A mom to two missing Utah boys has issued a desperate plea amid fears they may have been snatched by their dad, whom authorities have previously described as “seriously depressed.” …
A mom to two missing Utah boys has issued a desperate plea amid fears they may have been snatched by their dad, whom authorities have previously described as “seriously depressed.”
Lizzie Tomich’s voice cracked in a social media video as she begged for the safe return of Will Richman, 1, and 10-month-old Wesley, both of whom were last seen on May 16.
“Please, like, share, repost everything,” she said in the video.
Lizzie Tomich, the mom of missing boys Will and Wesley Richman, issued a desperate appeal @bringhomewillandw/TikTok
Tomich co-parents her two children with Dane Stephen Richman, who lives in Utah, and he collected the brothers from her Sheldon, Washington, home as part of a routine custody exchange but he failed to return them a week later.
Richman, 46, reportedly told Tomich he and the boys were camping, but he pulled out of a deposition custody hearing on Friday, raising alarm.
A welfare check was carried out at Richman’s Saratoga Springs home before authorities issued an Amber Alert.
“At that point, we called the police to do a welfare check on him,” Tomich said.
“When the police arrived, we learned that the house was vacant and there were things being moved out.
“There was no car and Dane and the boys were not home. When we learned this, we knew something was wrong.”
Tomich shared messages she exchanged with Richman, where she asked, “Where are you? Where are the kids right now?”
“With me, I’m driving,” Richman supposedly replied before saying they were “camping.”
The boys’ dad Dane Richman has not returned them following a custody exchange. Kate Walters / Facebook
Tomich then revealed she arrived at the supposed meet-up location 15 minutes earlier than planned.
“As the time approached, I began calling and texting him asking for an ETA. He did not respond. At, approximately 12: 01 p.m. is when I began to panic and when we called police,” she said.
Tomich’s family lawyer, Brittany Skinner, then interjected, adding, “After further investigation with the police, we learned that Dane’s quit his job.
“He’s sold almost all of his possessions. He has left with almost everything he has, with the clear intention of not returning with these children.”
Tomich’s voice cracked as she begged, “Please, like, share, repost everything, share with your family, share with your friends, anybody you know, they could be anywhere. Please,” revealing that her sons have “infectious smiles.. dimples and blue eyes.”
Tomich seen holding her two missing sons. Kate Walters / Facebook
Richman has been charged with custodial interference, a third-degree felony, but authorities fear he may have crossed into Mexico, KTVX reported.
Cops suspect Richman was likely in Carlsbad, California, on May 18 – and crossed the border the following day.
Authorities said “There is concern for the safety and well-being of the children as the suspect has been seriously depressed, selling possessions, facing financial stress, and abandoned his home,” as they issued the Amber Alert.
But when cops were carrying out the welfare check, it’s since emerged they stopped a “moving truck,” Katie Walters, the brothers’ aunt told KTVX.
“He had completely moved out of his house that the children were supposed to be living in, and the moving truck was just actually pulling out of the driveway, and the police were able to stop the moving truck, and they asked what’s going on,” she said.
“They said they didn’t even know because they never even saw the owner of the home while they were there. They only were communicating via text.”
Addressing Richman, she said, “To Dane, just please be safe. We love you and we love those kids.”
Richman is reportedly driving a black Toyota Camry that has a Utah license plate A561HL, but cops suspect the car is a newer model and it could have a temporary tag.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just visiting one of the state’s many national parks for the Memorial Day weekend, understanding how the seven principles of Leave No Trace operate in Utah’s many …
SALT LAKE CITY, (ABC4) — Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just visiting one of the state’s many national parks for the Memorial Day weekend, understanding how the seven principles of Leave No Trace operate in Utah’s many landscapes can be tricky and overwhelming.
Practicing Leave No Trace is just that: a practice. Different ecosystems and activities may call for different applications, according to U.S. National Park Service. However, the cumulative efforts of the millions of people who enjoy the outdoors make a noticeable difference in ecosystems.
ABC4.com has compiled a comprehensive guide to keeping our outdoors pristine in accordance with Leave No Trace principles. Between Utah’s dry red rocks, snowy alpine terrain, and many lakes and streams, here’s how to make the most out of your next outing.
Studying the regulations and conditions of the area you plan to visit is key to being prepared for Utah’s rugged outdoors. Generally, it’s recommended to bring several extra layers in case of unpredictable weather and to visit in small groups to minimize impact.
In Utah’s deserts, it’s easy to overheat and run out of water. Be sure to know the areas where water is especially scarce and plan accordingly. It’s also recommended to hike between 4 a.m. and noon to avoid the hottest and most dangerous parts of the day.
