March. 2022 | Vol. 09 Iss. 03
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BINGHAM DRILL TEAM’S THREE-PEAT CEMENTS LEGENDARY STATUS By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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he Bingham Minerettes drill team joined some rarified air after winning their third straight 6A state championship in February. With their faces smudged and their white tank tops streaked with the appearance of soot and grime to mark their mining namesakes, the Minerettes accomplished something that has only been done once before in school history: a three-peat. The Minerettes performed three routines that dazzled and awed the crowd at Utah Valley University during the state championships. In each of the three categories, military, dance and show, the ladies displayed their versatility and skill, sweeping the competition with the high score in each category. “If I could sum up our performances at state in a few words, I would say a lot of heart and soul was left out on the floor that day,” said Bingham head coach Erica Cox. “The girls truly went out and fought for what they wanted until the very end of their last routine. The energy they brought was indescribable and I think everyone was able to feel it. They had the precision, the difficulty, and the technique…but at the end of the day their emotion was so strong and tangible, it really shined through.” While Bingham’s trifecta may be the stuff of legend, this year’s three-peat is not an all-together new experience for Bingham. The Minerettes were the 5A champs from 2005 to 2007. The three straight state titles now rank Cox seventh allContinued page 9
The Bingham Minerettes drill team poses with their 2021-22 Class 6A Utah state championship trophy. (Photo courtesy Erica Cox)
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South Jordan woman’s nonprofit connects brain injury survivors to resources By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com
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n April 2013, South Jordan’s TyAnne Crook’s life changed forever when her then 5-year-old son, Alex, fell from a department store escalator that was installed without the required safety features. “I watched my little boy lying so still that he looked dead,” Crook said. “Sometimes his eyes would flutter open. Sometimes he would say something. Doctors and nurses said so many words that I knew the meaning of, but I couldn’t make sense of it. All I knew was a strangulating fear. Even when he came home from the hospital, I slept next to his bed for weeks.” Alex was diagnosed with a skull fracture, brain bleed, and traumatic brain injury. Crook was given the usual cautions and things to watch out for such as rest, avoiding screens and alerting their doctor should anything change. Well, things certainly changed. “Once the period of sleeping all the time wore off, he was always angry, which was weird because he was normally such a happy kid,” Crook said. “I figured his head still hurt where the fracture was, and it would go away. It didn’t. He hated all the foods he used to love. He was so anxious about everything. He started these weird behaviors like hoarding food and changing his clothes six or more times a day.” “Fairly quickly, he wasn’t just angry anymore; he became violent,” she continued. “Violent enough that everyone else in the house was afraid of him. Does a 5-yearold have the strength to throw a dining room chair? He does. I went to the doctor and was brushed off. I went to the doctor again and again. Things were getting worse. He wasn’t sleeping anymore. He used to perform all the normal activities of daily living that were age-appropriate for a 5-year-old, and now he couldn’t. He couldn’t remember how to get dressed or tie his shoes. He couldn’t figure
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out brushing his teeth or even showering anymore.” From doctors, friends, family and neighbors Crook heard every possible explanation for Alex’s behavior. “He’s overcoming a traumatic experience…he’s just a brat…he’s lazy…you’re lazy…he needs discipline… maybe you need to see a counselor for your attention-seeking behavior.” “And then one day we met a doctor that changed all that,” Crook explained. “Out of the many doctors we had seen, this was the first to understand the long-term consequences of brain injury. The doctors in the hospital were great at acute care. They put Humpty Dumpty back together again.” Brain injury is more common than many people realize. While most hear about TBI, it’s not always understood that concussions, strokes and aneurysms are also brain injuries. Encephalitis, hydrocephalus, carbon monoxide poisoning, hypoxia, anoxia, brain tumors and even birth injuries can result in brain injury. “Approximately 60% of our prison inmates have a history of brain injury. This is due to poor impulse control and other typical symptoms post brain injury. It’s estimated that more than half of the homeless population is brain-injured. Mental health problems are common in the brain injury community with 40% of survivors experiencing severe enough depression to require medical intervention,” Crook said. Crook’s journey with Alex inspired her to start the nonprofit BrainStorm for Brain Injury (www.brainstormforbraininjury.com). This organization connects brain injury survivors to therapists, community resources, legal experts and other survivors and their families. “The advice we were given at the hospital was wrong,” Crook said. “If you’ve
TyAnne and Alex enjoy a day on the slopes with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. (Photo courtesy of TyAnne Crook) experienced any brain injury, see a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor who specializes in neurorehabilitation as soon as you can. Also, concussion protocols are worthless.” BrainStorm for Brain Injury provides resources to providers and experts, and advocates for TBI. “To all the caregivers out there, you are heroes,” Crook said. “To all the survivors out
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Females in Action focus on body, mind and heart in Salt Lake Valley By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com
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hether during pre-pandemic times, post-pandemic times, or anywhere in the middle, everyone wants to feel like they have a group to belong to. Along with that feeling of belonging also comes the feeling of acceptance despite your age, color, race, religion, orientation, occupation, etc. Those looking for such a group need look no further than a nearby park where every Tuesday at 6 a.m., Wednesday at 7 p.m., Friday at 6 a.m. and Saturday at 8:30 a.m., you will find, regardless of the weather (not excluding snow), Females in Action Salt Lake Valley, a group of women who are ready and waiting to accept other women into their circle, free of charge. “At first I thought it was too good to be true, to be free and an amazing social outlet,” said Rachael Van Cleave, FIA member. “I can’t say enough how much it helped my mental health throughout the pandemic. I was able to have that social outlet, get exercise year-round and stay safe.” More than just a weekly workout group, FIA Salt Lake Valley offers the kind of like-mindedness that many look for in a group of female friends. From all different backgrounds and circumstances, the mission of FIA is to “make each other stronger in all areas through activities that include bodies, minds and hearts.” Females in Action was inspired by F3, a national organization of men seeking “fitness, fellowship and faith.” The headquarters for both F3 and FIA are located in North Carolina. According to the website, FIA is more than 6,000 women in 22 different states, and continues to grow. The FIA Salt Lake Valley group just celebrated their oneyear anniversary in February. Allyson Naud discovered FIA after seeing her husband participating in F3. A self-proclaimed introvert, Naud was not keen, at first, on the idea of a weekly exercise group, especially when it came time to be the leader of said group. What started off small in numbers has turned mighty in spirit. “I just emailed a few friends and they came,” Naud said. “I never imagined it would grow like this and that it would have such an impact on everyone.” The group became official with FIA nation last year after about four months of having consistent attendance. The group started with one workout a week and 30 women. It has grown to four workouts a week and 52 women.
