July 2026 | Vol. 20 Iss. 7
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By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com Citing rising costs, the city is proposing a 25% property tax increase for which the average home would pay an additional $8 monthly.
T
All city parks and play equipment have to be properly maintained or updated in order to limit liability risks. The Unity Playground equipment at Draper Park has a special rubber mat underneath that must be replaced every two years. (Courtesy Draper City)
he city of Draper has proposed a property tax increase, the second in 18 years. In 2024, the city increased taxes 20% to fund public safety, specifically fire and police. This proposed 25% increase would add roughly $2.7 million to the city’s budget. Aug. 12 has been set as the Truth and Taxation Hearing for Draper City. “Everything has gone up. We’ve had many years where we’ve not needed to take more money from you as a citizen, but now we’re in a whole different world,” Mayor Troy Walker said. For the median Draper home valued at $807,000, the increase would add about $8 monthly or $104 annually. The average business would pay approximately $19.50 more monthly. The mayor projects he’ll personally pay an additional $16 per month. “I don’t like to pay taxes more than anyone else,
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but Draper is the single best place I’ve ever lived,” Walker said. The mayor explained how the city finances its budget. “To balance the budget, we have a fund balance. We’ve always had a healthy fund balance, and last year we drew a couple million from it to balance the city’s general budget. We’re a blended budget, we take all our revenues and put it in one pot and try to pay all the bills. It’s a mix of sales tax revenue and property tax. We’ve been fortunate where we’ve always had a big sales tax collection and we’ve been able to cover everything. Sales tax has primarily leveled off simply because we’re running out of retail space in Draper proper,” he said. The city would have the same budget Continued on page 6
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COMMON GROUND
The Pot Calling the Kettle a Rainbow
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. As normal for June in Utah, there was little rainfall, but that didn’t stop tears of the far left from crying throughout the month. What were they upset about this time? Gov. Cox decided June (2026) should be Fidelity Month. Did the left feel betrayed by one of their biggest supporters when he didn’t recognize their month-long orgy? His declaration reads: Whereas, a recent opinion poll of Americans showed that support for traditional values has significantly declined; Whereas, a majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement; Whereas, fidelity means dedication to faith, family and country; Whereas, it is imperative that we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of fidelity; Whereas, John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, ‘‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’’; Whereas, the survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism; and Whereas, it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values; Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox,
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John J. Walker Common Ground
governor of the great state of Utah, do hereby declare June, 2026 as Fidelity Month in Utah. If you imagined Gov. Cox activated his taxpayer-funded propaganda machine and waged war against the LGBTQ+ community by shoving his new declaration down everyone’s throat, it would be exactly that, your imagination. No politician has made such a lackluster declaration since Clinton used his air quotes. The Governor simply posted the declaration to his website. But that didn’t stop people from feeling butthurt about the proclamation. As if the Governor’s track record had been forgotten: 2021: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2022: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2023: The Governor declares the month of June, Pride Month in Utah. 2024: The Governor declares June the month of “Bridge Building”. 2025: No declaration by the Governor, but 42 miles south of the State Capitol Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, was assassinated on Sept. 10. Note: the accused assassin may have been aligned with the LGBTQ community.
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2026: The Governor declares the month of June, Fidelity Month. Now, let’s look at the track record of the LGBTQ+ community for the same time period. 2021: They mock the LDS culture and religious community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2022: They continue to mock LDS culture and community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2023: They continue their mocking of the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2024: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2025: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2026: Continue their mocking celebration of Pioneer Day. It’s probably the most consistent aspect of their culture, in a world where they add new colors to their flag and their acronym gets so large they just add a + sign. To get respect, you might have to give a little. Common Ground: The current political environment has tricked us, leaving us with two polar options. Either we have to gay bash or we have to run through the street dressed like Richard Simmons, waving a rainbow flag. However, it seems like there’s a lot of ground in the middle. That ground might be the area most of us occupy. I think most Utahns can agree the
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LGBTQ+ community should be recognized; they should be allowed to celebrate their community. But can we make it less about their sexuality and focus more on their suffrage, rights, and successes? Those things we can all celebrate. As a mutual sign of respect, can’t all members of the state come together to celebrate and balance religious aspects with the suffrage, rights and successes within the communities? Those celebrations leave room for the journey of the pioneers in the mid-1800s and the similarities to that of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-to late 1900s. Both suffered persecution. Both fought the federal government’s overreach as to who they can marry. Should Utah celebrate Pride Month? Of course. Should the Governor have declared the month Pride Month? Maybe. He doesn’t own the month; he can declare it anything he wants and we can celebrate each day as we please. Equally important are values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement. Are they currently at risk? Of course. Let’s celebrate those values. So thank you, Gov.Cox, for supporting these key values and declaring June Fidelity Month. Let’s celebrate it and next year let’s get even louder about our celebration, maybe a drone show over the Capitol or a UFC fight in the rotunda. Thank you, Governor, for supporting Pride Month for five years. We hope you have not given up on it, and our families and community.
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continued from front page whether the property tax increase is approved or not. The difference is whether the city draws from the fund balance to continue to operate, thereby decreasing that “rainy day” fund, versus increasing revenue to maintain a higher fund balance. Walker cited the August 2023 summer rain storm that lasted 24 minutes but did $3.2 million in damage. It washed away entire sections of the Bangerter Extension roadway. “Fortunately, we’d been smart with the fund balance over the years, and we were able to immediately hire a crew to make those repairs,” he said. Walker points to “a lot of road miles and a complex water system” for further reasons to keep a strong fund balance. In March 2026, the state reimbursed the city $2.9 million for the August 2023 storm. “Because this is a one-time revenue source, the city put the revenue to one-time expenses,” Finance Director John Vuyk said. Before creating the budget, the city asked all departments (excepting public safety) to show what a 5% cut to their budgets would entail. “Some of the cuts were taken, some were
Draper’s Finance Director John Vuyk presented the city’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 tentative budget for public comment, including a proposed property tax rate increase, at the June 2 Draper City Council meeting. “There isn’t a council member who hasn’t dug in on this budget and asked questions. They own this,” Mayor Troy Walker said. A Truth and Taxation Hearing has been set for Aug. 12. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
detrimental or negatively impacted desired outcomes and were not taken,” Vuyk said. The current budget sets aside a 5% compensation increase for eligible city employees (not including police and fire who receive merit increases based on their proposed salary tables) made up of 2.5% merit adjustment and 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA). Public safety once again comes in as the biggest budget increase. Walker gave fire trucks as an example. “When we started our fire department, you could buy a new fire truck for $500,000 and get it here within one month. Today, the same truck costs $2 million and you wait two years to get it,” he said. He also cited the cost of garbage trucks, snow plows, police cars and other city vehicles, saying the city has figured out “the best way to buy cars, drive them and sell them at the right time.” Walker said the number of police officers needed in the city and the cost of them has gone up significantly. “This budget reflects the true cost of our public safety. Good, trained officers became very valuable and cities started cutthroat competitions with each other. We increased the number of officers and their pay. We’re not the highest paid, but we’re competitive,” he said. Councilmember Fred Lowry said the increase allows for hiring three more firefighters to reduce overtime and fatigue. “Those three firefighters improve morale and retention, but if we remove those three, it impacts our ISO fire rating which will undoubtedly change your homeowner’s insurance to cost much higher than what this tax increase is,” Lowry said. ISO is an international organization that develops standards for products and services to ensure quality, safety and efficiency. Walker said on the ISO rating scale, 10 is the worst, one is best, and Draper has an ISO rating of two. Per state protocol, the city introduced the fiscal year 2026-27 tentative budget including the proposed property tax increase for public comment at the June 2 council meeting. Approximately 10 people attended to express support or opposition. Jared Harper said, “No one in government has the stomach to cut the budget or looks at
