Herriman Journal | April 2024

HERRIMAN IMPLEMENTS REVISED ANIMAL CODE

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

After three years of discussions and presentations on the subject, Herriman City has revised its animal code.

One of the final discussions took place at a City Council work meeting on Feb. 14, where, for nearly an hour, members of the City Council and other city officials explored the number of animals residents may have, restraining dogs, female canines in heat, penalties for violations, breeding and kennels. The city aimed to simplify, condense, shorten and clarify Herriman’s animal code while omitting redundancies and making it more readable.

“Typically what we like to do is see what other municipalities are doing,” City Attorney Todd Sheeran said.

Seventeen Salt Lake County municipalities restrict the number of animals per residence. Magna and Kearns are among the few that don’t. On average, residents in Salt Lake County may have four animals. Likewise, in Herriman, residents may own no more than four nonagricultural animals with up to three of one type of animal.

“For example, you can have three dogs and a cat (3+1), but not four dogs. There isn’t a restriction on males versus females,” Communications Manager Jon LaFollette said. Exceptions to this rule include conditional permits for breeders, fostering and hobbyists.

Limitations on numbers were examined at length. “There should be some consideration over the kind of property it is… a quarter-acre residential lot would be different than a five-acre agricultural lot,” Councilmember Steven Shields proposed.

Councilmember Sherrie Ohrn shied away from choosing a

The City Council has just voted to adopt the revised animal code. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

Successful fundraiser leads to successful future leaders

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

The cost of the Leader in Me program has increased in the last few years and many schools are abandoning the curriculum based on Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits, but the staff members and parents of Butterfield Canyon Elementary are committed to continuing with the program.

“I think that it’s worth paying for,” third grade teacher Janet Hall said. “It’s just such a valuable resource to help us implement these habits in meaningful ways to the kids. I feel like these habits really set kids up to be successful in life to be the leader of their own life and the direction they want to take.”

The school community council holds a lead-a-thon fundraiser each year to pay for the evidence-based program’s licensing fees and materials as well as an incentive program which rewards students for exhibiting the habits.

Principal Jay Eads said this will be a more expensive year because, while the school has used the program for many years, about half of the staff members have not had in-depth training on it.

“This summer, we will be doing a relaunch of the program so all teachers have been trained on this program,” he said.

The Leader in Me is a school-wide program with a specialist who works with students once a week and teachers reinforcing the program’s 7 Habits through developmentally appropriate lesson plans. When the kindergarteners practice the habit First Things First, they identify what tasks are work and which are play. By the time they are in sixth grade, students are learning to prioritize tasks on their list according to their values.

“I try to take advantage of every opportunity that just comes up naturally in the classroom to refer back to how these habits help us in our life to be successful, not only in our schoolwork, but in relationships with peers

and at home, so I just feel like they’re really valuable,” Hall said.

She has observed her third-graders applying the habits on the playground and while working on group projects. Students confront someone for not ‘seeking to understand’ or compliment someone who is ‘being proactive.’

Families are also encouraged to support students by applying the habits at home. The lead-a-thon fundraiser invited students to engage in activities with their families that reinforce the 7 Habits of the program, such as make a to-do list as a family and prioritize the tasks, or do something to help a family member without being asked. The students asked family and friends to make a donation based on the number of tasks they completed.

“While it is about raising money, we also want to showcase the skills that the program teaches to kids,” Hall said.

The school achieved their fundraising goal of $10,000, which will fund the Leader in Me Program, Principal’s Pride recognitions, the Kids in Action afterschool program and possibly a structured recess program next year.

To celebrate achieving their goal, students earned a fun assembly in which their teachers entertained them with silly skits, songs and games. The Mountain Ridge High School pep band kept the students’ energy high and high school SBO officers talked to kids about leadership skills.

MRHS SBO Junior Class Officer MJ Darton was impressed with the school’s leadership program.

“I love that they’re starting early in elementary,” she said. “Because I feel like a lot of kids in our high school don’t really know what leadership is, so I think it’s amazing that they’re teaching their kids to be optimistic and have leadership.”

SBO Spirit Officer Carter Jackson said

learning leadership skills at a young age will give kids the confidence to be able to excel in high school.

Hall said the program prepares students for life.

“Learning and living these habits are such a powerful skill for kids that they’re not just going to use now, but that they’ll use their whole life,” she said. “That will help them feel empowered to be in charge of themselves and the direction their life takes. l

The Butterfield Canyon Elementary administration team rocks the school fundraiser celebration with a Van Halen lip sync. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Mountain Ridge High SBOs enthusiastically greet Butterfield Canyon Elementary school students at the end of their lead-a-thon assembly. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

The sixth grade teachers perform for students to celebrate the success of the school fundraiser. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Science is an art form at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Many students who have been learning about the sun and moon are excited to watch the solar eclipse on the morning of April 8. While most students will be looking up at the sun during the eclipse (with protective eyewear), Majestic Elementary Arts Academy students will also be looking down to notice the effect of the eclipse on shadows and to capture them in an art project.

“Students will use chalk to trace patterns that appear on the playground,” school STEAM specialist Meredith Llewellyn said. Fourth grade students, whose science core standards include learning to find observable patterns in the sky, will also create oil pastel models of the eclipse.

Science is an art form at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy, an arts integration public school located in West Jordan.

Llewellyn works with students weekly, integrating art concepts with the science standards they are learning.

“Every subject that I teach, I teach with art integration,” Llewellyn said. “Everything is paired with an art standard and with a science or math standard. It just helps the kids understand it better and it helps them engage in it better. And it’s really fun.”

When first graders learned about

light and shadows, they created a pop-up character with its shadow drawn in the background. They copied the style of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ to show the movement of the sun and moon, another grade level science standard.

Second graders used 3D paper art, puppets and seeds to create art projects showing what they’d learned about pollinators, plants and animal habitats.

Third-grade scientists learned about patterns in weather by learning about tree rings and then painting their own.

Fourth-graders had fun playing with the concepts of potential and kinetic energy by designing models of interactive playground equipment.

Llewellyn said that as students create art projects, the academic concepts are reinforced, such as when she had fourth graders create an art piece based on sound wave patterns.

“They learned about sound waves, and the difference between all the types of amplitudes and frequencies and wavelengths, by repeating it as they draw it,” Llewellyn said. “And then they color it, then they paint it, and that whole process just embeds it in each layer.”

Many of the science and math-based

art projects were on display at the school’s annual art show in March. Fourth-grader Joey Machado saw his clay dinosaur fossil creation on display and was easily able to recount the steps in the process of the fossilization he learned when he made the project.

Llewellyn is always looking for new methods and materials to incorporate into her lessons. When developing an activity to teach sixth grade students about the process which formed the planets in our solar system, Llewellyn discovered an old technique of wool needle-felting which uses a similar process.

“We talked about how our planets are made by coming to the center, so when you needle-felt, you push the felt and the wool into the center,” she said. “It was just a way to teach a concept that you don’t get when you just watch a movie or you just draw a picture. When you are actually pushing something towards the center, and discussing it with kids at your table, that just adds to the lesson more than I could with 1,000 words. I just stood back and listened to them teach each other.” l

Sixth-graders’ solar system artwork was created by needle-felting which mimicked the process of planet formation. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Fourth-grader Joey Machado poses by his dinosaur fossil art piece. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Art projects at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy’s annual art show illustrate science concepts. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Art projects at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy’s annual art show illustrate science concepts. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Playground equipment designs demonstrate what fourth-graders learned about potential and kinetic energy. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Sixth-graders learned that sound wave patterns can become art. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

STEAM class projects are both artistic and educational. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Majestic Elementary Arts Academy’s annual art show pieces illustrate science concepts. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

It has begun! The first Olympia construction project is underway

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

Residents near 6400 West in Herriman may have noticed heavy machinery, noise and dust in their neighborhoods for the past few months. This is due to construction on the infrastructure for the Olympia development (formerly Olympia Hills) in northwestern Herriman.

In late 2023, developers began construction on the first phase of the Olympia project, which will continue 6400 West southward from Herriman Blvd. (12600 South), connecting it to the new Olympia Blvd.. Olympia will be a 933-acre development built in phases over the next several years. The continuation of 6400 West will accommodate bicycles and pedestrians.

“[It] will be a three-lane road with bike lanes and an asphalt trail on one side and sidewalk on the other,” the city revealed. “We expect that’ll be completed sometime in the summer.”

A sizable roundabout at the junction of 6400 West and Olympia Blvd. will feature landscaping and pedestrian islands for safer street crossing. Both sides of 6400 West will include park strips and paved trails. The street will allow access to the currently approved subdivisions and will help minimize construction traffic on existing roads. Paving preparation and utility work on the road has been ongoing, and curbs, gutters and pavements are expected

to be completed during the spring.

The city’s website also confirms, “The closed end of Heritage Hill Drive will connect to the new 6400 West roadway and a precast wall will be installed

on the east side of the road along the Heritage neighborhood.”

For years, many residents from surrounding areas have expressed dismay and even anger over the Olympia development. Elected Herriman officials were among those frustrated during the initial Salt Lake County approval processes. The city contested the development in 2018 and again in 2020, when it was ultimately approved by the county.

“At that time, in February 2020, the land that Olympia is being built on was not part of Herriman and was approved and entitled through Salt Lake County,” the city said. “Herriman City had zero control over what was approved at that point since it was outside our boundaries.”

