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February 2022 | Vol. 8 Iss. 14

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COPPER HILLS TEACHER RECOGNIZED AS A LIFE CHANGER By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

he effect U.S. history teacher Andrea Hinojosa has had on hundreds of students in the past 11 years is well documented in the thank-you notes she receives from current and former students and in her nomination by colleagues that recently earned her a Life Changer of the Year Award. “She is that teacher that her former students think about when they reflect on the people that have had a positive influence on their lives,” colleague McKenzie Catten said. “I have been a firsthand witness to her changing lives, including my own. I see her work with students every day, but she doesn’t just teach them. She cares about them, actively tries to get to know them and fosters meaningful relationships in a variety of different ways.” Making connections with students is Hinojosa’s teaching style. Her classroom and lessons are arranged to allow her to move among her students and engage in conversations with them. She provides treats and good humor to those having a hard day, and she helps talk down kids who are stressed. “I hope that they do understand that at the end of the day, I care way more about them and that they know that they are loved, that they know that they’re cared for, than I do about their test scores,” Hinojosa said. One student shared her experience. “I took her course during some of the most trying months of the pandemic, when both educators and students were under incredible amounts of stress,” the student said. “Understanding how difficult it was for her students to consistently work at high levels in her class because of the circumstances, Ms. Hinojosa Continued page 5

Andrea Hinojosa trains tutors to work in the CHHS Writing Center, which she helped establish. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Campos.)

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February 2022 | Page 3

Grizzly defense key to victories By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

opper Hills took the first of two crosstown region games against West Jordan. Its game plan nearly mirrors its season so far. “We played intense at the start and then let up a little,” Grizzly head coach Jake Timpson said. They jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Jaguars clawed their way back into the game. “We were able to put pressure on them in the beginning and that got us into a groove,” Timpson said. They led 17-8 after the first period and never trailed. West Jordan cut the lead to four at one point, but the Grizzlies held on for a 53-48 victory. “When we put pressure on defensively, good things happen,” Timpson said. Sophomore Ellie Taylor leads the team in scoring averaging 12.2 points per game. She scored a season-high 22 in a win over Provo in early December. In his second season as the head coach, Timpson finds himself with a team similar to last season. It is young in places with several underclassmen but has a group of talented seniors. “We have a mix of young girls and veterans,” he said. “If we decide to play the right way, good things usually happen. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out the way we want to play and how to approach each game.” At 6-foot-3, Amelia Brady has provided the senior leadership Timpson has hoped for. She is second in scoring with just over nine points per game but has grabbed over eight rebounds per contest. “I think our young girls are doing a great job,” Timpson said. “They are coming to practice every day, working their butts off and trying to learn. The seniors have been leading

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Copper Hills sophomore Ellie Taylor is averaging nearly 13 points per game this season. (Greg James/City Journals)

them into good positions. My hope is they can learn to compete once these leaders are gone. They have got to make plays in crunch time.” Freshmen Ayla Martson and Skylie Barker have contributed off the bench. Junior Jada Vick handles the ball well in transition and is putting the team into winning positions. The Grizzlies started the season by losing three of their first four games. They were then able to reel off wins in seven of their next nine games.

“[Taylor] has been good for us,” Timpson said. “[Barker] and [ Martson] both are a young talent that needs to develop and get experience on the court. I think we will compete for a few years. We have a good mix.” The Grizzlies are scheduled to have three straight homes games beginning Feb. 1, against Bingham, West Jordan and Herriman. The state tournament is scheduled to begin on Feb. 22 at the top seed’s home sites. The Grizzlies are now in Region 3 with

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Bingham, West Jordan, Herriman, Riverton and Mountain Ridge high schools. The season has not been interrupted yet even as schools are reinstating virtual learning due to COVID-19.. “This year has been easier [than last season]; we have been having consistent practices,” Timpson said. “Overall, it is starting to feel like normal. I really think you should keep an eye on our team.” l

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Continued from front page met each of her students where they were at and helped them succeed to the best of their ability. She would allow for time in class where we could process the sometimes-traumatic events occurring in our community and country as a group instead of ignoring the context in which we were learning. If she could sense our class was in a mental state that would prevent us from learning productively, she would give us grace in the moment but continue pushing us forward in the subsequent days.” Colleagues have watched Hinojosa work long hours and spend her own money to plan engaging lessons and enriching experiences for her students. Colleague Steve Haslam said it is obvious that Hinojosa is “insanely invested in her job, in her students, and in our school.” “Andrea will always go above and beyond to make sure her students have the best learning material possible,” Haslam said. “Students at our school are so lucky to have a teacher who will sacrifice so much to see them succeed and to be the best versions of themselves.” Students said Hinojosa is supportive and invested in them, whether it is encouraging them to take the AP test or telling them about an internship opportunity. “She has sent me scholarship opportunities and leadership opportunities on numerous occasions that she felt like I could succeed with,” a former student said. Catten said Copper Hills High School is lucky to have Hinojosa, because not only is she a phenomenal teacher for students but because she also has a profound effect on her colleagues. “She is highly respected by her colleagues because she encourages them and helps them develop new skills so that they, too, can be life changers in their classrooms,” Catten said. Haslam said, “When I work directly with Andrea, I know she makes me want to be the best version of myself.” Administrator Jim Groethe said Hinojosa made an impression on him the very first time he met her. “What impressed me about her in that very first meeting was her explicit and expressed desire to improve,” he said. “Throughout the five years I spent at Copper Hills, Andrea continued to impress me by consistently seeking feedback and better practices from her peers, both school and districtwide, as well as school administration. That sincere desire, that recognition and reflection, is the critical element that makes Andrea a ‘Life Changer.’ It makes her human to those students and peers who are in need of connection and something real and tangible through that experience in Andrea’s classroom. These days, we seem to all refer to that vulnerability as Brene Brown-esque, and it is one of the key character traits of great educators. She has it.” Amanda Campos first got to know Hinojosa when they were on a professional development committee together. She was impressed with her attitude about professional

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Andrea Hinojosa (at center) enjoys time with colleagues while in San Francisco for a teacher training. (Photo courtesy of McKenzie Catten.)

Social studies teachers McKenzie Catten, Amanda Campos, Andrea Hinojosa and Benjamin Morley send a congratulations post to their 2020 graduates. (Photo courtesy of McKenzie Catten.)

development. “Andrea mentioned that she did not want to run ‘out of speed’ or ‘get burned out’ of her job, so she wanted to volunteer her time to keep her professional fire up,” Campos said. “I was impressed with her when I saw her teach different scaffolding and engagement strategies to other teachers in a professional development workshop. I learned more from Andrea in that workshop than I did in any other scaffolding workshop.” Catten said what makes Hinojosa an exemplary life changer is her compassion for others. When Catten was overwhelmed with having to move her classroom, she said Hinojosa and her daughter showed up to help, even though she barely knew her. “I knew then that she was someone very special and someone who genuinely cares about other people,” Catten said. Campos said Hinojosa does a lot of anon-

ymous service in the school and community. “She asks for nothing and just sees something and does it,” she said. “She has the initiative to act when something needs to be done. Her service is beyond anyone I have ever met.” When Campos and her family were facing overwhelming health problems, Hinojosa coordinated colleagues, friends and neighbors to take in meals for her family. She set up a fundraiser to help pay for unforeseen bills. She visited Campos even when she said she was not up for visitors. “She does not know how much that meant to me, to have someone to just talk to when the world seemed to be crumbling around me,” Campos said. “She truly is a blessing for us. I know she is a blessing for others as well.” Hinojosa said it was the way her mom raised her: to notice the needs of those around her and to lend help when she can. “It’s so hard to ask for help,” Hinojoa said.

