Box Elder News Journal's Podcast

The Box Elder High School girls lacrosse team wrapped up the regular season last week with a key 7-6 senior night win over Northridge on Wednesday before falling 19-5 to fourth-ranked Brighton, giving the Bees an opportunity to sharpen their play before opening the 5A state playoffs against Woods Cross. The Bees have battled the injury bug all season long and had more than their fair share of bumps and bruises when they took the field against the Knights. The team was also looking to snap a six-game losing streak dating back to mid-April when the Bees were upended by... Article Link

The Box Elder High School boys lacrosse team enters the 5A state playoffs with momentum after closing the regular season with dominant victories over Northridge and Clearfield, pushing the Bees to a 13-4 overall record and the 11th seed in the state tournament. Box Elder hosted No. 22 Hillcrest in the opening round yesterday with a spot in the second round against Timpview on the line (results not available by press time). The Bees capped their regular season last Wednesday with a convincing 9-2 win at Northridge, to complete a season sweep of the Knights. The Knights entered the week... Article Link

Bees capture first region tennis title in four decades The Box Elder High School boys tennis team completed a historic season last week by capturing the program’s first region championship since the mid-1980s. The Bees capped an undefeated run through Region 5 play by winning four of the five individual titles at the region tournament hosted by West Field High School. Box Elder finished the season 15-5 overall and a perfect 11-0 against region opponents. The title marked another step forward for a program that has steadily improved over the past several seasons after finishing second in region a year... Article Link

Girls results 100-meter dash: 1. Kassidee Kid, 8. Sevia Sommer; 100-meter hurdles: 5. Oaklee Wylie; 200 meter dash: 1. Kaylan Anderson, 6. Sevia Sommer; 300-meter hurdles: 3. Ariana Poll; 400-meter dash: 1. Kaylan Anderson, 4. Kyra Gibby; 800-meter run: 1. Maya Lee, 2. Ma cie Lee, 6. Kathryn Agren, 7. Brynlee Cragun; 1,600-meter run: 1. Maya Lee, 2. Macie Lee, 5. Leilanne Castillo Rivera, 8. Kathryn Agren; discus: 1. Emma Nelson, 3. Kelsie Palmer, 6. Keisha Anderson, 7. Lindsay Bott, 8. Maycee Hales; shot put: 1. Maycee Hales, 3. Emma Nelson, 4. Grace Dooley, 5. Kelsie Palmer; javelin: 1. Helayna... Article Link

The Box Elder High School boys and girls track and field teams continued their dominance in Region 5 with the girls winning their 13th consecutive championship and the boys winning their fifth last week at the region championship at Box Elder High School. The Box Elder girls dominated— as has been the trend over the years—outpacing runner-up Westfield by 137 points, 257-120. The boys had some key events and performances help separate them from Clearfield for a much tighter 35-point margin of victory, 182-147. The championships are the latest accomplishment in a successful season where the team faced face inclement... Article Link

The Brigham City Council on Thursday approved a new long-term agreement with the Box Elder School District for school resource officer services, extending a partnership city officials described as beneficial for both schools and law enforcement. The agreement continues Brigham City Police Department staffing at Box Elder High School and Box Elder Middle School while shifting the arrangement from annual renewals to a five-year structure intended to reduce repetitive approvals. Police Chief Chad Reyes told councilmembers the agreement itself remains largely unchanged from previous years. Under the agreement, Brigham City will continue assigning one full-time school resource officer to Box... Article Link

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A Tremonton couple accused in the death of their 11-year-old child was ordered held without bail this week after investigators alleged the father staged the scene to resemble a suicide and uncovered what court documents describe as years of abuse involving multiple children in the home. Brigham Young Merrell, 35, was booked May 6 into the Box Elder County Jail on first-degree felony charges of child abuse homicide and child torture. Melinda Marie Merrell, 36, was booked on a first-degree felony charge of child torture, according to probable cause statements filed in 1st District Court. Judge Lee Edwards ordered both... Article Link

The fight over the proposed Stratos hyperscale data center and power plant project intensified in the days following the Box Elder County Commission’s May 4 vote, with opponents launching a referendum effort, developers withdrawing a closely watched water use change application after thousands of protests were filed, and county officials reporting threats tied to the emotionally charged proceedings. What began as a packed and often tense public meeting inside the Box Elder County Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building has quickly evolved into a broader debate over local control, environmental impacts, water use and what authority Box Elder County may still have... Article Link

