Kaysville/Fruit Heights | January 2023

As cities get brighter, our view of the stars gets dimmer. With more people living under artificial light, it’s changing the way we see our skies and blocking astral views we used to enjoy. A worldwide effort to reduce light pollution encourages communities to create Dark Sky areas to help people return to a natural nighttime environment.

In 2017, Antelope Island earned the Dark-Sky designation administered by the International Dark Sky Association and it’s become a place to witness exceptional views of the night sky.

Utah has 10 state parks and 24 locations that have earned the Dark-Sky designation. In fact, the state has the highest number of certified Dark-Sky Parks and Communities in the world. But Antelope Island offers a unique experience.

“Our geography out here really made it possible to earn the designation,” said Trish Ackley, park naturalist for Antelope Island State Park. “We’re surrounded by a lake. We’re undeveloped out here and the lake makes it almost impossible for development to encroach on us, so already the park was pretty dark. We did have to adjust some lighting and eliminate some lighting that wasn’t necessary.”

It can take years for a location to earn approval from IDA. The

Dark-Sky photography is popular on Antelope Island State Park. With the park’s Dark-Sky designation, photographers like Ryan Andreasen capture phenomenal views of the heavens. Photo courtesy of Andreasen

Getting to Know Dr. Heaton

Jared Heaton is an attentive and thorough dermatologist, serving his patients in Davis County. Dr. Heaton is Board-certified in dermatology, and he is currently a member of the American Society of MOHS Surgeons.

Dr. Heaton prides himself in serving all patient populations and treating all areas of dermatology from children through retirement age. He places a strong empahsis on catering to the retirement population in his community as skin cancer is more prevalent in this age group.

Dr. Heaton earned an undergraduate degree in International Relations with a minor in Asian Studies from Brigham Young University (BYU). His medical degree is from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM). He completed both his internship and medical residency in Tampa, Florida.

In his spare time, Dr. Heaton enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, parafoil kite flying, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Dr. Jared R. Heaton

Board Certified Dermatologist

Shalise Owens DNP, FNP-C

Kaysville firefighters keep things light on Facebook

By Cindi Mansell / c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

Recently, Mayor Tami Tran and her intern Kalia Merrill interviewed Fire Department employees Kelton Vine and Cameron McKinnon on her podcast show. She called them “mysterious, intimidating and awesome” and referred to McKinnon as the “Fire Department Social Media Megastar.”

McKinnon said he’s never thought of himself as being mysterious, but he has worked for Kaysville Fire Department for almost 13 years. He started immediately following his graduation from Davis High. He is currently an Engineer Driver/Advanced EMT and the administrator of the Fire Department Facebook site. “His posts are hilarious and have been featured on national news,” Tran said. Wit and humor used by McKinnon really presents boring subjects in a fun and engaging manner.

McKinnon said about five years ago, he asked if he could start some social media accounts for the Fire Department. He said for the first one-two years there really wasn’t a great deal of engagement and so he decided to use his wit and sarcasm in an “ask for forgiveness” manner. People ended up really liking it (luckily including the Fire Chief and City Manager).

Tran said it is “so fun to poke fun at ourselves whilst sharing a great message.” She said the public is always asking about the writer of the funny posts. McKinnon said he lays low but if people ask, he will admit it is him. He agreed the site has been positive for the department and they have followers from all over the world. Tran said she loves the interactions between the city and other cities, (especially the Police and Fire Department jabs back and forth).

McKinnon said the banter had been good for the Fire and Police relationship and has been a group effort. They are out

in the emergency responder trenches together and this back-and-forth rivalry is a great relationship builder. Tran said she thinks it makes the city quaint and the engagement is incredible, including the hundreds of shares, likes, and comments while people are learning safety tips while laughing.

Vine said he has been with the department almost six years and is a Paramedic as well as an Engineer Driver. He explained the differences between Basic EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic, including abilities and functions (starting at basic patient assessment to IV’s, medication and then expanding the scope to patient assessment, advanced lifesaving, and pain management). He said every Kaysville Fire Department employee is required to be an Advanced EMT.

Vine said the emergency calls are coded by dispatch and that defines the situation and determines who on duty will respond to the call (and which equipment and/or vehicles). He said often, people are confused why various vehicles respond (fire truck, ambulance, SUV) and that is why. Vine said as a Driver, it is really insane how some people react to emergency responders (such as not pulling over or trying to race or outrun them). The law is to pull over to the right.

Vine said Engineers do not go into burning structures. They arrive on the scene safely, run the pump and ensure firefighters going in have water (with not too little or too much pressure). McKinnon said they carry 750 gallons on the engines and basic attack lines can flow up to 150 gallons per minute, so they have between three-five minutes before the engine itself is out of water. “An engineer’s focus is to get a hydrant hooked up to the truck to en-

sure constant water supply,” he said. Hydrants run off the culinary water system so water is available and fortunately, at great pressure in Kaysville. Vine said this job is important at the scene because that water is their lifeline and if disrupted, they could potentially die or get hurt inside a fire scene.

McKinnon said he has had a lot of experiences, both good and bad. He said there have been some funny ones like last summer when they had a gentleman show up at the fire station who said his garage caught on fire, he wasn’t sure what happened, but had put it out. He asked them to come and look at it to make sure everything was safe. After they had been there for a while investigating, his little boy showed up covered in black soot and

they had solved the mystery and found the culprit.

Vine said their schedule is 48-hours on for two days and four days off. He said the schedule 8-5 involves training, public interaction, inspections, gas leak checks, fire/carbon monoxide detector issues, etc. and afterwards they go to the gym together, eat dinner, attempt to sleep, and just revolve their entire schedule around calls. Firefighters can retire after 25-year of service. He said it is great because firefighters work 10 days a month and have the other 20 days off and when you frame it that way, it really is an incredible career.

McKinnon and Vine love their jobs; both have special circumstances or history that encouraged their career choice. l

THE CITY

THE CITY JOURNALS TEAM

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PUBLISHER

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alisha Copfer | alisha.c@davisjournal.com

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Kaysville Fire Department; left to right Mayor’s intern Kalia Merrill, Mayor Tami Tran, Kelton Vine, and Cameron McKinnon. Photo courtesy of KFD

Governor’s budget includes historic investments in teacher salaries

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@ davisjournal.com

KAYSVILLE—At a time when inflation is at an all time high and teacher pay isn’t keeping up Gov. Spencer Cox announced significant tax cuts and historic investments in teacher salaries at a press conference held at Centennial Junior High Dec. 8.

“We are leading the nation in our economy and unemployment is at an all time low,” said Cox. “But high gas prices and groceries are taking a toll. Utahns deserve some relief. We want to give deep, meaningful tax relief.”

In addition to more than $1 billion in tax cuts and education, the budget also includes support for young Utahns, families and investments in quality of life, Cox said.

