Riverton Journal | June 2025

Riverton’s Green Well boosts water independence with state-of-the-art filtration

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Riverton City and Salt Lake County completed the Green Well project in what officials are calling a major step forward in bolstering the city’s sustainable water infrastructure. The well’s state-of-the-art reverse osmosis filtration system will create a sustainable source of water for the area, producing high-quality, purified water.

In a statement on the city’s website, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs wrote, “This move will save Riverton taxpayers millions of dollars, while also providing water quality that is equal or greater to that of [the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District]. The re-use of this water well asset is something I approached Salt Lake County on some two years ago, and grateful for their unanimous approval of funding the project back in 2022. It is a win-win for our residents and the county. I am grateful to everyone who has labored to see this project completed.”

A ribbon cutting was held at the well, located near Dr. O. Roi Hardy Park (12400 River Vista Drive), where Staggs was joined by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Congressman Burgess Owens, along with local and county officials to celebrate the well’s completion.

Salt Lake County allocated $3 million through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help with the cost of the Green Well, with another $700,000 allocated from the city’s ARPA resources. No taxes or fees were raised, and no debt was incurred by the city. Maintenance of the facility will be conducted by Riverton’s water department.

The revitalized well is expected to produce over 1 million gallons of high-quality culinary water daily, potentially supplying up to 30% of Riverton’s peak summer water needs. The project aims to reduce reliance on wholesale water purchases and keep water rates low for residents as the city approaches full build-out.

“Taxpayers will benefit greatly from this project. The Riverbend Golf Course will receive water procured from the nearby

Riverton City Green Well at a reduced rate, saving county taxpayers millions of dollars over the next two decades,” Staggs said. “Riverton City is positioned to save approximately $850,000 this fiscal year alone that would otherwise need to be paid to JVWCD to purchase additional water. Millions of dollars more will be saved over the next 20 years.” l

Riverton City Mayor Trent Staggs (third from left) joins Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson (center), Congressman Burgess Owens (second from right) and other officials as they celebrate the opening of the Green Well. (Photo courtesy Riverton City)

Enjoy a Safe, Healthy, Active Summer

By Vincent Giron, DO

With summer here and everyone wanting to spend time outdoors and to be more active, there are four important health and safety tips that I recommend for all age groups and activity levels.

1. Stay hydrated. The No. 1 priority for summer safety is proper hydration before and after activity. Drinking lots of water and reducing the amount of caffeinated drinks is crucial for hydration. Adding electrolytes such as sports drinks is also helpful while avoiding excess sugar. Zero sugar or diet electrolyte sports drinks and hydration packs are an easy way to do this.

2. Use sunscreen. Sunscreen is crucial not only for skin health but can help with hydration as well. Sunburns put you at higher risk for dehydration. Applying sunscreen and reapplying frequently especially while swimming, playing sports, and hiking keeps your skin healthy and protected. Being conscientious about sun exposure helps prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, skin

discolorations and will help to keep your skin looking and feeling young.

3. Wear a helmet. Summer is a great time to go outdoors riding bikes, scooters and other fun activities while getting exercise. But anytime we bike, scoot, skate or participate in any riding activity, it is imperative to wear a helmet. No matter how short your ride is, you need to protect your brain. It only takes one fall or accident to cause permanent brain damage or life-long disability.

4. Stretch. People of all ages and activity levels from youth sports to the weekend warrior need to be stretching before and after activity. In the summer it is easy to skip the warm-up when exercising or playing sports because the warmer temperatures make us feel ready to go; however our muscles are still tight and are just as prone to injury as in the colder months. Taking the time to warm up by gradually stretching our muscles not only helps prevent injury but promotes muscle building and endurance. Stretching is especially im-

portant for elderly individuals. Stretching also helps reduce aches and pains as well as improve mobility and stability, which decrease the risk of falls.

Exercise is important for all ages. Summer is a great time to increase your level of activity. Exercise, especially outdoors, promotes physical as well as mental health and wellbeing. I hope we can all get outside, spend time with family and friends, and most of all, stay safe and healthy!

Dr. Vincent Giron is a CommonSpirit Health family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine. He is accepting new patients. His clinic is located at CommonSpirit Primary Care & Sports Medicine West Valley at 3336 S. 4155 W., Ste. 102 in West Valley. Phone:801-964-3925. He accepts most insurances.

Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

When minutes count, count on our emergency care. Get to know us before you need us.

When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.

Congratulations to CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley for receiving the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade-A Accreditation for the fourth consecutive time. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are determined based on a rigorous assessment of various safety measures.

Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.

1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711).

SPONSORED CONTENT

Dr. Vincent Giron, DO CommonSpirit Primary Care & Sports Medicine West Valley

Annual Pickleball Tournament unites community to raise funds for Huntington’s Disease

May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month.

By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com

The gene mutation starts as a benefit that enhances early brain development by contributing to larger brain size and higher IQ. However, it ultimately becomes a devastating and cruel liability, disrupting mobility and diminishing cognitive ability. Today, there are approximately 41,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at risk of inheriting Huntington’s disease - a disease comfortable in crossing all ethnic and racial boundaries and affecting males and females equally.

The Huntingtons’s Disease Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those affected with HD. Marjorie Guthrie, the wife of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, founded the organization in 1967. Woody Guthrie died from HD complications when he was only 55 years old.

The Utah Chapter of HDSA hosted its fourth annual pickleball tournament in Bluffdale on Saturday, May 3 at Wardle Fields Regional Park. The event brought together the community while raising vital funds to support HDSA’s mission of enhancing the lives of those affected by HD and their families.

Ryan Porter and Haley Gustavson won first place in the mixed team tournament, defeating 13 other teams. They received Stanley tumblers, sunglasses and AirTag tracking devices, which were generously donated by the Vox Marketing Group.

Hale Center Theatre and Vox Marketing Group donated raffle prizes, including tickets to upcoming performances and fun summer items. Their contributions were essential in supporting the HD Utah chapter and enhancing the event which supports research and advocacy for individuals suffering from this challenging disease.

A progressive neurological disorder, HD is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT gene. This gene provides the instructions for creating the huntingtin protein, which is essential for normal brain development and function. The gene mutation leads to the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. The condition primarily impacts movement, cognitive abilities and emotional function. Memphis Neurology, a care center in

Germantown, Tennessee specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, suggests HD symptoms are quite accurately described as having Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s — at the same time.

Most individuals typically begin to show symptoms of HD between the ages of 30 and 50. However, the disease can also affect children and young adults in a form known as juvenile HD. One of the most concerning aspects of HD is that each child of a parent with the disease has a 50% chance of inheriting the faulty HTT gene.

“Huntington’s Disease runs in my husband’s family. His father died of the disease,” Huntington’s Disease Society Utah Chapter Vice President Cortnee Query said. “My husband was diagnosed three years ago. We have four daughters and now realize they are 50% at risk of eventually being diagnosed with the disease. There isn’t much we can do to change that fact, but we can raise money, participate in HD studies and contribute to finding a cure or at least some kind of help for the disease in order to have a more positive outcome in the future.”

The most devastating effects of Huntington’s disease are the progressive loss of motor control and cognitive function and the development of severe psychiatric issues, which significantly impact a person’s ability to live independently and engage in daily life.

While there is no cure for HD and its progression cannot be slowed, healthcare providers can prescribe medications to help alleviate specific symptoms such as unusual physical movements, hallucinations, delusional thoughts, depression and anxiety.

According to HDSA, research studies indicate that exercise can help reduce symptoms and enhance the functioning of individuals with HD. It is recommended that individuals should engage in aerobic activities for at least 150 minutes each week. Walking is suggested as a beneficial aerobic exercise and is still possible to perform for the individual in the middle stage of HD. Additionally, incorporating strength-maintaining activities is advised as individuals tend to become weaker during this stage of the disease.

“For someone just diagnosed with HD, I think one of the most important things to do is to find a community of people that understands the disease,” Query said. “Also, make sure you take care of yourself by living a healthy lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet and exercising daily. My husband will

Huntington Disease Society of America Utah Chapter hosted its 4th annual pickleball tournament in Bluffdale on Saturday, May 3rd at Wardle Fields Regional Park. This event was part of the month-long activities recognizing May as Huntington Disease Awareness Month. (Photo courtesy JorJa Mattson)

pass sooner than we’d hoped, and also, there’s the guilt of having four children who could possibly have it. It’s great to know there are others who I can reach out to who understand the challenges that come with HD.”

President of the HDSA’s local Utah Chapter, JorJa Mattson, invites everyone to participate in the upcoming and largest HD fundraising event of the year: the Team Hope Walk. This inspiring and empowering annual fundraising walk unites people across the country who are affected by HD. This year, the event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan on Saturday, Sept. 27.

