Mrs. McFadden's afternoon kindergarten students from Kanab Elementary School wait for a turn on Santa's knee at Zions Bank in Kanab.
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Weather Log - Dec. 2003
Kanab weather courtesy
Frank & Bonnie Swapp
Defendants plead guilty in animal cruelty case
By Dixie Brunner
Gavin Demont Ewell, 22, of Kanab, and Jeremy Douglas Katzenbach, 20, of Hurricane, entered plea agreements after their December 5 initial appearance in Sixth District Court, Judge David L. Mower presiding. The two men, represented by public defender John Hummel, pled guilty to one third degree felony count of criminal mischief and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor. Judge Mower said he had received numerous letters concerning the issue.
The charges, prosecuted by Kane County Attorney Eric Lind, were in connection with the killing and mutilation of two horses owned by Jeff and Jessie Allen of Kanab.
The crimes occurred on a private ranch near Zion National Park where the Allens kept some of their horses. The Allens’ quarterhorse mare was found on August 18, shot at least four times in the side. The quarterhorse stud St. Shem, valued at approximately $30,000, was discovered the next day, shot many times and brutally mutilated. After an investigation by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, the two men were arrested and later confessed to the crimes.
Under the plea agreement, Ewell and Katzenbach have been sentenced to the following:
1) Sentence. On the amended third degree felony count of criminal mischief, the defendants were sentenced and ordered to serve 0-5 years in the Utah State Prison, and pay a fine and surcharge in the amount of $9,275.00. On count two, aggravated cruelty to animals, class a misdemenaor, defendants are sentenced and order to serve one year in the Kane County Jail and pay a fine and surcharge in the amount of $4,650.00.
• So long as the defendants successfully complete the terms and conditions of probabtion as set forth, the terms of imprisonment are suspended, and if ever served, shall run concurrently. The fines and surcharges imposed are suspended except as outlined below.
2) Order of probation. The defendants were placed on supervised probation for a period of 36 months.
• Defendants shall submit to and successfully complete all evaluations and/or counseling, as directed by Adult probation.
• Defendants shall pay a fine and surcharge in the amount of $200 to Adult probation.
• Defendants shall pay restitution in the amount of $27,500. Restitution shall be paid jointly and severely between Ewell and Katzenbach.
• Defendants must write a letter of apology to the victims and personally deliver it to Jeff Allen. A copy of the letter or a similar letter shall be sumitted for publication to the SUN.
Kanab City to secure final bids for electric system
The final bid offering of the Kanab City Electric System is under way. State law requires that Kanab obtain a professional appraisal of the system, which is to be conducted under the supervision of three resident taxpayers. Robert Houston, Wally Thomson and Bruce Thomas are now carrying out their responsibilities for the system appraisal. The completion date for the appraisal is due on or before January 31, 2004.
The Law Firm of Durham, Jones and Pinegar of St. George is finishing up the final bid forms. Requests for final bids will soon be published. The deadline for submitting final bids and responses will be on or about February 13, 2004. An acceptable dollar amount and final bid for electrical system assets will be compared to fair market appraisal value, electrical system assets, and all debt for a determination by the city council to proceed to the sale of the system.
When it is determined that bid amounts and replacement electrical service arrangements are adequate to meet the needs of Kanab City residents, a vote by Kanab’s registered voters will soon follow on a state approved special election day.
If you have any questions or comments about this process please let Mayor Kim Lawson or Energy Board Chair Jim Matson know and they’ll get right back to you.
Vermillion Village update
By Dixie Brunner
“Our expectation is to bring people to recreate and then eventually they’ll want to move here,” said developer Nick Berg, of the proposed Vermillion Village. The development is a planned mixed use project to be located west of the Kanab Airport and Kanab Creek. The current status of the project is that the land has been rezoned to include a combination of residential, commercial, resort and aero-industrial uses.
“We are now meeting with Kanab City legal staff on details of the ‘Development Agreement’ which includes project use of the airport, utility and capacity responsibilities and zoning compliance issues,” explained Berg. “We expect to have city approval of the agreement in the first quarter of 2004.”