Mayor Troy Walker cited the rising cost of employees, materials, vehicles and services as reasons for the proposed property tax increase. Walker said new fire trucks used to cost $500,000 and now cost $2 million with a two-year wait time because of supply chain issues. “You have to buy a new one every seven years,” Walker said. (Courtesy Draper Fire Department)
wants versus needs, but in tough times you have to make a decision between those. With people’s budgets being squeezed…you spend money in other areas that aren’t necessary. I’d rather money would go to raises for police and fire.” He suggested Draper Days go back to one night rather than two and city work such as sidewalk repair be outsourced. “You haven’t had a raise for a long time. I’m not overly concerned about the increase you’re proposing. I trust that you’re doing the best you can under the circumstances,” said Reed Gibby. “I am in favor of increasing taxes should those taxes benefit the citizens, not the millionaire developers who are willing to cut corners on the few acres we have left,” said Tyler Ashby. Penny and Terry Rasmussen spoke against the increase. Terry questioned how new development including new businesses and homes in Draper aren’t offsetting the taxes. Dan Portwood said, “Property taxes are really low and yet I find the people of Utah think a little bit of property tax is too high. But if you want a premium city, you have to pay for it. Draper is literally the last bastion great city in Utah and to add a little extra money to make it stay that way is a wise investment.” Last year, the city attempted to increase the tax rate and followed a checklist from
the State Tax Commission. “We thought we did everything we needed to do, but not on the checklist was a slide that required us to show what every other entity in the state was taxing. Because we didn’t show that slide, our increase was nullified. If we’d have had that money, we’d be in a better situation,” Walker said. He estimates the city lost nearly a million dollars in revenue as a result. Draper wasn’t the only city or state entity whose tax increase was nullified for that reason. “This is my first time going through the budget process. All the information is on our website including greater increases in spending than in revenue and a lot of that is in public safety. I asked a lot of questions. Crime statistics show now that we’re fully staffed… we live in a safer place. Burglaries and car break-ins have all come down because of that investment. I don’t want to raise taxes but I can see the definite benefits. I appreciate the things I’m learning about where and why this money is spent,” said Councilmember Kathryn Dahlin. “We are still performing at a level of service I think is appropriate to this city and we will remain among the four lowest tax rates for cities (in Salt Lake County). We’re going to need future tax increases to get us balanced. We’re trying 25% this year because maybe our sales tax will grow,” Walker said. l
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View the ‘USS CANstitution’ at Draper Senior Center through August In celebration of America’s 250th, visitors can view a replica of the USS Constitution constructed from donated shelf-stable food items. By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
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Volunteers worked to assemble a replica of the USS Constitution made out of donated canned goods at Draper Senior Center as part of Salt Lake County and AIA Utah’s 2026 CANstruction project. (Katherine Weinstein/City Journals)
he “USS CANstitution,” a replica of the USS Constitution made out of canned goods, is on display at Draper Senior Center through August. The project is part of a joint effort between AIA Utah, the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and Salt Lake County as a way to mark America’s Semiquincentennial in a way that is fun, creative and beneficial to Utahns in need. Volunteers have designed and built giant sculptures out of canned goods representing iconic images from American history at eight locations throughout the county. The canned goods used in the sculptures will be donated to Utah Food Bank. As stated on the Salt Lake County website, “Every can counts toward our goal of 250,000 meals for Utah families.” TSA Architects, based in Salt Lake City, is one of the sponsors for the CANstruction program. Mark Sabouri, Director of Business Development at the firm, volunteered his
time to help assemble the “USS CANstitution” at Draper Senior Center. “Our team name is ‘CANtankerous,’” he said. “It’s a lot of fun and it’s for a good cause.” “There are over 4,000 cans and packets in the sculpture,” he explained. The ship’s sails are made out of packets of salmon and tuna. In addition to TSA Architects, the CANstruction project’s sponsors include Trim Art, Wallboard Specialties, ROPPE and Reaveley Engineers. Other CANstruction sculptures are on display at the J. L. Sorenson Rec Center in Herriman, the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City, the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan, the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville, the Holladay Lions Rec Center, the Salt Lake City Sports Complex and the Magna Kennecott Senior Center. “This is actually a competition,” Sabouri explained. Some of the other CANstruction sculptures around the county include replicas of the Liberty Bell, the moon landing and a view of the Wasatch mountains. Members of the public can view the sculptures, make donations and vote for their favorites online at www.saltlakecounty.gov/newsroom/ canned-food-sculptures-now-on-displayacross-salt-lake-county-through-end-of-july-photos-and-videos-available/.l
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Corner Canyon High senior Grace Christensen wins the International DECA title with quick thinking, confidence and creativity.
Grace under pressure
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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s some seniors in high school spend the final days before graduation slowing down, Corner Canyon High’s Grace Christensen was still balancing tests, student government responsibilities and a packed schedule. Her drive and determination helped the senior accomplish something no one in the school’s DECA program had done before: win an international DECA title. Her first place “glass” award at the International Career Development Conference was in Principles of Hospitality & Tourism, where she competed against more than 220 students. “I was shocked,” she said. “I had no idea what my competition was. I had low expectations of myself even though I had won state, I was going up against the best of the best from the country.” Christensen admits DECA was never the focus of her high school extracurricular experience. She joined the program mainly to attend “power lunches,” where local business owners spoke about their careers and experiences. “I always found those super interesting,”
To her surprise, Corner Canyon High senior Grace Christensen won Principles of Hospitality & Tourism contest at the International Career Development Conference. (Photo courtesy of Molly George)
she said, but chose not to compete because of her involvement with swimming, student government and other activities. This year, she decided to take a chance. “It’s my senior year, and I wanted to do it with my sister,” she said. “Before I wasn’t confident enough to do it. I thought, ‘I’m not smart enough,’ but this year I decided to go for it. I had nothing to lose,” she said. Freshman sister, Ruth, partnered with
her sister on “Just Read Co.,” a subscription box service designed to encourage teenagers to read. Though the project narrowly missed qualifying for internationals, Ruth competed internationally in a role play event. Christensen competed in Hospitality and Tourism, a role-playing event requiring students to quickly analyze business scenarios and present solutions to judges. With her prompts, she presented solutions involving data mining to improve hotel services and workplace professionalism with employee phone usage. Despite it being her first year competing, Christensen earned a 97 and 91 on her role plays and combined it with a written test score of 92. She and other top finalists were announced to take the stage. “I thought, ‘if I’m going to get anything, it’s probably third,’” she said. “When they called me as first, I was shocked: ‘you said my name?’ My sister was filming and going crazy. Looking back, I think half of it is making yourself stand out, because they’re hearing the same thing over and over. I was creative and highlighted each of the standards.” She created a page per standard with visuals, statistics and graphs to support her information. While the DECA title brought excitement, the Advanced Placement student attributes her success to other experiences.
