Celebrity Lookalike: Spanish Fork’s Josh Rohatinsky and Matt Meese
As the father of four young children, Josh Rohatinsky knows all about BYUtv’s popular sketch comedy show Studio C. But it’s not just his own kids who think he looks like cast member Matt Meese. “I get a lot of parents coming up and telling me their kids wanted them to ask if I am […]
Celebrity Lookalike: Mapleton’s Ali MaCall Jenkins and Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen isn’t the first celebrity that Mapleton native Ali MaCall Jenkins has been compared to. In fact, Ali was a part of our magazine’s lookalike contest when she was just 2 years old. Back in 2004, Ali was frequently told she resembled Elizabeth Olsen’s twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Talk about keeping it […]
Celebrity Lookalike: Lindon’s Glen Ricks and Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Local photographer Glen Ricks was first told he looks like Elder Ronald A. Rasband a couple years ago — but he actually met Elder Rasband more than 25 years ago when he photographed a wedding Elder Rasband officiated in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Glen was serving in an LDS Young Single Adult ward and […]
Lehi’s Ganel-Lyn Condie lets loss lead to writing career
As told to Jeanette Bennett Two weeks before we closed on this Lehi home, I had a horrible impression that we weren’t financially going to be able to live here. My husband felt strongly that we were supposed to be in this Ivory home. We were both right. Two days before Thanksgiving 2013, we closed […]
Alison Faulkner builds awesome brands in Provo
As told to Lindsey Williams The Alison Show started as a blog called, “She Blogs She Blogs,” like the Ricky Martin song. Blogging and Instagram have always been my main channels. It’s changed a lot over the years, but the central message has always been only you can be you and you’re already as awesome […]
Spanish Fork’s Lil Shepherd shows how Iceland intersects with Utah
As told to Lindsey Williams When I was serving my LDS mission in Iceland, I got an email from FamilySearch on Pioneer Day saying I had pioneer heritage. I looked through the list and found the name Gudmundur Gudmundson. I thought it must be a different one but I did some research and it’s true […]
Carl and Carol Butler remain active in the 80s in Payson
As told to Lindsey Williams Carl Butler I was born in Santaquin in 1935 in an old two-room sandstone house straight across the street from the cemetery. When I die, I’ll be 50 feet from where I started. I’ve always said the first date with Carol was a knockout because I can’t remember it. We […]
Lone Peak Ultimate wins with Alpine’s Dave Kroupa
As told to Lindsey Williams I teach math at Timberline Middle School. I was in charge of the high-level math kids who compete in the state math competition, and I wanted to make it a little more fun and not sound too nerdy by calling it “The Math Club.” I decided instead to call it […]
Taekwondo champion Jared Reed kicks it in Orem
As told to Lindsey Williams I got kicked out of karate — not by the instructor but by my parents. At daycare, another kid took my action figure toy so I kicked him. After that my dad kicked me out of karate. Six months later, my uncle recommended I try taekwondo. So at 8, I […]
Kim Christensen brings books to life for teens at Springville Library
As told to Lindsey Williams I started at Borders bookstore in the Riverwoods. When they closed their doors, there was an opening for a part-time teen librarian at the Springville Library and I thought it would be a good fit — I love that age and I love planning events. It turned out to be […]
Big Heart in a Small Town: Eagle Mountain’s Lianne Pengra wears many hats
As told to Kate Nash I grew up in a small farming community in Washington state, and then my family relocated to Bountiful. After graduating from Woods Cross High School, I went to Westminster College for a year on a scholarship. I worked as a server in a restaurant, and my co-worker set me up […]
Good Sports: Hosts Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan are always reppin’ on BYU SportsNation
By Greg Bennett and Jeanette Bennett As a fourth-grader at Clinton Elementary, Spencer Linton visited the studio of KSL 5 in Salt Lake City. The boy gravitated to the chair of sports anchor Craig Bollerjack (now TV voice of the Utah Jazz). “I loved seeing the backdrop and the chair where the sports guys sat,” […]
Trading treats for tricks: Payson’s Brian South pulls out the tricks for Halloween
It’s known as the holiday where children dressed as ghouls and goblins ask for tricks or treats, and while most families prepare bowls of candy for Halloween, local venture Discover Magic is pulling out all the tricks. Payson’s Brian South has been a magician his whole life. He has performed at events and fairs, developed […]
Timpanogos Storytelling Festival — A tale of history and growth
When the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival began in 1990, individual pieces needed a place. Now heading into its 28th year, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival has a view of the bigger picture as it moves to its fourth location. From 860 attendees the first year to more than 40,000 annual attendees now, the festival has become a […]
Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi known for being a clear communicator
When Gary Gygi was appointed mayor of Cedar Hills in January 2012, residents were sharply divided in their view of the Cedar Hills Golf Club. Some loved the golf course, others resented it. Rancor and animosity over the golf course was tearing the town apart. “Our city had a real contentious number of years about […]
Utah-Tube: GENTRI encourages being ‘The One’ in new video shot in India
GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio released a new video called “One” about the lessons they learned in India about the power and influence of “The One.” “It only takes one life to make a difference,” trio member Brad Robins said at the end of the “One” video. The trio worked with Rising Star Outreach, an organization […]
Decades: Women act their age
Walk through a woman’s lifetime from her 20s to her 80s. Spoiler alert! Each of these local girlie girls think they’re living in the best stage of life.