Access to the Kanab City Airport has been the driving force of the project. Berg envisions a spa or world class resort where people would fly into Kanab to spend the day or night.
Plans for Vermillion Village are big, including an aviation business/residential park, destination resort hotel and golf course, as well as residential, retail and business offices. The project would include a taxi-way across Kanab Creek to provide airport access to the development, as well as reshaping of the sewer ponds.
As per city requirement, a planner is needed for a project of this size. The developers hired a large and reputable architectural and planning group, the HOK Planning Group, to assist with Vermillion Village.
Berg has a puchase contract option on the 900 acre property owned by Phil Snelgrove and Dale Clarkson. “The purchase is pending my getting the needed entitlements,” said Berg.
It is hoped project funding for Vermillion Village will come from an equity partner. “We will be looking for a bigger corporation that wants to invest in the project,” said Berg. “Many times investors are looking for projects where someone has already done the groundwork to get the entitlements. You might need two or three equity partners on a project as big as this.”
Berg said he has found Kanab City and Mayor Kim Lawson good to work with. “All our negotiations with the city have been very upfront and solid.”
Even if everything went according to plan on Vermillion Village, it would be 2006 before the start of any construction. “From a developer’s standpoint, the challenge is to try and keep the project going forward.”
BLM grazing rule proposal positive for Utah ranchers
The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed grazing rule announced last week is a major step forward for ranchers in Utah and those in other western public lands states. Utah Farm Bureau is pleased that the proposal embraces the multiple use concept – in particular, increasing grazing opportunities for the ranching community.
“This announcement by Interior Secretary Gale Norton demonstrates this Administration’s commitment to effective public land management and recognizes the social and economic contributions of our state’s ranchers,” said Randy N. Parker, UFBF Chief Executive Officer. “It is significant that today’s announcement ensures that grazing will continue to be one of the legitimate uses of public lands into the future,” he pointed out.
Utah Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agriculture organization with over 21,500 family members, has argued that balanced administration of the public land resource is important to the economic future of Utah. Livestock production is the foundation of the state’s agriculture industry, contributing nearly 80 percent of the $1 billion in farm gate sales. This contribution is significant in rural Utah where livestock sales have a far-reaching ripple effect that is considerably more important to the aggregate economy of the state. Rural businesses rely on the new wealth that is generated by agriculture, timber and mining.
“This is welcome news to many rural Utah communities that have been suffering from the effects of a prolonged drought, low agricultural prices and the uncertainly of continued access to public lands. The public lands offer a forage resource that is annually renewable and livestock grazing is the best way to harvest it. Grazing provides a benefit from the public lands that benefits all Americans,” Parker said.
The Utah Farm Bureau Federation applauds the grazing rule changes that will improve BLM relationships with permittees and stewardship of lands critical to open space, wildlife habitat and quality of life in the rapidly growing American West. In addition, the proposed rules will:
•Consider and document social, cultural and economic consequences of grazing decisions.
•Allow a grazing permittee to share title in certain permanent range improvements, i.e., fencing, wells, pipelines, if constructed under the Cooperative Range Improvement Agreement which had existed prior to 1995.
•A phase in of decreases (and increases) in grazing of more than 10 percent over a five year period, unless a quicker phase in is agreed to by the permittee or necessary to protect the resource to minimize economic impacts.
•Expand the definition of “grazing preference” to include an amount of forage on public lands attached to a rancher’s private “base’ property, which can be land or water, similar to one that existed prior to 1995.
Farm Bureau believes the proposed rule will help ranchers be better stewards of the land through:
1) An improved assessment and monitoring process that evaluates rangeland health.
2) Extending the deadline to 24-months for making remedial changes allowing adequate time to determine appropriate actions.
3) Removing the current three-year limit on temporary non-use of a grazing permit and allowing temporary non-use of a grazing permit for up to one year at a time whether for conservation or business purposes.
Farm Bureau supports BLM in addressing numerous legal challenges which will enhance the agency’s efficiency and interaction with permit holders. These include:
•Compliance with the Federal court (Public Lands Council v. Babbitt) in eliminating the long-term “conservation use” permits upholding the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act.
