Julia Sumer, of Tampa, Florida, moves blocks of ice, which she will use to conceal a trash can, as the Midway Ice Castles are created Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at Homestead Resort in Midway.

January is usually a slow month at newspapers, but this January kept me running.

Typically, January is a major lull period. Christmas and New Years is over, people are just getting back to work and school, and things tend to be a bit lethargic. Breaking news changed that lull for us at the Daily Herald this past month.

Most notably, Provo Police Officer Joseph Shinners was shot and killed while trying to apprehend a suspect on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. A death of any first responder can be heartbreaking for a community, and the Provo community was particularly shocked due to Utah County generally being known as one of the "safest places in America". The events that followed his death kept my boss, Evan Cobb, and I on our toes and balancing daily assignments and coverage of the slain local police officer. Evan and I tag-teamed coverage of Shinners' funeral. Funerals always choke me up, but it was a powerful experience photographing the funeral of Utah County's first police officer to be killed in the line of duty in roughly the last 100 years. An edit of the events following Shinners' death comprise the last seven images of this blog post.

Besides breaking news the Sundance Film Festival kept both Evan and I busy. The annual internationally-recognized film festival always tasks me with spending an entire day or two photographing street features and premieres. The film festival isn't the most photogenic event to cover (especially from a daily newspaper perspective that doesn't have opportunities for more in-depth feature or portraiture), but it's always an exciting atmosphere in which to be a part of the madness.

Otherwise, sporting events, general news events and a few weather-related features rounded out my first month in 2019. Winter is a wonderful time in Utah, and I look forward to (a hopefully not slow) February and shredding the slopes on my skis in my free time.

Deputy Chief Andrew Engemann demonstrates how to use the fire pole during an open house for the newly-built Pleasant Grove Fire Department held Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. The Pleasant Grove Fire Department, formed in 1906, toured community members throughout their new five-bay facility on Friday, and also handed out Station 71 commemorative coins. Another open house was held Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Attendees begin making their way toward the Wilkinson Student Center during the Martin Luther King Jr. Walk of Life and Commemoration held Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo. More than 300 students and community members came out for the annual event. "There's a special feeling at events like this where people come out for a meaningful purpose," said Hayley Aiono, cultural programs coordinator of BYU's Multicultural Student Services. "It's a unifying thing."

Actress Amy Ryan responds to a question as she's interviewed by a member of the media before the premiere of "Late Night" held Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at the Eccles Theatre in Park City.

Christine Wright, of Provo, holds up her sign along with other attendees as they cheer during the Women's Wave Rally held Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, outside the Historic Utah County Courthouse in Provo.

Hannah Hughes, of Orem, listens as a speaker talks about her own experience with rape during the Women's Wave Rally held Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, outside the Historic Utah County Courthouse in Provo.

Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez speaks as she gives her first State of the University address on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at UVU in Orem.

Carly Pigxton, 5, compares her height to that of a fire truck wheel as her mother, Erika, holds her brother, Colton, 2, all of Pleasant Grove, during an open house for the newly-built Pleasant Grove Fire Department held Friday, Jan. 18, 2019.

Kit Norris shovels snow on the driveway of his Vivian Park home Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in Provo Canyon.

Chloe Winget, 10, of Provo, packs snow into a snowball as she and her siblings play at South Fork Park on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in Provo Canyon.

Brigham Young University players celebrate after defeating the Gonzaga University Bulldogs 70-68 on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Utah Valley University center Va'e Malufau (33) reaches for a loose ball beside Chicago State University forward Alexandria Cliff (4) during a game between the Utah Valley University Wolverines and the Chicago State University Cougars held Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Maple Mountain's Brock Morris wrestles with American Leadership Academy's Lukus Carrillo in the 106-pound weight class during the Dollamur Utah All-Star Dual held Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Pleasant Grove forward Sydney Valgardson (2) reaches out for a loose ball beside Westlake guard Ashley Parrry (4) while they and others scramble for the ball during a game between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Westlake Thunder held Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at Pleasant Grove High School.

Brigham Young University libero Zach Hendrickson (6) celebrates a point during the Cougars' season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes held Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.

Brigham Young University forward Babalu Ugwu (14) takes a shot while contested by Gonzaga University forward LeeAnne Wirth (4) during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the Gonzaga University Bulldogs held Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Brigham Young University opposite hitter Gabi Garcia Fernandez (5) bumps the ball during the Cougars' season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes held Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.

Westlake guard Drake Allen (4) reacts after an official's call against the Thunder during a game between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Westlake Thunder held Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at Pleasant Grove High School.

Tony and Amanda Turecki, friends of the Shinners family from New Hampshire, stand together as they listen to a speaker during a candlelight vigil for recently-slain Provo Police officer Joseph Shinners held Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, outside the Provo Police Department. Officer Shinners was shot and killed during a shootout that occurred when he tried to apprehend a suspect last Saturday night at a Bed Bath & Beyond in Orem.

John Sullivan, a friend of the Shinners family from Massachusetts, wipes tears from his eyes as he listens to a speaker during a candlelight vigil for recently-slain Provo Police officer Joseph Shinners held Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, outside the Provo Police Department. Shinners died due to his injuries that he sustained in the shootout and the suspect was also wounded, but survived his injuries.

Lights shine from Y Mountain in Provo on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, the night before the funeral for recently-slain Provo police officer Joseph Shinners. 

Marta Burgess, of Orem, places a flag along 1200 West in Orem while a fellow volunteer gestures to lend a helping hand Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, as volunteers place flags and blue ribbons along the road as part of funeral preparations for recently-slain Provo police officer Joseph Shinners.

Honor guard members walk away from the casket of recently-slain Provo police officer Joseph Shinners after trading their posts with other officers during Shinners' funeral Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Kaylyn Shinners, wife of recently-slain Provo police officer Joseph Shinners, holds their one-year-old son, Logan, as she looks at her husband's casket in the hearse after Officer Shinners' funeral Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

The casket of recently-slain Provo police officer Joseph Shinners is put into the hearse after Shinners' funeral Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.