Coming Home: Burlington Willardson Joins Springville Police Department After a 20-Year Military Career
When Burlington Willardson started interviewing for his second career as a police officer, he knew he wanted to work in South Utah County. “This is home to me — small town Utah. Springville is the furthest north small town in Utah Valley,” he says. “It’s a city set in the valley with good people, a […]
Springville’s Side Car Cafe Serves Up the Nation’s Best Country Fried Steak and Sausage Gravy
By Mary Crafts One of my favorite things to do is go out for breakfast on Saturday. There’s no pressure to get off to work, which makes it the perfect time to relax and eat with family or friends. Awww … but where to go? Fast food? Oh, please. The traditional pancake house? Boring. I […]
8 of Utah County’s best beaches
The Beehive State is hundreds of miles from the ocean, but it’s still possible to have fun at the beach without making the 600-plus mile trip to the west coast. Utah County has a handful of sandy “beaches” next to local ponds, lakes and reservoirs, where you can have a great time sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, […]
Utah County teens flip their way to second round on ‘World of Dance’
They danced, they flipped and, at times, it seemed as though they floated. Utah County dancers Charity Anderson and Andres Peñate advanced to the next round of “World of Dance” Tuesday night. Dancing to James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go,” the duo danced a contemporary routine that earned them a 95.3 out of 100. Competitors need […]
A photographic tour of the Springville’s new Clyde Recreation Center
Lace up those tennis shoes — Springville opened its new Clyde Recreation Center on Thursday, May 24. Springville began it’s journey for its own recreation in November 2015 when residents approved an $11 million bond to pay in part for the project. The total cost for the project is approximately $23 million. Now less than […]
Road work 2018: Expect major projects around Utah County
Snow is melting in the mountains, ski resorts are closing, temperatures are rising. It’s spring, aka the start of road construction season. And this year, Utah Valley residents can expect some major projects. “We always like to remind drivers to be alert and extra cautious in construction zones,” said Eileen Barron, a spokeswoman for the […]
Wayne Bartholomew Park passes available for Springville residents on Monday
Springville residents can start preparing for summer next week — free parking passes to Wayne Bartholomew Park are available for pickup beginning on April 2. Beginning on May 1, Springville will require a parking permit at Wayne Bartholomew Park, located at 1090 S. 2900 East in Springville. Parking passes will be required at the park through […]
The Drive: Take a road trip through Utah County with eight locals
Rev up the engine and take a road trip through Utah County. We’ll make eight stops and introduce you to the talk of each town. So buckle your seatbelt and kick it into high gear with locals in the driver’s seat.
Celebrity Lookalike: Springville’s McKenna Hixson and Reese Witherspoon
People have been telling Springville resident McKenna Hixson she looks like Reese Witherspoon for years. “It’s funny because I think I am actually closer to Reese’s daughter in age than Reese,” McKenna says. “But I definitely take it as a compliment.” McKenna is right — Reese Witherspoon is 41, her daughter Ava is 17, and […]
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 […]
Springville now requiring parking permit at Wayne Bartholomew Family Park
Springville City will require parking permits for Wayne Bartholomew Family Park beginning on Friday, July 21. While Springville residents can obtain a free parking permit from the city offices, non-residents will be charged $10 per day to park at the popular beach. “One of the main reasons this is being done is to make sure it […]
Weekend Best Bets: 5 events to fill up the weekend
Summer is halfway over in Utah Valley, but things are just heating up. Make the most of your July weekends by marking these Utah Valley events in your calendar. American Fork Steel Days American Fork Steel Days will blow you away this year with it’s 10-day celebration. Not only is the city celebration longer this year, but […]
Free lunches available for kids in south Utah County
This summer, if your kids are out at the Springville Splash Pad, Payson Community Pool, Spanish Fork City Center Library Park, Taylor Elementary in Payson or Santaquin’s Centennial Park at lunch time on weekdays, they’re in for a free meal. For the second year in a row, the Utah Food Bank is offering free lunches […]
Weekend best bets: Jump into June with 5 Utah Valley events
Summer is finally here and there is no turning back. We’ve tackled spring’s rain (and snow) showers, but now we are ready for nothing but fun in the sun. Utah Valley pulls out all the stops to create a fun summer full of events — whether its a musical performance, sporting event or a random affair — […]
A one-on-one team effort: Julie Ellison and Mindy Davis
Julie Ellison welcomes her students each morning as they get off the bus. At her side is Mindy Davis, a technician in Julie’s classroom full of special-needs students at the Oakridge School in Springville. “We want the students to be as independent as possible, so we take our time in letting them get into the […]
It’s getting spooky: Halloween happenings around Utah Valley
On Friday night, Lehi’s Legacy Center will be full of adults and kids decked out in their Halloween costumes. They’ll be playing games, collecting candy around the movie-themed track, getting a little scared in the family-friendly spook alley, and having all kinds of Halloween fun. The Legacy Center — Lehi’s recreation center, 123 N. Center […]
What’s in a Utah County name?
