Wasatch County’s top headlines this year include the pursuit of accountability in government, a Heber City temple lawsuit that reached the highest court in the state, growth and development, and a road rage case that’s yet to come to a conclusion.  Here are six of Wasatch County’s most pr essing stories of the year. Sheriff’s Office investigation The third-party investigation of the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office by retired Third District Judge Richard D. McKelvie was spurred by a series of public safety concerns brought to the County Council’s attention at the start of the year. Former Sheriff’s Lt. Shane Fredrickson formally requested a review of the office by the County Council, which governs the law enforcement agency. The County Council tapped McKelvie to lead an or the investigation into the Sheriff’s Office, which was released in September.  McKelvie’s findings painted a grim picture of the Sheriff’s Office. McKelvie and Sheriff’s Office employees cited instances of favoritism, absenteeism, misuse of property and alleged retaliatory actions against employees by Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby. Other “shortcomings” detailed include alleged interference in investigations such as the Ross Creek road rage incident that left Patrick Hayes dead on Sept. 25, 2024.  Rigby denied any wrongdoing. The County Council said in the report that there was no “gross mismanagement” or illegal activity found. Temple reaches high court A rendering of the future Heber Valley Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple. Credit: Rendering courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The lawsuit that began in 2023 reached the highest court in the state this year. Bruce Van Dusen, Bruce Quade, Shawn Savarino and Dominic Savarino filed a suit against the County Council when the entity approved plans for a Heber Valley temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October 2023. The Utah Supreme Court has since taken up their appeal of a Fourth District judge’s ruling in favor of the 210-foot-tall, well-lit temple continuing construction.  The matter is not settled for the Red Ledges residents or their legal representation, Robert Mansfield, who argued the temple has no business being so tall when it’s situated in a residential zone where new developments may have a height limit of 35 feet from the natural grade, according to county code. Mansfield said his clients are not “anti-temple” but instead “anti-size” of the structure. The Utah Supreme Court heard oral arguments from attorneys in December regarding the latest ruling that is stalling construction by the church.  Road rage A memorial for Patrick Hayes was created near Jordanelle State Park in October 2024. Credit: Park Record file photo by Clayton Steward On Sept. 25, 2024, Greg Kyle DeBoer shot and killed Patrick Hayes in an apparent road rage incident.  DeBoer claimed he used his weapon in self-defense. He is not charged with homicide but is facing an obstruction of justice charge for burying the gun he used to shoot Hayes. In November, DeBoer pleaded “not guilty” to the obstruction of justice charge.  Video footage from Jordanelle State Park surveillance cameras shows DeBoer pulling up to the Ross Creek entrance at 11:09 p.m. behind Hayes, who exits his vehicle before engaging in a verbal altercation with DeBoer. Exactly 30 seconds after Hayes leaves his car, a single gunshot is fired. DeBoer is seen reversing out of the pullout toward S.R. 248. No call to 911 was made until a passer-by found Hayes’ body the morning after the shooting.  DeBoer will appear again in Fourth District Court on Jan. 21 for a pretrial conference. Population soaring The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute estimated that Utah’s population will increase by 2 million in the next four decades and Wasatch County is the only county projected to increase by more than 110%. This was no surprise to leaders in Heber City, Midway and Hideout, who have all been bracing their cities for growth.  Heber City Mayor Heidi Franco said protecting “permanent public interests” including commercial growth and traffic capacity is the way to go. As a leader in Wasatch County, Franco said “responsible growth” must come first. Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson and Hideout’s Interim Mayor Ralph Severini agreed.  MIDA foothold grows Three Utah Army National Guard helicopters fly over the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Deer Valley East Village on Thursday as part of the opening ceremonies for the hotel and expansion of ski terrain. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record It’s no surprise that growth in Wasatch County is accompanied by increased development. It’s not even a surprise that the Military Installation Development Authority will capitalize on the development of nearly 6,200 new residential units. That development was 22% complete by May.  But the county is also taking responsibility for the number of homes, townhomes, hotels and condos that will be spread across six zones in the Jordanelle Basin.  “These numbers are not a creation of MIDA. The county played a large role in the start and much through this process. While MIDA has a role now, this all started with a county initiative and is maybe matching the county’s original intent,” Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau said.  The development will be nearing completion after Deer Valley has completed doubling its terrain in about 10 years.  Wave goodbye, and hello The Park Record recently expanded. Welcome to The Wasatch Record. Wasatch County residents will see their own biweekly newspaper from the same editorial staff the Wasatch Back has come to know. The first edition came out on Dec. 6 and, while the newspaper is not entirely devoted to Wasatch County, the front page is dedicated to coverage of the area.  Publisher and Editor Don Rogers said the expansion was long overdue. It’s been in the works since Matthew and Tatiana Prince bought The Park Record from Ogden Newspapers in 2023. The paper’s launch also comes as fortuitous timing for locals eager to absorb news after the Wasatch Wave stopped the presses and went up for sale in July. That ended a publication that served the Wasatch Back since its inception in 1889. The Park Record is not going away, but both papers will now be available in print in their respective counties on Wednesday and Saturday each week. The post Wasatch County’s top headlines for 2025 appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less