Donny Osmond shares precious picture of meeting his newest grandson for the first time
#AGoodDayIncludes meeting my sweet new grandson. I’d like to introduce you to Peder Clark Osmond. pic.twitter.com/xq4y1hKTks — Donny Osmond (@donnyosmond) August 8, 2017 Donny Osmond is beyond puppy love after posting a picture of him holding his newest grandson, Peder Clark Osmond, on Tuesday. On Friday, Osmond tweeted to announce the arrival of his newest […]
Angels lighting the valley: 5 Utah Valley do-gooders that share their light
The world might be getting darker, but that just makes these angels stand out even more. Meet the women who create tiny diapers and make a huge impact, the parents who established a network for families with special needs, the couple finding light amidst the darkness of mental illness, the instructor adding confidence through self-defense […]
Utah women YouTubers serve up heavy dose of nostalgia in ‘Baby-Sitter’s Club’ fan series
Tween and teenage girls dreamed of having friendships that would mirror the affection and camaraderie found in “The Baby-Sitters Club.” And a group of Utah women are capturing that daydream in a fan-made YouTube series. Apple Juice Productions — a YouTube channel made “for fangirls, by fangirls” — is recapturing the loyal friendships in a […]
Sundance Law Group seeks to prevent further tragedy when a family member dies
Sponsored Story Planning for death or disability is a difficult subject to think about. However, neglecting to plan can lead to unintended and sometimes disastrous results for loved ones. Marianne Ludlow founded Sundance Law Group — a law firm focused on estate and business planning. Her mission is to help people in Utah County secure […]
Modern pioneers: 3 countries where first-generation Saints are thriving
If Pioneer Day brings to mind images of 19th-century converts pushing handcarts across an unforgiving prairie floor, you’re not alone. And you’re right — the pioneers who came to Utah in the late 1800s are important to remember and left a heritage all Utahns (and all Church members) can appreciate. But pioneers exist today all […]
Spanish Fork names Leonard and Loa Ellis as grand marshals for Fiesta Days Grand Parade
[pullquote] Fiesta Days Grand Parade When: Monday, July 24 at 9 a.m. Where: Center St. and Main St. in Spanish Fork (see map here) Cost: FREE Site: spanishfork.org [/pullquote] Loa Ellis has always had an appreciation for the Fiesta Days celebration. In fact, her father, Thomas Beckstrom, and her brothers were members of the Diamond […]
8 things Jack and Suzanna Perry want you to know about Mapleton
Jack Perry grew up in Mapleton and remembers holidays in the Historic Mapleton White Church, on the corner of Main and Maple. “You had to go out to get your bag of candy at the Christmas celebration, so we’d sneak back in through the window and try to get two or three,” Jack laughs. Jack’s […]
Intricate gingerbread houses light lives annually at the Festival of Trees
When Thanksgiving rolls around, Orem’s Jim Lauret isn’t just thinking about his turkey feast. Instead he’s planning his next gingerbread creation. But Jim’s houses go beyond a few gum drops and peppermints. He depicts popular scenes from movies like the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, the house from “Up” with 10 pounds of Dum Dums […]
Everybody has a story: Lehi’s Colby Draper brings power to the people — literally
I grew up in Highland in the middle of six kids — two sisters and three brothers. I went to Lone Peak High School, and I loved it because I had great friends and played sports. After graduation, I went on an LDS mission to Bordeaux, France. When I got home, I started attending UVSC […]
Creating beams of confidence through self-defense
Karen Knudsen’s favorite moment as a self-defense instructor is watching women stand a little taller — largely because she had to grow along her own journey. The first blow to Karen’s self-confidence came when she was raped at age 9. “It really impacted my self-esteem,” says Karen, who lives in Spanish Fork. “I no longer […]
Finding light and spreading joy in the darkness of mental illness
When Josie Thompson Solomon found herself unable to serve an LDS mission because of mental illness, she decided to take a road trip to visit a friend in Farmington. After her visit she headed home to Arizona. When she stopped in Alamosa, Colorado, she picked up a hitchhiker named Nate. As Josie got to know […]
Creating rays of hope for families of children with special needs
Before Mark and Amber Leck married, she had a dream where she learned her daughter’s name would be Aubrey. In the dream, she and her husband thanked God for sending them one of His choice spirits. Now, Aubrey is 7 and the sign above her door reads, “A dream come true.” Mark, who is CEO […]
Teeny Tears helps diaper stillborn infants with dignity
As the calendar days were being crossed off on the way to November, Megan Bradshaw knew she would soon face the day that brought her both joy and sorrow each year — the birthday of her twins. At 28 weeks, the boys were born via emergency C-section. Crew survived. Dex did not. “For their third […]