The Stansbury Park Service Agency board extended a job offer and will enter negotiations with Chad Kitchen to be the agency’s next general manager.

During its meeting Wednesday night, the service agency board went into a closed session to interview four candidates for the general manager’s position, which has been vacant since September 2017.

The candidates — Kitchen, Gary Jensen, Bryan White and Mike Holmes — were each interviewed for approximately 15 minutes.

Following the interviews and a period of deliberation by the board, the open meeting was reconvened and Board Member Brenda Spearman made a motion to enter negotiations with Kitchen for the general manager position.

Only four members of the service agency board were present for Wednesday’s meeting, with board members Glenn Oscarson and Mike Johnson absent.

Former Stansbury Park Service Agency manager Randall Flynn was terminated by the board following a closed session at its Sept. 27 meeting. Flynn accepted a severance package of $20,000 on Oct. 10. He also received two months of wages in addition to all wages earned before his termination.

Flynn served as the service agency manager since 2013 and had previously been elected to five terms on the service agency board.

The clubhouse building at Big Shot Ranch on Higley Road burned to the ground in an early morning fire on Monday.

North Tooele Fire District and Grantsville Fire Department crews were called out to the fire at 4:27 a.m. after the owner, who was out of town, contacted dispatch about a fire alarm, according to North Tooele Fire District public information officer Ryan Willden. The owner had been contacted by the alarm company before forwarding the message to dispatch.

When firefighters arrived on scene, the structure next to the shooting range was fully engulfed, Willden said. A business representative alerted fire crews there were guns and ammunition stored in the building and nearby shipping containers.

Due to the ammunition in the building, fire crews did not attack the blaze from the inside of the building but there was no immediate danger to firefighters, Willden said. The building was unoccupied and a total loss, which Willden estimated as $350,000 to $400,000 in value.

It took about 20 firefighters nearly three hours to knock down the fire, with six engines and various support equipment, including water tenders, on scene.

Limited water availability hampered efforts to battle the blaze, with tenders shuttling 20,000 gallons of water to the fire, according to Willden. A reservoir was set up to hold the water, which was then shuttled by one engine to other apparatuses on scene.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined but investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s office were on scene Monday morning.

Several horses escaped from a farm in Erda on Sunday evening, with two dying after collisions with cars, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Tooele County dispatchers received a report of horses on Bryan Road near state Route 36, around 9 p.m., according to a statement from UHP. Troopers and Tooele County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area within minutes of the report but were unable to locate any horses on or near the roadway.

Around 10:15 p.m., dispatch received reports of an accident involving a horse at the intersection of Bryan Road and SR-36, the statement said. When first responders arrived on scene, they observed a deceased horse blocking both southbound lanes of SR-36, with several cars on the shoulder.

SR-36 was reduced to a single southbound lane for about one hour while emergency crews were on scene, according to Utah Highway Patrol.

The owner of the horses was eventually contacted with assistance from the sheriff’s office and it was discovered a second horse had been hit, the UHP statement said. The second horse suffered injuries in the collision and was later euthanized.

There were no injuries to the occupants of either vehicle involved in the collisions with the horses, according to UHP.

In a statement, the Utah Highway Patrol reminded property owners with livestock to routinely inspect fences and ensure they are secure and damage free.

Two business were robbed along Main Street in Tooele City on Sunday morning and the suspect is facing felony charges in 3rd District Court.

Adam Reed Stewart, 32, of Stansbury Park, is charged with two counts of first-degree felony aggravated robbery, as well as misdemeanor counts of theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tooele City police were dispatched to Carl’s Jr. on reports of a robbery around 8 a.m. and during the investigation, officers were notified of an attempted robbery at Starbucks approximately 10-15 minutes prior. In both instances, a man passed a note to the cashier indicating he had a gun and wanted cash, according to Tooele City police.

The suspect, later identified as Stewart, received $70 in small bills from Carl’s Jr. and no cash from Starbucks, according to police.

The descriptions from employees at Carl’s Jr. and Starbucks matched, according to Tooele City police. Employees at both of the businesses said the suspect left in a white, four-door sedan.

Two employees at Carl’s Jr. identified the suspect as Stewart from a photo lineup, according to a probable cause statement.

After local police agencies were notified of the robberies and given the suspect’s description, Stewart was located by Grantsville City police when he pulled into the Family Dollar parking lot on Main Street later that day. Stewart was wearing clothing that matched the description given by the employees at Carl’s Jr. and Starbucks.

Grantsville City police searched Stewart’s vehicle after they noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the car and he admitted it belonged to him, the probable cause statement said. The search, following Stewart’s consent, turned up a small amount of marijuana, a small plastic baggie with a white powder residue and two glass pipes.