“And we’ve all been in that position where we don’t want to ask for help, but we know we need it. So I just learned not to give people a choice.” Hinojosa is also an advocate and a problem-solver. “She doesn’t simply throw her hands up in the air and give up when a challenge arises, but she takes steps to actively solve the problem,” Catten said. Hinojosa was one of the founding members of the CHHS Writing Center, which, according to Catten, “has helped facilitate a change in the culture of the school as one that seeks to support all students’ academic needs.” “When Andrea has a project she is interested in, she pours her heart into it,” Campos said. “She strives to better all students, not just her own in the classroom.” Hinojosa almost didn’t become a teacher. She started a business career before deciding to refocus on her childhood dream to be a teacher, which was inspired by her eighth grade history teacher. Despite the pay cut, she said she finally found professional fulfillment in teaching. She enjoys the autonomy and creativity she has to plan lessons that engage her students. Colleagues and students at West Jordan Middle, where she began her teaching career, and at Copper Hills High, where she currently teaches, have had their lives changed by Hinojosa. “When I first met Andrea, we were coworkers,” Campos said. “Then we became colleagues. We got to know each other and became close friends. Now, I can say without a doubt that I feel Andrea is closer than a friend. She is a sister to me. I would give this award to Andrea—plus a million other awards for her dedication, love and passion towards this profession. Don’t we all want teachers like Andrea to teach and love our children?”

February 2022 | Page 5

Two women detail their experiences being scammed By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

nfortunately, the rise of scams has gone up in the past year. All of us can fall victim to scams. There are different kinds of scams, such as identity theft, phishing, voice phishing and pyramid schemes. Some of the latest scams are coronavirus-related scams, vaccine and government program scams, phone-related scams, online purchase scams, and employment scams. Scams can happen when you are selling something online. This is a scam

that happened to Terry (not real name as she wished to remain anonymous). She put her son’s iPhone up for sale on KSL and received a text from a man who said he wanted to purchase it. He went to her home and walked in her house, and she handed the phone to him to look at. He asked her about the battery life, and while she was talking, she noticed that he was logging onto a Wi-Fi network. When asked if he had a hotspot, then all of a sudden, he was activating something on

the phone. She had reset the phone so he could set anything up on it that he wanted. He quickly entered a PIN. “Well, if I upset him then he will leave, and I won’t be able to get into the phone again,” she said. “It didn’t matter if he was going to buy the phone anyways, but I felt uneasy about it. I asked him why he put his PIN into it, and he said he was just going through the set-up menu.” “I made a mistake. I should not have handed anyone a blank phone without a PIN. They can do whatever they want. Next time, I will enter my own PIN and only change it when I feel comfortable with the transaction,” Terry said. “He then asked if the price was $100.00 less than my ad said, and he looked in an envelope he was holding with cash he had. I corrected him and told him the amount the phone was. Immediately after I told him the price of the phone, there was a man waiting in the car yelling at him in Spanish. I thought he was telling him to hurry. He then hastily handed me the envelope and ran out the door and drove off,” Terry said. She continued counting the bills as he was running. She was relieved it matched the price she told him. She was nervous

because of how he was acting. She took the bills straight to the bank, and they told her they were counterfeit. The bank filed a police report. They showed her the differences between the bills she took into the bank and a real $100 bill. The bank representative said they are seeing more and more counterfeit bills brought in. She called the police, and they came to the bank. She wanted to check if the fraudsters put the phone she was selling up on KSL. The West Jordan police followed up on a similar phone she saw on KSL for sale, but the identifying numbers didn’t match. “I just hope they get caught. What bothers me more than anything is that I invited criminals into my home. Next time I sell anything on KSL I’ll have them pay me with Venmo and meet them somewhere else or meet at my bank and have the bank verify the bills before I give them the item. If they have a check, then you can meet them at their bank and get it cashed while you are together,” Terry said. “In hindsight, I made several mistakes that I hope you can learn from. Protect yourselves. It is dangerous out there,” Terry said.

Scams come in various sizes, including online. (Photo by Pickawood on Unsplash.)

Page 6 | February 2022

West Jordan City Journal

Another scam happened to an older woman Melinda (not real name, she also wished to remain anonymous). She answered the phone. A nice person on the phone told her they were from the U.S. government and that they needed help to stop scams from happening around the world. They proceed to tell her where scams are happening and that it needed to be stopped, and she could help by donating money. “They were so nice and friendly,” Melinda said. She was so happy she could help, and she believed them. “I never would have thought they were fraudsters.” she said. They called her for three days talking to her and being friends. Unfortunately, they got her bank account information and got $200.000 dollars.. “My Christmas was hard because of what happened,” she said. The FBI is on the case. “Unfortunately, I won’t get the money back, but I hope they find who committed this fraud and they are in prison for a lifetime sentence. Don’t talk to anybody you don’t know and never give out any information to anybody, unless you know who you are talking to and you have a good identity theft protection plan, because a plan can protect all your accounts, and they will tell you if callers are fraudulent,” she said. According to a report from TransUnion, the U.S. online fraud at-

tempts are up 25%. Digital fraud attacks against financial services companies were up 109% in the U.S. Global fraud attempts in the financial service industry were up 149%. Fraudsters attempt to steal personal information through social media networks, online sites and phishing attempts. This happens when cyber criminals send fake emails to you that either attempt to retrieve personal information or infect a device with malware. With buying online and businesses that have been closed, scamming went up. People have been getting out more for shopping and dining. Still, many people remain more comfortable with shopping online and businesses are maintaining a higher online presence, which means that digital fraud will continue to rise. Financial services companies such as banks and investment companies are particularly attractive targets because there’s big money there. People have been doing more online transactions since the pandemic hit, and cyber criminals know it, and they are attempting to cash in. Fraudsters who have been successful (or they think they’ve been successful) at gaining someone’s personal information are taking it to the next level by trying to obtain credit cards or take over bank accounts.

A business has the responsibility to protect customers from fraud. Customers need to take responsibility as well. That would include signing up for two-factor authentication, which requires users to not only enter a password but conform their identity by entering a code texted or emailed to them. It is a good idea to use strong different passwords for each account. If you can’t remember all the passwords, consider using programs that can store your passwords. Dashlane and LastPass are two programs you can use to store your passwords. There are other programs you can use as well.

