Latest news with #Payson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heading back from a trip up north? Southbound SR 87 closed due to a brush fire near Payson
Drivers heading back home from a weekend up north should be aware of a road closure on southbound State Route 87 south of Payson. The roadway was blocked at milepost 242 due to a brush fire, according to a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, from the Arizona Department of Transportation. There is no estimated time for the road to reopen, ADOT said. Tonto National Forest fire crews were working on the brush fire with no state resources available at the moment, according to Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Motorists can check the AZ511 app or call 511 to see real-time highway conditions. This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Traffic alert: Brush fire closes southbound SR 87 south of Payson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about an avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
Police are investigating the death of a 74-year-old man who was found unresponsive on a popular hiking trail in Payson. On the afternoon of May 28, the Payson Police Department said it received reports of a man who did not return from a hike on the Boulder Loop Trail. An easily accessible trail near the southern edge of Payson, the Boulder Loop Trail draws hikers who want to see unique rock formations found along the path. Here's what we know about reported circumstances around the man's death and a warning given from authorities. Police said it was unusual for the 74-year-old man, described as an avid and well-prepared hiker, not to return from a trip, prompting someone to report him missing. He was known for bringing ample food and water on his hikes, making his disappearance especially concerning. Only a few hours after his disappearance was reported, authorities received a call from a hiker who found the man dead near the trail. An initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play and pointed to heat-related illness as a possible factor in the man's death, police said. "The death is believed to be from natural causes," the Payson Police Department said in a statement. The man, who remained unidentified, was transported to the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office, where an investigation would continue. Police warned that cooler temperatures forecast for northern Arizona could prove deceptive and said hikers should take steps to prevent extreme weather from enabling a tragedy. "Temperatures in rim country can be very hot or very cold," the Payson Police Department wrote in a statement. The department recommended that those headed to the area should dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of food, water and electrolytes. The National Park Service said because of the heat, hikers should remain on trails within their ability and rest regularly. The National Park Service advised that people avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months to avoid the worst of the heat. People were advised to drink at least one quart of water per hour of hiking and to pre-hydrate before hitting the trails. While hiker deaths on Arizona's many trails are not uncommon, they are typically the result of noncriminal factors. Most recently on May 22, another experienced hiker, Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead after she went missing on a north Phoenix-area hiking trail. Her death remains under investigation. 'She loved hard': Family, friends reflect on Hannah Moody's death while hiking On May 15, Dennis Smith, 74, visiting Arizona from Washington, died on the Grand Canyon's North Kaibab Trail. Bystanders and park service personnel could not resuscitate Smith at the scene. Days earlier, Noah Farabaugh, 33, died after he was part of a group of five hikers experiencing heat issues near the Wave Cave trailhead in the Superstition Mountains near Mesa. 'He knew what he was doing': Hiker's death in Superstition Mountains shocked family Summer 2024 saw eight Grand Canyon trekkers die while hiking different areas of the national park. Four of them were over the age of 55. In early September, a 71-year-old man was pulled from the Colorado River following a boating incident. Just days earlier, a 59-year-old also died in the river. In late August, two hikers — one 60 and the other 80 — died in separate incidents. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
WorkMax in the World: Live Event With Allen Yoho Electrical
PAYSON, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / WorkMax, a leading provider of mobile workforce management solutions for the construction industry, will host a live webinar featuring the real-world implementation experiences of Allen Yoho Electrical Inc. The free educational event, 'WorkMax in The World: A Client's Experience,' will take place on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, at 2 PM EDT. This practical session will feature an in-depth conversation with Mel Lemon, Chief Financial Officer of Allen Yoho Electrical Inc., and Ron Craft, Regional Sales Manager at WorkMax. Together, they will explore how Allen Yoho Electrical has transformed their field operations using WorkMax's mobile app technology. 'Contractors are often skeptical about how software solutions actually perform in real-world field conditions,' said Craft. 'This webinar provides an unfiltered look at implementation challenges, daily usage scenarios and tangible benefits directly from a client who's experiencing them firsthand.' The event is designed for general and specialty contractors, construction financial managers, operations directors, project managers and business owners seeking practical insights into selecting and using time tracking solutions. Registration is now open and free, but space is limited. Participants will receive access to the recorded session and additional resources following the event. To register, visit WorkMax WorkMax is a leader in mobile resource management for construction. A best-in-class time-tracking solution, WorkMax utilizes cutting-edge features like geofencing and facial recognition to maximize accuracy and eliminate buddy punching. For more information, visit Allen Yoho Electrical Inc. Allen Yoho Electrical Inc. is a full-service electrical contractor specializing in commercial and industrial electrical installations and services. To see where they service, check out their website Contact Information Tracie Kuczkowski VP of Marketing [email protected] (800) 246-8000 x 7933 Samantha Ann Illius Marketing Relations Coordinator and Influence Specialist [email protected] (800) 811-5926 x 4823 SOURCE: WorkMax press release
