A man is facing seven criminal charges in 3rd District Court after he allegedly drove while intoxicated then escaped custody by climbing into the ceiling at the Grantsville Justice Center on Thursday. 

Jake William Lowe, 30, is charged with second-degree felony theft, second-degree felony burglary, third-degree felony damage to jails and third-degree felony escape from official custody. He’s also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle as an alcohol restricted driver with any measurable or detectable alcohol.

The probable cause statement lists Lowe’s home being on Center Street in Grantsville. Court records list his community of residence as West Haven, Weber County. 

Grantsville City police observed a driver, later identified as Lowe, pulling out of the Sinclair gas station on 6 E. Main Street on June 20, according to the probable cause statement. The officer saw Lowe throw something out the window and began to follow him. 

After begin to follow him, the officer observed Lowe unable to maintain his lane and failing to signal before changing lanes, the statement said. He made an illegal left turn onto Center Street from Main Street, prompting a traffic stop by the officer. 

Lowe came to a stop and exited the vehicle immediately after the stop, according to the statement. The officer said he noticed immediate signs of impairment in Lowe and his speech was rapid and he couldn’t sit still. 

Lowe was jittery and his pupils were constricted and there were fresh injection sites on his right arm, the probable cause statement said. Lowe gave his information to the officer, who found Lowe was on a suspended driver’s license and was an alcohol restricted driver. 

After conducting a field sobriety test and determining Lowe to be impaired, the officer arrested him for DUI. Prior to his arrest, Lowe admitted there was drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and a search of the vehicle recovered a marijuana pipe and a used syringe. 

A breathalyzer test determined Lowe had a blood alcohol content of .062, the statement said. At the Grantsville City Police Department, he also submitted to a blood draw and urine test. 

While in custody of Grantsville City police, Lowe crawled through a ceiling tile in a secure holding area and falling through the ceiling in the court area of the Justice Center, the probable cause statement said. He then fled and ran toward Center Street. 

Officers attempted to locate Lowe and found he fled to the area of Center and Durfree streets, the statement said. Following a short foot pursuit, investigators believed he may have returned to a home he was staying at on Center Street. 

A search warrant was approved and the Tooele County SWAT team made entry to the home, but Lowe was not located, according to the probable cause statement. During a conversation with neighbors, it was reported a silver Toyota Camry had been stolen from a neighbor’s home. 

Detectives with Grantsville City coordinated with Tooele City police to locate Lowe in a parking lot at 1000 N. Main Street, the statement said. Lowe was arrested and the keys to the stolen Camry were found in his pocket. 

After being read his rights, Lowe admitted to entering the neighbor’s garage through an unlocked door and stealing the vehicle, the statement said. He led police to the stolen Camry and it was recovered. 

Lowe was then taken to the Tooele County Detention Center and booked on multiple charges. 

Charges against Lowe were filed Monday but no court appearance date has been scheduled as of Tuesday morning.

A series of budget adjustments were made by the Tooele City Council during its meeting last Wednesday, prior to the end of the fiscal year.

The budget amendments include moving unspent funds from the golf course and pool budgets to cover $20,000 in roof repairs for the parks department’s storage in the old food bank building at the corner of Maple and Second streets.  

“The food bank building failed and so we’re attempting to try to get that repaired so the stuff that’s stored in there will not get ruined,” said parks and recreation director Darwin Cook. 

Another $12,000 in pool funds were moved to fund concrete work on landscape areas at Dow James Park and the city’s second fire station. A $4,000 adjustment also went into the parks and recreation department’s miscellaneous for computer replacements, according to Cook. 

An additional $100,000 was included in the city’s budget for the Utah Transit Authority sales tax revenue, money which is earmarked for UTA projects. City finance director Glen Caldwell described the UTA sales tax as a pass through, as the city must document the revenue generated, in this case $1.3 million, but the money is sent directly to UTA. 

The city also increased its anticipated sales tax revenue by $115,000, matching the increase to the city’s judgments and loses budget line resulting from the Aposhian Sod Farm settlement. The city’s net obligation of $1.13 million from the April settlement will be paid out in 10 equal annual installments.   

The adjustments also included $21,250 from the police department’s forfeited evidence trust account to fund the equipment and start-up costs for its new Exploring program, which began in 2018. 

As construction continues on the new police station on Garden Street, the City Council also approved a budget adjustment to include the proceeds from the $9 million loan through the state’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board in the debt service fund budget. Cash transfers from the debt service fund to the public safety fund will occur as needed throughout construction. 

The City Council approved an $8.46 million guaranteed maximum price contract with Big-D Construction during its March 20 meeting. The guaranteed maximum price contract sets a ceiling on the amount the city could possibly pay for construction of the facility.

No one spoke during a public hearing on the budget amendments during Wednesday’s meeting. The City Council unanimously approved the changes, on a motion by City Councilman Brad Pratt, seconded by City Councilman Dave McCall.

The big stack of cash in the middle of the game board became more tantalizing every roll of the dice.

The “I Love Tooele” space remained elusive, however, after many trips around a virtual Tooele County. I’d already put away a good chunk of my possible earnings due to property taxes and parking tickets; photo editor Francie Aufdemorte might have had it worse. 

Editor Tim Gillie, however, was zipping around the board mostly scott-free as he piled up stacks of $100 bills and grabbed pricey properties like Settlement Canyon and Tooele Army Depot. So, of course, the rich got richer — and Tim snatched himself a cool $1,100 when he was the first, and only, person to land on the “I Love Tooele” space with available cash. 

