The Davis Journal | April 12, 2024

LOCALS LOOK TO THE SKY AT SOLAR PHENOMENON

Eclipse 2024, Patterson, Missouri at the Holiday KOA. With a total eclipse duration of 3 mins and 56 seconds, the 2024

Solar Eclipse at the Holiday KOA in Sam Baker State Park, Patterson, Missouri did not disappoint. The photo illustration begins at “Start” and rotates clockwise. The solar eclipse began at 12:40 p.m. with the total eclipse occurring at 1:56 p.m. for nearly 4 minutes lasting until 3:17 p.m. Photo “Four” shows what are known as “Baily’s Beads” and photo “Six” shows the “Diamond Ring” effect.

Davis, Farmington boys tennis preparing for stretch run before postseason

By Josh McFadden joshm@mycityjournals.com

The unpredictable Utah spring weather doesn’t always cooperate with the sports season. This is definitely true with boys tennis.

Teams have to be flexible and creative to fit in practice time and matches as they cope with the rain, cold and even snow. Still, the Davis and Farmington squads have had some success so far.

Davis

The Darts won their first three region matches and first three non-region matches, leading to a lot of optimism about the team’s fortunes this season. Davis also took second in the Panther Slam at Pine View High School in St. George where it competed against eight other teams. Most Davis players earned medals for their individual or doubles performances.

Head coach Ron Hubrich is confident about his team’s ability. Davis is a senior-laden team, with six of its seven varsity starters being 12th graders and having played for multiple years on the team. The Darts have good leadership and experience.

“We definitely have high expectations,” he said. “We feel that we can compete for our region championship and should also field a strong team to represent Davis High for the state tournament.”

So far, Hubrich is pleased with his players’ attitudes and work ethic. He likes that they enjoy the game too.

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

BOUNTIFUL—Need a kitty fix and a furry cuddle? Spend an hour or two at Fawn’s Family Rescue & Cat Lounge and satisfy both while making some human friends in the process too. The 501(c3) nonprofit animal rescue’s mission is to provide comfort for the cats as well as those who come to visit.

“I saw the need for more rescues,” said Areah Watterson who owns the rescue with her husband Gary Hsu. “We started it because we ourselves would find cats and the shelters or

rescues would be full. There were not enough.”

It’s foster based, she said. “They’re vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered and have a health exam before they come here. They are fostered and once they’re healthy they can come here. We try to keep about 2025 cats here so that we don’t get overwhelmed.”

Besides the cats they also rescue animals like ferrets and hamsters, Watterson said. “We’re slowing down on dogs because we don’t have as many fosters.”

People who want to foster can fill out an application online, said Wat -

terson. “We try to put the word out as much as we can. It’s such a needed thing and extremely important. We want to make sure our fosters know how important they are. That’s how our rescue runs.”

The rescue opened three years ago but the Cat Lounge is new. “It’s been open for about six weeks,” she said. “We got the idea from a place called Cuddles in American Fork. They were in the process of looking for another space. We got close with them and we held an event there. They gave us all the information we needed and helped TWO

“Hopefully our team can stay healthy and continue to improve with each match,” he said. “But my most important measure of success is for each team member to be able to play their best on the court while at the same time having fun doing it. I believe that this team has the skills and mind set to continue on that path for the remainder of the season.”

First singles player Owen Putnum is the lone junior on the varsity team. Hubrich has appreciated his “even-tempered mentality” and “patience in long rallies.” Senior Everett Halverson, a captain, is the second singles player. At third singles is senior Jacob Williams. Seniors Will Parkinson (another captain) and Scott Finlinson team up at first doubles, while the second doubles team has changed throughout the year, with senior Jeff Cook being the mainstay. Mitch Cox, Luke Edgington, Adrick Bowen and Corbin Wilko are other seniors who

THE FIRST DOUBLES TANDEM of Scott Finlinson and Will Parkinson has led the Davis boys tennis team so far this season. Photo courtesy of Ron Hubrich

NORAH JENSEN (FRONT) and Quinn Jackson play with cats at Fawn’s Family Rescue & Cat Lounge in Bountiful. The animal rescue gives people a chance to get their kitty fix.

Photos by Roger Tuttle

BLAST FROM THE PAST

April is clean-up month in Bountiful

Bountiful’s Clean Home, Clean Town campaign is well underway. April has been designated specifically as clean-up month.

All people are urged to remove old buildings or barns and fences, clean up vacant lots, front yards, back yards, remove old manure piles, plant trees, shrubs, and flowers, to provide proper ditches and drains to keep wastewater from the street.

1934

Approximately 90% of Bountiful wants power plant

For some time past, a Mr. Todd, a civil engineer of Salt Lake City, promotor, financier, and builder of municipal light and power plants, and some say, machinery salesman, has been talking to the Bountiful City Council trying to convince the council of the earning possibilities of such a plant and how the city could have ample money to meet current expenses and even lower the city tax levy until finally there would be no more need of collecting from the citizens of the city.

1944

Utahn helps sink nazi submarine

An R.M. Second Class Ralph L. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Allen, crew member of a liberator bomber serving in England with the United States Navy, recently was credited with helping to destroy a nazi submarine waiting off the coast of England to prey on Allied ships.

The Liberator crew sank the sub in four minutes’ fighting and circled around the spot 45 minutes longer.

Mr. Allen enlisted in the Navy two years ago and completed his basic training at Farragut, Idaho. He was shipped overseas 10 months ago.

LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Bountiful law office seeking experienced part-time Legal Administrative Assistant.

We are looking for a mature individual for front office for 20-32 hours a week who is an energetic, organized person with great communication skills and professional appearance that can multi-task and handle both phones and walk-in clients courteously with careful attention to client privacy.

Starting $18 - $20. Send your resume and references to cheryl@rowewalton.com.

1954

Three caught after wild auto chase by Davis officers

Three occupants of a souped-up late-model automobile led Salt Lake and Davis County officers on a hectic chase through two counties early this morning but wound up at a snail’s pace in the Davis County Jail.

The chase began sometime around 2:30 a.m. in the southern part of Salt Lake City as the speeding automobile was heading northward. City police, unable to catch up with the car, radioed Davis County officers who joined the race.

1964

Frontage road approved for West Centerville

Centerville has won its road fight.

Word was received late Thursday by Mayor Vernon B. Carr that the frontage road has been approved by the Bureau of Public Roads.

The interchange at Parrish Road, also needed for Centerville, was approved some time ago, Mayor Carr said.

1974 City entry: a cow path

Bountiful Mayor Morris Swapp says he has been working with the State Road Commission for nine years trying to get a more attractive entrance to the city.

He told Governor Calvin Rampton, while meeting with county officials in the commission chambers, that he thought Bountiful deserved something more than a “cow path,” referring to the road that angles toward Bountiful near Slim Olsen’s Gas Station and comes in behind Five Points Shopping Center.

1984

Enlarge local sewer plants?

BOUNTIFUL—Davis County may soon be faced with enlarging its two sewer treatment plants – or building a new, much larger plant – Bountiful City Council was told Wednesday night.

Elmer W. Barlow, a member of the South Davis Sewer Improvement District board of directors, said that although both existing plants are in good condition, it has become necessary to expand the facilities or to build a new plant.

“If a new plant is built,” he said, “it will be about 50 percent larger than the two plants combined to accommodate the additional input that would be expected over the next several years.”

Novelist Andrew Krivak to give presentation on his book, ‘The Bear’

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—A man and his daughter are the last two people on earth in an Edenic future. They are living close to the land and the father teaches his daughter how to survive and be one with nature. When he dies, it is up to the girl to use that knowledge to find her way back home and she finds herself in the company of a bear who leads her through the wilderness.

“The Bear,” a novel by Andrew Krivak is the book the Davis County Library selected to read as a community as part of a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant they received. Krivak will give a special presentation on his book at the Headquarters, Farmington Library, Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s about the communication between human and nature,” said Krivak. “Nature is a much bigger storyteller than humans ever were. Humans are hubris, they think they’re going to be here forever.”

The Bear began as a story he used to tell his sons, Krivak said. “It was about a bear who helped my father and me find our dog when I was a boy and the dog was lost in the woods. As my sons got older, the story evolved from a quick bedtime vignette to a tale in which the boy of the story became much more attached to the bear. Then my daughter was born and the boy became a girl.”

Krivak lives with his family in Somerville, Massachusetts and Jaffrey, New Hampshire in the southwest corner of the Mount Monadnock region. “A great deal of the inspiration for the environment in The Bear, and the struggle within nature that it describes, came to me as a result of watching nature in those New Hampshire woods,” he said. “It’s not the Rockies, but it’s beautiful.”

The landscape in The Bear is quite beautiful and Edenic, said Krivak. “I did that on purpose. I like to write about nature and make nature the ultimate character.”

Krivak said he has always had an

support us. They donated a bunch of stuff to help us open this place.”

All of the cats are adoptable, said Watterson. “They come from a shelter or boarding situation. People can come in and play with them and get their cat fix. They can take a cat home if it’s a good fit.”

Prospective owners can fill out an application to adopt online, she said. “We do an in person interview but it’s not formal. Our cats are only indoor. We don't adopt as an outdoor cat, a lot can happen. We look for someone who will love them.”

Kittens go in pairs unless they have cats of their own, said Watterson. “Kittens are still learning to be cats so they need to learn from each other.”

Watterson said they also look for a connection. “When someone sits down you can see that.”

If for some reason such as an unexpected medical issue someone needs to bring the cat back, Watterson said they'll take them. “We always make room for our cats to come back. We don’t want them to end up in a shelter.”

Some of the cats at the rescue have disabilities, said Watterson. “Normad is a Bengal mix that is partially para -

interest in literature. “I read books as a kid and my grandmother was from Slovakia. She would tell me stories from where she came from. She was a great storyteller. That was a connection for me. I could imagine it through her eyes.”

In addition to being the NEA Big Read selection, The Bear is the Mountain Book Competition Winner, Massachusetts Book Awards Winner, Chautauqua Prize Finalist, Joyce Carol Oates Prize Longlist and Julia Ward Howe Book Award Finalist.

