WASHINGTON CITY — One person was injured after police say a driver failed to yield when pulling out of a parking lot at the Green Springs Shopping Center Sunday afternoon.
A Dodge pickup truck is damaged following a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Washington City Police responded to the incident involving a white Ford SUV and a silver Dodge pickup truck just south of the intersection of Green Springs Drive and Telegraph Street at approximately 1:30 p.m.
The driver of the SUV was preparing to exit the parking lot of the Hart’s Gas & Food store and head north onto Green Springs Drive as the driver of the pickup was southbound on Green Springs Drive, Washington City Police spokesman Ed Kantor said.
“The Ford SUV pulled out in front of (the pickup),” Kantor said, “and they collided in the southbound travel lane.”
As the vehicles collided, the pickup glanced off the SUV, causing the truck to spin around and crash into a light pole.
Medical personnel from Gold Cross Ambulance arrived shortly after the crash to evaluate the drivers.
A Ford SUV is damaged following a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
“The driver of the pickup truck was transported by ground to DRMC for evaluation of unspecified injuries,” Kantor said.
No other injuries were reported, and everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.
“The driver of the Ford SUV was cited for failure to yield the right of way on a left turn,” Kantor said.
Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and had to be towed away.
Emergency personnel from and Washington City Fire Department also responded to the incident.
This report is based on preliminary information and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
A Dodge pickup truck is damaged following a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
The scene of a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
A Ford SUV is damaged following a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
A Dodge pickup truck is damaged following a collision on Green Springs Drive in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said games at Oregon State have gone down to the wire, with both teams fighting tooth and nail.
It was no different on Sunday with a late turnover preserving a 66-64 win for Utah. The Utes’ defense caused a lengthy second-half scoring drought for the Beavers and came up with the late stops that eluded the squad in the last two seasons.
“We just locked in, and there was a nice blend of zone and man,” Krystkowiak said.
Justin Bibbins scored 18 points with four 3-pointers and six assists as Utah held on late to beat Oregon State.
“We’re going to play every game with a chip on our shoulder,” said Bibbins, a point guard and graduate transfer who played for Long Beach State last season.
Utah’s Sedrick Barefield (0) is fouled by Oregon State’s Ethan Thompson (5) while driving to the basket in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Corvallis, Ore., Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)
David Collette added 12 points for the Utes (10-3, 2-0 Pac-12), who were helped out by a game-saving Oregon State turnover with 1.4 seconds on the clock.
Tres Tinkle had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists and Stephen Thompson Jr. added 13 points for the Beavers (9-5, 1-1).
The Beavers led by six in the second half when Utah went on a 16-2 run, capped by a Sedrick Barefield free throw with 3:37 left, to go ahead 63-55. The swarming Utes defense held the Beavers without a field goal for eight minutes.
Oregon State promptly responded with a 7-0 surge, capped by an Alfred Hollins dunk, to trail 63-62 with a minute remaining.
Bibbins was fouled in the lane on Utah’s next possession and sank both free throws. With 27.5 seconds left, Tinkle was fouled and made two free throws to make the score 65-64. Barefield was fouled, but made only one.
The Beavers had the ball with 20 seconds left, but Hollins and Tinkle missed 3-pointers and a put-back by Thompson bounced off the rim, resulting in a jump ball, with the possession arrow going to Oregon State with 1.4 seconds remaining.
The baseline official ruled that Ethan Thompson moved along the baseline and awarded possession to Utah. Hollins intercepted the Utah pass but his half court heave was off the mark.
“The guys scrapped. We got the ball out of bounds, and it just didn’t go in our favor,” said Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle.
AP Photo
Utah shot 48 percent for the game — and also on 3-pointers, going 11-for-23. Oregon State shot 42 percent.
The Utes led 38-32 at the half.
Oregon State went on a 11-3 surge to open the second half, propelled by two Thompson 3-pointers, to take a 43-41 lead.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: The Utes first six shots of the game were 3-pointers, and they made four of them. The first two-point field goal attempt for Utah came near the 14:30 mark. The Utes came into the game averaging 8.9 3-pointers made per game. At halftime on Sunday, the team had made 10.
Oregon State: Thompson’s last-second heroics helped the Beavers to wins against the Utes in 2015 and 2016. The 2016 win was Oregon State’s lone Pac-12 victory. . Starting center Drew Eubanks fouled out after scoring 10 points in 20 minutes.
BOX AND ONE
Thompson had three points at halftime, but when he started draining 3-pointers in the second half, Krystkowiak said it felt reminiscent of last year’s thriller, which ended on a scoop by the Oregon State guard. “Then we did a nice job of almost running a little box and one mentality where we weren’t allowing him some of those easy catches,” Krystkowiak said
NO MORE 3s
Bibbins said Oregon State was trying to run Utah off the 3-point arc in the second half. “We just tried to play inside-out more and still shoot open shots,” he said.
SWEEP
Utah swept the Oregon schools this week. “They’re hard to come by. Winning a game on the road is hard to accomplish. But, again, we aren’t breaking out the scrapbook and we can’t afford to celebrate,” Krystkowiak said. That’s because the Arizona schools visit Utah next week.
OPINION — Since another year has blazed past, I thought it would be fun to revisit a few of the lessons gleaned from 2017 to see if any of them were worth passing along.
If, for some reason, you find that these observations provide no added value to your existence, feel free to have a positive and productive new year anyway. I’ll cheerfully refund whatever you paid for them.
First and foremost, the best thing that happened to me in 2017 was not something I was hoping would happen. Four days into the new year, I was let go from a long-time radio position, and the wheels of change began to turn.
I’m not going to pretend that such things are pleasant or exhilarating in the same way that a 1,000-foot zip line ride might be. However, as I look back on the various opportunities and friendships that have developed as a result of that job loss, I’m intensely grateful it happened.
Being forced to step out of my comfort zone has always proven to be a opportunity for growth, and 2017 was no exception. This was one of those rare times when my entire family was able to participate in the growth cycle alongside me.
It wasn’t easy for any of them, but the end result has proven highly satisfactory.
We learned what it was like to be separated from one another as I began work in a new city and my family remained at home to finish out the school year. Simple things which had been easy to take for granted suddenly took on deeper significance.
Being able to pray together, to eat our meals together and to hug one another before saying goodbye each weekend became important milestones of our time together. Even though technology made it easy to stay in touch during the work week, we grew closer to one another as a result of our separation.
All of us were required to bid farewell to friends and familiar places we had long loved and to embrace new surroundings, new friends and new challenges. Any worries about how my wife and kids would handle the transition were quickly put to rest.
Becky landed a marvelous math teaching position at a nearby junior high school, and my kids took on new adventures in the form of school, work and learning new skills that weren’t available to them before. My heart soared when I heard each of my kids express surprise at how quickly our new community had come to feel like home.
That’s when I knew they’d be just fine.
Moving to a new home required that we purge a large portion of the stuff we had accumulated over a 12-year period in one place. We donated and gave away whatever we could and discarded the rest.
It was astonishing to find boxes from our last move 12 years earlier that we had never bothered to open. Something very healthy begins to happen when we stop clinging to our stuff and actively make room for more important things in our lives.
We haven’t quite managed to become minimalists just yet, but we find ourselves feeling deeper appreciation for those things we do have and less need to fill the spaces in our lives with material things.
2017 was a year when a number of our close friends and family members went through serious hardships and trials. As hard as it is to see those we love having to suffer or bear difficult burdens, it has sharpened our instincts to reach out to them and to serve them in whatever ways we can.
