Herriman Journal | September 2023

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

High School senior Ellie Davis was considering taking a gap year after she graduates next spring. Then she attended the open house of the Juniper Building at the combined campus of SLCC and the University of Utah located in Herriman, and is now considering going straight into Salt Lake Community College.

“I asked her ‘Do you maybe want to come here?’ and she said, ‘Yeah, this kind of actually changes my mind,’” Ellie’s mother Bobbi Davis said, who works at the U of U.

Ellie said she was impressed with the modern facility and the fact that the classes offered by SLCC seamlessly transfer to the U of U programs at the same campus.

Staff for admissions, financial aid, academic and career advisors from both SLCC and U of U are housed at the one-building campus, which will continue to grow.

John Blodgett, academic adviser at Mountain Ridge High School, which is located just one mile away from the Juniper Building, is excited to learn more about the unique campus, which has benefits for low income and new-to-thecountry community members who have barriers to accessing higher education.

“If it’s closer, there’s a barrier removed; if it’s affordable, there’s a barrier removed,” he said.

There are six high schools within six miles of the new college campus. Herriman is the fastest growing area in Jordan School District.

“Education is a priority in Herriman,” Herriman Mayor Lorin Palmer said. “We love the idea that students can

Continued page

Representatives from the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College celebrate the opening of Juniper Building, their collaboration campus. (Photo courtesy of Peta Liston/SLCC)

New Herriman High drill coach is a familiar face

It was a full-circle moment when Taylor Griffeth took over as head coach for the Herriman High School drill team for the upcoming school year.

As a young girl, Griffeth loved watching the Mustangs perform and participated in the HHS mini-drill team, learning to love the precision and athleticism of drill. When she attended HHS as a student, she made the drill team as a sophomore and stayed with the team for three years, serving as one of the team captains before graduating in 2019.

But even then, drill was in her blood. As COVID was winding down, she reached out to HHS drill team head coach Arial Larsen to see if there was a chance she could work as an assistant coach with the team. She got the job and worked for two years under Larsen before applying for the head coach position.

“After going through that whole interview process, I got the job and it’s just been such an awesome experience and I’m just excited to see what the rest of the season holds,” Griffeth said. “It’s honestly been a dream come true.”

Griffeth knows the girls on this year’s drill team, and she understands how to elicit the passion, dedication and structure needed for the team to succeed. She wants people to recognize drill as a competitive sport and defines the team members as top-notch athletes.

“You have to be such an incredible athlete to execute the movements and all of the skills and requirements the judges require on the competition floor,” she said. “If anyone is able to look at the requirements, I think they will consider it a sport and you have to be an incredible athlete to be a dancer.”

Her goals for this year include team

Jou r nals

HERRIMAN TEAM

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By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

growth, not only in competition but also in the classroom. Griffeth wants team members to become the best version of themselves in all areas. By creating a positive, supportive and trusting environment, she hopes to demonstrate to the girls that they have a safe place to train and develop.

Trust is vital to the success of any program. With 27 girls on the drill team, Griffeth said the team is determined to demonstrate unity and it’s been fun to watch them come together this summer.

“Whether learning choreography or cleaning routines, they’ve all been extremely positive and they’ve been really good at working together,” she said. “I think it’s important to not only have positive interactions with them inside of practice, but also have positive and uplifting interactions with them outside of practice, as well.”

Griffeth has had a busy summer. Not only did she take on this new role, but she recently got married and operates her own film photography business. Her Instagram page @taytebbsfilm shows examples of her unique and whimsical viewpoint. She also gave a shout-out to Gridlee, her chocolate Lab and favorite thing ever.

She’s excited to get the year started and help her athletes succeed as a team and as individuals.

“I think getting to know your team is the most important way to get them to buy-in and know that you care about them as a person,” Griffeth said. “I just feel really blessed to be part of the program. It’s been such a crazy experience. I’m surrounded by such amazing parents and amazing dancers and I’m just so thankful and excited that I’m able to work with them.” l

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The 27-member Herriman High School drill team starts the school year with new head coach Taylor Griffeth. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Griffeth)

Herriman resident is a world-renowned sculptor

Foras long as he can remember, Herriman resident Eric Michael Wilson has been drawn to art. He loved to sketch and paint as a child and taught himself how to sculpt at Jordan High School. It was supposed to be a pottery class, but Wilson had bigger ideas. He talked his teacher into letting him create a life-sized bust and he was hooked.

Wilson had the opportunity to work as an apprentice to Richard MacDonald, a legendary figurative sculptor in California, where Wilson studied anatomy and écorché, a figure sculpted to show the muscles without the skin.

“In France in the 1800s, they would sculpt the skeleton and then build the muscles, the deepest ones to the most superficial, so they would really learn anatomy,” he said. “Because of their diligent study of anatomy and art, and standing on the shoulders of giants like Michelangelo, they raised the bar like crazy.”

Écorché has almost become a thing of the past, with very few sculptors learning and creating the anatomical structure of their figures. But Wilson dedicated himself to anatomy, spending hours at the University of Utah’s anatomy lab where he studied and dissected bodies. Now he’s one of only a few people in the world practicing this type of art. He considers it a calling.

Some of Wilson’s figures are used as anatomical references for other artists and he teaches anatomy workshops at places like Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar.

“Sculpture is not about detail, it’s not about being really pretty, it’s about trying to tell the human story,” Wilson said. “You’re trying to share something that is emoting the human spirit and, hopefully, it’s something people can relate to.”

People are definitely relating to Wilson’s art, finding their own connection and interpretation of his creations. He’s currently working on an Atlas sculpture, based on Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged,” that will be installed as a monument in Boise, Idaho.

He’s also creating a 30-foot-tall Phoenix made from stainless steel, although he usually works with bronze. Wilson’s sculpture is based on the mythical bird that lives for hundreds of years before bursting into flames and is then reborn from the ashes.

Wilson’s Phoenix is a flying woman that symbolizes bravery and the ability to reinvent. As a final touch, he’s figuring out a way to plumb the statue with natural gas or propane to set it on fire.

“Art’s very subjective but I think it’s cool that long after I’m dead I’m still having some sort of positive impact, and that’s all I can really hope for,” he said.

Wilson comes from a long line of artists and craftspeople. His father was a painter and his mother was a professional seamstress, making costumes for movies. Wilson’s grandfather was a woodworker and carver and owned a large furniture company.

With his wife Amanda, Wilson is raising their blended family of four daughters and two sons in Herriman. For more information about his work, visit @EricMichaelWilson on Facebook and Instagram.

“I create something, and the coolest thing is that people project their own meanings and have their own personal experience with art,” Wilson said. “It’s like a universal human experience. I don’t know what’s going on behind it, but there’s definitely some kind of spirit there, a collective experience.” l

By Peri Kinder | Peri.k@thecityjournals.com

(right) Eric Michael Wilson’s sculpture, Phoenix, represents rebirth, reinvention, bravery and transformation. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Herriman resident and Jordan High School grad Eric Michael Wilson has developed a worldwide reputation for his figurative modeling and sculpture. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Eric Michael Wilson created this sculpture based on Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged.” A life-sized version of the piece will be installed as a monument in Boise. (Photo courtesy of Wilson)

Herriman City and resident feud over property

OnMarch 22 and July 12, Herriman City voted to exercise its right of eminent domain to absorb over an acre of private property in Herriman as it begins to widen sections of Main Street and Herriman Highway. The government’s right to take private property necessary for public use has existed since 1791 when the Fifth Amendment was ratified. This power is also granted by Utah Code, but property owner and lifelong Herriman resident Chad Dansie, who lives on Herriman Highway, feels that the city is being unfair and nontransparent.

“City engineers… said they’d make sure we have good fencing and that they’d pay for the ground taken, gates and easements,” Dansie explained. During January, however, the city deemed most of the property that it plans to take as noncompensable, meaning that the city will not pay the Dansies for it. Documents from city-hired Wall Consulting Group in Salt Lake show that the city will take a swath of land from three members of the Dansie family totaling 1.3 acres but will compensate owners for only a total of 0.077 acres.

