September 10, 2018   •   Nelson Phillips   •   Staff Writer 

An unattended stove burner has been pinpointed as the cause of a fire that took the lives of three dogs at a Brigham City mobile home park on Sunday.

According to Brigham City officials, the fire was reported Sunday afternoon shortly before 4 p.m. at 1060 South Main in unit number 2.  Units from Brigham City Fire, as well as Willard and Corinne arrived on scene by 4:04, and had the fire extinguished by 4:32 p.m.

None of the three human residents were home, however, three dogs that were inside the home at the time of the fire were killed.

"Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental, and caused by an unattended stove-top which had been left in the on position," said Brigham City Fire Marshal Michael Young.

Young also reported there were no working smoke detectors found in the mobile home.

Damages to the home are estimated to be in the $15,000 range. The three residents displaced by the fire have reportedly found shelter with friends and neighbors.

In a statement, the Brigham City Fire Department urged homeowners and renters to never leave a stove-top unattended "for any length of time," and to exercise caution while cooking. The statement also urged homeowners to have a fire extinguisher nearby, and to ensure that working smoke detectors are present on every level of a home.

September 3, 2018  •   Nelson Phillips   •   Staff Writer 

One man has died and two more were sent to the hospital after an accident early Sunday morning at the intersection of SR-30 and SR-23 in Cache County.

According to Lieutenant Lee Perry of the Utah Highway Patrol. Brigham City resident Chad F. Scoffield, 53, was driving a black 2000 Chevrolet Blazer southbound on SR-23 at approximately 12:49 a.m. on Sunday when he ran the stop sign at SR-30, striking a westbound Ford F-150 pickup truck squarely on the passenger side.

Scoffield was not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected through the driver's side door due to the force of the impact. He was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency responders arrived. A passenger riding with Scoffield, 51-year-old Shawn C. Burgess of Tremonton, was also not wearing a seat belt, and suffered broken bones and cuts in the accident, though his injuries were described as non-life-threatening.  Burgess was taken by ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital.

The driver of the pickup, identified as 59-year-old Aaron Hathaway of Petersboro, was wearing a seat belt, and also suffered broken bones and cuts in the accident. He also was transported to Logan Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators believe that alcohol may have played a role in the accident, and are awaiting blood test results from the medical examiner's office.

By Nancy Browne

The Tournament of Champions, one of the top three pickleball tournaments in the nation, is coming to Brigham City, Aug. 24-26, bringing with it a host of visitors who will spend money in our hotels, stores and restaurants.

This is the third year, out of its six-year history, that the tournament has been held at Brigham City’s 17-court pickleball complex near the community pool.

Some 450 players, both professional and amateur, will play in the event that attracts players from 30 states and even several countries.

Less than five percent of the players are from Utah. Local Brigham City player, Scott Clayson, who has won this tournament before, will participate along with other locals from Logan, Kaysville, Riverdale and Salt Lake.

The professionals will compete in 10 categories that include singles, doubles and seniors for both men and women and mixed doubles, and will split a prize of $55,000.

“Pickleball is exploding all over the world,” said Kyle Klein, president of Northern Utah Pickleball Club and tournament director. “In this tournament alone, I’ve already had to turn away almost 300 players because we are completely filled up.”

“Brigham City is known for this tournament,” he said. “This is literally the biggest national event hosted by our community and the impact that it has on the city is wonderful. These players will come and stay about five days and spend money in our city’s businesses.”

He estimated the financial impact the tournament would have on the community, which is bigger than last year by 25 percent, to be well over $100,000.

The event, which he predicts could easily double with added facilities, is getting so big that people stop in the city on their vacations to see the pickleball facility they’ve heard so much about.

He said it’s important for Brigham residents to come out and support the tournament as a way to keep it in the city because already other cities with their own courts are trying to snatch it away. He encouraged locals to bring their lawn chairs and coolers and be spectators cheering on their favorite players.

On any given day during the summer, most of the courts are humming with players, said Klein. “It’s a great sport for individuals and families which can be played by young and old alike because of its low impact.”

Klein gave a shout out to John Gullo, formerly of Ogden but now of St. George, as the man who really brought the sport to Brigham City and continues to contribute by donating to the prize pool.

Gullo had offered to work with Ogden City to build a pickleball park in Ogden three years ago that could host the tournament but when city officials declined, he made the same offer to Brigham, whose officials enthusiastically accepted.

Brigham City leased him the ground where the courts are located, after which Gullo built the courts and then donated them to the city.

“The social aspect of this game is just unbelievable,” said Gullo. “What other game is there where a 20-year-old can play toe to toe with a 70-year-old?”

