CACHE COUNTY – The Cache County Republicans have slated meet and greet events for local candidates from Wednesday, Mar. 20 to Wednesday, April 10.
The purpose of these gatherings will be to give GOP precinct chairs, ex-officio Republicans and Cache County delegates an opportunity to discuss issues and learn about the local candidates vying for county elected posts prior to the county’s nominating convention of Saturday, April 13.
The candidates for the newly created post of county auditor will be available to meet the public at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 20 at the Cache County Historic Courthouse.
They are Dirk Anderson, the chief deputy to County Executive David Zook; Dianna Schaeffer, the current county tax administrator; Brittany Kingston, the county’s budget analyst; and Matthew C. Funk, a local certified public accountant.
On hand at the county courthouse on Wednesday, Mar. 27 will be the candidates for county attorney. They are incumbent County Attorney K. Taylor Sorensen and Cameron Cox, a local public defender.
The candidates for Cache County clerk will also meet with fellow Republicans at the County Courthouse on Mar. 27.
The race for that post will be a three-way contest between Bryson J. Behm, the county’s former chief deputy clerk, and newcomers Roger T. Anderson and Sebastian M. Luu.
Another candidate, David Palmer, has withdrawn his name from contention.
Both meet the candidate events on Mar. 27 will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The candidates for Logan Seat #1 on the Cache County Council will also meet with Republicans at the historic courthouse at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10.
They are long-term incumbent Karl Ward and Keegan Garrity, a persistent critic of the Logan City Council who is now a candidate to replace Ward.
The candidates for the North District seat on the Cache County Council will meet with GOP delegates at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at the Lions Club Lodge in Smithfield.
They are incumbent council chair David Erickson and challenger Jon-David Jorgensen.
Another candidate Mike Monson has withdrawn his name from contention.
A date and time for a meet the candidate event for the South District Seat on the Cache County Council has yet to be determined.
In the South District race, incumbent council member Nolan P. Gunnell will face Devron Anderson, the former recorder for Cache County.
Running unopposed will be County Assessor Brett Robinson, County Treasurer Craig McAllister and County Recorder Tennille Johnson.
The Lions Club Lodge is located at 102 North, 380 East in Smithfield.
The Cache County Historic Courthouse is located at 199 North Main Street in downtown Logan.
]]>The Mountain West received its dream of becoming a six-bid league for the first time ever. Each of San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada and New Mexico made it into the NCAA Tournament. It showcases the growth and strength of the conference. And despite USU’s loss in the Mountain West conference tournament semifinal, the Aggies still found themselves ranked in the AP Top 25 Monday morning, dropping two spots to #20. Joining the Aggies in the rankings are the San Diego State Aztecs, jumping back into the Top 25 at #24. Other Mountain West Conference teams received votes in the poll but did not make the top 25, including New Mexico (effectively ranked 26th), Nevada (28th), Boise State (37th) and Colorado State (42nd).
But while the selection committee felt bound to award the Mountain West with six bids (and despite the solid votes from the Associated Press), it did not see fit to do any additional favors to the conference. Five of the six teams from the MW were under-seeded based on projections from bracketologists. In fact, the five most under-seeded teams according to those same projections were, in order, Nevada, Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State and New Mexico.
According tobracket matrix predictions vs actual only 5 teams were more than 1.5 spots below their projected seed – all 5 MWC.
— TS20Designs | Tyler Stevenson (@tysteve20) March 17, 2024
Nevada 3.08
BSU 2.43
USU 2.14
CSU 1.97
UNM 1.60
Next closest was Florida at 1.29.
“I was really surprised how most of the Mountain West was seeded,” Colorado State head coach Niko Medved told media. “I’m not the expert or anything, but I think if you talk to the hundreds of people who do the bracketology, they really had all the Mountain West teams seeded higher. But you know what? That’s fine. They always disrespect our league and now it’s time to go out and do something about it.”
A somewhat shocking tidbit of reporting that emerged after the bracket reveal is that New Mexico would not have made the bracket without winning the Mountain West Tournament. And while the Lobos had been on the bubble, their resume should have been good enough to ensure getting in after wins over Boise State and Colorado State to get to the conference tournament final. It’s what pretty much most of the national media and virtually every bracketologist felt going into Saturday.
So far, most of the outrage over the seeding has come from outside the teams. Medved’s comments were about as fiery as it got from the teams, although Boise State’s reaction to being one of the most under-seeded teams of all is worth noting. Utah State guard Darius Brown echoed the feeling of surprise, but told media he wasn’t disappointed by it.
On “The Field of 68” live stream reaction to the bracket, multiple people on the stream, including Jeff Goodman and Kevin Sweeney, were very vocal about their displeasure over the Mountain West’s seeding.
“I am not happy about the Mountain West here,” Goodman said on the stream. “They got tremendously under-seeded through and through. I’ve seen that league. Nevada as a 10 is a joke. Colorado State in the play-in is a joke”
Outrage aside, it’s time for a preview into each of the teams and their respective matchups. We’ll go in chronological order by when the teams play for each of these.
Last Matchup: First-ever meeting
This isn’t the same Virginia that was a one seed four times in a six-year span, including a national championship in 2019. Nor is it even the team that was a four seed just last year. This year’s Cavaliers were a bit of a shell of its normal self under long-time head coach Tony Bennett. But it’s still a team capable of holding its own and did just as much by finishing third in the always tough ACC.
Bennett’s teams always play slow and have elite defense and the Cavaliers have not deviated from that in the slightest. Virginia ranks 362nd, AKA dead last, in KenPom’s adjusted tempo and seventh in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. The combination of slow pace and suffocating defense has given the Cavaliers the third-best scoring defense, allowing just 59.6 per game. They’re also only one of two teams this season to not allow any opponent to score 80 or more points.
Where the Rams find their biggest advantage is their balance in offense and defense. They rank inside the top 45 in both KenPom’s offensive and defensive metrics while Virginia is barely in the top 200 in offensive efficiency in the same metrics. The Cavaliers have often paired efficient (even if low-scoring because of pace) offense with its fantastic defense to continuously win games by scoring in the mid-60s and holding opponents to the low-60s or even below 60. That offense just simply hasn’t been there and Virginia has been held to 55 or fewer points eight times, tied for the third-most of such games in the Bennett era.
Last Matchup: 2022, BSU won 68-55 (BSU leads series 1-0 all-time)
The only other meeting between these two teams in either program’s history happened just last year and is was Boise State that took home victory and in fairly dominant fashion. And in a rare feat for modern college basketball, there will be a lot of familiar faces between the two teams. Of the 16 players that played at least 16 minutes in that 2022 game, eight are set to appear (four on each side) for this year’s rematch and both head coaches are back as well.
Colorado has done the most improving since the last matchup, going from team that barely finished above .500 (18-17) and competing in the NIT to earning an at-large bid by virtue of a 24-10 campaign and third-place finish in the Pac-12.
The team as a whole made notable improvement, but the continued improvement of junior guard KJ Simpson certainly had a lot to do with the Buffaloes moving up the standings this year. He went from being a leading scorer on the team last year at 15.9 points per game to unquestionably the leading scorer at 19.6 per game. His biggest individual improvement was upping his 3-point percentage from its 26.9 percent as a freshman and sophomore to an elite 45.3 percent this year.
