Box Elder News Journal

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.

08/22/2025

Box Elder County has announced funeral services for the two fallen officers.

08/18/2025

Box Elder County Fair Update: All Horse Parade Canceled, Community Invited to Honor Fallen Officers

The Box Elder County Commissioners and Fair Board announce that the All Horse Parade Show scheduled for tonight has been canceled.

Instead, we invite those who had planned to participate tonight in the Draft Horse Parade—and all members of our community—to join us in honoring the two officers who tragically lost their lives last night. Together, we can show our respect and support for their families by lining the streets with American flags and blue ribbons. Families are also welcome to gather along the route in solidarity.

The procession is expected at approximately 5:30 PM tonight and will follow this route:

Exit Interstate 84 into Tremonton

Proceed west along Main Street / Borgstrom Brothers Highway

Turn north onto 3rd East

Continue to Rudd Funeral Home (1234 South Main Street, Garland), where Officer #1 will be received

The processional will then continue to Allen’s Funeral Home (34 East Center Street, Logan) where Officer #2 will be received. The procession will follow Highway 30 to Logan, onto Main Street onto 34 East Center Street.

While the Box Elder County Fair will go on as planned, tonight we pause to stand together as a community, remembering and honoring those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of our fallen officers, and we thank our community for joining us in this solemn moment of unity and respect.

Please stay tuned to the Box Elder County social media page for the most accurate and up-to-date news regarding the 100th Anniversary of the Box Elder County Fair-- https://www.facebook.com/boxcounty

Thank you,

Lynnette Crockett
Box Elder County Public Information Officer
435-229-8501

Home to Rockets, Rails, Rodeos and Really Good Food!

08/18/2025

08/18/2025

Update (August 18, 5:00 a.m.)

Two Tremonton-area police officers were shot and killed, and a sheriff’s deputy along with a police service dog were wounded Sunday night after a suspect opened fire during a domestic disturbance call in Tremonton.

According to the Brigham City Police Department, the Box Elder Communication Center received multiple 911 hang-up calls around 9 p.m. from a residence near 700 N. 200 E. An officer with the Tremonton Garland Police Department responded and was speaking with a resident when a man came out of the house with a firearm.

The man opened fire, killing the officer. A second officer with the same department who had arrived to assist was also shot and killed, police said.

A Box Elder County Sheriff’s deputy who had been dispatched to help was then fired upon when the suspect shot into the deputy’s vehicle, striking both the deputy and the deputy’s K-9. Both were hospitalized, and as of early Monday were reported to be recovering in fair condition.

Police said bystanders persuaded the suspect to put down his weapon. He was then taken into custody by other officers. Due to the severity of the attack and uncertainty about whether additional threats remained, SWAT teams cleared the residence.

The suspect was booked into the Box Elder County Jail on charges of aggravated murder. Weber County is handling the homicide investigation.

“Tragedies like these rock an entire community, state and even nation,” the Brigham City Police Department said in a prepared statement. “These officers and their families served theirs every day, and they will forever be remembered as heroes.”

***

Update (August 18, 1:10 a.m.)

Police release statement on Tremonton incident

Police have released a brief statement regarding an officer-involved incident in Tremonton on Monday.

According to the release, Tremonton Garland officers responded to a disturbance near 700 North 200 East and came under fire from a suspect. Additional units from Box Elder, Weber and Cache counties responded, and the suspect was taken into custody.

Authorities said there is no current threat to the public but advised residents to avoid the area.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

***

The News Journal has been receiving reports of heavy police activity going on in Tremonton near David Drive and 300 East.

We've reached out to law enforcement, will update here when we have something official to report.

08/15/2025

Election update (August 15, 1:48 p.m.)

Preliminary results from the Aug. 12 municipal primary show early leaders in several cities and towns, but some contests remain close enough that outstanding ballots could change the outcome.

Box Elder County Clerk Marla Young said Friday that 38 ballots and 50 signatures requiring cure remain outstanding across all cities combined. The current vote totals reflect only ballots that have already been counted and do not include these unresolved votes.

A signature cure allows a voter to correct a missing or mismatched signature on their ballot envelope so the vote can be counted. Voters are notified and have until the state deadline to fix the issue.

With a maximum of 88 ballots still in play, three races fall within that margin:

Brigham City Council — 17-vote gap between the last advancing candidate and the next contender

Deweyville Mayor — 1-vote gap

Howell Mayor — 4-vote gap

All other races have margins too large for the remaining ballots to change the standings.

BRIGHAM CITY COUNCIL (Top 4 advance) — 4,293 total votes (17-vote margin)
Ryan D. Smith — 981 (22.85%) ✔
Christine E. Nielson — 786 (18.31%) ✔
Matthew Jensen — 778 (18.12%) ✔
Philip Zieseniss — 725 (16.89%) ✔
Matthew J. Hutchings — 708 (16.49%) X
Jeffrey Nasson — 194 (4.52%) X
Lyle Brendan Wheeler — 121 (2.82%) X

DEWEYVILLE MAYOR (Top 2 advance) — 146 total votes (1-vote margin)
Curtis G. Whiteford — 73 (50.00%) ✔
Craig Ahlmer Burbank — 37 (25.34%) ✔
Hazen L. Sedgwick — 36 (24.66%) X

HOWELL MAYOR (Top 2 advance) — 102 total votes (4-vote margin)
Bradly Lawrence Hawkes — 54 (52.94%) ✔
Bruce A. Morris — 26 (25.49%) ✔
Byron James Tuck — 22 (21.57%) X

TREMONTON MAYOR (Top 2 advance) — 1,611 total votes
Bret G. Rohde — 762 (47.30%) ✔
Lyle N. Holmgren — 496 (30.79%) ✔
Jed R. Abbott — 274 (17.01%) X
Alexander Ross — 79 (4.90%) X
Ralph Craven — 0 (0.00%) X

TREMONTON CITY COUNCIL — FOUR-YEAR TERM (Top 4 advance) — 2,957 total votes
Beau Lewis — 976 (33.01%) ✔
Brent Robert Jex — 576 (19.48%) ✔
Bryan Bolingbroke — 527 (17.82%) ✔
Brandon Vonk — 506 (17.11%) ✔
Norman R. Kay — 372 (12.58%) X

TREMONTON CITY COUNCIL — TWO-YEAR TERM (Top 4 advance) — 2,835 total votes
Sharri Oyler — 860 (30.34%) ✔
Kristie Bowcutt — 782 (27.58%) ✔
Wesley Estep — 541 (19.09%) ✔
Jami Poppleton — 495 (17.46%) ✔
Lillian Auble — 157 (5.54%) X
Sara Munns — 0 (0.00%) X