Box Elder News Journal

11/05/2025

Municipal Election -

With the latest update delivered in the past hour, we're ready to declare winners in yesterday's municipal election.

According to the Box Elder County Clerk, Marla Young, there are only 47 provisional ballots left, with 12 damaged ballots that will need to be cured, as well as a minor number of signature issues that will need to be fixed.

We haven't yet called the race for the second Brigham City Council seat, as technically it could still fall within the margin of outstanding votes, as does the second council seat in Mantua.

For other races that have been called but remain within the margin, it is considered highly unlikely that the remaining ballots from those municipalities could change the outcome.

BOX ELDER COUNTY – UNOFFICIAL RESULTS (Nov. 5 2025)
Registered voters 25,258; Ballots cast 9,226; Turnout 36.53%

Brigham City

Mayor
Dennis James Bott – 2,366 votes (100.00%) (WINNER)

Council (2 seats)
Matthew Jensen – 1,509 (25.88%) (WINNER)
Ryan D. Smith – 1,493 (25.61%)
Philip Zieseniss – 1,443 (24.74%)
Christine E. Nielson – 1,387 (23.78%)
Total 5,832 votes

Deweyville

Mayor
Curtis G. Whiteford – 99 (59.64%) (WINNER)
Craig Ahlmer Burbank – 67 (40.36%)

Council (2 seats)
Nathan Paul Spackman – 143 (56.08%) (WINNER)
Melanie W. Hunsaker – 112 (43.92%) (WINNER)
Total 255 votes

Elwood

Mayor
Scott L. Goodliffe – 333 (78.56%) (WINNER)
Isaac J. Walker – 91 (21.44%)

Council (2 seats)
Brian R. Davis – 289 (35.68%) (WINNER)
Phillip Shimek – 200 (24.69%) (WINNER)
Sherri S. Pali – 161 (19.88%)
Michael Betournay – 160 (19.75%)
Total 810 votes

Garland

Mayor
Daniel Nolan Austin – 405 (59.41%) (WINNER)
Linda Bourne – 278 (40.59%)

Council (2 seats)
James Richard Hall – 437 (34.33%) (WINNER)
Jeanette Atkinson – 357 (28.05%) (WINNER)
John Losee – 256 (20.10%)
Jon Powell – 223 (17.52%)
Total 1,273 votes

Honeyville

Mayor
Bruce F. Nelson – 318 (100.00%) (WINNER)

Council (2 seats)
Dustin Bingham – 275 (53.60%) (WINNER)
Kamerie Anderson – 238 (46.40%) (WINNER)
Total 513 votes

Council (2-year term)
Codey Robert Illum – 187 (54.68%) (WINNER)
Cory Dale Bingham – 155 (45.32%)
Total 342 votes

Howell

Mayor
Bruce A. Morris – 59 (55.14%) (WINNER)
Bradly Lawrence Hawkes – 48 (44.86%)

Council (2 seats)
McKenzie Nicole Sorensen – 79 (37.44%) (WINNER)
Drew Alan Sorensen – 65 (30.81%) (WINNER)
Kimi Laray Rinderknecht – 46 (21.81%)
Arthur Louis Douglas – 21 (9.95%)
Total 211 votes

Mantua

Mayor
Annette Ash – 417 (74.06%) (WINNER)
Justin Brown – 146 (25.94%)

Council (2 seats)
Scott Ross – 345 (32.83%) (WINNER)
Cheryl Burgan – 258 (24.57%)
Ted H. Jeppsen – 248 (23.69%)
David Ornelas – 200 (19.03%)
Total 1,051 votes

Perry

Mayor
Kevin G. Jeppsen – 873 (100.00%) (WINNER)

Council (2 seats)
Dave Walker – 804 (45.31%) (WINNER)
Ashley Malan Young – 640 (36.05%) (WINNER)
Katie Reed – 330 (18.60%)
Total 1,774 votes

Plymouth

Mayor
Wendi Lou Barker – 120 (74.53%) (WINNER)
Curtis Dean Murray – 41 (25.47%)

Council (2 seats)
Joshua Dean Staheli – 119 (40.48%) (WINNER)
Jarrie Buxton – 106 (36.06%) (WINNER)
Kenton M. Braegger – 69 (23.47%)
Total 294 votes

Tremonton

Mayor
Bret G. Rohde – 1,454 (71.21%) (WINNER)
Lyle N. Holmgren – 588 (28.79%)

Council (2 seats)
Beau Lewis – 1,310 (35.52%) (WINNER)
Brent Robert Jex – 903 (24.49%) (WINNER)
Bryan Bolingbroke – 831 (22.54%)
Brandon Vonk – 644 (17.45%)
Total 3,688 votes

Council (2-year term)
Kristie Bowcutt – 1,214 (32.45%) (WINNER)
Sharri Oyler – 1,098 (29.33%) (WINNER)
Jami Poppleton – 767 (20.49%)
Wesley Estep – 661 (17.68%)
Total 3,740 votes

Willard

Mayor
Travis Earle Mote – 442 (100.00%) (WINNER)

Council (2 seats)
Michael Wayne Braegger – 378 (39.83%) (WINNER)
Rodney Bryce Mund – 372 (39.19%) (WINNER)
Alex E. Dubovik – 199 (20.98%)
Total 949 votes

(Source: Box Elder County Summary Results Report, updated Nov. 5, 2025, 1:33 PM)

11/05/2025

Unofficial Municipal Election Results -

This is the final release being made tonight. According to County Clerk Marla Young, there still remain approximately 1,700 ballots outstanding, so many close races are still unsettled.

