South Jordan Journal | March 2021

March 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 03

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SOUTH JORDAN’S POPULATION BOOMS; CITY EMPLOYEES JUMP SHIP By Mariden Williams | m.williams@mycityjournals.com

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outh Jordan city employees are feeling spread thin. At a four-hour city budget meeting held on Jan. 28, presenters from nearly every department—parks and recreation, police, fire, public works, human resources, and finance—explained how the city’s massive growth was affecting their work, and what should be done about it. The resounding message was the same across all departments: they need more staff members, and those staff members need to be better compensated for the amount of work that they do. “Those that choose to be in government do have options, and our competitors are our sister cities,” said Teresa Cook, South Jordan’s human resources director. “We’ve had a lot of employees get offers from other cities because of that.” South Jordan’s employee turnover rate hadn’t dropped below 8% in years, but for the last three years has hovered around an average of 12%. And this year, according to Cook, a whopping 50% of South Jordan city employees are leaving for other work. Hiring new employees isn’t as simple of a task as it may seem on the surface, either. There’s just nobody there to hire. “The quality of applicants are going down, and the number of applications are going down,” said Cook. Because of all this, it’s become a whole lot easier to seduce an experienced employee away from another city by offering greater pay and shinier benefits, than it is to try to recruit a complete newbie and train them from the ground up. Why train somebody new when you can just steal somebody better? Ac- Nearly every department of South Jordan is facing labor shortages. (Mariden Williams/City Journals) Continued page 3

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South Jordan Police Department recommends additional police officers to keep crime rates low By Mariden Williams | m.williams@mycityjournals.com

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outh Jordan’s population is growing fast. So is its crime rate and the amount of time it takes for police officers to respond to emergency calls. “If we’re not able to keep pace with the growth, you’re going to see increased response times for those priority calls and longer wait times for our residents with non-priority calls,” said South Jordan Police Chief Jeff Carr at a city budget meeting on Jan. 28. “We’re going to see less investigative success as caseloads increase, and we don’t have the investigators to investigate those cases. We’re going to see more officer burnout, and less proactive policing by officers.” 2020 was a bad year for crime. There was a staggering increase in rape, aggravated assault, robberies, domestic violence and even property crime across the entire nation. South Jordan was no exception. On the plus side, South Jordan vehicle lockouts decreased by 95%, due to deceased travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials voiced their hopes that once the pandemic is over and people are no longer going nuts from being shut up indoors, those crime rates will go back down on their own. Carr seemed to somewhat agree with

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these hopes but indicated that the predicted post-pandemic crime dip will likely only be temporary. “I think it [the crime rate] will level off a little bit, but I think we’ll get back to those pre-COVID numbers with the growth,” he said. “The biggest problem we have is just the number of residents that we’re going to increase over those years. And it’s going to take additional officers to service those calls. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it.” said The problem is, the South Jordan Police Department is having trouble finding willing, qualified candidates. “The current environment has created this perception of danger and not support,” Carr said. “I have several friends who have kids who were interested in going into policing, and now they’re discouraging them from going into policing. We’ve also seen potential legislative changes that could change the way we do work and make it more difficult.” Even when qualified applicants do surface, Carr says it takes a long time to actually get them trained up and out on the streets. “Our onboarding process takes a lot of time—three to four months,” he said. “You’ve got everything from the initial ap-

plication to physical fitness test; you have a couple rounds of interviews. If they’re lucky enough to get through that, then you have a background psychological polygraph, medical and drug screening, four months in the police academy and another four months in field training before they’re really of any use to us.” South Jordan currently has around 80,000 residents and 67 police officers. The city is projected to grow to 127,000 people by the year 2040—though South Jordan’s city planner Greg Schindler estimates that the population may actually hit 127,000 as early as 2030. If South Jordan officials want to still have their current ratio of officers to civilians when the population hits 127,000, they’re going to need to hire an additional 40 officers between then and now. That means they’ll need to hire two new police officers every year from now until 2040—or four each year until 2030, if Schindler is correct. Over the last five years, the South Jordan Police Department has generally maintained satisfactory hires-to-retirements ratio. But then 2020 happened. “We had four retirements; two went to other police departments; we had perfor-

mance issues with a couple; one officer left the state; and we let go one while they were still on probation,” Carr said. “We need to stay competitive with other cities. There’s other agencies that are out recruiting our officers, and sometimes providing bonuses for their people that they’re able to lure somebody over.” l

South Jordan’s population is predicted to grow to 127,000 by 2040. To maintain the current police-to-civilian ratio, 40 new officers will need to be hired between now and then.

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Continued from front page cording to South Jordan City Manager Gary Whatcott, that’s exactly what’s been going on. “That’s what’s starting to really take place, because the entry pool for all government-oriented jobs is so small. Even fire, which is a popular job, is finding less and less recruiting. Paramedics right now, it’s just really challenging to find them already trained. And so the target is to get a trained paramedic from someone else, do whatever it takes to get them,” Whatcott said. “It’s getting to be a nasty game of ‘steal your neighbor’s employees.’” South Jordan is, according to city officials, a favorite target for employee-poaching. “Murray stole three of our people here recently,” said South Jordan’s assistant city manager, Dustin Lewis. “All three of those people that were stolen, have since been listed as their employee of the month.” “We really do have a great reputation here in South Jordan,” said Councilman Brad Marlor. “And so when sister cities have an opportunity to poach, they just love to poach from South Jordan.” Retaining workers in South Jordan is even harder than it is in other cities, because of the sheer amount of work its rapidly-exploding population loads onto its employees. Smaller cities, even if they pay the same wages, offer a much less stressful work environment. “If you take our one of our building inspectors and you look at their daily sheet and

what they do, and then go to Heber—they pay the same amount of money, but I can tell you, they’re not doing nearly the number of building inspections,” Whatcott said. To combat the problem of employee-poaching and burnout, city employees of all departments are urging the City Council to offer better benefits and competitive salaries.And not just conciliatory baby-step pay boosts, the way the city has done for the last five years, but salaries that give South Jordan a significant edge over the competition. “We won’t probably ever lead the pack. But we’ve got to be in the top somewhere. We’re big enough now, that we’ve got to start,” Whatcott said. But as the city’s budget currently stands, city employees worry that there is just not enough money in the pot to raise salaries as much as is needed. One idea that is being tentatively floated is the possibility of increasing property taxes, which have not been raised since 2007. If the vanishing employee problem is not solved, there could be consequences. Police and fire response times could increase. Parks may be less maintained, go a little brown. “I guess the question in my mind is, are residents willing to pay a little bit more in order to keep South Jordan feeling like South Jordan? Or would they rather give up that feeling?” said Councilman Donald Shelton. “I hope that they wouldn’t want to give that up.”l

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Struggling in South Jordan? Help is available By Mariden Williams | m.williams@mycityjournals.com