“I’ve been lucky to be able to publish,” said Krivak. “Not everyone is that lucky.”

It’s been a lot of fun going to other places, to present, he said. “Not everybody asks the writer to come. I like in person events to connect with the people that read my novel. That’s a special thing for a writer. The reason I write is because I love to tell stories.”

The Headquarters, Farmington library is located at 133 S. Main Street. l

lyzed. Another cat has only three legs and we have a cat with one eye.

The Cat Lounge will also host events like cat yoga, date night/movie night with cats and coming up paint night with cats April 20 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. “We’ll have an instructor but if a cat jumps up on the paint, that’s part of the experience.”

It’s been a team effort to get everything put together, said Hsu. “So many people have come out. We’ve been surprised and thankful. There are a lot of cities close by and they’ve welcomed us with open arms. It’s been really nice.”

It’s fun to watch kids’ reactions, he said. “When they see so many kitties they get so excited.”

“I love cats,” said 9-year-old Quinn Jackson who came to the lounge with her friend Norah. “I love to play with cats. They’re so cute like little fur balls and they’re sneaky.”

The Cat Lounge is open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and is located at 2130 S. Orchard Dr., Bountiful. Any age child is allowed as long as they have a parent or guardian with them. For prices and more information, visit fawnsfamilyrescue.org. l

AUTHOR ANDREW KRIVAK will make an in person visit to the Headquarters, Farmington Library on Thursday, April 18. Krivak’s novel “The Bear” is the NEA Big Read selection. Photo credit Sharona Jacobs

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 15-21

Davis County Museums: April

Architectural Adventure

April 1-30

Earn a pin for a lanyard and join in the scavenger hunt at:

The Whitaker – Centerville’s Heritage Museum: 168 N. Main Farmington Historical Museum: 110 N. Main

Kaysville-Fruit Heights Museum of History: Kaysville Admin. North Foyer 23 E. Center Street

Heritage Museum of Layton: 403

Wasatch Drive

Syracuse Regional Museum: 1891 W. 1700 South

Davis School District Student

Art Exhibition

Art will be displayed through May 4

Bountiful Davis Art Center, 90 N. Main Street

North Salt Lake Food Trucks

Opening Night

Monday, April 15, 5-8 p.m.

Legacy Park, 1140 W. 1100 North

Davis County Sheriff's Office

Internet Safety Course

Wednesday, April 17, 6-7:30 p.m., FREE

For parents, guardians, and kids 12 years and older

Bountiful Library, 725 S. Main Street

Sons of the Utah Pioneers

Dinner and Meeting

Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 pm

Speaker: Jeff Thorpe, with the Bountiful Museum

The History of Antelope Island, How the Bison Got There Open to all. Call Ron Andersen at 801-718-0080 to reserve your meal before April 15.

First-time visitors eat free.

Joy Luck Restaurant, 566 W. 1350 South, Woods Cross

Davis County Easter Chorus: Lamb of God Orchestration provided by Sky -

ward Symphony

April 17-19, 7 p.m., FREE

Bountiful Regional Center, 835 N. 400 East, North Salt Lake

Davis Chamber of Commerce

Business Expo

Thursday, April 18, 1:30-6 p.m., FREE

Davis Conference Center, 1651 N. 700 West, Layton

Andrew Krivak: NEA Big

Read Author Event

Thursday, April 18, 6:30-8 p.m.

Headquarters Library, 133 S. Main Street, Farmington

Davis County Makers Spring Market

Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Located inside Monumetric, 42 N. 650 West, Suite B, Farmington

Hill Air Force Base Earth Day Service Project (Open to All)

Help remove trash along the Hill Air Force Base perimeter fence line Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. - noon

Park in the lot near Pizza Hut by Hill Air Force Base (corner of SR 193 and North Hill Field Road)

Great Blue Heron Viewing Day

Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 S. Waterfowl Way, Farmington

Send event info to peri.k@davisjournal.com for inclusion in the Davis Journal community calendar.

New Thai restaurant opens on Main Street

Enjoy a taste of Thailand at the grand opening of the new Makmak Thai Cuisine restaurant as it opens its doors at 353 S. Main Street, Bountiful, April 13. The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and features a Songkran Water Festival to celebrate Thai New Year with a water gun fight and authentic Thai dishes.

Two new junior deputies at the Sheriff’s Office

Two new junior deputies were sworn in last week by the Davis County Sheriff’s Office after the kids found a special Easter Egg at hunts in South Weber and West Point. Junior Deputy Aiden joins the team as the newest motor deputy, a spot the Sheriff’s Office said they will be holding for him for about 15 years, a DCSO Facebook post said.

“Along with his parents, Aiden was fitted with some equipment, learned how to call out on the radio, and tested out Davis County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue newest rescue vehicles,” the post said.

Junior Deputy Easton brought along his big sister Olivia and they got an inside look at the Sheriff’s Office operations. “They toured dispatch, met K9 Rolf and his handler, Deputy Webster, operated the bomb robot, and watched as their dad tried on the 100-pound bomb suit,” the post said.

Davis Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Expo set for April 18

Come out and enjoy vendor booths, raffle giveaways and yummy food at the Davis Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Expo on April 18 at the Davis Conference Center, 1651 N. 700 West, Layton. The public is invited to an Expo Kickoff Party from 1:30-2 p.m. and the Expo opens at 2 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Admission

is free.

Everyone who attends the Expo pre-party will be put into a drawing to receive one of 25 Lifetime coolers.

DCSO hosts Internet Safety Course

The Davis County Sheriff’s Office is hosting their next Internet Safety Course April 17 at the Bountiful Library. The class is from 6-7:30 p.m. and is designed for parents, guardians, and kids 12 years and older. Davis County Sheriff detectives will discuss grooming tactics used by predators on popular social media apps, the growing number of sextortion cases, and ways to prevent your child from falling victim, according to the DCSO. The class is free, and no registration is required.

Davis County Clerk’s Office hosts meeting on accuracy of voter registration records

An in-depth review of Davis County’s voter registration records has been conducted due to questions about the accuracy of voter registration records in the U.S., including Utah, the Davis County Clerk’s Office said in a release. The results of the review will be shared with the public in a meeting April 17, at 6 p.m. in Room 303 of the Davis County Administration building, 61 S. Main Street, Farmington.

The Davis County Clerk’s Office reviewed its voter registration records at the request of Clerk Brian McKenzie. The purpose of the evaluation was to verify that processes used for keeping voter rolls up to date are providing the high level of accuracy required. The review included cross-checking voter registrations against a variety of information sources such as registration documents and property records, as well as looking for anomalies in the data, according to the release.

This is a great opportunity for voters who want to understand Utah’s election process better or have questions about the integrity of local elections. Following the halfhour presentation on Davis County’s voter registration review, there will be a question and answer session. No questions about the topic are off limits.

For more information about Davis County elections, see the website www.davisvotes.com or call 801-4513508.

Planning commission says no to fencing height increase for front yards

By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.com

Alandscape architect hoping to get a zoning exception to allow his client Marci Asay to keep a marquis-type decorative entrance to her property was out of luck at the March 13 Centerville Planning Commission meeting.

While several commissioners agreed that the entrance was beautiful the commission ultimately decided that the zoning code amendment proposed by landscape architect Bill Richter would just have too many implications for other applications.

That evening Richter asked the commission to recommend to the city council that they change fencing requirements in front yards to allow fencing up to 10 feet high to accommodate his client’s entrance. The current maximum height allowed is 4 feet high but he had driven through Centerville and seen many properties that violate this particular ordinance, he said. “I did that not even knowing that if I did construct that I was in violation because it’s everywhere.”

Even after hearing from three neighbors who all said they love the entrance structure, commissioners seemed leery of changing fence heights just to accommodate this particular home.

“The question in front of the commission is not whether this is a good idea for this house Commission Chair Mason Kjar told the neighbors. “The question is whether or not all houses should be allowed to erect a wall or a fence up to 10 ft tall.

“The only decision we have in front of us is whether to open the floodgate and give rise to this. That is my concern … is that if we were to change the code to allow fences and or walls to have a maximum height of 10 feet you could have a privacy fence under that amendment that would just be like a Berlin Wall,” he said.

“The biggest concern I have is that your application isn’t for this site it’s for every home in the city … the only decision we have in front of us is whether or not to allow the code to be permitted for every single home,” Kjar said later.

Hearing that, Richter asked that the commission consider splitting definitions for walls and fences from those for entrance structures.

While some acknowledged this could be a good idea, it was not something they could take action on that night, commissioners said.

In the end Commissioners LaRae Patterson made the motion to deny the zoning change amendment.

“My reason for doing that is because I think it opens a floodgate of problems

she

a

Compiled by Becky Ginos

Compiled

OPINION

Years ago, as a friend of mine was teaching me to ski, he started me off with a technique called “”snow plowing.”

This involved pointing the front of my skis together in the shape of a “V” and painstakingly moving down the ski run.

The technique was awkward and slow, and it put tremendous pressure on my knees and hips, but, surprisingly, it enabled me to ski down the slope without killing myself.

And since it was clear to all the more experienced skiers that I was a novice and that I was on the verge of being out of control, they judiciously stayed out of my way.

After several runs, and several spills, and several periods of controlled terror, I achieved some level of confidence. It was at that point that my friend said, “OK, now I’m going to teach you how to really ski, so forget all you’ve learned so far!”

He then proceeded to teach me how to keep my skis parallel, to bend my knees, and to turn my skis to control my direction and speed.

I remember thinking, “This doesn’t feel right. Compared to snow plowing, which admittedly, has very little control, I now have no control at all!”

So, I immediately went back to snow plowing.

“Real” skiing was out of my comfort zone. From my point of view, there were no other options.

Compared to the discomfort of letting go of the “old ways” and rising to a higher level, I decided that the pain, misery, and limitations of snow plowing weren’t so bad after all.

And I held on to that kind of thinking until it finally became too painful to

The opinions stated in these articles are solely those of the authors and not of the Davis Journal.