“There will be a one time property tax relief,” he said. “We’re taking $400 million for checks that will be sent back to taxpayers. We’ll also reduce the tax on Social Security payments.”

Cox said he’s especially excited about a new dependent exception for pregnant women. “We believe in life before birth so the child a mother is carrying should get a tax exemption.”

The biggest announcement for teachers was a $6,000 boost in total compensation. “It’s the year of the teacher,” he said. “This is our top priority. It’s not just hollow promises. I believe in giving world class education for families. Last year we made an historic investment in education. This year there will be $1.5 billion in new appropriations.”

Student outcomes are based on the teacher. “There’s nothing more important than a teacher,” said Cox. “We love our teachers. We need to reward them by paying them more.”

Part of the budget goes to mental health, he said. “We have to recognize those students who need attention too. We’ve also included $20 million in one time money for teen centers for students experiencing housing insecurity through no fault of their own.”

Cox credited good teachers for helping him when he was struggling in high school. “I thought I had no business being there (in class),” he said. “I had suicide ideation and it was selfless teachers who cared deeply about me that changed my life.”

“We love the Governor’s focus on teachers,” said Davis School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford. “There’s nothing more important in our mission than to have an excellent teacher in the classroom. He’s spot on. We’re thrilled with the money. In this capitalistic society we recognize that’s what we do for compensation but this recognition is to tell people we appreciate them.”

Cox also announced full day kindergarten. “Last year my son was in kindergarten,” said Trisha Turley, an eighth grade teacher at Centennial who is pregnant. “My husband is

a firefighter and he had to take off every Friday so he could get him to and from school. Going all day will relieve us so much and I’m excited about a tax credit for pregnancy since I’m about six months pregnant. The pay raise is very exciting too.”

Utah is known as a place for families, said Cox. “We want to do what’s in the best interest of parents. We also want to get the message out about teachers because we love our students and families and we want them to have the best opportunities. This is a powerful moment to show Utah cares about kids,

l

and teachers and that they matter.”

families

Teachers at Centennial Junior High take a selfie with Gov. Spencer Cox after his announcement that his budget calls for a $6,000 boost in total compensation for teachers. Photo by Becky Ginos

We want to do what’s in the best interest of parents. We also want to get the message out about teachers because we love our students and families and we want them to have the best opportunities.

Gov. Spencer Cox

Snapshot of 2022

From skydivers to sports, 2022 was filled with events in the county. Davis Journal photographer Roger V. Tuttle shares some of his top picks.

Snapshot of 2022

effort to get the designation was spearheaded by Wendy Wilson, now the assistant park manager at Antelope Island State Park. There are several requirements to keep the designation each year, including public outreach and working with community partners to bring awareness to light pollution.

Winter is Ackley’s favorite time to stargaze on Antelope Island because it gets dark much earlier and the pesky mosquitoes and gnats aren’t around to irritate visitors. But she does warn people to bundle up, because it can get really cold.

“It’s a little warmer out here than it is on the Wasatch Front because we’re surrounded by what is usually a warmer body of water, but it’s often windy,” she said. “If you’re taking pictures, be sure to wear gloves. Just bundle up.”

While summertime stargazing at the park is popular, with star parties, astronomy programs and dark sky photography, it’s been harder to get people to enjoy the dark skies during the colder months. But Ackley said the benefits to winter stargazing are numerous.

“Winter constellations are, in my opinion, so much better than summer constellations. There are just more stories to see and more you can play with and use your imagination in the winter.”

Although Antelope Island State Park closes at 10 p.m. during the winter months, it gets dark enough to see a phenomenal star

show starting around 7 or 8 p.m. It’s a good time for families to visit and still get the kids home in time for bed.

As light pollution continues to increase, the International Dark-Sky Association states more than 80% of the country can no longer see the Milky Way. Artificial light has been shown to affect sleep cycles, disrupt migratory patterns in birds and even contribute to climate change.

Ackley said Utah home and business owners can reduce light pollution and help protect views of the night sky. Small changes like using lights only when and where necessary, shielding lights and directing them downward, using warmer light bulbs and closing window blinds at night are all ways to reduce light pollution.

As our view of the stars dims, people are traveling to locations with Dark-Sky designations to catch a glimpse of what’s missing from bright cities, towns and neighborhoods.

“Astro-tourism is really picking up. People are starting to travel to darker places and seeking that out,” Ackley said. “Most people don’t have access to the Milky Way. It’s up there but we don’t think about it and don’t see it. But now that people are getting a taste of that, it’s really powerful. People want that.”

For information about Antelope Island’s Dark Skies program, visit StateParks.utah. gov/parks/antelope-island/dark-skies/.l

Winter Tip –Clearing snow from around fire hydrants is

Emergency Responders and city plows need to be able to see the hydrants.

Comcast deploys new multi-gig internet speeds in Salt Lake City

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Homes and businesses in Salt Lake City were introduced to Comcast’s new multi-gig internet speed, delivering downloads speeds up to 2 Gbps over existing network connections. On December 13, Comcast announced the launch that will rollout nationwide, reaching more than 56 million households by the end of 2025.

The new offerings will be the largest and fastest-ever multigig network and WiFi deployment in the United States. It will be a seamless transition, connecting millions of users to internet services and will double in capability, speed and reliability every two years.

A launch celebration in Salt Lake City brought together local Utah Comcast network engineers and senior leaders, community partners and Comcast Headquarters Chief Network Officer Elad Nafshi.

“This is the beginning of a transformation, and we’re well on our way,” Nafshi said. “We have architecture that is built for infinite scale. This is architecture that will enable us to offer multigig services across our footprint.”

The average home has 25-30 devices connected to WiFi and internet services. Comcast’s rollout will help keep those phones, computers, appliances and TVs working reliably. Real-time visibility allows Comcast to address issues as they arise, dispatching technicians to the right locations, armed with tools to fix problems across the network.

Built with sustainability in mind, the network complies with regulations for data center sustainability. Over the next seven years, the amount of power needed to provide services will be reduced by 50%.

“Investing in technology and infrastructure ensures Salt Lake City maintains the fastest and most reliable internet service

for our residents,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “In my work as a founding member of the Utah Broadband Coalition, I’ve seen how the benefits of Comcast’s investments extend to businesses, government organizations, students and all Utahns; including seniors, veterans and those in low-income households. We greatly appreciate Comcast’s announcement today because it prepares us for tomorrow’s demands.”

In addition to multi-gigabit download speeds, Comcast introduced faster upload speeds to Xfinity Internet customers in Salt Lake who choose xFi Complete. New speeds will be up to 10 times faster than current levels and deliver the industry’s best combination of speed, coverage, and control, powered by one of the world’s first Wi-Fi 6E Gateways.

“I had the opportunity to launch the previous revolution. In late 2016, we launched the infrastructure we rely on to deliver services today,” Nafshi said. “In 2016, we rolled out the very first modem and 18 months later it was available everywhere. That’s the path we’re on right now. By the end of 2025, this network upgrade will be available to 56 million households. The vast majority of our network will be fully upgraded.”

