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Show -N Covering what matters most SFPD serves: From SFPD • A l before the actual event." This year, Police Lieutenant Carl Johnston represented the department on the Fiesta Days Committee, attending numerous meetings and spending many hours planning and preparing officers. According to Johnston, his main role on the committee was to oversee, "all public safety during each event." Johnston coordinates with both county and city entities to re-route buses and traffic, obtain road closure permits, and hand out officer assignments. According to Johnston the department's 28 officers arc constantly on the go during Fiesta Days, and most of them put in 16-20 hours a day, covering both the large events as well as many of the smaller events like movie night at the park, the fish rodeo and the stock parade. According to Johnston, certain events require more officers, while others require less. For example, Johnston said, "It took about nine officers to cover the stock parade, while movie night only required two." Other larger events like the grand parade and park events required the help of all 28 officers. Johnston said on July 24th he.had officers doing a variety of different jobs which included covering the carnival and park areas, assisting with traffic at the crosswalks, and patrolling surrounding areas. "The hard part that some people don't think about," Johnston said, "is that along with doing all of these special activities we also have to maintain our regular services." For example, Johnston said, "If you are experiencing a home robbery or something like that, we need to make sure that someone is able to take that call." While there were a few incidents to report on during the Fiesta Days celebration, most of the week, according to Johnston went very well. Johnston said police officers assisted in making some arrests the evening of Monday, July 23, after two Payson residents were stabbed when a gang-related fight broke out at approximately51 North Main. According Johnston, because the police were organized and had the right amount of man power, they were able to quickly apprehend all of the suspects involved and treat the victims. "We have a great bunch of officers, who are very dedicated," Johnston said. So while there were some incidents to take care of, Johnston said, "if you look at the bigger picture, overall we have a great community." In fact, Johnston says that while the officers do work hard, he also attributes a lot of the success of Fiesta Days to the residents of Spanish Fork. "The reason [Fiesta Days] happens and the reason it goes so well, is because of the citizens in the community," he said. Johnston said at the parade on Tuesday, there were some citizens who helped an elderly couple from one of the cars on the parade route, after the car overheated and caught on fire. "We were able to push the car off to the side of the parade route and take care of the fire," Johnston said, "without disrupting the parade or even having people realizing what happened." Johnston said he appreciates being part of such a strong community with citizens who are willing to go the extra mile to help out. "That kind of community spirit is what makes this thing come together," he said. "We have the best citizens, and that's why things like this always go so well." Officers respond: From FIGHT • A l ,s - - , : k Victim information: • Victim number one: 19-year-old Hispanic male from Payson — stabbed in the left side. He was transported to Mountain View Hospital. His wounds are not life threatening at this time. • Victim number two: 18-year-old Hispanic male from Payson — received a knife wound to the right forearm. He was treated at the scene and was not transported to the hospital. • Victim number three: 17-year-old Hispanic male from Payson — had his shirt torn, was tripped to the ground and kicked. He was also treated at the scene and released. Suspect Information: • Suspect number one: 2Oyear-old Hispanic male currently living in Springville. He is accused of stabbing the above victims. He has been booked into the Utah County Jail for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. • Five other suspects were arrested for assault with a gang enhancement. Their ages range from 18-21. They too are Hispanic males currently living in the Spanish Fork, Springville and Orem areas. jtU The suspects are believed to.be active gang inembers. It is suspected that the fight began because of past