www.tooeletranscript.com TUESDAY TOOELE RANSCRIPT Crazy ‘Grandma’ T keeps Grantsville crowd in stitches See B1 BULLETIN November 22, 2005 SERVING TOOELE COUNTY SINCE 1894 VOL. 112 NO. 52 50 cents Programs Final SR-36 speed limits determined in ’06 in place by Mark Watson STAFF WRITER For those wishing to drive a little faster on SR-36 between to combat Tooele and I-80, your wish may come true in 2006. “After the traffic signal gang woes is installed at 2400 North in December, our department will by Mary Ruth Hammond conduct a speed study through the entire section from Tooele STAFF WRITER City to I-80 in January. After that, While gangs are affecting the the speed limit may be increased lives of a number of young Tooele in some areas and decreased in County residents — there are pro- others,” said Nile Easton, public grams already in place and more information officer for the Utah being formed to combat the prob- Department of Transportation. lem. The new traffic light will be in That was the message Father the area of the new Home Depot, Matthew Wixted of St. Marguerite’s Al & Lid Furniture and the Utah Parish and others delivered at the Transit Authority’s park and city’s second gang conference ride. held last week. The first gang con- “The speed limit of 50 mph for ference was held in September much of that area came about following the shooting death of through the environmental study one young man at the Tooele process. We usually start out Settlement Canyon Reservoir. slow. If we’re going to error it Additionally, a Tooele busi- will be on the side of safety,” ness owner, a native of India, Easton said. was attacked in early Septemeber The UDOT spokesman said and beaten and stabbed by men the study would probably not — one of whom is a documented take longer than a month. member of a prison-based, white “We will send a couple of supremacist group. people out there and determine Milo Berry has been working how fast people are driving, the for three years with a $300,000 number of accidents, traffic pat- grant the city received for a pro- terns and the history of the new gram called Communities That road so far,” Easton said. Care. Drivers on Utah’s roads are “Right now we actually have expected to obey the speed limit, two programs endorsed by the according to Utah Highway federal government,” Berry stat- ed. “They are gang-prevention Patrol Lt. Mike Rapich, even if photography / Troy Boman type programs.” The speed limit for most of SR-36 between Tooele and Stansbury Park is 50 mph, but the limit jumps to 55 mph from Stansbury Park’s Rose Springs One program headed by Berry SEE SPEED ON A5 Elementary (above) to Mills Junction. Highway engineers will study speed limits for the road in January after all new signal lights are operational. is for parents. “When a parent is asked to join a parenting group, he or she might feel they are being asked to Unwanted prison not coming to county; cost too prohibitive do so because they are not good parents,” Berry explained. “That Commissioner Matt Lawrence. The state of Utah considered lose money if they tried to move governor about one month ago and by Mark Watson is not true. We can all become bet- Sometimes enterprises such as pris- eventually moving the prison to the prison. told him they did not want the STAFF WRITER ter parents by working together ons will help generate employment, Tooele County and had two locations The state could lose as much prison in Tooele County. Current Tooele County leaders and using methods that have been but Lawrence said there are no in mind. Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. as $372 million by building a new “We made the short list and two do not want the Utah State Prison in successful in other places.” good reasons to want a prison. “In said during his campaign that the prison elsewhere at this time. sites were in Tooele County. Our their county, and future leaders will “Guiding Good Choices” is a fact, from the studies we have con- state might benefit financially by “It’s a significant number,” the top priority in our meeting with the not have to consider the matter for program headed by Berry and his ducted it would cost us money if selling the prison land in Draper governor said. “It made the decision governor was to tell him we did not another 15 years. committee. the prison were to come to Tooele to developers. But a study released pretty easy.” “A prison in no way benefits “We work with families so they County,” he said. Friday indicates the state would The commissioners met with the SEE PRISON ON