Both teams are fairly well balanced, with a slight edge to Colorado, though each team’s strengths lean notably in different sides of the ball. The Buffaloes are better on offense than defense, ranking 25th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency and 42nd in defense with the Broncos essentially opposite, being 52nd in offense and 29th in defense. It should create for a fun matchup where the strength of each team is going against the strength of the opponent.
Last Matchup: First-ever meeting
Nevada was the single most under-seeded team of the tournament, no questions asked. Perhaps some of that was their own doing, losing in the quarterfinal of the Mountain West tournament, but that alone doesn’t explain how the Wolf Pack ended up as a 10 seed.
What that under-seeding means is that this will be one of the closes projected matchups of the first round and is one of just three games — aside from the 8/9 seed matchups — where the worse seed is the betting favorite.
To fully take advantage of being the favorite, the Wolf Pack will need to keep one of the most versatile and dangerous bigmen in the country under control. DaRon Holmes II, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, was recently named A-10 MVP and with very good reason. He averaged 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks. He also shot 38.5 percent from three. There’s not a whole lot Holmes can’t do out there on the court.
The Wolf Pack and Flyers will have one thing in common in this matchup, that being unrealized potential in their respective conference tournaments. Nevada lost to Colorado State in its first game of the tournament while Dayton fell to the eventual A-10 tourney champ Duquesne in its opener.
Dayton leans heavily toward being an offensively focused team, ranking 18th in KenPom offensive efficiency while being just inside the top 100 defensively at 87th. Nevada is much more balanced, ranking 40th on offense and 36th on defense.
Last Matchup: 1989, UAB won 91-46 (UAB leads series 1-0 all-time)
The only previous matchup between the Aztecs and Blazers took place a full decade before SDSU’s emergence as a mid-major power under Steve Fisher. It’s hardly worth noting, but there it is.
UAB have been a consistently solid program but with irregular appearances in the NCAA Tournament as members of Conference USA. Last year the Blazers went 29-10 but were left out of the bracket. This year, UAB joined the AAC, but it was winning the conference tournament that sent the team to the Big Dance for just the second time in the last nine years.
San Diego State is a decent favorite, being given a 6.5-point edge in this one. Confidence in the Aztecs is justified given their success from last year in making it to the championship game, doing so as a five seed just as they are this year. That and the fact they pushed their way to the Mountain West tournament title game as a five seed in that bracket. But SDSU has lost as a higher seed previously, falling in the first round as a six seed in 2021. Current head coach Brian Dutcher is 1-3 in the first round in his tenure with the Aztecs.
The Blazers, though, don’t seem to match up particularly well with San Diego State. They’re a team that’s lived by taking tons of free throws (12th in FTA nationally) and grabbing numerous offensive rebounds (28th nationally). But SDSU is good at both not fouling (plus the fact that fewer fouls are called in the NCAA Tournament) and in dominating the glass. If UAB wants to pull off the upset, they’ll need to beat the Aztecs at their own game. Possible, but not probable.
Last Matchup: First-ever meeting
Winning the Mountain West Tournament proved to be a necessity for the Lobos to make the tournament. But aside from that four-wins-in-four-days run getting them to the tournament, perhaps it’ll give them a boost in the Big Dance. Talking points surrounding momentum abound in March, partly because teams have ridden improbably conference tournament runs into NCAA Tournament success. New Mexico will simply try to be the latest.
As one of the teams under-seeded by the selection committee, New Mexico’s been dealt a rough hand against Clemson, but the Lobos are actually the betting favorite (-1.5) as of the writing of this article. New Mexico is the only seed 11 or lower that is favored in its first-round matchup.
Some of that favoring for the Lobos could be coming from the momentum they have as opposed to how Clemson finished the season. The Tigers have lost three of their last four games while UNM is on a four-game win streak, including wins over three of the best teams in the Mountain West.
That momentum could be big in a matchup like this one, where both teams are very capable of putting points on the board. Both sides are top 50 in KenPom offensive efficiency with New Mexico’s pace leading it to rank 21st in the country in points per game. New Mexico will push the pace faster than Clemson has typically played, but it’s not like the Tigers are allergic to high-possession games. In fact, most of the fast-paced games Clemson has played in, it’s won, including an 80-76 victory at North Carolina.
This game could feature two of the most interesting individual matchups, with Clemson guard Joseph Girard and forward PJ Hall matching up with New Mexico guard Jaelen House and forward JT Toppin. Both sets of players were key in their respective team’s success and should provide an exciting game on both ends of the court.
Last Matchup: 1982, USU won 84-59 (USU leads series 2-0 all-time)
The regular season Mountain West champions were slated as just an eight seed, a bit of an embarrassment for the conference but the Aggies have the chance to show their worth. Outside analysis favors TCU with the Horned Frogs as 3.5-point favorites and most computer projections giving them the edge over Utah State.
The Horned Frogs have been very up-and-down for a month, though more down than up to be honest. They’ve gone 3-5 since Feb. 20, though in being fair to TCU, the list of opponents its lost to — Texas Tech, Baylor, BYU, UCF and Houston — is a pretty impressive list of teams. In games where they weren’t facing top-30 teams, TCU went 3-0.
This game could be a tough matchup if the Aggies don’t learn from previous struggles against smaller teams. TCU will largely focus on playing its three 6-foot-7 forwards — Emanuel Miller, Micah Peavy and JaKobe Coles — and use their versatility and athleticism to overwhelm the Aggies on defense while being able to adequately stifle USU in the paint and keep Mountain West Player of the Year, Great Osobor, at bay. Finding ways to defend the perimeter without giving up easier shots in the paint against five-out lineups is something Utah State struggled with at times this season and they’ll be tested in that very subject on the biggest stage on Friday.
What really could give the Aggies an extra edge, though, is Osobor. TCU won’t have the greatest matchups defensively for him and if he draws fouls the way he has much of the season, it could wreak havoc on the Horned Frogs and give USU some easy offense.
]]>
LOGAN — On his monthly spotlight of the Logan City School District and education in general, Logan School Superintendent Frank Schofield talked social studies and history last week on KVNU’s For the People program. History is a subject Schofield has experience teaching.
“Most people think of me as a former Spanish teacher because that was the majority of my teaching, but my major, my primary degree was actually in history teaching,” Schofield said. “The best year of my time teaching at Logan High was when I had a portion of my day teaching Spanish and the rest of the day I taught Social Studies to English learners.
“So, I got to teach geography and U.S. History and U.S. Government to kids who were coming from different countries with different perspectives on government and history and the role of social studies in their lives.”
Schofield said over the last couple of years there have been concerns in the U.S., and Utah as well, about the content that is covered in social studies and language arts classes.
There are worries that the information is too sensitive or promotes one side of a narrative, even in extreme cases concern about teachers using it as an opportunity to present their own personal beliefs and use the classroom as a ‘bully pulpit.’
“My experience, as I work with our Social Studies teachers and I visit their classrooms, is that we have teachers who are extremely skilled at making sure that as students study history they are aware of the challenging aspects of the history of our country, and there are many of those,” Schofield explained. “And they’re also able to show how people have worked through those challenging aspects to accomplish great things.
