Ogden Week in Review

North Ogden Wildfire: A large wildfire dubbed the Willard Peak Fire broke out on the mountains above North Ogden mid-week, initially threatening 15–20 homes and causing evacuations for about 150 residences. Around 10,000 residents lost power during the blaze. By Friday, firefighters had the wildfire roughly 14% contained and had reduced its spread to ~577 acres, allowing evacuees to return home. No houses were destroyed, though crews continued monitoring hot spots amid erratic winds.

Apartment Fire Investigations: Ogden City faced a string of three fires in one week affecting apartment buildings (two under construction and one occupied). An ATF National Response Team arrived to assist local officials in probing the causes of these blazes. While no serious injuries were reported, authorities are working with builders to improve security at construction sites and prevent future incidents.

Ogden City Council Primary: Ogden held its municipal primary election on Aug. 12. In the at-large City Council races, incumbent Marcia White led Seat A with about 40% of the vote, and newcomer Kevin Lundell led Seat B with 47.5%. Both are poised to advance to the November election, along with their closest challengers. Voter turnout in Ogden was around 26%, notably lower than many nearby communities (some of which topped 50%).

New Ogden Valley City Elections: Residents of the newly incorporated Ogden Valley community turned out in high numbers for their first-ever local primary. About 49% of registered voters in the upper Ogden Valley cast ballots. Local newspaper publisher Shanna Francis emerged as the frontrunner in the valley’s mayoral race with roughly half the votes, ahead of Janet Wampler at 38.9%. The new town will elect a mayor and five council members in the general election.

Poll Worker Recruitment: Tuesday was not only primary day but also National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission urged Utahns to volunteer as poll workers ahead of the busy 2025–26 election cycle. While Utah hasn’t faced severe poll worker shortages, officials note a need for more help processing mail-in ballots and replacing an aging volunteer workforce. Utahns interested in civic participation are encouraged to sign up with their county clerks.

Field House Dedication: Ogden City dedicated the new Nathan J. Lyday Field House at the Marshall N. White Community Center on Aug. 14, honoring a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2020. The indoor soccer field house, named after Officer Lyday on what would have been his 30th birthday, was unveiled during the police department’s annual Night Out Against Crime event. City leaders emphasized that the facility is a “living legacy” meant to celebrate community and youth activities, rather than a somber memorial.

Jaycee Park Playground: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for a brand new playground at Jaycee Park in Ogden. The playspace was largely designed by local kids – in June, neighborhood children drew their “dream playground” ideas, which were incorporated into the final design. On Thursday, about 130 volunteers from Ogden City, Discover, and the nonprofit KABOOM! assembled the playground in under six hours. The park improvements also include new trees, benches, and picnic tables, and the playground is set to open to children early next week once the final touches set.

Veterans Memorial in Sunset: In neighboring Davis County, Sunset City announced it will host a new memorial honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The Utah Agent Orange Veterans Foundation secured approval to build the monument at Sunset’s Veterans Park, after years of seeking a location. Organizers say the memorial will not only recognize the hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War veterans harmed by Agent Orange, but also include tributes to Gulf War veterans affected by toxic burn pits. Local leaders and veterans celebrated the decision as a relief and an honor for the community.

I-15 Bridge Project: A major road construction project is underway in Riverdale (just south of Ogden). UDOT has begun replacing the aging 4400 South bridge over I-15, along with two nearby I-15/I-84 ramp bridges. Starting Aug. 11, 4400 S. was closed at the I-15 crossing and will remain closed into late November while crews demolish and rebuild the span. Drivers are being detoured to 1900 West and Riverdale Road, and a full overnight closure of I-15 in both directions is scheduled for Aug. 23–24 to accommodate bridge work. The overall project will last about 10 months, so motorists should plan for delays in the area.

Senior Housing Applications Open: The Salvation Army’s new Silvercrest Senior Residence in downtown Ogden is nearing completion and started accepting tenant applications this week. The facility, located at 2655 Grant Ave., will offer 52 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors (ages 62+), with rent capped at 30% of the resident’s income and HUD subsidies covering the rest. The modern senior housing complex – featuring lounges, a community room, library, wellness and exercise rooms, and a garden – is slated to open in October. Applications are being accepted through Aug. 22, after which a lottery will determine the waiting list order.

“Veggie-flation” on the Horizon: Shoppers in Ogden might want to budget a bit more for produce in coming months. New federal data showed that wholesale vegetable prices surged by 38–39% in July, a record one-month jump for summer months. Analysts say this spike – driven by factors like tariffs, supply chain snags, and weather – hasn’t hit grocery store prices yet, but it foreshadows higher retail costs for fresh veggies later this year if the trend continues. In short, salad fixings may get pricier by fall, as producers pass on their increased costs to consumers. (Notably, overall inflation remains modest so far, but experts warn the vegetable supply issues are a key risk to watch.) Read from another source on abc news

Peak Bagging Achievement: A retired Ogden firefighter provided an inspiring capstone to the summer. Kent Stanford, 75, completed his decades-long goal of hiking to the highest point in each of Utah’s 29 counties, reaching the 13,448-foot summit of Gilbert Peak (Summit County) with his two sons on July 31. Stanford – who served 36 years with Ogden Fire and now lives in southern Utah – finally checked off the last peak on his list after years of weekend hikes and even two knee replacements. He credits his late father for instilling his love of the mountains around Ogden, and says standing atop the final peak with family by his side was “pretty special”. This accomplishment comes as a proud reminder of the adventurous spirit alive in our community.