To gain some control over Olympia’s progression, the city met with the devel -

oper for several months in 2021 to discuss the possible annexation of the land and how to best integrate the forthcoming community into Herriman. “Once the developer and the city decided that annexation… was the best path forward, the borders changed and they became part of the city,” a Herriman representative said.

As part of the annexation process, which was completed in 2021, the city negotiated a Master Development Agreement that was more favorable for Herriman than what the county had planned. The developer is still free to develop the land according to the MDA, but Herriman is now involved in the process.

“There are several aspects regulated by the MDA that must be complied with, which include the Parks Master Plan (open space), Trails Master Plan (trail connec -

Construction on 6400 West will connect it to Olympia Blvd. (Map courtesy Herriman City)

Three subdivisions have been approved, and a fourth is expected to be approved soon. (Map courtesy Herriman City)

Construction on 6400 West began late last year. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Construction on 6400 West began late last year. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

tions), Active Transportation Plan and the Roads Master Plan (street types and design),” states a 2023 Herriman City staff report to the City Planning Commission. “The MDA also includes Design Guidelines to dictate what development within each of these plans should look like and include.”

Funding for the construction of the northern section of 6400 West falls to the city, though the developer will foot the upfront costs for Herriman’s portion, and the city will reimburse them at a later date.

“The roadway connection from Herriman Boulevard is the responsibility of the city to install, but the developer for Olympia is responsible for all improvements behind the curb of 6400 West on both sides of the street,” states another 2023 staff report.

Three residential subdivisions in Olympia have been approved thus far. “[The subdivisions are] known as Great Basin, Joshua Tree and Kings Canyon,” the city noted. A fourth called Mount Rainier is expected to be approved soon.

The proposed Great Basin subdivision will include 150 residential units, 78 of which will be detached single-family homes. Access to the subdivision will be mainly through 6400 West, though southern access points are also planned. There will be approximately six residential units per acre, with the average lot size being 5,970 square feet, or about 0.14 acres.

The proposed Kings Canyon subdivision will entail 71 detached single-family homes with a total of 143 residences. Access will also come from 6400 West as well as Oceanside Drive. There will be about 6.26 units per acre. The average lot is 4,612 square feet, or about 0.10 acres.

The Joshua Tree proposal consists of 210 residential units, 55 of which will be single-family detached homes. The attached homes will include townhomes and stacked apartment units. The average detached lot size is 2,870 square feet or about 0.066 acres. The attached units range from 579 to 1,210 square feet. There are approximately 12 units per acre. Joshua Tree will also include nearly five acres of open space, or 28% of the subdivision, including a central 1.2-acre park. The park is to include a trail, playground, pavilion area, open grass space, and 20 parking spaces.

Mount Rainier is expected to have 528 attached residential units. When the entirety of Olympia is completed, the development will include up to 6,330 residential units in addition to commercial zones and open space. In the center of the community will be a 7.46-acre park, which will be funded by the city. l

Mustangs off and running to excellent start

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

High school softball teams pack a lot of games int the regular season, but so far, Herriman High School fans can’t complain with the results.

The Mustangs won nine of their first 10 games, including both of their first two region contests. Most of the games weren’t close either, as Herriman has shown its dominance. Only one of the wins was closer than five runs, and that was in the season opener on March 8 against out-of-state foe Bishop Kelly, Idaho, which the Mustangs won 6-5. The only setback was to Pleasant Grove, a 7-5 loss on March 9. The first five games were held in St. George at the March WarmUp Elite Tournament.

“The season is going well,” head coach Heidi McKissick said. “We played well in St. George last weekend and went 4-1. Our team has shown remarkable promise.”

All this from a team that, incredibly, has no seniors on the squad.

The Mustangs are made up entirely of juniors, sophomores and freshmen, showing that this team should be a force for the next few years at least.

“We have no seniors, and our young talents have stepped up admirably, bringing energy and fresh skill sets to the field,” McKissick said.

McKissick has simple goals and has set some interesting metrics to accomplish those objectives.

“Our primary goal for this team is continuous improvement, to get better every game, every at bat,” she said. “We have set our team goal to score 10 runs in every game. This goal serves as a motivational benchmark, pushing our athletes to sharpen their offensive skills and capitalize on scoring opportunities.”

Herriman has done well in living up to these goals. In only two of the first 10 games did the Mustangs not reach at least 10 runs. The team scored at least 15 runs seven times during this span.

What makes Herriman so dangerous offensively? McKissick said she has some excellent hitting on the team. Of course, the defense is no slouch either. Through the first 10 games, only two teams earned more than five runs on the Mustangs. Herriman also had two shutouts in this span of games.

“We have powerful hitters 1-9, ensuring that our batting order can consistently apply pressure to opposing teams,” McKissick said. “Our defense is equally formidable, providing the necessary backbone to support our offensive efforts. We have young, but very capable pitchers: one junior, one sophomore and four freshmen. They each bring something different to the game, and we’re happy to have so much depth defensively.”

When your team scores an average of 14 runs a game, it’s hard to find much fault or choose areas that need to get better. McK-

issick said she would like to see the Mustangs score in each inning. If this can occur more often, it’s not going to be easy for anyone to beat Herriman.

“This will require a strategic approach to at-bats and a focus on situational hitting,” she said. “By scoring each inning, we can build pressure on our opponents and increase our chances of victory.”

McKissick has several key players she relies on and that drive the team’s success. Some of the top players include junior shortstop Keira Rodriguez, junior designated hitter Tanzie Smith, junior outfielder McKenzie Quintero, junior first baseman Maddy Maxfield and junior second baseman Kinlee McDermaid.

“[Quintero] is a leader, a solid outfielder, has a great arm, is fast on the bases and her bat is remarkable,” McKissick said. “[Rodriguez] is a leader, good fielder, fast and has a great bat. [Smith] is a leader, was the second-leading hitter last year and will do it again this year. [McDermaid] is a solid defender and a great batter. [Maxfield] leads the team with the most doubles.”

The sophomore class has pitcher and outfielder Sofia Lancaster, whom McKissick said “is a great pitcher and hitter.” A trio of freshman—Sammy Nelson, Ashlyn Beratto and Sierra Prescott—have started to make their mark on the program and have incredible promise for the future.

“[Nelson] is a smooth fielder and can play anywhere, and her bat is a threat,” McKissick said. “[Beratto] and [Prescott] work hard and hold their own as freshmen.”

The Herriman team is loaded with talent at every position. The hitting, pitching and fielding have been excellent. Still, McKissick knows that winning state, or even region, won’t be easy. Region 2, which consists of opponents Corner Canyon, Mountain Ridge, Copper Hills, Bingham and state

power Riverton present formidable obstacles.

“The biggest challenge we face is the competitive nature of our region,” she said. “With some of the top teams in 6A as our adversaries, every region game is expected to be a rigorous contest.”

Herriman will go up against these foes twice apiece, concluding with a game at home against Bingham May 2. Following that contest, Herriman will play two more non-region games, at Pleasant Grove on May 6 and at Westlake on May 8. The Class 6A state tournament starts May 16.

This young group is one that McKissick loves being around. She enjoys seeing the growth and development in the girls as well as their positive attitudes and work ethics.

“Coaching this team is a highly rewarding experience, primarily due to the players’ willingness to embrace challenges and their desire for constant improvement,” she said. “Their drive to be pushed and their openness to learning make each coaching session productive and enjoyable.” l

The Herriman softball team began the season with a glossy 9-1 record, routing most opponents. The Mustangs play in a tough region but should be a factor in the league race. (Photo courtesy Heidi McKissick)

Herriman’s Sofia Lancaster, a sophomore, winds up for a pitch in a game earlier this season. Lancaster is part of a large group of underclassmen who lead the Mustangs. (Photo courtesy Heidi McKissick)

High-quality, innovative health care with a heavy dose of compassion

With a focus on health care excellence, community service and faith – the doctors, nurses and care teams at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West are committed to compassionate and high-quality care for their neighbors.

It has been nearly a year since CommonSpirit Health took over five Wasatch Front hospitals that now bear the name Holy Cross, a reference to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who brought Catholic, faith-based health care to the people of Utah nearly 150 years ago. Today, the hospitals are reinvigorating the Sisters’ vision while caring for all with open arms.

“Our care is focused on neighbors helping neighbors, whether they be in West Jordan, West Valley City, or our surrounding communities,” said Christine McSweeney, CEO of both Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley in West Jordan, and Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley West in West Valley City. “Our care providers live in these communities, and we are committed to playing an active role in improving the health of those around us –inside and outside of our hospital walls.”

Besides innovative health care in services that include orthopedics, bariatric programs, a cancer center, heart care, stroke accreditation and a Trauma III ER, the hospital’s teams are actively involved in helping to make the communities better, from leading food drives at local schools to partnering with the American Heart Association to educate our communities on heart health.

Through its Hello Humankindness program, CommonSpirit is actively promoting the health benefits

of kindness and recognizing employees who go above and beyond the call of their jobs to help those in need.

“We believe that simple acts of kindness have a profound impact on the lives of our patients and communities, in addition to the medical expertise that our doctors and nurses provide,” McSweeney said.

The community-focused work also involves close partnerships with local first responders, including fire departments and EMS agencies, who understand the advanced medical care that CommonSpirit provides at its Holy Cross hospitals when patients need an ambulance.

“They know we have some of the most advanced stroke care in our communities and some of the most advanced heart care,” McSweeney added.

CommonSpirit’s mission includes advancing social justice for all, and last fall, it bestowed eight grants from its Health Equity & Advancement Fund to local nonprofits that are working every day to improve lives in ways that include health screenings for Spanishspeaking neighbors and mental health treatment for children and families.