“History is one of those subjects where you get to see the highest highs of human endeavor, people supporting and accomplishing great things. You also get to see the lowest lows of really bad behavior.”
He said students are helped to learn from that and going forward to embrace good behavior that helps people grow a successful society.
Schofield brought two Logan High School Social Studies teachers with him: Candace Mullen and Jason Soffe. Social Studies, as it touches on history, can be a sensitive subject nowadays as it might invite bias of one particular viewpoint. Soffe talked about how he addresses the subject.
“When we learn about history, we can learn why the problems that we have, we have them, what successes we have, what’s the promises of this country. And we can learn that sometimes the challenges we’re having are nothing new, and we can get some insight into how to overcome some of those challenges. But we also learn a little bit of empathy for others around us and the different points of view that they have,” Soffe explained.
He said there should be a reflection of us in all the things we’re learning in U.S. History.
Mullen said what they try to do is help students to not put their own values or understanding on the people in the past when they study them.
“Think about what their world was, what they knew, how they were living. And really what’s beautiful about history is it’s just the study of human beings. As we try not to put our own knowledge, and we just kind of focus on what their challenges were at that time, what events were happening, and as we dive deeper, we can kind of understand why they maybe were choosing the things that they were choosing,” she explained.
Mullen said human society has improved in many ways, but we are still like the humans of the past as well.
]]>SALT LAKE CITY – While the recently-concluded general session of the Utah Legislature debated the state’s future water needs, the Colorado River Authority of Utah has joined other upper Colorado River Basin states in advancing an immediate plan to operate Lakes Powell and Mead starting in 2026.
“Water is the lifeline of Utah’s economy, agriculture and communities,” according to Sen. Chris Wilson (R-Logan). “The state’s growing population and economy rely on a steady and sustainable water supply.”
“This is a pivotal moment for Utah and the entire upper basin (of the Colorado River)” agrees Gene Shawcroft, the state’s river commissioner and CEO of the Colorado River Authority. “(Our plan) is about adapting to the realities we face today and securing a water-resilient future for our region.”
That proposal – designed within the limitations imposed by Mother Nature and existing statutes – is intended to address the challenges faced by both the upper basin states (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming) and the lower basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada).
“Collaboration remains key,” Shawcroft says. “This proposal outlines additional contributions by the four Upper Division states, such as voluntary conservation programs and releases from Colorado River Storage Project Act Units. Those demonstrate our proactive stance in protecting Lake Powell’s ability to support the entire Colorado River system.”
In recent years, the upper and lower basin states have squabbled over declining water availability in the Colorado River. The Upper Basin states claim they have conserved more than their fair share and single out California, in particular, for its past reluctance to reduce its water use.
California, which draws its share of the river from Lake Mead, is the largest user of Colorado River water. By contrast, Arizona has taken significant cuts to its allocation recently.
Shawcroft explains that the joint proposal from the Upper Division states represents a balanced approach for Lakes Powell and Mead, combining immediate action with long-term planning to ensure the sustainability of those crucial reservoirs.
That proposal focuses on adapting operations to actual hydrological conditions; rebuilding storage supplies at Lakes Powell and Mead; responding to the uncertainties of climate change; and, managing the two reservoirs to address water supply and demand imbalances.
The plan submitted by the upper basin states also highlights the importance of responsiveness to scientific data; acknowledges hydrological shortages; and addresses settled (but undeveloped) Tribal water rights in the upper basin region.
Back in Utah, lawmakers are doing their part to support the plan by passing legislation aimed at conserving and planning for statewide water supplies. Wilson cites Senate Bill 18 (Water Modifications) and Senate Bill 211 (Generational Water Infrastructure Amendments) as part of those recent efforts.
SB 18 recognized the critical role of agriculture in Utah by allowing the agricultural community to save, monetize and sell their excess water while maintaining their water rights. This proposal was signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox on Mar. 13.
SB 211 addresses Utah’s long-term need for adequate and reliable water by creating the Water District Water Development Council and a Water Project Executive Agent to plan for and develop generational water infrastructure projects that look 50-75 years into the future.
“Just as early settlers had the foresight to ingeniously manage water resources to establish thriving communities in an arid climate,” Wilson emphasizes, “we must work with the same mindset today to ensure Utah has long-term plans for sustainable water access for future generations.”
Although Utah is committed to working along with lower basin states to address shared challenges, Shawcroft says that state officials remain dedicated to the development of water management plans that would include all seven Colorado River basin states.
Established in 2021, the mission of the Colorado River Authority of Utah is to jealously defend every drop of Utah’s share of the water of the Colorado River.
]]>LOGAN — A 20-year-old North Salt Lake man has been sentenced to a half year in jail for sexting with an undercover police officer in Logan two years ago. Joshua Anthony Hernandez was originally booked into the Cache County Jail last year after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to court records, Hernandez was sentenced Wednesday, March 13, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He had previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to enticing a minor by internet or text, a second-degree felony.
Prosecutors report, Hernandez began messaging the Logan City Police officer Feb. 2, 2022. The undercover officer was posing as a 12-year-old girl on a popular website that allows users to chat with random people.
Hernandez reportedly told the officer he was 16 and requested their phone number. He then began texting graphic descriptions of various sexual activities he wanted to do, police reported.
Twice Hernandez said he wanted to drive to Logan to meet up in person. The officer reported that there wasn’t sufficient staff to apprehend the defendant either time, so they replied that they couldn’t meet.
Police tracked the phone number to a home in North Salt Lake. They called the defendant, attempting to ask him questions about the messages.
Hernandez hung up the phone and would not answer further calls. Officers also attempted to contact him at the North Salt Lake residence unsuccessfully, leading to police requesting the arrest warrant.
During sentencing, Judge Brian Cannell ordered Hernandez to 180 days in jail, with credit for 62 days previously served. Upon release, the defendant will be on probation for three years, including being listed on the sex-offender registry, electronic monitoring, and mental health treatment.
]]>LOGAN – Motorists are being advised that 1000 North will no longer be a major east to west thoroughfare in Logan starting during the last week of March.
City officials have announced that 1000 North will be closed to through traffic between Main and 200 West streets from Monday, Mar. 25 to Thursday, Mar. 28.
That closure will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, although city officials add that some nighttime work may also be necessary.
During this first phase of utility relocations on the north side of 1000 North, utility contractors will be working in the area from Main Street to 200 West with large equipment including cranes and lift trucks.
During the construction period, 1000 North will remain open for local traffic only. City officials are warning local residents to use caution when navigating through the construction area, including making eye contact with equipment operators before proceeding on the roadway.
The ultimate goal of this long-term construction effort will be to make community transportation easier and safer by replacing the four-way stop at the junction of 200 West and 1000 North with a traffic signal.
Work leading to that change is expected to continue through the early winter months of 2024, with landscaping and surface features in the area not being replaced until spring of 2025.
To stay updated on 1000 North improvement project, residents are invited to call 800-292-3557 or sign up for email updates at Logan1000North@wcg.us.