S outh JordanJ ournal.com
Weekly workouts are free of charge and help the women of FIA Salt Lake Valley focus on improving their health and wellness. (Photo taken by Laura Grenmyr) More than just a peer-led workout, the women of FIA Salt Lake Valley spend time serving in the community. The most recent project was for a women’s shelter, for which they put together hygiene kits. The group communicates regularly, using Slack, about upcoming workouts, gathering for book club, dinner club, and just checking in with one another. “It’s about more than working out, it’s about community, and having a group of awesome women to do life with,” Naud said. During the Covid quarantine the group was still able to gather to do their weekly outdoor workouts, with their masks on and at a safe distance. They were able to be a support to one another in what seemed like a never-ending cycle of uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. Every workout ends with a circle of trust, where the group gather in a circle to acknowledge each individual and reflect or contemplate, using a motivational thought, quote or story before parting ways. The sense of community has made a huge impact on some members, some who moved to Utah during the pandemic, some who are here without family support. “If it weren’t for FIA, I would have had a worse time during the pandemic,” said FIA member Laura Grenmyr, who serves as the marketing and public relations coordinator. Newcomers to the group should expect to receive a nickname, something to do with her experience or her
The schedule of weekly workouts, which are peer-led and held no matter the weather outside (Courtesy of FIA Salt Lake Valley). life, be it a hobby or characteristic or something she enjoys. Grenmyr spent seven years living in Sweden, and travels there often, garnering her the nickname Globetrotter. Naud is known to the group as Leafmaster, and Van Cleave is known as Primetime. For more information or to see the local weekly workout schedule, visit fianation.com/locations/utah/salt-lakevalley/. l
March 2022 | Page 5
Healthy South Jordan aims to make a difference for the community By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com
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s we enter yet another year of uncertainty regarding the short-term and long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, community members can be sure of this: the acommunity of South Jordan cares. A collection of community members and local business leaders established the Healthy South Jordan coalition and are committed again to improve mental and physical well-being after their efforts were held off due to Covid restrictions. Although formed in 2019, the coalition had little opportunity to make an impact due to various health and safety guidelines. They have reached a point now where they are able to focus on their objectives once more: reduce depression and anxiety; prevent self-harm (suicide and substance misuse); help people overcome addiction; promote the safe, healthy and non-excessive use of electronic devices, programs and media; and decrease unhealthy weight through healthy lifestyle changes. The coalition boasts representation from the city of South Jordan, the South Jordan Chamber of Commerce, the Jordan School District, the County Health Department, Daybreak community, Intermountain Community Health, University of Utah and members from the private sector as well, such as Mountain America Federal Credit Union. “We have a strong group now,” said Janell Payne, Associate Director of Recreation for South Jordan City. “We are always looking for new committee members.” Payne and all the coalition members are eager to get the word out that the group exists and that it is open to all members of the community who want to make a difference and who want to be involved. “There are people in the community, including leaders in the community, that truly care about the residents [of all ages] of the city and about their health,” said cochair Jason Cloward of the Salt Lake County Health Department. “People are trying to make a difference.” The Healthy South Jordan mission statement was informed based on health-related information acquired by the Utah Department of Health. A survey was taken of the two main zip codes that encompass South Jordan City, including Daybreak, and the following were determined for adults: • Between 2018-2020, the number of adults that were told by a health professional that they had depression was 22.6% (The actual number of people that have had depression is likely higher because not everyone has access to healthcare and there is often a stigma around mental illness). • 20.4% of adults indicated between 2018-2020 that they had 7 or more days of poor mental health in the last month. • The estimated rate of suicide was
Page 6 | March 2022
Jason Cloward volunteers in the Healthy South Jordan booth during the Light the Night event in December 2021 to help get the word out about the coalition. (Photo taken by Kim Alvarez)
17.4 per 100,000 people, ranking in the top 10 leading causes of death, and the top 3 causes of premature death (as measured by its impact on life expectancy). • Drug/Opioid poisoning deaths also rank in the top 10 leading causes of death and also ranks in the top 3 causes of premature death. These figures can seem discouraging. Healthy South Jordan has used the numbers to take a proactive approach towards extending help and recognition of those who help. One way to achieve these objectives is through the Healthy South Jordan Hero, an award given to an individual or group that is giving help and hope to others during this critical time. The coalition recently gave its first award to the Bingham High School Hope Squad in January at a Jordan School District Board meeting. Mayor Dawn Ramsey presented the award to the group. “If more of everyone in society made a deliberate effort to do what these young people do, our world would be a different place, a better place,” Ramsey said. The work being done by the Hope Squad and other teens in the communi-
ty could not come at a more critical time. The data collected for youth in grades six, eight, 10 and 12 living within the South Jordan zip code, including Daybreak, estimated the following: • 65.2% had moderate depressive symptoms, with 12% who experienced severe depressive symptoms • 24% indicated they felt isolated from others in 2021 • 18.7 % seriously considered attempting suicide (in the last 12 months), 14.7% made a suicide plan, and 8.4% actually attempted suicide • 35.1% reported unhealthy body weight in 2021 • 6.6% vape, 5.2% use marijuana, 4.9% consumed alcohol in 2021 • 80% reported spending 2 or more hours per school day playing video games, texting, or using social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), not counting school work. The coalition anticipates holding quarterly QPR training in connection with Intermountain Health Care that will be free to community members. QPR stands for question, persuade, refer and is focused on
suicide prevention. Those actively looking for QPR training can visit slco.org/health/ injury-prevention/suicide/. The Healthy South Jordan coalition are aware of some of the struggles within the community, and they are hoping others will become aware, too, and find meaningful ways to help. Open nominations for the Healthy Heroes award are ongoing. One award will be given each month to a group or individual who is making considerable efforts to encourage and reinforce the mission of the coalition. Those who qualify for the award are those who are striving to help others with one or more of the following: addiction, hopelessness, poor mental health, unhealthy weight or lifestyle, or unhealthy habits using electronic devices and media. “We want to make more people prone to step in and help others,” Cloward said. For more information or to nominate a person or group of people for the Healthy South Jordan Hero award, visit the coalition Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ HealthySouthJordan. l
S outh Jordan City Journal
South Jordan resident publishes stories of miracles Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com
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n a time where we are inundated with disparaging news and information, David Stone offers stories of hope and optimism with his self-published book entitled, “Touched by God’s Miracles.” The book is a collection of actual accounts told to Stone by people near and far, comprising nine chapters, 30 stories in all. What started as a simple conversation with a colleague four years ago has become a work that has been sold in 10 different countries. “What I wanted to share is a book that spoke to people of different faiths, countries, and cultures,” Stone said. The miracle stories come from five continents, more than a dozen countries and include at least 10 different accounts of faith. Culture and faith have been an important facet of Stone’s life. Born and raised in New York City, Stone attended high school in the Bronx and later went on to attend Georgetown University, studying and earning a degree in international relations. He met his wife in New York, who is originally from the Philippines. Stone and his family have lived up and down the East coast in New York, Virginia, and North Carolina. The family came to Utah in the late 1990s and then returned to call Utah home in late 2014. Stone said he had two objectives in collecting the stories for his book. Because he comes from a religious background and has a set of religious beliefs that help guide his life, his first objective was such that he wanted to let people know that he believes that God loves them. According to Stone, in hearing these miracle stories from people, he left it up to the storyteller to be able to recognize God or a Supreme Being however they saw fit. His second objective was to identify ways that community members, neighbors, family and friends can help
one another. “We go through challenges, each person has their own unique challenges,” Stone said. “Miracles are happening today, and we must help each other as best we can.” Stone worked with Utah-based book consultant Jacob Hansen to help bring the collected stories into the hands of a global audience. Hansen said that despite working with many authors to get their books ready for publication, he was amazed at Stone’s persistence in the mission of the book. “Even those without a belief in God will marvel at the bulk of serendipitously unlikely ‘miracle stories’ the book presents,” Hansen said. “Perhaps gain a sense that life is not so cruel as we sometimes believe.” In an effort to live up to his second objective of the book, Stone has also contributed funds to help local charitable organizations as well as organizations in places where the storytellers have been located. The first of these contributions was to the Utah Food Bank. The second was to an organization called City Harvest in New York. “We have been living through a pandemic, people have been struggling with work,” Stone said. “We are trying to assist those in need.” In addition to the hard copy and audio version of the book, Stone and his publishing team are currently working on a Korean language edition that is slated to come out in the spring. Since the publishing of the original set of stories, Stone has added two more stories from people who live in Korea. The book has come to the attention of many different types of people, of different cultures and belief systems. It has been endorsed by academics, business leaders, former profes-
Local author David Stone collected stories that he believes encourage a belief that miracles exist today (Photo courtesy of David Stone). sional athletes, healthcare professionals and more. “To know that miracles happen today, and that they can happen to you and to me, is a reassuring and powerful source of strength in times of challenge,” Stone said. To order a copy of the book, visit www.touchedbygodsmiracles.com/. l
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March 2022 | Page 7
Perennial contenders return for Bingham Miners spring season Photos by Pat McDonald
Shelbee Jones returns for the Miners softball team having hit over 30 RBIs from a year ago. Bingham finished runners-up to nearby Riverton with its only losses coming against the Silverwolves. But the team returns key contributors from last year including Jones, Braxtyn Hunter and Eliza Chapple.
Page 8 | March 2022
Head coach Joey Sato returns to lead the vaunted Bingham baseball team and its rotating collection of talent. Bingham’s season a year ago ended in the semifinals to eventual winners American Fork.