and current gang involvement. a w s- Spanish Fork WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2007 • A7 SheRox ribbon cutting • Stave Hardman / Spanish Fork News GRAND OPENING: SheRox Athletics held their ribbon cutting on Friday, July 27. Pictured, left to right, are Alisa Giles, Lynette Padilla, Patti Witham, Lindsey Hales, Karina Carson, Jason Stites, Greta Trujillo, Kelley Flick, Gary Mitchell, Jade Grant, McKenna Thompson, David Thompson, Devere Morris, Kara Morris, Hannah Carson, Emma Carson and Jesika Sebrowski. Firetruck enters service early Steve Hardman EDI'IOR Everyone expects tireworks during Fiesta Days — but few plan on a fire. So, during ihe grand parade, when the car carrying Kayla Wilde, the queen of the Chief Peteetneet Company of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, burst into flames, most people were unsure what to do. Thai day providence placed Brad Tanner and Joel Bradford directly behind the burning car in the parade line-up. Tanner and Bradford were towing a gift to the city of Bocoyna, Mexico from the generous citizens of Spanish Fork — a fnctruck. "It was so ironic," Tanner said. "We just happened to be right behind them. It could have been kind of ugly — the road was so narrow. Tin just glad we were able to help." As the car rolled along 100 East behind the Library, it overheated, blew the radiator and started to burn. "We saw a big plume of steam and a bunch of water on the ground." Tanner said. "Then we heard people in the crowd yelling, 'Fire!'" Spanish Fork police were on-hand to help the queen and drivers exit the vehicle and push the car off the pa rade route. Steve Hardman / Spanish Fork News NEED A LIFT? Payson DUP Queen Kayla Wilde gets a much-needed ride from Fiesta Days volunteers after the car she was riding in the grand parade caught fire. "There were flames coming from underneath the car." Tanner said. He realized that to reduce weight for lowing, the firelruck had no water, so he grabbed one of the lire extinguishers and put out the lire. "His quick thinking helped avoid something much more scjious," Bradford said. i he brush truck was purchased from the cilv and re- furbished by funds donated from local citizens and businesses. Tanner displayed the truck in the parade because he wanted everyone to be able to see what the community's generosity had purchased for people of Bocoyna, a small Mexican hamlet without firelight ing equipment. "The truck has fought its first lire," Bradford said. The two men are now en route to Mexico and should deliver the vehicle sometime this week. As for the queen whose car had burned, she showed she was made of tougher stuff. With the same stoicism of her pioneer ancestors, Kayla Wilde looked at adversity, shrugged and started walking. Soon, the unflagging Payson queen was picked up by Fiesta Days volunteers and given a ride for the remainder of the parade. Baseball Team Tryouts; Spanish Fork Coyotes Age Division: I hi (must be I I or younger on April 30, 2008) Tryout Dates: August 11 <$ 2^1 p.m. and August 14 @ 6-8 p.m. Location: Brockbank Iilenientary 340 W. 500 N., SF Classifieds FOR SALE Accounts Receivable/Collections Temkin International, large manufacturer in Payson. Pay DOE. Basic accounting and computer skills required. Email resumetodalan@temkininternational.com (8/1) HELP WANTED Come join the Quik Check team NEBO SCHOOL DISTRICT. For - Part time teller/asst manager a current listing of job openings - computer & customer serfor teachers, teacher's aides, vice skills a must. Need to be secretaries, custodians, mainte- flexible. Fax resume to 801nance workers, bus drivers and 798-1666 or E Mail to Spanishfood services, please go to www. fork@quikcheck.net. Can also nebo.edu/hr/jobs. (1/12-TFN) dropoff at 330 N. Main Spanish Fork. (8/1-8/8) CAMPER. Needs a new home. 8.5 ft. cabover formica and real wood panelling. Sleeps 6. Hardware included. Call 801221-0567(7/18-8/1) Information: We will be holding tryouts for the Fall 2007 Super League. We are looking for competitive players from the Spanish Fork/Utah County area wanting to improve their individual and team skills. We will participate in the fall league August 25-October 6. 2007 continuing on to Spring 2008. We will be playing double headers on Saturdays and participating in various tournaments. All interested players are encouraged to tryout. Practices will be twice weekly. Contact: Clay Creer at 798-398 or 63oo()22 Ed Coughlan at 794 or 310-5093 Marv Rowley at 423-2776 |