With a long legacy of service and healing, CommonSpirit is just getting started in extending health care excellence for all Utahns at the Holy Cross hospitals.

“Our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity,” McSweeney said.

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org

When things go wrong, we provide the right care.

Christine McSweeney, CEO

Herriman boys soccer feels good about team despite early losses

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Coaches don’t always measure success and progress by scores or records. Include Herriman boys soccer coach Marcello Gasperini in this group.

The fourth-year coach, who guided the Mustangs to the 2022 Class 6A state title, is pleased with his team even though it got off to a 1-4 start. Herriman assembled a diverse team and have started coming together and learning to play as a unit.

“The team has performed very well, but it won’t show on the scoreboards,” Gasperini said. “High school soccer gets two weeks before we have our first game. We have pulled players from six different club teams and have to find the magic in a very short period of time. We are playing in different formations than we have in the past, so there is a lot to cover and very little time. [Our losses] taught us about who we are and how hard to push to play at the next level.”

Herriman lost at Farmington 2-0 to open the season March 7, followed by an identical 2-0 loss at Weber March 13. The Region 2 opener on March 20 went well, with Herriman earning a decisive 4-2 win at Corner Canyon. Losses of 2-1 to Mountain Ridge on March 22 and 2-0 at Bingham on March 25 followed.

Gasperini has lofty goals for the team— not just for what happens in games but with the preparation it takes to play well. He wants his players to practice hard, stay focused and have a strong commitment to themselves, the team and each other.

“I always have extremely high expectations for this team on and off of the field,” he said. “Wearing this jersey and representing Mustang Soccer requires character, hard work and selflessness. The game gives us so much more than wins and losses, and it’s our job to take advantage of it. If we do a few things right, we get to take advantage of it while winning. My expectations are to focus on progress before perfection. We believe in striving to be better than the last. Every time we take the pitch, I expect every player to play better than they did the last time they touched the ball. When we do this, we peak at just the right time and become a dangerously good team right as we approach playoffs.”

This formula worked to perfection two years ago when the Mustangs had an up-anddown regular season, going just 5-8 but then reeled off an impressive five victories in the state tournament. The streak culminated in a 1-0 victory over Davis in the finals.

Of course, achieving the team goals won’t happen automatically. The Mustangs need to play as one and build upon their wins.

“We need early season wins,” Gasperini said. “The wins confirm that the hard work, blood, sweat and tears are worth it. More importantly, the wins gel the team together. The players’ roles and relationships take purpose

and meaning, and they start to see themselves as a team—as a Mustang and not just a player from a different club. We are asking very high-level players to make adaptations to the successful ways they play the game. When these roles click, literally you can see it, you can feel it. If we win early, it paves the way for player bonds to take fire. We can still be successful without the early wins, but it’s a riskier path and much more difficult to overcome.”

Gasperini also has a different view of what success could look like outside of wins and losses.

“The season is a success when I can send 40 players back to their club teams or off to college with something new that they didn’t have before,” he said.

One strength the Mustangs have is how well the players know the game. Gasperini said his team has a high soccer IQ. Herriman also has a lot of depth, which is a huge asset.

“The talent of the starting 11 and the next best 11 is insane,” he said. “We have a deep bench with so many different styles of talent. This allows us to put different textures on the game and keep the element of surprise against the competition.”

It also helps that the players get along so well. Gasperini loves that his players are friends and that they have developed excellent camaraderie.

“In addition to technical talent, these boys are brothers—on and off the field,” he said. “If they aren’t training together, they are hanging out, going to support other Mustang sports, battling it out in FIFA [video games]. They are constantly together and around each other and having fun together. The Mustang brotherhood is alive and well with this 2024 team.”

Herriman has a host of contributors, both starters and reserves. In the senior class, goalkeeper Jayden Newman, defender Carter Hoskin, defender Caleb Houston, defender Jeffrey Smith, midfielder Jarrett Harbaugh, forward Atticus Coons, midfielder Josiah Henderson and forward Bennett McEwan are great leaders and performers. The junior class has several standouts, too. Players to watch include midfielder Alex Dunham, defender Avery Price, goalkeeper Kahler Speyer, forward Elijah Conley, defender Tyrell Curry, defender Ryan Pulsipher, forward Blake Peterson, defender Miles Jenson and midfielder Josh Burrup. Gasperini also likes the play of juniors Sergio Torres and Harry Quealy.

It’s a true team effort. Herriman doesn’t even have traditional captains as most squads have.

“We are a team,” Gasperini said. “We rely on 10 other guys on the field with us at any given point in time to carry us through our best and worst performances. We don’t need superstars or individuals to win games; we need the herd. It takes 11 guys to win,

not any individual. We don’t have full-time captains; that role is earned every week by the players who stand out as leaders and who make the guys around them better. This keeps ego and entitlement out of the game.”

Herriman hosts Copper Hills May 3 to wrap up the regular season after playing each Region 2 foe twice. The state tournament starts May 10.

“This team is a special one,” Gasperini said. “I love being a part of their learning process.” l

Junior Ryan Pulsipher (Photo courtesy Marcello Gasperini)

Junior Josh Burrup (Photo courtesy Marcello Gasperini)

Senior Jayden Newman (Photo courtesy Marcello Gasperini)

Herriman track features balanced, competitive team

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Herriman High School has built a strong tradition of producing talented, accomplished track and field athletes.

This season is shaping up to be another banner year for the team.

The Mustangs have a good group of athletes on both the boys’ and girls’ side. In fact, head coach Doug Soles is confident that his squad will be in the mix for top honors at the upcoming Class 6A state tournament.

“Both the boys and girls teams for Herriman will be looking to compete against the top teams at state this year,” he said. “We have solid balanced teams with many who can make a state final. Our distance team should score quite a few points again this year.”

The success of the distance runners shouldn’t be surprising considering Herriman’s cross country team this past fall won Nike Cross Nationals. Some athletes on the team have already set personal records.

“We are developing a more balanced team this year with solid kids in most areas,” Soles said.

Herriman faces some stiff competition in Region 2, including Bingham, Riverton, Copper Hills and Corner Canyon. In April, the Mustangs will take part in the Oregon Relays where they’ll get a good measuring stick of where they stand.

Soles thinks his group has a good shot of finishing high in the 6A standings at the state tournament in May.

“I think getting both teams in the top three at state is a realistic goal and gives us something to work hard for,” he said. “We travel to the Oregon Relays in April and will look to show we can run with many of the top teams in the country. We are shooting for consistency in our team performance.”

One thing that has helped develop the program and improve runners’ times and other athletes’ performance is the knowledge and experience of the coaching staff. Herriman’s senior class has taken on the role of leadership.

“We have really good coaches in all areas, and that has helped us develop good athletes in many event areas,” Soles said. “I think the seniors this year have been a special group and are a strength for the team. They are ready to compete. Distance and vault should be areas we really stand out.”

Individually, several athletes are among the best in the 6A in their events. Keep an eye out for senior Addie Freeland, who is a state contender in throwing. Fellow senior Kate Garner is a strong hurdler, while sophomore Halle Willardson is a great sprinter. Senior Alayna Wardle and

junior Maci Woolf should be in the mix in distance events at state.

“[Freeland] is a great legacy with her family being a bunch of amazing throwers and her brother so dominant over the years,” Soles said.

The boys have some talented athletes, too.

Zeke Kearney, a junior, should be a state contender in throws, and senior Devante Stieb is the leader for the Mustangs in the long jump. Senior Nigel Feese is an excellent high jumper. A trio of distance runners—seniors William Steadman, Max Hofheins and Jack Beckstrom—highlight that group for the boys team.

“[Hofheins] and [Beckstrom] have been friends since they were babies and have now led Herriman to a cross country national championship and a lot of success on the track,” Soles said

There are a few areas of concern for the Mustangs as well as areas where Soles would like to see some improvement.

“The biggest issue is keeping up in the

sprints,” he said. “We have improved, but there are some really strong sprint squads in our region, and we are still developing there. We will attempt to close the gap in other areas, while sprints continue to develop. We are making good strides, but it takes time.”

Continual improvement is essential in all events, especially considering the competition Herriman faces is so stiff.

“We did a good job competing on the big stage last year, and I think just continually working to get comfortable competing against the top teams in big meets is what I would like to see,” Soles said. “Also, seeing other groups on the team really focus on the little things to improve.”

The 6A state meet will be May 16–18 at Brigham Young University. The week before, Herriman and its fellow league opponents will take part in the Region 2 tournament to determine which athletes qualify for state. Expect to see a bunch of Herriman track and field athletes on that big stage. Whoever makes it for Herriman

to state will run, jump and throw alongside the best track and field athletes in the state. Last season, Herriman was runner up on the boys’ side, coming up just behind Corner Canyon, which is now a Region 2 opponent. In 2023, the girls placed 13th overall. Combined, the boys and girls were fifth in state with 98 points, six points ahead of Bingham and 13 points behind fourth-place Skyridge.

Soles said he couldn’t do this job without a supportive school administration and without dedicated, caring parents. And, of course, working with the kids is gratifying and fulfilling.

“What I enjoy most about coaching this team is the great kids,” he said. “We have really great families at Herriman with a real sense of pride for the community. I love that they really like where they are from and will work hard to make their community proud. We have lots of admin and community support here.” l

Noah Jenkins (left, now running at BYU), Max Hofheins, Doug Soles and William Steadman have helped make Herriman track what it is today. (Photo courtesy Doug Soles)

Young Mountain Ridge boys tennis team filled with promise

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

The Mountain Ridge boys tennis team has had some ups and downs since the school opened, but head coach Parker Hansen thinks things could be tilting in the Sentinels’ direction.

