Practice News Story # 11: Accident

Posted: Nov. 28, 2007 10:15 am

Fatalities After USU Van Accident

LOGAN, UTAH--

Seven declared dead at scene and four rushed to local hospitals today after a Utah State University van accident. The 15-passenger van was carrying 10 students and one professor. The USU students were traveling south bound on Interstate 84 back to Logan from a field trip in Tremonton. While the cause is still unknown, the van lost controlled and rolled of the shoulder into the median. First on the scene was Lt. Jason Jensen who was on highway patrol with his partner when a call from dispatch informed them of the accident. " Bodies were scattered across the area and only two people were conscious when we arrived" said Jensen.
Kyle Holden, a former student of USU, was accompanying the group. He had taken the students along with Evan Parker, a professor in the Agriculture Department, to Greenline Implements to examine a combine. Holden was following the van back to Logan when he witnessed the accident. " [It was] one of the worst things that I’d ever seen in my life," said Holden. Holden says that he had his cruise set at 79 mph and was passing the van when he saw black smoke coming from the back side of the van. It was moments later that the van lost all control.
Noel Cockett, Dean of College of Agriculture says that this " will affect many students" and that the university is " in a huge state of mourning."

Practice News Story #10: Investigation

Posted: Nov. 14, 2007
LOGAN, UTAH— Famous philanthropists Ted Turner and Bill and Melinda Gates were seen getting off a private jet in Abuja, Nigeria. They were seen meeting with local African officials. After the meeting an interview with Abuja Mayor Malik Ok was held. Asking him as to what the meeting with the heads of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Ted Turner Foundation, he responded that he has "made an agreement to not say any specifics." What he was able to say was that he has created a plan for to improve the health education in his city and pronounced his proposal to the world community to receive funding. He was then later connected by the two prestigious foundations about four months ago. The plan for better education is also being talked about in at least five different countries in Africa. The foundations would provide the long term seeds for funding but eventually the local people will be running the schools and providing their own funding. Ok said that the foundations " have our interests at heart in the long term."
Bill Gates, founder of the Bill and Melinda Foundation, said that "nothing has been announced officially yet … but by next month an official statement will be made." The funding will hopefully start to take place with in the next two to three months.

Practine News Story #9: Sports

Utah Jazz Protects Home Territory

Posted: Nov. 7, 2007 10:56pm

SALT LAKE CITY— Utah Jazz won tonight’s game 106-99 againt the Cleavland Cavaliers. Playing in the Energy Solutions Arena, Andrei "AK-47" Kirilenko was the key member to take this win. Providing the team with 21 blocks and 21 points, Kirilenko says "that he had lots of energy for this game and was prepared for it."

After the game, Kirilenko told why he took the Jazz to the top. " After last week’s loss against the Lakers and being blocked by Koby Briant while attempting my dunk, I decided that I was going to block others tonight."

Paul Milsap and C.J. Miles showed great games tonight actually gaining points to the win. The score was 100-99 with one minute left in the game when Milsap made a three-pointer. Running back down the court toward Cavaliers’ basket, Miles stole the ball away and made another and the final three-pointer winning the game.

Lebron James from the Cleveland Cavaleirs said " while we were never in the lead, we were in the game the whole time. It was the crowd that actually took us out of the game."
Utah Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan "feels that the guys could do better on defense."
Boozer was the high scorer of the game with 29 points.
The Utah Jazz can been seen at their next game this Friday, Nov. 9 in Seattle.

Practice News Story #8: Business

Posted: Wed. 31, 2007

Google makes bid to buy out Time Warner

PALLO ALTO, CA—Google Inc. made a hostile takeover bid today to purchase Time Warner Inc. at the price of $60 billion. Dr. Eric Schmidt, CEO and Chairmen of Google, wants this purchase to go through to combine Google’s growing business of content distributing with Time Warner’s content production. " Time Warner is a top notch company and with the purchase of Time Warner google will be able to combine content production and distribution."
Richard D. Parsons, CEO of Time Warner, says that this offer just " came out of the blue." The Time Warner Board has not yet had time to meet and disscuss the options this bid has left open.
Paul Kim, and Industry Analyst, says that " Time Warner would be foolish not accept this offer." Time Warner’s stalk is inflated and Google is prepared to take on such a large purchase.

