August 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 08
FREE MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND THE DEFUNDING OF POLICE: A LAW ENFORCEMENT VIEWPOINT By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
“
Defund the police” state many news headlines. West Jordan Police Chief Ken Wallentine said the mental health programs that many residents call for have already been tried, then left behind. “We’ve done defunding of community health programs; we’ve done defunding of early intervention in our schools,” he said. Funding for law enforcement comes from the city government in which they operate. Mental health services are usually funded by the county or the state. Though mental health resources may exist, there is no procedure that helps an individual connect with those resources. “What we’ve done is transferred the responsibility to deal with people in crisis to the police department,” Wallentine said. “Parents in our community that have a 16-year-old with mental health problems who may have the physical body of an adult—the parents don’t know what to do. They don’t have a social worker they can call, so who do they call at 9 o’clock at night when they’ve got the child that’s acting up. They call the police. We do our best to train our officers to deal with that situation, but frankly, that’s not a police problem. That’s a mental health emergency; that’s a social problem.” Wallentine said there is a place for social services intervention. “I’m a huge adherent to training officers to deal with mental health crises as we can, but I’m a big proponent of expanding our social services,” he said. “I don’t want to take As many news articles and U.S. residents are crying for police reform and defunding, local law enforcement heads explain what those changes may a 16-year-old to detention, I really don’t.” actually look like. (image/pexels.com) Currently in Utah, most Continued page 7
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August 2020 | Page 3
Story Crossroads takes summer storytelling events online By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com
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tory Crossroads, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art of community storytelling, had two summer events in the works for months: the annual Story Crossroads Spectacular (held May 13) and “The Big Why” Panel (held June 20). A global pandemic threw a wrench in things, but calling it off wasn’t an option. “Cancel is kind of like a swear word for us,” said Rachel Hedman, Story Crossroads founder and West Jordan resident. Instead, they brought both events to online audiences. Hedman, who holds a master’s degree in storytelling, has a passion for what she calls the “parent art form.” Writing, she said, is a child of storytelling, and storytelling in other forms—films, television, books—is so prevalent that we forget about this relationship. “It’s like a teenager or child forgetting its parent,” she said. For five years, Story Crossroads has held a live storytelling festival at Murray Park. School visits and field trips also take place in conjunction with the festival. Last year, nearly 6,000 people attended. Instead of being held on a stage like usual, this year’s festival featured story artists performing from Hedman’s own living room. To minimize the number of people in her house, performers waiting to go on camera stayed outside the house, and camera operators kept their distance and wore masks. It was complicated: to film both the storyteller and the ASL interpreter required three different cameras and four videographers. But it was important to Hedman that the event felt more like a production than a Zoom call. “If we couldn’t have the ideal—live, with the audience energy—at least we could have some close-ups and different angles,” she said. The spectacular was live-streamed on multiple venues and made available for lat-
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Panelists on “The Big Why” panel: clockwise from top left, Dr. Caroliese Frink Reed, Rachel Hedman, Darci Tucker (portraying Elizabeth Thompson, loyalist spy), Brian “Fox” Ellis (portraying Billy Herndon, law partner of Abraham Lincoln), Sarah Brough, ASL interpreter and Sheila Arnold (portraying Oney Judge, maidservant of Martha Washington). (Photo by Rachel Hedman.)
er streaming as well. The initial stream had just over 500 viewers. But a few days later, that number had doubled. A few days after that it had reached 2,500—and more view the stream each day. Taking the event online required Hedman to rethink some of the more ambitious plans for the event. They had to wrangle the technology, reallocate funding and market appropriately between the beginning of quarantine in March and the festival in May. And though school had been canceled for months, “virtual field trip” guests still viewed the event online. Hundreds of students from across Jordan and Murray school districts watched the live stream from their homes. On top of that, surveys collected showed that the stream had reached viewers from six continents and 10 different time zones. “We pulled it off,” Hedman said. “The spectacular actually turned out to be spectacular.” Just weeks later, Story Crossroads put
on a more academic event: “The Big Why,” a virtual panel featuring story artists and scholars from around the country. “There are so many workshops about how to do things, but not enough that really ask why,” Hedman said. The audience included both scholars and storytellers who wanted to understand their craft better. Fifty viewers watched the stream live, but within two weeks viewership had jumped to 800, and it continues to grow. Story Crossroads hosted their first academic series in 2017 with a different scholarly focus: language. The Big Why panel represented a new series focused instead on genre. The theme, “historical storytelling meets humanities,” was chosen in part to honor Denise Valentine, a prominent historical storyteller who passed away recently. Historical storytelling involves a story artist impersonating a character from history, telling stories in their voice. Because this series featured panelists
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from across the country, it was easier to host virtually. Unlike the Story Spectacular, Hedman envisions these panels being conducted virtually in the future. Presentations from the panelists, as well as questions submitted by registrants, touched on controversies in the news today, such as the tearing down of statues. Historical storytelling has significance in current discussions of racial equity and history, said Hedman. “The role of the storyteller is very much not about what you’re going to share but what you will not share,” she said. “The choice of what not to talk about can be really important when it comes to racial relations. Usually, the story comes from the one who is dominant or victorious. We’re finally hearing stories that haven’t been shared before.” Starting Aug. 14, Story Crossroads will resume its summer “house concerts” monthly. Find more information or RSVP at storycrossroads.com l
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Utah Moms’ organize family-friendly march at City Hall By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com
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n July 6, Utah Moms for Racial and Social Equity made its official debut as an organization with a peaceful demonstration at West Jordan City Hall. The description on the group’s Instagram and Facebook pages sum up the call many mothers feel to fight for change: “George Floyd called out for his mama. We heard him.” UMRSE was founded by three Utah mothers, Cristina Woods, Rachanee Berg and Abigail Dizon-Maughan. The group aims to provide “a safe, family friendly space to exercise their rights and teach the importance of standing up to racial and social injustice,” Berg said. The group isn’t exclusively for mothers, though mothers do have a special place within the group. There’s a fourth founder, too: Noah Dizon-Maughan, the 13-year-old son of Abigail Dizon-Maughan, who represents the voices of youth that UMRSE seeks to amplify. “We marched to demonstrate for social justice and equity, to show people of color they are loved and have allies, and to teach our children how to stand up to injustice,” said the founders. Approximately 200 people attended the demonstration at city hall. The event began with a performance of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice,” by Isabel Cossa. Next, speaker Pauline Fonua Williams paid tribute to George Floyd, challenging listeners to “say his name” and to heed the call to action that has resulted from his death. Youth speakers also shared messages throughout the evening. Taylorsville resident Violet Woods, Cristina’s 16-year-old stepdaughter, spoke about the microaggressions she has experienced and how this behavior must no longer be accepted. Sonya Banza, a Black student entering her senior year at Copper Hills High School, expressed her wish to see Black history taught in schools and her dream to be a lawyer one day. Banza heard about the event through Noah Dizon-Maughan, who contacted her via Instagram. “I knew this was a great opportunity to help people become aware of the
Utah Moms for Racial Equality founders Cristina Woods, Rachanee Berg, Abigail Dizon-Maughan and Noah Dizon-Maughan pose with their organization’s banner, designed by Melissa Gaddis Simkulet (@melissagaddis_art) (Photo by Jason Namba.)
