TRAILBLAZERS: Katy Evans Heddens on raising the bar for Utah youth

PARK CITY, Utah — When Katy Evans Heddens first visited Park City nearly 30 years ago, she felt an immediate pull toward the mountains and the people who call them home.

“We just loved the small-town vibe, the close-knit community and the overall appreciation of life and camaraderie,” she said. “It felt like the right place to plant roots and raise our family.”

Those roots run deep today. Evans Heddens, 56, is the founder and owner of Black Diamond Gymnastics and Sports Centers, which just celebrated its 26th anniversary. The company began in a single industrial bay off Silver Summit Road in April 1999 and has expanded to three locations in Park City, Daybreak and Heber City.

Katy Evans Heddens, founder and owner of Black Diamond Gymnastics & Sports Centers, spots a young athlete during practice at the Park City gym. Photo: Katy Evans Heddens

A teacher at heart

Adopted two days after her birth in Washington, D.C., Evans Heddens discovered gymnastics at 13, an age many consider late for the sport. She thrived anyway, earning two Division III national titles at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where she majored in education, child development and adaptive physical education.

“My background is education first,” she said. “Gymnastics is just the vehicle. We’re intentional about the whole child — physical skills, social growth, confidence and the ability to make mistakes without fear.”

Black Diamond now serves 1,800 to 2,000 children a week across its programs, employing 92 staffers, including about 38 in Park City. The curriculum ranges from preschool academics to recreational classes, competitive teams, ninja courses and trampoline training.

A hub for mountain athletes

Four days after opening, the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team asked Evans Heddens to run a training camp. That invitation launched a decades-long partnership with local and international winter-sports athletes.

“By the Sochi Olympics we counted 76 athletes from 10 countries who had trained with us,” she said. “Cross-sport training shows kids there’s more than one path to excellence.”

Weathering storms and widening access

Evans Heddens has steered the business through recessions, a major internal theft and the high costs of running youth programs in a resort town.

“Community support kept us afloat,” she said. “When parents tell me we made a difference in their child’s life — whether they stayed six months or six years — I never take that for granted.”

She and her husband have personally funded scholarships and are seeking nonprofit partners to expand financial aid. “We try to make sure cost isn’t a barrier,” she said.

Giving back — and pushing forward

A nationally rated judge and frequent industry speaker, Evans Heddens is a member of Leadership Park City Class 31 and is running for the Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau board.

“I want to bridge the gap between business, tourists and community,” she said. “Park City rallies around causes it believes in, and I believe in kids.”

Her advice to newcomers eyeing a local startup: “Take it slow, do your research, be transparent and don’t be afraid to ask for help — then celebrate the small victories that carry you through tough times.”

Vision for the next decade

Looking ahead, Evans Heddens hopes Utah gymnastics — and youth sports broadly — will keep the child, not the podium, at the center.

“Happy, healthy kids can’t help but be successful,” she said. “Our job is to help them write their story and cheer them on, every step of the way.”

Wellness event at Walmart offers free health screenings, affordable immunizations

UTAH — The Heber City and Park City Walmart locations will be participating in a free, state-wide Wellness Event at Walmart on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

After multiple measles cases from a Wasatch County bike race and with flu season around the corner, Walmart will be offering the community free health screenings, affordable immunizations, and hosting other health-focused activities.

Since 2014, these wellness-focused events at Walmart have provided more than 5 million free health screenings.

What to expect at the Wellness Event at Walmart:

Free health screenings such as blood pressure, glucose and BMI across nearly 4,600 Walmart pharmacies nationwide.
Free vision screenings at select locations.
No-cost flu shots* among other affordable immunizations such as RSV, shingles, tetanus, HPV and more.
Information on Walmart’s affordable low-cost generic prescription program, starting at just $4 per 30-day supply
Conversations with trusted pharmacists on medication therapy management, nutrition recommendations and tailored support for a personalized health journey.
Samples and giveaways highlighting over-the counter items and nutritious options at select locations**

*Flu shots are covered by most major insurance plans.