PNS # 7 speech

Dedication of Battlefield for Cemetery
Posted: Nov 19, 1863
GETTYSBURG, PENN—Today President Abraham Lincoln stood at the battlefield of Gettysburg to dedicated the grounds as a cemetery for all the brave men that have died for our nation. While the dedication speech was short it was powerful. Gettysburg has now been dedicated "as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live," taken from President Lincoln’s speech.
With the war still going on, President Lincoln still gave hope that this nation can stay united as one. IN an interview after the dedication, President Lincoln said that he drew his inspiration for the speech from God. President Lincoln said that "divided we fall--the North needs the South and the South needs the North," referring back to the end of his speech where if this government can act with a united people it will not perish from the earth.
President Lincoln believes that the war is coming to a close and is in hopes that the end is with in a few weeks.

Practice News Story # 6 Press Release

ClearPoint Instruction LLC

Contact: Preston Parker, Vice President

North Logan, UT 84321

Telephone: 435.787-4078

Email: preston.parker@clearpointinstruction.com

Posted: Oct. 11, 2007 7:15 pm MT

LOGAN, UTAH--Cache County is excited to welcome and new and growing business, ClearPoint Instruction LLC. Under the direction of President Mary Ann Parlin and Vice President Preston Parker, ClearPoint Instruction is here to educate the public on medical procedures- the befores and afters. " Our game is in our name, to clearly get the point across of what patients are to expect before going into and coming out of surgeries" said Parker. CPI creates instructional DVDs, pamphlets, wheels, and handouts to be given to patients by doctors and medical staff. CPI is able to create informational tools for procedures from knee surgeries to pregnancies to physical therapy.

ClearPoint Instruction LLC is a Utah-based company made up of a small team of well-trained and highly-experienced designers. Our staff have degrees in instructional technology, curriculum and instruction, computer science, and graphic design. In addition, they have a combined 40+ years of experience in designing and developing instructional products and educational services. All this education and experience has taught us a simple lesson:
Instruction is not effective if learners don't clearly see the main point.
That is why we use a model-centered approach to design instruction. We start by developing accurate models of what your patients need to know, do, and feel about their own health. Next, we create instructional materials and learning activities that actively engage patients in solving authentic problems related to their health. Finally, we work with you to conduct research that lets you know if the patients are really learning. At ClearPoint Instruction, we are dedicated to designing instruction that works. And we promise you this: Your patients will clearly see the main point.

For more information please contact:

Camille Kalkman
Media Affairs
ckalkman@clearpoint.com

PRACTICE NEWS STORY #5 OBITUARY

http://www.citynews.ca/images/2007-01/feb2807-lance.jpg

Posted Oct. 3, 2007 6:16 pm MT

In Memory of Lance Armstrong

SALT LAKE CITY—Lance Edward Armstrong, 36, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, at the Bonneville Salt Flats while attempting the land speed record on a bicycle. It was on his return of the 10 mile race when he collapsed two and a half miles away from the finish and was pronounced dead on the scene. Cause of his sudden death is unknown. His body has been taken to the hospital at the University of Utah where an autopsy will be preformed.

From Wikipedia, Lance was born Sept. 18, 1971 to Linda Armstrong and Eddie Gunderson in Plano, Texas. Being raised by his single mother, Lance was always encouraged to do and be his best. He showed signs of being a great athlete at a young age and started swimming at the age of 10. Moving to cycling soon after, Lance was a professional by the age of 16.
Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had eventually spread throughout his lungs and to his brain in 1996. Undergoing intense chemotherapy treatments and two surgeries, Lance defeated his cancer.