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hese times are financially difficult for many people. If you’re struggling in South Jordan, there is help available, thanks to the city’s CDBG funds. The city partners with several aid organizations, which are listed below. Residents who need assistance should contact these organizations directly. • Utah Community Action, which provides emergency rental assistance and food (www.utahca.org) • South Valley Services, which provides shelter and other services to those experiencing dating and domestic violence (https://svsutah.org/) • The Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, which provides legal assistance to those experiencing domestic violence (https://www. legalaidsocietyofsaltlake.org/) • Assist Utah, which helps low-to-moderate-income residents and seniors pay for critical home repairs and accessibility modifications (https://assistutah.org/) • The Road Home and INN Between, which both provide shelter and medical care to those experiencing homelessness, including those needing medical care (https://www. theroadhome.org/) • Suncrest Counseling, which is providing free therapy sessions to those affected by COVID (https://www.suncrestcounseling. com) “All aid is given through the partnered organizations,” said South Jordan’s CDGB coordinator, Katie Olson. “Residents go to them for help, and we reimburse the organization, using CDBG, for the aid they give.” The Community Development Block Grant program is a federal grant program provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Every year, it provides a certain amount of money to cities and states, to be used for various community improvement purposes—including providing

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aid to low and moderate-income residents. The amount of money HUD provides to a city each year depends upon the number of needy persons living within its bounds. “Since our city is more affluent, we have one of the lowest allocations in the area,” Olson said. “Our $220,000 doesn’t go very far in terms of construction, but we do our best to make sure it’s serving as many people as it can.” Who qualifies for aid? To qualify, you have to be of low-to-moderate income level (LMI), which means your household must make 80% or less of the Salt Lake metropolitan area’s median income. For a household of four, the LMI cutoff is currently $70,300 a year. See the included chart to see that number adjusted for households of different sizes. Some people also always qualify for aid regardless of their actual income level: seniors over the age of 65, anybody experiencing domestic violence or homelessness, persons living with AIDS, severely disabled adults and migrant farm workers are all considered LMI by default. The city’s CDBG grant can be used for buying property, building relocation and demolition, rehabilitating and improving residential and non-residential structures, constructing public facilities and improvements, (such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers), making buildings more environmentally friendly, assisting small businesses and public services—though the amount of money the city can devote to public services is very limited. “By law, public services are limited to 15% of our grant,” Olson said. “These are the types of resident services you see listed on the website, like rental assistance, food banks, health services. The bulk of the grant needs to be used for hard-cost types of projects.” South Jordan always has enough public

South Jordan partners with several aid organizations, including food banks, rent assistance programs and domestic violence shelters. Because the city is fairly affluent, these resources often go unused. (Mariden Williams/City Journals)

service providers to allocate all of its funds to, but there have been a few cases where so few South Jordan residents applied to use those services, that at the end of the year there was still money left over. In these cases, those funds are either reallocated, or the deadline for using them is extended. “We have a fairly affluent population, so it takes some work to connect those who qualify based on income with the aid available,” Olson said. “Typically though, we have construction projects that come in under budget—a few in the past needed to be canceled for one reason or another. It’s a big process [with HUD] to reassign funds, so we typically wait until the next year’s plan to reassign any leftover funds.” This year, city officials dedicated about $52,000 of CDGB funds leftover from previous years to building Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant wheelchair ramps in various locations around the city. “Our funding isn’t large enough to do affordable housing construction projects, like it would be in other cities, hence our focus on

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area improvements,” Olson said. Predictably, much more of South Jordan’s public service money got used in 2020 than in previous years. In past years, Utah Community Action—the city’s partnered rental assistance organization—helped about 30 South Jordan residents in a year. More recently, they’ve been helping 30 South Jordan residents every three months. South Valley Services’ domestic violence shelter also saw a 25% increase in South Jordan residents over the last year. Fortunately, South Jordan received $268,363 in federal COVID Cares funding, which has covered the dramatic increase in public service use. Of that, $110,684 went to small business support payroll grants, which were divided among nine local businesses to pay LMI workers; $50,000 was allocated to rent assistance for LMI households; $20,000 went to the domestic violence shelter; and $15,871 went to the food bank to provide additional staff to meet the hugely increased demand. The remaining money was used for providing legal aid to domestic violence victims, therapy sessions for LMI residents and paying the employees who administered the aid program. The city creates a new Annual CDBG Action Plan each spring, which residents are encouraged to review and comment on. Each meeting is announced in advance in the city’s monthly newsletter. “Primarily, residents should know there are services available for those who qualify,” Olson said. “The list of providers on [the city website] is the most accurate listing and place to get info. If you need help, please call the providers to see if you qualify. We want to be sure no one in need goes without the helps that are available.” l

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South Jordan fifth graders in Diane Witt-Roper’s class pose for a photo alongside their judges for the We the People mock congressional hearing. (Photo courtesy of Dawn Ramsey.)

South Jordan Elementary fifth graders relate today’s issues to constitution

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By Julie Slama|j.slama@mycityjournals.com

e the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union …” These words may have more significance in today’s climate as South Jordan Elementary’s fifth graders recently shared during their mock congressional hearing. The annual We the People congressional hearing involving students from Diane Witt-Roper’s class had a different look this year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of being held in the school’s multi-purpose room with families present, it was livestreamed to parents and the only invitees present were judges from the South Jordan community. “With COVID, we had it in the classroom, to make it safer and parents were able to view it digitally,” Witt-Roper said, adding that instead of having families participate in judging a sixth judge was added. The students, surprised by patriotic masks given to them by their teacher, were divided into five teams, each named for framers of the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Franklin. Students wrote and gave a short speech about a topic in one of the units of their textbook, “We the People—the Citizens and the Constitution” as part of simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress. Judges ask questions to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles. Many fifth graders took the opportunity to tie in the questions to relevant historical and contemporary issues. Mayor Dawn Ramsey was one of the judges. She has judged the competition before at Jordan Ridge Elementary. “I am so grateful for the chance to be back in a classroom; it’s one of the things I’ve missed most over the past year,” she said. “We the People is a fantastic pro-

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gram, and I love seeing our young people learn about the constitution. These brilliant fifth graders did an excellent job. Mrs. Witt-Roper is an amazing teacher and I truly appreciate the opportunity be with her class.” Principal Bev Griffith, who served as a judge for the first time, said some of the questions related to the world today. “We asked about the common good versus individual rights, and the student related it to the riots and unrest in the nation and how there is a better way to protest than to lead to destruction or injury,” she said, adding that parents also talked with students beforehand about the topics. “The student tied it into the rise of the people and what we have a right to do and don’t in terms of the attack on the U.S. capitol.” Griffith said another student showed the importance of freedom of speech, beginning with words along these lines: President Trump was the best president ever; University of Utah students are the smartest; and President Biden now has to clean up the mess caused by President Trump. All of these may be controversial statements, but all may fall under our freedom of speech. “The students were asked to think outside the box, and they took real situations to put in mock situations,” Witt-Roper said. Another student related pandemic stimulus checks when addressing questions about checks and balances and another pointed out that waiting in line to vote should be a privilege, not a burden. Students further suggested online voting and lowering the voting age to 16, the same age as driving. Another pointed out that they have a right of freedom of expression with choosing what they wear to school, but they still need to follow the school’s guidelines. Judges could use suggested questions or ask their own, then they award-