**While supplies last.

Park City teen wins Spec Miata National Championship in photo finish

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City High School student Lincoln Larson claimed the Spec Miata title at the 2025 NASA National Championships earlier this month at Ozarks International Raceway, edging out fellow driver Vaughan Weber by half a bumper in a dramatic photo finish.
“It’s a national race, so people are coming from all over the country,” Larson said. “For it being my technically first full year racing, it’s a massive achievement, and hopefully going to open a bunch of opportunities.”

The championship showdown came down to the final lap. Larson trailed Weber for much of the race until Weber dropped a wheel exiting Turn 11, giving Larson the opening he needed. Still, Weber fought back and pulled alongside Larson in the final corner, setting up a drag race to the checkered flag.

“I did not think I was gonna win it, honestly at all,” Larson said. “I thought that he was definitely gonna win that drag race. At first, I didn’t even know if I won, because it was so close.”

For Larson, the path to the podium started long before race day. He credits hours spent working at Burt Brothers Motorpark and his summer trip to Ozarks to learn the track in advance. “I worked down there and spent a lot of time there working on my own car,” he said. “We went out to that track in Missouri in July, and I think that helped a lot, because then I came to the national weekend already knowing the track.”

Larson first started karting in 2021 and said his experience has taught him how to balance patience with instinct in high-stakes moments. “Just tons of racing and tons of experience, you kind of know when to just be patient and wait, or when to actually go for a move,” he said.
As one of the youngest drivers in the field, Larson sees both advantages and challenges. “Even the people my age, most of the time, are going to have more experience. A lot of kids start karting at under 10 years old, and their whole life is kind of turned to racing. Mine just in the past few years,” he said.

Looking ahead, Larson plans to finish out the season with regional races in Northern California and Utah while setting his sights on the Mazda Motorsports Shootout, a scholarship program that can advance drivers into higher levels of racing. “That’s the goal to get to,” he said. “Because that can expose you to a lot of other stuff.”

Despite the spotlight, Larson said he isn’t chasing attention. “I’m not the biggest fan of attention,” he admitted. Still, his victory at Ozarks has already put him on the radar of the national racing community and marked him as a rising talent from Park City.

Two Park City Olympians turn to teaching and coaching

PARK CITY, Utah — Two Olympians from Park City have retired as competitive athletes and are spending their newfound time giving back to their community; Abby Ringquist, 2018 PyeongChang nordic ski jumper, and Jared Shumate, 2022 Beijing nordic combined, both grew up in the Park City School District and were involved with Park City Ski and Snowboard.

Ringquist told TownLift, “I absolutely love working and teaching at Weilenmann School of Discovery (WSD), it’s an amazing group of humans that are providing the very best education and experiences to pre-K to 8th graders in the Wasatch Back and the Wasatch Front.”

In WSD’s outdoor education program, she and two other teachers take a whole grade level outside for three and a half hours, regardless of weather, each week and learn about different themes in nature using the arts, science, and physical skills to discover all aspects of their lesson.

“It truly feels like my purpose in life to teach and play with these kiddos,” Ringquist said. “They are so creative and adventurous, it is an absolute blast. I get the best of both my worlds, doing art and exploring the outdoors with my students.” Her college degree is in Art.

Shumate works as an assistant cross-country running coach for Park City High School.

He told TownLift, “It’s been really fun to change roles and coach for the high school cross country running team. I like to think I have some helpful insights into how to train and race that I can teach the team.”

“They’re a really good group of kids, and it’s rewarding to see them improve every day and show up to races and run fast,” Shumate concluded by saying, “It’s cool to be part of the program.”

When he’s not coaching, he’s competing as a long distance trail running athlete and as such he recently got a top 30 result in the Wasatch 100 mile race.

Inspiring his high school athletes, sophomore, varsity runner Tatum Flach won Saturday’s Park City Invitational three mile leg with a time of 18:26.4. The annual season opener event brought schools from around the state but adjacent states as well. The home-hosted event was held at the Round Valley, Park City Sports Complex at Quinns Junction. The number of schools attending totaled at least 15.

Park City Community Foundation distributes $12.5 million, honors community leaders

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Community Foundation announced this week that it brought $12.5 million into greater Park City and Summit County during its last fiscal year, adding to a cumulative impact of $82 million since its founding in 2007.

