Local News — Page 1013

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Rock Springs Death Determined to be Accident

Feb 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The death of a Rock Springs man in a car fire has been determined to be an accident. 47-year-old Michael Lee Tinnie was killed in a car fire in Sweetwater County on February 15th. Fire crews were dispatched to the fire west of Rock Springs at the base of White Mountain where a silver 2006 Dodge was in flames. Investigators say Tinnie’s car had become high-centered and stuck and it was believed the heat from the exhaust system and/or catalytic converter may have started the blaze. An autopsy determined Tinnie’s cause of death was asphyxia due to smoke inhalation with no indications of foul play.

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Locals Help Duchesne County K9 Unit

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

More generous locals are helping the Duchesne County K9 unit get the funding they need. Dr. Mike Gamble from Uinta Veterinary Services made a $1,000 dollar donation in honor of K9 “Q” who passed away last summer from terminal cancer.

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New Traffic Light Destined for Highway 40 near Eagle View Elementary

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

A busy intersection near Eagle View Elementary will be getting a traffic light this spring. According to UDOT spokeswoman Eileen Barron, the traffic signal is being installed to improve safety and improve access from 5750 East to Highway 40. Eagle View Elementary is located on the northwest corner of the intersection and the school administration is thrilled to know that a light will soon be installed. Eagle View Principal Robert Stearmer considers it a miracle that a school bus hasn’t been hit in that intersection. “School buses don’t move as fast as cars do,” shares Stearmer. “The latest accident in that intersection involved a pickup truck being broadsided. Can you imagine that happening to a school bus loaded with 65 children?” This accident involved a vehicle with three children inside the car. While the plans for the light were already in place before the crash this month, the accident has further validated the need to people like Principal Stearmer who consider the intersection a serious danger as it is. The project is being funded through UDOT’s Statewide Signal Program and it is expected to cost about $220,000 dollars. “There will be no additional lanes added to U.S. 40 as there is already a left turn lane,” explains Barron. “However, a separate left turn lane will be added on 5750 East.” Once underway this spring, construction is expected to take two to four weeks. UDOT also plans to install advance warning signals that will flash yellow and include “Prepare to Stop” signs.

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Give Em’ Health: Sexual Health and Preventing Risks

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

TriCounty Health Department is sharing the good, the bad, and the risky when it comes to sexual health. While there are benefits to having sex, like improved heart health and lower blood pressure, TriCounty Health Director Jordan Mathis explains that there are also consequences when not engaged in responsibly.

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Sheriff Norton on School Safety; Exploring Free Local Training for Teachers

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The most recent school shooting in Florida has pushed the issue of safety in schools to the forefront of concern for many. Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton reports that the Sheriff’s Office is doing what they can to stop a few times a day at each local school in addition to having a full time officer at the high school. Still, he feels more should be done and is exploring the possibility of offering free concealed weapons classes to teachers and school staff as well as setting up a two day training camp to help teachers become more proficient with their weapons. “We can’t get to an incident quick enough to stop a threat that can do so much damage in just seconds,” shares Sheriff Norton. “That is why I think it is important to have teachers or staff that are willing to take on the huge responsibility to have a gun, be trained, and engage the threat until we get there.” Those with concealed weapon permits are legally allowed on school property with a concealed weapon, including teachers. Sheriff Norton’s aim is to help those teachers that want to arm themselves and train them to be more proficient. He says he believes gun control will not fix the school safety issues and will just hurt honest gun owning citizens.

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Roosevelt City: 2017 in Review

Feb 22, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Roosevelt City Manager Ryan Snow provided a review of 2017 in the Roosevelt City Bulletin. The following are among the highlights: The Roosevelt City Chip and Seal project covered 12 miles of the 40 miles of roads within Roosevelt and the budget is outlined to have all the roads repaired and resurfaced by 2022. Significant improvements were made to the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, utilizing funding that was 90 percent grants. Governor Gary Herbert visited Roosevelt last summer to declare Roosevelt a “Business Friendly City,” an honor which has only been given to 30 cities in the state. Roosevelt City launched a new website last year maintained with up to date information. They also increased transparency by providing live video feed of all public meetings on a YouTube channel. The city council did a thorough review of city laws to ensure that Roosevelt is compliant with state and federal laws. And the city retired more than $1 million dollars in debt, reducing the amount of interest the city was paying. With a successful 2017 in the books, City Manager Snow says the city is “optimistic about what 2018 will bring for our city and residents.”

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Van Tassell’s SB191 Passes Senate Natural Resources Committee

Feb 22, 2018 · Basin Now · News

A bill, sponsored by Senator Kevin Van Tassell, that would increase authority of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining is slowly working its way up the legislative ladder. SB191: State Regulation of Oil and Gas was approved by the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday and is now placed on the Senate’s 2nd reading calendar. “The idea behind this bill,” explains Senator Van Tassell, “is that the Oil, Gas, and Mining board will set the policy and control the oil and gas. In the state, we end up with conflicts between surface rights and other property but minerals are the dominant asset so if in some areas a city says they want to ban fracking, for example, this says that the state oil and gas governing agency gets to regulate those.” The bill was worked on by many in both Duchesne and Uintah Counties, says Van Tassell, and received the support of Commissioners wanting to see it passed. SB191 will now work its way up the board but there are plenty of bills waiting to be heard so, in the words of Senator Van Tassell, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

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Brief Standoff Ends in Drug Arrest in Rock Springs

Feb 22, 2018 · Basin Now · News

A brief standoff ended in arrest in Rock Springs on Tuesday night. According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Narcotics and Arrest Group (SNAAG) and DCI special agents were executing a high-risk narcotics search warrant when they encountered 18-year-old Paul David May who was armed with a 9mm handgun. After a brief standoff, May gave up the weapon, which was found to be stolen, and he was taken into custody on charges of Aggravated Burglary and drug offenses. 20-year-old Michael E. Caron was also arrested for felony-grade possession of methamphetamine. Sheriff Mike Lowell says that no one was injured during the course of the arrests. Both men are in custody of the Sweetwater County Detention Center awaiting their initial court appearance.