After being taken to the Tooele City Police Department, Stewart admitted to passing the note that claimed he had a gun, but denied having a gun, police said. No firearm was found in his possession.

Officers, employees and citizens were all honored during the Tooele City Police Department awards banquet, held last Thursday at Tooele Technical College.

Awards were given in recognition of outstanding service, excellence and lifesaving actions at the banquet, following the meal and a video highlighting the department’s year.

Officer Jason Graf was awarded the Lifesaving Award after he gave CPR to a woman who was found unconscious and not breathing last March. After Graf administered the lifesaving measures, the woman was breathing when medical units arrived and took over.

The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Cpl. Derek Ellison and Officer Alex Hansen, who worked together to save a teenager who was on a balcony and threatening to take her life. Ellison and Hansen worked together over the span of nearly an hour to gain the teen’s trust and were able to grab the teen’s arms and pull them to safety.

There were three recipients of the department’s Citizen’s Service Award, related to two separate incidents in the past year.

Stephen Duggan received the award after he intervened to protect a school resource officer who was handling a combative student at Tooele High School. Duggan, a truancy officer at the school, had already been assaulted by the combative student before preventing the other student from attacking the officer.

Tooele City Police Chief Ron Kirby said he appreciates anyone who takes action to protect his officers.

“Just seeing the way that Mr. Duggan stepped in and watching his actions, for me, it touched me deeply,” Kirby said.

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Prescott and James Edmondson also received the Citizen’s Safety Award after they responded to a traffic accident in February. Prescott was off-duty and Edmondson was in his home when they observed the accident, in which the vehicle struck a utility pole.

A power line was knocked loose and arcing in the area of the accident, which caught nearby grass on fire and created an electrical hazard. Despite the risk, Edmonson and Prescott carried the victim away from the vehicle and power line, where medical crews could safely provide aid.

Kirby said he could see how dangerous the situation was once he arrived at the scene of the accident.

“It was truly an act of bravery,” he said.

Detective Ryan Warner received the Award of Excellence for his professionalism and attention to detail while working on various investigations, primarily dealing with sex crimes. Warner single-handedly carried a caseload that is now handled by three investigators, the award nomination said, and is called upon for major cases to write warrants.

School crossing guard Julie Hintze was also recognized for 15 years of service.

“Our crossing guards are our most under-recognized people in the Tooele City Police Department and their work is so valuable,” Kirby said.

The Chief’s Award was given to Robin Stewart, the department’s evidence technician. Stewart received the award for handling the position of huge responsibility, holding officers accountable and continuing to develop her skills and training.

““Collectively, and given everything she’d done this year, I just felt that she had made a tremendous contribution to the department,” Kirby said.

The clubhouse building at Big Shot Ranch on Higley Road burned to the ground in an early morning fire on Monday.

North Tooele Fire District and Grantsville Fire Department crews were called out to the fire at 4:27 a.m. after the owner, who was out of town, contacted dispatch about a fire alarm, according to fire district public information officer Ryan Willden. The owner had been contacted by the alarm company before forwarding the message to dispatch.

When firefighters arrived on scene, the structure next to the shooting range was fully engulfed, Willden said. A business representative alerted fire crews there were guns and ammunition stored in the building and nearby shipping containers.

Due to the ammunition in the building, fire crews did not attack the blaze from the inside of the building but there was no immediate danger to firefighters, Willden said. The building was unoccupied and a total loss, which Willden estimated as $350,000 to $400,000 in value.

It took about 20 firefighters nearly three hours to knock down the fire, with six engines and various support equipment, including water tenders, on scene.

Limited water availability hampered efforts to battle the blaze, with tenders shuttling 20,000 gallons of water to the fire, according to Willden. A reservoir was set up to hold the water, which was then shuttled by one engine to other apparatuses on scene.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined but investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s office were on scene Monday morning.

The Grantsville City Council approved Aqua Engineering to provide engineering and project management services for a project to replace the city’s failing North Well during its Wednesday night meeting.

The engineering services and project management costs are expected to cost $105,000, with total construction costs projected to be about $1.1 million.

The North Well was designed to divert approximately 700 gallons per minute, but with a declining static water level and the deteriorating well casing, the actual flow is about 285 gallons per minute, according to Aqua Engineering. The new well would be drilled at the same site.

Grantsville City Mayor Brent Marshall said the city hopes to have a 1,000-foot deep test well drilled by this spring to collect data. The new municipal well would be drilled in October after the summer months, when pumping demand is highest.

Marshall said even at its diminished capacity, the North Well needs to be online during pumping season.

Craig Neeley, who works for Aqua Engineering and provides the city’s engineering services, said the new well be drilled within 150 feet of the existing North Well. He said the on-site electrical will need to be improved as well, to support a more powerful pump.

