We’re only into 2024 a few days but before we put 2023 completely in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look back on a year filled with ups and downs. Some happy moments and some not so happy moments that impacted not only Davis County but our lives. 

Who can forget the major storms that dumped several feet of snow and broke past records? Especially this season where so far we’ve received nothing but a skiff of snow in the valley. That record snow turned into potential flooding, bringing back memories of 1983 when State Street became a river. For the most part in Davis County though, it was mitigated by fail safes put into place after 1983 but cities and the county stocked up on sandbags for residents to protect their homes.

Ribbon cuttings were held to mark the opening of the new Woods Cross High School Teen Center and Davis Agricultural Heritage Center, as well as a 14-mile segment of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail up Mueller Park Canyon.

Along with the completion of some projects came groundbreakings for facilities to come such as a Teen Living Center for homeless students to stay while getting the resources they need and a new Western Sports Park under construction next to the Legacy Events Center. 

Two Davis County high schools took state honors, Viewmont in drill and Bountiful in girls basketball. Other schools had a good showing taking second place in football and soccer.

The Davis School District got some media attention when the Bible was removed from the shelves of elementary and junior high libraries and a $2 million settlement with the family of a 10-year-old girl who took her own life. 

Motorists watched as bridges were raised connecting the new West Davis Highway with I-15. The highway will open Saturday, Jan. 6.

With all the highs and lows, overall 2023 was a pretty good year in Davis County. Now let’s see what 2024 will bring.

Bumper year for snowfall

Although it didn’t end the severe drought in Utah people were delighted to see the white stuff that fell in abundance starting in November 2022 and lasting into the spring of 2023. In turn, that record breaking snowfall brought back memories of 1983 when flooding turned downtown State Street into a river and people were sandbagging everywhere. County and city leaders were waiting and watching but believed they were prepared.

A record snowpack hit everyone hard. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

“The state did a lot of things to deal with runoff,” said Commission Chair Lorene Kamalu. “They tasked the county to put in additional infrastructure for flood control. Those have been in place and have been tested and they have performed well.” Overall, flooding from runoff was kept to a minimum in Davis County.

Storm drain backup causes major flooding in Kaysville neighborhood

KAYSVILLE—A flood came rushing through the new Orchard Ridge subdivision in April creating a ravine in the road swallowing dumpsters and leaving driveways and sidewalks hanging. Most of the homes in the area were under construction.

“A storm drain that was part of the subdivision became plugged and as the water continued to come down the mountain instead of going through the pipes pushed open a manhole and the water went on the road itself,” said Kaysville Public Works Director Josh Belnap at the time.

A dumpster sits in a ravine after a flood broke open the road in a new subdivision last week. Many of the homes were under construction. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Water started flowing out on the low side of a section of curb for a future driveway and caused it to collapse, he said. “Dumpsters and palettes and other items took up space and forced the water out onto the road and destroyed an underground pipe.” 

Davis Agricultural Heritage Center opens

KAYSVILLE—It was a day of celebration for the 4-H and equestrian community in October as the new Davis Agricultural Heritage Center in Kaysville opened. Officials from the county, USU Botanical Center, members of 4-H and the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Club came together for the event. When the Legacy Events Center stopped hosting those activities the County Commission started looking for a new home.

Commissioners Randy Elliott and Lorene Kamalu hold the ribbon after it’s cut to open the new Heritage Center. Photos by Becky Ginos

“In 2017 people started asking us to bring back equestrian and 4-H,” said Commissioner Randy Elliott. “We wanted a place where the 4-H and equestrians could go. We partnered with the USU Botanical Center to support the past and make an investment in the future.”

Bible returned to library shelves after earlier removal

FARMINGTON—The Board of Education of the Davis School District voted unanimously at a board meeting in June to accept the recommendation from the appeal committee to return the King James Version of the Bible to library shelves at all levels. This reversed an earlier committee-based decision to remove the book after someone challenged its contents.

School Board President Liz Mumford gives her thoughts about The Bible in schools before the board voted on the appeal committee recommendation to put the book back on library shelves at all levels. Video still taken from DSD school board meeting

The Davis School District came under fire both locally and nationally for removing the Bible from school libraries in elementary and middle schools. There was strong public opinion both for and against the decision and the district was the subject of name calling and even threats.