issues going on in the United States,” Banza said. “It was hard to choose one topic to focus on, so I chose one that I thought could make one of the biggest impacts in our country.” Then families began their march through Veterans Memorial Park. Demonstrators carried signs, and children rode scooters. Fiveyear-old Soledad Dizon-Maughan led the call-outs: “No justice, no peace” and “1-23-4, we won’t take it anymore! 5-6-7-8, stop the violence, stop the hate!” Following the march, a moment of silence was held for victims of police brutality. Then Jenny Rock and Kandace Marie performed “Rise Up” by Andra Day. UMRSE’s founders then spoke about the formation of the organization and shared personal experiences with racism as minorities in predominantly white Utah. “Gathering together shows the people of color in our community we care, and they have allies,” Berg said. “We had a wonderful event full of love, where families of all races stood together in solidarity against injustice.” “The march was one of the coolest
things I’ve seen,” Sonya Banza said. “It was really nice to see so many people of all different backgrounds unite for one cause.” Still, there were some concerns surrounding the rally. Much attention was given to how to conduct the event safely amid a pandemic. Data collected from previous protests in Utah and around the country in-
dicated protests carried low risk of transmission, since most occurred outdoors and masks were widely used. UMRSE organizers encouraged attendees to wear masks and maintain a safe distance from others. Masks donated by the NAACP were passed out to those who had none. Given the clashes with counter-protestors at other events around the country, UMRSE took measures to avoid conflict as well. “We worked closely with West Jordan Police Department, who showed a tremendous amount of support for our cause,” Berg said. They also aimed to avoid “divisive rhetoric that would motivate counter protestors and distract from our core message.” Now that the group’s inaugural event has passed, there are more efforts on the horizon for UMRSE. Their current project is a voter registration drive. The founders echoed the position of the NAACP that “elections matter. Our elected officials determine the quality and equality of our leaders in law enforcement, public education systems, and so much more.” Anyone who wants to get involved with UMRSE—mothers or not—can find the group on Facebook or on Instagram @UTMomsForRacialSocialEquity. l
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West Jordan leaders condemn racism, plans for change By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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yrone Fields, a man of color, ran for West Jordan City council in 2019. His platform was diversity. He was not elected but is still determined to bring more diversity to West Jordan City Hall. “From 2010, your last census report, the
Afro-American [population] almost doubled in the city of West Jordan,” Fields said. “We definitely need to make sure we get representation from those communities. I spoke with the mayor prior to us getting locked down. One of the things I brought up to him was
establishing a community diversity board in the city of West Jordan.” Recent deaths of people of color at the hands of law enforcement spurred on this cause for Fields. “As things started to unfold across the nation, unfortunately it is a very sad day as we look at some of things that’s going on,” Fields said. Councilmember Zach Jacob proposed a resolution in late June stating that West Jordan City is not just looking to be inclusive and expand diversity but to be anti-racist. “My real goal in this is to come out as a council in West Jordan and to say publicly that racism and discrimination and bigotry is not OK in our city. We don’t want it here,” Jacob said. The resolution also states that the council intends to organize a Commission of Diversity, as Fields had suggested. “I fully envision this being a citizens committee with maybe some staff and some council support,” Jacob said. “I would hate it to be something that doesn’t make sense.” The other five members in attendance voiced support for resolution. Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock said, “Our city deserves to be elevated and A small group gathered to witness the singing of the resolution, including Police Chief Ken Wallentine, Presi- positive. I think that our city is made up of dent of the local NAACP Jeanetta Williams and Imam Shuaib Din. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City) wonderful diversity. Councilmember Jacob
Councilmember Kelvin Green and Mayor Dirk Burton sign the anti-racism resolution outside City Hall on July 27. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)
and I couldn’t be more opposite in many different ways, but that we can come together and work together is important.” Councilmember David Pack had similar feelings. “I completely, totally, 100% agree that black lives matter,” he said. “I also completely agree that police lives matter. I agree that brown people, white people, gay people, straight people matter. Religious people matter; atheists matter. I just want it to be a positive message promoting change. It’s hard to condemn hate and intolerance with hate and intolerance.” l
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West Jordan City Journal
Continued from front page officers can take an individual to a hospital, fill out a pink sheet, and the hospital will detain them for a few days. Or, if the individual reacts violently because of their mental state, the officer can take them to jail. In the past, programs have been tried. Cities will receive funding for a time but then lose the money to run it when the government can no longer keep up. “Mental health is almost like an ebband-flow situation where it will be funded through the state, county, however that looks, and then they’ll lose that funding,” said Sgt. Jolayne Sampson of Unified Police Department (UPD) and director of the Mental Health Unit. “I do know we have lost a lot of resources over the years.” Wallentine said emergency health care used to be easier. “As a young cop 38 years ago, we had someone who was on call 24/7...a mental health crisis worker,” he said. “If the person was not being violent, we could call one of these folks; we [officers] could walk away. If someone needed acute care, they could find a space for them at the community health center. They’d take them up there, or to help
them find some different placement if they needed long-term care. That resource exists... if we don’t have access to follow-up care, if we don’t have a structure where folks can get the help and get pointed to the right corner of the safety net, we end up dealing with them again and again.” Is there any program in Utah that has a follow-up system? UPD is the only police force in the state that has a joint response program with a licensed clinical social worker. Wallentine is head of West Jordan police, so his team doesn’t have access to follow-up care. Sampson, who works for UPD, does. “Our [unit] is different than anybody else in the state, because we are a co-responding model,” Sampson said. “We deal with people in a crisis that require both an officer and a mental health worker together, and we respond out into our jurisdiction. We have both resources on scene.” Other Utah law enforcement departments do have LCSW on their team, or mental health detectives, but none respond cooperatively, as on Sampson’s team. UPD’s LCSW however is funded by a grant from Salt Lake County. This grant is
available to them for the next two years. Another practice that sets the UPD’s Mental Health Unit apart from any other department in the state is their ability to follow-through with people in a mental health crisis. “We get them where they need to go, whether that’s counseling or whatever that may look like, so that individual has resources available to them,” Sampson said. What about defunding police officers and shift the funding to mental health workers? “It would be like...making me a surgeon and expect me to be able to do open heart surgery,” Sampson said. “You cannot take a social worker and throw them out on the street and expect them to handle it like law enforcement.” Sometimes a person who needs mental health care can turn violent. “Social workers are not trained [to work with violent people],” Sampson said. “We’ve had people who have produced a firearm, a bat.” Sampson acknowledges that the life of an officer is changing and many people have a different view of officers.
“Society has changed; we have to change with it,” she said. “That is partnering, not defunding.” Sampson expressed frustration that an officer must never step a toe out of line. A resident can go over the speed limit, but an officer can never stray. “Everybody makes a mistake,” she said. “Expectation to have the same reaction, do it a certain way every single time. The reality is that no call is the same. No person acts the same, and no situations are going to be the same.” Wallentine also expressed frustration that people cry for defunding but also for more training. “The irony is we’re hearing we need to train our officers better, community-oriented policing and cultural competency addressing the implicit bias in de-escalation, in crisis intervention and communicating with the mentally ill,” he said. “Well, great! That creates professionals; that kind of training takes money. You want to cut my training budget then tell me we’ve got to do things that really we don’t teach in the police academy.” Wallentine knows that accountability is critical. “No one, no one, dislikes a bad cop more than a good cop. We have the responsibility to police our own profession. I’m all for reform steps; I’m all for more transparency in police discipline records. One of the things we’re trying to do is listen very hard.” l
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High-tech tools improve math learning By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
T
he transition to distance learning in March was nearly seamless for Copper Hills High School math teachers and students, thanks to department head Susan Nelson. “She is a fantastic teacher and has been instrumental in our math department and their response to distant learning,” said Assistant Principal Mark Halliday. “Susan’s vision for the math department helped shape the response to distance learning. She had already had her department working on Canvas and MathXL, both of which are online resources to help with math.” Most CHHS math teachers were already video-recording their lectures. Some were using a flipped classroom format in which students watched the recorded lecture—with the ability to pause and rewind as needed to understand the material—before they came to class. Instead of teaching to a large group of students who are all at varying levels of understanding, teachers using this format have time to work one-on-one with students and their specific questions, Nelson said. Nelson has cultivated a math department that embraces technology; teachers use online resources, tablets and screen projectors. In her own classroom, Nelson uses a SmartBoard on which she can write an equation and then, with just a tap of her finger, play a video clip that reinforces the concept and engages her students. “We’re constantly looking for new things to make things better and easier and more efficient for the students themselves so that they can learn the math and reach their best potential,” Nelson said. The math department will begin this school year with a new online math program that promises to further personalize student learning and streamline effective teaching strategies. With the program, called Big Ideas, all assignments will be accessed online, with step-by-step instructions and examples. “It gives students more remediation tools and resources,” said math teacher Joanna Gomez. “It gives them a video to watch right away. It has resources in different languages and materials that they can access to supplement our teaching.” By using online math programs, feedback is immediate. “They don’t have to wait to turn in a worksheet and wait for it to be graded,” Gomez said. “This helps us, too, so we know faster what students are missing and we can help them that day in the classroom.” The program also provides up-to-date data on each student’s progress. “We can pinpoint exactly where kids are struggling so that we can spend our valuable time helping them where they actually need it,” Nelson said.
The program also makes it easy for teachers to quickly create engaging lectures with video clips and graphics. “It’s just going to make it better for the teacher so we’re not wasting so much time in preparation and paperwork, so that we are freed up more to work one-on-one with kids,” Nelson said. “That’s what’s important—our relationship with kids and our ability to communicate well with them and to spend time with them.” Even before COVID-19 forced online teaching practices to the forefront, Jordan School District administrators were exploring blended learning options. Blended learning provides students with more control over their time with the flexibility of online learning but also includes time spent in a classroom with a teacher. Blended classes were piloted at Riverton High School last year and are now open to all high school juniors and seniors. Nelson believes that while technology and online teaching methods can be helpful to students, they can’t replace teachers. She believes blended learning options provide a balance, unlike the emergency long-distance teaching that took place this spring, which she said was the hardest she’s ever worked in 36 years of teaching. She said it is difficult for teachers to meet student needs when they can’t see them and or interact with them. “That face to face is priceless,” Nelson said. “I would never want to give that up. The online stuff is awesome, and it really is an amazing tool, but that’s all it is—it is a tool. It does not replace that personal interaction where you can truly see what a kid is struggling with. You can see it on their face, and you can make adjustments and help them immediately. You don’t get that with distance learning.” l
Copper Hills High students use Chromebooks in core subject classrooms. (Photo courtesy of Susan Nelson.)