Brigham City Mayor DJ Bott proposed a 12.93% property tax revenue increase last Thursday, telling the city council that rapid growth, rising infrastructure demands and expanding operational costs are placing increasing pressure on city services. The tentative 2026-27 budget proposal would generate an estimated 5,000 in additional property tax revenue. Bott said the estimated increase on an average owner occupied home valued at 0,000 would be about .96 annually. The budget presented Thursday is only the starting point for the council’s annual budget process. Over the coming weeks, councilmembers are expected to hold work sessions, review departmental requests and make... Article Link

The Box Elder High School girls and boys track and field teams both claimed yet another region championship from the Region 5 meet held last week at Box Elder High School. The girls took home their 13th consecutive title while the boys extended their championship streak to 5. See our website for story and other Box Elder High School sports coverage. For this week only, the paywall will be removed for any stories that appear on the website that were not published in the paper. Article Link

The first computer mouse was rectangular and made of wood It was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964. The mouse consisted of a single or pair of wheels to translate motion into movement on a screen. Engelbart patented the mouse as the ‘X- Y Position Indicator for a Display System’. The first ever computer virus was developed in 1971, named Creeper It was created as an experiment to see how it could spread between computer. It had no malicious intent other than to display the message ‘I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!‘. With each new computer infected, Creeper... Article Link

The Box Elder High School softball team continued to roll through region play last week as it picked up convincing wins over both Northridge and Fremont. The Bees quickly dispatched the Knights 15-0 in just four innings on Tuesday afternoon, then knocked off the Silverwolves 9-2 on Thursday. The Bees had employed the mercy rule against the Knights last month and were expecting another dominant win the second time around as the visitors came into the game with just a 4-13 record on the year and were just 1-10 in region play. Even with the odds heavily in their favor,... Article Link

The road teams reigned supreme last week as the Box Elder High School baseball team took both games they played at Roy on Tuesday and Friday while the Royals came out on top on Wednesday in Brigham City. Tuesday’s game was shaping up to be a high-scoring affair early as the Bees jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings behind senior slugger Korbin Jeppesen, who went 3-for-4 from the plate with one run batted in. Fellow senior Porter Francom also drove in a run while sophomore Cam Christensen reached on the lone extra-base hit of the game for... Article Link

Brigham City will host a rabies vaccination and dog license clinic on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at the city’s parks and recreation building at Pioneer Park, 203 N. 600 West. Animals must be secured; dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. Proof of vaccination and spay/neuter (if applicable) are required. Only cash and check will be accepted. The fee schedule is as follows: Article Link

The Box Elder County Commission on April 22 approved transportation corridor preservation funding for projects in Willard and Garland, approving a rightof way purchase for Willard’s future 300 East corridor and partial funding for a Garland roadway reconstruction project on 300 South. Box Elder County Community Development Director Scott Lyons presented both requests during the meeting. Willard City’s request focused on acquiring right of way for the future 300 East transportation corridor, intended to preserve a future roadway connection as development continues in the area. Lyons said the total acquisition cost was ,400, with Willard proposing to cover 25% and... Article Link

A 19-year-old Brigham City man is being held without bail after prosecutors filed 10 felony counts alleging he possessed child sexual abuse material following an FBI investigation. Kyler Yodi Glover is charged in First District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies. The charges stem from an investigation in which FBI agents used peer-to-peer software to download hundreds of files from an internet connection tied to a Brigham City residence between March 28 and April 22, 2026. Investigators later obtained subscriber information from an internet service provider and used driver’s license records to identify... Article Link

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The Box Elder County Commission on April 22 approved another ,000 for sheriff’s department handheld radio encryption, adding to earlier spending tied to the county’s emergency communications split. Box Elder County Auditor Shirlene Larsen told commissioners the sheriff’s department requested the additional money “for the same radio situation” so agencies can continue communicating with one another. The commission approved using Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund money. Commissioner Lee Perry, who made the motion, said the latest request stems from agencies now operating on different radio systems after Brigham City, Tremonton, Garland and Perry moved emergency dispatch operations to Weber... Article Link

Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter is responding publicly to allegations that he was impaired during a January encounter that has drawn widespread attention, saying he did not break the law and expects ongoing investigations to confirm that. “I wasn’t intoxicated,” Potter said. The Jan. 19 incident began as a dispute along a public road leading to a trailhead across the Kingston ranch, where Potter said he had parked on the shoulder partway up the road due to muddy conditions and was hiking. It escalated into a 911 call and a Utah Highway Patrol investigation. James Knight, who approached the... Article Link

