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We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m Thursday, October 22, 2020 • Vol. 129, No. 43 • 75 cents
Ballot printing error causes havoc All Sanpete ballot envelopes missing line for signature
According to the instructions, voters should sign their envelopes on the back of the flap, inside the perforated area where the signature line would usually be. For voters who have already returned their ballots, there will be a signature line on the postcard to return.
BY MARCY CURTIS
MANTI — A small mistake on the printer’s part could lead to major consequences on election night and beyond in Sanpete County. Phones in the county clerk’s office rang off the hook last week as voters received ballots in the mail that were missing the signature which that is required by Utah state law for a ballot to be counted. This mistake affects every one of Sanpete’s approximately 13,500 ballots. Utah State Code Title 20A: Section 20A3a-202 states that an affidavit on the return envelope must be signed by voters for their ballot to count. Sandy Neill, Sanpete County Clerk, stated that election workers cannot process a ballot without first verifying the signature on the envelope against the sig-
PHOTO BY KEN HANSEN
nature on file for that voter. According to Neill she received a PDF file of the envelope from the printer several months ago. When she proofed the file the affidavit was there. Following her approval the PDF was sent to the Lt. Governor’s office for approval and then to the printer. Somewhere between her approval and Sanpete County residents’ mailboxes that section was left off. The company that made the mistake — Integrated Voting Systems (IVS), located in Dinuba, California, rushed to mail postcards to all registered voters with instructions on how to sign their ballot envelope. According to the instructions, voters should sign their envelopes on the back of the flap, inside the perforated area where the signature line would usually be. For voters who have already returned their ballots, there will be a signature line on the postcard to return. Please see BALLOTS, Page A6
Tips for living in cougar country
PHOTO BY HOLLY KUCHERA
It is unusual to see cougars in the wild, and they rarely cause problems for humans. Although unlikely to happen, you should know how to react if you encounter an aggressive cougar. BY TERRY MESSMER
USU Extension
LOGAN—In recent weeks, reports of cougar sightings have increased across Utah, including in urban areas and on hiking trails. The cougar, Puma concolor, is known as the mountain lion, puma, screamer or panther. They are readily recognized by their tawny color, white muzzle and long tail. Adults typically weigh 90-200 pounds. Males and females pair briefly for breeding, but the female raises the kittens alone. Kittens stay with the female until they are about a year and a half old, then they disperse to find their
own territories. The cougar has been a protected wildlife species in Utah since 1967. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages an annual statewide limited-entry hunting season on cougars in Utah to regulate populations and reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflicts. Although cougars are found across Utah, they are solitary animals, making them a rare sight for humans. Cougars can be found from the High Uinta wilderness to the dry southern deserts. In Utah, cougars prefer more wooded areas such as pinyon-juniper and pine-oak
brush areas. Within these habitat types, they prefer areas where there are rocky cliffs, ledges and tall trees or brush that can be used for cover. The main prey of cougars is deer, so they will be found wherever deer are. They will also eat elk, antelope, small mammals and birds. They usually hunt alone and at night, ambushing their prey from behind. Typically, cougars kill their prey with a bite to the lower neck. After making a kill, a cougar often will take the carcass to the base of a tree and cover it with soil, leaves or snow, saving it to feed on later. Living in cougar country requires
awareness and adjustments. Consider these tips:
Secure your property.
Remove wildlife attractants from your property, including pet food, water sources, bird feeders and fallen fruit. Make your yard deer-proof. If your property and landscaping are attractive to deer and other wildlife, cougars may follow the wildlife into your property and stay nearby while watching for prey. Please see COUGARS, Page A6
Utah changes guidelines to fight coronavirus BY MARCY CURTIS
SALT LAKE CITY — Last Tuesday, Gov. Gary Herbert released new guidelines to help fight COVID-19 in the state of Utah. The transition from color guidelines to the transmission index was made to further strengthen the state’s response to protect communities. This change also marks the first time that Utah is mandating wearing masks. The transmission index
clarifies the public health metrics used to determine which transmission level each of Utah’s counties falls in to. Counties will be placed in one of the three levels, high, moderate, or low. These levels correspond to a combination of case rates, positive rates and ICU utilization. The Governor’s Office said that data will be looked at on a weekly basis. Counties will be bumped up to a higher level
the week they hit the index requirement. However, a county must post numbers that meet a lower level for two consecutive weeks before they are moved down. Sanpete is currently listed in the moderate category. Currently the new directive mandates that all counties listed in the moderate or high risk category will need to wear masks in all indoor public spaces and outdoor when social distanc-
ing is not manageable. Following Oct. 29, unless the county is moved to high status, masks will no longer be mandated and the size of gatherings allowed will be moved from 10 people to 25 or more — if masks are worn. Herbert also announced that he was moving the state out of state emergency and into a public health emergency. This will allow the state to only help with health needs
of Utah. During the press conference the governor was asked if this was his way to give Utah a mask mandate without actually saying we are in a mask mandate and how will it be enforced. “Describe it how you want, we are just asking to do the right things for the right reasons. It’s not a cure-all but it’s Please see GUIDELINES, Page A6
Woman dies in car accident Manti man injured in another crash BY KEN HANSEN
MT. PLEASANT — A car accident between Mt. Pleasant and Fairview took the life of Gayle Seeley, 64, of Mt. Pleasant on Sunday, Oct. 18. Seeley was the only occupant of the single-vehicle crash. According to information released by the Utah Highway Patrol, Seeley was driving a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer, traveling north on US 89. At 2:14 p.m. around mile post 281 she moved to pass another vehicle. The release states that as she was passing for some reason she over-corrected to the right. As she did, the vehicle began to roll. Seeley, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and died on scene. Speed is also seen as a factor in the accident. In a separate accident Saturday, Oct. 17, Pedro Juan Marcos, 19 of Manti, was driving southbound on U.S. 89 north of Ephraim in a 2006 Nissan Altima. Around 4:40 p.m. Marcos lost control of the vehicle, partially crossing the center line. He then went back to the right and off the shoulder of the road. The vehicle struck a large rock near a field. It rolled twice and landed on its top in a cultivated field. Marcos, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to Sanpete Valley Hospital with injuries to his upper torso and extremities. He was cited for improper lane travel and driving without a licence.
COVID-19 update MT. PLEASANT — According to numbers provided by the Central Utah Public Health Department, there have been 764 COVID-19 cases reported in the Six County area. This is an increase of 160 since last week – 60% higher than the previous week’s increase. There was one new death in Juab County, and one death that was incorrectly attributed to Millard County was removed from the statistics. There were also 11 new hospitalizations. The CUPHD reported 105 active cases and 226 total cases in Juab, with 118 recovered, three deaths and six current hospitalizations; Millard had 71 active cases, 243 total cases, 172 recovered, one death, and one current hospitalization; Piute has 16 active cases, 25 total cases, with nine recovered, no Please see COVID, Page A6
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