Early this year, Wall Consulting unearthed an 1898 Salt Lake County document declaring that the road stretches 33 feet into the Dansies’ property, which is significantly farther than the current paved road. “The city claims that the road is 66 feet wide, but in reality, this private farm road has never been greater than 24 feet wide,” Dansie said, though Herriman says that the road is not private nor is it used primarily for farming. The Dansies dispute the validity of the document, claiming that it was not a legal survey, was never recorded and even describes a different road. In contrast, the city asserts that the document was in fact recorded and actually describes Herriman Highway, though the name may have changed over the ensuing century.

Utah Code specifies that “A highway is dedicated and abandoned to the use of the public when it has been continuously used as a public thoroughfare for a period of 10 years.” But Dansie maintains that he has

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

closed the road in front of his house for 24 hours every 10 years to mitigate this. Noting that generations have paid property taxes on this land since it was homesteaded in 1895, the Dansie family claims that they provided the city with this information in January, but the city alleges that it has not received sufficient evidence that the road had actually been closed.

At the end of January, Dansie got a call from an eminent domain specialist from Wall Consulting. “She had vague paperwork for us to sign to give the city access to the property for two years. She said we had to sign or the property would be condemned,” Dansie declared, referring to another term for government seizure of property. Dansie felt pressured to sign the document and stresses that his elderly neighbors regret signing because city affiliates intimidated them into signing something they didn’t understand. Herriman asserts that “...the city has not been approached by any of these alleged property owners.”

Fencing for the property has also been a major source of frustration for the Dansies, who insist that the city made initial promises that fencing for their property and animals would be maintained but isn’t planning to follow through. “They want to move an existing 50-year-old fence without putting up a temporary one and then put it back as the permanent fence after construction. This is not what was promised,” Dansie said. Herriman countered, “The city is not only willing to put up a temporary fence but has already done so.” An employee of city-hired Landmark Construction commented that within the construction contract, there is “verbiage that says [the fence] has to be maintained for animals and has to be the same or better,” though Dansie feels that this wording is vague and inadequate.

Herriman officials allege that the Dansies have put forth conditions that are unreasonable and that the city’s efforts to negotiate with the family have been fruitless, leaving no alternative but to begin eminent domain

litigation to acquire the property. The lawsuit was filed on April 26.

“A major goal of this project is to establish a safe walking path to Oak Leaf Elementary School from the surrounding area,” the city commented. Dansie claims that Herriman Highway is not the only possible safe walking route for the school, while Herriman says that walking routes are determined by the city, school administration, police and typically, the school’s community council.

Soon after the lawsuit, city officials filed a “Request for Immediate Occupancy,” which allows construction to begin while leaving the issue of just compensation to be resolved later. Construction plans include sidewalks, a center turning lane, turning lanes at intersections, and bike lanes. Extending 1.5 miles, the project is estimated to cost around $10 million.

Dansie’s position is that the city is unwilling to meet with him to attempt further negotiations, but city lawyer Todd Sheeran

stated that legal protocol dictates that he cannot meet without Dansie’s lawyer present. Dansie has insisted that he doesn’t need his lawyer to attend meetings with the city.

To fund the project, Herriman will accept money from the state, which has pledged approximately $800,000 per year for 15 years. To leverage the state funding, the city council voted in favor of a bond, using the yearly allotment from the state to make payments.

Judge Kent Holmberg of the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County signed an order of occupancy on July 27 and construction has begun in front of Dansie’s home. It will ultimately be up to Holmberg to determine how much of the Dansie property is compensable.

Herriman maintains that “The city is acting with integrity, honesty and transparency in this matter,” and Dansie reaffirms his position that city officials aren’t negotiating fairly. Both parties agree that they want a mutually beneficial and speedy resolution. l

The road in front of Chad Dansie’s home is approximately 24 feet wide. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Two of Chad Dansie’s sheep graze on his property. (Elisa Eames/ City Journals) Construction has begun in front of Chad Dansie’s property. (Elisa Eames/City Journals) he Dansies feel the city is not fulfilling promises it made about fencing during construction. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

School counselors select best of the best for Jordy Awards

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

School counselors advise students about academics, course options, graduation requirements, career paths, college preparation, scholarships, mental health issues and identify and accommodate students with learning obstacles such as ADHD, autism and English as a second language. They also offer support to staff members and parents.

“There is a lot that we do— it's a big job,” Jordan District Secondary Counselor Consultant Stacee Worthen said.

Jordan District counselors follow a comprehensive school counseling program based on state guidelines and defined by priorities parents, students and teachers identify in a survey which is sent out every three years.

“We're looking at the data to make sure that we're implementing a program that is based on the needs of our community, our students, our parents and our teachers,” Worthen said.

How they implement the programs to meet those needs is up to the creativity of individual counselors. Worthen has been impressed with the dedication and innovation of counselors in Jordan District and created an award to recognize them.

“We're really just trying to come up with ways to really highlight them and show them that we see that they're working hard, we see that they have the best interest of the kids in mind,” Worthen said. “They're really advocating and contributing in a positive way for Jordan School District.”

The first ever Jordy Awards winners, nominated and selected by their colleagues are:

Natalie Bartholomew, Herriman Elementary School

Jody Jensen, Copper Mountain Middle School

Alyson Law, Fort Herriman Middle School

John Blodgett, Mountain Ridge High School

Counselors around the district were bursting with praise for their colleagues. Melissa Yardley, who was previously a counselor at Fort Herriman Middle and is now at Riverside Elementary, submitted several nominations.

“I nominated a bunch of my co-workers, actually, from all across the district,” she said. “I think it's fantastic that there's more recognition being placed out there for a lot of really hard work that goes into being a school counselor. And I was really grateful for the opportunity to be able to try and throw out some suggestions for people to be recognized for the work that they're doing.”

One colleague Yardley is most impressed with is Alyson Law, who she de-

scribed as an exceptional counselor with contagious enthusiasm and positivity.

“Alyson is a passionate and dedicated counselor who has made a significant impact on the students and staff at Fort Herriman Middle School,” Yardley said. “She’s always thinking about how to best serve the needs of her students. She’s proactive in finding solutions and sees a need before it becomes a problem.”

Worthen agrees.

“Alyson Law is cool,” she said. “She’s like the cool mom. She is always thinking outside the box and how she can do a better job for these kids. She just cares. She connects deeply with these kids. She’s super smart and she just does a really amazing job.”

Yardley said counselors have an impact on the school community because they are responsible for supporting not only students but parents and staff members, as well.

The Copper Mountain Middle counseling team doesn’t know what they would have done without Jody Jensen, who increased her hours to cover the workload of her coworker Heather Kirby who went on maternity leave last year.

“She went above and beyond to step in while I was gone and take on so much,” Kirby said. “She works way more hours than her part-time because she cares so much about helping her students be successful.”

Worthen said “Jody Jensen is spectacular. She's a really, really great, solid counselor. The kids love her. She's positive and she's done a great job.”

Those who nominated Natalie Bartholomew mentioned her infectious posi-

tive attitude and dedication to her students and coworkers.

“She is always willing to jump in, help and be available to students, parents and teachers when they need her,” said one nominator. “She is continually leading by example, turning negative situations into positive and doing everything in her power to advocate for and support her students. Natalie is such a wonderful asset to the school counseling profession.”

Worthen was not surprised that Bartholomew was among the Jordy Award winners.

“Natalie Bartholomew is probably the most phenomenal school counselor that you will ever come across,” she said. “She's smart. She's caring. She's very proactive when it comes to trying to do what's best for kids.”

Jordan District counselors meet regularly to collaborate and share ideas as a professional learning community. The number of school counselors in Jordan District has grown from 88 counselors six years ago to 153 this year. That number will increase as open positions are filled.

To fill these available positions, most at the elementary school level, Jordan District partners with state universities to provide internship and shadowing opportunities, mentoring, training and a Grow Your Own grant to help with tuition reimbursement for students studying to become school counselors.

“We really are trying to be innovative and trying to do some things to help support school counselors,” Worthen said. “We really want them to be their very best so that what they can provide for students is the absolute best.”

Worthen said John Blodgett is an example of the effective mentoring Jordan District provides new counselors. Last year at Mountain Ridge High, Blodgett had an entire staff of newbies, which he mentored, officially and unofficially. Many of them nominated him for the Jordy Award.

“His newbies were really complimentary,” Worthen said.