His love for the game started on Nov. 1, 2008, when on a vacation in Puerto Rico, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and had to have five bypasses. “After spending a year on treadmills and other boring stuff I saw a sign about pickleball and so I started playing. I lost a huge amount of weight and got healthy while having fun.”

Pickleball is becoming so prevalent it’s being considered for inclusion in the Olympics and the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made it a policy that meetinghouse gyms can be taped off and used as indoor pickleball courts.

Klein said the Northern Utah Pickleball Club also will host a six-day regional tournament in Brigham City with more than 600 participants.

He said because the sport is growing in Brigham City and tournaments fill up quickly, he hopes that city officials will consider expanding the complex with more courts.

Kristy Law, the city’s community activity services director, said the city will likely meet with Klein and the Northern Utah Pickleball Club sometime in September to discuss the possibility of expanding the courts.

“The growth of pickleball set us all back with how much participation and support we’re getting from the community,” she said in an interview. “We watched when this whole thing got started how it began as a senior sport but our 17 courts are full to capacity most of the time.”

She said she read a report from the USPA about a study done by a little town in Georgia that reported people who come to their community from out of town to play pickleball usually spend around $139 per person per day. Moreover, they spend about $160 per person per day during a tournament.

​“If we turn that kind of money away, that would be a very bad thing,” said Law, who added Klein’s support and that of local business donations is fueling the possible need for more courts.

August 20, 2018  •   Nelson Phillips   •  Staff Writer

A Weber County woman and two of her dogs suffered fatal injuries in a rollover accident Friday morning on I-84 near Snowville.

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on August 17, a man and woman in a silver 1997 Toyota 4-runner were pulling an 18 foot travel trailer westbound on I-84 near milepost 11 (east of Snowville), when the trailer began swaying, causing the driver to lose control.

“They had just come out of a single lane construction zone.  The travel trailer began to whip and pulled them toward the right. The trailer tipped toward the left side and forced the vehicle to go off the freeway to the right, separating from the vehicle,” said Lieutenant Lee Perry of the Highway Patrol.

The trailer broke apart as it spun around, coming to rest about 35' off  of the roadway.  The Toyota rolled and eventually came to rest on its side about 100' from the freeway facing the opposite direction it had been traveling.

The male driver, identified as 47-year-old Eric D. Hauber of Ogden, suffered minor head injuries. The female passenger, identified as 49-year-old Amy L. Hauber, also of Ogden, suffered more severe injuries to her head and lower abdomen.

Both were transported by ambulance to Bear River Valley Hospital in Tremonton.  The female passenger was going to be transported by helicopter to an Ogden area hospital, but her condition worsened, and she succumbed to her injuries before transport could be made.
​
The couple had also been traveling with three dogs, two of which were killed in the accident. The third dog ran away from the accident, and was recovered a short distance away. The dog was taken to a veterinary clinic, found to be in good condition, and was returned to the driver.

Box Elder County Commission
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m.
1 South Main Street, Brigham City
   There will be an administrative/operational Session 11:45 a.m. for the following items: Agenda review/supporting documents, commissioners’ correspondence, and staff reports.

Regular meeting
1. Call to order
   Invocation
   Pledge of Allegiance
   Approve minutes: Aug. 1
2. Administrative Review/reports/future agenda items
3. Former agenda items
4. Fire update
5. Public interests
   Bear River Mental Health 2019 area plan
   TAB Money to be spent on mural at BEC Fairgrounds
   New member appointed to CIP Committee
   Moving Sept. 19, 2018, commission meeting
6. Auditor’s office
   Valuation notice
   Funding for senior centers in Brigham City and Tremonton
   Bookmobile/county library: Follow-up about municipal libraries
7. Community development
   Honeyville City: Corridor Preservation Fund reimbursement
   Tremonton City: Corridor Preservation Fund reimbursement
   Wade Larkin subdivision
8. Economic development
   First amendment to interlocal agreement #18-22, between Tremonton City Redevelopment Agency and Box Elder County
9. Human resources
   Lateral transfers and leave balances/accruals: public safety
   NACO national 401K program
10. Warrant register
11. Personnel Actions/volunteer action forms/cell phone allowance
12. Closed session
13. Adjourn


Box Elder and Perry City Flood Control Special Service District
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m.
3005 South 1200 West
1. Welcome and call to order
2. Approve minutes: July 18 and Aug. 1
3. Public comments
4. Update on status of Mathias Basin grant
5. Discussion on the DWR revised land water use application
6. Review bids and award contract for Wagstaff Ditch
7. Approve Ormond Construction invoice
8. Motion to approve invoice payments
9. September agenda items
10. Adjourn


