Sheriff’s Report: School Bus, Car, Semi Crash 10-28-2008

CRASH NOTIFICATION 10-28-2008

DATE OF INCIDENT:  10-28-08
TIME OF INCIDENT:  0800
TYPE OF INCIDENT:  Car/Bus/Semi

LOCATION:  SR-28 MP .5
NEAREST TOWN:  Gunnison
COUNTY:  Sanpete
DIRECTION:  North and South

TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED:  3

VEHICLE(S) INVOLVED:

#1-YEAR: 1998
MAKE:  Ford
MODEL:  Taurus

#2-YEAR:  1996
MAKE:  Ford
MODEL:  Bus #32

#3-YEAR:  2008
MAKE:  International
MODEL:  Tractor/tanker (empty)

Vehicle #1 was north bound on SR-28 when its driver made a u-turn into the path of a head start school bus traveling south belonging to South Sanpete School District.  The two vehicles collided causing the bus to go into the north bound lane where it collided with a Flying J tanker truck going northbound.  This truck was empty, but normally hauls fuel.  The driver of the car was transported to Gunnison Valley Hospital as were all occupants on the bus.  The bus had 5 students on board along with the bus driver and an adult aid.  The bus is equipped with lap and shoulder belts and all of the students were restrained and appeared to have no serious injuries.  Traffic was detoured around the crash west of Gunnison.

[Click images below for larger versions.]

Cumiskey rebuts NEVCO/Sevier Power mailing on Prop 1

Ideal Living received the following rebuttal to a mailing received Saturday from NEVCO/Sevier Power. The mailing opposes Proposition 1, which would allow local citizens to vote on whether any coal-fired power plants could be built without voter approval beforehand. If passed, a later vote would need to be held to before NEVCO/Sevier Power’s controversial power plant would be granted permission to build.

The author, Dick Cumiskey, is a retired engineer who recently presented a case against the air quality permit for the proposed power plant before the Utah Supreme Court.

October 26

Proposition 1 reaffirms the citizens’ right to vote as a legitimate form of government. A vote “for (yes)” indicates you want to exercise your right to vote on a proposed coal-fired power plant. A vote “against (no)” means you do not want to vote on the proposed plant. Why would anyone not want to vote on such an important issue?

The cover of Sevier Power’s latest mailer suggests they support “new jobs”, “mining and trucking”, and “lower property taxes.” Everyone in Sevier County supports those ideals, why shouldn’t they? The reality is these issues have nothing to do with Proposition 1. They might become an issue should Proposition 1 pass and a subsequent vote is held supporting or denying the proposed power plant.

The “myths and facts” on the flip side of their mailer needs analysis. SPC believes the “opposition” is perpetrating myths about their proposed power plant. If Proposition 1 is about our “right to vote” then why are they fearful of our opposition to their proposed plant? One has little to do with the other.

The first myth, “The Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality has not completed a proper analysis of Sevier Power’s application and its effect on the community’s health and air quality.” First of all, it was the Dept. of Air Quality – not the Dept. of Environmental Quality – just to correct the record for SPC. Yes, the department did issue a permit. The last time the rules were updated was in the 1980′s. Thousands of studies by health officials and EPA’s own research staff have been ignored since then so we are being evaluated under 25 year old rules that do not reflect modern technology.

Dr. Steven Packham is a toxicologist, not an epidemiologist. Dr. Packham can tell what you died from but is ill equipped to tell you how the proposed increases in air pollution may affect you. This is the job of an epidemiologist such as Dr. Arden Pope of BYU who uses statistical analysis. His studies and analysis are readily available.

Rick Sprott, Director of Air Quality states the department complied with R-307 in issuing the permit. This permit is now under review in the Utah Supreme Court as being both inadequate and having expired without renewal.

