Galaxy's Secrets Land Safely in Desert
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www.tooeletranscript.com TUESDAY Ministry helps comfort kids facing traumatic times in their lives. See B1 TOOELETRANSCRIPT BULLETIN January 17, 2006 SERVING TOOELE COUNTY SINCE 1894 VOL. 112 NO. 68 50 cents Galaxy’s secrets land safely in desert by Karen Hunt STAFF WRITER Humans are one step closer to understanding the origins of the solar system. Sunday at 3:10 a.m. the Stardust space cap- sule gracefully alighted in the Tooele County desert during a break in the morning storm. The gray saucer-shaped capsule bounced three times leaving imprints in the wet earth — and getting mud on its nose — before resting intact with its precious bits of cometary and interstellar particles. After a seven-year trip of 2.88 billion miles, the capsule landed uncompromised just 7-8 kilo- meters north of the expected landing area. This time NASA experienced success. It was a stark contrast to over a year earlier when the Genesis sample crashed into the earth leaving researchers to sift through desert sands to find the highly coveted space particles. The Stardust spacecraft released its sample return capsule at 10:57 p.m. Saturday. The cap- sule entered the atmosphere at 2:57 a.m. Sunday and was visible in the crisp darkness of the sky for about 30 seconds. Spectators in Wendover and even in Dugway were able to see the light of the manmade “comet” in the sky and hear the sonic boom reverberate through the stillness. While most of the crowd in Wendover were SEE STARDUST ON A2 Die-hard space enthusiasts greet capsule photography / Troy Boman by Mark Watson STAFF WRITER Three in the morning was not the most convenient time for star gazing, but about 40 people showed up at the Wendover Airport Sunday to see the Stardust space capsule streak through the sky en route to its touchdown in the west desert. It was such a rare event that the early morning hours and cold temperatures were minimal sacrifices for viewers including 10 members of the Ogden Astronomical Society and Stansbury Park’s Patrick Wiggins, NASA solar system ambassador to the state of Utah. For the past 30 years Wiggins has tracked astronomical wonders, especially those he can see with the naked eye. “From a visual standpoint this ranked second or third during my lifetime. It didn’t compare to the total eclipse of the sun, but it was up there pretty high,” Wiggins said. “It was pretty. There was a very opaque cloud bank to the west that was moving slowly our way by the time Stardust neared. The clouds made it easier to see the capsule. About 2:58 NASA Scientist Joe Vellinga (top) describes the retrieval of the capsule as footage from the recovery effort is projected in the background. Scientists were all smiles during Sunday morning’s press conference in Dugway after the capsule landed safely. The Stardust capsule’s return (above left) as seen from NASA’s DC-8 Airborne SEE STARDUST ON A2 Laboratory. This NASA TV image (above right) shows the Stardust sample return capsule in a temporary holding room at the Dugway Proving Ground. Senseless cattle slayings Legislature begins with huge surplus by Jesse Fruhwirth from removing the food tax? How nothing new to ranchers STAFF WRITER will smaller towns and cities that The 2006 Legislative session School choice issue prompts Clifford rely more exclusively on the tax by Jesse Fruhwirth never had anybody dig into the pushed forward at full speed today, to challenge Gowans for House seat revenues from their grocery stores STAFF WRITER carcasses to verify the cause of after yesterday’s ceremonial open- survive the tax cut? The $10,000 hunt for the perpe- death.” ing. Legislators might be expected by Mark Watson the top issue on his agenda is Gov. John Huntsman Jr. strongly trator of a 10-cow Johnson mas- She said she didn’t report two to celebrate an accumulated budget STAFF WRITER offering students flexibility in supports the removal of the food sacre rages on. While Johnson’s of the dead cows — nor have surplus as high as $1 billion, but it’s Tooele Republican Jess choosing schools. tax. His proposed budget for the losses near Vernon were the their causes of death verified more likely the bloated and black Clifford, 37, announced this Democrat Gowans, in his year, however, only sets aside $37 largest in recent memory, many — because she said she was bottom line will intensify the heated week he will attempt to 14th year as a representative, to fund its removal, which is esti- ranchers say senseless killing of doubtful it would do