ed points following a rubric. All the students received feedback from the judges so they could reflect on what they have accomplished. Team Washington pulled out a one-point win over Team Jefferson, but all five teams were within 20 points. Witt-Roper said the culminating activity where they demonstrated what they’ve learned was the highlight. “One student was super excited,” she said. “She got teary-eyed that we were able to celebrate and do this activity after all their hard work.” Griffith said she also learned from the students. “I learned so much from the students about the Constitution and why many Europeans came here,” she said. “It was for a chance to own land, where in Europe only the rich could own the land. I wonder if that’s why my relatives came here. I’m so proud of these kids; even the shyest kids rose to the occasion to give their speeches and answer questions.” We the People is a national competition. In fifth grade, it is presented at the school level. In eighth grade, students compete on the state level. As high school juniors, it’s a competition where they may have the opportunity to compete nationally; this year, it will be virtual. Jordan School District Board of Education President Tracy Miller judged this year’s South Jordan Elementary students. “We the People is an outstanding program that really gets the students engaged in understanding the history and principles of our government,” she said. “I was so impressed with the students’ understanding of important principles of our government. They are bright and informed and prepared to be good citizens in our community.” l

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Local substitute teachers stepped up with greater demand during COVID-19 By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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chools nationwide have been struggling to recruit substitute teachers, who have been in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, six substitute teachers speak about their return to the classrooms and the safety precautions in place. Rebecca Lyon, Canyons School District It was last March 12, and Rebecca Lyon was substituting at Hillcrest High—the day before former Gov. Gary Herbert placed schools on soft closure to stop the COVID-19 spread. It lasted the rest of the school year. “We could see it coming,” she said, noting teachers were worried and taking some precautions. As a former teacher and parent volunteer, Lyon became a substitute teacher in fall 2019. When Canyons School District reopened its schools in August, she substituted “quite a bit. A lot of them were like, ‘Can you do the whole week?’” As teachers would have to quarantine from exposure, jobs increased. “The teachers have gotten so good at Canvas, it’s become easier for a sub because the kids can just go there,” Lyon said. “Or sometimes, the teacher would actually teach the class remotely, and I just had to take roll. I was substituting third grade one time, and those little kids all knew how to get online and what to do. The little kids are so diligent and obedient and wear their masks. [At a middle school], a teacher had a chart on the board of which students were supposed to be the ones in charge of wiping the desk down at the end of every period.” Not only does she substitute for the love of teaching but also for the pay. She said a bonus working for the district is that she received her COVID-19 vaccinations. Melissa Sugden, Jordan School District As Welby Elementary’s former PTA president and a math aide at the school, Sugden decided she wanted to be a substitute teacher. “I love being at school; it’s just my favorite place to be,” she said. She decided last March to substitute teach, right before COVID-19 hit. “I didn’t actually start being a sub until after everything got back going [this past fall],” Sugden said. “I knew the risks of going during COVID. At the beginning of the year, it was really unknown and scary. For me, I was just like if the teachers are going to go in there and my daughter’s there, I may as well go and do what I can.” Since COVID-19, she said teachers’ lesson plans are in place. “Mr. [Aaron] Ichimura (Welby’s principal) is really big on making sure teachers have a plan and that has made a huge difference,” she said. “You know exactly what to do and when they need hand sanitizer and

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when to wash their hands and clean their desks, and the kids just do it. They’re prepared just because they know they could be out at any moment for two weeks.” She also feels safe when she substitutes, and supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, sprays and wipes have been plentiful. “That’s an amazing thing,” she said. “I’ve never seen any kid have a big problem with masks at all. It was kind of surprising how well they wear them. We wipe down between every kid, and you know, with all this cleaning, I think the schools are cleaner than my house.” Natalie Fisihetau, Murray School District Natalie Fisihetau was substituting at Murray High the day school district officials closed its doors March 12, a day ahead of the rest of the state. “The principal got on and said, ‘We need everyone to exit the building,’” she said. Since school returned in August, she has mostly substituted long term at the high school. “I love teaching, but I’m on disability right now,” she said. “I was a full-time teacher, but I have some issues that I couldn’t do it full time. I need to do it for the money. My husband lost his job, and I’m on disability right now.” Being 60, having a husband who is 65 and taking care of her elderly parents has made her more careful when she’s in the classroom. She has learned to wear her mask so it doesn’t fog up her glasses and to follow the directional arrows in the hallways. “COVID doesn’t scare me in the schools,” she said. “I think the district has done a great job. I’ve just been really careful and be smart about it.” By being a long-term sub, Fisihetau is able to access district emails about cleaning and sanitation, so she has stayed current with those procedures. She sprays the desks between class periods and allows students to dry them with paper towels. “Sometimes the classes were very, very small. I might only have six kids in class,” she said. “I think the most I have had is 20— that is not likely as kids can choose to be online or hybrid. I just go with the flow and put a smile on—although people don’t know that I’m smiling with my mask.” Karla Roberts, Canyons School District After teaching for 10 years, Karla Roberts has substituted in elementary schools for more than a decade, appreciating the flexible schedule it has given her to care for her mother and babysit a grandchild. “I sub in elementary. For me, it’s easy to follow the outline and pick up where the teacher left off,” she said. “My teaching experience has helped a lot.” During COVID-19, Roberts has opted not to accept any long-term substitution positions.

Substitute teacher Theresa Johnson has been helping Jordan School District students for 22 years. (Aaron Ichimura/Welby Elementary)

Substitutes at Murray High are given a badge to wear. (Amber Rydalch/Murray High School)

“I’m sticking to two or three schools because I learned their COVID routines,” she said, adding that schools have strongly enforced not sending kids to school sick. “If the kids are even having little sniffles, they’re advising them to stay home.” While kids are wearing masks, washing hands and being socially distanced, Roberts noticed something else about students during COVID-19. “Students are becoming more responsi-

ble for their own learning,” she said. “They’re understanding the importance of learning after last spring and are logging on and learning what the teacher outlines. They’re also being responsible for making sure they’re able to stay in school by following the rules and helping to sanitize.” Roberts said she has been grateful that teachers have been shown appreciation this year. “They really do appreciate us so much