One said, “John is the kind of leader who makes you feel empowered and capable. He guides, but he also lets your creativity shine. Even if the idea is different than how he would normally do things, he is always open to trying new things.” l

Jordy Award winner Alyson Law, a school counselor at Fort Herriman Middle School. (Photo courtesy of Amy Gibson/Jordan District)

Jordy Award winner Jody Jensen, a school counselor at Copper Mountain Middle School. (Photo courtesy of Amy Gibson/Jordan District)

Jordy Award winner John Blodgett, a school counselor at Mountain Ridge High School. (Photo courtesy of Amy Gibson/Jordan District)

Jordy Award winner Natalie Bartholomew, a school counselor at Herriman Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of Amy Gibson/Jordan District)

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Mountain Ridge volleyball looking for encore after highly successful 2022 campaign

Last season, Mountain Ridge Sentinels were oh, so close to bringing home a state title. So what does the team do this season on the heels of such a successful year?

“Expectations for every year are extremely high,” head coach Bryan Nicholson said. “We don’t lower our expectations and goals because we are a different team than last year’s runner-up squad. We expect our team to work hard, get better every day by practicing hard and compete with whomever our opponents may be.”

Last year’s team went 15-3 overall and won Region 3 by going 7-1. At state, the Sentinels reached the Class 6A state title game, falling just short by losing to Lone Peak 3-1. The 2023 version is excited for the new year and new opportunities. However, Nicholson will have to do it with a largely different group of girls than he had a year ago.

But he remains optimistic that the Sentinels will once again perform well and have a chance to compete at a high level each day. Also, the fact that there are some new pieces this season isn’t worrying Nicholson. Rather, he is eager to see what the girls can do and how effectively they can work together.

“I’m most excited about seeing how this new team begins to work together and find their place,” he said. “There are a lot of new pieces at work from last year’s team,

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

and it’s exciting to see them gain experience as the season gets going.”

Nicholson said the team excels at serving and setting. The Sentinels have some powerful hitters as well. It isn’t just the team’s starters whom he will count on to contribute. One of the best things about the team, he said, are the reserve players and how everyone on the squad has a positive attitude.

“We also have role players that understand how important their jobs are and that without their contributions, the team can’t be as successful,” he said. “We also have some scrappy ‘big dogs’ playing great defense on the back row.”

Nicholson said every player on the team “is a main player.” But he did single out some returning players from last year, namely junior outside hitter Addyson Cook, junior setter Sadie White and junior Allie Grossenbach.

Following a season as successful as last season’s might not be easy, but Nicholson said the girls are up for the challenge. Some preseason matches and good practices have helped to solidify positions and get the girls familiar with one another.

“The challenges the team faces are obviously the high standard of play that last year’s team set and the inexperience that half our team has at the varsity level,” he said. “We have been able to work on getting

that experience this preseason and our Vegas Tournament by getting younger girls lots of reps and playing with lineups.”

Mountain Ridge has gotten off to a good start this season, winning its first two games.

Mountain Ridge opened the year with a 3-0 sweep of Cedar Valley on Aug. 10 and then breezed past Woods Cross 3-0 on Aug. 15. The first region match is Sept. 12.

“Regardless of our record, this season is a success if we are gaining experience, getting better every day in order to be playing

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our best in November and having fun while competing,” Nicholson said. “We are the defending region champs, so you’re crazy if you don’t think my girls want to defend that title.”

Nicholson is also appreciative of the way the players’ parents, school and community have rallied around the team.

“Just want to thank our parents, community and student body fans for all their continued support of our program, and we look forward to continuing to make Mountain Ridge volleyball a top 6A program,” he said. l

The Mountain Ridge volleyball team is gearing up to defend its region title and make another run at a state crown.

Teens get a taste of service and government with Youth Council

Morethan 50 new members of the Herriman Youth Council were sworn in at the city council meeting on July 12. The Youth Council allows Herriman teens aged 14 to 18 to learn about and participate in local government. “At each meeting, a city leader will address [the Youth Council,]” explained Destiny Skinner, the Herriman City Youth Council Adviser. “[Leaders] will cover what [each] position [at city hall] entails and some will have hands-on activities for the youth to do…”

In addition to what they learn at Youth Council meetings, which take place on the second Thursday of each month, council members may take advantage of several educational opportunities during their terms. Council terms begin yearly on July 1 and end on June 30.

The Utah state legislature hosts an annual Youth Day where Herriman legislators meet with Youth Council members to give them a glimpse of government on a state level. Speaking of the most recent Youth Day, Skinner revealed, “Representative Perucci [of Herriman] was very good to meet with [our youth], explain how she became involved, how legislation works, and [give] them a tour of the Capitol. We also [sat] in on a session to witness the process.”

Teens from all over the state will also attend the two-and-a-half-day Youth Council Leadership Conference in March 2024 at Utah State University. The conference will include sessions about leadership, state and local government, career exploration, team building, mental health and character building.

Council members may further their knowledge by shadowing an official from a department of their choosing to see what city jobs are really like. Shadowing generally takes place during school breaks.

In addition to the many opportunities to learn, council members also spend much of their time serving. “The Herriman Youth Council has also adopted the Mountain View Corridor between 11800 South and 13400 South. We will do four cleanups per term,” Skinner said. “We usually also have either an event or service project each month as well.”

Herriman youth aid in the organization and implementation of service projects, city events and fundraisers. “They help with multiple things from checking bathrooms, emptying garbage, to manning and running activity stations,” Skinner said. Parking assistance and even securing restricted areas at events are other ways they serve. Look for them at Herriman events such as the Basket Dash, Memorial Day Breakfast and Ceremony, Fort Herriman Towne Days and PRCS Rodeo, Herriman Howl, Night of Lights and others.

Council members must also complete a legacy service project before their terms

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

end each June 30. Among the projects completed for the 2022 to 2023 term was a food drive for the Utah Food Bank conducted by Adam Wardle, Rebecca Dansie and Ben Dansie. “Homelessness and hunger [are] rising due to increased costs of food and living expenses,” the three explained in a presentation given at the July 12 city council meeting. “289,000 Utahns, which equates to 1 in 11 individuals, are at risk of missing a meal today.”

The trio made 120 flyers, stapled them to plastic bags donated by Smith’s Food and Drug, and distributed them within the community. Households placed food into the bags, and the three youths then collected the donations and delivered them to the food bank. “I learned that by helping people, we not only help them but also ourselves,” Ben said. His sister, Rebecca, added “One person with an idea, with the help of many can produce wonderful things.”

Another legacy project completed for the prior term was a podcast made specifically for Herriman teens by Alyssa Sokol, Sunny Sokol, Addy Gilham and Kaylee Gilham. Alyssa and her mother recognized that the youth needed a local resource to help them learn about their city. Soon Alyssa’s little sister, Sunny, Alyssa’s friend Addy, and Addy’s little sister, Kaylee, joined the efforts, and their solution was to create an eight-episode podcast where each episode discussed a different topic relevant to local teens. The eight subjects include an introduction to Herriman City and the Youth Council, what to do if you get pulled over by a police officer, volunteering, neurodiversity, scholarships, managing anxiety, substance abuse and getting a job.

For each episode, the girls conducted first-hand interviews with city officials, Mountain Ridge High School personnel and industry professionals. Addy mentioned that her favorite interview was with a police officer at Mountain Ridge. “It was cool to see what [police officers] do… it was informative,” she said.

Alyssa’s favorite episode was about volunteering. “For [this] episode, we talked to the mayor, who was really great… We talked about the benefits and options of volunteering… because it’s daunting sometimes to find volunteer opportunities,” she noted. “Service is easier than we all think of it as being.” Skinner has been working to make the podcast available on the city’s website.

The city encourages any youth who would like to join the Herriman Youth Council to apply next year. Skinner revealed, “We have not capped the number of youths we accept. If they are Herriman residents or attend a Herriman high school, do the application and go through the interview process, they are accepted on to Youth Council.” l

New council members pose with Mayor Palmer and the City Council. (Herriman City)

The newest Youth Council members repeat the oath. (Herriman City)

Herriman Youth Council members are sworn in. (Herriman City)

Clementine Ranch isn’t horsing around when it comes to caring for farm animals

Thepast few years have been a bumpy road for Lindsey Armstrong and her partner Rob Fenn. Their love for animals led them to acquire a five-acre animal sanctuary in Herriman, home to nearly 200 rescued farm animals, but it hasn’t been easy.