Survival skills

continue doing so, which eventually it did. Then, and only then, did I finally learn to ski!

So it is with all survival skills.

JOHN WATERBURY

We don’t change them until it hurts too much not to.

The Law of Accommodation states that what life requires, it creates.

In other words, when we are repeatedly confronted with increasing periods of instability and mind-boggling confusion, a variety of survival skills materialize.

Emotional numbness, denial, avoidance and isolation serve to protect us, and a rigid defensiveness makes it difficult to even consider new information.

When we’re used to thinking wrong, then what’s really right, seems really wrong.

That’s why, initially, a change in thinking patterns will not change the way you feel.

Recovery takes time.

Survival skills seem to be a logical attempt to cope with an illogical situation.

No one really chooses these patterns before hand. They just appear.

And because they are developed in the midst of crisis situations, they become inextricably linked to, and require a continuation of, additional crisis situations.

Life literally becomes nothing but one crisis after another.

As a result, there is a tendency to believe that the “real self” is a combination of ‘brokenness”: unlovable, abandoned, victimized, confused, and maybe even crazy.

ASK AN

April is Autism Awareness Month, or Autism Acceptance Month, as the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network prefers. According to the CDC, recognizing this month “raises awareness about autism acceptance and promotes inclusion and connectedness for people with autism.” [1] Another benefit to creating a dedicated time to learn more about autism and uplift autistic people is that this attention urges researchers and policymakers to consider issues that are relevant to autistic people when they may not have otherwise. That is especially relevant when it comes to suicide prevention among autistic individuals because recognizing that an autistic person may not display the same warning signs of suicidal ideation as a non-autistic person could save lives.

According to a review of the literature surrounding suicidal ideation and behaviors, autistic youth are six

When we’re raised in an environment of instability and pain, there’s a tendency to accept these variables as normal, inevitably trusting the dysfunction, and hesitating to let it go.

The abnormal becomes normal, despair becomes reality, and the perception of helplessness and hopelessness creates the illusion that “this is as good as it gets.”

It may sound like a play on words, but the ultimate goal in recovery is not to change yourself or anyone else. It’s to make new choices that are more successful than the previous ones.

And with new choices, changes will occur on their own.

Such a process does not occur all at once, but comes in bits and pieces. We only change what hurts. And until it hurts long enough and hard enough that we can’t ignore it, numb it, or run from it, we tolerate it because we really don’t know how not to do what we’re doing.

That’s not an excuse. That’s just the way it is.

Crossing the boundaries of belief, and going beyond the paralysis of fear and anxiety are difficult. But agency is alive and well, and life is filled with a wide variety of choices.

So live your life in such a manner that you always have a choice. If you don’t, you won’t.

It would appear that this world is accomplishing the purpose for which it was created.

It’s full of joys and sorrows, successes and failures.

It prepares us to be able to withstand

EXPERT

Autism and suicide

FALON MANSFIELD DIVISION DIRECTOR AT THE JASON FOUNDATION

times more likely to make a suicide attempt than their non-autistic peers. [2] Additionally, autistic youth are twice as likely to die by suicide than their non-autistic peers. [3] These numbers are heartbreaking and indicate that suicide prevention spaces and research may not include autistic people in the conversations about suicide as much as is necessary.

In observance of Autism Acceptance Month and to raise awareness about the ways that suicidal ideation may look different in a young autistic person, here are three different warning signs that a young person might be considering suicide and some ways to

Let us tell the world!

Celebrating an anniversary or a 70th, 80th or 90th birthday?

Are you planning a wedding or have you just had one?

How cute is that 1-year-old child or grandchild of yours?

The Davis Journal wants to help you spread the word. Please submit a photo and a short writeup of whatever you are celebrating or planning to our editor at becky.g@davisjournal.com.

This is a great way to let the community know what’s happening in your world.

Our publications go into mailboxes each Friday and are produced on Mondays and Tuesdays of that week. So your deadline would be Monday at 5 p.m.

Let us help you tell the world! From your friends and neighbors at the Davis Journal!

support them. This list is not exhaustive and will not cover every individual.

1. Previous Attempts:

The risk of death by suicide increases with each attempt. If you know that a young person has struggled with thoughts of suicide before, and especially if you know they have made a suicide attempt, consider them to be at risk of another attempt.

It is also crucial to watch for self-injury. Though self-injury does not necessarily indicate suicidal intent, it could mean that a young person is struggling with emotions that are overwhelming and uncomfortable. Especially in autistic young people who may have trouble clearly expressing or verbalizing emotions at a distressing time, the presence or increase – if some self-harming behavior is typical – in self-harming behaviors may suggest a crisis.

2. Depression and Anxiety:

It is not uncommon for an autism diagnosis to occur alongside mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. Research shows that as many as 70% of autistic youth also have a co-occurring mental health condition.

[4] Because of this fact, a young autistic person appearing depressed or anxious may not be a reason in itself to be concerned about suicide. However, it is vital to recognize when signs of depression or anxiety continue for long periods of time (usually two weeks or more) and when they extend outside the realm of what is standard for the individual.

In some individuals, isolation may be an indication that a person is depressed. For others, perhaps in a young autistic person who gets overstimulated in certain situations, isolation may be a way of self-regulating. In this case, the concern would be if isolation happens more frequently or if signs of depression occur alongside other changes in behavior that are out of character.

3. Lack of Interest:

the storms of life; both the ones we’re experiencing now, and the ones yet to come. The challenges we’re facing now, those that we’re learning to manage in one way or another, are simply part of the preparation for us to be able to handle the bigger ones that will come; and come they will.

But that’s what this is all about: growing, experiencing, and rising above our previous self.

There really is a purpose to it, and there really are reasons behind it.

We’re caught up in something much greater than we are. The painful elements in life such as fear, anger, and sorrow are things that we all try to avoid.

In fact, sometimes we’re so successful in avoiding them that we never develop the life-management skills necessary to cope with them, and so we continue to be victimized by them.

Ironically, these elements are some of the integral components in the equation of life.

So instead of running from them, make the attempt to face them and embrace them; both for the lessons they teach, and for the strengths they leave behind.

Take charge of your survival skills.

You really do have a choice.

John Waterbury is a retired Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has lived in Utah since 1984 when he moved to Bountiful with his wife and four children. Since then, he has written a weekly column for several years for the Davis County Clipper titled “The Dear John Letters” which was also used throughout the intermountain West focusing on addiction and mental health problems. This new column will focus on mental health and life management issues. l

A young person showing a lack of interest in things that used to excite them is always an indicator that a caregiver or other adult should keep an eye on the young person’s well-being. A change in special interests may be more noticeable in an autistic youth who frequently engages in or discusses a particular interest. If a young person has stopped talking excitedly about a topic that used to bring them joy and comfort, it is wise for the adult to consider why this may be.

If the young person feels comfortable discussing their thoughts with you, you could ask if another interest has captured their attention or what kind of things they enjoy doing instead. Often, a lack of interest in one prominent area will extend to other areas of their life. For example, you may notice things like changes in appearance, attendance, friendships, and relationships, or sleeping and eating patterns.

Each individual will vary greatly in how they display warning signs of suicidal ideation, but they often do give some sort of indication that they are struggling either through their words or actions. The important takeaway is to watch for major changes in behavior that last for several weeks at a time.

If you or someone around you is considering suicide, there is help available! You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 from anywhere in the U.S., and you will be routed to a communication center in your area. The lifeline can provide resources and advice on next steps. You can also use SAMHSA’s facility locator to find behavioral health and substance use treatment that is accessible to you at www.findtreatment.gov. For more information about warning signs and risk factors of suicide in young people, The Jason Foundation has a wealth of resources available on their website at www.jasonfoundation.com.

The Jason Foundation is a non-profit that specializes in youth and young adult suicide prevention. l

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

FARMINGTON—April is Autism Acceptance Month and Davis School District has autism specialists who are working with schools and parents to find the resources they need for their child to be successful.

“It’s a great month to get more people talking about it,” said Keri Vernier, Autism Specialist/K-12 Sped Teacher Supervisor, Davis School District. “We want to take away the stigma and negative connotations and educate people on inclusion and giving kids the feeling that they belong.”

The district has an Autism Specialty Assessment team. “They meet monthly to review requests made by school teams, of which parents are a part of, if they request an observation or assessment such as the ADOS2= Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second Edition,” she said. “We meet to review the request and assign one of us to do an observation, provide recommendations to the team and parents, and how we can best support the team in determining what the student needs are and purpose for programming and/or classification purposes.”

The goal is to recommend what steps can be taken to help the child be the most successful, said Vernier. “We want them to have the same opportunities as their general education peers and give feedback to teachers on how they can support them.”

Some children are visual learners combined with instruction, she said. “Others need time for a break. It varies, the spectrum is so grand. We want them to have the tools emotionally and physically to learn as other students.”

Some children with autism lack the social piece, Vernier said. “They’re just viewing it from a differ-

ent viewpoint. Supporting all students can benefit the whole class, not just students with autism. Especially when they’re younger I feel.”

Vernier said how autism was perceived has grown immensely since she was a girl.

“I think there’s more education, awareness and we know the characteristics of autism and we’re talking about it.”

According to Vernier, statistics on the CDC website show Utah having 1/40 8-year-old children in the

ADDM (Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring) report identified with ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) in 2020 as compared to 1/36 nationwide –with 11 cities comprising that number (Utah being a part).

If a parent has concerns they can go to the school directly or to their doctor, she said. “Every school has amazing support teams. Have an open discussion with the teacher. They spend a lot of time with your child. They have a wealth of knowledge that can be very valuable.”

Everyone can work together to decide what are the next steps, said Vernier. “Their performance in the classroom and at home can be very different.”

It’s really important to support and educate anyone, she said. “We have resources, there are mothers groups, etc. Students on the autism spectrum particularly have varied experiences.”

Vernier said the district is trying to provide an all inclusive setting at school. “They need to be heard and to know we’re here to support and love them. We want parents to feel supported and that they’re not alone. We work as a team for the benefit of the child.”

It’s completely a team effort in decision making, she said. “We’re here to help them be the best little people they can be.”

