October 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 10
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West Jordan
9/11 Project
WitchFest
Inside look at the cackling hosts
Page 5
5,000 students were invited to immersive exhibit
Page 9
West Jordan water tank mural honors water as the source of life By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Muralist Beto Conejo titled his work, “Vida Del Valle.”
U
sing vibrant flowers, bright colors, intricate designs and intricate details, muralist Beto Conejo finished painting the water tank at 3465 W. 9000 South as part of West Jordan’s public art investment. The mural near the Salt Lake Community College’s Jordan campus was unveiled at the end of August. The project was a partnership between the City of West Jordan and SLCC to represent water as a source of life and protection, and to encourage appreciation for water and conservation in the future. Conejo, an international muralist, human rights advocate, SLCC grad and creator of the Utah Day of the Dead Festival, titled the art piece “Vida Del Valle” or “Life of the Valley” to demonstrate our relationship with water. “We have a past, a present and a future worth fighting for, and protecting our water is the root of it all because water is life,” Conejo said. “Water protectors know this. The flowers blooming before and after are the things that inspire us to protect water and the things that will continue to inspire us to protect that source of life, even as the life forms change through time.” SLCC sponsored and paid for the mural, which is part of a citywide effort to introduce new artwork and creative outlets throughout West Jordan.
The water tank at 3465 W. 9000 South features a mural painted by artist Beto Conejo. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
While familiar with painting on tall, flat surfaces, Conejo Conejo painted his first work of public art (a fire hydrant) said creating a mural on a curved canvas created an artistic when he was a third-grade student at Woodrow Wilson Eleopportunity to do something different. mentary. He recently participated in the South Salt Lake “Executing these precise geometric shapes across a tow- Mural Fest, where he apprenticed with Mississippi artist ering, curved cylinder on uneven ground was a new challenge Continued on page 5 for me,” he said.
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COMMON GROUND
A Vote of Confidence
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?
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Peri Kinder
Common Ground
Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.
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The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it
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sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.
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West Jordan City Journal
Gardner Village WitchFest: An inside look behind the spellbinding scenes and cackling hosts When the witches fly at Gardner Village, visitors come from every corner of the United States for a chance to dance, dine and mingle with these bewitching, green-faced ladies. Creative designers Keri Taylor and Jami Christensen shared a minute out of their busy schedules to reveal how the magic begins.
Taylor now makes the witches’ faces from sculpted Styrofoam and also carves the eyes and noses. The basic form of the witches is then created and welded together. After the bodies are assembled, Taylor and her sister, Jami Christiensen, custom-make all the clothes, with an exception this year, when they squeezed a large farm gal who had flown in on her broom from Kansas into a pair of store-bought size 52 overalls. “Most years, the witches get redressed,” Taylor said. “Jami is great at coming up with the main ideas, and then we make and hand-sew the clothing onto the witches.”
For years, Lucinda the Gardner Village witch has enchanted promotional media with her charm. She is the creative person behind the live Gardner Village witches often seen strolling and cackling throughout the village. “Lucinda used to be a hostess at Archibald’s,” Johns said. “She just worked at the restaurant as a little job when her kids were at school. Someone at the restaurant called me and told me I needed to hear her “witch cackle.” I ran over to the restaurant, and after a brief audition, I hired her immediately for a live village witch.” Generations of families have enjoyed visiting WitchFest every year. Among the familiar sights and traditions, one witch in the village is set up as a photo-op place. Lucille sits on a park bench with her arm resting across the back of it. Guests mark the growth of their children every year by having them cozy up to her for a photo. Beginning in 2011, Tara Bowcut started photographing her son with the witch when he was just a toddler. She comments on the Gardner Village Facebook page, “This witch is my son’s favorite! We’ve taken a picture with her every year!” Each village store centers around spellbinding witch vignettes and offers all kinds of tricks, treats, potions and pointy Halloween hats for little witches needing a new one. Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. Take advantage of free entry to the Big Splash Competition, where each year witch Pamela Anderson— affectionately named by her creators—shows off her Olympic-worthy diving form as she plunges into the village pond. Practical pest control gardening tips, like how to ‘whomp’ tarantulas with a broom, are always available from witch Turnip, who can be found bustling around tending her garden throughout the festival. These magical happenings are just a small part of what draws an ever-growing crowd to the village each fall. WitchFest has grown in popularity, attracting guests from all over Utah and the U.S.—some even booking flights around the scheduled time of their favorite events. Admission is free to the public, except for a $10 per-car fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, which covers the parking lot service hired to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who visit, as well as common-area maintenance and cleaning crews. A late morning walk through the village in the fall is filled with enchantment. Make sure to stop in for a bowl of Archibald’s butternut squash soup or a slice of their famous seasonal pumpkin pie cake. If a live witch or two happen to pull up a chair at your table, which is quite possible, smile and snap some photos for an album soon to be filled with magical mischief, making your friends green with envy. WitchFest 2026 at Gardner Village takes place from Friday, Sept. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 31. For event schedules and details, visit https://www.gardnervillage.com/witch-fest.l
James Walton, program manager of SLCC’s galleries and art, said SLCC finds it important to have public spaces dedicated to sharing art. “Art prompts people to slow down, reflect and wonder,” Walton said. “There is often a story there for all of us, as there is in this mural so full of gorgeous colors, reminding us of the importance of water in making our state a sustainable place to live.” Local officials and elected leaders were on hand at
the unveiling of the mural covering the side of the 3-million-gallon water tank. The art is intended to celebrate residents’ connection to water, community and the generations who will call the city home. “West Jordan residents love West Jordan,” said West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton. “West Jordan residents love art. Bringing these loves together with a mural painted by Salt Lake Community College helps make West Jordan fantastic.” l
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
F
or many years, WitchFest has cast its spell over Gardner Village. It begins with an unusual mid-September breeze from the east stirring the village with the first hints of the witching season. The crisp air, tinged with the scent of fall and something mysterious, carries a faint cackle of laughter drifting on the wind, hinting that magic is on the move. Swirls of capes and shivers of mischief can be seen and heard as brooms swoop down into the village. Long before WitchFest became the village’s signature celebration, Gardner Village hosted another autumn tradition. The village began hosting the Scarecrow Festival in the early 1990s to benefit the Utah Boys Ranch. The event grew so successful that the village could no longer accommodate it. “In 2000, we knew we would lose the festival because it became too big for our location and available manpower,” village Marketing Director Marcia Johns said. As they went their separate ways, the village generously gave the event’s trademark name and the festival’s core traditional format to the Utah Boys Ranch. Yet one pressing question lingered: What would happen when hundreds of visitors arrived at the village during the UEA weekend, as it was formerly known, anticipating the excitement and enjoyment of the Scarecrow Festival? In the midst of a routine business meeting, only weeks before the Scarecrow Festival was scheduled to occur, village co-owner Joe Long sparked an idea: “Let’s do witches,” he suggested. Then added, “What if we do an event called Witches Night Out? He looked across the table at Marcia and said, “You be in charge.” And with that, WitchFest was officially created. “The first year of Witches Night Out we hired a DJ and played music and gave away $100 gift certificates the night of the event,” Johns said. “The second year, 2001, is the year we decided to add the witch displays. The original creator, freelance designer Becky Hogan, was tasked with creating larger-than-life witches. The first year we displayed 10 witches with some even being motorized.” The village worked with David Breitenbeker of Design Werks, a local firm specializing in special effects and designs, to create the faces. According to Johns, village designer Keri
continued from front page Birdcap, painting a wall at that same school. He also created the mural “Follow the North Star” at 220 E. Morris Ave. near South Salt Lake City Hall. Born in Mexico and raised in South Salt Lake, Conejo wants his work to bridge cultures through his bold designs, bright colors and layered symbolism.