Overcoming the cancer, Lance continued living his life full of determination. Being a prestigious cyclist, he went on to compete in the Tour de France and won the title seven consecutive times. Lance was also awarded the ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year in 1999, the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2002, the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and other highly esteemed athletic awards. Lance retired from his racing career in 2005. Allegations were made saying that drug enhancers were used during the races but tests proved them false.

To give others hope in the fight against cancer, Lance created the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997. His foundation has become a great success and has helped raise over $60 million dollars in aiding research to find a cure for cancer.
Lance has been survived by his loving mother, Linda Armstrong; ex-wife, Kristin Richard; and three beloved children, his son Luke and twin daughters Isabelle and Grace. Lance will be missed greatly by all.

Funeral services will be held this Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 in Austin, Texas.

Practice News Story #4: Court

Practice News Story 4: Court
Posted: 10:15 am MT Sept. 26, 2007

Logan, UT- Two males being charged with breaking and entering and felony burglary for last weeks vandalism that occurred on the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints meeting house. The preliminary hearing occurred at the First Superior Court in Logan, UT with Judge Allen Mayfield as magistrate.

District Attorney Noel Mayfield, no relation to Judge Mayfield, has charged 35- year-old Mr. James Michaels and his accomplice, a juvenile, with the two accounts of mistamionr. Evidence was gathered at the scene last Wednesday September 19, 2007 leading to the arrest of both men by Chief Deputy Hasty.

Defense attorney- General Council Robbie Cochran believes that the charges will be dropped before the trial hearing date set for October 21, 2007.

Practice News Story #3: Crime

Local LDS Church Experiences Vandalism

Early yesterday morning Sheriff Deputy Geoffrey Hasty with Logan City was dispatched to 1600 East and 900 North where a local meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was vandalized.

Bob Knotz, the Physical Management Manager for five LDS meetinghouses in the area, was trying to get a head start on the days work when he noticed an unlocked door. Opening the door he noticed two computer monitors smashed in the door way. Not wanting to mess with anything, Knotz called the police around 6 am.

After surveying the building, it has been determined that there was a window left open in the back of the building facing the parking lot. Two CPUs were stolen from an office and the monitors looked to have been dropped or thrown on the floor. Right now evidence is pointing to two suspects that the police have in questioning. No names are being released.

Bishop Lawrence Shirk was the last to leave and lock up the building. He left the window open in his office and forgot to close it. “It’s just equipment,” said Shirk who was glad that he was not in the building when the crime occurred and that no one got hurt.

This was out of the ordinary for the neighborhood. Evelyn Braithwaite, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1953, heard breaking glass around 2 am and thought it was the garbage man. “In the whole time that I have lived here I have never felt unsafe,” said Braithwaite.

Practice News Story 2: Fire

Building Destroyed After Fire
Around 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Ogden’s local fire department received a phone call from a customer at Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant located on the corner of 2100 and Washington Boulevard.

Deputy fire Chief, Greg Chamberlain was on the scene.
The Building was a 3 floors with a restaurant on the lower level and two apartments upstairs.
Chamberlain says that it looks as if the fire started in the kitchen, spread through out the restaurant and then consumed the rest of the building. The fire was contained within the hour but unfortunately the building was completely destroyed. No neighboring buildings were harmed.

"Building is a loss, human life is important," says Chamberlain.

Pedro Sanchez, owner of the restaurant and resident of the apartment, was cooking in the kitchen when the fire he was cooking with spread to some grease on the stove. Sanchez tired using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire but says that the fire " was too big." While trying to put out the fire Sanchez experienced burns on his hands. He was taken to the McKy-Dee Hospital for treatment and has been told that he will be ok." It was the scariest thing I have ever been apart of," said Sanchez.

Sanchez’ brother and two nieces, who share the apartment, were on the second floor. Luckily they were able to escape the building and were rushed to the McKy-Dee Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Rachel Calhoun., owner of the building for the past 15 years, was on the scene shortly after the fire started.
" The building is fully insured and up to fire codes," said Calhoun.
Calhoun had been renting the building to Sanchez for the past 22 months and believes that this was just an accident. " I’m just glad that everyone is able to walk away from this."

