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Emilie Parker, became a in senseless massacre a Newtown, school Friday, be remembered like as hope. Emilie Parker, who became a victim in the senseless massacre at a Newtown, Conn., school Friday, will always be remembered like this as a happy, loving child, full of life and hope.
Connecticut tragedy Utah native brought a bubbly spirit, an bubbly artistic flair even pets. artistic air and a gentle heart to family, friends, even pets.
DAVID By DAVID MONTERO and KIMBALL BENNION and KIMBALL BENNION
The Salt Lake Tribune The Salt Lake Tribune
Behind Parker's Ogden Behind Emilie Parkers big eyes a saw well blue eyes was a girl who saw well beyond her years. The 6-year-old native, of 20 The 6-year-old Utah native, one of 20 schoolchildren gunned at schoolchildren gunned down at Sandy
Hook Elementary, was remembered remembered family Wednesday by family and friends as a things youngster who noticed the little things in life that made big differences in lives. James Parker, her uncle who lived about 20 about 20 minutes from Emilie and her Connecticut, family in Connecticut, said that proved of before to be true in one of her last acts before the Dec. 14 shooting. Dec. 14 shooting. of Parker said one of the young victims,
Josephine Gay, trouble 7-year-old Josephine Gay, had trouble Josephine communicating. Josephine was supposed to have a birthday party the next Dec. 15, and Emilie wanted to get her day, Dec. 15, and Emilie wanted to get her friend the perfect gift. gift. Alissa Parker, Emilie's So Alissa Parker, Emilies mother, took Emilie, her daughter to the toy store. Emilie, her uncle recalled, had noticed Josephines Josephine's face would light up at the sight of a Barbackpack. She'd bie backpack. Shed smile when she saw tutu. a pink tutu. For 30 minutes, Emilie roamed the store's stores aisles. When she came back,
Please see EMILIE, A4 Please see EMILIE, A4
PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR EMILIE PARKER > * > ALSO PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR EMILIE PARKER TODAY > A5 * MORE PHOTOS ONLINE > SLTRIB.COM
in case of an emergency. an "We're saying Were not saying they have to [be underarmed], but teachers need to understand stand that they have that ability if By ROBERT GEHRKE make sure we've secure so choose," By ROBERT GEHRKE make sure weve got secure schools they so choose, Oda said. The Salt Lake Tribune our kids," said Rep. The Salt Lake Tribune for our kids, said Rep. Dan McCay, The efforts come in the wake of a R-Riverton. school R-Riverton. school shooting in Connecticut that A Utah lawmaker a Rep. Curt Oda, 28 the A Utah lawmaker wants a formal Meantime, Rep. Curt Oda, R- left 28 people dead, including the study of how other states stu- Clearfield, says of ways to study of how other states keep stu- Cleareld, says one of the best ways to gunman, and has re-ignited the pubof imschools safe dents safe at school in dents safe at school in hopes of im- keep schools safe is to provide teach- lic discussion over stricter gun-conproving security in a laws and improved proving security in Utah classrooms. ers with a concealed weapon permit trol laws and improved mental-health necessary "My foremost goal, absolutely, to and services. My foremost goal, absolutely, is to and the necessary training to respond services.
Utah House Fridays Utah House Fridays mass shooting in Connecticut a of prompts calls for a formal study of what others are doing.
Utah House Republicans, who met Republicans, who met all-day Tuesday, said in an all-day caucus on Tuesday, said goal their goal was to be sensitive in the aftermath of the shooting and not polittragedy. icize the tragedy. That sentiment was echoed Wednesday by Senate President-elect Wayne Niederhauser, RRepublican Sandy, who said Republican senators who met in caucus were wary of addressing an issue with so much raw emotion.