Planning outings in the snow may be a more rigorous process. Batteries and lightweight stoves may not work as well in the cold; simple things like tying shoelaces and heating water take longer, and the weather is much less predictable at high elevations.
Additionally, it is recommended to carry an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. Leave an itinerary and a return time with friends staying behind, and use a map and compass rather than relying on tree markings or rock cairns, which may be obscured by snowfall.
For those planning amphibious outings, it is also important to have a flexible schedule, as campsites along waterways can change frequently with the season, depending on the water flow and adjacent terrain.
No matter where you go, it is critical to minimize your footprint by sticking to existing trails and walking in a single file in the middle of the path. Additionally, good camping sites are found, not made; preserve riverbank areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes or streams.
Vegetation in desert environments is especially vulnerable, so always camp on rock, gravel or sand when available. Also, be careful that the area you choose is not in a flash flood zone by watching out for past debris, dramatic terrain, sparse vegetation and smooth rocks.
You can minimize your winter camping impacts by pitching your tent in areas of deep snow cover or, preferably, the thick ice of a lake. Be mindful of fragile branches overhead, as they may be extra brittle in the cold and fall.
Hiking in wintry environments is challenging. Crampons, or shoe spikes, can wear down quickly when not walking on snow. In the muddy spring, it is still recommended to stay on snow or walk in the middle of the trail to avoid creating new trails or damaging trailside plants.
For those using watercraft, always dock at established sites. If none are available, opt to beach it on sand or rock rather than grass. To fully minimize your footprint, avoid walking on vegetation altogether.
You’ve heard it before: pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite for litter, clean dishes with biodegradable soap and scatter the dishwater, and dig cat holes six to eight inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails.
Unfortunately, most desert ecosystems lack the moisture and organisms that typically break down solid human waste in cat holes, so it will need to be packed out. If cat holes are permitted, locate them on south-facing slopes and don’t dig deep to allow the sun to do the work.
Snow-covered environments present a similar issue. Be prepared to pack out solid waste if the ground can’t be reached through the snow or if it’s frozen. Additionally, it is recommended to pack non-greasy meals that don’t require cooking to make things easier on yourself.
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Along many river corridors throughout Utah, use of a portable toilet is mandatory. According to Leave No Trace Dude, “cat holes quickly convert a campsite into a litter box.” Avoid this by complying with the regulations or by doing your business far, far away.
Utah is home to some of the greatest archaeological sites in the country. In addition to leaving rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them, remember to preserve the past by examining but not touching.
This is perhaps most sensitive in Southern Utah. For organic litter, such as pine needles, it is advised not to move them to make way for a tent, as they help reduce soil erosion, retain moisture and release scarce nutrients into the soil, which is essential for Utah’s deserts.
Especially near Moab, you will find trailhead signs that read, “Don’t bust the crust” and “Don’t tiptoe on the crypto,” in reference to knobby black bumps that line many trails. According to biologist Jayne Belnap, these biocrusts are extremely fragile. If destroyed, it “can wreak havoc on ecosystems hundreds of miles away, and even accelerate the melting of ice and snow when they are coated in heat-absorbing dust.”
If you build a shelter in a snowscape, it is recommended that you disassemble it before leaving the area. Leaving it up could attract other recreationalists to traffic the area, and there are potential safety concerns if they decide to enter a melting structure.
Along Utah’s waterways, adhere to Leave No Trace principles by properly disposing of live bait and thoroughly cleaning equipment to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as Quagga mussels, which are currently causing damage at Lake Powell.
Always check fire restrictions and permits before burning. You should use established rings and lightweight stoves over open burns. Keep fires small using sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, keep fire buckets handy, and scatter the cool ashes after it’s extinguished.
Fire danger can vary greatly depending on desert flora. You can visit Utah Division of Fire, Forestry, and State Lands for maps and more information. Still, it is recommended to be mindful of the distance from the fire to flammable objects and wind strength, which could carry embers.
U.S. National Forest Service explains that a fire is not out if it’s still hot to the touch. Whitish or gray coals can retain heat for several hours and even be insulated by dirt or sand that’s simply kicked onto them. Disperse and stir hot coals, then pack them out.
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Feeding them damages their health, alters their natural behaviors, and potentially exposes them to predators. Additionally, secure your smellables and keep your pets under control.
Water sources are scarce in Utah’s deserts, so it is especially important to be careful, as a single mistake can endanger the entire ecosystem. Camp far away and visit only during daytime hours. Some animals, such as coyotes, primarily frequent water sources at night to avoid predators.
Conversely, fewer food sources in the winter create a vulnerable environment for animals. Disturbing them may cause them to expend additional energy due to stress. Be sure to use a bear locker or tie up a bear bag if you’re in the backcountry.