Brigham City Council
Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.
20 North Main
1. Thought, reading or invocation
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve minutes: Aug. 2
4. Recognition of employees 
   New hire: Fire department
5. Consent
   Request to write-off accounts due to bankruptcy or being sent to collections
   Request for acceptance of annexation petition from Craynors for 3.75 acres at approximately 3100 West Forest Street
6. Public hearing
   Consideration of ordinance amending the adopted impact fee enactment for power services
7. Scheduled delegation
   Report on progress of updating the city’s land use code
8. Public comments
9. Councilmember comments
10. New business
   Continuation of strategic goal setting process: Cyber security strategic goal
   Continue of strategic goal setting process: Economic development strategic goal
11. Closed session to discuss pending or imminent litigation, and the purchase, exchange or lease of real property.


Mantua Town Council
Thursday, Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m.
1. Invocation
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Cameron Mathews: Eagle Scout Project 
4. Eric Newman: Eagle Scout Project
5. Basketball court
6. Expanding electrical capacity for bowery
7. Departments
   Finances
   Fire department and emergency preparedness
   Maintenance
   Roads
   Water
   Sewer and garbage
   Buildings
   Parks and cemetery
   Celebrations
   Law enforcement
   Courts
   Planning and zoning
8. Public comments
9. Approve minutes: Aug. 2 (public hearing and regular meeting)
10. Approve the bills
11. Council and mayor comments
12. Adjourn


Box Elder County Planning Commission
Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.
1 South Main Street, Brigham City
There will be an agenda review meeting at 6 p.m.

Regular meeting
1. Call to order
2. Invocation
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Approve minutes: July 19
5. Unfinished business
   Open Country Storage site plan, SP18-002, at approximately 10620 North 10800 West in the Thatcher area of unincorporated Box Elder County.
   Mileski Road vacate, VAC18-001, at approximately 11600 North, East of Highway 38 in the Deweyville area of Box Elder County. 
6. Public hearings
   Minchey home business conditional use permit, CUP18-002: Request conditional use permit for a home business located at approximately 3325 North Highway 38 in the Harper Ward area of unincorporated Box Elder County. 
   Staheli zoning map amendment, Z18-008: Request to re-zone a 2.45-acre property from A-20 (Agriculture 20 acres) zone to C-E (Commercial Enterprise) zone at approximately 1175 West Highway 13 in the Brigham City area of unincorporated Box Elder County. 
7. New business
   Staheli Storage site plan, SP18-003, at approximately 1175 West Highway 13 in the Brigham City area of unincorporated Box Elder County. 
9. Public comments
10. Adjourn


Brigham City Planning Commission
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.
20 North Main Street
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Approve minutes
3. Public comment
4. Public hearing
   Application #18-070, amend zoning map: Property associated with annexation petition, zoning district consideration is R-R-1 Rural Residential, located at approximately 3110 West Forest Street (Parcel No. 03-110-0040), Bret and Marianne Craynor
5. Application #18-063, preliminary plat: Duck 1084 Subdivision, two commercial lots, 1084 S. Main Street, Joseph Earnest, QQUV Investments 3, LLC 
6. Application #18-062, permitted use permit: Quick Quack Car Wash, 1084 S. Main Street, Joseph Earnest, QQUV Investments 3, LLC
7. Application #18-072, conditional use permit: Major home occupation, woodworking shop, 1232 North 600 West, Crystal and Jim Bodily
8. Discussion item
Application #18-071, subdivision sketch plan: Stuart Farms, 900 North and 625 West, Gene Stephens


Brigham City Library Board
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m.
1. Review/approve minutes: June 19
2. Vouchers: June and July 2018
3. Literacy report
4. Unfinished business
   SirsiDynix
   Boardmember replacements 
5. New business
   Meeting room policy: Suggested addition
   Programming updates
   Other items 
6. Distribution
   Newspaper publicity
   Circulation statistics report: July 2016 – June 2018; July 2017 – July 2018
   Revenues and expenditures: June 2018; July 2018
   Staff meeting minutes: June 27, and July 25
   Librarians’ meeting minutes: June 29 and July 27
   Patron “Thank You” note 
7. Adjourn

August 13, 2018  •   Nelson Phillips   •  Staff Writer

A press release issued late Monday night by the Box Elder County Sheriff's Department has confirmed that a 16-month-old Thatcher boy has died after drowning in a body of water.

"At approximately 9:00 p.m. a call came in to Box Elder Communications that there was a missing boy. At first it was reported that he was three years of age but later determined he was 16 months old. At the time it was feared he had fallen into the canal near the residence," wrote Chief Deputy Dale Ward.

