Tag: Provo City

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University News

BYU Is Finally In The Big 12

BYU fans celebrated at an on-campus party on June 30, 2023. Photo courtesy of BYU Athletics
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By Mike Romero

It’s been a long 22 months. After nearly 2 years of waiting, BYU will end its era of independence by uniting with the elite Big 12 for the 2023-2024 season. Celebrations among students, fans, and alumni took place this past weekend.

A massive gathering was held in Provo, Utah. Fans gathered and counted down until midnight, when the BYU Cougars were officially admitted into the conference. BYU even made a massive announcement on a digital display at Times Square in New York City.

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BYU’s sports teams will compete in 20 of the 23 sports sponsored by the Big 12. The school won’t participate in wrestling, rowing, or equestrian. Since the Big 12 doesn’t support men’s volleyball, BYU’s men’s volleyball team will stay in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

In a major win for Latter-day Saints and a gracious move on the part of the Big 12, BYU will not compete in athletic events on Sundays – a holy day for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

BYU football begins their 2023 season with three non-conference home games. Then they’ll hit the road to take on Kansas on September 23. Home games this year include Cincinnati on September 29, Texas Tech on October 21, Iowa State on November 11, and Oklahoma on November 18.

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Provo City News

Provo Celebrates July Fourth Through Tradition

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By Richard Provost

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest, most festive times of the year for Provo residents. Steeped in tradition, the Fourth in Provo, Utah is a bright, cheery, and magical time with plenty to do. Provo’s Freedom Festival is one of the largest in the United States.

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On Saturday, July 1, legendary rock group, Journey, returned to Provo for the second time. They played LaVell Edwards Stadium to a large audience. F-35s from Utah’s Hill Air Force Base flew over the stadium, and the night concluded with the nation’s largest stadium fireworks spectacle.

This morning, the Grand Parade will take place at 9 AM. Marching bands, professionally crafted floats, giant balloons, horseback riders, and musical performers will all appear in downtown Provo. Provo’s Balloon Fest will conclude this morning before the parade. Hot air balloons have filled the sky the entire weekend, taking off from Fox Field at 6 AM each morning.

Freedom Days, Provo’s Fourth of July carnival, will take place today from 11 AM to 7 PM. Food trucks, musicians, vendors, and rides will be situated on Center Street and University Avenue, across from the Provo Temple.

“I invite each and every one of you to come and experience the patriotic spirit that fills our city during the Freedom Festival,” says Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. “It is a wonderful way to connect with your neighbors, friends, and family, and to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in our beautiful nation.”

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Provo City News

Provo Watches Celebratory Flyover

Photo courtesy US Department of Defense.
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By Mike Romero

Residents of Provo just witnessed a remarkable event. The U.S. Air Force and Utah Air National Guard’s air refuelers took flight over northern and central Utah on Tuesday, commemorating a century of air refueling.

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On June 27, Tuesday, we honor the remarkable achievement of U.S. Army Air Service aviators who successfully executed the first-ever air refueling 100 years ago. It was on this historic day in 1923 when 1st Lts. Virgil Hine and Frank W. Seifert, piloting a DH-4B aircraft, transferred gasoline through a hose to another DH-4B plane carrying Capt. Lowell H. Smith and 1st Lt. John P. Richter.

The inaugural air refueling, once believed to be an impossible feat, marked a new era for combat aircraft. This innovative process enables planes to remain airborne for extended periods, conserving fuel and saving valuable time during long-distance flights.

Provo residents witnessed the flyover between 10:10 and 10:20 AM, with the three aircraft passing directly over BYU campus at 10:13 AM. Watch the flyover in the third slide below.

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University News

BYU Students Construct Solar-Powered Concrete House on Campus

Photo by Matthew Norton/BYU
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By Zach Collier

In a groundbreaking achievement, students from Brigham Young University (BYU) have designed, engineered, and built a sustainable, zero-energy dwelling directly on campus. Tucked away behind BYU’s Snell Building, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence has received hundreds of visitors this month.

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Affectionately known as the “Triple Dome Home,” this architectural marvel comprises three interconnected monolithic concrete domes. A featured dwelling in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, this zero-energy domicile spans a modest 850 square feet and stands as a testament to the prowess of student builders. This transportable house can be relocated wherever a crane can be stationed. In fact, this particular dwelling will soon be uprooted and transported to California for sale later in the fall.

