National player of year

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

For years, educators focused on bringing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts into K-12 classrooms, hoping to prepare students for the future. But now, adding one letter to STEM, could make a difference in how a child learns, develops and builds confidence.

The STEAM concept integrates music, visual arts, theater and dance into elementary school activities and introduces creative learning opportunities. Shanda Stenger is the fine arts supervisor for Davis School District and oversees the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program in the district.

“I believe fine arts instruction is vital for a student’s education,” Stenger said. “It helps them gain real understanding of concepts and helps develop creativity.”

BTS Arts is an arts integration program subsidized by the state that provides specialists to create curriculum based on the arts. There are three BTS Arts instructional coaches in the district, with the goal to add more. A visual arts coach, music coach and integration coach devise activities that include visual learning, music education, manual dexterity, hands-on learning, teamwork and creativity.

DSD Arts Integration Instructional Coach Bethany Struthers pilots a BTS Arts program with half of her time spent at Fremont Elementary. Recently, she worked with second graders to help them understand the vocabulary of the water cycle. Struthers talked to the students about movement and how they could make their bodies describe words like evaporation and precipitation.

“They created dances to help them remember the concepts,” Struthers said. “The kids were not getting the vocabulary and now they know it because they learned the movement for it.”

A third grade program uses music and movement to teach fractions, and fourth graders make prehistoric art on clay tablets. In fifth grade, students learn choreography that helps them remember the branches of government.

“We start in elementary and we reach students that doubt they have the understanding or experience,” Stenger said. “It doesn’t have to be talent. It’s usually constant effort and putting in a little each day. There is much healing through the arts. You can really feel and work through experiences.”

During COVID, students spent a lot of time learning in front of screens, without having a way to learn as a group through movement and interaction. Now that kids are back in the classroom, Struthers said teachers want to get kids away from screens and moving more.

With every aspect of learning, from math to reading, integrated with the arts, this type of teaching reaches students who might be auditory learners where they can assimilate information easier when it’s accompanied by sound. It also provides tactile learners opportunities for hands-on activities. And visual learners have a variety of ways to process new concepts through drawing or designing.

Students have shown an increase in reading comprehension when paired with the arts. “Reading fluency and music pair so well together and fluency is a huge skill they’re learning in these grades,” Struthers said. “They just need to have fun learning. They have been very successful.”

With more than 80 arts teachers in DSD, there are many opportunities for students to participate, whether that’s through musical theater, dance programs, or the holiday arts competition that selects a student’s art for the district’s holiday cards. This year, Syracuse High School Sophomore Class Officer Jacob Pulley’s design was chosen. “Any art that comes from the district is created by students in the district,” Stenger said.

In a partnership with Weber State University, an internship program brings future arts integration coaches into DSD classrooms for real-world experience. Struthers also coaches teachers interested in adding more arts to their

This award-winning design created by Syracuse High School Sophomore Class Officer Jacob Pulley, was used for this year’s Davis School District’s holiday cards.

curriculum.

“The pendulum of funding and what is necessary swung too far toward technology and math,” Struthers said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with those programs, but we need the arts and it’s being reinvigorated.” l

Colohan named National Soccer Player of the year

The honors just keep coming for Davis High graduate and BYU soccer superstar Mikayla Colohan. Just a week after she led the Cougars to the NCAA Championship final where the team finished second, its highest finish ever, Colohan was named Top Drawer Soccer’s National Player of the Year.

It’s been a busy last few weeks for Colohan, who is getting married to Washington Nationals baseball player Jackson Cluff in January before heading to camp for the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League, who drafted her in early 2021. She scored 18 goals this past season, second most in the country, and had 16 assists. In her years at BYU, Colohan scored 53 goals, the second most in school history. — Tom Haraldsen

Mikayla Colohan earns the National Player of the Year award. Image courtesy of BYU Graphics

To satisfy needs for various fiber connections, the Kaysville City Council considered a sharing agreement with Fruit Heights City.

On September 16, 2021, the Council approved an American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funded fiber project to increase connections to the existing city fiber ring. Added funding became available through the State of Utah, and Kaysville City applied for and was awarded a grant for $1,100,000.