After multiple public safety agencies responded, and a request made to the canal company to divert flows and lower the water level in the canal, the boy was found deceased in a "body of water located east of the residence" at about 9:45 p.m.

Ward stated that no further information was available, but that the Sheriff's office would be releasing more details on Tuesday.

New information released on Tuesday, August 14 has clarified what happened to the child.

According to Chief Deputy Dale Ward of the Box Elder County Sheriff's Department, at 9:00 p.m. on Monday, Keith Weaver of Thatcher advised dispatchers that his 16-month-old son Jackson Weaver was missing, stating he had been playing in the yard with his brothers just prior to them noticing he was gone.

The Weaver home is situated near both an irrigation canal and an adjacent irrigation ditch just north of the Thatcher/Penrose Fire Department. The search began near the canal, and the canal company was contacted to shut down the water.

"Mr. Weaver started looking in the area of a water diversion structure that diverts the irrigation water from an open ditch into a 12 inch PVC pipe system. This pipe runs both below and above ground and makes several turns to provide water to neighboring fields," wrote Ward. "Mr. Weaver then followed the pipe until it came back above ground and started taking apart the pipe sections at the joints. He found Jackson inside the pipe about 530 yards from the opening near the home."

Emergency personnel responded to Weaver's location, but discovered that Jackson was deceased.

​The Sheriff's Department has determined that Jackson Weaver's death was a "tragic accident," and no foul play of any kind is suspected.

August 12, 2018  ​•   Nelson Phillips   •  Staff Writer

Two Malad, Idaho men have died after their pickup truck tire separated while traveling along I-15 late Saturday morning.

According to Lieutenant Lee Perry of the Utah Highway Patrol, at approximately 11:47 a.m. the truck, a black 2000 Ford F-250, was travelling northbound on I-15 near mile marker 387 at normal freeway speeds when the passenger front tire tread separated, causing the tire to blow and the driver to lose control.

"The truck veered off the roadway to the right and traveled a short distance before jumping a runoff ditch and rolling onto its roof," said Perry. "The driver was killed instantly, and the adult front seat male passenger was critically injured." A 13-year-old boy who was riding in the backseat suffered minor facial injuries, and was treated at Bear River Valley Hospital and released.

The driver has been identified as 44-year-old John A. Ward. The injured passenger, identified as 33-year-old Peter J. Ward, was taken by ambulance to Bear River Valley Hospital, and then airlifted to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, where he succumbed to his injuries late Saturday night.

None of the truck's occupants were wearing seat belts. Investigators have zeroed in on the age of the truck's tires as the cause of the accident.

"All four tires were from the same manufacturer, and were approximately eight years old," said Perry. "People should realize that tires only have a 72 month guaranteed life span, so they need to think about replacing tires that are more than six years old."

Perry also suggested checking tire pressure weekly, making sure that tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommendation, and also to check sidewalls for cracks and tread for any signs of separation.

"Separation can not always be detected until it occurs, however, so you should replace old outdated tires," he said.

Aug. 1 · Sean Hales · Managing editor

The Goose Creek fire in northwestern Box Elder County, which has consumed 122,916 acres (192 square miles) and destroyed three outbuildings, did not have any appreciable growth yesterday, Tuesday, July 31, according to information released today from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. But that could change as thunderstorms develop over the area.

Winds from those thunderstorms could significantly hamper firefighting efforts by accelerating or changing the direction of the blaze. Furthermore, given critically low dead fuel moisture, any lightning strikes from the storms could start another blaze and complicate the situation.

“...microbursts can be a dangerous and unpredictable situation for firefighting,” wrote BLM Public Information Officer Vince Mazzier in an email. “ These downdrafts have no particular direction, they are variable and erratic, causing fire to move in unpredictable ways and fanning available flames and causing extreme fire behavior.  When these occur in a fire area they are always a ‘watch out’ situation for our firefighters.”

The area where the fire is burning is prone to extreme fire behavior, with recent fires growing more than 20,000 in 24 hours. This year, the area has around 200-300 percent more fine fuels, and dead fuel moisture is near historical lows for this time of year. Even sagebrush live fuel moisture is reaching critical levels. Information from the Great Basin Coordination Center’s “Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory” said that under such conditions, as well as other existing factors, even retardant is not effective unless “immediately followed up with firefighters and/or used in conjunction with bucket drops.”

Structure protection, and minimizing risk to Grouse Creek and Etna townsites, remains a priority of firefighting efforts.

Fire officials are urging caution in wildland areas where any form of ignition has a 90 percent chance of starting a fire. There are still fire restrictions in place on public lands, including:

1. No campfires, except in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in developed campgrounds and picnic areas.