Built as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, it’s meticulously designed. The house aims to minimize its carbon footprint, curtail water consumption, and effortlessly maintain a consistent temperature throughout both frigid winters and scorching summers.

The interior of the BYU Triple Dome Home by BYU Photo.

The Triple Dome Home boasts several remarkable engineering features, including the utilization of fiberglass in lieu of rebar as the primary material for reinforcing the concrete structure. Additionally, a PVC membrane envelops the entirety of the exterior walls, providing insulation and imperviousness to water. Portions of the exterior walls are concealed beneath soil, rocks, and plants, creating an innovative berming technique.

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The residence harnesses the power of 34 double-sided solar panels seamlessly integrated into a carport and an adjacent pergola. Thanks to its concrete dome construction, the house boasts windproof and fireproof properties while remaining resilient to extreme temperatures. Enhanced energy efficiency is achieved through the inclusion of triple-paned windows.

This undertaking has stretched the physical and intellectual capabilities of over 20 students involved in the design, engineering, and construction processes.

BYU represents one of the 15 universities hailing from the United States, Canada, and India that took part in the esteemed Solar Decathlon Build Challenge. Later this year, the BYU team and their Triple Dome Home will also compete in the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon.

There are only two days left to tour the home before it moves to California. The Utah Valley Parade of Homes is happening now, and concludes on June 24.

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State News

St. George Writers Conference Gears Up for July Event

Photo by MojaveNC, CC BY 2.5
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By Zach Collier 

Who stole your dream? And why did you let them steal it? These are just two of the poignant questions that the St. George Writers Conference plans to discuss on Friday, July 14 in southern Utah.

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“At the St. George Writers Conference, these questions will be addressed – and time will be given for you to answer them for yourself,” says event organizer and author Eileen Telford. “The speakers chosen for this conference all had dreams – and they made their dreams come true.”

Deanna Draper Buck had a dream – to find a book which told powerful scriptural stories in a way that preschoolers would understand. When she couldn’t find one, she wrote one. At the writer’s conference, she’ll share how she fought hard to make her dream come true and found an ally at Deseret Book.

In addition to buck, other speakers include writer Rebecca Lange, graphic novelist Tarl Telford, and event organizer Eileen Telford. Other topics covered include Sweet Romance, Christian Writing, Traditional vs. Indie Publishing, and Cover Design secrets.

The conference will be held at The Washington County Dance Hall in CottonTown Village Square. Breakfast, lunch, and dessert during a post-conference reception will be provided. Tickets can be purchased at StGeorgeWritersConference.com.

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Orem City News

Lindon and Orem Exploring Changes to Water Usage

Upper Provo River.
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By Mike Romero

Urban irrigation in Orem, provided by the Provo Bench Canal & Irrigation Company and the North Union Canal & Irrigation Company since 1862, is facing potential changes. Lindon City is considering diverting its canal shares into the Provo River Aqueduct, resulting in reduced water flow and utilization in the North Union and Provo Bench Canals. Permission from the canal companies’ boards is required before filing for the change application, with potential conditions to protect remaining shareholders.

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Currently, there are around 100 water users who practice open irrigation, and their options include continuing with potentially less water, selling shares, or submitting ideas for consideration.

Lindon City aims to tap water from the Provo River aqueduct to maintain six miles of open ditches, benefiting the Lindon irrigation ponds. The primary drivers for this change are the costly upkeep of aging canals and the push for water conservation efforts requested by Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The canals are currently facing issues such as garbage and broken bottles being discarded into the ditches, resulting in diminished water flow and potential water deprivation for end users. To address this, Reed Price, the maintenance division manager for Orem, suggests using the city’s culinary water for more effective drip irrigation, while Lindon currently relies on secondary water for irrigation.

The cost for Lindon to connect to the Provo River Aqueduct is estimated at $1.1 million, a more cost-effective alternative compared to canal maintenance expenses. A shareholders meeting was held, and Lindon plans to construct the tap in the upcoming fall, allowing farmers to observe the impact on canal operations. The complete transition is expected to take place by 2025, with Orem and the majority of stakeholders expressing support for the proposed changes.

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Provo City News

Thread Wallets to Expand in Downtown Provo

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By Mike Romero

It started on accident. Colby Bauer was bodysurfing in Hawaii and lost his wallet. Out of necessity, he started holding his cards and cash together with a rubber band. His girlfriend (now wife and business partner) McKenzie decided to make him a permanent solution. She sewed him a better-looking sleeve out of stretch fabric.