The 2024 version lacks a lot of seasoned veterans, but the underclassmen have talent and provide a lot of optimism—for this season and the years to come.

“We have a very young team and there is so much talent and potential,” Hansen said. “We have a lot of young, talented players coming into Mountain Ridge who I can see playing varsity and helping us win a lot of games in years to come. I’m excited to coach the young talent and get them experience for the coming years.”

Leading the team is first singles player Luke Dalton, second singles player Spencer White and the first doubles tandem of Brigham Bennion and Bridger Newsome. These four players are skilled, give a good effort and help the other players get better.

“All are very experienced and very consistent in their game,” Hansen said. “They lead the team with their attitude and hard work.”

Mountain Ridge competes in Class 6A’s Region 2, which features some strong programs. The Sentinels will encounter Corner

Canyon, Herriman, Copper Hills, Riverton and Bingham. Hansen knows there are difficult matches ahead but that every time on the court can be a learning experience. The Sentinels will face their region foes and then take part in the Region 2 tournament. These matches will determine which players qualify for the 6A state tournament, which starts May 4 at Farmington High School for the first round and then continues May 9 and 11 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City with further rounds.

For Mountain Ridge players to get to state and for the team to do well this season, Hansen is working on fundamentals, strategy and other basics of the game. He wants his players to understand the sport, work hard and give it their all—whether in a match or at practice.

“Our team needs to zone in on the analytics of tennis,” he said. “We need to focus on working on the strategy, angles and hustle during practices. Also, I’m looking to improve the mental side of our team. We have a lot of talented players who are being limited by themselves.”

Hansen gets a lot out of working with the boys and seeing them succeed on and off the tennis court. To him, it’s just as important that the boys enjoy the sport and the time

they have together as it is to get a certain number of wins.

“My favorite thing about the team is their excitement for the game and for each other,” he said. “Every single practice and match is fun. The guys make tennis fun, and they enjoy being around each other. I love seeing them make best friends on and off the court.”

To build the program, Hansen hopes that the entire mindset about the sport and

the team at Mountain Ridge can shift. He is working hard to generate more interest in tennis so more players try out.

“My goal is to change the culture of tennis and develop an excitement around this team,” he said. “We have a lot of fun and energetic players who are fun to watch. I’m hoping that this energy will trickle to the middle schools and high school, and we’ll have a lot of people trying out for the team next year.” l

The Mountain Ridge boys tennis team sports shirts with their coach’s face. (Photo courtesy Parker Hansen)

Continued from front page

specific number to allow. “Why would we limit it to a certain arbitrary number… it should just simply be, your animals have to be treated humanely in our city,” she said, also recognizing the need to limit the impact on neighbors. Other personnel noted that restrictions help the city deal with problems when they arise.

Another topic of interest was rabies vaccinations. Herriman requires that unvaccinated animals exposed to a rabid animal be either euthanized or quarantined for up to six months where they are monitored by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense.

“Monitoring parameters are up to the veterinarian, but the intent is to make sure the animal is healthy and safe,” LaFollette said. Acceptable locations are approved at the discretion of Herriman Animal Services. Sadly, if the animal shows symptoms of rabies during quarantine, it must be euthanized.

The city has also received numerous comments about leashes. With the warmer weather, residents begin to venture outside more, but for some, outdoor recreation is becoming a nerve-wracking endeavor because of the fear of uncontrolled dogs. “I see dogs off leash ALL the time. It’s become an epidemic of people thinking their animal wouldn’t hurt another,” Bree Binks-Pestka said via Facebook.

At the February work meeting, Ohrn made a similar comment: “I see all over the city people not having their dogs on a leash.”

Because of experiences with out-of-con-

trol canines, some residents are increasingly uneasy when they go for walks. “My brother’s white schnauzer [in Herriman] was attacked this summer and died… and the owners didn’t want to take responsibility for having their dog out front [unleashed],” posted Ligaya Dyan Peterson on Facebook.

When out and about with or without their pups, some residents carry pepper spray or hornet spray, and one even revealed that she now carries a gun. Some owners have also opted to stop walking their dogs altogether. “The number of irresponsible pet owners in Herriman is out of control,” declared resident Julie Hill Meisner on Facebook.

Debbie Yeager-Sauve also shared her experiences on the social media platform. “Our small dog was attacked while we were walking… He ended up with 8 stitches in his head… I’ve had problems with large dogs on extendable leashes aggressively approaching my two small dogs… You can’t take a relaxing walk without having to be ‘on guard’ all the time,” she explained.

Residents have the option of immediately reporting an aggressive dog to Animal Services and are encouraged to call 911 if they feel they are in danger. “People have a right to reasonably protect themselves against any real threats,” LaFollette said.

In addition, many residents are frustrated that they are responsible for the safety of other dogs. “It has happened to me several times… where a small dog off leash… will approach my big dog and… [get bitten]… Again, we are on leash, they are not,” posted Brittney Walk via Facebook. Large breed owner Jesse Mlaker also explained his struggles with off-leash dogs. “My dog is not aggressive and is the one being attacked while we walk him,” he said. “Happens all the time… I break up the fights. But… my dog could really harm theirs… and it’s been up to me to keep their off-leash dogs safe.”

Three leash options were explored during the Valentine’s Day work meeting: leashes for all unconfined dogs, e-collars within sight if the owner carries a leash, or no leashes as long as the owner has “control.” Most city officials were in favor of the first option. The appropri-

City officials discuss changes to the animal code. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

A sign at the Herriman Dog Park specifies one of the park rules. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Patrons of the Herriman Dog Park on Main Street are responsible for their canines. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

ate length of leashes came up as well.

“As a dog owner, I’m of the opinion that the length of the leash does matter… six feet makes a lot of sense to me because that’s how far I can reach,” Councilmember Jared Henderson said.

Enforcement was also a concern. The council seemed to agree that because of limited resources, animal ordinances are usually only actively enforced when neighbors complain or a dog escapes and roams.

“[Ordinances] are simply a tool for enforcement or liability in a tough situation. We focus on education first and repeat offenders,” Shields said. “[Ordinances] will allow for the ability to change bad actors.” Attendees recognized that they didn’t want to get someone in trouble for playing fetch with their off-leash dog at a park.

Technically, any violation of the animal code can be escalated in severe cases to a Class B Misdemeanor. While misdemeanors are more serious crimes than infractions, they are not as serious as felonies. There are also three classes of misdemeanors, A, B, and C, with A being the most serious and C being the least. “Examples of Class B crimes include prostitution or gambling. A person convicted… can face a maximum of six months in a county jail… [or] be required to pay $1,000 or less in fines,” the website of Sandy law office TR Spencer states.

Drunk driving also falls into this category. Class B misdemeanors usually remain on someone’s record for four years and can have serious repercussions, including affecting future educational and job opportunities. “Animal code violations are enforced as infractions except (very rarely) in severe/frequently repeating or egregious cases,” LaFollette said. “Our goal is simply compliance and safety.”

Penalties for infractions may include fines up to $750 and compensatory service.

The city also discussed decreasing the severity of punishments for code violations. In South Jordan, residents are charged with infractions for first-time offenses for a dog at large, but if there is another incident within five years, they are then charged with a Class B misdemeanor. Many at the work meeting in February agreed that five years was too long, but if a dog attacks someone, owners should be charged with a misdemeanor.

“The vast majority of cases [in Herriman] end in a plea in abeyance, which grants a time

period for the person to come into compliance… and the incident is no longer on their record,” LaFollette said. Herriman may also choose to issue a citation or obtain a court order to ensure compliance.

City officials universally acknowledged the need for dogs to be properly licensed. In Herriman, dogs, cats and ferrets must be licensed every year. Along with the application and licensing fee, owners must submit rabies and sterilization documents. The owner will receive a nontransferable tag stamped with the license number, which animals must wear at all times unless they have been chipped and are on their owner’s property.

The thorough discussion culminated in a decision at the March 13 City Council meeting to adopt an amended code. After another hour of discussion, the council voted to completely repeal the current code and replace it with the updated one written by city staff and presented by Sheeran. “We cleaned up definitions and made it consistent… and differentiated between animals and livestock, which wasn’t clear before,” Sheeran said. A provision in the prior code granting permits for vicious or dangerous animals was removed and stipulations for nuisances were simplified to specify primarily barking and whining.

At least one Herriman resident hopes that the barking ordinance will be enforced more

actively. Kerry Kemp Dalling has heard her neighbor’s dog barking daily for years. Sometimes she and her husband can’t hear the TV, and the uncooperative neighbor has shouted obscenities and insults at her.

“We can’t get any peace,” Dalling said. “The barking is so loud and shrill.”

Herriman Animal Services told her she needed to complete a 10-day log documenting the barking, which she completed in September of 2023. She contacted City Prosecutor Matthew Brooks on Nov. 7, who told her that the city would file a summons for the owner with a court date sometime in December. The case was adjudicated in January, and as far as the city knew, the issue had been resolved, but Dalling has claimed that the dog continues to disrupt her life. “With these sorts of cases, the adjudication is completed and there’s often a time period for people to come into compliance. If there aren’t any reported issues in that time, then it’s considered done,” LaFollette said. In March, Dalling alerted the city to the continued problem, and the case has been reopened. The penalty for noncompliance with the nuisance code is now officially an infraction rather than a misdemeanor.