“Student government has been one of the biggest things that has grown my self-confidence,” Christensen said. “Through a lot of awkward interactions, I found my voice and my confidence and grew comfortable in who I was. This confidence allowed me to stand sure in front of the judges and speak about a topic I only had time to study for 10 minutes.” Christensen said her parents helped shape her confidence by focusing more on effort than achievements. She recalls running for student body president in fifth grade, losing, but celebrating the experience with her family. “They provide unconditional love and let me know it’s OK whatever happens,” she said. “They reward the effort; they know I’ll give my best.” Christensen’s resilience and empathy comes from moving as a child, growing up in Tennessee, Virginia and Utah. “It taught me to be the one to pull people in and to never forget what that’s like,” she said. Christensen plans to attend Brigham Young University on a Presidential Scholarship. Though she’s still deciding her major, the lessons she’s learned matter more than the award itself. “At the end of the day, the DECA glass is just DECA glass,” she said. “It’s fun and exciting, but it’s not long term. If you work hard and try your best, natural things will happen that will reward you for your work.” l
From Utah to the world stage
Corner Canyon High takes a moment to work on their robot in the pit before the final rounds at the Utah regional qualifier. (Photo and article by Julie Slama/City Journals)
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orner Canyon students competed at the FIRST Robotics World Championship alongside his teammates, culminating years of learning, problem-solving and perseverance. The Houston-based championship brought together about 600 of the best robotics teams from around the world. Corner Canyon, and other teams, spent weeks building and refining robots to compete in a challenge. Success requires not only engineering and programming expertise, but also teamwork, strategy and thinking under pressure. There also are
Page 8 | July 2026
business and outreach components. Corner Canyon Charger Robotics didn’t advance to the world championships even after being selected as one of the teams in the finals at the Utah qualifier, but senior Jefferson Nelson valued his robotics experience. “When I was a sophomore, I joined robotics because it sounded fun, and I want to be an aerospace engineer,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot of valuable skills with robotics, but also with communication and teamwork. Robotics has become a good home and community for me.” l
Corner Canyon showcases students’ artwork Hours of dedication went into the works highlighted at the high school art show.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Corner Canyon senior Jess Foster was one of dozens of students who recently put their talent on display for classmates to admire. Foster’s piece, “Agni Kai,” explored the duality of nature. “This one was inspired by a film that I’ve watched, where the thought was how different choices can lead you to different paths, or your images,” said the student who has studied art for two years, submitted it with his Advanced Placement art portfolio and is thinking of minoring in art at the University of Oregon in the fall. “I liked making the art and putting it up; it’s fun to see everybody’s pieces and what they’ve done.” Foster’s piece joined other paintings, photographs, woodworking, chalk art and more at the school art show. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Draper City Journal
JULY 10 - 18 A W E E K O F FA M I LY F U N
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • FREE ACTIVITIES • FOOD • CELEBRATION
Join Draper City for live concerts, parades, fireworks, and more this summer. With events and activities new to 2026, this will be a Draper Days like you’ve never experienced before!
Join us for these activities & more! Horse Pull
July 13 | Ballard Arena Free activity, including a petting zoo, climbing wall, and bucking bronco ride
Historic Walking Tour
JULY 16
JULY 17
JULY 18
Heritage Banquet
& Children’s Bike Parade Children’s Activities Live Entertainment Stunt Shows
with Redwood Revival, Draper Idol winners, and Sadie Dahl
followed by a drone show
July 14 Enjoy a walking tour of historic sites in Draper City.
with the Gina Marie Osmond Band
followed by fireworks
July 15 | Draper Elementary Meet your neighbors and learn more about your community. Tickets required.
Children’s Bike Parade
July 16 | Draper Elementary Free activity — parade route is on Willow Creek Trail and ends at Draper Park
Park Activities
Pickleball Tournament
July 10 & 11 | Southfork Park Space is limited for this men’s, women’s and coed tournament! Register now for $40/team.
Draper Idol & Movie Night
July 15 | 7:15 PM | Amphitheater Watch local singers compete to be named Draper Idol, and catch Zootopia 2 under the stars.
5K Fun Run
July 11 | 7:00 AM | Day Barn Runners, walkers, and leashed dogs are welcome. Register now for $27/participant.
Parade
July 18 | 9:00 AM | Fort Street Join us for this family-favorite event, running 1.5 miles on Fort Street between Stokes Ave. and Pioneer Rd.
Strider Bike Race
July 11 | 9:00 AM | Ballard Arena This exciting race is geared directly to kids ages 3 - 5. Register now for $30/participant.
July 17 & 18 | Draper Park Enjoy the climbing wall, stunt shows, face painting, pony rides and more!
Pancake Breakfast
July 18 | Draper Park Join our amazing firefighters for a free pancake breakfast after the parade!
Pie Baking Contest
3-on-3 Basketball
July 18 | APA Campus #3 Test your skills and teamwork in an intense battle on the court! Register now for $70/team.
July 18 | Draper Park Show off your baking skills with a delicious pie and win a prize!
get full details at draperutah.gov/draperdays DraperJournal .com
July 2026 | Page 9
Queen Mikelle Molen is a 4.0 student and a member of the track team heading into her senior year at CCHS. (Courtesy Draper City)
Attendant Anna Rivelles will be a senior at CCHS where she’s involved in many clubs and maintains a 4.0 GPA. (Courtesy Draper City)
Kianna Conrad is returning to Miss Draper royalty for a second year. Conrad is a recent graduate of BYU going on to nursing school. (Courtesy Draper City)
Skylar Zamalloa was chosen for a third year as a member of the Miss Draper royalty. She’s pursuing an MBA at the University of Utah. (Courtesy Draper City)
With the crown comes connection to community for Miss Draper royalty Four academically strong, very involved and community-focused young women make up the new Miss Draper Scholarship Program royalty. By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
C
onnection to community and commitment to service are common among this year’s Miss Draper Scholarship Program winners who range in age from high school seniors to college graduates. Queen Mikelle Molen and Royal Attendants Anna Rivelles, Kianna Conrad and Skylar Zamalloa were crowned May 16. Despite being her first time trying out for the scholarship program, Molen took home the biggest crown. “I’ve always wanted to give back to Draper, so being crowned Miss Draper is an incredible opportunity to do so,” she said. Molen is a lifelong Draper resident and 4.0 student heading into her senior at Corner Canyon High School (CCHS). She’s a member of the varsity track and field team and served as pole vault team captain. She’s in clubs for future health professionals (HOSA) and business (DECA) as well as Junior Women in Business. “I’m such a believer in being involved. You get to meet so many different types of people and learn from them,” she said. As a senior, Molen will take EMT classes through Canyons Technical Education Center (CTEC). She was named Most Valuable Player for flag football. “That’s a fun one,” she said. She’s also involved with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). “One of my friends had cancer and her treatment wasn’t working. This program is what saved her life,” she said. Molen performs cheek swabs on willing individuals so they can be added to a
Page 10 | July 2026