These funds will allow the city to connect vital infrastructure to be able to better communicate concerns, take digital readings, increase security, and connect parks and other facilities to fiber cables for the fastest data access available. Connected infrastructure would include pump stations, water tanks, meters, valves, traffic signal lights, and more. This grant will also connect sewer facilities to help the Central Davis Sewer District.

City Information Systems Manager Ryan Judd explained to the Council that added work would create a north/south fiber backbone for fiber redundancy that can also connect parks, tanks, and other critical infrastructure for Fruit Heights City. Kaysville would share some fiber to create an east side fiber ring, looping in the water tanks, and tie in other east side infrastructure. This grant and the matching ARPA funds Kaysville will also use will not be spent on connecting individual homes to fiber.

You may recall that Connext recently broke ground to deploy a private fiber opportunity citywide which would also allow the city to have improvements constructed to the City’s fiber ring at a much-reduced cost. That agreement was not to connect fiber to homes through the city but only to extend

By Cindi Mansell / c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

the city’s existing fiber ring. However, the vendor has shown that they are interested in extending fiber to homes privately and tout they are installing an open network that is open to all service providers. Because the system will be an open network, users would have multiple options when this project is finished. Connext has begun construction and their estimated timeline for completion on the Kaysville City Fiber Project is between 18 to 24 months.

The Council reviewed a proposed agreement between Fruit Heights and Kaysville that defined the terms of installation, ownership, and maintenance. Fruit Heights desires to connect various municipal buildings and infrastructure through fiber optic cable, and a part of the fiber optic cable being installed is in a location that can be shared by Fruit Heights and Kaysville to satisfy needs for various fiber connections. This part would be considered the “Shared Portion.” The agreement agenda item for joint use and maintenance of the Shared Portion of the fiber optic cable was unanimously moved from a work to action item for formal adoption on the next City Council agenda. Under the agreement, Kaysville would not incur any more cost than what was distributed via the grant. Fruit Heights would agree to supply necessary right of way or perpetual easements as well as other provisions.

City Manager Shayne Scott said working with Fruit Heights City in this type of shared manner was very positive, and he congratulated Kaysville City IT (Ryan Judd) and city staff for “this forward-thinking and exciting news and for all your hard work to bringing the latest in technology to Kaysville City Departments and Utilities.” l

This graphic illustrates the Fruit Heights and Shared Portion of the fiber project. Courtesy graphic

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By Francia Benson | The City Journals

Many teachers have expressed being on edge due to pandemic stress and anxiety. Their mental health is suffering tremendously in part due to the extra work and precautions. According to Chalkbeat, a non-profit organization dedicated to covering quality in education, “27% of teachers reported symptoms of depression, compared to 10% of other adults.”

Society tends to forget that teachers have families of their own and personal and financial struggles. Add to that the pressure of teaching during a pandemic, and the result is teachers breaking emotionally and mentally. However, parents and caregivers can alleviate that pressure by being more aware and collaborating.

Talking to their children

When adults explain to children any situation in terms that are easy for them to grasp, they understand. They will comprehend that their teachers, like their moms and dads, also deal with stress and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents can expound that they must be on their best behavior, so their teachers can focus on teaching rather than stressing over noise, children talking over them, or interrupting their classmates. When educators are on the verge of burnout, commotion in the classroom can be detrimental to their mental health.

Wendy Sharper, a kindergarten teacher, said that many of her students are dealing with anxiety. She advises that “parents must spend time with them and talk about what is going on in their lives.” She also states that children should take the time to play because they learn a lot through playing. Teachers wear many hats; one of them is counseling children through hard times. While teachers do not complain about it, it indeed adds to their emotional load.

Taking an active role in their kids’ education

Another factor contributing to educators being more stressed than in previous years is having students behind the rest of the class. Each child learns at their own pace. Children are different, and some struggle with subjects like math and reading. However, parents and caregivers can study and practice at home. Teachers spend a significant amount of time planning each lesson, which is stressful in itself. Delivering those lessons is more challenging when many students are behind.