The updated code also provides protocol for when an animal has been hit by a car, and penalties for some violations have been changed per the work meeting discussion. If a

dog bites someone, it is still a Class B misdemeanor for the owner, but if a dog gets loose or relieves itself in someone else’s yard, it is now only an infraction for first offenses. For repeat offenses within three years—instead of five—the owner will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and then a Class B. The current code also clarifies the process of impounding and disposing of animals for staff and continues to limit the number of animals per residential unit to four save for a few exceptions.

At the March 13 meeting, Ohrn proposed dropping the limit altogether, and Mayor Lorin Palmer polled Councilmembers Shields, Henderson and Teddy Hodges about omitting the cap; none were in favor.

Additionally, animal licensing has been simplified, and unconfined dogs must remain on a leash not to exceed eight feet in length, which is consistent with current leash regulations for parks. Not surprisingly, Herriman continues to require dogs to be vaccinated for rabies. Regulations for all animal establishments, such as shelters and pet shops, are now standardized and have been moved to the section of the city code dealing with business licenses. Other provisions of the code are effectively the same as they were prior to the revision.

Before voting on the updated code, Ohrn requested data from law enforcement to determine if the number of animals present makes a difference in the ability of officers to manage a situation. “If I’m going to make a rule that I know is going to impact you, if… you’re gonna have to give away two of your dogs…, it’s gonna hurt…,” she said sympathetically. “I need to be able to support my decision with data.”

Shields voiced his agreement, adding, “If we’re going to have an ordinance, we should have a reason for it.”

Because she is concerned the number restriction negatively impacts the community, Ohrn voted no on the updated code resolution, while Henderson, Hodges and Shields voted yes in order to clean up the code as soon as possible and facilitate enforcement. Further discussion on the number restriction will take place at a later date after the council has reviewed the data requested by Ohrn. Sheeran is optimistic that the new code will simplify enforcement.

“It was confusing and hard to implement and took an enormous amount of staff time trying to follow all [those] procedures,” he said. l

The Herriman Dog Park on Main Street offers a variety of play structures. (Photo courtesy Herriman City) The Herriman Dog Park features a walking trail and ample open space. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

A Herriman resident gives his furry companion some exercise. Leashes within Herriman must now be no longer than eight feet. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Youthful Herriman boys tennis team growing up, overcoming challenges

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

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•

Any coach would like to have a team laden with experienced seniors mixed with underclassmen. The Herriman boys tennis team doesn’t have that luxury.

This year’s squad is made up mostly of juniors and some younger players. But that doesn’t mean the Mustangs aren’t competing well. Head coach Linda Richmond is encouraged by the improvement of the boys.

“Our juniors and underclassmen continue to grow and develop as excellent players,” she said.

The Mustangs began the season with a second-place finish at the Panther Duel in St. George. This strong performance showed Richmond and her players that they could be competitive and get wins against quality foes. However, Richmond isn’t focusing on a certain number of wins and losses or where the team places at tournaments. She measures success by growth and by how the players conduct themselves on and off the court.

“We gauge our success on improvement,” she said. “We set goals individually and as a group. Our goals center on improvement and character.”

Herriman competes in Region 2 where it faces Corner Canyon, Mountain Ridge, Copper Hills, Bingham and Riverton. The players see some talented, skilled opposition at each match. Each match and each week present different challenges that the team needs to face and work to overcome.

“We plan to continue setting goals on the court and off the court,” Richmond said. “As we have many teams at many different levels in our region, we plan to focus on adaptability and how do we adapt to meet different challenges.”

Herriman’s top player is Ethan Phelps, and he’s not even playing the same position he did a year ago.

Last season, Phelps and his brother teamed up as a doubles tandem where they saw a lot of success and achieved some big wins. With his brother having graduated, Phelps has moved to No. 1 singles where he is providing leadership.

“He was part of a winning doubles team,” Richmond said. “This year, he switched to singles, and he will have to change the style of his play. He is a great player and inspiration to the team.”

Even when things aren’t going the way they want, the Mustang players are supportive of one another. Richmond appreciates everyone’s attitudes and the efforts they make. Win or lose, the Mustangs do so as a team. These are qualities that Richmond loves about coaching the Herriman team.

“This group of young men are a very cohesive group,” she said. “They cheer each other on yet are extremely competitive. I’m impressed about how much they inspire their teammates to improve upon their goals. It’s never about the individual but the group.”

Though Region 2 can be formidable and the Mustangs have a youthful team, these aren’t necessarily the biggest barriers and roadblocks. Richmond said Mother Nature presents plenty of trouble.

“Our biggest challenge has been the weather,” she said. “Tennis courts have to be dry and clear to play, and spring sports present a special challenge in that area. Shoveling tennis courts is often our conditioning.”

After the regular season, Herriman will take part in the Region 2 tournament. This will determine which players qualify for the Class 6A state tournament which begins May 4 at Farmington High School and then continues May 9 and 11 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. l

Herriman’s Dylan Gonzalez, a No. 1 doubles player for the boys tennis team, is part of a young squad that looks for continual improvement throughout the season. (Photo courtesy Linda Richmond)

Senior-heavy Mountain Ridge boys soccer team approaching season with confidence

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

In high school boys soccer, Region 2 is quite a powerhouse.

There is no shortage of talented teams: Bingham, Copper Hills, Riverton, Corner Canyon and Herriman. Mountain Ridge is certainly in the mix, and Sentinel players and coaches believe the team has what it takes to contend for a championship—not just in region but in state. But before Mountain Ridge is going to worry too much about those big accomplishments, the team is focusing on doing the little things.

“The No. 1 expectation as a team is to grow as a team each day,” head coach Eric Arthur said. “Our other big goal and expectation is to win the Region 2 title. We have enough talent that taking a run at a state title isn’t a stretch either. However, our focus is game to game, improving each time we hit the field.”

Mountain Ridge has 11 seniors on the varsity team leading the squad. The veteran leadership provides valuable experience for the Sentinels. But Arthur also likes his underclassmen.

“Our senior class is loaded with talent,” he said. “They are the backbone of the team. We will rely on them heavily throughout the season. But we also have some real strength in the junior and sophomore classes.”

Senior goalkeeper Gabe Del Barra, senior defender (and captain) Tait King and defender Zach White make things difficult on opposing offenses. Senior midfielders TJ Lightfoot (another captain) and Tony Campos direct the attack and distribute the ball well for the Sentinels. Senior strikers and wings Alan Dedic, Owen Gaisford, Marcos Padilla and Brody Laga are capable finishers and scorers.

Mountain Ridge opened the season with a 2-2 record. The Sentinels lost to Farmington 2-1 on March 8, followed by a 3-2 win over Westlake a week later. After losing the Region 2 opener to Bingham on March 20 by the count of 1-0, Mountain Ridge beat rival Herriman 2-1 on March 22. The Sentinels took a hiatus for spring break and then return to the pitch April 2 at Riverton.

The final regular-season game will be May 7 against Salt Lake Academy. The Class 6A state tournament gets underway May 10. Mountain Ridge lost in the quarterfinals a year ago and went 12-7 on the year.

Arthur believes the sky’s the limit for the Sentinels, as long as they play up to their capabilities.

“The biggest challenge for us will be to get out of our own way,” he said. “We need to play the game the way we know how in a fast yet simple way and with a trusting mindset. If we can put our egos aside and play as a true team every time we step on the field, we will truly be unstoppable.”

Arthur added that the players will need to trust one another. He also said how much he appreciates watching the players improve and develop, both as soccer players and as individuals.

“By far the biggest reward from coaching is watching the growth of the person, not just the player,” he said. “Being able to watch a young 14 year old become a young adult with growing maturity over the span of a few years is an amazing facet that is often overlooked in coaching youth sports. The relationships built with the players over the years make this worth all of the other challenges that come with the coaching title.” l

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The 2024 Mountain Ridge boys soccer team has high expectations for the season. The Sentinels have 11 seniors leading the team. (Photo courtesy Eric Arthur)

Sentinels move into region softball on a roll, excited to compete

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Ayear after going 15-12 overall and reaching bracket play of the Class 6A state tournament, the Mountain Ridge softball team is looking for more. The Sentinels want to build off last season and compete against the top teams in the state.

“We feel like we are off to a good start,” head coach Andre Ashton said. “We’re trying to pick up where we left off from last season. We feel like we are a little ahead of schedule on some things. We are expecting to be more competitive, especially against some of those top teams in the state. We are still very young but have high expectations for our kids.”

A 7-1 start certainly did more than pick up where the team left off in 2023.

The Sentinels split their first two Region 2 games. Mountain Ridge fell at Bingham 5-1 on March 19 but trounced Corner Canyon in a 12-0 shutout on March 21. In six of the team’s first seven wins, it scored at least 10 runs. The Sentinels racked up 14 runs in a 12-run victory over Skyridge.

Last season, Mountain Ridge allowed 6.8 runs per game. Ashton wants the defense to improve, starting with the pitching.

“For our team to be successful this season, we need to have better pitching and defense,” he said. “I think our offense is much better than the previous year, but we definitely need to keep errors to a minimum. We won’t have a ton of strikeouts on the mound, so our defense needs to be better for us to have a successful year.”

Ashton also said the Sentinels need to focus on the

little things and improve in all areas. But he is optimistic that this team has gotten better.

“We can always have improvement in all aspects of the game,” he said. “These kids have improved. Everyone is a little bigger, little stronger, a little faster, but overall, those can always continue to grow!”