Always check regulations specific to the waterway you are fishing in. Give waterfowl plenty of room, especially during mating and nesting season. For more information, visit Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds Guidebook.
Be considerate of other visitors
Leave No Trace includes leaving a mark on others’ experiences in the outdoors. Let nature’s sounds prevail, camp away from trails and other visitors, yield to downhill traffic when hiking and match your clothing to blend in with your surroundings.
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The Southern Utah National Cemetery, located at 2181 West 1600 South, was dedicated on September 10, 2025. It is one of over 150 Veteran cemeteries across the nation. Close to 95% of Veterans have a …
U.S. and POW/MIA flags flying near a columbarium at Southern Utah National Cemetery. (Courtesy: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Monday marks the first Memorial Day for the first national veterans cemetery in Southern Utah.
The Southern Utah National Cemetery, located at 2181 West 1600 South, was dedicated on September 10, 2025. It is one of over 150 Veteran cemeteries across the nation. Close to 95% of Veterans have a VA or VA grant-funded burial option within 75 miles of their home.
U.S. and POW/MIA flags flying near a columbarium at Southern Utah National Cemetery. (Courtesy: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
The cemetery is one of eight cemeteries designated under the “Rural Initiative.” The assistant director of the cemetery, Chrissy Dixon, told ABC4.com that the initiative helps “ensure that veterans have a close place to bury their loved ones and their families.”
“This dedication expands VA’s initiative to provide Veterans living in rural locations with final resting places closer to their homes,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Generations of families will come to visit and remember their loved ones here — a place of spiritual comfort and healing. We will not forget the sacrifices and commitment of those interred in this sacred ground.”
Just over eight acres of the land was acquired for the cemetery in September 2018. Currently, just two acres have been developed for use. Construction started in September 2023 and cost nearly $12 million. The project resulted in an approximate $7 million in economic impact to the local economy. It’s expected to meet the burial needs of nearly 15,000 veterans in the surrounding areas of Cedar City and St. George.
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“As a veteran myself and seeing the community come together, it’s always uplifting to see people remember our history, the history of our nation and everything that veterans have done in service of this nation and making the ultimate sacrifice, and even those who didn’t, knowing that they spent their lives giving whatever amount of time of service to this nation,” Dixon said.
The first phase of the cemetery in September included 28 traditional gravesites, 345 in-ground crypts, 320 columbarium niches, a memorial wall for 192 markers, 1,204 standard and 34 oversized pre-placed crypts, a committal shelter for interment memorial services, an assembly plaza, restrooms and a pump house.
Dixon said that this is one of 167 National Cemeteries across the nation, and she added that this cemetery is a benefit for veterans. “I want them to know that this benefit exists,” she said.
Joseph Degolyer contributed to this story.
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A Saratoga Springs man who was the focus of a weekend Amber Alert appears to have abducted his two young boys and fled to Mexico, police say. Investigators say the man just quit his job, had financial …
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (KSL) — A Saratoga Springs man who was the focus of a weekend Amber Alert appears to have abducted his two young boys and fled to Mexico, police say.
Investigators say the man just quit his job, had financial troubles, was in a custody dispute over the children, and may have been planning the abduction for weeks.
Police issued an Amber Alert late Saturday and early Sunday, saying the two boys — ages 10 months and 22 months — are in danger and were taken by their father, Dane Stephen Richman, 46, of Saratoga Springs.
He was charged Sunday in 4th District Court with two counts of custodial interference, a third-degree felony.
“There is concern for the safety and well-being of the children as the suspect has been seriously depressed, selling possessions, facing financial stress, and abandoned his home,” the Amber Alert states.
On May 16, Richman picked the children up from their mother in Washington state for his scheduled visitation time, though police initially said the abduction occurred in Saratoga Springs.
On Friday morning, the children’s mother contacted Saratoga Springs police to request a welfare check after the father missed a deposition for a custody hearing scheduled that morning at 10 a.m. Richman had emailed his attorney that morning that he no longer needed her services and wouldn’t be attending the scheduled hearing, according to charging documents.
Officers then visited Richman’s home, but no one was there. Police said there was no cause for concern at that point. Court documents, however, indicate that “officers noted that the home appeared to look vacant from the outside.”
The mother was scheduled to pick up the children at his house at noon on Saturday, but when he didn’t show up, she contacted police again at 12:35 p.m. Officers began talking to neighbors to determine the last time Richman or the two boys were last seen.
“No friends, family or other contacts have been able to reach Dane, including the police department attempts,” an arrest warrant states.
Police learned that on Monday, May 18, Richman’s black 2025 Toyota Camry had some service done in Carlsbad, California, about 50 miles from the southern U.S. border. Investigators also obtained surveillance images that identified Richman in Southern California, according to the charges.