national registry for marrow donors. As queen, Molen will be promoting her Draper Ready service initiative. “I’ve always been amazed by the beauty of our mountains and the outdoor lifestyle we have, but as I’ve gotten involved in medical training and spent more time outdoors, I’ve realized how quickly a beautiful day can turn dangerous. Every resident deserves the ability to protect themselves and others in moments that matter,” she said. Through Draper Ready, she plans to expand access to first aid, CPR and Stop the Bleed training. Rivelles was born in Brazil where she lived until moving to Draper at age 9. She’ll be a senior this fall at CCHS and she will have accumulated enough credits to graduate high school with an Associate’s degree in Business through Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Her high school involvement includes clubs such as Speech and Debate, Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), DECA and HOSA. At CCHS, she helped start two new clubs, one for Spanish and one for weightlifting. Through a special arrangement, she’s also a member Juan Diego Catholic High School’s sideline cheer team. During her first high school debate tournament, Rivelles met Anna Page who was Miss Draper at the time. “She told me about the program and how you do a community service project, so this year I decided to apply,” she said. Rivelles said she’s “passionate about business,” inspired by her role-model-business-owner mom. She anticipates studying finance or economics in college. Rivelles created the service project Path to Prosperity to teach financial literacy in elementary through high school classrooms. She also started a Google classroom so people could learn from home. “I feel like knowing the basics of how to make money, how to
manage money and how not to lose it is very important. A lot of people don’t have access to adequate financial literacy. Growing up in Brazil, I saw a lot of people who had great potential but lacked access to adequate financial literacy, so I wanted to make sure everyone in my community has access to that,” she said. Conrad is returning to Miss Draper royalty for a second year. She recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a psychology degree and plans to attend nursing school starting fall 2027. In the interim, she’ll take prerequisite nursing classes online. During her church mission, she visited an emergency room as a patient, a positive experience that led her to realize she’d like to work in an ER. “I want to be that person in someone else’s scary moment because they made my moment a lot less scary,” she said. Conrad works at a behavioral health hospital for patients with eating disorders. “I get to work with so many amazing patients, see their progress, and see their joy come back to them,” she said. Conrad said being part of Miss Draper has allowed her to connect with residents and even use her Spanish and Chinese language skills. “We’re always busy doing good things. That’s what made me want to do it again,” she said. Among her favorite activities are the June concerts at Draper Historic Park. This year, Conrad chose her service initiative Unity in the Community to create connections across cultures and communities within Draper. “I believe when people feel seen and valued, it strengthens mental wellness and creates a strong sense of belonging,” she said. She hopes to highlight diverse stories within Draper. “I think everyone has a story to tell, including your neighbor,” she said. Zamalloa is returning for her third and final year while working toward her MBA at U of U. “I truly believe Miss Draper is
unique. It has built my confidence and made me immerse myself in my community,” she said. Since the start, she’s been one of the older royal attendants, something she’s proud of. “It shows other girls no matter where you are in life, you can still do those things you want to do,” she said. While working toward her MBA she’s using her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing to help her parents with their automotive company. She’s also worked with her dad on “building up” her Jeep that she’s had in the Draper Days parade and the car show. “Being a female in the automotive field is awesome,” she said. Zamalloa’s service initiative this year is called Heart of Draper. “It’s all about recognizing and uplifting those who are the backbone of Draper City. We’ll be doing organized cheer-on moments and surprise acts of kindness and community recognition. My goal is to create a ripple effect where being supported inspires others to support those around them. Everyone loves having someone in their corner to cheer them on,” she said. Among her fondest Miss Draper memories is participating in the annual Daddy Daughter Dance with the dad who adopted her. It’s something she never got to do as a young girl so it’s extra special now. “I experience these special moments with little girls who are experiencing it for the first time. It’s a tradition I’ve cherished,” Zamalloa said. Andrea Page serves as advisor to the royalty. “I’d like to thank Andrea. It’s always volunteers that make it happen,” Mayor Troy Walker said. The new queen and attendants are headed into a busy summer including Draper Days activities. “Mikelle is my neighbor and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I know she’s going to excel as our current Miss Draper, and I can’t wait to support her in that role,” Conrad said. “It’s going to be a good year.” l
Draper City Journal
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For more information, call 801-264-2614 or visit https://www.murray.utah.gov/213/Cultural-Arts Sponsored by Murray City Cultural Arts, Murray Parks & Recreation, and Murray City Library. Murray Arts in the Park is supported with funding assistance by the residents of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, NowPlayingUtah.com, Utah Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts.
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Draper City Journal
City Journals presents:
recreation A publication covering outdoor recreation around the Salt Lake Valley
Take a walk on the wild side By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com Forest bathing is an invitation to fast-paced world.” The Japanese practice was created intentionally commune with nature. in the 1980s by doctors who noticed their If you’ve ever sat on the front porch to patients were experiencing burnout. They watch a sunset, enjoyed a cup of tea in the developed a prescription involving nature backyard or walked through a park to look connection that research has shown to offer mental and physical benefits. at the trees, you’ve done forest bathing. Napper invites people to attend a Ian Napper is a mindful outdoor guide who leads forest bathing sessions, also forest bathing experience which he holds at known as shinrin-yoku. He said commu- places along the Wasatch Range, including nion with nature comes easily to most canyons, parks and Tracy Aviary. Each people and the mental health benefits are event is around 90 minutes and Napper encourages participants to restore their off the chart. “It literally means to bathe in the sense of wonder, awe and community. “I’m trying to help people reconnect nature of the forest,” he said. “It invites you to slow down, like really deeply slow to nature in a personal way,” he said. “As down. The more you slow down, the more humans, we’ve become very isolated, you notice and the more you notice, then partly because of technology, but we expethe more you slow down. It helps us return rience this and there’s a connection that to a more natural pace, which is one of happens and it reduces this loneliness.” As an Army veteran and yoga the many things we need in this hyper,
instructor, Napper understands the grounding benefits of engaging with the natural world. He said some of those benefits include reduced stress, lower blood pressure, better sleep, reduced fatigue, a sense of peace and a settled nervous system. He holds his forest bathing sessions in places with lots of big trees, preferably near running water and away from man-made noise, which can be jarring to the mind. He said listening to birds or the wind in the trees, allows the body to relax in a way we don’t usually experience. People will ask him, “Why should I pay you when I can walk in the mountains for free?” He explains it’s the difference between taking a yoga class online and immersing yourself in a live class led by a trained guide. “You get instruction. You learn things that you wouldn’t have known before, because you get guidance,” Napper
said. “I have a master’s in education with a focus on trauma, and so I bring a lot of that understanding into this. It’s one thing to talk about things that I notice, it’s another thing to guide you into a different way of being.” Napper said learning to calm the mind and pay attention in nature takes practice; it can also bring up anxiety or judgment around being still. But as the practice continues, participants find it easier to attain a level of calm, and they want to bring friends and family into the experience. Some people think having idle time to walk around in a forest is a frivolous luxury, but Napper said that’s not true, in fact it’s just the opposite. “It might feel luxurious to schedule some time to do nothing but you’re giving yourself permission to go out in nature and do nothing for a while. It’s not a luxury; it’s kind of a necessity.”