For more information about the Team Hope Walk visit https://utah.hdsa.org/events/2025-team-hope-5k-walk-funrun-utah.

A local Team Hope Walk sponsorship at any level is an excellent opportunity to support a great cause and to take advantage of a wonderful marketing opportunity. Contact Cortnee Query, utah@hdsavolunteer.org for more information about becoming a sponsor.

For more information about the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Utah Chapter visit: Facebook www.facebook.com/hdsaut Instagram www.instagram.com/hdsautah or email utah@HDSAvolunteer.org Huntington Disease Society of America Helpline 800-345-4372l

RIVERTON TEAM

The Riverton Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Riverton.

For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website.

The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com

Lindsay Andreasen | lindsay.a@thecityjournals.com

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

Marc Davis | marc.d@thecityjournals.com

Ty Gorton

Stacey LaMont

RIVERTON CITY JOURNAL 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070

PHONE: 801-254-5974

Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and

Salt Lake County

801-840-4000

801-799-3000

DATES FOR LEGAL DISCHARGE

*If you live in a restricted area, it is illegal to discharge fireworks anytime

TIMES

*On July 4 & July 24 time of discharge is extended to 12:00 midnight

Pixar comes to Riverton with special minigolf course

Photos by Cassie Goff | c.goff@thecityjournals.com

“There are scores of great restaurants and shops in Mountain View Village, and we encourage our guests to extend their visit to enjoy all that Mountain View Village has to offer,” Chad Larabee said, lead producer and creative director of Baily St. Entertainment.

Each of the 18

The course has received regular updates as new movies are released, including “Inside Out 2” and “Elemental.”

Pixar Putt has been traveling from New York City’s Battery Park, Chicago’s Navy Pier, Philadelphia’s waterfront to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Houston, Texas and San Antonio, Texas, and all the way to Denver, Colorado and now Riverton, Utah.

“We partner directly with Disney to ensure our guests experience the Disney magic in their hometowns,” Larabee said.

The putting greens require regular upkeep to ensure they look pristine.

“Pixar Putt enjoyed a longer design and construction process to ensure guests would be immersed in the world of Pixar,” Larabee said.

“Each green is filled with the magic of Pixar and Disney,” Larabee said.

“We are very proud of our relationship with Disney and Pixar. In fact, we are currently playing at Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel in Anaheim,”

Since Pixar Putt is outdoors, the lead creative director of the course suggests to plan accordingly.

“They strive to capture iconic moments from the films that immerse guests into the world of their favorite Disney Pixar movies,” Larabee said.

Pixar Putt will be open through Labor Day in Riverton in the parking lot of the Mountain View Village Shopping Center.

hotels draw inspiration from different Pixar films like the Aliens and Claw from “Toy Story.”

Larabee said.

New tool at Intermountain Riverton Hospital aims to tackle allergy season

Data from the spore collector can help doctors treat allergy patients more effectively.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Withspring comes seasonal allergies, causing itchy eyes, runny noses, constant sneezing and the search for relief. Intermountain Riverton Hospital is stepping in with a fresh approach: the Burkard pollen and spore collector.

The device sits on the hospital’s roof where it gathers mold scores and pollen counts. That information is then processed by looking under a microscope to observe and interpret which pollen count is high on any given day. The data will help patients and doctors work to improve the way allergies are triggered and treated.

Dr. Scott Taylor, an allergist at the Intermountain Riverton Southridge Allergy Clinic (3723 W. 12600 South), said while the device isn’t new, it’s the first Burkard collector on the south side of Salt Lake County.

“We got certified as a National Allergy Bureau investigation site, so it’s kind of exciting,” Taylor said. “The Burkard spore collector has been around since the 1950s but it’s improved over the years. It also helps people who have asthma, which can be triggered by pollen, as well.”

Once data is collected, patients can go online to see pollen counts and will have a better idea of how to create specific treatment plans with their allergists. Daily pollen counts are posted at Intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/southridge-clinic/allergy.

“Patients are noticing every year that they have similar

symptoms around the same range of time,” Taylor said. “It’s important to meet with an allergist, to get good testing done and get treatment for their symptoms.”

Taylor said there are about 20 top allergens in the Salt Lake Valley, depending on the time of the year. Tree pollens come out in the spring, grass pollens in the summer and ragweed in the fall. During the winter, allergies tend to come from being inside with pets. The Burkard, or the Big Green, as Taylor called it, is turned off during the colder months.

South Jordan resident Julia Jones has worked with Taylor for the last decade, finding relief for her daughter who suffers from extreme allergy symptoms including the swelling of her ears and eye lining. Jones also developed allergies a few years ago and is careful to create a home environment that fosters clean air.

“It used to be we couldn’t use the swamp cooler in our house, just [air-conditioning] only, which is much more expensive and the windows were shut all the time. There were days when there was no going outside at all,” Jones said. “Now, as allergy shot patients, we can look on the website and see specifically what we’re reacting to on which days. So say I’m having a lot of symptoms, maybe it shows the ash tree is high. Then [the allergist] can take that information and increase the amount of ash in my serum that they’ll use for my allergy shots.”

Jones can also take the daily pollen count and adjust behaviors. For instance, if ragweed counts are high, she’ll wear eyeglasses instead of contacts because she knows her eyes will be itchy and watery all day. She can also take higher doses of antihistamines or talk to her doctor about treatments that bring long-lasting relief.

“It’s not this major trial for most people, but it is annoying. It’s irritating to have these symptoms and when you see the blossoms on the trees, you know symptoms are coming,” she said. “It’s a blessing to have tools like this device that we can check online and that we have immunotherapy to help us improve our symptoms, if not help them disappear altogether.” l

City adjusts pay scale for elected officials, more in line with city employees

The change aims to treat elected officials’ compensation like city staff.

By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Riverton

City Council unanimously approved a change to the pay structure for elected officials in April.

The mayor and city council salaries will now mirror city employees’ typical cost of living adjustments they receive each year.

City Manager Kevin Hicks explained to the council after comparing to other cities, they recommend it follow what the staff receives every year.

“The reason I like this is hopefully we don’t need to come back and have this conversation again” he said. “We simply say treat elected officials like the rest of staff. If staff gets x percent, elected officials get the same x percent since they are like employees.”

Changes started in 2019, when the council voted to increase the mayor’s salary from $15,500 to $21,000, bringing the compensation more in line with what other mayors in the area were making.

All council members were in agreement with the change.

“I’m comfortable treating elected officials like city employees. Also makes it so the compensation is not like a political football to drag out every now and then and beat each other with,” Councilmember Spencer Haymond said.

He preferred to keep compensation low so people treat the position as service rather than coming for money.

Councilmember Tawnee McCay suggested the council keep its wage at its current number ($27,000) for at least another year before any cost of living adjustment so it comes more in line with what other city councils make. All council members agreed.

For comparison’s sake through transparent.utah.gov, the Herriman mayor’s 2024 wage was $24,000 while its council members’ wage was $14,500. South Jordan council members in 2024 was $19,000. l

The mayoral salary was then tied to a percentage of the city manager salary, basically matching a hours-per-week and compensated to that level. That salary reached almost $42,000 in 2023. Riverton’s current city manager position salary is just over $183,000 while the mayor now makes just under $50,000.

Allergist Scott Taylor, MD, stands by the Burkard spore collector, a machine at Intermountain Riverton Hospital that will help track pollen counts in the South Valley area. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)

Riverton city adjusted the pay scale for elected officials in April. (File photo City Journals)

Vote

Council split on language for dog attack ordinance

terpretation.

By Travis Barton

travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Whencan a person kill a dog in self-defense was a primary sticking point in city council discussions to its animal control laws.

The Riverton City Council voted 3-2 in April to streamline its animal code ordinances. While two changes regarding search warrants and e-collars were unanimous in council approval, one aspect of the code received pushback from two residents at the council meeting and two council members, who were the dissenting votes.

The issue was wording in the code that stated a person who is “worried” can kill a dog if that dog is to “harass by tearing, biting or shaking with the teeth, repeated barking or baring of teeth, growling, or approaching in an apparent attitude of attack or aggressive behavior which would cause a reasonable person to feel they were in danger of immediate physical attack.”

Residents and council members felt “repeated barking or growling” did not constitute a reason to kill a dog and felt it left a lot to in-

“I’m not comfortable saying, writ large, every circumstance of barking or growling is sufficient grounds to justify killing an animal,” Councilmember Andy Pierucci said, while Councilmember Tawnee McCay felt “it goes too far.”

Jill Walker told the council she felt the scope of the ordinance didn’t differentiate enough whether someone could kill her dog in her backyard if they were growling or barking too much. Especially, she said, when the dog could be provoked by kids or passersby.

“A lot of extra things to consider,” she said.

Shauna Walker, a former educator, was even more passionate.