Mountain Ridge is also a young team with just two seniors on the roster: outfielder Trisha Langston and catcher Kynzee Dixon. Ashton is relying on them for leadership and production.

“Both are really good players and really good leaders,” he said. “They have been in a Mountain Ridge uniform for four years and do a lot of things that don’t show up on a stat sheet.”

Several juniors are back, having started the previous year. These include starters Adison (Red) Brooks, a pitcher who has started for two years, as well as infielder Sierra Beratto, outfielder Tatyana Toala, outfielder Brooklyn Van Renselaar and outfielder Chloe Tycksen. Juniors Reagan Pidock and Mya Ordiway, both outfielders, and infielder Rylee Bogenschutz will also play big roles.

In addition, sophomore shortstop Kelli Christensen and sophomore infielder Avery Rawlins are starting and helping the team. Fellow sophomores Sydney Lambert, a pitcher, and catcher Mckinley Bonham also contribute.

“We feel like all of our players at some point will play a big role,” Ashton said. “We feel like one of the strengths in this team, is the team itself. We don’t have a superstar at multiple positions; we have a bunch of players who have bought in and who are ready to step up.”

The Sentinels will face each region foe twice, ending with a contest with American Fork May 14. The state tournament follows, and Ashton has positive feelings about his team’s chances.

“Our team strength should be our offense and the fact that we are returning so many players over the next couple of years,” he said. “With this year and next year, we should essentially have the same team taking the field for three years straight. We think we are definitely more of a complete team.” l

Mountain Ridge softball coach Andre Ashton instructs his team during a game earlier this season. The Sentinels started off 7-1 and are aiming to compete for a league championship. (Photo courtesy Andre Ashton)

Salt Lake Shred, West Division Ultimate Frisbee Champions, back for the 2024 season

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

After the Salt Lake Shred won the West Division Championship last year, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the New York Empire at the 2023 American Ultimate Disc League championship game in August. This year, the team is primed and ready to take on New York again when they meet up in June.

Started in 2022, the Shred is Utah’s professional Ultimate Frisbee league for men. Bryce Merrill is back for his third year as head coach of the team that opens the season with a home game versus the DC Breeze on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m., at Zions Bank Stadium (14787 Academy Parkway) in Herriman.

“[DC Breeze is] a championship-caliber organization,” Merrill said. “They’ve had a run of impressive signings this offseason, including French phenom Elliot Bonnet. And they went 1st-2nd in almost every statistical offensive category the last couple of seasons. They’ve given New York their best games the last two years, so we’ll be looking forward to that match.”

For those not familiar with Ultimate Frisbee, Merrill said the best way to learn is to come to a game. The fast-paced action will feel familiar to soccer and basketball fans, with scoring done in the endzone, like football. The game features quick movement, lots of scoring, big throws and bigger bids (dives to catch or block the disc).

The league’s MVP runner-up Jordan Kerr is back for his third season with the Shred. He’ll lead the offense alongside returning players Grant Lindsley and league MIP receiver Jace Duennebeil. Merrill said the team should keep up the pace of last year’s season with league-leading scoring and offensive efficiency.

New signees to the team include Joe Merrill (from DC), Ben Field (Boston) and Matt Russnogle (Nashville) who should add to the team’s defensive unit. Taylor Barton also returns to the team this season. He was a college defensive player of the year who played with the Shred during its first year. Utah will host the 2024 American Ultimate Disc League championship event in August and Merrill intends to get the team back to that final game.

“Our goal is to be there,” he said. “We’ve got a tough gauntlet this regular season, as we’ve seen Seattle, Oakland and Colorado each reload their rosters with some incredible signings. So our margin of error, from game one, will require us to be performing well week in and week out.”

Joel Dehlin, one of the team’s owners, said he invests in the sport because Ultimate Frisbee is something that changes people’s lives. As he got involved with youth programs, he wanted an opportunity for the youth to improve and have a goal to work toward.

“It’s something that brings the community together,” Dehlin said. “The Ultimate community is just wonderful. All these people who love Ultimate Frisbee have a place to go six times a year where they can hang out with the people that they love. What’s interesting though, is we didn’t anticipate that a lot of nonUltimate Frisbee people would be coming out and enjoying the games, coming back and buying season tickets.”

The Salt Lake Shred’s home games will be May 25 (San Diego), June 8 (Colorado), June 21 (LA), July 5 (Portland) and July 19 (Seattle). For ticket information, visit SaltLakeShred.com. l

Salt Lake Shred player Jace Duennebeil puts it all on the line during an Ultimate Frisbee game at Zions Bank Stadium during the 2023 season. The Shred’s 2024 season starts April 27.

Another strong season expected for Mountain Ridge track

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Much like his cross country team that had a solid season this past fall, James Barnes’ cross country team at Mountain Ridge should be among the top teams in the 6A state meet in May.

If early meets are any indication, it could be a solid year for the Sentinels. The team placed seventh in the season-opening Early Bird Invite at Lone Peak High School—and that was with missing several key athletes, Barnes said.

For Mountain Ridge, anything less than a region title and competing well at state would be a disappointment. Reaching those goals could also require getting more students to come out for track and field.

“We, of course, are looking to win our region again and place in the top three at state,” Barnes said. “We need to focus on the big picture and get more athletes on the team to work toward our goals as a team.”

In track and field, like swimming and wrestling, the more team members a team has that reach state, the better chance the team has of scoring points and moving up the standings. For the Sentinels, athletes can score points in just about every event at any given meet. The Sentinels have a lot of underclassmen.

“We have a young, well-rounded team,”

Barnes said.

On the boys’ side, Barnes has good things to say about seniors Jaren Barnes and Nathan Burningham, who are top distance and mid-distance runners. Senior Adam Hawkes is a talented thrower. Barnes calls junior Adam Wightman “probably the best pole vaulter in the state.” Junior Adam (Beef) Winterton is the team’s top sprinter, while juniors Tate Day and Taylor Higham join Hawkes as capable throwers.

The girls team has some standout performers, too.

Senior distance runner Cailey Bracken, senior sprinter Nevaleigh Dinkel and senior thrower Kaitlyn Bailey are good leaders and talented athletes. Junior Carly Trujilo, a thrower and junior sprinters Kinzlee Riddle and Natale Shober are big contributors, too.

Even with the team’s top performers, Barnes would like to see improvement in some areas. As the athletes do this, they can reach their potential, and so can the team.

“We need to improve on building confidence in [the athletes’] abilities and capabilities,” he said. “They need to put in solid efforts at practice every day and support their teammates.”

Being in a tough region and facing good

teams affords both challenges and opportunities for the Sentinels. Barnes is optimistic that Mountain Ridge is building something special.

“A challenge is getting athletes to work toward the team goals and learn that they can do hard things,” he said. “We have some great opportunities to have a great season and start a new dynasty in track and field in the future. We will have several kids this year and next that will receive scholarships.”

For Barnes, there is nothing better than working with talented athletes and seeing them get even better. He loves the chance to help athletes discover new skills, too. He also marvels at the quality of athletes and coaches at Mountain Ridge.

“I love track and field because it is athletics, if you are an athlete, you can find events that you will be good at,” Barnes said. “I also like getting athletes from all of the other sports to join forces on one team; it is a fun aspect of the sport. We have an awesome coaching staff at Mountain Ridge (almost all of the coaches have been Division 1 athletes, and most of them have won state titles or were All-Americans themselves). We have a great group of young athletes with a lot of potential to do great things.” l

The Mountain Ridge track team has stellar athletes on both the boys and girls squads. The team is aiming for a Region 2 title.

Draper real estate developer DAI Utah has submitted an application to the city for the development of a 640-plus-acre planned community in Herriman to be known as Panorama.

DAI was responsible for the construction of the Smith’s Shopping Center in Herriman and various residential developments, including Herriman Meadows and Herriman Hills. The proposed master-planned community, which has not yet been approved by the city, would be located in the southeastern Herriman foothills and would connect Juniper Crest Road to Real Vista Drive and Mountain View Corridor. The proposal includes commercial and residential zones with open spaces.

“This [may be] the first time… residents have heard of it, but it’s been [discussed by] the city for a year,” Councilmember Jared Henderson said. “The city has not signed off on anything yet. We’re just supportive of the concept.”

As Herriman’s population explodes, many express frustration at the numerous construction projects springing up around the city.

“This is not a brand-new development,” Henderson clarified. “This isn’t 600 acres coming with all of this density. This area already exists.”

City Communications Manager Jon LaFollette said, “The fact is the city can’t prevent growth or stop growth. Building moratoriums are not legal in the state of Utah.”

Land entitlements, which are approvals granted by a municipality allowing land to be developed for a specific use, already exist for 457 of the proposed 640-plus acres in the Panorama development. About 185 acres are not entitled, so they are not currently part of a development agreement. The entitled land is currently part of the Wasatch South Hills and Rosecrest Master Development Agreements, which date back to the late 2000s, but is entitled to various property owners and other developers. The remaining acreage consists of adjacent unentitled land owned by DAI and others. “Simply put, the proposal includes a consolidation of several of these areas into one project,” Herriman confirmed.

The city requires developers to hold community meetings to communicate directly with the public. DAI held its community feedback meeting at Herriman City Hall on Feb. 15. Though these gatherings are held on city property, they are not carried out by the City. DAI’s chief aim at the meeting was to include affected property owners in the process, but all residents were welcome. Many have been concerned about transportation infrastructure, including city officials.

