K-9 in training to work for the police force

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

After finally receiving funding through state liquor stores sales, a new K-9 is in training to work for Logan City Police Department. 

With most K-9s costing upwards of $25,000, funding has been difficult to find. According to past years, the money from the liquor sales goes into a funding for alcohol prevention and this year the officers decided to use it toward a K-9 and it’s training. 

“It is so expensive, it is difficult to find funding, but we are using what the state provides in order to get some dogs” said Lt. Brad Franke, an officer at Logan City Police Department. 

Logan City Police Department has been the only station where the K-9s have been on duty. Cache County will have four K-9s that are prepared for duty, including one at the newly implemented K-9 program at the sheriff’s office. 

“These K-9s are incredible, I would love to see more, they help detect and deter criminals better than anything I’ve seen in my years in this field,” said Officer Kent Harris, a former officer at the Logan City Police Department. 

Alcohol screening combines with mental health

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

For the first time, the screening for alcohol, depression and anxiety will combine together for a mental health awareness screening in the Taggart Student Center ballroom for all USU students on April 5. 

In previous years, the alcohol screening was held every spring semester, separate from the depression and anxiety screening. 

“The reason why we are combining it all is so you don’t know what others are coming in for,” said Ryan Barfuss, a prevention specialist at Utah State University. “Say we screen 50 or 60 people only two or three really need it, I think it would be a huge benefit to combine all the screenings.” 

The screening will have a survey for students to fill out, as well as their personal demographics. The audits will tally up the scores and provide the results. Those with a certain score, or higher, will have the opportunity to talk to a counselor. 

“We just want students to have the opportunity to take the screening, and we have the availability to meet with our staff and have resources for them that will help them,” said Dr. Charles Bentley, a licensed psychologist at Utah State University. 

The screening will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

“We want a general mental health screening for both semesters from now on, so based on what the outcome is like next week we will have a better feel for the future moving forward,” Barfuss said. 

Officers have mixed reviews towards new DUI law

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

Officers in Cache County have mixed reactions to the new DUI law of Utah lowering the Blood Alcohol content to .05. 

Governor Gary Herbert signed Utah’s newest DUI law of changing the law to .08 to .05 last week. 

“People complain to me and say that their parent who has a beer with dinner will now go to jail because of this change,” said Capt. Tyson Budge of the Logan City Police Department. “I think the change is ridiculous. Are all officers going to have to go through more training apart from what is usually required of us?”

While most citizens and officers are very upset, some really see the value of the change in the law. 

“It will help with drunk drivers and keeping people safe on the road,” said Officer Harris with Utah State University Police.

Although this law does not go into full effect until December 2018, many citizens and officers are hopeful that revisions are made before that date. 

Sex offenses lead police to predict what April brings

By Sophia Blankmeyer

With a sex offense happening every year on 4/20, police are questioning and wondering if marijuana is the next “date rape” drug in Cache county. 

Police are concerned because of how accessible marijuana is, that people will continue in the behavior of past years with getting high and assaulting others. 

“Before the legalization in Colorado, we would just see pipes,” said Captain Tyson Budge of the Logan Police Department. “Now, everyone has marijuana, and plenty of it.” 

With a day associated with parties and marijuana, local police mention 4/20 is becoming a very predictable day of sex offenses. 

“We have seen in the past 5 years a sex offense every single year on 4/20,” Budge said. 

The Utah State University Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, SAAVI, has tons of safe confidential counseling. The information they provide is about sexual assault, rape, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking. SAAVI has not seen a remarkable increase of people reporting sexual assault during this time of year. 

“Marijuana can lead to impaired thinking and decision making, which can create an environment for assault,” said Felicia Gallegos, a worker at SAAVI.

Police are predicting that this year will include many calls, arrests, and at least one reported sex offense. 

Woman's suicide attempt stokes warnings about stopping mental health meds during pregnancy

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

In the wake of a suicide attempt by a woman who stopped taking medication for her bipolar disorder when she became pregnant, police and psychologists in Northern Utah are warning against the arbitrary discontinuation of psychotropic medications.

Logan police officers arrived at the home of the 21-year-old woman Tuesday morning after receiving tips from her boyfriend and mother.

“They had to kick down the door,” said Capt. Tyson Budge.

When the officers arrived they noticed an empty pill bottle and razor by her bed. The 16-weeks-pregnant woman told officers she had sought to overdose on

Celexa, an antidepressant, because she did not want to deal with life anymore. 

While women may have valid concerns about taking prescription medications during pregnancy, psychologists say shifts away of such medications should only be made in consultation with a doctor.

The emotional turbulence of pregnancy can be a particularly challenging time for people dealing with mental health challenges, said David Bush, a licensed psychologist for Utah State University.

“An unwanted pregnancy,” Bush said, “could be devastating — and even a planned pregnancy would be exceptionally challenging.”

“That is where suicidal behavior kicks in,” Bush said, noting that its easy for pregnant women to go “from feeling at the top of the world to the bottom of the world.”

And if those women have access to prescribed medications, Bush said, “they have a lethal means of attempting suicide.”

About 20 percent of women suffer from mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy, according to the

Center for Women’s Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, and women with histories of psychiatric illness can be particularly vulnerable. In one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006, two-thirds of women who discontinued antidepressant medication during pregnancy suffered a relapse of their underlying mental health issues.

Utah State University withholds registration for freshman

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

Incoming freshman at Utah State University will not be able to register for classes until the “Alcohol Edu” program is completed. 

“I’d like to see freshman take it and then in four years all students will have had the opportunity to take it,” said Ryan Barfuss, a prevention specialist at Utah State. 

He contends that by withholding registration freshman will learn and take alcohol and drug safety more seriously. This could potentially help decrease typical offenses, for freshman like minor in possession.

“Personally I want to focus on the traditional incoming freshman that are under 21,” Barfuss said.

The “Alcohol Edu” program is an informative research-based program about alcohol and drug presence in college. The program has been offered before, but the university has never withheld registration until completion. 

The program requires a passing score to get to each “level” until completion.

“I think it is a good idea, but the freshman population is only a percentage of students at this school,” said Miranda Hill, a freshman at Utah State University. “I don’t think registration should be withheld for them if they don’t complete it.”

Demonstration with shot glass leads to conversation among Greeks at Utah State University

By Sophia Blankmeyer

Using a shot glass to introduce a guideline for drinking, Utah State University's substance abuse specialist presented at an annual alcohol prevention meeting for members of Greek-letter organizations on Feb. 13. 

Fraternity and sorority members, in the Taggart Student Center ballroom, were asked to pour 1.5 ounces of water into a red solo cup. The shot glass was used as a tool to demonstrate the exact measurement of 1.5 ounces of alcohol, which is what the specialist explained is recommended per hour.  

“I honestly don’t think it was necessary for him to measure each table,” said Sarah Price, a member of Kappa Delta sorority. “I think it would have been more effective to have shown what college students drink in a night, as opposed to what you’re supposed to drink.” 

The annual meeting, “Primed for Life,” is usually held at each individual fraternity and sorority house. Barfuss, prevention specialist at Utah State University, explained how this year he wanted to focus only on newest initiates of the houses without the influence of older members. 

“I think it starts a conversation that needs to be had within each house,” said Ryker Moore, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. “While it’s good to know what a standard drink is, it is not really applicable at a party or social setting.”

Moore contends that in certain settings the majority of people will be limited to the amount of alcohol that is distributed in drinks served. 

Barfuss concluded the meeting by encouraging the members in attendance to speak with their fellow greek associates.