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Richman’s cellphone location was last reported near the Mexican border at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, and the vehicle crossed the border into Mexico later that day, the charges say.
Late Saturday, police issued an Amber Alert on all digital signs on Utah highways. An alert was issued to all cellphones in Utah about 7:30 a.m. Sunday. On Sunday night, a warrant was issued for Richman’s arrest.
“As detectives have continued to investigate this case, they have learned that (Richman’s) financial situation was dire, including being upside down on his mortgage after it appears that he took out an additional line of credit on the home equity,” according to court documents. Richman also unexpectedly quit his job from Fibertel LLC on May 11.
Richman’s boss said he told him he was unable to continue working because of ongoing legal battles with his ex-girlfriend over the custody of his children. The boss also noted that Richman “had originally been a quality hard working productive employee, but that over the last six months had become less reliable and more erratic,” the warrant states.
“Given Dane’s financial situation as well as the fact that he appears to have abandoned his house to foreclosure, it seems that Dane has possibly been planning this attempt to kidnap the children several days if not multiple weeks in advance,” investigators wrote in the court documments.
A neighbor told police that Richman has a satellite phone and family members said Richman is “comfortable and confidence when it comes to living off of the grid.”
Police said they are in the process of having the same Amber Alerts shared throughout Mexico.
Richman is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs about 195 pounds, and has brown hair and green eyes, according to the alert. Authorities said his clothing description was unknown.
The missing children are Wesley Dane Richman, a 10-month-old boy described as 2 feet 2 inches and weighing about 23 pounds with blonde or strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes, and Will Thomas Richman, 22 months old, who is described as 2 feet 6 inches, weighing about 31 pounds with blonde or strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 801-798-5600 or dial 911 immediately.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s drought situation has worsened in recent weeks as its record-low snowpack melts off, even prompting Gov. Spencer Cox to issue a drought declaration. As he spoke about the dry …
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s drought situation has worsened in recent weeks as its record-low snowpack melts off, even prompting Gov. Spencer Cox to issue a drought declaration.
As he spoke about the dry conditions, federal forecasters unveiled new long-range weather models that signal some hope on the horizon.
Most of Utah and the Four Corners states are listed as having stronger odds for above-normal precipitation this meteorological summer, which runs from June 1 through Aug. 31, according to an updated three-month outlook from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center released on Thursday.
Experts say that it won’t solve all the problems caused by the poor snowpack, but it could help ease some of the challenges the state is facing this summer, should the forecast come to fruition.
“It’s kind of what we’ve been hoping for,” said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson. But he and others warn that a projected El Niño oceanic pattern this summer may affect how everything plays out.
What’s expected this summer?
The center’s report lists most of Utah as having between a 33% and 50% shot of above-average precipitation throughout the meteorological summer months of June, July and August. Utah’s western edge is listed as having “equal chances,” meaning there’s no clear signal for a wetter, drier or near-normal season, while the strongest odds are in eastern Utah.
The state also has a 40% to 50% probability of above-normal temperatures, potentially adding to a trend for this summer and the year as a whole.
These maps show temperature and precipitation probabilities across the U.S. for the upcoming meteorological summer months of June, July and August. Utah’s odds lean slightly in favor of a hotter but wetter summer. (Photo: National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center)
However, there are many caveats to consider, starting in the Pacific Ocean.
While its weather impacts are more pronounced in the winter, a summer El Niño can affect the Western monsoon, said Basil Newmerzhysky, fire meteorologist for the Great Basin Coordination Center.
Western monsoons occur when moisture from the oceans is drawn over the region, producing showers and thunderstorms. These typically develop in Arizona and New Mexico by mid-June, before reaching Utah by mid-July. They can linger into August and September, too, but the oceanic pattern can alter timelines.
“It’s really tricky right now. If the El Niño strengthens a little bit more, that monsoon can be delayed by several weeks,” Newmerzhysky said, noting that it typically still arrives in these scenarios, but potentially in August.
El Niño’s potential impacts could also create periods of stronger moisture at one point of the summer and not evenly across the season, meaning potentially dry conditions at the start. Great Basin Coordination Center officials previously said it could “make or break” Utah’s fire season.
An El Niño setup can also push the monsoon eastward, which is likely why models hint toward eastern Utah having stronger precipitation odds. It’s going to depend on the predominant high-pressure and low-pressure systems set up over the summer, Johnson said.
All of this is probabilistic and doesn’t project how much more above-normal any precipitation could be, though, which are other caveats.
Monsoonal moisture is also notoriously difficult to forecast. Gulf moisture mixes with heat that creates isolated afternoon showers, which can create massive downpours in some areas while skipping neighboring areas in some cases.