Armstrong worked as a volunteer at Herriman’s Ching Farm Rescue and Sanctuary that was founded by Faith and Mike Ching in 1998. When she heard the Chings were selling the ranch, Armstrong worried about what would happen to the animals she loved.

“It had always been a dream of mine to have some sort of animal sanctuary but when I started volunteering, I realized how stressful it was,” she said. “But my partner said ‘what if we can blend all the things that we do and love together?’”

In January 2021, the property purchase was complete. Armstrong and Fenn were the owners of the sanctuary, the animals and a ranch house they planned to make their home. They named it Clementine Ranch (14322 S. Majestic Oaks Lane) and started to transform the farm to include an organic greenhouse and a recording studio, since both work in the music industry. Fenn also plans to bring his barber/record shop onto the property.

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

It was a stressful situation, trying to learn how to run a sanctuary and stay afloat. There were times Armstrong wasn’t sure they were going to make it. They even lived in their RV for two years when the house on the property was condemned, torn down to the frame and rebuilt.

“It was a situation,” Armstrong said, “but we had taken over the ownership of the animals going into a hard winter. Once we realized the state of the house, we were like, ‘where else are we gonna buy property and put up shelter for 200 animals going into winter?’”

But now they’ve reached a point where they can see a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Since they took over operations, they haven’t been able to take in additional rescue animals, but Armstrong believes that they’ll be able to begin a regular volunteer program and eventually add more cows, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens to their sanctuary.

They’re careful about who works with the animals and the people currently volunteering at Clementine Ranch have been trained to clean the animals’ living areas, keep them fed and watered and demonstrate compassion to all the rescues in their care.

“We want to get it up to our vision and standards before we start inviting everyone,” she said. “We’d like to be where people can pop in and bring their kids… volunteers are always needed.”

Armstrong is grateful for any donations or help offered to the ranch. Just purchasing hay for the animals costs $2,500 per month, plus there are medical expenses, food, daily supplements, grooming and more.

The community is invited to donate at ClementineRanch.org and Armstrong hopes to organize fundraising events for the nonprofit in the near future. It all comes down to doing what’s best for the animals in her care and creating a stable environment for them to live in safety.

“Sitting with animals and seeing how they interact with each other, what their nature is, how simple it is to be content and enjoy your loved ones, these are just some of the things the animals will show you after being with them for a few minutes,” Armstrong said. “These animals form deep bonds with one another and they know their names. They have best friends, they recognize when an animal passes away. These things are powerful. They’re so deserving of love and respect.” l

Clementine Ranch is a sanctuary in Herriman that helps farm animals. The owners haven’t been able to take in any more animals, but they are trying to get to a point where that is possible. (Photo courtesy of Clementine Ranch)

Clementine Ranch owner Lindsey Armstrong has a deep connection to the farm animals at her sanctuary. She hopes the community and like-minded people can step up to help the ranch survive and thrive. (Photo courtesy of Clementine Ranch)

Please join us for a FREE Community Grief Support Presentation

Senior-laden Mountain Ridge golf team eager for improvement

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Inboys golf, Region 2 is a deep, talented and difficult league. Finding team wins can be difficult, but the Mountain Ridge team is aiming to get better every day. With every small improvement, the Sentinels become more competitive.

ication.

Avila also said his team can continue to make progress as the players help one another get better, thus pushing the entire squad forward.

Understanding

Grief: Caring for Yourself, Caring for Others

Thursday, September 14, 2023

6:45–8pm

Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah

SPEAKER

William G. (Bill) Hoy, PH.D., FT Author

Educator

Grief Counselor

Chaplain

Bereavement is not about “recovery,” but rather, about finding renewed life. The basic task for a bereaved person is to learn to live in a radically–changed world that no longer includes the physical relationship with our loved one. In this practical, community workshop, Dr. Bill Hoy will help bereaved people and those who care for them understand the practical steps to take charge of their grief and live again, even in the aftermath of incredible sorrow. For those in attendance who are curious about how to help, there will be ample ideas for the practical things to say and do (as well as to not say and do!).

During the workshop, we’ll find answers together to questions like:

• What simple actions can I take now to get my life back on track?

• Is what I’m feeling and seeing normal?

• How do I deal with well–meaning friends and their unwanted advice?

• The holidays are coming; what in the world are we going to do without them?

This event is complimentary of Larkin Mortuary and registration is not required. For more information, call (801) 571-2771

“The strength of our team is our desire to improve,” head coach Ryan Avila said. “Every year, our team gets better and better, and it is because of the individual effort each player makes out of season. Our season ends in October, and by the time January comes three months later, the guys are asking to start spring workouts for the next season already. This year’s team is full of seniors that have put in the time to get better every day.”

Region 2 includes crosstown rival Herriman, along with Bingham, Corner Canyon, Riverton and Copper Hills. Avila said his players know they have their work cut out for them, as the region should be even better this season than it was last when four current league foes placed in the top eight at state. Still, the daunting task of playing against such talent isn’t deterring the Sentinels.

“We know that our region is incredibly competitive with plenty of good players, but this team is set to be the best we’ve had since opening our school, so our scoring goals are to be competitive in the region and to play well at the state tournament.”

Avila pointed out juniors Bronx Campbell and Trayson Shaheen are entering their third year as varsity starters, so they bring experience to the squad.

“They each want to be our top scorer for the season,” he said of the duo. “They each have the potential to lead our team on any given day.”

Seniors Zach Rich and Colten Peterson have improved since last season and will be key contributors this year. Avila also praised seniors Jace Clark, Carter Hansen, Max Crawford, Landon Perry, Jace Peterson and Jackson Spenst for their leadership and ded-

“For our team to find success this season, our players need to build each other up and push each other to be better every day,” Avila said. “It’s the competition and camaraderie that will make our team the best it has ever been.”

The Sentinels are also a team where the players get along with each other and love playing together.

“The team is energetic and light-hearted, they joke with each other, they encourage each other and they challenge each other,” Avila said. “Our players know that even though golf is an individual sport, our team only succeeds if everyone succeeds.”

Mountain Ridge will compete throughout September before taking part in the Class 6A state championship. Avila is looking forward to seeing what this team can accomplish. He loves working with this group and being a part of the players’ growth and success. He is also pleased that the boys golf program has expanded since he took over four years ago.

“What I enjoy the most about coaching this team is seeing our individual and collective growth from year to year,” he said. “In 2019, our first season, we had 16 kids at tryouts. This year, we had 49 kids come out for the team, and every year we get more and more. I think that speaks to how much our players enjoy and get out of the experience. If I could manage a roster with that many players, I would. I really believe in growing the game of golf because these kids will be able to enjoy it for the rest of their lives, which isn’t true for every sport.” l

receive their entire formal education—from elementary school through a college degree—all within the same community. We look forward to working with Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah as partners in serving our community’s educational future.”

SLCC Vice President of Student Affairs

Brett Perozzi said a lot of the campus enrollments are students who live nearby, but the unique nature of the campus appeals to all types of students.

“Students can come here, earn a certificate, an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree without ever leaving this campus. That’s pretty unique and exciting,” he said.

Davis thinks the smaller campus appeals to students looking for a small campus feel, like her daughter Ellie, who attends the charter school Paradigm High School and is used to smaller class sizes and a small-school culture.

“She’s come to the U of U a few times and it can be intimidating coming to the U of U because the campus is so big, but here, she seemed to light up a bit more,” Davis said at the open house.

The open house, held Aug. 4, provided community members with local performances, free food truck meals, face painting and cotton candy. Employees from both SLCC

and U of U were available to give tours and to answer questions.

“This campus will play a key role in making college more accessible to those who call this area home, and in turn help their families and community thrive and prosper,” SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin said. “I also hope this campus will become a central place for community-wide learning and engagement. We are particularly grateful for the partnership and support from Herriman City in advancing access to higher education in their rapidly growing community.”

Michelle McCashland, who is building a home in Herriman, brought her four teenagers to the open house to encourage them to consider it as an option for starting their college experience.

“The location is awesome and so is the convenience, honestly, of having both SLCC and the U of U in the same building,” McCashland said.

The Herriman Campus is SLCC’s eighth campus.