The current pump on the well is 50 horsepower, and Neeley said the new well pump would be 100 horsepower or greater.

The city council unanimously approved the expenditure on the engineering on a motion by Councilwoman Krista Sparks, seconded by Councilman Scott Stice.

The Grantsville City Council approved a contract with Jones & DeMille Engineering to provide engineering services on the city’s Main Street sewer and water project during its meeting Wednesday night.

The contract with the Richfield-based firm covers project management, design and environmental review on the project at a cost of $774,505.

Replacing the water and sewer lines under Main Street is expected to cost more than $8 million and the city is expected to pay $2 million up front. The work will be completed prior to a Utah Department of Transportation project to resurface the roadway in summer 2019.

The city council selected Jones & DeMille at its Feb. 21 meeting after it was the highest scoring firm based on an evaluation panel. That panel included Grantsville City Mayor Brent Marshall, finance director Sherrie Broadbent and public works director Larry Bolinder, as well as Marcus Seat and Glenn Bolinder with the city’s sewer and water departments, respectively.

Jones & DeMille project manager Ted Mickelsen was at Wednesday’s meeting and assured the city council that completing the entire project at the approved cost was the priority.

“Our overall goal is to make sure we get this project done on budget,” Mickelsen said.

Marshall said it was important the project was completed without major change orders or other additional expenses, as the city does not have extra money for the multi-million dollar project.

Jones & DeMille will manage all of the project and have a representative on-site throughout construction, according to Marshall. He said residents and businesses along Main Street will be notified before any digging happens in front of their homes.

Marshall also said businesses on Main Street face additional challenges, as there are no streets running behind businesses for additional access, like in Tooele City, which used such access during its Main Street reconstruction project in 2015. He said there will be accomodations for businesses but did not specify during Wednesday’s meeting.

Mickelsen said Jones & DeMille intends to have the design completed by the fall, then hire a contractor to work on replacing the sewer and water lines during the winter and spring. The project should be completed by May 2019.

With UDOT’s project expected to begin midsummer that year, Marshall said the May 2019 completion date gives the city some time if there are delays during construction.

The contract was approved unanimously on a motion from Councilman Tom Tripp and seconded by Councilwoman Krista Sparks.

The Grantsville City Council discussed the possibility of an FBI shooting range, which would be shared with the city’s police department, during its meeting Wednesday night.

Grantsville City Police Chief Jacob Enslen said the FBI reached out to him about the proposed shooting range. In July 2016, the city council approved a memorandum of understanding with the FBI on the development of the shooting range, but Enslen said the city is sorting out some differences with the agency before moving ahead.

“There are some things that we have to get worked out,” he said.

A major benefit is the facility would be top-notch, Enslen said. There would be electronic, moving and pop-up targets, places to store and clean equipment and classroom space, among other amenities.

The FBI would provide about $2 million toward development and construction of the shooting range, as well as replacement equipment for an approximately 20-year span, according to Grantsville City Mayor Brent Marshall.

To offset the cost of maintaining the range, which would fall on the city, Enslen said the facility could be leased out to other law enforcement agencies around the state for training.

“I think it would be the envy of not just Tooele County, but probably Salt Lake County as well,” Enslen said.

Marshall said the city and FBI disagree about allowing public access to the facility. He said the FBI won’t build a public facility but could provide infrastructure connections like electricity and other utilities, for an adjacent, public range.

Enslen said one concern about public access to the shooting range is liability, and if the city is required to provide a firearms instructor to the public. He said law enforcement agencies would provide their own firearms instructors when leasing the facility.

A public shooting range could help alleviate problems with littering in the mountains outside of Grantsville, according to Marshall. He said shooters will bring old microwaves, TVs, boxes and other junk into the mountains for target practice, then leave it behind once they’re finished.

The July 2016 resolution included the FBI requesting 92 days of training at the shooting range per year, by agents from Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

The facility would be built on city property, but a specific location was not discussed during Wednesday’s meeting.

A Tooele man is charged with a pair of felonies after he allegedly raped a female acquaintance.

Matthew Max Lozano, 21, is charged with first-degree felony rape and second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse.

On March 8, Tooele City police received a report of a woman who reported she was the victim of a sexual assault, according to a probable cause statement. The victim said Lozano touched her inappropriately over her clothing and would not stop when she told him to while they were dancing and drinking at a bar.

The victim said she and Lozano went to his grandmother’s home later the same evening to go to sleep, according to the statement.

In the middle of the night, the victim said she woke up to find Lozano raping her, the probable cause statement said. The victim told police she pretended to be asleep but began to cry, prompting Lozano to stop and go to sleep.