“We’re saying if you worry about this dog, feel free to kill it. That really worries me,” she told the council prior to the vote. “The person standing there becomes judge, jury and executioner. Riverton City is willing to give them that right? I just think it goes too far.”

She understood the intent, but not the language chosen by city staff.

“If a dog is going after someone, yeah that’s totally defensible, but just because a dog growls?” she said.

Pierucci felt the code could be cleaned up, narrowing the scope to be about protecting life.

“I’m OK with (barking, growling) being part of the nuisance language…a dog barking from behind a fence is an issue, but not worthy of killing,” he said

City officials and the other council members clarified the code doesn’t allow a free pass on harming dogs. City Attorney Ryan Carter said it focuses on situations “that would cause a person to reasonably fear for their life.”

“If this ordinance does that, then I’m in favor.”

Councilmember Spencer Haymond said the ordinance strikes a balance, noting most people are reasonable and don’t walk around with the intent to kill dogs.

“There is never going to be a circumstance where a dog barking on the other side of a fence in relation to where somebody is standing would be reasonably in fear of their imminent danger,” Carter said. “There would never be a justification for killing an animal through a fence under those circumstances.”

Carter gave an example of a dog barking at a father with two dogs on leashes and young daughter, where the barking dog covers any escape route not allowing the family to leave. That being a scenario that would cause a reasonable person to feel in immediate danger.

Carter and the other council members emphasized the part of the code that refers to a “reasonable person” as striking the right balance, noting it’s challenging to draft the perfect ordinance.

Councilmember Troy McDougal said this wasn’t a “get out of jail free card” nor should a person be required to wait to be attacked before they can act. He felt the code says “if a dog comes at me barking, then I can defend myself.”

“No one should have to wait to then defend themselves,” he said. “Courts are the ones that will decide what reasonable is.”

McDougal preferred to err on the side of the justice system playing out the process. “I would rather the ordinance be written this way and let the courts determine what was reasonable or not.”

Councilmember Tish Buroker has been bitten by a dog and said she knows “how scary” that can be. The focus, she said, should be on “ordinances that protect our residents when they walk on our sidewalks, walk on our trails.”

“It’s written in a way that allows people to defend themselves and their life,” he said, anything else like people doing cruel things to animals, the laws already exist to address that.

McCay worried about situations where someone could feel encouraged by this law. “Not everyone is a reasonable person and could consider a barking dog a threat to their life and bring it back to this ordinance and say, ‘no, the city protected me against this.’”

Carter, who said this aspect of self-defense exists under common law anyway, didn’t feel this code would empower that behavior.

“I don’t think this code would mislead or if someone alleged they were misled by it, that wouldn’t stop us from charging under those circumstances,” he told the council. “What we’re here to do is help people understand that under imminent attack, they can have self-defense.”

These code changes came about when Carter was directed to “afford added protections to victims in dog bite cases” after recent court decisions left city officials miffed.

Besides the dog bites, city code now specified that radio or electric collars officially do not qualify as a leash, it must be a physical restraint.

New code also now allows animal control officers to obtain search warrants to seize animals and impound them until the end of a trial.

“There was just, in our view, way too much consideration given, or too many opportunities given to the owner of an animal who has attacked someone else to get the thing back pending trial,” Carter said. “No need for that. Especially when you’re trying to protect the public from further problems. That was the main reason why we made this change.” l

City code now specifies that radio or electric collars officially do not qualify as a leash, it must be a physical restraint. (Adobe stock)

Celebrating exceptional educators

As the school year comes to a close, standout educators are receiving awards and recognition for their inspiring efforts and dedication.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Riverton and Bluffdale area schools have an abundance of inspiring educators who go above and beyond for their students, school and community. Here are some who have received special recognition for inspiring, nurturing and creatively educating their students.

Bluffdale Elementary School teacher

Donna Birrell was awarded the Resilient YOU 2025 Utah Education Tribute Award for Outstanding Elementary Teacher.

Butterfield Canyon Elementary School, RaNisha Glover, Utah PTA Outstanding Elementary Educator award

Foothills Elementary School, Chinese DLI teacher Liangli Tao, Jordan School District Dual Language Immersion Teacher of the Year

Itineris Early College High School, Robert Machol, Innovative Teacher Award from the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology

Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School teacher Krista Gibbons received an Innovative Teacher Award from the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology

Riverton High School counselor Chris Christensen received a 2025 JSD Jordy Award for Outstanding School Counselors

South Valley School, Chelsea Lopez,

2025 Utah Council for Exceptional Children Outstanding Paraeducator Award

Spectrum Academy, Andrew Delcamp, UCET Innovative Teacher

Jordan Education Foundation chose one Outstanding Educator of the Year from each of the 68 Jordan District schools. Riverton/Bluffdale area school winners are listed below. (*indicates top winners)

Bluffdale Elementary School, Lisa Nielsen

Butterfield Canyon Elementary School, Shelly Rogers

Foothills Elementary School, Erika Winegar

Jordan Academy for Technology & Careers, Lisa Wadzeck

Kauri Sue Hamilton, Candice “Candi” Woolley*

Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School, Kymberly “Kym” Harrison

Kings Peak Virtual High School, Sharman Holloway

Midas Creek Elementary School, Robyn Derbidge*

Mountain Point Elementary School, Lisa Belliston

Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Jon Price

Riverton Elementary School, Gina Nokes

Riverton High School, Amy Goodrich*

Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary School, Emily Baugh

Rosamond Elementary School, Susan Warnock

Rose Creek Elementary School, Marie Pestana

South Hills Middle School, Alesha Schulzke

South Valley School, Emily LaRue*

Southland Elementary School, Ashley Richens

Candice “Candi” Woolley, Kauri

Sue Hamilton “Candi is a creative and forward-thinking educator consistently seeking out innovative ideas and teaching methods to enhance her students’ learning experiences. She prioritizes student needs, ensuring they remain at the forefront of her educational approach. Candi’s work highlights the importance of personalized, empathetic and adaptive approach to education, particularly in the special education setting. Her dedication to meeting each student’s needs inspires and motivates not only her students but also her colleagues. A teacher isn’t what Candi is, it’s who she is.” - Principal Courtney Titus

Robyn Derbidge, Midas Creek Elementary School “Her emphasis on mental health and well-being has contributed to a more balanced and harmonious workplace, where everyone feels motivated and appreciated. As a result, staff morale has significantly improved, and the sense of camaraderie is palpable. She brightens the atmosphere and helps everyone appreciate the joy that education brings. I haven’t gone a single day without hearing her laughter echoing through the halls.”- Principal Megan Cox

Kelly DeHaan, Jordan School District 2025 Teacher of the Year “Kelly DeHaan has a brilliant mind and focuses on each of his students. He loves his job and the music he puts in front of the students. He works with each individual and cares so dearly about what’s happening in our personal and academic lives. DeHaan really makes each of his students special in different ways. He notices little things as well as big things. He is a very dedicated man and I adore that about him. He really does love each of his students and their efforts.”- a student l

Butterfield Canyon Elementary School third grade teacher RaNisha Glover, one of five teachers to be awarded the Utah PTA Outstanding Elementary Educator award for her willingness to help, to recognize student achievements and to provide fun learning opportunities. (Photo courtesy JSD)

Jordan Education Foundation board members celebrate Midas Creek Elementary School teacher Robyn Derbidge as a JEF Outstanding Educator of the Year. (Photo courtesy JSD)

Foothills Elementary School Chinese DLI teacher Liangli Tao is awarded

Jordan School District’s Dual Language Immersion Teacher of the Year. (Photo courtesy JSD)

Bluffdale Elementary School teacher Donna Birrell receives a 2025 Utah Education Tribute Award from the ResilientYOU. (Photo courtesy JSD)

Drumroll please…MRHS percussion team hits semifinal level at world championships

Talented staff, dedicated students and parental support were key players in drumming up success for the MRHS indoor percussion team.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

This April, Mountain Ridge High School’s Indoor Percussion team was the first Utah high school team in more than 20 years to compete in the Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. They were shocked when they then qualified for the semifinal round and finished in the top half of the 50 groups in their division.

“I went with the attitude that, ‘Oh, it’s our first year, maybe we’ll learn a lot from the world class groups or the other groups,’ but I was very surprised to see that we could stack up to the others,” senior Brian Stooksbury said. “Just from the very start, we set up ourselves for success by great teaching and practicing hard and we made it a goal every season to build on top of what we accomplished the past season, whether getting new awards or playing harder music, but we just felt like we’ve been progressing every season at a linear rate, just trying to get better every season and build on top of the suc-

Anxiety,

cess of last season.”

Percussion Director Cris Stiles knew the team had potential when he came to MRHS four years ago, rebooted the program and hired professional show designers.