Vernier said she loves working with the children. “It’s so fun. With nonverbal kids I can make a connection. Everybody can learn from everybody else.”

Students with autism are just people that have all the same feelings, she said. “They need to be heard and noticed for what they can provide to society. I want every student to feel valued.” l

The end of an era – last USS Arizona survivor dies

By Braden Nelsen braden.n@mycityjournals.com

GRASS

VALLEY, CALIFORNIA—The

Associated Press released news this week of the passing of Lou Conter, a 102-year-old World War II veteran, and USS Arizona Survivor. After ten decades on Earth, Conter earned his rest and then some, but his passage marks the sad end of an era that those remaining in mortality will never get back.

Many readers will already be familiar with the events of Dec. 7, 1941, but for those who served aboard the USS Arizona, that day holds a different meaning. Of the thousands of people who lost their lives that day due to the attacks from the Japanese, almost half of those casualties came from the Arizona alone. The staggering loss of 1,177 aboard the ship makes the fact that anyone survived all the more amazing.

Over the years, USS Arizona survivors, like other World War II veterans, have been slowly dying out, some to continued service in the armed forces, some to disease, and many to old age. Though not unexpected, with each passing, one more eye-witness to the events of that day, and those events are gone,

and in the case of many, their stories are lost forever.

Among the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor, veterans of the USS Arizona held a special distinction. Born of a desire to rest with the remainder of their shipmates still interred in the wreckage, Arizona survivors have had the option since 1982 to have their remains returned to their ship in a solemn ceremony officiated by the National Park Service, and the United States Navy.

As of July 2020, 44 veterans have returned to the ship years after their service, to join their shipmates, and while, at the time of going to print, there is no word if Conter chose this honor, he is the last who will have ever had that option. Other Pearl Harbor survivors, however, can still elect to have their ashes spread in the harbor itself.

Lou Conter joins the ranks of his other shipmates, ever on watch aboard the Arizona, still in the harbor, resting where she settled on the seabed, 83 years ago. Though Conter himself, and others like him may not now be able to share their stories first-hand, it behooves the generations that are to follow to ensure that these stories and the men that shared them are never forgotten. l

‘Health Across the Lifespan’ study shows women are not getting health care they need

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

U tah State University—A statewide study by researchers from the Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) conducted in the fall of 2023 shows “women are experiencing substantial health challenges which impacts all other domains in their lives.” The research summary, “The Health Across the Lifespan” was recently released by UWLP and data collected will be used by leaders of A Bolder Way Forward (BWF), an initiative that “invites Utahns to break down barriers keeping women and girls from thriving.”

“Utah is 49th out of 50 for women getting health care,” said Professor Susan Madsen, Director, Utah Women & Leadership Project Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Utah State University. “We asked questions specifically on preventative health care and most were not getting it.”

Women’s scores were pretty high saying they will do it, she said. “But we wanted to see if they feel like they will. There’s a disconnect there. That’s what we wrestle with in the state.”

When push comes to shove, they say they’re too busy, said Madsen. “No we’re not. I can go to the Bountiful

Clinic for a mammogram and start to finish be done in 35 minutes from my house. It’s important to take care of ourselves as well as our children. On an airplane they tell you to put your mask on first.”

There’s no follow through, she said. “People are saying yes but not doing it.”

Most people have heard of menopause but a lot of people don’t understand it or perimenopause, Madsen said. “It can really affect your body. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know until I was in it.”

Another study area was screening for domestic violence, she said. “It came in really low but there is a high instance of domestic violence. Are doctors screening and asking questions?”

One in three women – and men struggle too but more women – experience domestic violence, said Madsen. “It’s a hush, hush thing. That patient, doctor relationship can open up dialogue if it’s a place they feel safe. The key thing is getting resources around the state.” Women also need information on

reproductive health, she said. “We should raise awareness of the impact it has on our bodies. Maybe women need to know more.”

The Health Across the Lifespan summary found:

• Most Utahns agree on some level that they can schedule and complete a preventative healthcare visit in the next 12 months.

• Women agreed at higher levels than men that they could make informed decisions regarding reproductive health.

• 45% of respondents do not feel knowledgeable about perimenopause (this was especially true for men).

• One-quarter of respondents were either unsure or did not feel safe at some level in a doctor’s office or medical setting.

• 47.1% disagreed it is likely that one of their healthcare providers will screen them for intimate partner violence in the next year and connect them with necessary resources.

“This sets the stage for what people know and what they think,” said Madsen. “The average person doesn’t know. We have to shift that in terms of moving forward. Women should think, ‘I need to take care of myself.’ We need to highlight that and have women think about what the importance is for our health.” l

THE USS ARIZONA on Dec. 7, 1941. Her last survivor, Lou Conter, just passed away. Public Domain photo

UTAH IS 49TH out of 50 for women getting health care.

Stock photo

Young Automotive Group opens new headquarters, celebrates 100th year anniversary

By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com

LAYTON—Young Automotive

Group cut the ribbon on their new headquarters March 29 but there was more to celebrate than just the grand opening – 100 years in business. The company started in 1924 with Seldon “Jack” Olsen, a mechanic in Morgan and grew to 32 stores operating across three states.

“Jack Olsen’s father died when he was 14,” said Spencer Young, Sr., the Young Automotive chief adventure officer. “He took a train to Idaho to make money on a ranch. He moved to a repair shop in Morgan with only a tool box.”

He worked his way up and in 1924 became a partner and eventually bought the company, said Young. “He applied

for an Oldsmobile franchise in 1925 and then Chevrolet three years later.”

The Depression hit and it was very difficult, Young said. “He had to repossess 41 cars in 21 days. He didn't have any money, they were all going broke. He didn’t know he was broke too. He worked night and day.”

In 1935, the dealership burned down. Jack suffered severe burns trying to save a cash register and some tools, said Young. “In 1938 he purchased the Chevrolet franchise for what would become his Layton dealership. In 1948 he opened his Layton Chevrolet dealership on Main Street.”

In the 50s, Young said his father Sam Young married one of Jack’s daughters and came to work for his father-in-law.

“I got involved in 1978 and in 1982 Sam

bought the dealership and changed the name from Olsen to Young.”

The company went through the 2008 recession, he said. “General Motors and Chrysler franchises and manufacturers both went bankrupt. I called the banks to see how to protect myself and then went out acquiring Honda and Subaru to spread the risk among manufacturers.”

Young said they looked at several different parcels of land for the new headquarters building. “We looked at where the Tai Pan Trading building was and other parcels in Layton. We knew the Barlows still had agricultural property and thought that was perfect.”

The 145,000 square foot building is located at 613 W. 500 North in Layton. “It’s a unique building,” said Young. “The front is cantilevered forward rep-

resenting leaning into the community. There’s a full size theater that can fit up to 200 people. It can be set up for large or small groups and has a split screen for training, not only for our employees but it can be rented out by other groups.”

There’s also a parts warehouse in the back, he said. “We sell specialized parts all over the U.S. We have a large automated parts operation. Anybody can call us and get any manufacturer’s part they need, Chevrolet, Ford, etc.”

Account administration for all three states is located there as well, said Young. “It’s built for future growth.”

It’s exciting, he said. “It’s fun to celebrate our 100th anniversary all year and do both (open) at the same time.” l

Youth presentation spurs Centerville City officials on to take action on glass recycling

By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.com

Centerville City is planning to offer glass recycling in the coming months. The dumpster will be located in the parking lot behind City Hall.

Momentum Recycling will provide the dumpster to the city at a cost of $1,200 to $1,500 (which will include four locked bins for different types of glass) and signage and will charge $60 per pick up. Momentum will pick up the dumpsters when city officials inform them that they are full rather than on any set schedule, City Manager Brant Hanson told the city council.

“I think this is an easy way to give back and to show that government listens,” Hanson said.

City officials have informally supported the idea of glass recycling in Centerville for some time but were galvanized into taking action now due to a presentation by resident Allie Phelps at their Jan. 16 city council meeting, they said.

At that meeting Phelps shared that she had gathered more than 300 signatures from Centerville residents in support of a community glass recycling bin. She already takes her own glass to Momentum Recycling, she said. Phelps encouraged establishing good habits to save re-

sources and prepare for the future.

Some council members seemed skeptical that there would be a good community response. In the past, former City Councilmember Bill Ince had bought a glass dumpster for his neighborhood but did not get a good response, City Councilmember Robyn Mecham said.

However, Mecham and the other council members seemed convinced after Councilmember Spencer Summerhays shared a photo he had taken of the overflowing glass recycling area at the local Target.

“They can't accommodate everything that people bring,” he said. “ I’ve got two bags of glass sitting on my Landing waiting to go somewhere.”

Summerhays also suggested the city consider partnering with Target or another local store.

City officials praised Phelps for her efforts.

“You have our full support and we are going to move forward with getting a drop-off location tentatively … at City Hall,” Hanson told Phelps who was in attendance at the meeting. “We’ve reached out to Momentum and we’ll start that process soon. So we really appreciate you participating in the process and making a recommendation and being diligent and passionate and dedicated.”

“Part of the reason I am supportive of it is because I feel like you, a resident put in enough time,” Mecham said. “I wish we had more active residents … She didn’t come in asking for anything other than to make a suggestion that is frankly good for our landfill and you know it was a really responsible right thought that she had.”

