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Show ./THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE August 2009 A7 Police investigate theater dept attempted suicide same dayfraud reported i Accountant "She was not in a condition to provide the investigation is ongoing. Michael McFall U Police have not made any arrests, said Sgt. Arb Nordgran. No one would comment on whether > The U Police Department is investigating the theater department for the theater department's financial misfraud—an investigation that started the conduct has anything to do with its same day the department's accountant then-accountant Jara Jane Wimmer, who was found after an attempted suicide in attempted suicide. U Police began investigating the the- a casino hotel room the same day. Three hours after the police received later department in April for "a suspicious financial transaction," said U Po- a call about financial misconduct, West Wendover Police responded to a disturlice Capt. Lynn Mitchell. bance call at a Wendover Nugget casino On April 15, U Police received a call at Vabout 11 a.m. reporting that someone had hotel room. The officers found Wimstolen money from the department. The mer bleeding in the bathroom from selfpolice report does not disclose who was inflicted wounds. They also found the , responsible or how much was stolen. No body of her 31-year-old husband, Jason comment was made as to whether the U Mark Koerbler, on the bed where he had administration has suspended or fired killed himself. The couple had arrived at the hotel staff within the theater department in the previous evening. relation to the police case. The exact cause of Koerbler's death U Police Chief Scott Folsom confirmed that U Police are investigating the de- or why Wimmer would attempt suicide fc; partment for financial misconduct but has not been determined, said Sgt. David declined to comment further because Wiskerchen of West Wendover Police. EDITOR I HOSPITAL pital," Warner said. "We owe a lot to the donors. It was a whole community continued from Page A2 collaborative effort to make this possible." With the expansion completed, paAnother new addition to the hospital tients will be admitted to private rooms was a pod nursery, which helps keep where they can heal in a peaceful envi- nurses closer to the mothers and their ronment. Before, the hospital had only a babies. Last January, the hospital was handful of private rooms that had been the first in Utah to become a World donated, said Steve Warner, associate Health Organization- and UNICEFvice president of health sciences. certified Baby Friendly Hospital, said With semi-private rooms, the risk of Elizabeth Smith, a pre-natal education spreading infection and the number of coordinator. To achieve the designamedical errors greatly increases. The tion, the hospital staff became better 103 new private rooms ensure patients' educated in breastfeeding support and providing mothers with the knowledge privacy is better protected. The private rooms became available of how to give their newborns food. "It's an initiative to support breastAug. 13. The remaining semi-private rooms will be decommissioned and feeding mothers, with the 10 steps to converted to private rooms, a process successful breastfeeding," Smith said. that will take nine months to complete, Roosevelt acted as master of ceremoWarner said. The lobby, cafeteria and nies at the hospital ribbon-cutting July pharmacy were also expanded, provid- 16. David Entwistle, CEO of U Hospital ing more space to better fit the needs of and Clinics, was in good spirits as he the patients. joked with the audience about his re"It's like getting a brand-new hos- cent experience as a patient in the hos- any information," Wiskerchen said. Elko Daily Free Press reports that according to West Wendover Police, the two made a pact to commit suicide after hardships endured from the loss of their jobs. Koerbler's body was taken to Reno, Nev., for an autopsy. Wimmer was treated at a local medical clinic and returned to Salt Lake City for further treatment. Doctors determined that her wounds were not life-threatening. Wimmer is no longer listed in staff directories as an employee of the U. The theater department declined to comment about Wimmer's employment status. U spokeswoman Coralie Alder declined to comment until the investigation is concluded. Gage Williams, chairman of the theater department, referred comments to Raymond Tymas-Jones, dean of the Fine Arts College, who could not be reached. m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu pital. Entwistle was critically injured in May when he fell off his bicycle and hit his head. "You can't fully appreciate the facilities we have until you have a chance to find out for yourself," he said. "The nurses and physicals are a truly talented, dedicated and compassionate group." As the Intermountain West's only academic health care system, this hospital alone provides Utah citizens with not only medical treatment, but student medical training without having to travel out of state. It is also home to teams of international research facilities to advance the well-being of the patients, said Lords Betz, senior vice president of U health sciences and CEO ofU Health Care. "Emily's story reminds us as to why we're here in the end," Young said. "This is a place where miracles happened." d.rafferty@ chronicle.utah.edu Need an interesting elective for Fall? Increase your knowledge of international nutrition issues with NUTR 3620, "Cultural Aspects of Foods" Tuesdays, 4:35 to 7:05 PM OR Improve your well-being by taking NUTR 3550, "Healthy Weight for life" Taught on-line OR Enhance sport performance through nutrition with NUTR 5320, "Nutrition for Exercise & Sports" M, W, F, 2:00 to 2:50 PM OR Obtain a better understanding of dietary supplements with NUTR 5380, "Understanding Dietary Supplements" Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 PM ** This class is also taught on-line ** Remember... Last day to add classes is Tuesday, September 8, 2009 U pays $1.3M for 2003 wrongful-death suit Michael McFall NEWS EDITOR The U settled out of a 2003 wrongful-death lawsuit for $1.3 million. On Aug. 7, the U paid the settlement out to the families of seven university vice presidents from China who were killed in a crash in Pennsylvania, as well as the three injured vice presidents who survived it, according to court documents. On April 7, 2003, the U was transporting the foreign vice presidents during the Chinese delegation's trip in the United States, as part of a cross-country road trip program the U had organized and was hosting. While on route from Buffalo, New York, to Washington, D.C., their van drove off a snow- and ice-covered highway in Pennsylvania and crashed, killing seven and injuring four, including the driver, Yi Chen. The three injured men sued the school, as it became legally liable for their safety when they decided to host the visiting Chinese administrators in 2002. They claimed in court documents that the U acted negligently by contracting with an unlicensed New Yorkbased travel business that hired a van driver unqualified to handle the oversized van during dangerous icy conditions. The U settled out of court instead of going to trial and facing at least $3.5 million in damages, which the plaintiffs had originally wanted. The three plaintiffs received $500,000, and the families of the seven crash victims will split $800,000. The plaintiffs' attorney, Robert Sykes, believes the U's insurance will cover the cost of the damages, and will have minimal effect on its hurting budget. A settlement of any more than $500,000 to the plaintiffs might have required a longer legal process, as the court would have had to review and approve it. The settlement conceded no negligence on the part of the U. The settlement cut short the official trial that had been taking place in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court since Aug. 3. Become a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine T he top-rated California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) is recognized for: -• ., • Early clinical ^ * experience & small class size • Select residencies throughout the ,tl: country =•: ^ ^,i&;K > High tech human simulation lab J | Take a new look at"#% SMU, the first choice for students and ^ %; faculty, and known # * i for educating health care leaders. - ^^M^ m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu t miss a eat Get the Friday Issue in your email every week. Register on The Chronicle's website: dailYiitahchronicle.com/ register - '-.i SAMUEL MERRITT U N I V E R S I T Y Premier Health Sciences since 1909 800.607.6377; Jw: ' www.samuelmerritt.eau -:irv^^y;:;r Oakland, CA ^ , f > ^ |