West Jordan City Journal
Local principal influences state, national mental health initiatives By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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ocal principal Dixie Garrison, of West Jordan Middle School, has influenced education policies at national and state levels while serving as president of the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals. Much of her work has been advocating to improve students’ mental health. “As an educator, the biggest thing that you want to do is to have that effect on kids, to make their life better in some way,” Garrison said. “And if the message—or who I am and what I stand for and the work that I’ve done—if that trickles down to help save a kid and make their life better, then that’s the biggest thing I’ve been able to do. It’s not about trips to Washington D.C., which are really cool, but to have that platform.” As Utah’s representative within the national association, Garrison met with legislators and advocated for funding for mental health and school safety initiatives and for inclusion policies for groups such as minorities and LGBTQ+. “A lot of the state representatives are really receptive to our message—definitely the mental health and safety issues—and Congress has provided funding around those initiatives,” Garrison said. Federal funding for the 2019–20 school year increased $1.17 billion with Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants for school counseling and mental health programs. Another $10 million was invested in the Safe Schools and Education pilot program. Last October, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced $71.6 million to improve student access to mental health resources and school safety measures. In Utah, last year’s Student Support Bill provided $26 million to hire more school counselors, psychologists, social workers and nurses. It also helped fund mental health training and the Safe UT app. This year’s amendment defined standards for mental health screenings. “This is the most important school counseling bill that we’ve had in our state history,” said Utah Rep. Steve Eliason at the bill signing in April 2019. “It appropriates a record amount of funding.” Garrison’s own Jordan District has seen increased funding for mental health initiatives. Funds through a Project AWARE federal grant provided mental health first-aid trainings and social emotional learning curriculum. JSD committed to hiring a full-time school psychologist for each elementary school with the $710 million mental health budget allocated by the school board in 2018. JSD qualified for the maximum amount of Student Support Bill matching funding, which they used to hire additional full-time therapists and counselors, reducing their
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counselor to student ratios to well below state and national averages. JSD also created a Health and Wellness Team to connect students and families with local mental health resources. This year, funding was used to sponsor more than 100 students to receive a free trial period of mental health counseling with community partners. C O V I D - 1 9C O UP VD I DA-T1 E 9 SU P D C OCVO ID VDP IA D V -I 1D9- C 1U 9OPU DT-A1ET9SE U S “That makes it not scary for a lot of COVID-1C 9 OUVPID DA - 1T9E SU P D C O V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E S families who have never explored it, who are scared about getting mental health services or who might just not be able to afford it,” said Health and Wellness Specialist McKinley Withers. 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AtBARDA Grifols, we At Grifols, believe we thisNIH/NIAID believe current this and current extraordinary and extraordinary situation situation companies require companies to of strive more toof strive than more ever to than to and BARDA NIH/NIAID and develop to clinical develop trials clinical toextraordinary assess trials the torequire assess safety the and safety efficacy and efficacy aof potential astrive treatment. potential treatment. At Grifols, we believe thisto current and extraordinary situation require companies to strive more than ever toever BARDA and NIH/NIAID develop clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy a more potential treatment. At Grifols, we At believe Grifols, this wetobelieve current this and current extraordinary and situation require situation companies require to companies strive to than ever more to than ever Withers said mental health support serve patients serve and patients communities. and communities. At Grifols, At weGrifols, believe we this believe current and current extraordinary and extraordinary situation require situation companies require companies to strive more to strive than more ever to than ever to serve patients and communities. At Grifols, we believe this this current and extraordinary situation require companies to strive more than ever to serve patients serve andpatients communities. and communities. will be imperative as students come back to serve serve patients serve and patients communities. and communities. patients and communities. school amid current health and social issues. STEP STEP 1 STEP 1 1 “We have been brainstorming with our STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 1antibodies STEP 1 antibodies counselors and psychologists, coming up Obtain from those whowho Obtain Obtain antibodies from those from those who Obtain Obtain antibodies antibodies from those from who those who with as many different strategies and ideas Obtain antibodies from those whowho Obtain antibodies from those have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 to address the unique nature of all the kids have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered from COVID-19 Human blood can be broken down into many parts like liquid which which Human blood Human can be blood broken can down be broken into many down parts intolike many liquid parts plasma, likeplasma, liquid which plasma, BRING THIS COUPON IN FOR Aliquid coming back,” Withers said. 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When the bodytobecomes infected with a virus, the antibodies learn antibodies from the learn disease, from then the evolve disease, then beat evolve it. When to beat someone it. When someone ty to respond to their students’ needs within recovers from COVID-19, they will have the antibodies inplasma their in plasma to fight to fight recoversantibodies fromrecovers COVID-19, from they COVID-19, will have they the will antibodies have the in antibodies their their to fight plasma learn from the disease, then evolve to beat it. When someone antibodies learn from disease, then evolve to beat it. When someone recovers recovers COVID-19, from they COVID-19, willthe have they the antibodies will have the in their antibodies plasma into their fight plasma to fight off from the virus. their own school culture. recovers fromvirus. COVID-19, they will have the antibodies in their plasma to fight off the virus. off the recovers from COVID-19, they will have the antibodies in their plasma to fight off the virus. off the virus. You must provide a valid photo ID, proof of your current address and your Social off the virus. Garrison anticipates her students at West the virus.card to donate. Must be 18 years of age or older to donate. Security oroff Immigration Jordan Middle School will need extra mental EXPIRES 8/31/2020 health support this year. Even though her naSTEP 2 tional position term has ended, she continues STEP 2 STEP 2 STEPSTEP 2 2 convalescent plasma to advocate for mental health and for minoriSTEP Separate 2 Separate STEPconvalescent 2 Separate convalescent plasma plasma Separate convalescent plasma convalescent plasma ty and LGBTQ+ support initiatives in her Separate into its components Separate Separate convalescent convalescent plasma plasma into its into components its components school and in the state. 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From there, we can use special technology to separate Plasma donation Plasma is similar donation to giving is similar blood, to giving except blood, the blood except is the cycled blood through is cycled a special special machine that pulls the of plasma out before returning the blood machine thatsome pulls of some the plasma out before returning the blood “The work that I’m doing is reallycells drivback to cells the body. back From to the there, body. we From can there, use special we can technology use special to technology separate to separate the plasma into different components, one of which is the antibodies that can special machine special pulls some that of pulls the some plasma ofcan out the before plasma returning out before the returning blood the blood cells back tomachine the body. From there, use special technology to separate cells back to thethat body. From there, we canwe use special technology to separate the plasma into different plasma into components, different components, one which one is the of antibodies which is the that antibodies can toyears that can defeat the virus. Plasma donation isof aof well-established process with en by mental health,” she said. “For me, it’s cells back tothe cells the body. back From the body. there, From we can there, use special weof can use special to technology separate separate the plasma intoto different components, one which the antibodies that can the plasma into different components, one which istechnology the is antibodies thatmany can defeat the virus. defeat Plasma the virus. donation Plasma is a donation well-established is a well-established process with process many years with many of knowledge regarding safetycomponents, for donors. plasma into thethe plasma different into components, different one ofwell-established whichone is the of which antibodies is the that antibodies can that years can defeat virus. Plasma donation isthe a process with many a real personal mission; I had a brotherthe who defeat the virus. Plasma donation is a well-established process with many yearsyears of knowledge of regarding knowledge safety regarding for the safety donors. for is the donors. the virus. defeat Plasma theregarding virus. donation Plasma a donation well-established a well-established process withprocess many years with many years of knowledge safety for the donors. ofthe knowledge regarding safety foristhe donors. died by suicide. And so, I would saydefeat of knowledge of regarding knowledge safety regarding for the safety donors. for the donors. suicide prevention is the biggest thing that I’m involved in; that’s the most imperative STEP 3 work.” l STEP STEP 3 3 3into a medicine to Convert STEP 3 STEP
HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW CONVALESCENT PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW CONVALESCENT PLASMA HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS TREAT COVID-19 HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS TREAT COVID-19
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Are you a first time plasma donor with Grifols? Or has it been 6 months since your last donation?
You can receive up to $600 in your first month as a new donor. STEPConvert 3 Convert STEP 3 into into a medicine a medicine to
treat patients Convert Convert into a medicine into a medicine to toto Convert Convert into a into medicine a medicine to to treat patients treat patients treat patients treat patients We can purify and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated plasma treat patients treat patients Your local Grifols Donor Center is NOW accepting plasma to develop a special medicine for those still sick with COVID-19 or possibly
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to develop atospecial develop medicine a not special for medicine those still for sick those with still COVID-19 sick with or COVID-19 possibly ordoctors possiblywill protect protect who have those who been have infected. been With infected. thisserve medicine, With this doctors medicine, will tothose possibly help them get back tonot life faster or as a temporary defense have a consistent and precise dosing of the antibodies that canthat fight COVID-19 have a consistent and precise dosing of the antibodies can fight COVID-19
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New donors visit www.grifolsplasma.com to This medicine is thethe This This isis the find a Grifols Donation center near Thismedicine medicine Thismedicine medicine theisis the you.
This medicine ThisHyperimmune medicine is the is the Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin To find out more about donating in our COVID-19 Convalescent Local principal Dixie Garrison influences national For more info visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 education policies. (Photo courtesy of Dixie Garrison.)
Program call (866) 363-2819.
For For info more visit - -WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 Formore more For info more visitinfo info WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 For more For info more visitinfo - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19
August 2020 | Page 9
Jordan School District’s K–8 curriculum to be placed online, ready for school year By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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his past year, about 50 kindergartners through eighth graders were learning digitally long term as part of the home and hospital program in Jordan School District. There were others who were learning online for other various reasons—and those don’t include students who were part of the “soft closure,” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of long-term online learners may increase this fall, as families may choose to have children home with the increased risk of getting COVID-19, district officials said. While in early July, the re-entry plans for school had not be finalized, what was determined was to provide kindergarten through eighth grade students online curriculum. “We need to have education be flexible to meet the needs of parents without overburdening teachers,” District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey said at a recent Jordan Board of Education meeting. “The whole curriculum is being developed by selected teachers from every grade who in the past helped develop material and who now have been noticed on how well they have been teaching online. This curriculum will help every student, every teacher, with whatever the circumstances.”
