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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A4 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition TO Wednesday, January 19, 2005 THE EDITOR... By Tery Robertson Animal abuse charges should be filed against turkey killers One night last February, based on what officers have been able to determine, seven young adult and teenage boys decided to have some “fun.” The next morning, Jason Sunderland discovered their version of fun. Almost 1,200 turkeys had been beaten to death. Jason Sunderland cares about his turkeys. When it’s cold, he goes out and checks his “babies.” He cares about his helpers—calls them “good people.” He remembers the sickening feeling, the disgusting environment that he found that morning. So many injured. So many beaten to death. He recalls the heads swollen, wings and legs broken. The injured struggling to live. He has spent the last year wondering who would do this and why. His insurance didn’t cover the death of his animals. He has estimated that total financial losses are $22,500. It’s better now, but there were a couple of months when he was afraid to go out alone to check his turkeys. He lived with an uneasy feeling. Could someone be out there, waiting for him? Even now, Jason looks over his shoulder when there’s a noise behind him. Jason’s wife struggles to forgive. It’s tough for her. The couple’s 12-year-old still remembers the look on his dad’s face as the dead bodies were piled up to be carted away. Sanpete County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Kirkham, who led the investigation, stated that the boys who were arrested are “…probably a pretty good group of kids who did something stupid.” Jason Sunderland is a good man. The seven young men who slaughtered his turkeys (assuming the evidence against them stands up in court) are not. This was not the choice of a good group of kids. If these young men did what they are accused of doing, they are people who are so lacking in moral judgment, values and simple human decency that they find it fun to beat animals to death. Maybe these suspects have never been in trouble. So what? If they did kill Jason’s turkeys, they chose to intentionally harm innocent people and animals. When faced with a choice, they chose evil. In the animal world, there are animals that kill. If a dog kills sheep, it can be shot. When these suspects broke into a turkey coop, they were excused by law enforcement as “…kids who did something stupid.” What’s the difference? This act went way beyond “something stupid.” It was animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating or killing an animal. It is socially unacceptable behavior that intentionally causes unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress and/or death to an animal. It is an indication of a severe psychological disturbance. It is sociopathic behavior. It is also against the law. So why haven’t animal abuse charges been filed? Numerous studies have shown that animal abuse is a stepping-stone toward human abuse. Someone who hurts animals may be predisposed to committing acts of violence. As in domestic abuse. Rape. Child molestation. Murder. Frank Ascione, professor of psychology and adjunct professor of family and human development at Utah State University, is an authority on violence toward animals and humans. Dr. Ascione has found a strong association between people who batter humans and people who hurt or kill animals. His studies, conducted between 1985 and 1999, found that 48 percent of rapists, 30 percent of child molesters and 65 percent of violent adult offenders in prison have abused animals. Based on the charges filed so far, these youths, if found guilty, could get as little as a year in jail. A year. Less time than it will take the Sunderland family to recover. If you are concerned about this case, contact the county attorney’s office and urge that animal abuse charges be filed. And if you know of someone who abuses animals, please get them help. Tery Robertson of Mayfield has worked with various animal rescue and equine therapy organizations, including Australian Shepherd rescue, Southern California Wildlife Rescue and Ahead with Horses. She can be reached at tery@aussie-rescue.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR RULES: The Sanpete Messenger invites letters to the editor from our readers. Letters must be in good taste, and submitted with the author’s name, hometown and phone number. The telephone number will not be published. Occasionally, we will withhold the author’s name from publication, so long as the author reveals his or her name to the newspaper. Letters are limited to 500 words. We will publish a maximum of one letter per person every four weeks. We ask that writers limit themselves to an issue, or aspect of an issue, that they have not addressed before. We reserve the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and taste. Opinions in the letters to the editor section do not reflect the opinions of the newspaper or its staff. Keeler had no agenda in running for political position I am writing to let the citizens of Sanpete County know why I filed for the Senate Race in District 24 and then why I later withdrew my name. I know there will be a lot of speculation and I want everyone to hear it from me. I entered the race because f felt that I had some valuable experience that would be useful in enacting legislation for the state of Utah and representing the counties is District 24. My work with many issues at the grassroots level for the past 25 years is extensive. I have no agenda or hidden motives. I just felt I could use that experience in the political process. What happened after I filed to run did surprise me, however. I am not so naive as to realize what politics is, but I was disappointed as to the threat or potential threat that some perceived my candidacy would have. After I filed, the Sanpete Messenger published an “opinion” that I was not as qualified as the other Sanpete candidate. The surprise to me was that no one at the Messenger has ever bothered to find out what I do or what I have done that would qualify me as a candidate. They asked for a paragraph about myself, which I supplied with a picture, but did not make any attempt to find out anything about me and what work I have done in the community, schools and political arena, nor my career with Utah agriculture. Why would the newspaper do this? I would think it would be much more valuable to promote more candidates to run than to intimidate them. (Personally, I don’t believe the newspaper should support or not support candidates.) I later received mail and phone calls saying that I would be “spoiler” for Sanpete and a “gadfly” in behalf of Darrin Peterson. And also that I had told someone Brad Johnson had asked me to run. This is not true. Brad did not ask me to run and I did not tell anyone that he had. It was inferred that through my political connections (Farm Bureau) I secretly was working for Darrin Peterson. It was at this point that I decided to withdraw my name on Jan. 13. 