This, in turn, has opened our eyes to the astounding number of magnificent people who stand ready to shoulder one another’s burdens in the truest possible sense of charity. These folks don’t often make headlines, but they do make a lasting difference in the lives of those around them.
Their examples lift and inspire anyone with eyes to see to step up and do likewise.
Perhaps the biggest lesson we’ve learned from 2017 is that nothing inspires us to reach and grow like catching a glimpse of some personal, inspired purpose.
This recognition means we must each be willing to choose to live our own highest purposes, without seeking permission. That means saying no to the collectivized purposes others would force on us.
It’s definitely not the path of least resistance, but it seems to be the one that will bring the greatest growth and ultimate happiness.
Not everyone will resonate with these observations. Each of us has a different path to follow and different lessons for bringing out our greatest potential.
If you’re looking for advice that’s a bit more universal in nature, you can always try this: Never buy a TV from an out-of-breath guy on the street.
Bryan Hyde is an opinion columnist specializing in current events viewed through what he calls the lens of common sense. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.
ST. GEORGE — For some people, 2018 will be a fresh start in life with an abundance of goals to tackle. For others, the New Year’s Day is just like any other.
The time honored tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions is one way people get motivated to make changes in their life. And occasionally, those resolutions are met with life-changing success.
On the other hand, probably every person who’s made a resolution can safely say they don’t always go as planned.
Whether setting oneself up for failure or taking control and striving to become a better, brighter or more connected human, it’s all wrapped up in one date: Jan. 1.
St. George News hit the town New Year’s Eve to ask the public what, if any, resolutions they’ve made for 2018.
See what people said in the video player top of this report.
St. George News reporter Cody Blowers contributed to this report.
ST. GEORGE — It’s one of the most optimistic days of all 365 when we stop, reflect and look back before taking that step forward into all things new. Here is our St. George News look back at 2017’s stories and topics that captured your interest and covered topics worthy of mention.
Top stories:
Composite image, St. George News
1. Utah bill allows 18-year-olds to concealed carry
A bill allowing 18- to 20-year-olds to carry a concealed firearm passed the Utah House and Senate following ardent debate, expanding their previous rights to lawfully open carry.
The primary argument for the bill was to give young adults a much better means of defending against sexual violence, particularly on college and university campuses. Previously, House Bill 198, Concealed Carry Amendments, passed 63-12 along party lines with all House Republicans voting for the bill and all House Democrats voting against it. It then passed the Senate 23-6, also largely on party lines.
The 2017 total solar eclipse was a much-anticipated event, and for those who made plans to travel to Idaho to experience it, one sheriff offered some unique, straightforward, useful tips regarding guns, ranchers, the weather, wildlife and more.
While most posts about the eclipse offered information to viewers such as the dangers of looking at the sun and proper eyewear, the Lincoln County Sheriff offered warnings about how tourists’ misbehaviors in his state could land them in some trouble.
“With the Solar Eclipse almost upon us, I have seen many helpful posts and public service announcements, but I feel they fall short in several areas,” Sheriff Rodriguez said. “I will try to cover some of those.”
Jose Rosemberg Martinez, of St. George, wanted for first-degree felony rape of a child. St. George Police posted photo February 2017 | Photo courtesy of the St. George Police Department, St. George News
3. Man suspected of raping 10-year-old girl
A $100,000 cash-only bail warrant was issued in March for a 33-year-old man suspected of fleeing to Mexico after allegedly being caught raping a 10-year-old Washington County girl.
Jose Rosemberg Martinez, of St. George, was accused of three counts of first-degree felony rape of a child, according to a warrant issued by the 5th District Court.
The St. George Police Department asked for the public’s help in locating Rosemberg, who remains at-large and is now believed by authorities to be in Mexico.
Anyone with any information regarding Rosemberg’s whereabouts is asked to call the St. George Police Department at 435-627-4300.
After more than a month of searching and a strenuous investigation, a St. George family’s 17-year-old daughter Sarah Dunsey was returned to them in February.
The family, who had believed Dunsey was abducted Jan. 15 from Las Vegas, Nevada, for sex trafficking, made the announcement that Dunsey had been found in California.
“Thank you all for sharing, getting Sarah’s face out there, and helping us to find her,” Dunsey’s mother, Amie Ellis, said in a February statement. “Thank you to the people that sent us the tips that found her.”
At the time, the family did not offer specifics about their daughter’s ordeal to the public, but they provided an update in November, stating they had been notified by the District Attorney’s Office in California that a suspect in the case had entered a guilty plea for his involvement.
A woman found dead aboard an Alaskan cruise ship on July 25 was identified as 39-year-old Kristy Manzanares of St. George. Her husband, Kenneth Manzanares, has been indicted for her murder. | Composite photo, St. George News
5. Murder on Alaskan cruise
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in August charging 39-year-old Kenneth Manzanares with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Kristy Manzanares, on a cruise ship.
The St. George couple had been traveling with family aboard the Emerald Princess in July on a weeklong cruise along the Alaskan panhandle. Two days after the ship left Seattle, Washington, Kristy Manzanares was found dead in the couple’s cabin with a severe head wound.
When a family member asked Kenneth Manzanares what had happened, he allegedly replied, “She would not stop laughing at me,” according to the complaint. He then allegedly grabbed his wife’s body and tried to drag her to the balcony, but a family member stopped him.
Kenneth Manzanares pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge. A jury trial is set to begin April 23, 2018, before Judge Timothy M. Burgess. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced its decision in November not to pursue the death penalty in the case.
Amy Marie Crawford and her daughter, photo location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Amy Crawford’s Facebook page, St. George News
6. Mother found dead near St. George river
The medical examiner’s office confirmed that a body discovered in a muddy wash Aug. 5 along the Santa Clara River near 1600 S. Dixie Drive was that of 32-year-old Amy Marie Crawford who had been reported missing in St. George.
A man had been out for a morning walk when he spotted the decomposing body and called police just after 7:30 a.m.
Crawford’s body was found lying in mud, tumbleweeds and debris next to the Santa Clara River Trail after a series of thunderstorms had passed over the area.
Crawford had been reported missing to the St. George Police Department in July. Police said the cause of Crawford’s death remains under investigation.
Abbigayl Kraushaar, 17, of St. George, was killed in a T-bone collision on state Route 18 near Diamond Valley.
A Chevrolet passenger car sustains heavy damage after being involved in a fatal collision on SR-18, Washington County, Utah, April 2, 2017 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
On April 2, a 19-year-old man was northbound on SR-18 in a Dodge truck when Kraushaar, who was driving a Chevrolet passenger car, made a left turn from Diamond Valley Drive onto SR-18 in front of the oncoming Dodge truck.
“The Dodge pickup (driver) was unable to stop to avoid a collision and T-boned the small passenger car,” officials said.
Intermountain Life Flight was dispatched to the scene and landed nearby but left when it was confirmed the girl had died as a result of severe injuries.
James Garlick, 40, of Mona, was found dead in his vehicle Jan. 3 at the Washington Walmart.
A man was discovered dead in his truck Tuesday at the Washington Wal-Mart. Washington, Utah, Jan. 3, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Matt Thompson, St. George News
Authorities were called to the scene between 4-4:30 p.m. and found Garlick inside a gold truck with a black camper shell on the back.
Officials said there was no indication of foul play or of anything that could have caused the man’s death.
Prior to Garlick’s body being found, his sister, Carol Bullard, of Washington City, had posted on Facebook asking for the public’s help in finding her brother.