Ever drive I-15 through Utah County and wonder about the names of cities and towns you pass by? Lehi. American Fork. Orem. Provo. Springville. Santaquin. Where in the world do these names come from? Brigham Young University professor Richard Neitzel Holzapfel has studied the origin of names of places in Utah and wrote “A History […]
Tax increases go down in Lehi, Spanish Fork, Utah County
Tuesday night’s election was a tale of taxes, with voters approving some and rejecting others. RAP taxes Provo and Lehi each asked voters to approve a sales tax that would add one cent to every $10 spent in the cities. The money would go to fund recreation, arts and parks. In Provo, 55.64 percent of […]
Old homes, new ideas: American Fork couple get HGTV show
Candis Meredith, a Utah State alum in design and engineering, describes herself as the girl who loved old houses, antiques and floor plans growing up. When her grandmother sold her home, Candis vowed to buy it back when she grew up. When she was 22, she did exactly that. Her grandmother’s home became Candis’ first […]
UV crime: BYU football player charged, robbery
Burglary arrests Bountiful police this week connected four men to more than 100 robberies, including some in Utah County. Investigators connected Joe Hernandez, Jeremy Hernandez, Isaac Hernandez and Thomas Blymiller to 140 home break-ins, according to police. The men reportedly used pillowcases to carry items out of homes. BYU football player charged Sione Takitaki, a […]
Weekend best bets (July 31–Aug. 2)
From the Point of the Mountain all the way down to Santaquin, Utah Valley has a lot to offer — especially in weekend activities. There are no excuses for staying in all weekend when there are these quality events happening around Utah Valley. Here are five of our picks for the upcoming weekend: 1. World […]
UV crime: Stabbing, attempted rape
Stabbing arrest On Tuesday Springville police arrested Jordan Willey Wood, 21, who’s accused of stabbing a man on Sunday. Wood, also known as Montel Showtime, reportedly stabbed the man at a neighbor’s house. Wood is charged with aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sex assault Provo police arrested Edwin Trejo Avila, 21, on Tuesday […]
11 facts and photographs of Springville’s new Wayne Bartholomew Family Park
By Canidi Higley As part of the Art City Days celebration on Saturday, hundreds of residents gathered at Springville’s newest park, the Wayne Bartholomew Family Park, for a ribbon cutting, a Duct Tape Boat Regatta and to enjoy the new pond and amenities. The land for the park, located at 1090 S. 2900 East in Springville, was […]
7 things Doug Witney wants you to know about Springville
Doug Witney knows the art of being a Springville man. He remembers picking fruit with his three brothers and parents at their orchard on Witney Lane, sledding down icy Mapleton Canyon, and graduating from Springville High School while it was still a part of the Museum of Art. He left for Vietnam, was injured and […]
UV crime: Shootings in Orem and PG, reward for missing woman
Cop-shooting case Testimony ended Thursday in the case of 18-year-old Meagan Grunwald, charged with murder and attempted murder for her role in the 2014 shooting death of Utah County Deputy Cory Wride and the shooting of Utah County Deputy Greg Sherwood. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Jose Angel Garcia-Jauregui shot Wride through a truck window during a […]
UV crime: Deal in BYU groper case, stabbing in Provo
BYU groper plea The former BYU student accused of groping women around campus entered into a diversion agreement with prosecutors this week. Nathan Fletcher agreed to an 18-month agreement, during which he must complete a psychosexual evaluation, a polygraph and complete all counseling that the psychosexual evaluation recommends. If he completes all the terms, the […]
UV crime: Stolen police truck, high-speed chases
Police chase Utah County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Springville man Thursday afternoon after a high-speed chase through Springville, Spanish Fork and Mapleton. Just after 4 p.m., an officer stopped 53-year-old Kevin Val Christensen in Springville because he knew the man had a suspended driver’s license. Christensen got agitated about the stop and took off, and […]
UV crime: Springville family may have been poisoned
Family poisoned Details from a search warrant released this week show a Springville family found dead in their home in September may have been poisoned. Benjamin and Kristi Strack and their three children — ages 14, 12 and 11 — were found dead by their 18-year-old son. The family was found inside the master bedroom […]
Pipe bursting means less digging in Springville 900 South project, but 12 hours without toilets
Springville residents who live along several blocks of 900 South will see a lot of cones, some big holes in the road and will be without toilets for about 12 hours at some point between now and the end of October. It’s all part of the city’s Pipe Bursting Project from 800 to 1500 East, […]
UV crime: Drugs from Amsterdam, accused BYU groper in court
Drug shipment Police arrested a Springville man on Tuesday after they say he had drugs shipped to him from Amsterdam. Travis Holman was booked into the Utah County Jail on charges of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, after he signed for the package at his work in Lindon. A drug dog working for […]