WestJordanJournal.com
Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
October 2026 | Page 5
Afterschool encore
Once the school day is over, students have additional opportunities to develop and learn new skills. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
O
nce the final bell of the day rings at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy, the learning is only just beginning. In classrooms throughout the building, kids are playing “Baby Shark” on the piano, practicing the fundamentals of volleyball, making paper terrariums for paper pets and earning Girl Scouts badges. About two-thirds of the students participate in Majestic’s robust afterschool program made possible by Ron McBridge funding. “It is for kids that really want to go deeper with that type of activity,” Climate and Cultural Specialist Linzi Pettey said. Some of the afterschool activities are taught by staff members, like band and art, but the piano program is run by U of U graduate students through the University Piano Outreach Program. U POP Director Laura Strobell said the program has numerous benefits for students. “Our goals are to equalize education by giving kids those capacities academically, artistically and socially,” Strobell said. She said artistic expression is developmental as
A Majestic Elementary Arts Academy student practices piano in the U POP afterschool program. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)
students learn to perform and connect with their community and also bolsters their academic skills. “We believe it makes them better thinkers. It improves grades,” she said. Stephanie Clancy has noticed her son Boston’s confidence grow with his participation in U POP for the past few years. He has also become more dedicated to learning music and practicing his piano and bass. “He didn’t like to play the piano at home before he started this program, but
after this program, he plays it without me,” Clancy said. Many students would not have the opportunity to be in piano lessons without the afterschool program, Pettey said. It is a free, group lesson which takes place at the school on instruments the parents don’t have to buy. Similarly, the afterschool fitness class teaches students the fundamentals of a variety of sports, without the costs, time and travel demands of a community or competitive sports team.
Pettey said the afterschool classes provide a safe and familiar place for kids to explore something new. “I think some of these kids, they don’t think they can do hard things,” Pettey said. “Kids get frustrated when they try something new so this is a way for them to have a safe place to try something out, get good at it and then transfer those to recess or other activities.” Art Teacher Loran Ross loves teaching the afterschool art classes in which the projects are inspired by students’ interests. “During the school day I’m tied to integrating grade-level curriculum standards, so the afterschool program gave us more freedom to let student curiosity lead the way,” Ross said. “Students normally enjoy art, but they really light up when they’re learning about something that genuinely interests them. I love that the program gives students a chance to see that art can connect to almost anything they’re interested in while giving them more time to explore their creativity and feel successful.” Another benefit of the program is that students develop and practice social skills interacting with kids from different classes and grades in an informal environment. “It’s just been fun to see the camaraderie and the acceptance and them helping one another,” Pettey said.l
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West Jordan City Journal
Former educator and tech enthusiast had the ideal experience and skills to build a comprehensive education app.
If you can’t find one, build one
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
A
s a father of four children who are navigating their education through the lens of dyslexia, ADHD, autism and/or executive function struggles, Eric Price has always looked for ways to make things easier for them. But no matter what he found, his kids still struggled, especially his eighth grade son. “In today’s world, there has to be a better way to support kids who are struggling—not to replace their teachers or their schools, but to give them a little extra support when and where they need it,” Price wrote on a recent social media post. “I started looking for something that could do that for him. I couldn’t find what I was looking for. So I decided to build it.” Price has the unique background and experience which makes him up for the challenge of creating an educational tool. He has 20 years experience as an educator, administrator and coach. He earned an education in technology certificate, an advanced degree in Education Leadership and a Utah Middle Level Association Principal of the Year award. He was also an enthusiastic early adopter of AI in education.