Already, Jordan District has high school curriculum available online as part of the Utah Students Connect Consortium, where about 900 Jordan students are enrolled. The K–8 curriculum development, spearheaded by Digital Teaching & Learning K-12 Administrator Ross Menlove, involves about 50 “rock star” teachers, from every grade in every feeder system, who have been spending six hours per day during three weeks in late June through July 17 to develop core curriculum lesson plans for a 180-day school year. The Jordan teachers are working handin-hand with Nebo School District educators, as the two districts use some of the same materials in addition to the state core curriculum. Jordan teachers are also using resources provided by Davis School District officials and may partner with other districts as well. Nearby Canyons School District also is developing their K–8 curriculum. “We’re creating an online option for kids who physically cannot be at the school,” Menlove said. “We just wanted to make sure we have an option for parents. The option isn’t just ‘here, do this online.’ It’s ‘do this with a teacher.’ You still have a teacher. You still have someone who is going to create a
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class culture, who keeps you connected to the school and to the school community.” While developing the curriculum, teachers were working in teams. “They’re all doing it together,” he said. “They come in, and we provide the appropriate social distancing and have a bunch of rooms. We make sure they feel comfortable. We’re having them build it that way so it’s a consistent voice from start to finish.” The teacher teams focus on an area— math, reading, writing and science—with social studies being included in the reading and writing portions. After a baseline is created on the Canvas platform, teachers will have a few weeks before school begins Aug. 17 to tailor it to their classes—whether they are teaching online or in-person, dual-immersion, special education, accelerated and gifted students or those who need additional learning assistance, Menlove said. Silver Crest sixth grade teacher Dylan Funk said the teachers just “hit the ground running” as they figured out the best way to organize and develop the curriculum. “It’s overwhelming at first, but as you wrap your hands around it and get into it, you get a rhythm, and it goes from there,” he said. “The more we get into the project, the more exciting it is to see it developing. Everyone there is passionate about it.” Assigned fifth grade math to develop with others, Funk said the lesson plans on Canvas will be more of an “organized scaf-
folding” or “a road map of tools you can use” to teach students. In addition, several creative ways and tools are being shared to engage students to enhance the core curriculum. The curriculum is designed in modules, and students, parents and teachers will know they have certain materials and points to cover during a number of days before moving onto the next module, said Ami Anderson, who teaches fourth grade at Blackridge Elementary. “This way, it will be consistent from subject to subject, class to class, school to school,” she said. “It puts all of us together— the student, the parents, the teacher. We’re all on the same page so we can help the student. And it’s really exciting to see what is being developed. We’re diving deeper. These kids will have more in-depth writing, enriched math, a deeper experience of learning.” Anderson, who is helping develop fourth grade reading, said students who elect digital platform should expect four hours of online learning. As a result of developing the curriculum, Anderson said she is learning. “It’s opened my eyes,” she said. “I have an endorsement in integrating technology, so I felt somewhat prepared, but I had no idea what this involves. I’m understanding a lot more of the curriculum in a deeper way and what students need. It’s making me become a For three weeks, a select group of Jordan School teachers spent their summer developing K–8 online curricubetter teacher.” l lum that can be used during a 180-day school year. (Sandra Riesgraf/Jordan School District)
Doors open at county libraries as phased reopening continues By Kathryn Elizabeth Jones | k.jones@thecityjournals.com
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ot being able to walk into a library to browse and check out books has been tough for many people during the coronavirus shutdown. Bethany Wursten, a frequent patron of the Hunter Library, said she always enjoyed picking out her books, looking through them, and making sure they were what she wanted. That process changed a bit due to the pandemic. Beginning May 26, when curbside pickup was put into place, Wursten started putting in her order via the library’s website, waiting for her time, and picking up her books at the front of the library. “Other than one time, when the system was down, everything has run pretty smooth,” she said. “It was nice and easy. With a toddler, I didn’t have to worry about dragging him in,” she added. In fact, she was surprised at how much she liked it. Utah County Library Director Jim Cooper said curbside pickup has been successful. “We’ve had a great response to the temporary changes at the libraries,” he said. Over 300,000 plus items are currently checked out, and eBook learning, including language learning, has expanded 140%. More patrons than ever are taking part in
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online Storytime and STEM classes. The 72hour quarantine of items has been an ongoing process, as well as the shift in picking up holds at the front of the library, but Cooper said he has been happy with the results. Though the physical library doors have been shut for a time, the county libraries have still been running, just differently. And with
the continued phased reopening of branches on July 20, patrons can now enter their respective county library—something that hasn’t happened since May. After setting up an appointment, patrons enter their library at their designated day and time. There will be a “one-way pass holds area where they can pick up their books, as
Librarians record programs for kids to watch online. (Photo courtesy Sara Neal)
well as an area of displays,” Cooper said, adding that the displays are sort of a, “I think I’d like to check this out” opportunity. Of course, masks are still the order of the day, but, hopefully, patrons will enjoy this phased reopening. “Our greatest concern is the safety of our staff and the public,” he said. Case in point: When the system went down in July getting it back up was “our first priority. It was important that we protect the public’s privacy.” Computers are not available for use, nor the rental of rooms, but Cooper said they are continually “inventing processes with the staff. We are asking, ‘How will this work?’ and trying things out.” “We want people to get into their hands what they want and need for their life.” As patrons wait for a full opening of the library, Cooper suggests those with young families go online for Storytime. “It is more popular now than when we had it inside the library. We stream it live, and it is archived. You can watch it at your leisure. We used to have about 30 kids participating in Storytime, now hundreds can participate.” Plus, anything in the library can be checked out, he said. “If it’s not at your library location, we can transport it to where you are.” l
August 2020 | Page 11
Jaguar breaks 22-year-old track record By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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22-year-old West Jordan school track record in the boys 800-meter run has been broken by senior Austin Klingler. His time of 1:511.11 broke the record and set a top five-time in the country. He broke the record June 20 at the Utah Club Championships held at Taylorsville High School. “Several schools around the country have contacted us about him,” Jaguar track coach Taylor Hatch said. “Austin is a super good runner and has very good form.” The original school record was established in 1998 by former Jaguar Rob Erickson. “I really thought I would get my name on the board eventually,” Klinger said referring to the record board hanging in the hallway near the school’s gymnasium. “To break the record by a couple of seconds opened my eyes a little bit. It makes me feel good because of all the hard work I have put in especially over the quarantine time.” The COVID virus forced the shutdown of school activities. Klingler was forced to train on his own. His coach (Hatch) sent him training plans to follow. Riley Burrup trained with him during the layoff. “Riley and I worked together,” Klinger said. “I think the 800 suits my style of running. I am not huge and bulky with a lot of
muscle. I have good endurance. The 800 is a race between sprinting and distance.” As a sophomore, he took fifth in state in the 400. This spring the plan was for him to run both the 400 and 800. “Austin is a humble kid,” Hatch said. “The 800 is one of the hardest races. It is in between a sprint and a distance race. The athletes don’t go full-out sprint, but they need to stay consistent. It is also a mental race. You can feel the lactic acid building up in your body.” Austin began running track his freshman year. He was a basketball player and joined the team at the insistence of his older brother. “I wanted to do something new,” he said. “I really wanted to see how fast I was; now I may have a future. Running track is a lot harder than what people think it is.” Klingler carries a 3.6 grade point average and is the son of Bryan and Mindie Klingler. Hatch has been a coach at the school for four years and is excited for the things the athletes have done. “We could start to make an impact,” she said. “We had other runners who have set marks and have competed at the collegiate level.” Graduated senior Gentry Pierce hit times and earned a scholarship to Southern
Austin Klingler finished his school record 800-meter race in 1 minute 51.11 seconds. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Hatch/Jaguar Track Club)
Utah University. Sheri Nima will run for the team and should make an impact.” University of Utah. Hatch has helped organize the Jaguar “This year was tough,” Hatch said. track Club to help athletes during the offsea“Several runners just stopped training when son. l the virus started. We certainly have a good
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D-line the strength for Jaguars this fall By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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he West Jordan Jaguars football team is starting its second year under head Carson Mund. The team is coming together despite a late start and several restrictions. “Summer workouts have been good,” Mund said. “We got into our stuff late because of COVID. We got going on June 8. The kids are showing up and getting ready so that when August comes, we are ready to play.” The Jaguars are scheduled to open their season Aug. 14 at East High School. The Leopards will be a formidable opponent to begin the season with. East finished its season last year by losing in the state championship semifinals. “Opening against East is going to be tough, but I think we are preparing in the right way,” Mund said. As Mund began his tenure at West Jordan, he emphasized the importance of a strong running game. Last season the backfield combined for nearly 900 yards and more than 10 touchdowns. “The biggest thing right now, this season is bringing the culture,” Mund said. “We want the tradition. West Jordan has had lots of success, and we want to have that continued success. Our D-Line is going to be our strength. We have three really good guys up front. I think they can match up with anyone
The defensive line could again be one of the strengths of this year’s Jaguar football team according to their head coach, Carson Mund. (Photo courtesy of Shelly Oliverson.)
in the state. Our team will go as they go.” The defensive line includes two seniors: Syrus Webster, who stands 6 feet 4 inches and 245 pounds, and Junior Kaufusi, who is 6-foot-1-inch and 265 pounds. Junior Aleka Leausa is 6-foot-1-inch tall and 290 pounds. At quarterback, the Jaguars will rely on returning junior Brandon Farmer. He gained
valuable experience last season as a sophomore. He threw for more than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns. Mund said his 51% completion percentage is something he can improve on. “He (Farmer) will be back and take the lead of our offense,” Mund said. “He is the do-everything guy on the team. We rely on
him as a team guy and great leader. I think he throws the ball really well and knows our offense. He’s a great all-around player for us.” Last season, the Jaguars finished the season with a 5-6 overall record. They scored an average of 24.6 points per game and allowed 21. They lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Jordan 20-17. West Jordan competes in Region 2. “We have some great teams in our region,” Mund said. “Kearns is always good, and Granger and West are both on the rebound. The teams are getting better and better every year. It is disappointing with the RPI that region games are not as important. A region champion should get a reward like a first-round bye.” They are scheduled to host their first home game Aug. 21 against Riverton. The Utah High School Activities Association initially voted to continue with fall sports as scheduled but plan to review that decision as the season approaches (after press deadline). “We have had kids that are very cautious,” Mund said. “We started with over 110 kids and are now down to 70 or 80. We need every kid out. We are doing our best to make sure the kids are safe. We want every kid in West Jordan to play football. We would have a team of 200 kids if necessary.” l
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August 2020 | Page 13
How the Utah Sports Hall of Fame honors past, present, future By Nichole Duffy | n.duffy@mycityjournals.com
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s Utahns from across the valley search for ways to fill the void of sports, one organization has long been honoring sports past, present and future. The Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation and museum has worked tirelessly to bring the best of Utah sports to the community. Started in 1967 as the “Old Timer Athletic Association,” their goal was to highlight “hall of famers” which included athletes and administrators, but as time has progressed, so too has the organization. Now a nonprofit that prides itself on “preserving and honoring Utah’s sports heritage,” says Doug Toole, president-elect of the organization. According to Norma Carr, the current president of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, their mission is to “Honor the past, lead the present, and award the future”. The way they honor their mission is multifaceted, Toole explains, “The foundation honors the past by recognizing individuals in different categories; The Utah Sports Hall of Fame, the Distinguished High School Coaches Hall of Honor, Coaches of Merit Hall of Honor, Distinguished Service Award, and the Game Officials Hall of Honor.” To date there has been 238 honorees inducted, from a diversity of sports and competition levels. From Jazz great Karl Malone
to sports writer Hack Miller, you can see and learn about them all. “The foundation leads the present by hosting a leadership symposium for coaches in January of odd number years,” Toole said. “For the symposium we choose to use some of our people who are in the hall of fame and planned a leadership event. People can come and attend different sessions and learn different things from people who have been honored,” explained Carr. “Depending on who we pick each year people have a grass roots, small event where they can listen, learn and ask questions of hall of famers concerning leadership skills.” Another exciting part of the foundation, and the third prong to its mission, is the Reams Scholarship “The foundation awards the future by providing six to eight $2,000 scholarships through donations from the Ream’s food store to high school seniors,” Toole said. Carr expands on the program, “Started in 1990 and year to date have given out 228 scholarships, which translates to approximately $400,000 given to Utah high school students who attend a Utah school.” These scholarships are available to any Utah student, and you don’t have to be an athlete to apply. “The chair of the selection committee
prepares a letter and sends it to all the high school counselors in Utah each year detailing the qualifications for the students to apply,” Carr said. While the Reams scholarship uses money left by Paul Ream to help fund these scholarships, it is also funded by donations to the foundation. The foundation does more than just honor the heroes of the past and the leaders of the future, but they put it all up for display for people to admire. The museum, which is located at City Creek mall (99 West South Temple suite 102), has welcomed more than 1,332 Utahns, 991 people from 51 different states, and 343 international visitors. You can read biographies of the more than 200 inductees on its website at utahsportshalloffame.org. You can read about Jim Shea, who in the 2002 Olympics, “became a third-generation Olympian.” Or if basketball is more your speed you could read about Natalie Williams, a graduate of Taylorsville high school, who went on to be named the “PAC-10’s athlete of the decade and became a four-time WNBA all-star.” It doesn’t matter what sport you are into, they have it. Even president elect Doug Toole was surprised by the two honorees of 2019, broth-
The Hall of Fame gallery (Courtesy of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation)
ers David and Richard Barnes, who both swam at Skyline high school and later went on to swim the English Channel. They were the first people from Utah to complete it. A statement from the organization puts it best, “The Utah Sports Hall of Fame Museum has brought the state’s sports history to life, while preserving and honoring the legacies of heroes and role models of Utah. These athletes and figures from across a broad spectrum of individual and team sports deserve to be showcased and celebrated, and their stories will provide inspiration to all who learn more about their accomplishments.” Anyone who wishes to donate to the Utah Sports Hall of Fame can do so at: utahsportshalloffame.org. l
STEADY LEADERSHIP
As your legislator, I have voted to shrink government and against tax increases, year after year. Lower taxes ensures families and businesses keep more of their own money, and strengthens our economy.