•Clarify how the BLM will authorize grazing if a decision affecting a grazing permit is “stayed” pending appeal to provide continuity while under appeal.
•Clarify that if a livestock operator is convicted of a federal, state or other law, such acts are only subject to BLM sanctions when the acts affect the permittee’s allotment.
•Improve efficiency of BLM management by reducing the occasions when BLM is mandated to involve the interested public. BLM could, but would not be required to, seek public input on day-to-day grazing administration, but would continue to so on major planning decisions.
•Remove the 1995 mandate that BLM will seek sole ownership of livestock water rights. This will provide flexibility in negotiating construction of watering facilities, consistent with state laws.
•Clarify that a biological assessment of the BLM, prepared in compliance with the Endangered Species Act, is not an agency decision, therefore not subject to appeals and protests.
•An increase in certain grazing fees to reflect more accurately the cost of grazing administration.
“It is apparent that the BLM is seeking to clarify the place of livestock grazing on the federal lands. In my professional experience, it is clear that the former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt was hostile to livestock grazing on the public lands. No other conclusion could be reached through a review of his rule making,” Parker pointed out. “Farm Bureau believes it is time to recognize the economic and social contribution a healthy livestock industry makes in these western public lands states.”
Audrey Tullis is definitely not your typical computer geek, but there is no dispute that she is very computer savvy! Audrey is Mohave Community College’s newest computer information systems associate faculty member.
Audrey’s day job is working for the Kane County School District as an elementary school teacher, but in the evening she helps college students expand their computer knowledge at MCC. She has added a sparkle to her Computers for Beginners class which focuses on the very basics of computer use.
“Audrey knows how to explain things in a way that first-time users (such as myself) can easily understand,” says Rosemary Heaton.
Audrey is a mother of two and a long time resident of Kanab. She graduated from SUU with a double BA in Business Education and Elementary Education. She has also recently graduated from SUU with her Master’s Degree in Education with an administration endorsement. Look for Audrey next semester teaching the following courses: Your Digital Camera and You, Microsoft Office Suite, and Computers for Beginners. Early registration begins on November 24.
She’s no computer geek
Kane County School District and the requirements of accountability
By Bob Johnson
The past several years have witnessed a movement in education toward increased accountability. Two of the most prominent pieces of accountability legislation are the Utah Performance Assessment system for Students (U-PASS) passed by the Utah State Legislature and more recently the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
As educators in the Kane County School District, we have observed the development of these mandates in a positive light. Our self-assurance comes from the fact that many of the requirements imposed by these laws are things we believe in and have been doing for some time. We welcome accountability.
We believe that the focus on student achievement that comes with these mandates will provide us the opportunity to show the positive things we are doing for the children and youth of Kane County and focus more time and resources in areas where improvement is needed. We wholeheartedly agree that every child should benefit from their experience in the Kane County School District. All students should be literate and should be prepared to be productive contributors to the community.
The troubling aspect of these mandates is that they define student and school success in a very narrow way. Under No Child Left Behind, schools must show that they have met “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP) in order to avoid being listed as a school “in need of improvement.”
Here’s how Adequate Yearly Progress is measured: Two factors are examined in areas of Math and Language Arts: first, did at least 95% of the students participate in the testing? In Utah, the testing referred to is the State Criterion Referenced Tests, also known as the End-of-Level tests. The second question is: Did the percent of students meet the proficiency expectation required by the federal government? These two questions, percent participating and percent proficient, are asked in relation to 11 different sub-groups within the school.
Eleven subgroups multiplied by the two factors in both Math and Language Arts comes out to 44 questions asked. The troubling fact is that it is an-all-or-nothing process. A “No” to any one of the 44 questions plunges the entire school into the improvement category. For example, if the 5th grade at an elementary school for some reason did not test 95% of the students, the entire school would be considered as failing and in need of improvement
We wonder if the all-or-nothing approach to judging our schools is the best approach. For example, in the Olympic Decathlon athletes compete in 10 track and field events. The final places in each event are awarded a specific number of points.
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, American Bruce Jenner won the gold medal with a world record point total. Yet, Bruce took first place in only one of the ten events; the discus. If the decathlon were based on an all-or-nothing scoring system like No Child Left Behind, Bruce Jenner, long considered one of the best athletes in the world, would have been considered a failure because he was not perfect in every event.