WestJordanJournal.com
Eric Price’s son uses Class Coach, the app/ website his dad created to help students organize their schoolwork. (Photo courtesy Eric Price)
As a middle school principal, he provided access to digital tools to help students. He encouraged his teachers to utilize AI technology in their lesson development. But as a parent, he still struggled to help his kids. “It’s tricky to be a parent these days, we always say there’s not a playbook,” Price said. “So it’s like, ‘How can we provide tools to maybe make this a little bit easier and maybe end a few arguments here and there?’” Secondary school has been challenging
for his son who is learning through the lens of ADHD and dyslexia. Each of his seven teachers run their classroom a little differently, and they switch between digital and paper assignments which made it difficult for him to keep track of. “I know teachers are trying really hard and they care, but they’re human as well,” Price said. “They only have so much time in the day, and they only have so many abilities to work with kids.” One particularly frustrating day last year, Price pressed his son to tell him what would help him. “He said, ‘I wish there was something that could just help me when I was struggling’ and I said, ‘Well, maybe we could build something like that,’” Price said. Price immediately began developing a solution. “I was really concerned, especially because eighth grade was such a struggle, so it’s like we have to do something going into ninth grade so that we don’t start him off on the wrong foot,” he said. The solution Price developed was Class Coach, a website/app which streamlines a student’s day and keeps everything organized in one place. Features include calendars, reminders, checklists, virtual binders, and study tools--all of which are customizable. “The objective is to provide consistency for an inconsistent education system,” Price said. “Let’s give him something consistent
that he can go to when he’s trying to figure out what he needs to do next.” Class Coach is designed to loop in parents and teachers so they can be on the same page to support the student. Parents can see the daily checklist and receive class summaries. There’s also a feature to help keep the lines of communication open with a regular check-in with the teacher via email. Because of policies limiting cellphones during class time, Price intentionally built Class Coach as a website first, and most of the features work on school Chromebooks. The AI tools have strictly defined parameters to protect students and educational integrity, and ultimately parents can control access. All of Price’s children, ranging from seventh grade to college, are using parts of the app this school year. “Originally it was designed to support kids wherever they’re at,” Price said. “If they need extra support with reading, it’s there. If they don’t, they can use the to-do lists, or the calendars or use the connections to their learning management system.” Price’s seventh grader uses the morning checklist feature. “He does it every day, making it a whole lot easier to get ready for school than the old days of ‘Hey, get ready,’ and he’s like, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ so this makes it a lot easier.” Get more info at classcoach.on-forge. com and on Facebook.l
October 2026 | Page 7
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West Jordan City Journal
Catching a glimpse of 9/11 history A highly visual and immersive exhibit helps kids understand 9/11 a bit more. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
H
ow do you help children understand an event that took place before they were born but has impacted their lives more than they know? This is a challenge educators face each September 11. “It’s important to give honor and respect to the American people,” Hayden Peak Elementary Fourth-grade teacher Gretchen Manaugh said. “Obviously, there’s the focus of our country being attacked, but what came out of that was how amazing individual Americans chose to be, and I think what that teaches about who we choose to be when things are difficult and how our country came together is really important.” Each fall, teachers are encouraged to teach about the events and impact of 9/11 although it is not required as it is in some states. They talk about it, read age-appropriate books about it and encourage students to ask their parents about it. This year, 5,000 students from Jordan School District were invited to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of that day and get a glimpse of its impact on America with a tour of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation 9/11 Project, which was held in South Jordan Sept. 10-14. Manaugh was impressed with the 9/11 exhibit which added another layer of awareness and comprehension for her students as they walked through it on a field trip. “Anytime they see things that they have read about or talked about, it’s just going to make it more real,” she said. Students made connections as they took in the pictures on every wall showing the timeline of events, and video clips providing insight into the various aspects and perspectives. “Students recognized pictures and they knew what different things were from us having spoken about it,” Manaugh said. “They recognized things. Several of them pointed things out-- ‘Oh, we talked about that!’ So it definitely made an impact.” The 90 Hayden Peak fourth-grade students were joined by hundreds of other students on the first of the five day event. (Hayden Peak sixth grade classes went on the final day.) Because of the crowds, they didn’t get the chance to speak to the three New Yorkers who were there to share their experiences and answer questions. However, Manaugh said everything the students saw and were able to do was “beautiful,” “amazing” and “incredibly powerful.” Local high school students were involved in the project as well. Teenagers in the construction trades program at Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers
WestJordanJournal.com
Surrounded by visuals depicting the events of 9/11, students make connections to what they’ve been taught about the event and its impact. (Kraig Williams/JSD)
built the walls for the exhibit, a total of about 400. Bingham High School Madrigals performed the National Anthem at the exhibit’s opening. Seeing all the work put into the displays emphasized to the students how important remembering 9/11 is for Americans, said Manaugh. Most of all she wanted students to honor and respect those who died and to appreciate the community members and first responders who helped and continue to step up and protect people. Students were able to interact with representatives of
local police and fire departments and their vehicles in an outdoor Touch-A-truck section of the exhibit. Manaugh believes it’s important that younger generations understand the impact of 9/11. “It changed our country, it changed the world, and I think it’s great to make it come alive for generations coming up that weren’t around,” she said. “It’s like I told Elementary school students talk with 9/11 first my class: ‘You were born in a world that responder NYPD Sergeant Scott Zink. (Kraig was changed from what happened, and Williams/JSD) everything’s different.’” l
October 2026 | Page 9
Fifth grade teacher intern has worked to build a welcoming and efficient classroom with help from her facilitator. (Photo courtesy Sophie Fry)
Teacher intern Sophie Fry (at left) receives full time support from her facilitator Bailey Ritchie (at right.) (Photo courtesy Sophie Fry)
The internal workings of a teaching internship Intern is earning top grades from her mentor as she learns to grade her own students. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
S
ophie Fry has only been a school teacher since August and she’s loving it. “Teaching has been so much more rewarding than expected,” she said. “Seeing students grow even in just this short time has really opened my eyes to how grateful I am
that I get to be in a position to teach.” Fry is one of 12 lucky BYU McKay School of Education students working as an intern teacher in Jordan District Elementary Schools this year, where they have a three level support system to help them be successful. “It’s a really robust support system for these brand new teachers coming in while they’re actually still in college,” JSD/BYU Internship Liaison Shauna Worthington said. “As an intern, they get a full year of teaching experience before they even graduate, so it’s
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a really cool opportunity for them.” A facilitator is assigned to each intern to help with classroom management, transitions, communication with parents and to model teaching. The facilitators and liaison also prepare the interns to secure full time employment once the internship is over. “They’ve made sure that every step is thought through, and that I’m always going to be prepared for what’s coming,” Fry said. Before the school year began, facilitator Bailey Ritchie helped Fry set up her classroom and plan classroom routines and initial lessons. “I’ve been working with Bailey to plan everything and to just think of procedures and rules that will help the classroom flow,” Fry said. “It’s just a lot of preparation that you don’t think about.” Once the school year began, they worked together to navigate planning, pacing and adapting lessons. “It has been so amazing to have someone with so much experience at my right hand,” Fry said. Ritchie said the new teacher is settling in well. “She is already setting and working on goals to improve her teaching practices,” she said. “Her classroom is a warm, inviting space, and she is working hard to make connections with her students and families by