“The staff and I realized, with this design team and these kids, we really have something kind of special,” Stiles said. “We started going back to the basics and watching how eager and how excited the kids were to take on some of those things— they were very, very teachable, and ran with what we taught them. So it became pretty clear to us very fast that we wanted to do something exciting.”

The dates of Winter Guard International World Championships fit their schedule so they began to prepare for the elite competition.

Delena Haywood has watched the indoor percussion program grow through two of her sons’ participation.

“The second Cris came into it, he made this band program something it’s never been before,” Haywood said. “The interaction he has with these kids and the way he teaches them, it’s his personality that he brought that has made the entire difference. He pushes these kids to do something better than they’ve done, or that they’re better than they think they are.”

Katie Vawdrey, who was part of the visual ensemble, said, “You can only do so much as a student without good staff, so our staff really makes the difference in us having the success that we’ve had.”

The students said performing at an international championship in the biggest venue they’d ever performed in, and learning from talented and experienced teams, was an amazing experience.

“In the staging behind the curtain, we were just getting ready and trying to get in the mindset,” Stooksbury said. “The energy was really high because we were in such a big arena. Everybody was like fist pumping and congratulating each other—just the energy was really high and the vibes were good.”

When they found out they made the semifinal round, the students’ confidence crescendoed and they focused their energy on additional rehearsals.

“Those were the most productive rehearsals I’ve ever had,” junior Madi Condie said. “We were just really giving the performance energy and we were really working towards the thing, because we had seen these other groups, and we were inspired, and we were working towards semifinals.”

“Going on to semifinal, it was fresh, we’d done the work, sort of re-confirmed ourselves, and the kids had their absolute best show they’ve had all season,” Stiles said. “It was totally inspiring.”

The scene immediately after their semifinals performance was electric and emotional.

“Every single one of those kids were on cloud nine like I had never seen them before,” Haywood said. “They played their hearts out in semis, and they knew it, and

they could feel it, and they were just elated. They were screaming and just hugging and high-fiving, and couldn’t believe that they just played in semis at World’s.”

The team will be competing in a new division next year, where they will take on harder music and face tougher competition.

“We want to keep growing as an ensemble, making sure that we keep building on top of what we’ve been learning as a program, and try not to take any steps back and just to move,” sophomore Lillian Loertscher said.

Stiles said the financial and logistical support of the parents has been pivotal to the team’s success. Not only do parents cheer from the stands, but parent volunteers help move equipment on and off the performance area, create merchandise, organize fundraisers, manage uniforms and arrange meals.

“We definitely rely on the parents to help volunteer and come support,” parent volunteer Cindy DeNamur said. “It’s not always fun just sitting around in the parking lot, waiting for the next performance and pushing things along, but everybody always signs up.”

For the world championships, a parent drove to South Dakota to pick up the props for the show. Others accompanied the team to Ohio to support them through long days of rehearsals and competition. One couple flew out last minute for the semifinal round when they heard the team had advanced.

“I’m not sure how it would be pulled off if you didn’t have the parent volunteers,” Haywood said. She and her husband Ronnie took on the responsibility of feeding the team at competitions and of towing the band’s equipment trailer to Ohio. l

Mountain Ridge High School’s Indoor Percussion team’s show—designed by Noe Gomez, Peter Bates, Trent Gronewold and Jared Andrews—features an erupting volcano. (Photo courtesy Cindy DeNamur)

Herriman and Bluffdale: A tale of two of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

Salt Lake County’s southwest region is experiencing fast-growing development.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

With129% population growth since 2014, Herriman is experiencing a rapid expansion that creates multiple challenges and many opportunities. Coming in at 15th, Herriman was one of seven Utah cities listed as the 100 fastest-growing in the country, in a report released by StorageCafe.

Following close behind, Bluffdale ranked 21st, based on its population increase in the last decade. Eagle Mountain (22), Saratoga Springs (23), West Haven (39), Santaquin (81) and Lehi (89) also cracked the top 100.

Herriman Community Development Director Blake Thomas said much of the city’s growth is attributed to the availability of open land, which is cheaper to develop than infill areas, but the transition from agriculture to commercial and residential development has impacted the community’s culture and infrastructure.

“Moving more from a rural, agricultural-based community to a suburban community brings in a lot more demand for commercial development services to support the residents here,” Thomas said. “So we went from a lot of single-family homes to more town homes and multi-family housing. That’s a big shift that impacts traffic and other things.”

Herriman is also seeing hospitality expansion, with its first hotel currently under construction. It’s brought in restaurants and retail options, and plans to create a sports entertainment complex that will create jobs and recreation opportunities

for residents.

The 2022 Herriman Wellbeing Survey showed a majority of residents surveyed felt growth was happening too fast in the city, raising concerns about the water supply, transportation issues, affordable housing and air quality.

“We’re trying to bring in services that will alleviate some of the issues we’ve seen,” Thomas said. “We’ve worked with UTA to address routes to help with transit and, hopefully, we can end up with dedicated routes that help people get in and out of the city.”

Several roads in Herriman are being constructed or widened, the Commons at Herriman Towne Center will be a key commercial area, multi-use trail expansion is happening in the Oquirrhs and there are plans to build a tunnel under the freeway to connect to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Bluffdale, Herriman’s neighbor to the east, doesn’t have as much open land available and its rapid growth has necessitated extensive infrastructure planning, including roads, parks and schools.

“It’s been really beneficial because we have all those new families, young families have moved here,” said Bluffdale Community & Economic Development Director Grant Cowell. “It’s been great and it’s introduced some new development types.”

The population increase in Bluffdale has attracted several commercial developments, including restaurants, convenience shops and the city’s first grocery store. Smith’s Food & Drug is building a location at 13893 S. Redwood Road that’s expected to open in September.

Future development in Bluffdale includes major transportation infrastructure and new zoning requests on the south end of town. That will be the last available land until the Point of

the Mountain gravel pit stops production, opening up several hundred acres of land in the city. It will also be impacted by The Point development in Draper and the adjacent FrontRunner station in Bluffdale.

“That’s pretty exciting because I think we’re just kind of at the beginning of that growth curve,” Cowell said. “People love being here. People on the west side of town love that historic feel and the larger lots. The newer residents love how some of these projects have integrated open space and parks. So I just see how much people love it here. I’m glad to be part of it.”

StorageCafe, an online self-storage marketplace, analyzed more than 2,500 U.S. cities with at least 10,000 residents, ranking them by percentage population change from 2014 to 2023. The full report is available at storagecafe.com/blog. l

5 habits to start in June for a healthier summer

Get your mind and body in summer mode to enjoy the season.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

J

une is the perfect time to refresh routines and build healthier habits. Prioritizing well-being will lift your energy and allow you to enjoy activities during the summer months. Starting habits now will create an enjoyable summer where you feel vibrant, engaged and ready to get the most out of every sunshine-filled day.

When starting new habits, start small, stay consistent and be patient. Create a supportive environment and notice the wins. Even accomplishing one goal is a reason to celebrate.

Prioritize hydration. As boring as it might sound, staying hydrated offers myriad benefits. Water increases brain function, assists digestion, alleviates headaches, regulates body temperature and enhances physical performance. Average guidelines show drinking 8-10 cups of water each day is optimal for body and brain function.

To build this habit, purchase a reusable water bottle and set a reminder to drink throughout the day. For added flavor, infuse water with lemon, berries or cucumber. Get a metabolism boost by drinking a cup of water first thing in the morning.

Create a morning movement routine. When you start your day with exercise, the benefits last all day. Morning movement has been shown to raise energy, boost your mood, increase productivity, reduce the risk of disease

and manage weight.

It doesn’t have to be a big time commitment. A 10-minute walk through a local park, a 15-minute online yoga session or five minutes of dancing can set you up for success throughout the day. If you take the practice outside, you get a bonus of sunlight exposure to raise vitamin D levels.

Incorporate fresh foods. Eating fresh produce has to be a conscious choice. Luckily, farmers markets are open again, so finding local food is much easier. Fresh foods are packed with nutrients, lower the risk of chronic disease and taste better than processed foods.

Visit Utahfarmersmarketnetwork.org to find a farmers market near you, then stock up on seasonal fruits and vegetables. Experiment with easy recipes like smoothies, salads and grilled veggies. Work your way up to having half of each meal dedicated to fresh produce.

Create recovery time. As summer activities fill our calendars, we often overschedule our time and end up fatigued. Quality rest is essential to overall well-being, aiding in physical recovery and increased mental health.

Schedule a couple of hours each week where you can do something you love. Maybe it’s hiking, reading, napping or gardening, make sure it’s something enjoyable and not a chore. If you have kiddos, maybe swap a couple of hours of child sitting with a neighbor or family member so you can enjoy a breather without distractions. Put down the screens. We give our teens grief for scrolling on their phones, but we’re often doing the same thing. Studies show that limiting screen time reduces stress, enhances creativity and enhances focus. We all

want to record the fun summer events, like celebrations and vacations, but looking at the world through a phone screen creates a barrier to real life.