We believe that we have great schools doing great things for students. We wish No Child Left Behind would evaluate schools in a more comprehensive way – at least allowing for a preponderance of the evidence to be the standard for determining if a school is in need of improvement. Success of a school is more than just how well students perform on a test. In each of our school communities patrons have made us aware that it’s not just academics they are concerned about. It’s about developing the whole student. Students need to appreciate the arts, develop healthy lifestyles, and gain skills that can help them in the future. It’s also about character, responsibility, and citizenship.
The teachers and administrators of the Kane County School District will comply with all mandated accountability programs such as U-PASS and NCLB. At the same time, we will continue to do what’s best for students. We will focus on academic excellence, as well as provide a balance of the art, physical education, foreign languages, social sciences, character education, and applied technical education.
Next week, December 17, there will be a news release in the Southern Utah News indicating how our schools did in relation to Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2002-03 school year. We are very pleased with our results and proud of our employees and students who accomplish more with fewer resources than any other state in the nation.
Audrey Tullis
Hometown Holidays grand prize winners Linda Hall and Lana Goble with Jay Mickelson of Glazier's FoodTown. Mary Glazier and emcee Norma Jones are in the truck behind them. Photo by Michael Evangelista.
Kanab Care and Share needs your donations
The Kanab Care and Share needs your donations during this important Holiday giving time! Donations will be accepted at the Kanab Senior Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Special hours for donations will be on Thursday, December 18 and Friday, December 19 from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday, December 20 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call FayAnne Christiansen at 644-5240.
The prize winners at this year’s third Hometown Holidays drawing, held last Saturday at Glazier’s FoodTown, were: #1 Stage Stop: $50 Gift Certificate – Joyce Ross, Judy Mowbray; Adobe Realty: $10 Gift Certificate for Willow Canyon Outdoor – Linda Hall, $10 Gift Certificate for Vermilion Café – Sheri Anderson; Color Country Homes: $20 Gift Certificate for Kelly’s Sinclair – Jana Brown, Million Candle-power Spotlight – Cindy Corry; Critter Corner: $10 Gift Certificate – Duane Baird, Jim Sorenson; Eddy Builders: Haircut at Linda’s Beauty Shop – Anita Mctee, Joy Jordan; Escobar’s: $10 Gift Certificate – Heather Aldridge, Diana Derbidge; Genesis Dental Group: Teeth Cleaning – Tracy Hiscock, Whitening Treatment – Bob Thompson; Kanab Dental Clinic: Sonicare Electric Toothbrush – Neidra Welch; Kanab Tire Center: 16 Piece Chester Fried Chicken – Ruthie Itow, Free Oil Change, Lube, Filter – Lisa Church; Kane County Eye Care: $10 Gift Certificate to Kanab Movie Theater – Lisa Church, Max Mower; Kane County Hospital & Clinic: $10 Gift Certificate – Ellen Jackson, Carol Judd; Lotsa Motsa Pizza: Two 14” any-topping pizzas – Leann McDonald, Ten 14” any-topping pizzas – Terry Cottrell; MOUNTAIN Essence Natural Foods: $10 Gift Certificate – Shelly Cram, Judy Mowbray; Nedra’s Too: Two Fried Ice Creams – Fred Marshall, Two Lunch Specials – Elaine Heydorn; Rainbow cafE: $10 Gift Certificate – Leann McDonald, Tammy Marshall; Redrock Homes - $10 Gift Certificate for Frontier Movie Town – Dane Jepsen, 3-Piece Pullman Luggage – Don Gardner; Stampin’ Up!: Theme Stamp Set – Lorna Watson, Cheryl Nisonger; STATE BANK OF SOUTHERN UTAH - $50 Cash – Lori Huntington; SAMCO: $10 Gift Certificate – Susan Erickson, Ellen Jackson; Subway: $10 Gift Certificate – Cindy Corry, Bob Thompson; Zion Pharmacy: $20 Gift Certificate – Jolynn Bunting; ZIONS BANK - $15 Glazier’s FoodTown Gift Certificate – Joy Jordan, Bonnie Riding; Duke’s / JCPENNEY CATALOG: Duke’s / SAMCO Discount Card – Brian Palmer, Linda Vigil; Glazier’s FoodTown: $10 Gift Certificate - Lana Goble, $100 Gift Certificate - Richard Robinson; Honey’s Jubilee Foods: $10 Gift Certificate – Lorna Watson, Michelle Johnson; Kanab Country Auto & YAMAHA: $15 Gift Certificate – Shelly Cram, Fred Marshall; Kanab Furniture: Wooden Magazine Rack – Heather Aldridge, Glass & Brass Bedside Table – Gwen Gaustad; Sound Room Radio Shack: Lava Lamp – Felicia Redmond, Laser Level – Richard Hinote; SOUTH CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS: Cordless V-Tech Phone – J. Esplin, South Central Windbreaker – Sheri Anderson; Southern Utah News / Publishing: 1 Year Subscription to the SUN – Griz Gibbs, Lexie Little; Xpressweb Internet Services: 1 Month Dial-Up Internet Service – Cheryl Nisonger, Judy Reidhead.