I guess that’s why so many games of Monopoly end with a flipped board, though we avoided any meltdowns playing a local twist on the Hasbro classic — Tooele-Opoly. We played the one hour version of the game, which probably helped. No one had to mortgage properties or face real bankruptcy, so things remained civil. 

The Tooele variant, created by Late for the Sky in Cincinnati, Ohio, features a few changes. Monopoly’s railroads are replaced by ghost towns like Iosepa and Mercur, the utilities are swapped for the Tooele County Fair and Tooele Arts Festival, and Boardwalk and Park Place are now Bonneville Seabase and the Pony Express Trail, respectively. 

Perhaps most fittingly, Monopoly’s jail is exchanged for a traffic jam, featuring an irate, red-faced driver. 

There are some subtle changes to gameplay, too. Popular Monopoly house rules, like a payday for landing on Free Parking comprised of everyone’s fines and taxes (now “I Love Tooele”), are instead official. 

Tooele-Opoly is available at the Tooele Walmart, as part of the partnership between the game company and the Bentonville, Arkansas-based super retailer, according to Late for the Sky’s Bill Schulte. 

A June 12 post on the Tooele Walmart’s Facebook page let the public know they had a new shipment of the games to grab while supplies last. The post was shared 23 times, with 42 reactions and 32 comments, which were mostly people tagging their family and friends.

Each of the custom city, town, or community-oriented custom games are researched by Late for the Sky by contacting locals (generally Walmart employees), and websites for the local municipalities, visitor bureaus, the chamber of commerce and other “things to do” site, Schulte said. While the local flavor makes the -Opoly games a draw, Schulte said Tooele-Opoly is exceptionally popular.

The Cincinnati-based company has more than 500 different games either in stock or in the works, Schulte said. 

Playing the one hour version of the game was still plenty of time for things to go sideways for those of us who didn’t win while Tim cleaned up. Francie hit a streak where she landed on “Exit to Traffic Jam,” then got the “Contingency” (think Chance) and “Big Fun” (think Community Chest) cards to go directly to the traffic jam back-to-back-to-back. 

It was the complete Tooele commuter experience.  

While touring the board, Tim, our education reporter, made numerous stops at Tooele Technical College, Utah State University’s Tooele Regional Campus and the Community Learning Center. He also stopped at the golf courses a lot, between stops at Casa Del Ray and Dairy Delight. 

I got into a rut where I could not stay away from the Tooele Pioneer Museum, landing on it multiple trips in a row. It was a nice reminder to stop by in person again sometime soon. 

Francie, when she wasn’t stuck in the traffic jam, collected all but one of the ghost towns. 

In the end, Tim won by a comfortable margin of nearly $1,800 as the hour ended, raking in more than $4,200. 

We didn’t get far enough into the game to put city blocks (houses) and keys to the city (hotels) onto the board and there wasn’t any wheeling and dealing to get a full set of properties. 

It’s probably for the best we went with the abridged version. People take Monoply and its relatives pretty seriously. 

One of the last times I played with my wife, she was steamed at me for ages after I made an extremely fair, well-balanced trade with a friend of mine which eventually led to her bankruptcy.

So, if you’re a collector or just amused by the local connection, Tooele-Opoly could be a fun pickup. Just be prepared for the blowback if you’re lucky enough to come out on top!

Three inmates at the Tooele County Detention Center face a felony charge after deputies discovered medication that was not prescribed to the occupants in a cell. 

Isaia Smith, 33, of West Valley City; James McGregor, 42, of Salt Lake City; and Jacob Laroque, 29, of Tooele, are each charged with a single count of third-degree felony items prohibited in a correctional facility. 

A pair of corrections deputies at the county jail did a walkthrough of Smith and McGregor’s cell while they were let out into the recreation yard on June 15, according to a probable cause statement. Under the top bunk, which the deputies said was used by McGregor, they found two soda bottles with an orange liquid and pieces of fruit and other material floating in it.

The deputies determined the liquid was hooch, a homemade liquor made by inmates at correctional facilities, the statement said. During a continuation of the search, corrections deputies found a small baggie with a white, oval-shaped pill and white powder, which appeared to be crushed medication. 

The corrections deputies also found a folded piece of paper with a white pill inside, and all of the pills were taken as evidence, along with other items of contraband, the statement said.  

Investigators were assisted by medical staff, who determined what the pills were and that neither Smith nor McGregor had been prescribed the medication, according to the probable cause statement. Laroque and another inmate were determined to be the only inmates in the housing who had a prescription for the pills. 

When McGregor was interviewed by investigators, he said Smith had found the pills earlier in the day in the shower, the statement said. McGregor said they didn’t notify staff or turn in the pills because they didn’t know what they were. 

McGregor wouldn’t give investigators a definitive answer on the number of pills but admitted to having had the hooch for two or three days, according to the probable cause statement. 

When Smith was interviewed, he corroborated McGregor’s story about where the pills were found and why they weren’t turned in, the statement said. 

Laroque said Smith and McGregor got the medication from deputies, whom he claimed were giving it away, the statement said. When assured that wasn’t the case, Laroque stuck with his story that deputies were giving his meds to someone else. 

Corrections deputies reviewed surveillance footage from about a half hour before Smith and McGregor’s cell was searched. It showed Smith bending over to pick something up outside Laroque’s cell, while Laroque appeared to push something under the door, the statement said. After retrieving the item, the footage showed Smith walking away. 

McGregor and Laroque were appointed counsel and scheduled to return to 3rd District Court for a scheduling conference on July 2 at 9 a.m. before Judge Matthew Bates at their initial appearances on Monday. Smith’s initial appearance was delayed until July 8 at 10:30 a.m. before Bates.

A handful of residents gave reactions and input to the proposed master plan for the Stansbury Service Agency during a public hearing at its regularly scheduled board meeting Wednesday. 