Faster speeds are just one of the consumer benefits made possible through Comcast’s efforts to evolve its entire network to 10G, a next-generation technology that will stay ahead of customer demand for connectivity. The 10G technology allows enhanced speeds and performance to millions of people using existing connections, without having to dig up yards or streets.

Comcast has nearly 5,000 miles of fiber throughout the state of Utah, serving more than 1 million customers, including 100,000 in Salt Lake. Transitioning to a digital network, powered by a vir-

tualized platform, Comcast engineers can reliably maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade network components almost instantly, with a few keystrokes. This makes the network more energy efficient and is an important element of Comcast’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2035.

“The local teams really empower all this to the community. They are pushing this technology that is so scalable and so seamless to the customers. They make it happen,” Nafshi said. “It’s so much hard work. There’s a tremendous amount of hard work by many women and men across the company, whether it’s corporate or a regional division or locally here in Salt Lake.”

For more information, visit Corporate.Comcast.com. l

At the Comcast headend facility in Salt Lake City on Dec. 13, Elad Nafshi, senior VP at Comcast (right), shows Jared Gerber, senior deputy chief administrative officer of Sandy City (left) and Chris Dunkeson, VP of area offices at Comcast, the new platform for Comcast’s next generation network technology that will deliver services more efficiently.

Snowplow drivers rock when it comes to keeping city streets clear

By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

Let’s show appreciation to the Kaysville City Public Works employees who are dedicated to keeping the roads safe during the winter season. They clear streets by removing snow and ice as quickly and safely as possible to maintain a safe and open flow of traffic throughout the city and for emergency responders. They often work during the worst weather conditions (early in the mornings and late at night) and spend all day performing their regular duties then come back out all night to plow.

Public Works Director Josh Belnap said crews will clear snow from primary roads first so the streets with the most amount of regular and emergency traffic are as safe as possible. “Many people do not realize that the city does not own, maintain, and is not in control of some major streets such as 200 North between 600 West and Main Street and Main Street between 200 North and Fruit Heights.”

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) owns those roadways and is responsible for plowing and maintenance, said Belnap. Interested residents can visit both the UDOT and Kaysville City websites to view the location of snowplow equipment and track progress in their areas.

As plow drivers have continued to try to update their routes and processes, snow removal is still a long and challenging task. For the past three winters, each year has seen a decrease in the time required to clear city streets. At times, there can be limiting factors such as equipment condition, storm intensity, staff health/sleep that result in lessthan-ideal response times or road conditions. Weather conditions also determine the number of plows and types of materials used for each storm.

Belnap offered other safety tips such as giving snowplows plenty of room, not tailgating or stopping too close behind them. He recommends staying behind a snowplow because the road will be safer to drive on but said if passing is necessary, use extreme caution. Other tips include slowing down for wet, snowy or icy conditions, when visibility is poor or when conditions are changing; allowing additional room between your vehicle and others; and driving defensively and cautiously.

Residents could help the snow removal process by parking all vehicles, trailers and boats off the streets. This allows plows greater ability to clear the roads edge to edge and reduces the risk of damage to vehicles/ equipment. When cars park on the roads during this time, plows leave piles of snow along their shoulders. These piles can be dangerous, especially when they freeze solid, creating a significant risk to traffic and requiring special equipment to come back out

and later remove.

Shoveling snow and ice from your sidewalks is important for the safety of residents. Pushing, blowing or otherwise depositing snow, leaves or other debris into the street is problematic, especially when a street has already been plowed. Residents are asked to please push snow shoved into driveways by snowplows into the area between your sidewalk and curb; not into the street and to aim snowblowers into front yards away from sidewalks and streets.

Residents often ask if plow drivers can keep snow out of their driveways. While they are not actively trying to put snow in driveways or on sidewalks, it is difficult to keep snow from doing so as the plows move down the street. When plows are not able to

plow up to the edge of the curb (prevented by parked vehicles or other obstructions in roadway), this can interrupt both the mail carrier and garbage disposal process.

Mayor Tami Tran recently went on a ride along with Public Works employee Ryan Roberts. “My takeaway is absolute gratitude for all they do,” she said. “They work all night and day with limited resources and staff; they are definitely heroes.”

“There are approximately 20 employees tasked with pushing snow. Please remember these drivers are giving up a lot in their personal lives and missing family functions (particularly around holidays) so that others can attend theirs.” Contact the Public Works Department at 801-544-8112 to report any snow or ice control problems. l

Kaysville City Mayor Tami Tran with Public Works employee Ryan Roberts in front of a snowplow. Approximately 20 people are tasked with pushing snow in the city to keep roads safe. Courtesy photo

City Council adopts Moderate-Income Housing Element

By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

he City Council unanimously adopted a ModerateIncome Housing Element into its General Plan. A few years ago, the Utah State Legislature began efforts to address housing affordability within the state. Part of those efforts included revising the state code to mandate that municipalities dedicate a section in their General Plan to housing affordability. The Utah State Legislature attached negative funding consequences for cities; failure to adopt the amendment would result in the city being disqualified from state funding opportunities which come through the Utah Department of Transportation, Wasatch Front Regional Council, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

Community Development Director Melinda Greenwood reviewed the addition/amendment recommendations for six items: (1) rezone for densities necessary to facilitate the production of moderate income housing; (2) create or allow for, and reduce regulations related to, internal or detached accessory dwelling units in residential zones; (3) eliminate impact fees for any accessory dwelling unit that is not an internal accessory dwelling unit as defined; (4) zone or rezone for higher density or moderate income residential development in commercial or mixed-use zones near major transit investment corridors, commercial centers, or employment centers; (5) implement zoning incentives for moderate-income housing units in new developments; and (6) implement a mortgage assistance program for employees of the municipality, an employer that provides contracted services to the municipality, or any other public employer that operates within the municipality.

Table 3.1 - KAYSVILLE HOUSING UNITS

Total Housing Units 7268 8920 2.1%

Occupied Housing Units 7064 8832 2.3%

Owner – Occupied Units 6340 7666 2.2%

Renter – Occupied Units 724 1166 4.3%

Greenwood said the demand for affordable housing is anticipated to grow over the next 10 years. Kaysville City has 8,920 housing units in total, of which 8,832 are occupied units. “The city has 7,666 owner-occupied units and 1,166 renter occupied units,” she said.

Historically, Kaysville has been constructed mainly of single-family units. Multi-family units, including townhomes, condos, and apartments, have been more prevalent in recent years and will continue to be an important tool to address moderate income housing needs within the city.

Greenwood said the median household income in Kaysville is $103,730. The ratio of the city’s median income to median household owner income is 20 percent. Ratios greater than 30 percent indicate the average renter or household owner is burdened by housing costs. Ratios greater than 50 percent suggest a severe burden. Currently, the overall renter income to rent ratio is not considered a burden (but is nearing the burden threshold).