GRAND PRIZE WINNERS: One Year South Central DSL Internet – Lana Goble, $250 FoodTown Shopping Spree – Linda Hall.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
Next week’s drawing will be held at Kanab Country Auto & Yamaha, 1143 S. Hwy 89A, Kanab, at 1 p.m. Be sure and check out their great specials on Yamaha gear and accessories, and take a look at the new ATV’s with no-interest holiday financing.
Remember, you must be present to win, and allow time to arrive early to drop your tickets in the barrel, because once the drawing starts, no more tickets will be accepted.
Don’t miss your chance to win big prizes, including a full auto detail package from Kanab Country Auto, wireless internet installation and one month service from Xpressweb, a Shop-Vac combo from Kane County Eye Care, a beautiful Cherrywood Hall Table from Kanab Furniture, and a $500 Yamaha Shopping Spree!
See the full page ad in this week’s SUN on page 3 for more on Hometown Holidays.
Hometown Holidays week #3 winners
Have you heard about Open Mic Night? Do you have hidden talent, a new song, or a story to tell? If so, get yourself (and your friends) to Kanab’s community Open Mic Night!
Not a performer? Then come just to listen! Enjoy live, local entertainment and light refreshments in a warm, casual setting, and see what the buzz is all about!
Scheduled for Friday, December 12 (the second Friday of each month) at 7 p.m., the free community event is open to the public, and all ages are encouraged to attend. The performers vary from week to week, and new faces are always welcome.
Come to the Kanab City Library community room and take advantage of this free, fun opportunity to share your talents and hear local music, poetry, stories and more.
For more information, email sunmike@kanab.net or call Michael at the Southern Utah News, 644-2900. (Performers sign up at the door).
Kanab Open Mic Night Friday, December 12
KC Library presents live weather reports
By Patti Tralongo
When was the last time you looked up weather for Kanab on the Internet? The closest readings you can get is Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park. Not exactly the more mild temperatures of Kanab. However, that is now changed with a new online weather station located in the Kanab Creek Ranchos. To obtain current weather for Kanab, simply go to the library’s web page www.kanab.lib.ut.us). On the home page is a link entitled Kanab weather. Click that and you will get a wealth of information including current air temperature, dew point, humidity, barometer, wind direction, heat index, today’s rainfall, total rainfall, high temperature, low temperature, peak wind gust and astronomical data such as sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset.
There are even graphs comparing the last five days high and low temperatures. These readings are updated every 15 minutes! Included on the site are graphs of the last five days’ high and low temperatures and links to Weatherforyou and Traveler ‘s Weather. One small drawback: occasionally the weather station may be down.
Kennedy Remembered
As part of the observance of the 40th anniversary of President John Kennedy’s assassination, the library invited patrons to sign a memories booklet noting where they were on that fateful day and their personal recollections.
Here are some of those comments: one patron wrote “I was six years old and I remember all of the grownups around me crying. It was so sad and kind of scary because I didn’t know what would happen next.”