New York Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Tyler Batty, a rookie DL for the Vikings and son of a cowboy, is easy to root for
How many horses does Layne Batty own? It's a question he doesn't want to answer. He has nothing to hide. It's just that if he were to say the number out loud, his wife, Peg, might cut him off from buying and raising more. Layne is a cowboy in every sense of the word. A white hat, stitched beautifully, usually sits atop his head. He wears a bandana-like scarf around his neck. The rest of his body is covered in different shades of denim. Holding his jeans up is a brown belt with a massive oval buckle. Advertisement He developed a passion for horses at an early age. His neighbors and extended family owned horses — that was his introduction to the animal. His relationship with them felt personal. By the time he was 11, he was training them on his own. 'He was just a boy,' Peg said. Layne, who now operates Circle B Farm in Payson, Utah, introduced his seven children, three sons and four daughters, to horses. He taught them all how to ride. They helped feed the family's stable, cleaned the horses' living spaces and even learned how to irrigate the pasture to give the horses the best living conditions possible. Yet when it came time for Layne and Peg's kids to find their purpose, none followed in their father's footsteps, at least to the same degree. They didn't dedicate their lives to the same small corner of the universe, though they did pursue their own little worlds with a similar fervor. This brings us to their youngest son, Tyler, who has wanted to wear helmets and hit other humans for as long as Layne and Peg can remember. They can't explain it. The family barely watched football during Tyler's youth, but they had a boy who talked about playing in the National Football League. The wildest part? That boy somehow became good enough to do precisely that. Tyler Batty, an undrafted free-agent signing by the Vikings, is here in Minnesota, wearing purple and gold, taking nothing for granted. It takes some digging to learn why he has a solid chance at earning a roster spot. It also takes some digging to know why the defensive end might be an easy rookie to root for. A post shared by BYUtv Sports Nation (@byutvsportsnation) One morning when Tyler was 14, he navigated a four-wheeler toward his house from the pasture about a half-mile down the road. He had finished one of his daily chores, changing the water to irrigate hay for the horses. Tyler eyed the bright orange sun, which was starting to peak over the mountains. That's the last thing he can remember. Advertisement He didn't return to the house at his usual time, and eventually, Peg got worried. Shortly thereafter, a sheriff knocked on the door with a look on his face that screamed problems. 'Your boy has been injured,' the officer said, 'and he won't let anybody get anywhere near him. Would you please come?' Tyler had crashed his four-wheeler and fallen through barbed wire into an embankment. His head was bleeding from a collision with a wooden post. Steel had sliced his shoulders. Had it not been for an early-morning jogger who noticed Tyler pushing the four-wheeler back up toward the road, who knows? Peg's arrival set in motion what would become a blur. A Life Flight helicopter airlifted Tyler to a hospital in Salt Lake City about 60 miles away, where doctors diagnosed him with six facial fractures and a brain bleed. His left eye, discolored almost to a shade of purple, was practically triple the size of his right eye. The family needed a miracle for the internal bleeding to stop, and to this day, neither Layne nor Peg can fully explain how it did. The recovery required another layer of fortitude. Doctors informed Tyler that he shouldn't play football anymore, but he didn't listen. He couldn't listen. Love is blinding, and Tyler loved nothing more than this silly little game. He loved the camaraderie, the competition, the challenge. He loved how much you could learn and how quickly you could respond to failure. He reiterated to his parents that he would play again and not allow this accident to derail his dreams. Peg battled him over his hard-headedness. She feared what a concussion might do and knew his intelligence was set up for a successful college education and career. Yet Tyler wouldn't waver. Football, he maintained, is what he was meant to do. As a sophomore, he posted his highlights to a Hudl account and promoted himself as a prospect. He attended prospect camps at places like Dartmouth and approached basic hand-placement drills like he was training for a title fight with Mike Tyson. Advertisement Nearby BYU noticed the rugged and driven defender just 15 miles south of campus. The Cougars ignited the full-on recruiting pitch, once even sending former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer to the Batty household for breakfast. Initially, Tyler wanted to attend a bigger school where he could be more visible to NFL scouts. He stayed close to a big family that knew better than anyone the source of his motivation. 'His determination,' Peg said, 'determined the outcome.' BYU's coaching staff was bored during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant coach Ed Lamb and defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki knew Tyler's family operated a farm down the road, so they asked if they could spend some time learning about ranch life. Layne extended an invitation. One afternoon, they were chomping on sandwiches in the shade. Layne explained that they offer horse rides throughout the week. One of them, Layne said, targeted special-needs children. Lamb mentioned that his son, Edward, had been born with severe autism and was nonverbal. Layne interjected. 