One public comment included support of responsible growth but felt that these requirements are not justifiable without the support of government. He expressed concern about what those individuals who will be living in these units would be taught if the city buys into this system of government-supported housing. He said nobody is talking about the housing crisis; there are many people wanting to move to Utah and there is only a fixed amount of space available.

Kaysville aims to facilitate a reasonable opportunity for a variety of housing, including moderate income. There is also cause for concern that ownership of single-family homes is becoming too expensive for moderate-income households as housing prices continue to outpace income increases. The housing element of the General Plan is designed to determine the demand for moderate income housing and provide an outline of how to meet the needs of current and future residents. l

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Kaysville City Code 6-2b-4(8) states that during winter no person shall park a vehicle, except authorized emergency vehicles, on any street between midnight and 6 a.m. of any day from the first day of November each year to the last day of February the following year.

This ordinance is enforced by both Public Works and the Police Department;

citations will be issued whether it snows or not. Each parking citation amounts to $40. However, the fee will be reduced if you pay the amount sooner rather than later. After 30 days, you will be responsible for payment of the full amount.

Parking citations can be paid online or in person at City Hall (23 East Center Street, Kaysville). l

City Ordinance prohibits pushing snow or other debris into city streets

Residents should clear their sidewalks as soon as possible to prevent any obstruction of travel on a public sidewalk. Snow removal on sidewalks is required to be done within 24 hours of any snowfall event. This includes corner lots and properties that back onto public streets. Shoveling snow and ice from sidewalks is important for everyone’s safety. Residents are encouraged to work together to keep sidewalks clear.

Pushing, blowing or otherwise depositing snow, leaves or other debris into the street is problematic, especially when a street has already been plowed. This snow can be easily frozen, reducing traction and become a striking hazard in the road. Residents are asked to please push snow shoved into driveways by snowplows into the area between your sidewalk and curb; not into the street and to aim snowblowers into front yards away from sidewalks and streets. Ice and rocks, as well as powder snow, are blown out many feet and could hit parked or passing cars. l

JANUARY 31, 2023

Once

personal transportation . . . The Zinge r.

future

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her confidence and happiness! Thank You!”

–Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features onetouch folding and unfolding – when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a

backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

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ha s e am o unt i s p a d b e f o re t h e e x p ir at io n of t h e p ro m ot io na p er io d T h ere s n o minimum m o nt hl y p ay m ent re qu re d dur n g t h e p ro m ot io na p er o d F inan c n g o r G re en S k y ® c o n s um er l o an p ro gr am s s p ro v id e d b y f e d er a l y n s ure d e qua o p p o r t un t y en d er b ank s † T h e C hamp o n L im t e d L if e t im e War r ant y ap p l e s t o C o mf o r t 3 6 5 W n d o w s ® an d quali y n g C hamp io n p ro du c t s a s lo n g a s t h e o r g na p urc ha s er o w n s t h e h o m e S e e w eb s t e o r a C hamp io n rep re s ent at v e o

Making Christmas brighter for the community

By Cindi Mansell | c.mansell@mycityjournals.com

Want to know what Christmas preparation looks like for 120+ families? It consists of countless volunteer hours, hundreds of Amazon boxes, more than 2,000 gift tags taken and lots of financial donations from Kaysville residents and businesses. These are the helpers that come to the rescue to create Christmas miracles and make the Kaysville GIVES Fill the Fire Truck event a tremendous success.

Thousands of dollars’ worth of new clothing and toys were donated for families in need this season. Event organizer, Mindi Edstrom puts in a ton of work for this event, and it always pays off well. “What an overwhelming day of emotions,” she said. The committee starts working on the project in August and there have been hundreds of hours donated to help put this together.

“There is no way that one person could pull this off but thanks to our amazing residents and business, we were able to fill over 2,000 gifts to students in our elementary schools, junior highs, high schools, the women’s shelter, Mountain High and Head Start.” They were also able to donate toys and clothes to the Davis Foundation.

This project success would not be possible without the generous donors and volunteers, Edstrom said. She would like to give special thanks to donors Tyson Smith, Reading Horizons, Young Truck and Trailer and their foundation, Young Caring for our Young, Gardner and Crista Crane and Russon Brothers Mortuary. Also, to Mayor Tami Tran, Kaysville City Council and Youth Council, City Administration, Parks and Recreation, Power, Karen Dent, Emily Murphy, Shanna Barker, Shannivee Frasure, Ogden Davis High Performing Arts and the Fire Department for running behind the scenes. l

New program helps lost pets find their way home

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

KAYSVILLE—In 2022 lost pet numbers went up and hundreds of those found pets ended up at Animal Care of Davis County which is already near capacity. Surrounding shelters are in the same situation.

A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science finds that 70% of lost dogs are found less than a mile from their homes and 42% are less than 400 feet. With all that information, Animal Care of Davis County started the Friendly Finders program. The program allows those who find an animal to keep the pet until its owner can be located.

“Myself and my deputy director went to a National Animal Welfare conference and heard about Friendly Finders and they were seeing great success,” said Ashleigh Young, director Animal Care of Davis County. “Most people when they find a pet they turn it over to us. According to Utah law animals brought to the shelter must be impounded within 72 hours. Keeping them in the (finder’s) home gives a nice neutral ground. It’s a great service to get them home.”

When a good Samaritan calls in an officer will go out to the location, she said. “They’ll take a cute mug shot and put it into our system. That makes them aware that a person has found the animal if someone is looking for their lost pet. We’ll do an intake of vaccines and a medical exam or any other concerns the finder has for the pet.”

The program was rolled out Oct. 17, said Young. “To date, we have had 19 cats and 28 dogs participate in this program and nearly all of them were reunited with their original families.”

In Utah, dogs and cats are considered personal property, she said. “If you don’t alert the authorities that you’ve found

a pet it can be seen as theft.”

This program is in line with the community while meeting the requirements of the law, Young said. “It’s really a lot better for the animals.”

If the owner is not found after five business days the finder has a few options, she said.

• The lost pet can be brought up to the shelter to find a new forever family.

• The finder can choose to continue to foster the pet, helping the animal shelter find a forever home for the pet and become an official member of the Foster Team.

• Or they can adopt the pet themselves and give them a home without the pet ever having to come up to the animal shelter.

The Foster Team is made up of volunteers who take care of a pet while Animal Care looks for a permanent home.

“We provide all of the food and supplies,” said Young. “They see how the animal behaves in a home and meet with a potential adopter. We learn so much more about the animals so we can find great homes with that additional information.”

Anyone can foster, she said. “It can be people in apartments or with kiddos, or existing pets. We have lots of pets here so we can find one that fits with that individual’s lifestyle. Some pets have more special needs like no kids, other pets, etc.”