City officials are working out the details with Momentum Recycling representatives to coordinate when the dumpster will be placed at City Hall, City Manager Brant Hanson told the Centerville/Farmington Journal. l

Community support results in positive outcome on rezoning request

By BethAnne Swenson bethanne.s@davisjournal.com

In an effort to develop and better utilize the land he owns, Jared Erickson brought a proposal before the Farmington City Council March 19 hoping for approval to rezone his property from Agricultural (A) to Large Residential (LR). With his property sandwiched between Kaysville, the Rio Grande Rail Trail and Haight Creek additional effort was required to utilize the land well despite these limitations. The proposal will add three new houses to the area with only slight variations from standard on the size of the yards. It will also instigate the burial of the remaining power lines along that road. Almost immediately upon hearing the applicant’s plans for the property, the City Council expressed apprehension about the eight feet cement wall that was being requested, especially it being right next to the sidewalk that would be going in there. The other concerns voiced by the council were regarding modifications needing to be completed on the Haight Creek Trail abutting the east side of the property and the sidewalk being continuous and consistent along the front of the entire property, specifically if that can be accomplished without having to lose the trees that are established there. Erickson stood in front of the City

Council for approximately 20 minutes attempting to plead his case and explain his reasoning for the plans being the way they are. He was very open to a verbal agreement on getting the Haight Creek Trail repairs completed, the details of which will be figured out at a later date. When it came time to discuss the sidewalk, Erickson’s main concern was being able to keep the trees and when the suggestion was made to have the sidewalk right against the curb for two of the three lots that would be facing the street an agreement was made. The only remaining issue was the height of the wall that was in the plan. The City Council was concerned that it would be an eye sore and send the wrong message and Erickson was concerned about the lack of privacy that anything shorter would provide, it seemed like there wasn’t going to be an agreement that evening.

That was until the Mayor Brett Anderson called for public comment. Amme Ruedas, who was completely unknown to Erickson until that point, stood before the council and offered her unique, outsider’s perspective. Ruedas got in front of the council and confirmed the desire to save the established trees in front of the property. “The Sycamore trees come back every year and are beautiful,” she said. Ruedas also validated the need for an eight-foothigh fence along the property line due to the amount of traffic driving on

DIFFERENT MAKES and models of cars throughout the years sit in the showroom of the new building.

Photos by Becky Ginos

A DISPLAY WITH the 100 year history of Young Automotive Group sits in the front lobby at the company’s new headquarters in Layton.

JARED ERICKSON’S PROPERTY is sandwiched between Kaysville, the Rio Grande Rail Trail and Haight Creek. Erickson asked the City Council to rezone it from Agricultural to Large Residential.

Courtesy photo

SPORTS

Darts, Vikings return to lacrosse play with victories

By Tom Haraldsen t..haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

High school lacrosse play began again early this week, with six teams returning to the pitch on Monday and Tuesday. Games played from Wednesday to the end of this week will be highlighted in next week’s Davis Journal.

On Monday, the Viewmont boys team moved to 6-5 on the year with a 10-8 home victory over Syracuse. Seven different Vikings scored in the game, led by senior Sam Terreros with three goals. Senior Nate Delgado scored twice, and single goals were scored by sophomore Mason Gerrard, senior Braxton Siddoway, sophomore Luke Cluff, senior Parley Shupe and sophomore Brigham Shupe. It’s the only game scheduled this week for the Vikings.

Davis High boys routed Syracuse 28-1 on Tuesday, but scoring information was not reported to the Journal before our Wednesday morning deadline. Davis moved to 5-1 on the year with the victory. The Darts are ranked 6th in Utah by MaxPreps. Davis was set to visit Fremont on Thursday.

The Lady Darts lost 15-7 to Syra-

cuse on Tuesday, falling to 3-4 on the year. Again, no Davis scoring information was available. Davis was scheduled to host Fremont on Thursday. Farmington teams picked up vic-

tories in both boys and girls teams on Tuesday. The Phoenix (4-2 on the year)

beat Fremont 11-10 as freshman Kai

Beynon scored seven goals. Senior Kai

Leavitt added two, while seniors Dom-

inic Coats and Ryan Eddins each added single goals. Farmington played at Weber on Thursday. The boys are ranked 17th in Utah on MaxPreps.

The Lady Phoenix improved to 4-3 on the year with a 7-5 victory over Fremont on Tuesday, Junior sensation Alexandra MacAuley led the scoring with seven goals. Senior Ruby Roche and junior Hailey Larsen each scored a goal, and keeper Elle Erickson made 13 saves. The ladies had games on Thursday against Weber and on Friday at Waterford.

Bountiful’s boys lost 11-8 to Highland on Tuesday. Junior Jensen Freeman, sophomore Tate Terry and sophomore Carter Terry each scored twice, with single goals from junior Wyatt Farr and senior Mason Crane. The Redhawks traveled to Mountain Ridge on Friday.

Two teams that did not play until later in the week were the Woods Cross Lady Wildcats, ranked second in Utah by MaxPreps at 6-0, and 10th ranked Viewmont (6-1). Woods Cross traveled to Northridge on Wednesday and hosted Box Elder on Friday. Viewmont had games at Roy on Wednesday and at home against Clearfield on Friday. l

Top-ranked Bountiful picks up four more wins in softball ahead of Spring Break

By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

Bountiful, the number one team in 5A, outscored opponents 39-5 in four games the week of March 25. Four other games with area teams were cancelled because of field and weather conditions.

Bountiful

Top ranked Bountiful blanked Woods Cross 15-0 March 26 behind Melissa Turpin’s two-hitter – and seven strikeouts – on the mound and plenty of offense.

“Melissa pitched her second shutout game of the year,” said head coach Butch Latey. “Every one of our girls had a hit.”

Turpin, Kamryn Rasmussen, Athena Tongaonevai and Claire Yates each drove in two runs while Isabeau Hoff, Ella Miller, Frankie Galeana and Aspen Danner had an RBI. The four-inning game ended when Tongaonevai and Hoff hit back-to-back home runs.

The Redhawks’ March 28 game with Roy was cancelled and is rescheduled for April 12.

Against Cyprus March 29, Bountiful won 6-3 after being down 3-0 in the seventh inning before scoring six runs to win the game.

Miller struck out 15 Pirates’ batters

while Tongaonevai had three RBIs and Jaci Alvey added two RBIs.

In the Bengal Bash March 30, the Redhawks picked up wins over Westlake 7-2 and Brighton 11-0. In the two victories, Tongaonevai recorded five RBIs while Miller and Turpin both had seven strikeouts and two RBIs. Also adding offense were Yates (three RBIs), Alvey (two RBIs), Aspen Danner (two RBIs), Hoff (one RBI) and Mylie Burnes (one RBI).

Bountiful improved to 11-2.

Farmington Farmington’s scheduled game against Davis on Mar. 28 was cancelled because of wet fields and will be played May 9.

The Phoenix squad lost to Taylorsville 8-7 March 29, getting down 8-4 by the end of the sixth inning. Farmington then scored three in the top of the seventh inning, coming up just short in the loss.

Madison Kelker drove in three runs while Lexi Crowley and Nev Carrasquel adding two each.

The Phoenix are 4-4 through eight games this season.

Woods Cross

In Woods Cross’ 15-0 loss to Bountiful March 26, the Wildcats held the Redhawks scoreless early before Boun-

tiful’s offense took over.

“We were only able to put together two hits and had four errors that cost us a lot of runs and we couldn’t fight back,” said head coach Casey Plowman.

The game between Woods Cross and Viewmont on March 28 was cancelled due to weather.

The Wildcats remain winless through five games.

Davis

Davis’ scheduled game against Farmington on Mar. 28 was cancelled because of wet fields and will be played May 9.

The Darts are 7-2 this season.

Viewmont

With Viewmont’s game against Woods Cross cancelled this week, the Vikings remain 3-4 on the year. l

Prep baseball: Region 1, Region 5 start league play

By Josh McFadden joshm@mycityjournals.com

With several non-league games in the books for local high school baseball teams, it’s time to get to the next portion of the season: region play.

Both Region 1 and Region 5 have started its slate of games. In Region 1, teams play one another in consecutive three-game series. In the larger Region 5, the teams have back-to-back games against other region foes. For the teams, it’s a chance to bolster their RPI rankings, which will determine playoff seeding.

Davis For the Davis Darts, head coach Josh Godfrey has lofty goals as region games start.

“There are high expectations for this team with a lot of returning players from last year who played varsity,” he said. “We believe we can compete for a region championship and make a run in state.”

Davis currently sits at 8-3 overall and narrowly lost its region opener at home to Syracuse, 9-8 on April 9. Four of Davis’ runs came in the first inning, while Syracuse did most of its damage in the fifth inning, generating seven runs.

Davis was down 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh and scored twice. However, the Darts couldn’t muster a tying run, as they lost for the first time to an in-state opponent. Davis’ other two losses were in tournaments to teams from California. Davis and Syracuse tangled again on Wednesday, after our press time. The two teams finish their series on Friday at Davis. Godfrey feels good about where the team is.

“For us a region championship and getting to UVU in the state tournament are our main goals,” he said. “We have to continue to grow together as a team and support each other and celebrate each other’s successes. We are very good defensive team, and we have a pretty experienced pitching staff. We also have good team speed as well. Hitting so far has been a bright spot this year.”

Farmington

The Phoenix have had a rough season so far, starting off 1-8 overall and dropping their first league game. Farmington lost to Fremont 5-3 on

WOODS CROSS GIRLS LACROSSE fans take a group photo celebrating their win over Viewmont, 14 - 11 and their hold on First Place Friday, March 29 at Home. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

KAITLYN RILEY, VIEWMONT (6) tells her coach how the ball hit her bat and then her helmet at a game against Northridge March 21.

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

THE FARMINGTON BASEBALL team is looking for improvement as region play begins.

Photo by Gwen Peterson

Esports approved for Utah high schools starting in 2026

By Tom Haraldsen t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

B y unanimous vote last week, leaders of the Utah High School Activities Association have agreed to sanction competitive video gaming, known as Esports. High schoolers across Utah will be able to compete in organized Esports competitions beginning in January 2026.

The first season will run January through April. No specific games were announced by the UHSAA.

Last year, the association began collecting information for a needs assessment, developing what it called “Emerging Sports Criteria.” It revealed that about 10 percent of member schools (15) have female participation in a sport non-sanctioned by the UHSAA, while 20 percent of the schools (31) have co-ed or male participation in a non-sanctioned sport. Those numbers didn’t include Esports. A threshold for sanctioning new sports was set at a minimum of 31 schools for female and 46 for co-ed or male participation sports. After studying existing participation, both girls and boys Esports exceeded those requirements. Girls and boys mountain biking met sanctioning consideration, but no action was taken on those sports. Girls rodeo and girls pickleball were also considered, but didn’t meet the threshold for consideration.