Sarah Saltsman, a Layton Christian Academy teacher, said that the best way to help teachers during the pandemic is to simply stop making excuses. “If a child has fallen behind, work together with the teacher,” she said. “Cultivate an environment for learning at home, as well as at school, rather than relying on the teacher to do it all.”

For his part, Bruce Benson, an Idaho teacher, said that “one thing parents can do is to make sure children are doing their homework so they are up to date in class.”

Reminding children and teens to keep their masks on

Due to the new Omicron variant, some schools require students to wear masks. Understandably, children and teens are tired of wearing one. However, it is not the teacher’s fault. They, too, get stressed out about it. Teachers have to deal with children and teens refusing to wear their masks or not wearing them correctly. Parents should remind their children to put and keep their masks on every morning.

Teacher Yolanda Zuniga advises parents to emphasize to their children to wash their hands and cover their mouths and nose when sneezing and coughing to avoid getting other children and teachers sick. That way, fewer kids will be missing classes, and teachers don’t have to worry about anyone getting behind.

Yolanda Zuniga hopes parents will counsel their children on ways to stay safe during the pandemic. Courtesy photo

Zuniga reminds parents and caregivers to “understand that we are human – we make mistakes, we get overwhelmed just like anyone else.” l

Continued from front page

After the official business, Jackson, Oaks, Hunt and Tran each said a few words. Jackson said “he was humbled and excited to get to work alongside those he campaigned with last fall.” He recognized his family and the community for their support and said while campaigning, he had visited every single inch of the community. He said there was so much talent living in Kaysville that he would love to get more people involved in the government process.

Oaks said he “decided to run to give back to the community.” He said it was exciting to see how city government runs at the local level and he looked forward to working with and getting to know everyone better.

Hunt said she was “humbled by the election results and the support she received” and “was grateful for the residents of Kaysville who have entrusted her with the opportunity to serve.” She described the mentors, volunteers, and complete strangers who supported and helped her along the way (including former Mayor Katie Witt who showed up on her doorstep, shared her invaluable knowledge, and showed her the ropes of campaigning).

Tran (shedding a brief tear) said she was born in Seoul, Korea, became an orphan and migrated to the United States where she was adopted. She was naturalized in 1979 and has been proud and grateful to be an American every day since. She said her family includes a long line of veterans and she learned that freedom comes at a price, and that price is the obligation to give back and make the world a better place through actions, deeds, and kindness. She said her parents taught her at a young age the value in service and giving back.

Tran said she hoped to be “the kind of Mayor that people know they can approach with suggestions, information, and ideas for change” and success to her will mean that by the end of her term she “will have left Kaysville better than when she found it.” Finally, Tran thanked everyone for this opportunity and said “only in the United States can an orphan from Seoul, Korea grow up to the Mayor of such a wonderful city in Utah.” l

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By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

KAYSVILLE—The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) has launched its Utah Main Street Program and Kaysville is one of several communities across the state that will be part of the new initiative.

“We’re looking at Main Street revitalization,” said Kaysville City Manager Shayne Scott. “We want to make it more walkable. We’d like to add a crossing signal mid block where the Kaysville theater is.”

The Main Street Program is part of the Main Street America initiative aiming to revitalize a community’s appearance, economy and image of their downtown commercial districts, according to Go Utah.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this program that provides a framework and resources to support a community’s unique heritage,” Nan Anderson, director of the Utah Main Street Program and rural outreach manager said in a statement. “This program honors what makes a community unique and focuses on what makes it a great place to live and visit.”

Participating communities are classified on a tiered framework according to their ability and interest in developing their Main Street. Kaysville is in the Engaged – Tier 1 category.

“We’d like to get Main Street cleaned up a little bit,” Scott said. “We see Bountiful’s Main Street and we’d like to look a little more like that.”

The Main Street Program will open doors to funding designation, he said. “That will go a long way with UDOT. UDOT has the right of way so we can’t make any substantial changes without UDOT. They’ve been a great partner.”

Scott said the stretch of road from 200 North to Hwy 89 is UDOT’s responsibility. “They plow the road and it's always maintained by UDOT. They got the light in on Nicholls Road.”