This has been the subject of scrutiny and discussion in the media, among policymakers and in the community, Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford, said at the meeting. “We have conducted a thorough review of the process and we’re confident that the district’s policy was followed appropriately.”

Plane goes down near Legacy Parkway Trail killing pilot

CENTERVILLE—A single-engine plane went down in an empty field in Centerville on Oct. 10, killing the pilot. Donald Nathan Higgs, 43, of Plain City was found by first responders still in the aircraft that crashed near Legacy Parkway Trail. Higgs was the sole occupant of the plane. 

Photo by Carl Page

“It went nose first into the ground,” said Centerville Police Lt. Allen Ackerson. “South Davis Metro Fire came out but fortunately there was no fire.”

Ackerson said radio traffic received transmission from the pilot saying there was an issue with the plane before it went down.

Davis School District reaches $2 million settlement with family of ‘Izzy’ Tichenor

FARMINGTON—The Davis School District reached a settlement agreement for $2 million in August in a lawsuit filed against the district in 2022 by the family of Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor who took her own life Nov. 6, 2021.

‘Izzy’ Tichenor’s mother Britney Tichenor-Cox holds a candle at a vigil held for her daughter after the 10-year-old took her own life. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

The Foxboro Elementary fifth grader’s mother, Britney Tichenor-Cox alleged in the lawsuit that her death followed frequent bullying and belittling by other children because of her race and disabilities. Tichenor-Cox said she reported it to the school and the District but felt nothing had been done. 

“The tragic loss of Isabella ‘Izzy’ Tichenor in November of 2021 will always impact our

community and school,” a district statement in part said. “Working together, Davis School District and Izzy’s family have reached a mutual resolution.”

Blaze destroys Summerwood home

BOUNTIFUL—A devastating house fire in November left a family displaced and the home severely damaged when it went up in flames in a Summerwood neighborhood. Friends, neighbors and even strangers pulled together to help the family with clothes, food and shelter. 

“It’s amazing to see the community step up without being asked,” said neighbor Andrew Eberhardt. “Jeremy and Hollie Wardle are amazing people.”

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

“We received a call of a possible house fire on Summerwood Drive,” said South Davis Metro Fire Chief Dane Stone at the time. “The homeowner had lit the fireplace for the first time (this year). Eye witnesses said the family didn’t know the roof was on fire. A passerby alerted them.”

Everything points to a fire from the chimney getting into the attic spaces, he said. “It could have been creosote build up. The fire is usually contained in the chimney but there could be a break or crack and it goes outside to the attic space and catches the wood on fire.”

Bountiful house fire claims life of sole occupant

BOUNTIFUL—The sole occupant in a Bountiful house fire was found deceased by first responders Nov. 16 in the home at 2336 S. 200 West.

Crews were dispatched on a report of a house with smoke coming from the roof, said South Davis Metro Fire Chief Dane Stone. “When crews arrived they could see there was smoke inside the house so they went in. They discovered a deceased male on the first floor. There were no other occupants in the home.”

Photo Courtesy of South Davis Metro Fire

The fire had been going for a while, said Stone. “The person who called dispatch said it was the roof but when crews arrived they could see it coming from the chimney. They contained the structure and ventilated it for heat reduction for firefighters.” 

Damages were estimated at about $200,000, he said. “It’s a total loss.”

New bridge structures connect I-15 with West Davis Highway

FARMINGTON—Utah department of Transportation (UDOT) placed beams in January for bridge structures over I-15, Legacy and the railroad to connect with the new West Davis Highway.

“The first of eight beams went up the weekend of Jan. 21,” said Rex Harris, UDOT project director. 

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Each of the four longer beams are 192 feet long, more than 6 feet tall and weigh about 99,000 pounds, according to UDOT. 

The West Davis Highway is a new 16-mile, 4-lane divided highway under construction in western Davis County between I-15/Legacy Parkway in Farmington and the future extension of S.R 193 in West Point. Six new interchanges will provide access to Farmington, Kaysville, Layton and Syracuse. The project also includes more than 10 miles of new trails. 