“We wanted to bring education to this southwest quadrant to reduce expenses in terms of transportation, time, air pollution, but also because we want to offer programs that are in high demand,” Taunya Dressler of SLCC said. “So the programs we’ve intentionally placed out here are programs that offer a lot of potential growth and that, in terms of our workforce, are in high demand.” l

Herriman boys golf combining hard work, camaraderie to make season a success

Golf is a unique sport at the high school level. One individual can’t directly affect how a teammate performs, but when all the players do their best, the team as a whole will benefit. At Herriman High School, the boys golf team takes teamwork seriously.

“The strengths of this team are the hard work they have been willing to put in and push each other to get better,” head coach Jeffrey Price said. “The togetherness of these guys—they like hanging out with each other. Their attitude is terrific. The kids are very coachable and love working hard together.”

Herriman has no seniors on the team, so Price relies on a youthful squad. Juniors Elliot Bond and JJ Tomsick, along with sophomore Ian Miyasaki, are the top golfers. All three have shot below par on average so far in the early going this season.

The Mustangs are in a challenging region along with Bingham, Corner Canyon, Riverton, Mountain Ridge and Copper Hills. Last season, Herriman placed third in state, shooting -7 at the Class 6A state championship. The Mustangs were nine strokes behind runner-up Corner Canyon and a distant 36 strokes behind state power Lone Peak. Bond, Tomsick and Miyasaki

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

all shot well at state a year ago and have picked up where they left off.

Price said this season’s goals are similar to last season’s.

“Our immediate goal is to get better each tournament,” he said. “We have a lot of potential, but in order to realize it, we have to continue to improve. Our longterm goals are to win the Region 2 title and compete for a 6A state championship. We need to continually improve throughout the year.”

Though Herriman returns key team members from last season’s team, Price knows nothing will be easy. No one is going to hand the Mustangs anything. He said staying focused and hungry are critical.

“For us to be successful, we need to never be satisfied,” he said. “We’ve had some success early on this year, but we need to keep grinding to win our ultimate goal of a state championship.”

The Mustangs competed in tournaments throughout August and will continue to do so in September. The state championships are Oct. 9 and 10 at the Old Mill Golf Course.

Price said he enjoys coaching this group. The players keep things light and like to have fun. But when a match is on,

they have the right mindset.

“The thing I love about these kids is they’re goofy when not playing golf and make me laugh all the time,” Price said.

“But when it’s time to get serious, they are all business. Amazingly, they actually listen when I have something to say.” l

Herriman’s boys golf team competed in tournaments throughout August and will continue to do so in September. (Stock photo)

USA Rugby to host International Friendly in Utah

By Daniel Olsen | d.olsen@mycityjournals.com

Rugby is a popular sport in Utah and teams and players here have helped build up the sport in the United States. One player who has thrived in this environment is Paul Mullen.

“I’m from Ireland,” Mullen said. “It’s on a small island off the coast. When I went to high school on the mainland, the only sport they played was rugby. It was sink or swim. Fortunately, I was able to excel.”

Utah’s Major League Rugby team, the Utah Warriors, is hosting an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest rugby scrum, and proceeds from the event will benefit 5 for the Fight and Make-A-Wish Utah. With fan and player participation, the challenge will take place immediately following the upcoming international rugby spectacle featuring the USA Eagles and France’s Stade Toulousain on Sept. 16.

“We have a partnership with Stade Toulousain,” Utah Warriors CEO Kimball Kjar said. “They are arguably the Real Madrid of rugby. They won the most recent French championship. They are the most successful rugby club in the world. One goal of the partnership is to grow the sport of rugby but specifically within North America to help their brand grow. We also want the Utah Warriors brand to grow internationally and throughout Europe. We want to create events that showcase the sport of rugby.”

The thrilling matchup will be held at America First Field in Sandy with gates opening at 3 p.m. and game kickoff at 4 p.m. The pursuit for the world record begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to participate in the scrum, along with a commemorative T-shirt, cost $10 and can be purchased as an add-on at checkout when purchasing match tickets here.

“American football fans like big hits,” Mullen said. “Rugby is the same but doesn’t go on for four hours. It’s only 80 minutes.”

While Mullen didn’t grow up in the United States, he still is happy to be a part of the national rugby team.

“My grandfather grew up in the U.S.,” he said. “For me to represent America is a great honor.”

This momentous endeavor in rugby history serves to engage the community and rugby fans from around the world and raise funds for the Utah Warriors’ local nonprofit partners. Fans who have upgraded their match ticket at the cost of $10 are invited to come down onto America First Field after the game, where over 3,000 people will lock arms to break the record of 2,586 participants set in 2018 in Aichi, Japan.

“This will be the biggest scrum in the world,” Mullen said. “It should be a friendly scrum. It is like a huge huddle. That would be cool if it was broken.”

“The long-term goal is to make Utah the epicenter of rugby for North America,” Kjar said. “We also want to be growing on a global scale. Utah has a love affair with the sport of rugby. Rugby playing countries led to the University of Utah playing rugby on their campus and eventually American football. Rugby was

being played in the mid-20th century. BYU has won five national championships. Utah won a national championship too, in about 2010. Highland High School was successful and won over 20 national championships. We have one of the largest Polynesian communities outside of Polynesia. The guys that are in the NFL out of Utah all played rugby. Rugby is a part of Utah’s DNA. We are trying with the Warriors to help people understand the energy that is played in this sport. We can help re-awaken the energy of the sport.”

This event should be an educational opportunity for those involved.

“Anyone who hasn’t come to a game of rugby should come. It’s a perfect opportunity to watch the best players in our backyard. We make it very easy for people to come out and enjoy the sport and game. Educational things. Gives people a view of what the sport looks like. People love it carries the day,” Kjar said.

“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest

event,” Mullen said. “But we are playing against incredible world class athletes. They are one of the best clubs in the world.”

While this event will take place during the middle of the Rugby World Cup, there will still be plenty of talented athletes who will line up against each other. The Rugby World Cup will take place from Sept. 8-Oct. 28.

The tickets are much cheaper than basketball, football, and soccer,” Mullen said. “It will be hard hitting with lots of scores and tackles. It should be an exciting time.”

While not every player from these teams will be in attendance, it will still be a world class matchup.

“We will have six to seven Utah Warriors playing as well as many of the best players from Toulouse,” Kjar said. “These are some of the best players in the world.”l

Eagles USA Rugby player Christian Dyer. (Kayla McFarland of Utah Warriors)

Eagles USA Rugby team. (Kayla McFarland of Utah Warriors)

Solution to misbehavior is sensory stimulation

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

AtAdvantage Arts Academy, staff members respond to student misbehavior with an untraditional method—they send the student to play.

“Most kids who have extraordinary behavior issues are dysregulated,” AAA Special Education Director Jennifer Evans said. “Their proprioceptive systems are out of whack, and there they are overstimulated. If you don’t flesh out these systems, then what you’re doing all day long is you’re putting out fires. If they are emotionally dysregulated, they’re not even in your classroom. They’re off volcanoing in the hallway or in the administrator’s office.”

To address students’ sensory needs, Evans implemented two systems at AAA: Sensory Pathway and Sensory Lunch.

The Sensory Pathway is an obstacle course with a series of physical exercises that provide proprioceptive input to kids’ vestibular systems and calms their anxiety and frustration.

Evans said when students are able to move their bodies and get the sensory input they need, they can regulate their emotions and are able to spend more time learning in the classroom.

“You’d have to see it to believe it,” Evans said. “They just feel so much better and they can go back to class and focus until they get their next break. And then there’s no volcano going, which is what I call it. So it’s like heading up the mountain to the explosion, and we head it off before we get up to the top.”

Jennifer Jolly’s 9-year-old son, who struggles with undiagnosed ADHD and emotional issues, participates regularly in the Sensory Pathway.

“Our son has taken advantage of this as a way to escape when he feels overwhelmed or out of control of his body,” Jolly said. “This has often led to a very successful return to a classroom instead of being sent home for aggressive behaviors.”

Evans works with teachers and parents to identify patterns in a student’s behavior which could be triggered by anxiety, overstimulation, hunger or strong emotions, and schedules a visit to the Sensory Pathway before the time of day they tend to act up.

First grade teacher Addison Bowcutt said it has “saved her life” as a teacher.