Residents will often call to ask about putting a sidewalk along the road, he said. “Or they’ll wonder why we don’t repair or fix something but we have to tell them that UDOT has the right of way so we can’t do anything without permission.”

The new Community Development Director and other city leaders will meet in the coming weeks to decide what the Main Street project will look like, said Scott. “We’ll have a clearer idea of what to do and what funding to go after.”

It should be really exciting, he said. “There will be some big changes as we wrap up the general plan. We’ll wait for the new city council to look it over.” l

Part of the Kaysville City Master Plan is Main Street revitalization. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Ally Isom’s team is gathering signatures for the primary

By Tom Haraldsen | tom.h@davisjournal.com

KAYSVILLE–Ally Isom had had enough–enough of the tone and the way she felt politicians talked to each other and about each other. She felt civility could return to government, particularly at a national level. So in July, she went “all in” by leaving her full time job as Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer for EVŌQ Nano and declared her intention to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by two-term incumbent Mike Lee.

Now, the first phase of that race is on, as Isom has begun the process of gathering 28,000 signatures from registered Utah Republicans to assure her name is on the primary election ballot on June 28. Though the state has 853,875 “active” Republican registered voters, according to the website vote.utah.gov, gathering that many signatures presents a challenge that any senatorial candidate has to take on.

“It’s a high threshold and a short amount of time,” she said from her home in Kaysville. “The signatures are due by the end of March, and we’re in a race to have our first batch of at least 28,000 to turn in as quickly as possible.”

In 2014, the state legislature passed SB54, which allows candidates to gather signatures so they can enter the primary along with the candidate that is selected at the state GOP convention. It’s been a controversial process since first passed, with elements of the Republican Party both praising it and decrying it. Both Lee and fellow Republican candidate Becky Edwards are also gathering signatures this year, as Lee did in 2016.

“Each signature needs to be gathered in person, and logistically that has plenty of challenges,” Isom said. “We have an army of volunteers who’ve taken this on and have started collecting signatures. Voters can only sign the petition for one candidate, and there could be errors that would cause some of the signatures to be thrown out. So our target is 32-35,000 signatures.”

She said none of those petitions can be submitted to the state until at least 28,000 have been gathered. Subsequent signatures can be submitted before the deadline, but that first patch has to have at least 28K.

Even with hundreds of volunteers, Isom and her fellow competitors have to have help. That means hiring professionals to assist in the gathering, a challenge at a time with labor shortages in Utah and the COVID-19 pandemic. Hiring of those professionals could push the cost per signature to as high as $14-15 apiece, as candidates in past elections have found.

“People are very leery of opening their front doors when our volunteers knock, because of the virus,” she said. “I understand that. So we’ve been having signing parties in neighborhoods, and canvassing every Saturday.” Her “Rally for Ally” events find volunteers dressed in red shirts and red beanies, and some wearing red running shoes like Isom’ signature footwear she has worn since her first campaign appearance in her hometown at Kaysville’s Independence Day parade.

“I love meeting everyone face-to-face, being out in

Ally Isom is leading an army of volunteers in her signature gathering efforts. Courtesy photo

the communities and hearing their stories while I’m telling them mine,” she said. “I’ve been walking in a lot of communities, about 70 so far, with many more to come. I’ve spent every waking moment involved with this campaign to really take it to the people of Utah. We can make a difference. We can get the kind of leadership in Washington where there’s a voice for unity and core principles.”

Isom’s website, allyforutah.com, has more information about her campaign and how others can volunteer and get involved. l

Having retired from the West Valley Police Department in 2017, Stuart Palmer is no stranger to police issues. While finishing up his law enforcement career, he went back to school and achieved his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. After retiring from law enforcement, he worked as a licensed clinical social worker at the Westridge Academy Residential Treatment Center dealing with kids and families.

