TOOELETRANSCRIPT S T C BULLETIN S THURSDAY April 16, 2020 www.TooeleOnline.com Vol. 126 No. 92 $1.00 Tooele County’s emergency declaration extended to June 30 ‘Not a signal that the pandemic is worsening’ County Commission resources to the pandemic,” he Chairman Tom Tripp made said. “This is not a signal that TIM GILLIE ference room at the Tooele it clear that the emergency the pandemic is worsening, in EDITOR County Building at 9:30 a.m. declaration was a legal step fact we have shown some signs The original declaration of on Tuesday to vote on the that made state and federal of progress.” a local emergency approved by extension of the emergency resources available to Tooele Jeff Coombs, Tooele County the County Commission during declaration. County in the fight against the Health Department director, their March 17 meeting has The extension was approved COVID-19 pandemic. reiterated Tripp’s clarification. been extended until June 30. unanimously. “This is just an extension of “This is not a health order,” The Tooele County The original order was set that first emergency declara- he said. “This is to continue TIM GILLIE/TTB PHOTO Commission met in a special to expire on Tuesday, 30 days tion that allows the county to Tooele County Commissioner Shawn Milne (right) looks on while Health public meeting in their con- after going into effect. apply state and federal public SEE DECLARATION PAGE A8 ® Department director Jeff Coombs discusses the emergency declaration. Gov. Herbert extends school closure to end of school year Online learning to continue TIM GILLIE EDITOR dent. The state’s soft school clo- Herbert originally sure will extend through the announced a soft closure of end of the 2020 school year. Utah’s school district and char- That’s Gov. Gary Herbert ter schools on March 13. The announced Tuesday afternoon closure was to run from March Tooele Maverik employee Lindsay Andersen cleans and sanitizes gas pump areas. during the state’s daily COVID- 16-27. On March 23, Herbert 19 briefing. announced that the soft clo- “To continue to slow the sure would run from through GAS PRICES VARY IN COUNTY spread, this is not the time May 1. to have schools back open,” Herbert directed that during PHOTOS CLAYTON DUNN Herbert said. “We need to the soft closure schools were extend the soft closure through to continue student learning the remainder of the year.” remotely, either by internet or Herbert said the decision to through other methods. extend the closure was made Schools were also to make after consulting with the state school board and superinten- SEE CLOSURE PAGE A8 ® Tooele Grantsville Gas prices vary by location in Tooele County, but with high supply PHOTO COURTESY OF AUBREY LEE SMITH and low demand gas prices are dropping throughout Tooele County. Sophie Smith, a junior at Stansbury High School, completes school work while at home during quarantine. Stansbury Park Earthquake aftershock shakes Tooele County Shocks from March 18 earthquake continue earthquake, aftershocks can and the two most recent after- miles east-northeast of Magna. damage has been reported in occur for weeks, or even shocks were centered in the No damage has been report- the county so far.” CEILLY SUTTON at 7:41 a..m. on Thursday months, according to Bucky area north of Magna between ed, according to Whitehouse, This aftershock occurred STAFF WRITER morning. Whitehouse, emergency man- state Route 201 and Interstate but damage can show up days days before the great American Two aftershocks from last These aftershocks occurred agement director for Tooele 80. after an earthquake or after- shakeout, a drill that schools, month’s earthquake rocked nearly one month after the County. The epicenter of Tuesday’s shock. companies, and individuals Tooele County this week. initial 5.7 quake hit north of Since the initial quake, there aftershock was roughly 2.5 “Our crews did a damage participate in each year in On Tuesday night a 4.2 Magna on March 18. have been over 1,000 after- miles northeast of Magna, assessment last night after the April. earthquake aftershock “shook” It is unknown why such a shocks. Most of the aftershocks which is a slightly further aftershock,” said Whitehouse. The drill took place on April Tooele County at 8:56 p.m. large aftershock occurred so cannot be felt, according to north than the initial earth- “Within 30 to 60 minutes, they 16th at 10 a.m., despite social causing panic and uncertainty. long after the initial earth- Whitehouse. quake. Thursday morning’s had a green light, which means Another 4.2 aftershock struck quake. However, after an Both the initial earthquake aftershock was centered 2.5 that everything is fine. No SEE EARTHQUAKE PAGE A8 ® INSIDE BULLETIN BOARD B1 CLASSIFIEDS B6 Tooele couple Tooele OBITUARIES A6 shares COVID Education story Association See A3 wants blood See A2 