The master plan, assembled by MGB+A, a planning, design and landscape architecture firm from Salt Lake City, covers the current status of the parks and open space maintained by the service agency and projects over the next 20 years. The service agency board awarded a contract of $40,000 for the master plan in February 2018. 

The plan was created with public input from meetings with the board, an open house and surveys. 

Resident Jim Hanzelka took to the lectern Wednesday with housekeeping issues on the attached maps and questions about how the master plan would be funded. Other residents chimed in with comments and questions, many from their seats. 

Hanzelka also asked about the expansive proposed boundaries in one of the maps, which would reach north to Interstate 80, south and west toward the future Midvalley Highway and east of state Route 36 across from the existing Stansbury Park. Trustee Brenda Spearman said the boundary was requested by the past Tooele County Commission. 

“We’re not locked into those boundaries but those are boundaries that we have an opportunity, if a development comes in, to say whether or not we would like to service those developments and have them as part of our service boundaries,” Spearman said. 

Based on the expanded boundary, the service agency provides 7.4 acres of parks for every 1,000 residents. To maintain the current level of service in 2039 based on projected growth, the service agency would need to create and maintain an additional 212 acres of parks in the next 20 years. 

The service agency currently has 83.5 acres of parks. 

 “I think we were all in agreement that we would like to try to keep our current level of service as much as possible, which means not allowing the developers to develop large tracts of houses without any type of park or green space,” Spearman said. 

Future priorities outlined in the master plan included a new, larger pool in the footprint of the current pool and tennis courts, a lake management plan and more trails with better connectivity between places of interest like parks and schools. The plan also outlined a desire to place less emphasis on mini parks in favor of larger parks.

Deep in a hazy white cloud of water vapor, a solitary firefighter slipped in and out of view to attendees at the Deseret UAS hazmat and drones workshop program Tuesday afternoon. 

The obscuring cloud was created by releasing frigid liquid nitrogen from a tanker truck. While the firefighter was sometimes difficult to see with the naked eye, there were other optics tracking him throughout. As many as four drones were airborne at once, using thermal imaging to keep a lock on his position despite the cold temperatures and white, fluffy impediment. 

Earlier in the demonstration, the test site was filled with the distinct odor of leaking propane. The drones also managed to identify the source of the released gas.

On Tuesday, first responders from the local area and around the country were on hand to observe the drone test and get a better idea how the unmanned aerial craft can assist in hazmat situations. The host facility was the Tekoi Test Range, with access obtained via an agreement between Deseret UAS and the Skull Valley Band of Goshute, which own the property. Deseret UAS, a nonprofit joint venture of Tooele and Box Elder counties, is working to attract unmanned aerial system businesses to both counties. 

There were 85 individuals representing first responders, private industry reps and government officials registered to attend the testing and seminars, according to Muriel Xochimitl, Deseret UAS communications director. 

Xochimitl said the Skull Valley Band of Goshute facility, located off state Route 196 south of Iosepa, was a great place for the exercises, hosted in conjunction with the Utah State Fire Marshal.

“We think that it’s a logical partnership to look at ways to leverage these existing assets in a different way with a nascent, fast growing industry that will be, really, the way of the future,” she said. 

The open air testing of propane and nitrogen met the intent of the workshop, according to Deputy State Fire Marshal Ryan Putnam. He said the next step for the drone industry is for the technology to meet all of the needs of fire agencies, such as integrated sensors and payloads.

“I think it’s just going to increase and a lot of it’s going to be based on technology catching up with what we want it to do,” Putnam said. 

While there are some commercial drones with integrated radiation and chemical sensors, the cost is still too high for fire departments, according to Putnam. For now, most drones used by fire crews are borrowed from search and rescue crews or the municipality’s GIS department. 

The workshop was the kind of event, especially with the number of private vendors and interested parties, which Deseret UAS was created to provide. 

The Deseret UAS facility in Box Elder County is for initial testing, to prove a conceptual drone is flightworthy and meets expected battery performance and other factors, according to Tooele County Commissioner Shawn Milne. The Tooele County facility provides outdoor training space, open air space and a remote location for testing and tuning the software and hardware, both in the drone and for on-the-ground communications equipment. 

The process to take a drone from concept through initial testing to a final product takes several years, Milne said. Deseret UAS is already looking at longer term storage for drones than originally anticipated. 

Storage is especially useful for companies with large drones, such as those intended to move multiple people, as transporting the equipment can be difficult, according to Milne. There are benefits to longer term tenants, too, even if testing bays remain locked up by one client for longer. 

“That’s part of what Box Elder County and Tooele County want because when those engineers and those pilots — those professionals — are there for long periods of time, that’s what’s going to stimulate our economy and become the job base,” Milne said. “So that’s what gets us really excited. So we’re happy to promote that.” 

The Tekoi Test Range requires less rigorous security requirements for entry than the Box Elder County facility or Dugway Proving Ground, but still provides a remote place to test with plenty of airspace away from prying eyes. Milne said Tooele County has a skilled workforce that understands the required privacy as high-tech drone concepts become a reality. 

While hazmat situations were the focus of testing this week, Milne said drones will be more prolific in the coming years in a variety of different ways. He said in addition to the lifesaving possibilities working with first responders, drones could be used to make bridge inspections and other tasks easier and quicker.

“The intention is to save taxpayers’ money and make it safer,” Milne said. 

Deseret UAS was founded in 2018 with the help of a $1.2 million grant from the state of Utah. For more about the nonprofit corporation, visit deseretuas.org.

A pair of Tooele County men are facing felony drug charges after they allegedly agreed to swap controlled substances back in May. 