In conjunction with the FY21-22 budget adoption, Kaysville City created a new therapist/counselor position to provide mental health support to individual clients who have been exposed to workplace trauma or who would benefit from immediate access to mental health treatment. The vision was for the position to facilitate referrals to proper resources in the community and find creative solutions to make public safety employees as whole as possible in the most efficient way possible. Palmer came across that job posting and thought “now that’s a clientele I could really connect with.” He started in this role on November 1, 2021, and “gets to dress like a civilian, talk cop, and do what I do best – help people.”

This position joins two similar statewide positions (Salt Lake City and West Valley City). Palmer says he has met with both of those counselors and together, they are “pioneers paving the way into new territory.” Recently, they started working to help put together a presentation for therapists to help them try and learn to speak the “language of cop.”

When talking about a “typical day and what that looks like,” Palmer said that particular day he had met with two

By Cindi Mansell / c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

individual police officers for mental health therapy and to work through some things they were struggling with. From there, he went to a meeting with at Davis Area Technical College (DATC) where he is collaborating with their staff to put together a mental health program. The day before, he had a meeting with Davis Behavioral Health to collaborate with them for Stuart Palmer consumers who contact the Police Department because they don’t know who else to contact. He said he views his role as collaborating with the community and connecting those who need help with available services.

Asked if he could have used this type of service when he was an officer, Palmer said, “absolutely. I had a police officer friend who committed suicide and I never saw it coming.” He said it would have been nice to have this type of resource to help him deal with the issues in his heart and head. That is what actually led him to continue his career as a licensed therapist.

Palmer said years ago, there was a therapist from Blomquist Hale who lived in his neighborhood. He said they started talking and the therapist told him,“You really need to come to work for us because we don’t speak police officer and we don’t know how to best help them with certain words, feelings, situations, and terminology.” Blomquist Hale offers Employee Assistance Program services for multiple entities to help employees realistically address life problems. Before positions such as this one at Kaysville, this was the type of third-party provider who would have supplied counseling to first responders.

Palmer described a situation before Christmas wherein an officer met a suicidal woman at the Kaysville Post Office. The officer didn’t really know how to help her (but he knew Palmer was on board), so he loaded up the woman and drove her to Palmer’s office. He was able to sit down with her and help. Together, they contacted Davis Behavioral Health and they were able to take her and work with her. Palmer feels this was definitely a positive resolution to this frequent type of situation.

Adding to his list of accomplishments, Palmer is also an approved therapist for the Fraternal Order of the Police (FOP). This professional association will cover the cost of an officer’s first four therapy treatments. He was also featured in the November 2020 West Jordan City Weekly as working with “Unbridled Hope” West Jordan horse therapy to help officers with mental health needs.

Officers should not have to deal with symptoms alone and now Palmer can help first responders cope with traumatic experiences and the stress that comes with the job. He looks forward to making this position as positive and helpful as possible, however that may look. It is definitely “a work in progress,” he said. l

Nearly 20,000 Utah children are being raised by a relative

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

BOUNTIFUL—When Jenn Dishman became a grandmother she never dreamed she would be raising two of those children. With some of her kids still at home, adding an 8-year-old and 10-year-old to the family was an unexpected change. Dishman is not alone. There are about 20,000 kids in Utah living in “kinship” care which is being raised by a family member or friend.

“For two or three years we knew our daughter was having a lot of struggles,” said Dishman. “She was drinking quite a bit and had married an abusive man. We had the kids off and on and they were going back and forth.”

Dishman said they were becoming stressed about getting the kids and the situation with her daughter’s abusive husband. “He convinced her to steal money from her employer at Weber. We called the foster system and asked them what I would need to do. They said we would need to be certified to be foster parents.”

They referred her to GRANDfamilies, a program run by the Children’s Service Society of Utah that helps kinship care families navigate the new situation.

“It started in 2002,” said Rich Johnston, GRANDfamilies Program Director and Adoption Program Director. “At first it was a service for grandparents caring for a grandchild. Now it’s pretty much grandparents, family or friends. We don’t work with biological parents directly.”

They are the only kinship program in the state, he said. “We work closely with DCFS. One of our goals is to not only prevent kids from going into foster care but to work with people who don’t qualify to be foster parents.”

