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Ribbon cutting for new Bear Lake monster sign hosted by community
By Bailey Daniels STATESMAN REPORTER
On April 25, skeptics, believers and those in between gathered in front of a Bear Lake home to witness the ribbon cutting of the official Bear Lake Monster sign. Located at 1499 S. Bear Lake Blvd in Garden City, the sign is the first of its kind in Utah.
The sign itself was supplied by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, with which Utah State University has a partnership. The foundation’s mission is to support the preservation and celebration of community history, as explained on wgpfoundation.org. The programs they offer vary from Hometown Heritage, Historic Transportation and Legends & Lore. The Bear Lake sign falls under the Legends & Lore category, and it is currently the only one in the state. If someone wants something in their community recognized with a sign from the foundation, they must apply and write a grant. The grant that allowed the recognition of the Bear Lake Monster was written by USU graduate instructor Melissa Anderson.
According to its designated Wikipedia page, the first official report of the Bear Lake Monster was published in Deseret News in 1868. The article claims Native Americans living in the area discovered it first but reports from white settlers further pushed the narrative. The monster’s alleged appearance has been compared to the likeness of a cow, walrus or crocodile.
It took Anderson over a year to complete the grant. “I spent a lot of time in the Fife Folklore Archives. They have the letter that Joseph C. Rich wrote to Deseret News to spread the news about the Bear Lake Monster,” Anderson said. “The hardest part was the location. It’s really difficult to try to get someone to let me put a 3-foot hole in their yard with a permanent 70-pound marker.”
Fortunately for Anderson, she was able to make contact with Brad and Jayne Davis, who own a home near the lake. They consented to the marker being placed in their front yard before it could be considered for approval by the foundation.
“As a kid, I remember coming up here every year for reunions, and it was always a big deal, like, ‘Don’t stay out in the water too long or the Bear Lake Monster will eat you,’” Brad said. “It’s just really cool. We were really honored when Melissa called us, and the city was really accommodating.”
As the owner of the house, Brad was the one to use an oversized pair of scissors to cut the ribbon in front of the sign. About 30 people gathered to witness the occasion, including students, family members and locals.
Another USU student named Drake Hansen is also trying to submit a grant to the foundation to commemorate Mendon’s May Day Celebration. Like the one Anderson submitted, Hansen’s group is required to have a place to put the marker before it can be accepted.
“Unlike Melissa’s experience of having to just call people on the street and be like, ‘Hello, can I put a marker at your
personal house?’ We’re like, ‘Hello to the city. Can we put something on city property that says how great the city is?”
Hansen said.
Despite believing this would be an easy pitch, Hansen and his fellow classmates have had to attend many town hall meetings. They’re hoping to submit the grant in the fall.
Anderson and Hansen were inspired to write their respective grants as members of the USU folklore program. Jeannie Thomas, USU professor and folklorist, was present to speak at the ribbon cutting.
“We’re all about the importance of story. If you really want people to remember something, research tells us that telling them a story will allow them to remember more than facts,” Thomas said. “The Pomeroy Foundation wants stories to be remembered, commemorated and used as a draw for cultural and heritage tourism.”
Anderson was inspired to recognize the Bear Lake
Monster because she is not originally from Cache Valley. She enjoyed learning more about the local history and the influence legends can have on a community. Although she may not believe the monster itself, she does believe in its effect.
“Whether the story of the Bear Lake Monster is true or not, there’s truth in its impact, which is really awesome,” Anderson said. “And I think monsters are fun.”
Bailey Daniels is studying technology systems. She loves Lana Del Rey, sweet treats and all things whimsical.
— bailey.daniels@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Bailey Daneils
Jeannie Thomas and Melissa Anderson stand in front of the Bear Lake Monster sign in Garden City on April 25.
Utah State football players take next step to NFL
By Carson Frost STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State’s football program is celebrating a successful NFL Draft season, with five former Aggies taking the next step in their football careers, including wide receiver Jalen Royals, who was selected in the fourth round of the draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Royals, the No. 133 overall pick, has become the first Aggie drafted since quarterback Jordan Love in 2020 and the highest-drafted USU wide receiver since Kevin Curtis in 2003. The Powder Springs, Georgia native capped off a stellar college career with 1,914 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, ranking among the top receivers in Utah State history.
Known for his explosive playmaking, Royals led the nation in 2023 with seven touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards. Despite a season-ending injury in 2024, he managed 834 receiving yards in just seven games. Royals is now the 124th Aggie to be drafted and the fourth to be picked by the Chiefs organization. In addition to Royals, four other former Aggies earned opportunities with NFL teams as undrafted free agents or rookie minicamp invitees:
Wyatt Bowles, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman, signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Bowles is a durable and versatile lineman who played over 1,500 snaps in college. Known for his footwork and balance, he has shown the ability to handle power rushers and move well in space.