]]>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a bill that would ban the use of any public funds for gender-affirming care, including for state employees using work health insurance and for adults covered by Medicaid.
The legislation already passed the House and only needs to clear the majority Republican Senate before it is sent to Gov. Brad Little’s desk, where it would likely be signed into law. The Republican governor has said repeatedly he does not believe public funds should be used for gender-affirming care.
If the legislation is enacted, Idaho would become at least the 10th state to ban Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for people of all ages, according to the advocacy and information organization Movement Advancement Project. The laws are part of an ongoing national battle over the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.
Opponents to the Idaho bill say it almost certainly will lead to a lawsuit in federal court. The state has already been sued multiple times over attempts to deny gender-affirming care to transgender residents and so far has not had much success defending the lawsuits.
In one case, the state was ordered to provide a transgender inmate with gender-transition surgery, and the inmate was later awarded roughly $2.5 million in legal fees.
Last year a federal judge barred Idaho from enforcing its newly enacted ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors until a lawsuit brought by transgender youth and their families is resolved. A different federal judge denied the state’s motion to dismiss a separate lawsuit filed by adults in 2022 who said Medicaid officials wrongly denied coverage for their medically necessary gender-affirming treatment.
“This bill violates the 14th Amendment equal protections clause” and the federal Medicaid Act, Boise attorney Howard Belodoff told lawmakers during a hearing on Thursday.
Belodoff represents the transgender adults who sued the state over what they said were discriminatory Medicaid policies excluding coverage for genital reconstruction surgery.
“You cannot distinguish between providing care on the basis of diagnosis, type of illness or condition,” Belodoff said. “That’s exactly what this bill does: it violates the Medicaid Act.”
One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Rep. Bruce Skaug, said those lawsuits prompted creation of the bill.
“This is a taxpayer protection bill in my view,” Skaug said, suggesting that without it the state could end up paying millions for gender-affirming care. Roughly 70% of Idaho’s Medicaid program is federally funded.
Some who testified against the bill suggested it could have a far larger reach than intended by eliminating gender-affirming care for even privately insured residents living in rural areas with only state-funded medical centers.
Isaac Craghtten, an Idaho Department of Correction employee, noted that many correctional employees work 12- to 16-hour shifts, which can require taking some prescribed medications like hormone therapy while on the job.
But the legislation bars the use of any state property, facility or building for providing surgical operations or medical interventions, which could mean employees would be subject to criminal penalties for taking their own legally prescribed medication while in a break room, Craghtten said.
The punishment for violating the law would include fines ranging from $300 to $10,000 and imprisonment between one and 14 years.
At least 23 states including Idaho have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for minors. Some states also have considered policies that experts say would make it more difficult for transgender adults to receive care, such as eliminating telehealth options or requiring repeated psychological examinations for continued gender-affirming treatment.
Major medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, oppose gender-affirming care bans and have endorsed such care, saying it is safe when administered properly.
While courts have blocked the enforcement of gender-affirming care bans for minors in Idaho, Montana and Arkansas, they have allowed enforcement in Alabama and Georgia.
___
Associated Press writers Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
]]>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following up on President Joe Biden’s combative State of the Union Address, the White House released a budget request on Mar. 11 calling for $7.3 trillion in spending for the 2025 fiscal year.
In the rosy picture painted by White House officials, Biden’s budget would create new social programs for housing, health care and childcare while reducing the national deficit by $3 trillion over the next decade through new taxes.
On the House Budget Committee, Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) called the President’s budget a recipe for disaster, complete with tax hikes, inflationary spending and steep deficits.
“We are the only nation that has emerged from every crisis we have entered stronger than when we went in,” Biden argued in a cover letter attached to his budget proposal. “While my administration has seen great progress since day one, there is still work to do. My budget will make that promise real.”
Biden’s budget recommends funding new social programs by raising tax revenues by $4.9 trillion over the next decade while cutting the federal deficit by $3 trillion over the same period.
Those seemingly contradictory goals would be accomplished by raising the corporate tax rate from the current 21 percent to 28 percent; raising the minimum tax on the largest billion-dollar corporations from 15 percent to 21 percent; imposing a 25 percent minimum tax on Americans earning more than $100 million annually; denying tax deductions for corporations that pay any employee more than $1 million; and, plugging a tax loophole for owners of corporate jets.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called the President’s budget proposal “a road to accelerate American decline.”
Moore agrees, saying that higher taxes and inflated price are exactly what hardworking American families don’t need right now.
“President Biden’s budget falls far short of addressing the many challenges caused by runaway spending,” Moore said.
In a prepared statement released on Mar. 14, Moore explained that the Biden budget would add $18.2 trillion to the national debt over 10 years, boosting that total to a staggering $52.7 trillion by 2034.
That short-sighted proposal would also impose the largest tax increase in the nation’s history ($4.9 trillion); spend an unprecedented $86.6 trillion over 10 years; and, grow the gross federal debt by 25 percent more than the economy.
What America need now, Moore argued, is to adopt the spending plan for fiscal 2025 that was recently passed by the House Budget Committee to cure Washington’s spending addiction and counter policies like Biden’s that worsen the nation’s economic outlook.
“Our budget proposes no new taxes, grows the economy over three times faster than the debt, balances the budget in 10 years and spends $15.1 trillion less than the President’s budget,” he emphasized.
Moore also said that the Budget Committee’s resolution would also create a path to reduced spending and deficits, bolster economic growth and bring some sense of fiscal responsibility back to Washington.
While congressional observers acknowledge that Biden’s budget proposal has zero chance of being accepted by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, it lays out Biden’s talking points in his 2024 re-election bid and stakes out the President’s position in contrast to former President Donald Trump’s appeals to working-class voters.
]]>LOGAN – Dr. Jane Irungu was born and raised in Kenya and became a teacher and principal there, before moving to the U.S. in 1997 for opportunities at the Universities of Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon and, now, Utah State.
For almost three years she has served as vice president for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at USU.
After learning of the power of education in her early years she said she made her life mission to advocate for those who need help so that all students can thrive and follow their passions.
Since coming to America she earned master’s and doctorate degrees while better understanding the diverse experiences of college students and supporting the vision of equal opportunity.
“It should not be controversial to treat people fairly, it should not be controversial to have equitable practices,” she said.
In a a recent interview, in observation of March as Women’s History Month, she said after nearly 40 years doing this work she is proud to be an educator.
]]>LOGAN – The Woodruff Neighborhood Council will meet on Wednesday, Mar. 20. That gathering will take place in the cafeteria of Woodruff Elementary School at 7 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting will be to appoint/elect a new Neighborhood Council Committee, including a new chair, vice chair and secretary.
The gathering will also feature updates on local developments and parks; a message from Mayor Holly Daines about the cancellation of the spring green waste pick-up; and public input from residents.
Residents of the Woodruff neighborhood include anyone living in Logan south of 200 South; between Main and 1000 West streets; and, east of Main Street at 600 South, including the Country Manor and Blackhawk townhomes areas.
People attending the meeting should enter Woodruff Elementary via the northwest door near the outside stairs.
Woodruff neighborhood residents are encouraged to spread the word of this meeting to friends and neighbors.
More information about this event can be obtained by e-mailing woodruffhood@gmail.com.