Animal Care of Davis County is a socially conscious animal shelter, said Young. “There is no time limit to keeping an animal. Sometimes if they have a chronic medical condition or there is a behavior issue like hurting other animals or people we will seek a rescue placement option.”

With the holidays approaching, a new pet might be on the Christmas list. “The ASPCA did a study five years ago that looked at animals as a gift,” Young said. “They found that they are just as much loved as when someone chooses to purchase a pet. The science backs it up. Of course we’d prefer they adopt a pet rather than going to a breeder but we understand that they’re not always going to find what they’re looking for at the shelter.”

Young believes the Friendly Finder program will benefit everyone. “We’re excited for the opportunity to engage with the community.” l

Mayor Tami Tran and other volunteers who helped with Kaysville GIVES. More than 120 families were served this Christmas. Courtesy photo

Davis County Animal Care employee Juliette gives Cookie a good scratch. The new Friendly Finders program helps prevent lost animals from coming to the shelter. Courtesy photo

Kaysville woman named TOPS Queen after losing 84 pounds

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

KAYSVILLE—Cleone Kynaston weighed 117 pounds when she got married in 1952. By 1999 she weighed 240 pounds. The Kaysville woman knew she needed to do something about her weight. She found TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a nonprofit weight loss support organization in the late 1960s and joined a local chapter in Farmington.

“I weighed 185 pounds,” said Kynaston. “The members were very friendly and I lost 50 pounds getting to my goal weight of 135 pounds.”

However, as she moved around to different cities, Kynaston said she started to gain weight. “When we moved to Soda Springs, Idaho I found a wonderful TOPS chapter and started to lose weight. We moved again to Park Valley, Utah in the late 1970s where there was no TOPS chapter and I again gained weight.”

Kynaston found a few other women in the area and together they organized their own TOPS chapter. “We moved again in 1979 to Kaysville and I started to work as a telephone operator, sitting eight hours a day, five days a week,” she said. “Twenty years later at 240 pounds, I knew I had to lose weight.”

After she stopped working, she joined

I

the

The

in your mind and 10 percent diet and exercise. Well I found out they were correct.

I attended a workshop at TOPS Interna-

tional Recognition Days years ago and the speaker talked about the importance of changing your mind’s thinking.”

Hartvigsen said she started picturing herself at her goal. “I made up a positive

affirmation and started to explore ways to find self-help and self-love. Gradually my weight started to go down.”

Sometime later, Hartvigsen started gaining weight again. “I hung in there and started to exercise a little more, watched my carbs and calories, all the while thinking positive thoughts and picturing myself at my goal,” she said. “Finally I broke the barrier and my weight continued to drop. I reached my goal in December 2020 with a loss of 108 pounds and continue to lose weight today.”

“Through their participation in TOPS, we are extremely proud of our TOPS members’ weight loss accomplishments,” said TOPS President Rick Danforth, who has maintained a 100-pound weight loss for more than 15 years. “Celebrating the life-changing achievements of not only these individuals but those who have come before them is a hallmark of TOPS’ winning formula. By maintaining a commitment to personal lifestyle changes, TOPS members are given the tools and assistance to achieve their weight loss goals.”

Hartvigsen said chapter members take turns teaching at the weekly meetings. “We give presentations on everything. We learn how to take off pounds sensibly and you work with your doctor to determine how much you should lose.”

Both Hartvigsen and Kynaston also enjoy the camaraderie of the group. “I love TOPS meetings,” said Kynaston. “Participating in the challenge contests and the lessons learned and all the wonderful friendships made.” l

TOPS Kaysville chapter coming in at 239.75 pounds, Kynaston said. “I stayed on the proverbial ‘roller coaster’ losing and gaining until Nov. 23, 2021 when I was able to reach my goal of 155 pounds.” -

est weight loss from their starting weight, Kynaston was named 2021 TOPS Utah

“It’s a group that meets every week and challenges each other and cheers when-

Hartvigsen has been a member of TOPS for 41 years, she said. “I was an Area Captain for 24 of those years and a Utah State Coordinator for 12 years.

had lost the same 70 pounds two times with TOPS prior to that time but I never

TOPS chapter members told her never to give up, she said. “I’ve heard them say that losing weight is 90 percent

Kynaston after she lost weight. Courtesy photos

Cleone Kynaston was on a roller coaster of losing weight and gaining it back until 2021 when she finally reached her goal by dropping 84 pounds with the help of her TOPS group.

‘Primordial’ to open in Lagoon’s 2023 season

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—For the last few years guests at Lagoon have watched anxiously as a new ride has taken shape. In 2023 the wait will be over. The ride will open to the public when Lagoon’s season starts in the spring.

“It’s called Primordial,” said Lagoon spokesperson Adam Leishman. “It’s a family friendly ride. Children who are 48 inches have to ride with a supervising adult, those 36 inches can’t ride.”

It’s a unique ride, he said. “It’s an interactive, experiential coaster that is one of a kind in the world. I don’t want to say much more because it’s a fun surprise for our guests.”

Leishman said Lagoon is also unique in that they build some of their own rides. “We built Cannibal. We use local vendors for construction and we have an in-house international designer.”

It’s been seven years in the making, he said. “That includes the design process. In 2020 construction was halted. All of our resources had to go to staying open. Then it picked back up again last year.”

The name Primordial came from employees’ suggestions, said Leishman. “Everyone comes up with weird and funny names and then we pick one and say ‘that’s

good.’ We’re family owned, kind of a Ma and Pa shop so everyone is very involved. That’s how it works.”

Lagoon also announced its pricing for the new season and that has gone up. “Everything that’s happening in the world is the same for us,” Leishman said. “Our operating costs have gone up so we can’t maintain the same prices.”

Leishman said they have a Black Friday deal on a season pass. “It’s $160.95 plus tax. It’s tiered pricing as the season goes on but the maximum price for a season pass is $207.95 plus tax. The maximum price for a single day ticket is $97.95 plus tax.”

People are often surprised that the off season is the busiest time for Lagoon, he said. “That’s the time we are making improvements, rehabilitating rides and doing construction. We’re working really hard.”

Lagoon has some iconic rides that can’t be found anywhere else, Leishman said. “The wooden roller coaster was built in 1921 and there isn’t another Terror Ride. It’s one of only four to six dark rides left in the entire world. It turned 50 in 2017 and Dracula’s Castle will be 50 years old in 2024.”

There are three rides that are on the national historic registry, he said. “We don’t like to take rides out. We like to preserve our

rides.”

It’s the largest family owned amusement park in the country, said Leishman. “We’re one of few parks that have a picnic

area and you can bring food in. There’s a lot of unusual things about Lagoon that we take a lot of pride in.”l

Sewer district receives $400,000 check from Wattsmart program

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

WEST BOUNTIFUL—The South Davis Sewer District has become more energy efficient and it’s paid off. The district received a check for $402,776 from Rocky Mountain Power last month as part of its Wattsmart program that incentivizes commercial and residential customers to save energy.