Unfortunately, scams probably won’t decrease any time soon. With businesses having more digital transactions, cyber criminals will continue their attacks. Most of us are on social media platforms, connecting with friends and family, and work colleagues. Be careful not to post your personal information on social media. Be careful about posting pictures and where you are traveling to. Value your privacy on social media, and customize your social media Privacy Settings. Toggling specific options can help tighten your social media and limit your audience on who can view your posts. l

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February 2022 | Page 7

State bill proposed to help athletic directors’ continued education By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

wenty minutes before the West Jordan High School basketball game, Carlson Boudreaux is checking to make sure the referees are set in the locker room so the game can start on time. His team has the court set up with chairs, music and cheerleader entertainment. Over the past decade, the job of being the school’s athletic director has changed. They now oversee more than just game setup. Certification of athletic directors enhances administrators’ ability to better serve the school and community. “Twenty years ago being an AD (athletic director) was mainly game-day operations,” Copper Hills AD Ben Morley said. “Making sure officials show up, the scorer table is set up, ensuring the halftime performance and scheduling the busses. Now that is the easiest part of the job.” Current responsibilities of school athletic administrators include much more than pregame jobs. “The essential components of being an athletic director is managing the coaches, keeping them in compliance. Related to that is keeping the athletes in compliance also,” Morley said. All of these extra responsibilities have been added to their job description, but with no additional compensation or certification re-

Athletic directors have a very difficult job Caption: Setting up chairs at the basketball game is only part of the responsibilities of the school’s AD. (Greg James/City Journals)

quired by the school. The coaches they supervise need more certification than they do. Most athletic administrators, on their own, have achieved the extra certification with no extra compensation. State Bill 67, sponsored by Sen. Michael K. McKell, proposes a supplement for the

school AD to encourage the training they can achieve. “I could not be more in favor of certification,” Morley said. “The recognition and validation of this job is supremely important.” Becoming an athletic director encompasses several duties. Coaches and player eligibility are a big part of their jobs. “Coaches, assistants, and players take up a lion’s share of my time,” Morley said. “There is a reason that colleges have compliance officers. That is all they handle.” At Copper Hills, the athletic department oversees more than 100 coaches and volunteers. “We have 26 varsity programs. Football alone has 12 assistant coaches. Each of those coaches needs to pass coaching fundamentals, CPR training, background checks, concussion training, and child abuse training. One of the difficulties is that many of our coaches are paraprofessionals (they do not work at the school). Many think they are just helping out the team, but they still need to pass these courses,” Morley said. In the last two years, high schools have added cheerleading, girls wrestling, and lacrosse to their varsity programs. In the near future boys volleyball could be added. In the

US nearly 11 million students participate in after-school activities. “The CAA (certified athletic administrator) would be eligible for a salary supplement,” current Granite School District Athletic Director Chris Shipman said. “In our eight high schools, we have several that already qualify for the stipend.” Additional training can help the student-athletes stay safe from future sports problems. “Name, image, and likeness are coming. A famous athlete that wanted to make money can if they don’t use school resources,” Morley said. “The dark side is that it will make high school recruiting a bigger thing. One more carrot a good team can dangle in front of an athlete.” Jordan School District recently hired an athletic director to oversee its district programs. “I think districts are waking up to the importance of the job. I teach one class but am a full-time athletic director. Our athletic staff is dedicated to the program,” Morley said. “It is the world we live in and we should learn how to manage it.” This year’s state legislature could help compensate those who attain better knowledge to do their jobs correctly. l

Spring R Registration egistration is no now w open and will close Feb. 28th, 202 2021 2. Minor: (9U & 10U) Tee-Ball: (3-5 Years Old) Major: (11U & 12U) Rookie: (4-6 Years Old) Prep: (13U) Pee Wee: (7U) Prep: (14U-15U) Pee Wee: (8U) Prep: (16-18U) TO REGISTER VISIT WWW.WJCHBASEBALL.COM Page 8 | February 2022

West Jordan City Journal

Donating time: Virtual school’s twist on charity season

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

ocal high schools had successful charity seasons. Bingham High School students raised $75,852 for Project Strong. Copper Hills High School students raised $87,513 for Make-A-Wish Utah and to provide Christmas for local families. Herriman High School students raised $145,496 for the Nixon Strong Foundation. Mountain Ridge High School students raised $79,148 (with an additional $25,000 from a private donor) for Angel’s Hands Foundation. Providence Hall High School students donated items to provide Christmas for 15 families. REAL Salt Lake Academy High School students donated 380 wishlist items to Primary Children’s Hospital. Riverton High School students raised $194,000 for the Single Parent Project. Summit Academy High School students raised over $8,000 for the Leukemia Research Foundation. West Jordan High School students raised $35,085 for Ethan’s Super Angels. And Kings Peak Virtual High students provided 639.5 hours of service. As part of the Jordan District Virtual Academy, Kings Peak couldn’t hold fundraiser activities like other high schools because students don’t come to the school building. So administrators came up with a service hours drive as an alternative to charity fundraising. “We just wanted to encourage service during the month of December,” Principal Ammon Wiemers said. “We didn't

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want to commit to any one charity. Instead, we wanted to track the number of hours that students were doing, rather than a dollar amount.” Wiemers said the school leadership wanted the students to give of themselves and they felt that the gift of their time was valuable. “We wanted it to be meaningful to the students, and so we didn't want to limit it, so anything that they felt was service, that they did for other people, we counted it,” Wiemers said. “We encouraged them to find some way to help somebody and they found a lot of different ways to do it.” Students reported service hours for volunteering at homeless shelters, shoveling neighbors’ driveways, tutoring other students, cleaning up trash and donating toys. One student and their family spent eight hours volunteering at a soup kitchen. “I felt that the service hours was a fun way to really get involved and help people in my community,” freshman Adynn Jones-Wahlquist said. She clocked 25 hours of service, including offering free babysitting and knitting eighteen hats for the homeless. A school counselor provided materials to Adynn and others to knit hats for the homeless shelter. Adynn said staff members supported students, suggesting service ideas and encouraging them to include their friends and family members. “It made me feel really connected to my school doing service hours,” Adynn said. “It felt good.” The 250 enrolled students reported 639.5 hours of service during the month of December. Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary and Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School were invited to participate, and the combined

Service hours were performed by Kings Peak High students throughout the month of December. (Photo courtesy of Ammon Wiemers.)

service hours students from all three schools performed totaled 1,153 hours. Wiemers said this month of service will be an annual tradition that will help unify the student body. An environment of positive energy and caring about community is part of the culture the school leadership hopes to create at Kings Peak High. “It's important for us to give back to the community; it's just a good thing to do,” Wiemers said. “And we think that students benefit by serving other people. It's a value that we want to encourage.” l

February 2022 | Page 9

Will the opioid settlement come to Utah? By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

ver 10 million people misused prescription opioids in 2019 in the United States. Of those people, 1.6 million had an opioid use disorder. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ website: “In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. “Increased prescription of opioid medications led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive.” Companies involved in advertising, selling and distributing opioid medications were aware the medication was highly addictive. “The first wave began with increased prescribing of opioids in the 1990s, with overdose deaths involving prescription opioids (natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone) increasing since at least 1999,” states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s administration released a statement this year about the opioid epidemic. “These companies failed to protect consumers from the dangers of opioids, even when they claimed to have systems in place to

The terms of the Opioid Settlement Agreement. (Erin Dixon/City Journals)

do so,” said Margaret Busse, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce. Because of this, dozens of entities, from local to state governments, including Native American tribes, sued the opioid companies to help pay for the damages suffered. Instead of coming to an agreement with

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Jordan registered with the agreement, as Gill stated, there is no guarantee money will come. Why register? “The participation of non-litigants is to put pressure on the defendants,” Gill said. Midvale’s City Attorney Lisa Garner said something similar to the Midvale City Council as they discussed whether to participate in the settlement. “The more subdivisions that join the more the state gets,” Garner said. “In an effort to make sure the state and county get as much as possible, we need to register to participate. There’s no guarantee that the city will receive any funds, it’s just overall better for the community for us to help.” The Mayor of West Jordan also registered their city. West Jordan City Attorney Rob Wall said that the funds will go primarily to Salt Lake County. “$309 million of the $26 billion, would go to the state,” Wall said. “The remaining balance would go to the counties.” The money can only be used for the treatment, recovery and prevention of addiction. l

“The Coulter House was the perfect venue for my daughter’s wedding reception. Kevin and his staff went above and beyond in making sure we had the best experience possible.” - Tracy F.