“I had a lot of students last year that really needed some sort of sensory stimulation,” she said. “Had they not had the chance to get it out, it would’ve been a complete disaster. While in the Sensory Room, they would complete an obstacle course, jump on a trampoline, or whatever else they needed at the time to just fulfill their sensory needs. Anytime a student would come back from the Sensory Room, it was like they could take a breath of air as a relief, and they were ready to learn again. Rather than hyper fo-

cusing on their overstimulation, they could actually focus on the task at hand.”

The other program which has made a huge difference for overstimulated students is Sensory Lunch, which is an alternative location for lunch, held in a small room, with fewer people, less noise and dimmed lights.

“The lunchroom is a very loud, chaotic place for a student,” third grade teacher Annie Rose said. “There are lots of kids and they have to make choices. I get stressed going in there sometimes because there’s so much going on.”

Last year, she had a student who was agitated every day after lunch.

“They would have such a hard time coming down to do math right after lunch that it caused a behavior problem almost every day, so I’d have to calm them down and it was a whole process,” she said.

When Sensory Lunch was implemented midyear, select students were invited to eat their lunches in the less stimulating environment.

“The sensory lunchtime allows for a less chaotic experience, where eating is en-

couraged with a small amount of friends and then a break period to be physical without all the stimulation of a playground recess,” Jolly said. “This has worked very well for our son so far, as we have had fewer phone calls from the school to come and get him during this particularly hard time of day.”

Melissa Tryon said the school’s systematic approach to addressing her extremely shy son’s behavior has been a game changer. At the beginning of last year, he didn’t want to go to school and he wouldn’t interact with the other kids. He would call several times throughout the day asking to come home.

Once he began participating in the Sensory Lunch and Sensory Pathway, his school experience changed.

“By the end of the year, he was happy to go to school every day, eating lunch with the kids in the lunchroom again, and playing soccer with others at recess,” Tryon said. “He would come home with fun stories every day and was in much better spirits overall.”

AAA Principal Kelly Simonsen said students and parents are much happier because of the way behaviors are being addressed at school.

“We’re not labeling behaviors as proof of negative worth of a student, but we’re helping students understand this behavior happens when you feel dysregulated and here’s how we’re going to help you calm yourself, here’s some things that you can do,” Simonsen said. “We’re helping students understand their own behavior and their own brains.”

She said it has been a relief to parents who’ve been told for years that their child had a behavior problem.

“We’re saying we recognize that your student has this need and here’s how we’re going to help to meet it, and you just see a lot of parents feel validated,” Simonsen said.

Jolly’s 9-year-old son previously disliked school but now loves it.

“He knows now he has options instead of being labeled the “hard” kid or the “problem” child,” she said. “He loves being in school and has a few friends. We have had so much respect for some of the teachers at AAA who are willing to not only accept, but to favor these strategies and systems.”

Bowcutt said changing the mindset of seeing “naughty” students as kids who are overstimulated has made a huge difference.

“I saved myself a lot of phone calls, emails and visits to the office because these kids got a chance to help themselves,” she said. “Overall, it has created a better learning environment for the school as a whole.”

Advantage Arts Academy is a free arts integration charter school located in Herriman. l

Participating in physical activities helps students regulate their emotions and improves their behavior.

(Kelly Simonsen/AAA)

Dazzling the skies: Drone light shows take flight

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

During the Cottonwood Heights Butlerville Days celebration, a merging of lights and technology took center stage in the night sky. Residents gathered to watch a mesmerizing drone show, where art and innovation collide.

Cottonwood Heights Culture Manager Ann Eatchel added the drone show to this year’s celebration after meeting with Open Sky, a drone light show company. She wanted to bring a new element to the annual celebration and offer an alternative to fireworks.

Not quite breaking with tradition, Eatchel scheduled the drone show for Friday night and the regular fireworks show for Saturday. There was mixed reaction from residents for both shows.

“Some people left the drone show saying that was the coolest thing ever…It didn’t have the loud noises that can scare pets and it doesn’t leave the smoke and pollution a fireworks show does,” Eatchel said. “And then I had people say no, I’m a fireworks person. I gotta have the booms, gotta have the sparkles. So it totally went both ways.”

Cities across Salt Lake County are choosing drone shows over fireworks for celebrations. Salt Lake City held a drone show for its Fourth of July event and the city of South Jordan teamed with LiveDAYBREAK to bring a drone show to city residents.

Nate Mortensen, Open Sky CEO, said demand for drone shows has increased significantly. Last year, the company did about 30 shows, but now they’re doing that many each month. He says comparing drone shows to fireworks is an apples to oranges situation. While drones can’t replicate the pop and sizzle of fireworks, the show provides cities with the ability to person-

alize the production and tell a story.

“We customize and change the show to match the theme of each event that we fly and use this as a storytelling opportunity as opposed to just entertainment,” Mortensen said. “If you can imagine staring at the sky and seeing shooting stars or meteors crossing the sky, it happens so quick, but you really remember that experience. A drone show is 10 to 13 minutes of choreographed shooting stars that you're watching in the sky.”

A customized drone show’s cost can be equivalent to a fireworks show, usually starting around $15,000, based on the

number of drones used. Most city shows average 150 drones but Open Sky has created shows using hundreds of drones at a six-figure cost.

Proponents of drone shows say drones are better for the environment and safer for residents than traditional fireworks. But while a fireworks show can last up to 30 minutes, a drone show lasts about half that time.

Each drone costs thousands of dollars and battery life lasts about 14 minutes. Mortensen has found that’s a great length of time to keep the audience engaged without losing their attention.

The Cottonwood Heights event featured 150 drones with music and was customized to include the city’s logo and the logo of two event sponsors. If she has her way, Eatchel would love to offer both a drone and fireworks show at next year’s Butlerville Days.

“I have a whole plan if the council wants to move forward,” she said. “But I’m here to do what the council wants, what the Butlerville Days committee wants and what the public wants.”

As drone technology evolves, Mortensen expects the Open Sky shows to bring more creativity, choreography and customization to his clients. He’s excited to see what comes next and he challenges everyone to get out to see a drone show in person.

“Watching [a drone show] online is a great way to see it. But it’s much different in person when you see the size and the scale of these formations that are hundreds of feet wide and hundreds of feet tall. It’s really something to behold,” he said. “The most common takeaway we hear from people after a show is they didn't know what to expect….It just exceeds their expectations when they finally see one in person.” l

Why do we continue to see labor shortages, even with big wage increases?

The labor market continues to be a puzzle. The unemployment rate is back to where it was before the pandemic and the number of jobs created is much higher than analysts expected. However, we still struggle to bring people off the sidelines and back into the labor force. Shouldn’t a strong economy entice more people to work?

This is one of the challenges the Federal Reserve faces as it tries to bring the economy back to normal. The Fed is targeting “below-trend” growth in the economy to cool things back down after several years of overheating. But in doing so, the Fed runs the risk of pushing it into a recession.

Inflation is down significantly compared to last year, but price increases remain too high. While supply chains are largely back to normal, some sectors are seeing “sticky” price increases that are struggling to come down. This includes the service sector, where price hikes are primarily driven by wage increases rather than input prices. So, when the Fed says they want below-trend growth, what they mean is they need the labor market to slow.

One of the main measures of labor market strength is the labor force participation rate, which measures the pool of poten-

By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist

tial workers available in the economy.

The U.S. labor force participation rate peaked in 2000 at 67.3%. Since then, it has been gradually trending lower, dropping to 63.3% in early 2020 as baby boomers reached retirement age and left the labor force. This “silver tsunami” of retiring boomers wasn’t a surprise, but the COVID pandemic caused the wave to crash.

In two months, from February to April 2020, the participation rate dropped to 60.1%, as 22 million people lost their jobs during the outbreak of COVID. Since the pandemic, the participation rate has been slowly increasing as groups of people return to the workforce. But the rate currently only stands at around 62.6%, and it hasn’t increased in four months. This gap in labor participation represents millions of people who haven’t come back off the sidelines to return to the workforce.

Different groups have had unique reactions to the pandemic economic shocks. The labor force participation of “prime age” workers who are between 25 and 54 years old dropped initially in 2020 but has since fully recovered and is now higher than before the start of the pandemic. However, the labor participation rate of workers

55 years and older is still far below levels from 2020. The participation rate for this age group has been trending lower for the past 18 months.

