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Show CY K M Y K Manti CY K M Y K 75¢ Counter Copy Price Gunnison Valley Edition WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2008 VOL. 86 • NUMBER 52 Jensen, Mellor given ‘Pillar’ Awards for lifetime of service Sanpete Weather FORECAST High/Low Chance precip. Wednesday Snow, 31/14......................35% By Karen Prisbrey Thursday Staff writer Snow, 33/10......................65% Friday Snow, 27/9........................30% Saturday Flurries, 28/10...................20% Last Week’s Weather Date Max. Min. 55 51 46 45 39 42 39 19 28 28 25 18 21 20 Nov. 31 Dec. 1 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 At a Precip KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Nancy Jensen and JoBerta Mellor received this year’s Pillar Recognition Award at Gunnison Valley Middle School. GUNNISON—The sounds of Christmas permeated the air last week as programs presented by various groups throughout the valley signaled the approaching holiday. The Festival of Carols at the high school Sunday evening recognized the birth of Jesus Christ. By Lyle Fletcher Churches schedule candlelight services We’re celebrating, too The Sanpete Messenger will close at noon on Christmas Eve and remain closed until Monday, Dec. 29 at 9 a.m. The newspaper will close again at noon on New Year’s Eve and reopen Monday, June 5 at 9 a.m. While we’re closed, email news items to: news@ sanpetemessenger.com. COUNTYWIDE INTEREST B1 Messenger photographer captures Christmas light scenes throughout Sanpete A12 EPHRAIM School kids benefit from Jazz Bear visit B9 FAIRVIEW Council appoints planning board chairman to fill vacancy B2 MANTI Three Sanpete wrestlers undefeated in Manti tourney A8 MAYFIELD Santa visits every home in Mayfield Christmas Eve B6 STERLING Council passes new OHV ordinance (See “Pillar” on A1) Centerfield city council to vote on police expansion Glance Two churches in Mt. Pleasant will hold Christmas Eve Candlelight services this evening. The times for these services are listed below. First Presbyterian Church—The annual Candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. A bell choir and individuals from the community will provide music. Everyone is invited. Heritage Baptist Church—A Christmas Candlelight service will be held at 6:30 p.m. A crowd attended Monday night’s performance of children at the elementary school who sang about “Santa’s Elves,” “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” “Jingle Bells” and “Silver Bells” on the lighter side of Christmas. Tuesday evening, Dec. 16 the high school presented their Christmas program with the Staff writer KEN HANSEN / messenger photo Donaldson home in Gunnison helps light up Sanpete The Donaldson home at 435 W. 100 South in Gunnison. For a 127 mile tour of outstanding lighted homes in Sanpete County, see page B1. Richardson sentenced Murder impacts dozens of lives By Suzanne Dean Publisher he will never leave prison. Last week’s sentencing followed a plea deal reached about a month ago. Under the arrangement, Sanpete County Attorney Ross Blackham agreed to drop pursuit of the death penalty. He also agreed to drop a charge of aggravated burglary against Richardson for stealing a gun from Young’s home, which he later used to shoot Cannon, as well as a theft charge for taking a car from her property. In return, Richardson agreed to plead guilty to two counts of aggravated murder and accept the life-without-parole sentence. At the time he pleaded guilty to the crimes, Richardson was asked to describe what had happened April 10. He said Young, 46, a one-time girlfriend, had let him into her home just before midnight. He strangled her with his hands. He drove to Mt. Pleasant, got a couple of drinks, and went to the trailer home occupied by his friend, Martin Cannon, 39, and Cannon’s wife and two children. Richardson said when Cannon answered the door, he shot him in the head. During sentencing last week, Richardson was asked if he wanted to make a statement. MANTI—The violence that led to the deaths of Annette Young and Martin Cannon on April 10 has rippled out to touch dozens of lives. That became clear at a sentencing hearing last week for Donald Bert Richardson, 48, the man who earlier pleaded guilty to the two murders. Family members of the victims, and of Richardson himself, described a 5-yearold boy who may need to go on medication because of the trauma, elderly parents who were too scarred to be in the courtroom, a brother who has been in counseling, and teenage and young adult children who “aren’t doing very well.” At the hearing Thursday, Dec. 19 in 6th District Court, Richardson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. And victims’ fami- Donald Richardson apologizers to victim families during sentencing hearing Thursday, Dec. 19 in 6th District lies wanted assurances that Court. Staff writer GUNNISON—Gunnison Valley residents will kick off the 2009 Sesquicentennial Celebration with a New Year’s Eve party designed for all ages. Organizers stress that this year’s celebration, which will be held Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. at Gunnison Val- ley High School, will include activities for tiny tots to senior adults. A light supper will be served for the first hour, and displays of yesteryear will be set up around the school building. Games, a volleyball tournament, dancing, and other events have also been planned. The Cadillacs, an a cappella group that sings oldies of the 50s and 60s, will perform two concerts, at 7 p.m. and 9 (See “Centerfield” on A1) County budget includes new jail district By John Hales Managing Editor p.m. A fashion show interspersed with local talent acts will feature clothing from 1859 through the present. Annette Dyreng and her committee are looking for vintage clothing. Contact Annette at 528-7256 (daytime) or 528-3798 (evening). At midnight the “G” hill will be MANTI—Sanpete County commissioners approved a budget last week that shows nearly a one-fifth increase in the county’s general fund from 2008 to 2009. The county added $1.7 million to the 2009 general fund, the money used in the day-to-day operation of county government. While that figure might leave some county residents’ ears ringing, the way county commissioners managed to bring it about should be music to the ears instead. “We did it without a tax increase,” said Commissioner Mark Anderson the day the county’s 2009 budget was passed. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, commissioners passed a $13.5 million total budget. Of that, the general fund comprises $10.7 million. That’s up 19 percent from the 2008 general fund of nearly $9 million. But even with a sizable increase, there will be no new taxes from the county. The budget assumes property-tax revenue will remain flat at 2008’s level, which means some belt-tightening is in order. Commissioners could have relieved some of the budget pressure by raising tax rates, but one of their number one priorities was to create a budget that did not include higher taxes. That job was all the harder because of certain budget items that they had no choice but to increase. One obvious example was the county jail. (See “Gunnison” on A2) (See “Budget” on A2) (See “Murder” on A2) Gunnison set to celebrate sesquicentennial By Karen Prisbrey CENTERFIELD—The New Year will bring a new police department to the city of Centerfield, if the city council follows through with plans discussed at a public hearing last week. On Thursday, Dec. 18, the council brought before the public an ordinance that would fund a police-department expansion. Though they plan to approve the ordinance at their next meeting, council members held off on voting on it until the final wording could be worked out. The ordinance should be approved at the council’s Jan. 8 meeting. The proposed ordinance is designed to dramatically improve law enforcement in a city that has had a rise in reported crimes and violations of the law in recent years. After last week’s council meeting, Centerfield Town Recorder Debbie Hansen pointed out Centerfield’s need to provide a greater police presence to C M C M Y K Y K |