The announcement came during the foundation’s annual Grants Celebration, held at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge, where more than 200 nonprofit representatives and donors gathered. The foundation also distributed $468,000 in its latest round of Community Fund grants to 65 local nonprofits.

“At the Community Foundation, we believe that solving our community’s greatest challenges starts with a strong and resilient nonprofit sector,” said Joel Zarrow, CEO of Park City Community Foundation. “That’s why we connect donors to causes they care about, host Live PC Give PC each year, and make grants to the nonprofits that give so much to our community. It’s the power of collective giving.”

The Community Fund, which combines contributions of all sizes, supports initiatives addressing affordable housing, mental health care, early childhood education, arts and culture, and environmental protection.

In the past year, the foundation distributed $6 million through 648 grants, facilitated $5.1 million through the annual Live PC Give PC giving day, and provided $1.3 million in programs such as Youth United, the Early Childhood Alliance, Zero Food Waste, and the Women’s Giving Fund. Deer Valley Resort contributed $100,000 to this year’s round of grants.

The celebration also honored two individuals with the 2025 Trisha J. Worthington Community Service Award, recognizing their longstanding commitment to local service. For the first time, the foundation named dual recipients: Jim Gaddis and Heather Ferguson-Sims.

Gaddis, a former competitive skier and youth sports advocate, founded the Youth Sports Alliance and has raised millions of dollars to expand access to athletics. He also played a key role in securing land for the National Ability Center and launching one of Utah’s earliest youth ski racing programs.

Ferguson-Sims was recognized for her years of volunteer leadership with the Park City High School mountain bike team and the Youth Sports Alliance. She has worked to expand participation among Latino youth and low-income families and launched the Power of Play speaker series to provide resources for young athletes and coaches.

“Recognizing both Jim and Heather highlights the many ways service strengthens our community, from building lasting institutions that expand access to creating everyday opportunities through personal commitment and relationships,” said Katherine Aguilera, Park City Community Foundation board member and chair of the Community Fund Steering Committee.

The foundation said it will grant $2,000 to nonprofit organizations chosen by Gaddis and Ferguson-Sims.

For a full list of 2025 Community Fund grant recipients and more information about the foundation’s impact, visit parkcitycf.org.

Midway Mercantile to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants

MIDWAY, Utah — Midway Mercantile Restaurant will be featured on the national series America’s Best Restaurants this fall, following on-site filming Sept. 11.

The show’s production team will highlight the restaurant’s signature dishes and interview its owners about the business’s place in the community. Chef and co-owner John Platt said the spotlight is both humbling and exciting. “It is awesome,” Platt said. “I’m honored and kind of excited to see where it goes. Obviously, we have a kind of popularity here, and so, when you bring this imprimatur of, you know, America’s Best Restaurants, I’ll be interested to see where that flies.”

Chef and co-owner John Platt with host Amanda Valentine of America’s Best Restaurants at Midway Mercantile during filming for the restaurant’s upcoming feature episode. Photo: TownLift // Rebecca Brenner

Host Amanda Valentine explained that Midway Mercantile was chosen because of its strong reputation and community presence. “Part of the process of choosing restaurants is that they meet certain criteria, one being local, independently owned,” Valentine said. “We really want to highlight local and independent restaurants. We also consider reviews and their standing within the community. It’s kind of a combination of the food, the community, the people, and the ownership.”

During filming, the crew captured Platt preparing one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, Panko-Crusted Fresh Alaskan Halibut, along with additional interviews in the dining room. The finished episode will air extensively across ABR’s Restaurant Network social media channels, as well as on Midway Mercantile’s Facebook page at a later date.

Founded seven years ago, Midway Mercantile has become known for its cozy farmhouse-style atmosphere, stone hearth oven, and inventive New American cuisine with continental flair. Popular items on the menu include Parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin, hearth-roasted Scottish salmon, and Juanito’s fish tacos. The restaurant also hosts events such as clam bakes, wine dinners, and fundraising dinners in partnership with wineries.

Platt, who previously operated a restaurant in Seattle for 17 years before relocating to Midway, said the recognition affirms the restaurant’s mission of bringing people together over food.