A2 TOOELE TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN THURSDAY April 16, 2020 Tooele Education Association teams up with Red Cross for local blood drive next week Blood to be collected at West Elementary April 22 from 3 - 8 p.m. CEILLY SUTTON more precautions have been STAFF WRITER put into place.” Despite pandemic, a There will be no walk- local blood drive at West ins allowed at the drive. Elementary School in Tooele According to Hall, an appoint- City is still set to occur on ment must be made prior to April 22 from 3-8 p.m. entering the building. Tooele Education At the drive, everyone Association and the American must wear a mask and will be COURTESY TOOELE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Red Cross, along with support screened for a temperature The TEA will sponsor a blood drive at West Elementary on April 22. from the Tooele County School before blood is drawn. If indi- District and the Tooele County viduals don’t have a mask, one Health Department, are host- will be provided for them from pandemic. There is a critical are pregnant, or have a recent ing the upcoming blood drive. the American Red Cross. need for blood,” said Hall. piercing or tattoo. Travel Social distancing proce- All waiting areas and beds All appointments for the restrictions also apply. dures will be taking place are going to be spaced out in blood drive have been filled Another blood drive will be at the drive, according to accordance with social dis- but Hall said that there may be held on June 17th, with more Rebecca Hall, with the Tooele tancing measures. cancellations. information to come. Education Association. Across the United States, If you are interested in sign- “You can still go out and “After talking with the blood banks have been expe- ing up for the drive, you can give blood.,” said US Surgeon health department and the riencing a shortage because of visit redcrossblood.org and General Jerome Adams. schools, we decided to still the pandemic. enter the key word “West” or “We’re worried about potential host the blood drive,” she said. “Overall blood donations call 1-800-redcross. blood shortages in the future. “The American Red Cross have come down and we are in According to Hall, most Social distancing does not COURTESY TOOELE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION already has strict guidelines a critical blood shortage across health individuals can donate have to mean social disengage- TEA members show off their bandages following a blood drive. The TEA is teaming up with the Red Cross, County Health Department, and the in place for their blood drives the nation. Many drives have blood. An individual cannot ment.” Tooele County School District to hold a blood drive on April 22. and during this time, even been cancelled because of the donate if they are under 18, [email protected] Tooele City extends its Pandemic Unemployment declaration of emergency Assistance program Council votes to extend emergency status until June 30 available to Utahns CEILLY SUTTON of COVID-19 in the commu- businesses the opportunity to STAFF WRITER nity. put out signs and to get busi- Program provides help for those traditionally ineligible for benefits Tooele City officials voted to According to Winn, local ness.” extend the mayor’s declaration mayors only have the power to Declaring a state of emer- The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance unemployment taxes, such as religious institu- of local emergency through declare local emergencies for gency also allows the mayor of program as part of the federal CARES Act is tions, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, June 30 at the city council 30 days, after which the city the city to gain access to more now available for Utahns. have a member of their household that has meeting last night. council of the town must vote money to cover costs during This program extends benefits to individu- been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have been On March 18, Tooele City on the issue. this time. als previously ineligible for traditional unem- denied traditional unemployment benefits. mayor, Debbie Winn, declared This was done after all of The state of emergency is ployment benefits such as the self-employed These examples of eligible individuals a local state of emergency the towns and cities in the in no way affiliated with the or gig economy workers. are not all inclusive. For more details and to for 30 days. This is after the county met and came to the health department’s order, “In the midst of receiving and processing apply for the new Pandemic Unemployment County Commission declared a conclusion that the local emer- according to Winn. a historic claim volume, our staff has cre- Assistance benefit visit jobs.utah.gov/ state of emergency and encour- gency should be extended.