On Monday, from a small antechamber of the Box Elder County Fairgrounds’ Fine Arts Building, the Box Elder County Commission made a controversial vote to approve two resolutions that set the stage to begin the process of developing the proposed Stratos hyperscale data center campus. The two resolutions made official an interlocal agreement between the county and the State of Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority regarding the project area of the proposed 40,000 acre data center, and the county’s consent of the project area. MIDA’s procedures require landowner participation and county consent to add any non-military owned land into a... Article Link

The Box Elder County Commission approved 7,680 in Tourism Tax Advisory Board grants on April 8, funding projects across the county aimed at attracting visitors. The grants are funded through a 4.25% tax on hotel stays and a 1% tax on restaurant sales, with a portion of that revenue set aside each year for tourism-related projects. Applications are reviewed annually by the advisory board, which evaluates proposals and recommends projects based on their potential to draw visitors. Commissioner Lee Perry said the board was selective in awarding funds and focused on projects with a clear tourism impact. “We didn’t grant... Article Link

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources currently has 15 desert tortoises available for adoption and is accepting applications. Mojave desert tortoises, native to areas north and west of the Colorado River in Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California, were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990. As such, desert tortoises are protected under federal and state laws. In Utah, it is illegal to collect or remove desert tortoises from the wild. It is also illegal to release captive tortoises back into the wild or to transport them into Utah without the proper certifications. “Removing tortoises from the wild... Article Link

The Box Elder High School girls lacrosse team dropped two games last week, falling 17-7 to Copper Hills in a non-region showdown last Thursday, and 13-10 against Bonneville at home on Friday. The Bees knew they’d have their hands full against the Grizzlies, the ninthranked team in the 6A classification with a 7-4 record. Copper Hills was also looking to get back on track after a devastating 17-2 loss at the hands of Mountain Ridge last Tuesday and wasted no time in asserting their dominance over the Bees. Senior attacker Julia Tipton proved to be a handful for the Bees’... Article Link

The Box Elder High School boys lacrosse team picked up two more wins as they continued marching toward the postseason last week, knocking off Sky View 10-7 in a non-region tilt last Wednesday in Smithfield, before topping Bonneville 14-7 on the road Friday. Junior middie Josh Pugsley dominated the midfield as he scooped up eight groundballs in the game. He turned those possessions into nearly instant offense, racking up four goals and five assists. Senior attacker Isaac Funk was the main beneficiary of all these assists as he scored four times himself to lead the Bees to the win. The... Article Link

While the tentative 2026-2027 Perry City budget of .9 million presented to the city’s council last week—a relatively modest 2.9% (5,6443) increase over the current year’s budget—does not include a tax increase, city staff are recommending the council consider one since revenues alone are not enough to cover significant increases in ongoing operational costs. Perry City Recorder and Director of Finance, Shanna Johnson gave the council an overview of the tentative budget, during which she told them the city would have to use a significant chunk of reserve funds to make the budget work. “A tax increase is recommended because... Article Link

The Mantua Town Council approved early funding for a five-year strategic plan presented by Fire Chief Will Hodgins to build a full emergency medical services department by 2030-2031. The plan, presented by Hodgins, aims to transition the Mantua Fire Department into a fully staffed, transport capable EMS unit within Mantua to reduce the town’s dependence on outside aid. The plan is organized around four priorities: operational readiness and equipment modernization, staffing and training, EMS capability and financial stability, and technical rescue for the town’s unique environments including canyons, mountains, and ice. Broadly, these priorities translate into efforts to acquire and... Article Link

The Brigham City Council approved last Thursday adjustments to the city’s new consolidated fee schedule that includes adjustments to the city’s power rates designed to maintain a consistent level of reserve funding in the face of increasing energy consumption throughout the Western United States and significant anticipated growth in Brigham City in the near term. Based on the new rate schedule, an average customer who uses 900 KwH in the summer months will see their bill increase to 3.10 in 2027, and to 0.50 by 2030. That same customer would be pay 7.62 under current rates. These charts show the... Article Link

Since Brigham City voters overturned a more than million bond issue to build a recreation building for indoor sports programming, and a year later when—due to public outcry— the then-city council rejected a portion of a tax increase that would have funded a scaled back version of the city, mayors have directed city staff to find ways to save money or find options to eventually fund a building for more gym space for the city’s recreation programming. At city council meeting last Thursday, council members were presented with “a way forward” to bring what the city says is much-needed... Article Link

