INS IDE... WEDNESDAY, JULy 21, 2021 YOUR 2021 IrON COUNTY IRON PRIMARY ELECTION 2021 GUIDE! COUNTY VOL. 13 NO. 34 IRONCOUNTYTODAY.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021 sports 4 Opinion John Knight III 9 Showcase withdraws from 13 Life NBA Draft, IRON 22 Sports returns to 25 Classifieds play at SUU COUNTY 29 Comics/Puzzles Grand A-Faire MORE IN SHOWCASE COREY BAUMGARTNER Flooding causes train derailment, injuries near Lund, Utah from Lt. Del Schlosser remote location and lack of and floodwaters in the uties and other responding to the hospital for further IRON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE medical supplies, there was area deputies and other personnel were able to make treatment. Two occupants a concern for the wellbeing emergency personnel had a contact with the injured, the were in good condition and Last Thursday night, of those injured. difficult time getting to the subjects were transferred one was in stable condition. Cedar Communications Also, due to the weather injured subjects. When dep- off the train and transported At this time, it appears received a 911 call about a the train was traveling train, which had derailed approximately 60 mph when near Lund, Utah. The it derailed from the tracks. occupants advised there There was a large thun- had been water covering the derstorm in the area which track just before the train brought down a tremendous derailing. amount of water. This water The three occupants of accumulated west of the the train had injuries and rail line in the canyon and were able to exit the train, flowed at a high rate across but due to the rising flood- the tracks. It is believed the waters, the occupants could water undercut the tracks not evacuate the derailed leading to the derailment. locomotive. One subject C OURTESY ICSD All three subjects which had a head injury, which A train with approximately 95 cars in total was derailed by floodwaters from recent rainstorms was bleeding. Due to the near Lund, Utah. see TRAIN » 3 2 WEDNESDAY, JULy 21, 2021 news IR ON COUNTY ToDAY Benson appointed interim president of SUU from Utah System of Higher Ed. She’s responsible for a variety of F OR IRON COUNTY TODAY community outreach projects, alumni engagement, workforce development, SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah economic growth, community lead- Board of Higher Education unan- ership trainings and special events. imously named Mindy Benson as Benson will return to her current interim president of Southern Utah role as Vice President of Alumni and University to take effect on July 26, Community Relations at the university 2021. The Board of Higher Education when a new president is named. will undertake a search for a new During her time at SUU, her pri- president and immediately begin the mary focus has been to connect and process of appointing a presidential engage with institutional stakeholders search committee over the next who are often overlooked. Benson has several weeks. strengthened the University's ties to “I am humbled and honored at the its alumni network, along with cre- opportunity to serve in this leadership ating deep and lasting relationships capacity at Southern Utah University,” with community members and leaders said Benson. “I have a deep and abid- in rural Utah. She is also actively ing love for SUU. My father worked involved in the community and region here, I earned my degrees here, I teach by serving on the Cedar City Historic here, and I value the heritage that Downtown Economic Development has established a solid foundation Committee, Bryce Canyon National for our students and their promising History Association Board, SUU’s futures. This is an important time Community Advisory Board and Rocky at SUU as we have been a leader in Vista University Executive Advisory growth, innovation and, most notably, Council. student success. I look forward to Along with her University working with SUU's administrative responsibilities, she is a professional leaders, faculty and staff to elevate the event consultant and planner with university’s impact on our students, experience producing hundreds of our community, and our region.” productions, concerts, events and Benson was appointed as the political inaugurations nationally. She first vice president for Alumni and is a Cedar City native whose ties to Community Relations in 2014 and the University go back generations. will be the first female to serve in the Benson earned her bachelor’s degree presidential role for the institution. in zoology and her master’s in com- Benson has excelled at SUU advanc- munication from SUU. ing through a variety of positions, C OURTESY MINDY BENSON - SUU including director of student life and anticipated that a new president will leadership and executive director of be in place by the spring of 2022, but Alumni Relations. the Board will take the necessary time “Benson’s success and reliable to find the most qualified candidate. institutional knowledge of Southern “I’m grateful for the contribution Utah University have prepared her and leadership of