Where the accident occurred (with the victim's body obscured out of respect). Photo courtesy Provo PD.
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By Mike Romero
The Provo Police department has arrested and booked Jose Sandoval into the Utah County jail on suspicion of failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving a fatality. He has not yet been formally charged.
Around 4:30 AM on Friday, October 27, Provo PD received a report of a man lying near Center Street on the east side of 500 West, headed northbound. The man was 43-year-old Brian Coltharp, who had been hit by a moving vehicle.
According to Provo Police Department public information officer Janna-Lee Holland, for some reason Coltharp – who was wearing dark clothing – fell into the roadway and did not get up. A light-colored van then traveled through the intersection and hit him, but did not remain at the scene. Provo PD obtained this information after reviewing footage from traffic cameras.
“It is not known if the driver knew they hit a person, or thought they hit an object,” Holland said. Later in the morning, officers obtained license plate information and located the vehicle and driver, Jose Sandoval.
Despite hesitancy from city residents, The Vineyard City Council voted unanimously last Wednesday to make Eric Ellis the new city manager. Ellis had previously given his support to the plan to dredge Utah Lake and house hundreds of thousands of people on it via artificial islands.
The Salt Lake Tribune recently secured two letters showing Ellis told Lake Restorations Solutions, the company in charge of the artificial island scheme, that the Utah Lake Commission would provide millions of dollars to help them secure a federal loan for their project.
Despite this, Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer has described Ellis as an experienced public servant and skilled administrator. It is of note that Fullmer also sent a letter of support for Lake Restorations Solutions’ federal loan in September of 2020, offering $5 million from Vineyard City. Due to public outcry, Lake Restorations Solutions never received any federal funding, and the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
Ellis will take the reins as Vineyard enters a crucial period of development and expansion, including the massive Utah City project. Ellis beat out more than 150 individuals from throughout the country who applied for the position. He has an associate degree in business administration from UVU, a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from BYU, and a graduate degree in public administration from the University of Utah.
Ellis will officially assume his new position on Nov. 13.
To absolutely nobody’s surprise, The Democratic National Committee has actively kept Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from securing the Democratic Nomination. Only 10 incumbent US presidents have lost re-election – the most recent being Donald Trump. On paper, throwing their weight behind Joe Biden seems like the right move in order to maintain maximum political power.
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However, polls are showing that a vast majority of Americans don’t think Biden is fit for office. A CNN poll suggested that two-thirds of registered Democrats and left-leaning independents would prefer someone other than Joe Biden. An AP poll from September showed that 77% of Americans think Biden is too old to serve another term.
Kennedy, the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in April of 2023. As someone with a storied American political heritage – but who has not held public office himself – Kennedy is in a unique position. Like Donald Trump, he can position himself as an anti-establishment outsider. But unlike Trump, he can be seen as someone trying to heal the system by restoring it to the “good old days” instead of trying to dismantle or “drain” it.
Photo by Gage Skidmore.
It will be interesting to see how Utahns respond to this new option. Last election, Utah had the second-highest percentage of votes cast for 3rd party candidates at 4.2% – second only to Alaska at 4.4%. 37.7% of Utah voters also voted for Joe Biden in 2020 instead of Donald Trump – the highest Democratic showing for the state since 2008.
The state’s opposition to both Donald Trump and the Democratic Party was made clearest in the 2016 election, when 21.5% of voters opted for independent candidate Evan McMullin, who launched his campaign late and with far less of the political connections, family history, or financial backing RFK Jr. has.
With many Utahns showing disdain for Donald Trump’s irreligious, bawdy, and tawdry behavior, Kennedy’s open Catholic devotion may be seen as a breath of fresh air. His opposition to mandatory vaccinations, goals to ease the housing crisis (with which Utah is struggling considerably ), and tough-but-humanitarian border policy may resonate with Utah Republicans.
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However, his his goal of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, his focus on the environment, and his former affiliation with the Democratic Party may be too problematic for staunch Republicans. This may be enough to win Utah Democrats over, though. Especially since they don’t have a lot to lose: Utah hasn’t swung Democrat since 1964.
Only time will tell. But with Utah’s recent erratic voting behavior, it may become a key player in future elections – especially as the Republican Party drifts from its “values” and descends further into chaos.
Last Thursday, Provo woman Nelly Idowu was convicted in federal court after participating in an online romance scheme. Idowu, age 39, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering.