Start small. Make a no-phone rule during meals or family activities (you can take ONE photo if you must), practice having real conversations with people around you, use app blockers, timers and trackers. Summer goes too fast to spend it staring at a phone.

BONUS TIP: Play outside! Warm days call for drinks by the swimming pool, a sunset bike ride, a breakfast picnic, outdoor readathons, pickleball games, paddleboarding, dancing on the patio, fishing in a river and discovering new hiking trails. Slather on the sunscreen and get outside. l

Herriman City is ranked the fastest-growing city in Utah, by StorageCafe. Its exponential expansion is due to its appeal to families, young professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. (Adobe stock)

Utah’s mountains have hundreds of hiking trails. How many can you explore this summer? (Canva stock)

Blueprints for the unthinkable: Inside Salt Lake County’s disaster doctrine

Salt Lake County ramps up emergency preparedness with community-driven planning.

By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

Salt Lake County is reinforcing its emergency preparedness strategy with a comprehensive, coordinated, and community-centered approach to disaster readiness. Tina Brown of the Salt Lake County Emergency Management team provided an in-depth overview of the county’s current efforts, upcoming goals, and lessons learned from past disasters.

At the heart of the county’s preparedness efforts is the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), which serves as the foundational document for all emergency response operations. “The CEMP is the base plan; the annexes cover specific types of disasters,” Brown explained. Complementing the CEMP are specialized plans, such as the Emergency Response Plan focused on hazardous materials and the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), which is currently under revision. “The MJHMP is updated every five years to reconsider whether the hazards are still appropriate, identify complete mitigation projects, and define new ones,” Brown said.

The updated MJHMP, once reviewed by the State Division of Emergency Management and FEMA, will help secure federal mitigation funding. “Some of our key takeaways from this update are the importance of ongoing coordination on mitigation activities,” Brown emphasized. “The value of continually engaging the community in understanding our hazards cannot be understated.”

One of the most pressing threats facing the county is the potential for a major earthquake along the Wasatch Fault. Brown noted, “According to the Utah and U.S. Geological Surveys, there’s a 57% chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake along the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years.”

To prepare, the county is prioritizing planning, exercises like The Great Utah ShakeOut, and infrastructure retrofits. Residents are urged to build emergency kits, secure heavy furniture, and consider earthquake insurance. “The best time to prepare for a disaster is before it happens,” Brown stressed.

Communication and public engagement play a critical role in readiness. “We engage the community through multiple channels,” Brown said.

These include social media and the county website, where residents can access resources on emergency kits, communication plans, and hazard information. Brown added, “We encourage residents to get involved with their local emergency man-

agement office by attending preparedness events, trainings and community outreach activities.”

Salt Lake County also places a strong emphasis on interagency collaboration. “We activate the Emergency Coordination Center to unify efforts across jurisdictions and disciplines,” said Brown.

This central hub manages mutual aid and ensures that local needs are communicated to state and federal agencies. Partnerships extend to the Salt Lake County Healthcare Coalition, local city councils, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, which meets regularly to align plans and conduct training.

Technology underpins much of the emergency management system. “We operate within a statewide interoperable radio network that allows emergency responders to coordinate across city and county lines,” Brown explained. Backup communication channels include amateur radio groups, and public alerts are delivered via Wireless Emergency Alerts, the Emergency Alert System, and social media.

Training is another key pillar. “We offer FEMA Incident Command System courses and run disaster exercises that test our plans in realistic, low-risk environments,” Brown said. These exercises are tailored to help participants—from local officials to volunteers—understand roles, improve response times, and identify areas for improvement.

Brown pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for some of the department’s most significant recent changes. “One of the most important lessons was the importance of strong interagency coordination and communication,” she said. “The pandemic showed us that preparedness is not just about checklists—it’s about partnerships, relationships, adaptability and mutual trust.”

Looking ahead, Salt Lake County Emergency Management has set priorities focused on training, outreach and funding. “Our greatest strength and capability is our people,” Brown said. “An informed community is a prepared community.”

The department also continues to pursue federal grant funding for vital resources, such as damage assessment tools and emergency shelter supplies.

Through what Brown calls a “whole community” approach—engaging non-profits, businesses and local groups—Salt Lake County is working to ensure its residents are ready for the unexpected. As Brown put it, “Effective mitigation strategies involve the whole community… We work together to become better prepared to respond and recover effectively.”

For more information on how to get involved or prepare for emergencies, residents can visit the Salt Lake County Emergency Management website at slcoem.org. l

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake is forecasted to hit the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)

Winter weather provides multiple risks that Salt Lake County residents should prepare for. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)

Wildfires not only are prone to Salt Lake County foothill areas but also freeway corridors and trailways. (Photo courtesy of SLCEM)

Herriman City Council approves land trade deal for sports complex

Hoping to break ground on a sports complex in the not-too-distant future, Herriman will trade three properties to developers for one larger parcel.

By Elisa Eames e.eames@mycityjournals.com

Inits quest to increase city funding without increasing the burden on residents, Herriman City has approved a land trade deal with developers, bringing it one large step closer to building an athletic complex.

“The city owns several parcels, but they’re very disparate, and some have impacted soils from Rio Tinto operations in the past,” former Councilman Steven Shields said.

Herriman has worked with developers to orchestrate the swap without involving cash. Per city protocol, the planning commission reviewed the proposals and made a few suggested changes at the April 2 planning commission meeting.

At this meeting, the planning department advised the planning commission that city services would be sufficient to support the increased population and that proposals are in line with “the character of surrounding neighborhoods.” A discussion of the land swap in more detail was then put on the agenda for the April 23 city council meeting, when council members voted to approve the trade of three separate parcels for one larger contiguous property, which would host the complex.

“The city didn’t own the land where the athletic complex is proposed—it was privately owned and planned for housing,” the city’s website says. “To make the complex possible, the city traded some of its land with the developer. In return, the city received the land for the proposed complex, and the developer was allowed to build homes on the city’s land instead.”

The land deal, which is expected to be completed in June, will also clear the contaminated soil.

Still only a concept, the sports complex

would provide space for local recreation and regional and national competitions. It would also aim to attract patrons from outside of Herriman to spend money at stores and restaurants within Herriman, allowing the city to collect sales tax on transactions without having to provide city services to visitors. The city would also expect the complex to attract new businesses while increasing sales for existing ones.

“The purpose of pursuing the project is to support local and regional recreational needs, stimulate business activity and help reduce long-term pressure on property taxes through increased sales and tourism tax revenue,” Herriman’s website says.

“Is this the magic bullet that solves all of the city’s economic problems? No, but it is a good step in the right direction,” Shields said.

The city also plans hotels to accommodate overnight visitors, further increasing revenue. Construction began in April for a Holiday Inn Express near Premier Pickleball and Slackwater Pizza within the Anthem commercial development. The hotel is expected to be completed sometime next year.

Hyatt also plans to build a longer-stay facility in the Academy Village commercial development, though dates have not yet been determined.

Two of the properties to be traded are the 29-acre “Creek Ridge Cove” property on the corner of 6400 West and Herriman Blvd., which includes 136 single-family homes, and the 2.54-acre “Big Bend Cove” property, which includes 11 single-family homes. Formerly, “Creek Ridge Cove” was envisioned as a park or sports area, and “Big Bend Cove” was considered for the site of a fire station.

The third parcel, the 18-acre “Sorrento” property, previously called “Walker Cove,” is on the corner of 12900 South and Rosecrest Road (5600 West) and was originally planned as a public works facility.

In January, the city council considered a proposal for 212 units for the “Sorrento” parcel, including detached homes and townhomes, but after receiving significant community feedback, council members amended the number of residences to no more than 113

detached homes. Independent of the complex, the location of a new fire station will be on the southwestern side of the “Sorrento” property.

Unit increases for the Teton Ranch and Olympia developments will also be part of the swap, and the “Sorrento” parcel will be rezoned.

The master development agreements for each parcel stipulate that the street arrangements must provide adequate traffic circulation through the developments, and developers must meet city architectural standards. This will undergo further scrutiny when construction begins.

Many public comments over the last few months have included concerns about density, preserving “Old Herriman,” traffic, overcrowded schools and parking.

“You look to the [east, north and] south. It’s not that dense, and all of a sudden, we’ve got this density in the middle of… Oldtown Herriman,” resident Chance Gledhill said.

However, the Utah state legislature has recently pushed for smaller lot sizes in new construction to make homes more affordable. “I think the average cost of a single-family home in Herriman is around $650,000, so anything we can do to bring that down to help people buy homes, we’ll try to accomplish that,” Herriman Director of Community Development Blake Thomas said.

