Co-Workers Mourn, Address Elton's Murder
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www.tooeletranscript.com TUESDAY TOOELE RANSCRIPT ‘The Nerd’ sure T to keep THS theatre buffs in hysterics See B1 BULLETIN February 21, 2006 SERVING TOOELE COUNTY SINCE 1894 VOL. 112 NO. 78 50 cents Many bills Co-workers mourn, address Elton’s murder unresolved Owners: no new policies needed as session by Jesse Fruhwirth STAFF WRITER nears end Fitting but surreal, the press conference was held across a by Jesse Fruhwirth pond from the Clearfield home STAFF WRITER where Raechale Elton was The Legislature is running out of raped and murdered. The for- time in its regular session, and many mer employers and co-workers of issues remain unresolved. The gover- the slain Tooele college student nor has locked horns with legislators spoke with the media Monday, over food and income taxes and radio- describing the last moments any- active waste disposal licensing. one would see her alive. Waste veto The owners of Youth Health Governor John Huntsman Jr. has Associates where Elton worked, promised to do what he can to stop and 17-year-old Robert Cameron SB-70, but legislators are only three Houston lived, said the victim votes from getting their way. The bill would have known her attack- allows the Legislature to override the er’s past criminal history, which governor’s veto in applications for included past sex crimes. They waste disposal licenses with a two- went on to describe the nature of thirds majority vote. their operations and how Elton That two-thirds vote is precisely found herself alone in a YHA- what the Legislature will need to over- owned home with her murderer. ride Huntsman’s veto. After passing “We do not have our staff both the House and Senate — all four alone with our group home [resi- of Tooele County’s senators, and both dents],” Youth Health Associates representatives voted in favor of the co-owner Brian Garlock said, bill — the bill is still in question. “but [Robert Cameron Houston] The bill is closely intertwined with was not in our group home.” the drama regarding Envirocare, the Co-owner Chris Hughes con- state’s only radioactive waste disposal tinued, “Our level of trust in the site located in Tooele County, recently boys in independent living is “When she“ (Raechale renamed EnergySolutions. Last year higher.” Elton) came on the governor used his absolute veto Garlock and Hughes said YHA power to stymie expansion plans by manages both group homes and shift, staff and peers the company. independent living facilities for The House passed the bill 47-27, troubled youths. Houston had alike were excited short of the needed 50 votes to override been in their program for nearly to work with her Huntsman’s expected veto. However, two years. His assessments and House leadership has time before the progress in their program — he ... She’ll be deeply end of the session to try to gather the lived in YHA homes “incident missed.” needed votes. free” for nearly two years — had Seat Belts allowed him to progress from The House law enforcement com- the more intensive group-home MACE WARREN mittee put down the seat belts bill yes- setting to an independent-living CO-WORKER terday. SB-98 would have allowed law home where supervision is more enforcement to “actively” enforce Utah lax. law that already requires seat belts “He could come and go as he usage. Wearing seat belts is required, pleases,” Garlock said. “He had but law enforcement is not currently photography / Jesse Fruhwirth a lot of prerogative to move and allowed to pull someone over solely for interact with the community.” Raechale Elton’s co-workers (top, l-r) Shane Rasmussen, Mace Warren, Jill Fulmer and Dallin Plaizier spoke Monday near the not wearing a seat belt. Garlock and Hughes stopped Having barely passed the Senate, the short of answering many ques- Youth Health Associates facilities in Clearfield. YHA officials said prior to last week’s tragedy, many neighbors were unaware bill blurred party lines in the House. tions. They stated that confiden- Two Republicans joined two Democrats tiality agreements prevent them that the several homes owned by the company were occupied by troubled youth. “Our boys are quiet,” YHA co-owner Brian on the committee in favor of the bill. from discussing many details of Garlock said of the approximately 120 residents housed by Defeating that coalition however, were the company throughout the state. Elton (left) played in the top five Republicans and one Democrat. SEE ELTON ON A2 doubles pair for the Tooele High School tennis team in 2002. Bill sponsor Sen. Karen Hale (D-Salt Lake) has promised to reintroduce it each year until it passes. School Vouchers So many weeks passed without a Mustard agent burn