Nine people have already died from the flu in Salt Lake County this winter. With the flu and other viruses out in full swing, it is important for medical professionals to be able to detect and quickly treat their patients.

Doctors at Intermountain Medical Center are hoping the device created by BioFire Diagnostics in Salt Lake City will help cut back on the spread of the flu this year.

The small device called FilmArray can identify viruses or bacteria in about an hour instead of roughly six hours. Once a sample is taken from a patient's nose or mouth, it's mixed with various chemicals in the respiratory panel that then identify what's making that person sick.

"With this type of testing, they get results and info much quicker," said Dr. Jeremy Wallentine, director of the Intermountain Medical Central Lab. "They have that information and can make more appropriate decisions in terms of, 'Do I use antibiotics?'"

This dramatic drop in result time has allowed doctors to more effectively treat the ailments a person has and help prevent serious complications from the virus.

"In some instances, we can identify two or more viruses or bacteria," Wallentine said. "It is important and has been shown to correlate with more severe illness."

Intermountain Healthcare is home to 16 machines throughout its hospitals. And through flu season, doctors and hospital employees are regularly testing for 20 pathogens.

"We've certainly seen an increase in the volume of our work, starting late November into December, and it's certainly continuing to ramp up," Wallentine said. "This has been a severe flu season."

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

There are now more than 6,000 people at the site where the annual gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light is being held 15 miles east of Heber City, according to Kathy Jo Pollock, spokeswoman for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. That number is expected to climb to about 10,000 by Friday, when the counterculture congregation will hold its main event.

The Wasatch County Sheriff's Office said its jail is already essentially maxed out. The facility can hold 100 prisoners. In recent days about 40 of those beds have been occupied by Rainbow family members, Chief Deputy Jared Rigby said.

A copy of the jail's booking log, obtained by the Deseret News through a public records request, details Rainbow family arrests for offenses ranging from attempted murder to public intoxication. Arrests for investigation of drug possession and drug distribution are the offenses most frequently listed.

"We are seeing the whole gamut," deputy Wasatch County attorney Mckay King said. "We've seen LSD, illegal mushrooms and marijuana extract, which is a felony."

Rigby said sheriff's office employees are working nonstop, even canceling vacations. One deputy recently got married and had to cancel his honeymoon to stay and work overtime, the chief deputy said.

"They end up working a lot of hours, six days a week,” Rigby said, “not only the patrol guys, but everyone in the jail, the dispatchers, the Forest Service."

In previous years, law enforcement agencies in areas visited by the Rainbow family have reported going over budget due to the need to staff extra shifts and provide additional services. Taxpayers usually foot the bill because the sheriff’s office is not anticipating much relief, Rigby said.

"The costs have been $100,000 (in previous years),” Rigby said. “We're not there yet, but we're fast approaching those significant numbers."

A federal magistrate traveled to the Uinta National Forest on Tuesday, holding court for a second time near the site of the Rainbow Family Gathering. Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah, said 51 cases were on the docket stemming from citations issued by U.S. Forest Service rangers.

To help ease the situation in the jail, 4th District Court held a special session Monday to handle more than a dozen cases involving Rainbow family members. A number of misdemeanor cases have also been filed in Wasatch County and Heber City justice courts.

Many of the defendants in the district court cases pleaded guilty to reduced charges during their initial court appearances, after consulting with a public defender.

"The ones that we've resolved we were able to take care of because they were the (drug) possession-only crimes, and we were able to give reasonable offers and those were accepted," King said about the process that condensed what could be months of court hearings into a single appearance before the judge.

Judge Steven Hansen imposed sentences of court probation and a fine in the cases where guilty pleas were entered. As a condition of release from the jail, the defendants were restricted from using illegal drugs or taking part "in group gatherings where drugs are being used," court records show.

Defense attorney Chris VanCampen, who was appointed to represent some of the defendants who pleaded guilty, said the sheer volume of the cases the court is handling due to the Rainbow Family Gathering is reminiscent of another major event in Utah's past.

"The only thing we've seen like this, or that I've seen like this, was when we had the Olympics," VanCampen said, "but that wasn't confined to just one jurisdiction."