“We had been looking for him for days and my daughter happened to be at Walmart picking up a prescription,” Bullard told St. George News. “(She) saw the cops in the parking lot with the caution tape around a vehicle that looked like my brothers, so she immediately called me and I told her to go over and ask if it was him, so she did and it was so she ended up telling me then I rushed down there.”
A Veyo man was killed when his truck drifted over the center line on state Route 18 and struck a semi head-on. Washington County, Utah, April 8, 2017 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
The bishop of the Veyo ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was killed on the morning of April 8 when his small truck reportedly crossed the center line on state Route 18 near milepost 13 and collided head-on with a semitractor-trailer.
The driver of the pickup was identified as 53-year-old Darrin Steve Ivie.
“It looks like (Ivie) was killed instantly,” Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said. “The semi driver did say that he saw the driver of the pickup laying across the seat to the right. Don’t know if he had dropped something and was trying to retrieve it, or if he was having a medical condition or if he was falling asleep.”
10. K-9 Tess shot during police shootout with carjacking suspect
A carjacking at a St. George gas station on the night of Aug. 30 led to a police shootout in a residential neighborhood in Santa Clara that resulted in a police K-9 and the carjacking suspect being shot. Both the K-9 and the suspect subsequently underwent surgery for their injuries.
Washington County Sheriff’s K-9 Tess was transported via LifeFlight to a specialty veterinarian’s clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 30, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Authorities spotted the suspect heading toward Santa Clara from St. George, but terminated their pursuit. Although officers had disengaged, the suspect continued to flee and drive recklessly, ultimately crashing a second stolen truck into the carport of a residence near 2298 Santa Clara Drive.
When police arrived, the man – later identified as 55-year-old Alvie Jared Grover, of St. George – was still in the truck. As they tried to negotiate him out of the truck, former-Washington County Sheriff’s K-9 Tess was deployed.
When K-9 Tess got into the truck, Grover shot the K-9. One of the bullets entered through the K-9’s cheek and the other through the roof of her mouth. Both bullets exited out of the back of her neck just below her skull.
At that point, multiple officers from multiple agencies fired upon the truck and struck Grover multiple times in the lower half of his body. He was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George to undergo surgery. Grover was charged with multiple felonies relating to the incident.
After receiving treatment at a veterinarian clinic in St. George, K-9 Tess was transported by Life Flight to Las Vegas for emergency care. The Sheriff’s Office announced that Tess was predicted to make a full recovery in six weeks’ time.
While there were a number of other crimes and crashes, fires and tragedies affecting lives forever and drawing considerable attention and response from the St. George News community of readers, other issues relevant to Southern Utah were addressed and progressed, some with ongoing and developing impacts. Following are a few highlights.
Brian Head fire
A forest fire was ignited in the Brian Head area, ultimately burning nearly 112 square miles with an overall fire-suppression cost estimated at $34 million. A Taylorsville man has been charged with starting the fire through reckless and unpermitted burning. Robert Ray Lyman pleaded not guilty in October and is expected to face trial on the charges in 2018. State and local officials pointed blame for the fire in part on environmental groups who sued to stop logging in 1993 and other actions that allowed beetles to overtake the forest.
The fire destroyed 13 homes, eight outbuildings, damaged or compromised watersheds, soils, wildlife and scenery. Though no lives were reported lost during the fire, in October, when aerial drops of straw mulch were being made on the burn scar as part of restoration efforts, Bryan Burr, of Alpine, was killed through blunt force trauma from falling debris. Reporting by Joyce Kuzmanic, Mori Kessler, Tracie Sullivan and Joseph Witham.
Those favoring the corridor maintain it was promised to the county in a 2009 lands bill that created the Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash national conservation areas – which include the Red Cliffs Reserve – as well as increasing need in light of the county’s population growth. Officials and the state’s congressional delegation continue to pursue remedies and negotiate with the agencies involved towards a solution. Reporting by Julie Applegate and Mori Kessler.
“It’s hard to see it go this way, but anytime you lose part of your history it’s unsettling,” St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker said. Reporting by Cody Blowers.
Las Vegas mass shooting
On Oct. 1, Stephen Craig Paddock, of Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas on a crowd of people attending the outdoor “Route 91 Harvest Festival.” The incident left 58 people dead, including Paddock, and nearly 550 others injured and has been cited as the deadliest mass shooting by an individual in the United States. Among those killed were Utahns Heather Warino Alvarado, of Cedar City, Cameron Robinson, of St. George, and Neysa Tonks, of Salt Lake City. Reporting by Joyce Kuzmanic, Kimberly Scott and The Associated Press.
Cedar City temple
At the end of October, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed and opened its 17th temple in Utah in Cedar City. An open house was held for public tours through mid-November drawing more than 180,000 visitors, Mormon and non-Mormon alike. The temple was formally dedicated Dec. 10. Reporting by Jeff Richards and Paul Dail.
Elections
Perhaps the most remarkable municipal election in Southern Utah in 2017 was that held in Hildale, sister-city to Colorado City, Arizona, longtime home to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But the once nearly closed community is evolving as former residents return and others assimilate into the community. The election saw four non- or ex-members of the FLDS sect voted into office for the first time in the town’s 100-year history, two of them women.
In a public panel event following the election, Hildale Mayor-elect Donia Jessop said she wanted everyone to know that “the town is now open.” For a community that has been a hotbed of legal and social controversies for years, transparency can only be a good thing. Continuing changes forthcoming? Something to watch in 2018. Reporting by Cody Blowers.
National monuments
Both state and national attention in 2017 focused on two national monuments in Utah designated by prior presidents, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, leading to a visit to the state by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and ultimately by President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order reducing the size of the monuments.
The reductions were applauded by many, including state and local leaders, but drew the dismay of a variety of interest groups that have since filed lawsuits challenging the order. Concerns remain that monument designations may become political footballs to be designated, expanded and reduced by one administration after another – concerns legislators aim to address through congressional action. Reporting by Mori Kessler and others.
“This is a major milestone toward meeting Southern Utah’s need to diversify its water supply and develop additional resources to meet anticipated demand,” Utah Division of Water Resources Director Eric Millis said. “Permitting a water project is a lengthy process and this is a significant step.” Reporting by Julie Applegate and Mori Kessler.
* * *
A note from the editor:
We at St. George News thank you for your interest and support throughout the year. With each new year comes renewed resolve on our part to ever improve, develop and enhance our news product for your benefit and enjoyment.
We cannot overstate the value of the contributions of our readers. You participate, you share ideas – you share our stories! Some of you submit articles for our consideration, others send letters to the editor offering opinion on matters relevant to the region. You offer us your photos, videos and news leads. And your provide us your critique and engage in our comment and social media forums.
All of this together makes St. George News a watering hole in Southern Utah where people of all viewpoints and all walks of life can meet, engage and interact productively with one another. This has been our goal from the beginning. Today, St. George News, a Canyon Media company, has easily grown into the most community-centric and most widely read news stop in Southern Utah, and we are entirely beholden to you, our community of readers – you are why we do this, you help make it happen.
It would be our great honor to receive your continued input and support in the coming year. We are at your service, Southern Utah.
Here’s to a dynamic and engaged 2018!
St. George News reporter Kimberly Scott contributed to this report.
ST. GEORGE — Arrowhead Gallery has announced photographer Shirley Smith as the featured artist for January 2018. Her work, including a number of new pieces, will be shown throughout the month at the gallery, located at 68 E. Tabernacle St., St. George.
Digital photo by Shirley Smith on display at the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George, Utah 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George News
Guests are also invited to join Smith for an artist reception at the gallery Jan. 12 from 6-8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Shirley Smith
Smith uses her digital camera to capture and her computer to enhance moments in time around the beautiful country and Mother Nature’s creations. Her expertise in digital photography allows Smith to share theses moments and feelings with the viewer. Her fine art images record the world by remembering and sharing memories from life.