“We see the traffic and strain, but a lot of times, it’s not within the city’s control. It’s UDOT,” Henderson said, referring to UDOT’s control of highways within Herriman, such as Mountain View Corridor and Bangerter Highway.

At the meeting, DAI representatives of-

Move over Olympia—here comes Panorama

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

fered information about numerous concerns, including water conservation, commercial development, roads, traffic and housing density. DAI has coordinated the design and timing of roads, water systems and other utilities with property owners and the city. As a result, utilities can be built to accommodate as many people as needed much earlier in the development process than is typically possible.

“This will help alleviate traffic, provide for the efficient use of water and ultimately reduce costs for the construction and maintenance of these public utilities,” Chase Andrizzi said, director of entitlements for DAI. “The community meeting was a great opportunity for us to share information… We are hopeful [it] was perceived as helpful by the community.”

Over the last few years, DAI representatives have attended numerous City Council work meetings. “... the proposed Panorama Master Plan is the culmination of years of cooperation between over a dozen property owners,” Andrizzi said. “We have been engaged with city staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council for almost two years in designing, redesigning and incorporating changes for the betterment of the project, the City, as well as current and future residents.”

In addition, the city has facilitated collaboration between interested parties to improve the development plan for the area. “[It] gives us the opportunity as the city to say we want some changes,” Henderson said. “My focus is if they’re coming to the table and wanting changes, what changes can we get that make sense for us?”

One alteration the city has already asked DAI to make concerns Juniper Crest Road. To ease traffic, DAI has committed to connecting Juniper Crest Road to Mountain View Corridor during the first phase of development and will add sidewalks, trails and landscaping along the current Juniper Crest Road.

“We have also been asked by the city to coordinate on the design and timing of parks… to achieve greater open space and amenities for the city…” Andrizzi said. “This includes providing a trail from our project to existing trails in Juniper Canyon as well as a trail that could potentially serve as a safe walking route for students [of] Providence Hall High School.”

The formal public approval process could go on for several months, though DAI hopes it won’t take that long. The next step is for the Planning Commission to review the proposal and hold a public hearing. The proposal would then be reviewed by the City Council, which would hold another public hearing and would ultimately grant approval or not.

“We want to make sure we go through the MDAs with a fine-tooth comb and make them more beneficial,” Henderson said. “We want to make sure it adheres to our ordinances and requirements.”

Review and hearing dates have not yet been determined. “You’ll see Panorama on Planning Commission and City Council agendas for some time until it crosses the finish line one way or another,” LaFollette said.

Upon approval, construction of water and sewer lines, other utilities and roads would begin immediately. Construction of homes

probably won’t begin for at least a year and will likely take longer to materialize because of substantial infrastructure needs.

“We encourage [residents] to follow those meetings and review the publicly available packets for additional information on the project, approval procedures and other information related to Panorama,” Andrizzi said. l

The proposed Panorama Development would be in southeast Herriman. (Map courtesy Herriman City)

Open spaces, commercial areas and neighborhoods, including apartments and townhomes, are included in the Panorama proposal. (Map courtesy DAI Utah)

Fifteen Utah cities offer subsidized rain barrels to help save water

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@mycityjournals.com

Utah is the second driest state, and people use the second most amount of water per person in the United States.

According to 2020 data by the Utah Division of Water Resources, Utahns use 169 gallons of water each day. If commercial and industrial use is added in, that jumps to 256 gallons of water every day.

Fifteen of Utah’s city leaders are hoping to make water conservation a priority in Northern Utah including Millcreek, Cottonwood Heights, Murray, Sandy, Herriman and Taylorsville.

They announced the return of a rain harvesting program March 12 for their residents that will incentivize water conservation. This is the 10th year this program will be operating and continues to get more of Utah’s cities and residents involved.

The RainHarvest program gives residents the opportunity to catch rainwater from their gutters into a 50-gallon barrel.

“The RainHarvest program has become very popular with our residents, and we are excited to participate once again,” said Justun Edwards, Director of Public Works for Herriman City. “Rain barrels are an effective way to capture water that can be used in many ways, but they also act as a visual reminder of the importance of water conservation.”

The 15 cities partnered up with the Utah Rivers Council to distribute rain barrels to their residents that will catch rainwater from their house gutters. The barrels hold up to 50 gallons of water and can be reused outdoors.

In a press release, the Utah Rivers Council said these cities are stepping forward as the future of the Great Salt Lake has generated record interests.

According to a study done at Brigham Young University, the Great Salt Lake is in danger. With the disappearance of water flow to the lake, low water levels could cause damage to Utah’s health, environment and economy.

The study says excessive water use is destroying the Great Salt Lake. The lake has lost 73% of its water and the drop has accelerated since 2020.

According to an article by the Utah Division of Water Resources, as of late February, Utah’s snowpack is above normal for most regions and water levels are expected to rise.

Water levels as March progresses are encouraging. City leaders want to keep it that way and encourage their residents to step in and help before it goes away.

“We are living through a wet water cycle at this moment, which has improved our water storage and groundwater levels immensely,” said Aron Frisk, the water superintendent for the Murray City Water Department. “Continuing conservation efforts like the RainHarvest program should still be practiced because the next dry cycle is just around the corner.”

Utah has had six multiyear statewide droughts since 1895, and state officials are always preparing for the next one.

Almost 11,000 barrels have been purchased over the last nine years, which means every time it rains enough to fill the barrel, 550,000 gallons of water can be saved during each storm. The Utah Rivers Council said between April and October, Salt Lake City could collect between 400 and 525 million gallons of water on residential buildings alone. Using the rain barrels on commercial properties could increase that even more.

Capturing rainwater can improve water quality by preventing urban runoff from flowing over streets and gutters, washing pollutants into streams, and eventually into the Great Salt Lake.

The Utah Rivers Council says collecting rainwater is a valuable water quality benefit because runoff is the No. 1 pollutant in waterways nationally.

The 1972 Clean Water Act means the greatest threat to Utah’s water bodies does not come from industrial sources, but small things that add up over time. Driving a car down the highway leaves behind tiny pieces of rubber, and those get swept into lakes and rivers when it rains.

“So this is just another small step that we can take knowing that those small steps can have some big effects,” said Sean Wilkinson, the Weber County director of community development.

Rain harvesting has been legal in Utah since 2010. Utah residents are able to collect up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater on their property as long as the collectors register with

the Utah Division of Water Rights. The cities involved encourage their residents to collect the rainwater and use it for outdoor activities instead of city water.

Nikki Wyman, the Sandy City water education and public outreach coordinator, said the RainHarvest program gives people the right mindset to continue conserving water. She said the program makes it easy for people to learn behaviors of contract, probation and sustainability.

Frisk said their total annual water production has been trending down since 2000 and has dramatically decreased since 2020. He said it’s because the population is being educated and they’re more conscious of water use and water conservation due to being involved in the RainHarvest program.

The cities are offering rain barrels at a discounted price to encourage their residents to take part in the program and collect rainwater to help stretch Utah’s water supply in case of another drought.

Some cities are offering their residents a price of $55 per barrel, while other cities offer theirs at a price of $83. The barrels will all be distributed to those who want one during the first week of May in each participating county.

The Utah Rivers Council is hoping to distribute about 3,000 barrels to residents throughout Northern Utah and said households are not limited to just one barrel.

Several cities are taking water conservation to the next level and implementing other water conservation programs throughout their counties. That includes things like water efficient landscapes, new city ordinances, water efficient appliances and fixtures, education programs for kids and much more.

The RainHarvest barrels are available to buy online at the Utah Rivers Council website at utahrivers.org. l

IvyRain barrels lined up to be distributed to residents to catch rain water. (Photo credit Utah Rivers Council)

IvyRain barrels can catch up to 50 gallons of rainwater from home gutters. (Photo credit Utah Rivers Council)

Next generation of teachers preparing for a bright future

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

As a future teacher, José Reyna is concerned about the nationwide teacher shortage and why nearly 50% of new teachers leave the profession in their first five years. Currently a high school senior taking education career courses at Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, Reyna has studied the problems affecting the teaching profession, as well as possible solutions.

“Learning the depths of the issue, how bad the crisis had gotten, made me just more passionate about wanting to fix it,” he said.

The Utah Legislature’s recent session resulted in improvements for teachers, including funding for recruitment and retention incentives such as funding for classroom supplies and professional development training, mentoring and performance-based bonuses. Reyna was especially interested in the approval of a stipend for student teachers.

“It used to be where you get paid nothing, and now the legislature just passed a bill where you’ll get paid $6,000 while you do your student teaching,” Reyna said.

Jordan School District Associate Superintendent Mike Anderson said the stipend will ease the financial burden for new teachers, who often can’t hold a job while they student-teach.

“It’s a really good morale boost for those going into teaching,” he said. “It’s an acknowledgement that the work they’re doing is important, and this is an acknowledgement from the state that reinforces that.”

Riverton High School senior Kambrie Brownlee said no matter the pay, teaching is her career choice.

“It matters more to be passionate about what you’re doing and love what you do and want to wake up every day to do your job, rather than spending your life doing something you don’t love,” she said.

Anderson said that is a common sentiment among new teachers.

“This generation of young teachers want to make a difference in the world, and they’re far more concerned with making a positive impact on the world than they are with financial concerns,” he said. “Both are important, and we need to pay them a living wage, but they really want to make a difference in the world and that’s very, very important.”

Kindee Fausett, a senior at Mountain Ridge High School, wants to become a teacher to help students who struggle academically like she did as a child.