S outh Jordan City Journal
Continued from front page time among all drill team coaches in the state—just two behind Morgan Meredith who won five total titles while she coached the Minerettes between the years 2005 to 2007 and 2011 to 2012. Cox is also eighth all-time among Utah high school drill team coaches who have won consecutive state championships. “So many people contributed to this team’s success. We were fortunate to have seasoned professionals come in to help critique the routines,” added Cox. “Our Bingham support was indescribable this year… Our alumni is at the heart of this program. And the girls and their perseverance was what got us to that trophy. Without their trust in me as their coach and their ability to keep pushing through difficulty, this win wouldn’t have been possible!” Looking forward to 2023, the Minerettes will work hard to continue their streak and bring home the title four years in a row. Cox said the path to this year’s state title was not easy, but very worthwhile for her kids. “This win meant so much to us and we’re so grateful. There were so many challenges thrown our way this season that most would never even know about,” Cox said. “We really had to learn to get up every time something knocked us down, and we got through it all together. Looking back now, I see that each struggle only made this team that much stronger.” In alphabetical order this year’s Minerettes are: Halle Almond, Hailee Anderson, Lexi Barnes, Cambree Bennett, Bostyn Brady, Ashlee Briggs, Berkli Cromar, Madi Finlayson, Maddie Fowlks, Brinley Funes, Sadie Gadd, Chloe Graham, Lexi Hair, Cydnee Halls, Kenzi Hansen, Sophia
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The Minerettes dance in their championship-winning attire honoring their mining namesakes. (Photo by Pat McDonald) King, Amanda Lindquist, Hallie Lowrance, Avree Mangum, Maren Marshall, Halee Mecham, Ashlyn Park, Morgan Philips, Cierra
Perschon, Macie Praag, Madie Praag, Jade Rutherford, Isabelle Schipaanboard, Jadyn Sommer, Kate Sundloff, Gracie Thomas,
Denzyl Vigil, Leah Wagstaff, Halle West and Avery Zrno. l
March 2022 | Page 9
Are electric buses a viable solution for Little Cottonwood traffic problems? By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
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group of local elected officials, community activists and college students boarded a bus last month for a ride up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Their goal? To show that electric buses can be a viable solution for the canyon’s traffic problems. The Utah Department of Transportation is currently in the middle of the process of narrowing down its list of proposals. From an original list of five possibilities, the department narrowed its consideration down to two: an enhanced bus system (along with widening the roads in the canyon) and the construction of a gondola. Throughout its Environmental Impact Statement report, UDOT’s analysis of the enhanced bus system presupposes that those buses would run on diesel fuel. An assumption that Cottonwood Heights City councilwoman Ellen Birrell says is based on a myth that electric buses don’t have what it takes to make it up the steep slopes of the canyon. “We’re going to urge UDOT to revisit their assessment,” Birrell told the City Journals. The bus ride was organized by the University of Utah student group, Students for the Wasatch. They coordinated with Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall to use an electric bus that her office borrowed from California for a few days to demonstrate its versatility and viability to local legislators and elected officials. So how did the bus fare with the challenge of climbing Little Cottonwood Canyon? “We zipped up!” Birrell said. “And it was so quiet we could use our inside voices. It was delightful.”
“I would describe it as clean, fast, quiet and comfortable,” said Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski. “I was skeptical, to tell you the truth, whether it could handle the climb up Little Cottonwood Canyon, but this bus had no problem.” Not only was the bus able to keep up with other traffic as it made its way up the mountain, but it was able to recharge its battery on the way down through a process called regenerative braking. Because of this, the bus was able to make it up and down the canyon using only 3% of its battery. Alta Mayor Roger Bourke, who hopped on board the bus for the final few minutes of the ride, was impressed with the experience and touted the vehicle’s benefits for the environment. “We are faced with a worldwide catastrophe if we don’t get a handle on these greenhouse gasses,” he said. “And this is the way to get a handle on it. This can be charged with renewable energy, which we’re getting more and more of. That’s the future.” Birrell noted that the solution to traffic problems in the canyon doesn’t necessarily have to be contained to one big project that costs hundreds of million dollars, like the gondola or road expansion. Instead, she suggested that a better strategy would be to adopt multiple smaller changes. One change she said has already started working is the ski resort’s implementation of reserved parking spots. “With Alta ski area having reserved parking for all their parking spaces, there has not been a traffic con-
The electric bus was able to make it to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon without a hitch, and even recharged most of its depleted battery on the way down. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
gestion problem this ski season,” she said. “Some of the logical and practical solutions that many of us want to see phased in, that would be much less expensive than a gondola or lane expansion, are already reducing the traffic.” A fleet of electric buses could also theoretically be purchased and deployed by next ski season, noted Students for the Wasatch member Claudia Wiese. “It can be an immediate solution, as opposed to spending years on a project,” she said. l
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S outh Jordan City Journal
Mulligan’s new face: South Jordan native takes helm of Mulligan’s By Collin Leonard | c.leonard@mycityjournals.com
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lmost seven years ago, the city of South Jordan paid off the bond on Mulligan’s Golf & Games at 692 South Jordan Parkway. Since that time, Mulligan’s received a major face lift. A grand reopening was held in 2019 to celebrate the remodeled clubhouse and The Caddie Shack, a small grill inside. The new manager, South Jordan native Jacob Druce, is looking forward to a successful season aided by an influx of resources to keep the business operating smoothly. While it is fairly common for a city to own a golf course, this community gem sets South Jordan apart from the rest. The residents of the city were responsible for the push to acquire the business and surrounding open space, and have been the key to its popularity. On any given afternoon, one can find the two-story driving range, golf courses, batting cages and mini-golf course in use, as well as the popular riverfront trail to the east of the clubhouse. Under the care of the original owners, many features in the center were built with residential grade quality. Since the facility is approaching its 30th year in business, management believes it is time to replace much of the outdated systems in the coming months. The list of improvements is numerous, but most significantly include replacing all 450
AT River Oaks Golf Course
lights on the mini golf course, landscaping equipment and a new pump house. The current pump and landscaping equipment were likely bought, in previously-used condition, in the ‘90s. Spencer Kyle, South Jordan’s director of administrative services, said “because [Mulligan’s] is city owned, we’re making decisions for the community’s best interest in the long term. We’re making investments for future generations.” During the pandemic, the city noticed a significant increase in traffic at Mulligan’s. With the inability to travel, the residents of South Jordan looked home for outdoor recreational activities. Between 220,000 and 300,000 people came through the center last year. As a city owned entity, Mulligan’s can use its profits to reinvest in the property and equipment, and there is wide support for maintaining its open spaces for those that use the facilities and the trails bordering the property. Kyle is looking forward to working with a manager that has both a business and recreation background. Jacob Druce, who stood out from over 140 applicants, feels “excited to be back in the community and contributing,” as he deals with the pressure of managing the courses he learned to golf on as a
New manager Jacob Druce in front of Mulligan’s clubhouse. (Collin Leonard/City Journals) child. He was a successful baseball player at Bingham High School before playing college ball at Colorado Mesa University. He received a B.S in Sport and Fitness Administration and MBA there before working in the private sector. He too feels the difference in running a government owned business. “Things are more methodical, everything is being done
for the best interest of the community,” he said. Many in the department called last season a perfect storm of COVID complications and equipment failures, so the renovations are much needed going forward. In the coming months, Druce is focused on “maintaining the open spaces and providing desirable amenities to the community.” l
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Bingham Hope Squad students receive first-ever Healthy South Jordan award By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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bout 35 Bingham High Hope Squad members stood before Jordan School Board where they were met with a standing ovation. These students were the first to ever receive the Healthy South Jordan Hero Award. The award was presented to the group for their exceptional work in mental health and suicide prevention by South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, who serves on the Healthy South Jordan coalition. “I have the privilege of recognizing some outstanding students from Bingham High School,” she said. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration in any way for me to say if more of us, more of everyone in society, made a deliberate effort to do what these young people do, our world would be a different place, a better place. It’s what they do for their peers at Bingham High School. They have a significant impact on goodness, on inclusion, on friendship and on belonging and all the things that go into these days – mental health, physical health, emotional health – to being a teenager right now.” She read and presented the group with a framed certificate: The “Healthy South Jordan Hero Award is proudly presented in 2022 to the Bingham High Hope Squad for their caring, compassion, understanding, sensitivity, support, generosity, creativity, intelligence, courage, optimism, humility, resilience, diligence, and dependability in promoting healthier behaviors, giving hope and support to those who are struggling, and assisting others in time of crisis.” Healthy South Jordan is a coalition organized with key community leaders and partners to improve the mental and physical well-being of South Jordan residents through education, family and activities. The Healthy South Jordan award was initiated during the process of establishing the coalition to give to people or organizations “who bring light and hope during dark times. Recipients are nominated for helping or giving hope to people during those critical times,” said Jason Cloward, Healthy South Jordan co-chair. “The idea is to strengthen the community bonds and highlight these people who are helping encouraging people to move forward. Ultimately, we want to create a culture of caring and helping.” Coalition Chair Brian Synan said he was impressed with the students. “Everything they do for the school, and that’s a big school, and for the Hope Squad to make sure that people are happy when they need help with certain things, it’s an amazing thing,” he said. Cloward said that while the coalition will be presenting more awards in the upcoming months, this group was a clear choice. “The fact that they’re in their young