This imbalance in the labor market is one of the main targets of Federal Reserve policy actions. Since it is very difficult to increase the supply of labor and get people to come out of retirement and return to the labor force, the Fed instead is focused on reducing the demand for labor. Rising interest rates increase the cost of business borrowing, which should slow demand for

workers.

However, many businesses are reluctant to let workers go and job vacancy rates remain high. It’s still too early to tell whether a soft landing is possible or whether the overheated economy will cool too quickly over the next few months. If the current labor market conditions continue, this could represent a new normal and we won’t return to pre-pandemic labor force participation. Dynamic economies like we have in the United States can adjust, but the road ahead remains foggy. l

Cottonwood Heights residents enjoyed the city’s first drone show during Butlerville Days, as more cities explore drone show options. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

Utah Water Savers incentivizes homeowners to create waterwise landscapes

By Genevieve Vahl | g.vahl@mycityjournals.com

We’veall seen the waste of water. A sprinkler gushes water onto the concrete. The delicate rays of water to be dispersed evenly across the grass jumbled into a mass of unfettered drench reaching nothing but the hot concrete to evaporate into thin air. In arid Utah, that’s a problem.

“Approximately two-thirds of drinking water in Utah is used to water lawns and landscapes,” according to Utah State University’s extension Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping. “Much of this water is being applied inefficiently, either due to sprinkler system design flaws or because sprinklers are running too long.”

A unified approach to saving water

In May of this year, a program called Utah Water Savers, the nation’s first statewide landscape incentive program, rolled out, working to eliminate wasteful moments exactly like this. The Division of Water Resources has partnered with Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County and Weber Basin Water Conservancy Districts to develop the program that gives rebates to qualified homeowners in municipalities that have adopted water efficiency standards, of up to $3 per square foot when they replace their grass with water efficient, or waterwise, landscaping.

The most recent legislative session allocated a one-time $5 million and an ongoing $3 million to the program, on top of the $5 million one-time allocation in 2022. “This means that the amount of money available to help homeowners reduce (they don’t have to entirely eliminate all lawn) have increased threefold,” said Cynthia Bee, the public information officer for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and one of the creators of the localscapes method.

These state funds are available to those living in municipalities that have adopted water efficiency standards for new construction—52 cities have already done so—and will be matched in areas served by Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County and Weber Basin water conservancy districts. Cities will be added as landscape ordinances are updated to meet state requirements. “New construction will operate within some limits on how much lawn area they can have and how water is applied,” Bee said. “The incentives are intended to help those with existing landscapes who choose to convert them to the new standards, to do so more affordably.”

“I think having our new growth come in as waterwise as possible is going to make a significant difference because the water and the landscape decisions we make today impact our water use decisions for decades to come,” said Candace Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.

“Every planning decision, every land use decision, is a water use decision,” Bee said.

The team concocting the program in-

volved experts from across the spectrum of industries, including horticulturists, maintenance staff, landscape construction, water experts, collaborating to create tangible, efficient solutions to the ongoing reckoning with drought, water shortages and rising populations in the West. “The last couple of years of drought has shown us that we need to do better and that we’re willing to do better,” Hasenyager said.

“Rather than trying to go through each funding source and municipality separately and make it really awkward, we built all of that calculating into the Utah Water Savers site,” Bee said. “Instead of each individual agency doing their own thing in their own program, we’ve all banned together in one unified approach.”

The localscapes method

Current homeowners can “flip their strip” or convert their yard entirely using the Utah Water Savers Program localscapes method, created specifically for Utah.

“Localscapes is an approach to landscaping that shows how to get landscapes that fit, rather than fight, our climate,” Bee said. They include waterwise plants, trees and shrubs local to Utah with different creative landscaping solutions to fill yards with purpose-

ful activities and zones, ultimately looking to remove nonfunctional grass. “There are parts of your landscape where the only time you’re there is when you’re pushing the lawn mower,” Bee said. Localscaping promotes looking at those nonfunctional turf areas and reevaluating what it could be used for.

“In places where there’s an active purpose for it, we want to be able to keep it, which means you can keep up to 35% lawn,” Bee said.

But where there is no active recreation point—the kids outgrew the playset, the park strip is not walked on—and with a minimum of 200 square feet, localscapes can “integrate water and land use planning,” to better serve the climate and the homeowner. “Changing out these different specialty zones becomes really easy over time and it makes the yard far simpler to manage,” Bee said.

“We want water efficient plants, but water efficient plants are only a plant with potential if you don't change how you're delivering water to that plant,” Bee said. Also no water is saved if the sprinkler system is inefficient. “In a localscape, we control that water, only providing water to the plants that we’re intentionally planting. We’re disadvantaging the weeds and you’re seeing fewer of them,” Bee

said.

To realistically get homeowners to convert their lawns into thriving localscapes, Utah Water Savers requires free classes, both in person or online, to teach how to apply localscapes correctly, within the water efficiency standards, giving tools on how to do it yourself. Hired out landscapers can also be used, depending on the homeowners’ budget. “We’re trying to provide a full slate of tools to help them accomplish the outcome,” Bee said.

To apply, go to utahwatersavers.com, enter your water provider or register for an account and you can see what type of rebates you qualify for in your municipality. For example, the process of submitting a landscape plan to be approved, completing the project within one year and maintaining the new landscape for a minimum of three years are common parameters.

“The key is you need to apply before you start,” Bee said. “We do not rebate retroactively, so don’t tear out anything until you’re approved in the program.”

Homeowners’ experiences

In the months since its launch, some homeowners talked about what is working and not working.

Draper homeowner Nancy Bromfield and her husband flipped their strip, side yards and front and backyards, removing 7,500 square feet of grass across the whole property. Because of their flagstone walkway in the back, they did not qualify for the rebate back there. “But we didn’t care. We still did it because we knew we wanted to save water and we knew it was the right thing to do,” she said.

Now between the front and back, their property has 2,500 square feet of grass. “We overseeded our water hogging grass with white Dutch clover,” a localscapes plant type, Bromfield said. They also added 40 tons of rock around their property amongst the waterwise plants. “Having these beautiful pollinator friendly, waterwise plants have brought us different varieties of bumble bees and hummingbirds and moths. It’s just amazing.”

When they bought their home in July 2013, the previous owners were using 115,000 gallons of water a month, making a bill of $147, with a winter consumption of 60,000 gallons. After implementing their localscape via Utah Water Savers in July of 2023 they have gotten their water consumption down to 13,000 gallons, over a 100,000 gallon difference. In addition to the water cuts, their lawn care efforts have been cut drastically too. “It used to take us 46 minutes to cut the grass, now it takes seven minutes, front and back,” Bromfield said.

They were once quoted $20,000 to $30,000 to redo their yard because of its sheer size. But with the localscape approach, their project cost about $4,000 with a rebate check

Waterwise plants dispersed within Nancy Bromfield’s front rock beds. (Nancy Bromfield)

of just over $1,000. “The rebate was about 25% of what we spent, but only 40% of what we did was rebate eligible,” Bromfield said.

To help find the right waterwise plants for her full-sun-all-day property, Bromfield attended localscape university classes, the required classes in person—which she found especially helpful—visited ConservationGardenPark.org/plants, as well as used the localscapes YouTube channel.

For others like Elizabeth Sweat and her husband, who are a part of a homeowners association in Draper, the online classes proved trivial, but they found visiting the Jordan Valley Water’s Conservation Garden Park much more helpful in their project vision. “They had all different stations and you could learn and look at examples and I grabbed brochures. That was more educational than anything,” Sweat said. Although the couple did the work themselves, they found the process more expensive than expected. “Once manufacturers and rock companies saw that the state was paying, they jacked up their prices,” Sweat said.

They also had to make several runs to the county dump to dispose of their 90 square feet of sod they removed per project requirements, tacking on unexpected expenses. Bromfield left her ripped up sod out for free for the taking, and about three quarters of it was gone by the end of the day. The rest they had to take to the dump. “Unfortunately,” she said.

Both homeowners did most of the work

themselves and both found it difficult to get an initial inspection because of increased demand. But once someone did finally make it to their properties, it was a five to 10 minute review.

Ultimately, both homeowners would

recommend the program to others. “I would recommend it if you want to flip your strip, but if you’re trying to make some money on it, it won’t,” Sweat said.

“I would definitely recommend it. It’s really weird how I didn’t like gardening and

now I have my plants and I really enjoy taking care of them,” Bromfield said. “It’s really cool the world that it opened up for me that I had no idea of.”

