Subject: Practice News Story #4: Court
Posted: 10:15am MT/September 26, 2007
Suspects Arrested in September 19 Break-in of Local Church House
Madison Hintze
Logan, Utah-Two suspects presumably involved in the September 19 LDS church house break-in; have been charged with two misdemeanor counts, one of breaking and entering, the other of vandalism, and a felony of burglary.
35-year-old Mr. James (Jim) Michaels, husband and father of two, was arrested around 11:00pm on the evening of the crime, along with a minor accomplice whose information is not being released at this time.
The preliminary hearing overseen by Judge Allen Mayfield has shown sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges that have been made. Evidence that led up to both arrests included fingerprints found at the scene of the crime, several leads that had been called in the day of the incident, and also a confession from the juvenile that has been charged.
Defense Attorney Robbie Cochren who has been court appointed to defend both suspects believes each of them to be innocent. “I believe the charges will be dropped.” Said Robby in a Press Conference. Evidence of their innocence will be brought to court, but as of now is not being released.
Sheriff Deputy Geoffrey Hasty, who made both arrests said, “I think there is ample evidence.” Mr. Michaels could face six months to a year in jail, along with a maximum fine of $5,000. As for the juvenile, sentencing will be dependent upon him being tried as a minor or as an adult.
Suspects were being held in the Cache County Detention Center; however, both posted bail at $500 and were released. Neither suspect has a previous record. A trial date has been set for October 21st.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Practice News Article #3: Crime
Local Church Building Vandalized
Madison Hintze
In the early morning hours on September 19 the church building belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was apparently broken into. However, there was no forced entry. A window was left open to an office room on the backside of the building. The intruders were easily able to climb in. In a press conference following the incident, Sheriff Deputy Geoffrey Hasty informed the public that the items stolen consisted of two CPU’s, and the items vandalized were two computer monitors. “I don’t think it has anything to do with religion. I think the persons of interest knew that there was valuable equipment inside the building.” Said Officer Hasty. He also has been lead to believe that there are two suspects involved, whose names have not yet been released. They are following leads that include fingerprints and also the K-9’s were brought in to track scent.
Bob Knotz, who is the Physical Management Manager for not only this LDS church building, but also five others, was the first to arrive on the scene. Bob arrived to the church house around six a.m. The first thing he noticed was that the door was unlocked. When he saw the two vandalized computer monitors sitting inside the door smashed to pieces, he immediately called the police. Bob Knotz has seen other vandalism incidents while serving as the ‘PM Guy.’ “This is not the reason I enjoy being the PM Guy, I don’t like dealing with this stuff, but it comes with the job. I just hope whoever took the CPU’s really needed them. If it was someone who does this frequently, I don’t have much sympathy.”
The Bishop, Larry Shirk, of this particular ward house was the last to leave the building the night the intruders got in. LDS church policy requires that at least two individuals be in the building at all times. Bishop Shirk was in the building with a counselor that left only minutes before he did. Larry remembers opening the window in his office, but completely forgot about it as he was leaving around 11:00 p.m. The CPU’s that have been taken were recently replaced with a new computer system. Bishop Shirk said that the CPU’s along with the monitors had been sitting on his office floor; meaning no important or confidential information will be lost. “I’m glad that no one was in the building, that could have made things a lot worse.” When asked how the church would handle the legal situation involving this incident, Bishop Shirk said, “We do prosecute and we do sustain the laws of the land.”
Madison Hintze
In the early morning hours on September 19 the church building belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was apparently broken into. However, there was no forced entry. A window was left open to an office room on the backside of the building. The intruders were easily able to climb in. In a press conference following the incident, Sheriff Deputy Geoffrey Hasty informed the public that the items stolen consisted of two CPU’s, and the items vandalized were two computer monitors. “I don’t think it has anything to do with religion. I think the persons of interest knew that there was valuable equipment inside the building.” Said Officer Hasty. He also has been lead to believe that there are two suspects involved, whose names have not yet been released. They are following leads that include fingerprints and also the K-9’s were brought in to track scent.
Bob Knotz, who is the Physical Management Manager for not only this LDS church building, but also five others, was the first to arrive on the scene. Bob arrived to the church house around six a.m. The first thing he noticed was that the door was unlocked. When he saw the two vandalized computer monitors sitting inside the door smashed to pieces, he immediately called the police. Bob Knotz has seen other vandalism incidents while serving as the ‘PM Guy.’ “This is not the reason I enjoy being the PM Guy, I don’t like dealing with this stuff, but it comes with the job. I just hope whoever took the CPU’s really needed them. If it was someone who does this frequently, I don’t have much sympathy.”