The finished episode will premiere later this year on America’s Best Restaurants’ Restaurant Network social media channels and Midway Mercantile’s Facebook page, where updates will be shared.

About Midway Mercantile Restaurant:

Located in an early 20th-century building at 99 E Main St., Midway, Utah, Midway Mercantile offers farm-to-table dining in a family-friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit www.midwaymercantile.com or call (435) 222-8003.

About America’s Best Restaurants:

Based in Florence, Kentucky, ABR is a national media and marketing company that travels the country to tell the stories of locally owned, independent restaurants. With more than 2,000 episodes filmed, ABR connects restaurants with new audiences through its ABR Roadshow and extensive digital presence. Learn more at www.americasbestrestaurants.com

SNAPPED: Summit County Search and Rescue hold training exercise for backcountry rescues

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A day in the life of Search and Rescue is unpredictable, especially when calls come in from the backcountry. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team met in Kamas on Wednesday for a training exercise to help prepare crews for a variety of medical events.

The SAR team was joined by South Summit Fire/EMS and Intermountain Life Flight, who provided a helicopter on scene.

The scenario-based training aimed to “enhance interagency coordination, refine patient extraction and evacuation procedures, and improve medical response capabilities in rugged terrain,” according to Summit County SAR.

The exercises included aerial search operations conducted by the drone team, ground and mounted Search and Rescue response, tactical medical scenarios, and helicopter safety and loading/unloading training.

All photos by TownLift photographer Randi Sidman-Moore.

Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing has been caught, Trump says

OREM, Utah (AP) — The suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination has been captured, President Donald Trump said Friday, representing a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.

“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Channel. He said a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in to authorities.

“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting. Cox, a Republican, said the suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs

The suspect in custody in connection with Kirk’s killing is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Calls to telephone numbers listed for Robinson in public records rang unanswered.

The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately comment, but a news conference in Utah, where the killing took place on a college campus this week, was planned for later Friday. News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person’s whereabouts.

Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, based in Arizona.

Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.

Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday’s shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.

“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.
Grisly video shared online

The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on grisly videos that spread on social media.

The videos show Kirk, who was influential in rallying young Republican voters, speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a college-age appearance, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed the person then walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk’s family Thursday in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organization is based. Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral. Details have not been announced.
Kirk was taking questions about gun violence

Kirk was a conservative provocateur who became a powerful political force among young Republicans and was a fixture on college campuses, where he invited sometimes-vehement debate on social issues.

One such provocative exchange played out immediately before the shooting as Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about gun violence.

The debate hosted by Turning Point at the Sorensen Center on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour.”

The event generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”
Attendees barricaded themselves in classrooms

Some attendees who bolted after the gunshot rushed into two classrooms full of students. They used tables to barricade the door and to shield themselves in the corners. Someone grabbed an electric pencil sharpener and wrapped the cord tightly around the door handle, then tied the sharpener to a chair leg.

On campus Thursday, the canopy stamped with the slogan Kirk commonly used at his events — “PROVE ME WRONG” — stood, disheveled.

Meanwhile, the shooting continued to draw bipartisan condemnation as Democratic officials joined Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the attack, which unfolded during a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties.

FBI seeks public’s help identifying person of interest in Charlie Kirk shooting

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk dies after being shot at Utah Valley University event

Never-before-skied, Deer Valley’s expansion progresses with Revelator Express install

PARK CITY, Utah — Deer Valley Resort celebrated a major milestone in its historic expansion project as helicopters installed lift towers for the new Revelator Express chairlift during a public viewing event last weekend.

The tower installation represents significant progress in the resort’s “Expanded Excellence” initiative, which officials say will create the largest ski resort expansion in history by more than doubling Deer Valley’s skiable terrain.

“Helicopters placing the lifts for our new Revelator Express lift was an unforgettable sight for our guests this past weekend, and it was an important milestone we were proud to share with them,” said Deer Valley Resort President & Chief Operating Officer Todd Bennett.

“With three months to go until Opening Day, our focus remains on our terrain expansion, which will give guests access to new, never-before-skied landscapes this winter season.”