“Mother Nature is the true artist,” Smith said in a quote on the Arrowhead Gallery’s webpage. “All I can do is capture her beauty with my camera in person and in my studio.”
Smith studied photography in 2012 at the request of her husband, Bruce, and says she has not looked back to “life before the camera.” Prior to photography she worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
She moved to Southern Utah from Michigan in 2013 and found a whole new world before her of places to go, see and record. Smith’s goal is to be able to capture them on her camera.
Smith is an award-winning, nationally known photographer currently shooting with a Nikon D800e and a Nikon 5500 (for hiking) plus various lenses. She exhibited at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (New York), Dixie State University, Red Cliff Gallery, St. George Art Museum and various galleries in Michigan. During the summer 2017, Smith gave a solo show at the Dixie State University Eccles Fine Arts Center.
Smith is president of the St. George Color Country Camera Club and an active member of the Southern Utah Art Guild and Virgin Valley Artists Association. Her work is currently on display at the Mesquite Fine Art Gallery in Mesquite, Nevada, and the Arrowhead Gallery in St. George.
The Arrowhead Gallery showcases artists from the Southern Utah Art Guild. Visit the Southern Utah Art Guild online to learn more about the guild’s activities.
Event details
What: Arrowhead Gallery Featured Artist Reception.
When: Friday, Jan. 12, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Arrowhead Gallery, 68 E. Tabernacle St., St. George.
Cost: Free.
The Arrowhead Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests may also visit the gallery online.
Digital photo by Shirley Smith on display at the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George, Utah 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Arrowhead Gallery, St. George News
ST. GEORGE – It was a momentous and exciting year for sports fans in southern Utah andthe St. George News sports department was there to witness the thrill of victory and, at times, the agony of defeat. Thanks, southern Utahns, for letting us be a part of it all.
Below is a list of some of our favorites from 2017. It is not a comprehensive list — there were too many great moments to list them all. But it is a good list, to be sure.
A special thanks goes to the coaches, athletic directors, principals and media liaisons who provided us access to these stories.
2017 — A year of champions (List is in chronological order, starting with last January) — click on headlines to go to archived story)
Dixie’s Richard Guymon (11) and Hurricane’s Josh Parker (21), Dixie vs. Hurricane, Boys Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 27, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills’ Logan Hokanson (23) hears the cheers from the Thunder student section, Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Boys Basketball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 1, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
The Thunder pose with the Region 9 championship trophy, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 7, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dalton Petty for Desert Hills and Caleb Armstrong for Hurricane at 126, Pine View Casperson Invitational, Wrestling, St. George, Utah, Jan. 14, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie High School’s drill team, the “Jetettes,” performing at the Region 9 drill team competition held Thursday at the Burns Arena at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, Jan. 26, 2017 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The Thunder pose with the Region 9 championship trophy, Desert Hills vs. Pine View, Boys Basketball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 10, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills’ Liam Williams (in black) won state at 170, 3A State Wrestling Tournament, Orem, Utah, Feb. 11, 2017 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Desert Hills’ Morgan Myers (32), Desert Hills vs. Carbon, 3A State Girls Basketball, Logan, Utah, Feb. 23, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Cedar’s Dream Weaver (00), Cedar vs. Richfield, 3A State Girls Basketball, Logan, Utah, Feb. 23, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills’ Tucker Peterson (31), Desert Hills vs. Ridgeline, 3A State Boys Basketball, Logan, Utah, Feb. 24, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie’s Richard Guymon (11), Dixie vs. Juan Diego, 3A State Boys Basketball, Logan, Utah, Feb. 24, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
The Dixie Flyers celebrate their victory over the Desert Hills Thunder, Desert Hill vs. Dixie, 3A State Boys Basketball, Logan, Utah, Feb. 25, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Dylan File (33), Dixie State University vs. Point Loma Nazarene University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 24, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Jake Davison (5), Dixie State University vs. Point Loma Nazarene University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 24, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Zion Lions’ Rimo Mapu (5), Zion Lions vs. Las Vegas Spartans, Football, St. George, Utah, Mar. 25, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Labor union member Geraldine Lacy celebrates Monday. NFL team owners approved the move of the Raiders to Las Vegas in a vote at an NFL football annual meeting in Phoenix. Las Vegas, Nevada, March 27, 2017 | AP Photo by John Locher, St. George News
Dixie State’s Brooklyn Beardshear (11), Dixie State University vs. Holy Names University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 4, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Brenna Hinck (22), file photo from Dixie State University vs. Southern Utah University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Mar. 22, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Alexander Tholen (18), Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 25, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
L-R: Lionel Sanders (second), Alistair Brownlee (first) and Sebastian Kienle (third) pose for a photo at the finish of the Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship, St. George, Utah, May 6, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
File photo of boys 4X100-meter relay, file photo from Region 9 Track and Field Championships, St. George, UT, May 11, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Benton Kemp (far right, in white) headed SC’s 1st half equalizer past Ridgeline’s Venhaus. Snow Canyon vs. Ridgeline, State 3A Soccer, Sandy, Utah, May 12, 2017 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News.
Dixie State’s Mallory Paulson (24), congratulated by teammates after grand slam, Dixie State University vs. Academy Of Art University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 29, 2017, | Photo by Kevin Luthy, St. George News
File photo of Dixie State’s Drew McLaughlin (2), Dixie State University vs. Fresno Pacific University, Baseball, St. George, Utah, Apr. 2, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie assistant coach Kurt Ivie hugs Cooper Vest after his game-winning homer, Dixie vs. Snow Canyon, 3A State Baseball Tournament, Orem, Utah, May 20, 2017 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Butler (KS) vs. Salt Lake Community College, NJCAA National Championships, Softball, St. George, UT, May 20, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Bradley Earl hoists the trophy, DH boys claimed their fifth straight boys track and field championship., Utah state 3A track and field championships, Provo Utah, May 20, 2017 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Glenwild Golf Club and Spa in Park City hosted the finals of the Utah Senior Amateur Championship Wednesday, Jun. 7, 2017 | Photo courtesy Glenwild GC & S
Kids participate in the World Horseshoe Pitching Championship held at the Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, July 21, 2017 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Heidi Smith (7), Snow Canyon vs. Davis, Girls Soccer, St. George, UT, Aug. 15, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Erica Evans and Abbie Carmack of Desert Hills, Region 9 Girls Tennis Tournament, St. George, UT, Sept. 23, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Top three finishers in Region 9 for 2017: Gold medalist Tristan Gardner, left, silver medalist Jaden Milne, right, and bronze winner Lucas Schone, middle. | Photo courtesy Brooks Bergeson
Faith Hess of Desert Hills, file photo from Region 9 Girls Tennis Tournament, St. George, UT, Sept. 23, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View’s Lucas Schone (black hat) shakes hands with Snow Canyon’s Tristan Gardner after the 4A state tournament at Sky Mountain Golf Course, Hurricane, UT, Oct. 5, 2017 | Photo by Beau Yenchik, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Arantxa Melendez (10), Snow Canyon vs. Juan Diego, Girls Soccer, St. George, UT, Oct. 11, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Aaron Fletcher of Lindon crosses the finish line of the 41st annual St. George Marathon in a new course record time of 2:14:45. St. George, Utah, Oct. 7, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Dixie’s Lindsey Barben (13) and Snow Canyon’s Sarah Evans (22), Snow Canyon vs. Dixie, Girls Soccer, St. George, UT, Sept. 28, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Parowan players celebrate following Parowan’s historic 12-10 victory over Kanab, which snapped a 53-game losing streak to the Cowboys dating back to 1971. Parowan, Utah, Oct. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy Dave Mineer, St. George News
Pine View girls won their second straight state title, Utah state 4A cross country championships, Salt Lake City, UT, Oct. 18, 2017 | Photo by Cathy Hill, for St. George News
Desert Hills’ Madison Clark (10), Desert Hills vs. Hurricane, Volleyball, St. George, UT, Sept. 21, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Brandon Simister (10), Dixie State University vs. Point Loma University, Men’s Basketball, St. George, UT, Dec. 30, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View guard Claire Newby dribbles the ball after getting a rebound against Bryce Valley during the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 30, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
File photo of Desert Hills’ Penei Sewell (58), Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Football, St. George, UT, Oct. 19, 2017, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Senior guard Brantzen Blackner attempts a free throw during Canyon View High’s eventual 67-58 victory over Spanish Fork in the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 29, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Canyon View High Lady Falcons celebrate after their 38-34 win over Lincoln County, Nevada, during the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 30, 2017 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News/ Cedar City News
ST. GEORGE — National parks around the country will have four fee-free days in 2018 when visitors will not be charged for entrance to national parks, monuments, recreation areas and historic sites.