The Bishop, Larry Shirk, of this particular ward house was the last to leave the building the night the intruders got in. LDS church policy requires that at least two individuals be in the building at all times. Bishop Shirk was in the building with a counselor that left only minutes before he did. Larry remembers opening the window in his office, but completely forgot about it as he was leaving around 11:00 p.m. The CPU’s that have been taken were recently replaced with a new computer system. Bishop Shirk said that the CPU’s along with the monitors had been sitting on his office floor; meaning no important or confidential information will be lost. “I’m glad that no one was in the building, that could have made things a lot worse.” When asked how the church would handle the legal situation involving this incident, Bishop Shirk said, “We do prosecute and we do sustain the laws of the land.”
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Practice News Article #2: Fire
Grease Fire Swallows Up Three-Story Building
“Ya man, like I was in the kitchen cooking and the fire I was cooking with got on the grease-I couldn’t put it out fast enough.” Said Pedro Sanchez about the kitchen fire that took place at his restaurant on the corner of 21st Street and Washington around 2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon.
Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant has been around for nearly two years and is well liked by many. A loyal customer and friend was at the site as the blazing event unfolded. Pedro was in the kitchen cooking when suddenly a grease fire broke out. Pedro was able to get hold of a fire extinguisher but the fire got too big too quick. Amidst the cries for someone to get help, Pedro suffered fire burns to his hands and was taken to Mckay-Dee Hospital.
The restaurant is on the ground level of a three-story building. The other two floors are apartments. One occupied by Pedro himself, and the other by Pedro’s brother Miguel and his two daughters, Mariana who is four-years old and Mercedes who just turned two. Miguel heard the screams from his brother in the restaurant below. He immediately grabbed his daughters and got out of the building. The three suffered minor smoke inhalation. Miguel said his daughters were doing better than he was and that he was glad the firefighters arrived on the scene as quickly as they did.
Rachel Calhoun, who is the owner of the building received a phone call and arrived at the restaurant nearly ten minutes after the fire started. She is fortunate enough to have full-coverage on the building. She hopes to rebuild with no problems and keep Pedro around. Rachel said, “This is the first time something like this has happened to me and I think they (the firefighters) did everything they could. When it comes down to it, I’m just glad that everyone was able to walk away.” An investigation will take place to determine the actual cause of the fire, but Rachel believes that it was only an accident and that Pedro has done nothing wrong.
In a Press Conference following the incident, the Deputy Fire Chief, Greg Chamberlain said, “We are glad we got everyone out safely. The building was lost, but human life is more important. I consider this a success."
“Ya man, like I was in the kitchen cooking and the fire I was cooking with got on the grease-I couldn’t put it out fast enough.” Said Pedro Sanchez about the kitchen fire that took place at his restaurant on the corner of 21st Street and Washington around 2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon.
Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant has been around for nearly two years and is well liked by many. A loyal customer and friend was at the site as the blazing event unfolded. Pedro was in the kitchen cooking when suddenly a grease fire broke out. Pedro was able to get hold of a fire extinguisher but the fire got too big too quick. Amidst the cries for someone to get help, Pedro suffered fire burns to his hands and was taken to Mckay-Dee Hospital.
The restaurant is on the ground level of a three-story building. The other two floors are apartments. One occupied by Pedro himself, and the other by Pedro’s brother Miguel and his two daughters, Mariana who is four-years old and Mercedes who just turned two. Miguel heard the screams from his brother in the restaurant below. He immediately grabbed his daughters and got out of the building. The three suffered minor smoke inhalation. Miguel said his daughters were doing better than he was and that he was glad the firefighters arrived on the scene as quickly as they did.
Rachel Calhoun, who is the owner of the building received a phone call and arrived at the restaurant nearly ten minutes after the fire started. She is fortunate enough to have full-coverage on the building. She hopes to rebuild with no problems and keep Pedro around. Rachel said, “This is the first time something like this has happened to me and I think they (the firefighters) did everything they could. When it comes down to it, I’m just glad that everyone was able to walk away.” An investigation will take place to determine the actual cause of the fire, but Rachel believes that it was only an accident and that Pedro has done nothing wrong.