Hayden Michael Val Wright, 24, of Tooele, is charged with second-degree felony arrange distribution of a controlled substance. David M. Pyne, 61, of Grantsville, is charged with first-degree felony arrange distribution of a controlled substance. 

Grantsville City Police, working with other law enforcement agencies, executed a search warrant at Payne’s residence on May 8, according to a probable cause statement. Multiple items connected to drug use were found during a search of the residence. 

An occupant of the home told police he had observed Pyne and Wright agree to exchange drugs with each other, the statement said. He said Wright agreed to give Pyne methamphetamine in exchange for heroin. 

When Grantsville City police investigators interviewed Wright, he admitted to agreeing to trade Pyne methamphetamine for heroin the day before the warrant was served, the probable cause statement said. Pyne had previously been convicted of attempted distribution of a controlled substance in 2002. 

Wright made his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on June 18 before Judge Matthew Bates. He was appointed counsel and is scheduled to return to court for a scheduling conference on July 30 at 1:30 p.m. 

Pyne is scheduled to make his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on July 9 at 1:30 p.m. before Bates.

A Tooele man is facing felony charges after he allegedly sold marijuana and a firearm from a Tooele residence. 

Devin Thomas Hartwell, 19, is charged with second-degree felony theft by receiving stolen property, third-degree felony distribution of a controlled substance, third-degree felony purchase, transfer, possession, transfer or use of a firearm by a restricted person and third-degree felony distribution of a controlled substance. 

He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of manufacture or delivery of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of minors. 

Tooele City police had received multiple complaints over a three-month span regarding illegal narcotics trafficking at a home on 1160 North, a probable cause statement said. In the investigation, law enforcement determined Hartwell lived at the address and could be involved. 

Investigators observed vehicle and foot traffic at the residence, which officers determined to be consistent with the sale and use of illegal narcotics, the statement said. A warrant served at the residence on a stolen firearm case led to one of the home’s inhabitants telling police they got the weapon from Hartwell. 

On the other man’s phone, investigators found evidence Hartwell had given him the firearm, the statement said. Multiple photographs on the phone were found featuring suspected gang members with firearms and displaying gang signs. The pictures were identified as being inside Hartwell’s home and also included evidence of marijuana sales. 

The phone also contained messages between Hartwell and the other man, agreeing to narcotics and firearms transactions, the probable cause statement said. 

A search warrant was conducted on Hartwell’s home on June 25, during which a gang member was detained walking away from the home and found to be carrying a firearm, the statement said. The firearm serial number was scratched off and police determined Hartwell was the last person to have possession of the gun. 

Police observed the smell of marijuana and eventually located some of the drug and paraphernalia, the statement said. Three juveniles in the home at the time were found to have been smoking marijuana prior to the warrant service. 

Hartwell is scheduled to make his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on July 1 before Judge Matthew Bates.

A wildfire sparked Friday afternoon grew to about 1,300 acres in Skull Valley near the junction of Interstate 80 and state Route 196. 

The South Timpie Springs fire was reported around 4 p.m., according to Tooele County Fire Warden Dan Walton. Despite the significant number of acres claimed by the fire, it was fully contained by the next day. 

The fire has been ruled human-caused, but it has not been determined if it was accidentally or intentionally set, Walton said. The federal Bureau of Land Management is investigating the blaze, which started on, and burned a majority of, federal land. 

Firefighters from North Tooele Fire District, Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department, Terra Fire Department, BLM, U.S. Forest Service and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands were all involved in battling the fire. Four single-engine planes, one heavy air tanker and two helicopters assisted in firefighting operations. 

The different grasses and brush in Tooele County are drying out pretty rapidly, Walton said. More hot, dry weather will just add to the problem, he said.

With summer underway and the patriotic stirrings surrounding the nation’s founding as inspiration, Tooele City is planning a full slate of activities throughout the July Fourth holiday. 

This evening, there will be a trio of activities at the Aquatic Center Park, starting by 4 p.m. with the open microphone for karaoke. The karaoke competition begins at 5 p.m., the same time as a Corvette car show, also at the park. 

Attendees for both the car show and karaoke contest, as well as the rest of the community, can take advantage of a free community barbecue that begins at 6 p.m. at the Aquatic Center Park. The barbecue is open while supplies last and anyone going is encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to sit on. 

In line with the patriotic nature of July Fourth, there will be a flag retirement ceremony on Tuesday. The ceremony, organized by American Warriors in Action, the Boy Scouts of America and Tooele City, at 7 p.m. in England Acres Park. Attendees should bring their own blankets or chairs. 

Anyone with an old, worn, faded, or badly soiled flag can have their flag retired at the ceremony. Flags for retirement should be dropped off at Tooele City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 

The closer to the Fourth of July, the bigger the events get. On Wednesday, Tooele City will present Arrival from Sweden, a band playing the music of the popular 70s Swedish group, ABBA. The concert is $5 for general admission bleacher seating at Tooele High School’s football stadium, with gates opening at 7 p.m. and the concert beginning at 8 p.m. 

Tickets can be purchased at Tooele City Hall or Macey’s. Arrival also performed at the Fourth of July Concert in 2015.

Over at Deseret Peak Complex, the Bit N’ Spur Rodeo will hold its Fourth of July rodeo, on July 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. In its 74th year as an Independence Day tradition, it features traditional rodeo excitement, fireworks on July 4, and Mutton Bustin’ Buckle Championships each night. 

Tickets are $15 for attendees age 12 and up, $5 for kids aged 6 to 11, and kids under the age of 5 free. Tickets are available online at tooelebitnspur.com and the cost of tickets increase at the gate on the day of the event. 

