Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

The mother of murdered Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach will be speaking at the Hill AFB Sexual Assault Awareness Month luncheon on April 26.

Mary Lauterbach testified during the 2010 trial which ended in the first degree murder conviction of former Marine Cesar Laurean.

Maria Lauterbach was 6 months pregnant at the time of her murder. Laurean failed to show up to a hearing about the rape charges and left for Mexico where he held dual citizenship at the time.

In conjunction with Davis County, the 75th Medical Support Squadron will host the third annual Medication Take Back Event at the Base Exchange and Commissary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28. Unused over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and prescription medications can be brought to those locations in order to facilitate their safe disposal.

It's helpful, but not necessary, that medications are in their original containers. All medications are destroyed through incineration.

On April 17, at 10:15 a.m., if a 7.0 earthquake were to hit downtown Salt Lake City what would you do?

At Hill Air Force Base, everyone here will be asked to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" for 60 seconds as part of an exercise set up with the cooperation and direction of Bruce Harayda, Installation Exercise manager.

Utah Shake Out involves more than just Team Hill however, as state agencies, schools, businesses and other interested organizations will participate as well.

“If it will roll, leave it alone till the next FOB. Don’t stop more than you have to,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Balle, on the last deployment he served to his replacement in Iraq.

The Forward Operating Base or home base -- always the next destination for a relatively safe haven -- was the goal, the next place to rest for whatever sleep you could get, whatever meals to be had.

Now that entry control has moved to the new West Gate, work remains to be done as the old "M" Street is reconfigured and clean up of the old gate area is completed.

The former visitor center will remain open until the the new visitor center parking lot paving is complete.

Safety experts at Hill Air Force Base strongly urge caution throughout the West Gate area and the Building 1200 series as motorists and pedestrians become accustomed to the new traffic patterns.

Tammy Custer, Exceptional Military Family Program - Family Support specialist, has been selected as Air Force Technician of the Year.

On April 17 at 10:15 a.m., Hill Air Force Base will take part in the Utah Shake Out exercise. Bruce Hayrada, 75th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs Office, explained recently that the exercise will involve all facilities on base.

Utah experiences a major earthquake every 350 to 400 years. The last major earthquake to hit Utah occurred 350 years ago.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month kicked off with a 5K run/1 mile walk for Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Walk on April 4. Next Thursday, April 12, "Can I Kiss You?" presented by Mike Domitrz, will be onstage three times, 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Base Theater. All active duty and interested Team Hill members are invited to attend.

Domitrz became interested in the topic some time ago upon learning his sister had been raped. A young college student at the time, he struggled with the effect it had upon his sibling and upon his own life as a young man.

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation of Ogden hosted a tour of landing gear and other 309th Maintenance Wing facilities at Hill taken by Tooele Army Depot commander Col. Christopher Mohan. The visit brought Tooele Army Depot engineering and other production experts together March 28 to consider further developments in a joint effort already under way for supporting the war-fighter by the two Department of Defense organizations.

Mohan expressed optimism that their efforts would bring about the desired results.

Team Hill annual awards recognized the top performers of Hill AFB at a recognition and awards dinner at The Landing on March 20. Maj. Gen. Andy Busch, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, and nominee as vice commander for Air Force Materiel Command, addressed the crowd noting the accomplishments of the nominees and award winners. He commended their efforts and thanked the spouses for their support.

The award winners represent the base as a whole, including tenant units who submitted nominees as well. They include: