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.
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.
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will be resurfacing Center Street in downtown Provo from June 12, 2023 until the Fall of 2023. The goal of this project is to extend the life of the road from 500 West to Geneva Road (SR-114) and to construct pedestrian ramps for easier access.
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Work days are Monday – Friday from 7 AM to 9 PM. Some night work will take place from 9 PM to 7 AM when circumstances require. Once construction begins, on-street parking will be prohibited within work zones. While driveways and entrances will still be accessible during construction, businesses and nearby residents may experience noise, dust, and vibrations from construction and road equipment. Once construction is complete, on-street parking will be permanently prohibited from Geneva Road to 1600 West.
To receive weekly construction updates, you can contact the Jacques & Associates public information team at scott@ja-today.com. Enter “Provo Center Street” in the subject line. Jacques & Associates is the engineering firm working on the project.
Founded in Utah in 2004 as a complementary venture to a prosperous shaved ice enterprise, Frazil makes a delectable frozen beverage that can be enjoyed conveniently throughout the year. The company swiftly distinguished itself by refining delicious flavor profiles and through their uncompromising commitment to incorporating consumer feedback.
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Convenient store proprietors eagerly embraced Frazil machines early on, but occasional malfunctions due to user error or wear and tear presented an inconvenience (to say the least). These unforeseen circumstances resulted in prolonged machine downtime until a Frazil technician could rectify the situation. Recognizing the need for a streamlined resolution, Frazil set forth to innovate.
Through their ingenuity, the company devised a solution that revolutionized the operational dynamics of their machines. When a Frazil machine encounters an issue or experiences a breakdown in a convenience store, an accompanying technological component promptly dispatches a signal to the central Frazil system. Then, a skilled technician is promptly dispatched to address the matter, sparing the store owner the burden of troubleshooting or reaching out for help. It’s been a massive help.
To commemorate their 20-year anniversary, Frazil has unveiled an enticing initiative: Free Frazil Friday. Throughout the month of June, every Friday presents an opportunity for customers to visit select locations in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, where a complimentary 12 oz. Frazil drink (limited to one per person) awaits during regular operating hours.
Participating establishments include Maverik, Holiday Oil, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Terrible Herbst, Anabi Oil (Rebel), Fabulous Freddy’s, Fast Stop, Good 2 Go, Oasis Stop ‘N Go, Speedee Mart, Top Stop, Fast Gas, and Hunsaker Stores. For further details, visit freefrazilfriday.com.
Qualtrics, one of Provo’s largest employers, has announced the launch of their Customer Journey Optimizer, a new analytics tool. It helps organizations improve customer experiences by identifying key moments and areas of friction, allowing them to take the right actions to find a solution.
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Customer Journey Optimizer provides an omnichannel view of the customer journey, highlighting the customer’s stage, reasons for experience breakdowns, and the impact those breakdowns have on business. Its journey analytics capabilities enable teams to dive deeper into data, understand the impact on different customer segments and channels, and use pre-built integrations to troubleshoot and orchestrate responses.
An example of a Qualtrics analytics dashboard analyzing friction points in an online customer experience.
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For example: Credit Union of Colorado successfully utilized Customer Journey Optimizer to enhance digital engagement. They increased adoption of digital banking services, reduced contact center calls, and improved operations by identifying friction points and implementing personalized messaging.
Qualtrics, based in Provo, is the leader and creator of the experience management business category. They are a cloud-native software provider helping organizations identify and resolve points of friction across digital and human touchpoints. With over 18,750 organizations worldwide using Qualtrics’ advanced AI, the company has built the largest database of human sentiment through its experience data. Qualtrics operates globally with headquarters in Provo and Seattle, and has 28 offices worldwide.
The company also spends a vast amount of time and resources giving back. See how Qualtrics raised money to fight cancer last month.
Many are familiar with Rick and Morty, the wildly popular animated series created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. Known for its science fiction lunacy and often raunchy humor, Rick and Morty developed a dedicated fanbase obsessed with its sci-fi antics. However, due to its mature content, the show is not suitable for younger audiences. The humor of BYUtv’s animated series Saving Me is similar to Rick and Morty, but the show itself is more age appropriate and rife with meaning – without being heavy handed.
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Created by Aaron Johnston, Saving Me premiered its first season on October 1, 2022. The show follows the story of Bennett Bramble, a technologically savvy billionaire in his early sixties. Bramble’s constant unsavory attitude towards others, including his own relatives, has left him leading a lonely life. Over time, he begins to regret his past decisions and decides to build a time machine. With the help of this machine, Bramble projects his present consciousness to his younger self, hoping to teach him how to become a good person before it’s too late.
The catch? Neither of them really know how to be a good person.
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What follows are the zany adventures of both present and future versions of Bennett Bramble as they struggle to discover what it means to be a good person.
What sets “Saving Me” apart is its ability to cater to viewers of all ages. While children will be entertained by both Bennets thwarting a rogue snow cone machine armed with playing cards or evading rabid blue-colored sasquatches, adult audience members will be captivated by the season-long mystery arcs. These arcs revolve around the identity of a mysterious soldier who repeatedly saves the day and the cataclysmic event that initially separated Bramble from his loved ones. The show also incorporates adult-themed ideas into its futuristic world, subtly adding depth and intrigue.
In addition to offering a child-friendly version of the dynamic between two main male characters, Saving Me successfully avoids relying on obscenity for its humor. While the collision between the past and present versions of Bramble forms the core of the plot, the show also explores relatable familial tensions. For instance, one episode takes both versions of Bramble on a journey through their memories, reminding them of the importance of gratitude towards their mother on Mother’s Day. The younger Bramble also learns valuable lessons about dedicating time to his siblings. Through these narratives, Saving Me imparts valuable life lessons to its younger audience.
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The voice cast of Saving Me brings a wealth of experience to the show, allowing it to stand on its own merits. Ivan Sherry lends his voice to the older, grumpier Bramble, while Adam Sanders brings the younger, more naive version to life. Sanders, known for his endearing charisma in shows like Clifford The Big Red Dog, infuses the series with youthful energy. Sherry, with his extensive background in animated cartoons and voice acting for various productions, provides a more mature perspective on the show’s situations.
With its entertaining adventures, intriguing mystery arcs, laugh out loud humor, and valuable life lessons, Saving Me offers a unique and enjoyable experience. BYUtv’s productions don’t always land, but this one definitely does. They knocked it out of the park.
You can stream Saving Me for free on BYUtv. Check out a trailer for the show below.
Austin Madsen near Mount Dutton on Jan. 27, 2023. Photo courtesy of Mapleton Police Department.
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By Richard Provost
The body of Austin Madsen, a 32-year-old resident of Mapleton, Utah, has been found in Garfield County near Mount Dutton after over four months of searching. He went missing on January 27. Shed hunters spotted the remains on May 29 around 2:30 PM and immediately reported the sighting to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.
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Authorities arrived at the location and determined that there was no foul play involved. Joe Adams, the public information officer for the sheriff’s office, stated that Madsen’s death appeared to be the result of natural causes, likely due to exposure to the elements.
The remains were transported to Taylorsville, where the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner identified the body using dental records provided by the Mapleton Police Department. Austin Madsen’s father, Aron Madsen, revealed that his son suffered from bipolar disorder and occasionally experienced mental crises. According to Aron Madsen, Austin had expressed his desire to leave Mapleton and clear his mind, intending to head to Fredonia, Arizona, where his family had lived in the past. However, something diverted his path, leading him to Mount Dutton where his truck became stuck in the snow.
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The last communication from Austin Madsen was a video sent to a friend on January 27, showing himself on the mountain. This video helped the police identify the general area. Search and rescue efforts began on January 29 in Dry Hollow, approximately 5 miles southeast of where Madsen’s body was eventually found. Multiple sheriff’s offices collaborated in the search, but due to a severe snowstorm, the operation had to be temporarily suspended. After the storm passed, the search resumed but was called off on February 3 when all leads were exhausted.
There were subsequent reports of sightings in Ogden, but they turned out to be cases of mistaken identity. A further search conducted by deputies from Garfield County and members of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs took place during the weekend of May 20 but yielded no results. The Fredonia Police Department informed Madsen’s family of the discovery of his remains.
Austin Madsen is survived by his wife, Emily, and their two young sons, aged 2 and 9 months. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office expressed its condolences to the Madsen family and requested that all inquiries be directed to their office, allowing the family time to grieve this tragic loss.
WSU student Cedric Habiyaremye. Photo by Olivier Ndayiramije.
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By Mike Romero
Scientists from Brigham Young University (BYU) and Washington State University (WSU) have developed new varieties of quinoa that can thrive in challenging growing conditions, particularly in Rwanda and other African countries.
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The recently released varieties, including “Cougar Quinoa” (named after the universities’ mascots), offer tall, colorful plants that yield abundant seeds and edible leaves rich in B vitamins and fiber. Cougar Quinoa stands out with its striking purple and green leaves, while the other two varieties, named Shisha and Gikungu in the Kinyarwanda language, symbolize “flourishing” and “economy,” respectively.
Quinoa is a highly nutritious crop that holds immense potential due to its ability to grow in poor soil conditions. However, to fully realize this potential, it is crucial to develop quinoa varieties suited to different environments, according to BYU professor Jeff Maughan.
A versatile crop that benefits small farmers in Rwanda, quinoa can be consumed alone, mixed with rice, ground into flour for baking, or used in beverages. Quinoa leaves can be harvested and eaten between harvests, the stalks can serve as livestock feed, and the seeds can be stored without the need for chemical treatments.
Cougar Quinoa growing in a field in Rwanda. Photo by Olivier Ndayiramije.
For the past twenty years, Maughan and his colleague Rick Jellen, professors of plant and wildlife sciences at BYU, have been actively researching ways to introduce new plants, including quinoa, into the global food supply. The three newly released quinoa varieties were bred back in 2004 and were among the approximately 1,000 breeding lines provided to WSU by the BYU researchers in 2012.
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Kevin Murphy, director of WSU’s Sustainable Seed Systems Lab, expressed gratitude for the collaboration, stating that the BYU researchers’ generosity kickstarted their quinoa breeding program and significantly expanded their selection of quinoa lines. The selected strains were tested for yield, disease resistance, maturation time, and other desirable traits at WSU’s Tukey Organic Farm and later in Rwanda by Cedric Habiyaremye, a WSU graduate and current research associate.
The new quinoa varieties have shown excellent performance in Rwanda’s diverse landscapes and are particularly well-suited for equatorial regions. The release of these varieties for Rwanda marks a significant milestone in the shared goal of improving global food security.
BYU professors Rick Jellen and Jeff Maughan in a greenhouse on BYU campus. Photo by BYU Photo.
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Cedric Habiyaremye, who experienced the 1997 famine in Rwanda as a child, has been personally involved in testing and promoting quinoa in the country. Habiyaremye introduced quinoa to Rwanda in 2015 and, with his mother’s help, initiated a micro-extension program that now involves over 700 Rwandan farmers.
Habiyaremye’s vision is to combat hunger and malnutrition by making quinoa accessible to all. He is collaborating with Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, as well as farmers and research institutions in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Malawi, Lesotho, and South Africa to expand quinoa’s acceptance and impact.
BYU researchers, including Maughan, Jellen, and David Jarvis, continue to collaborate with quinoa breeders across Sub-Saharan and northern Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Their ongoing efforts align with the universities’ mission to address real-world problems such as food insecurity in developing nations, providing hope for a brighter future through improved nutrition and agricultural practices.
Learn more about how BYU is feeding the world in the documentary below.
Provo is gearing up for an exciting event this weekend as thousands of runners flock to the city for the highly anticipated Utah Valley Marathon on Saturday, June 3, 2023. This marathon promises to bring an influx of energy, determination, and a positive influence to our community.
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Known for its speed and scenic beauty, the Utah Valley Marathon has gained recognition as one of the fastest spring marathons in the region. With breathtaking views of mountains, lush farmland, cascading waterfalls, the majestic Provo River, Deer Creek Reservoir, and nearby national parks, participants will experience an unparalleled journey. This event not only serves as a great opportunity for the runners but also presents a momentous occasion for the city as a whole.
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Event organizers are expecting a significant turnout, with over 8,000 runners and visitors projected to visit Provo for this premier race. Notably, 27% of the registered participants come from out-of-state – a huge boost to local businesses. As these athletes and their families occupy hotel rooms, dine in restaurants, and explore retail stores, it is estimated that this marathon alone will inject approximately 1.7 million dollars into our local economy. Runners will make their way through the course from 6:30 AM until 3 PM.
To ensure the safety and smooth progression of the marathon, there will be some necessary road closures and detours. Beginning at approximately 6:30 AM until 3 PM, the outside Northbound lane on University Avenue will be closed. Race participants will have the right of way, and traffic will be allowed to cross when there are gaps in the runners. Additionally, University Avenue will be completely closed between 200 North and 300 South until 3 PM.
Throughout Provo Canyon, all traffic will be directed to travel in the Westbound lanes. There will be one lane open for traffic traveling East and West. Runners will cross at approximately 5600 N.
The 800 N flyover will remain open, and all northbound traffic on University Avenue will be rerouted west of 4800 N. Likewise, southbound traffic coming out of the canyon will be detoured west at 800 N Orem.
The excessive snowpack this winter has led to avalanches, floods, and the closure of various trails around Utah. The state experienced an extraordinary accumulation of snow this winter, with the Utah Department of Natural Resources reporting a staggering 201% above the normal snowpack levels in April.
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While this surplus snow has provided excellent conditions for winter sports enthusiasts, enabling ski resorts and primary state economic drivers like Snowbird to remain open until June, it has also resulted in unwelcome consequences for summer activities like hiking, mountain biking, and river sports.
As things stand, there is an increased likelihood of avalanches during the 2023 spring season. As the snow begins to warm up and melt, especially later in the day when exposed to sunlight, the risk of avalanches becomes significantly higher. Venturing into higher elevations of the mountains this spring demands greater preparation and equipment compared to previous years, primarily due to trail conditions and the potential risk of avalanches.
Bridal Veil Falls remains closed due to debris and ice left behind from an avalanche in January. The Provo River Parkway Trail in front of the waterfall is also closed. Provo residents are advised to avoid the Provo River, which doubled in volume last week.
The city of Provo is taking significant steps towards a more sustainable future by planting 1,000 trees throughout the community. To facilitate community participation, Provo focused on organizing tree planting events in local parks. These gatherings attracted volunteers from across the city and served as a starting point for the initiative.
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Hannah Salzl, the sustainability coordinator for Provo City, believes this initiative is a wise investment in the city’s well-being. “We felt like it was a good way to invest in our future, invest in our infrastructure, invest in mental and social health, and invest in property values,” she says. “There’s not really a downside to putting more trees in your community.”
Originally scheduled to begin in March 2020, the initiative faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it officially launched on May 21, 2022, at Pioneer Park, and has since gained momentum with volunteers planting trees in various locations throughout the city. The Thousand Trees Initiative website reports that 353 trees have already been planted as part of the program.
Hannah Salzl, Provo City Sustainability Coordinator. Photo via LinkedIn.
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The involvement of volunteers, including city residents and student groups, has played a crucial role in the initiative’s success. Generous contributions from The Nature Conservancy and the Ivory Foundation have also supplied trees for developing areas in Provo.
Salzl emphasizes that multiple areas in Provo are undergoing development and require additional trees. She states, “There are others that are just starting to develop, just starting to get space to put more trees in. So we’re trying to spread that tree canopy out for better citywide coverage.”
One of the primary objectives of the initiative is to plant street trees throughout the city. Street trees are planted in the area between the sidewalk and the road, offering shade for pedestrians, a buffer between traffic and pedestrians, and reduced heat from asphalt roads.
Ultimately, the goal of the 1,000 trees initiative is to transform Provo into a more beautiful, clean, and sustainable city.
Provo Tribune: Local News for the Provo/Orem Area 