'Horses will help him,' he told Lamb. 'The horse world will help him.' More than a decade earlier, Layne had met a neighbor who had moved to Payson from Scotland. They discussed horses, and the neighbor asked Layne if he'd heard of equine therapy. The neighbor shared that clinical studies had proven that exposure to horses benefited patients with autism and psychomotor disorders. Layne researched the studies himself, reconnected with the neighbor and invited his 3-year-old son to come ride. The boy learned more words as the years passed and spoke more successfully. Layne relayed the story to Lamb, who, the following week, took Layne up on the opportunity to get his son, Edward, involved. Edward enjoyed it immediately. He squealed. His arms and hands shot to the sky. Layne suggested Edward ride again the following week, and over time, as the Lamb family regularly made its way to the Batty farm, Edward started to point out the correct directions. Advertisement 'That opened up a whole new world for me and my son,' Ed said. 'It changed our lives.' When Lamb left BYU to become the head coach at Northern Colorado in 2023, his family bought a couple of horses. By then, Tyler had become the rock of the Cougars program. He painted smiley faces beneath his eyes before games, then sideswiped offensive linemen on the way to the quarterback. He was a ferocious pass rusher. He dropped and secured interceptions. Coaches asked him to line up over the center. He obliged. Then they positioned him over the guard. Tyler made that work, too. During a 2023 matchup against Cincinnati, defensive line coach Kelly Poppinga poked at Tyler, who took personally a comment about how well the opposing quarterback was playing. Tyler sacked him once and made seven tackles in a 35-27 win. During a nationally televised game against Kansas State in 2024, Tyler forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and pressured the quarterback on three straight possessions. His performance set a tone. His play style and personality earned him a platform. Tyler elected to use his for good. In tandem with his father, and with the blessing of his former coach, Tyler created a nonprofit called 'Edward's Hands.' The name itself tells you almost everything you need to know about who he is and how he thinks. 'Edward's Hands' worked as a double entendre. Ranch hands are folks like his father, who have committed their life to hard work. And, oftentimes, autistic children flap their hands when they feel genuine excitement. A post shared by Tyler Batty (@tyler_batty) The family gathered in the backyard a few weekends ago for the NFL Draft. It was a day Tyler had dreamed of for years. At long last, and against all odds, he was bound for the NFL. Smiles faded as the hours passed. Peg paced and went inside. One of Tyler's siblings came running, saying that Tyler had just answered a phone call. She'd peek outside, only to find that it was his agent calling, informing him that nothing seemed imminent. Advertisement The fourth round went, then the fifth, then the sixth. Nobody understood why his name remained on the board. He produced in college. He nailed all of the measurables and testing exercises at the NFL Scouting Combine. Poppinga told NFL general managers that Tyler was 'probably the toughest kid I've coached in 17 years.' Despite Tyler's high character and self-driven profile, 257 players were picked ahead of him. He remained an undrafted free agent for approximately 30 seconds. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the team's personnel department had identified him as a versatile player who would squeeze every droplet of potential out of his career. The Vikings quickly made the call, and finally, as the sun fell behind the mountains and the pasture was tinged with bright pink, the family celebrated. 'It all turned out good,' Layne says. 'Tyler told us that in one of the first meetings, the (Vikings) coaches said, 'Every position is open. It's yours for the taking. Who wants it? Who wants it the most?'' The parents admit their bias, but even for an outside observer, it's easy to think Tyler has a great shot. This is a guy who used to wake up ahead of his alarm for before-school weightlifting. It's a dude who once brought his mother a grocery list of healthy items to buy so he could prepare his body. It's a father's son who has known what he's loved for as long as he can remember. Tyler was just a boy.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Who would want to become a cop in 2025? In Utah, it's more people than you might think
In a world that is becoming less social as technology advances — working from home, online dating and streaming entertainment — there's one career that thrives on human interaction, for both good and bad: law enforcement. When the Deseret News asked law enforcement officers about the best part of their jobs, the most frequent answer given was 'helping people.' 'We're in the people business, and so it's really an opportunity to make a difference,' Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said. 'If we treat people well, we treat people with respect and dignity, we're going to garner more support, maybe even sometimes from detractors.' While talking to officers from Salt Lake City to Payson, police generally agree that Utah was a police-friendly state. 'You will always have individuals or groups that may not be as supportive of police, but there are a lot of people here in Salt Lake City that support us, that want us to be out there helping out and making the community safer, addressing the quality of life issues, addressing the crime,' Redd added. SLCPD officer Michael Donahoo joined the force in 2020 at the height of the 'defund the police' era. During a ride-along with the Deseret News, he said his anticipations were worse than reality. In general, people have a pretty positive response to law enforcement, according to Donahoo. Payson City Police Chief Brad Bishop said that 'even during the height of all the controversy in America, our communities came out in droves saying, 'Hey, we support you,'' noting that Utah wasn't much involved in the 'national spotlight' compared to other states. For every expletive that gets thrown at him while on the job, Donahoo said he'll get at least two expressions of appreciation. 