Lamp Lights Up Barn bill, it seemed the public money for private schools debate — or “parent choice” as proponents call it — might fans mercury worries not be revived this year. But J. Stuart Adams (R-Layton) introduced a bill by Mark Watson Ryba responded to com- that would give a maximum of $3,500 ments today from Healthy STAFF WRITER per child to parents who wish take Incineration is the only Environment Alliance of Utah their children out of public schools and method being considered for (HEAL) which sounded the enroll them at a private one. destroying more than 6,400 tons alarm that TCDF will soon be Public schools are funded, in part, of mustard agent at the Tooele releasing levels of mercury and based on total enrollment. Opponents Chemical Agent Disposal other toxins into the air that of public money for private schools Facility (TCDF) according to are unsafe and unacceptable. measures say the education system a senior executive for the U.S. The chemical weapons incin- will suffer with the loss of that funding. Army at TCDF. eration plant is in the process Proponents argue parents are able to “We were built as an incin- of obtaining new permits from make the best choice about how and eration facility. To retrofit or the State of Utah as it trans- where a child will best learn. to build a new facility would fers its operation from burning The bill passed the House education unnecessarily prolong the nerve agent to burning mustard committee with minor changes to how storage of the mustard agent blister agent. the public education system would be stockpile and cost hundreds of “The Army’s mustard agent compensated for the lost funding. millions of dollars,” said Ted incineration plan involves a A family of four that earns about Ryba, government site project significant departure from the $36,000 per year or less would receive manager and senior executive original plans presented to the full $3,500 per child scholarship for for the Army at TCDF. “Plus state regulators and commu- each that shifted from public to private we are constantly in contact nity members,” states a press schools. A family of four that earns with state officials. Based on release from HEAL. “Since the $63,000 would receive $2,750 per child. cost effectiveness and keeping Army is unable to adequate- A family that earns $90,000 would be in mind the obligation to pro- ly drain mustard agent from eligible for $1,500 per child. tect human health, any other the munitions and containers Having not yet been read to the method is not the feasible thing which hold the agent, the Army House floor, much less the Senate, to do.” plans to simply feed the exces- photography / Ben Court Adams’ bill will need to race through The TCDF burner facility sive qualities into an incinera- Fire engulfed a barn west of SR-36 in Erda Friday. Four engines from the North Tooele Fire Department and the Legislature at lightning speed if it within the Deseret Chemical tor unit that was not designed one from the Grantsville Fire Department were dispatched to the blaze. The cause of the fire was a heating Depot 12 miles south of lamp used to warm a new litter of pigs. The barn was destroyed and animals burned, but no one was hurt. SEE MUSTARD ON A2 SEE LEGISLATURE ON A2 Tooele. WEATHER OPEN FORUM A4 SPORTS A9 INSIDE Mostly cloudy tonight. Lows OBITUARIES A6 HOMETOWN B1 Cowgirls eliminated 15-20. Partly cloudy Wednesday. by top-ranked Lady Falcons Highs in the upper 30s. TV LISTINGS A8 CLASSIFIEDS B3 See A9 Complete Forecast: A2 DOINGS A7 CROSSWORD B7 A2 TUESDAY February 21, 2006 ETCETERA ... Master green thumbs gear up for season News Briefs ValleyLocal Weather Weather Forecast Gardening has become one Class offered for those facing of the country’s most popular Wed hobbies, and if you fall into that money woes, foreclosure 37/21 group, the Master Gardeners Afraid that you will lose your 2/22 Partly cloudy skies. High 37F. here in Tooele County are pre- home? Are you strapped or Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. pared to help you make that behind on your house payment? hobby a little more successful. Maybe Exit Realty Home Team Utah soils and climates offer in Tooele can help. challenges to gardening here, In recent years there has been Thu 39/26 but success can bring happi- an increase in homeowners hav- 2/23 ness. British comedian and play- ing their homes repossessed and More sun than clouds. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s. wright, Arthur Smith, put it this Tooele has had its share. Many way: “If you want to be happy homeowners make mistakes for a short time, get drunk; when faced with not being able happy for a long time, fall in to make that monthly mortgage Fri 41/22 love; happy forever, take up gar- payment.