The third myth “we support coal mining and trucking, but not power plants” is attributed to “the opposition.” That is true – only it is coal-fired power plants in Sevier Valley that we are opposed to. Mining and trucking are vigorously supported by all of us in Sevier County. 85% of the coal that is mined here and trucked is for electrical power generation. Sevier County is doing more than any other county in the state to support electrical generation. We will continue to mine and truck the coal whether SPC is here or not.

Most of the coal that is referred to belonging to the School Trust Lands Administration is surface coal. That means 1) the coal is of lower quality and 2) it has to be strip mined which is nothing other than scraping and raping the land. For those of you who have seen some of the large strip mines in the east, they are about as ugly – and damaging to the landscape – as you will ever see. Until better methods of extraction are perfected, let’s not touch this one.

Once again you are being fed half truths and erroneous information. Most important, however, is the one fact Sevier Power Company has tried to blindside you with – NONE OF THE GIBBERISH ON THEIR FLYER HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH PROPOSITION 1.

I encourage you to vote FOR Proposition 1 as it does nothing other than secure your right to vote – at a later date – on the proposed coal-fired power plant.

Dick Cumiskey
Monroe, Utah

Sevier County Commission to consider power plant Monday 10-27-08

SEVIER COUNTY COMMISSION
OCTOBER 27, 2008 AGENDA

9:00 AM Correspondence & Business; Pledge of Allegiance
Set time and date for closed meeting to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation, or to discuss the character, professional competence, physical/mental health of an individual        45 Min
9:40 AM Patricia Langston – personnel   5 Min
9:45 AM Senior Citizen Bus Contract     5 Min
9:50 AM Travel Council Recommendations:  Business Licenses      10 Min
10:00 AM        Claims  30 Min
10:30 AM        Department Head Meeting 25 Min
10:55 AM        Doug Jensen – Recycling         5 Min
11:00 AM        Rex Conder – Landfill Surplus Item, Survey      15 Min
11:15 AM        Kevin Arrington – Out of State Travel, Tourism and Events Update        15 Min
11:30 AM        John Hicks – Scheduling         15 Min

LUNCH

1:00 PM Sevier Power – Development Agreement, Planned Unit Development  15 Min
1:15 PM Chris Fullmer – Minor Subdivision       15 Min
1:30 PM Bruce Costa, CUPH – Health Update and County Contributions      15 Min
1:45 PM Ann Parkinson, USU – YFP        15 Min
2:00 PM Assessor Gail DeMille – BOE Changes     15 Min
2:15 PM Brett Buchanan – Bond release for Canyon View Subdivision       15 Min
2:30 PM         15 Min
2:45 PM         15 Min
3:00 PM         15 Min

**Commission Meeting will be held in the Justice Courtroom of the Sevier County Administration Building, 250 North Main, Richfield.

UPDATED: Early voting now underway: Prop 1, other heated contests have local voters eager to cast ballots

Early voting has begun — allowing local citizens the opportunity to cast ballots at their convenience.  Early voting is available at the Sevier County Administration Building, located at 250 North Main Street in Richfield.  With several heated contests, local voters are highly interested in this year’s election, and turnout is expected to be strong.

UPDATE: County Clerk Steve Wall reports that voter turnout has been very strong.  When polls opened on the first day, a line of voters extended for some distance across the county building.  Poll workers report heavy turnout throughout the remainder of the day, although with little or no waiting throughout the day.

Locally, Proposition 1 has been ordered to remain on the ballot by the Utah Supreme Court.  The proposition offers Sevier citizens the chance to create a new law which will require any new coal-fired power plants in the county — including the controversial NEVCO/Sevier Power project planned for Sigurd — to first be approved by voters in an election.

A “yes” vote for Proposition 1 means the voter is for the proposition, and that citizens should be allowed to vote on whether permits should be granted for coal-fired power plants in Sevier County.  If the proposition is passed, an election would presumably be held in the future specifically over the NEVCO project.

A “no” vote means the voter does not believe that voters should be allowed to vote on such issues in the future.