The new Revelator Express lift on Park Peak will feature 16 towers, 86 chairs and a 4.33-minute ride time when completed. The chairlift will span 4,000 feet with a vertical rise of 1,556 feet.

The ambitious project will debut seven new chairlifts and 80 new ski runs this winter season. Combined with additions made since December 2024, the expansion will bring Deer Valley’s total to 10 new lifts and nearly 100 new runs.

When complete for the 2025-26 season, the resort will operate 31 chairlifts across more than 200 ski runs, seven bowls and 4,300 skiable acres. The expansion also includes the new East Village area, which will provide 1,200 day skier parking spaces.

The project represents one of the most significant developments in Utah’s ski industry, with Deer Valley joining other major resorts in expanding capacity to meet growing demand for winter recreation.

Park City Council reviews plans for 4-story building, mixed-use development in Bonanza Park

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Council discussed plans for a mixed-use development on five vacant acres in Bonanza Park, with the project expected to include more than 100 housing units and significant public green space.

The Park City Council met Sept. 5 with Brinshore Development to review site plans for the long-awaited project at the intersection of Kearns Boulevard and Bonanza Drive. The proposal dedicates approximately 70% of the site to public open space, with six buildings arranged around the perimeter and large green areas in the center, designed for community events.

The development would include between 106 and 126 housing units, depending on building height decisions, with council members discussing three density options. The project could feature all three-story buildings with 106 units, one four-story building with 115 units, or two four-story buildings with 126 units.

Council members expressed support for at least one four-story building on the southwest corner, which would require a zoning exception. The remaining structures along Bonanza Drive would stay at three stories to maintain a residential appearance from the main street.

The housing mix is designed to serve the local workforce, with units targeted at various income levels. About 60% would serve households earning 60% or less of area median income, 20% would target the 70-80% AMI range, and 20% would be market-rate units.

Brinshore envisions commercial spaces including a coffee shop at the northeast corner where a former Maverik gas station currently sits, and a brew pub restaurant with patio seating along Munchkin Road. Council members emphasized the importance of incorporating arts spaces and flexible commercial areas that could accommodate nonprofits and educational uses.

The central village green would span over two acres and be designed for both daily use and special events, with infrastructure for temporary vendors and lighting. Proposed amenities include seating areas, potential splash pad, public art installations and multi-use pathways.
Parking remains under discussion, with the developer proposing about 300 underground spaces and council members suggesting closer to 500 spaces to serve broader community needs.

However, council members asked to see more detailed renderings and requested sight line studies to assess visual impacts before making a final decision on building heights. The city council’s final work session with Brinshore is scheduled for Sept. 24.

The Bonanza Park site has remained undeveloped for years as city officials worked to find the right development partner and vision for the prominent location.

Utah museums seek historic election images for Smithsonian exhibit

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Utah Humanities is calling on residents to share historic photographs and artifacts related to voting, political campaigns, rallies and elections for an upcoming Smithsonian Institution exhibition.

The organization will host the Utah tour of Voices & Votes: Democracy in America, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program. The exhibition will run from March 2026 to March 2027 in five Utah communities.

Artifacts such as campaign pins, posters, ballots and ballot boxes, along with historic photographs, will help tell Utah’s story as part of the national traveling show. Items will be featured in a companion publication and local exhibits.

“Voices & Votes traces the bold American experiment of a government run by and for the people,” organizers said in an announcement. “The exhibition examines the influences that shaped the early days of American democracy and the changes that have occurred in the nearly 250 years since.”

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The exhibition will travel to the following venues:

March 28 – May 31, 2026: Utah Cultural Celebration Center, West Valley City

June 6 – August 9, 2026: Moab Arts & Recreation Center, Moab

August 15 – October 18, 2026: Museum of Uintah County, Vernal

October 24, 2026 – January 3, 2027: Museums at Union Station, Ogden

January 9 – March 28, 2027: Frontier Homestead State Park Museum, Cedar City

The exhibition is based on an original display by the National Museum of American History and is made possible in Utah by Utah Humanities. The Museum on Main Street initiative is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide with support from the U.S. Congress.

Residents with materials to contribute are asked to contact Megan van Frank at Utah Humanities at vanfrank@utahhumanities.org

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