A3 the county,” said Tooele County can get along and stay together as a family,” Berry said. “When chil- dren feel they have a strong family Rupp by Two group, they are not as likely to go Neigbors could help police looking for other groups — even gangs — to fill that need in their lives.” battle crime in growing city Wixted has appointed juvenile court probation officers Alex by Mary Ruth Hammond enforcement officials want stated. “We are willing to Pacheco and Jimmy Arellano to Neighborhood Watch pro- work with any community or STAFF WRITER come up with some ideas on “how grams throughout the Tooele with a community or block It has long been proven we can focus the energy of young Valley. captain on a one-on-one basis that Neighborhood Watch people and others.” Tooele Police Sgt. Shawn to get the program going.” programs cut down on crime. Pacheco said there are at least Gleed explained that the Safe All that is needed is for Officials from cities who two prominent gangs in Tooele, at Home meeting last week one person in a neighbor- have used the program say with about 60 to 80 members. failed to attract participa- hood to take the responsibil- they are easy to set up. But “These gangs involve youth tion. ity upon her or himself to be when Tooele police officers who are between 14 and 18 years Officer Liberty Yates of the the block captain. That per- sponsored a meeting where old,” he added. Tooele Police Department, son would then talk to their the community was invited Wixted continued, “All too often and Sgt. Gleed have teamed neighbors about the need to come and learn about the we are aware of consequences up to help citizens who want for the Neighborhood Watch program, not one citizen of violence on our community. to start a Neighborhood program. showed up. This committee was not formed Watch program in their area. “With a Neighborhood Maxine Grimm, chairman to point a finger on any group of “We have brochures and of the county’s Safe at Home people. I think we all realize there pamphlets,” Officer Yates SEE WATCH ON A3 committee, and other law is a problem in Tooele, and some- thing needs to be done.” Julie Spendlove who works Who is Jessica? Campaign hits state with prevention programs through Valley Mental Health by Jesse Fruhwirth of the provisions in the “Jessica after Jessica’s disappearance. and the school district noted STAFF WRITER Lunsford Act” that was recent- He was charged with not that Tooele does already have a A Florida father whose ly passed in Florida. reporting his new address, a lot of after-school programs for daughter was abducted, raped Mark Lunsford’s grief is requirement for individuals on youth. The programs are geared and later murdered has brought fresh. His daughter disap- a sex offenders’ registry. He toward giving youth something his national campaign to Utah. peared this past February, later confessed to kidnapping to do — somewhere to go — and “Jessica’s Law” calls for stiffer kidnapped from her home and murdering Jessica. knowing that someone is there to penalties for repeat offend- by a registered sex offender. “I couldn’t tell you how help them with homework or just ers and tracking devices that Investigators found her body many times I’ve had to tell to talk. offenders would be required to buried in the backyard of a my story,” Lunsford said, “and “We do have a lot of programs, wear for life. home down the street from each time it’s a little harder.” but the problem is, there are not Rep. Paul Ray (R-Clinton) where Jessica lived and was Lunsford has spoken in sev- photography / Troy Boman always a lot of people using these has signed onto the effort and abducted. Autopsies showed eral states since then, finding Chief Deputy Clerk Marilyn Gillette, Grantsville City Recorder Wendy Palmer and Tooele programs,” Spendlove stated. will submit to the Legislature signs of sexual assault. lawmakers to champion his County Clerk Dennis Ewing (l-r) recounted and confirmed Tuesday morning newly Spendlove and Berry said they in their next session an as-yet John Evander Couey was elected Grantsville City Councilman Paul Rupp’s two-vote victory over Kyle Matthews. undrafted bill calling for many arrested nearly three weeks SEE JESSICA ON A3 SEE GANGS ON A3 WEATHER OPEN FORUM A4 HOMETOWN B1 INSIDE Clear tonight. Lows in the OBITUARIES A6 DOINGS B2 Medical center helps resolve mid-20s. Sunny and hazy Grantsville ambulance concerns. Tuesday. Highs around 50. TV LISTINGS A7 CLASSIFIEDS B5 See A2 Complete Forecast: A2 SPORTS A8 CROSSWORD B7 A2 TUESDAY November 22, 2005 ETCETERA ..