The victim provided police with a text message exchange in the days following the alleged rape. In the text conversation, Lozano said he was sorry and shouldn’t have done that to someone he cares about, according to the statement. The admissions were made after the victim had told Lozano it was not consensual, the statement said.

Lozano appeared in 3rd District Court before Judge Matthew Bates on Monday and a preliminary hearing was set for April 19 at 9 a.m.

Update: Tooele City police report Samantha Campbell was located safely on Tuesday, after a citizen saw her walking along a road in Tooele City and contacted police.

The Tooele City Police Department is looking for a missing and endangered 13-year-old girl who was last seen Sunday evening.

The missing teen, Samantha Campbell, was last seen at her home around 5:30 p.m. on March 25, according to Tooele City Police Sgt. Scott Schovaers. She was reported missing and endangered due to her age and that she hasn’t made contact with any family or friends since her disappearance.

Campbell left a note that said she was running away from home, according to Schovaers.

Campbell is described as a white female with red hair, 5-feet tall and weighing approximately 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans and white sneakers.

Since Campbell went missing, Tooele City police have received tips but haven’t been able to verify any of the reported sightings, according to Schovaers.

Anyone who believes they’ve seen Campbell should contact Tooele County Dispatch at 435-882-5600.

In the past several months, two of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state announced significant hiring initiatives.

Last December, the Salt Lake City Police Department announced it would hire 50 additional officers. Shortly thereafter, Utah Highway Patrol announced a campaign to hire 100 new troopers.

While major agencies are looking to expand their police force, many law enforcement agencies in Tooele County are looking to maintain their current staffing. On the state Peace Officer Standards and Training website, a number of job openings are listed for around the state, including an officer for Tooele City Police Department and a corrections deputy in the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office.

Tooele City police, the sheriff’s office and Grantsville City Police Department have all seen turnover in the past five years. The reasons vary and include retirement, career changes, personal reasons and leaving for other agencies.

Grantsville City Police Chief Jacob Enslen has only held his position for about a year, but said three officers have left the department in the past few months — a sergeant who left for better wages with West Jordan Police Department, an officer who joined the county sheriff’s office, and an officer who left for personal reasons.

Since 2013, the Grantsville City Police Department has seen 11 officers leave, not including the three from this year. The majority transferred to other agencies, with three citing retirement as the reason for leaving.

Enslen said officers leaving for other agencies is something he was familiar with back to his time with the Lehi City Police Department. He said officers were leaving Lehi for positions with agencies in Salt Lake County that were offering raises in the neighborhood of $8 per hour.

“That’s a change of lifestyle,” Enslen said. “You can’t turn that down.”

The Tooele City Police Department saw 19 officers leave over the past five years, an average of 3.8 per year. Nine of those officers cited employment at a different agency as the reason for leaving.

Tooele City Police Chief Ron Kirby said officers leave departments for various different reasons, but pay generally factors into any experienced law enforcement officer moving to a different agency. He said Tooele City aims to pay its officers enough to compete with larger agencies, even if they can’t match them, and believes they succeed.

“Our goal is to always be competitive,” Kirby said.

Between 2013 and 2017, 33 road deputies with the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office left, an average of 6.6 per year. Nearly half of those who left, 16 total, did so in 2013 and 2014; the lowest year for departures was 2017, with four.

The Transcript Bulletin only requested turnover numbers for road deputies from the sheriff’s office to better compare between agencies in the county. The numbers do not include corrections deputies, civilian employees or dispatchers.

The Tooele County Commission approved an increase in pay for sheriff’s deputies over two years last December, aimed at retaining existing officers. A focus of the increase was restructuring the county’s pay grade, according to Tooele County Sheriff Paul Wimmer.

In the past, deputies would move up in pay grade after their first and second years on the job, but would not receive another structured increase until their seventh year, Wimmer said. During the five years between those pay increases, the sheriff’s office was losing deputies to other agencies with more accelerated pay scales, he said.

Now the pay raise will come after five years with the department, with the goal to retain more experienced deputies.

“I think we’ve had some success but it will be ongoing,” Wimmer said, of the changes. “Every adjustment made by all the other agencies to keep their own, the big guys are going to make their adjustments to try and get them.”

Kirby and Wimmer said they both hire law enforcement officers then send them through the POST academy, a process that can take several months. Kirby said it can take 6 to 9 months to get a candidate through the academy, with limited availability for spots.

Wimmer said when he took office in 2015, the sheriff’s office career ladder paid any new deputy the same rate, regardless of experience.

“There was just nothing to encourage someone to come work for us because you might bring five years experience and you’d start at starting pay,” he said.

After that policy was changed, the department was able to hire five deputies with experience, Wimmer said.