Tom Birch is running a write-in campaign against Gordon Topham.  Birch said he “joined the race after learning” that county commissioners Gary Mason and Ralph Okerlund — both avid supporters of the controversial power plant — had “asked Topham to replace Okerlund on the county commission.”  A brief interview with Tom Birch is available on Ideal Living at http://ideallivingtv.com/?p=1164.  Birch’s platform is based around serving local citizen’s concerns, rather than just politicians’ interests.  Tom Birch supports Proposition 1, and is opposed to construction of any coal power plants in the county.  Birch also supports the current location of the county fairgrounds.

To cast a vote for Tom Birch, voters will need to not vote straight party.  At the commission screen, voters will need to touch the “Write-In Candidate” button, then type “Tom Birch,” and touch the “Record Write-In” button.  Voters will have the chance to double-check their printed ballots before submitting them, and can start over or cast them as desired.

UPDATE: Ideal Living received a letter from Gordon Topham, candidate for Sevier County Commission, who wanted to let everyone know more about his platform: “To set the record straight when Ralph Okerlund decided to withdraw from the commission race to seek a seat in the state senate he was one of many who called…”  Read more from Gordon Topham here.

In another heated race, County Commissioner Ralph Okerlund is running against Toby Dillon for the Utah State Senate.  Okerlund’s campaign is said to have received donations from several electrical power companies and organizations.  Citizens have increasingly complained that Okerlund is out of touch with voters’ interests, as evidenced by his stubborn support for the NEVCO/Sevier Power project, which would create a large, coal-fired power plant with 425-foot tall smoke stacks within a few yards of 180 local homes.

Toby Dillon, a computer technology manager in Tooele and noted LDS church member, said he has refused such corporate donations.  Like Tom Birch, Toby Dillon’s platform is based on communicating more effectively with local citizens to ensure that his votes and initiatives closely reflect what local people want from their government.  A video interview with Toby Dillon is available here on Ideal Living.  Toby Dillon’s web site is available at www.dillonforsenate.org.

Local voters are engaged in national races as well.  Barak Obama, a black senator from Illinois, appears to be slightly leading John McCain, a senator from Arizona, in the race for the U.S. presidency.

Local citizens can keep up on the electoral race between the two candidates at sites like Pollster.com, which offers an interactive map of polling results around the country, similar to maps also available at Yahoo! and at CNN.  Each map offers differing results, and some experts wonder if Obama will suffer the same fate as fellow democrat John Kerry, who appeared to be ahead in the polls before losing to George W. Bush in the last presidental race.  Either candidate would need 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Voter interest in the election has been shown lately in several well-attended civic meetings — and in other ways as well.  Reports have come into Ideal Living that numerous campaign signs have been stolen.  Local citzen groups are said to be contacting law enforcement for assistance in preventing further thefts and removal of campaign signs, particularly in support of Proposition 1.  Some citizens have reported that county officials may be behind some of the disappearances.

UPDATE: Several sources have confirmed that a Sevier County official has been taking down campaign signs in support of Proposition 1.  Larry Hanson is employed as the county’s zoning administrator.  Some Proposition 1 supporters say they are concerned that signs would be removed after it took a citizens’ petition and Utah Supreme Court decision for Sevier County officials to allow the proposition to go before voters.

In any case, keep up with all the local races — and election results — right here at Ideal Living.  Early voting will continue through Halloween, with the final Election Day being on November 4, 2008.

Gordon Topham clarifies platform

Ideal Living received a letter from Gordon Topham, candidate for Sevier County Commission, who wanted to let everyone know more about his platform.

To set the record straight when Ralph Okerlund decided to withdraw from the commission race to seek a seat in the state senate he was one of many who called me to encourage me to file for the vacant seat on the county commission, he may have also called other people.  At the time everyone figured the power plant issue would be decided before a new commissioner would be seated, so I guess no one really cared how I felt about this issue.  And yes Gary Mason was another of those people who encouraged me.