I voted to increase the Rainy Day Fund, which in times of crisis allows us to continue providing essential state services like schools and public health. Paid for by Wayne Harper for State Senate
Page 14 | August 2020
My priority has been to find efficiencies in state government. Utah has fewer state employees now than in 2008, which means greater value for taxpayers.
PROVEN RESULTS West Jordan City Journal
G O OD NE IG HBOR
NEWS
AUGUST 2020
Paid for by the City of West Jordan
M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E The Coronavirus has changed many things in our day-to-day lives; our children’s education, national holidays and events, and our economy. As a result of the virus, many businesses have had to shut their doors, and although several places have started welcoming back customers, they are still being met with the financial burdens a state-wide closure caused. Unlike some of our neighboring cities, the City of West Jordan is home to more than 3,000 businesses, many that were affected by the shutdown. I’ve worked hard, alongside my administration, to get these businesses back on track. Whether it be a zoom call, talking about the resources available to business owners, visiting local businesses, or hiring a business recovery specialist to help answer questions, West Jordan is right there with business owners, looking to help them get back on their feet. Salt Lake County and the City of West Jordan are offering assistance to businesses hurt by this virus shut down. The County recently announced an Impact Grant Program that offers financial help to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Businesses can apply online, if you have questions filling out the application there is a hotline you can call: (385) 468-4011. The Business Relief Hotline has real people answering who are ready to respond to your questions. Visit slco.org/ covid-19/economy/grants/ for more information. A city is nothing without the people in it. Those people are made up of small business owners, families who depend on a steady income, and neighbors supporting neighbors and local businesses in times of uncertainty. To learn more about West Jordan’s economic recovery plan contact our economic development department: economic.growth@westjordan.utah.gov.
Teacher Paints Mural to Boost Students’ Morale The halls of West Jordan High School are scheduled to soon be filled with students once again and while they may be met with a lot of uncertainty, there is one thing waiting for them - aimed to give them hope. Robyn Briggs is an art teacher at West Jordan High School. She teaches drawing and digital art to juniors and seniors, but sometimes will have a student all three years, if art becomes a passion. Following fifty hours of work; measuring, designing, and painting, Briggs can call a 7 foot by 28 foot mural complete. It depicts a Jaguar, the school’s mascot, surrounded by leaf patterns sporting the school’s colors. It also reads: Our differences make us stronger. Our similarities make us one. We are family. “The principal reached out to me asking if this was something, I’d be interested in doing. I’d already done a mural in the school last year,” explained Briggs. “We planned this mural a week prior to quarantine and it’s insane how greatly the quote applies to the times we are living in.” A time-lapse video, showing Briggs’ hard work, also features her husband who she calls a good handyman. “He’s very educated in what type of paint I should use, what materials, because he’s worked on houses and construction and stuff like that before,” Briggs said. “It was good to have him there to help me out with that.” In just a few weeks, Briggs and other teachers are scheduled to return to the classroom, after having taught at home for a few months prior to summer break. Briggs said she can probably speak for most teachers when she says she has mixed
feelings about going back. “The part I love most about my job is the interactions with students and the impact I can make on them,” Briggs said. “I really don’t feel that is possible virtually. It can be, if it’s utilized well and if students are educated on how to learn online, but I can’t see cues and signals of kids that are struggling via the internet.” Briggs said she does feel lucky though, she already had most of her classes online before schools closed. While she has been able to transition to online teaching, she misses seeing her students face-to-face. “My greatest accomplishments in life have been impacting students, creating long-lasting relationships with them, and relationships that go far beyond the classroom,” Briggs said. “The possibility that that might not happen as much as it did before – it’s heartbreaking. Despite not knowing what is ahead for the upcoming school year, it’s clear that Briggs cares about her students, no matter if class is in session or not. Briggs calls her students wonderful and expressed her excitement when it comes times to see them again, closing with this message: “The main thing I want my students to know is that even though we are separated, and this is all so weird and strange, that your teachers still care about you. You’re loved and there will always be something positive to look forward to and hopefully my mural can be that. I’m excited for them to walk through the doors and see my artwork and see a teacher who practices what she teaches. I hope they can see the love that was put into it.” To see Briggs’ full video visit: https://bit.ly/wjhsmural
Sincerely,
Mayor Dirk Burton City of West Jordan
WestJordanJournal .com
August 2020 | Page 15
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
Salt Lake County announces Small Business Impact Grant Program OFFERING FINANCIAL HELP TO SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 Businesses in Salt Lake County are back open now, but that wasn’t the case just one month ago. With little to no knowledge of COVID-19, state lawmakers forced all business owners to close their doors. Now, those businesses have reopened, and while they’re welcoming back customers, they are still being met with the financial burdens the statewide closure caused. “Back in early March when we assembled in Unified Command we came together, we were working on health, we were trying to figure out what the coronavirus is, but we realized very, very early on that our economy had tanked,” said Salt Lake County Mayor, Jenny Wilson. A deteriorating economy was the case for many states in the U.S., pushing federal lawmakers to establish the CARES Act, providing $150 billion in Coronavirus relief funding. Those monies were provided to State, Local, and Tribal Governments. “There’s been quite a bit of aid on the Federal and State level that’s targeted critical vulnerabilities during COVID-19 however, we’ve been really concerned about small businesses, that we know have been slipping through the cracks, and have really been left behind,” said Dina Blaes, Director of Salt Lake County Regional Development. Mayor Jenny Wilson announced a portion of the CARES act monies, given to the county, would go toward SBIG, or the Small Business Impact Grant. “We felt a critical component was a portion of those funds being used for a grant program,” said Blaes. “It would be the most effective way for us to inject money back into the economy and to support those businesses that are really the engine of Salt Lake County’s economy.” As businesses continue to assess the economic impact of COVID-19, the county is looking to provide targeted support for both short-term and long-term recovery, rewarding one-time grant payments of up to $35,000. Businesses must be eligible, by meeting these guidelines: • Be based in Salt Lake County • Employ fewer than 100 employees • Have not already received federal, state, or local COVID-19 financial aid • Provide documents verifying your financial loss • Have operated prior to January 1, 2020 • Be primary industries impacted directly by public health order closures. Details can be found here: slco.org/covid-19/economy/grants/ in the FAQ section. “We know that there’s still some listening we need to do,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson. “We have to remember that our communities who have been hit the hardest with the health pandemic cannot also be the same communities who feel forgotten when it comes to financial aid.” Businesses can apply online, if you need help filling out the application there is a hotline you can call: (385) 468-4011. The Business Relief Hotline has real people answering who are ready to respond to your questions. Visit slco.org/covid-19/economy/grants/ for more information.
“This Virus is a Beast” – West Jordan Resident Shares Story after Contracting COVID-19 Sitting in her daughter’s home, LuAnn Schroeder fights through her airy, dry cough hoping she’ll start feeling better soon. Two weeks ago, the 65-yearold West Jordan resident contracted COVID-19. Schroeder says she believes it happened when she and her daughters visited her brother’s gravesite. “I’d taken all the precautions up to that point,” Schroeder said. “I wore a mask while outside, shopped during senior hours, and stayed home as much as possible.” Today, Schroeder is recovering in her daughter’s home, who also contracted the virus, working to start feeling better. “I just want to feel good again,” Schroeder said. “I’ve had some bad nights, it’s horrible. I wish people would just be careful out there.” The most common list of symptoms that come along with the Coronavirus consist of: • Fever and chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea Not everyone who gets the virus experiences all of the symptoms listed above, in some cases an individual experiences no symptoms, despite testing positive for COVID-19, but Schroeder says she’s experienced it all, from a cough, to body aches, even losing her sense of taste and smell. “What they say is where the virus lands is where you have your symptoms. So, if it’s in your upper respiratory, kind of like a cold, then you have cold symptoms. Or it can be gastrointestinal, and I’ve had both. I’ve been very nauseated, and I’ve had to get some medication to stop that,” Schroeder explained. She says her daughter, who also got COVID-19, started feeling better just days after she began feeling symptoms. The risk for severe illness from the virus increases with age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports people in their 50s are at a higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at a higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. “My daughter and her boyfriend, we are all here isolating together, they’re getting over it a whole lot faster than I am. People like me, we’re not getting over it as fast as the younger kids are.” In the past few weeks, the Mayor of Salt Lake County has mandated the use of face coverings while in public. Schroeder, who says she’s always worn one while out and about, doesn’t believe masks should be mandated, but does wish people could make the decision themselves to wear one. “It’s like everything else,” Schroeder said. “When you have your kids, you give them a chance, you give them a chance and then you have to make a rule. We’ve had horribly high numbers and they’ve got to slow down.”