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Not expecting any award, Bingham High Hope Squad members received a standing ovation from the Jordan School Board when they received the Healthy South Jordan Hero Award for their exceptional work in mental health and suicide prevention. (Julie Slama/ City Journals) years and choosing to care about other people and influencing their peers, that’s something that will likely carry with them their whole life trajectory,” he said. “That sheer impact they have as a young group made them stand out.” In addition to being recognized, the group received a framed certificate, blue beanies and a voucher from Mulligan’s Golf. The Hope Squad was nominated by Kit Curtis, who is both a member of Healthy South Jordan and a mental health specialist in the school. Students apply to be part of Bingham’s Hope Squad, which was changed from a before-school extracurricular activity into a class two years ago. They’re trained to be the “eyes and ears” of the school community, referring students who need help to a counselor, trusted adult, or the SafeUT app. They also host events at school to make it a welcoming, inclusive community. This school year, Hope Squad members greeted students at the front doors, welcoming them back to school, Hope Squad teacher Rene Bair said. “They handed kids Lifesavers and said, ‘we’re so glad to have you here,’” Bair said. The group sponsored “Hello Week” to make a connection between students and the school community and included positive messages written on the sidewalk outside of the school. They also let their peers know they are available if they need a friend to sit with at lunch or just talk. The group also participated in True Blue, the school’s charity fundraiser and will hold a “Hope Week” this spring. “We’re going to be giving presentations to other schools and hope to talk about hosting a Hope Walk for suicide prevention,” junior Elsie Anderson said. “Last year, we held an Easter egg hunt with inspiring messages in the eggs. It was a lot of fun so we’re talking about doing that again.” Sophomore Miriam Fjeldsted, who had friends who were part of the Hope Squad, joined the group to help others. She said as a
former South Jordan Middle School ambassador she hopes to be part of the team that reaches out to middle schools this spring and teaches them about what Hope Squad does. Junior Avery Bensen, who also was a middle school ambassador, said she joined this year after knowing so many people are coping with anxiety and depression. “I just wanted to help people, but what I’m finding is that it’s helping me, too,” she said. “We learn mindfulness tips and it’s making me be calmer and have a different perspective,” she said. Curtis teaches a mindfulness activity weekly with the students and “when they go through something, they can remember what they can do to help themselves to be present or concentrate on their breathing, and also help others who may be a little anxious and need to step away for a bit,” Bair said. “Those types of self-care things that Kit has taught them have been a huge asset.” Through working with students, Bair said Curtis has gotten to know the Hope Squad. “I think he has gotten to know the students and see how committed they are to helping others,” she said about his nomination for the award. “Just their compassion, I think, was one of things that struck with him and the coalition, of how willing the kids are to learn and reach out and help others in our school.” Bair said that the group learned in December they would receive the award. “I think some of them were a little confused because they’re not expecting any type of accolade or anything from being on Hope Squad,” she said. “As the day got closer, and especially at the school board meeting, I think that’s when it just hit them because it’s such a big deal. They were treated like celebrities; first the board gave them the standing ovation, then when we were on the stairs, everyone was there taking pictures. You could just see in their faces and in their posture that this award made a huge impact on them.” l
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The Care Center next door By Collin Leonard | c.leonard@mycityjournals.com
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n assisted living center in Midvale was recently shut down for unsafe sanitary practices. It was reported that the Salt Lake County Health Department was forced to condemn Evergreen Place after numerous code violations were found, including raw sewage backing up into the house. The house was unlicensed as a residential care facility, and the health department became aware of this facility the same week it was shut down. Events like these force the public to take a closer look at the relationship between their cities and these types of residential care centers near them. Coincidentally, a city council discussion on the licensing process of residential care centers in South Jordan took place in January. City Attorney Ryan Loose proposed updating the ordinance dealing with licensing requirements for these specific facilities and placing it as its own title in the city code, but not significantly changing the process as it stands. His presentation merits discussion on how care centers are operated in South Jordan, to clarify common misconceptions the public may have. National and state fair housing legislation allows the operation of residential facilities for persons with a disability. The centers offer supervised room or board for persons with “emotional, psychological, developmental, or behavioral dysfunctions, impairments, or chemical dependencies” according to South Jordan Municipal Code (SJMC) 5.62.020. This could take the form of assisted care facilities, social detoxification services, substance abuse treatment programs and more. Residents of South Jordan might live near one of these facilities occupying houses in neighborhoods throughout the city. While some residents have expressed
uneasiness about living in close proximity to individuals with histories of substance abuse or possible prior criminal records, each resident of a facility undergoes continuous assessment and must not constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others. “As a general rule, we have not had anything glaring coming from these that is changing the character of a neighborhood,” Loose said in reference to possible relationships between crime incidents and drug rehabilitation facilities. “The purpose of allowing facilities in residential areas is for the benefit of the individuals receiving treatment.” In 2000, The Corporation of the Episcopal Church v. West Valley City was the first major case in Utah where The Haven, a not for profit organization providing alcohol and drug rehabilitation services for residents of Salt Lake County believed the denial of a residential facility license was in conflict with the Fair Housing Act. Though public opposition to this care center was overwhelming, the city admitted there was no evidence that residents of The Haven were more likely to engage in criminal activity than any other resident in the community. Additionally, it was found the city’s denial of the permit was in violation with the city’s obligation to make a reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities. Loose sums up the ordinance by saying “the law starts with the perspective that these are just humans with disabilities that want to live in a group setting so that they can get better from their disabilities.” Residents still may have trepidation about a center near them, however, it benefits the community to support citizens with disabilities and their right to housing in residential areas. l
S outh Jordan City Journal
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By Collin Leonard | c.leonard@mycityjournals.com
alt Lake County receives an average of 54.2 inches of snowfall a year, almost double the country’s average. While it is easy to spot the snow plows in South Jordan during a major storm event, it takes a great deal of coordination behind the scenes to keep the streets safe for residents. Tammy Pyfer, a resident of the city for the past seven years, expressed her gratitude during the public comment period of a recent city council meeting. “My husband and I, every time it has snowed over the past sixand-a-half years, say ‘Wow! They do a really great job in South Jordan.’” Unlike other, less visible jobs in the public works department, the success of the snow removal fleet can be judged by anyone driving the streets of the city. What is not widely known is how many people it takes working around the clock to keep the streets clear. All crews are on call at all times for storm events, and the crews generally consist of city employees with other full time responsibilities including asphalt patching, concrete repair, signage installation, water system maintenance and more. These 52 drivers work alternating 12hour shifts when the need arises, driving around the clock to keep up with the storm. The city owns a fleet of 10-wheeler plow trucks used for the major roadways, and 1-ton trucks (such as F350’s) for neighborhoods and smaller side streets. Each vehicle must be maintained, started regularly and blades inspected to be repaired when necessary. Behind the scenes, the front office fields calls from residents and works closely with
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the police department to respond quickly to accidents and cars blocking roads. Jordan Allen is the street manager and oversees these operations. “All my guys go above and beyond during a storm. It’s the one time of the year all departments come together for one goal,” Allen said. When talking about the state of the vehicles at his disposal, Allen is grateful he is “supported by the fleet manager who budgets for top of the line equipment,” but acknowledges that he can always use more hands to help. South Jordan is unique in that it was one of the first cities to build its own pre-treat facility. Pre-treat is a salty brine mixture that can be sprayed on roadways in anticipation of a storm. The salt helps prevent dangerous icy conditions. Allen credits the team of talented engineers at the city who worked hard to develop methods that other cities have begun emulating. How to react to storm weather in your area? Allen says the first line of defense in bad weather is time. The city must get 26 people to dispatch quickly and safely, and work hard through the storm to keep on top of build up. The second option is calling 801-466-HELP if a driveway or mailbox is blocked. This will generate a work order that will be handled as quickly as possible. “Lots of times, complaints during storms are addressed anyway, so it’s helpful to give the trucks time to work.” When driving, the general rules apply. Slow down, give plows a safe following distance, and let them get you where you need to go safely. l