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more this year,” she said. “They’re more aware and are expressing it.” Theresa Johnson, Jordan School District Theresa Johnson started substitute teaching as a way “to get out of the house.” Twenty-two years later, she still can’t stay home and is substituting in classrooms. “Back in August, I was a little afraid, and I brought my little bag in case I felt like I needed to clean something more,” she said. “But I didn’t need to. They supplied cleaners so when students switch half the day in dual immersion classes, we cleaned every desk and chair. We even clean every ball they use on the playground.” Johnson has substituted consistently even though she is around her mother and her son’s mother-in-law, who has stage 4 colon cancer, as well as babysits a grandchild. “I have been really careful,” she said. “I don’t go into the lunchroom with the teachers; I stay in the room and eat behind a plexiglass shield. I’m 55, and I actually was one of the first in line the first day [Jordan School District] gave out the COVID shot. It surprised me that we were included and are being appreciated. The principal comes in every morning and says, ‘Thank you, and we appreciate you coming in.’” Substituting on Fridays is one of her favorite times. “That’s when certain kids come in, maybe that’s for extra help, or it could be your top students who want to come in because they

want to be at school,” she said. “This week, I had three kids come in, and we had a ball there and got those kids caught up.” Nancy Mann, Canyons School District For a decade, Nancy Mann has been a substitute, often in special education classes where she once taught full time. In addition to substituting, Mann is a competency base measure tester where she typically tests students in their literacy skills. However, she was hesitant about returning to the classroom during COVID-19. “I decided to wait to see what the schools were like during testing in the fall before I decided to return to substituting,” she said. “After testing, and I saw how things worked, I knew it would be fine. I saw that the teachers, the administration and all the schools have done a great job trying to keep the kids and teachers safe and trying to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. At every level, preschool to high school, I saw how often they’re cleaning and sanitizing, and they’re wearing masks.” Mann remembers on March 13 she was substituting at Brighton High when she heard announcements “track got canceled, baseball got canceled, everything got canceled.” Later, she learned schools were canceled. “I thought about how the students were going to learn,” she said. “I thought about the teachers. As teachers, you spend all your days teaching and your nights preparing. It’s a hard profession. I love a good teacher—

Canyons School District substitute teacher Nancy Mann looks up from a special education book while at Altara Elementary. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Mann.)

there’s nothing better in the world. Do you know growing up what a lot of people say is the worst thing ever? A sub. I know when I walk in, and I’m qualified, I’ve taught. I’m not going to be a sub who will turn on a movie. I’m going to carry on, keep the kids on task and carry out the day. I take it very seriously. I respect the kids, and they respect me. They’re wanting to learn, and I’m there to help them.” l

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Eastlake Elementary celebrates Chinese New Year By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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ecently, Tina Susuico picked up the phone to call the principal she worked under as an assistant principal. “I called to ask him about handling an issue, and he listened to what I’d do,” she said. “We’ve talked before, and he will say he’s been in this situation before and ‘here’s what I did’ and ‘maybe you should reach out to this person.’ I’ve learned so much from him. He’s just amazing. He’s always available and willing to walk me through things.” That’s why Susuico nominated Welby Elementary Principal Aaron Ichimura for Jordan Association of Elementary School Principals’ Principal Mentor of the Year. He was awarded the honor in January and will have his name submitted to the Utah Elementary School Principals for the state award. “This award, I really appreciate,” Ichimura said. “But I still feel as if I’m learning on the job.” Ichimura has been a principal mentor for more than a decade, coaching colleagues and interns for four years at Heartland, seven years at Elk Meadows and now two at Welby. “Whenever I’ve been offered to host an intern, I accept the invitation,” he said. “I want to give to those who want the job, and I like to work with others and learn from their different experiences. I’ve learned from every one of the people I’ve worked with. It’s a win-win.” He currently has Assistant Principal Allyson Stovall, who also nominated him for the award, by his side to share in the administrative duties. “Aaron has the wonderful ability to build relationships with the students and staff,” she said. “He is calm in every situation and always has a suggestion of how to handle different situations. He has helped me learn so much about being an administrator [and], he has helped me find joy in working as an administrator.” At Elk Meadows, Susuico said that he would collaborate with her, each sharing their thoughts. “He’s been so open,” she said. “I came from Title I schools, a different demographic, with experience in curriculum and instructional support. He listened. We went with my experience, and our school’s scores went up 11 or 12 percentage points in language arts, which was our focus. We made the highest gains in the district, and it started with him as a leader and believing in me and being open to my strengths.” Ichimura said he appreciated learning her effective data collection and analysis, and ability to create a document to turn into the school district. Although they both have the common connection of being from Hawaii, Susuico said it’s Ichimura’s relationships with others and his positive attitude that are his strong points. “He really is a good at building relationships with parents and communicating,” she

By Julie Slama|j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Through the years, Welby Principal Aaron Ichimura has been known to go “all out” for his students, as seen here in 2018, which helps build positive relationships, according to his mentorees. (Photo courtesy of Tina Susuico.)

said. “He told me to start right away with kindergarten orientation and to be visible, welcoming and ensure parents that their children are safe and taken care of at the school. It may be their first kid to go to school and once those relationships are built, they will carry forward their remaining years of elementary. The way he interacts is very easy-going and makes everyone comfortable.” At the beginning of the year, Ichimura goes into each classroom to introduce himself as he learns students’ names and greets returning students. “He puts them at ease and says he knows his last name may be hard to pronounce so he tells them you pronounce it as if your arm is itchy, then you ‘moo’ like a cow, then you cheer ‘rah’ like a cheerleader,” she said. “The kids just love it—and him.” Ichimura is known to put his heart out for students whether it’s playing a role in a school program or production, dancing with them in a folk arts assembly, running laps with students on the school grounds or inviting a student to role-

play the job of a principal as part of third grade Kids Marketplace. “The highlight of his day is to walk into the cafeteria at lunch to be around the students (what Ichimura calls ‘my recess’),” Susuico said. “He will take his ukulele and sing happy birthday to students or he will get into the kitchen and help serve food. If students see him in the hallway, and they know they’re supposed to be quiet, they will just throw him a shaka (hang loose gesture). He does not hold back. He really gets into it with the kids.” Administrative intern Wendi Bergstrom, who recently spent several months learning from Ichimura, agrees. “He really has a way of trying to build relationships with students,” she said. “One of the things he did was as a reward for the fundraiser for students, [the PTA] brought in a humongous pig. He had to kiss the pig. It was really cute. It was really fun, and the kids really loved it. He was just always doing that stuff to try to relate to the kids. He would dress up for Halloween (as

S outh Jordan City Journal

a penguin this past fall). He was always out on the playground talking to the kids. He just really tried to make it a fun, safe place there, even in COVID times.” Not only does he give students the hang loose sign, but Bergstrom said he has a special greeting for kindergartners. “He has a little wave he does with them, and it’s so cute,” she said. “They’ll just walk down the hall, and when they see him they just quietly wave their pinkies at him. It’s adorable. He does a really good job at that kind of relationship building, to let the kids feel like they know him and that he cares about them.” Bergstrom also nominated Ichimura for the award. She said this fall, she not only learned from him how to do the job as an administrator in an elementary school but also how to deal with the unexpected, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “The biggest thing I learned from him was just go with the flow,” Bergstrom said. “Every day, it seemed like it was just a bunch of fires we had to fight. But the most important thing was always do it with a smile, always make sure to have a kind interaction with the kids and just do your best to take care of all the things that need to be done. It was just really good to see a lot of people might respond with a little bit of anger or uncertainty or just a worry, but he just was so chill. He just relaxed and knew everything was going to be OK.” She said there weren’t many disciplinary issues.