There were no significant injuries and everyone is just glad to be ok.

PNS #1 Accident

Unknown Cause Flips Van and Kills 8

On September 5 around 4:00 pm a Utah State University van full of 10 students and 1 instructor, Evan Parker, rolled multiple times killing all but 3 survivors. The van was full of all male students from the Department of Agriculture and was attending an annul field trip for Ag Week out past Tremonton. Parker was pronounced dead on the scene.

It was on the way back from Tremonton when the van suddenly lost control and rolled off southbound and on to the west side of Interstate 84. Lt. Jason Jensen with highway patrol was the first on the scene. He was patrolling the highway that day and was only about a half mile behind the van.

“The van rolled 3 or 4 times sideways,” says Jensen, “it was completely demolished… all persons were ejected from the vehicle. Not able to tell who was driving at this time and if alcohol was in use.”

Jensen states “that under preliminary investigation there was no use of seatbelts and the van was traveling around 95 miles per hour.”

“Medical help arrived with in 5 minuets of the accident.” says Jensen. The help of two Life Flight helicopters were used to transport two of the survivors, one of which was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The remainder of the travelers were taken to Ogden Regional Hospital and their condition is still unknown.

Kyle Holden, a former student of Parker, was caravanning with the group in a separate car. Holden had taken the group out past Greenline for the field trip.

Holden says that he had been following behind the van most of the trip on the way back to Greenline and it was when he decided to pass the van that something went wrong.

“I was passing the van when I saw black smoke in the back area [of the van]. It looked like a tire exploded- it just disappeared,” said Holden.

Holden also made the statement that his car was on cruise going at 80 to 81 miles per hour and that as he passed the van he saw Parker driving.

President Stan Albrecht of Utah State University says that this is a “great tragedy for the university.”

Names of the students will have not yet been released. Albrecht says that there is work right now in contacting all the families and that he wants all names to be released at the same time.

The van was an official Utah State University vehicle and the cause for the accident is still unknown. “There is a detailed inspection on all USU vehicles every two years,” says Albrecht. The regularly scheduled activities for Ag Week will be altered and memorial services will be occurring at a later date says Albrecht.

Lost by a Cough

Last night I attended the USU Welcome Week BINGO Night. It was rigorous fun with much banging on tables and chanting amongst the crowd. My dear friend won in the first round and ran up to the stage to claim her prize. Wanting to keep the crowd's interest the EMCEE had her share with the audience her most embarrassing moment. She retold her story of walking into the boys bathroom without knowing so. The EMCEE then proclaims that she is a perv and as she walks away with her sweatshirt, frisbee, and clock ( which is now decorating our fabulous '70's paneled wall) the crowd starts chanting "perv, perv, perv..." it was great fun. The games continued and people starting trickling out. I collected left over game boards and was marking with my crayon numbers called. The last game came upon us and you had to create a U on the board to claim the grad prize- the flat screen TV. I only had a few spots covered and knew that even with my three other boards I was not going to possibly win. Well, numbers kept being called and I kept crossing them off on my original broad. Soon I only had the number 61 left to win. The number was called and I ran up to the stage- nearly tripping over everyone and everything. I was so excited I was shaking! Unfortunately I soon realized that there was another girl on stage. This was not good because that meant that we would have to have a tie breaker- and we did. We both had to chug a bottle of water and the first to get it down would be victorious. I started chugging and felt confident when all of the sudden I started choking and coughing. It was a very sad moment when this occurred for the other contestant was able to down the water with ease. I did not get to take home the lovely piece of technology that I was already making plans to sell to pay for next month's rent. I did receive a free lunch to the Firehouse. So I guess in the end we all come out winners.

Day One

Hey everyone! Here is my first blog. Hope you will enjoy all the many insights to come.