Enslen said agencies are competing for a smaller pool of applicants who are POST-certified as a trickle-down effect of larger agencies paying officers for lateral career moves for higher pay.

In addition to increased competition for the available candidates, Enslen said he believes there are less people looking into a career in law enforcement. He said the country has moved beyond the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when everyone wanted to dress as a police officer for Halloween.

“Now instead of being beloved, we’re demonized by the media, by Hollywood, by professional athletes, by politicians,” Enslen said. “It’s not cool to be a cop right now.”

While Wimmer acknowledges the impact of negative publicity on law enforcement, he believes the problem isn’t the same in Utah as it is in other states.

“A lot of people will blame the media, the attack on law enforcement, but in general, Utah is pretty good to their law enforcement,” he said. “Tooele County is a great place to police.”

Kirby said how the public views the job of police officers also makes an impact.

“There’s a perception that law enforcement is a very dangerous career,” he said.

One factor, which Enslen and Kirby believe may specifically impact law enforcement in Utah, is change to the state retirement plan for cops.

In 2010, the state amended its retirement plan from 20 years of service and a pension of 50 percent of final salary to 25 years and a pension of 37.5 percent of final salary. Enslen said the previous 20-year retirement was a big draw. Kirby said agencies in neighboring states like Arizona and Nevada with better retirement plans also recruit Utah law enforcement officers.

Enslen said smaller departments may not be able to match the salaries and benefits at larger agencies but offer other advantages and appeal.

“[A] benefit for a small agency like Grantsville is that we’re growing,” he said. “As we grow, there’ll be a lot of opportunities … We still perform the same functions as a larger agency, we just have fewer people to do it so everybody has to wear more hats.”

Both Kirby and Enslen also cited the atmosphere at smaller departments and the closer relationships and camaraderie as reasons officers seek jobs in smaller cities and remain.

“It’s kind of a family atmosphere in terms of our officers,” Kirby said.

A Taylorsville man who pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a child charges in January was sentenced to 5 years of probation on Wednesday.

Bailey Scott Matheson, 19, pleaded guilty to two charges of second-degree felony sex abuse of a child. Third District Court Judge Matthew Bates suspended Matheson’s prison terms of one to 15 years per charge, instead sentencing him to 60 months probation and 105 days in jail, with credit for 98 days served.

The terms of Matheson’s probation include abiding by Group A sex offender conditions, no direct access to internet without approval of Adult Probation and Parole, and no contact with the victim or victim’s family.

Tooele City police were dispatched on Oct. 15 on reports that Matheson was having sexual conversations online with a female victim younger than 14 years old, according to a probable cause statement. During an interview, the victim told police she met Matheson at a mutual friend’s home in Tooele City and they engaged in sexual activity.

The victim told police Matheson had touched her over her clothing, kissed her bare skin and performed oral sex on her, the probable cause statement said.

A Bountiful man is facing criminal charges after he allegedly tried to take $10,000 in casino winnings from a woman in Wendover.

Tad Franklin Marshall, 33, is charged with second-degree felony robbery, second-degree felony theft and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wendover Police Department were dispatched to a theft at the Montego Bay Resort parking lot around 1 a.m. on Feb. 19, according to a probable cause statement. The officer met with the female victim, who was with officers from the West Wendover Police Department, at the Nugget Hotel and Casino.

West Wendover police told the responding officer the victim had won a $10,000 jackpot and was leaving Montego Bay when a man, later identified as Marshall, ran out from behind a vehicle parked near her car, the statement said. The victim said Marshall stole her purse, including her winnings.

The Montego Bay surveillance team identified Marshall using footage from the casino and based on the physical description and attire he was wearing, West Wendover police tracked Marshall to the Peppermill casino, according to the probable cause statement. West Wendover said the suspect was detained but did not have reason to arrest.

Marshall was subsequently released from the casino and the Wendover police officer parked nearby, waiting for him to re-enter the state of Utah, the statement said. Once Marshall drove back over state lines, the officer performed a traffic stop and arrested him for theft.

After he was detained and read his rights, the officer asked Marshall where the money was and Marshall indicated it was under the driver’s seat of his vehicle, the statement said. The officer found the money, clothing matching the description from the Montego Bay footage and a metal pipe with black residue with the odor of marijuana under the passenger seat.

Marshall made his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on Monday and was appointed an attorney. He is scheduled to return to court for a scheduling conference on April 17 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Matthew Bates.

A Eureka man was arrested Wednesday — the same day two bodies, believed to be two teenagers missing since Dec. 30, were recovered in an abandoned mine near the town, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Jerrod William Baum, 41, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts each of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and abuse of a dead human body. He is also charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.