Another resident, Justin Butterfield, lamented the impact on traffic. “It takes you 20 minutes to get to Bangerter right now, and it’s not just because of the construction on 134th… And now you’re going to have this many more people there in that tiny little area,” he said.

“The city regularly monitors traffic levels on major roads and plans improvements as needed. These projects are already included in long-term plans,” Herriman’s website says.

Additionally, Jordan School District has confirmed that the number of children per household is decreasing, and the city has been advised that current schools can handle the increase.

The “Sorrento” development, for example, is expected to provide 41 elementary school students within the boundaries of

Herriman Elementary, where the current enrollment is 674 with a projected enrollment of 635 for next year. Including portables, Herriman Elementary can accommodate 750 students.

Another contentious subject, parking has been carefully considered in the planning process thus far. “If the project moves forward, the city will study parking needs and use best practices from similar complexes to provide adequate capacity and minimize overflow,” the city’s website says.

Other public concerns have included access, animal rights, erosion of public trust, infrastructure strain and safety issues. Creek Ridge area residents also expressed frustration over a planned park that will now be homes instead. The city intends to take this into account during the design process for the complex to provide green space for the area.

“All this feedback from the residents has been a part of deliberations. It’s impacted negotiations. It has changed plans… It has frankly given us leverage in negotiations with developers to bring about better results,” Shields said. “The hard part… is that you don’t always get the decision that is best for you individually but may be better for the city overall.”

Because it lacks the resources to build the complex, the city has conferred with Salt Lake County and other organizations about funding and other issues.

“We can’t guarantee other people’s resources to make this happen, but there’s been a lot of interest…” Shields said. “We want to make it very clear again that the athletic complex is not approved. It’s not finalized. It’s not even designed yet, but that’s the goal for this.”

Residents can offer more feedback throughout the upcoming process via public meetings and discussions, and the city encourages involvement and staying educated. For more information, see the “Proposed Southwest Athletic Complex” page on the city’s website, Herriman.gov and the April 2 Herriman City Planning Commission Meeting on YouTube.com. l

A draft shows tentative plans for an athletic complex. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

Developers plan 136 single-family homes for the “Creek Ridge Cove” property. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

Previously slated for a fire station, the “Big Bend Cove” property will be the site of 11 homes. (Photo courtesy Herriman City)

Local nursing programs graduate thousands of Utah residents

Nursing education is anticipated to grow by at least 8% in the next 10 years. Utah’s local nursing programs are ready to help students move into the backbone of the healthcare industry.

By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com

ThroughoutMay, graduating nursing students have been walking across stages at their graduation and pinning ceremonies. Thousands of new nurses will begin and/or continue their careers in health care in summer 2025.

“Nurses make up the largest single group of healthcare professionals in the nation and are increasingly taking on more responsibility in healthcare up to and including taking on the role of primary patient care at doctoral levels,” said Bridgerland Technical College Practical Nursing Director Eric Haskell.

“The growth of nursing programs in Utah has been widely recognized as a proactive and necessary response to the state’s ongoing nursing shortage,” said Communications Director at Mountainland Technical College Maile Richardson. “Institutions across the state, including MTECH, have expanded their programs to meet the increasing demand for qualified nurses.”

In Utah, there are over 27 different nursing programs available through post-secondary education institutions for aspiring students to choose from. Students may apply to different programs depending on their options for their hybrid flexible schedules, smaller class sizes, networking opportunities and variable tuition rates.

For example, MTECH’s nursing program (new location in Provo) focuses on hands-on training with industry experts, lab simulations and clinical sites. While Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Nursing program (South Jordan) offers specialty and leadership roles during twoand four-year programs.

“Many of our LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) students are returning to school after a significant break, balancing education with parenting, work or caregiving responsibilities. This life experience gives them maturity, resilience and a strong sense of purpose,” Richardson said. “Students learn relevant and industry-standard best practices from current nurses.”

Some of these local nursing programs even partner with one another. For example, the two technical colleges mentioned above partner with local universities to help nursing students continue through their education and career goals.

Bridgerland Technical College partners with Weber State University to guarantee BTECH’s graduates a spot in Weber State’s

“Bridgerland Technical College graduates are highly coveted in our local market. Most end up working at one of two local hospitals, local skilled nursing facilities or clinics and a few seek and gain employment at large trauma centers such as Primary Children’s or St. Marks,” said Practical Nursing Director Eric Haskell. (Eric Haskell/Bridgerland Technical College)

Registered Nurse program.

“We share space in our building with Weber State so (students) would attend all of those classes here at BTECH,” Haskell said.

A similar partnership agreement exists between MTECH and Utah Valley University, as students can move directly into UVU’s RN (Registered Nurse) program.

“All of our most recent LPN graduates plan to go to UVU in the fall,” Richardson said. “Students are excited about this transfer credit opportunity and have found it very valuable.”

The majority of students attending the nursing programs listed above are Utah residents. BTECH currently has 96 nursing students per year primarily local to northern Utah, most from Box Elder and Cache County. While MTECH does draw some nursing students from out of state. Last year, 2,093 students graduated from Western Governors University’s nursing programs during their 100th commencement class.

“The goal of nursing…is a science and an art. The science is obtaining research-based nursing knowledge, judgement and skills. The art is the establishment of a caring relationship through which nurses apply nursing knowledge, skills and judgement in a compassionate manner,” said Roseman University’s Director of Marketing Rachel Thomas.

For readers who may be considering nursing school in the future, a few recommendations were offered. Richardson recommended taking the prerequisites of anatomy and physiology beforehand. Haskell echoed that sentiment with the addition of medical terminology and psychology cours-

“Once students are in the program, students can expect hands-on, engaged learning. During their time in the program, students will experience classroom-style lessons, hands-on lab simulations, and have opportunities to work in clinical sites.” (Maile Richardson/Mountainland Technical College)

Bridgerland Technical College has been recognized regionally and nationally for their outcomes, affordability and resources. (Eric Haskell/Bridgerland Technical College)

es too. Some of the local nursing programs look for students to have already obtained their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license.

“When nursing school starts, you’ll have plenty of work and studying that you'll need to do,” wrote nursing student Molly Jae Cox through the Nursing Programs Facebook group. “You need a stethoscope and a pen light, and they’ll give you scrub specifications as well.”

Beyond the nursing programs listed above, Utah offers nursing programs through (listed from least-expensive to most-expensive on average tuition costs): Davis Applied Technology College, Night-

ingale College, Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, Utah Tech University, Galen College of Nursing (Draper), Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Joyce University of Nursing & Health Sciences and Westminster College.

“Nursing education programs generate more than $8.5 billion in annual revenue, representing nearly 3% of all higher education revenue,” said Alyssa Reynolds, public relations associate for Validated Insights Market Research. “By 2030, the nursing education market is projected to be worth $14.6 billion.” l

Senior leader loved the ‘intensity and drive you feel from this sport’

Riverton’s Izzy Blunck was a leader and top performer for the girls lacrosse team. Blunck will soon take her talents to the collegiate level.

By Josh McFadden

Inrecent years Riverton High’s girls lacrosse team has established itself as a 6A state contender, reaching the semifinals a year ago.

One of their star players this season, Izzy Blunck, was a big reason why.

A senior, Blunck had a stellar junior year, scoring 50 goals and dishing out 24 assists. She also had 32 ground balls and caused two turnovers.

Like many athletes, Blunck used the inspiration from a parent to get her interested in the sport.

Blunck’s mother played lacrosse in college. She encouraged her daughter to try the sport, and it didn’t take long for Blunck to fall in love with it. Blunck has played for more than six years and turned into one of the top players in the state. Not only does she love the thrill of competing, but she has developed some memorable relationships with teammates. She is grateful for those bonds on and away from the field.

“I love the team bonding and chemistry

you have with your teammates,” she said. “Some of these girls I have been friends and playing with for my whole career. Lacrosse can really bring you amazing friendships. I also love the intensity and drive you feel from this sport—the speed and then that amazing shot. The adrenaline and thrill are unbelievable.”

As her four-year career with the Riverton program comes to a close, Blunck reflected on the meaningful experience she has had with the team. She appreciated her teammates and coaches at Riverton and the positive culture that surrounds the team. “I love the school spirit Riverton has,” she said. “The family and chemistry that this team has is really something I could never forget. I am a captain on this team and really couldn’t be prouder and more filled with love for my teammates. I love being a part of such an amazing program.”

Though Blunck has found individual and team success on the field, nothing has come easy. She said one of her best attributes is the ability to overcome hardships and find teaching moments in every game and practice.

“I feel I can learn from my mistakes and get back up even when it has been a rough game,” she said. “I have learned that always staying positive for not only your team but yourself is such a big thing to being a strong player. I love including everybody and being a team player as well. I feel you win with all of

Funeral arrangements are a deeply personal choice. Preplanning provides you with the time needed to make practical, detailed decisions that reflect your standards, lifestyle, taste and budget. And we assure you and your family that the choices you make will be carried out as planned.

your team, but you need to execute your best as an individual first.”