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Soon, whenever he’d take out his wallet to pay for something, he’d get comments on McKenzie’s invention. Thread Wallets was born.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Bauers took Thread from $140,000 to $4 million in sales in 3 years (from 2016-2019). Growth has continued since then, showing a 1900% increase in the last 5 years.

Recently, Mayor Michelle Kaufusi announced Thread’s plans to expand their headquarters, choosing to reinvest in Provo instead of moving elsewhere. Together, they identified the old Ford car dealership at 241 West Center. Thread and Provo City will work together to renovate this new location and turn it into Thread’s new corporate headquarters.

Check out the video below to learn more about Thread CEO Colby Bauer, and to catch a glimpse of the new space – complete with an indoor skate park.

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University News

Kenneth Rooks of BYU Secures Consecutive National Championship

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By Charlie G. Patreus

In an impressive display of skill and determination, Kenneth Rooks, a junior at Brigham Young University (BYU), has claimed the coveted national men’s steeplechase title for the second year running. Rooks achieved this feat during the recent NCAA championships held in Austin, Texas, with a remarkable finishing time of 8:26.17. This accomplishment not only solidifies his place among the nation’s elite athletes but also establishes BYU as the first institution in history to produce back-to-back winners in this event.

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Rooks asserted his dominance by finishing more than six seconds ahead of the runner-up, Duncan Hamilton. Throughout the race, he reserved energy in the middle of the pack before a final burst during the last 400 meters, which propelled him towards the championship.

With his stellar performance on Friday, Rooks has now earned the title of three-time steeplechase All-American and holds the fastest recorded time in BYU’s program history for this event. He joins an esteemed group of previous BYU champions, including Kyle Perry (2009), Josh McAdams (2006), and Bob Richards (1966), and becomes the first male athlete from BYU to claim an individual steeplechase championship since Clayton Young in 2019.

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Provo City News

Folk Band Local Kin Wins Prestigious Local Talent Competition

Local Kin. Photo by Ivan Martinez.
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By Mike Romero

Last week, Velour Live Music Gallery hosted their semi-annual Battle of the Bands. Unlike most competitions of this nature, this week-long event has been consistently praised for its curation, feeling more like a music festival than an amateur level talent competition. Past winners include Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, The Aces, and The Backseat Lovers.

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The 20-band lineup for the week was chosen from over 60 submissions. Attendance averaged over 200 people per night, with two nights selling out Velour Live Music Gallery completely. By the time the sold-out final show rolled around Saturday night, only five talented acts remained: Chi Chi le Möt, The Mellons, The Plastic Cherries, Local Kin, and Jumpmonk.

Provo Music Magazine praised Local Kin’s performance. In particular, they complimented their “earthy, down-home folk,” their “powerful opener,” and the “jubilant” feelings their set evoked.

In the end Local Kin was chosen as the winner of the competition. They took home a cash prize, free mixing and mastering services, and additional promotional help. You can listen to their song “The Crab” below.

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Provo City News

Instagram Stunt Prompts Action at Bridal Veil Falls

Zach Blocker via Facebook.
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By Mike Romero

A dangerous stunt at Bridal Veil Falls by skier, surfer, and skater Zach Blocker has prompted local government to take swift action up Provo Canyon.

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A large avalanche hit Bridal Veil Falls last January. Between 30 and 40 feet of snow crashed onto the frozen Provo River. While most of it has melted away, the icy remnants have formed caverns and cracks with access to the icy Provo River, which is at a dangerously high volume. Blocker found one such instance and used it to enter the river. While definitely not encouraged, Blocker’s video demonstrate just how strong and dangerous the Provo River currently is. The water was a mere 30 degrees.

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The video prompted local government to take action. Early Wednesday morning, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office cleared the snow block with explosives. Explosives have only been used twice in this area since 1996 to manage the large snowpack. The area remains closed until the remainder of the snow and debris is cleared.

“We didn’t make the area safe. We made it less dangerous. It’s trespassing if people come in here and we will take action on that if we need to,” says Spencer Cannon, public information officer for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s fascinating to see, we understand that, and that’s one of the things that attracts people to it. But it’s too risky to come down here to the area itself and especially to climb on the avalanche deposit. The main reason we did this today is to prevent somebody from getting seriously injured or killed by doing what this guy did last week.”

Photo of the detonation at Bridal Veil Falls, Courtesy Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
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