The Woodruff Elementary School is located at 950 West, 600 South in Logan.
]]>October 27, 1965 — March 13, 2024 (age 58)
Kristin Hobbs Cox, our loving mother, grandmother, and friend, age 58, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2024 and was reunited with her sweetheart, Bryan. Kristin has left behind her children, Jessica (Jeffrey) Craig, Devin (Brittany) Cox, Andrea (Trevor) Lake, and Natasha (Neal) Weber, and nine grandchildren. Kristin was preceded in death by her husband, Bryan Cox, her daughter, Olivia Cox, and her father, Bruce Hobbs. We will miss her immensely.
Kristin was born on October 27, 1965 in Logan, Utah to her loving parents, Bruce and Marjorie Hobbs. Kristin is the oldest of seven children, and had a close relationship with each sibling and both parents. She attended Sky View High School and enjoyed participating in the color guard. She graduated high school in 1983.
Kristin met Bryan at church; they were married and sealed for time and all eternity on July 18, 1986 in the Logan Utah Temple. They had an incredibly close and loving marriage, and it brings us peace that they have been reunited. Kristin was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed maximizing every calling she was given. She was dedicated to her church attendance and always tried to make people feel welcome and loved.
Kristin was known for her sweet demeanor, optimistic attitude, and her strong determination. Throughout her life, she battled many health challenges and was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma at the young age of 45. She always had a smile on her face, and even doctors, nurses and caregivers would comment on how much they enjoyed coming to her room since she had such a positive attitude. She always had faith and trust in Heavenly Father’s plan for her.
Kristin was very dedicated to her family and was their biggest cheerleader, best listener, and always offered endless support. She was a peacemaker and taught her children to treat others with kindness. She enjoyed spending time with her family and loved being a grandma and snuggling her grandkids. We will miss her positive influence and love in our lives, and will remember her example forever.
A viewing will take place on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 6-8 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan, Utah.
On Friday, March 22, 2024 a viewing will take place from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM prior to the funeral services which will be held at 11:00 AM at the Providence Stake Center, 180 South 485 West, Providence, Utah.
Interment will follow at the Providence City Cemetery (925 River Heights Blvd, River Heights, Utah).
Funeral services will be broadcast live via Zoom at www.allenmortuaries.com.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Allen Mortuaries.
]]>November 15, 1967 — March 5, 2024 (age 56)
Christine Jeppesen, 56, of North Logan, passed away from a sudden heart attack on March 5, 2024.
Chris was born on Nov 15, 1967 to M.K. and Ellen Rae Jeppesen, with a head of thick black curls and the brightest of blue eyes. She grew up in North Logan, the 5th of 8 children. Chris loved to travel and cherished memories of family vacations growing up. She had the opportunity to visit many states and iconic places throughout her years and was especially enamored with the Eastern US. She also loved to frequent Disneyland and Kauai – places near and dear to her and her family. Chris loved to go hunting with her Dad and brothers, where she loyally carried the lunches for everyone. Long drives and walks in the mountains – always with camera in hand – fed Chris’s curiosity about nature and her desire to surround herself with beauty. Chris questioned everything around her, but in a way that wasn’t confined to limited answers. Her unique point of view left you open to new ideas and considering all possibilities. She was able to find humor in almost anything, and her laugh was constant and contagious.
Chris graduated from Sky View High School in 1986. Shortly after, she took a job as a full time nanny in Connecticut, where she grew to love the children she cared for. Following this, she served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, San Jose CA Mission (‘90-’91), where she blessed many through her faith and love of Jesus Christ. Chris then went on to graduate from Utah State University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s of Science – Interior Design degree.
Following graduation, Chris moved to Salt Lake to begin her career as an interior designer. Her unrivaled creativity and unique flair lent itself well to success in her field. Professionally her focus was commercial design, and she worked for several design firms and other companies throughout her career. She was active in the design of many projects throughout the state and western US, as well as many in Cache Valley; including many government and administrative buildings, medical centers, Utah State University buildings, LDS Temples and much more. Personally, Chris was more of an “anything goes” designer who surrounded herself with little oddities that brought her joy. She loved finding old unwanted items and repurposing them into something new and exciting. Chris later worked for Cache County School District as a Para-Professional and reading aide, and as an online tutor teaching English to Children in China. For the past 5 years, Chris has worked at Utah State University as an Administrative Assistant to the Dean in the College of Education. She enjoyed her position and the people she worked with up to the time of her death.
Chris was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had a firm testimony of the gospel, and she never compromised her standards. She especially enjoyed the time serving others on her mission and working with the Young Women of her ward. She was a loyal friend and a fierce ally for those she cared about. Chris advocated for the underdog. When you talked to Chris she made you feel like you were the only person in the world – that all of your thoughts were interesting and all of your questions important. She made you feel truly special. This talent was exemplified best in her relationships with her numerous nieces and nephews. Of all roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments throughout her life, being an Aunt was most precious of all. Among her family she has always been “Chrissy” – a name reserved for a most special person with a most special purpose. Although she never had an opportunity for children of her own, Chrissy has been a Mother in every sense of the word. She had the ability to recognize each niece and nephew as the completely unique individual that they are. She embraced their personalities, recognized their insecurities, made them feel that their flaws made them interesting. Chrissy took joy in their achievements, helped discover hidden talents, and instilled confidence to share those talents with the world. Chrissy filled in the gaps where illness or hardship left parents in need of a trusted hand with their own children. She showed up to their activities and events, cheering for them and championing them along the way.
Chrissy was devoted to her parents and did much for them throughout her life. She put them on a pedestal, and was proud of their accomplishments. She was proud to be their daughter. Last Fall Chrissy was delighted to check off one of her major bucket list items. She was able to experience a New England Fall, soaking in all of its color & beauty; indulging in the history, architecture, culture and charm she so loved back East. Her parents were blessed to be alongside her for this trip, and will treasure that time they had together.
We take comfort in knowing that Chrissy has returned to her loving Father in Heaven as well as her sister, Nanette and “Second Mother”, Carol. No doubt, her beloved dog Zoey is ecstatic to see her too! Chrissy had the ability to always live in the moment. She took in the full value and beauty of all this Earth could offer her. She was curious about everything and appreciated the smallest and simplest of things.Her smile brightened any room and her laughter filled it.Her loss leaves a great hole in our lives, but her spirit propels us forward. We love you Chrissy!
Christine is survived by her parents, M.K. and Ellen Rae Jeppesen, North Logan, UT; Brothers; Steve (Angeles) Jeppesen, Mesa, AZ; Craig Jeppesen, North Logan, UT; David (Jen) Jeppesen, Willard, UT; Sisters; Julie Nielsen, Riverdale, UT; Karen (Richard) Simmons, Pocatello, ID; Jennifer (Allan) Lundberg, North Logan, UT; Brother-In-Law; David (Meri) Holman, Cedar City, UT; 32 nieces and nephews and 54 great nieces and nephews, as well as many Aunts, Uncles and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her younger sister, Nanette Holman; Second Mother, Carol Jenkins Jeppesen; Brother-In-Law, Larry Nielsen; Niece, Kristen Simmons; as well as all grandparents.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 12:00 pm at the North Park Ward Chapel (2750 North 800 East).