Ian Napper leads groups through forest bathing sessions in canyons and parks as a way to reduce stress and build connection. (Photos courtesy of Ian Napper)
DraperJournal .com
July 2026 | Page 13
Shifting gears: Utah enacts new e-bike rules By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com One new rule will see riders ages 8 micromobility,” Begay said. “Micromoto 15 needing to complete a state-ap- bility being battery powered vehicles, also known as scooters, e-bikes, e-moto, proved safety course. hoverboards and similar devices. We Whether climbing mountain trails, have seen the supply and demand grow commuting to work or cruising through exponentially.” According to Begay, improvements neighborhood streets, e-bikes are becoming an increasingly common part in battery technology, performance and of life in Utah. Their growing presence has affordability have transformed the market prompted lawmakers to adopt new regu- over the past decade. As demand increased, manufacturers lations aimed at balancing safety, access responded with a growing number of and the future of outdoor recreation. The law arrives at a time when the brands and product offerings. However, broader micromobility industry—which Begay noted that rapid growth has also includes e-bikes, electric scooters, e-mo- created new challenges. “This rapid development in the last torcycles and similar devices—has expedecade has largely been unregulated and rienced explosive growth nationwide. Jeremy Begay, an e-bike enthusiast it feels a bit like the Wild West,” he said. who works in the outdoor recreation “The list of issues we are facing ranges industry, said advances in technology from batteries being a fire hazard, trail and manufacturing have fueled much of access, the speed of these devices, and the race of manufacturers to create a that expansion. “There are several movements platform that is faster, better and cheaper nationwide in industry, retail and outdoor than its competitor,” Begay said. Utah’s new law seeks to address recreation when it comes to the world of some of those concerns by reinforcing the state’s existing three-class e-bike system while drawing a sharper line between electric bicycles and higher-powered electric motorcycles. Under the law, Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 e-bikes may include a throttle and are limited to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour and require a speedometer. Devices exceeding those limits may be classified differently under state law and could be subject to additional requirements. The legislation also establishes new age-based restrictions. Children younger than 8 years old are prohibited from operating e-bikes on public roads, sidewalks and trails. Riders younger than 14 must be supervised by a parent or guardian, while riders under 16 are prohibited from operating Class 3 e-bikes. Additionally, riders younger than 21 are now required to wear helmets while operating e-bikes or electric scooters on public roads. Beginning in 2027, Utah will also require riders ages 8 through 15 to complete a state-approved safety course or ride under direct adult supervision. For Begay, the new regulations represent a reasonable first step toward addressing safety concerns while preserving access to the benefits of micromobility. “The simple answer to this for me is Quick fact sheet on Utah’s new e-bike law. yes,” he said when asked whether the (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) law strikes the right balance between
Page 14 | July 2026
E-bike enthusiast Jeremy Begay takes his bike for a spin. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) safety and accessibility. “We need to start somewhere for the purpose of making people aware that micromobility devices are different, so that they can then educate themselves with how to interact with them.” Begay believes many consumers still lump all electric mobility products into a single category despite significant differences in performance and intended use. “The purist in me wants to see a difference in how e-moto and e-bike are treated,” he said. “Currently, people see these as one category.” Trail access remains one of the most debated issues within Utah’s outdoor recreation community. As electric bicycles become more common, land managers, municipalities and trail organizations continue to evaluate where different classes of e-bikes should be permitted. “This is still being debated, so there is a whole spectrum of opinions,” Begay said. He has observed changing attitudes among many outdoor recreation users. “I think people’s ideas about e-bikes are changing and more people are finding that these bikes allow for more people to ride,” he said. Begay noted that the popularity of e-bikes has expanded participation among older riders, individuals recovering from injuries and people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy cycling. “This new market of people who are riding are pushing access simply by riding,” he said. “Trails are becoming more crowded and municipalities are responding to trail demand by creating more trails and trails that are e-bike accessible.” State officials have cited increasing crash and injury reports involving younger riders as one reason for strengthening
regulations. Begay believes education remains one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. “Unfortunately, I have not seen changes in behavior with families yet,” he said. “With micromobility being somewhat new to the masses, there has not been enough education.” He said many consumers still view electric mobility devices as toys rather than transportation equipment capable of reaching significant speeds. “Most people categorize these devices as children’s toys or other light recreation devices,” Begay said. “This leads to people not enforcing rules of the road, helmet safety, product care and other best practices.” He hopes the new law will help raise awareness. “Hopefully, these laws will create more awareness to what people are purchasing,” he said. “Awareness and education lead to more responsible decisions.” Looking ahead, Begay believes Utah’s reputation as an outdoor recreation leader positions the state to influence future policy discussions nationwide. “Utah is known for its access to outdoor recreation,” he said. “Most of that comes from Utah being a model state in the way it approaches recreation.” While debate over trail access, safety standards and regulation is likely to continue, Begay remains optimistic about the future. “I think that Utah should be at the forefront of all of this because it would mean that everyone could benefit— riders, retailers and tourism,” he said. “I’m confident that we Utahns will find a place for micromobility devices to exist in all spaces.”
Draper City Journal
Teen actors bring Greek mythology to life in Draper Arts Council’s ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ The recent Broadway musical hit runs July 31 through Aug. 8 at Draper Amphitheater.
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ewly elected student body president With its themes of love, hope and resilience in the face of impossible odds, Anaïs Mitchell’s folk opera retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, “Hadestown,” has inspired a passionate fan base since its Broadway premiere in 2019. Draper Arts Council will present a teen version of the show, modified for family audiences, opening July 31 at Draper Amphitheater. The young cast members range in age from 15 to 19. “We had 170 kids audition,” director Cassidy Ross said. “We had to cut it down and it was very hard. These kids are so crazy talented.” “Hadestown: Teen Edition” has a second cast of understudies who will present the show on Aug. 6. The Draper Arts Council production borrows some of the technical storytelling elements from the Broadway version of “Hadestown” including a rotating stage, fog and light fixtures that swing dramatically back and forth during one scene. A live band, also made up of local teens, will perform the score. “Our band leader, Nolan Reinbold, is from Draper,” Ross said. “He put the whole thing together. Teens are so much more capable than I think most people give them credit for.” “Hadestown” struck an emotional chord for Ross, who directed “Beetlejuice” at Draper Arts Council last year. She commented, “I saw it with the original cast on Broadway. It has a very special place in my heart.” Several of the cast members echoed the same sentiment. Addy Bybee, who plays the goddess Persephone, said, “I love this show. It’s a beautiful story. It’s about love, seasons, community and how people move through their lives, find challenges and still find light.” The plot of “Hadestown” centers around the relationships between two couples in a tale narrated by the god Hermes. Orpheus, an idealistic young musician falls in love with Eurydice, a girl struggling with poverty and hunger. Driven by her need for food and warmth, Eurydice ends up on the train to Hadestown. At the same time, the relationship between Hades, god of the underworld and Persephone, goddess of spring, has grown contentious. As a result, the seasons are off-kilter and mortals struggle to grow crops. Orpheus descends to the underworld with a song to set things right and bring Eurydice back. In Mitchell’s retelling of the myth, the underworld is an industrial hellscape. The musical’s themes explore industry versus
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From left to right, Brynlea Forchuk (Eurydice), Nathan Myers (Orpheus), Hyrum Lafeen (Hermes), Mason Skokos (Hades) and Addy Bybee (Persephone) will appear in Draper Arts Council’s production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.” (Photo courtesy of Erin Forchuk, Draper Arts Council)
nature, doubt against faith and fear against love. The style of the songs echoes traditional American folk music and old New Orleans-style jazz. Actor Mason Skokas, who plays Hades, expressed his opinion that, “‘Hadestown’ is a masterpiece, one of the best musicals written.” He observed that the singing voices of the different characters help to convey who they are. “Hades is a bass and Persephone is an alto,” he said. “There’s this contrast between Hades and Orpheus who is a high tenor.” The vocals pit Hades’ foreboding character against Orpheus’ youth and naivete. Nathan Myers has taken on the role of Orpheus. He explained, “My interpretation is that Orpheus and Eurydice are opposites in personality. But the story shows that people like them can come together and shape each other for the better. It’s about hope.” Brynlea Forchuk, who plays Eurydice, said, “My favorite line is when Hermes sings that when Eurydice fell in love, she fell in
spite of herself.” Yet, in the opening song, “The Road to Hell,” Hermes also sings that his tale is a sad one. This is not a story that ends well for the young lovers. Forchuk said of the plot, “All stories are worth telling, even though they aren’t happy. There is always something we can learn. It’s a beautiful love story. Even though relationships end you can still take lessons from that and grow.” “We tell the audience that it’s a tragedy at the beginning,” Ross said. “But we want to make them forget and make them hope that this time it will work out.” Draper Arts Council presents “Hadestown: Teen Edition” at Draper Amphitheater, 944 Vestry Road, on July 31, Aug. 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8. The gates open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. The link to purchase tickets online may be found at www.draperutah.gov/events-programs/draper-amphitheater/hadestown-teen-edition/. l
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July 2026 | Page 15
Suzanne Harrison—a medical doctor who feels called to public service
Dr. Suzanne Harrison seeks to inform residents of services Salt Lake County provides and her priorities as a councilmember on improving those services. By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
S
alt Lake County Councilmember at-large and Draper resident Dr. Suzanne Harrison balances a demanding career and busy family with public service. “I have always been motivated to help my community and create the kind of future I want for all of our children, one in which they are able to afford to live here and thrive with clean air and great job opportunities,” she said. Harrison previously served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2019-22 representing Sandy and Draper. “As a result of redistricting changes and the desire to serve more of my neighbors, I pivoted to Salt Lake County Council and have been serving since 2023.” Harrison realized many people don’t fully understand the role of Salt Lake County and the services it provides, and she’s working to change that. “Almost 75% of the County’s General Fund, which comes from property taxes, goes to public safety. That’s our number one statutory duty. While I’m proud of the work we do to support Seniors with Meals on Wheels and senior centers, as well as the county libraries and recreation centers, our number one priority is public safety.” That includes but isn’t limited to funding the district attorney’s office, the county jail, the county sheriff and providing defense attorneys for people who can’t afford them. Harrison’s priorities have remained the same serving the state and the county, but the roles are different. “At the county level, we work more in delivery of services and are a step closer to people needing services in the community. My work has largely been focused on prioritizing public safety, advocating for quality of life, improving health and mental health services, and working toward sustainability and water conservation.”