Brelynne “Breezy” Otteson, 17, and Riley Powell, 18, both of Eureka, were last seen leaving Tooele and heading toward Eureka. Family and law enforcement have been searching for the teens since they were reported missing on Jan. 2.

Law enforcement agencies working on the missing persons case, including Utah, Tooele and Sanpete counties, received information that led them to the mine, identified as Tintic Standard No. 2, according to Utah County Undersheriff Darin Durfey, at a press conference near the mine Wednesday afternoon.

“We developed information that led us to this location,” Durfey said. “We received some information that … the bodies may be in this mineshaft.”

Investigators contacted Unified Fire Authority and mine safety experts on Tuesday evening to survey the mine, after a cable camera lowered into the 1,800-foot-deep mine located two bodies about 100 feet down, Durfey said. Recovery crews from UFA entered the mine on Wednesday and retrieved the bodies.

Durfey said investigators hope to identify the two bodies and notify next of kin as quickly as possible before releasing the information publicly. Utah County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation as the mine is just located in the county.

The possible recovery of Otteson and Powell’s bodies is the latest development in a case which “foul play is strongly suspected,” according to a release from the Juab County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators found the blue Jeep, in which Otteson and Powell were traveling, on Jan. 11 about a half mile southwest of Cherry Creek Reservoir. When Juab County Sheriff’s Office suspended search and rescue efforts on Jan. 16, they deemed the location, recovery and condition of the vehicle as “highly suspicious.”

The Jeep was found with two flat tires on the passenger side, with a camouflage tie-down strap stuck in the driver’s side rear spring, according to a Juab County Sheriff’s Office search warrant executed on Jan. 16 at the property shared by Powell’s grandmother, mother and their boyfriends.

A witness also reported to investigators that a blue Chevy pickup truck with an emblem decal on the tailgate was seen pulling a Jeep matching the description of the vehicle the missing couple were in. The description of the truck matched one found on the property shared by Powell’s grandmother, mother and their boyfriends.

The detective who submitted the warrant said it is suspected the blue Chevy pickup truck was used to “transport, conceal, hide and plant” the Jeep where it was discovered to give the illusion the victims were stranded.

The search warrant covered “certain property or evidence,” including items with biological material on them, the camouflage tie down strap, clothing or items belonging to Otteson and Powell, and containers or bags “suspected of holding or transporting a dead human body.” The warrant indicated K-9s and cadaver dogs were requested to investigate the property.

The search warrant also said Powell’s mother, grandmother and his grandmother’s boyfriend all spoke with investigators, but his mother’s boyfriend refused and remained on the property.

For the first time in Grantsville City history, a citizen’s referendum on November 2019 ballots could overturn a zoning change by the city council during a meeting last October.

Grantsville City officials said the referendum would be a first for the city. If passed by city voters, the referendum would overturn the 3-2 vote by the city council to rezone 5.05 acres of property along state Route 112 from commercial to high-density residential.

The vote during the Oct. 4 meeting overturned a June 2017 vote, which defeated the rezone by a 3-2 margin, in which Grantsville City Brent Marshall was the tie-breaking vote.

The city council reviewed the original vote after the matter was sent back to the council by the city’s board of adjustments. During the Oct. 4 meeting, Councilman Tom Tripp opposed the reconsideration as he said the board of adjustments did not identify a portion of the city code that was violated and merely sent a recommendation based on new evidence provided by the developer at its meeting.

To circulate the referendum petition and collect the signatures, the petitioners had to submit an application including at least five sponsors who have voted in a municipal election in the past three years. The sponsor submissions are dated Oct. 12, just 8 days after the city council revote.

Referendums require significant effort by citizens, as state code dictates petitioners need to collect a number of signatures equivalent to 35 percent of the votes cast in the most recent presidential election to repeal a land-use law. In Grantsville, the number of signatures required was 1,322, which the petitioners surpassed within the 45-day window allowed by state code.

A state-code required analysis by Grantsville City found a special election for the referendum would cost approximately $5,497 and the impact on taxes could not be determined without “extreme speculation,” as the property is currently vacant. Commercial property is taxed at 100 percent of value and collects sales tax; residential property is taxed at 55 percent of its value.

The rezone, which would effect 5.05 acres of a 12.5 acre parcel, was requested by SR112 Development. The developer intends to build townhomes or apartments along the back of the parcel, with commercial development in front, toward the road, according to Austin Allred at the June 21, 2017, meeting.

Donn Payne, a petitioner for the referendum, lives on the east side of SR-112 near the proposed development and said he’s concerned about the impact on traffic if high-density housing is added to the area. He said traffic in the area has already increased as a result of the Walmart distribution center.