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Looking into Utah’s judicial courtrooms: A former court watcher’s observation By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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n this November’s general election, Utah voters will take to the polls to determine if judges should be retained. Currently, there are 63 judges who are eligible to stand for retention. Utahns determine whether judges should remain on the bench on even-numbered years through a simple yes or no vote. If the majority say yes, the judge is retained. Utah is one of a handful of states that use elections to determine this process. However, not all voters are aware that through the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, Utah residents, who are unidentified to judges, have evaluated those judges who are currently eligible to stand for retention. These volunteer observers or court watchers provide voters with information about each judge’s performance, which also is shared with the judges to improve the quality of their judiciary. The commission’s report is designed to provide accountability of the judge while ensuring he or she acts as an independent branch of government. While House Bill 40 proposes to change the language in the report to indicate whether a judge “passes minimum performance standards” versus be “recommends” retention, the material that has been gathered each year provides information to allow voters to determine judicial retention, said former Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission member Becky Overacker. Overacker was a courtroom observer for four years, filing her last of about 120 reports on judges six years ago. She is one of the 293 volunteer observers who served or is serving since the commission was established. She stepped into the position after hearing on the radio about a need for civically minded people who wanted to learn about the courts and attending a meeting. The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, established in 2008, after piloting the observation program, asked for volunteers in 2010. “It piqued my interest; they said this is a new thing and we’re just getting started,” Overacker said, despite having worked in the chemistry field before retirement. “It’s a benefit (that she didn’t work in the civics field); because they want lay persons. If you’re going to be taken to court, it can be a scary thing; it can be the worst day of your life. So having a lay person in their eyes, saying ‘this is a safe place,’ is a valuable thing.” While serving the commission, Overacker entered courtrooms from Logan to St. George, Vernal to Tooele and she has observed judges rule on traffic offenses to criminal cases to family situations. She witnessed courtrooms where judges ruled on stealing hot dogs to child abuse. During her first two years as a court-
S outh JordanJ ournal.com
I learned two very important things within that first year I was doing this: One, if someone is ever in trouble, I would get a lawyer because they know the system and know what they’re doing. The second thing I learned is the judges in Utah are really good. Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission member Becky Overacker room watcher, Overacker said she learned two critical things early on. “I learned two very important things within that first year I was doing this: One, if someone is ever in trouble, I would get a lawyer because they know the system and know what they’re doing. The second thing I learned is the judges in Utah are really good,” she said. Overacker said that Utah has a system of appointing judges different from most states, which hold elections for judges so it can be partisan. In Utah, the governor appoints a commission to review applications to be judges and they’re chosen by merit, including education and service, she said. “They’re already at the top of their field by the time they get to be judges,” she said, adding that it’s then up to voters to determine their retention on the bench. Overacker said the Utah legislature recognized that initially very few voters have the time to observe court proceedings, so they didn’t know how to enter their retention vote. Thus, a commission was established with court observers who usually enter an assigned judge in a courtroom across the state to quietly take notes for a two- to threepage report they would file afterwards. “I tried to be very discreet. I don’t want anybody to know who I am. I just wrote what’s going on the whole time, who did what and I tried to get direct quotes from the judge, the dissent and everyone to put in the report that I later wrote,” she said, adding that she did carry a letter from the commission explaining who she was if she was every questioned. As a court observer, Overacker discreetly watched for basically three points: “Voice—does the judge allow everybody to speak equally?; neutrality in not taking sides; and respect—just being respectful to
Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission court watchers provide information about judges’ performance to help voters’ make informed choices about judicial retention. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
every party that’s there and having eye contact.” She said that most of the judges met those criteria. “Every judge I saw, would usually always say, ‘Do you have anything else to add? Is there anything I need to know? Most judges are really good. There are judges that will look at their monitor the whole time people are talking and sometimes I know they’re busy and could be looking for history on the case or at precedents, but it’s really important to look up and face people when they’re talking to and not interrupt,” Overacker said. She once did observe a judge that was “concerning to me. I wrote in my report that he was so favorable to the prosecution, everything they asked for, they got, and I thought if I was a defendant in that court, I would be really nervous. I was asked to observe that same judge a couple years later, and I was hesitant, but he had changed. He was much more open.”
However, most of the times, the judges were fair. Overacker remembers observing an Ogden judge who realized a defendant on his third public defender wasn’t getting a fair shake when that lawyer asked for a continuance. The judge listened to the defendant as he grumbled saying he already had served the maximum time in jail for that offense and the judge shortened the amount of time before the trial. After sitting in courtrooms and having time to reflect, she wants people to know about the commission and information it provides so they can make informed decisions when it’s time to vote on judicial retention. “Our system really does work and there are really good, honest people who are trying their best to make things fair to people,” Overacker said. “Our judges are good. Attorneys are invaluable. I learned this by watching how people listened, how people reacted and how people were taken care of. Utah has a good system.” l
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High school students learn engineering offers variety, creativity, advancements By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High junior Amber Parker wanted to get a glimpse into potential future careers in engineering, specifically aerospace engineering, so she was excited to attend high school engineering career day. “I learned how engineers got into their positions and specifically what local companies are doing in the engineering field,” she said. “It’s pretty interesting.” Parker attended sessions presented by Boeing, VPI Engineering and the University of Utah. Other presenters came from Ottobock, Rocky Mountain Power, Horrocks Engineering, Hunt, Reaveley Engineering, Comfort Systems USA and Salt Lake Community College, which hosted the half-day conference for mostly high school juniors and seniors from the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys. Canyons School District Career and Technical Education District Coordinator Patti Larkin said that the focus of the fair was to provide about 250 students with possible career opportunities within the engineering field. “They’re getting to meet all different types of engineers, make those connections, and understand their specific pathways,” she said. “We hope students can see what is needed, so they have the opportunity to get an internship or a job shadow and set their path of study toward their career.”
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Taylorsville sophomore Danna De Leon said she learned a range of engineering. In Ottobock, she learned about the different prosthetics made with 3D printers ranging from snowboarders’ knees to swimmers’ ankles. “They test different varieties, adding weights, forces or whatever is needed to make improvements,” she said. “In the Boeing session, I learned some of the ways they designed commercial airplanes.” Granger High and Granite Technical Institute senior Hayden Young, who wants to become a biomedical engineer, also attended the Ottobock session. “I’ve learned composites are a very big part of it,” he said. “With engineering, designs may start on paper then move to CAD (computer-aided drafting). Designs can be improved for better comfort, better manufacturing time, better about anything, to help solve or improve what is needed.” Murray High Work-Based Learning Coordinator Brady Smith said the 15 students who came from his school appreciated being able to interact with industry professionals. “Our goal is to connect the students we work with to the career paths they can continue down once their time is completed here at Murray High School and this is a great opportunity for that to happen,” he said, add-
Granger High and Granite Technical Institute senior Hayden Young examines a prosthetic leg during the high school engineering career day. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
ing that some students appreciated learning about the Luke Skywalker Arm that is being worked on at the U of U to the engineering careers at Rocky Mountain Power. Brighton High senior Amelia Ackler
said that she appreciated the robotics session she attended. “They could make it walk, dance, and do all sorts of cool things through coding,” she said. She was with freshman Audrey Fleckenstein who said that through Reaveley Engineering, she learned how engineers perform a series of tests on structures. “They were designing buildings and tested them and reviewed to ensure their designs would withstand earthquakes,” she said. “It isn’t just a one-time test, but over and over again.” Brighton sophomore Stephanie Guzman De La Haz said she learned about heating and cooling and the laws of thermodynamics in the Comfort Systems session. “I hadn’t heard of it before; it was actually really interesting,” she said. Olympus senior Ben Walston said he’s considering a career in mechanical engineer and through the conference, he learned more about what was available through his sessions with VPI and Ottobock. “It’s amazing and just fun to see how they can make something that is needed through their eyes and creativity,” he said. Having a creative mindset in engineering was what many students discovered that day, said Brighton High Work-Based Learning Facilitator Eileen Kasteler. “Engineers are thinking innovation from health care to video games, so this day gets our students thinking if it’s a good feel for them—and reflecting upon that long after the visit,” she said. “It’s a glimpse into the future of wanting to see what there is. It opens their eyes.”l
S outh Jordan City Journal
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Classroom yoga helps students to focus for better academics, life skills By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
“M