“We swapped out a large natural gas compressor with a smaller, more efficient compressor with a variable frequency drive so it’s not using as much power when it starts up,” said South Davis Sewer District General Manager Matt Myers. “Wattsmart came through and looked at the plant’s energy efficiency in wastewater treatment then they identified a compressor replacement.”

Wattsmart is a program Rocky Mountain Power runs, he said. “They have people who look at a project in an industry or public entity. They pay for improvements through reimbursement after they come back and verify the improvement generated the intended savings.”

On another project there were just minor things such as turning the lights out and operating air compressors at lower settings, said Myers. “That netted us about $9,000.”

The natural gas compressor that was replaced was 1,400 horsepower before, he said. “The new one is 800. That’s a lot of efficiency

there.”

Myers said they spent more than $400,000 on the project but Rocky Mountain does have a cap. “It didn’t cover it all but it covered a good chunk and it saves on our electric bill.”

“Customers can contact us and someone will come out and do an assessment to see where they can save on energy,” said Logan Taggart, Regional Business Manager, Rocky Mountain Power. “We have engineers who have partnered with us to do an analysis and calculate what the savings would be. The sewer district is a great project that will have huge savings.”

Applicants must go through a pre approval process and submit an application to get the right parties involved in the assessment, he said. “It can be commercial or a business but residential as well.”

Logan said the money for reimbursements comes from the customers. “A portion of their bill pays for these programs. Being more energy efficient helps us keep some of the lowest rates in the country.”

For more information on the Wattsmart program visit rockymountainpower.net and look under “Savings & Energy Choices” or call their customer service at 877-508-5088. l

Riders get a thrill on Colossus at Lagoon. The park will open its newest ride, Primordial, in the 2023 season. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

(Left to right) Kirk Nigro and Logan Taggart, Rocky Mountain Power, Howard Burningham Board Chairman South Davis Sewer District and South Davis Sewer District General Manager Matt Myers with a check for $402,776. The district was presented with the check last week for its participation in the Wattsmart program. Courtesy photo

Interior design course teaches about feelings

By Alisha Copfer | alisha.c@davisjournal.com

For those who have ever felt the need to feng shui their home, Laneel Perry has the answer. She teaches an interior design class through Canyon Heights Adult Learning Center twice a year. These classes take place once in the fall and again during the winter, with the next classes starting on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, 2023.

Each class is about two hours long with instruction from Perry about interior design. This is a six-week course. Students are able to attend these classes at either Layton High School or Woods Cross High. Those interested can sign up online at canyonheights.davis.k12.ut.us or email Perry at perrylaneel@ yahoo.com.

Perry received her interior design degree from Utah State University and now owns Design Dezign as a freelance designer. She has worked with many different people to design their spaces, from hospitals and offices to residential and commercial spaces.

“I love working in homes because that’s where you can get really personal,” said Perry.

Designing is exciting Perry said because of her unique outlook on interior design. “My favorite aspect of interior design is my different approach. I have a very unique style in that I don’t follow the trends or what’s current. I’ve learned to design by following discovery and love.”

Perry said in a Facebook post about the fall classes that the interior design class is great for anyone thinking about majoring in interior design, those who are interested in where to start in the interior design process or those who are curious or fascinated with interior design and want to learn more.

Some of the things students will learn during class are design principles and elements. They will also learn about differ-

ent styles, space planning, furniture layout, the emotion of color, art placement and even accessorizing. Over the course of six weeks, students should be able to learn enough about interior design to recognize if it is a career they want to pursue.

“I love teaching about design because I’m passionate about it,” said Perry. “I do it because I love it.” Perry talks about how she turns interior design into a personal discovery. “I believe that our homes should tell the story of the people who live there. So, when you choose to bring in things that you love, you bring in you.”

Perry wrote her first book in 2018, titled “This is Me...An Out Loud Experience.” Her book is a reflection of memories, key moments and experiences that shaped her personality. She plans on writing a second book that will contain some of the curriculum she has developed for these classes.

When Perry started teaching nearly 10 years ago, she had never considered being a teacher before. Her mother encouraged her to look into it despite Perry’s reservations. “Mom, I am not a teacher,” said Perry about the conversation. “There is no way I want to dive into teaching after my experiences. My mother replied that was exactly why I should reach out to others and show them my light.”

While she was extremely nervous during her first class, she now doesn’t even need notes. “These classes are about the students,” said Perry. “I love walking into a full class; it makes me feel like I can make a difference.”

Perry describes the class demographic as broad and can include anyone from those who are looking to start a design career to at-home DIYers. She typically teaches classes with 12 to 15 students. However, her last couple of classes have had an average of five. “It’s all about the individual and how they want

their space to feel,” said Perry. “Design is always a

evokes feeling.” l

2022 economic trends carry over into New Year

By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist

The last year brought both economic highs and lows, from soaring inflation to the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded in the Beehive State. For better and worse, we’ll see some of these economic currents carry over into 2023:

Recession fears linger. Recession fears loomed in most of 2022 as the Federal Reserve ramped up interest rates, consumer sentiment plunged, and the Gross Domestic Product contracted during the first half of the year. While the U.S. economy avoided a recession last year, thanks in part to robust consumer spending, the threat of recession persists. For one, the Treasury yield curve inverted, meaning that investors are willing to pay higher interest rates on short-term bonds than longer-term ones. Historically, this has been a warning signal that a recession could be on the way.

The labor market shines. The labor market was the star of the 2022 economy. As of August, all jobs lost in the pandemic were recovered. The unemployment rate is back down to 3.7% nationally, nearly as low as the pre-pandemic unemployment rate of 3.5%. Utah’s unemployment is nearly the lowest in the nation, measured at 2.2% in November. Yet, businesses are still struggling to find workers amid the Great Resignation

and shifting demographics. The labor force participation rate showed little net change in 2022, and the lack of available workers will carry into 2023.

Consumer sentiment remains historically low. Utahns and Americans expressed discontent in the economy in 2022. In the middle of last year, consumer sentiment fell to the lowest point recorded in the 70-year history of the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumer Sentiment. The Kem C. Gardner Institute’s much newer Utah-specific index also sank to a new low last summer. While attitudes about the economy have improved slightly, ongoing inflation continues to erode consumer confidence. Consumer sentiment matters because attitudes about the economy drive behaviors like spending and investing, often acting as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Global shocks roil markets. The economy has yet to fully emerge from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain snarls and recent protests in China continue to disrupt markets and strangle growth, while the war with Russia and Ukraine further hindered pandemic recovery. These global distortions make understanding the economy difficult and bring ongoing uncertainty in 2023.

