February 2000

News

Smithfield now the healthy city that reads
02/29/00 SMITHFIELD -- Even though Smithfield Health Days are just around the corner, the city has reading on its mind. The Smithfield City Council approved partial funding of a highway banner Wednesday night. The banner, which will stretch across Main Street, will mark Smithfield as "The City That Reads." / By Casey Hobson

VIDEO REPORT: College students rally on the steps of the Capitol in Salt Lake City for an increase in state money for public universities
02/20/00 SALT LAKE CITY -- Legislators were greeted by a crowd demanding more pay for faculty and a higher budget overall. Note: You'll need QuickTime to view. / By Rob Davis

VIDEO REPORT: Campus theft
02/23/00 Cars parked at USU are being burglarized. A group of teen-age boys is suspected of stealing CDs and other items. Note: You'll need QuickTime to view. / By Kris Nelson

Hyrum halts connections to irrigation system during upgrade
02/29/00 HYRUM -- Anyone wishing to connect to Hyrum's irrigation system will have to wait until a recently placed moratorium is lifted after improvements are made that will allow more connections. / By Lara Gale

Smithfield to base bonuses on longevity and performance
02/28/00 SMITHFIELD— City Manager James Gass proposed a two-part method for determining the salaries and bonuses for three new city employee positions at Wednesday's Smithfield City Council meeting. The basic idea behind the plan was approved for the lead streets, lead water and sewer and lead parks, buildings and grounds positions, but some kinks will be worked out before it is solidified. Gass said he hopes the system can be refined and used for all city employees in the future. / By Vicky Campbell

Wellville considers pressurized irrigation system
02/28/00 WELLSVILLE‹The Wellsville City Council is considering installing a pressurized irrigation system in an attempt to save money further down the road. ""The longer we wait, the more it's going to cost us," said Mayor Ruth Maughan Wednesday night at the city council meeting. "It's going to be an expense in the beginning, but in the long run it will be a savings." / By Liz Maudsley

The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakast may come to Wellsville
02/23/00 WELLSVILLE--The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakfast is one step closer to becoming a reality for owner Arlyn Brandt. Wellsville City's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to let Brandt proceed with his plans as long as he met specific conditions. / By Heather Fredriskson

Governor Leavitt encourages students to vote
02/22/00 Gov. Mike Leavitt spoke to students at USU sayting, "I come today wearing two hats," one to encourage Utah to be aware of the Mar. 10th primary and to focus on which candidate they would like to vote for, and the other to let people know that he had already made his choice and wanted to promote George W. Bush as candidate for president. / By Heather Wardle

Millville considers taking grant for new sewer system
02/22/0The Millville City Council discussed options on a proposed sewer system. The city has the choice of developing their own system or sharing with Logan or Hyrum. Millville City has been offered a grant by the state of Utah to help fund the project, if they decided to build their own. / By Bryce Petersen

Yep, that's Rebecca Gayheart, model and actress in the movie Scream 2, at Sundance. Actors and actresses and high-powered deal-makers, all dressed in black, were everywhere at the Park City festival. But they're not such a big deal, says USU student Andy Morgan. Literally. For starters, many film stars are tiny in real life. And many have no behinds. / Photo by Andrea Pickett.

SUNDANCE DIARY: Pushy people, stars with no behinds, and solid black wardrobes
(02/17/00) Wanna know something? Hollywood and its accompanying glitz, glamour, parties and the like, is not that cool. In fact, it's somewhat tiresome. Take it from a USU student who spent a week at the Sundance Film Festival and had his fill. / By Andy Morgan

Bed and breakfast to go up in Wellsville, but not infalatable building
02/18/00 The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakfast is one step closer to becoming a reality for owner Arlyn Brandt. Wellsville City's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to let Brandt proceed with his plans as long as he met specific conditions. The Commission also unanimously voted down the request of Thomas Harris who asked the City Council if he could raise an inflatable building on his property to house his tools until he could get a permanent garage built. / By Heather Fredrickson

Lewiston City Council addresses topsoil controversy
02/18/00 Members of the planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council listened to citizens voice their concerns about the proposed topsoil ordinance Wednesday night at a public hearing in the city ballroom. "We as land owners have the responsibility to be stewards," said Darrel Gibbons, a farmer in Lewiston. He has leveled his farm land, which he believes has made his farm better. "Give us freedom to be responsible for our own property," he asked the Council. / By Sarah Buttars

Banks forced to be flexible with change
02/16/00 In a luncheon hosted by The Logan City Chamber of Commerce, president and chief executive officer for Zions Bank Corp. Harris H. Simmons, spoke to Logan bankers, as well as other community members about the changes in banking, and more specifically the recently announced merger between Zions Bank and First Security Bank. Banking, according to Simmons, is an information service. This means that in order to keep up, "and remain contemporary, banks have to be flexible with change," he said. / By Heather Wardle