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435-840-5587 • booking@millpondfarmsevents.com Page 10 | February 2022

each prosecutor separately, the National Prescription Opioid Litigation (NPOL) Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee was formed and included lawyers representing all the 3,000 clients working together for one large agreement. The settlement agreement has not been finalized, but the settlement as it stands now states that the three distributors will collectively pay up to $21 billion over 18 years to qualifying states, counties and local governments. Salt Lake County Attorney General Sim Gill said it is premature to assume any city or county in Utah will get money. “This is a major litigation with nuance complexities. Micro-distributions are highly speculative. It is counting chickens that are not hatched, or haven’t even been laid.” Until the end of January 2022, governments, local and state, were able to register with the National Opioid Settlement (www. nationalopioidsettlement.com) to declare their interest in receiving financial aid from the settlement for their state and county. Though cities like Midvale and West

Since 1996, the prescribing and dispensing of opioids has skyrocketed, bringing death from illegal use of prescriptions with it. (Image/pixabay)

West Jordan City Journal

WestJordanJournal .com

February 2022 | Page 11

What the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan does By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

he Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan (CASWJ) is the place where artist enthusiasts in the community of West Jordan goes to enjoy the performing arts. CASWJ contributes to the lives of the community and provides opportunities for experiencing, performing and enjoying their talents together in the community. The mission of the CASWJ: to promote a rich cultural life for West Jordan residents promoting and sustaining visual, performing and literary arts in our community. The vision of the CASWJ council is to promote an appreciation for diversity of the arts in the community; to encourage the community to get involved and participate in a wide variety of artistic achievements; and help the community to know the artists and be aware of cultural events. CASWJ consists of eight arts organizations: jazz band, senior band, concert band, symphony, Sugar Factory Playhouse, West Jordan Youth Theatre, visual arts and literary arts. The CASWJ has been operating as an organization independent of West Jordan City since Jan. 1, 2019. The CASWJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to organizing fundraising events and quality programs. CASWJ is always looking for volunteers to help with cultural arts. Volunteers are always welcome. Donations are accepted to help keep the cost of the tickets free or as low as possible. Sponsors help with a lot of things behind the scenes. Sponsors are appreciated and enjoy a lot of benefits for sponsoring. Go on the website to find out more about volunteering, donations and sponsorship at https://www.wjarts. org. If you’re an actor, musician, artist, dancer or writer, reach out to the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan. Your talents are always welcome. By performing in CASWJ you can bring the community together with the magic of the arts. Children are welcome too. There is the West Jordan Youth Theatre for ages 8–18. The Youth Theatre provides great live performances for the whole family. Since 2006, the youth group has performed two productions per year, one in the fall and one in the spring. West Jordan Youth Theatre has a fun environment for children where they can create memories and friendships. As children continue to grow in theater, they can learn life skills and use them throughout their lives. The youth theater offers workshops for audition help, choreography and workshops to help children learn about performing. There is a free virtual workshop that happens a few hours a week from your home. Find out more information on the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan website. The Sugar Factory Playhouse’s roots go back to the creation of the West Jordan Per-

Page 12 | February 2022

(All photos courtesy Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan)

forming Arts Board established in 1995. Since that time, the board evolved into the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan which embrace all of the arts in performance, art and creativity. Vic Groves is the President of CASWJ. He has been involved in the arts for more than 50 years, and his involvement in West Jordan arts is more than 20 years. He has served as chair of the former West Jordan Arts Council and West Jordan Theater Arts. Groves has vast experience as an actor, as well as building sets, directing music and producing productions. Ken Gerber has been in West Jordan since July 2001. In 2003, Gerber and his family saw “Brigadoon” in the park. “The set was the most amazing thing we had ever seen, like a real-life transformer, “Gerber said. “The play was incredible. I became hooked. I have been a part of Sugar Factory Playhouse ever since. I was approached when the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan was being created, and I have been involved ever since. I have always been an entrepreneur. My work has always put me in front of people and building relationships. I have used those relationships to help build the arts in West Jordan.” Jen Worthen is director of the West Jordan

Jazz Band and the West Jordan Concert Band’s current director. Her musical experience began in fifth grade. A teacher saw that students were struggling to make connections. This teacher began an elementary band program. From the time Worthen tried to make a sound on the clarinet, she was hooked on music. Worthen always to this day looks for ways to pay back the elementary teacher by paying it forward to future generations. She is grateful to that teacher. Michelle Groves, Sugar Factory The-

atre Chairperson, has been active in the Sugar Factory Playhouse since 1998. She has served as a chair of the theater group for several years. She is experienced in planning, organizing, set builder, actress, seamstress, painter and director. To learn more about the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, go to www.wjarts. org. You can reach out on Facebook and Instagram or write to the organization at PO Box 1272 West Jordan, UT 84084. l

West Jordan City Journal

Celebrating 1 Year in West Jordan!

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West Jordan swears in new, returning councilmembers Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

Top: Kayleen Whitelock, Kelvin Green and Pamela Bloom took the oath of office for West Jordan city council on Jan 3. (Erin Dixon/ City Journals) Bottom: Returning councilmember Kayleen Whitelock solidifies her oath by signing her name, declaring her service. (Erin Dixon/City Journals) Right: Councilmember David Pack sings the “Star Spangled Banner.” (Erin Dixon/City Journals)

Left: New councilmember Pamela Bloom swears her council oath for the first time, accompanied by her spouse. (Erin Dixon/City Journals) Middle: Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock takes the oath of office. She has been on the council since 2018. (Erin Dixon/City Journals) Right: Returning councilmember Kelvin Green took another oath of office, one of many since 1985. (Erin Dixon/City Journals)

Page 14 | February 2022

West Jordan City Journal

G O OD NE IG HBOR

NEWS

FEBRUARY 2022

Paid for by the City of West Jordan

M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E The month of February is full of notable holidays, from Presidents’ Day to Valentine’s Day, but one of my favorite weeks might not be listed on your calendar. February 14th through the 20th is Random Acts of Kindness Week. The week is dedicated to kindness and taking that extra conscious step to brighten someone’s day. Service seems to be on all of our minds recently. You may have seen Utah’s first lady, Abby Cox, announce her new service initiative. Show Up for Service challenges Utahns to do one million acts of service throughout 2022. These acts can be big or small. Here’s a list of some simple acts you can do to serve others this year. • Send a note to a friend • Bring a meal to someone who is ill • Become a substitute crossing guard for West Jordan • Join a local neighborhood watch program • Donate blood at the upcoming blood drive on February 14th • Shovel your neighbor’s driveway Something I’ve done over the past month is shoveling the crosswalks for the crossing guards on snowy school mornings. It’s a small act that has a huge impact, making a safe walk for our children to and from school. Doing a good deed for others is rewarding and makes you feel great, imagine what that good deed can do for others. Sincerely,