“The likelihood that we see above-normal precipitation over this three-month period is enhanced. The signal is definitely there for it to happen,” Johnson said, adding there’s no guarantee that it will happen for everyone in the state.
Why it matters
A productive monsoon wouldn’t fix all of the state’s water woes. The state’s reservoir system, which relies more on snowpack runoff, is 70% full, slightly below the median average for May. It’s the first time it’s been below the median in years, following the record-high snowpack in 2023.
When combined with current drought conditions, monsoons can also cause damaging floods.
Yet, if the right conditions align, monsoons can improve soil moisture and groundwater supplies while reducing fire risk and evaporative losses from lakes and reservoirs.
That would be the ideal situation for Utah, given its drought.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how this all pans out,” Johnson said.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
An AMBER Alert issued for the two boys says they are in danger of “serious bodily harm or death.” Their father has been identified as a suspect.
Two Utah toddlers are missing and facing “imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death,” after their “seriously depressed” father allegedly failed to attend a custody exchange.
An AMBER Alert was issued for the two boys, Will Richman, 22 months and Wesley Richman, 10 months, in Saratoga Springs, Utah, on Saturday, May 16.
One relative posted: “Please, we need your help and prayers for these boys.”
The AMBER Alert described their father, Dane Stephen Richman, as “seriously depressed,” and under financial stress. The alert, issued by the Utah Department of Public Safety, said that he had been selling his possessions and had abandoned his home.
Richman has been identified as a suspect. The children’s mother contacted the police to request a welfare check on Thursday, after Dane Richman missed a court-related deposition in an ongoing custody case, according to a report from KUTV.
The mother contacted police again on Saturday, after the children were supposed to be returned in a custody exchange, and no one showed up.
That call triggered the AMBER Alert.
The AMBER Alert states that “The first suspect is identified as Dane Stephen Richman. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 195 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.”
The two boys have blonde hair and blue eyes. Will Richman is 2 feet 6 inches, and weighs about 31 Ibs. Wesley Richman is 2 feet 2 inches and weighs about 23 Ibs.
Authorities said that they are believed to be in a Black Toyota Camry with a Utah license plate A561HL, but note that the vehicle could have a temporary tag and that the license plate may not be visible.
A woman named Kate Walters shared a post to Facebook and identified herself as a family member. “My sister’s children have been abducted,” she wrote in the post, adding, “Please, we need your help and prayers for these boys.”
What is an AMBER Alert?
An AMBER Alert—short for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response—is an emergency notification system designed to notify the public when a child is believed to have been abducted and faces imminent danger of serious injury or death.
When law enforcement confirms that a child under 17 has been taken and meets activation criteria, the alert is issued. It pushes details about the child, the suspected abductor, and any associated vehicle across multiple channels, including Wireless Emergency Alerts, TV and radio broadcasts, and highway message boards.
Since its launch, the AMBER Alert system has been credited with helping recover more than 1,000 missing children across the United States.
The goal is to enlist the public’s help in the critical early hours of an abduction. This gives law enforcement additional eyes and ears to aid in locating missing children and apprehending suspects. Officials emphasize that such alerts are time-sensitive and are often deployed within hours of an abduction to maximize the chances of safely recovering a child.
Utah is already facing drought concerns due to the lack of snowfall this past winter. A local river guide feels the water levels are okay right now, but they’re preparing for the worst.
MORGAN COUNTY, Utah — Bridget Matley and her friends, Maisie Bladt and Nessa Richardson, took on the Weber River from start to finish on Sunday. They are visiting Utah for Memorial Day weekend and wanted to take on the challenge of white-water rafting.
“I’ve always wanted to white-water raft… It seems fun,” Matley said.
“I’ve done it a couple times, but it wasn’t that fun before, because it was like all easy stuff, and I wanted to do something harder,” Bladt added.
Little did they know, it is one of the most challenging times to do this.
“We think it’s going to be a low water year,” said Dawna Zukirmi, owner of Destination Sports. “It’s a little more challenging to get through. There’s a lot more rocks exposed. You really have to pivot to avoid them.”
It seemed Matley and her boat agreed with that.
“We hit a rock — it was so scary. We went backwards, and we were going on the biggest rapids ever, and it was so scary, but so fun,” Bladt said.
The state of Utah is already facing drought concerns due to the lack of snowfall this past winter, and while Zukirmi feels the water levels are okay right now, they’re preparing for the worst.
“We have our backup plan. If we can’t get rafts through, we can offer guests kayaking trips, and when we run out of water, we might be asking people if they’d like to go for a hike,” she said.
Zukirmi said the last time they had to cut rafting short was back in 2021, and it doesn’t help that they already had a slow winter season.