Viewings will be held on Friday, March 22 from 6 – 8 pm at Nelson Funeral Home (162 East 400 North Logan, Utah) and Saturday, March 23 from 10:30 – 11:30 am at the North Park Ward Chapel.
Interment will follow services at Logan City Cemetery.
Services are handled by Nelson Funeral Home of Logan, Utah.
The funeral will be streamed by clicking the following link (Passcode: Jeppesen): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89460875276?pwd=VVVHSEpJUDkybVRFL1VQYzJYVTRXUT09
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Nelson Funeral Home.
January 29, 1984 — March 16, 2024 (age 40)
Misty Ann Brooks Barthlome came into this world full of spice and sass on January 29, 1984, just before a beautiful misty dawn. Once here, she hit the ground running.
She left this world on March 16, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones, after a short but valiant battle with cancer. She knew she wasn’t going to beat it, but she showed up day after day to fight right to the end.
Most of her growing-up years were in the Curlew Valley, where she lived every little cowgirl’s dream with her horses, Bob and Bugs, little red chicken, Henny Penny, and best pal Tina.
She attended Stone Elementary, even though she was pretty sure it was a waste of her time. While attending Malad High School, she was active in FFA and the Rodeo Club and eagerly counted down the days until she could be out of there.
On July 9, 2004, she joined the Mom Club when KyLee Ann Kirkbride arrived. She made an encore performance on June 20, 2018, when Phoenyx DeeMar Barthlome showed up.
After a few speed bumps, hiccups, and wrecks along life’s highway, she met the love of her life, Brandon Barthlome. She found a safe haven with him that she had missed in her previous relationships. Whether it was horseback riding, razor riding, looking for deer, horse races, golfing, or taking pictures, these two were rarely apart.
She loved her family and friends; her loyalty was beyond words. She had a talent with horses that was simply amazing. Misty learned her numbers and colors while at the race track. She had a contagious giggle and stink eyes that could sting.
She is survived by her husband Brandon, her kids KyLee (Kogan) and Phoenyx, parents Brenda and Earl, sister Kacey, bonus children Morgan, and Brenden, and so many family and friends who loved her dearly.
A special thank you to the Angels at Gossner Cancer Center, and the Hands of Hope Hospice, your compassionate care for Misty was a tender mercy.
In honoring her wishes, there will be no services at this time. We will honor Misty with a celebration of life at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please get a mammogram or have your loved ones get their mammogram! Cancer is a nasty heifer!
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Franklin County Funeral Home.
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January 13, 1933 — March 17, 2024 (age 91)
Elsie Swann Briscoe, 91, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 In Preston, Idaho.
Elsie was born January 13, 1933 in Central, Idaho (near the town of Grace), to Alexander Ephraim Swann and Anna Elvira Christensen. She was the third of seven children. Her family moved to Banida when she was still a baby, during the great depression.
Elsie’s early school years were spent in the one-room Banida Elementary, where all six grades met together. She later attended junior and senior high at Preston High School. After graduating from Preston High School, Elsie attended Idaho State College in Pocatello, where she met the young man that would change her life forever, Glen J. Briscoe, at an LDS Institute dance.
Elsie and Glen were married July 23, 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After Glen graduated from Idaho State College in 1953 they moved to Seattle where he had a grant to continue his studies in nuclear physics at the University of Washington. Their first child was born just before they moved to Seattle. After a year in Washington, Glen was offered a job by Phillips Petroleum at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory site in eastern Idaho. Glen accepted the job and they moved back to Idaho, where they raised their family in Idaho Falls, then Rigby.
Elsie loved music, especially the Tabernacle Choir, and enjoyed her years singing in The Chansonnettes Women’s Choir in Rigby. She also was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed candy making, dance club, and painting. She also loved attending Education Week, and took classes at Ricks College for two semesters. Another great joy of her life was traveling the world with Glen, visiting all 50 states and ten different countries. She said her most favorite trip of all was to Israel. It meant so much to her to be in the Holy Land where Christ lived and taught. She served in numerous ways in the Church, in the Relief Society, Primary and Sunday School. Elsie’s love for the Savior and His church permeated her life and everything she did. She treasured her mission with Glen, when they were able to serve in Mattoon and Nauvoo, Illinois, along with her opportunity to serve in the Idaho Falls Temple for over 20 years. Ultimately though, she felt her greatest achievement was raising her seven children.
Elsie has now reunited with her husband, Glen, her parents, Anna and Alex, and siblings Norman, Glenda, Verna and Janet. She is survived by a sister, Opal Watkins, Preston, Idaho, and a brother, Reed Swann, Mink Creek, Idaho, and by all seven children: Marie (Ronald) Miller, Chubbuck, Idaho; Steven Briscoe, Payson, Utah; Rozan (Jerry) Miller, Sugar City, Idaho; Jamie (Craig) Olsen, Provo, Utah; Karen (Drew) Miller, Rigby, Idaho; Gordon (Stacey) Briscoe, North Logan, Utah; and LeeAnn (Lonnie) Reeder, Chubbuck, Idaho. She is also survived by 41 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, March 23 at the Preston, Idaho 4th Ward building at 310 North State Street, with Bishop Ean Kunze officiating.
The family will receive friends Saturday morning at 9:30, with the funeral service set for 10:30 a.m. A family meal will be provided by the 4th Ward Relief Society following the service, with a graveside service and interment that afternoon at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery.
The family expresses love and gratitude to the staff at Heritage Senior Living in Preston, as well as to those hospice workers who served Elsie at the end. Appreciation is also expressed to the Rigby 4th Ward for its service to the family.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com.
]]>March 13, 1938 ~ March 13, 2024 (age 86)
Marilyn Ruth Mayberry Lund, age 86, passed away on her 86th birthday, peacefully surrounded by her family. She was born March 13, 1938 in Kanesville, Utah, to Joseph Lawrence and Margaret Heslop Mayberry.
She graduated from Ogden High School in 1956 and attended BYU and Weber College where she graduated with her Associate Degree. In June of 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Kent Lund, in the Logan LDS Temple. They resided first in Ogden, Utah, then in Los Angeles, California, and finally made their home in Perry, Utah where they raised six children who love her dearly.
Marilyn found endless joy in her roles as wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Her home was a refuge, and everyone could feel her loving spirit whenever you entered. Everyone who encountered her was blessed with her acceptance, kindness, and love.
Throughout Marilyn’s life, she embodied the phrase “love one another”. Everyone she met was greeted with a smile, a hug, and an “I love you”. She was a listener, a confidant, and someone who saw the best in everyone. She was an example of true, Christ-like love to everyone she encountered. All through happy times and through trials, she would continually “count her many blessings”.
Marilyn was the fun mom and grandma. She always made time to talk or play games, whether with kids, grandkids, or great-grandkids. Some of the best memories her family has are endless games played around her table. Marilyn made the birthday celebration of each of her children and grandchildren special by making sure to spend time with them one-on-one. She had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh; to know her was to want to be around her. She loved each person she knew as an individual, and accepted them just as they were.
