ABC 4: Utah News

Lehi, Bountiful win state soccer titles

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:00:21 -0600

SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - The Lehi and Bountiful High School boys soccer teams both won state championships by identical 2-0 scores at Rio Tinto Stadium Thursday night.

The Pioneers, which won the 3A title in 1997, the 4A title in 2010, claimed its first 5A championship by shutting down Bingham.

After a scoreless first half, Caide Ramos centered a perfect pass to Gui Leme, who booted it past Miners goalie Mark Stanley for the first goal of the game.

"I passed the ball deep to Caide," said Leme. "As soon as I saw him coming in, I just stayed there, and it came right to me and I put it in. It was unbelievable. My heart was beating so fast."

In the 72nd minute, Chad Preisendorf added another goal to secure the victory. Taylor Watkins was magnificent goal, recording the shutout victory.

"Going from 3A to 4A to 5A, it just shows that Lehi can play with anybody and can beat anybody," Watkins said.

"The defense was awesome," said head coach Jerry Preisendorf. "I'm so proud of them."

In the 4A championship, the Braves scored a goal in each half to beat Orem for its 7th state soccer championship.

Alex Simpson scored off a pass off of a free kick by Bryce Carey. Then in the second half, after Kaleb Maynard was tackled in the box by Orem goalkeeper Ben Mitchell, Cesar Duenas calmly buried the PK to give Bountiful an insurmountable 2-0 lead.

"It was a lot of pressure, but I knew I had to put it in the net for my team," Duenas said. "We practice PK's everyday, so it wasn't that big of a deal."

"I'm so proud of the boys," said head coach Lou Plank. "They showed up big, knew exactly who they were, where they were and what they needed to do. They just executed perfectly. It was a perfect cap to a great season."

Thousands pay final respects to Sister Monson at funeral

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:54:25 -0600

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - At funeral services Thursday on Temple Square Thomas S. Monson said 'til we meet again' to his wife of 64 years.

He wasn't alone.

Thousands of mourners came to pay their final respects to Frances J. Monson.

“We are so grateful to Frances Monson for her legacy, a legacy of humility, service, faithfulness and love,” said Ann M. Dibb, Frances’ daughter.

Sister Monson passed away peacefully last Friday at age 85. A long life filled with a deep love for her husband who was surrounded by their three grown children just feet away from his wife's flower-covered casket.

The two met as students at the University of Utah in 1944 Those who attended the service say they'll most remember Sister Monson's unwavering support of her husband.

“He's had a lifetime of service and she's had a lifetime of providing service to him,” said Ben Thomas, Farmington.

An estimated 3,000 people attended the service in the Tavernacle.

Farmington's Station Park opens more stores in Davis County

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:09:46 -0600

FARMINGTON, Utah (ABC 4 Utah) - Thursday Davis County's first H&M opened in Farmington's Station Park, marking the next wave of growth for Davis County.

People waited in line over night to be the first into the new store and shoppers made it very clear, this was not a a disappointment.

The excitement Thursday wasn't just about this store, it was about the wave of new stores coming to Farmington. A very first for the entire Davis County.

People at Station Park Thursday were excited about their community having something it has never had before.

Boy Scouts of America to vote on gay ban

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:16:00 -0600

SALT LAKE CITY, (ABC 4 Utah) - The Boy Scouts of America is on the verge of a monumental policy change in their traditional organization.

Utah has 42 delegates in Texas set to vote on whether or not to allow gay boys be scouts. Gay adults remain banned from being leaders.

Peter Brownstein is a Salt Lake area Scout Master with a straight teenage son who is an Eagle Scout. They both want to see a change.

“It’s hurting the entire organization as people are judging the Scouts based on this one issue and they're keeping kids out of the program,” Brownstein said.

Brownstein’s son, Michael, said he took an oath to be “morally straight,” which has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

“Morally straight means you’re a good person,” Michael said. “Gay has nothing to do with whether you're a good person or not.”