'There are enough people who respect us that it makes up for the people who don't. That's what it comes down to,' he said casually. 'The bigger purpose is that I have always been really driven to help people and try to solve their problems. So with that as the backing, it's easy to have confidence in the job.' Just like national trends, police departments across the state are trying to fill officer vacancies. The SLCPD has the city council's approval to hire 630 sworn officers. The police department's communications director, Brent Weisberg, said the department currently has 44 vacancies, which is higher than it has been in the past, but that it is due in large part to retirements rather than a lack of recruits. However, he emphasized that maintaining a full staff is crucial for morale to prevent officers from feeling overworked. A report last year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police received responses from 1,158 U.S. agencies across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and found that 70% of respondents said recruiting is more difficult than it was pre-2020. Recruitment in Western and Southern states, reportedly, was less of an issue than in the rest of the country. Though no profession is perfect, Bishop said the pay for law enforcement and public employees as a whole has come a long way in the last few years — something he said has previously been a stumbling block recruitment-wise. 'It's really hard to get people to enter the public sector anymore because the private market pays so much,' Bishop said. 'Historically, there have been hundreds of applicants wanting to get into the profession,' he added. 'Well, we went through that whole anti-police movement, and it caused a lot of people to say, 'Hey, why would I want to go work holidays and weekend shift work, and not be appreciated, when I can go work in the private sector, work straight days, weekends off, and hybrid?' It just drove down the number of applicants.' A recent report by the Utah League of Cities and Towns, reviewed by the Deseret News, found that pay was the leading motivating factor for public sector employees to remain in their profession. 'In 2022, 49% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that pay increases made it much more likely that they will stay with their agency. This ratio exceeded 60% in both the 2023 and 2024 surveys. These changes could be driven by larger pay increases in recent years, a reduction in other detrimental conditions (e.g., poor morale, public perception), or a combination thereof.' Redd, who started his career in the private sector and later switched over to law enforcement, expressed that compensation is only part of it. 'Money gets people in the door, but the culture of an organization keeps people there,' he said. 'So we're equally focused on, 'How do we support our officers? How do we give them the tools they need? How do we create a culture where people want to be here?'' Recently, hundreds of teenagers and young adults attended the Find Yourself in Utah Law Enforcement Career Day at the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) headquarters in Sandy. Everything from SWAT Lenco BearCat vehicles to K-9 demonstrations and drone shows were on display, demonstrating the wide range of career opportunities in law enforcement. Younger generations (millennials and Generation Z) have not shown the same attraction to the profession as the older generations (baby boomers and Generation X) did when they entered the workforce, so understanding why is key for recruitment. Redd said that, perhaps, management needs a remodel. 'We have a new generation of workforce, and this new generation wants to be involved in the decision-making,' Redd said. 'They want to see their leaders present, they want to contribute, they want to have meaning in their work. And different than maybe some of us years ago, when we were just hired on and were told we're lucky that we have a job and we need to do what we're told.' 'It's a different time now, and leaders that recognize the value of their employees and the contributions they can make and listen are going to be successful. ... The new generation of workforce is very talented. They have good ideas, they want to make a difference, and as leaders, we really need to tap into that.' But not every Gen Zer sticks up their nose at policing. Alondra Noriega and Sofia Gamarra, both students at East High School, have wanted to go into law enforcement since they were little. It's the portrayals of law enforcement through the Hollywood lens that caught Noriega's attention. Shows like 'Criminal Minds' and 'The Rookie' came to mind. 'I've just always been into the problem-solving of it,' Noriega said, adding that she'd like to join the FBI someday as a behavior analyst and help people find peace after crimes are committed against their loved ones. Gamarra's mom is a social worker, and she instilled that passion in her. Although she is not sure if the FBI is her path, she said her interests are in criminal policing investigations or following in her mom's footsteps. Their teacher, detective Cody Lougy, brought 90 students to the law enforcement day event. He's worked part time as a teacher for 23 years, teaching law enforcement classes, and has been an officer for 29 years. 'I'm also really able to humanize the profession, because the only time an officer is going to interact with a teenager, in most cases, is when they're a victim or a suspect or involved,' Lougy said. 'With my platform, they're coming into my classroom, and I'm not there to enforce any laws. I'm just there to have a conversation, and they get to know me, and they realize, too, I'm just like anybody else.' He said for anyone interested in giving law enforcement a chance, go on a ride-along. 'Come sit in the front seat and see what this career entails. For me, that's what sold me on the job.'