Please see UTAH GUNS, A3 Please see UTAH GUNS, A3
efficiency level that exceeds a efciency level that exceeds a number of other states, according to of other states, according to one corrections rections survey. the state's main in A committee that recommended A committee that recommended At the states main prison in Draper, there is one staff on Monday that the state move on Monday that the state move for- er, there is one staff person per 3.2 plans to relocate the inmates, a ratio that includes ward with plans to relocate the Utah inmates, a ratio that includes all State Prison said the expense maybe employees correctional officers, State Prison said the expense may be employees correctional officers, support staff, administrators, etc. balanced by potential savings in labor support staff, administrators, etc. by potential savings in But when only correctional officosts. But the prison already costs. But the prison already appears But when only correctional offito operating on its lines at an cers through the rank of captain are to be operating on its front lines at an cers through the rank of captain are
By BROOKE ADAMS By BROOKE ADAMS
included, the ratio is one staff person 11 inmates. per 11 inmates. At the Central Utah Correctional At the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, the ratio is one Gunnison, staff inmates staff person for every 4.26 inmates all with all employees included. Counting only correctional officers, the raing only correctional ofcers, the raone staff 14 tio is one staff person per 14 inmates. Those correctional-officer ratios correctional-officer ratios are higher than in states with prisare higher than in states with prison the on populations comparable to the 6,814 inmates 6,814 inmates incarcerated in Utah. In Virginia, for example, there In West Virginia, for example, there
Please see PRISON, A7 Please see PRISON, A7
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A4 > UTAH & N A T O N THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012 A 4 > U T A H & N A T IIO N T H U R S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 20, 2 0 1 2
Emilie Emilie
Continued from A1 Continued from A1
James Parker said, it was with James Parker said, it was with a ballet Barbie doll. Two gifts a ballet Barbie doll. Two gifts in one. in one. "Emilie," her uncle added, Emilie, her uncle added, "was one of those if she was one of those who, if she saw a need, she wouldn't stop saw a need, she wouldnt stop until she got it." until she got it. But But the events of Dec. 14 did stop her. And Emilie did stop her. And Emilie ("I'm an 'ie' be(Im Emilie, with an ie because my daddy is Robbie with cause my daddy is Robbie with an 'ie,'" she often said), came an ie, she often said), came back to Utah to be memorito Utah to be memorialized Thursday and buried alized Thursday and buried Saturday horrific Saturday in a horric turn of events that the Parker family events that the Parker family can barely comprehend. can barely comprehend. The art of love The ParkThe art of love The Parkers parents Alissa and Robers parents Alissa and Roband their daughters Emibie and their daughters Emilie, Madeline and Samantha lie, Madeline and Samantha seemed to be always on the seemed to be always on the move. move. In 2008, they left Ogden In 2008, they left Ogden for Oregon when Emilie for Oregon when Emilie for Robbie's was nearly 3 for Robbies job as a physician assistant. as a physician assistant. In 2010, they moved to AlbuIn 2010, they moved to Albuquerque, N.M. Then, about querque, N.M. Then, about eight months ago, the family eight months ago, the family Connecticut, where went to Connecticut, where he landed a with a hospihe landed a job with a hospital. They bought a house and, tal. They bought a house and, Emilie told her mother when Emilie told her mother she wanted to paint her bedshe wanted to paint her bedroom pink, Alissa shrewdroom pink, Alissa shrewdly negotiated a deal with her: ly negotiated a deal with her: Make the walls white and Make the walls white and then pink accessories in then put pink accessories in the room. the room. James Parker's NataJames Parkers wife, Natalie Parker, said it But lie Parker, said it worked. But her niece didn't exactly skimp her niece didnt exactly skimp on the pink accessories, either. on the pink accessories, either. "She had pink everything," She had pink everything, she said, "a pink dresser and, she said, a pink dresser and, the thing I remember well, the thing I remember most, is a big, pink four-post most, is a big, pink four-post bed." bed. But the room also reflected But the room also reected Emilie's other drawEmilies other passion: drawing. ing. Natalie Parker said the Natalie Parker said the were adorned with the walls were adorned with the girl's artwork. Her young girls artwork. Her room was filled with markroom was filled with markers, crayons, an easel she'd ers, crayons, an easel shed received on her last birthday, received on her last birthday, and kinds of paints. and paint. All kinds of paints. kinds colors. All kinds of colors. "Alissa encouraged her arAlissa encouraged her artistic side so much," James tistic side so much, James
Photo courtesy of the Parker family Photo courtesy of the Parker family
CHRIS DETRICK I The Salt Lake Tribune CHRIS DETRICK | The Salt Lake Tribune
CHRIS DETRICK The Salt Lake Tribune CHRIS DETRICK I|The Salt Lake Tribune
CHRIS DETRICK I| The Salt Lake Tribune The Salt Lake Tribune
James Parker remembers the James Parker remembers the pains his niece Emilie took to pains his niece Emilie took to get the perfect birthday gift get the perfect birthday gift classmate, who also died for a classmate, who also died in the Newtown in the Newtown shooting.