indful magnificent me.” Twenty-four South Jordan Elementary fourth-graders say those words as they pause to focus on their breathing — inhaling and exhaling. They think about their lungs as they breathe, their hearts beating, all while calming their bodies and minds. They were quiet, listening to their teacher’s words: “Life gets hard, homework gets hard, but we can do hard things. Take the challenge; you are strong. You’re in control of your body, your mind. Mindful magnificent me.” Classroom yoga. It’s an activity that has been incorporated into Karrie Wardell’s weekly curriculum for 14 years. “Yoga is helping strengthen their minds so they can do even better academics; they can concentrate more, they can focus more, their brains are alert,” she said. “They’re learning to problem-solve and to pay attention to what’s going on and who is being left out and needs a friend. Their bodies are learning stamina and resilience. Yoga energizes them. It helps them have a lot of healthy quality traits and leads to becoming all-around quality, balanced people. It’s mindfulness and it really helps in all aspects.” Fourth-grader Taygen Huntsman was alongside her classmates practicing yoga
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poses; she said it helps her to relax. “After I do yoga, I’m able to get the stress of school or what someone might have said on the playground out of my mind so I’m able to focus on my work,” she said. “It’s fun to do at school with other people and learn new poses.” Wardell began yoga herself after raising her children and returning to school. “I was so stressed out with going back to school, having three kids, being a grandma. It was one of my class assignments to learn to manage stress and anxiety; they shared how yoga and breathing really helps calm your nervous system to be able to focus, so I thought that’s what I needed,” she said. Wardell found it helped so much she has continued doing yoga. “Then, I started teaching a couple poses here and there to the kids and it kind of helped settle them down. I started seeing a pattern with kids who had trouble sitting still and focusing, it gave them a little break to kind of breathe. Then, I saw how afterward they could concentrate, and I realized this really helps kids so much,” she said. Fourth-grader Nora Mears says it has helped her. “It’s peaceful and afterward, I’m not worried or upset about anything so I can un-
derstand what we’re learning in class better,” she said. Classmate Daci Bott agrees. “When I’ve had a bad day, and we take a break to do yoga, I’m able to calm down and be able to keep learning.” For 10 years, Wardell taught and included yoga breaks, then two-and-a-half years ago, she decided to use the study of incorporating yoga into classrooms for her master’s degree. “I read hundreds of articles and peer reviews, and everything pointed to it helping the kids’ academically and with life skills,” she said. After confirming what she had witnessed, Wardell continues having students take short breaks during the day to do stretches. “We don’t roll out the mats every time, but they stand at their desks and do different poses and we just breathe. It’s just little breaks throughout the day to help them focus,” she said. For example, before a math test, they may stand up and find a quiet place in the room, close their eyes and breathe. “I let them do five different yoga poses and then let them get back to their math. It helps them reset and just take a break of the
stress,” Wardell said. Fourth-grader Cannon Christensen said he has even done it on his own to reset his focus and energy. “A couple days ago, I just took a few seconds, did some poses and took some deep breaths,” he said. “I was able to calm down and control my own mind and my own actions and it even gave me energy.” Classmate Avery Dekle agrees. “It’s really calming, and the breathing helps with anxiety. Plus, I like how it stretches my body.” Every couple weeks, the fourth-graders get out the mats for longer yoga sessions. Wardle said she begins simply. “We don’t ever really think about our brain or our heart or our breath. It automatically does it on its own. So, we start with kind of giving it a little celebration for what it does for us. We stop, close our eyes and listen to all the sounds around. I’m just teaching them to hold still and be mindful of different things. Some will say, ‘I’ve never done that before,’” she said. “I start small, with something simple, then we listen to sounds and they like how it makes them feel.” Earlier this school year, the class created a list of quality traits — grateful, hard-working, attentive, believing in themselves — that
S outh Jordan City Journal
Twenty-four South Jordan Elementary fourth-graders practice yoga as a way to rechannel their focus and energy into their schoolwork. (Julie Slama/City Journals) they want to be aware of doing every day. Now, Wardell puts two fingers in the air and “they stop, and everyone puts their two hands over their heart and we just breathe for two minutes. We think about a word like ‘happiness’ and we all share what makes us happy that day.” Wardell said yoga also helps students gain confidence in their own skills, overcome fears and calms them to rethink friendships and family matters. It also has taught them character traits and life skills, such as proper behavior, problem-solving and conflict-resolution as well as being kind. “At the beginning of the year, there’s always kids who come in who are nice and then sometimes those who are not real nice, and it makes them realize there’s a better way,” she said. Wardell said it is a process every year. “At the beginning, kids may laugh or giggle and that’s fine. We build on it. We may say ‘let’s try being still for 15 seconds,’ then ‘let’s try for one minute’ and then it’s really quiet and I know they’re concentrating. They’re discovering it’s helpful for them to learn to calm their whole mind and their whole body,” she said. “They’ve come a long way because when we started, everyone was falling over and laughing. I said, ‘Yoga is not goofiness, you’re learning to train your body to be still and mindful of the present right now’ and soon all the distractions faded out.” Nowadays, students face fears of aca-
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demic assignments, being safe at school or feel pressures of sports or performances, and uncertainty and anxiety seemed to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wardell said. “We can’t always change the situation; we just have to change our dealing with it, and this is a good way to approach things that come our way that are stressful. Yoga is a good life skill to have; I’m going to do it the rest of my life,” she said. It also helps some students who may not be turning in assignments, by learning “how to focus and concentrate so they can start caring about it and being more mindful of their responsibility and their education,” Wardell added. By mid-school year, students come up to Wardell to demonstrate how they mastered a new skill. Every student has their favorites, whether it’s the drinking bird or halfmoon star goddess, she said, adding that a favorite she created is a flying eagle pose where students spread their “wings.” Eden Myntti has mastered the sideways crow pose; Ava Glazier likes doing the tree to help relax; Stockton Affleck said he likes the spider best. “It makes me feel strong,” he said. “Yoga is super fun, but it helps me relax and have all my pressures-like if I’m afraid I will lose a paper or if something will happen-just disappear. It makes me feel as if I can do anything I put my mind to.”
Ellis Lussier agrees. “Yoga just relieves my body of stress and in my mind, I feel free, and am able to believe in myself.” Hazel Tingey said it lifts her mood. “I’m just a lot happier and ready to do what I want afterward.” Some students, like Everett Kirkland, have had older siblings in Wardell’s class so they may have already learned some poses. Parents, too, she said, have been supportive, even purchasing the mats they use, or practicing poses with their children at home. Many of the students said they’ve started doing yoga on their own. Brayden Caiden said he will do yoga poses at home so he is able to focus on his homework before he plays basketball or soccer, and his classmate Claire Nelson will practice yoga to set her mind knowing she can do hard things, like learn her piano lessons. Their classmate, Carson Duke, will arrive before school to hear nature sounds as he does the tree pose waiting for the bell to ring. It’s a way Wardell can help all students in her class with social-emotional learning while still teaching the required curriculum. “We always talk about calming and being mindful of greatness, so I was writing on the board ‘mindful marvelous’ and they said, ‘if it’s OK, Mrs. Wardell, it should be ‘magnificent,’’” she said. “So now we begin by saying ‘mindful magnificent me’ and we’re ready to start our day of learning.” l
March 2022 | Page 21
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South Jordan Elementary cast members will perform in bright, colorful costumes in “Seussical the Musical, Jr.,” which will be performed in the round. (Photo courtesy of Diane Witt-Roper/South Jordan Elementary)
South Jordan Elementary to share message of friendship, community in ‘Seussical the Musical, Jr.’ By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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hirty-nine South Jordan Elementary students know a little bit about Whoville as they share the story of friendship, loyalty and love in their performance of “Seussical the Musical, Jr.” The musical will be performed at 6:30 p.m., March 2-3 and at 7:30, March 4 at South Jordan Elementary, 11205 S. Black Cherry Way. It is under the direction of second grade teacher Alan LaFleur, with music by Beverley Taylor Sorenson music specialist Nancy Hopkin and costumes, set design and choreography assistance by Diane Witt-Roper. The family-friendly show is free with a run time of about 75 minutes. “This is a show that Alan has wanted to do for years,” Witt-Roper said. “He loves Dr. Seuss and it’s just great that we’re doing it during Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It’s a message about bringing community together and we’re super excited to do it this year.” The storyline brings in favorite Dr. Seuss characters as the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust that is home to tiny people called the Whos. He is loyal in protecting them and in guarding an abandoned egg that has been left in his care by Mayzie La Bird. While facing ridicule and danger, his friend Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him and together, they welcome everyone into their community. Rehearsals began after school in December for the show that will be presented in the round. It’s the first time South Jordan Elementary students are performing in the round. “The students will be performing on a four-foot platform as well as on the stairs to the stage and all around the theater, so everyone should be able to see no matter where you sit,” Witt-Roper said. “It’s going to be fun with bright colors and special, unique costumes for every participant.” Performing in the round will give stu-