While there was a spike in court filings during the 2002 Winter Olympics, there were also millions of dollars in tourism revenues that flowed into Wasatch County and the rest of the state. So far, the Rainbow family's visit hasn't packed much of a positive economic punch, Rigby said.

"They hold themselves out that this event is going to bring a big economic boom to the area," he said. "We haven't seen that, at least not yet."

Contributing: Haley Smith

Email: gliesik@deseretnews.com, Twitter: GeoffLiesik

We can plan on snow removal. We can plan on pavement repairs. We don't plan on theft,” Gleason said. "These thieves hit us all, not only as taxpayers as we have to foot the bill, but also it affects safety. – John Gleason, Utah Department of Transportation spokesman

SALT LAKE CITY — The lights are back on along a busy stretch of I-15 that was left in the dark at night after a copper wire heist in March 2013.

Crews have been working over the past week to replace all the wire in the highway lights from about 1000 North to 1800 North.

"It's something that we feel is necessary, especially a long a corridor as heavily traveled as I-15,” Utah Department of Transportation spokesman John Gleason said. "It's not a requirement, but safety is a top priority."

Gleason said it took more than a year to flip the switch back on because UDOT was fearful the thieves might strike again.

"We're also making it harder to find the junction boxes," he said, "and where it's possible, we will be replacing this copper wire with aluminum."

Another reason for the delay is the cost of the repairs. Close to 30,000 feet of wire was ripped from 11 junction or access boxes worth about $50,000.

"We can plan on snow removal. We can plan on pavement repairs. We don't plan on theft,” Gleason said. "These thieves hit us all, not only as taxpayers as we have to foot the bill, but also it affects safety."

The Utah Highway Patrol said it has a sense of relief knowing its deputies and all drivers can be more easily seen on the highly traveled corridor.

"It helps us out,” UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said. “It helps us do our job, and it helps the public out, so these lights coming back on is a big deal."

Having the area lit up will help drivers see hazards that might be in the road, officials said.

The investigation into who stole the copper wire is ongoing. UDOT is asking drivers to keep their eyes open, and if they ever see anything suspicious on the freeways to call police immediately to help avoid this type of heist again.

The UDOT traffic operation center at 801-887-3700 can also tell motorists if the person has legitimate work at that location.

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

He's a worker, he's a giver, and I hope we got that from him. He's not just all-around military. He's a family man. – Jeanie Campbell, Gardiner’s daughter

PAYSON — World War II veteran Joseph Max Gardiner received a string of awards in a surprise ceremony Saturday.

Gardiner received four medals: the World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct, Sharp Shooter and the American Service Medal.

"These medals were very hard to earn, and these are the ones you got if you go into combat overseas, which in those days was a tough thing to do," said Tim Matthews, commander of the Wasatch 1 Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.

Gardiner, 90, started his service in North Africa and then went to Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, finally returning home to Utah once the war came to an end.

Most people read about it in history books, but for a select few still alive today, only they can describe what it's like to be a World War II veteran.

"Those Germans, they came to us like (you) can't believe right after they blew that wall up in France," Gardiner said. "I try to forget about things. Once in a while I’ll dream, and I’ll wake up quick.”

Dozens of family members and friends filled the Central Utah Veterans Home to share their memories.

"He's a worker, he's a giver, and I hope we got that from him," said Jeanie Campbell, Gardiner’s daughter. “He's not just all-around military. He's a family man."

Gardiner said his focus now is on serving his loved ones.

"My life is really to take care of my children and the grandchildren right now," he said.

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

The incident began just before 7 a.m. Friday when Luke Blain woke up to what sounded like his house was being fired upon. "It was really clanking loud ... and was piercing to the ear," he said.

The loud banging continued as he went outside near 10000 North Sage Road to see what was happening. He found a man hiding in some nearby bushes outside, yelling for help.

"This guy said, 'There is somebody shooting at me. Get back in the house,'" Blain said.

Blain called police and they discovered that the man was in the middle of a psychotic episode, said Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi, adding that the man had knee surgery last week and may have taken too much medication.

"He was seeing things and hearing things that weren't actually happening," Gygi said.

The man, reportedly a war veteran, had allegedly flung small rocks with his slingshot, putting holes in the homeowner's siding and shutters. There was no shooting, the mayor said.