The fee-free days in the nation’s national parks for 2018 are the following:
Jan. 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
April 21: First day of National Park Week.
Sept. 22: National Public Lands Day.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
In Utah, the national parks to waive entrance fees on these dates in 2018 include:
Parks and sites across the country participating in the fee-free days are listed by state on the Park Service’s webpage here.
Fee-free days give more families opportunities to visit the nation’s most popular national park sites, the Park Service’s release states, and to enjoy the country’s historical, cultural and natural resources.
Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not apply to fees for camping, reservations, tours or use of concessions. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond the fee-free dates will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.
The number of fee-free days designated this year is a sharp decrease in those allotted in recent years – 16 days in 2016 and 10 days in 2017. However, of the 417 sites within the national park system, only 118 ever require an entrance fee; the rest are free to visitors every day.
Certain qualifying individuals may obtain free-access passes to all national park sites. These include fourth-graders under the Every Kid in a Park program, active-duty military personnel, citizens with permanent disability and volunteers who perform 250 service hours with certain participating agencies.
The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The annual pass is available to everyone for $80. Senior passes are also available for purchase by persons 62 and older, these include a lifetime pass for $80 or an annual pass for $20.
Park entrance stations will have the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass and Senior Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.
Agencies participating in the interagency passes programs include the following:
Another year has passed us by Just enough time to wave good-bye Coach has taught me a thing or two As this past season we review
COMMENTARY – We cannot start the New Year without recognizing an achievement that hasn’t occurred in many, many years. The Runnin’ Utes beat the Ducks in Eugene for the first time since 1951 (ending a nine-game losing streak at any venue).
After beating Oregon State, Utah sits atop the Pac-12 as one of only four undefeated teams, with UCLA being the only other team to have won two conference games.
The Runnin’ Utes host two Top-25 teams in Arizona and Arizona State this Thursday and Sunday.
But we still have lots of time to talk about basketball. Let’s take one last look at Utah’s football season now that it has concluded. I like to learn from my past experiences, so here are the top three things I learned from Kyle Whittingham this season.
3. Steady and sure wins the prize.
The Utes finished ninth in the Pac-12, but still qualified for a bowl game due to their three non-conference wins. Of the nine teams to get invited to a bowl game, Utah was the sole Pac-12 team to actually win.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, file photo from NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Say what you will about the level of competition, because many of the Pac-12 teams were higher ranked than their bowl opponent and/or favored going in to the game. When all was said and done, the Utes were the only team that delivered for their fans in the season finale.
Whittingham is now an unprecedented 11-1 in bowl games, for the best winning percentage in NCAA history.
One of the contributing factors to such a stunning bowl record is the continuing hard work and preparation by Utah going into its bowl games. While there is still time to enjoy the bowl experience, the Utes understand and prepare for the task at hand. “You hear of other places get in a bowl and go out four or five times in shorts and a helmet and run around for 45 minutes and that’s not how we approach it,” explained Whittingham after his most recent bowl victory. “We approach it like a regular-season game, we go full pads a great deal of time during the prep.”
Even when Utah was experiencing its late-season slide, Whittingham kept preaching the hard work necessary to turn the situation around. “It’s just like life. You get knocked down, you get up again and you keep working, you keep working hard.”
You can’t argue with the results. Whittingham is nearly unbeatable in December. I just wish the Utes could be more competitive in November. But alas, hope springs eternal with the New Year, and there is always next season.
2. There is enough blame and credit to go around.
One of the things that has impressed me about Whittingham is that he is not above sharing in the blame after a loss.
When Utah blew out Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, Nick Saban did his best to deflect the lion’s share of the blame to the players (and even the fans). That has never been Whittingham’s style. Just looking back over this past season, you see many forthright acknowledgments by him.
After the Utes lost a home game to Arizona State for their third consecutive loss, Whittingham candidly conceded, “the bottom line—you’ve got to coach better, you’ve got to get them ready and have a better plan on both sides of the ball, we’ve got to be better coaches.”
After the loss to Washington State, Whittingham stated the simple truth, “we’re all responsible.” The coaches shared in the blame. “It’s the coaches’ responsibility to push the right buttons and coach the guys the right way.” But the players weren’t let off the hook either. “It’s up to the players to be coachable and accept coaching and not hang their heads and feel sorry for themselves.”
Coach Kyle Whitttingham
When things go well, Whittingham is also quick to share the credit. For example, after righting the ship for a 48-17 win over UCLA, Whittingham was very careful to take the time to point out the positives of all three components of the team — the offense, the defense, and kicking and special teams. And that is the rule, not the exception. After all games, even the losses, Whittingham tries to give credit where credit is due.
Notably, while he makes sure he includes the coaches in sharing the blame after a loss, rarely does Whittingham ever pat himself on the back after a win. His most recent bowl victory and his overall bowl legacy is no different. “We’ve got a group of guys and have had several groups of guys come through here that take a lot of pride in their bowl performance and the bowl record we have at the University of Utah. This group was no different.” Whittingham explained after the game. “Each subsequent group doesn’t want to be the group that lets the previous groups down. They want to keep that bowl prowess alive.”
It is true that Whittingham couldn’t have won 11 bowl games without committed performances by his players. But it is equally true that the Utes could not have won 11 bowl games under Whittingham without his commitment to coaching at an elite level. Players (and even assistant coaches) come and go, but there is a reason why Whittingham is the common thread among those 11 bowl victories.
1. If it’s broke, fix it.
Whittingham was promoted to head coach in large part because of his genius on the defensive side of the ball. As long as Whittingham has been the head coach at Utah, his teams have been predominantly defined by the defense, while the offense has been the Achilles heel more often than not.
Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) will be a key component in the future of Utah’s offense. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
I’m not an advocate of turning the offensive coordinator position into a revolving door. In Whittingham’s defense, not all changes in the offensive coordinator position were the result of his decision to make a change. For example, Norm Chow left to be the head coach of Hawaii. But I do have to give Whittingham credit for recognizing a problem and trying to fix it.
It looks like Whittingham may have finally found his man in Troy Taylor. This year we were given a hint of the potential that lies in store with Taylor at the helm of the offense.
