$1.50 February 16, 2024 | Vol. 3 Iss. 06
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Popular barber retires after 66 years 94-year-old Doug Winn says goodbye
‘Wear Yellow Day”
Page 5
page 6
Charitable, iconic villains
page 10
SPORTS
THE DAVIS HIGH GIRLS swimming team won the Region 1 swimming championship Feb. 3 at the South Davis Rec Center.
Photo courtesy Kit Barker
DELICIOUS DRESS
Sila Tu’akoi standing with her parents, is up to her eyeballs in candy and flowers as she was celebrated at the last Bountiful girls basketball game. Sila is the only graduating senior on the team.
Photo by Lesli Groves
Sponsors of last year’s voucher bill ask for more funding
By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com
UTAH STATE CAPITOL—The sponsors of HB215 passed in last year’s legislative session that set aside $42.5 million in ongoing funds to create the Utah Fits All Scholarship, are now asking for an additional $50 million for the program. The bill would give up to $8,000 to qualifying students in private or homeschool settings which would cover about 5,000 children. Rep. Candice Pierucci and Sen. Kirk Cullimore came before the Executive Appropriations Committee on Jan. 31 and asked for the additional money because demand for the program is high. “The program doesn’t start until the
2024-2025 school year,” said a member of the Communications Subcommittee from the Joint Legislative Committee (JLC) that is made up of superintendents and local school board representatives from the districts. “It hasn’t even started yet so there’s no evidence it’s a good investment.” Public education students can apply for the scholarship, he said. “But if they get the $8,000 they have to use it in a private or homeschool setting.” If the $42 million was allocated equitably to all school districts and charters schools, Davis District would receive approximately $4.4 million ongoing dollars as their share, he said. “That monPlease see HB215: pg. 2
THE EXECUTIVE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE is considering a request for more funding by the sponsors of HB215 that created the Utah Fits All Scholarship during the 2023 session. The Joint Legislative Committee opposes the increase.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com
Photo by Becky Ginos
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
T
Photo by Roger V. Tuttle
Tourism drives Utah’s economy, provides residents with better quality of life
A GIANT YETI points the way to industry booths at Tourism Day on the Hill held at the Capitol last week. Tourism is a billion dollar industry in Utah.
Davis girls win Region 1 swimming title; Barker wins two boys region events
UTAH STATE CAPITOL— Tourism is a billion dollar industry in Utah. In 2022 travelers spent $12 billion resulting in $2.1 billion in State and Local Tax Revenues. In 2022, Davis County visitors spent $558.1 million that resulted in $101.8 million in Local Sales Tax Revenues and supported 5,886 jobs. The Utah Tourism Industry Association and the Utah Office of Tourism hosted the annual Tourism Day on the Hill last week to meet with lawmakers and discuss Utah tourism legislative priorities.
“Our mission is to build a powerful brand for the State of Utah,” said Managing Director of the Utah Office of Tourism, Natalie Randall. “Through Life Elevated and the Mighty 5 centered around our five national parks we want to inspire visitors and give them a sense of place and prepare for an enduring economy and to continue to share that message.” Tourism touches everyone, she said. “It's on both sides, when visitors come in and the owners of businesses within tourism as well.” “Davis County has been Please see TOURISM: pg. 2
he Davis High girls swimming team won the Region 1 swimming championship Feb. 3 at the South Davis Rec Center, 75 points ahead over Layton in second place. Allie Allen won the 200 Individual Medley while also coming in second in the 500 freestyle. The girls 200 free relay lineup of Adlen Groberg, Micah Hale, Nahlia Stewart and Kate Whitlock also came in first, setting a personal best with a swim of 1:47.24. Garrett Barker also placed first in the 200 free and the 500 free events, winning both handily for the fifth-place boys team. Other swimmers who medaled for the Darts were Groberg (second, 100 free; three, 400 free relay; fourth, 50 free), Barker (third, 400 free relay), Jane Bassett (third, 200 medley relay; third, 100 back; fifth, 100 free), Garrick Bench (third, 400 free relay), Bryson Bernhardt (third, 400 free relay; fifth, 100 free), Hale (third, 400 free relay; fourth, 500 free; fifth, 200 free), Maureen Karren (third, 200 medley relay; third, 100 breast; fifth, 200 IM), Samuel Landheim (third, 50 free; third, 400 free relay; fourth, 100 fly), Julian Shaw (third, 200 medley relay), Elsie Smith (third, 200 medley relay), Stewart (third, 400 free relay; fourth, 100 fly) and Whitlock (third, 50 free; third, 400 free relay).
Farmington
The Farmington High girls team improved on its fifth-place finish last season at the Region 1 championships and took third while the boys team was also third. Elsie Crowell was the team’s top scorer as she won the 100 back and led off the second-place 200 medley relay squad that also had Jacie Nielson, Maddy Kartchner and Nerys Turnbaugh in the lineup. Brooke Belnap swam personal-best times in the 100 fly and 500 free to take second and third, respectively. Will Scott placed third in the 200 IM while also swimming a leg on the thirdPlease see SWIMMING: pg. 8