The man was taken to American Fork Hospital for a mental evaluation and will not likely face charges, American Fork police said.

If we don't get in and stop the shooter, more people are going to die, so it's called rapid response. – Chief Randy Johnson

SALT LAKE CITY — The Granite School District Police Department has issued military-grade AR-15 rifles to all of its officers.

The district says the move is part of its efforts to keep kids safe every day and increase response times to emergency situations.

“These weapons are not intended to provide intimidation to anybody but bad guys,” Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said.

These guns are no different in nature than a shotgun, said Chief Randy Johnson, adding that he believes they will will help keep kids a lot safer in an emergency event.

"This has a single projectile that is very accurate, and that’s why we issue them to our officers,” he said.

Since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, Johnson says law enforcement officers have had to change the way they protect schools, getting in as quickly as possible.

"If we don't get in and stop the shooter, more people are going to die, so it's called rapid response,” he said.

The weapons were acquired through the Department of Defense Excess Property program or 1033 Program, which provides surplus military equipment to state and local civilian law enforcement agencies.

Along with the weapons, the department has been installing a high-tech camera system in all of the district's school so it can monitor what is going on inside the schools from a dispatch center.

"We fell like we can provide a fairly robust response to an armed individual in our schools," Johnson said.

On top of that, officers are trained in emergency response and protocol.

"We are doing everything we can to keep kids safe,” Horsley said. “Parents need to know that the measures that we take are intended to keep kids safe and keep our staff safe and make sure that schools are truly a learning environment.”

Parent Rebecca Alexander said she feels safer with the added protection.

"I think the more safety and the more precaution they take make me feel better as a parent,” she said.

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

He usually sleeps all night, sleeps right alongside the bed by me all night. It was kind of startling that he jumped up like that. – Ken Kemp

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Kemp family has one more thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving — their foster dog who alerted them that a stranger was on their back deck.

The West Valley family brought home Lexington about a month ago from Rescue Rovers, a nonprofit, all-volunteer animal rescue organization located in Salt Lake City.

Around 2 a.m. Sunday, the 1-year-old black lab-German shepherd mix started barking and growling at the family's sliding glass door. Homeowner Ken Kemp turned on the porch light and saw a man sitting on the back deck.

“All of a sudden Lex goes crazy,” Kemp said. “He jumps up, starts barking and runs to the back door.”

As soon as Kemp saw the stranger, he called 911, only to find out police were already in the area of 4100 South and 5400 West looking for a male suspect.

"They said they already knew there was a guy in the area, they were looking for him," Kemp said. “They came through the yard, but apparently he’d ran because they didn't find him here."

Kemp said one of the scariest things is that they don't know what the man was doing there — whether he was about to break in or was just hiding from police.

"He had a black hoodie on and was pretty much all in black, and he was tucked up underneath the charcoal broiler, sitting Indian-style," Kemp said. "I just seen his face fast. We kind of looked at each other, and I backed off.”

Kemp is grateful they had the dog here to alert them of the danger.

"He usually sleeps all night, sleeps right alongside the bed by me all night," he said. "It was kind of startling that he jumped up like that."

The Kemps says it's interesting how everything works out. They found Lexington as a stray and brought him to the shelter, but his owner never claimed him. They are unable to adopt him but will care for him and attend training classes with him until the right family comes along and adopts him. Lexington returned the favor over the weekend by keeping them safe from a possible intruder.

Lexington will be the guest of honor at the Kemp Thanksgiving dinner, where he is sure to get plenty of good treats and belly rubs.

Several people have expressed interested in Lexington. The organization is going through applications and will set up appointments after the holiday in hopes of finding Lexington the best home. For more information on how to adopt this dog, go to Rescuerovers.org.

Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

This affects you and me and all of us as taxpayers. This is money that's targeted for snow removal. – UDOT spokesman John Gleason

SALT LAKE CITY — A massive copper theft in March has motorists on I-15 driving in the dark, and Utah Department of Transportation officials say it could be some time before the lights are back on.

“This is a real issue and it affects people, drivers that are going across I-15 and have to drive in the dark right now because these thieves are out there doing this,” UDOT spokesman John Gleason said.