Tooele City’s 4th of July parade, themed “Forever Proud,” will run north along Main Street from the intersection with Skyline Drive, then turn left onto Utah Avenue. From there, the route turns left onto 200 West, ending at the Aquatic Center Park. 

Residents will line the street along the parade route, which will start at 9 a.m. Entrants in the parade will need to be in place 30 minutes prior to the start. 

The 2019 Grand Marshal of the parade will be Karyl Maynard. Maynard is a long-time, active participant at the Tooele Senior Center and dedicated her many years to serve and support the success of the center and as a member of the Council of Aging.

Following the parade, there will be food, activities and entertainment at the Aquatic Center Park, beginning around 11 a.m. Tooele City Mayor Debbie Winn will present awards and there will be a number of free activities, including a rock wall, mechanical bull and children’s train. 

Country music performer Charley Jenkins will perform a free concert at the park, beginning at approximately 11 a.m.

The following day, Nathan Osmond will take the stage as the Fridays on Vine Concert, at 7 p.m. at Aquatic Center Park. The nephew of Donny and Marie Osmond, Nathan Osmond is a country music artist who has topped country charts and has music videos featured on CMT. 

Following Osmond’s concert, there will be a family-friendly movie in the park to cap off the week of activities. The movie will start at dusk and attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs and snacks to the showing.

A Tooele man facing felony charges in two separate cases in 3rd District Court pleaded not guilty to all charges during court appearances Tuesday. 

Randy E. Hunter, 40, is charged with two counts of second-degree felony sex abuse of a child in a case filed Feb. 15. He is also charged with third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor theft, in a case filed on April 10.

On Jan. 6, Tooele City police received a report a 7-year-old victim had been touched by Hunter, according to a probable cause statement. During an interview with investigators, the victim described the abuse, in which Hunter touched them sexually and made them touch him. 

After charges were filed in 3rd District Court on Feb. 15, a $50,000 warrant was issued for Hunter on Feb. 26.

On March 29, a Tooele City police officer was dispatched to an apartment complex regarding a burglary the night before, a probable cause statement said. The reporting party indicated the maintenance room at the complex had been burglarized and a hedge trimmer and cordless drill motor were taken. 

The following day, Hunter was arrested for his outstanding warrant and interviewed in connection with the burglary at the apartment complex, the statement said. Hunter admitted to burglarizing the maintenance room and said the stolen items were in a vehicle in Tooele City. 

After a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle, the stolen items were recovered, according to the probable cause statement. 

Hunter is scheduled to return to 3rd District Court for pretrial conferences in both cases on July 23 at 9 a.m. before Judge Matthew Bates. 

There is expected to be a record-breaking number of motorists over the Independence Day holiday around the country, according to AAA. 

With myriad events, including parades, festivals and the Stadium of Fire on tap this week, the Utah Department of Transportation is advising drivers to plan ahead for heavy local traffic. The Wasatch Front is expected to be heavily impacted, especially in the Provo area. 

Due to the expected traffic, most UDOT construction projects will be suspended and lanes will be opened to reduce delays over the Fourth of July. Lane restrictions or traffic shifts needed to protect work zones or ensure safety will remain, however. 

Regardless of holiday traffic, UDOT reminds drivers to stay alert, use seat belts, put away distractions and take breaks to avoid drowsy driving. 

As many as 49 million Americans are expected to take an Independence Day getaway this year, according to AAA. That’s an increase of 4.1% over last year, or about 1.9 million people. 

Traffic is expected to be the worst on July 3, with nationwide delays as much as four times the normal commute, AAA said. The vast majority of expected travel is by automobile, with about 3.96 million people traveling by plane and 3.55 million by trains, buses and cruise ships. 

One thing spurring holiday traffic is lower gas prices, with the national average at $2.66 per gallon, according to AAA. 

Gas prices in Tooele County remain among the lowest in the state, with the Flying J and Shell in Lake Point and Maverik in Stansbury Park selling gas at $2.69. All three gas stations are within the top 10 lowest prices for gasoline in the state.

For one of the limited times each year, fireworks are legal in certain areas in Tooele County for the Fourth of July holiday.

While many have either shot off some fireworks or heard a neighbor doing so already, Tooele City Fire Chief Rick Harrison is cautioning residents to be careful, especially as grasses continue to dry out.

“I think one of our big concerns right now is the amount of moisture we had in the early spring and now our weeds are a lot higher than they usually are for the year,” he said. “And they’re drying out daily.”

While conditions should be dry for July Fourth, Harrison said wildland fire concerns will peak around July 24, when fireworks are legal again for Pioneer Day. 

In addition to the conditions, Harrison said it’s important residents know what fireworks they’ve purchased and how to safely use them. Last year, someone burned their hand on a fuse they misidentified, suffering third-degree burns. 

“We just want the public to be aware of what they’re buying and how to use them; making sure they read the directions before it’s night time,” Harrison said.

Fireworks should only be lit one at a time and the person lighting them should move away quickly, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fireworks should never be relit and a bucket of water or garden hose should be handy in case of a mishap. 

Harrison said the department deals with issues with fireworks in plastic garbage cans every year, which melt or catch fire from partially extinguished fireworks. He said fireworks should be disposed of in metal containers with water. 

In addition to tips on safety, fireworks are only permitted in certain areas of Tooele County and at certain times. 

Fireworks can only be used from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. through July 5, then again from July 22 to July 25. The hours fireworks can be discharged are extended to midnight on July 4 and July 24. 

In Tooele City, fireworks are permitted in much of the downtown area. The borders for the firework approved area roughly follows 1000 West to the west and Droubay Road to the east.