Several online petitions at change.org/boyscouts urge an end to the Boy Scout’s ban on gay youth and parent. The petitions have a combined 1.8 million signatures.

Jason Dautel from Sugarhouse started one of the petitions.

“Scouts was wonderful for me, but I never felt like I could be open about how I felt,” Dautel said. “I felt I had to hide it or lie about it and I don't think that's fair for the boys now.”

Dautel said the Boy Scouts should be about inclusion, brotherhood and camaraderie, but the current policy does not allow that to happen.

The Brownstein’s are hopeful the policy will change, even if critics want to keep gays out of the organization. He said a change will have lasting effects in the future.

“Even if there are a few people who will leave the program, probably many more will join causing it to be a larger organization in the long run,” Brownstein added.

A vote is expected to be announced Thursday at 5:00 p.m central time.

Second Unified Fire firefighter accused of prescription drug fraud

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:50:35 -0600

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (ABC 4 Utah) – An investigation into disappearing drugs in the Unified Fire department turns up another firefighter with prescription drug problems.

This comes just weeks after Assistant Chief Marlon Jones was charged with obtaining a prescription under false pretenses.

The new firefighter arrested Wednesday is a paramedic working at Unified Fire Station #116 in Cottonwood Heights. He’s 44-year-old Bruce Bergdahl.

“We are disappointed and shocked,” said Chief Michael Jensen, Unified Fire Authority.

Chief Jensen said both Bergdahl and Jones were discovered after investigators found drugs used to treat patients were missing in several fire stations in Salt Lake valley. One of them is the Unified Fire Station #116.

ABC 4 Utah is told both men are on administrative leave.

“We will not tolerate any of our members doing anything to jeopardize employees, the public health, to jeopardize patient care or organization or public trust,” said Jensen.

Chief Jensen added from what he’s told he does not believe either man is responsible for the missing drugs. Investigators simply started looking at who might have had access to drugs, and then discovered Bergdahl’s and Jones’ separate drugs problems.

ABC 4 Utah is told a third firefighter is being investigated for the same crime.

------
Follow Brian Carlson on Twitter: @tv_briancarlson

Blogger claims USDA regulations targeting LDS canneries

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:27:13 -0600

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A blog written by Kellene Bishop claims "LDS Canneries east of the Mississippi will no longer be canning any food at their facilities beginning June 27th, 2013, as they are no longer able to justify the abhorrent costs to keep in compliance with the ever-changing criteria set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration."

Kellene's blog continues, "The canneries will still function as a center for pre-packaged bulk-foods for their patrons, but these items will have to be shipped into them now, pre-packaged in the LDS Canneries in the West."

Noah Bond's ABC 4 Utah broadcast at 5 p.m. on May 22 reported, Kellene's blog contains misinformation about canneries owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because Church spokesmen Dale Jones and Cody Craynor said government regulations are not restricting LDS canning at canning facilities.

Kellene called ABC 4 Utah and eventually talked with Bond. She told him his report was slanderous and boldly defended the claims she posted in her blog. She told Bond the Church will not openly confront the Federal Government because it would be too much of a fight. She reemphasized to Bond all LDS canneries will halt canning east of the Mississippi June 27 because of USDA and FDA regulations.

Bond left a message with the secretary of Church spokespeople Ruth Todd and Cody Craynor Wednesday night to fact check this claim.

Kellene said she talked with an LDS cannery volunteer who told her off the record about a government inspector who demanded one can from each box be tested at a cost of $100 each, but Kellene could not provide the source.

Kellene told Bond a worker in one cannery cried as she said a government inspector is making regulations like a moving target and impossible to comply with.

Bond was unable to verify any of Kellene's claims because she could not provide names or phone numbers to him, but Bond was encouraged by his management to flush out this story completely. He will continue to call canneries all over the United States to fact check Kellene's blog. You can read it by clicking on the attached link.

Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Stephanie Chan did not return an email from Bond before this story was posted online.

Bond also called Senators Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee and Rep. Jim Matheson, but none of their spokespeople were aware of the alleged assault against the Latter-day Saint Church.