Mayor Dirk Burton

City of West Jordan and American Red Cross Hold Quarterly Blood Drives There’s a critical need for blood. Those are the first words you read on the website for the American Red Cross. On average, the Red Cross holds 16,426 blood drives each month. In recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. “Winter weather across the country and the recent surge of COVID-19 cases are compounding the already-dire situation facing the blood supply,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross. “Please, if you are eligible, make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the days and weeks ahead to ensure no patient is forced to wait for critical care. This year, the City of West Jordan will be hosting four blood drives with the American Red Cross on the following dates: • Monday, February 14, 2022 | 9 AM – 3 PM • Monday, May 9, 2022 | 9 AM – 3 PM • Monday, August 15, 2022 | 9 AM – 3 PM • Monday, November 14, 2022 | 9 AM – 3 PM All blood drives listed above will be held in Pioneer Hall – 1137 West 7800 South, by appointment only. Please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: West Jordan City to schedule an appointment or contact the West Jordan City Events Division at 801-569-5160. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276. You can start the donation process by completing an online pre-donation health history questionnaire on the day of your appointment, please log in to www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

WJPD is Hiring The West Jordan Police Department is hiring police officers. Starting salaries: credit given for years of service • Officer 1: $27.00 - $31.27 • Officer 2: $31.25 - $35.35 • Officer 3: $37.12 - $39.00 Take home vehicles up to 50 miles from the City of West Jordan Career Building Opportunities: • 127 sworn positions • Specialty and task force positions Apply online, westjordan.utah.gov/police

WestJordanJournal .com

February 2022 | Page 15

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

Bitter cold weather? Bring your pets inside

WJ Fire Department Offering Safety Classes through 2022

Message from West Jordan Animal Control Officers

An emergency is never predictable, but you can prepare and educate yourself for when an emergency does happen. Throughout 2022, the West Jordan fire department is offering several classes from babysitting to CPR.

If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can be susceptible to frostbite, hypothermia, become disoriented or lost. Don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather either. Cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, follow this advice from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: • Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat, sweater with a high collar, or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. • Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt, and chemicals – and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes. • Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage. • Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy pet bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect. For more information, visit the ASPCA’s Cold Weather Safety Tips page, the Humane Society or Best Friends Animal Society, and find Cold Weather Guidelines for Large Animals and Livestock on Ready.gov.

CPR Course The CPR course trains citizens in CPR, AED, and First Aid use. It is developed from the American Heart Association Heartsaver course. The class provides an AHA certification card that is valid for two years. • Class fee: $30 • Location: Fire Station 53 (7602 Jordan Landing Blvd.) • Register online: westjordan.utah.gov/fire Babysitting Classes The Fire Department has teamed up with Jordan Valley Medical Center to offer a babysitting preparation course that will help your child gain the confidence and knowledge they need for their first or next babysitting gig. This course covers everything from CPR/First Aid, how to engage and play with children of all ages, and how to keep yourself safe while babysitting. • Class fee: $15 • Location: Fire Station 53 (7602 Jordan Landing Blvd.) • Register online: westjordan.utah.gov/fire CERT Course The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, was developed by FEMA to help people develop the knowledge and skills to feel prepared for a natural disaster. This course will cover a variety of preparedness topics including home preparation, team organization, fire safety, search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Must be 18 or older to register. • Class fee: $15 • Location: Fire Station 53 (7602 Jordan Landing Blvd.) • Register online: westjordan.utah.gov/fire Jr. Firefighter Academy The Jr. Firefighter Academy is a summer day camp where your child will get to experience what it is like to be a real firefighter. Your Jr. Firefighter will ride in a fire truck, spray the hose, climb ladders, and practice first aid alongside their heroes. This Academy is reserved for children 8-10 years old. • Class Fee: $35 • Location: Fire Station 53 (7602 Jordan Landing Blvd.) • Register online: westjordan.utah.gov/fire

Page 16 | February 2022

West Jordan City Journal

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

City E-Waste + Shred Event All the 2022 City E-Waste and Shred Events will be located at West Jordan’s Public Works South Parking lot – 7960 S. 4000 W. Get ahead of your spring cleaning this year, participate in the city’s quarterly e-waste and shred event. Every year, the city holds four free events. Here are the dates for 2022: • February 5, 2022 | 10 AM – 12 PM • May 7, 2022 | 10 AM – 12 PM • August 6, 2022 | 10 AM – 12 PM • November 5, 2022 | 10 AM – 12 PM Residents can bring up to two ‘Bankers Boxes’ of paper for shredding and residential electronic waste. Documents will be shredded on-site. All items need to be drop-off ready. Paper needs to be loose, with large binder clips and rubber bands removed. Participants will need to bring a proof of residency or city employment (driver’s license, utility bill, or city ID badge). Some acceptable items include: • Cell phones • Computers and keyboards • Hard drives (removed from computer) • Stereos

• • • • •

Fax machines iPods MP3 players DVD players Laptops

Televisions, CRT monitors, cracked LCDs, batteries, lightbulbs, and printers are not accepted. Contact the Transjordan or Salt Lake Valley Landfill for more information on disposing these items.

WestJordanJournal .com

COUNCIL CORNER In our first regular Council Meeting of 2022, the Council elected Council Member Kayleen Whitelock to be Council Chair by acclamation, and elected Council Member Kelvin Green to be Council Vice-chair. “I’m honored to be leading the Council this year,” said Chair Whitelock. “Something I want to initiate this year is giving ‘spotlights’ to the great things that have taken place in the City and the outstanding individuals who live within our City.” For example, several public works city employees did an excellent job at directing Covid testing traffic around City Hall during peak testing times in January. “We as a Council greatly appreciated their willingness to do this task on behalf of the City—this task isn’t directly in their job description,” said Council Member Melissa Worthen. “I hope

that everyone treats city employees, healthcare officials, first responders, teachers, and each other kindly as everyone navigates their way through this wave of the pandemic. I think we all are trying our best, and kindness can help bring our community together.” Also, as a reminder, we would love for you to join us for City Council Meetings from the comfort of your own home. Did you know West Jordan was at the forefront of cities when it came to create a Council Chamber that is friendly for remote participation? If you want to give public comment, you can participate via Zoom Webinar or by phone. You can find the webinar id and phone number on agendas posted at City Hall or on the City’s website. If you’d rather just watch the meeting, you can do so by watching the live stream on YouTube page. We can’t wait to hear your input!

February 2022 | Page 17

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

F E B R UA RY

PLANNING COMMISSION

CITY E-WASTE AND SHRED EVENT

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan

West Jordan Public Works 7960 S 4000 W westjordan.utah.gov 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan

F E B R UA RY

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK

PLANNING COMMISSION

CPR CLASS

6 – 9 p.m.

7 – 10:30 p.m.

F E B R UA RY

QUARTERLY BLOOD DRIVE Pioneer Hall, 1137 W 7800 S must have an appointment redcrossblood.org 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

14-20

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan 6 – 9 p.m.

F E B R UA RY

PRESIDENTS DAY

CPR CLASS

CITY OFFICES CLOSED

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

View the agenda at westjordan.utah.gov or watch at: bit.ly/WestJordan 7 – 10:30 p.m.

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

West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch

Follow the City of West Jordan on Twitter & Facebook TWITTER: @CityWestJordan FACEBOOK: @WestJordanCityHall Visit Westjordan.utah.gov for direct links.

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February 2022 | Page 19

What’s your legacy?