The reality is that it takes time to fully implement a new offense. With the offensive coordinator turning over on an annual basis, the Utes’ offense has basically been treading water in the starting block for years without being given a true opportunity to implement and effectively run the full scope of any offensive scheme.
We even saw some of those growing pains in the offense again this year. However, at times we saw flashes of what might be, and the bowl game really showcased the potential of what Taylor has to offer. But for a number of dropped balls, some very well-designed plays would have blown the game open even wider. With many key players returning next year, including the starting quarterback, a stable of running backs, and most of the wide receivers (not to mention Britain Covey’s return from his church mission), I can’t wait to see what Utah’s offense looks like next year.
Whittingham also deserves credit for giving Taylor the latitude and discretion he needs to be successful, especially because the offense isn’t in Whittingham’s wheelhouse of expertise. Part of being a good head coach (and a great leader in general) is surrounding yourself with good people, and then giving them the tools and the space to be successful.
Here’s hoping the football team can carry some momentum into spring ball and next fall, while the basketball team continues to be a contender in the Pac-12.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Bleeding Red is a sports column written by Dwayne Vance. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of St. George News.
CORINNE, Utah (AP) — Authorities say a second teenager has died from a New Years’ Eve crash where two dirt bikes collided head-on.
The Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office says a 14-year-old riding a dirt bike died after he arrived at a Salt Lake City hospital. A 15-year-old riding on another bike died at the scene.
A 16-year-old passenger on one of the bikes was hospitalized in stable condition.
Deputies say the three teens were riding the bikes on a farm access road in the northern Utah city of Corinne on Sunday night. Two teens were on one bike and the third teen was on another bike when both bikes hit head-on. At least two of the teens were wearing helmets. The motorcycles don’t have lights.
The sheriff’s office did not have additional details on the teens but say there was no immediate evidence that the boys were impaired at the time of the crash.
Update 5:30 p.m. Authorities have released the name of the girl who died in the crash as 13-year-old Summer Pinzon, of Azusa, California.
EMERY COUNTY — A crash involving a Greyhound bus on Interstate 70 Sunday night left one person dead and several others seriously injured.
Utah Highway Patrol responded to the crash at approximately 11 p.m. on westbound I-70 near milepost 113 in Emery County.
The bus was occupied by 13 passengers and the driver and was on the way to Las Vegas from Green River.
A Greyhound bus rests in a steep wash after going off the road on Interstate 70, Emery County, Utah, Dec. 31, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Public Safety, St. George News
The driver went off the outside shoulder of the roadway, at which point the bus went into a steep wash, coming to rest about 200 feet from the road, according to UHP.
One of the passengers, a 13-year-old girl named Summer Pinzon, of Azusa, California, died at the scene.
The bus driver and two other passengers were seriously injured. One was flown by medical helicopter to the hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, and the other two to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.
All of the other passengers except one suffered various injuries and were transported in ambulances by ground to hospitals in Provo, Price and Richfield.
While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, a passenger told investigators the bus driver may have been suffering from a medical condition.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings.
MILLARD COUNTY — A man is in jail after allegedly assaulting a woman and threatening to shoot law enforcement officers in a home outside Delta Saturday morning.
Michael Eric Kalarney, 51, bookings photo posted Dec. 30, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Millard County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Michael Eric Kalarney, 51, was booked into the Millard County Jail on felony charges of terroristic threat and aggravated assault.
Millard County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in a rural area a few miles northwest of Delta at approximately 9 a.m. Saturday after a woman reported being assaulted in her home, according to a news release issued by Millard County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman told deputies that Kalarney had become intoxicated in the night and physically assaulted her, leaving her with minor injuries, according to the news release.
The woman said Kalarney pointed firearms at her before she was able to get out of the residence and call police.
“She reported that at that time, the man yelled from the residence that he would shoot any responding law enforcement,” the news release states.
Additional law enforcement personnel from Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah Division of Natural Resources were dispatched to help contain the area around the home.
Acting on information that the suspect had loaded rifles available to him, a crew from Utah County Metro SWAT was also called to the scene.
As the SWAT team deployed at the residence, Kalarney appeared outside, walked toward deputies and surrendered peacefully to police custody, according to the news release.
Investigators found weapons matching the description given by the woman located outside near where the suspect appeared when he surrendered.
In addition to the terroristic threat and assault charges Kalarney faces, other criminal charges may be considered when the investigation report is screened by Millard County Attorney’s Office.
“We are thankful for the safety of the victim, the peaceful ending to this encounter and for the assistance rendered to us by our fellow law enforcement agencies,” the news release states.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and may not contain the full scope of findings.
ST. GEORGE — One family ushered in the new year Monday with a remarkable delivery, Baby New Year 2018, who weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and arrived sporting a patch of hair that was later adorned with a bright red bow.
L to R: George Head, Shannel Head and Baby New Year 2018, Adalynn Head born at 6:08 a.m., Monday, at Dixie Regional Medical Center’s 400 East campus Monday, St. George, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Adalynn Louise Head, the first newborn of the year to be welcomed into the world at Dixie Regional Medical Center’s 400 East campus, arrived at 6:08 a.m., Jan. 1, to parents George and Shannel Head of McGill, Nevada.
Adalynn weighed in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 20 inches tall. Both infant and mother are doing well.
Shannel Head went into labor early Sunday evening and, after several hours, she and her husband made their way to the hospital, arriving at 3 a.m. Monday. Adalynn was born three hours later.
“She was due three days ago and we didn’t expect to have the New Year’s baby but we are glad to get her here safely,” Shannel Head said.
The proud father, George Head, agreed, and when asked how he felt about the baby, he said, “She’s great.”
Adalynn joins two sisters and one brother, who are all under the age of four and staying with family members during the birth and the hospital stay.
Asked how the other children feel about the new arrival, Shannel Head said: “My oldest is super excited, but the younger two don’t really understand what’s going on, I don’t think.”
Baby New Year 2018, Adalynn Louise Head, at 6:08 a.m., Monday, at Dixie Regional Medical Center’s 400 East campus, St. George, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
“The first baby of the new year is wonderful and is symbolic of new life and a new beginning here at Dixie Regional Medical Center,” Communications Director Terri Draper said.
“And this baby is so beautiful.”
Dixie Regional presents the family of each Baby New Year a gift basket that is assembled by the Women and Children’s Services department and includes many items that will help the new parents after they return home, including baby blankets, toys and other infant-care supplies.
The parents of the new arrival were also given a $100 gift certificate to purchase items at the hospital’s gift shop, Draper said.
The family was also presented with a package containing an item that was handmade by the mother of Baby New Year 2001, something she has done every year since 2002, Draper added.
“It’s always exciting to welcome the first baby of the year,” Tiffany Hanson, Dixie Regional’s Women and Newborn Services director, said. “Adalynn represents the love and joy each new baby can bring to the world.”
In 2017 there were nearly 2,500 babies born at the Dixie Regional Medical Center’s 400 East campus and 31,000 babies were born in Intermountain Healthcare’s network of 22 hospitals in 2015.
The Baby New Year origins began in 600 B.C. with the Greeks, though the early Egyptians can also be given credit for using a baby as a symbol of a new year. The baby represents rebirth.
In the United States, the first baby went from being heralded in newspapers to magazine covers when the Saturday Evening Post featured its own rendition of the New Year’s baby on its first issue of the year from 1906 through 1943, according to an archived 2008 issue of The New Frontier.
Jennifer Lynn Meldrum was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 23, 1976, to Boyd and Myrna Meldrum. She passed away Dec. 24, 2017.