LDS Church spokeswoman Ruth Todd released this statement:

"The Church is not closing canneries and is not limiting the variety of goods available to church members. Over time we will be reducing the number of facilities where the packaging of dry goods occurs. Instead, Church home storage centers will offer the same or additional commodities in pre-packaged form, at no additional cost."

Craynor emphasized the reduction in the number of facilities has nothing to do with government regulations.

Bond also called LDS spokesman Matt Ball who represents the Latter-day Saint Church in California and Hawaii. He said a cannery in Sacramento closed.

Bond called Richard Montgomery who represents the Sacramento cannery and learned it closed and moved to Idaho because of State regulations on all businesses.

Susan Cox Powell documents: How Steven's obsession began

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:06:00 -0600

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Utah) – ABC 4 continues to dig through the thousands of letters videos and images, released by West Valley police in the Susan Cox Powell case.

After sifting through the documents, we’re learning more about Steven Powell’s fascination with his daughter in law, Susan. In a short journal entry, He writes about how obsessed he is with her. There are some very sexually graphic entries that ABC 4 Utah has decided to leave out. Other parts, explain where the obsession began.

"Susan was very sexual with me she was very flirtatious," said Steven Powell during an interview with ABC News.

In a national TV interview, Steven Powell claimed his relationship with Susan was sexual in nature. Now, some of these new documents show how Steven came to believe that. When investigators searched Steven Powell’s home in 2011, one of the many things they found was a short typed journal where Steven confessed his love for Susan.

In it, he wrote "I would love to kiss her lips. The closest I have come to that is when I came close to smell her hair, and as my nose touched her hair, my lips brushed her cheek. What a turn on!"

Shortly after Susan and Josh were married they lived with Steven for 6 months. Steven wrote that this was when his obsession began.

"I wasn't even attracted to her until months after she joined our family and it was only after they moved in with me that I started noticing her," Steven wrote.

Police found stacks of photos Steven had of Susan, including some he took when she wasn't looking. He wrote about those in the journal.

"She was in a skirt and pantyhose, my favorite. I was able to get some video clips surreptitiously. I am about 90% sure she knew I was taking the shots, as she sat in some very provocative positions while I picked up one of her in the kitchen, sitting on a stool at the counter eating and reading the paper,” Steven wrote.

He also wrote songs that he published online under the stage name Steve Chantrey. Although Steven claimed Susan reciprocated his affections, a document Susan kept in a Utah safety deposit box speaks differently.

She wrote about the issues in her marriage Steven’s son josh. Susan typed out a to-do list saying she wanted, “no more contact with his dad. He is like a cancer poisoning your relationship. Just like an addiction to porn or drugs, cold turkey is the best method. Contacts should only occur in a family emergency."

Tooele house fire hurts 25-year-old man

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:45:32 -0600

TOOELE, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A 25-year-old man is fighting for his life at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

He was trapped inside a burning home when it caught fire Wednesday morning after 3:00 a.m. at 555 Isgreen Circle in Tooele.

It is a total loss. The fire consumed the inside of the structure and left the roof sagging in at least two places.

The Draper family was asleep in the home when it caught fire. Three children and two parents were able to escape, but a 25-year-old son was trapped in the basement.

Fire crews pulled his body out and performed CPR. He was later flow to IMC in Murray.

Assistant Fire Chief Bucky Whitehouse of the Tooele Fire Department says took his crew about 35 minutes to get the fire under control.

Neighbors say they woke to exploding car tires and ran outside to see the commotion.

"Came rushing out and the whole street was filled with smoke and we saw the family coming from the home," said Erica Feuerbach.

Whitehouse says the fire started near the south end of the home.

The 25-year-old man remained at IMC Wednesday night.

RSL women's team making name for itself

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:39:20 -0600

SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Real Salt Lake has a brand new women's soccer team.

Founded in 2008, the team played its first five years as Sparta United and Salt Lake United in the Women's Premiere Soccer League. But this past year, RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen stepped in to sponsor the team.