sending home newsletters and positive notes.” For the first part of the school year, the facilitator works as a team teacher with the intern but they gradually decrease direct support. Fry is grateful that she has been able to ease into the job. “So towards December, I’ll be mostly doing everything by myself,” Fry said. Facilitators are available all year to help the interns, giving extra support during testing weeks, changes in routines and time management challenges. Jordan District schools have both teacher interns and student teachers. Student teaching is an unpaid, short-term position teaching in another teacher’s classroom. An internship is full time work for the whole school year. Interns have their own class and earn a half-salary and full benefits, and the year they work counts toward JSD retirement. Ritchie said the best benefit of intern teaching is gaining an entire year of classroom experience with full time support from a dedicated mentor. Worthington, who was previously a principal in Jordan School District, said she used to hire interns to fill teaching positions in her schools. “I know they’ve been well prepared because they’ve had a lot of really intensive coaching,” Worthington said. l
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West Jordan City Journal
These superintendents have their own ‘School of Rock’
The Superintendents of Rock+ are finding friendship, community and fun through music and members are ready to take their show to the next invitation By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
S
chool superintendents aren’t usually known for shredding guitars, but Anthony Godfrey is happy to change that. Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey joined the Superintendents of Rock+, which recently performed at a new districtwide teacher training at Bingham High School, trading the usual superintendent duties for a guitar, a microphone and a chance to make music with friends. Godfrey first picked up the guitar while he was teaching and has been playing ever since. “I love music so I started taking lessons when I started teaching years ago and I’ve played since then,” he said. “I haven’t gotten any better, but I have kept playing.” The band itself has been around for more than a decade. After it stopped around COVID-19, it was reformed with new members, including Godfrey. Today the “+” in Superintendents of Rock+ is important because the group isn’t limited to superintendents. “We like to involve family members,” Godfrey explained, adding it makes the group feel less like a bunch of busy school administrators and more like a musical family. Godfrey’s son, Thomas, a Bingham High senior, plays drums. Juab Superintendent Kodey Hughes is part of the group alongside his wife, Jodie, a teacher who plays piano. Former Box Elder Superintendent Steve Carlsen performs as does his son, Kip, also an educator, and his grandson, Dylan. Greg Thornock, Tintic School District superintendent, rounds out the group. Getting everyone together isn’t easy, but they make it
Superintendents of Rock+ recently performed at a new districtwide teacher training at Bingham High School, and regularly have performed at other events around Utah. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
happen. “We have to plan to get everybody together, but we make it a priority,” Godfrey said. Sometimes that means combining practices with family gatherings. Recently, Godfrey hosted band members and their families for a cookout – and rehearsal. Godfrey believes it’s a good mix as music is about connection. He believes music has an important place in schools and communities. The band regularly performs at school events, teacher celebrations, fundraisers, conferences and community events. They’ve played locally and across Utah and enjoy being part of the events rather than the headliner. “Our favorite performances are where they’re doing something else at the same time so we’re the background music,” Godfrey said. “So if they’re walking around at the fall family fair or if they’re eating and we play a song that resonates with them, they sit up and say, ‘Oh yeah, I like this one. I know it’ and we see them following along.”
Lena Johnson, a new Jordan District teacher who was eating her lunch while the group performed, appreciated seeing the lighter side of her superintendent. “You don’t always get to see that side of your superintendent,” she said. “It was fun to see him cut loose and let his hair down.” The band mixes generations. Their repertoire includes Elvis’ “Don’t Be Cruel” to classic rock favorites to newer songs such as One Direction’s “Best Song Ever.” “We span 60 years of popular music,” said Godfrey, who frequently is seen enjoying concerts from Stray Cats to They Might Be Giants. The group’s relaxed approach is part of its appeal for this group of educators. Godfrey keeps a cheat sheet nearby — not because he doesn’t know the words, but because it gives him confidence on stage if he forgets a chord. “Getting some help is what education is all about,” he said. If an invitation ever comes to take the Superintendents of Rock+ beyond Utah, even to the national stage, they’re ready to consider it. “We’d love to if the logistics can be worked out,” Godfrey said. Toward the end of the performance, Bingham student leaders were dancing to the beat. “I’m loving the music,” said studentbody officer and junior Daniel Linde. “It brings a great atmosphere and we’re able to see a different face of the superintendent and connect with him.” When asked for an encore at the performance, the band politely declined. “This way, we leave you wanting more,” Godfrey explained to the crowd. “By calling it Superintendents of Rock+, we lower expectations. So, if we can pull it off, we’re exceeding expectations.”l
Hilltop Gospel Choir Fifth Annual Gospel Music Workshop Gospel Music Workshop with Guest Clinician Reginald Golden Sandy, Utah—September 2026— Registration is now open for the Fifth Annual Gospel Music Workshop hosted by Hilltop Gospel Choir, taking place October 9–11, 2026, at Hilltop United Methodist Church in Sandy, Utah. This year’s featured clinician is REGINALD GOLDEN, acclaimed conductor of the internationally renowned Howard Gospel Choir and an experienced vocalist, educator, and workshop leader. Golden has led performances and masterclasses around the world and has collaborated with celebrated artists including Yolanda Adams, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Sounds of Blackness. He has also performed at the White House and served as a cultural ambassador through international gospel tours.
This workshop is an amazing and unique opportunity for community members of all backgrounds and musical ability to experience the profound beauty and joy of Gospel and African American sacred music. During the workshop, participants will develop and expand on their musical skills, but also find connection, healing, and peace through singing and shared purpose. Whether you are an experienced singer or participating in a choir for the first time, this workshop offers an inviting and uplifting environment where each person and voice is valued and celebrated.
What: Gospel Music Workshop hosted by Hilltop Gospel Choir When: Friday, October 9, 2026 6:30–9:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2026 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (lunch provided) Sunday, October 11, 2026 Worship Service | 10:30 a.m. Sunday October 11, 2026 Concert | 5:00 p.m. Where: Hilltop United Methodist Church 985 E. 10600 S. Sandy, UT 84094 Register: hilltopgospelchoir.org/ gospel-music-workshop/ More Information: info@hilltopgospelchoir.org 801.571.5777 SPONSORED CONTENT
WestJordanJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 11
KID’s 10-year-old water tank changed the game
New construction elements created a more efficient tank. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
K
earns Improvement District recently celebrated a milestone: the 10th anniversary of the completion of a 5-million-gallon (5 MG) water tank that paved the way for future growth. Located at 5350 W. 5400 South, near the KID offices, the original concrete tank, complete with a wooden roof, was a remnant of the World War II era and served Camp Kearns around 1942. Replacing the tank meant rethinking how it could maximize capacity while working within the constraints of the existing facility. “It was quite a large tank and we still had to keep the business open, but situate the tank so that it fit back there in the corner,” said KID General Manager/CEO Greg Anderson. “In some places on the site, there was only five feet of separation between the fence and this large tank.” The 2016 water tank project was done through Gerber Construction, with Structural Technologies providing the design that used post-tensioning systems and reinforcing steel for the tank.