“People come here for the snow and look out their hotel window and are not inspired to go out snowshoeing because they don’t see any snow,” she said. “I expect it’s going to be a shorter season. Most likely will end at the end of July or middle of August.”
While Zukirmi added that there are a lot of changes she hopes to see for water conservation in Utah, she hopes those watching at home will do their part in these desperate times.
“If people conserve their water and follow the recommendations for how many times a week they should water instead of watering every day, we might be able to have water through the summer,” she said.
Wyoming’s looser liquor laws — and higher elevations — make for memorable nights and steady business in Evanston on the state line with Utah. It’s …
Katie Chandler, who works as a bartender at Kate’s Bar in Evanston, can spot Utah residents right away. They’re the adults looking self-consciouslyover their shoulders before ordering a beer and a shot, like middle schoolers breaking the rules.
Chandler gives them a sweet smile when she serves them their drinks, along with a piece of friendly, free advice.
“I always warn the people from Utah to be careful,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “Because we are at a much higher elevation, and you do get drunker quicker.”
Chandler, an Idaho transplant who has lived in Evanston for five years, experienced this while barhopping the first time in Evanston. She was drinking about one 5% seltzer an hour, which normally wouldn’t be a problem for her.
But after the second one in as many hours, it felt as if she’d downed twice as many drinks in half as much time.
“I was like, ‘Babe, we gotta walk home,’” she said. “So, I always warn people now: drink some water and stay hydrated.”
Just across the state line, Evanston is the first place people from Utah hit when leaving their state to dabble in vice. That state’s stiff liquor laws push some to make a run for the border to get stronger drinks and buy booze, along with placing bets and buying fireworks.
A new Utah law that went into effect Jan. 1 bans people convicted of DUIs with blood alcohol content measurements of 0.160% or greater from buying booze. That makes Evanston’s bars and liquor stores enticing for those who can’t buy alcohol close to home.
Phantom Fireworks in Evanston, Wyoming, sees thousands of customers a year from Utah, where most fireworks are illegal. (Courtesy Phantom Fireworks)
This One Time A Utahn Walked Into An Evanston Bar …
Kate’s Bar isn’t the only place in Evanston where the bartenders have stories about Utahns and their liquor.
They’ve become the punchline in many off-hand jokes, and people love to tell their own “this one time, a Utahn walked into a bar in Evanston” jokes to whoever will listen.
Rhonda Berlener, the general manager at Suds Bros. Brewery in downtown Evanston, has dozens of them.
She, too, can spot the Utah “newbies” as soon as they sit down.
They’ll order a beer, finish it, then carefully ask if they can have a shot now. It’s like they’re waiting for someone to swoop in and tell them it’s against the rules.
“‘OK, so we’ll take a beer, and then as soon as we’re done, we’ll take a shot,’” she recalled one Utah couple saying. “And we’re like, ‘Well, we can just bring you that shot.’ And they’re like, ‘What?’ And we’re like, ‘You’re not in Utah anymore. We can line them up. How many do you want?’”
Some get so tickled at the idea they can have more than one drink in front of them at once that they go a little overboard, ordering a whole line of shots across the bar, just because they can.
The situation has led to signs at some establishments poking fun at Evanston’s Utah neighbors — like the tavern which posted a sign making it crystal clear that the place really is a bar, just in case anyone from Utah was feeling the least bit confused.
Kate’s Bar is one of the Evanston watering holes that serves a lot of Utah residents who come across the state line to drink in Wyoming. (Courtesy Kate’s via Facebook)
The Joke Goes Both Ways
The funny stories run both ways, entertainer A.J. Lamb told Cowboy State Daily.
He still laughs about the time he and a buddy discovered Utah’s famously weak beer at a party fresh out of college. At that time, Utah beer had a legal maximum of 3.2% alcohol content by volume. It was like drinking water to Lamb and his friend.
It soon dawned on them that no one at the party was keeping up with them. They made a game of that, challenging anyone to outrank them. They still barely felt a buzz, even after guzzling a heroic amount of beer.
A couple of weeks later, some of the Utahns from the party called Lamb up and said they were coming to Evanston for a rematch. They were “trained up and ready,” Lamb recalled with a chuckle.
What they didn’t count on was full-strength Wyoming beer at elevation.
After just a handful of beers over a couple of hours, the Utah drinkers were wrecked.
One managed to make it to his hotel room, though perhaps not the bed. The other fell asleep somewhere outside the hotel. The third landed in the Uinta County jail.
The takeaway line, which Lamb still uses when he’s talking to Utah friends, is “don’t drink with people from Wyoming.”
Here’s a funny, forgotten fact about that 3.2% beer, which was still in use up until 2019. When the law finally died, Budweiser brought its Clydesdales to Salt Lake City for a little parade — actually a funeral procession.
