Different form of Spice leads officers worried

By Sophia Blankmeyer

After an overdose death, Spice, has been found in a different form than before in Cache County. Officers are worried the different form of the harmful drug is potentially more dangerous.

"I have seen different forms of spice throughout my time here," said Sgt. Shand Nazer, an officer at the Logan City Police Department. "But I have never seen it as a liquid form of the chemical, and it is beyond dangerous."

The man had ordered the chemical online from a company in China. While driving home with his girlfriend, he decided to smoke the chemical which immediately left him unconscious. Instead of calling and getting help, she drove him 30 minutes to the nearest hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"It makes people too sick, and we saw a ton of overdose deaths," Sgt. Jason Olsen said. "Spice is more dangerous because it is man-made. Spice overdoses always results in medical attention."

Cache County has only seen spice in its most commonly known shredded form.

Mental Health Screenings officially combined for years to come

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

After a successful week, the screening for alcohol, depression and anxiety will combine together for the coming years for students at Utah State University.

The decision to combine the screenings was made on April 14. Previously, the screenings have been during different semesters. The three individual screenings were never combined before, and never included on-site counselors. 

“We want a general mental health screening for both semesters from now on,” said Ryan Barfuss, a prevention specialist at USU. 

The screening was held at the Taggart Student Center on April 5. The testing lasted four hours and students were able to go for themselves or support others.

"I went to the event and it was really helpful because I suffer from depression and anxiety," said Anna Godfrey, a student at Utah State. "I think if they did it every year and advertised better, it would help more students."

The screenings were taking place at the same time as the Hope wall, just right outside the TSC. Students took polaroid pictures and wrote who made them hopeful. 

"I saw way more advertising towards the hope wall than the screenings. I think the screenings are far more important than a picture on a board for a day," Kaylee Hansen, a student, said.

The screenings will continue and will be combined for the next consecutive 4 years, until further notice.

"I'm excited to see where this goes," said Sarah Price, a freshman. "I am hopeful it will pick up and as a senior I can say I was involved every year."

"This is incredible news moving forward for USU students," said Ryker Moore, a student. "Everyone deserves an opportunity to be treated for the things they struggle most with." 

Eleven search warrants in Cache County

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

Logan City Police Sgt. Shand Nazer sat down at the weekly meeting he has been attending for more than 14 years. As other drug-task force officers took their places, he sat there knowing the task would not be able to be completed for the week. They began planning out their week and he broke the news. 

Eleven search warrants were approved this week for Cache County. 

“We need more officers available for the warrants,” Sgt. Nazer said. “We rarely see more than one per week.”

Since the beginning of the year, one search warrant a week was common. The local judges would determine if the investigation needed to run longer or if there was enough probable cause that would result in a search warrant. 

“With the weather getting nicer, people are outside more and we get calls all the time,” Lt. Brad Franke said. 

Four search warrants were completed by today, the rest will carry over to next week. 

Marijuana in Cache County becoming more prevalent

By Sophia Blankmeyer 

With the recent legalization of marijuana in bordering states of Utah, officers in Cache County say the prevalence of marijuana is evolving more than ever before. 

In 2015, Logan City Police Department received 132 calls related to marijuana usage on a single day in the spring. They received 155 calls on the same day just a year later. 

“Weed is easy to obtain. We are seeing more in bulk than ever before,” said Sgt. Jason Olsen of the Logan City Police Department. “We see it non-stop in a single shift from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.” 

Most officers say throughout their career as Logan Police officers they have noticed parties beginning in August once school starts, and social circles start forming. Some officers serving for around 23 years say that students have more and more amounts of weed than ever before. 

“We used to see just small amounts here and there, it was never a huge issue,” said Capt. Tyson Budge of the Logan City Police Department. “Now, people have ziploc bags full of weed.” 

All officers in Cache County hope that bringing awareness to this evolving trend will help those, especially students, understand the zero tolerance policy local police uphold. 

“We want to help keep them safe and make all good decisions. Our main responsibility is Utah State, and we take care of them,” said Officer Kent Harris of the Utah State University Police Department. 

Copier will transfer schools, adds 50 more credits

By Sophia Blankmeyer

With only 20 credits left to graduate, Chris Copier, former Utah State University football player will now be transferring to the University of Utah with 30 extra credits to complete. 

Copier will be transferring to the University of Utah starting fall semester.

“I was upset because I only had 20 credits left to graduate, which I would’ve done this spring, now I will have 50 to complete before graduation,” said Copier. 

Copier found out the USU matched it with disciplinary actions from five years ago with someone found guilty of a similar charge. Even with the Judge Kevin Allen’s letter describing his recommendation that the university would reinstate him.

“I would hope that in future cases they would listen to the the courts in what they suggest,” said Copier. “If the judge who sentenced me thinks it's important for me to finish school, and that I'm no longer a danger to the community why should the school have a harsher punishment for me?”

Officers regarding this case believe Copier was sentenced very lightly. 

“I think it is completely wrong that he got let out so so lightly,” said Captain Tyson Budge of the Logan City Police Department. “Talk about a slap on the wrist.”

Utah State University suspended Copier from school on Dec. 16 of last year. He appealed in January and received notice on Feb. 1 that his appeal was not granted.

“I don’t want to go there. I would’ve loved to have gotten my degree from USU. I was excited to go to school there and loved the people. I hate the fact that I have to go to another four semesters of school now instead of just one,” said Copier. 

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.