The southern border of the firework area follows state Route 36, then Skyline Drive. The northern border is 2000 North west of SR-36, and approximately 1530 North until about 520 East, then to approximately 1480 North to Droubay Road. Fireworks are not permitted in Elton Park, however. 

Harrison said Elton Park has been excluded from the allowed area for fireworks due to the recent investment by Tooele City into the facilities there, including a new pickle ball court. Anyone who lives in a restricted area can light off fireworks at Dow James Park. 

There are three designated areas where fireworks are permitted in Grantsville City, including two parks in housing subdivisions. The main area permitted for fireworks is bordered by West Street to the west, Durfee Street to the south, Clark Street to the north and Matthews Lane to the east. 

Fireworks will also be allowed in the homeowners association parks in the Anderson Ranch and South Willow Estates subdivisions.  

The use of fireworks in the towns of Rush Valley and Stockton are fully restricted this year. Fireworks are only permitted in Vernon in the town’s fire department parking lot. 

There are no restrictions on fireworks in Wendover, aside from on state and federal lands. Throughout the county, fireworks are not allowed on any federal land, including Bureau of Land Management, military and U.S. Forest Service property. 

Most of northern Tooele County, including Stansbury Park and Lake Point, do not have firework restrictions.

An interactive, color-coded map of fireworks restrictions in the county is available at tooelecountysheriff.org/firewarden.htm. 

If anyone using fireworks causes or spreads a fire negligently, recklessly or intentionally, they are liable for the cost of fire suppression and any damages caused, according to state law.

“We just want to make sure everybody has a fun and safe Fourth of July and enjoy their family and barbecues,” Harrison said. “We’re hoping we don’t have many fire calls on the Fourth, but we’re usually hopping and busy.”

A tax increment reimbursement agreement by the Redevelopment Agency of Tooele City was approved on June 19, which helps pave the way for apartment housing in the former Broadway Hotel. 

The agreement allows the developer, Broadway-Heritage Village Apartments 2017, to be reimbursed a portion of the tax increment on the redeveloped property up to $360,000 or 10 years. The reimbursement would be used to meet the debt service coverage required by the bonds issued to fund the project to prevent default. 

Tax increment refers to the additional property tax revenue created by an increase in property value. The city’s RDA is entitled to a portion of the tax increment and the resolution approved last month allows the agency to reimburse some of the tax increment to support the project. 

According to the RDA resolution, the concept plans for the project include renovation and redevelopment of the former Broadway Hotel to create 30 bedroom units and construction of 18 new units, with a mixture of one, two and three bedroom units. 

RDA consultant Randy Sant said the developer will be required to submit a yearly budget including revenue, expenditures, net operating income, and debt service. If the project produces enough revenue to meet the debt service coverage, the developer won’t receive any reimbursement. 

Sant said based on projections, the increment will likely only be given for 3-4 years. The agreement also requires the developer to operate for at least five years after they receive the final tax increment payment. 

The agreement also requires the developer to begin construction on the project by April 2020. Sant said the developer has a buyer for the bond and an equity partner lined up and intends to begin construction shortly after those agreements are finalized in September or October. 

Construction will likely begin with the existing hotel building and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. 

During the work session of the June 19 meeting, RDA chairman Brad Pratt thanked those involved in the Broadway Hotel redevelopment over the course of the project. The RDA board adopted a resolution approving the Broadway Community Development Project Area plan back in September 2007. 

“The improvement or rebuild of that hotel will be major,” Pratt said. “That will be a real boost to that area and I also appreciate the fact that it’s affordable housing.” 

During the RDA business meeting following the City Council meeting, Tooele City Mayor Debbie Winn said tax increment agreements can be controversial but are necessary for some projects. Tooele County and the Tooele County School District are also involved in the tax increment agreement. 

“This will bring to our city some affordable housing … and we are very grateful to everyone that has seen the vision of this project and will help make it work,” Winn said. 

The RDA board unanimously approved the tax increment reimbursement agreement on a motion from board member Dave McCall, seconded by board member Steve Pruden.

A Tooele man is facing criminal charges for allegedly taking and selling a victim’s prescription medication. 

Johnathon Dacey Synhorst, 23, is charged with second-degree felony distribution of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of theft. 

Tooele City police were dispatched to a residence on 100 East on June 26 on reports of a burglary, according to a probable cause statement. The victim said she allowed Synhorst, who was a friend, into her home around 11 p.m. the night of the incident. 

After he was inside the residence, Synhorst broke into a lock box and stole three bottles of prescription methadone, the victim said. She told police she already confronted Synhorst about the theft and he admitted via text message he took the prescription drugs to sell them, the probable cause statement said.

When police located Synhorst, he admitted to taking the victim’s methadone and said he’d sold two of the bottles, according to the statement. He said he got one of the bottles back after the victim confronted him. 

The responding officer was provided two empty bottles of methadone that were located in Synhorst’s backpack, which had a prescription in the victim’s name, the probable cause statement said. 

Synhorst made his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on Monday before Judge Matthew Bates. The court ordered he could be released on the case and a release order was sent to the Tooele County Detention Center. 

Synhorst is scheduled to return to 3rd District Court on Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m. for a scheduling conference before Bates.

The history of community commitment and volunteerism of the Tooele City Fire Department will be honored this Saturday with a celebration of the department’s 100th birthday. 

Tooele City Fire Chief Rick Harrison said the celebration will include a reading about the department’s history, with history books and photographs available for visitors to peruse. The festivities will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Tooele City Fire Station by City Hall. 

Remarks by Tooele City Mayor Debbie Winn and Harrison will also be a part of the agenda for the 100th year of the department. 