Dr. Suzanne Harrison, a Physician Anesthesiologist who serves on the Salt Lake County Council, said her motivation is helping create a healthy future for our children. She previously served in the Utah House of Representatives. (Courtesy Suzanne Harrison)
Harrison detailed those priorities and recent accomplishments toward them:
Public Safety
“One of the major things we’re focusing on as a council are reforms to improve how people with severe mental illness and substance abuse issues are treated in our criminal justice system…breaking that cycle where too many end up in jail that really need services. We’re working hard to replace that cycle by improving treatment and getting them into housing with coordinated care. That frees up our jail for people who actually need to be in jail,” she said. To that end, the council has been working with Judge Steve Leifman from Miami-Dade County (Florida) who successfully helped enact reforms in his community for better outcomes for people with mental illness, support for law enforcement officers, decreased arrests and incarceration, and a reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness. “Mayor Jenny Wilson had known of his work and brought him to the county. We’re learning from their work and working collaboratively with the state,
cities and local service providers to enact We expanded the number of beds for them to reforms,” Harrison said. get housing and gain life skills necessary to get a job and thrive. We have served more than 300 Improving quality of life and awareness of kids and 83% leave the program with a job and cost-of-living stress for county residents housing. More than 80% remain housed two “I’m very proud of passing and years later.” Harrison also touted three group expanding the My County Rec Pass. It allows homes opening this year to increase the number anyone under age 18 free access to any of our of spots for those with severe mental illness. county rec centers, ice rinks and pools. In an era when so many families are struggling Water conservation and sustainability “I’ve been serving on the Utah Renewable with cost-of-living, this is something we are really proud of. It helps improve physical Communities Board. Salt Lake County is one and mental health for our kids. Continuing of 19 communities participating in this program this program is one of my priorities for the to bring clean, renewable energy to Utah in an era where we have increasing energy needs. coming budget season,” Harrison said. She also cited county investments in trails We’ve also been working on water conservaand open space including 13 miles of new tion in our county parks and facilities. Last year, multi-use trails in Butterfield Canyon and her our Daybreak Library became the first net-zero sponsorship of an expansion of summer child- building in Utah. We are always cognizant of care and summer camp programs. Harrison how we can do our part to conserve and protect pointed to the investment of $25 million in the Great Salt Lake.” Harrison’s biggest disappointment was affordable housing throughout the county which helped open more than 1,500 affordable the closing of childcare centers. “This was a tough budget year, and I fought hard to keep housing units since her time on the council. our county childcare centers open,” she said. Improving health and mental health Harrison finds inspiration in others. services “I’m always inspired by constituents who The county helped fund and open the are helping improve our community and Huntsman Mental Health Crisis Center the services within it, whether volunteering located at 955 W. 3300 South where anyone on our Salt Lake County Parks and Recrecan receive immediate care regardless of ation Advisory Board or parents advocating ability to pay. “This is such an important for their child who’s experiencing mental asset, and I want to raise awareness of it. I illness,” Harrison said. hope anyone who has a loved one experiHarrison holds a Bachelor’s degree in encing a mental health crisis will go there, or Human Biology from Stanford and did her if that’s not an option, they can call 988. medical training at the University of Utah. “We’re also working with local law She and her husband John are parents of three enforcement to help when they encounter young adults. Harrison has worked in Intersomeone experiencing a mental health crisis mountain hospitals in the valley for more than so law enforcement feels supported in bringing 20 years as a Physician Anesthesiologist. She patients to the crisis care center. This is one of plans to seek reelection to the council in 2028. the diversions we’re working on to get people “I want people to know first and forethe mental health treatment they need and free most my goal is to listen to residents and up our jail for people who actually need to be make sure they feel represented, that and in jail. We’ve also worked to increase the Mile- helping families thrive in our community,” stone Program to help young adults ages 18-21 she said. “I always appreciate hearing from who are aging out of foster care and are vulner- residents, and I hope to see folks on our trails able to becoming homeless or experiencing because I’m up there all the time.” sexual violence or substance use addiction. Harrison can be reached at suharrison@ Helping those kids is really important to me. saltlakecounty.gov or 801-999-8047. l
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July 2026 | Page 17
Expanded learning spaces, a black box theater and collaborative areas will shape the school’s next 25 years.
Opening new doors at Juan Diego
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
N
ewly elected student body president Britain Bennett already has a nickname in mind for his favorite spot in Juan Diego Catholic High School’s new expansion. “I’m going to call it ‘the cove’ and see how many people catch on,” he said while looking into a triangular-shaped inner courtyard between the new 400-seat black box theater and classrooms. Bennett said the new addition represents more than extra space on campus. It symbolizes new opportunities for students to learn and explore their interests. “As a person who is involved in so many things, I’m in every bit of the school, so to have this new area I can explore and use is really exciting.” After months of construction, Juan Diego officially dedicated and opened its new expansion this past spring and will be
In Juan Diego Catholic High’s new expansion, students gather in the collaboration room with the view of the Wasatch Mountains. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
able to use the eight new classrooms this fall. The addition also includes a collaboration area with a view of the Wasatch Mountains. “The days of students sitting in a lecture hall has gone away,” Principal Galey Colosimo said. “They learn more when they’re actively participating so our breakout areas allow students to have the flexibility to work together yet remain connected to academic spaces.” He said the black box theater may become
one of the campus’ most versatile spaces. “We call it the black box theater, but it’s really going to be multiuse. You could have small plays, band concerts, choir recitals, small graduations for our preschool and kindergarten, meetings with parents and of course, plays, in a more intimate setting,” he said, adding that a green room is attached to the space. Opening week of the theater, the school celebrated in the space with a Mass.