With foster care the children have been removed from the parents, said Johnston. “The requirements are pretty strict on income, size of rooms, etc. Unfortunately, most (kinship families) don’t qualify for foster care payments. We’re working to get funds to support them more and help them qualify for Medicaid so the children do have medical coverage.”

“It’s a situation you thought you’d never be in,” said Dishman. “There’s a lot of strong emotions dealing with the repercussions of your own child’s alcohol abuse.

Dishman’s daughter opted not to sign the paperwork for them to take guardianship. “She disappeared,” she said. “He’d (husband) had convinced her to come to a hotel and kept her there. He beat the living daylights out of her. I know he used the kids as leverage to keep her there.”

She decided to sign guardianship just as COVID hit, said Dishman. “I spent most of the winter homeschooling them. Grandfamilies helped me get that set up. They really had my

Jenn Dishman and her husband are raising their two grandsons. The GRANDfamilies program has helped them navigate this new change in their lives. Courtesy photo

back. I’m so grateful and indebted to them.”

The two boys are now in Dishman’s care. “They’re in a much better, safer place with me,” she said. “My husband and I had to shift gears with what we were doing.”

Dishman is grateful the boys are not in foster care. “I wouldn’t have been prepared to take them if I hadn’t heard about GRANDfamilies.”l

On Nov. 6, the world woke up to the tragedy that took a 10-year-old life. Izzy, like her family called her, took her life, presumably over being heavily bullied due to her skin color and being autistic. This calamity is causing concern among parents, caregivers, teachers, and students.

According to the Stop Bullying website, about 20 percent of students ages 12 to 18 undergo bullying nationwide. Out of those, 15 percent are bullied through the Internet or text messages.

The website categorizes the type of bullying children and teenagers are subject to by their peers. Among them are: • Children being victims of gossips or lies • Getting laughed at, called names, or getting offended • Getting pushed, shoved, tripped, or even spit on • Getting left out • Being menaced to get harmed • Students trying to make them do things they do not want to do • Having their belongings destroyed.

Stop Bullying states that “The relationship between bullying and suicide is complex.” They explain that bullying isn’t the cause of suicide but that it does exacerbate sentiments such as solitude, nonacceptance, “as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (around 4.4 million) have

By Francia Benson | The City Journals

been diagnosed with anxiety. In addition, 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (about 1.9 million) have been diagnosed with depression. The CDC also expounds that depression and anxiety among children have been increasing. These facts and statistics should be a base for parents, doctors, and teachers to find solutions and work together toward avoiding more suicides among children.

The Utah State Board of Education has taken steps in the hope to prevent children and teens from taking their own lives and give teachers resources to handle such situations. They released the “Youth Suicide Prevention Training for Employees.” It is a two-hour training, and every Davis School District employee is required to complete it.

Furthermore, Davis School District attempts to counter bullying by carrying out two initiatives: The first is identifying and assisting the victim and, secondly, educating the offender.

What can parents do?

Parents and caregivers must pay close attention to kids and teens. Depression and anxiety are on the rise for several different reasons. A child is never too young to undergo a depressive episode or to deal with anxiety. When a child or teen is experiencing depression or anxiety, parents must take them to the pediatrician. Parents can’t handle by themselves some things related to their kids, like mental illness. The sooner the child gets medical attention, the sooner he will improve.

How to spot a child who is being bullied

Asking children how their day went and listening closely to their answers, tone, and voice inflection is crucial to learn if they are going through hard times. Asking directly if they are being bullied allows the child to feel safe about sharing their feelings. Some kids hold that information because they feel shame or do not know if their parents will believe them or care. That’s why having open communication where kids feel safe to express their concerns is pivotal.

What to do when a child is getting bullied

Parents must let their kids know that it is not their fault and that bullying is not acceptable. Furthermore, a meeting with the teachers, the perpetrators’ parents, and the school counselor is necessary. Everybody must agree that the harassment has to stop and respect the child. If the child is already, or due to the bullying situation, experiencing depression and anxiety, therapy must be provided. Action can prevent suicide. Do not let the problem keep going or tell your kids that bullying is part of growing up because it is not. It is harmful and can cause children to feel unsafe, lost, and angry.