Throughout the season, Blunck worked on improving her mental toughness and focusing on the little things. She tries to have a good attitude even when things aren’t going her way.

Lacrosse isn’t an easy game to learn and master, she said.

Thankfully for Blunck and her teammates, supportive coaches are there at Riverton to encourage the players.

“I feel that the most challenging aspects of this sport would be the many different situations that you have to go through in each game,” Blunck said. “It’s challenging to be able to learn quickly the dynamics of the opposing team and to work as a team using our skills and talents to be better and adapt and win the game. A very high lacrosse IQ is such a big aspect of knowing when and where to do the right things in the game. I have come to notice that if you stay composed during the games and learn when the right times are to pass, make a shot, get the ground ball, cut or transition is very vital to success. Luckily, we have coaches that help guide us in making these decisions. They are always encouraging us to do and be our best.”

After high school graduation, Blunck will move on to the University of Utah, where she accepted an academic merit scholarship and

plans to try out for the lacrosse team.

“I want to explore my options through the College of Health and see where my future will take me,” she said. “And of course, I am excited to try out for U of U Girls Lacrosse Team. They are so amazing! Go Utes!” l

Izzy Blunck was a leader and top performer for the girls lacrosse team. (Photo courtesy Hannah Kelleher)

Several Riverton track and field athletes excel in standout season

First-year track and field coach Marcus Dickson is pleased with how the athletes on the team performed this season, which included breaking several records.

By Josh McFadden

TheClass 6A ranks feature some stacked and talented track and field teams, making the competition difficult for any contender. At Riverton, first-year head coach Marcus Dickson couldn’t be more pleased with how his pupils performed this season.

Dickson said team members had positive attitudes, put forth the necessary effort and showed resiliency. Anytime a coach steps into a new situation by taking over a team, there are bound to be challenges. But Dickson praised the athletes for making the transition a smooth one.

“My first year as the head coach at Riveron has went by insanely fast, and I am so proud of our athletes,” he said. “They have created an environment where they are willing to work hard, learn to fail, bounce back from failure and do some amazing things.”

Dickson watched this year as athletes set records, qualified for state and improved significantly. The Silverwolves took part in the state meet, held May 15–17 at Brigham Young University.

Beyond scores and times, Dickson was happy to see good camaraderie on the team. He said the athletes supported one another and created an atmosphere where everyone felt valued.

“The biggest accomplishment our team has done is by far coming together as a team,” Dickson said. “I have seen sprinters cheer for throwers, jumpers cheer for distance, distance cheer for vaulters, vaulters cheer for hurdlers and so on. It sounds like small things, but these little things are what make the great teams.”

One of the most notable athletes on the team this past season was Ty Warnick. He set two Class 6A records—one in the 400-meter race and the other in the long jump.

“It was absolutely incredible to watch Ty do anything that we ask him to do,” Dickson said. “I think Ty could compete to win state in any event. He even ran the 800 on our relay team at region and ran one of the fastest times in school history.”

Distance runner Chloe Swain became the first ever Riverton High School track and field athlete to run a sub-five-minute 1,600 race on Utah soil. In the 300 hurdles, Dejan Richards set the school record with a time of 38.22 seconds. In the 100 and 200 sprint events, Reese Lewis qualified for state to represent the Silverwolves.

In addition, Riverton athlete Brooke Tacke added to her impressive resume. Already a star on Riverton’s top-ranked 6A softball team, Tacke contributed to the Riv-

erton track and field team by displaying her throwing talents. Despite only having limited practice time with the javelin, Tacke managed to finish first in Region 2 in the event at the region championships.

Dickson said there were also some team members who stood out by exceeding expectations. One of these athletes was Luke Palmer, a junior, who had a javelin throw of 161 feet this season.

“Luke Palmer has been an awesome surprise,” Dickson said. “He was good as a sophomore, but he has taken a huge jump his junior year.”

A couple of groups that Dickson loved watching this season were the boys and girls 4x400 and 4x800 teams. He believes those runners could stack up against anyone in the state.

“Our boys and girls 4x400 and 4x800 teams are looking strong,” he said. “I think any of the teams (boys or girls) could win or place really high in those relays on the right day.”

Though Riverton went into the state tournament with formidable competition, Dickson was most interested to see how hard his athletes would work. He was optimistic about the team’s chances of scoring some points and adding to what had already been a strong, memorable season. In fact, the new coach thought this might be the best Riverton track and field team in the past 10 years.

“I am excited for the state track meet,” he said. “Our biggest goal is to show up and give our best effort. If we can finish our events and say ‘I did my best,’ then we checked off all our boxes. I know we have some individual athletes that have some really big goals. As a team, our goal is to score the most points (as boys and girls combined) than we have in the last decade. Riverton has some really rich track and field history, but we believe we can be the best team of the decade.”

The Silverwolves will lose some topnotch athletes to graduation, but there are also some pieces in place for next season with some experienced team members coming back.

And it’s not just in the track and field en-

vironment where the Riverton athletes show their commitment. Dickson appreciates that the Silverwolves give it their all in other aspects of their lives, too.

“The best part of coaching this group is the everyday reminder of how resilient these student athletes are in their everyday life,” he said. “These kids will wake up and have an activity before school, go to school all day, practice at a high level, do homework and other activities and still have a positive attitude. I am in awe by their work ethic.” l

Ty Warnick holds the Class 6A state record in both 400 and long jump. The Riverton star is the only Utah high school athlete to reach 24 feet in the long jump.

(Photo courtesy Marcus Dickson)

Riverton’s Mya Oyler is a four-time state qualifier. This season, she overcame a stress fracture to set a personal best in the 1,600. She competed in the 1,600 and 3,200, as well as the 4x400 and 4x800 relays at state. (Photo courtesy Marcus Dickson)

Injury leads Riverton’s Anderson into new sport—where she has excelled

Ellie Anderson has been a top player on the Riverton girls golf team despite only picking up the sport the year before.

By Josh McFadden

Ellie Anderson, a key member of the Riverton girls golf team, is a multi-sport athlete, but golf wasn’t always on her radar.

A senior, Anderson is the No. 1 golfer for the Silverwolves and a player who head coach Peter Fong calls “the most improved player” on the team. Remarkably, however, Anderson didn’t even start playing competitively until her junior season last year. Heading into her junior season, she had only started golfing at all a few months before.

Anderson was a quick learner.

The athletic Anderson also plays soccer and basketball. In fact, she may have never even tried golf had it not been for a knee injury that sidelined her from playing these other sports. While recovering, she took up golf. She quickly took to the new activity and discovered she had natural talent for it. She loves the competition and the chance to learn from other players.

“I love the opportunity to get better and play with some really good players,” she said.

At Riverton, Anderson has found a family-like atmosphere on the girls golf team. She enjoys being with the other players on and off the course. She said “hanging out” with the team is the most enjoyable part about being on the Silverwolves’ team. Together, the girls have built good team unity and cohesion. The girls support one another and encourage

everyone to get better.

Any golfer will say that golf can be a mentally challenging game. It can also be frustrating and pressure filled. Anderson said one of her best traits is that she keeps a level head and maintains her composure when it would be easy to get down on herself because of a missed shot or off day.

“My biggest strength is the ability to stay calm during difficult situations,” she said. “Golf can be tough. If I don’t hit the shot I want, it can be easy to get down on myself. I’ve started working to stay more positive throughout the entire round, even if things don’t go how I want them to go. I’ve seen that as I am more positive, it helps me play better.”

As a senior, yet still a new golfer, Anderson continued to work hard throughout the year to improve various aspects of her game. She recognized a need to get better with her putts and short game in general. Refining this area helped her drop scores. Anderson also wanted the Silverwolves to make it to the second day of the Class 6A state tournament. As for herself, she wasn’t looking to finish at a certain place at state or achieve a specific score. Rather, Anderson simply wanted to get better each day so she could end each practice and match knowing that she gave it her all.

The next stop for Anderson will be Brigham Young University where she plans on continuing her education and pursuing a degree. Fong and the rest of the Riverton girls golf team will miss her presence, including her example on and off the course. l

SUMMER CAMPS

Ellie Anderson has been a top player on the Riverton girls golf team despite only picking up the sport the year before.

One of the top players on the Riverton girls golf team in 2025 was sophomore Savannah Linford. Though she has limited experience, Linford has been a reliable player for the team.

By Josh McFadden

Thefuture looks promising for the Riverton girls golf team. Sophomore Savannah Linford is a big reason why.