BASEBALL: Continued from pg. 7

April 9 in a tight contest. The game went eight innings, with Fremont breaking a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth by scoring twice. Farmington couldn’t match or beat that output, suffering its fifth defeat in a row. Jaxon Ball hit a triple and recorded an RBI in the loss. Pickle Monk added a double and two RBI.

Head coach Sam Marx isn’t losing faith in his team. He is looking for improvement and effort.

“Our expectation is for this group to continue getting better so we can play our best baseball in the playoffs,” he said. “Awards aren't handed out after five to 10 games, so our focus is geared toward continual improvement as the season unfolds as we start to play our most impactful games.”

Farmington played April 10 against Fremont (after our press deadline) and wraps up the series against the Silverwolves this Friday.

“In order for this season to be a

have gotten varsity time.

“I did not even have to select [Parkinson and Halverson] as captains, because I could see that the team looked up to them early on as the natural leaders,” Hubrich said. “Their upbeat and positive attitude at every practice and match is infectious and resonates throughout the team. Both have a very strong all-around game that has definitely improved each year.”

Hubrich said this has been an easy team to coach. He loves not only how they conduct themselves on the court but what they do off it as well.

“I certainly enjoy being able to work with these great young men,” he said. “They all seem to love life, are excelling in school and truly enjoy the camaraderie of being on a high school tennis team. I am hoping that this will be a wonderful final year experience for the seniors, as well as prepare everyone else returning for a bright future on the team.”

Farmington

For Farmington boys tennis head coach Maren Sanders, it’s all about preparing for the big state tournament.

BOUNTIFUL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS focus as they participate in an Esport competition. Starting during the school year 2025-26, Esports will be an officially sanctioned activity.

USHAA executive director Rob Cuff called the approval “groundbreaking.” He said discussions were held with stakeholders that included educators, parents and others in the communities.

“We are thrilled to announce the sanctioning of Esports as an official activity within the UHSAA,” Cuff said in a statement. “Esports provides a unique avenue for student engagement and competition, and we believe it has the potential to enrich the high school experience for a wide range of students.”

success, these boys are going to have to continue trusting and loving one another,” Marx said. “Struggle and obstacles are inevitable within a season and ultimately the cohesiveness and love this group has for each other is what will get us through to the end of the tunnel. I think this team’s biggest strength is the boys’ unconditional love and support of one another. While still very early, this group has proven to be very resilient in multiple facets of their lives and a lot of that is due to the group’s love and leadership.”

Viewmont

The Vikings won their Region 5 opener on April 8, routing Box Elder 10-0 to improve to 7-3 overall on the year. Viewmont scored three runs in the first, fifth and six innings, adding one in the third. Pitcher Cal Miler had an outstanding game, striking out 12 batters and allowing just three hits. He also had

He added that the new activities will lend themselves to building teamwork, strategic thinking and leadership.

There have been competitions in Esports among several Utah high schools for years. An organization called Ken Garff Esports has organized those competitions, with the most popular games being Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Rocket League and Mario Kart. Esports have emerged as a billion dollar industry worldwide, with top athletes becoming millionaires from prize-sanctioned tournaments, and several colleges offering Esport scholarships, including Weber State University. At Weber State, the school created a lab to study the effects that competitive gaming has on the human body.

In March of last year, about 2,000 students took part in a Ken Garff Esport celebration at the University of Utah, where participants were offered workshops and competitions that also included coding, digital media and photography, virtual reality, Math, engineering and cybersecurity. The Princeton Review ranked the U. first in the nation for its undergraduate games program and second in the nation for its graduate games program.

In two years, high school students will have the opportunity to improve their gaming skills and qualify for scholarships the same way as other athletes. l

two RBI from the plate. Teammate Gage Kortman had three RBI in the win.

Viewmont and Box Elder squared off on Wednesday again, this time after our press deadline. The Vikings tangle with Northridge on Friday and again on April 15.

Woods Cross

The Wildcats also had a successful opening to region play, defeating Clearfield 5-2 on Monday. Woods Cross is now 5-7 overall and faced Clearfield on Wednesday, after our press deadline.

In the win, the Wildcats amassed 12 hits, getting a double from Alexander Holdstock, who also had an RBI. Teammates Thomas Pattison, Camden Olsen, Paxton Healy and Stetson Critchley also had RBIs. Beckham Stanger had a big game on the mound. He was the winning pitcher and struck out nine Clearfield batters.

Woods Cross next hosts Roy on Friday and finishes its two-game series with the Royals on Monday at Roy.

amazing things from the players, and we are excited for the state tournament in May.”

er, both captains, are leading the team.

Bountiful

The Redhawks were winners in the Region 5 opener as well, as they took care of Roy 9-2 on Monday.

Playing on the road, Bountiful improved to 4-6 on the season, thanks largely to pitcher Jackson Kyhl’s seven strikeouts. He also had two RBI in the game. However, the biggest offensive weapon of the contest was Krew Nelson. The junior infielder had a monster outing, hitting a home run and a double as well as driving in three runs. Teammate Zach Webster also had a double.

Bountiful stepped back out of region play on Tuesday to face Murray. The Redhawks had some trouble in this one, getting just one hit and losing 10-0 to fall to 4-7 overall.

The Redhawks hosted Roy on Wednesday and then play at Box Elder on Friday before facing the same Box Elder team at home April 15. l

team.

“Each of these players have their strengths that have helped us have a successful season,” Sanders said.

Sanders said the team’s biggest asset this season has been its unity and closeness She also appreciates the players’ attitudes and resolve.

“Our team strengths are our camaraderie and our tenacity,” she said. “On court, my boys always fight to the end.”

Sanders wants to see the players work on their skills and continue to get better as the season goes on. She knows the most challenging matches will be later in the year at state. She also emphasizes the importance of the boys developing attributes that will serve them well outside of the game.

“I would like to see the boys continue to improve their tennis but also improve at becoming adults,” she said. “Tennis inherently is an individual sport, but sports in general help teach life lessons and develop athletes into functioning adults.”

The Phoenix are gearing up to qualify as many players as possible for state, which begins with the first round May 4. Fortunately for the Phoenix, their school hosts the first round. The later rounds and finals will be at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, May 9, 11.

“The team has performed great so far,” Sanders said. “We’ve seen a lot of

Along with having a good showing at state, Sanders expects her players to exhibit good sportsmanship and play hard. This is something she wants to see at every practice and match.

“We need to focus on our consistency and energy on court,” she said.

The first doubles tandem of seniors Spencer Ostermiller and Landon Pack-

Fellow senior captain Chuck Frey has been the first singles player on the varsity squad, with another junior Nate Bullard, at third singles, serving as captain as well. Junior Justin Steed has played well at the second singles slot. Junior second doubles player Blake Geddes has impressed Sanders this season. Junior Noah Larsen and senior Jacob Stone have played various positions this season and are important members of the

Win or lose, Sanders is pleased with the players’ commitment. She is grateful for the chance she has to coach this group.

“I enjoy coaching this team because of the amount of talent we have and that I’ve seen each of these players grow over the years,” she said. “They’re great players and great kids.” l TENNIS: Continued from pg. 1

postseason.

Photo courtesy of Ron Hubrich

Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

Region 1 boys soccer opens as Davis, Farmington split games

By Josh McFadden joshm@mycityjournals.com

The six-team Region 1 has finally started league play as the race begins for region supremacy and playoff seeding.

Both Davis and Farmington were 1-1 through the first two games with eight more to go before the teams wrap up the regular season.

In one of those two games, the region rivals faced one another.

On March 29, Davis and Farmington met up prior to taking a week off for spring break. In a game held on Davis’ home field, neither team disappointed, as the schools produced an exciting, downto-the-wire double-overtime contest.

Farmington outlasted Davis 2-1, getting the winning goal in the second overtime.

Davis scored on a goal by Cooper Harwood, assisted by Bjorn Bergant. The goal gave the Darts a 1-0 halftime lead. However, Farmington scored in the second half to send the game into overtime where it would prevail. Josh Foster had a

goal and assisted on one by Toby Grant. Jake Peterson assisted on Foster’s goal. Before falling to Farmington, Davis blew out Weber 5-1 in an offensive showcase. Davis exploded for four goals in the first half alone. Miles Iverson put on a show, scoring three times in the game. Braxton Passey and Noah Jolley also scored, while Mark Seelos recorded two assists. Kyle Livermore also assisted on a goal. The offensive output was the highest of the season for Davis, which had scored three goals on two other occasions this season.

Meanwhile, Farmington suffered what has so far been its only loss of the season March 27 at Layton. In a defensive battle, the Phoenix and Lancers held each other scoreless in regulation and through two overtime periods. It took a shootout to decide the outcome, which Layton won by making four penalty kicks to Farmington’s two.

Farmington hosted Fremont on April 10 and then play at Weber on Friday. Davis entertained Syracuse on Wednesday before facing Fremont on the road this Friday. l

Bountiful in thick of Region 5 boys soccer race; Viewmont, Woods Cross close behind

By Josh McFadden joshm@mycityjournals.com

The regular season is fast approaching the finish line for spring sports, and that means teams are positioning themselves for playoff seeding.

For boys soccer, the Region 5 race is tightly contested, with Bountiful tied for second at 4-2 in league play, just a game behind Box Elder. The Redhawks went 1-1 last week and opened this week with a 1-0 home win over Clearfield on Tuesday. Trent Millard scored a second-half goal to break a scoreless halftime tie. Sammy Serio got the assist. Meanwhile, a pair of goalies, Carter Watson and Nash McReynolds, split time in the net, each getting credit for half a shutout in the win.

Last Friday, Bountiful outlasted Roy in an exciting contest. Playing on Roy’s home field, the Redhawks got up 2-1 at the break and matched Roy’s second-half goal with one of their own.

Bountiful has a big game at Bonneville this Friday. The Redhawks and Lakers share second place right now. On April 16, Bountiful will travel to Viewmont.

Woods Cross

At 3-3 overall and in region play, Woods Cross is hanging around in contention too.