Kearns Improvement District celebrates a decade of growth that began with the 2016 water tank project at 5350 W. 5400 South. (Photo courtesy of KID)
The project replaced two tanks at the location: a 1 MG and a 2 MG, utilizing tendon technology that reduced the amount of concrete used and eliminated cracks to prevent leaks. Structural engineers had to get creative when placing the tank that measured 192 feet in diameter and 24 feet deep. It worked so well that all new KID
water tanks have used the same technology. Over the next 10 years, KID plans to build four new tanks, with two of those being 5 MG tanks. Locations for those tanks include two near Mountain View Corridor (one at 6200 South and the other at 5400 South). “That is in anticipation of the growth we’re experiencing out on the west side,”
Anderson said. “[The design] actually saves the district money because it uses less concrete. So it’s cheaper to build and the crackfree aspect of it has been great.” Aging infrastructure is another ongoing challenge for the water district. KID replaced the original 16-inch steel line that was used to supply water to Camp Kearns from the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, with a 30-inch water line to address increased capacity. The district serves more than 60,000 people across Kearns as well as areas in West Valley, West Jordan, and a small part of Taylorsville. Anderson said KID aims to provide high-quality water despite economic and supply challenges. He said KID is always looking for grants and federal funding to help reduce the costs of these projects while providing residents on the west side of the valley with the “highest quality of water they can get.” He said it’s an honor to serve the community by providing safe drinking water and sewer services. “There are a lot of obstacles that we’re facing with additional tariffs and with additional costs that seem to escalate,” he said. “We recognize how difficult that is on our customers. We try and absorb as much of that as we can, but we are striving to make sure that we are providing the best value that they can get.” l
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West Jordan City Journal
Could your home be exposing your child to lead? Children can look healthy while lead poisoning quietly causes harm. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
A
s public health agencies prepare for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this fall, Salt Lake County health officials are reminding parents that childhood lead exposure can be difficult to detect and may come from more sources than many families realize. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be observed Oct. 25-31 with the 2026 theme “Keep Kids Safe from Lead.” The annual campaign, coordinated nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, emphasizes learning about potential lead hazards, testing children who may have been exposed and identifying lead sources in homes. The issue has particular relevance in Salt Lake County because of the age of some of its housing stock. According to Gabriel Moreno, partnerships manager with the Salt Lake County Health Department, more than 30% of homes in the county were constructed before the federal
government banned consumer use of leadbased paint in 1978. “Many parents assume they’d know if their child had been exposed to lead,” Moreno said. “In reality, kids can look healthy, active and happy while lead quietly affects their learning, behavior and development.” That concern is consistent with CDC guidance. Most children with lead in their blood do not show obvious immediate symptoms, and a blood test is the best way to determine whether exposure has occurred. The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels have been associated with developmental delays and difficulties with learning, attention and behavior. Older paint remains a well-known potential source, particularly when it deteriorates into chips or dust. However, exposure can also occur through contaminated soil, some plumbing and water fixtures, certain toys and consumer products, and dust created during renovations. Lead can also enter a home indirectly. People working in occupations involving lead can carry contaminated dust home on clothing, shoes, tools or other items. Moreno said jobs such as construction, auto repair and plumbing may present potential
exposure risks. Because symptoms alone are not a reliable indicator, health officials encourage parents who believe their children may be at risk to discuss blood lead testing with a health care provider. “A blood test is the only way to know for sure, and right now, too few children in our community are getting tested,” Moreno said. Medicaid covers blood lead testing for enrolled children, and many private insurance plans also cover testing. Salt Lake County offers free testing to qualifying families. Testing is only part of the county’s prevention effort. When lead is detected in a child’s blood, the Salt Lake County Health Department’s Lead Home Visiting Program can help families identify possible sources and determine ways to reduce further exposure. Qualifying households may also receive assistance through the county’s Lead Safe Housing Program to address lead hazards. The goal, health officials emphasize, is to identify risks before they cause further harm. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week encourages families to learn about lead hazards in their surroundings, consider whether their children should receive a blood lead test and determine whether older homes may contain lead hazards.
Salt Lake County wants families to consider their risk of lead exposure. (Photo courtesy of the CDC)
Salt Lake County residents with questions about testing or lead exposure can call or text the county’s Lead Poisoning Prevention line at 801-382-8877.l
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October 2026 | Page 13
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West Jordan City Journal
Students celebrate friendship at Unified Sports Day For Jordan School District’s Unified Sports Day’s student-athletes, the biggest victory may have been crossing the finish line together By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
O
n a field filled with cheers, high-fives and encouragement, Jordan School District students celebrated something bigger than sports: friendship and belonging. Elementary special education students joined their general education peer partners for a day of running, throwing, jumping, cheering and spending time together. The annual event gave students an opportunity to showcase their abilities while surrounded by classmates who encouraged them every step of the way. After each event, athletes received a silicone bracelet with words such as “unified,” “sportsmanship” and “friendship,” which banded the athletes together. Golden Fields fifth-grader Koralee Catmull prepared for the 50-yard dash, softball throw and long jump. “I’ve been running, jumping and throwing, but I like to throw and catch a football best,” she said. She practices with her peer partners, like fifth-grader Hayden Dutson, regularly. “We’ve practiced almost every Friday,” he said. “It’s fun doing this with friends and hanging out.” Harper Sims, another Golden Fields student, said the partnership extends beyond sports. “I like hanging out and helping out,” Harper said. “It’s fun to have friends who have disabilities because everyone’s unique. Koralee loves hugging. We get one every day.