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From 2017 to 2019, Idowu and three others created tons of fake online profiles on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Christian Mingle. They would then use these profiles to target victims, primarily single elderly women over 65, and flirt with them. Once a romantic bond had been formed, they would claim they were in dire financial circumstances and in need of help. All told, they scammed victims out of more than $6 million.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Idowu earned over $1 million into her personal and business bank accounts before sending the money out of the country in an attempt to conceal these earnings. These accounts were located in China and Nigeria.
The Salt Lake City FBI field office investigated the case. Charges were brought against Idowu and her co-conspirators in 2020. Idowu’s sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2024, at 10 AM at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints towers over the west side of I-15, overlooking Utah Valley University. It is the sixth Latter-day Saint temple in Utah County, joining the Provo, Provo City Center, Mount Timpanogos, Payson, and Saratoga Springs temples.
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With Vineyard expecting and planning for massive population growth in the coming years, the Orem Utah Temple will serve one of the most densely populated areas in the state, which includes housing for many Utah Valley University students. The facility will meet the spiritual and ritual needs of 57,000 Utahns who practice the faith and live in a geographical boundary Latter-day Saints call a “temple district.”
The temple will open for free public tours beginning this week. The first open house is Friday, October 27. Tours will run through December 16, 2023. Since Sundays are holy and considered a “day of rest” for Latter-day Saints, tours will not be held on Sundays. The temple will also close for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This temple is the 186th completed temple for the international Church. It was first announced in 2019 and sits on over 15 acres of land. The building itself is 70,000 square feet. Its unique stained glass windows were crafted by artist Tom Holdman, an Orem native.
It’s been 5 years since Alex Vaughn, Corey Fox, Paul Nahrwold, and Dean Cheesman unleashed Buzzards & Bees on the world. A spooky music festival Provo had never seen before, their vision featured costumed indie musicians and costumed concertgoers filling venues all across downtown Provo.
Utah’s only Halloween-themed music festival, it consists of two events: Goth Prom and the Buzzards & Bees Music Festival itself. Goth Prom is a kickoff event for the weekend and is held every year at Velour Live Music Gallery on University Avenue. Participants dress as their saddest selves and have the time of their lives. The actual music festival is Saturday and features 80+ Utah bands.
Goth Prom featuring DJ KID MACHINE will take place tonight, October 20. Buzzards & Bees will take place across 11 venues in downtown Provo on October 21, 2023. Tickets for both events are on sale now.
Additional festivities include street performers, a costume contest, a mask-making station, spooky story-telling, and more. One ticket gets you in to all 11 venues. It’s one of the busiest single nights of the year for Provo music. Check out the schedule below.
Sister Kathleen Johnson Eyring — the wife of President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in her home in Bountiful, Utah, surrounded by her family. She was 82.
Through over 60 years of marriage, Sister Eyring remained her husband’s biggest support, counselor and confidante.
During an address he gave at the Vatican on November 18, 2014, Henry B. Eyring said, “I have become a better person as I have loved and lived with her. We have been complementary beyond anything I could have imagined. … I realize now that we grew together into one — slowly lifting and shaping each other, year by year. As we absorbed strength from each other, it did not diminish our personal gifts.”
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Sister Eyring was born in San Francisco, California, on May 11, 1941. She was the daughter of J. Cyril “Sid” and LaPrele Lindsay Johnson. Her parents instilled in her a deep commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was great at sports, loved the outdoors, and was an intellectual. She was the captain of the tennis team at her prep school, and was student body president and valedictorian. After graduating, she attended the University of California at Berkeley. She also studied at Sorbonne University in the heart of Paris and the University of Vienna, where she learned to speak both French and German.
When she and a friend decided to do a summer semester of school at Harvard in 1961, she met and fell in love with Henry Bennion Eyring. They were married in July 27, 1962, in the Logan Utah Temple by President Spencer W. Kimball. They have six children — four sons and two daughters.
One of the Eyrings’ bishops once told her husband: “I’m amazed. Every time I hear of a person in the ward who is in trouble, I hurry to help. Yet by the time I arrive, it seems that your wife has always already been there.”
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By Charlie G. Patreus
On September 19, 2023, C. Shane Reese officially became the 14th president of Brigham Young University (BYU). This occasion not only marked his formal inauguration but also unveiled his unwavering commitment to help BYU realize its full potential, which Latter-day Saints believe is divine.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, along with President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, presided over President Reese’s installation.