“I think it’s just naturally quieter [with masks],” she said. “Whenever we did deal with any students, he was always very fair and made sure that we understood. We got everybody’s story before we talked to the person and made sure we did our research. The hardest thing (during her internship) was COVID tracing. We had to look at video cameras and see who’s eating lunch together and playing together. He was really patient and knowledgeable so that made the whole process seem less stressful for the rest of us involved.” Bergstrom, who teaches online high school English in Jordan School District, also shared her knowledge of technology with Ichimura and Welby’s school On Halloween 2020, Welby Elementary Principal Aaron Ichimura reads a book to students. (Photo courtesy of Wendi community council. Bergstrom.) “I was kind of the insider saying ‘here’s what’s happening’ from lege courses and share with me how education tary education from Brigham Young Universithis side of the teacher’s perspective because I is continuing to change,” he said. “I like learn- ty, his master’s in educational leadership from know that it can be really confusing, but also as ing from them as well and being able to change BYU and a second master’s in teaching from a student, because I’m in graduate classes, and and adapt. I’m happy to have a job I enjoy. As Grand Canyon University. He also has worked my son is in high school student and on Canvas, a teacher and administrator, I’ve reached out to at Sprucewood and Butterfield Canyon and Herso I help him,” she said. “So, it’s being able to my mentors through the years where I always riman elementary schools. look at it from all different instances.” “I do the best I can as an educator to share had a comfortable and enjoyable relationship to Ichimura said that he has appreciated learn- discuss stuff and gain their points of view. That’s my passion with others,” he said. “I don’t aspire ing from his interns. to get awards, but it’s a nice, positive reinforcewhat I hope I can provide to others.” “They introduce me to new practices in colIchimura earned his bachelor’s in elemen- ment for what I do.” l

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Former Royals player highlights online soccer training By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

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rofessional soccer player Alex Kimball, who returned to her Salt Lake roots as a member of the Utah Royals, headlines a new six-week online training program that will begin March 15. Ultimate Virtual Soccer Training for Female Athletes is aimed at training young female soccer players, ages 13 to 17, in the skills and knowledge needed to improve their performance. The first week is being offered for free to give those interested a glimpse of the program. “We are so excited for this program,” said Utah-based Sport Ready founder Robin Cecil, a physical therapist of 25 years. “To have a strategic advantage, one must train all aspects of the game and be available to train. This course provides a holistic approach that includes the soccer specific and physical aspects of training, along with other aspects, such as core values, and how behaviors affect an athlete’s performance.” Kimball, who splits time living and training in the Salt Lake area and North Carolina where she played collegiately for the storied Tar Heels program, said she is excited to share her experiences with younger players. “We’re going to educate and help you train yourself in ways that you’ve never probably learned before,” she said. “I wish I knew then what I know now.”

Former BYU soccer player Alyssa Jefferson will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 13 to 17, that begins March 15.

Former Utah Royals soccer player Alex Kimball will headline a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 13 to 17, that begins March 15

Cecil said the program will give a comprehensive outlook and “some real takeaways” to educate youth athletes and empower them to know what to do to take care of their bodies. “We’re not trying to take away from club soccer, just enhancing their knowledge base and overall experience to play the sport as long as they can and in the safest way possible,” she said. Other professional soccer players, including 2019 FIFA World Cup player Jessica McDonald, Manchester United player Alesia Russo along with former BYU player Alyssa Jefferson will also be featured in the training.

The online training course will be also be taught by other sports professionals, including RSL nutritionist Michelle Meinking and sports endocrinologist Nicki Keay who has worked with elite athletes for more than two decades. The focus of the program will be on learning what type of training and recovery to do; in what season of play, and how much; strategies to train mental strength and improve well-being; proper nutrition; tools to help you communicate effectively with coaches and parents; increasing awareness of female phys-

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iology; learning how to listen to your body; and decreasing injury risk. There will also be weekly competitions and interactive activities. “Our staff understands what it takes to make it to the top and can guide athletes in their journey,” Cecil said. “With our expertise, our hope is to give every female soccer player an equal playing field and provide a virtual conduit to sustained development.” Kimball will lead athletes through training drills while athletes will additionally be involved in live question and answer sessions, among other aspects of the program. The training will take about one hour per day, four to five days a week, depending on the individual schedule of each participant. The cost of the online training is $199. Enrollment can be secured and more information can be found at: sportreadyacademy. com/p/ultimate-virtual-soccer-training-for-female-athletes-with-alex-kimball. The first 100 girls to sign up will receive a free KT Tape kit (retail value $56). Teams that are interested in signing up can reach out to Cecil at robin@rusportready.com for special pricing. Plans are also in place to expand this type of training to other sports, including football this spring. l

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New Eastlake principal comes with superhero power: love of learning By Julie Slama|j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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t Eastlake Elementary, there’s a superhero overlooking the Dragons, and she’s been told she’s quite the wonder woman. In January 2021, former Assistant Principal Kristie Howe returned to Eastlake where she now is taking the helm of the elementary school. Former Principal Suzie Williams, who had served the school the past four years, will open the new elementary school west of Mountain View Corridor in the fall. Howe was an assistant principal two years ago at Eastlake, and last year she split her time in the same position between Oakcrest Elementary and Antelope Canyon Elementary. “It’s like coming home,” she said. “Most of the teachers and kids are the same, so it’s really comfortable being here as a first-time principal.” Before becoming an administrator, she taught 10 years at Daybreak Elementary in sixth grade and resource. In fact, it was at Daybreak where she got her nickname as Wonder Woman. Daybreak’s special education team was submitting a fun photo of superheroes with their names underneath it for a conference. Howe’s name was underneath Wonder Woman. “It just stuck after that,” she said. “My

whole office is decorated with things students and families have given me from Happy Meal toys to posters and dolls. I didn’t realize how many Wonder Woman items are out there. I have three different versions of the same doll.” she added that she has been known to dress up as the character in a school-friendly costume for Halloween. Howe is a product of Jordan School District, having attended Sunrise Elementary, Indian Hills Middle and Jordan High before the district split in 2009. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an endorsement in special education from Westminster College and her master’s in education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix. “I was born to be a teacher; I’ve been teaching since I was three,” Howe said, adding that reading is one of her passions. At that tender age, she read to her mother’s daycare students. “Kids have been my whole world,” Howe said. “I want to make a positive impact on children’s lives. I love to go into a class and read and do activities with the students.” She has been known to read a Mo Willems’ book and then have older students create their own “short and sweet” version of the story and buddy up with a younger students to

New Eastlake Principal Kristie Howe, who came aboard in January 2021, is also known as Wonder Woman and has an office display to support this nickname. (Photo courtesy of Kristie Howe.)

share their stories. She also appreciates Roald Dahl’s books. One activity Howe likes is to work with every grade asking them to write and illustrate a class book about when they were little and now that they’re grown up and what they are now able to do.