Cycle of winning: Three years of contest winnings propel STEM program forward By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

or the third consecutive year, a STEM team from Mountain Heights Academy, a virtual charter school, has been selected as a top 100 team in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Contest winnings have earned the school $36,500 which has been invested in STEM equipment. “These materials have greatly supported the expansion of our STEM Program to provide additional hands-on opportunities for our students,” STEM team adviser Andrew Hulse said. The contest winnings from the 2020 team purchased 3D printers that the 2021 team utilized to print homes for pollinators for their project. This year’s team is also using the 3D printers, Samsung Galaxy tablets and Flip Boards, and contest winnings to develop their project, track and analyze data, purchase materials for testing and print prototypes. With the audio-visual equipment purchased with past

winnings, they are creating a video for the next phase of the contest. STEM team adviser Lora Gibbons said the school doesn’t receive the winnings and equipment until after the contest is over so having the resources from past winners gives MHA teams an advantage. “It’s been nice to have those resources now and not have to wait because their project and their experimentation will be done in the next month,” she said. “And if we didn’t have this long-standing program, it may be more difficult for them.” The MHA team was selected from 1,000 applicants to advance in the national competition, which challenges students in grades 6–12 to creatively use science, technology, engineering and math skills to address real-world issues in their communities. “Empowered and inspired to elicit change, Gen Z students are catalysts for making the world a better place. It is truly an honor to

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STEM adviser Andrew Hulse works with a team on irrigation system conservation solutions. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Hulse.)

West Jordan City Journal

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Mountain Heights Academy seniors Kate and Zachary Watson work on elements of an irrigation system designed for a national contest by their eighth grade teammates. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Hulse.)

watch students from across the country channel this passion and drive into the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest to address problems in their community head-on,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics America. MHA’s success is also partly due to teachers and STEM club advisers identifying students who are interested in competitions and helping connect them to other students with similar interests to form successful teams. This year’s team of three eighth graders—Sophia Moore, Mara Lloyd and Emma Chischillie—live in agricultural areas of Tremonton, Providence and Vernal and have similar interests in agricultural water usage and conservation. The problem they identified was based on an irrigation malfunction that occurred in Sophia’s neighborhood. “My neighbor’s irrigation water went into our other neighbor’s yard, and it was just everywhere,” she said. “So if they had alarm systems, like to maybe turn it off, I think that’d be helpful to not waste their water.” The team is researching solutions that will directly reduce water waste in irrigation systems and indoor water usage which will save consumers money and result in a more sustainable Great Salt Lake ecosystem. They tested various products to monitor water usage, detect problems and improve irrigation system efficiency. With support from advisers, teachers and parents, the girls learned to design and 3D print custom parts for sensors and to code sensors to send data to a monitoring app. They have also reached out to experts in the field, some of which have been provided by Samsung for teams at this level of the contest. The team has also consulted with students who were part of previous winning teams, such as Kate Watson, a senior, who was a member of MHA’s 2020 winning team. She is mentoring this year’s team and helping them to stay on top of deadlines. The team must submit a video by mid-February

WestJordanJournal .com

for the next phase of the contest. Watson said this year’s team works very well together, which she said is imperative for developing a successful project. In 2019, she was part of a team that was so dysfunctional, they never completed their project. She applied what she learned the next year and her team became the first in MHA’s winning tradition. Watson has participated in 17 STEM competitions through MHA, earning over $6,000 in scholarships. She said these experiences have had “an enormous effect” on her and her education. “Ever since I started doing STEM, I’ve gotten more and more into it every single year and it’s opened my eyes to new fields,” she said. Through a competition project, she was introduced to microbiology, a field she plans to explore in college next year. Her brother, Zachary Watson, who is also lending a hand to this year’s team, said STEM competitions through MHA give him an outlet and purpose for developing and applying his skills. “I’ve always been interested in technology, and the STEM team really was just a way for me to use that for a purpose,” he said. “It makes me more motivated to learn more about technology because when you’re doing it for a good cause, it motivates you further instead of just to do it. So I always look for these kind of opportunities to develop my skills.” STEM club members are encouraged to participate in competitions, but Hulse said this year’s students, like those on previous winning teams, are more focused on exploring personal interests than on winning. “The students are very motivated by the idea and by water conservation as a whole as opposed to just strictly by how they can fit it into this competition,” Hulse said. Still, the team hopes to be the first MHA team to advance to the next level of the Samsung contest, in which seven teams will receive $50,000 and three teams will receive $100,000 in classroom technology and supplies. l

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Jaguar basketball battling in tough region Photos by Travis Barton

Above: The Jaguars celebrate their win over Brighton in preseason. West Jordan lost its region opener to Copper Hills before rebounding with a victory over Mountain Ridge. The team was 9-6 (1-1 in region) at press time. Right: Head coach Christian Wouden calls out the defense for his West Jordan basketball team during a nonregion game. The Jaguars went 8-5 before entering region play with wins over teams like Alta, Brighton, and Murray.

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West Jordan sky full of hot air, but in a good way By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

esidents in Sandy, Draper and West Jordan who looked to the sky on Jan. 15 might have seen a cow and her chauffeur in a hot air balloon. It was the Chick-fil-A balloon, which is shared by local Chick-fil-A restaurants. It’s piloted several times a year by “Tim the Balloon-man” and a costumed cow co-pilot. “We nicknamed the balloon Chickie, and I think she brings a smile to people’s faces,” said Holly Curby, director of Community and Culture for Utah’s Chick-fil-A restaurants. Launches take place on a regular basis from different stores, who each get a certain number of launches per year. “It’s really fun when people come in for breakfast on a day when we’re going to launch. We launch from a store, always really early. People can come over and check out the balloon, take pictures and see what it takes to get it in the air,” Curby said. The balloon is always piloted by the same man, Tim. “Our pilot Tim is really good. He’s great at engaging with people, and he likes to do ‘hops’ where he lands in different places and surprises people,” Curby said. On Jan. 15, it looked as though the balloon might land on top of the Mountain America corporate building near Sandy City

Hall, but Curby said Tim draws the line at landing on buildings. “He thinks it’s fun to pass right by places, getting really close and making them think he might land there. But he’d never land on a building, no matter how close he gets,” Curby said. “Tim likes to make it a fun adventure every time he’s in the balloon. He knows just where he can land, and he’ll just take it down in a neighborhood somewhere and surprise people, then hand out some free things. It’s a great way to engage with the community,” Curby said. This time around the balloon launched from the West Jordan location and made stops at the South Town and Draper restaurants. People are welcome to greet the balloon when it lands, and will likely get some free stuff: T-shirts, cow ears and meal vouchers. If it’s the final landing of the day, you’ll see how they take down the balloon. Chickie the balloon has also flown in the Sandy Hot Air Balloon Festival and been in the Balloon Glow the night of the festival. The daytime festival and launch is normally held at Storm Mountain Park. At the Glow, balloons are lit up at night on the Promenade at Sandy City Hall. Chick-fil-A associates pass out lots of freebies that night, too.