Historic interest rate hikes. The Federal Reserve boosted its benchmark interest rate, the federal funds rate, from zero to between 4.25% and 4.5% in 2022 — the highest rate in 15 years. The Fed has said it plans to continue tightening credit to tame inflation, with more rate hikes expected in 2023. Although the amount of expected rate increases will be dramatically lower than in 2022, the Fed is expected to maintain higher rates for a longer period.

Inflation persists. Inflation was one of the biggest economic stories of 2022, peaking at 9.1% in June 2022 — a lifetime high for people under 40. In the Mountain region, prices grew even faster, hitting double digits earlier this year. While inflation has slowed to 7.1% nationally and 8.3% in our region, it’s still being pressured by hot wage inflation and remains well above the Fed’s target rate of 2%. We’ll likely see more price cooling in 2023, but it will take some time to get inflation down to historical levels.

Overall, 2023 is expected to be a year of economic moderation. Inflation will slow as higher interest rates cool economic conditions. We’re already starting to see signs of price moderation in areas like construction, motor fuel and used cars. While we haven’t seen this yet, the labor market should begin

to soften as employers cut back on expansion plans in the next year. This process may be uncomfortable, but it is a necessary part of resetting an economy that has gone through many shocks over the past few years.

Robert

Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.Al

feeling…it

Laneel Perry decorates a Christmas tree that belonged to her mother while reminiscing of the times they spent together. Photo by Laneel Perry

Miss Davis County has been crowned for 2023

By Alisha Copfer | alisha.c@davisjournal.com

DAVIS COUNTY—The Miss Davis County Competition was held at the Syracuse Arts Academy. The festivities ran all day on Nov. 12 with workshops on walking, talking, dancing and singing. There were also talent shows, interview questions and an evening gown competition involving each of the six contestants.

After a full day of pageanting, Hannah Romney was crowned Miss Davis County for 2023 on Nov. 12, 2022. For Romney, pageanting runs in her blood. She got her start as Little Miss Lehi when she was 7 years old. And her niece is the one who helped her get involved this year for the Davis County run. “At some point, my whole family has been involved in pageanting,” said Romney.

“Our Miss Davis County, Hannah Romney, was so welcomed, and I’m so proud to call her my title holder,” said Melissa Payne, a makeup artist at the pageant. “This workshop was amazing, and Hannah is even more prepared to serve the community of Davis County!”

After not being interested in the pageant, Romney's niece convinced her to run for the Miss Davis County title. “I had the full ‘Miss Congeniality’ turn-around,” explained Romney. “I had preconceived notions that pageants are based on beauty and body expectations. However, unexpectedly, the pageant was full of feminine energy, and everyone was so kind to me throughout the whole process.”

Romney explained that each contestant and everyone involved were all rooting for each other. “The first thing I noticed was that everyone was so kind, supportive and uplifting,” said Romney. “Everyone wanted each other to succeed, and they were cheering for everyone involved.”

“I feel I won on the energy of the day and the work I had already put into my social initiative,” said Romney. “I think this was seen by everyone during all of the walking, talking and singing leading up to the shining 24 hours of that day.”

Romney’s social impact initiative is the love of arts. “I believe the arts have the power to change someone's perspective on themselves, their circumstances and their community,” said Romney.

“I want kids to have as much exposure as they can to these healing tools,” she said. “There needs to be more art, dance and theater in our elementary schools. The arts are so healing.”

When Romney was about 14 years old, she lost her brother, which created trials and tragedies in her life. She was able to turn to theater to help her understand what was going on and how to process things better. “After the theater kids found me, I experienced the most empathy I have ever felt in my life,” said Romney. “There is something so beautiful about the way art touches you. It has the potential to heal communities by offering different perspectives.”

Others often describe Romney as being “quite a quirky one” and a bit “unhinged,” yet she still has the ability to help everyone feel comfortable. She describes herself as a “theater-kid turned preschool teacher and a lesbian-woman with her own inner diversity.”

Romney will be holding an art supply drive in January to help meet her goals of getting the arts into more schools. Romney stated that only about 49 minutes of each day are spent on the arts in elementary school classrooms. Her initiative is to provide more exposure to not only elementary age kids but all students in Davis County. l

Special education program’s mission is to help children become successful

By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—The Davis School District (DSD) special education program serves 10-11% of the district’s population and provides opportunities for children with all types of disabilities. The department is staffed with physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, counselors, teachers for the deaf and visually impaired and many more specialists who help children thrive.

“We’re careful to provide the least restrictive environment for them,” said Special Education Director Tiffany Midgley as part of a presentation to the school board. “We try to engage students and meet them wherever they are. Our expectation is to provide them an education that meets their goals so they can eventually leave DSD like every child, ready to perform.”

Resource is a pullout program, said Lisa Wall, Mild/ Moderate K-12 & School Support Director. “Students walk down to the resource room from their general education class which is where they receive core instruction.”

Secondary schools have different periods so there might be co-teachers, she said. “One would be for special education and the other a regular teacher. When they turn 14 we develop a transition plan that is updated every year with the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program).”

In 11 to 18 schools there are School Support Facilitators, said Wall. “They work with curriculum, student behavior, inclusion, autism and brain injury. They also talk to parents if needed. They’re invaluable to us with all their experience and training. Any child currently residing or going to school in our district can be referred to us.”

Special programs include A.S.C. (Academic Social

Communication), Wall said. “We might go out to the classrooms with a peer tutor or a teacher assistant. Students might also need behavior support. Some students require intensive instruction and academic needs into adulthood.”

Other students can’t be sustainable in a classroom, she said. “We have five classrooms that are supervised by our behavioral team.”

The department has 90 speech and language specialists and 51 school psychologists, said Taya Johnson, Director of Related Services. “They’re impacting 2,500 students a week. We have six teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing and 11 teachers for the visually impaired. There are four physical therapists who work with over 60 students a month.”

Vista is for students ages 18 – 22 with an IEP who haven’t graduated yet, said Vista Principal Jeff Williams. “We teach them adaptive skills like making change, ordering a meal, learning to read a bus schedule, etc. It’s not based on a regular curriculum.”

They use UTA to go out on job sites, he said. “We have a foods classroom where they make food. They also learn how to iron clothes, make a bed, how to dress correctly for a job, etc. We have a soda fountain shop and kids can order drinks from that. Students work there if they’re not community ready.”

The goal is for students to be as independent as possible, said Williams. “Some learn to tie their shoes and others get a job or go to DTC. Come see our students – you’ll fall in love with them.” l

Hannah Romney was crowned the new Miss Davis County 2023 on Nov. 12. Courtesy photo

Laura Alley, M.S. – CCC/SLP works with children at Foxboro Elementary. Speech and language pathology is just one of several programs within the Davis School District special education program. Courtesy photo

From the people who brought you Syncrete, nepotistic construction contracts and the ThrU Turn fiasco intersection, comes a mind-boggling project guaranteed to be unnecessary and over budget: the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola.