“I didn’t want any of those other kids to have to suffer like that,” she said. “So making a difference in their lives, helping them through their trials in their education to get better—anything I can do to help

Educators Rising 2024 State Competition Winners

JATC South

1st Exploring Education - Administration: Taylor Desmarais (MRHS)

1st Educators Rising Moment: Ruby Sullivan (HHS)

1st Exploring Education - Non-Core: Kambrie Brownlee(RHS)

1st Inside Our Schools: August Elison and Abby Mulqueen (CHHS)

2nd Children’s Literature Pre-K: Isabell Rasmussen (HHS)

2nd Lesson Planning & Delivery - Arts: Alta Southworth (WJHS)

3rd Children’s Literature K-3: Jakelle Ballard and Kindee Fausett (MRHS)

3rd Lesson Planning & Delivery - Humanities: Jaydon Conk (WJHS)

3rd Public Speaking: José Reyna (VHS)

Riverton High School

2nd Exploring Education - Administration: Josclyn Turner

2nd Exploring Education - Support Services: Connor Knox

2nd Interactive Bulletin Board: Amber Leggett and Hailey Olson

Copper Hills High School

3rd Educators Rising Moment: Zoe Rakich

3rd Lesson Planning & Delivery - Humanities: Avery Pitcher

3rd Lesson Planning & Delivery - STEM: Amaya Bowcutt

3rd Public Service Announcement: Noah Ludlow and Avery Pitcher

3rd Children’s Literature Pre-K: Mars Lawson

them have a better time in elementary and make it a better learning environment.”

Mountain Ridge High School senior Taylor Desmarais wants to teach older students.

“I’ve had high school teachers who have changed school for me in the most positive way, and it makes me want to learn and want to go to class,” she said. “And so I want to be able to work with that age, and teach them, because I feel that’s such a crucial time in your life. They need positive people to support them.”

Jordan School District offers twelve career pathways which provide students with opportunities to learn career skills, build relationships and access real-world job experiences. The education pathway provides students opportunities to teach in a variety of classrooms.

“It’s really good at helping us know what we want for our futures,” Desmarais said.

Fausett said her practicum experiences have introduced her to different age groups, educational perspectives and challenges to prepare her for her career.

“If I’d never gone to this class, I never would have experienced how to be a better teacher,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity to know the hard things about being a teacher. We’ve been learning a lot about difficulties in classrooms and it’s made me kind of rethink if I want to be a teacher, and I have to go back and think of all the positive things that you do as a teacher, and all the positive things overrule the negative.”

Through her practicum experiences, Brownlee realized she doesn’t want to be a

public school teacher but wants to start her own preschool.

“I wouldn’t have been able to know that if I didn’t get experience in the class rooms,” she said. “There’s a lot of career options that also work with kids that I didn’t understand were there until I started taking this course.”

Students in the education classes at JATC, Copper Hills and Riverton High School participate in the Educators Ris ing Club and its competitions. At the state Educators Rising competition in March, students wrote and illustrated children’s books, shadowed teachers, interviewed ad ministrators and developed lesson plans.

The top winners qualified for the na tional competition in Washington, D.C. this summer. l

Despite obstacles, Mountain Ridge baseball off to promising start

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

You may have heard the saying, “If you don’t like the weather in Utah, wait a minute.”

This is certainly true in early springtime when you might have anything from snow and freezing temperatures to wind and rain to sunny skies and warmth. The drastic changes can affect high school spring sports, including the baseball team at Mountain Ridge High School. The Sentinels have had to make adjustments to practice and game schedules. Plus, if that’s not enough, work on the baseball field has required some flexibility and changes to the team’s routine.

All in all, Mountain Ridge has taken the challenges in stride and started the year with a 4-3 record.

“The varsity team has had to deal with less than an ideal start with practice time being limited by the weather and a field renovation,” head coach Brock Whitney said. “However, the boys have gone about it very maturely.”

Mountain Ridge has set the bar high this season, looking to be a contender in the Class 6A state tournament. Last season, the Sentinels went 21-9 and placed second behind Riverton in Region 3 with a solid 11-4 record. Mountain Ridge lost in bracket play of the tournament last year. Whitney also expects his players to get along well, develop strong bonds and re-

spect one another, all while giving their best effort every day.

“Our expectations for this year are to be in the mix for region and make it to the final eight teams in the state tournament,” he said. “Our goals are to play hard, to focus on what we can control and to love each other.”

There are many reasons for optimism. The sentinels have some firepower at the plate, good pitching and skilled fielders on the squad. Whitney singled out senior pitcher and outfielder Jaxson Reiser as a team leader and top player. He’s also excited about what senior catcher Austin Ellis has been doing. Anderson

Decker, a senior pitcher and first baseman, offers leadership and reliability on the field.

“[Reiser] is one of our leaders and has amazing talent in all aspects on the field,” Whitney said. “[Ellis] is another leader and a spark plug for our team. He is able to communicate well with our pitching staff and is a positive influence on the field. [Decker] is a great kid on and off the field and he is an awesome competitor. It is going to be fun watching him pitch this year.”

every aspect on the field. He has put in a lot of work as well and is looking to improve on a great season last year.”

Mountain Ridge has an experienced team and a strong pitching staff. Whitney said if the players accept their roles and support one another, great things could be in store for the Sentinels.

Whitney can also turn to senior second baseman Luke Nelson, senior outfielder Remington Edwards and junior pitcher/first baseman Dylan Singleton. Another standout for Mountain Ridge is Stockton Fowlks, a junior third baseman.

“[Nelson] returns this year with great experience getting time as a sophomore and starting every game as a junior,” Whitney said. “[He] is as consistent of a player as we have on our team and that is something we love about him. [Edwards] has put in a lot of work between this season and last season, and he was All-State last year. We are excited to see what he does this year for our team. [Singleton] has already pitched a lot for us when as a freshman he led our team in appearances and as a junior had just under 40 innings pitched. We are looking for him to continue to be a big factor for us. [Fowlks] is super competitive, and it shows in

Mountain Ridge had a chance to participate in the IMG National Classic tournament in Florida March 25–27 where it faced a team from Florida, one from New York and even a squad from Puerto Rico. The Sentinels went 1-2 in the tournament. Mountain Ridge, now in Region 2, will face every league foe three times consecutively, ending with a group of games against Herriman May 10. The state tournament then follows.

No matter what happens on the scoreboard or in the standings, Whitney said he and his staff enjoy the opportunity to teach and lead the boys.

“We love coaching these boys because of their personalities and their drive,” he said. “They have high standards and goals for themselves as individuals and as a team. They are hardworking and coachable and always striving to get better. The last thing that we love about this group is their competitiveness; we don’t have to ever remind them about that.” l

The Mountain Ridge baseball team could be in the mix for a top spot in Region 2 and among all Class 6A teams. (Photo courtesy Jesse Iacono)

I ’m not sure what Utah legislators think happens in women’s restrooms, based on the ridiculous bathroom bill that was recently passed. Do they imagine we walk into a restroom, disrobe, dance around drinking martinis and chat like teenagers in a TV sitcom?

Otherwise, I can’t imagine why our “leaders” thought banning trans women from public bathrooms would protect my privacy. If there was a creepy man dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire, accosting women in the restroom, yes, that would be terrible. And it’s already illegal.

But I’m letting the legislators in on a little secret. Here’s what happens in a public restroom. I walk to the bathroom and wait in line (because there’s always a line). I make no eye contact with the women around me. When a stall is available, I scurry into it, do my business as quietly as possible and rush to wash my hands. I glance in the mirror to make sure there’s no popcorn stuck to my face, and I leave.

I wouldn’t know if there was a trans woman in the bathroom with me because (and hear me out) trans women are women. Legislators, you continue to create fear and disconnection. Stop it.

This unenforceable law could mean

we must carry a small copy of our birth certificate, next to the mini-Bible and a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution we’re already toting around. But… scanning my scriptures…I see one that reads, “Love thy neighbor.” Interesting. I don’t see an asterisk that explains *Unless your neighbor has a lifestyle of which you don’t approve.

Speaking of protecting privacy, as the legislative session wrapped up last month, our “leaders” passed a law that blocks access to the daily calendar of elected officials. (I think they confuse “privacy” with “secrecy.”)

Imagine you hire an employee and tell them you’ll be tracking their work, checking their calendars and watching their emails. You want to see how they spend their time, who they hang with and if they’re misbehaving.

Then imagine that employee said

you had no right to do any of that. That it’s none of your damn business. Well, you’d fire that employee in a heartbeat. Elected officials work for the people and we deserve to know what they do.

The Freedom of Information Act grants access to government records so the media and the public can see how the sausage is made. But Utah legislators continue to pass bills making government less transparent. It’s like painting over a window, one thin coat at a time.

In 2011, Utah’s governor and legislators were presented with the Black Hole Award by the national chapter of

the Society of Professional Journalists because of a bill they passed (HB477) limiting access to government records. Five years later, Attorney General Sean Reyes received the same award from the Utah chapter.

Sensing a theme?

Overall, the legislators passed nearly 600 bills this year, including one that eliminates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at universities and some government entities. That’s nice. As if Utah wasn’t white, wealthy, male and straight enough already.

And through a law signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, teachers are now encouraged to bring guns to school because how do we address a gun control problem in this country? More guns!

For a state that declares it’s against big government control, a lot of bills passed this year seem glaringly hypocritical.

As the year goes along, I’m sure we’ll hear more from our “leaders” about book bans, school vouchers, revised history curriculum, church-protected abusers and the benefits of coal. Legislators seem just as clueless about those things as they are about women’s bathrooms.