Pallbearers carried a coffin that said “RIP 3.2% Beer.” Others held up signs that read, “Bud Heavy is coming Nov. 1!”
If Utah residents are the punchline in Evanston drinking jokes, it’s usually a gentle kind of ribbing, Lamb said, the kind where people don’t feel bad about laughing at themselves with you.
t’s all in good fun, and usually includes a dose of empathy for folks who live in a state where ordering a nightcap has become a bit like taking the Uniform Bar Exam.
“People from Utah, they come up here and they’re just blown away,” Lamb said. “It’s like they’re on another planet when they see how we do things.”
Suds Bros. Brewery is one of the Evanston watering holes that serves a lot of Utah residents who come across the state line to drink in Wyoming. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily)
No Sin City
With a population around 12,000, Evanston isn’t really a Sin City. You won’t see flashy signs and supermega hotels.
It’s a friendly small town with tree-lined streets draped in charm and history.
There’s an operating drug store with old-fashioned soda shop seats. Some of the restored buildings date back to the 1880s and house art galleries, restaurants and breweries, bakeries and coffeeshops, as well as the historic Strand Theater.
Despite the “Leave it to Beaver” vibe, Evanston has long had a Sin City relationship withUtah residents. It’s where they have been coming for decades to buy things their faithful neighbors might frown upon — a taboo trifecta of booze, fireworks, and lottery tickets.
These days, Utahns can also add off-track horse betting and full-strength vapes to that shopping list.
People still remember when the Utah Highway Patrol would set up in Evanston parking lots, watching their residents carting home illegal liquor from Wyoming, then confiscating it the minute those motorists crossed the state line.
Today, the law prohibiting out-of-state liquor from crossing the Utah state line has gone away.
People may still feel like it’s hanging over them, but Utah residents legally buy up to 9 liters of liquor for personal consumption and haul it home.
Kate’s Bar is one of the Evanston watering holes that serves a lot of Utah residents who come across the state line to drink in Wyoming. (Courtesy Kate’s via Facebook)
A Tourism Tangent
But there are still a whole host of finicky liquor laws that rankle enough to keep Utahns driving to Evanston for the foreseeable future.
Restaurants in Utah can serve drinks, but only when they’re tied to food. A plate of fries, then, even if you’re not hungry, is required.
Bars and taverns can pour without food, but they’re tightly age-restricted and carefully licensed. That means families with children younger than 21 aren’t allowed.
Restaurant or bar, only one drink at a time is allowed per person at any given table. Double shots in a cocktail aren’t allowed, nor shots to chase your beer.
By contrast, Evanston’s border town offers Utahns a much simpler proposition. Walk in, grab a bar stool and order a drink. No need for a flowchart of what’s on your plate or in your glass.
The relationship between Utah’s strict liquor laws and Evanston’s more relaxed bar scene isn’t just a cultural curiosity anymore. The dynamic has become part of the town’s tourism strategy.
Business owners along Main Street talk about the importance of keeping things open for business on the weekends and maintaining a friendly, welcoming, no-fuss atmosphere.
“Those out-of-state visitors are a huge piece of keeping downtown alive,” Berlener said. “If they feel comfortable here — if they can find a place to eat, have a drink, walk around — they’ll keep coming back.”
And Evanstonians will keep telling those funny drinking Wyoming from Utah stories.
We look ahead to the Utah Jazz’s 2026 offseason, examining their roster and cap situation entering the summer.
The Jazz had a relatively quiet offseason after finishing the 2024/25 season with a 17-65 record, the worst mark in the NBA. Utah had a 52.1% chance of staying in the top four at the 2025 draft lottery, but the team lost what was essentially a coin flip (47.9%), landing at its draft floor at No. 5.
In addition to selecting former Rutgers wing Ace Bailey with the fifth pick, the Jazz were also involved in a pair of trades last summer. The first saw the team send Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic, and the second sent John Collins to the Clippers in a three-team deal that netted the Jazz a 2027 second-round pick, Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, and a traded player exception.
It’s hard to say if the Jazz had any intentions of trying to be more competitive in ’25/26, but considering they would have owed their 2026 first-round pick to the Thunder if it landed outside of the top eight, the team was certainly incentivized to finish near the bottom of the standings again to ensure that didn’t happen. And Utah wound up being near the forefront of the tanking conversation in an unusual season in which several teams were especially focused on draft positioning due to the widely perceived strength of the 2026 class.
The Jazz would likely point to starting center Walker Kesslersuffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder in training camp, an injury he aggravated just five games into the season, as the beginning of downward trend for the rest of ’25/26. They were 2-3 when it was reported that Kessler would undergo season-ending surgery and just 16-35 after a win at Indiana snapped a six-game losing streak on February 3.