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
COUNCIL CORNER
The West Jordan City Council has implemented several new, modern processes for citizens to better communicate with the council members. First, there is a new email address and a new 24-hour comment telephone number for the public. Both are valuable resources for our residents to have better communication with members of the city council. When you send an email to councilcomments@westjordan.utah.gov, your comments are sent immediately to all 7-members of the city council. When you call the 24-hour comment line, your recorded voicemail is sent via email to all 7-members of the city council. You can also find contact information for each council member on the city council page on the city’s website, https://www.westjordan.utah.gov/mayor-andcity-council. Please reach out to us with suggestions and any concerns. Council Chairperson Chris McConnehey stated, “The council really wants to hear from residents using our familiar traditional methods as well as these new technological methods of communicating with council members.”
WHAT’S COOKING?
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS The City Council is presently holding council meetings remotely using the Zoom technology. Each published agenda has the various ways for members of the public to provide comment during the meeting and before the meeting. This includes participating with a computer, a smart phone or regular land line phone. Each agenda lists the Meeting ID and password and phone numbers you can use to participate in the council meeting. It also lists the topics the council will discuss. You can view agendas at westjordan.utah. gov/agendas. Please share your thoughts with us.
Brittany Lee – “I smoked my first pork butt yesterday!”
A wise man once said: “The secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” – Mark Twain. This quote rings true with our residents. They shared some of the meals they are whipping up this summer.
Elaine Perry – “Chicken Cordon Bleu French Bread Pizzas”
Brittany Lee – “Today is smoked chicken and veggies. I have assumed control of my husband’s smoker at this point!” Whip up the city’s favorite cookie recipe: Wild West Jordan – Darn Good Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ku’uipo Afo Vea – “Corn Orzo Summer Salad”
Shadira Pereida de Schill – “Bread!”
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation! (801) 569-5100 West Jordan – City Hall www.wjordan.com
What do potholes, loose pets, and graffiti all have in common? They are all problems that can be fixed by completing a service request online. Let the city know what’s going on in just five steps: Step 1: Go to http://bit.ly/WJSERVICE Step 2: Choose from the list until you find the request you would like to make Step 3: Click ‘Submit a report’ Step 4: Fill out the form
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File a Service Request online – 5 easy steps
Step 5: Click “Report it” You should receive a confirmation email following your submission. Someone from the city will be in contact with you throughout the process to ensure your request was completed. If you have problems filling out the form check out this video on the city’s Facebook page: https://bit.ly/howtoservicereq If you are still experiencing issues call 801-569-5174.
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West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch
Pulling Weeds for Cash?? Did you know you can earn money pulling weeds along the Jordan River? The Jordan River Commission is offering a $2 per pound “bounty” for the removal of puncturevine, aka “goathead”. They’re the little buggers that are notorious for getting stuck in bike tires and dog paws. Participants can register here: jordanrivercommission.com/wanted-puncturevine/
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theapexcleanair.com August 2020 | Page 19
SheTech Summit participants learn about technology, responses to COVID-19 and more By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Through the virtual SheTech Summit, participants listened to state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn about the state’s response to COVID-19. (Screenshot)
W
hen Gillian Ruppel was a ninth-grader at Riverview Junior High, she saw a poster in the hall about the SheTech explorer day summit. “It was really cool,” Gillian recalled. “I was just fascinated by so many different technologies and companies that allowed us to explore and learn about what they do.” Since then, the Murray High student has attended every summit and this year, Gillian was on the student board that helped organize the event—although, it was held online, much like many activities because of the social distancing response to COVID-19 pandemic. “It was still a good way to extend the opportunity to many high school students,” she said. “We heard from industry leaders, had group chats, discussions, and even held the tech challenge where we had to brainstorm ideas to solve a real problem.” The SheTech conference, organized by the Women Tech Council, traditionally invites more than 150 science, technology, engineering and mathematics companies and
colleges to share in-person hands-on activities from robotics to auto tech to 3D gaming to technology entrepreneurship opportunities with thousands of female high school students from every county in the state. This year, in its first virtual Summit, participants heard from female STEM leaders in the state, including the recently well-known state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn, who shared with them about the Healthy Together app. Dunn was followed by other female technology leaders who told the high schoolers how they stepped up to help with the response to COVID-19 from analyzing data to identifying and assisting Utah companies to pivot to produce personal protective equipment. Then, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox welcomed participants and encouraged them to get involved in the tech fields. He even shared with them how his 13-year-old daughter is learning coding. “As Lieutenant Governor, I get to see the way that tech impacts our state and more broadly, what the industry is doing here in our state,”
Cox said. “Over the last 10 years, the technology sector in Utah has grown faster than any other state with one exception and that is the state of Washington and most of that is driven by Amazon. It’s not just that we’re adding all of these jobs in the tech center. These are really good jobs and jobs that drive our economy. Tech workers make an average of 81% more than those who are working in other industries in the state. We’ve seen with this disruption in the economy that these jobs have the ability, many of them with people working from home, been able to keep generating revenue and keep expanding the economy.” Several leaders in the STEM field also held workshops, including those by Adobe and Vivint Smart Home, that were designed to show high schoolers how they create, innovate and problem-solve. Gillian, who took part in a three-week summer intern her sophomore year, visited many of those technology companies and learned the leaders’ pathways and what careers are available. “The Summit was initiated by the leaders, but the girl board supported it. It made sense to hold it virtually since after all, it’s a technology conference. The student board helped to troubleshoot and pitch ideas,” she said.
Gillian’s favorite part of the Summit is the tech challenge. This year, it was on reducing the carbon footprint. Previously, Gillian has taken part in challenges that addressed traffic problems in the canyons, pollution and refugee concerns. She said during her ninth-grade year, her group won the canyon traffic challenge by deciding upon a gondola that would connect with Utah Transit Authority in the Salt Lake Valley. “We were trying to think outside of the box on a real-world issue, using technology for a solution,” she said. Participants also could take part in industry and student challenges from defying gravity, binary basics and basic phone repair principles to hacking a website and saving the world with data. There also were creative sessions such as making elephant toothpaste, engineering your own musical instrument and vector art. Those who completed as many challenges as they could in 24 hours were eligible to win prizes. Participants also received T-shirts in the mail. “The SheTech program connects students to women in technology so we can learn firsthand from those in the field; it also can lead to having mentors or internships,” Gillian said. “It’s a great opportunity.” l
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Please call to reserve your seat: At the virtual SheTech Summit, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox welcomed participants and encouraged them to get involved in the tech field. (Screenshot)
Page 20 | August 2020
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West Jordan City Journal
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Outlaw Distillery
552 W 8360 S, Sandy, UT 84070
Business Spotlights are a service offered to our advertisers to help them inform our readers about their businesses. For information on scheduling a Spotlight, please call us at 801-254-5974 or email us at ryan.c@thecityjournals.com
The last four months has been very challenging for small businesses in Utah and around the country. However, one small business in Midvale has been able to capitalize on the opportunity at hand and thrive during this time. Outlaw Distillery has been focused on its hand sanitizer product since the Covid 19 break out. Some may be surprised to learn that hand sanitizer is created during the “distillery” process. So, when times hit hard, owner Kirk Sedgwick decided to switch his main business from producing whisky & rum to producing hand sanitizer. The switch has paid off dramatically for this small business in Midvale. Over the last four months, Outlaw has sold thousands of gallons of sanitizer to hospitals, pharmacies, trucking companies, preschools & daycares. Offering their product in a range of different sizes, customers can purchase sanitizer in 3 ounce bottles, 55-gallon drums and everything in between. Their blend of sanitizer exceeds the World Health Organization recommendations for killing germs and viruses. Outlaw Distillery has been so successful, they’ve exceeded all of their profits made in 2019 in just the four months since the virus outbreak hit the United States. Outlaw Distillery has been in business for over six years and Sedgwick is quick to point out they only use local grain from Utah farmers to make their products. The distillery process is quite fascinating! If you hav-
en’t been on a tour of the Distillery, you should schedule a time to visit. Tours run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Customers are encouraged to call or go to their website for more information and to schedule a visit. So, avoid the long lines at the liquor store and swing by Outlaw Distillery…locally owned, locally grown.
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Western is proud to announce our new physician:
Local company, restaurants work to feed front-line workers By Libby Allnatt | l.allnatt@mycityjournals.com
Chadwick Densley, D.O. Dr. Densley’s practice encompasses all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology with special interests in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, infertility, cancer prevention and genetics, cosmetics and preventative medicine. Premedical Education: Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Medical Education: Kansas City University, Kansas City, Missouri Residency: Michigan State University, McLaren Hospital, Lansing Medical Licensure: Utah Professional Societies & Certifications: American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Junior Fellow American Medical Association American Osteopathic Association Certified in Da Vinci Robotic Surgery
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12842 S. 3600 W. Riverton, Suite 200, UT 84065 Page 22 | August 2020
As part of the Helping Heroes program to bring meals to front-line workers, Nicholas and Company provides food, containers and delivery services. Restaurant partners donate time and labor to help prepare the meals. (Photo Courtesy of Amanda Barry)
A
food distribution company in Utah is finding ways to give back amid the coronavirus pandemic while supporting the local economy. Nicholas and Company developed an initiative called Helping Heroes in partnership with the Utah Football Foundation to help feed front-line workers with the help of local restaurants. Since the program began in April, almost 2,000 meals have been donated. “The general public knows how hard the restaurant and hospitality industry has been hit during this pandemic,” said Nicole Mouskondis, co-CEO of Nicholas and Company along with Peter Mouskondis. “We are the behind-the-scenes part of the supply chain that gets restaurants all the products they need. When restaurants are in trouble, we’re in trouble, too.” When the pandemic began making an impact in Utah this spring, Nicholas and Company created task forces to address different issues. One of those issues was an excess of inventory as businesses closed their doors as part of the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. The company worked to offload some products to local retail organizations, including Smith’s and Associated Food Stores, but they wanted to find a way to further help the community. “We saw a lot of help going to feeding front-line workers,” Nicole said. “We noticed that we could create a win-win-win scenario if we helped ourselves, our customers and our community.…We figured that we could take the inventory we needed to donate, we could have our restaurant operators that didn’t have enough work for their workers, we could use their labor to make meals, and get those meals back out to the community.” Nicholas and Company provides food, containers and delivery services, while the restaurant partners donate time and labor to help prepare the meals. Cafe Trio was the first onboard, along with Culinary Crafts, Cuisine Unlimited and Stoneground Kitchen.