At Jordan School District’s Unified Sports Day, a Daybreak Elementary student takes hold of Riverton High’s Silverwolf to run the 50-yard dash. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
She likes to do makeup, so she does mine and I get to help her with class.” At Daybreak Elementary, sixth-grader Austin Lavulo also appreciated having his buddies alongside him as he prepared for the unified sports day. “We practiced soccer, softball throw, the 50-yard dash and the long jump at PE with our buddies and sometimes, we even played Sharks and Minnows,” he said. “It’s fun to do with buddies because we don’t have to do it by ourselves.” Classmate Connor Lange summed up another benefit of the experience. “It’s fun doing it together because we always have someone to talk to and have fun with,” he said. The format changed in recent years from just special education students competing to having a partner taking part beside them, which both athletes and partners as well
as educators applaud. Riverton Elementary paraeducator Lexi Jensen said the day wasn’t only about giving students a chance to participate, but also to learn from their partners, who offer encouragement and model techniques. “They have a lot of fun being with somebody and seeing how it’s done and are encouraged that way,” she said. Mountain Point Elementary paraeducator Camila Jordan said the peer relationships are an important part of the event. “Students practice with their partners so they could encourage one another and help ensure no athlete felt alone,” she said. The support was visible throughout the day. Many peer students made posters featuring the names of special education athletes and came to cheer them on. “They chant their names, and it’s nice to see them being celebrated,” Jordan said. “They care people are cheering for them.” For Daybreak parent Brittney Shillingburg, the event captures what community can look like when everyone has a place. “We love this,” she said about her son’s second year participating. “He’s got a great friend alongside him. I love the real inclusion of this. Seeing kids play, run, throw and even cheer for each other – it’s a great community.” Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey said the event reflects a core value of the district. “This is an essential element of who we are as a district,” he said. “We want chances for everyone to excel, to be at their best and feel a part of something. This gives students that opportunity.”l
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WestJordanJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 15
The races you can’t afford to skip: Salt Lake County’s 2026 candidates Three new representatives will join the Salt Lake County Council for 2027. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
N
ational and state races may receive most of the political attention this election season, but farther down the November ballot Salt Lake County voters will make decisions about the people who oversee some of the government functions closest to home. Who watches the county’s money? Who administers its elections? Who prosecutes criminal cases? Who oversees the county jail? And who sits on the council that approves the county budget and makes decisions affecting more than a million residents? On Nov. 3, voters will select candidates for four Salt Lake County Council seats as well as county auditor, clerk, district attorney and sheriff. The ballot includes longtime officeholders, former elected officials, attorneys, accountants, law enforcement officers, businesspeople and political newcomers.
County Council at-large A: A countywide choice
The largest field is for County Council at-large A, a seat elected by voters throughout Salt Lake County rather than from a particular council district. Republican Kathleen Anderson, Democrat Zach Robinson, Constitution Party candidate Gregory Beglarian, Forward Party candidate Maleah Bliss Caulford and unaffiliated candidate Olghen Ocean Saintelus are competing for the seat. Anderson is a small-business owner who has lived in Salt Lake County for more than three decades. Robinson has worked as a firefighter and paramedic and served two terms on the Sandy City Council. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and currently works at University of Utah Health. Unlike the three district council races, every Salt Lake County voter will have an opportunity to vote in the at-large A contest.
District 1: Northern Salt Lake County
In County Council District 1, Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson faces Libertarian Casey Poe. No Republican qualified for the general-election contest. District 1 covers a portion of northern Salt Lake County and includes communities in and around Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and West Valley City. Johnson, who was appointed, is seeking another term on the nine-member County Council, where council members approve the county budget, adopt ordinances and make policy decisions affecting county services.
District 3: Murray, Midvale and central county communities
One of the more locally significant council races is District 3, where voters will choose a successor to Republican Councilmember Aimee Winder Newton. Republican Mike Bird faces Democrat Luke Maynes for the open seat. District 3 encompasses Murray, Taylorsville and Midvale, along with portions of West Jordan and West Valley City, putting the contest before voters across a substantial portion of the central county. Maynes works as a systems analyst and project manager for a technology company, experience that includes examining organizational processes and systems. He also serves as vice chair of a community council in Midvale. Bird has been involved in Republican politics and community activities in the district. Because Winder Newton is not seeking another term, District 3 voters are guaranteed to send a new representative to the County Council.
District 5: Southern Salt Lake County
Another open council seat is being contested in the rapidly growing southern portion of the county. Republican Traci Crockett faces Democrat Sara Cimmers for County Council District 5. The district includes Bluffdale and Riverton and portions of Draper, Herriman, South Jordan and West Jordan. Crockett has previously held elected office, serving two terms on the Bluffdale City Council. She advanced to the November
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a primary. Gill prevailed in June with approximately 52% of the vote to Robinson’s 48%. Davis is an attorney who worked as a Salt Lake County deputy district attorney from 2017 to 2021, where his work included felony prosecutions and the creation of the office’s cybercrime prosecution unit. Davis currently works as corporate counCounty Auditor sel and director of cybersecurity for Woodbury For Salt Lake County auditor, voters Corporation. He also served as an Army infancountywide will choose between two candi- try officer and deployed twice to Iraq. dates whose professional backgrounds are Sheriff directly connected to financial oversight. Democratic Sheriff Rosie Rivera faces Republican Chris Harding, the incumbent Republican Shane Manwaring. auditor, faces Democrat Ali Cloward. Rivera has served as sheriff since 2017. Harding was elected in 2022 and is a certified public accountant, Certified Internal Audi- She began her law enforcement career in 1993 tor and Certified Fraud Examiner. The auditor and spent more than two decades with the operates independently from other county Unified Police Department before becoming offices and conducts audits and investigations sheriff. The office oversees Salt Lake County’s jail system and performs other statutory pubinvolving county finances and operations. Cloward is a director at a national consult- lic-safety responsibilities. Manwaring is a law enforcement officer ing firm and a Certified Internal Auditor. She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and military leader with more than two decades in accounting from the University of Utah and of experience. He has served with the Unified works professionally with organizations on Police Department and as a colonel in the Utah Army National Guard, giving voters a contest internal controls, risk and accountability. between two candidates with lengthy careers in County Clerk public safety. There is less uncertainty surrounding the race for Salt Lake County clerk, an office Important ballot information The county races will share the Nov. 3 elected countywide. Democratic incumbent Lannie Chapman is seeking another term with- ballot with a number of federal and state contests. Voters can see exactly which candidates out a Republican challenger. and issues will appear on their individual balDistrict Attorney lot through Utah’s official voter information One of the county’s most closely watched website, Vote.Utah.gov. The site allows voters contests could be the race for Salt Lake County to look up their sample ballot, check or update district attorney, another office decided by vot- their voter registration, find voting locations ers throughout the county. and review other election information. Voters Democratic incumbent Sim Gill faces can also obtain election information through the Republican Kent Davis. Salt Lake County Clerk’s Elections Division at Gill has occupied the office since 2010 and www.saltlakecounty.gov/clerk/elections/. has worked as a prosecutor for more than three Vote-by-mail will remain available for decades. Before reaching the general election, the 2026 general election. One important however, he faced a challenge from within his change is that mailed ballots must be received own party. by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Assistant Utah Attorney General Shawn Day, rather than simply postmarked by the Robinson defeated Gill at the Democratic deadline. Utah’s general election will be held convention, but the nomination proceeded to Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. l
election after narrowly defeating Chris Null in the June Republican primary, 51% to 49%. Cimmers is a community advocate who has been involved with issues affecting families and children. Like District 3, District 5 will have a new representative following the election.
