By May Hunter, For Iron County Today Miracles happen when people willingly serve others. When Charles and Donna Cooley learned that many children have never had a toy, they created their motto: “We may not be able to make a toy for every child in the world who needs one – but we’re going to…

By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today Matthew Sorber-Petrie was not in the truck when 12 shots were fired at 17-year-old KayLee Dutton. Still, an Iron County jury decided he was responsible for her murder. Following a four-day trial, jurors convicted Sorber-Petrie, 24, of murder, five counts of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious…

By May Hunter, For Iron County Today The Quilts of Valor group Patches4Patriots Iron County has been honoring local veterans with handmade quilts for nearly six years. In 2020, Utah State Coordinator Crystal Farinella asked group leader Esmeralda Carter to establish the local Patches4Patriots group to serve Iron County. As a retired U.S. Navy Gulf…

By Jenelle Zajac, For Iron County Today The meeting began early to have parliamentary procedure training and to hear a development proposal. Parliamentary Procedure Training The meeting began with a parliamentary procedure training session, aimed at equipping council members with better tools for making motions and conducting meetings efficiently. The session covered key parliamentary concepts…

By May Hunter, For Iron County Today The Happy Factory will hold its annual Open House Fundraiser and Donna Cooley Birthday Celebration on August 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its workshop, located at 895 N. 2195 W. (Happy Factory Lane) in Cedar City, Utah. Visitors are invited to stop by, tour the…

By Booke Heath, Southern Utah University Southern Utah University (SUU) has appointed Mary Jo Anderson as its new Vice President of Finance and Administration, effective Sept. 1, 2026. Anderson’s appointment follows an extensive nationwide search that attracted a strong pool of candidates from across the country. A trusted campus leader with more than 20 years…

By Shauna Lund, Iron County School District The newest school building in Iron County School District opened with fanfare this week. East Elementary paired its back to school night with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as it welcomed parents and the community to peek inside the beautiful new building. Fifth-grade student Jamie assisted in cutting the ribbon…

From Lieutenant Clint Pollock, Cedar City Police Department CEDAR CITY, Utah — Just after 12:00 p.m. today, Cedar City Police officers responded to the area of the 100 West block of Harding Avenue regarding an adult male who was reported to be suicidal and holding a firearm to his head. Upon arrival, responding officers established…

By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today A recently fired dairy worker was recently arrested after police say he broke into the facility with a hatchet, threatened to kill an employee and chased him through the building. Joshua Reuben Bitseedy, 46, was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on Aug. 6, for suspicion of…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University Fall camp is built on competition. Every practice is an opportunity to get better. Every rep matters. Every meeting is focused on preparing the Southern Utah football team for the challenges that await when the season begins. But on Wednesday afternoon, the Thunderbirds stepped away from the football field…

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Diamond Kyles, Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 1st Class David Barnhurst, a native of Cedar City, Utah, serves in the U.S. Navy assigned to Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington, the homeport of West Coast ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines. Barnhurst graduated from Canyon View…

From Kelli Pierce, Sutherland Institute  As Utah families prepare for a new school year, Sutherland Institute announced today the launch of the Utah Schools Navigator (UtahSchools.org), a free online resource that helps Utah parents find the right school for their child and provides one-on-one guidance if they need it. The Utah Schools Navigator is a…