That’s also the date the Jazz made one of the more interesting deals ahead of the February deadline, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., and Jock Landale from the Grizzlies in exchange for Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton, the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected), either the Cavaliers’, Timberwolves’, or Jazz’s 2027 first-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and the Suns’ 2031 first-round pick.
Memphis had renegotiated Jackson’s descending rookie scale extension during the 2025 offseason in order to bump his ’25/26 salary high enough to sign him to a new veteran extension that reflected the value of a regular All-Defensive contributor who had made All-Star appearances in two of his previous three seasons. Jackson will earn $49MM, $50.5MM and $52MM over the next three years before he has to decide whether to exercise a $53.5MM player option for ’29/30.
Utah, meanwhile, projected to have a good deal of cap room this summer, and rather than using it on free agents, the team made a pre-agency move for a player signed to a lucrative long-term contract.
The Jazz have been atrocious defensively in the four years since they traded Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, ranking 23rd, 30th, 30th and 29th in the league in defensive rating from 2023-26. Jackson, who turns 27 in September, is a former Defensive Player of the Year who’s versatile enough on offense to play in a jumbo-sized frontcourt that also features Kessler and Finnish star Lauri Markkanen.
However, Jackson’s fit with the team remains theoretical for now — he only made three cameo appearances for the Jazz after the deal, having undergone surgery to address a benign growth in his knee, and he didn’t get a chance to play with Kessler at all. While the sample size was obviously tiny, the team did perform very well when the former No. 4 overall pick was on the court.
Shutting down Jackson was the first in a series of “future-focused” moves for the Jazz, who ruled out Nurkic and Markkanen for the remainder of the season shortly thereafter. Keyonte George, who had a breakout third season and was dealing with ankle injuries at the time, only played a handful of games to finish out ’25/26.
Unsurprisingly, those tanking maneuvers resulted in the Jazz falling down the Western Conference and NBA standings, as they went just 6-25 over the final two-plus months to finish with a 22-60 record. That tied Sacramento for the fourth-worst mark in the league.
The Jazz won a tiebreaker with the Kings ahead of the draft lottery which turned out to be highly consequential, as Utah moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 on lottery night while Sacramento fell from No. 5 to No. 7. Winning the tiebreaker also guaranteed Utah could end up with no worse than the eighth overall pick, meaning the selection was guaranteed to stay with the Jazz even if they hadn’t gotten lucky in the lottery.
While four years of losing isn’t easy to stomach for fans, the Jazz are well positioned going forward as a result of their good fortune in the lottery. They’ll be able to add a potential franchise-changing talent on a very cap-friendly contract, locking in four years of team control and giving the front office time to determine the best ways to build out the roster.
Utah also enters the offseason with a surplus of future first-round picks and the financial flexibility to continue to seek upgrades on the trade market, though the club lacks the sort of mid-sized contracts necessary to add another near-max cap hit like Jackson’s.
The Jazz’s Offseason Plans
The Jazz have three major decisions to make this offseason: Deciding which prospect to select No. 2 overall, figuring out what a new contract for restricted free agent Kessler will look like, and determining how high they’re willing to go in rookie scale extension talks with Keyonte George.
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Authorities issued an Amber Alert early Sunday for two young children believed to have been abducted by a family member in Saratoga Springs, and are asking the public for help locating them and the …
EastIdahoNews.com Staff
Updated
Dane Stephen Richman, left, and missing children Will Thomas Richman, center, and Wesley Dane Richman, right, in photos released as part of a Utah Amber Alert issued Sunday. Authorities say the two children were abducted in Saratoga Springs, Utah. | Courtesy Utah Amber Alert
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (KSL) — Authorities issued an Amber Alert early Sunday for two young children believed to have been abducted by a family member in Saratoga Springs, and are asking the public for help locating them and the suspect.
The suspect was identified as Dane Stephen Richman, 6-foot-2 and about 195 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes, according to the alert. Authorities said his clothing description was unknown.
“There is concern for the safety and well-being of the children as the suspect has been seriously depressed, selling possessions, facing financial stress, and abandoned his home,” the Amber Alert states.
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Police identified the missing children as Wesley Dane Richman, an infant described as 2-foot-2 and about 23 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes, and Will Thomas Richman, 1, who is described as 2-foot-6 and about 31 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes.
Authorities said the abduction occurred in Saratoga Springs. Investigators said the suspect may be driving a black 2025 Toyota Camry with Utah license plate A561HL. The Amber Alert said the vehicle might have a temporary tag, and the license plate may not be visible.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 801-798-5600 or dial 911 immediately.
That’s also the date the Jazz made one of the more interesting deals ahead of the February deadline, acquiring 