Now as I think about those people who encouraged me to run or offered me support, I realize that most of them never ask me how I felt about the power plant or told me how they felt about it.  Of those who did tell me their stand on the issue 6 were in favor and 6 were opposed.  I feel people encouraged me because of my community service record, organizations skills, and good judgment not how I stand on a single issue.

I was excited that someone else has decided to seek the commission seat. People should have a choice.  I feel if everything is honest and above board, people will choose the right person for the job, but if partial truths and miss-leading statements are made then things get cloudy and people are unfairly confused.

I am personally opposed to the power plant, especially in its proposed location.

I signed the petition for proposition 1 to be placed on the ballot and although I have some reservations, I plan to vote for the proposition 1.

I do not see how the power plant can happen even if approved. Where in today’s financial atmosphere would the financing come from?  With the major electricity markets only allowed to purchase Green Power where is a market to sell coal produced power?

I do support economic development and I have been working with a company who may be interested in a small geothermal power plant in the south end of the county and a manufacturing company seriously looking at locating in Sevier County that would bring up to 200 new jobs to the valley.

My website provides details about my background, experience, values and service.  electgordontopham.com

I have been very disappointed by the lack of civility in the way people in public office at all levels of government have been treated and how people seeking public office treat each other.  This may very well be the reason many good people in our county chose not to seek the county commission seat.

My wife and I moved to Sevier Valley 23 years ago because it is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Although my employment took me away during the week we chose not to relocate.  This is a great place to live and there are wonderful people all making the lifestyle here second to none.  Whether I am chosen to serve as a county commissioner or not I will continue to work to protect this lifestyle.

Gordon Topham

Virtual Family Kingdom – free, family-friendly online world

Virtual Family Kingdom is a new, free, online world where people of all ages and from across the globe gather to explore, chat, play, make friends, decorate their homes, or just hang out and watch “TV.”

The free virtual world offers players a chance to create an “avatar” — an online version of yourself — and explore different periods of history from around the globe, whether its visiting the grand Old West, or seeing modern-day Australia.

Characters can earn credits by playing games or engaging in educational “quests,” and use the credits to “buy” new clothing, rooms for themselves, magical powers, and more.

Virtual Family Kingdom offers a family-safe environment with real-world moderators — many of them from Disney’s highly-praised Virtual Magic Kingdom, which was closed in a period of mismanagement at the House of Mouse.  Like the now-closed VMK, the new Virtual Family Kingdom also employs a dictionary which requires users to keep within the realm of properly-spelled English, minus any cursing or personal identification words to keep kids extra safe.

Even the in-room TV sets play family-friendly programming, ranging from fun online shorts, to shows like “Ozzie and Harriet,” and full-length films like “Iron Giant.”

New features are rolled out seemingly each week, such as the recent addition of Halloween decorations on throughout Britain’s Victorian Age, a new Halloween store to shop for spooky virtual costumes and decorations, as well as a new magical ability to turn your character into a wolf.  Other magical animals are said to be on their way, joining the abilities to magically turn yourself into a fairy or mermaid/merman.  A new “space pirates” game, along with the ability to trade real-world commodities, and a fine art collecting game are also rumored to be underway.

People of all ages — from toddlers, children, ‘tweens, teens, parents, and even a large number of grandparents — are enjoying VFK.  Many far-flung families purchase extended family memberships which grant them daily allotments of in-game credits and extended functionality when visiting with their own family members.

Whatever your age, be sure to gather your family around to enjoy a free vacation in the magical Virtual Family Kingdom, where history comes alive — today!

Local economy showing signs of strength

While the global economy struggles, the Sevier County area is showing remarkable signs of strength — and even expansion.