2. No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area that is paved, barren, or cleared to mineral soil.

3. Cutting, welding, or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.

4. Use of any tracer or incendiary ammunition of any caliber.

5. Possession or use of any kind of explosives, incendiary or chemical devices, pyrotechnics or fireworks, or exploding targets. 

6. Use of any Sky Lanterns, Chinese Lanterns, Fire Balloons, Acetylene Balloons or similar device.

7. Use of any Off Road Vehicle (ORV) that is not equipped with a properly installed and maintained spark arrestor. Spark arresters shall meet the 80 percent efficiency level standard.

​As of today, the Goose Creek fire is 35 percent contained, with full containment estimated by next week, Wednesday, Aug. 8.

August 1, 2018 • Nelson Phillips • Staff Writer

The business arrangement between the Brigham City Redevelopment Agency and Brigham House, LLC, which runs the restaurant of the same name and manages the Academy Conference Center, has been terminated as of today.

The restaurant celebrated its grand opening on May 4, less than three months ago.

"We have mutually agreed to terminate our relationship," wrote Brigham City Administrator Jason Roberts in response to a News Journal query. "The City is releasing a statement very soon on Facebook announcing that the City will be managing the Academy Conference Center beginning today.  The restaurant space is no longer being leased by Brigham House."

Employees of the restaurant were reportedly informed last night not to come into work today.  The News Journal is attempting to gather more information on this developing story.

​July 30, 2018  •   Nelson Phillips   •   Staff Writer​

Two wildfires that began in Nevada have both joined in Utah, burning over 118,000 acres as of Monday afternoon, destroying tens of thousands of acres of range land that cattle ranchers in Box Elder County depend on to feed their herds.

The Goose Creek Fire began southwest of Jackpot Nevada on Thursday, July 26, the result of a lightning strike.  Another Nevada fire, the China Jim Fire, also began by lightning strike on Saturday, July 28, beginning on the northern slope of China Jim Mountain, which is about 13 miles southwest of the unincorporated town of Grouse Creek, Utah.

Box Elder County firefighters were already out battling several blazes, including a 1,241 acre fire in the Raft River Mountains, a 745 acre fire at Monument Peak, an 80 acre fire in the Bovine Mountains, and also mopping up a 1,008 acre fire in Hansel Valley, when the fires crossed the border into the county on Saturday.

‘There were a lot of fires going on, and a lot of resources that were tied up,” said Box Elder County Fire Marshal Corey Barton. “And once we were able to get resources cleared, it took a while for them to get here. But we were able to get five dozers, three road graders, and a ton of Box Elder resources.” Those resources came from Box Elder County and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as Utah State Lands.

“People need to understand that when we order an engine from Willard, it takes three, three and a half hours to get them out here, because the location is so remote,” he said.

Barton reported that the fires initially crossed into rough terrain that was impossible to get to except by air.  By Saturday evening, however, the China Jim Fire had burned through to State Route 30, forcing the road to be closed from nine miles east of the Nevada border, due to heat and visibility issues.  The road was re-opened on Sunday morning.

By Sunday both fires had converged into one massive fire burning along the Utah/Nevada border, estimated at that time to be 100,000 acres.  The names of the two fires were joined as the Goose Creek Fire. Engines from Garland Fire, Willard Fire and Grouse Creek Fire were deployed to protect structures, and brush trucks from Tremonton Fire, Garland Fire, Honeyville Fire, Box Elder County Fire, as well as Davis, Weber and Cache County were actively fighting the fire, as well as a multi-engine and several single engine air tankers.

When the town of Grouse Creek was threatened, the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Department ordered a voluntary, then a mandatory evacuation.  As firefighters battled to save Grouse Creek and were able to establish lines around the town, the mandatory evacuation order was lifted.
​
“The air tankers were dropping right in people’s backyards,” said Barton, about the effort to save the town. “They were literally dropping flame retardant on the back of the houses, trying to protect them from the fire.”

Barton stated that the biggest losses to area residents so far hasn’t been structures, even though three uninhabited structures have been lost.  He said the greatest losses to the local ranchers have been in burned grazing land.

“They raise cattle, this is cattle business out here. When we’re burning up all this range land, we’re burning up their summer feed, along with some pretty prime Sage Grouse habitat.,” he said.
​
The BLM has taken control of fighting the fire, bringing on a level one incident team, which is the highest priority designation.  According to the BLM’s incident website, approximately 306 firefighting personnel were actively fighting the Goose Creek Fire as of Sunday night. The fire was listed as 15 percent contained, having burned 118,000 acres, with an expected full containment date of Wednesday, August 8.