|
Commissioner Sitterud placed on administrative leave following criminal charges
James L. Davis
Emery County Commissioner Drew Sitterud has been placed on paid administrative leave following felony charges of misuse of public monies filed by the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant Attorney General Pat Nolan arrived toward the end of the June 17 meeting of the Emery County Commission and following the regular meeting the commission went into executive session, where Nolan served copies of the information and a summons to Commissioner Sitterud.
Following Nolan’s actions, Commissioners Gary Kofford and Jeff Horrocks voted to place Sitterud on paid administrative leave while the case is pending.
According to the charging documents Sitterud is alleged to have misused public funds on seven separate occasions between November 2005 and January 2007.
The charging document alleges that Sitterud “did intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly appropriate public money, or any portion of it, to his own use or benefit, or to the use or benefit of another, without authority of law.” The commissioner faces three third degree felony charges of misusing public monies.
For his part, Sitterud plans to plead not guilty when he makes his initial appearance on July 15. In a June 19 article in the Salt Lake Tribune, Sitterud’s attorney, Sonny Olsen, said the charges amounted to a “smear campaign” that stems from travel reimbursements.
Sitterud is currently running for reelection as an Emery County commissioner.
Return to Top
Tamarisk Warriors
Order of Arrow Scouts complete project to curb growth of tamarisk
Josie Luke
After clearing 33 miles of tamarisk, setting the invasion back by more than 30 years, the members of the Boy Scout’s Order of the Arrow participating in the Manti La Sal portion of Arrow Corps5 left the area on June 21 to return home.
The scouts exceeded their initial goal of removing 25 miles of Tamarisk from Joe’s Valley Reservoir and Buckhorn Wash. They also removed the invader from Dry Wash, which added up to roughly 50 acres removed per scout.
Ferron District Forest Ranger Mesia Nyman expressed her excitement Friday after the project was completed. “I had a dream when I became a forest ranger at Manti La Sal,” she said, “that one day the tamarisk would be removed from Buckhorn Wash. Friday, that dream became a reality.”
The scope of the effect of the project is at present astonishing, but the full effect will not be seen for years. David Dowdy, director of the Order of the Arrow Instructor Corps, revealed, “Various estimations estimate the ecological restoration of [Buckhorn Wash] within three to five years, and they actually hope that the creek will start to flow again.”
Scouts completed the project one tamarisk at a time, using shears, handsaws and chainsaws to cut off each one four to eight inches from the ground, and then kill the plant by spraying a herbicide on the remaining stump. Sawyer Ian Thomas described it as a “really simple process,” remarking, “it’s just laborious.”
The scouts completed the “laborious process” in less than a week, beginning actual work on the project on Monday and finishing on Friday. More importantly, although they were, according to Dowdy, “operating a crew with very sharp tools,” they were able to do it “in a safe manner,” with no serious accidents.
For many of the scouts, the project was a once in a lifetime experience, giving them the opportunity to visit a little known National Forest. Dowdy said that because of this, their leadership tried “from the youngest to the oldest scout, to help them understand how important the work is they’re doing.”
They hope that by participating on this project scouts will be inspired to “go back to their hometowns and really try and run their own conservation projects,” which is part of what Arrow Scouts do– perform service.
Youth Section Chief, Steven Hiemark elaborated, “The Order of the Arrow is, itself, a service program, so you become a member because you’ve done the service and you enjoy doing it. The scouts are happy to be out here and do everything they can.”
The project wasn’t all work for the scouts, they had a great time on their recreations days, rafting down the Green River, visiting the dinosaur quarry and museum, mountain biking and fishing. They also kept themselves entertained in the evenings. They watched movies, went bowling and even went swimming at the wave pool.
At Canyon View Junior High, they daily watched as their “destruct-o-meter “chronicled the amount of tamarisk removed each day. On Wednesday, John Fagan, youth incident commander joked, “221 tiny tamarisks, each denoting 1/10 of a mile cleared out, destroyed, of the deadly invasive tamarisk.”
Leaders used every possible avenue to boost morale, even developing a huge board game of “Tama-Risk”, and holding a comedy night. Fagan related, “It’s our job to inspire them. Our enthusiasm has kind of fueled the kids.”
Kyle Raffensperger from Virginia and Arthur Burnett from California both expressed how much fun they were having. Raffensperger commented on the “beautiful country,” and Burnett said he was “really enjoying” himself, being there with 41 members of his Cahuilla Lodge.
Many scouts expressed a hope and some a commitment to later return to see what they had accomplished. “I would love to visit here down the road 10 to 15 years to see what, as a unit, we were able to accomplish,” said Fagan. “I know I’ll be back.”
Some of the scouts may not return to the area. Ben Stilwill said, “To be honest, there are some who live quite far away, who might not get back here, but they enjoy the idea that someone else will come here. That’s something they keep in their mind. Whether or not they will directly benefit is not something they are very concerned with.”
Return to Top
Scout visit proves boon for local economy
Josie Luke
Along with the eradication of miles of invasive tamarisk, the Order of the Arrow Scout project had an additional benefit for the community– a jolt in the arm for local businesses.
The group focused on utilizing local businesses wherever they could. Arrowman Tony Fiori, who was charged with finances for the group revealed that the scouts spent more than $35,000 in Emery County alone, on items needed for the staff and scouts, catering, recreation and fuel. He commented that if Carbon County were included, the amount climbed to well over $50,000.
Food Ranch Owner Drew LeRoy, who catered several meals for the scouts said it well, “This thing just saved me. It has been a godsend for us.” LeRoy explained that business during the holidays of the late spring and early summer was “way down” because of the unusually cool and windy weather. “Luckily, they came and asked me to cater this,” he said. “It has made up for rotten weather and high gas prices.”
LeRoy also commented on the high caliber of the young men in the group saying, “I have never catered to a more polite bunch of kids. It made me believe there’s hope for the nation yet.”
Kent Wilson, B K’s Stop-n-Shop owner echoed Leroy. “It’s kind of been like a fourth of July week for us. I wish they’d move in,” he remarked. He said that many of the scouts and staff had often come into the store for lunch, and commented that this was more of a benefit than the many gallons of gas they pumped, which he said he doesn’t make much profit on.
The Arrowmen also frequented Maverick, Wal-Mart, Subway, Hometown Market and the newly opened Cindi’s Café for meals and snacks during the week long service project.
Return to Top
Huntington Miners’ Memorial to be unveiled in September
The unveiling of a monument in Huntington for the miners who died at the Crandall Canyon mine is now set for Sept. 14.
The monument’s designer, Artist Karen Templeton, along with her assistant Lisa Chamberlain, met on June 20 with Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon, Dan Whittle, the concrete specialist, his son, Ryan, and Huntington Zoning Administrator Gary Arrington to decide on the final placement of the monument in the park located between the city cemetery and Highway 31.
During the meeting, they discussed dropping the monument into the hill slightly to provide for a more protected, intimate feeling and easier viewing for those who are disabled or elderly. The back of the monument will still be visible from the highway, so with the discussed benefits considered, the decision was finalized.
Whittle will begin excavation for the footer of the monument during the first week of July.
Templeton finished the final miner’s portrait sculpture for the monument on June 4, and the sculpture is now being cast at Metal Arts Foundry in Lehi for the unveiling on Sept 14..
Return to Top
Kayaker's body recovered near Green River
Search and rescue teams from the National Parks Service, State Parks and Emery County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Douglas Fisher near Green River on June 18. Fisher, 62, an avid kayaker from Brookline, Mass., had been declared missing after he had not shown up as scheduled the morning of June 16.
According to the Emery County Sheriff’s office, Fisher’s body was located near Bull Hollow on the Green River June 17, and recovered the next day.
Fisher began his trip at Crystal Geyser on June 6 and was to get out at the confluence of the Colorado River on the morning on June 16. After he had not shown up, the National Parks Service dispatched a plane to the area later that day, but were unable to locate the subject.
The next day, the National and State Parks put three search boats on the river and requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office. Fisher’s kayak and personal belongings were located at a camp at Bull Hollow 22 miles south of Green River. The body was later located from the air, and personnel hiked to the area located in a canyon approximately 1/2 mile from the camp.
The Sheriff’s Department revealed that it appeared that he had been deceased for several days, possibly from falling off a cliff while taking pictures. Though the body was found on Tuesday, because of the location of the body and the lateness of the day, recovery efforts were pushed to Wednesday morning.
Return to Top
Wild horse adoption rides into Castle Dale
Josie Luke
During the summer, the Bureau of Land Management will be holding five wild horse and burro adoptions in the state of Utah. One of those adoptions will be held this weekend at the Castle Dale Rodeo Arena, June 28, at 10 a.m.
According to Mike Tweddell, range management specialist for the BLM, sites are chosen randomly each year throughout the state, with adoptions at available sites occurring about every three years. The adoptions are held in accordance with The Wild Free-Roaming Horses Act of 1971, which gives the BLM authority to manage range populations.
At the Castle Dale adoption, 50 horses and 10 burros will be available for adoption. The horses are from herd management areas in Oregon, Nevada, Utah and possibly Idaho. There is also the possibility that there will be several halter broken horses available for adoption. For those interested in previewing the animals, viewings will be held Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 -10 a.m.
Tweddell reported there would be a variety of colors, ages and sizes of horses available for adoption, but that he did not have information on specific horses. He also revealed that the BLM will also offer several gentling clinics by Cliff Tipton, a member of the Intermountain Wild Horse and Burro Advisors. Clinics will be held Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 - 10 a.m.
The horses will be in pens set up throughout the arena according to age and gender, and in an effort to ensure that everyone interested in adopting the animals has an equal opportunity, the event will be held in the form of an auction, with the usual $125 adoption fee used as a base to begin bidding.
Tweddell also clarified that although the adoption will be held in this form, those who buy the animals take on responsibilities unique to an adoption; they sign an agreement with the BLM to take care of the animals for a year. In that year, the government still holds the title for the animal. If after that time, it is found that the animal has been well taken care of, the title is then turned over to the owner.
For those interested in adopting more than one animal, the BLM offers a special “buddy program,”providing those who adopt one animal the chance to purchase a second, not adopted during the auction, for only $25.
Return to Top |
|