Kathy Walls remembers, “As a young mother in New Jersey, after the kids left for school, I was with our next-door neighbor doing our daily crossword puzzle when we heard it on the radio. It was good to be with a friend.”
Barbara Troje recalls being a 2nd grader in Naperville, Illinois and “I imagined JFK shot by an Indian behind a boulder. We stood in class and prayed.”
Carla Avant remembers she “spent the rest of the day with our heads on our desks listening to the radio over the loud speaker system. It was my 11th birthday.”
Pat Yero didn’t believe the reports were real. “I was at home with five small children watching a soap opera. I left the room and when I came back they were showing the moment JFK was shot. I thought it was part of the soap opera and thought it was in very bad taste.”
Sue Thomson recalls she was ironing in front of the TV when the news was flashed. “It was a terrible shock that this could happen in our country in the 20th Century.”
Thanks to all for their comments. They were forwarded to the JFK Library and Museum in Boston.
Finally some of the new materials that have been cataloged include Teeth of the Tiger; Foul Matter, Shepherds Abiding; Safe Harbour; Holly; The Five People You Meet in Heaven; Kabul: a novel; The Summer of My Greek Taverna; The Piano Tuner; Bad Boy; Sleep Right in Five Nights; All the Pretty Horses (video), Stargate (video), Fern Michaels’ Kentucky Heat and Kentucky Sunrise (cassettes); The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency; Little Bunny’s Christmas Tree (by Kanab authors Jeanne Modesitt and Robin Spowart); The Complete Tracker; Tracking & the Art of Seeing.
As our audio cassettes continued to get heavy use, new cassettes of classics have been ordered and are on their way.
Cowboys win two, lose one in busy week
By Dennis Brunner
The Kanab Cowboys looked like they were still in football mode in their opener last Tuesday at Page. The Sand Devils took it to the Cowboys, beating them 65-33. Page outscored Kanab 21-5 in the first period, as the Cowboys looked pretty rugged with lots of turnovers and missed shots. Although Page only scored nine points in the second quarter, Kanab could only muster four points and trailed 30-9 at the break.
The Sand Devils continued their lesson in basketball in the third frame, scoring the first 16 points of the quarter, upping their lead to 50-18 with one period left to play. The Cowboys finally put together a decent effort in the fourth stanza, but Page matched their 15 point output to win 65-33. Kelly Brown led Kanab with 10 points, while Brandon Brown added nine and Cody Brunner six. The JV boys also lost, 52-39, while the freshmen team was the only squad to win at Page, coming from behind to win, 59-43.
The Kanab Cowgirls lost their first game of the year, as Page won by eight, 50-42. It was the Sam and Sarah Show, as Samantha Hamblin and Sarah Ramsay scored 32 of the ‘Girls 42 points. Hamblin threw down 22, with 16 coming in the second half, while Ramsay scored 10. Kanab kept it close the whole way and were only down by two at 42-40, before Page dominated down the stretch. The JV girls lost 45-21.
Kelly Brown (#52) fights for a rebound against Piute last Thursday night in Kanab. The T-birds defeated the Cowboys 57-45. Photo by Matt Brown. More photos can be viewed or purchased online at www.canyonphoto.net
The Valley JV basketball team took off early on the Hurricane Tigers last Wednesday night, scoring 16 points to Hurricane’s four in the first quarter. At the half the Buffs led 28-11. Valley held on in the second half as Hurricane made a comeback, winning the game 53-48.
David Glover led the Buffaloes with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Nick Hoyt contributed nine points, Clint Brinkerhoff had eight, while George Williams had seven points and six assists. Coach Jim Hoyt says this game shows great promise in Valley’s future this season.
VHS JV boys win opener
The Valley High School Lady Buffaloes won their first two games of the young season last week. They defeated Bryce Valley 64-55 on Thursday. After Bryce jumped out to a 17-11 first quarter lead, the Lady Buffaoes responded, outscoring the Mustangs 27-15 in the second frame to lead 38-32 at the half. They upped their lead to 52-44 after three periods and held on for the 64-55 point victory.
Jana Glover pumped in 24 points to pace the Buffs. Brinkerhoff netted 14, with Lacey Heaton and Kristy Goulding scoring 11 apiece.