Professor aims to help victims of domestic violence and their pets
02/14/00 While many people might not see the link, Dr. Frank Ascione is sure to point out that there is indeed a direct correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence. Dr. Ascione, professor of psychology here at USU, has focused his attention on the study of domestic violence and abuse, and the prominent role animals play in abusive situations. A direct result of his work, Ascione has written a book, A Safe Haven for Pets. The book sets up guidelines for new programs and shelters, and deals with how to take care of women and and their pets at the same time. / By Heather Wardle

Teen-agers appointed to Hyrum Youth City Council
02/14/00 Eight Hyrum youths were sworn into the City Youth Council in a ceremony Monday evening in the city office building. During their two-year terms, they will juggle school, sports and family commitments with their duties as city leaders, and learn that leadership is really the humblest form of service. / By Lara Gale

Callaway argues case for alcohol with Smithfield council
02/11/00 At the rate things are going, Callaway Pizza may never get a beer license. Owner Bob Callaway, however, might learn a painful lesson in patience. After opening the floor for a public hearing, the Smithfield City Council said it would take time to further examine the city ordinance that prohibits the sell of liquor within 440 yards of any school or church -- an ordinance from which Callaway requested a variance Jan. 27. / By Casey Hobson

Water, sewer lines must span property for new Wellsville homes, council says
02/11/00 The Wellsville City Council voted 3-1 Wednesday night to require the extension of water and sewer lines across the full length of new residential property. That should end the practice of homeowners dead-ending their lines to save themselves money, at the expense of the city when hookups are required later. / By Liz Maudsley

Internet use to be measured in years, jobs for Generation Y, speaker says
02/11/00 Most members of Generation "Y" -- the one after Generation X -- will have at least two jobs that haven't been invented yet, according to a USU alumnus who co-founded the top-rated internet site for public relations professionals. Brian Schaible, a USU alum, spoke Tuesday as part of the Media & Society Lecture Series. / By Heather Wardle

Keeping crime down in North Logan through Neighborhood Watch
02/09/00 Crime in North Logan has not reached advanced levels, and members of the Community Oriented Policing System (COPS) aim to keep it that way. / By Lynnette Hoffman

Hyrum rejects non-residents connecting to water lines
02/07/00 Residents outside Hyrum's boundaries can't add on to existing water lines under any circumstances, the Hyrum City Council decided at Thursday's meeting. Making exceptions might "open Pandora's box." / By Lara Gale

College Ward water killing fish, ducks
02/07/00 For ducks and trout that once inhabited College Ward resident Duane Cox's pond, life really stunk, or at least the water did. And it stunk so much that the fish are dead and the ducks are staying south. / By Dan Chase

Brigham City turns on siren to alert firefighters, ambulance workers
02/07/00 At least one of the three sirens which alert volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to emergencies will be turned on after being silenced for a three-month trial period. Brigham City Council members voted unanimously to restore the use of one siren, although several council members, including Mayor David Kano, said they wanted to turn on all three. / By Sally H. N. Wright

Millville man defends foster care services provided in his home
02/07/00 Luis Espinoza defended his home against allegations that it was a hazard to the safety of the community at Thursday's meeting of the Millville City Council.Espinoza said he gives foster care to youth who have been in trouble with the law. While he did not name specific crimes, he said that many of the youth he has cared for have been involved with gangs. He said that he did not accept anyone who had been convicted of sexual offenses or of aggravated assault. / By Bryce Peterson

USU to help train broadcasters for 2002 Winter Olympics
02/07/00 Students at Utah State University are being invited to sign up for training to assist in broadcasting the 2002 Winter Olympics to the world two years from now. / By the USU communication department

Simple beer license not so simple, but LW's evetually gets one in North Logan
02/04/00 What should have been a simple decision turned into a huge debate Thursday night, when the North Logan City Council voted 4-1 to approve a beer license for an LW's convenience store. First, though, the police chief and director of the Chamber of Commerce spoke out as character witnesses for the owner of LW's. / By Ruth Russell

Ordinance on car-booting would make rules and penalties clear, mayor says
02/04/00 Logan Mayor Doug Thompson told USU students that a proposed ordinance regulating the booting of illegally parked cars would ensure that the rules and penalties are clear. Thompson met with students Thursday in the Taggart Student Center to discuss student concerns and possible solutions. Students raised questions about a variety of issues and listened to the mayor's ideas for resolving them. / By Jen Feinstein