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Chick-fil-A hot air balloon seen over Sandy’s skies in January. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

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West Jordan City Journal

James Brown brings resources to older adults through new multimedia project By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

bout two years ago, James Brown, a Salt Lake Valley media personality for over 30 years, started a new venture. He and other board members formed the Living & Aging with Pride nonprofit organization. Like many older adults, Brown was hit with a rent increase two years ago. His rent went from $900 a month to $2,500 a month. He realized that he had to move. He reached out to his network and found a home at Sharon Gardens (3354 Sue Street). The Utah nonprofit Housing Corporation built the apartments. "I started thinking about my own discovery as I've gotten older. Things that I didn't quite understand. I got to go to Medicaid. I got to go to Medicare. I got to go there. I got to go. I've got to do all these things that I was not prepared to do," Brown said. "And I saw a lot of seniors disappointed and angry and upset, and I thought, you know, I want to talk about this since my background had been in television and radio." Brown began to make his vision come true. First, Living & Aging with Pride was created as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This allows the organization to receive donations. Later a multimedia initiative was added titled "Living and Aging with Pride," which will enable advertising and sponsorships on media products. The vision “‘Living and Aging with Pride’ is a unique multimedia infotainment program which addresses the inevitability of aging and highlights the financial burdens that impact the aging communities' quality of life," according to their website, Livingwithpride.org. "It's more than just a television show or a media show. It is truly being developed to be a resource for older adults that they can rely upon. And not only locally, but on a national perspective," Brown said. The website's goal is to be a one-stop destination for information and discussion of issues concerning older adults. Brown feels that many informational websites push a product or an agenda. "What I've witnessed, rather, is that when you go to many of these sites, it's more about the donation aspect of it, you get that upfront, you don't get the how do I deal with this problem upfront?" Brown said. "Well, we're going to give you the solution to the problem. You know, we're going to prepare you before you get the problem. We're going to educate your children because they're wondering what they're going to do when mommy and daddy get 70 and 80 years old, and we're going to help guide them through." The vision is bold, and Brown has spent two years preparing for the release. He built a podcast studio in a room at his apartment complex. He made partnerships with influencers. There is a four-person board of trustees and an 18-member advisory board. Brown even has a set designed for future video programming. "I'm about a month away from intro-

WestJordanJournal .com

James Brown sets up for his “Living and Aging with Pride” podcast. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

ducing to the world our first three episodes," ask people for money. It's so demeaning, espeBrown won a local Emmy for his story. Brown said. "From there, we will hopefully cially the looks you get," Brown said. l attract the necessary funding that will enable us to produce 13 to 26 television shows. Now, I say television only because that's one of the mechanisms for putting the message out, and we do know that seniors watch television." The podcasts and other information are available on their website. The backstory The name James Brown might sound familiar for those living in Utah. For 13 years, he wrote, produced and hosted a show called "New Horizons" on Channel 14 and Channel Name: Phone: 7. The focus of the show was to explore diversity in Utah. His open conversation style made the show an award winner. Address: He was also a featured reporter for Channel 4 for nine years. Before going to TV, he was on KALL radio. A guest on his talk show City: State: Zip: suggested he move to TV and arranged for his hire at Channel 4. Brown made sure his ethnicOne time Donation: $ Monthly Donation: $ ity was not an issue when he was hired. "I told the producer I wasn’t going to be the minority guy. The guy who covers every Credit Card Number: Exp Date: event involving a Black or Hispanic individual," Brown said. "He asked me what kind of Mail to: City Journals at 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205, Sandy, UT 84070 stories did I want to do. I told him I wanted For security reasons, if you would rather contact City Journals directly, to do good stories. Stories about people doing good things, and I got my wish." call (385)557-1010 or email: accounting@mycityjournals.com One notable Brown story is when he went undercover in the homeless community. For three days, he panhandled in front of a church. Brown said he made about $600 a day. C I T Y "But it was such a humiliating experience. CJ VALLEYJOURNALS.COM 801-254-5974 I thought, how do these people stand here and Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S

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West Jordan City Journal

Learn about notable Utah African Americans for Black History Month By Karmel Harper | k.harper@mycityjournals.com

ntil the November 2020 elections, slavery in Utah was still legal as punishment for a convicted crime. According to Article 1, Section 21, in Utah's state Constitution, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within this State." However, on Nov. 3, 2020, Amendment C, which bans slavery in all forms, passed with 81% of the vote. Utah House Rep. Sandra Collins, who sponsored Amendment C, said, “Our constitution serves as a basis for all of our laws and policies. We need to be clearer about what prison is for and what prison is not. The notion of ‘slavery or involuntary servitude’ should not be imposed on people merely because they are convicted of a crime. By passing this measure, we will assert that slavery is not a Utah value.” Although slavery in Utah was not widespread, some Utah pioneers held African-American slaves until 1862, when Congress abolished slavery in all of its territories. Brigham Young sent three African-American men as part of an advance party in 1847 to clear brush, trees, and rocks to make a road for pioneer wagons. These men were Green Flake, Hark Lay, and Oscar Crosby. Their names appear on a plaque on the Brigham Young Monument in downtown Salt Lake City with the inscription: “Green Flake, Hark Lay, and Oscar Crosby, Colored Servants.” Kristine Murdock, a historian, and administrator for Our Kaysville Story Facebook page, said, “After Green Flake and his wife Martha Crosby (also a slave) were freed, they settled in the Salt Lake Valley. They were members of the LDS Church and very loved in the community. They are buried in the Union Cemetery Cottonwood Heights, Utah.” However, some Utah slaves’ stories were tragic. 1n 1858, when he was only 3 years old, Gobo Fango of the Xhosa tribe in South Africa was given to white property owners Henry and Ruth Talbot after famine afflicted the Xhosa. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Talbots set sail from South Africa to Boston in 1861, where they would join the gathering of saints in Salt Lake City. The Talbots smuggled Fango aboard in a wrapped carpet, but Fango was reported to have provided entertainment and helped take care of the sheep on-board once the ship set sail. After traveling west to Utah, the Talbots eventually settled in Kaysville. According to an article by the University of Utah’s Marriott Library, Fango’s feet froze one year when the Talbots allegedly forced him to herd animals in bare feet. When someone suggested that one of his feet required amputation, he said he ‘would rather have part of a foot than none at all.’ It seems that part of his heel was removed, but

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that doctors did not amputate his foot at the ankle. Years later, a woman reported that Fango would place wool in his boot so that his foot would fit into it and he could walk. He left the Talbots and worked as a laborer for the Mary Ann Whitesides Hunter family, who lived in Grantsville, Utah, roughly between 1870 and 1880. He was listed as a “servant” (likely employed as such) in the 1880 U.S. Census living in Grantsville. Fango settled in the Goose Creek valley of Idaho territory by the 1880s and worked as a sheepherder. However, tensions between sheepherders and cattlemen in the area led to Fango’s murder by cattleman Frank Bedke, who was acquitted. Fango, who was described as generous with a cheerful disposition, dictated his final will and testament before succumbing to his gunshot wounds. He bequeathed half of his estate ($500) to the Salt Lake Temple Construction Fund. Nearly 45 years after his death, Talbot and Hunter’s family members could not find evidence of Fango’s membership in the church and thus performed his baptism by proxy in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 20, 1930. The U of U article said, “Because Fango was a Black African, he could not be ordained to the priesthood posthumously, which would have made it possible for him to receive other LDS liturgies by proxy. As Louisa Hale wrote to a historian seeking information on Fango in 1934, ‘a Negro cannot hold the priesthood. So [performing his posthumous baptism] was all we could do for him. I, of course, feel that he is more worthy than many that do hold it.’” As February is Black History Month, we honor the stories of African Americans who have shaped this country and state. Notable African American Utahns include Mignon Barker Richmond (1897-1984), who was the first African American woman to graduate from a Utah college and was a human and civil rights activist, and Anna Belle Weakley-Mattson (19222008), an astute businesswoman who was a significant force to Ogden’s growing Black community in the 1900s. Daybreak’s Club for Diversity & Inclusion places staked signs around Oquirrh Lake in South Jordan to honor Black History Month, displaying photographs and the history of notable African Americans. Visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of the lake while learning more about these exceptional individuals. Vanessa Janak said, “I think knowledge is power. And I think when we as a community can take even small opportunities to lean in and learn about people who aren’t just like us, it helps us become closer, appreciate others and their differences, and foster a greater sense of purpose and belonging. For everyone.” l