In a Press Conference following the incident, the Deputy Fire Chief, Greg Chamberlain said, “We are glad we got everyone out safely. The building was lost, but human life is more important. I consider this a success."
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
First Practice News Article
Fatal Accident Takes the Life of 8 Utah State Aggies
September 5 brought a solemn silence to the campus of Utah State University. It was Agricultural Week. A yearly field trip had been scheduled to take a group of Agriculture students to Tremonton. A day of fun and learning turned tragic around four o’clock that evening. The group of twelve, eleven of which were in the University van driven by Instructor Evan Parker, headed back to Logan on Interstate 84. Just outside of Tremonton the vehicle had some sort of mechanical malfunction and the driver was unable to gain control. The van appeared to have rolled several times, ejecting all individuals from the vehicle, before landing on the west side of the road on its side. The preliminary investigation has revealed no evidence of seatbelt usage by any individual.
Kyle Holden, a former student of the Agriculture Department, employee of Greenline, and field trip tour guide for the day, was also a witness to the tragic accident. Kyle had taken his personal vehicle due to other personal engagements that evening. In a press conference following the accident, Kyle described the real-life horror, “I can’t believe this has even happened. I was passing Evan just before the accident happened; I know this because I looked at him as I was passing. I saw a black smoke coming from what appeared to be the back tire. Evan’s face changed as though he had to get control-bodies were shooting out, I can hardly describe.” The question came up as to whether or not alcohol or drugs were involved in anyway. “These are not kids that drink or smoke, they are good homegrown farm kids. Some are married and have children and some are newly returned home from LDS missions. These are good kids.” Stated an emotional Kyle Holden.
Lt. Jason Jenson, a Utah Highway Patrol Officer said the van was, ‘absolutely destroyed.’ Of the eleven individuals in the van, eight of them have been pronounced dead and 3 of them have been taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Medical personnel arrived on the scene within five minutes of the accident, including two units of Life Flight. The investigation of the accident could take months, even years to determine the actual cause of the accident.
Utah State President Stan Albrecht was also at the Press Conference. “This is a great tragedy for our University.” Stan stated the University vehicles have a detailed inspection every two years. The cause of the vehicle malfunction is not known at this point, but heavy investigation will later be able to determine the actual cause. The University has not yet made a plan for a memorial service, but will be holding one within the coming days.
September 5 brought a solemn silence to the campus of Utah State University. It was Agricultural Week. A yearly field trip had been scheduled to take a group of Agriculture students to Tremonton. A day of fun and learning turned tragic around four o’clock that evening. The group of twelve, eleven of which were in the University van driven by Instructor Evan Parker, headed back to Logan on Interstate 84. Just outside of Tremonton the vehicle had some sort of mechanical malfunction and the driver was unable to gain control. The van appeared to have rolled several times, ejecting all individuals from the vehicle, before landing on the west side of the road on its side. The preliminary investigation has revealed no evidence of seatbelt usage by any individual.
Kyle Holden, a former student of the Agriculture Department, employee of Greenline, and field trip tour guide for the day, was also a witness to the tragic accident. Kyle had taken his personal vehicle due to other personal engagements that evening. In a press conference following the accident, Kyle described the real-life horror, “I can’t believe this has even happened. I was passing Evan just before the accident happened; I know this because I looked at him as I was passing. I saw a black smoke coming from what appeared to be the back tire. Evan’s face changed as though he had to get control-bodies were shooting out, I can hardly describe.” The question came up as to whether or not alcohol or drugs were involved in anyway. “These are not kids that drink or smoke, they are good homegrown farm kids. Some are married and have children and some are newly returned home from LDS missions. These are good kids.” Stated an emotional Kyle Holden.
Lt. Jason Jenson, a Utah Highway Patrol Officer said the van was, ‘absolutely destroyed.’ Of the eleven individuals in the van, eight of them have been pronounced dead and 3 of them have been taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Medical personnel arrived on the scene within five minutes of the accident, including two units of Life Flight. The investigation of the accident could take months, even years to determine the actual cause of the accident.
Utah State President Stan Albrecht was also at the Press Conference. “This is a great tragedy for our University.” Stan stated the University vehicles have a detailed inspection every two years. The cause of the vehicle malfunction is not known at this point, but heavy investigation will later be able to determine the actual cause. The University has not yet made a plan for a memorial service, but will be holding one within the coming days.
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