"We always had this vision for the team," said original member Sara Cowley. "We started as a little team that just wanted to keep playing, and slowly gathered support."

"It is seriously a dream come true," added another original team member, Kendra Halterman. "This is what we dreamed of when we found out that Real was coming as a MLS team."

Life before RSL sponsorship was far from glamorous. The players had to pay all expenses and go on long, grueling road trips for no money.

"We had no money," said Halterman. "We earned our own money by cleaning stadiums, we picked up trash, we drove our own cars and drive for twelve hours just to get to the game. We'd stop at Costco and Sam's Club eat. We seriously made it by bare minimum."

But now that RSL stepped in to pay for travel expenses, life on the road is going to be much easier for these women who love to play the game of soccer so much.

"We're actually getting to fly to places now," Halterman said. "We now get to rest instead of getting out of van and instantly playing a game. It's going to make such a huge difference."

The RSL Women will play its home opener against the Utah Starzz from Provo. They will also play St. George United, Phoenix Del Sol, and Tucson Academy FC. The winner of the division advances to the WPSL Final Four.

The quality of play has improved on the team as well. Nearly every player has college has experience, including Jacqui Rimando, wife of RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando. She played in the old WUSA with the Washington Freedom.

"It's been so fun," Rimando said, the oldest player on the team at the age of 36. "It feels so great to run around and be competitive. I get to go home and tell my kids that mommy played soccer, and they don't really believe it yet. My son asked me the name of the team, and I said, 'We're Real Women.' He said, 'Like daddy's team?' I said, 'Ya, but it's for mommies!'"

In fact, their are eight mothers on the team.

"We have quite a few moms out here that still have it," said Halterman, a mom herself. "They're amazing."

These players are not playing for the money, and the coaches are volunteering their time. But the team says they get to be role models for the thousands of little girls who play soccer in this state.

"I coach young kids too," said Annie Hawkins. "I see the passion about soccer, and it's really cool to see all the kids that want to play. They're excited to come watch us play soccer. Real has a great following and we're hoping the women can get a little bit of that too."

"This is what we were dreaming up five years ago," said Cowley. "Getting to play at Rio Tinto with this level of talent, that's what we wanted to make this team. We knew the talent was here in Utah, we just had to make a place for them to play."

"There are so many women's soccer fans out there," added Halterman. "We're hoping they come out to our game to support women's soccer."

The RSL Women will play the Utah Starzz at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Jodi Arias jury cannot agree on death sentence

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:27:43 -0600

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.

By COLLEEN CURRY
May 22, 2013

The jury in the Jodi Arias murder trial cannot agree on whether to sentence Arias to death or life in prison.

The jury, which began deliberating at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, sent a note to Judge Sherry Stephens shortly before 3 p.m. ET today saying they could not come to an agreement.

They are tasked with deciding whether Arias will get the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison.

The same jury convicted Arias, 32, earlier this month of first-degree murder for killing her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in a bloody attack in 2008. Prosecutor Juan Martinez has argued that the cruelty of the murder warrants the death penalty.

Arias and her attorneys begged the jury on Tuesday to spare her life and sentence her to prison rather than death.

Arias, with her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, listened calmly as Judge Sherry Stephens told the jury to go back to their deliberation room and try once again to come to an agreement this afternoon.

The family of Travis Alexander, seated in the gallery of the courtroom, began to cry as they heard the jury's note read aloud by Stephens.

"Each juror has a duty to consult with one another, (and) to try to reach agreement without violence to individual judgment. You may want to identify areas of agreement and disagreement. If you still disagree, you may wish to tell the attorneys and me what issues, questions or law or facts on which we can possibly help," Stephens told the jurors.

"At this time please go back to the jury room and continue deliberating," she said.

If the jury cannot agree on a sentence for Arias, new jurors will be selected and the penalty phase will begin again. If a second jury cannot decide unanimously on a penalty, Arias would be sentenced to either life in prison without parole, or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

The jury currently deliberating has been listening to testimony in the case since the beginning of January.