Depression and anxiety

Even though the number of suicide among children and teens is on the rise society and the government don’t give enough importance and care to depression and anxiety. Both mental illnesses must be addressed and treated like people would treat any other disease. Mental health matters, especially in kids who cannot help themselves. Resources:

Anxiety and depression can affect children even at a young age. Photo by Francia Benson

A great resource for parents and children is the fun PACER’s Kids Against Bullying’s website. It provides helpful information and activities. Also, the Davis School District Bullying Prevention site is https://www.davis.k12.ut.us/departments/ student-family-resources/preventioncommunity/bullying-prevention

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicide thoughts, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the UNI CrisisLine at 801-587-3000. l

Sometimes it’s fun just to dream, or fantasize, or just pretend that you are going to win the lottery. Powerball fever begins to take hold anytime the jackpot exceeds half a billion dollars, as it did this month when it grew to over $600 million before two winning tickets were sold last Wednesday. By the time you read this, it may have been claimed and you’re thinking you missed out because you didn’t make that trip to Malad.

But really, what are YOUR odds of ever winning? Well…

The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 300 million. To put that in perspective, here are some other odds:

Becoming an astronaut–1 in 12.1 million you’ve tried out

Becoming U.S. President–1 in 10 million you’ve run for the office

Winning an Olympic gold medal–1 in 662,000 for athletes who’ve competed

Winning an Oscar–1 in 11,500 for actors who have been, or could be, nominated

There are other “oddities” that have a better chance of coming your way than a

Tom’s Tomes: Winning the Lottery

By Tom Haraldsen | tom.h@davisjournal.com

Powerball jackpot. For example:

Being hit by a meteorite–According to National Geographic, 1 in 1.6 million

Becoming a Billionaire (through professional efforts)--1 in 409,000. Believe it or not, about 10 percent of Americans are worth $1 million or more, including 71,613 in Utah (7 percent of our population).

Dying in a plane crash–A report in Newsweek said the odds are 1 in 20 million. This does not include those who pass away from exhaustion while traversing miles and miles to gates at the new Salt Lake International Airport.

Being killed by hornets, wasps or bees–The National Safety Council says those odds are 1 in 54,093. Yikes!

Being Canonized–Your chances of becoming a saint are 1 in 20 million. That’s based on the fact that 100 billion people have lived on Earth but only 5,000 have been recognized as saints.

Getting your tax return audited–Supposedly only 0.6 percent of Americans get audited. I disagree–from personal experience.

Being wrongfully convicted of a crime–The rate at which innocent people were convicted of felonies was about 0.027 percent in the mid-2010s, according to the New York Times.

Being killed by a shark–Even though dying from a shark attack is rare, your chances of winning the lottery are even rarer. According to the International Shark Attack File, your odds of dying from a “Jaws” moment are 1 in 3.7 million.

Making a hole-in-one–According to the National Hole-in-One Association, which based its findings in 2013 on data collected over 30 years, the odds of sinking a hole-inone were 2,500 to 1 as a professional golfer and 12,500 to 1 as an amateur golfer.

Going to the ER with a pogo stick-related injury–To be fair, pogo sticks are terribly difficult to use. Just be aware that if you have the misfortune of spending an afternoon on one, your chances of bouncing your way into the ER are about 1 in 115,300, according to the Deseret News.

Having conjoined twins–Your odds of birthing conjoined twins are about 1 in 200,000, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Your odds of giving birth to normal identical twins? About 1 in 250.

And finally, becoming a movie star–Fame and fortune don’t go hand-in-hand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly pay for actors was $32.89 per hour as of May 2017. Although few acting jobs will put you on the A-list, landing a role for a big-screen film is far easier than winning the lottery. Long story short: You’re better off buying a ticket to Los Angeles than spending the national average of just over $200 on lottery tickets a year.

So if you win the lottery, are you set for life? Probably, but keep in mind that the Feds take 24% withholding tax and 37% total, plus states have tax lottery charges. Drawings are at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. So good luck. And avoid stinging insects! l