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The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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Page 18 | October 2026
West Jordan City Journal
Parents have a voice in how School LAND Trust dollars help students
School community councils help determine how funding can address each school’s needs. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t one Utah school, the priority might be reading intervention. At another, it could be additional classroom support. A third school might decide educational software is what students need most. Who sets the priorities? In Utah, parents have a voice and a vote through school community councils. For the 2026-27 school year, $134 million in School LAND (Learning and Nurturing Development) Trust funds will be distributed to Utah district and charter schools, benefiting more than 658,000 students at more than 1,000 schools. School allocations are largely based on enrollment. For parents who want a greater voice in their children’s education, serving on a school community council can be one of the most direct ways to make a difference, said Jessie Stuart, assistant director of the School & Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office. “I feel like the trust lands story is one of the coolest stories out there,” she said. “These lands are put in trust to generate revenue for public schools.” Utah’s trust lands were established when the state entered the Union. Revenue is generated from trust lands through activities such as oil and gas, mining, solar power, real estate development and other uses. The money is invested, with earnings distributed to beneficiaries. “The beneficiaries of these trust lands are the K through 12 school kids who these teachers are teaching every single day,” Stuart said. When funding is distributed to schools, parent involvement in the local decision-making becomes critical, Stuart said. At Draper Elementary, Principal Scott Jameson starts by explaining the LAND Trust program to council members — parents, employees in addition to himself. “We start with data, identify our highest needs, then we develop goals and come up with an action plan,” he said. “We can put that money toward meeting our highest needs.” Draper’s 2026-27 plan includes goals to increase mathematics and literacy proficiency by 1% to 3%. “The greatest power of this whole thing,” he said, “is all that money is based on what the school needs.” Principal Suzie Williams, of Columbia Elementary in West Jordan, said LAND Trust dollars often support paraprofessionals who provide interventions and classroom assistance. “We typically use it for support staff so
we can provide intervention and individualized instruction for students with instructional aides and classroom aides,” she said. “We can provide rotation teachers to give our teachers planning and collaboration time.” Principal Justin Pitcher, of Cottonwood High School in Murray, said last year’s council determined the $265,000 LAND Trust dollars would support instructional coaching, assessment coordination, additional teacher periods and educational software. “We need parents to be involved in our school community councils, so we can appropriate the funding in ways that will benefit our students with the parent input,” Pitcher said. Parents bring a perspective educators may not always have. “Parents themselves give input and insight to a school which we don’t always see,” Jameson said. “Educators are experts in instruction. They’re experts in working with large groups of kids, but parents help us to hone down to individuals.” Pitcher said SCCs bring together those perspectives. “The power of a council allows us to be able to work through really hard decisions, and come to a consensus,” Pitcher said. That parent voice has a long history in Utah. Utah PTA members began advocating for reform of the trust-land system in the 1980s. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,”
At Draper Elementary, the school community council has a say and vote in where LAND Trust dollars are spent. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Utah PTA President Julie Cluff said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” That’s an important lesson: the LAND Trust fund isn’t simply money to spend. “They are an investment in students and school community councils that give families a voice in determining how that investment can have the greatest local impact,” said Williams, who served on a LAND Trust committee for three years. “Parents do not need to be education experts. They simply need to know their community, care about students and be willing to participate.” l
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Local School LAND Trust distribution 2026-27 Canyons District $6,039,052 Davis District $12,599,737 Granite District $10,227,609 Jordan District $10,473,694 Murray District $1,269,968 Salt Lake District $3,505,362 All Charter Schools $17,295,728 Source: School Children’s Trust Office, Utah State Board of Education. As required by law, estimates are based on October 2025 enrollment data.
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October 2026 | Page 19
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BEFORE
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UHSAA’s new Composite Realignment Index to form all classifications in all sanctioned sports
The UHSAA Board of Trustees meets in November, with meetings to be held through December on realignment before it makes its final placements on Dec. 17. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
S
tarting this December, the Utah High School Activities Association is doing business differently. On Aug. 21, the UHSAA announced at its next Board of Trustees meeting in November that it will be using a different set of metrics to determine how Utah high schools will be placed into classifications over the next two school years. “Beginning with the 2027-29 alignment cycle, member schools (from Class 1A to 6A) are placed into classifications using a Composite Realignment Index (CRI), which combines school enrollment, socio-economic status (SES) and competitive performance,” read the release. The No. 1 determinant factor according to the UHSAA? School size. That alone will carry 77% of the weight for each Utah high school.
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After that though, things look a bit more interesting. Thirteen percent of a school’s score will be weighed by socio-economic status. And, before anyone presumes that portion will be based solely on said high school’s economic disadvantage, that’s only part of the equation. It includes the share of K-12 students within that school’s boundaries that are at said disadvantage, also.