11/05/2025

Municipal election early returns, first release. There will be two more releases tonight.

(Click on the photos to see the returns)

10/15/2025

Brigham City police identify woman found deceased in April

A woman whose body was discovered along a Brigham City roadway on April 2, 2025, has been identified as Brandy M. Hickey, 42, according to the Brigham City Police Department.

Police said the remains were so badly decomposed that investigators were initially unable to determine the person’s identity or even their s*x. A distinctive heart-shaped tattoo was released to the public in hopes of generating leads, but none came.

Detectives later sent portions of the remains to an independent laboratory for DNA testing, which produced a profile that matched one already in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). That match confirmed the victim’s identity as Hickey.

According to police, Hickey had been living in the St. George area and also had ties to Salt Lake City. Her family has been notified, and detectives are contacting acquaintances to learn more about her life and movements before she disappeared. The last known contact with her was in 2021.

“The Brigham City Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to seeking justice for Brandy and her loved ones,” the release stated. The case continues to be investigated as a homicide.

"We would like to emphasize that every member of our community has value, and it is unacceptable for anyone to be harmed and discarded in such a callous and inhumane manner,” the release continued.

Anyone with information about Hickey or her recent history is asked to contact Brigham City police detectives at 435-734-6684.

10/15/2025

🪦🧙‍♀️💀Graveyards and witches and skeletons, oh my! 🪦🧙‍♀️💀

The purchase and display of outdoor Halloween decor is trending up and we want to see the best Halloween displays in Box Elder County.

If you like to go over the top with Halloween decor, let us know in the comments what fuels the passion for providing something spooky and fun for others. While you're at it, show off your hard work!! 🎃🧛🏻🧟‍♂️👻🎃🧛🏻🧟‍♂️👻🎃🧛🏻🧟‍♂️👻

If you have a friend or neighbor that goes wild for Halloween tag them so they can share their efforts and thoughts on why it's fun for them to participate in a growing trend of big Halloween scenes.

🏆 The Box Elder News Journal will be giving a one-year subscription to the staff choice for best Halloween decoration, so nominate yourself or someone you know, today! 🏆

10/08/2025

Correction: Last October's Senior Center menu was sent for inclusion in this week's edition. The accurate menu for this month is posted below.

10/02/2025

ATTENTION MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDATES:

You should have received an email, sent to the email address you wrote on your candidate declaration form, asking for information and a photo by October 10 for our upcoming election primer.

Because the declaration forms are handwritten and scanned, the email addresses written may not have all been legible.

If you are running for office in Box Elder County and did not receive this email, please contact [email protected]

10/01/2025

Correction: ticket sales for the opportunity drawings associated with the Brigham City Open Bulliards Tournament will continue through Saturday with the drawing being held at 5:30 p.m.

09/30/2025

Brigham City police investigating fatal hit-and-run

Brigham City police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman Monday night.

Police Chief Reyes said officers were dispatched at 7:50 p.m. Sept. 29 to a report of a “person down” at the intersection of 850 South and 425 East. They arrived three minutes later and found the woman in the roadway with serious injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

According to Reyes, paramedics from Brigham City Fire Department treated the victim at the scene before she was transported to Brigham City Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Detective Crystal Beck said investigators have interviewed area residents, but no drivers or vehicles have been identified.

“We are seeking assistance from the public in this investigation,” Beck said, asking anyone with information to call the Brigham City Police Department at 435-734-6650.

09/19/2025

The Box Elder News Journal was invited to participate in the "Eat Your Vegetables Challenge" by the students of Promontory School of Expeditionary Learning|Box Elder|Utah. This challenge was started when Box Elder County Sheriff Deputy Mike Allred visited the school with his K9 Azula, and challenged all the students to eat their veggies! We are challenging Monica from Box Elder Chamber of Commerce and Lynnette from Box Elder County!

09/15/2025

Prescribed burn scheduled at the Bear River Bird Refuge:

The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, in partnership with Utah Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, is conducting a prescribed burn today in Bear River Bay and Unit 9 of the Refuge. This burn will cover approximately 1,000–2,000 acres.

Heads up: The Auto Tour Route will be closed today for public safety and is expected to reopen tomorrow morning for normal hours.

There is no need to report this fire to Dispatch. Fire crews are on site and monitoring the burn closely.

Why is this burn important?
The target is invasive phragmites, a hardy plant that spreads quickly and threatens the health of Bear River Bay, the Refuge, and connected waterways of the Great Salt Lake. With roots up to 10 feet deep and strong drought tolerance, phragmites crowd out native plants and disrupt critical bird and wildlife habitat.

Prescribed fire is a proven tool to slow the spread of phragmites and protect the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Photo Credit: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

09/03/2025

Shenanigans are afoot...

WARNING to local businesses! Someone is visiting and claiming to be the fire marshal and requesting payment for inspecting fire extinguishers. Several businesses have been visited. The real fire marshal (Alec Hansel) is pictured and has a Brigham City badge.

If you have been visited by the fake fire marshal, please report it to our Fire Department at 435-226-1407.