dents, some who have performed on stage before and some who are new to theater, an extra challenge in addition to reading and memorizing their lines. “We’re learning it’s not just face front or left stage or right stage. It’s encompassing every aspect of the whole entire room,” Witt-Roper said. “It’s a different format and kids are learning there’s a different way of doing the similar activity.” She said that performing in the round brings in math and science “because they’re singing, turning, dancing, running, and still keeping their chins up and knowing where their focal point of projection is. The kids know their back is to the audience for these few measures, then they’re turning to face this part of the audience.” Another part of being involved in the cast is learning commitment and persistence in taking care of themselves to stay cast. This year, the show is not double cast. “I think these times really lend themselves to putting in the hard work and effort, but also making sure that you’re able to participate because we don’t have another character to help step in for them this year,” Witt-Roper said. “We’re living in different times, and we want the students to be proactive in doing their best to stay healthy. We want the students to have this experience.” In mid-January, when school was taught virtually, Witt-Roper said the cast was disappointed. “They were so bummed and wanted to come to school at least for play practice,” she said. “They really missed it and we’re so glad to be back and are excited to be able to perform.” This is the ninth year South Jordan Elementary has performed a musical. Other productions have included “Mary Poppins,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Wizard of Oz.” l
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Two South Jordan schools to host musicals same March weekend
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everal sets of siblings will take the stages in Bingham High’s and Elk Ridge Middle’s musicals on the same weekend in March. Amongst those siblings are the Evershed brothers. Bingham High senior John Evershed will perform the role of Roger Strong, the father of Brenda who wants to marry a con man, in the show, “Catch Me if You Can.” Bingham High’s musical, under the direction of Jason Purdie, will be at 7 p.m., March 10-12 and again, March 14. There will be a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 12. All shows will be in the school’s newly refurbished auditorium at 2160 South Jordan Parkway. General admission tickets cost $5 for children and students and $10 for adults; they are available at: https://binghamathletics. com/event-tickets. Ninth-grader Will Evershed will appear as the lead character Harold Hill in “The Music Man” at Elk Ridge Middle School, 3659 West 9800 South. The show will be at 7 p.m., March 9-12, as well as a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 12. Tickets are $5 and are available on the school website: elkridge.jordandistrict.org/ school-musical/. Elk Ridge Middle musicals are well known in the community, often selling out performances. New to directing the annual musical is theatre teacher Jacqueline Vuki, who selected the show not only on how it could accommodate the 115-120 cast and crew members, but also because of the story. “I love that this musical has a hometown feel,” she said. “I like that we get to create a sense of community through the characters and that we get to create that within our cast.” Two-hour rehearsals began in December after late November auditions. Now as the show nears, students also have added practicing on Saturdays. Will, who was in the school’s musicals the two previous years as part of the ensemble, said he was ready for auditions after taking voice lessons as well as a ballroom dance class at school. “I wanted to be Harold Hill, but really, I just wanted to be in the show,” he said. “Harold Hill is a fun role. I’ve learned to do more expressive motions, to have more energy when I’m speaking and to speak with more inflection.” In the musical, traveling salesman and con man Harold Hill poses as a boys’ band organizer to sell instruments and uniforms to naive Midwestern townsfolk, promising to also train the new band members. However, Hill is not a musician and plans to skip town, but his heart first embraces a young boy who is overcoming a lisp before falling in love with his older sister, the town librarian who caught onto Hill’s scheme.
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By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com Will understands the demands of being the lead character. “It’s very demanding. I get a lot of different songs and scenes,” he said, adding that outside of rehearsal, he practices lines with his parents. “It’s been a long process. Not just remembering the words, but also remembering what I’m doing in addition to the words. All the partner dance numbers like “Shipoopi” and the library scene, I find a lot of joy.” Will appreciates the entire cast and crew who have spent hours preparing for the show. “There’s a whole lot of effort that goes into the show, behind the scenes like the directors and the stage tech and all the planning for it. People come and see those on the stage, but they don’t see all the people moving to put on the show – people changing the lights, the sound crew, those who create the costumes. It takes a lot of people and I’m so grateful for all those who put in that extra effort,” he said. Vuki also acknowledged the stage crew in gaining new skills in lighting, sound and set building: “Our students are leading the design process; they are working hard and coming up with lots of great ideas.” Joining Vuki is music director and costumer Keith Goodrich and choreographer Alicia Giove In Bingham’s musical, Will’s older brother, John, plays the dad of the love interest of Frank Abignale, Jr., who is chasing his dreams and trying not to get caught while living the high life posing as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer. When Frank’s lies catch the eye of the FBI, the agent pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes. The show is based on a true story and a movie also has been made with the same title. John is one of about 100 students in the cast, who have been rehearsing since early December. Joining Purdie directing is choreographer Melissa Higley, music director Andrea Chapman and 15 tech crew students. Purdie said he selected the show for the storyline and music in addition to being able to have a large cast. “The music is very upbeat and fun, and I knew that my students would enjoy learning the music and choreography,” he said. “I have a very energetic and positive group of students and I knew that they would fit the show perfectly.” John said that he is enjoying the show, including learning his part with an accent. “I love the era it is set in with the music and choreography; it’s very well done,” he said. “I’m learning a Southern accent and my director and music teacher give me tips on how to develop it, but the hardest part is when I sing a song in the Southern accent. So, I’ll be singing with a Southern accent, while dancing, in harmony. It’s a challenge, but fun.” John said first developed his interpre-
Brothers Will and John Evershed will perform in their school musicals, “The Music Man” at Elk Ridge Middle School and “Catch Me if You Can” at Bingham High School on the same weekend in March. (Photo courtesy of Emily Evershed) tation of the character before watching the movie. “When I go and look at how other people interpreted the character, I can use some of their ideas in my acting if I think the things will work well. In the movie, Roger is a more relaxed character and that’s not what I was interpreting. I see him as more intense, so I like that tense interrogation. But I like the super long pause in the dialogue in the movie, which makes Frank uncomfortable, so I think I’m going to use that. Comedy is all about timing so I think it can be really funny,” he said. John took his first theater class at Elk Ridge as a seventh-grader and performed as the rabbi in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Since then, he’s been in Bingham’s “Children of Eden” and “Our Place” (the 2020 one-act was to be performed, but they weren’t able to compete at region when the school shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic). He also has been on the school improv team the past two years. “It’s an opportunity I have to make people laugh and that’s the greatest joy in my life, to help make people forget their worries and just make them smile. Knowing that I can do that just brings so much satisfaction and joy,” John said, who adds that he has renewed a lot of friendships with theater friends through this performance. Will, too, said he has made a lot of friends in theater. “I’ve made so many friends and being on stage with them has brought me a of joy,” he said. “It’s also given me a lot of confidence. I’m just excited to perform.” l
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Monte Vista continues Chinese New Year tradition as dual immersion school By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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Chinese immersion program family comes together to celebrate holiday By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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risha Teeples, a senior at Herriman High School, has spent 11 years immersed in Chinese language and culture as a student in Jordan District’s Chinese dual language immersion program. “Learning Chinese has actually been really fun with all the activities we get to do,” she said. Learning Chinese painting and paper cutting, playing Chinese instruments and performing Chinese dances has always been a part of how students have celebrated Chinese New Year at DLI schools. Teeples said Chinese New Year is also about coming together with family. That is why the Jordan District family of Chinese DLI schools celebrated this year’s holiday with a combined event. The Chinese DLI program is in its eleventh year, with 1,720 students in grades 1–12 enrolled in four elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools in Jordan District. A community Chinese New Year celebration was held at Herriman High School Feb. 2 to celebrate the success of and bring awareness to the program. “We really want to celebrate their achievement and success and to showcase our students,” Jordan District Chinese DLI coordinator Kimberly Chen-Pace said. Elementary and high school DLI stu-
dents performed for their parents and peers, with traditional dances and songs. Middle school students demonstrated what they have learned through class projects about Chinese instruments, opera, medicine and foods. Mountain Creek Middle DLI teacher Michael Lu said it was a great opportunity for his students to share their knowledge with younger students and parents because it helped them realize how far they’ve come in their own learning. “The DLI program is challenging,” he said. “But they progress each day and this is an opportunity for them to see the achievements they have made.” Eastlake Elementary fifth grade DLI teacher Thomas Boulay said it helped younger students to see older students and get an idea of how much they will know in a few years. Parents also got the chance to see the potential for their children who are just starting out in the DLI program. The celebration exposed Heidi Goodrich to some of what her son Braeden has been so excited to learn in his second grade DLI class at Eastlake Elementary, such as writing Chinese characters and creating Chinese crafts. Goodrich said exposing her son to different cultures is one of the reasons she placed him in the DLI program. Culture is an integral part of the DLI
Student displays demonstrate their knowledge of Chinese history and art. (Jet Burnham/ City Journals) program. “We expect students to learn language through learning culture,” state DLI specialist Chi Kao said. Older students take Chinese history and modern Chinese culture classes, while younger students explore Chinese culture through arts, crafts and games. With a degree in English as a Second Language and experience teaching English to