The Wildcats fell in a close 1-0 overtime loss at Viewmont last Friday but rebounded with an impressive 3-1 victory over Northridge on Tuesday. Spencer Keddington was the offensive star, scoring two of the team’s three goals. He got one of his goals off an assist from Brian Randall. Cohen Neilson scored the other goal for the Wildcats.

On Friday, Woods Cross has a tough matchup at league-leading Box Elder. The

Wildcats host Bonneville on April 16.

Viewmont

The Vikings are tied with Woods Cross at 3-3 in region games, two games out of first place. Viewmont plays at Clearfield this Friday and then hosts rival Bountiful in a clash on April 16.

Viewmont’s last two games have been nail-biters. Last Friday against Woods Cross, Nathan Low assisted on a goal by Jacob Ramos for the Vikings in their win. The goal came in overview, preventing the need for a shootout to decide things.

However, a shootout was necessary this past Tuesday when Viewmont took on Roy. Playing at home Viewmont scored on Ramos’ first-half goal. Roy scored in the opening half two, though neither team found the back of the net in the second half or either of the two overtime periods. In the shootout, Viewmont prevailed making three shots to Roy’s one.

Ramos is having a big year for Viewmont. The junior midfielder has tallied six goals so far to lead the team. Nathan Pitt has two goals, while Zach Andersen paces the Vikings with three assists. The defense has been solid, with goalie Brett Barbe recording a pair of shutouts with plenty of help from his teammates.

As of April 10, Bountiful was ninth in the Class 5A RPI standings. Viewmont had a No. 14 ranking, and Woods Cross was 18th. The RPI rankings will determine seeding for the state tournament, which will start May 10. Higher-seeded teams will secure first-round byes and get second-round home games. Rounds one and two, along with the quarterfinals, will be at home sites, while the semifinals will be at Zions Bank Stadium, with the finals set for America First Field in Sandy on May 23. l

Rattlesnake safety – things to watch out for this spring

By Braden Nelsen braden.n@mycityjournals.com

DAVIS COUNTY—Utah is truly an outdoor paradise, and as the weather warms up, people aren’t the only animals leaving their homes in search of warmer temperatures. Spring marks the return of the beautiful, albeit deadly Utah and Davis resident, the Great Basin Rattlesnake. This protected species of snake usually gives more warning than its cousins and siblings but with the toxicity of its venom, there are things to do to avoid this predator altogether.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) gave some helpful information about rattlesnakes in the area, of which the Great Basin Rattlesnake is the most common. Rattlesnakes in Utah are particularly active in late spring, and early summer, and while they are more commonly seen around dawn and dusk, they can be active at any time of day.

“An important action you can take is becoming more knowledgeable about the rattlesnakes that you may encounter around your residence or during outdoor recreational activities,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Native Herpetology Coordinator Alyssa Hoekstra said. “Being aware of species you may encounter is a great way to be proactive to avoid unwanted interactions with rattlesnakes and prepares you to respond in a safe manner.”

The fortunate thing to remember is that snake bites in the area are rare. Rattlesnake will not pursue a person, and will generally stop their aggressive behavior and posture if a person is far enough away from them. This is why DWR representatives suggest

things like being hyper-aware of trails, looking ahead of steps, and checking dense brush or rocky outcroppings.

“Like most wild animals, rattlesnakes fear humans and will do anything they can to avoid us,” Hoekstra said. “If a snake is feeling threatened, it may act in defense. The best course of action is to maintain a safe distance.”

In the event of a surprise occurrence of a rattlesnake, the DWR gave the following tips to keep all parties involved safe and unbitten:

• Remain calm and stay at least 10 feet from the snake. Make sure to give it plenty of space. If the snake is in the middle of the trail, step off the trail and go around it.

• Do not try to kill the snake. Doing so is illegal and greatly increases the chance that the snake will bite you.

• Do not throw anything at the snake (rocks, sticks, etc.). Rattlesnakes may move toward you as they attempt to flee.

• Alert other people to the snake’s location. Advise them to use caution and to avoid getting close to the snake. Keep children and pets away.

• If you hear a rattle, try to locate where the sound is coming from before you react, so you don’t step closer to the snake or on top of it.

If a bite, which is rare, occurs, the DWR advises to not attempt to suck out the venom, not to apply heat, cold, or a tourniquet, but rather, remain calm, and seek immediate medical attention. These, and other safety tips, including keeping rattlesnakes out of residential areas, and away from dogs can be found at wildawareutah.org/ wildlife/snakes/. l

WITH ITS SIGNATURE rattle, diamond head shape, and tense posture, this rattlesnake is issuing a warning.

Photo courtesy of Utah DWR

The Bountiful man who survived two Nazi POW camps

By Braden Nelsen

BOUNTIFUL—The recent Apple series, “Masters of the Air” reminded many of the sacrifices and service of those in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II, and to hear the story of Dr. Robbery Blaine Clay, it would be hard to believe it wasn’t the storyline from one of those episodes: a bomber pilot crash lands in occupied Denmark, spends time in Stalag Luft III, the very camp from “The Great Escape,”and survives to the end of the war, making his way home to friends and family. It sounds like a movie, but it’s one man’s real life.

Born and raised in Willard, Utah, Clay wouldn’t call Bountiful home until after World War II, but would soon become a staple in the community for decades thereafter. Clay joined the service in 1941, at the very young age of 23. After training, and being shuffled around what was then the United States Army Air Forces, the then Captain Clay was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, 509th Bomb Squadron, based out of Great Britain.

Though trained on several different aircraft, the bomber that would carry Clay through the war was the famous Boeing B-17 G bomber. An immense airplane dubbed the “Flying Fortress” due to its armament and ability to take a beating, the B-17 was a favorite amongst aircrews in the European Theatre of War. Carrying a crew of 10, the heavy bomber was ideal for flying deep into occupied territory, eliminating high-priority targets, and bringing many if not all of her crew back intact.

Captain Clay’s missions would take him all over occupied Europe, targeting such locations as Nazi ball-bearing factories, ports, munitions factories, submarine and aircraft assemblies, railroads, airfields, and more in an effort to curtail Nazi activities across the continent. Across his time with the 509th, Captain Clay would fly 17 missions without incident, creeping up on the requisite missions needed to rotate home. That last mission, however, number 17, would prove to be very unlucky.

“So we took off with our squadron leading the group and flew over the North Sea and onto Berlin…we flew in

and on the bomb run I started to lose oil pressure and I feathered one of my engines, the right inboard (#3 engine). Ordinarily, I should abort and let the deputy leader take over, but we only had about another two minutes before bombs away so I just upped the manifold pressure to maintain the airspeed. I led until bombs away, then I aborted and headed on back home…So I flew back across Berlin all alone.”

Captain Clay related that, despite his and his crew’s best efforts, he could tell they were going down by the time they reached the coast. He got a heading for neutral Sweden from the navigator, and, flying by only their instruments through the fog, they made their last ditch effort to make it to safety. Following orders, they began ditching important equipment en route – knowing that it would be likely that they were going to crash, things like the newly invented Norden Bomb Sight, could not fall into the hands of the enemy.

After coming down out of the clouds, Captain Clay gave the order to bail out, and one by one, the 10-man crew did just that. He sent his co-pilot to the rear to ensure everyone had made it out and then told him to follow suit:

Captain Clay would have to ride the plane in if it was to stay level enough to bail. In a moment that could have been ripped from an adventure film or novel, the co-pilot, 1st Lt. Frank Hatten said that he was staying.

“I said, “Okay, man. Buckle up.”...I just kept getting lower and I couldn’t see a decent place to crash-land…Pretty soon I was in a timbered gully with hills on each side…And I thought, “Well, I just follow this down and just slide in wheels up.” We were just clipping tree tops when just ahead was a dirt road filled to exactly my altitude! And I was just flying straight into it! So I just aimed for the top. And just as I started over, the right wing stalled out and hit this dirt road and spun us around. It broke the plane in two and twisted the tail section just outside the co-pilot’s window! I remember nothing but noise and streaks of light and banging and jerking around.”

Not only did Clay and Hatten survive, but so did each and every one of his crew. Despite the adrenaline-filled landing, however, their journey was just beginning. The bomber, appropriately nicknamed “Stormy Weather,” had not landed in Sweden, but in fact, in occupied Denmark. Soon, the entire crew

New sensory gym opens in Kaysville

was picked up, and on their way to POW camps across occupied Europe. Captain Clay was bound for Stalag Luft III, from which 76 men had only recently escaped, the majority of which had been executed.

Because of this terrible loss of life, Clay and the other airmen in the camp were instructed to avoid escape attempts. Still, that didn’t stop Clay and others from causing a bit of mischief, such as the time he related when they mopped their floors when a German guard was inspecting beneath their hut. The guard ended up soaked in muddy water, and soon exacted his revenge, making the allied airmen stand outside for hours in the rain while they “counted” the prisoners.

Clay and others would be held at Stalag Luft III only until January 1945, when the soviet advance forced the Nazis to move their prisoners closer to home. That’s when things really went downhill for Clay. He was taken to Stalag XIII in Nuremberg, an old camp that had been in use for years, and showed its age in many ways. Clay and others had to deal with fleas in their bedding, sub-par insulation, and clothing, and not enough food, or good enough food to go around.

Clay would be moved one more time to Stalag VII-A, just outside of Moosburg, where he was reunited with the rest of his B-17 crew. It would only be about three or four weeks by his reckoning that they were there before General George S. Patton’s tanks would liberate the camp. After being recovered by the US Armed forces, Clay was taken for recuperation, given a shower, and clean clothes, and eventually sent back to the States.

Though extraordinary, Davis County’s own “Master of the Air” Clay’s experiences were not dissimilar from the millions of other men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. He and the countless other heroes of that generation paved the way at an extremely young age, and their stories, thankfully, will live on.

*Quotations from the “Saving the Legacy” Project, and The American West Center https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1020233 l

By Bailey Chism bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

Aunique play place called Friends on the Spectrum recently opened its doors to offer a blend of play and purpose for children with autism and their families.