Marilyn was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed serving others. Her service included various callings in the Relief Society, Young Women, Primary, Scouts, and Activities. She loved each calling and found joy in serving. She was the recipient of the Silver Beaver award, which reflected her love of the Scouting program and the boys that strived to earn their Eagle.
She was called to serve with her husband as mission president in the Lithuania Vilnius Mission, later named the Baltic Mission. She dearly loved the missionaries as her children and spoiled them like her grandchildren. They also served together in the Romania Bucharest Mission. She loved the missionaries, the Romanian people, and preaching the gospel. She loved her dear friends from the Baltics and Romania and thought of them often.
She is survived by her children Kent & Alisa Lund (Surprise, AZ), Barb & Ritchie Olsen (Perry, UT), Kathy & Mike Davis (Roy, UT), Jeff & Marlisa Lund (North Ogden, UT), Kris & Dan Dearing (North Ogden, UT), and Mike & Jenny Lund (Kaysville, UT); 42 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; her siblings John & Jeanine Mayberry (Surprise, AZ), David & Patti Mayberry (Orem, UT), and Lynette & Chris Mershon (Kimberly, ID); and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Doug Clayson (Lindon, UT), Jerry & Julie Lund (Pleasant View, UT), and Kaye Wilson (N. Ogden, UT).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her parents, sisters Laura Benson and Orlene Clayson, and brother Rulon Mayberry.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Perry Stake Center, 685 West 2250 South, Perry, Utah.
A viewing will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. with the Funeral Service at 11:30 a.m.
Interment will be at Brigham City Cemetery.
If you have thoughts and memories you would like you share, you can also email: bobandmarilynlegacy@gmail.com.
Marilyn’s service will be livestreamed at https://myersmortuary.livecontrol.tv/a21ab120.
Services entrusted to Myers Mortuary of Brigham City, Utah.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Myers Mortuary.
]]>November 6, 1940 — March 12, 2024 (age 83)
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jean Bingham Korth, 83, on March 12, 2024, in Franktown, Colorado, with her beloved husband and family at her side.
Jean was born on November 6, 1940, in Rexburg Idaho as the second of six siblings and raised on a farm in the small community of Newdale, Idaho. Jean learned to work at an early age by helping on their dairy and potato farm. She learned the art of homemaking and gardening from her mother and blessed so many with the talents she developed in these areas. She graduated from Sugar Salem High School in 1958 and went on to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she earned a business certificate.
After graduation, while working at a lumber yard, she caught the eye of a young man that did occasional work at the lumber yard. After a whirlwind romance, she and the man she always referred to as “my best friend”, Gary E Korth, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and Gary enjoyed more than 62 years together and welcomed five children, Kris, Kevin, Kaylene, Ken and Richard.
Jean and Gary lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and San Diego California, but the place they lived longest, and called home, was a small community outside of Blackfoot, Idaho, called Riverside. There they raised their children and served in their community and church. Jean was passionate about bringing cultural and arts opportunities to her community and was a founding member of the Snake River Fine Arts Association. When there wasn’t a local soccer club for her son to join, Jean went to work and started a soccer club for the Snake River community and became one of the first coaches. When she saw a problem, she always found a way to become part of the solution. Jean was well known for her beautiful landscaping and flowers. She obtained a certificate as a Master Gardener and was always happy to share her knowledge and expertise with family and friends. Of all of her talents and hobbies, her beautiful handmade quilts will be one of the things her family treasures most.
As a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jean served in many callings and positions. She felt blessed by her pioneer heritage that included many early members of the restored gospel. After Gary’s retirement, she and Gary served as humanitarian missionaries in Jakarta, Indonesia and then a second mission as the office couple for the Tokyo, Japan South mission. They made many dear friends on their missions and loved working and serving with the young missionaries. They faithfully served as temple workers in the Idaho Falls Temple and, again, made many wonderful friends and felt blessed by their time serving. Jean loved the temple and felt such peace to be able to be in the temple only 4 days before her passing.
Jean loved history and to travel and explore new places. But her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved to gather her family around her and feed them all the foods they loved best. She and Gary loved to travel to support their children and then grandchildren in all their activities and accomplishments. She was happiest when she was serving her family and friends.
She is survived by her sweetheart, Gary E. Korth and her 5 children, Kris (James) Gardiner, Kevin (Judy) Korth, Kaylene (Dan) Kim, Ken (Caroline) Korth and Richard (Kristen) Korth; 15 grandchildren, Brittney, JD, Bradley, Emily, Alex, Jeanna, Annie, Garrett, Ellie, Max, Chelsea, Kate, Will, Drew and Claire; and 8 great-grandchildren. Jean is also survived by her siblings, DeAnn (Wright) Noel, Ethel (Mark) Johnson, Raymond (Nancy) Bingham, Reta (Tom) Luke, and Warren (Joanne) Bingham.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 20th at the Parker, Colorado Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7160 Bayou Gulch Road, Parker, Colorado 80134. Streaming services will be available.
A public viewing will be held at the church prior to the funeral from 10:00 to 10:45 am.
A brief graveside service for Jean will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, in the Riverview Cemetery, 175 E. 1200 S, Tremonton, Utah 84337 followed by a memorial luncheon at the church 166 N Tremont Street, Tremonton Utah. All family and friends are welcome to attend.
If you would like to donate to Humanitarian Services, a charity dear to Jean’s heart, you can do so by following this link: Humanitarian Services (churchofjesuschrist.org)
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home.
February 19, 1950 — March 12, 2024 (age 74)
Scott Hatch Pella, 74, passed away on March 12, 2024, in Garland, Utah.
Scott was born February 19, 1950, in Brigham City, Utah to Robert C Pella and Barbara L Hatch. He was the fourth child with two older brothers and an older sister. He attended elementary school in Brigham City until his family moved to Logan, where he attended Logan High and graduated in 1968. He attended Utah State University until he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1971. While serving in the Air Force he lived in Texas, California, Guam, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. He honorably served during the Vietnam era from 1971 to 1979.
Little did he know that while he was working at Brigham Apparel in 1966, he would meet his future wife, Karla Gardner. After Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas, he flew home to Brigham City and in April of 1971 asked Karla to marry him. They were married on October 15, 1971, in the Logan, Utah Temple. While stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Agana Guam, Tyler was born. Trica was born in Aurora, Colorado while he was serving at Lowry Air Force Base. And Traci was born in Tremonton, Utah, after Scott got discharged from the Air Force.
Scott was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in many callings. Among his favorites were music director and serving in the scouts.
In 2002, Scott embarked on a new journey of service as a volunteer for the Winter Olympics, contributing his time and energy to support the spirit of unity and competition on the world stage.
Together with his beloved wife, Karla, Scott found creative expression and shared laughter on the local charity theatre stage, where their performances brought joy and inspiration to audiences near and far.
Scott loved to travel and spend time with his family and friends. He had a competitive side and would never turn down a “friendly” game of cards or Scooch Your Booch. He can proudly say he went out as a winner.
Above all else, Scott leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and unwavering faith-a legacy that will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who were touched by his kindness.
Though he may no longer walk beside us, his memory will live on in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him. Rest in peace dad, your light will continue to guide and inspire us all. Give mom a big hug for us!