“As a Catholic school, it was fitting our first use of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Theater was to celebrate Mass,” said Colosimo, who planned to retire at the end of the school year. The expansion reflects changes in modern education, with collaborative areas replacing traditional rows of desk and also, eliminating lockers. Since students carry their own devices, many of the school’s computer rooms already have been converted. This is one of several upgrades the school campus has gone through since opening in 1999. Within the past three years those have included an added tech center and library testing stations, upgraded tennis courts, science lab renovations, an expanded lunchroom, a remodeled school store, redesigned parking lot and sidewalk and enclosed maintenance facilities. For Bennett, who balances student government, theater tech, photography and science research with his classes, the new wing reflects Juan Diego’s commitment to helping students create their own educational paths. “I love our new technological advancements, our additions, our resources and being able to create our own pathways,” he said. “JD is home to me.” l
New Canyons Innovation Center reimagines career education
District leaders say the Center will prepare students for college and careers through real-world projects and industry partnerships. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
C
anyons School District is transforming the former eBay regional headquarters in Draper into an Innovation Center designed to connect students with hands-on career training, industry partnerships and real-world learning experiences. Canyons Innovation Center, located at 12943 S. 700 East, is expected to open fall 2027 and will replace the district’s current CTEC campus in Sandy. Renovations are already underway as crews reconfigure the building into specialized learning spaces for healthcare, engineering, media production, trades and technology programs. Leading the project is the Center’s new director, Reid Newey, who previously launched the Catalyst Center in Davis School District. “The big vision we want to create is a profession-based learning program,” Newey said. “We want to do in collaboration with industry and business to guide what our students are learning.” All 15 CTEC programs, including Certified Nursing Assistant, medical assisting, cosmetology, animation and cybersecurity, will relocate to the new location. The district has assembled a 25-member advisory committee representing healthcare,
Page 18 | July 2026
aerospace, defense, cybersecurity and technology. However, Newey said the district’s goal is not simply moving programs. “Rather than just moving programs, we want to reconfigure the learning process and move to a more profession-based learning,” he said. “We want our industry leaders to come and work with our students on authentic projects that will not only satisfy curriculum requirements, but will give our students an authentic experience in the industry.” New programs planned for the Innovation Center include culinary arts, hospitality, engineering, manufacturing and machining along with expanded multimedia and video production classes tied to CSDTV. The Center plans to offer cross-curricular projects that mirror real business needs. Students in business, media, computer science and drone programs could work together on marketing campaigns, app development and video productions for local companies. The Center also will expand its artificial intelligence program. CTEC launched its first AI concurrent enrollment course this year in partnership with Utah Valley University and Newey hopes the district will add data analytics instruction “because that really forms the backbone of AI.” The renovated campus will feature engineering and drone classrooms, robotics, manufacturing labs, film studios, animation classrooms, cosmetology salons and on the second floor, an expanded medical training area. The separate trades building
Reid Newey is leading the way with transforming the former eBay regional headquarters into a hands-on learning environment for Canyons School District students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
will house welding, diesel mechanics and construction programs. Canyons District sold the CTEC building to help finance the new Center, which can serve up to 3,000 students. During its first year, officials anticipate 1,800 students will participate in programs while continuing to attend classes at their home high schools. Bus transportation will be provided for students from the district’s five comprehensive high schools. Additionally, Canyons School District was awarded a $17.2-million Catalyst Center Implementation Grant from the Utah State
Board of Education to help transform the Innovation Center. Canyons business administrator and CFO Leon Wilcox said the renovations are cost effective. “In the long run, this still should be cheaper than building a whole new school,” he said. Another aspect of the Center is the partnership with the Utah STEM Action Center to create a location that can host field trips, robotics competitions and outreach for students of all ages. “We want to create as much opportunity with increasing our programming and getting kids involved earlier in the opportunity to have a real industry experience in their education,” he said. Newey said current CTEC employees will transition to the new Center, so no jobs will be lost during the move. Teachers already have begun training through the Center for Advanced Professional Studies network and will continue periodic professional trainings. “I think the Innovation Center will create a new demand for education,” Newey said. Canyons Superintendent McKay Robinson agrees. “It’s an awesome opportunity, where students will be able to engage in cutting-edge learning, build real world skills, and have access to career pathways that didn’t exist, even a decade ago, and be able to rub shoulders with our industry leaders,” he said. “I’m going to carry the innovative vision forward that Dr. Robins (former superintendent) established with our board of education.”l
Draper City Journal
Draper Historical Society hosts its 2026 Heritage Banquet July 15 By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com Draper Historical Society is holding its annual Heritage Banquet as part of Draper Days. The dinner, which will be held July 15 at 6 p.m. at Draper Elementary, will feature a presentation by board member Ray Glad on some of the lesser known families in Draper’s history. The event also includes a buffet dinner and a raffle. Every year the Heritage Banquet gives residents of all ages an opportunity to learn about the history of the community, connect with friends, enjoy a meal and perhaps take home a prize. Tickets to the Heritage Banquet cost $15 and may be purchased in advance on the Draper City website or at the door for cash or check. For more information and for the link to purchase tickets, visit www.draperutah.gov/events-programs/community-events/draper-days/heritage-banquet/. (Photo courtesy of Draper Historical Society)
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Charger TV: Bringing Corner Canyon sports to the community
Teacher turns passion into 10-year broadcast program benefitting students, athletes and families. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.co
F
or the past decade, Charger TV has transformed the way fans follow Corner Canyon High School sports. What began as an idea by teacher Rob Geertsen has grown into a full-scale broadcast program that reaches thousands of viewers, offering hands-on learning for students and even helping football and basketball players gain exposure to college recruiters. “Charger TV is more than a live stream,” Geertsen said. “It’s an opportunity for students to learn and it connects students, families, alumni and the community to Charger athletics nationwide.” Geertsen, who teaches broadcasting and video production, launched the program after serving three years as the school’s sports announcer. He had previously coached 22 seasons of boys basketball at other high schools. “I thought it would be fun to call the games and create something that would benefit our community, where people could watch the games without paying,” he said. The broadcast is a polished production designed to mimic professional sports coverage. It is sponsored by local businesses, OrthoAthlete and Move Utah Real Estate. “A lot of schools go with lazy live streaming that follows the ball. It’s terrible,” Geertsen said. “My whole model is the viewer experience so I’ve tried to create it so it’s as close to watching a professional production on TV as we can make it.” Games are streamed through Vimeo and accessed through ChargerTV.net, allowing the system to handle large audiences. He said the typical football game draws 5,000 logins, while girls basketball broadcasts has more than 100 logins and boys basketball, about 400. One 2023 game against nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (Nevada) drew
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Corner Canyon sophomore Hudson Quinney-Packard and teacher Rob Geertsen broadcast the final girls’ home basketball game of the season. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
watchers near and far. “It was our biggest audience we’ve ever had with 50,000 logins,” Geertsen said. “The word got around the country, so the national audience tuned in.” Viewership also boomed during 2020-21 when schools restricted fan access because of health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. For students, Charger TV provides hands-on opportunity to learn real-world broadcasting skills. Sophomore Hudson Quinney-Packard is one of the students helping run cameras during the broadcast. “I decided to take a fun class this year with Geertsen fall semester and took TV broadcast,” he said. “It was fun to learn about operating cameras.” After the class, Geertsen invited the former basketball and football player to help him film varsity games. Knowing his responsibility of operating the main camera combined with his knowledge of the game, he anticipates the action and is ready with the shot. “I’ve definitely learned from watching the players how they play and what’s expected from the camera,” he said. Geertsen said his growth is typical of students who know sports and gets hands-on experience. “Before September, Hudson had never run a camera in his life. The progression of what students learn and do, with their talent level, grows fast with the experience,” he said. Students learn to run cameras for live