Individuals with autism more commonly experience difficulty in social situations and struggle to find a community of their own. Young adults with an autism diagnosis are 14 times more likely to be socially isolated and about 30% of children and young adults with autism already are socially isolated.

“They struggle with social skills, social interaction, reading nonverbal communication,” said MaShel West, founder of Friends on the Spectrum.

MaShel and her husband started a business that’s much more than just a place for kids to play. It’s somewhere they can just be themselves.

The business is close to West’s heart, inspired by her son Lucas, who felt he needed a place he belonged. Lucas’ journey with autism pushed West to leave her corporate job of 20 years behind and put her focus on creating this inclusive space. She saw the isolation that children with autism, like Lucas, had to face and wanted to make a difference.

“It’s devastating,” West said. “So the goal is that we'll just build confidence for them.”

This led her to create a space where children and young adults on the spectrum can create meaningful relationships in a safe and neutral setting.

West noticed the lack of such places, especially in Davis County. While there are behavioral and speech therapies available, she saw the gap in support for social skills. The sensory gym aims to fill that void, offering play sessions, special events and even parent empowerment classes.

“The goal is, eventually they would go and be able to have their own relationships outside this facility, but it just at least allows them to start,” West said.

Parent empowerment classes are taught by their resident therapist, Lori Kransy, every Saturday, who will help par-

ents develop new perspectives and skills to help their child grow and engage in personal ways.

“The parent empowerment groups focus more on recently diagnosed [kids],” West said. “You’re going through a kind of a grieving process of understanding what’s gonna happen. You become an expert, because you have to.”

West and her husband took a course by Kransy when their son was diagnosed nine years ago. Kransy helped them through the fear of the diagnosis and helped change their mindset.

“My husband Clay and I actually went through this course work with Lori when Lucas was 3 years old,” West said. “To this day, we both will attest that this course is still the most impactful and life changing support that we received. It completely shifted our mindset on our son and what he was capable of.”

Kransy holds her sessions every Saturday for eight weeks. West offers to watch their children with autism while parents take part in the two-hour sessions.

Friends on the Spectrum aims to create a safe and inclusive community where individuals on the autism spectrum can come together to socialize, learn and have fun. Their goal is to empower individuals with autism to develop social skills, build confidence and foster a sense of community.

West is now working on another project to help individuals with autism. Consistency and predictability define the life of someone with autism. Change disrupts that and it can be difficult for them to be OK with it. West reworked the lyrics and music to a popular Disney song and partnered with students from Utah Valley University to create a music video. It’s meant to help individuals with autism learn that change is OK. She called it “We Don’t Talk About Changes,” inspired by Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

They’re now working with a videographer to make a music video for children that is essentially a Social Story therapy, a technique therapists use to help provide coping skills for children in situations that are difficult for them. They create stories with the child’s name and create better

outcomes for the child in situations where they are typically irritated and uncomfortable.

“I'm hoping that this could be good for them as far as singing different words to the songs layout that actually are just these affirmations to them,” West said.

The song and video are in the final stages of production and should be released soon.

Friends on the Spectrum is located at 657 N. Kays Drive Suite D, Kaysville. Those interested in learning more about services or contributing to Friends on the Spectrum can visit their website at friendsonthespectrum.org or call them at 801718-6551. l

DR. CLAY FLEW many missions in a B-17 bomber, just like the one pictured here. Public Domain

THE FACILITYoffers a safe and inclusive environment for children to play and be themselves.

FRIENDS ON THE SPECTRUM offers entertainment for children of all ages, including teenagers and young adults.

Photos by Bailey Chism

Weber’s first-of-its-kind Spanish program aims to see native speakers succeed

By Brice Wallace brice.w@thecityjournals.com

Astate grant will help Weber State University kickstart a program to offer certificates and degrees through classes taught entirely in Spanish.

Believed to be a first-of-its-kind program in the nation, the “Building Puentes” program will ramp up after starting this fall, ultimately giving Spanish-speaking people opportunities to attain good jobs.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity board, at its March meeting, approved a $5 million Industrial Assistance Account grant to help WSU start the program.

“The bottom line for this is really an opportunity for Utah to lead out in offering these first-in-the-nation programs completely in Spanish in an area with a population that we just expect to grow both here and nationally,” Jessica Oyler, WSU’s vice president of student access and success, told the board.

Ryan Starks, GOEO’s executive director, said that about 18 percent of Utah’s population is from Hispanic countries, a large percentage of the Utah population speaks Spanish, and the Ogden/Northern Utah area has a high number of Spanish-speaking people.

“We often see, though, that there is a disconnect between the Hispanic community and professional job opportunities because of language barriers,” Starks said.

The program eventually will offer advanced degrees in computer science, coding and other skills that “really support the market,” he said.

“We have a champion in Weber State who is willing to do that, and the state sees a lot of value in this,” Starks said. “I know the Governor’s Office is excited about this potential.”

Oyler said Hispanics represent the nation’s fastest-growing demographic, which includes over 500,000 in Utah.

The program will begin with certificate programs in computer science, such as programming and cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship, offered online. It

will advance to associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, perhaps in health professions and early childhood education.

“We’re starting with these areas where there’s high industry demand and broad marketability,” WSU President Brad Mortensen said in a news release announcing the program. “We’re also providing this in a completely online format to meet the needs of our Spanish-speaking population.”

“We’ve done some research, and these are all areas that are projected to have growth in the coming years,” Oyler told the GOEO board.

The program will offer “stackable credentials” – courses designed to build on each other so that a certificate could count toward an associate’s degree, which could then count toward a bachelor’s degree in the same area of study.

The program will begin this fall with several classes taught in Spanish, then further develop over the next five years, taking curriculum already taught in English and tailoring it for Spanish speakers. By 2028, the university plans to offer a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with plans for several other associate’s degrees. Weber will also offer nine certificates in skills such as web essentials, cybersecurity and other high-demand areas.

“We’re really excited to bring an opportunity like this to Northern Utah, to Utah overall, and certainly

Women are driving economic opportunity in Utah

Ahigher percentage of Utahns are directly contributing to the growth and prosperity of our state than residents anywhere else in the nation. True to its motto of "industry," the Beehive State ranks first in labor force participation, with 69.3% of the working-age population employed or actively looking for a job, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This figure reflects a multitude of factors, including Utah's young population, its ethos of hard work, and its success in pulling people back to the labor pool during the pandemic recovery. But zooming out, the most significant boost to Utah's labor market — and by extension, the economy – has unfolded over the past century.

In 1950, 51.7% of Utah's population participated in the labor market, according to the Census Bureau. By 1970, the participation rate jumped to 59.2% and by 2000 it was 69%, near today’s level.

What changed? From 1950 to 1970, the share of Utah women taking part in the workforce soared from 24.4% to 41.5%. By 1990, the state’s female labor force participation was double its postWorld War II rate at 58.6%, and by the end of the century, 61% of working-age Utah women had joined the labor pool.

Demand for office and clerical workers in the early 20th century gave rise to women's increased participation in the labor market, according to economic historian Claudia Goldin.

Goldin, who received a 2023 Nobel prize for her work uncovering key drivers of gender differences in the labor market, revealed how a “quiet revolution” in the economic role of women accelerated in the 1970s as expectations around careers and family began to change. Young women increasingly anticipated and prepared for future careers, seeking the education and training that would qualify them for more skilled positions.

The influx of women into the labor pool not only brought societal shifts, but it also improved the economy by in-

creasing economic output, consumer spending, tax revenue, poverty reduction, and overall quality of life.

While the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted women in the workplace, women have also been driving the labor market’s post-pandemic recovery. Nationally, labor force participation among women of prime working age has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The latest available Census data show that in 2022, 62.5% of Utah women 16 and older participated in the labor force, compared to 58.8% of women nationally, though they still participate at much lower rate than Utah men. Women make up 44.1% of workers and own 43.8% of business owners in the state.

A December 2023 report by the Utah Women and Leadership Project, authored by Robyn C. Blackburn, April Townsend and Susan R. Madsen, notes that while the majority of Utah women are in the workforce, they are underrepresented in business leadership and STEM fields. Utah women are also much more likely to work part-time than their national counterparts.

The report cites access to childcare and cultural factors, and occupational segregation in lower-paying industries as factors influencing Utah women’s participation in the labor force.

Women have been key drivers of Utah’s economic growth – among the best in the nation by almost every metric. As more women enter and remain in the workforce, their talents, perspectives and skills will continue to propel innovation, productivity and economic growth.

Robert Spendlove is chief economist for Zions Bank in Salt Lake City.

since it’s the first in the nation, we anticipate this to be a quickly growing and productive venture,” Oyler said.

Carine Clark, the GOEO board chair, stressed the need to use a wide variety of means to alert the Spanish-speaking community about the program. “I think we have to go really broad in just creating a wide net to make sure that we make this really easy for people to see the possibility here,” Clark said.

Jesse Turley, chairman of the GOEO incentives committee, said the program will be structured so that the vast majority of the instruction will be covered by Pell grants, with the Dream Weber program also helping to cover costs.

“Not only is this providing an educational platform for those that haven’t been able to reach education in a way that others have, but it’s going to be in a way that will be fully taken care of financially, so they’re not going to be straddled with debt,” Turley said.

Weber State plans to hire more Spanish-speaking faculty and staff, developing training and translating course materials into Spanish. “Our ultimate goal is student success in both the classroom and the workplace, so we’re going to offer additional bilingual support courses and services,” Mortensen said.

Students in the program will be placed in Englishas-a-second-language courses most appropriate for their English language proficiency, which will serve as co-requisite courses to the content-based curriculum taught in Spanish. As the program grows, WSU will hire more bilingual academic advisors and tutors. The university also plans to award scholarships to help cover costs of course materials and the technology necessary to complete the program.

The university’s strategic plan includes a commitment to becoming an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution with at least 15 percent of the student body identifying as Hispanic or Latino. “We’re focused on meeting prospective and current Hispanic students and their families where they are,” Mortensen said, “and helping them get where they want to go.” l