The facilities receiving the meals are all over Utah and include acute care centers that were heavily affected by the pandemic, Nicole said. Among the facilities are Rocky Mountain Care facilities, the People’s Health Clinic in Park City, the South Davis Metro Fire Department, Alta Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care, and several others. “It helped us to get products into the community, it helped our customers, and it helped the restaurants helping make the meals,” Nicole said. She said they knew the project would be more sustainable if partnered with a nonprofit organization. One task force member had connections with the Utah Football Foundation, who were looking to do something to help with the crisis as well. “Unfortunately, we’re still in uncertain times,” Nicole said. “We knew that we would only be able to sustain this program for so long with our own donations.” Another way Nicholas and Company innovated during the pandemic is with the direct-to-consumer online market Nicco Marketplace. The public can place orders online then visit the company’s Salt Lake City facility to pick up an assortment of goods, including fresh produce, pantry staples and some non-food essentials. Nicole said that giving back to the community is important because of the “philotimo” philosophy at the heart of the company, which refers to the Greek word meaning “the love of honor” and a duty to improve the world. The mission has grown even more prevalent throughout the coronavirus pandemic. “Regular consumers can help their own communities by supporting local business,” she said. Nicholas and Company is the largest independent food distribution company across the Intermountain West. The company’s Las Vegas facility is part of the Helping Heroes program as well, providing meals through partnerships with local nonprofits to first responders in Las Vegas. l
West Jordan City Journal
Check out local goods at the 2020 Daybreaks Farmers Market
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Libby Allnatt | l.allnatt@mycityjournals.com
Fawn Rueckert, of Sego Lily Flower Farm, displays her fresh flowers July 18 at the Daybreak Farmers Market. (Libby Allnatt/City Journals)
S
aturday mornings are lively on SoDa Row in South Jordan. The Daybreak Farmers Market is back for the summer 2020 season with fresh produce, baked treats and handmade arts and crafts. Laura Gaillard, one of the new directors along with Makayla Robinson, said the market has both returning vendors—who have been attending for the past several years— and new vendors. “There’s such a variety,” she said. “We have fresh produce from a few different vendors. We have baked goods. We have food from different countries—all sorts of arts and crafts, creativity. And we’re getting more every day.” The market is open each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gaillard said the season has been lengthened to go through October. This year, customers might be seeing a lot more face masks, which visitors and vendors are encouraged to wear to help in the fight against COVID-19, more hand sanitizer and less open packaging. Visitors are also encouraged to practice social distancing. When this year’s market kicked off in June, before the open-air market was allowed to fully operate, customers had the option to place orders online for drive-through pick-up. “It was very useful for the duration of time that it lasted,” Gaillard said. Now, visitors can browse the farmer’s market in person in a responsible and safe fashion. “We love people to come and check it out and talk to vendors,” Gaillard said. “It’s fun to learn their stories, what goes into their products, how they came up with them.” Fawn Rueckert, of Sego Lily Flower Farm, has been selling fresh flowers at the market for the past three years. At the stand, visitors can find bouquets of various types (regular or petite), including an arrangement
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in a mason jar. “We have a lot of regulars that come out and support us,” Rueckert said of the market customers. “We’ll have someone who tries our flowers for the first time because they’ve never experienced local flowers and how long they last. They come back for more.” Rueckert said it’s important to support local businesses because you’re making a difference with your dollars. “Every dollar you spend at the farmers market goes to a local family,” she said. “You’re literally helping people pay their bills and support this dream of a business that they’ve had. I love flower farming, but I could not do it unless people were willing to buy my flowers. I’m so grateful people are willing to support local families. It makes an impact on my life.” Gaillard emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and knowing where products are coming from. “We’re helping them and their families and their employees to stay afloat and succeed,” she said. “I really think that ultimately we should all be wanting each other to succeed.” Gaillard said in addition to supporting your neighbors, there’s a quality and uniqueness to many local products that can be difficult to match elsewhere, from one-of-a-kind jewelry to delicious produce. “There’s no limit to creativity,” she said. “To be able to come and see all your different options open to you, I’m in awe of the things that people have come up with, the things they pull out of their imaginations. That should be celebrated.” Visiting a farmer’s market safely can be a way to get out this summer and have an enjoyable outing. “You can get out of the house and into the sun and be social,” Gaillard said. l
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August 2020 | Page 23
Go online to support local performing arts By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
M
onths into a pandemic, when it’s best to limit large gatherings, what are performing arts organizations to do? For the Midvale Arts Council, Quick Wits and the Midvale Main Street Theatre it means creating online content and engaging with audiences in creative ways. “We were given notice that there were guidelines for how to open up, but I just didn’t feel comfortable doing so,” said Tammy Ross, owner of Midvale Main Street Theatre. The Midvale Main Street Theatre had cast one production and was about to begin performances of another when the pandemic reached Utah in March. Both productions, “Company” and “Next to Normal” have been postponed until 2021. In the meantime, to bring in revenue and keep actors engaged, the theatre is preparing to stage its first online production. “We’re trying to figure out how to make it work,” Ross said. “Rehearsing over Zoom calls is quite the adventure. Especially when someone needs to sing harmony, because there’s often a lag.” “Disenchanted! The Stay at Home Version” is about traditional fairytale princesses who aren’t happy with how they are portrayed in their Disney movies. “It’s funny, it’s a little sassy,” Ross said.
“Sleeping Beauty will be hosting her show, and all the sudden Belle will come on and sing her frustration with having to talk to inanimate objects.” “Disenchanted!” was first performed by the Midvale Main Street Theatre in 2019. The three main actors are reprising their roles, though the script has been modified by the playwright, Dennis P. Giacino to fit the online format. The 60-minute performance will be prerecorded and streamed on Aug. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at midvalemainstreettheatre.com. The Midvale Main Street Theatre is also taking donations. “As a for-profit company, a lot of arts grants aren’t available to us,” Ross said. “We’re holding on by our fingernails for the moment. If we wait for the right time, things will work out and we’ll get through this.” The Midvale Arts Council’s programming has also gone online until further notice. “The Midvale Arts Council Board of Directors has had numerous conversations with the Midvale City Council, staff, and mayor centered around keeping our patrons, community, and participants safe,” said Stephanie Johnson, treasurer of the board. “As such, the Midvale Arts facilities and programs won’t be opening
Kevin Walker (left), Verdon Walker and Wade Walker perform in the Midvale Arts Council’s Patriotic Virtual Celebration on July 3. (Screenshot via Midvale Arts Council)
back up until the green phase of reopening for Midvale City. It was a decision that we did not come to lightly but ultimately was the easiest hard decision we have ever made.” Instead, the council has been busy producing a slew of content to entertain anyone in need of a smile. A unique standout is a production of “Macbeth” where volunteers were given a scene to produce in any style they wanted. Some scenes were filmed with actors, while others use toys, puppets and
even text messaging to convey Shakespeare’s famous play. The council’s summer concert series is also available to anyone with an internet connection. “Melanie Beardall was bound and determined to still make something happen,” said Wade Walker. “So she organized a series of virtual concerts—one a month for the summer. While the concerts haven’t burned down the internet with viewers, we hope that it’s
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still a way for the Arts Council to keep people engaged in the arts during the pandemic.” Walker, who is currently serving as president of the Midvale Arts Council Board of Directors, will perform with his brothers, Verdon and Kevin, on Friday, Aug. 7. Normally part of Harvest Days, this year the concert will take place at the Performing Arts Center and the only person in the audience will be operating a webcam. “There’s not a theme per se other than the general idea of let’s forget about the pandemic and think of simpler times,” said Walker. “So we’re doing a medley of old TV theme songs (in honor of all the binge watching people are doing during the pandemic) and singing some of our other standard oldies that people seem to like.” The concert will also include patriotic songs. “We love the freedoms we have here in the U.S. but recognize that not everyone in the country feels the same freedoms we’ve felt,” Walker said. “One of the lyrics we sing from Barry Manilow’s song ‘Let Freedom Ring’ is about passing the dream of freedom along to others until no one’s denied its song. That lyric seems particularly applicable and poignant right now in our country.”