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The UHSAA’s new CRI assigns a final Z-score to each school based on three criteria: school enrollment size, socio-economic status and competitiveness. (File photo City Journals)
Finally, 10% of a school’s overall Z-score is to be weighted by its competitiveness, or, how it actually performed in the sports it offers to its students. How will this score be given? By taking a school team’s Post-Season Ranking or State-Meet Finish, in which its final MaxPreps and RPI will be combined into a single numerical value. If you’re asking whether or not it will be graded on a curve against the schools in the same classification that same season, the answer is yes. From there, the UHSAA will take an average of that school’s previous three seasons in said sport. Schools will then be given Z-scores ranging from -2.08 to +1.16. It’s at that point that all six classifications from 1A to 6A will be drawn across it. According to the UHSAA, the score decides the order—where the lines fall, however, will be a judgement call. The UHSAA’s Board of Trustees will have its preliminary meeting Nov. 19 to hold initial discussions on the new CRI criteria and make its first placements of member schools. On Dec. 1, schools will then be able to apply for a higher classification in a specific sport or activity and also make recommendations for geographic consideration at the second trustees’ meeting. It will also serve as the second round of adjusted school placements for the trustees, who will also begin placing schools into regions in their respective sports. On Dec. 8, the public will have their first chance to weigh in on the new CRI, via a Zoom meeting. The board will then reconvene the following day on Dec. 9 to make their second region placement, and on Dec. 17 will make its realignments final. According to the UHSAA, “realignment includes both a general alignment and a separate football alignment. Region assignments are finalized in December of even-numbered years, with competition under the new alignment beginning the following August.” l
West Jordan City Journal
‘Ghost Adventures’ celebrities investigate The Great Saltair at ParaCon finale
Salt City ParaCon’s inaugural year draws such a wealth of local participation that the 2027 paranormal conference is already scheduled. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
“W
hat’s up with Utah, man?” asked Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, actor and producer. “There’s something going on with the land. It’s just weird.” Goodwin and Jay Wasley, his fellow “Ghost Adventures” actor, producer and director, were in town for the first-ever local paranormal conference known as Salt City ParaCon. Salt City ParaCon drew local paranormal enthusiasts together for various paranormal guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, local vendors and late-night investigations of The Great Saltair. “We love all things spooky and paranormal,” said local haunt actor Kookie The Clown. “The people here are amazing. It’s a great community.” David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event planner, was inspired by events like Vernal’s PhenomeCon and Pennsylvania’s Pennhurst ParaCon. He wanted to create a space and community in Utah specifically focused on the paranormal, as opposed to other areas of supernatural focus like Big Foot, aliens and skin walkers. “I didn’t know what to expect for the turnout,” Sandoval said. “Once we got Jay on board, it snowballed. Everybody in the community knows Jay.” As he was planning an event of this scale for the first time, Sandoval took care to pick and format the 45 local vendors into the conference. He wanted to have paranormal investigators included, of course, but he also
David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event organizer, and Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, prep to investigate The Great Saltair. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
WestJordanJournal.com
wanted to bring in skeptics to balance out the vendor floor. “I always like the idea of a conversation,” Sandoval said. “I wanted to have both sides of the argument.” “The mystery of the paranormal has to have definitive answers,” said Zayne Searle from the YouTube show “The Unknown Investigators.” Sandoval personally buys into the “residual energy” theories to explain the paranormal world and to understand what we don’t know after death. “Past, present and future are happening all at the same time,” he said. During the daylight hours of the ParaCon weekend, attendees were able to browse local artist booths, snack on food from local artisan trucks (like The Haunted Wagon Philly Cheesesteak and Crazy Chicken), and listen to panel discussions and guest speaker presentations. “We love coming out to build connections with the overlapping community,” said Ollie Odinson, content creator of Slash Lake City. But after the sun went down, they were able to explore The Great Saltair (12408 W. Saltair Drive) in Magna with investigations led by Goodwin and Wasley. (Because as Sandoval noted, any paranormal conference must “end with a ghost hunt.”) “We asked the ghosts if they came to our booth,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. “They said yes.” After the Salt City ParaCon weekend was over, Sandoval shared that some of the vendors reported back to him with some of the biggest sales days in their entire business careers. Sandoval has already made announcements for Salt City ParaCon 2027 with returning appearances from Goodwin and Wasley, and new attendance confirmed by Amy Bruni, Jessica Chobot and Patti Negri. “I don’t want to keep it exclusive to the paranormal,” Sandoval said. “We’re reaching out to other celebrities that don’t believe in ghosts.” (Sean Kanan from “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” has already signed on.) Salt City ParaCon 2026’s local art vendors included Curst Beauty (www.curstbeauty.com), Erica Lackey (on Instagram @ bone.n.ware), Chesley Jewelry (www.chesleyjewelry.com), Haderlie Designs (www. haderliedesigns.com), ideas2ink (www. ideas2ink.net), Haunted Haven LLC (with Northern Utah Paranormal) (on Facebook @Haunted Haven Paraphysical Shop), The Traveling Whisper (on Instagram @the_travelingwhisper), Kookie Creations (on Instagram @kookiezcreationz), and Slash Lake City (on Facebook), Local paranormal services attending ParaCon included: Wasatch Investigative Society for Paranormal Studies (WISPS) (www.advancedparanormal.com), Beehive Skeptics (www.beehiveskeptics.com) and
“We’re pumping up and supporting other women in the community,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
“The Unknown Investigators” (on YouTube). Salt City ParaCon’s artwork and logo were designed by Claudio Bergamin (on Instagram @claudiobergamin.art). Salt City ParaCon 2026 was sponsored by Western Paranormal Society, Fear Factory,
Castle of Chaos and Nightmare on 13th. Salt City ParaCon 2027 will begin on April 15, 2027 and run through April 17, 2027 at Asylum 49 in Tooele (140 E. 200 South). To learn more, or to buy tickets, visit their website at: www.saltcityparacon.com. l
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October 2026 | Page 21
Give people grace
S
eptember 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost Salt Lake County someone that close to me so suddenly, and Councilmember it was jarring. In the days that followed, I thought often about how precious life is— District 3 and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. Their car slid off the road and instantly. My dad survived with only a few rolled several times. My mom was killed bumps and bruises, but his heart was broken by the loss. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. George and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery limit 1 per customer with coupon store after the funeral, everything felt strangely normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their errands. Meanwhile, my life 4879 South Redwood Rd had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt Taylorsville, UT 84123 broken and numb, still trying to understand 801-288-9898 how my mom could be here one day and hiddenpeakscoffee.com gone the next.
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I probably looked fine—just like any other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our best selves. Do you ever see people who seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day. It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the
coworker who snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a marriage falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.
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West Jordan City Journal
W
hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a
WestJordanJournal.com
Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised
by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?
Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
October 2026 | Page 23
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