any good. annual arguments over education unseat longtime Utah House figures Clifford was recruited mated to result in $160 million lost their livestock is a constant spur Slain cow carcasses are often funding and tax reforms, not ease District 21 Rep. Jim Gowans by supporters of tuition tax revenue. in their sides. found and unless more infor- them. in November. District 21 credits and school vouchers The proposed budget sets aside Elizabeth Mitchell owns a herd mation comes forward, usually Tax reform proposals are a dime includes Tooele City, Erda which will be hot topics dur- a total of $60 for tax relief, includ- not far from the Johnson ranch all the Sheriff’s office can do is a dozen these days, and House and and Stansbury Park areas. ing this year’s and future ing the portion for the food tax, where 10 pregnant cows were document the death and move Senate Republicans seem bent on In a press release Clifford legislative sessions. an amount many Republicans have killed at the end of December. on to more pressing issues. refunding at least some of the sur- indicated he has tremen- Gowans worked 30 years said is too low. Since the fall of 2004, she said “It goes on all the time, it’s plus, but can’t agree amongst them- dous financial support in his for the Tooele County School Huntsman also proposed $234 two of her cows were killed that like we live in the Wild West,” selves how that should be done. efforts to topple Gowans. His District. He said that school million in new education spend- were certainly the result of foul she said. “You can’t hire enough Disagreements exist on how best to Web site links to the National choice proponents have not ing to support expanding enroll- play, and two more she suspects patrol people to drive out here remove the food tax. Republican Party Web site. convinced him that a private- ment. Bills have been introduced were killed senselessly. all the time because it’s such Should legislators remove the Many in the Republican party school incentive program to provide public funds for private “Everybody loses some every vast areas and that’s why people food tax for everyone or only for back tuition tax credits and schools in the form of vouchers this get away with things like this.” year. Last year’s tuition tax credit year,” Mitchell said. “I had two low income tax payers? Should school vouchers. Clifford said SEE DISTRICT 21 ON A5 for sure [killed] and two others other taxes be raised in order to that were suspicious, but we SEE CATTLE ON A5 partially offset the lost revenue SEE LEGISLATURE ON A5 WEATHER OPEN FORUM A4 SPORTS A10 INSIDE A chance of rain and snow CROSSWORD A5 HOMETOWN B1 THS grad credits English teacher tonight and Wednesday. Lows in for successful writing career the mid 30s. Highs near 40. OBITUARIES A6 DOINGS B2 See A3 Complete Forecast: A2 TV LISTINGS A9 CLASSIFIEDS B4 A2 TUESDAY January 17, 2006 ETCETERA ... Temps/Precipitation ValleyLocal WeatherWeather Forecast Date High Low (prec./inches) Jan. 12 42 23 .25 Wed 39/32 Jan. 13 47 22 1/18 Jan. 14 56 39 Cloudy.A few flurries are possible. Jan. 15 54 28 .11 High 39F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 Jan. 16 32 27 .15 mph. Ned Bevan, Tooele’s weather observer for the National Weather Service, reports that his recording station at 139 S. Main Thu 40/24 received .51 inches of precipitation 1/19 between Jan. 12 and Jan. 16 and a total of .94 so far this month. The normal for Rain and snow showers. Highs in January is 1.07 inches. the low 40s and lows in the mid For the water year, which began Oct. 20s. 1, 2005, Tooele has received 3.79 inches of precipitation. The normal for the year is 18.49 inches of precipitation. Fri 36/19 Area Ski Report 1/20 Today’s Mountain Weather Forecast: Snow showers possible. Highs in Winter storm warning in effect from 6 the mid 30s and lows in the upper news graphic / Liz Arellano pm this evening to 5 pm mst thursday. Today teens. mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of Stardust snow. highs at 8000 feet in the upper 20s. Tonight...breezy...snow. Accumulation 3-6 continued from page A1 inches. lows at 8000 feet in the lower 20s. Sat 36/24 passionate amateur astronomers Alta — 120” mid mtn. 15” new snow 48 1/21 hrs; 7/7 lifts open (see related story on A1), a com- Beaver Mountain — 73” mid mtn. 4” new Times of sun and clouds. Highs in bination of media personnel and snow 48 hrs; 5/5 lifts open the mid 30s and lows in the mid Brian Head — 36” mid mtn. 15” new 20s. NASA scientists watched expec- snow 48 hrs; 5/7 lifts open tantly in Dugway.