“When traffic backs up, it gets to the point it’s blocking our driveway,” Payne said.

While Payne said he’s concerned about high-density residential housing, he isn’t concerned about a commercial development. He said he lives near the current commercial plaza at the intersection of SR-112 and state Route 138 but hasn’t had any problems related to that property.

Kathy Baker, another petitioner, also expressed concern on the impact to traffic along SR-112 if the zone is changed for high-density residential.

“We feel like the location, right there on the corner, would bring in an influx of traffic which would be dangerous for the community,” Baker said.

Baker said she spoke with residents while collecting signatures for the referendum and said there are additional concerns about impact on infrastructure, especially sewer, and that the developer would try to rezone the remainder of the property if the initial apartments or townhomes are successful.

Jerrod Baum

The Eureka man arrested in connection with the murder of two teenagers was charged with multiple felonies in 4th District Court Tuesday afternoon.

Jerrod William Baum, 41, is charged with two counts each of first-degree felony aggravated murder, first-degree aggravated kidnapping and third-degree felony abuse or desecration of a dead human body, as well as one count of second-degree felony obstructing justice and one count of third-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. Baum is being held without bail.

Brelynne Otteson, 17, and Riley Powell, 18, were reported missing on Jan. 2 after they were last heard from on Dec. 29, returning to their home in Eureka, according to a probable cause statement from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Police recovered social media posts that showed Powell contacted Baum’s live-in girlfriend, Morgan Henderson, at 11 p.m. on Dec. 29 and arranged to meet at her Eureka home, the statement said. Social media posts from Powell and Otteson ended the same day, as far as law enforcement could determine.

Baum and Henderson were interviewed by law enforcement on Jan. 9 and both denied seeing or hearing from the missing teens, prior to police being aware of the social media posts, the probable cause statement said.

Two days later, Powell’s Jeep was recovered in the Cherry Creek area of Juab County, with tire sidewalls that appeared to have been punctured, according to the statement. Officers loaded a portion of a camouflage tie-down strap on the Jeep when it was recovered.

On Jan. 25, police interviewed Henderson inside a police car at her property in Eureka in sight of Baum, the statement said. She again told police she had not seen or heard from the missing teens until confronted with the social media posts.

Henderson then admitted the victims did visit them after midnight on Dec. 30 and stayed for about 40 minutes before leaving, the probable cause statement said. Baum and Henderson denied additional knowledge of the disappearance of Powell and Otteson.

Two months later, Henderson was arrested for an unrelated offense and was again interviewed by police, according to the probable cause statement. She admitted in interviews with police that she had been present when Baum killed Otteson and Powell.

Henderson told police that Baum came home after the victims had arrived and was upset they had come to visit, the probable cause statement said. Baum bound the victims’ hands and feet, duct taped their mouths and put them in the back of Powell’s Jeep, Henderson told police.

Henderson said Baum drove to a Tintic Standard mine outside Eureka, where Powell and Otteson’s bodies were recovered last Wednesday, and killed the teens using a knife to stab them or cut their throats, the statement said, before dumping their bodies into the open mine shaft.

Henderson said Baum forced Otteson to watch him beat and stab Powell, according to the statement. Baum then cut Otteson’s throat and pushed the bodies into the mine.

Police were able to confirm details in Henderson’s account, including the location of the victims’ bodies, and the injuries documented by the medical examiner matched her description, the statement said. The probable cause statement concluded Henderson was likely present for the murders and it was unlikely she could have kidnapped and murdered the victims alone, especially the blunt force trauma injuries Powell suffered.

Henderson also led police to evidence that appeared to be related to the murders, such as a camouflage tie-down strap like the one found on Riley’s Jeep.

Henderson was arrested on a second-degree felony obstruction of justice charge on March 30. Charges have not been filed against Henderson in 4th District Court as of press time on Tuesday.

One of the most significant construction projects by the Utah Department of Transportation this year will be in Tooele County, with three bridges scheduled for replacement along Interstate 80.

The Exit 99 interchange bridge in Lake Point and two bridges over the Union Pacific railroad tracks near Black Rock will be replaced this summer, according to UDOT. The $30 million project was fourth on UDOT’s Top 10 Construction Projects in 2018 list, which was released on Monday.

The project is currently in environmental review and design, with construction slated to start mid-summer and continue through the fall, according to UDOT Region 2 Communications Manager Tim Beery. The flyover bridge connecting I-80 and state Route 36 is expected to be completed first, followed by the bridges over the railroad, Beery said.

Beery described the I-80 interchange in Lake Point as a hotspot for traffic backup and said there will be some delays during construction. He said UDOT intends to complete as much work as possible at night and during off-peak hours to limit the impact.