Surrounded by the Cottle Surrounded by the Parker and Cottle families, Jill Cottle the aunt of speaks Wednesday to Garrett, the aunt of Emilie Parker, speaks Wednesday to reporters of Ben Lomond reporters outside of Ben Lomond High School in Ogden. In the background are, from left. Randy Parker, Brady In the background are, from left, Randy Parker, Brady Cottle, Daren Cottle Cottle, Daren Cottle and JoAnn Cottle.
Pink ribbons put up by family, friends and neighbors of ly, friends and neighbors of the Parker family hang in Ogden on Wednesday to honor the memory ry of Emilie Parker.
Parker said. Parker said. But the drawings weren't But the drawings werent always for self-expression. always just for self-expression. Many times they were for selfMany times they were for selfless expression, creative acts less expression, creative acts designed lift When designed to lift others. When her grandfather died earlier her grandfather died earlier this year, she made a card for him and ensured put in him and ensured it was put in his casket he'd somehis casket so hed have somefrom her forever. thing from her forever. When her family moved to her family moved to New Mexico and would visit New Mexico and would visit James Parker in neighboring James Parker in neighboring Arizona, she made a point to she made a point to fuss Luke and fuss over the dogs, Luke and Jack. When the family left, she Jack. When the family left, she cried. She worried the dogs cried. She worried the dogs
her. would miss her. She also noticed the smallShe also noticed the smallest she drew the est details when she drew the dogs, her uncle said, matchdogs, her uncle said, matchthe colors of their collars ing the colors of their collars blue for Luke, red for Jack. blue for Luke, red for Jack. Her recalled Emilie Her uncle recalled Emilie once staying up past her bedonce staying up past her bedso her father time drawing, so her father sleep. told her to go to sleep. The next morning, Robbie The next morning, Robbie Parker woke up to nd a card to find a card door. at his door. It "I'm sorry." It read simply: Im sorry. Heart of t h e class Before Heart of the class Before family Emilie the family left Ogden, Emilie
attended Preattended Wee Wonders Preschool. She was enrolled for school. She was enrolled for according only four months, according to Wee Wonders owner Lori owner Lori more than Waldron, but it was more than for bubbly enough time for the bubbly child to leave a mark there. a mark "Sometimes have Sometimes kids just have them," that air about them, Waldron said. "They're special." said. Theyre just special. Emilie's teacher, Melanie Emilies teacher, Melanie Okelberry, said her pupil was said her friend everyone in the a friend to everyone in the She remembered class. She remembered all of their names a feat teachers a feat teachers struggle match. can struggle to match. " h S he h a d a h e a r t o f d t of gold," Okelberry said, "for gold, Okelberry said, for
everybody." everybody. Emilie's On Emilies last day at Wee the class threw Wonders, the class threw her Okelbera going-away party. Okelberan ry remembered that it was an tearful goodbye emotional, tearful goodbye with Emilie and her parents. and "We cried and they cried," We cried and they cried, "and then Okelberry said, and then they went." went. mark last That would mark the last time the teacher would see teacher see Frior hear of Emilie until Friwhen she heard her name day, when she heard her name mentioned during news coverof the shooting. age of the shooting. "Then picture popped dmontero@sltrib.com Then her picture popped dmontero@sltrib.com up," Okelberry said, "and then kbennion@sltrib.com up, Okelberry said, and then kbennion@sltrib.com
is dedicated to This space is dedicated to what should have been the rest of Emilie's her rest of Emilies life her triumphs, her loves, her triumphs, her loves, her letdowns, her big moments, letdowns, her big moments, her quiet delights. It's a her quiet delights. Its a story she never had the story she never had the chance to write. chance to write.