding that the on(y thing the district can do about enrollment at this point is sit tight By Therena Morrill The moratorium will remain in and wait to see what Imp pens. effect until Oct. 31, or until further Ext reme dry weather and hazardEach year the state' pays the disnotice from the Duchesne County trict a Weighted Pupil Unit for every ous fir e conditions have prompted the Commissioners. student enrolled in district schools. Duchesre County Commissioners to The firemoratnriumextends to ail Money for the ensuing school year is pass an ordinance placing a moratoprivate lands within the county. Fire based on the previous year's enrollrium on burning within Duchesne restrictions may exist on other lands ment. Although the district has a year County. within the county that are under the to catch up on enrollment, one count Tlie ordinance was passed July 9 at the jurisdiction of federal, state, or tribal in October and a final adjustment at regular weekly commission meeting agencies, and it is the responsibility of the end of the school year determine and is efTcctive immediately. county residents and visitors to inThis moratorium restricts the use quire about those restrictions. the next year's student budget. Acon-stadecrease in student enrollment of s except under strict conCounty commissioners were means s constant depletion ofdistrict trol in nonflammable areas. prompted to pass t he ordinance based No fires may be set for the purpose funds which help pay for teacher salaon computer generated maps which ries. of burning unwanted grass, brush, or placed Duchesne County in the high fire risk category. According to the Fortunately this year the district rubbish. MOTORCADE - Law enforcement officers from Utah. Idaho. Montana. M iswuiri. Nevada. New Mexico. California. was able to avoid cutbacks due to Camp fires must be strictly consame maps. Duchesne County is also Washington and l begun mined in the funeral motorcade that escorted the bod of slain Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil decreasingenrollnient, however Aland trolled and must he in a fire pit at ail in the ext reme drought category. C iiirr to the times. noted, that if the current enrollment eemeierv for bin ial. E son-in-la- full-tim- e, ,, Capital murder charges filed by -- prosecutors in chief's death ISNT UP Persistent student enrollment declines are nagging at district first-degre- first-degr- -- Commission adopts fire moratorium ! ee 1 |