Thousands of commuters from Tooele County travel on SR-36 through Lake Point and on I-80 through Black Rock every day to reach the Wasatch Front and then return home. A pothole repair project on the bridge at Lake Point in January 2017 delayed evening commuters for hours and caused traffic to back up on I-80 to 7200 West.

The bridges at Black Rock will be constructed along the existing structures and then moved into place, according to UDOT. The westbound bridge will be constructed first, north of the interstate, Beery said.

Once the bridge is complete, traffic will be diverted onto eastbound I-80, which will be reduced to one lane in each direction, for approximately three weeks, according to UDOT. During this time, the existing bridge will be demolished and the new bridge will be moved into place.

The process will then repeat itself on the eastbound bridge, with its replacement built to the south of the interstate and traffic diverted onto westbound I-80 to install the new bridge. It is also expected to take about three weeks to complete installation of the eastbound bridge.

The new bridges at Black Rock will only be painted for two lanes of travel but will have the capacity for three lanes for future travel demand in Tooele County, according to Beery.

In addition to the bridge project, UDOT will repave I-80 between mileposts 30 and 40, near the Knolls interchange, as part of planned maintenance on the interstate, according to UDOT. Crews will also install cable median barriers along I-80 between mileposts 18 and 33, near the Tree of Life sculpture.

Another project in the county this year will be the repaving of 15 miles of SR-36, from the junction with SR-73 to a mile north of the Pony Express Trail.

All told, UDOT has 188 highway construction projects scheduled across the state, with a total value of $1.46 billion.

In 2019, UDOT is expected to begin construction on the Midvalley Highway, which will run from I-80 near milepost 94 to state Route 138 in its initial phase. The highway is eventually expected to cross state Route 112 and join SR-36 south of Tooele City limits.

Another proposed project still seeking funding would be an extension of state Route 201 into Tooele County.

The Grantsville City Council approved the final plat for one subdivision and the concept plan for another during its meeting Wednesday night.

Final plat approval was granted for the first phase of Deseret Highlands subdivision, which consists of 24 lots and located south of state Route 138 and directly east of the Walmart Distribution Center.

When all phases on the subdivision are complete, the subdivision is expected to be 165 lots, according to developer Guy Haskell. The final plat was approved unanimously on a motion from Councilman Tom Tripp and seconded by Councilwoman Krista Sparks.

The concept plan approved by the city council is for a subdivision that would include 29 single-family lots and 2.91 acres for a new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on 41 acres. The subdivision would be located at 1193 E. state Route 112 and be broken into four phases.

In addition to the single family homes, developer Todd Castagno said the project included high-density residential and commercial space when it was originally conceived by the previous developers in 2008. Castagno said the project has been broken into three pieces — commercial, single-family and high-density residential — that will be addressed individually.

Castagno said the LDS church is interested in the nearly 3-acre parcel included in the concept plan but would not look to build until 2020 or 2021 at the earliest.

Councilman Neil Critchlow said he didn’t like that the concept plan included three cul-de-sacs, due to the impact on emergency vehicles and civilian traffic. Castagno said people enjoy living on dead-end streets.

Councilwoman Jewel Allen made a motion to approve the concept plan, which was seconded by Councilman Scott Stice. The motion was approved unanimously. The project will now need to go through preliminary and final plat approval.

The Grantsville City Council approved the final plat for one subdivision and the concept plan for another during its meeting Wednesday night.

Final plat approval was granted for the first phase of Deseret Highlands subdivision, which consists of 24 lots and located south of state Route 138 and directly east of the Walmart Distribution Center.

When all phases on the subdivision are complete, the subdivision is expected to be 165 lots, according to developer Guy Haskell. The final plat was approved unanimously on a motion from Councilman Tom Tripp and seconded by Councilwoman Krista Sparks.

The concept plan approved by the city council is for a subdivision that would include 29 single-family lots and 2.91 acres for a new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on 41 acres. The subdivision would be located at 1193 E. state Route 112 and be broken into four phases.

In addition to the single family homes, developer Todd Castagno said the project included high-density residential and commercial space when it was originally conceived by the previous developers in 2008. Castagno said the project has been broken into three pieces — commercial, single-family and high-density residential — that will be addressed individually.

Castagno said the LDS church is interested in the nearly 3-acre parcel included in the concept plan but would not look to build until 2020 or 2021 at the earliest.

Councilman Neil Critchlow said he didn’t like that the concept plan included three cul-de-sacs, due to the impact on emergency vehicles and civilian traffic. Castagno said people enjoy living on dead-end streets.

Councilwoman Jewel Allen made a motion to approve the concept plan, which was seconded by Councilman Scott Stice. The motion was approved unanimously. The project will now need to go through preliminary and final plat approval.