broadcasts, adjusting lighting and aperture, frame shots correctly and understand the game flow. Many take Geertsen’s video production class where they learn editing and storytelling and afterward, may work cameras from the sideline. Several alumni are pursuing videography classes or working in the field at Utah universities, he added. Beginning in fall 2026, Geertsen is expanding opportunities for current students. “We are going to start our first ‘Charger TV Junior’ edition. Students next fall will have the option to run their own live stream, produce their own broadcast and even learn to call play-by-play,” he said about broadcasting freshmen, sophomore and JV games as well as more girls’ volleyball and soccer matches. Another option will be learning how to be a PA announcer, playing music during timeouts and breaks as well as announcing games in action. There also will be internship opportunities with Wing Pointe Studios, working alongside a professional videographer at school games. “The goal is to give students the option to be trained on ‘career-ready’ options that allow them real opportunities to explore their interests in broadcasting and videography,” Geertsen said. In addition to entertainment, Charger TV has become a valuable resource for student-athletes and coaches. Wes Patterson, Corner Canyon football offensive coach and parent, says the
broadcast uplifts the program. “It’s been awesome having it as a resource,” Patterson said. “It’s part of the player’s and community’s experience and it elevates the program and seems more professional.” Head football coach Casey Sutera agrees: “Having that platform for people all around to watch the games with a quality production has been really positive.” Patterson said occasionally footage is used for film study. “It’s not meant to be that, but we use it in that way occasionally and we can view plays from different angles,” he said. While Geertsen’s students use footage for social media posts, players also have used it to create highlight reels for recruiters. Former Charger and current NFL quarterback Jaxon Dart said he took advantage of Charger TV. “It helped being able to put things out there to the media,” he said. “Geertsen and everyone does an amazing job of helping us and promoting us. We definitely have an advantage there.” Games are archived online, allowing viewers to revisit past seasons. “We can pull up games from 2021, ’22 and so on and relive those moments,” Patterson said. Geertsen said the rewatch viewership is as heavy as the live watch. The broadcasts also help families stay connected. “We have family who live out of town, out of state, so it’s nice for them to tune in and watch their nephew or grandson,” Patterson said. One of the viewers is NFL and former Charger quarterback Zach Wilson. “I’ve enjoyed Charger TV more now that I’ve graduated, being able to watch the guys, my brother, on the team, and follow them from wherever I am,” he said. Basketball player Brooklyn Olsen’s dad shared the link with relatives in central Utah who now are regular viewers. “I watched your last game on replay,” he told Geertsen at the final home game. “You were like, ‘I love her energy. She gets the ball and tears off.’ We really appreciate Charger TV.” Geertsen said he hears compliments often, but his motivation to provide this service goes back to his high school days in Logan when his extended family listened to games on the radio. “My grandparents lived in southern Idaho and they couldn’t go to games so they’d follow on the radio,” he said. “I wanted to give back and provide what I had in high school only it’s way better now because it’s visual.” Jon Franzen and his family have watched broadcasts the past three years. “They do a terrific job,” he said. “In my opinion, they have the single-best high school broadcast in the entire state of Utah.” l
Draper City Journal
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July 2026 | Page 21
An inclusive dance ensures every student can experience excitement and traditions.
Prom is possible for all
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
F
or many high school students, prom is a night to remember. In Canyons School District, the unified prom ensures that memory belongs to everyone. The third annual event brings together students of all abilities for an evening centered on friendship, inclusion and fun. Leading up to the dance, many students will ask their dates to attend with posters and participate in a pre-dance activity. “For the unified prom, we make sure all the kids who want to go have dates, and before the dance, our school goes to the arcade together,” Hillcrest High senior Abbi Clark said. “We take a lot of pictures, dance, have dinner together — it’s a fun night.” Unlike traditional school dances, the unified prom, which was held at The Ballard in Draper, is designed with all students’ needs in mind. “The music is a lot quieter; we can step outside to play cornhole or see the amazing view from the deck. It helps make the unified prom a great event for everyone,” she said, adding there are quieter rooms with activities
Students traditionally asked one another to the unified prom, where they danced and had dinner together. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Students of all abilities danced together at Canyons School District’s third annual unified prom. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
for students who may become overstimulated. Corner Canyon High students take on the planning and organization of the event, but they extend the dance to all district high schools. After high school, many students will attend
dance and socialize together.” Life Skills Academy together. Hillcrest junior Yadiel Rodriguez Jr. likes “Our students get really excited about it,” Hillcrest High teacher Rebecca Remy said. the evening’s dancing and playing at the arcade. “It’s all fun,” he said. “I’m with my “They see familiar faces from other schools’ unified sports teams so it’s fun for them to friends.” l
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Draper City Journal
I
had my first glass of water at the age of 27. I was at my doctor’s office for a physical and he asked how much water I was drinking. The answer was zero, but I thought it was a trick question. I hedged my bet and said, “Um, two?” “Two what?” he asked. “Two waters?” “Give me a measurement.” “Tablespoons?” He sighed and told me I was dehydrated. Looking back, that makes sense because I hadn’t had a glass of water in more than a quarter-century. Growing up, we drank four things: Kool-Aid, orange juice, milk and soda. Even our ice cubes were made from Kool-Aid. I never remember going to the faucet to get a glass of water. We used the faucet to fill up water balloons. On the weekends, I’d ride my bike 40 miles, play two games of basketball, hike Mt. Timpanogos and play at the park until it was dark, and I never, ever stopped for a glass of water. If I got thirsty, I’d swing by 7-Eleven to grab a Fresca and a pack of candy cigarettes. We didn’t carry expensive, gallonsized, bedazzled Stanley cups where we could sip cucumber-infused, artisan well
DraperJournal .com
A tall drink of water Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
water through a biodegradable straw. We would have mercilessly mocked anyone who did. I did have a metal Thermos that came with my Holly Hobbie lunch box, but it always smelled like sour milk, even when it was filled with Hawaiian Punch. We didn’t drink water at school except after lunch recess, when we were allowed to have one gulp from the water fountain at the back of the room. But Raymond B. always put his mouth on the faucet and then no one else wanted to drink. Raymond was Patient Zero for all diseases in our class. If we were driving with Mom around town and got thirsty, she wouldn’t throw us a bottle of Dasani. She would hand us a stick of gum and say, “Chew this until you have enough spit to swallow.” I didn’t know drinking water was an option. Well, that’s not quite true. When we
played outside, we’d drink it straight from the hose like God intended. It was cold, refreshing and full of lead and arsenic, but it quenched my thirst. I never would have poured water into a cup and just sat around like a fancy person, sipping Perrier with my pinky in the air. No hoity-toity water for me, thank you. But then, single-use plastic bottles were created and water became an industry. Why drink water from the hose for free when you can purchase tap water in a bottle? We were told to drink eight glasses of water every day. Who has time for that? Social media influencers took drinking water to a whole new level. They are responsible for making reusable water bottles a lifestyle necessity, launching brands like Yeti, Hydro Flask and Stanley into the liquid stratosphere. Do you know how many water bottles are in my home? As of yesterday, there were 4,628, most of them branded from events, including the 17 my husband has from the Sundance Film Festival. We can blame data centers for taking our water (and I do), but maybe we should share culpability for the world’s dehydration by carrying 100 cubic meters of water with us wherever we go.
My eight-year-old self is sitting on a bench at Murray Park, puffing a candy cigarette and swigging Fresca. My 27-year-old self is learning how to drink water every day. My current self just knocked my Yeti mug over for the umpteenth time, spilling water all over the desk. Progress or product placement? Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
July 2026 | Page 23
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