Jennifer spent the first 10 years of her life living in Magna. The family later moved to Ivins where she grew up and attended Dixie middle and high schools, graduating in 1994. She met Brian DeMarco in high school and they were married Sept. 30, 1995. They were later divorced.
They had their beautiful daughter Whitney DeMarco on Dec. 12, 1997, and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, one year later. AJ Demarco (her “little man”) was born Sept. 1, 2000.
Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and worked in pediatrics and in the mom and baby ward in Anchorage.
Jennifer loved her kids and also loved writing poetry, collecting hippos, completing crossword puzzles and hiking.
This past year she moved back to Ivins where she worked at the Tuacahn box office. She loved working there and was the top box office seller many times. She had many trials and struggles during the later part of her life.
Jennifer is survived by her two children, Whitney DeMarco and Angelo DeMarco; her parents, Boyd and Myrna Meldrum, siblings Derek Meldrum, Cyndi Keller (Matthew), Gregory Meldrum and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Memorial service
A memorial service will be held at the Padre Canyon LDS Church building on 625 E. Center Street., Ivins, on Jan. 5, at noon.
Interment will be at the Ivins City Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughes Mortuary, 435-674-5000.
ST. GEORGE – Prayers for unity, guidance and protection were offered by representatives of various faith groups during the 13th annual “Prayer Over the City” event held New Year’s Day.
Over 100 people gathered at the Delores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center on the campus of Dixie State University Monday to hear prayers covering various aspects of the community, from a prayer for government officials and first responders, to prayers for the youth and teachers, soldiers and veterans.
A man prays at the “Prayer Over the City” event in St. George. During the event, members of different faiths offer short prayers of hope and unity for the community in the coming year, St. George, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
“It’s such a wonderful part of our New Year’s celebration,” St. George Mayor Jon Pike said.
If there were three items he would pray for in the new year, and he will be, Pike said, it would be for unity, kindness and compassion, and mutual respect between all members of the community.
The event seeks to promote a sense of unity that does not require a uniformity of thought and belief, said the Rev. Jimi Kestin, co-pastor of Solomon’s Porch Foursquare Fellowship.
“This event is meant to start the new year to show that people can stand together, that they can transcend the differences we have,” Kestin said.
From his own experience, when different people come together, not only do problems get solved, but the outcome is also better, said Washington County Commissioner Zach Renstrom, who attended Monday’s event.
“This is a great opportunity for these differing faith groups to come together and in unity and to ask a supreme god to help us all to come together in unity,” Renstrom said.
When Prayer Over the City was started 13 years ago by Kestin and the St. George Interfaith Council, it originally met outdoors at Pioneer Park by the Dixie Rock and then the grassy field by what is now the St. George Town Square. It then found an indoor – and warmer – home inside the St. George Tabernacle.
The Rev. Alex Wilke, a retired American Baptist minister, speaks at the 2018 “Prayer Over the City” event, St. George, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
With renovations being made to the Tabernacle since 2015, the event was able to move to the campus of Dixie State.
There are longtime members and newcomers to the event, Kestin said, noting the addition of the Baha’i faith this year.
Each year representatives of the various faiths also have the opportunity to make a request as to the particular topic they wish to pray for prior to the event, Kestin said.
Laura Fairchild, representing the St. George Baha’i community, shared a prayer for unity, asking God to “unite the hearts” of the people while also asking for aid in following a righteous path.
Pastor Jonathan Hendren, of the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, prayed for the safety for first responders and their families. He also asked that first responders be given the respect they are due, as they are the ones who run toward danger and tragedy while others run from it.
“I think it’s an amazing thing,” Hendren said of the event. “I’m glad to be a part of that. … There are many things that do need prayer. We need the touch of God upon our lives … and in our community. We need his help, we need his blessings.”
ST. GEORGE — A man heading to Mesquite, Nevada, to pick up an intoxicated friend was injured when he rolled his SUV on Interstate 15 near Littlefield, Arizona, early Monday morning.
Black Mitsubishi Montero comes to rest upside-down on I-15 after rollover early Monday morning, Mohave County, Ariz., Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire District, St. George News
Shortly after 5:30 a.m., officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover on I-15 near mile marker 2 in Arizona involving a black 2002 Mitsubishi Montero.
Troopers found the SUV upside-down in the northbound lane of the interstate, with the driver outside of the SUV waiting for help to arrive.
The driver, a 29-year-old man from St. George, suffered lacerations to his scalp and hand, but declined transport to the hospital, telling responders he would seek medical care on his own, Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Bottoms said.
Troopers learned that the man was heading south from St. George to Mesquite to pick up a friend who had called him requesting a ride home because he was too intoxicated to drive.
While heading south, the SUV began drifting off of the right shoulder of the road and the driver over-corrected to the left, which sent the vehicle careening across both travel lanes and into the median.
The SUV then rolled and came to rest upside-down on the northbound side of I-15.
Beaver Dam/Littlefield firefighters and EMS gathered up a large number of tools that were scattered across the roadway, apparently thrown from the vehicle during the rollover, and returned them to the driver.
The driver estimated that he was going 75 to 80 mph when the car began to drift toward the shoulder, Bottoms said. He told troopers that he may have fallen asleep, but wasn’t sure what happened.
The Montero sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene, while the driver was later cited for speed not reasonable and prudent to avoid a collision, Bottoms said.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety, Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire District and Ambulance responded and tended to the scene.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
ST. GEORGE — A man suffered serious injuries after crashing his dirt bike off the road in Warner Valley Monday afternoon.
A dirt bike lies on the side of the road after its rider crashed in Warner Valley, Washington County, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Bueno Adrian, St. George News
Emergency personnel from Washington City Fire Department responded to the incident at 2:05 p.m. on 4700 East, a gravel road near the Utah-Arizona border in Warner Valley.
The man was riding along the road with another rider at the time of the crash.
“He lost control, which caused him to go off the road and into an embankment,” Washington City Fire spokesman Julio Reyes said.
Some nearby bikers stopped to help, and 911 was called. Emergency responders pinpointed their location via GPS.
“Before the EMS crews arrived, the patient was unconscious for a few minutes,” Reyes said.
The rider was wearing full protective gear when he crashed, including helmet and chest protection.
By the time medical personnel arrived, the rider was beginning to regain consciousness and was able to answer questions asked by the responding EMS crews.
The patient is believed to have broken his femur, Reyes said.
Emergency crews respond to the scene of a dirt bike crash in Washington County, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Washington City Fire Department, St. George News
“He will have to be evaluated at the hospital before we know how significant his head injuries are,” Reyes added.
Given the nature of the rider’s injuries and the remote location, a crew from Intermountain Life Flight arrived to transport the patient to Dixie Regional Medical Center by air.
The crash is believed to be accidental.
“He wasn’t being unsafe or reckless at all,” Reyes said of the rider, noting that he took appropriate precautions like wearing protective gear and riding with another person.
Emergency personnel from Washington City Police Department, Washington City Fire Department, St. George Fire Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, Intermountain Life Flight and Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.
CEDAR CITY — Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home in Cedar City on New Year’s Eve.
Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home located at 1074 Mill Hollow Way, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Fire crews were dispatched to a structure fire at 1074 Mill Hollow Way just after 10:20 p.m. Sunday, Cedar City Fire Chief Mike Phillips said.
Firefighters were met with thick smoke and visible flames coming from the 2,782-square-foot home.
“It took about a half an hour to get the fire under control,” Phillips said. “It was fully involved when we arrived.”
No one was inside the home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported, Phillips said, adding that he believes a neighbor spotted the flames and called to report it.
Phillips said the house is considered a total loss and that officials were still working Monday afternoon to determine the cause of the blaze as well as an estimate of the damages.