“I’ve usually done it around parent-teacher conferences so it can be shared with parents,” she said. “Then we leave it in the class so the next year’s class can read it and the teacher can have it as a memory book. I have a love of learning, and I want to support our teachers and students in their learning and goal setting and establishing that foundation of relationships and feeling successful.” She appreciates the solid foundation that Williams established at Eastlake and plans to continue offering supportive professional development for teachers. She said last spring’s soft closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic made it even more aware that “we need to keep up with our skills.” While her family—including her dogs, a chocolate and a white laboratory retrievers—likes to go camping or hiking, they also are crazy about escape rooms. As a native Wisconsinite, she’s a proud Cheesehead, who roots for her Green Bay Packers. But ask her what her favorite time is and she says it’s not going to the movies or watching a streaming service to catch the newest “Wonder Woman” movie. “Homework time with my kids is my favorite time,” she said. “I love reading a book with my daughter and another one with my son.” l

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Miners take lead in teaching Mini-Miner preschoolers, exploring teaching as future career By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Bingham High senior Alyssa Jones provides individual attention with a preschooler as part of the Mini-Miner preschool where high school students take the lead in providing instruction to youngsters. (Photo courtesy of Bingham High School)

W

hen Alyssa Jones transferred to Bingham High as a sophomore, she enrolled to teach the Mini-Miners preschool. “I want to become a teacher so that is an amazing opportunity to teach and use the skills I’ve learned and need for my career in elementary education,” said the now senior high school student. “I’ve been able to get hands-on, easy-to-follow experience and learn the basics of what I need to teach and develop an understanding of how children grow and behave at certain ages.” Jones and her classmates, who are all juniors and seniors, take child development or early childhood education I prior to becoming preschool teachers. Once in the preschool class, they use the knowledge from those courses to develop lesson plans and activities for the preschoolers. “The first time I taught, I was so nervous, but our teacher, Mrs. (Janae) Dunn, said that the preschoolers don’t care if we’re perfect or if we mess up and to just try our best. I did mess up and she was right, nobody cared, and we went on learning our letters and singing songs,” she said. “Because of this experience, I’ve learned to become a better person. It’s taught me a lot about myself standing in front of others and teaching. I’ve learned patience and understanding and becoming the best person I can be.” Jones now is on her way to earning her childhood development associate’s degree, the first student who will have earned the distinction as a high school student since Dunn began teaching at the school seven years ago. To become CDA-certified, Jones has prepared lesson plans and materials as well

Page 18 | March 2021

as independently researching education topics to compile into an extensive portfolio; she has to be CPR certified and has her food handler’s permit; she has worked in a childhood lab setting 480 hours (including about 120 at Bingham High’s preschool); she has been observed teaching and leading activities by a state professional development specialist; and she will have to pass a 65-question exam before June. “This will lead me to better job opportunities and becoming the person I want to become – a teacher,” she said, adding that she does plan to attend college to study elementary education upon her graduation. She ultimately has a goal of earning a doctorate in education. Dunn said that the class caters to high school students who want to enter the education field so they’re gaining experience now. “My high-schoolers are the teachers, so we just switch who’s the lead teacher every day,” she said. “Everyone has an assignment so they’re doing something different, planning the lessons and all the activities.” The preschoolers, who must be potty-trained and four years old by Sept. 1, usually come two days per week. The preschool class, which typically has registration open by March, usually fills by summer, Dunn said. On Fridays, without preschoolers, high school students focus on lesson planning and going through curriculum with Dunn. “The rest of the week, we’re in the preschool lab running their preschool and they’re getting that hands-on experience of how to be a teacher, how to let them plan, how to

On crazy hair day, a Mini-Miner shows off his magnetic wand, one of several activities high school students teach to preschoolers as part of their lesson plans. (Photo courtesy of Bingham High School)

manage a classroom and they are learning all those different tools,” she said. “It’s so awesome watching these high schoolers as they come in at the beginning of the year timid and by the end of the year, they’re right on top of it, they know exactly what they need to do, and they take such ownership of the class.” Every day, preschoolers learn a letter and number along with a poem or story that helps them remember the sound. For example, preschoolers may have a space theme and learn the number 7, so high school students will share a story about the moon and space that ties in with the number. Preschoolers may make their own moon rocks or create their own astronaut masks to tie to the theme. Themes have ranged from water and ice to jungle animals or dinosaurs and the activities extends to art, science, literacy, and math. High school students adapt the lessons to fit each individual preschooler’s ability. Then afterwards, the high school students will reflect how the lesson went and note if they had to make any modifications. This year’s preschool looks a bit different to ensure students follow the COVID-19 safety and health guidelines. “We only have 10 of the community kids and 10 high schoolers in each class (where other years the numbers may fluctuate). This year, we’re 1-to-1 ratio with the littles, as the CDC says we can only have 20 people in a room at one time,” Dunn said. Normally, the room has multiple stations from a large carpet area where high school students lead beginning activities and storytime to hands-on stations for science, math

and language arts. This year, at some of those stations, such as the listening station, dolls and bean bag chairs were removed because of COVID-19. “We have our selected activities, then we just sanitize. My classroom has never been so clean. Anything they touch, we have to sanitize. We’re very selective what’s out like in the dramatic play area (play kitchen). We just stick what they touch in the dishwasher and wash it. We pull it back out the next day. The high-schoolers are really good at collecting what’s been touched and we have a bin that it all goes into and we sanitize and clean. We have bottles of sanitizer so before the kids can start at the table, they sanitize their hands. When we come in from the playground, we wash our hands. We do snack, we wash hands. It’s just become a lot more extensive this year,” she said. Still the preschoolers have fun, Dunn said. Typically, preschoolers have a visit from a firefighter or police officer, a magician may perform, they go on a leprechaun hunt around Bingham High wearing leprechaun glasses and have a visit from good ol’ St. Nick, who brings each preschooler a Mini-Miner sweatshirt. Jones liked trick-or-treating in classrooms around Bingham High with preschoolers who were dressed up as a ladybug, bumblebee, Elsa, The Hulk, transformers and other creative costumes. Jones, herself, was Betty Boop. “They are just so cute,” Jones said. “It made my heart melt.” Dunn said it’s a rewarding experience: “I watch these kids grow and progress and become confident in what they are doing. Not only do you see the preschoolers grow, but it’s awesome watching the high-schoolers grow and also become more confident. They just excel at working with these kids every day.” l

A police officer comes to teach the preschool students about safety, providing enrichment to their classroom activities. (Photo courtesy of Bingham High School)