President Scott to fill the role of interim president,” Wyatt over the last seven years. I said Harris H. Simmons, Chair of the have the highest confidence in Mindy Utah Board of Higher Education. Benson to guide, stabilize and “Benson's strong leadership continue the progression throughout her career of Southern Utah has ensured suc- “I look University in this cessful execution interim period,” of campus forward to said Rich events and working with SUU's Christiansen, other student chair of the activities. administrative leaders, SUU Board With her of Trustees. exceptional faculty and staff to elevate “Mindy’s abil- relationships the university’s impact ity to unify, and connec- collaborate tions across on our students, our and build campus and in community the community, community, and our will allow SUU the Board is region.” to thrive in this sure that she will transition. I also see Southern Utah Mindy Benson have confidence in University through the executive leader- a successful transition ship team to rally around period." Mindy at this time. SUU’s Board of USHE Commissioner Dave R. Trustees unanimously supports and Woolstenhulme announced on June stands behind Mindy and the adminis- 14, 2021, that current SUU President trative leaders.” Scott L Wyatt accepted the new As vice president for Alumni position of Senior Executive Director and Community Relations, Benson of Statewide Online Education within oversees Alumni Relations, Regional the Office of the Commissioner of Services, Utah Center for Rural Higher Education, where he will run Health, Business Resource Center and Utah’s new system-wide approach Small Business Development Center, to online higher ed programming Southern Utah Museum of Art, and beginning on August 15, 2021. It is Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games. IRON COUNTY TODAY news WEDNESDAY, JULy 21, 2021 3 Multiple first- responders and Iron County Local rescue agencies were on scene to help transport the injured Homeless Council crew to safety and begin the investigation and hosts candidate clean-up process. conversation from Peggy Green F OR IRON COUNTY TODAY The Iron County Local Homeless Council (ICLHC) announced an election preparation event focused on the topics of housing, home- lessness, hunger, and poverty in the community. The event, the first hosted by the council, is open to all community members interested in participating in solutions supporting the most vulnerable populations in the community. The event will be held in the community classroom at Libertad Apartments located at 1044 N. Hovi Hills Drive, Cedar City, Utah, 84721 on Thursday, July 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 C OURTESY ICSD p.m. and will be live streamed via the council’s Facebook page. with unknown cargo/freight. County Swift Water team, “As a City Councilman and chairman of the TRAIN Union Pacific is in the area Union Pacific, Utah Division LHC for the past several years I have seen the « CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 conducting cleanup and we ask of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, vital need to have conversations that address that the public remain out of Southern Utah University needs for the homeless in our community! Unless had been in the locomotive the area. Police Department (Off-duty you work with these people on a daily basis, as have been treated for their The following agencies officer in the area) Gold Cross the members of this committee do, it looks as if injuries. There was a report of assisted with this inci- Ambulance, and Beaver County there are no needs in our area. The community possible explosive material on dent. Iron County Sheriff’s Ambulance. needs to look for ways they can help with the train but that has still not Office, Iron County Roads The scene is being turned housing, homelessness, hunger and poverty. It is been confirmed. There were Department, Cedar City Fire over to the NTSB and Union real and does exist!” says Ron Adams, “It will take approximately 95 cars involved Department, Washington Pacific. a community effort to meet the needs that are all around us!” “ The community needs to look for ways they can help with housing, homelessness, hunger and poverty. It is real and does exist!” Ron Adams The ICLHC is hosting the event to broaden the awareness of the issues and to provide a platform for city council candidates to share their knowl- edge, vision, and solutions for the critical issues faced by the community, including: Gaps in vital services - mental health, substance abuse pro- grams and facilities. Increased collaboration and support with service providers, local government and the development of a housing plan for the community. To learn more about the council, collaborative partners and this event, visit: https://ironcountyl- hcc.org/ About Iron County Local Homeless Council The Iron County Local Homeless Council is a multi-agency collaboration of homeless provid- ers, public agencies, and private entities com- mitted to reducing homelessness in Iron, Beaver, and Garfield and Kane counties.