Jacob Garcia, a long snapper from Anaheim, California, received an invitation to the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp. Garcia played in 52 games and was on the Wuerffel Trophy and Patrick Mannelly Award watch lists in 2024.
Spencer Petras, who transferred to Utah State from Iowa, earned minicamp invites from both the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran quarterback set multiple school records in 2024, including a single-game mark of 41 completions and a completion percentage that ranks first in school history.
Kyrese White, wide receiver and special teams contributor, was invited to the Denver Broncos’ rookie minicamp. White had 526 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his senior season and was able to showcase his explosiveness and all-purpose yardage. Rookie minicamps are short, non-contact sessions held shortly after the draft, where teams evaluate newly drafted players, undrafted free agents and tryout invitees. For undrafted players, it’s a chance to prove they belong on the team’s 90-man offseason roster. For tryout players, it’s even tougher, as these athletes must immediately impress to earn a contract. While only Royals was drafted, all five Aggies now face the next challenge of NFL evaluation. For Bowles, Garcia, Petras and White, rookie minicamps offer a narrow but crucial opportunity to earn a roster spot. Each will need to shine in a compressed, competitive setting where quick learning and standout traits are key.
As they begin their professional journeys, Utah State fans will be watching closely to see which Aggies can make the leap from Logan to the NFL spotlight.
Carson Frost is a transfer student from Denver studying journalism. His family originally hails from Los Angeles, and he is a passionate fan of the Lakers, Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles. He loves writing, making music, hitting the gym and taking road trips.
— carson.frost@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Jalen Royals plays in the Utah State vs. Boise State game at Albertsons Stadium in Boise on Oct. 5, 2024.
Opinion: Ways to enjoy summer break
By Hazel Harris STATESMAN REPORTER
As a southern Utah native used to red sand and sometimes triple-digit temperatures, I was surprised by the perfect day when I first visited Logan in the summertime, a place I often heard my dad refer to as the “Great White North.” I floated on First Dam and enjoyed the beauty of Cache Valley in a way I didn’t know was possible. In this spirit of summer, I want to share some tips and tricks for recreating and enjoying this upcoming warm season.
Tip number one: Get involved in your community!
Whether it’s a club you want to join, a new class you want to take or somewhere you are interested in volunteering or helping out, discover ways to make connections and find belonging in your area. My personal favorite place to volunteer and feel involved with is the Cache Humane Society. They offer opportunities to take pets from the shelter on day trips and the
chance to volunteer inside the society with any needs they may have there. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to spend some time with a furry little — or big — friend? More information on how to get involved can be found on their website cachehumane.org
Tip number two: Attend local events
Cache Valley is a hub of local activities and neighborhood gatherings, and these often ramp up in the summer because it’s warm enough to hold events outside. Some things I am excited for this summer include the Lyric Repertory Company and the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market’s upcoming seasons.
Lyric Rep has four shows they are working on this summer, including “Bright Star” by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell and “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. Both of those shows will play during the summer at the Morgan Theatre in the Utah State University Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center. More information about the other shows playing and the dates and times of the Lyric Rep’s summer set can be found at usu.edu/lyricrep.
The gardeners’ market began its season on May 10, the Saturday before Mother’s Day, and will continue every Saturday through mid-October. The market is held behind the Historic Courthouse at 199 North Main St. from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Throughout the upcoming weekends, the market will welcome musicians to perform live for patrons of the market, which sounds pretty exciting to me.
Tip number three: Recreate responsibly Logan is a hub for outdoor recreation, with a wide and impressive variety of hiking and biking trails and chances to play, paddle and fish in the water. One of the most important things to remember when enjoying the great outdoors is to recreate responsibly. Places around Logan that people enjoy recreating at, like Bear Lake, get thousands of visitors. According to recreateresponsibly.org, “It’s important to remain understanding, respectful, and open to learning from others.” Commit to making their visit, as well as your own, enjoyable. You can do this by cleaning up after yourself, leaving a place better than you found it and considering how your actions will impact the place you are recreating in and the people around you trying to enjoy it.
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time from now until school is back in full session, please remember to be safe and have fun!
Hazel Harris is a junior whose favorite season is summer for reasons including the ability to paddleboard, a UV index higher than five and the Fourth of July, to name a few.
— hazel.harris@usu.eduu
“Hire me,” says Jack Burton, a skilled overthinker and workaholic. He has made neat little visuals from the Kilby Block Party — email him for a quote.
jack.burton@usu.edu
Kilby Block Party 2025