Time for a change

“Doing a small project is a great place to start. You don’t have to commit your whole landscape. Commit your park strip, your side yard,” Bee said. “Test everything out that we’re teaching and verify for yourself before you obligate yourself to do more.”

Since the launch, there have been over 2,500 applications across the state and another 460 flip your strip applications. “That’s almost 3,000 applications, which is pretty amazing,” Hasenyager said. In Washington County alone, just over 600,000 square feet of grass has already been removed, according to Hasenyager.

“We’re in a change window, we have to change, that’s non-negotiable,” Bee said. “What we’re figuring out is how do we do it in a way that is the most orderly and accomplishable for people.”

“Not only is there more water in our reservoirs and groundwater, less is evaporated that completely leaves the system. There’s more that goes into our lakes and streams including the Great Salt Lake,” Hasenyager said. “I think there’s a really good incentive for people to do it. Not only for those that are here today and making our current water supply more resilient, but also those that might be here tomorrow.”l

Supporting Our Police Force for a Safer Community

In a recent national study, a concerning trend has come to light within our police departments. Law Enforcement agencies across the country are facing challenges in recruiting new officers, and what's more, a growing number of officers are opting to leave their positions or retire earlier than expected (Source: Police Executive Research Forum).

We know that when a police force is stretched thin, struggling to respond promptly to emergencies and investigate crimes, it impacts our community’s safety. The heart of effective policing lies in the experience and expertise of our officers. If we find ourselves with a shortage of seasoned officers, it could affect the quality of training, decision-making, and overall effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

The life of a police officer is anything but easy. They face a multitude of demands, carrying the weight of public expectations on their shoulders. Every day, they confront challenging, and sometimes heart-wrenching, situations. It's important to recognize that amidst the stress, many officers are driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact in their communities. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that prolonged exposure to stressors can take a toll on their mental well-being, leading to burnout and other health issues. We must stand together to support their journey toward mental wellness.

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt Lake County Councilwoman|

District 3

As a society, it is our responsibility to treat our police officers with empathy and respect. While constructive feedback is valuable, it's equally important to remember that the weight of their responsibilities can impact their mental health. Demonstrating appreciation and understanding will go a long way in boosting their morale and overall well-being.

Police officers are not just symbols in uniform – they are individuals with families, emotions, and aspirations. The pressures they face on the job can ripple into their personal lives, affecting their relationships and overall happiness. Recognizing their humanity and the toll their profession takes on their mental health enables us to build a community that truly values those who safeguard us.

Challenges police officers endure are immense, often exposing them to traumatic events and high-stress situations. Research indicates that police officers are more suscepti-

ble to mental health struggles compared to the general population.

As a united community, we can make a difference by offering support for the emotional well-being of our police officers. Express your gratitude for their dedication and support programs focusing on mental health training for both officers and the public. Educate yourself and those around you about recognizing

signs of mental health issues and providing a compassionate hand.

By standing together, we can ignite a positive transformation. Let's prioritize the mental well-being of our law enforcement officers, ensuring they have the necessary support and resources to thrive personally and professionally. In doing so, we fortify our police force, cultivating safer and stronger communities for all.

Waterwise plants finally taking space in the Bromfield’s front localscape. (Nancy Bromfield)

Following second-place region finish, Herriman girls tennis looking for more

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Thehigh school girls tennis season got underway before school began, and the Herriman Mustangs started off on the right foot.

On the heels of a runner-up showing in region play a year ago, Herriman should be one of the top teams this season in a revamped Region 2. The Mustangs compete against Mountain Ridge, Bingham, Copper Hills, Riverton and Corner Canyon. Last season, Herriman was part of Region 3, which comprised the same teams as this year’s Region 2, except Corner Canyon has replaced West Jordan, which moved down to Class 5A.

Head coach Linda Richmond said the team was “ready to go” at the outset of the season and had some confidence following a “strong second-place finish last year.”

The Mustangs won their first two matches, nonregion wins over Fremont and Taylorsville. The team also competed in a tournament in St. George Aug. 18 and 19 against some stiff competition.

Senior Eden Blaney is the team’s first singles starter at the varsity level. Fellow seniors Sienna Skousen and Kate Burgess are the second singles and third singles competitors, respectively.

“[Blaney] is a two-time state qualifier,

and [Skousen] and [Burgess] have risen up to varsity after being strong JV finishers last year,” Richmond said.

The doubles players are Madison Cannon, Ella Murphy, Makayla Slade and Bella Freeman. Murphy has qualified for state twice, while Cannon has joined the team after previously attending Pineview High School.

Leadership is a big strength for the Mustangs. Richmond chose eight senior captains to serve as examples on and off the court for the team. Murphy, Blaney, Burgess, Skousen, Mila Hanks, Makayla Hanks, Camilha Guipe and Janice Nava are the team captains.

The Mustangs have a full slate of matches in September. The state tournament is set for Sept. 28 and 30 at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. Last season, the Mustangs tied for ninth place at the class 6A tournament, compiling nine points. Herriman was three points behind eighth-place finisher Corner Canyon. At state, Riverton was the only region foe to fare better than Herriman. Two players advanced past the opening round for Herriman, both of whom graduated. This year’s group of players will aim to improve on last season’s finish and help propel the team higher in the standings. l

Herriman won its first two matches of the year as it returns one of the top teams in a revamped Region 2. (Photo by Mario Gogh)

Last month, I watched the neighborhood kids trudge back to school. Hunched under the weight of heavy backpacks, the little Quasimodos marched into the school year carrying a 300-page summer homework packet, an associate’s degree they earned at math camp, 750 colored pencils, scissors, an emotional support stuffed animal, cleaning products, a mass spectrometer, a non-BPA bento box and some allergen-free crackers.

When I attended elementary school in the 1900s, we didn’t use backpacks. They hadn’t been invented. It was too cumbersome to drag our handcart to school, so we carried our math, history, language, science, reading and social studies books home in our arms every night.

Most kids didn’t fail because they didn’t understand the homework, they failed because they were too weak to carry 50 pounds of textbooks.

Parents and educators set the bar for us at “extremely low” and we were lucky to hit that. One of my biggest challenges came in fourth grade when I started the school year wearing homemade avocado-green culottes. And it got worse. My Bionic Woman lunchbox had an unreliable latch, so I spent lunchtime worrying my PB&J would fall onto the floor and

Getting Schooled

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

everyone would laugh.

Not sure if I learned anything that year.

The motto at the elementary school near my home is “Academically smart, character strong.” I don’t think my school had a motto, unless it was “Sit down and shut up.” It wasn’t that our teachers didn’t care, they just thought “quiet reading time” or “rest your heads on your desks” was the best way to spend the majority of our day.

But that first day of school was always exciting. New school supplies had to be arranged carefully in my desk, including a brand new cardboard pencil box with a built-in pencil sharpener that was never sharp enough to create a point. It just mangled the top of my pencils, leaving a broken lead I kept pushing back into place.

And, of course, there had to be space

for my colorful hoppy taw, for hopscotch, and a bag of cat’s-eyes so I could shoot marbles at recess. Not real cat’s eyes. I’m not that old.

My grandson is in sixth grade, taking classes like flight science, robotics and computer engineering. When I was in sixth grade, we wrapped eggs in styrofoam and threw them off the school roof.

#Science

Luckily for today’s hard-working students, they get vacation days all the time. They’re off for Burning Man and Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest and (ironically) International Literacy Day. In the 1970s, we had Christmas Day off and a half-day for Thanksgiving. We didn’t even miss school for being sick. We just took our pneumonia-filled lungs to class and hoped we didn’t die during recess.

I’m not saying elementary school was better in the 20th century. It wasn’t. Not at all. If we could eat with a spoon in kindergarten, we would be at the top of the class. Kids who knew the difference between a letter and a number were named class president. Our role models were Bugs Bunny and the Muppets, so we were trained early in sarcasm.

Kids are so much smarter now than we ever were. I’m amazed at what my grandkids learn. I have a 7-year-old granddaughter learning Spanish and a 6-year-old granddaughter building LEGO robots. When I was their age, my biggest challenge was learning cat’s cradle. I guess the content in those heavy backpacks is paying off.

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

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

CSCS Chiropractic Physician