The lights along a 1-mile stretch of I-15 between 1000 North and 1800 North are out because a thief or thieves in March stripped between 30,000 feet and 35,000 feet of copper wire from 11 junction boxes. Repairs would cost UDOT roughly $60,000.

"We haven't had any arrests," Gleason said. "We are still asking the public to keep their eyes open."

UDOT officials say the department doesn't have any money in its budget to replace the wiring.

"This affects you and me and all of us as taxpayers," Gleason said. "This is money that's targeted for snow removal."

Gleason said if UDOT has the funds, it will replace the wire with something other than copper.

"When an area is hit, we replace it with aluminum wire, which is much less valuable for these crooks," he said.

UDOT officials say those responsible for the thefts likely dressed up as a construction crew.

The Utah Highway Patrol is keeping watch in the area for any unusual activity.

"UHP has been great,” Gleason said. “They’ve actually stopped some of our contractors to ask if they should be out in the area."

Over the past two years, UDOT has spent $450,000 in taxpayer money replacing copper wiring.

After the winter season and UDOT has used the money needed for snow removal, crews will be able to start fixing the wiring in area, Gleason said.

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com

A lack of funding has been a big issue for deployment. But at least for these two states, a spirit of cooperation has prevailed.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, commanders in chief of their states' National Guards, have arranged to share state resources to fund the mission.

"It's a win-win," said Lt. Col. Hank McIntire of the Utah National Guard.

Utah guard members will travel to Colorado to help reconstruct a stretch of U.S. 36 in Boulder and Larimer counties between Lyons and Estes Park, Colo.

"You have some soldiers that were sitting home not getting a paycheck because of the shutdown," McIntire said. "Now they're on active duty, so they can go do the mission, get a paycheck, training and help the folks in Colorado."

About 120 members of the battalion departed from Camp Williams on Friday to assist in the reconstruction project in the aftermath of massive flooding in Colorado.

"I witnessed some of the destruction … and it's pretty significant," said Utah National Guard Capt. Blake Bingham. "Once we get our boots on the ground, we'll have our work cut out for us."

"This is a real-world mission. This isn't just training," McIntire said.

Utah National Guard engineers transported vehicles and equipment to Colorado Sept. 26-28 to have them in place to begin their mission Saturday.

The Utah portion of the mission is expected to last approximately three weeks. After that, the bulk of the group will return home. About 20 Utah soldiers will remain in Colorado for a few weeks longer to provide continuity for the reconstruction project as guard units from other states relieve the 1457th.

While the soldiers clean up the mess in Colorado, McIntire made a plea to those in Washington.

"Let the elected officials sort out the other stuff that's kind of swirling above us," he said.

Contributing: Robert Trishman

email: hsmith@ksl.com

My wife thought something fell out of air. I come out and there was a bunch of smoke and this truck sitting on top of the car. – Bill Bymaster

BOUNTIFUL — A semitrailer flattened a car, knocked down power lines and came to rest inside a garage in Bountiful Thursday.

It happened around 7 a.m. near 400 North and 1000 East. Homeowner Bill Bymaster, who has lived at the house for 20 years, said he was working on his computer when the crash occurred.

"Then it flashed, and then a big explosion when the transformers blew,” he said.

A semitrailer, weighing 89,000 pounds, had crashed into his house and took out power lines at the same time.

"He wasn’t able to get the truck into gear, felt that he had lost his differential and started to roll backwards. He attempted to apply the brakes, the brakes failed and rolled backwards into the home,” Bountiful Police Sgt. Andrew Bryson said.

The truck, which was carrying sand to a golf course, rolled about half a block, over a parked car and into the house. The car had just been sold on Wednesday.

Bymaster said crash was so loud he almost thought it was a bomb.

"My wife thought something fell out of air,” he said with a chuckle. “I come out and there was a bunch of smoke and this truck sitting on top of the car."

Fortunately, no one was in the car and no other cars were damaged. Bymaster said the garage is an attachment, so there isn't much damage to the structure of the house.

The accident did cause power outages in the neighborhood. Crews closed 400 North between Davis Boulevard and 1025 East for several hours while they fixed the power lines.

Crews estimated it would take several hours to fix the problem.

The 400 North road is very steep, and drivers have lost control going down the road in the winter.

Contributing: Whitney Evans

Email: hsmith@deseretnews.com