S outh Jordan City Journal

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Take care of your mental and social health during COVID The other day I was talking with my husband and we were both commenting on how we’ve felt a bit of depression set in from this long COVID year. We all need human interaction to thrive, and with health challenges, financial pressures, political unrest, and so much uncertainty, it’s no wonder that many of us feel a little down. I wanted to share some tips from Salt Lake County’s Health Department on how to improve or maintain your mental and social health as we head into the final stretch. Take breaks from the news and social media - It is important to stay informed, but constantly hearing about the pandemic or politics is exhausting and upsetting. Limit your news and social media intake to once a day or every other day. Practice Mindfulness – Set aside time every day (even for five minutes) to be in the present moment. You can do this by meditating, journaling, or focusing on your breathing. Go outside for 30 minutes every day– Bundle up and get outside. Being outdoors is a natural antidepressant as sunshine naturally increases serotonin and endorphins that boost energy and reduce pain. Get enough sleep – Stick to a regular sleep schedule and give yourself extra wind-down time each night before bed to read, stretch, and/or meditate to ensure quality sleep. Stay in touch – Be intentional with your connections by scheduling regular video chats, phone calls, or text messages with loved ones. Try online exercise classes – Salt Lake County Parks and Rec are hosting online exercise classes for all activity levels. Check out the schedules at slco.org/parks-recreation. Take Virtual Tours with loved ones – The Utah Hogle Zoo, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, The Leonardo, and the Tracy Aviary all offer virtual experiences to enjoy with family and friends. Write letters – Create handwritten letters

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

with your household for a senior citizen fighting loneliness. Learn more at loveforourelders.org/ letters Adopt or foster a pet – Adopting or fostering a pet is one of the best ways to ease loneliness. Pets offer companionship, instill a routine, reduce blood pressure, and provide mental stimulation. More information at slco.org/animal-services/ adoption-information/ Continue doing the things you enjoy virtually - Host a virtual movie night, book club, game night, online cooking class or karaoke. After reviewing this list, I have to admit that I need to do better on my sleep habits. And keeping my cell phone next to my bed is probably not helpful. One thing we did this past summer is welcomed our first pet (fish excluded) into our family. Ripley, our mini goldendoodle puppy, has forced us out for walks every day, and she’s kept life interesting during the pandemic. Some of my favorite memories have been Zoom calls with the entire Winder or Newton extended family so we could catch up and hear how everyone was doing. This pandemic will only break down our mental health and friendships if we let it, so take active steps to stay engaged, integrate healthy behaviors, and connect with our loved ones. If you have other mental health issues where you are thinking about harming yourself or others, please call the crisis line at 801-587-3000 or contact them on the SAFE UT app.

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in the western part of South Jordan. This park and will be an incredible amenity to residents of Salt Lake County. Bingham Creek Park will eventually be a 160-acre park. Phase 1 will have multi-purpose fields, a playground, walking paths, a disc golf course, restrooms, and parking. Funding for this project comes from the ZAP bond and a partnership with the City of South Jordan. As summer came, people headed to the mountains to hike our trails. Many are familiar with the trails in Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Little Cottonwood Canyon; but did you know we have a trail system in Rose Canyon in the Oquirrhs? Trails are open to Hiking, Equestrian, and Mountain Biking Users. And if you want to stay closer to home you can walk the Jordan River Parkway. This 45-mile system in Salt Lake County has been beautified by a collaborative effort of the County, State, and Municipalities. I’m grateful these entities wisely invested over the years in these trails. The County Council is working hard to enhance trail opportunities around Butterfield Canyon. We are currently taking the first steps to build a trail system that generations will enjoy. The JL Sorenson Rec Center in Herriman might be the largest and feels like the busiest Rec Center in the County. I know there is a need for another Rec Center in the southwest part of the valley and am hopeful if voters approve the next ZAP bond that we can make that a reality. I love attending my grandchildren’s Jr Jazz basketball and soccer games at our County facilities. While COVID has ruined the basketball season this year – you can count on seeing me on the sidelines next year cheering on every participant.

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Defending champs entered state tournament as No. 3 seed Photos by Pat McDonald

Sierra Lichtie looks to drive the baseline against Herriman. Lichtie was the team’s leading scorer in the regular season with 14.5 points per game. The junior also led the team in rebounding.

Freshman point guard Shawnessy Nordstrom averaged double figures in scoring for the Miners this season as they finished with a 16-4 regular season record. Bingham entered the state tournament with the No. 3 seed.

Nane Lokutui does a little bit of everything for the two-time defending champs. Lokutui is one of three seniors for Miners who, after finishing with the No. 3 seed for the playoffs, earned a first round bye.

Junior Maddie Simpson puts up a three against West, a game the Miners would win 75-33. Bingham went 8-2 in region with its only two losses coming against region champs Herriman.

Page 22 | March 2021

S outh Jordan City Journal

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March 2021 | Page 23

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Bingham wins region, earns No. 5 seed for playoffs Photos by Pat McDonald

Senior Zach Cantwell looks to drive past his defender. Cantwell and company have created a well-balanced attack averaging 65 points per game in region while holding teams to 49 points per game. The Miners have five players averaging at least five points a game.

Devin Carlson throws down a dunk. Bingham went 5-5 in preseason, playing maybe the toughest schedule in the state before going undefeated in region. The Miners earned a firstround bye and would play the winner of Kearns and Roy in the second round (after press deadline).

Junior Kam Dupaix lays it in against Jordan during a region game. The Miners went undefeated in region winning the region title outright for the first time in years.

Head coach Kyle Straatman looks on as his team holds Jordan to 45 points, 19 of which came in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach. The Miners had several of those games in region.

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

March 2021 | Page 25

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Fostering saves lives in more ways than one By Katy Whittingham | k.whittingham@mycityjournals.com

Hugh, a mixed breed medical foster from Salt Lake County Animal Services, at his foster home in Sandy.

A

nimal shelters and rescues around the country have reported an increase of people fostering animals during the pandemic. Fostering provides room for shelters to take in more animals and helps place the animal in a well-fit forever home. Christelle Del Prete works for Best Friends Animal Society with their sanctuary in Kanab and shelters and networks around the country, including their Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Sugar House. “Pets thrive in homes, not shelters,” she said. “And it’s a beautiful thing when communities come together to care for their homeless animals as so many people have done during the pandemic.” Even nearly one year into the pandemic, many people still find themselves working or going to school fully or partially remotely, so this increase in time at home certainly is a contributing factor to both increases in adoptions and fostering. For the foster family of a 9-month-old mixed breed dog, Hugh, a medical foster from Salt Lake County Animal Services, this was the case with all three members of the family working or attending school at least partially remotely. Hugh came to Salt Lake County Animal Services as a stray with a hip injury that he had “for a good amount of time,” and required surgery. After the surgery that the shelter provided, Hugh needed to receive physical therapy, time to heal, and encouragement to use his back leg again, so he was placed in a foster home where they could make this commitment. In addition to helping Hugh heal, his foster family helped to further determine