After taking office, President Reese gave a speech that emphasized his dedication to the university and the crucial role that faculty and students play in fulfilling BYU’s “spiritual mission.” He reiterated the visions of previous leaders (regarded as prophets in the faith) regarding BYU’s future.
Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU.
BYU is unique from other educational institutions because it was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is still overseen by the government and leadership of the faith. President Reese explained that this unique connection allows the university to benefit from the guidance of the faith’s prophets, including the vision of President Spencer W. Kimball, who articulated a compelling roadmap for BYU’s future.
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“Our task is to become the university that prophets foretold — to becomethe world’s ‘greatest institution of learning,’ ‘the fully anointed university of the Lord about which so much has been spoken in the past,’ to become the BYU of prophecy and promise,” Reese said. “This, then, is the challenge of our generation and the burden of my administration: becoming BYU.”
President Reese stressed that achieving this vision requires enhancing the student experience and reinforcing the student-centric approach. Each student’s “eternal progression” remains BYU’s top priority. He also emphasized the Latter-day Saint belief that each person is a child of God who can be connected to Jesus Christ, and the importance of inclusion and kindness.
Those in attendance in the BYU Marriott Center for the inauguration of C. Shane Reese. Photo by Brooklynn Jarvis Kelson/BYU.
According to Reese’s philosophy, “Becoming BYU” will also demand maintaining a strong religious identity, even when it means standing alone. That means supporting research aligned with the Church’s mission. It will be interesting to watch BYU pioneer discovery and innovation while balancing tradition, transparency, and intellectual honesty.
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Expressing his love and dedication to the BYU community, President Reese committed to making Provo’s university a unique learning environment, fostering peacemakers in an increasingly divided society.
Following President Reese’s remarks, Elder Christofferson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband recognized BYU’s special connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and expressed confidence in President Reese’s leadership.
C. Shane Reese took the place of Kevin J. Worthen, who served from 2014-2023. Watch highlights from the inauguration below.
Last week, it was announced that Vineyard will finally be getting a grocery store. Part of the Utah City development, Vineyard and Lee’s Marketplace have announced “Bella’s Market” – a new grocery store based on a novel concept and unique to the city.
At 40,000 square feet, it will be a custom concept store patterned after the clean and respected locations operated by Lee’s Marketplace. It will be located near the 800 North FrontRunner station and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, which will break ground next year.
Abel Porter is the director of retail operations for Bella’s Market. He explained that they wanted to create a location that understands the needs of Utah families and shares their ambition to create a unique experience in Utah City. Lee’s Marketplace will help operate it, but Bella’s Market will offer local products and essential staples.
A rendering of Utah City.
The store will be feature touchless checkout and delivery within city limits. External food options and pickelball courts will be provided. Construction will begin in 2024 and will end in 2025. While feeling upscale, the goal is to set prices that will be equitable for all families in the region – somewhere between Winco and Harmons. Negotiations for a store in the area have been underway for nearly 10 years.
Lee’s Marketplace is a Utah-based, family-owned grocery business. They opened their first store in 1981 and now operate in 7 locations across the state, including Heber, Herriman, Logan, North Ogden, North Salt Lake, Richmond, and Smithfield.
Maverik and its parent company, FJ Management, is a Utah-based gas and convenience store chain that (until recently) operated over 370 locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The company is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, with revenues in the billions.
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In April of 2023, the company announced that it would acquire Kum & Go and Solar Transport from Krause Group. 6 months later, the sale has been finalized. Now, Maverik will own and operate over 800 stores in 20 states and employ approximately 14,000 individuals.
“We are excited to welcome Kum & Go and Solar Transport Team Members to Maverik,” said Chuck Maggelet, CEO of Maverik, in a statement. “Together, we’ll offer our customers an adventurous and differentiated convenience store experience across fuel, foodservice, and inside-store offerings. We look forward to using our combined resources to grow our business and further elevate our product offerings to provide the best service to our customers.”
Kum & Go is the 24th-largest convenience store chain in the country and was headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. To express their support and gratitude for the people of Iowa, Maverik is donating $50,000 to The Des Moines Public Schools Foundation. Maverik’s donation will provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and toiletries at Des Moines Public Schools’ 53 food pantries in schools across the district.
Provo Tribune: Local News for the Provo/Orem Area 