The Walker Brothers have experimented with prerecorded and live streaming events since the pandemic began. “The biggest con is that we don’t have an audience to engage with,” Walker said. “Sing along songs are a little harder to do virtually than in person. One of the pros, however, is that we won’t have to watch our families roll their eyes at us when we share a corny joke.” Quick Wits, Midvale’s professional comedy troupe, has also been providing entertainment on computer screens for audiences at home. Anyone can watch videos of the “2020 Virtual Summer of Fun” for free on the Quick Wits Facebook page. For the experience of watching a live performance, log on at 9 p.m. on Saturdays. The Midvale Arts Council’s Facebook page is also the place to watch their content. Anyone wishing to donate to the council can send payments to admin@midvalearts.com via paypal.com. “Right now with the pandemic we have been so grateful that even though we can’t be together physically, that our community is doing so much to help lift one another emotionally,” said Johnson. “We need to do what we can to take care of each other, especially right now.” l
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Cassidy Ross (left), Alexandria Zinov and Makayla Conner Marriott will reprise their roles as fed-up fairytale princesses in Midvale Main Street Theatre’s virtual production of “Disenchanted! The Stay at Home Version” on Aug. 21 and 22. (Photos courtesy Midvale Main Street Theatre)
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August 2020 | Page 25
Midvale CBC staff and volunteers continue to provide critical care for community By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
T
he Midvale Community Building Community (CBC) clinic provides affordable medical and dental services that are needed now more than ever. But the clinic has come close to closing its doors since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “It was a little scary at the beginning,” said Mauricio Agramont, executive director of Midvale CBC. “We had a tough ethical decision to make. We have to serve our community and at the same time, maintain our volunteer providers’ safety. We made the decision to keep the clinic open with the providers willing to come serve the community.” The University of Utah School of Medicine normally provides medical students and instructors to operate the medical clinic. When they were no longer available, Dr. David Sundwall, a long-time volunteer, offered to run the clinic on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to keep it open. At first, services were limited to prescription refills and follow-up phone calls to established patients. “Everyone still needs medicine refilled, even during a pandemic,” said Agramont. “We were able to help a lot of people who
had no other access to other clinics.” Dr. Cleo Stephanides Cheney offered to provide emergency dental care. “The biggest challenge we faced at the clinic was being able to see patients with limited time, equipment and staff,” Cheney said. “Our main goal at the height of the pandemic was to keep patients out of hospital emergency rooms for dental pain to lessen their exposure to COVID-19 and to decrease the burden on the emergency medical staff.” “She came here every time there was an emergency,” said Agramont. “And our staff had to be here to put charts together. Their commitment to serve the community is remarkable.” During the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff was kept to a minimum to decrease the risk of exposure. Generally, there have been three people running administration, obtaining supplies and scheduling patients. “There were limited types of procedures that we could perform in an effort to limit any respiratory aerosols created by dental drills,” Cheney said. “Because we were limited to emergency treatment only, I offered temporary treatment and extractions
Dental assistant Jose Torres has been assisting community members at the Midvale CBC Clinic throughout the pandemic. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)
until patients could be seen when permission was given to continue elective dental treat-
ment in May.” Patients are screened for COVID-19
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Maria Cala (left) and Mauricio Agramont ensure that the Midvale CBC clinic’s charts are up to date and the entry is stocked with masks and hand sanitizer. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)
symptoms before entering the clinic and are required to wear masks and apply hand sanitizer. All doctors and assistants wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). “We have to use safety equipment at a high rate,” said Agramont. “The physicians and assistants put on gowns and masks, treat the patient, then change the whole ensemble.” At one point the clinic was again on the verge of closing, this time due to lack of protective gear. “Salt Lake County really stepped up and provided the PPE needed to continue the clinics,” said Agramont. “Without their help, we would have ended services in May.” Cheney was also able to donate N-95 masks from her private practice. “I feel so lucky to be able to volunteer at the Midvale CBC and be of service to the wonderful people who really need treatment,” Cheney said. “At this time, I am the only dentist who provides care for patients on Fridays. We have a very long patient waitlist. To continue to serve our Midvale community, we need more volunteer dentists and more resources.” Other challenges have kept Agramont on his toes. The usual cleaning crew quit once the pandemic hit, so the clinic hired people from the community. “They weren’t planning on working, but they stepped in because I needed someone to clean the clinic,” said Agramont. “If that piece doesn’t fall into place, the whole operation falls apart. From the most basic tasks to the most difficult, everyone stepped up to the plate.” Eventually, the medical and dental clinics, located at 49 W. Center St., opened back up for non-emergency care. The hours vary, so the best way to make an appointment is to call 801-574-6172. That number will also connect community members to resources
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and education about COVID-19. “We’re educating our families in respect of the symptoms and learning what to do if they’re exposed to someone who is positive (for COVID-19),” Agramont said. “What is quarantine, what do you do during the time after testing but before you get the results? Community workers are answering all these questions.” Midvale CBC is one of several organizations being funded to do this work by the Office of Health Disparities Reduction at the Utah Department of Health. Other key funders that keep the clinic running include the Making A Difference Foundation, the United Way and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “So many people are stepping up to help others and doing more than they usually do,” said Agramont. “That teamwork kept the clinic working. I don’t think I’ve ever worked harder than I have these last three months. And the work is just starting. We have these people’s health in our hands. It’s a big responsibility that we take seriously.” l
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Dental assistant Jose Torres prepares a set of dentures at the Midvale CBC Clinic in July. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)
August 2020 | Page 27
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers helping test underserved populations By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
T
here are many unsung heroes that have gone unrecognized during COVID-19 and the volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps are one of the greatest kept secrets. Every day the volunteers are out testing underserved populations, making sure that a drive-up test is accessible to anyone that needs it. Aaron Smith volunteers 60 to 80 hours a week, dedicating all of his time to helping make sure that the community stays healthy. “I began volunteering as much as I could because there was just school or nothing else, because everything was just closed down. Helping with quarantine, helping with the isolation centers, and helping with one of our big projects which is mobile testing, especially for hotspots or large community sites.” Eventually Smith was hired on for a fulltime role with the organization. Smith, who plans to become a doctor attributes his desire to get involved with the passion that he has for helping people get the care that they need. “One single thing can really just change the whole trajectory of where you think you are going to be going for post-grad,” Smith recounted. “My original plan was to be applying for medical school right now, but due to the pandemic happening, it was a little bit
harder to really pull everything together, I decided to apply next cycle.” “It wasn’t really just because it was hard to pull everything together, there was an actual demand for medical help right now, and I felt like if I immediately went into medical school, I would spend all my time just studying and growing that way, but I would always just have this feeling that I could have helped, but I didn’t,” Smith added. “So, I decided just to prolong my application until next year so I could spend this year fully dedicated and giving back to my community and just helping out with this effort as best as I can.” Smith approaches the opportunity to constantly be testing as his own personal calling and will sometimes wake up as early as 4 a.m. with the excitement that comes from working with his team of like-minded people who love working in the medical field. There is never a typical day with the Medical Reserve Corps, and Aaron’s job involves many responsibilities. As the test team lead, Smith oversees and coordinates plans, trains team members and works with other leaders to onboard new staff. During times that Smith is not coordinating with members of the logistics team to plan for future testing, his team will spend a
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
Page 28 | August 2020
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
lot of time on the ground doing mobile hotspot testing. The team will go to specific communities that are underserved or they believe are at greater risk to get COVID-19. They go to a centralized area of the community to advertise with flyers and through conversation that they are going to be testing at a designated time and area. Patients do not have to pre-register for testing and are able to drive up to the location with nobody getting turned away. The group is able to test at least one person every minute with the number often being higher. Overall, hundreds of people are tested for COVID-19 during every testing session that might not otherwise get a test. “We try to differentiate ourselves, because
if you want to get tested through the county you do not need a doctor’s note, you do not need to prove that you were in contact with somebody that was COVID positive, you don’t even have to be symptomatic,” Smith explained. “We test everyone that comes to our site. It’s free of charge. No insurance information needed, no copay- it’s completely free.” The team will have a schedule for what testing will look like for the week and are able to prepare in advance to set up the site. They figure out what the traffic flow will be like, arrange a plan for advertising and staff that will work based off a projection of how many people they plan to be tested. On the day that people come to be tested they will drive up in their cars, register, and
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
West Jordan City Journal
answer a set of epidemiology questions before they are tested. Smith realizes that testing people for COVID is an essential way towards stopping its spread. “At a time when there may be asymptomatic cases, I believe that it’s one of the
most important things to know who actually has it and who doesn’t,” Smith summarized. The Medical Reserve Corps is a federal volunteer program that was created after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to provide the infrastructure for those who want to help serve their local community. The corps is activated
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
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for those who want to participate. Volunteers can help with set up, registration, flagging traffic flow, and testing. To volunteer with the corps email mrc@slco.org and mention Aaron Smith in the email. You do not need medical experience to volunteer with the corps. l
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Take It Outside
Life
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For the last five months, we’ve been locked up with our families for 17 years. Each day is another long, hot trek to bedtime. Parents break their brains thinking up creative ways to entertain their kids during this “summer vacation” that started in March and threatens to continue through fall. The phrase “Families Can Be Together Forever” is now a terrifying prophecy. Here’s what we’ve learned: Sometimes video games ARE the answer. Celebrities share Tik Tok videos about being “stranded” in their $6.5 million log cabins where everyone has their own TV, floor, masseuse, trampoline and personal chef. I’m not belittling their suffering, I’m just . . . well, I guess I am. For common folk, trampolines are as hard to find as Lysol wipes. Puzzles, board games and sidewalk chalk are valuable commodities on the black market (along with livers, since we’ve been day- drinking for
months). Everyone is heading outside to escape. Extended families stretch the “No large gathering” rules to the max because COVID wouldn’t ruin the annual family reunion, right? Lakes, canyons, national parks and camp sites are packed with people who thought they were the only ones who needed a break from looking at the same dirty carpeting for one more day. I’ve been on several hikes this summer, sometimes with the puppy, sometimes with the grandkids. Not necessarily relaxing, but at least we take the fight to a different location. My latest hike was tackling Bell’s Canyon with my daughter and three of my grandkids, including a 3- and 4-year-old. If that sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel, you are correct. Before we even started up the trail the complaining began. “I’m so hot.” “The trail is too steep.”
“The dirt is too dirty.” “I’m so thirsty.” My daughter told me to shut up and set a better example, but it was too late. The littles were soon echoing my whines at super-high decibel levels. I ended up confiscating water bottles after a good portion was dumped onto the trail to make mud. I explained to the toddlers what happens when you dehydrate. They didn’t care. It took roughly five days to make our way to the reservoir where the kids splashed in the cool water, tossed wet sand at each other, threw crackers at the ducks, slipped on the rocks and screamed at the dragonflies. I considered calling in a rescue helicopter, figuring the expense was worth not having to walk back down the trail. Instead, we bribed the kids with McDonald’s, promising processed chicken parts if they’d walk faster than a drugged porcupine. We made it back to the car exhausted, sunburned and
grumpy – just like a normal summer hike! Backyards are also being used to their fullest. Our luxurious backyard pool (a 6’ wading pool from Walmart) is usually a weird shade of green and full of dead bugs, but that doesn’t stop us from soaking in the probably dangerous water, eating popsicles. If I don’t get sick from COVID, malaria might be another option. The grandkids set up a tent a couple of weeks ago, hoping to have a backyard campout. They roasted marshmallows over the grill and climbed into their sleeping bags only to be shaken awake two hours later by a microburst that threatened to carry them to Oz. Everyone was safe, but traumatized, which seems to be the status quo in these crazy times. Returning to school is the big debate right now, followed by what should be a strange Halloween and holiday season. Sure makes eternity feel like a really long time. l
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August 2020 | Page 31
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