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Cottonwood High School hosts national coaches clinic in February By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

or the fourth year since he’s been at Cottonwood High, head football coach Casey Miller is set to host some of the top football coaches from around the country at the 2022 Utah Coaches Clinic Feb. 18-19. But this year is bound to be a bit different. One of those coaches slated to appear is offensive guru Noel Mazzone. “We are hoping this year we will make a jump with the guys we are flying in and the fact we got shut down for a year because of Covid,” Miller said. Known to many as the “Quarterback Whisperer,” Mazzone learned under such notable coaches as Dennis Erickson at Oregon State and Ed Orgeron in the 2000s before working at Arizona State again under Erickson, and at UCLA, Texas A&M and Arizona as an offensive coordinator through the 2010s. Mazzone has also developed NFL quarterback legends like Philip Rivers and Chad Pennington among others, and is currently an offensive analyst at UConn. But like many in the football coaching profession, Mazzone worked his way up the coaching tree, starting out as a graduate assistant in the early 1980s at the school at which he played—the University of New Mexico. Miller said Mazzone wants to share some of his knowledge that he’s acquired over the decades with the coaches who are planning to attend the two-day clinic—as do the other guest speakers slated to appear this year. At press time they include Taylor High School (Texas) head coach, athletic director and read-option guru Brandon Houston (see more at CoachHuey.com), longtime defensive coordinator Ty Gower and Beaumont High School (Califor-

nia) head coach Jeff Steinberg. For Miller, bringing such coaching expertise to the foot of the Wasatch Mountains for a coaches camp is a necessary step in the evolution of the state’s high school football coaches. “We have improved the format of it a lot [over the past four years]. It is becoming more high school based, less college based, and we have grown slowly to where we have over 100 now,” said Miller, who started this clinic eight years ago when he was the head coach at Hillcrest High. Having a coaches clinic at Cottonwood also means that Utah’s best and brightest don’t always have to travel too far to get the best and latest coaching tips and can stay closer to home, added Miller. “My coaches can learn good football from nationally recognized coaches,” Miller said. “We don't have to pay to go/stay in a casino resort at the other places, and it allows them to network with other coaches in state.” Starting Friday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. at Cottonwood, coaches will listen to several of the afore-mentioned guest speakers before meeting at a nearby restaurant later that evening for a coaches dinner. Coaches will return to Cottonwood High the morning of Saturday, Feb. 19 to participate in breakout sessions before the final guest speaker addresses the group from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Breakfast and a catered lunch will be included with Saturday’s early sessions, said Miller. After the final guest speaker on Saturday the coaches will go back to breakout sessions for the remainder of that afternoon and part of the evening, Miller said. Saturday’s

Cottonwood High will host some of the top football coaches from around the country at the 2022 Utah Coaches Clinic Feb. 18-19. (Pixabay)

session will allow the coaches attending to share notes and tips on how they can improve their programs and build this coaching fraternity. To close out the two-day clinic, there will be a dinner social Saturday night at a site to be determined along with door prizes. At just $75 per person it’s quite a bargain as well— something Miller hopes will capture the interest of all the football coaches out there. To sign up visit coltswebstore. graniteschools.org. l

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West Jordan City Journal

Want cleaner air? Get rid of that old wood-burning stove By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

lean air has become an increasingly important issue for Utahns. It impacts the state’s collective health, its environment, even its economy. There are many different methods by which Utah can work towards cleaner air—both on the individual and institution level—and one of those is by getting rid of old wood-burning stoves. Thom Carter, energy advisor to Gov. Spencer Cox wrote about the danger of these stoves in a guest post on the Department of Environmental Quality’s website. “Wood-burning stoves are a significant source of air pollution—pollution that negatively impacts individuals’ personal health and the environment,” he wrote. “Particles that make up the smoke and soot from wood-burning stoves can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes permanent lung damage for those who inhale the smoke. Especially during the cold winter months, smoke from wood-burning stoves gets trapped with other air pollutants resulting in health-threatening inversions. In fact, wood-burning stoves can cause a mini-inversion within neighborhoods.” To help people get rid of their old

wood-burning stoves, the DEQ has created an assistance program that incentivizes homeowners to upgrade to cleaner heating devices. Applicants can receive anywhere from $500 to $3,800 to help pay for the cost of making the change. There are a few qualifications for homeowners wanting to take advantage of the program. For example, the stove must be actively used for a “significant amount of home heating” in order to qualify. (So you can’t use the program to get rid of that stove in the basement that’s only gathered dust for the last 20 years.) The program also can’t be used for remodeling work or on rental or commercial properties. To learn more about the program and see if your home qualifies, you can visit stoves.utah.gov. l

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ing cough, rabies, and tetanus were introduced, they were welcomed as miracles. Researchers first identified human coronavirus in 1965 and studied diseases like SARS and MERS before COVID-19 jumped up like a maniacal Jack-in-thebox. The COVID vaccine was based on years of research, not months of blindly pouring pretty colors into test tubes. And what about climate change? For decades, researchers told us fossil fuels contribute to an increase of greenhouse gases, which sounds like a great sustainable energy source, but actually traps heat and warms the planet. What did we do to those silly goose scientists? We ripped out their livers and made foie gras. Now we have higher temperatures, severe storms, drought, flooding, Oliva Rodrigo and wildfires because, just like when Aristotle and Bruno walked the (much cooler) earth, people can’t wrap their minds around reality. With little or no science knowledge, deniers continue the assault, and the world is paying the price. What evidence would change their minds? Why do they believe conspiracy theories over proven results? I guess you can guide someone to wisdom, but you can’t make them think.

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out in the universe, much like Tro the Idiot. More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle decided our planet was a sphere, not a flat disc flung through space in a game of Frisbee golf played by Greek gods. But people didn’t believe him. Some flat-folk still don’t believe him. Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for his theory of the cosmos which included the heretical idea that the earth revolved around the sun. Before his death he proclaimed, “Perhaps you who pronounce my sentence are in greater fear than I who receive it.” And that’s what it boils down to: fear. A campaign of distrust based on fear slowly erodes faith in scientists and any theory they present. We all know the government is run by rabid lizards in human suits, but scientists have saved our bacon for centuries. In 1796, Dr. Edward Jenner used gunk from a cowpox sore to inoculate a child against smallpox and gave the world its first hope to combat the terrible illness. When he wasn’t performing in “Hamilton,” President Thomas Jefferson strongly recommended smallpox vaccinations to eradicate the disease. Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1955, becoming a national hero. When vaccines for measles, whoop-

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ROBOTIC GUIDED CLASS IV LASER & SPINAL DECOMPRESSION • BACK PAIN • SCIATICA • SPINAL DEGENERATION • NEUROPATHY • FAILED SURGERY • SPINAL STENOSIS • ARTHRITIS • WHIPLASH • HERNIATED & BULGING DISCS • AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES AND MORE Join the hundreds of patients that have experienced complete relief from the frustrating pain of severe back, neck, and joint problems without surgery, without drugs, and without having to live feeling miserable.

86-94% SUCCESSFUL in the Treatment of Serious Spinal Conditions!

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.” —Steve M., Army Special Forces

Comprehensive Spinal Exam, Consultation (X-rays if needed) & 2 Pain Relieving Treatments for $27

(801) 302-0280 AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES ARE 100% COVERED BY AUTO INSURANCE