1 have worked too long and too hard for Farm Bureau in helping it be an effective organization and Farm Bureau is too highly respected for me to cause it to be a target in this issue. I love Sanpete County and I love agriculture. I hope to enter the political scene at some future point. I apologize for my actions if this has hurt anyone or caused serious problems. I applaud those who give of their time in the political process. I will support the successful candidate and will work hard for rural Utah. I thank those who have supported me in my efforts. John B. Keeler Manti Beef workshops target cattlemen EPHRAIM— Utah State University Extension, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, and other partners are offering workshops to cattle producers that will fulfill the requirements to become a Beef Quality Assurance Certified Cattle Production Unit. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has given states some assistance to develop a Beef Quality Assurance program. Ac- cording to USU Extension Agent Matt Palmer, the program will help cattle producers document production practices so they will be protected from the new animal trace back capabilities of the emerging animal identification system. The national animal identification system will give the beef industry the ability to trace disease problems back through the feedlot to where the calf was born. Cattlemen who attend these workshops will learn management practices for feeding, vaccinating and handling cattle. Cattle producers interested in the program can attend a workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 19 in the Snow College West Campus Trade and Industry Building, 325 West 100 North, Ephraim. The cost is $25 per cattle operation. Reserved seating is limited. Call 283-7582. Sanpete Valley Hospital appoints new administrator By Lloyd Call Associate publisher MT. PLEASANT—A new administrator has been appointed at Sanpete Valley Hospital. Ned Hill of Evanston, Wyo. has served in the healthcare indus- try for the past five years, working with the Veterans Administration Salt Lake City Health Care System for a few years before accepting a position as an assistant administrator at Evanston Regional Hospital. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah SALINA AUCTION DATE: 1/11/2005 HEAD COUNT: 1278 CLASS AVG. PRICE PRICE RANGE COWS ............................................... 51.76 ..................... 31.50-55.00 PAIRS & STOCK COWS ................... 760.00 ................. 540.00-920.00 CUTTING BULLS ............................... 78.50 ..................... 61.58-81.25 SLAUGHTER BULLS .......................... 68.54 ..................... 65.00-72.00 CHOICE STRS 200-300# .................. 126.00 ............................ 126.00 CHOICE STRS 300-400# .................. 129.68 ................. 114.00-147.50 CHOICE STRS 400-500# .................. 115.70 ................... 95.00-129.00 CHOICE STRS 500-600# .................. 110.82 ................... 92.25-119.00 CHOICE STRS 600-700# .................. 101.89 ................... 89.50-106.75 CHOICE STRS 700-800# .................... 97.45 ................... 84.75-104.25 CHOICE STRS 800-900# .................... 93.00 ..................... 80.50-97.25 CHOICE STRS 900-1000 .................... 91.57 ..................... 79.00-92.75 CHOICE STRS 1000# ......................... 77.48 ..................... 77.00-78.00 CHOICE HFRS 200-300# .................. 120.19 ................. 107.00-133.00 CHOICE HFRS 300-400# .................. 119.52 ................. 105.25-130.50 CHOICE HFRS 400-500# .................. 112.92 ................. 101.00-118.00 CHOICE HFRS 500-600# .................. 101.87 ................... 94.00-111.50 CHOICE HFRS 600-700# .................... 94.90 ................... 85.75-100.00 CHOICE HFRS 700-800# .................... 93.37 ..................... 78.50-98.00 CHOICE HFRS 800-900# .................... 88.80 ..................... 76.50-94.10 CHOICE HFR 900 - 1300 .................... 79.50 ..................... 70.50-87.50 HOL STRS 400-500# .......................... 86.00 .............................. 86.00 HOL STRS 500-600# .......................... 83.46 ..................... 81.50-85.50 HOL STRS 600-700# .......................... 72.90 ..................... 70.50-75.50 HOL STRS 700-800# .......................... 74.75 .............................. 74.75 HOL STRS 800-1000# ........................ 72.67 ..................... 65.00-74.50 HOL STRS OVER 1000# .................... 65.24 ..................... 65.00-65.50 in behavioral science and health, and a master’s degree in public administration. Hill says, “As the newest member of the Sanpete Valley Medical Center, I have been very impressed with the quality of the care provided by the physicians and staff. It is evident that every consideration is taken to ensure that each patron has the best possible experience during his or her visit. “My family and I are very excited to be here and have greatly appreciated the warm welcome we have received.” Exciting changes are coming to Sanpete Valley Hospital, says Hill. “At the end of February, we will finish construction on our new emergency room. We’ll now have five beds, two trauma rooms, a negative pressure room and facilities for cleaning up a hazardous waste incident. We will also have expanded admitting and waiting rooms and a separate ambulance entrance,” Hill says. Hill and his wife Emily have two children, Kiley and Ned. Emily is a homemaker and concert pianist. Former administrator Warren Benincosa is remaining at the hospital as director of nursing services. #FU :PVS -JGF VIDEOTRONIX 96 North Main • Richfield AR Info |