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

information a potential adopter might be interested in, such as was he good with other dogs, good with children, afraid of men or people in general, good with cats, and so on. Also how well trained he was, how well he did riding in the car, how well he walked on a leash, how well he did in a crate both during the day and at night, and if he had any signs of separation anxiety. In Hugh’s case, he seemed to do well with everyone and everything, which surprised one of his fosters, Matt Ackley of Sandy. “I had wrongly assumed since he was a stray that he would require a lot more behavioral training, but he truly is an amazing dog, especially considering his circumstances and young age.” Since Hugh made tremendous progress in his recovery and proved to be a great example of how resilient and loving animals can still be even when humans initially fail them, he was able to meet with a potential adopter ahead of schedule. When it was deemed a good fit, the adoptive family agreed to continue his therapy, and he went to his new forever home after only three weeks post-surgery and with his foster. Ackley said that one concern he had about fostering was that their child, a second-grader, would get too attached especially because she was one of the main caretakers of Hugh, and they developed a quick and close bond, but it helped that she got to meet the new adoptive family that included two young girls around her age. She knew upon meeting them that they would continue to love and take care of Hugh like she did. “Because more and more people are opening their hearts and homes to homeless pets, I truly believe we can put an end to the unnecessary killing of cats and dogs in our country’s shelters and begin to celebrate all the precious lives we’ve saved,” Del Prete said. There are several ways to reach out locally if you are interested in fostering, adopting or helping dogs and cats in our area in any way by checking out rescue and shelter websites and social media pages. The website for Salt Lake Animal Services is slco.org/ animal-services and the Foster and Outreach Coordinator Megan Allred can be reached by email at mallred@slco.org. Best Friends continues to promote a “Save Them All” approach and a “No Kill 2025” meaning the goal is “saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved” and “healing the animals who can be healed, treating behaviors that can be treated, and prioritizing safety and a high quality of life for both pets and people in our communities.” More information and links to locally foster and adopt can be found on their website bestfriends.org. l

By Brian Synan, President/CEO southjordanchamber.org / 801-253-5200

The South Jordan Chamber of Commerce welcomed the following new and returning members in the last month: Treasure Tower Rewards Godfather’s Pizza 10949 S Redwood Road #200 South Jordan, UT 84095 Innovashare Benefits, LLC 9710 South 700 East Suite 112 Sandy, UT 84121 Warren’s Drive In 3754 W 11400 S South Jordan, Utah

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DRIVE THRU JOB/RESOURCE FAIR April 17, 2021 • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Bingham High School Parking Lot 2160 South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT 84095

For more information about these events visit our website at www.southjordanchamber.org March 2021 | Page 27

Boys take region title, girls runners-up Photos by Pat McDonald

Tanner Nelson swims the breaststroke at the Region 3 championships where he took first with a time of 56:34. Nelson also took first in the 200 individual medley. Nelson went on to take state in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, both in state record times.

Senior Nicole Henriquez helped the Bingham girls swim team to a second-place finish at the Region 3 swim meet.

Senior Izzy Nielsen swam the butterfly as part of the girls team who finished region runners-up to Copper Hills.

Sophomore Taylor Marchant swam the backstroke as part of the girls team who finished region runners-up to Copper Hills.

Page 28 | March 2021

The Bingham High swim team wrapped up the region year with a first-place finish for the boys and and runners-up for the girls.

S outh Jordan City Journal

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March 2021 | Page 29

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Like a mother in a Disney movie, my cell phone died inexplicably. Well, not inexplicably. I dropped it in the toilet. I was wearing jeans for the first time in seven months and had the phone in my back pocket when it promptly fell into the commode. My phone, not my back pocket. There’s a universal response when you drop your phone in liquid; you reach in and grab the damn thing. It could be submerged in molten lava or boiling oil; you will instinctively reach for the phone at the expense of ever using your hand again. Snatching it up, I screamed several unprintable words and resorted to 15 minutes of “No, no, no, no, no!” I shook my phone, blew in it, prayed over it and dashed home to dump it in a bowl of rice. (A robot on Mars can send information to NASA but I have to submerge my phone in rice because it got wet.) I thought, this would make a great Instagram post and frantically looked for my phone so I could take a picture of my phone sitting in a bowl of rice. But I was phoneless. I reached for my phone nonstop. I absently grabbed the TV remote, trying to scroll through Tik Tok. I picked up my computer mouse to check the time. I kept patting my leggings where my cell phone used to be, frisking myself like some weird felon.

Automotive Services

Randy’s Tire and Muffler

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I realized I’m obsessed with how many steps I walk. I’m preoccupied with social media. I’m dependent on my phone to give me instant info. If I wanted to order from Amazon, I had to go into ANOTHER ROOM and use my computer. After 24 hours, I turned on my phone. Nothing. Minutes later, I was kicking in the door at my cell phone company, begging them to fix my phone. They know me well because, having been bitten by a radioactive clutz, I break my phone often. But this time, they just shook their head and called the time of death. Then someone suggested I contact

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Electric

TREE SERVICES

HARVEY’S ELECTRIC 801-833-0998

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Call and ask about Breaker Box Labeling!

CARPET/FLOORING

ROOFING

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Simple Fix in West Jordan, saying they work miracles. Miracles sounded pretty good, but they couldn’t look at my phone for several days. Several days without a phone? Impossible! What would I listen to while walking my dog? Who was Scam Likely going to call? What if Samantha Bee texts me about a job? How would I waste hours of my time doing something unnecessary? The typical cell phone weighs four or five ounces but after a day without my phone, I felt weightless. After two days I could talk to my husband without furtive glances at my phone. After three days, I didn’t miss playing Words with Friends. Is this what life is supposed to feel like? I swore when I got my phone back, it wouldn’t control me anymore. Then I got my phone back. I listened to all the podcasts, played all the games, bought everything on Amazon and beat my family at Words with Friends. I ignored my husband, tuned out the world in general and scrolled endlessly through social media platforms. The lesson here should be turn off your phone and interact with the real world. But what I learned was I need to buy cargo pants with dozens of secure pockets so my phone will never fall into the toilet again.

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DECKS & HANDRAILS

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March 2021 | Page 31

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March 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 03

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SOUTH JORDAN’S POPULATION BOOMS; CITY EMPLOYEES JUMP SHIP By Mariden Williams | m.williams@mycityjournals.com

S

outh Jordan city employees are feeling spread thin. At a four-hour city budget meeting held on Jan. 28, presenters from nearly every department—parks and recreation, police, fire, public works, human resources, and finance—explained how the city’s massive growth was affecting their work, and what should be done about it. The resounding message was the same across all departments: they need more staff members, and those staff members need to be better compensated for the amount of work that they do. “Those that choose to be in government do have options, and our competitors are our sister cities,” said Teresa Cook, South Jordan’s human resources director. “We’ve had a lot of employees get offers from other cities because of that.” South Jordan’s employee turnover rate hadn’t dropped below 8% in years, but for the last three years has hovered around an average of 12%. And this year, according to Cook, a whopping 50% of South Jordan city employees are leaving for other work. Hiring new employees isn’t as simple of a task as it may seem on the surface, either. There’s just nobody there to hire. “The quality of applicants are going down, and the number of applications are going down,” said Cook. Because of all this, it’s become a whole lot easier to seduce an experienced employee away from another city by offering greater pay and shinier benefits, than it is to try to recruit a complete newbie and train them from the ground up. Why train somebody new when you can just steal somebody better? Ac Nearly every department of South Jordan is facing labor shortages. (Mariden Williams/City Journals) Continued page 3

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