Groundbreaking for new Teen Living Center 

LAYTON—The Davis Education Foundation broke ground Oct. 30 for a new Teen Living Center (TLC) that will give homeless students a place to stay while providing resources to keep them on track for graduation. The 10,000 square foot, 16 bed facility is located at 75 N. Fort Lane and is just east of Layton High School.

The anticipated completion date for the center is June 2024 so that it will be ready when school starts next year.  

City officials, Davis School District administrators, board members and members of the Davis Education Foundation turn dirt at the site of the future Teen Living Center. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Switchpoint Community Resource Center, a third-party nonprofit, will provide operations for the center. “This project is so unique,” said Carol Hollowell, Switchpoint Executive Director. “To break the cycle of adult homelessness we have to help them when they’re young.”

Davis Education Foundation opens Teen Center at Woods Cross High 

WOODS CROSS—The sixth Teen Resource Center in Davis County opened in February at Woods Cross High School. The center will provide some of the most vulnerable and at-risk students a safe place to go and receive the services they need to be successful.

Woods Cross SBO President Liam Henriksen cuts the ribbon on the new Teen Resource Center. The center provides much needed services to at-risk students. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

“Student homelessness is a quiet, but pervasive issue in Davis County,” said Davis Education Foundation Executive Director Jodi Lunt at the opening. “These children lack access to the very basic essentials that we all take for granted. Teen centers help to provide students in need with those essentials, while maintaining their safety and dignity. More than anything though, they facilitate hope and connect these kids to a caring adult who can help navigate their challenges.”

County breaks ground on Western Sports Park athletic complex

FARMINGTON—The county broke ground in June on the Western Sports Park (WSP), a new building with new branding at the Legacy Events Center. The Western Sports Park (WSP) athletic complex is a 120,000 square foot new arena building that will be located next to the existing facility. Construction is anticipated to take 15 months with an opening in 2024.

Local kids turn dirt at the groundbreaking for the new Western Sports Park. The facility will be used for a variety of youth sports. Photo by Rober V. Tuttle.

The WSP will have two indoor arenas and 55 acres of overall site. The existing building is 62,000 square feet and has an indoor arena with a concrete floor and outdoor soccer fields. Combined the two facilities will have close to 5,000 spectator seats. 

Vykelles repeat as state drill champs

The Viewmont High Vykelles repeated as 5A drill state champions, this time Feb. 3 at Utah Valley University, capped off by a first-place finish in Show after a second-place showing in Military and third in Dance.

The Viewmont High Vykelles surround the 5A drill state trophy that they have won the past two seasons. Photo by Josh Wood

After top-three finishes in Military and Dance, the Vykelles were trailing frontrunner Spanish Fork until they stepped up and delivered their Show routine which was a play on the Disney villain Jafar. 

Viewmont’s Katelyn Lindsey and Sarah Pitt were named All-State while Aliza Hammond was the 5A scholarship recipient.

Bountiful girls win state basketball championship

Bountiful High and Springville High girls basketball teams were among the top two 5A squads all season so it seemed fitting that the Redhawks and the Red Devils played for the state championship. Bountiful beat the defending state champions 41-39 March 4 at Weber State University to claim the trophy for themselves. The title game went down to the wire with Redhawks senior Lizzy McConkie hitting a key three-pointer to tie the game before freshman Milika Satuala hit the eventual game winner with just seconds left in the contest as Bountiful prevailed. 

1st Place: The Bountiful Girls Basketball team won the State 5A Championship 41-39 against No. 1 Seeded Springville March 4 at Weber State University. Courtesy Photo

New trail connects Mueller Park and Wild Rose Trailhead

BOUNTIFUL—The new Bonneville Shoreline Trail opened up Mueller Park Canyon in October. The 14-mile segment is part of a future plan for a 280-mile trail from Nephi to the Idaho border.  

“Davis County is part of making that a reality,” said Community and Economic Development Director, Kent Andersen at the opening. “This is a brand new trail that will accommodate all users, bikers, hikers, and trail runners.”

Hikers on the newly opened 14-mile stretch of the Bonneville Shoreline trail “give-way” to members of the Bountiful Mountain Biking team. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

It can be accessed from four trailheads, he said. “Two in Bountiful and two in North Salt Lake. This is part of the backbone trail in the foothills for the broader vision of the 280 mile trail.”