Central Utahs clean air, water and dramatic scenery continue to draw tourists from an international audience, with Richfield and the county serving as “gateway communities” to nearby federal and state parks, trails, monuments, and recreation areas.  Park officials report to Ideal Living that, even given increased gas prices, attendance has been strong this year with more foreign tourists taking advantage of the weakened U.S. dollar.  Further, Utahns have been taking day trips to visit their own parks more than ever before, rather than taking their own tourism dollars outside the state.

Several large projects are having positive economic impacts for the area.

For example, the new Elsinore municipal building, which will include city offices and house a local fire department, is well underway, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the project.

The Richfield City Library has recently finished a major renovation of the historic building.

Even more significant is the massive oil exploration projects underway throughout Central Utah.  Now that Wolverine’s find outside Sigurd has been joined by other, equally prosperous finds like the wells near Mayfield, the Western Lands company has begun a 3-D evaluation of Central Utah’s potential oil fields which extend throughout the area from Fairfield to Joseph.  Those briefed on the coordinated project report that it’s complexity and sheer enormity is truly mind-boggling.

Numerous businesses are opening throughout Sevier County.  For example, a new hotel is continuing construction at Richfield’s north Interstate 70 interchange.  Also, numerous homes are in varying stages of construction — some just beginning, others just completed, and many underway — in the new, upscale housing development in northeast Richfield.

Remember When scrapbooking store has expanded to a new location in Downtown Richfield, next to Sevier Valley Health Essentials where the former dance studio was located.

The Art of Coffee is expanding from its previous location from Elsinore to a new location on Main Street in Richfield.

Meanwhile, the Richfield of Dreams mattress, furniture and home furnishings store, located in downtown Richfield, has expanded with a second, warehouse location — in Elsinore.  “Warehouse Furniture Discounters” is reportedly doing quite well and will even be staging an auction there on Saturday, November 1 at 11 a.m.

Expression by Design has purchased a new location, a long-vacant bar on Main Street, and has quickly upgraded the new store front.

A new coffee shop is opening in front of Ogden’s, Katie’s Cup, and will soon be offering a variety of delicious treats.

And the future is looking bright for the Central Utah economy in other ways.  Many local business owners have told Ideal Living of their optimism that a conclusion may be near for the controversial, proposed coal-fired power plant, with many hoping that once the project is no longer viable that the “pall that has been hanging over our area for the past five years” will lift and encourage more investment, as well as move-ins from outside the area.

And the future is looking bright for the area’s economy in other ways.  Local bankers have assured Ideal Living that they have little exposure to the problems facing national lending institutions.  “We are doing well locally — and would be doing better — it is just the negative perception that’s out there about how banks are doing that’s holding us back,” said one local lender.

The State of Utah’s leading economist for central and southern Utah, Lecia Parks Langston — a native of Richfield — has long asserted that the local economy should continue to expand, primarily through the growth of home-grown businesses, like Twelve Timbers, which now employs dozens of local workers.

Even local gas prices have fallen over the past few weeks.  And although local prices still haven’t reached the national average — now under $3 per gallon — being able to buy less expensive gas is a positive economic sign everyone can appreciate.

Supreme Court rules “100%” in favor of Right to Vote Committee; Finds S.B.53 unconstitional, putting future coal plants in Sevier County on ballot

Sevier County citizens will vote on whether coal-fired power plants will ever be built within the county, and Utah citizens have the right to vote on any law they want to enact or change according to a new Utah Supreme Court decision.

The Utah Supreme Court issued it’s complete and final decision in the landmark Right to Vote case early Friday morning. The High Court ruled unanimously that S.B.53 — a law passed by the Utah Legislature in an attempt to restrict Utahns rights to change laws through petitions and voting — was unconstitutional.   The Court issued an emergency order last week directing Sevier County officials to insert “Proposition 1″ back on the ballot after NEVCO/Sevier Power had sued to have it removed and a lower court agreed.

“We are always pleased to have some success,” said Jeffery J. Owens, attorney with Strong and Hanni in Salt Lake, who is the attorney representing the Right to Vote Committee’s historic efforts to allow Sevier County citizens to vote on the controversial power plant issue.