On Saturday night, the Valley girls were all over Escalante, winning easily 52-29. Brandy Brinkerhoff made nine of 10 free throws on her way to a team high 19 points. Lacey Heaton scored 14 and Jana Glover added 13 for the Lady Buffaloes. Valley jumped out to a 10 point lead, outscoring Escalante 13-3 after one period of play and never looked back.
Valley girls win two
By Dennis Brunner
The Kanab Cowgirls overcame a 12 point halftime deficit with a huge third quarter to beat the Wayne Badgers 53-45 last Wednesday in Kanab. Kanab outscored Wayne 23-6 in the third frame to take a 39-34 lead heading into the final period. Samantha Hambin led the Cowgirls with 22 points. Sarah Ramsay and Amber Madril each netted 10, while Courtney Crosby added seven.
Kanab defeated 3-A Canyon View’s JV team on Friday 44-28. The Cowgirls jumped out to an early lead and cruised to their second victory of the year.
This weekend Kanab hosts the Cowgirl Classic. Coach Hal Hamblin invites everyone to come this Friday and Saturday to see some real good teams play. Squads from North Sevier, South Sevier, Valley and Kanab will compete for the coveted Cowgirl Classic Championship trophy.
Cowgirls come from behind to beat the Badgers, 53-45
Sub-4-Santa
Dear Editor:
Sub-4-Santa time is here again. We at Fredonia High School would like to thank both the communities of Fredonia and Kanab for their support in the past. We need your help again.
Students have placed jars in businesses for donations, and they have planned a couple of activities that we need community support with. They are listed below:
•The annual “Hoop Shoot” will be held on December 17 at 3:30 p.m. in the Fredonia High School Gym. The students have picked “one” student from their class to participate. They are asking for pledges for these students. You may pledge whatever you feel you are able to afford. We have some good shooters. For example if you choose to pledge support for the junior class representative; you would pay for each shot he or she makes. You can set your own prices. Students will approach you for these pledges. Each class will be accepting pledges for their chosen shooter. If you don’t have a student come to your door, then please come to the Hoop Shoot and make a pledge for your favorite shooter before the contest begins.
•The Annual “Service Slave Auction” will be held on December 18 at 11:20 a.m. in the Fredonia High School gym. Students will be offering service for items such as babysitting, cleaning, washing cars, and etc. We really need community support on this activity. Please come to the auction in person or call me at 643-7333 to offer a bid for a service. We will have a list of students and the jobs they are willing to do available for your choice. This is a good way to get those windows washed, etc. and still help out the Sub-4-Santa cause.
If you choose to make a donation to the Sub-4-Santa cause, please write out your check for the chosen amount and mail it to Sub-4-Santa —Fredonia High School, P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, AZ 86022.
Once again thanks for your support!
Linda Orton,
Student Council Advisor
RE: Forced arbitration of medical malpractice claims
Dear Editor:
In the past few days, many, if not most, of your readers have received a “Dear Patient” letter from Intermountain Health Care informing them that they will no longer receive services from IHC unless they agree in advance to give up their right to a jury trail of any potential medical malpractice claim they might have in the future.
Friends and colleagues have asked me how this requirement can be legal. They are alarmed. They know that more than half of the hospital beds in Utah belong to IHC, and a similar proportion of doctors and clinics also are IHC affiliates. They know that in many Utah communities, their only choice is an IHC facility (St. George and Logan come to mind).
I have to tell my friends that forced medical arbitration is legal in Utah courtesy of a very short-sighted legislative response to the medical industry’s vociferous and vocal attack on the courts. The rich and powerful medical lobby panicked poorly-informed citizens all over the nation last year with doctors threatening to go out of business because of the “malpractice crisis.”
The facts showed just the opposite: doctors are not going out of business, the sudden rise of medical malpractice premiums was because of several years of insurance industry price wars, and some of the doctors that led the charge for “tort reform” nationwide were those who had harmed patients repeatedly.