Surviving are his children, Tyler (Karyn) Pella Abbotsford, BC Canada; Trica (Shane) Loveland, Elwood, UT; Traci (Jeremy) Grover, Sugarland, TX; 13 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren; brother Chris (Rita) Pella, Orem, Utah; half-brother Shawn Pella, TX; brother-in-law Gerry Herman, Brigham City, UT; stepsister Cathy Coates (Max), Providence, Utah.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Karla Gardner Pella, his parents Robert C Pella and Barbara H Earl, his sister, Barbara Gene Pella Herman, and brother Bruce H Pella.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 11 A.M.
Viewings will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 6-8 P.M. and prior to the service from 9-10:30 A.M.
All services will be held at the Garland 5th Ward LDS Church (175 S Main St, Garland).
Interment, along with military honors, will take place at 3:00 P.M. at the Brigham City Cemetery.
LOGAN — Utah State tied its highest ever NCAA Tournament seed, being slated as an eight seed in the upcoming Big Dance. The Aggies will take on TCU the nine seed in the Midwest Region, with the game being played in Indianapolis on Friday, March 22.
“The best day of year for college basketball, you know,” USU basketball head coach Danny Sprinkle said. “And for all of us, obviously a tremendous honor to play in the NCAA tournament.”
The scene as Utah State finds out its the 8 seed taking on 9 seed TCU in Indianapolis this Friday. pic.twitter.com/eJ5F45Id9L
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 17, 2024
TCU went 21-12 this season, including 9-9 in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs’ most recent game is a loss in the Big 12 conference tournament, 60-45 to Houston. They briefly appeared in the AP Top 25 this season, being ranked 19th in the Jan. 15 poll, dropping out for a week and reappearing at No. 25 on Jan. 29 and then dropping out for good.
“I’ve watched them a lot in the past,” Sprinkle said of TCU. “It’s going to be a physical smash mouth game. And they really defend you really well.”
Sprinkle mentioned he goes back quite a ways with TCU head coach Jamie Dixon, who’s in his eighth year as coach of the Horned Frogs and is taking the team to its fourth Big Dance during his tenure.
“I know Coach Dixon very, very well. He was actually an assistant coach at Northern Arizona when I was a player,” Sprinkle said. “That’s how far back our relationship goes.”
Leading the way for TCU this season has been Emanuel Miller, a 6-foot-7 senior forward. He leads the team in both points (15.9 per game) and rebounds 5.9). He’s not a one-man show, however, as the Horned Frogs average nearly 80 points per game and have plenty of guys to help with that offense. Jameer Nelson (11.3), Micah Peavy (11.1), JaKobe Coles (9.7), Trey Tennyson (8.6) and Avery Anderson (7.8) round out a crew of six players that average at least 7.8 points per game.
Coincidently enough, the school in Sprinkle’s former stomping grounds, Montana State, is a 16 seed in the First Four in the same section as the Aggies. Were the Bobcats to advance to the second round, beating their opponent, Purdue (and the Aggies did the same) Sprinkle would face his old team. Granted that would mean Montana State would have to be the third ever 16 seed to defeat a one seed.
“Super happy for those guys,” Sprinkle said. “Coach (Matt) Logie, like, their players, great kids. Just couldn’t be more excited for them.”
The only other time USU got as high as an eight seed came in 2019 when the Craig Smith-led Aggies were awarded that seed. That year and this season are the only two occasions USU’s had a single-digit seed since seeding was expanded to all teams in 1979.
This will be the fourth time in six seasons the Aggies will participate in March Madness festivities, five if you include the cancelled 2020 tournament USU would have qualified for by earning an auto-bid. Excluding the cancelled tourney, Utah State’s participated in a post-season tournament every year since 2018 (NCAA Tournament in all seasons except 2022 when it played in the NIT).
]]>LOGAN — A former Logan City Police officer has been charged with sexual abuse and illegally accessing personal information for an incident that occurred while he was on duty last year, according to charging documents.
Carlos Jonathan Cubias, 27, was charged Friday, Mar. 15, with forcible sexual abuse, a 2nd-degree felony; and four misdemeanors of unlawful access or use of criminal investigations and technical services division records, along with texting or emailing while driving.
According to public records, Cubias worked as an officer for the Logan City Police Department from 2020 to 2023. The department confirmed that he resigned in May 2023, which was shortly after the alleged offenses.
The charging documents allege Cubias was in his patrol car around 2 a.m. on April 30, 2023. Prosecutors say he “spotted two young women walking alone,” then made a U-turn and called them over to his vehicle.
Cubias then allegedly “insisted” that the pair get in his vehicle and allow him to drive them to their destination.
According to the charging documents, he then asked the women “sexually-charged questions,” and after arriving at their destination, he “demanded” one of them to give him her phone number. While she was putting her number into his phone, he allegedly reached under her pants and grabbed her behind.
Later, according to prosecutors, Cubias looked up the victim’s personal information on the Utah Criminal Justice Information System in four instances. He is also accused of texting her while driving his patrol vehicle.
Court records show Cubias is scheduled to make an initial court appearance April 29 in Box Elder County. He could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
]]>LOGAN – A 24-year-old Idaho man has confessed to driving around Cache Valley while drinking and shooting on Christmas Eve. Brandon Groesbeck has been in the Cache County Jail after being found with a blood alcohol level of .181.
According to court documents, Groesbeck appeared Monday, March 11, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He waived his rights and accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to negligently operating a vehicle and failing to stop at the command of police, both third-degree felonies; and misdemeanors of driving under the influence and carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence.
According to prosecutors, North Park Police officers received a call December 24, regarding a white Dodge pick-up truck, travelling at a high rate of speed and passing cars in the median. The vehicle was spotted travelling westbound on 2500 North.
The officer reportedly tried to initiate a traffic stop but the driver began weaving in and out of traffic and continued at a high rate of speed. The officer called off the pursuit at that point, due to the defendant’s unsafe driving.
A short time later, a Cache County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the truck west of Smithfield. They again attempted to pull over the vehicle but the driver accelerated and began driving more erratically.
The deputy continued to pursue the truck as it turned onto US-91 and headed south. At the intersection with 3100 North, the vehicle attempted to drive between several cars that were stopped at the light.
Law enforcement reported the truck hit three vehicles before driving off of the roadway and into a grassy area. The truck then returned to the road and hit a fourth vehicle.
According to arresting documents, the deputy positioned his patrol vehicle in front of the defendant, resulting in a head-on collision, due to the “substantial risk to the public.” Groesbeck eventually exited the truck, as law enforcement surrounded him with guns drawn.
Deputies report a total of five vehicles were damaged and eight individuals were injured. Inside the truck, investigators found several open bottles of alcohol and two rifles.
Groesbeck showed signs of impairment, according to deputies. He later admitted to driving around the valley drinking, and shooting at the alcohol containers with the .22 caliber rifles.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors dismissed 15 remaining charges in exchange for Groesbeck’s guilty plea.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck ordered Groesbeck to remain in jail and complete a presentence report about his criminal history. She ordered him to appear again in court for sentencing April 22, when he could face up to five years in prison.
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