During March, Utah’s snowpack deteriorated from borderline record poor conditions to completely unchartered territory by April 1. After some brief storm activity at the beginning of the month, warm and dry conditions prevailed, causing early ripening and rapid snowmelt. Statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) levels peaked on March 9 which was more than three weeks earlier than normal. Since 1980, only the years 2004, 2007, and 2015 had snowpack peaks as early as the first part of March, and for those years there was a fairly normal rate of SWE loss as snowmelt began. Instead, in 2026, the rate of... Article Link

Bear River Mental Health Services received a clean audit opinion for the 2025 fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, according to a report presented to the Box Elder County Commission on April 8. The organization reported total assets of .5 million and a net increase of .2 million for the year, with total revenues of .1 million and expenses of .38 million. The largest portion of revenue came from Medicaid reimbursements, which totaled about .3 million, along with .59 million in state support, roughly 9,000 in county contributions, 9,944 in federal support, 4,748 in... Article Link

The Box Elder High School baseball team couldn’t find a way through region rival West Field last week as the Longhorns swept the threegame series against the Bees by scores of 12-1, 5-2 and 11-0. Pitching was dominant for the Longhorns all week, and that started Tuesday in Brigham City as senior hurler Bryce Bagby took the mound in a complete-game performance and only gave up one run on one hit. The lone breakthrough for the Bees came when senior Porter Francom found a gap in the Longhorn defense and made his way to second base for a double in... Article Link

The Box Elder High School softball team had made winning a habit as they raced out to a 14-0 record to start the year, but that came to an end last Tuesday with a 2-1 loss to West Field. The Bees immediately bounced back the same week with a 3-2 win over Fremont on Thursday followed by a 12-1 rout of Logan on Friday. The game against the Longhorns was a defensive battle with the two teams combining for just six hits. Neither team could break the deadlock until junior slugger Kennadie Blackmer hit a double that drove in fellow... Article Link

Willard officials said they will move quickly to address weed overgrowth at the city spillway after a resident warned the problem is worsening and time-sensitive, while also outlining planned improvements to the spillway face and longer-term infrastructure concerns at the site. Speaking during public comment at the April 9 city council meeting, resident Clyde Westley said he has spent about a decade clearing vegetation by hand at the spillway, which he described as a visual “welcome” to the city. “I’ve taken it upon myself to keep the face of that … clear … by hand pulling it,” Westley said. He... Article Link

Willard City Council members indicated they will keep land use application fees nonrefundable after weighing whether applicants should receive refunds. The issue came up during the April 9 council meeting after Willard City Planner Madison Brown said questions have been raised more frequently by applicants asking if fees can be returned when applications are withdrawn. Brown said the city’s current fee schedule does not include a refund policy and, in practice, applications are treated as nonrefundable due to staff time. “There’s a certain amount of time invested in the city in that application,” said Willard City Manager Jeremy Kimpton about... Article Link

Following revisions in January to the Honeyville City water master plan, Honeyville is examining additional changes to their water rates. The Rural Water Association of Utah advised the city that the base rate for water has quickly fallen behind inflation since the rate was last increased in 2017. The council is facing competing realities. They expressed hesitation to raise the base rate to match inflation, with in 2017 being equivalent to in today’s dollars, but also understood that not raising the rate at all would mean a bigger increase later. Mayor Bruce Nelson urged the council to... Article Link

Bill would rename Post Office to honor officers Congressman Blake Moore has introduced legislation to rename the Tremonton Post Office in honor of the late Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, who were killed in August responding to a domestic disturbance and “whose service and dedication to public safety left a lasting impact on their communities.” The bill would name the U.S.P.S. facility at 111 S. Tremont Street, Tremonton, as the “Sorensen-Estrada Post Office.” Th bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Burgess Owens (UT-04), Mike Kennedy (UT-03), and Celeste Maloy (UT-02). “Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada faithfully served their communities... Article Link

Shizhong Zhang, a Chinese teacher at Box Elder High School was recognized as the Utah Foreign Language Association (UFLA) Teacher of the Year. He was commended for his culture curriculum and ability to connect with students. Article Link

A physician with ties to Brigham City has been indicted in federal court on allegations he obtained and sold misbranded drugs to patients, including products prosecutors say were manufactured overseas and not approved for use in the United States. Justin Bradley Watkins, 39, of Pleasant View, Utah, was indicted April 1 by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on multiple counts of receipt in interstate commerce and delivery of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. In a news release, prosecutors alleged Watkins “received misbranded drugs... Article Link

