This is my final update for the Cedar Valley Sentinel. I’m officially hanging up the gloves and will no longer be posting new stories to the site. While the Sentinel will remain online as an archive for the foreseeable future, it’s time for me to step aside. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll still be here in Eagle Mountain as an active part of the community, but I’m looking forward to discovering what that new role looks like. While I’m not handing the reins to a successor, I do want to introduce you to someone creating great local content in his own style: Colten McEwan of Eagle Mountain Value.
Here’s Colten, in his own words, so you can get to know him and his work.
Hi. I’m Colten McEwan, and I run Eagle Mountain Value.
When my family and I first considered moving out here to Eagle Mountain, we thought this would be a great place to be a first-time homebuyer, live here for 5-6 years, and then move on to what we’d probably believe at the time would be our dream home. But our thoughts and feelings towards Eagle Mountain have drastically changed since we moved here in 2023. And changed for the better. We now know that we’ve already found our forever home.
Now that I’ve been here for a couple of years, I’ve learned how much is going on here. I felt like I was learning something new almost every week. I figured I probably wasn’t the only one. So I started a newsletter to share what I’ve been learning about Eagle Mountain and its value. Which is why I like to call my newsletter a Valueletter.
Here’s a bit about me. I moved into City Center in September of 2023 with my wife, our five kids, now ages eleven down to almost two, and standard poodle. I’m 36 and was born and raised in Utah. During the day I work for BioUtah, the state’s life sciences trade association. At night, I’m either writing this newsletter or cleaning my house. For some reason, our home has become the neighborhood children’s playhouse. We absolutely love it, even if it does come with the cost of extra chores.
Outside of work, I’m usually playing basketball, rolling dice at a D&D night, or shuffling through Magic the Gathering decks. I listen to almost any kind of music, from metalcore to opera. And if I’m not listening to music, then you’ll probably find me listening to a podcast.
My career has taken a winding path. I started in music studying jazz, then moved into biochemistry and research, and eventually found that what I loved most was helping other people see the value of what researchers do. That pulled me into project management and business development, which is where I’ve strengthened my skills at communicating value to those around me. Looking back, I believe that my winding career path made me a jack of all trades, which I think describes me well.
I love learning, but what I love even more is sharing what I learn. I want to turn what I know into something useful for someone else. That’s been true for me whether I was sharing music, scientific discoveries, or my support for the life science community. The part I love most about writing the Valueletter is when a reader tells me they learned something they wouldn’t have known otherwise. That’s the whole point.
I’ve got to give a huge shoutout to my mom, who is my inspiration for writing hyperlocal newsletters. She started one in Bountiful called the Bountiful Buzz, and watching her do it inspired me to start one here. My Valueletter goes out twice a week, Monday and Thursday. I try to cover the things that impact my neighbors the most. No politics, no filler, just what I believe you need to know to understand our awesome city and the value that’s found here. And it only takes 3-5 minutes to read.
If you’ve trusted Mike’s voice over the years, I would love the chance to earn that same trust. You can find me at eaglemountainvalue.com. Subscribing is free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
Thanks, Mike, for everything you’ve built. And to the Cedar Valley Sentinel readers, I look forward to helping you connect to the value of our city.
See you around,
Colten
Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.