Two fire engines, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue truck and support vehicles, along with 26 fire personnel responded to the scene to battle the blaze.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home located at 1074 Mill Hollow Way, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home located at 1074 Mill Hollow Way, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home located at 1074 Mill Hollow Way, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Officials are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home located at 1074 Mill Hollow Way, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Authorities are investigating the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning after a family of four was found dead on New Year’s Day in a northern Arizona cabin.
Officials were responding to a welfare check Monday at the cabin located in Parks – a town located between Williams and Flagstaff – when they made the discovery, according to a statement issued by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have identified the victims as 32-year-old Anthony Capitano, 32-year-old Meghan Capitano, 4-year-old Lincoln Capitano and 3-year-old Kingsley Capitano, of El Mirage, Arizona.
The Sheriff’s Office had received a call at approximately 12:26 p.m. Monday from a friend of the Capitano family.
“The caller said family members had been trying to contact them for a few days with no success and had become concerned,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the statement.
A Coconino County Sheriff’s deputy from the Williams Substation arrived at the cabin at approximately 1:17 p.m. and located the family’s vehicle in the driveway, officials said.
Upon approaching the cabin, the deputy reported smelling a “strong odor of gas” coming from the cabin and requested additional units, including the Ponderosa Fire Department, to respond to the scene.
At 1:43 p.m., fire personnel arrived on scene, entered the cabin with protective breathing equipment and located the deceased family.
“At this time, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as possible carbon monoxide poisoning,” officials said Monday, noting that the Medical Examiner’s Office would be conducting further investigation.
The “silent killer”
Carbon monoxide is a year-round threat that, nationally, claims hundreds of lives each year.
Carbon monoxide is found in fumes produced by motor vehicles and gas-powered tools and appliances like gas stove ranges, grills, lanterns and heating systems, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It is also produced by burning charcoal and wood.
It is often called the “silent killer” because it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and nonirritating gas that can kill you quickly. Carbon monoxide can cause people who inhale it to lose consciousness and then die within a few minutes.
Carbon monoxide is picked up by the blood’s red cells faster than oxygen, according to the CDC.
“This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can damage tissues and result in death,” the CDC states on its website. “CO can also combine with proteins in tissues, destroying the tissues and causing injury and death.”
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
Ways to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home
Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home. Place your detector where it will wake you up if it alarms, such as outside your bedroom. Consider buying a detector with a digital readout.
Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors.
If you smell an odor from your gas refrigerator have an expert service it as the odor can mean it could be leaking CO.
Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly.
Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year.
Never patch a vent pipe with tape, gum or something else.
Never use a gas range or oven for heating.
Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal – red, gray, black or white – gives off CO.
Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors.
Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, move quickly to a fresh air location and then call 911.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
OPINION — There’s really no way to quantify it, but the feeling here is that we lost more in 2017 than we gained.
It was, of course, a notable year for losing people in the public eye, from political figures to social activists to astronauts, actors and rock stars.
The losses were sad as some beloved figures took the next step in their journey.
But, collectively, the losses we suffered in other areas of our lives were staggering.
From the horror of the pummeling the continent took with repeated hurricanes to the senseless loss of life – from the Las Vegas shooting to the church massacre in Texas, right up to the last day of the year when a Denver man continued the carnage – it has been a tough year.
We lost a large chunk of dignity as a nation in 2017 as we hung on the precipice of nuclear war, watched the remainder of the world shake its head in wonder during a United Nations speech that will always be remembered for its playground intellect and name-calling and, of course, Russia, Russia, Russia.
It was a year of pettiness as the new boss tried to stamp out every vestige of the old boss; we further alienated ourselves via vicious political ideology and posturing; and we suffered a suspension of truth in greater degree than we have ever seen.
It would be nice to put out a plea for unity and ask everybody to put aside their grudges, dispense with their anger and, well, tamp it all down a few notches in an effort to get along.
But that ain’t gonna happen.
The wounds are too deep, the so-called “payback” dividend too rich, the attitude too severe. At this point, it would be like putting the pin back into a grenade – a delicate procedure that could end up quite messy if done incorrectly.
Still, we are at the dawn of a new year and it is up to us to make it work the best we can.
To sit smugly, holding each other in contempt will not suffice.
It’s time to tap the intellect that, hopefully, has only gone dormant and not totally disappeared. Revive it. Use that energy to explore, to investigate. Don’t be so quick to post that specious meme on Facebook or tweet that inglorious lie juSt to provoke or antagonize. We’ve certainly had enough of that.
Drop that “libtard,” “repugnican” and “snowflake” business. Using terms like that are contemptible, sophomoric. Those playground putdowns serve no purpose other than to agitate and anger.
Unfortunately, I don’t see a whole lot of healing taking place in 2018.
In fact, as the midterm elections approach, I can see it getting uglier before it gets better, with little chance of healing for a nation suffering from a mulish mentality. There is a prejudice that could prove lethal as we totally disregard anything that comes from the opposing side. And, most importantly, it’s time to drop the “they do it too” rationale. As we were constantly reminded by our parents, two wrongs don’t make a right.
There is, of course, a high degree of hypocrisy attached to our time.
We have been quick to condemn the despicable actions of those from the opposing parties while looking for the loophole, the get out of jail free card, if you will, for those with similar political leanings.
Scandals and inappropriate behavior afflict all parties and ideologies. It’s time to ‘fess up and admit it rather than make excuses or look for ridiculous degrees of culpability.
And, while a dose of skepticism is healthy, don’t carry it to outlandish extremes. Trust, but verify. Nothing is as cut and dried as it seems and passion is great, but don’t put reason on the shelf. I have seen intellect ridiculed as deceit because it goes beyond the lazy, monosyllabic grunts being used to communicate ideas these days. Ponder, don’t just react.
Most importantly, look to the greater good, not just the needs, wants and desires of those who look like you, think like you, believe what you believe. As I have said before, we are in this together, the old and young, the rich and poor, the black and white. We’ve seen expressions of protest over injustice shrugged off because well, it just doesn’t happen to “folks like us.” Of course it doesn’t. But, try to place yourself in somebody else’s reality before writing off their concerns as inconsequential.
Learn. We have a lot of history. We’ve been down many of these roads before. If we look to the past, we can learn what worked and what didn’t. Look outside yourself. This is a huge world and, as we can see if we simply open our eyes, others have found solutions to some of our most pressing concerns. This foolish pride that prompts us to shut down the outside world seriously hinders our ability to solve our problems. Thanks to the wonder of modern communication we have access to people and ideas in far-off places. Listen to what they have to say. Some of those ideas just might work.
I mean, seriously, haven’t we taken this animosity thing too far?
Haven’t we sewn enough seeds of hate, anger and distrust?
We have failed as our brother’s and sister’s keeper and abandoned the unrelenting responsibility of being selfless and doing what is right and proper simply for the sake of doing what is right and proper.
This does not mean we eliminate the critical eye or silence the opposing view, but allowing and encouraging its voice.
We’ve been falsely told that in order for us to regain our footing, we must tear everything down and start anew.
I don’t think we’re at that place yet.
We’ve torn each other down quite enough, thank you.
It’s time to find our character again, to understand we have differences, but also figure that those differences are not such a bad thing, that they can be used to inspire thought, discussion and a mutual desire for solutions.
I’m not quite sure what 2018 will bring.
But, I do know that we are responsible, each and every one of us, for how it turns out.
No bad days!
Ed Kociela is an opinion columnist for St. George News. The opinions stated in this article are his own and may not be representative of St. George News.