“The court’s decision was very broad,” said Owens, stating the decision rules that neither the state legislature or county officials will be allowed to place restrictions on citizens’ rights to vote in the future. “The initiative right can be used on any law or any ordinance, no matter what the law is, or how complex it may be.”

Owens explained that in Utah, having the high court overturn a law passed by the Legislature as unconstitutional is “quite rare.  Most of the time, before a law gets passed by the Legislature, they do a constitutional review to make sure this doesn’t happen…  So this is very rare. It happens very seldom.”

The Court made a distinction between legislative activities — making a new law or changing an existing law — for which citizens can sign petitions and have initiatives put on the ballot versus administrative activities — how those laws are enforced — which they cannot.   Although Utah officials tried to prevent citizens of Sevier and other counties from voting on the laws they live under, the Supreme Court has ruled that in fact, the Legislature acted beyond its rights and could not prohibit this, now or in the future.

Yet the immediate effect of the Supreme Court’s decision is that the “Right to Vote” citizens’ referendum will be on the November ballot. Citizens will be able to vote “yes” for the initiative to make it so that any proposed coal-fired power plants will need to be approved in an election beforehand.   High turn-out at the polls is expected and local experts believe the initiative will pass.

Anyone voting “no” will be saying that they don’t think citizens should be allowed any say in deciding whether coal-fired power plants will be given conditional-use permits to build in Sevier County.  Local experts tell Ideal Living that they don’t foresee many people “voting to not vote” on issues facing them in the future.

The Utah Supreme Court, which answers only to the higher, United States Supreme Court, found that NEVCO/Sevier Power was wrong in arguing both that S.B.53 was constitutional and that the Right to Vote initiative was too narrow because it was directed at any future coal-fired power plants.

Although the legislature is allowed to impose time, place, and other restrictions — such as how many signatures are needed — on citizens’ petitions, the Supreme Court “expressly rejected” both of NEVCO/Sevier Power’s arguments and said that the people of Sevier County should not be allowed to have a say in their future.

“The decision was 100% in our favor,” Owens said. “We are very pleased.”

Until the upcoming election, Sevier County officials are restricted from issuing any conditional-use permits to allow construction of any coal-fired power plants. “If they do, they will be struck down… Their hands are tied at this point.”

Owens believes that the initiative will likely succeed in the election, which will then be followed by a special election specifically on NEVCO/Sevier Power’s permit. “There’s no reason to keep delaying this. If people do want a power plant, there is no sense in making them wait.  If they don’t, there will be no use in dinking around,” Owens said, by having county officials issuing permits for a project that could be overturned by voters anyway.

The Supreme Court’s ruling overturns an earlier decision by local judge Wallace Lee, who is also on the ballot this year.  All incumbent representatives for Sevier County voted in support of the S.B.53 law, now struck down by the court as unconstitutional.  Early voting in Sevier County begins this Tuesday, October 21 at the Sevier County Courthouse, continuing through Halloween day.   The final Election Day will be Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

Tom Birch: Write-in Candidate for Sevier County Commissioner

Dick Cumiskey briefly interviews Tom Birch, write-in candidate for Sevier County Commissioner.

Birch is running against Gordon Topham, who was reportedly recruited by Gary Mason and Ralph Okerlund, the incumbent Sevier County Commissioners, to replace Okerlund on the 3-member commission. Okerlund is running against Toby Dillon for the Utah State Senate. You can view a video interview with Mr. Dillon here on Ideal Living.

Toby Dillon: Candidate for Utah Senate District 24

An interview with Toby Dillon, candidate for Utah Senate District 24.   Toby Dillon is a computer technology manager in Tooele and noted LDS church member.  Toby Dillon’s platform is based on communicating more effectively with local citizens to ensure that his votes and initiatives closely reflect what local people want from their government.  Toby Dillon’s web site is available at www.dillonforsenate.org.

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