Attendees will be served cake and punch for the department’s birthday and will have the opportunity to socialize with members of the department. In addition to Tooele City residents, Harrison said the invitation to the event has been extended to fire departments around the state. 

Since it was founded as a permanent organization with 23 members in 1919, the Tooele City Fire Department has grown with the community, while remaining a volunteer unit. Now with 50 active members, the department has had a total of 269 members of its history, as well as 49 chiefs. 

The current fire department is comprised of a chief, two assistant chiefs, five captains, five lieutenants, and 37 firefighters. The captains in the department are former chiefs; all chiefs serve a two-year term at the head of the department.

A wildfire caused a closure of Interstate 80 and significant delays for travelers in Tooele County on Sunday afternoon. 

The fire was first reported at 4:45 p.m., according to Tooele County Fire Warden Daniel Walton. The right eastbound lane of I-80 was reported closed at milepost 100 by the Utah Department of Transportation’s traffic Twitter account. 

Congestion was reported in the eastbound lanes at Exit 99 of I-80 about an hour later, according to UDOT. The exit ramp at Exit 99 on westbound I-80 was listed as closed at 6:26 p.m.

The closures on I-80 lasted about an hour and 40 minutes, according to Walton. All told, the fire burned 15.8 acres and caused minor damage to railroad equipment. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Walton said. Crews from North Tooele Fire District, Grantsville City Volunteer Fire Department, United Fire Authority, federal Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and state resources all contributed to battling the blaze. 

The fire was ruled contained around 9:30 p.m., Walton said. 

Over the long holiday weekend, Walton said there were a total of five wildfires in Tooele County. None of the recorded fires were started by fireworks. 

Following Fourth of July, fireworks are restricted again throughout the state. Fireworks can be legally discharged in permitted areas again July 22-25, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The hours for firework use are extended to midnight on July 24 for Pioneer Day. 

Class C fireworks can be sold through July 25. 

For more information on where fireworks can be safely discharged in Tooele County, review the interactive map provided on the Tooele County Fire Warden page at tooelecountysheriff.org/firewarden.htm.

Dr. Megan Shutts-Karjola, a Stockton resident and OB-GYN at Mountain West Medical Center, received her promotion to colonel in the Air Force Reserves during a ceremony at Stockton Veterans Memorial Park on Monday morning. 

The ceremony was presided over by Congressman Chris Stewart and was attended by Shutts-Karjola’s family and friends, as well as various local officials. Stewart, an Air Force veteran, served for 14 years as a pilot.

During his remarks at the promotion ceremony, Stewart talked about his first time meeting his wing commander, a colonel, while serving as a lieutenant and the intimidation and respect he felt. He said he appreciates the competence and sacrifice it takes to reach the rank in the Air Force. 

“I just think it’s worth recognizing here, that this is something kind of cool,” Stewart said. “That achieving this rank, achieving this responsibility and this position of leadership, is not something that everyone who enters the Air Force does.”

In her remarks, Shutts-Karjola thanked all of her family and friends who were able to make it to the ceremony. She said her husband, Stockton Mayor Thomas Karjola, told her there would be a ceremony to recognize reaching the rank of colonel because she owed it to the people who love and support her. 

“Until today, I’ve had exactly one promotion ceremony in my military career and that’s because it was part of my graduation,” Shutts-Karjola said. “I much prefer to work quietly and stay under the radar.” 

Shutts-Karjola is currently based out of Eglin Air Force Base, where she serves as an individual mobilization augmentee. She said in that role, she was assigned to an active duty unit and would fill in as needed. 

While she hasn’t received her new assignment yet, Shutts-Karjola said she’s looking forward to whatever comes next. 

“It will be a change,” she said. “It’s generally going to be something medical, obviously, and usually in more of a leadership-type position.”

Shutts-Karjola called the turnout for the ceremony crazy, but said Stockton is a very patriotic town and it was great to be able to see and feel it. 

“It’s pretty humbling, I think, but much appreciated,” she said.

Tooele County has a storied history, from the stations on the former Pony Express Trail or land speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats. 

There may not have been a better collection of living history in the county than when 13 former Tooele City fire chiefs, as well as the current command staff, gathered at Fire Station No. 1 behind Tooele City Hall at the end of June. The opportunity to gather so many previous leaders of the volunteer fire department came in the lead up to the organization’s 100th anniversary. 

This Saturday, the Tooele City Fire Department will celebrate 100 years with a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Fire Station No. 1, offering attendees a glimpse into its history. In addition to Tooele City residents, the event has been opened up to fire departments around the state. 

While the fire department was first recognized as a permanent organization in 1919 with its 23 charter members, it was initially organized in 1910. The city bought its first pumper the same year, and appointed a chief in 1914. 

While none of the former chiefs assembled at the station were alive for the birth of the department, the contributions of its founding members were definitely felt. 

Tom Tate, who served as chief in ‘82-’83, joined the department in the ‘60s and described how it had evolved during his involvement. 

“The level the department is at today is right on par with a professional department,” Tate said. “So we’ve come a long way in 50 years. And we owe an awful lot to the charter members of the fire department who organized it 100 years ago.”

When he joined the department, Tate described the fire department as a “surround-and-drown operation.” He said in the following decade plus, the department started inside attacks, positive air exhaust fans and pagers replaced telephone calls. 

Before using pagers or telephone calls, the department relied on a siren, which could be heard throughout the city to notify members of a fire, according to Wayne Dow, chief in ‘82-’83. The department’s phone system followed. 

“You’d lift the phone up and the operator would say the address over and over on the telephone. Then we finally moved on to pagers,” Dow said.