The Utah Department of Transportation isn’t known for its rational, effective projects. It spent years studying the LCC traffic situation before making the wrong decision, but at least they didn’t go with the Little Cottonwood zeppelin.

Color me unimpressed with UDOT. Take 5400 South. Please. I travel this road every day and I know UDOT doesn’t understand east-west travel. Going from my home in Kearns to the I-15 interchange in Murray includes nearly 20 stoplights along that 7-mile stretch and I usually hit every. single. one.

There was a legend that if you drove exactly 42.3 mph, under the light of a full moon, you could travel 5400 South without stopping at one red light. Not true.

I blame my road rage on UDOT.

So, let’s talk about the gondola. With UDOT approving the nearly $600 million project, it must have overwhelming support. Nope. Local mayors, residents, environmental groups, Bigfoot and county leaders don’t want this to happen. A majority of the tens

Kinder Life and Laughter

of thousands of public comments are against the gondola.

Just a hair short of sketchy, Snowbird quietly bought land that could (will) be used for the gondola station at the base of Little Cottonwood. When the time comes, Snowbird will sell or donate (ha-ha) that land to the state.

Hikers, fishermen, sightseers and climbers don’t want the gondola. They don’t want to ride the entire length of the gondola system if their destination isn’t a ski resort. I guess UDOT could add a base-jumping experience if you want to parachute out of the gondola halfway up the canyon. But it will probably have an extra fee.

Measuring 8 miles, it will be the longest gondola system in the world and includes nearly two dozen towers, averaging 185 feet high. That’s about 17 stories. UDOT said the towers will be placed up the canyon by helicopters, like they’ll gently rest on the forest

floor where tree roots will wind around the base to hold them down, becoming part of the natural landscape.

No. Each tower will have a huge concrete base, requiring boulders and trees to be demolished. Not only that, but construction could disrupt animal migration patterns, pollute the watershed and highlight UDOT’s decision-making legacy.

UDOT explored options like rideshare programs, electric buses and road tolls that are less invasive, especially when trying to solve a traffic problem that only happens a few days a year. But those alternatives aren’t expensive and ridiculous, so that was a “no” vote from UDOT.

When you factor inflation, the project’s cost will be about $72 gajillion, paid for with “mystery funding” which we all know usually means “taxpayer dollars” in some fash-

ion. Even if you’ve never skied a day in your life, your tax dollars will probably help pay for a system designed by ski resorts, for ski resorts.

We’ve riddled this country with aging infrastructure. Obsolete railways, cables, steel and wiring lie unused and rusting. When the gondola becomes outdated, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be stuck with the awful towers standing forever in the sacred space of Little Cottonwood.

UDOT’s track record is abysmal. I remember when it spent $700,000 to remove the stupid ThrU Turn on 5400 South. UDOT said the intersection wasn’t a mistake, just unnecessary.

That could be UDOT’s tagline: Building unnecessary mistakes. l

Peri

Gold medalists break the sound barrier aboard Thunderbirds

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

“It

ground. “I didn’t know if I’d keep my food down. I can’t believe these guys do this all the time. It was tense.”

“It was crazy,” said Schoenefeld. “It was like an elephant on your chest and your vision goes away for a minute. We were going 4G’s and I thought that was crazy then we went faster and I thought ‘oh gee.’”

It was a real treat, said Lt. Col. RyanYingling. “It was unique and fun for us and fun for you guys. It was a blast. We got through everything and went into super sonic airspace and broke the sound barrier.”

They started training on the F-16 early this morning, said Jake Impellizzeri, Thunderbird eight. “It was information by firehose. I putAshley through the wringer. We pulled 9G’s and 1.28 Mach. We did loops and rolls and she got some stick time. It was an honor.”What they do in the Olympics showcases a beacon of excellence, he said. “It’s doing something greater than ourselves.That’s what they represent. It's an inspiration to our team that’s what we try to achieve in theAir Force.” Caldwell said she’s trained her whole life to reach the Gold medal standard. “TheAir Force sets a high bar. I give a high performance in skiing and these guys give a high performance in a different way. It’s two different worlds.”

An aerial doesn’t get any less scary, said Schoenefeld. “When I do a triple backflip I’m nervous every day. When we took off I thought ‘oh we’re about to go fast.’” It was absolutely incredible, said Caldwell. “My Gold medal went through the speed of sound. This was the highlight of my post Olympic experience. It was a dream come true and now it’s off my bucket list.” It’s hard to describe the indescribable, she said. “It’s like if a dragon and a unicorn had a baby strapped to a rocket ship. I’m so excited to be a part of this and I’m grateful for their service.” l

Incumbents dominate in Davis GOP Primaries

U.S.

By Tom Haraldsen tom.h@davisjournal.com

This

for Edwards and 4,517 for Isom in Davis County. Lee took 60 percent of the votes statewide.

U.S. House District 1 Incumbent Blake Moore, seeking a second term of office, defeatedAndrew Badger

Wayment earns spot

on U.S. National

Team

Courtney Wayment, the Davis High and recently graduated BYU distance runner, finished second in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to win a spot on the U.S. world championship team. After her collegiate-record performance in the NCAA championships two weeks ago, Wayment knocked another four seconds off her record performance in the NCAA meet –which was eight seconds faster than any collegian has ever run – finishing with a time of 9:12.10.

The world championships will be held on this same track at the University of Oregon in three weeks.

Judge

issues temporary restraining order on Utah’s abortion trigger law Physicians in Utah may continue to provide abortions for patients until at least July 11. On Monday, Third District Court Judge Andrew Stone granted a request from Utah’s Planned Parenthood Association for a 14 day TRO. He said he felt allowing the law to take immediate effect could cause “irreparable harm. Doctors here are threatened with felonies. The affected women are deprived of safe, local medical treatments to terminate pregnancies.” Doctors can continue to provide abortions in the Beehive State for the next two weeks, a state judge decided Monday. Stone granted the order at the request from Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

Prayer OK’d for school coach instateWashington

andTina Cannon in this primary, getting 14,769 votes. Badger was second at 6,712 and Cannon third at 3,363.

U.S. House District 2 Incumbent Chris Stewart moved into November’s general election with a win over challenger Erin Rider. Stewart finished with 13,781 votes to 6,329 for Rider.

State Senate District 6 Jerry Stevenson advanced into Novem-

Please see ELECTIONS pg. 2

A former high school football coach in Washington who was disciplined for holding a postgame prayer at midfield with his team saw his action protected by a Supreme Court ruling on Monday. By a 6-3 decision, the Court said Bremer-

year’s primary elections in Davis County were completely between candidates in the Republican Party, which has dominated the county’s political offices for years.As of earlyWednesday morning, here were the vote totals in Davis County for candidates in a number of races:

Senate As expected, incumbent Mike Lee fought off the challenges of two Davis County residents, Becky Edwards of Bountiful andAlly Isom of Kaysville. Lee garnered 24,859 votes to 16,045