Linford has only been golfing competitively for two years, but she has displayed rapid improvement and a positive attitude. As the No. 2 golfer this past season behind senior Ellie Anderson, Linford is poised for an even bigger role in 2026. As a freshman, Linford played on the varsity squad, giving head coach Peter Fong a glimpse of her potential. This season was an even better one for her.

Through this past season, Linford worked hard on her long game, and she now says she hits her driver well. During the offseason in preparation for her junior year, she plans on improving her short game and hitting with her iron clubs.

However, when she talked about what she enjoys most about playing for Riverton

Young Riverton golfer just getting started

girls golf team, she didn’t mention specific tournaments and scores. Rather, Linford spoke highly of her teammates and relationships she made on the team. The Silverwolves enjoyed a strong bond this season. Whether it was at practice, at tournaments or away from the sport, the players got along well and built a positive culture. She also appreciates the coaching staff and the efforts they made to ensure the girls had a positive experience.

“The best thing about being on the Riverton golf team is having a fun group of girls to hang out with and having a fun coach to help us,” Linford said.

Linford initially got interested in golf at the encouragement of her parents. Though being on the Riverton girls golf team wasn’t one of her goals just a few years ago, she decided to try out as a freshman and is happy she did so and made the team.

“I tried out and ended up really loving it,” she said.

Though she goes up against talented competition, Linford sees playing high school golf as a learning experience. But she has gotten even more out of it than that. Linford has built friendships with opposing players.

“I enjoy getting to know all the other girls from different teams,” she said.

Next season, Linford will aim to drop her scores so she can help her team move up the region standings and have a chance to be a factor at the state tournament. She echoes what so many other golfers say about the sport: golf requires more than physical attributes; you need to be mentally tough too.

“Golf is a really mental sport,” she said. “You can really get in your head, and it can affect how you play. I realized that I just need to take deep breaths and laugh it off.”

Linford still has two more years at Riverton, so she hasn’t yet made definitive posthigh school plans. However, she does hope to eventually play golf at the next level while pursuing a college degree.

“I’m not sure what my plans are after high school, but getting a golf scholarship would be really fun,” she said. l

Working together to plan for the future

Utah’s Wasatch Front is growing faster than almost any other region in the nation, and nowhere is that more evident than here in Salt Lake County. Today, more than 2.8 million Utahns—over 80% of our state’s population—live along the Wasatch Front and Back. By 2050, we’re on track to nearly double that number, reaching around 5 million Utahns. Protecting the quality of life that drew families, businesses and adventurers to our valleys and mountains in the first place means making smart, coordinated choices right now.

Utah was recently recognized as the best state in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year. While we have so many great things going for us—a strong economy, volunteerism, social capital and incredible people—one of the things that helps with our success is our willingness to work together.

When it comes to planning for the future, it’s vital that we collaborate at each level of government. I’m proud to be a board member for a planning body that does just this. Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) brings together elected leaders and staff from the state, counties and cities across our region. WFRC ensures that transportation investments, land-use decisions and economic development strategies all align with a shared vision—what we call the Wasatch Choice Vision.

The Wasatch Choice Vision is organized around four key strategies:

1. Real Transportation Choices - Expand travel options beyond the single-occupancy vehicle. By investing in transit, bike networks, sidewalks and more efficient roadways, we help everyone—from commuters to fam-

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

ilies running errands—get where they need to go safely and affordably.

2. Housing Options for All - Encourage development patterns and zoning that support a wide range of housing types—single-family neighborhoods, starter homes, workforce apartments and townhomes—so that people at every stage of life can find a place to call home that’s close enough to jobs, schools and services.

3. Plentiful Parks and Open Spaces - Preserve and enhance parks, trails and open land for recreation, environmental protection and community gathering. These green assets keep our air and water clean, support mental and physical health, and maintain the outdoor lifestyle Utahns cherish.

4. Vibrant City and Town Centers - Strengthen walkable downtowns and neighborhood hubs where people can live, work, shop and play. By focusing growth in these

centers, we relieve pressure on suburban and rural areas, reduce drive times and foster stronger social connections.

No two communities are identical. What succeeds in Sandy or South Jordan might look different than what works in Murray or West Valley City. That’s why WFRC’s member jurisdictions—from the state Department of Transportation to Salt Lake County and its constituent cities—work side by side to adapt the Wasatch Choice Vision’s strategies to local circumstances, ensuring each community charts its own course while staying connected to its neighbors.

Putting the Wasatch Choice Vision into action will have concrete impacts right away—and pay dividends for decades: more jobs, conserved open space, less water used, billions saved in infrastructure costs, and reduced household budgets through more housing and transportation options. This translates to stronger communities, healthier families and a sustainable economy that can thrive even as we welcome more neighbors—along with our children and grandchildren—to our mountain valleys.

None of this would be possible without the active partnership of the state, county planning commissions, city councils, transit agencies, business associations and civic groups. Through WFRC, these diverse interests come together at the same table—an inclusive forum where big-picture goals align with local aspirations.

I’d encourage you to learn more about the Wasatch Choice Vision. Our region’s future quality of life depends on informed, engaged residents—and on leaders who listen, collaborate and act. Visit wfrc.org to see the Vision and learn more about how to stay informed. l

Riverton golfer Savannah Linford has emerged as a top player for the girls golf team. Linford just completed her sophomore season with the Silverwolves. (Photo courtesy of Peter Fong)

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 21

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

4763 W Salish Circle

Riverton, UT (801) 599-3459

We’re inviting families to come and see a safe, loving space where their children can grow, learn, and thrive.

During the event, families will have the chance to:

• Tour the center

• Meet the staff

• Ask questions and learn more about our program

• Light refreshments, hands-on stations, and a warm welcome to our community!

Parents and children welcome!

(Se habla español)

A Puppet Regime

It took decades, but Ronald Grump finally found a way to evict the residents of 123 Sesame Street. Grump (played by Joe Pesci) visited the TV show in 1994 with plans to demolish the beloved neighborhood to build Grump Tower.

Sesame Street doubled-down in 2005 when a selfish, orange-haired muppet, Donald Grump, tried to hire an apprentice to help with his trash empire. In the episode, Oscar the Grouch sings about Grump, “Whose name equals trash, to you and to me?”

Maybe he holds a grudge, but a U.S. president with a similar name signed an executive order to cut funding for PBS, a nonprofit provider of educational shows like Arthur, Elmo’s World and Sesame Street.

The move could throw the Muppets into the gutter. Bert will have to sell his paper clip collection, Elmo will be forced to pawn his tricycle and Count von Count will have to join an accounting firm.

From the beginning, Sesame Street championed diversity, equality and inclusion: three things the current administration is gleefully destroying. Humans on the show included Gordon and Susan (a Black couple), Maria from Puerto Rico, Luis from Mexico and the elderly Mr. Hooper, who was Jewish and ran the corner store.

The multicultural cast attracted big guest stars. Carol Burnett, Stephen Curry,

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Robert De Niro, Billie Eilish and James Earl

Jones are just a few celebrities who visited Sesame Street, proving you’re never too famous to be silly.

Not only does the show teach children basic reading and math, it also teaches cooperation, respect and kindness. It’s tackled divorce, same-sex marriage, racial literacy, anger, sadness and even has a Muppet whose parent is incarcerated. The show never talks down to children.

When Will Lee died, his Mr. Hooper character died with him, leaving Big Bird distraught as his friends tried to explain the concept of death. That episode won an Emmy, one of more than 120 Sesame Street has collected.

Sesame Street has its furry finger on the pulse of American culture. The show is as much for parents as for kids. My favorite characters are the loveable Grover and Guy Smiley, the enthusiastic gameshow host.

I can still sing the show’s theme song,

along with “Rubber Duckie,” “I Love Trash,” “Doin’ the Piegeon” and hundreds of tunes from the show. I couldn’t begin to choose a favorite skit but I always loved the baker falling down the stairs. That remains my level of humor maturity.

The show is iconic. Big Bird is an international star. He visited Michelle Obama at the White House, made the cover of Time magazine, has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and his picture on a postage stamp. I spent several months cross-stitching Big Bird’s face on a Christmas advent calendar our family still uses nearly 40 years later.

Maybe it’s because Muppets don’t vote. Maybe it’s because Oscar started teaching kids about recycling. Maybe it’s the Sesame Workshop’s mission statement, “Helping

children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.” Maybe the president just doesn’t like watching people have fun. My husband and I paid thousands of dollars in federal taxes this year, but if funding is cut for things I value, like PBS, science, national parks, higher education, Head Start programs and world health initiatives, maybe I don’t have to pay taxes anymore. I mean, seeing all these tax-free billionaires… tax evasion isn’t a crime anymore, right?

Sesame Street promotes kindness and community, while the president seems to only find value in wealth and power. As he said in 2011, “Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich.” For anyone who’s ever loved Sesame Street, beauty has a much deeper meaning.