In 1980 and 1982, the department purchased a pair of 1,500-gallon pumper trucks. Around that time, every member was outfitted in full turnout gear, according to Tate. 

Tom Adams, fire chief from ‘96-’97, cited the long commitment by Tooele City to provide equipment to enable the volunteer department to do its job. He said the city has been really good when it comes to purchasing and upgrading equipment. 

“As the city’s grown, the need has been there and the equipment has grown as well,” Adams said. “I know when I started, the equipment that we had to support the fire was all stored in an old bread truck and that bread truck was modified by the firemen. And we’d actually drive that bread truck to the fires because it had the fans and had the SCBAs and equipment and stuff.”

Now the necessary equipment can fit in modern fire engines and other apparatuses, and the evolution of tactics and equipment has been intriguing to watch, according to Bucky Whitehouse, chief in ’16-’17.

 “As trucks changed and tactics changed and equipment changed, it’s been really interesting to see how its progressed,” Whitehouse said. “Granted, now trucks are bigger, have more capabilities, but it’s real fun to see the history behind how it all evolved.” 

The long-running commitment from Tooele City, including the mayor and City Council, as well as outstanding leadership have contributed to the department’s success, said Jim Jensen, chief in ‘86-’87. The volunteers who give their time in training and by putting their lives on the line are a critical part of the department’s success, he said. 

“And those things have really contributed to making Tooele City the top volunteer fire department in the state, and probably in the intermountain area,” Jensen said. “These guys today are right next to the level of a paid fire department and they’re doing it on a volunteer basis.”

The former chiefs assembled at the fire station represented the diversity of employment in the department, with school teachers, salesmen, heating and plumbing technicians, the county’s emergency management director and treasurer, among others. The department is comprised of an amazing group of people, said Gary Vario, chief in ‘08-’09. 

“It’s been that way when I got in in the 80s and it’s just a big group of people that really care about the community,” Vario said. 

The department grew to 50 members in 1956, the same year Fire Station No. 1 was constructed and a 1,000-gallon Van Pelt pumper was purchased. The department remains fully staffed with volunteers today, with a current waitlist of seven, according to Tooele City Fire Chief Rick Harrison. 

David Buck, who served as chief in ‘80-’81, said he was involved with the department when Fire Station No. 1 was first occupied. 

“It’s been great,” Buck said. “The only thing is, you’re chief of the department and the head of all these guys and you’re responsible for their safety and everything. It grows on you, then after your term’s over, instead of chief you’re demoted to become an engine company captain.” 

Buck’s comments were greeted with a chuckle from the former chiefs. Each chief serves a two-year term, then transitions to the captain role. From there, members eventually move off the active roster to the senior list.

When Marvin Lee, chief in ‘88-’89, had to leave the active roster, it was the end of a family legacy dating back to the department’s founding. Lee said his son had joined the department but moved away from Tooele for work, snapping the continuous active roster streak. 

“I hated that I had to turn in my resignation in at the time and go on the senior list because I’m the end of it,” Lee said. “And there’s no chance of another Lee being in there …I was the end of the line.” 

In addition to family legacies, the legacy of leadership runs deep in the Tooele City Fire Department. Gary Coon, chief in ‘12-’13, said the department has done a good job keeping its members safe over the years.

 “One thing about a chief officer in this fire department, and I think every one of these guys would agree with me, is this is a very aggressive fire department,” Coon said. “We get in quick and as the chief, your biggest fear is getting somebody hurt.”

The department has remained tight knit over the years, according to John Curwen, chief in ‘02-’03.  

“I just want to say that this department, beside 50 plus guys, you’ve got a lot of friendship,” Curwen said. “These guys will do anything for you. You can ask any of these firemen if you’ve got problems on your home, they’ll come and help you. So it ain’t just fighting fires, we’re a family.”

The sentiments were echoed by Glen Caldwell, who served as the department’s secretary for 13 years before becoming chief in ‘92-’93. 

 “The faces changed but the attitude never changed,” Caldwell said. “It’s the greatest organization I’ve ever belonged to. They’re just like brothers to me.”

Peter Breinholt, a popular Utah performer and recording artist, will again take the stage for Fridays on Vine this week.

This will be the fifth visit to the stage of Tooele City’s summer concert series at Aquatic Center Park. As someone who has played at venues around the state, Breinholt said he’s seen what it takes to have a good, successful concert series. 

“Tooele has one of those,” he said. 

Utah is the center point of Breinholt’s career, with most of the Salt Lake-based performer’s shows in the boundaries of the state. In addition to Fridays on Vine, Breinholt has at least seven shows scheduled through the end of the year along the Wasatch Front. 

The past year and a half were significant for Breinholt, who spent the winter and spring of 2018 in a coastal town in Ecuador with his wife and four children. It gave the family time to slow down and get away from the bustle of life in America, he said. 

Following the time in Ecuador, Breinholt recorded and released his first album of new material in 10 years last December. The album, “The Counting of Nothing,” was recorded primarily in his personal studio in his garage, with Breinholt playing almost all of the parts on the album by himself. 

The decade-long hiatus from a new, original album was partly do to where he was in his life, Breinholt said. With a young family and other responsibilities, he said he would keep trying to work on new music but would have to abandon it. 

“By the end of the time in Ecuador … I was ready to do something concrete,” Breinholt said. 

Armed with a new album worth of music, Breinholt said the Fridays on Vine crowd can expect to hear an almost entirely new slate of songs for the concert. Like any band, however, there will be a few songs they always perform, he said. 

Fridays on Vine begin every Friday at 7 p.m. at the Aquatic Center Park at 200 W. Vine Street. The concerts are free to the public, but seating is limited. Patrons are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.