A potential [post_excerpt] million project to route excess water from Facer Creek to the Great Salt Lake is in the early planning stages, as Millstream Development and local flood control officials explore the idea. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Braegger told the Willard City Council on April 9 that the concept stems in part from state grant opportunities tied to increasing water flows into the Great Salt Lake. “I guess the state of Utah has—if you have a way to get any water into the Great Salt Lake— they have grants and things that you can apply for,” Braegger said. Under... Article Link

A familiar face with a long history in Box Elder School District has been selected to replace the retiring Steve Carlsen as the district’s superintendent. Mecham was selected after a number of interviews and “careful consideration” by board members. “As school board members, we understand that hiring our new superintendent is our most important decision, and we have each taken this responsibility very seriously,” said Boardmember Tiffani Summers. She continued, “It is with great pleasure, and with eagerness and absolute confidence that we, the members of the Box Elder School District Board of Education, announce Keith Mecham as our new... Article Link

The Box Elder Chamber of Commerce will honor several individuals and businesses for their contributions to the local economy and community during its annual awards banquet later this month. The awards banquet, which includes the traditional silent auction, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building, 320 N. 1000 West. Tickets are available for per person, or table sponsorships are available for 0, which include eight seats, recognition at the event, and the business name in the program. To purchase tickets, sponsorships, or for more information, email [email protected] or... Article Link

A former Box Elder County judge is scheduled to return to court this week for a hearing that could resolve one of two criminal cases stemming from a child exploitation investigation. Kevin Robert Christensen, 65, is set to appear April 9 in Weber County’s 2nd District Court in Ogden for a change of plea hearing, less than two months before a jury trial was scheduled to begin. Christensen, who previously served as a justice court judge for several jurisdictions in Box Elder County, is charged with multiple felonies, including enticing a minor and attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.... Article Link

A Brigham City man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after police say he communicated online with someone he knew was 16 and arranged to meet in person. Joseph Stewart Borrowman, 37, was charged in 1st District Court in Box Elder County in connection with an incident reported March 16. According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Brigham City police, Borrowman contacted a female through Facebook Messenger and continued the conversation after being told she was 16 years old. The affidavit alleges he later sent multiple explicit images and videos and made plans to meet her at Smith’s... Article Link

The open burn spring season for residential burning within unincorporated Box Elder County is now open and will continue through May 31. The fall residential burn window will be held Sept. 15 through Oct. 31. The residential burn windows are mandated by the State of Utah to manage air quality and safety. Outside of those dates, the Box Elder County Fire Marshal’s Office can only issue permits for agricultural burning. Residents in unincorporated areas can apply online at boxeldercountyut. gov/fire or by calling 435- 734-3345. Permits are issued Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents living within... Article Link

The Box Elder County Commission approved joining another national opioid settlement Tuesday, signing on to an agreement with six remaining defendants in what officials indicated may be among the final rounds of litigation tied to the opioid crisis. Box Elder Deputy County Attorney Anne Hansen told commissioners the agreement was “another request to participate” in the statewide settlement framework the county has used in prior cases, allowing it to receive a share of settlement funds alongside other Utah jurisdictions. According to county documents, the defendants include Associated Pharmacies, Inc.; J M Smith Corporation; Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company; Morris and Dickson... Article Link

Box Elder Indivisible will host a meet and greet for local Democratic candidates seeking Utah’s District 2 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at the Brigham City Public Library, 26 E. Forest Street. Candidates Tyler Farnsworth and Ian Parrish will be speaking and available to talk to voters. More information about this year’s election can be found at vote.utah.gov. Utah voter registration information will no longer be private after May 25 due after S.B. 153 changed the privacy classification for those records. Currently, voter information is classified as “private” or “withheld,” but... Article Link

The Brigham City Council recognized seven new employees during its April 2 meeting, welcoming hires across several departments. The new employees include Randy Petersen, a facilities maintenance technician; Kaycee Cook, a police evidence technician; Aaron Leonhardt, a power foreman; and Duncan Steele, a firefighter paramedic. Also recognized were Kathleen Padilla and Annie Matthews, both community center culinary specialists, and Madllyn Anderson, a crossing guard. Mayor DJ Bott read the names aloud during the meeting, thanking the employees for joining the city workforce and supporting city operations. Article Link

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The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) reported continued subscriber growth and rising annual payments to Perry City last week, but councilmembers questioned whether those gains translate into meaningful financial progress as the city continues to carry long-term debt tied to the system. UTOPIA, a consortium of cities formed in 2004, operates an open-access fiber network that allows private internet providers to deliver service over publicly owned infrastructure. Perry is one of the original member cities and helped finance the system through bond debt issued during its early construction. That initial model struggled. UTOPIA refinanced about 5 million in debt... Article Link