Chinese children, Alexis Tanner understands the cognitive benefits for young children who learn a second language. That’s why she has enrolled her son in the Chinese DLI program at Foothills Elementary. The DLI program prepares students to pass the Advanced Placement Chinese test and they graduate with nine college credits. l
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Sharing the load isn’t just a mantra for Bingham boys basketball By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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ver the past three years, the Bingham Miners basketball team has been chipping away at elite status. It started two years ago when the Miners were 15-9 and region champions; they just had to share that title with rival Copper Hills. Last year the Miners went 17-6 and won a region title outright, but were dumped at the quarterfinals of the 6A state championships. But this year marked the culmination of a three-year effort to bring the Bingham boys basketball program back to prominence and saw the Miners clinch their third consecutive Region 3 title at Copper Hills Feb. 15. Ahead 33-27 at the break the Miners hung on for a tight 61-59 win. Senior Devin Carlson led Bingham with 18 points, while sophomore Ace Reiser had 17 and senior Kam Dupaix 10. The Miners were 21-2 and the No. 1 ranked RPI team in all of Class 6A heading into the state tournament. Going into the playoffs—which occur after press time—the Miners have already had their best season in years. It seems like such a far cry from those days in which the Miners were lucky to crack the .500 mark, when making the state tournament was little more than a pipe dream. But these Bingham boys under head
coach Kyle Straatman [career record: 52-17] are beginning to look like those teams that gave the Miners two state titles in a row in 2016 and 2017 under the direction of former coach Jake Schroeder. This Miners team is also balanced in terms of scoring the basketball; Dupaix may lead the team with 13.4 points a game, but senior Luke Leatherwood isn’t far behind at 12.8 and fellow senior Devin Carlson (11.3) rounds out the players who score in double figures for Bingham. Lest you think that’s all the Miners have, however, you would be mistaken. This Miners team is truly selfless with Ace Reiser (9.9) and Tyler Newbold (9.1) also nearing double-figure averages. Across the board it is such a balanced squad that all five aforementioned players also top the team in assists and four of the five starters share the wealth at least two or more times per game. The level of play the Miners are showcasing this year hasn’t been seen since Schroeder departed for an assistant coaching opportunity at Dixie State University. Six years removed from their last state title, it is an uncommon dedication to teamwork and nice size from four of five senior Devin Carlson blocks one of several shots during a region game against Riverton. Carlstarters who are 6’3” or taller that had these son helped the Miners clinch their third consecutive region title. (Photo by Pat McDonMiners thinking of bigger things ahead. l ald)
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Sacrifices required for Bangerter improvements By Collin Leonard | c.leonard@mycityjournals.com
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riving down Bangerter Highway, only one stop light remains from 4700 South through 13400 South. As the State Environmental Study phase of the project to remove the final signal interchange at 9800 South nears finalization, the Utah Department of Transportation has begun communicating what to expect next. To realize the promise of improved traffic flow, residential and commercial properties will be acquired by the government, forcing home and business owners to relocate in the near future. The corridor moves more than 60,000 vehicles every day, with that number expected to double by 2050. John Gleason, director of public relations at UDOT, moved to South Jordan 13 years ago. “It’s a great centralized place. We’re seeing tremendous amounts of growth here, which is why it’s so important to make the best decisions for our future.” Those overseeing this project have been working to answer questions and field comments since the summer of 2021. Brian Allen is the active Project Manager on this and other interchange projects along the highway. “We work in the government because we really believe in what we do. I really enjoy engaging with the public. We take those comments and consider all the options. It’s always great to hear from the people who live
Page 28 | March 2022
in these places,” Allen said. The city of South Jordan has publicly favored the more expensive underpass option, but has not announced what sources of funding will be used to cover the $24 million difference from the overpass design. There is a possibility the cost will be split between the city and state. Elk Ridge Middle School is at the center of the discussion, as partial acquisition of their property is planned along with a potential move of the popular pedestrian bridge used by students. Sandy Riesgraf, director of communication at Jordan School District, said “we’ve been working for six months, and are excited to continue working with [UDOT] in this process. For us, student safety is a priority; making sure we have safe walking routes.” There is much at stake for the school district, as the proposed overpass option moves the pedestrian bridge farther from the middle school. In a city council meeting in January there was mention of the school board potentially selling school land to offset the extra cost of the underpass option. Tracy Miller, president of the board of education, said “Jordan School District has a very good relationship with the city and UDOT.” She said all three entities are work-
Intersection of Bangerter Highway and 9800 South in February 2022. (Collin Leonard/City Journals)
ing together “to explore options,” but indicated it was too soon to publicly come forward with anything concrete. There are over 20 property acquisitions for this project (four commercial properties and 19-21 residential properties). These home and business owners have received letters from relocation consultants hired by the state, and will be required to pack up and move. Some business owners are worried
they will be moved far from their customer base, while others predict struggling to find a new space in the limited commercial real estate market. Surrounding businesses will be potentially impacted by the ongoing construction and lost revenue. Even so, there is acknowledgement that this project is important for the healthy growth of the city. Residents feel similarly. A real estate agent living in one affected property said he’s “not opposed to changes, as long as the relocation is fair,” mentioning the difficulty relocation agents will have in the competitive housing market. Another resident expressed concern for his aging neighbors and what might be a difficult transition for them. An acquisition agent working on the project provided more complete information on what these homeowners should expect from the process. The government, through the Utah Relocation Assistance Act, will take into account moving costs, the appraised value of homes, changing mortgage interest rates, closing costs and more when relocating each family. They do warn, however, that no financing help can be provided, and the comparable house is not limited to South Jordan but includes the surrounding Salt Lake County area. Once an offer is presented, the homeowner has 90 days before they must move. After funding is secured (most likely by April), relocation agents will start with offers on commercial properties, then residential, and finally the partial acquisitions of another 19 properties. Each offer is made with in-depth appraisals through licensed brokers and real estate agents acting as independent consultants to the project. With so many unknowns still to come, the project team, the city of South Jordan and its residents eagerly await the finalization of the State Environmental Study, with the hope that the sacrifices made by all will bear fruit in the coming decades. l
S outh Jordan City Journal
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I
was eight when I ran away from home. It was the summer of ’76 and my mother did the unspeakable. She banned a book in our home. In the stack of books I’d checked out at the library, there was a paperback copy of “Jaws” I instinctually hid from Mom because she could be irrational. The book cover, with its looming shark and nearly-nude swimmer, might make her think the novel wasn’t “proper” for an 8-year-old. With a plateful of homemade oatmeal cookies, I sat on my bed engrossed in shark attacks. My bedroom door opened and Mom (without knocking!) entered my room to put clothes away. Her mouth dropped open when she saw what I was reading. She grabbed it out of my hands and banned the book from the house. How dare she! I fumed and realized there was only one answer to such blatant oppression. I got my red suitcase and packed a nightgown, a change of clothes, my toothbrush and a Nancy Drew book. I stomped down the stairs, ignoring Mom as she stood in the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed. Before I walked out of the house forever, I told her I couldn’t live with her cruelty any longer. I walked two blocks to my Aunt Judy’s house and announced I was moving in because Mom was an unreasonable tyrant.
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I stayed the night, knowing Mom must regret her terrible behavior. I figured by the next day, she would be frantic with worry. Served her right. (I later learned she’d called my aunt to let her know I was heading her way.) When I returned home, I asked her if I could read “Jaws.” She said no. You can bet your sweet bookends I found a copy of “Jaws” and secretly read it cover to cover. My effort to read banned books didn’t stop there. As I got older, I tore through Judy Blume's books, inhaled the “Flowers in the Attic” series, and absorbed “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Twice. My cousin and I would sit on the bookstore floor, reading salacious parts of popular bodice-ripper novels written by the queen of romance, Kathleen Woodiwiss. Mom realized it was counterproductive to forbid me from reading books, and we ended up having conversations about racism, in-
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equality, sex and sharks. I make it a point to read banned books, buy banned books, promote banned books and encourage my daughters to do the same. I figure if a book is so powerful it has to be banned or burned, that’s a book I need to read. Anything that gets people’s knickers twisted and touches a literary nerve goes on my toread list. Parents and lawmakers are increasingly trying to create laws that shelve books that don’t fit in with their (mostly conservative) ideals. When that happens, society loses. Didn’t you read the (ironically) banned “Fahrenheit 451?” I agree that 8-year-olds don’t make the best choices, but if we control the curriculum, frame the narrative, and put a conservative slant on history, we’re not doing those 8-yearolds any favors. In January, when a school board in Tennessee banned the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel, “Maus,” parents pushed back. The Salt Lake County Library System has dozens of copies of the Holocaust story where the Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, and Americans as dogs. I was happy to see it has hundreds of hold requests. Looks like I’m not the only one making sure I read things that make me uncomfortable.
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