Doctors and hospitals point to large malpractice verdicts in other states and say that you, the Utah citizen on the Utah jury, are “irresponsible” and “runaway” when you make a decision after hearing all the evidence. Doctors and hospitals will never acknowledge that the vast majority of malpractice claims in Utah (and elsewhere) are settled before trail. Both sides know that a mistake was made. Both sides also know the doctor wins at trial nine times out of 10. Doctors and hospitals will never acknowledge that when a jury awards a large verdict in Utah (as it did a year or so ago against IHC), it is either because the cost of caring for the injured patient is huge or the doctor or hospital tired to cover up the mistake.
As a physician, I believe that doctors and hospitals that force patients to choose between arbitration or treatment are wrong, unethical and uncaring. As a lawyer, I believe that forced medical arbitration harms citizens and is contrary to law and fundamental principles of fairness. As a patient, I am incensed that I am forced to give up a basic right to receive medical treatment.
That said, we “dear patients” are now in a pickle if we don’t like to be bullied. There are three things we know. First, doctors and hospitals make mistakes (just like everybody else), and that is why they have insurance (just like everybody else). Second, doctors and hospitals don’t like to admit their mistakes (just like everybody else), and so they require confidential arbitration. Third, doctors and hospitals have much more power than any individual patient and that is why they can force arbitration. If you object to forced medical arbitration, like my alarmed friends, what can you do?
I suggest that you carefully read the arbitration agreement and demand that the doctor or the hospital explain it to you. Ask these questions: Can I appeal if I lose? What happens if I don’t want to sign this agreement? What happens if I sign it and then change my mind? Why should I have to give up a constitutional right in order to get another basic right? How am I going to be taken care of when (not if) the hospital or doctor makes a mistake and injures me?
When you don’t get answers to these questions and others, I suggest you follow the instructions in the arbitration agreement and withdraw your consent within the thirty days allowed for that. Do this every time you are required to sign the agreement. Do it repeatedly. Pretty soon, the medical industry will get the message: Clean up your act and don’t do it at our expense.
Sincerely,
Clark Newhall
Salt Lake City
Alecia Swapp Dame, age 60, Passed away December 6, 2003, at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV, She was born in Kanab, Utah on May 29, 1943, to Mildred Belnap and Preston West Swapp. At age 20, she married Richard L. Dame on June 16, 1962. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St. George LDS Temple. While in Kanab, Alecia gave birth to her two oldest sons, Rick and David. She later moved to Lakeview, Oregon, where sons Sean and Matt were born. After 18 years in Lakeview, she moved with her family to Nampa, Idaho where she lived for eight years. For the past 12 years, she has lived in Boulder City, Nevada with her husband and two youngest sons.
Alecia Swapp Dame
She had a love for genealogy, spending days in libraries and traveling hundreds of miles to cemeteries to do the research. Her passion was sewing. She has produced a great number of articles of clothing and many quilts. Alecia enjoyed her summer trips to Lake Powell with her husband. She loved cats and always had one near her; Coco, her Aussie cat, was the last. She was an avid reader, always reading church publications, the latest novel, craft books and political commentaries. Alecia was loved by all who knew her.
Her family was the center of her life, and she was the center of her family. She dearly loved her children, and adored her seven grandchildren. She was always mailing something she had made for them: baby quilts, flannel pajamas, church dresses or elaborate Halloween costumes.
She had faith in God’s plan and the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served her church in many capacities throughout her life - Young Women’s President, Sunday School Teacher, Relief Society callings, and Primary Secretary. She also found great satisfaction in her youth serving the United Way and Boy Scouts. Later in life she campaigned for political candidates and causes she believed in. Alecia is survived by her husband, Richard, Boulder City, NV; her four sons, Rick (Sheryl), Alpine, UT, David (Colleen), Petaluma, CA, Sean, and Matt, Boulder City, NV; and her seven grandchildren; sisters, Linda (Joe) Kollander, Kanab and Nita (Richard) Heaton, Salt Lake City, UT.
Funeral services will be held Friday, December 12, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. in the Oasis Ward Chapel, 1550 Buchanan, Boulder City, Nevada, where friends may call one hour prior to the funeral. Graveside services will be Saturday, at 12:00 Noon at the Kanab City Cemetery with a viewing at Mosdell Mortuary from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
