Riverton Journal | April 2023

PEARLS WITH PURPOSE BREAKS GENERATIONAL POVERTY

By Peri

WhenWendy Bird’s husband suggested she make jewelry to sell at farmers markets, she had no idea it would turn into a global foundation that provides training, mentorship and income for hundreds of women.

Back in 2001, Bird was a stay-at-home mom with five children, looking for a project that would help rediscover her identity which had gotten lost in all the laundry and daily chores. Jewelry making seemed the perfect fit. As a certified gemologist, Bird loves pearls for the way they mimic humanity.

“I love that they’re formed because of an irritant within the lining tissue of the oyster,” she said. “The oyster can’t spew it out, it can’t do anything but secrete a soothing nacre. It can only hug the irritant and that transforms it into this lustrous gemstone. To me, that’s a perfect example of what humanity needs.”

The Riverton resident sent out a request looking to import quality pearls for jewelry making and got a response from a woman in the Philippines. The woman said if Bird imported jewelry pieces, instead of loose pearls, she would change lives.

Bird jumped on the idea and created information to make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. She emailed the docs to the Philippines and a group of women began making jewelry.

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Bird would import it back to the States and sell it, giving the women 64% of the profits.

Pearls With Purpose had begun. The social impact organization provides microenterprise training for women in poverty, or women rescued from sex trafficking or abuse, in the Philippines, Kenya, Peru, Dominican Republic, India and Cambodia.

For four years, everything was done through long-distance correspondence; she had never traveled internationally. But then a representative from another nonprofit invited Bird

Through Pearls With Purpose, women in developing countries gain self-reliance, self-worth and an income that provides opportunities, education and growth. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

Utah. Financed by Altabank.

Every Day is Earth Day. Bring your family and join us to plant 25 trees on the north side of the hospital.

Intermountain Healthcare, in celebration of Earth Day and supporting several of their sustainability fundamentals, will be working with TreeUtah to plant trees.

Wednesday, May 3 from 3:30-5 p.m.

Activities include: Green smoothies and more!

Tree planting with TreeUtah Make your own succulent station

Please bring your own gloves and water bottle. Meet on the north side , under the tent.

overseas to meet the women working with her.

“I landed and saw for the first time ever, these humble circumstances that the individuals live in and the struggle it was to get to the internet cafe and the cost associated with being able to print out the documents,” she said. “Everything was 10 times worse than what they’d conveyed because I put this American spin on it.”

The obstacles her jewelry makers faced hadn’t registered, even though she had trained more than 70 women at that point. Invited to stay in the home of one of the women, she was shocked at the level of poverty.

“In my head I thought I’m going to stay in a bedroom with my own toilet. No. They showed me this piece of plywood they put on the dirt floor they’d covered with a sheet that had been shipped over in a shipment that I had sent, and it happened to be one of my kid’s sheets,” Bird said. “There was no electricity. I was told to shower under this tree, and it’s mostly private. I realized these people needed more from me than I had been giving.”

That trip changed her mindset. She applied for 501(c) (3) status and started doing in-person trainings to adapt her program to their needs. She trained women in an abandoned school, she helped women living in the jungle and in villages ruled by a king. She adapted to cultural differences and language barriers and learned each woman dealt with their own difficulties.

In a leper colony in India, Bird trained 183 women on a dirt floor in a community center. As untouchables, the women couldn’t sit on chairs because their low caste status meant they couldn’t sit higher than anyone else in the village. After months, Bird got permission for the women to sit on mats.

“We’re dealing with individuals who for their entire life had been told you will never go to school, you will never be counted as human, you will never have a job. You will just sit on the sidelines of life and watch it unfold,” she said. “If you’re a woman and you’ve been told a very specific stigma your entire life and all of a sudden you hear that it could be different from what you’ve always known, wouldn’t you show up?”

An orphanage in Cambodia reached out to Bird, asking her to bring Pearls With Purpose to their location, training teens from 15-17 in jewelry making so they would have a skill when they left the orphanage at age 18. Often, those 18 year olds turned to sex work or drugs, but with a skill to fall back on, they could create a different life.

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“A year after that training, we got the first email that [a young man] was going to a university in Australia and because of this program he has the $5,500 to attend this university,” Bird said. “So all of a sudden you can see that it’s working.”

In the Dominican Republic and Kenya, Bird worked with children rescued from sex trafficking through Operation Underground Railroad. She taught them to polish, design and wire-wrap gemstones to allow them to create an income.

Along with jewelry tools, Pearls With Purpose also purchases sewing machines, computers and other items women can use to better their lives. Bird teaches them to meet with wholesalers and negotiate prices.

Right before COVID hit, Bird met with some women in the Philippines. They were talking with her but she couldn’t remember their names. She asked what training session they’d completed.

“One of them said, ‘You didn’t train me. You trained my mom. Because of you, I went to college. My mom put me in school. She had enough money.’ Another said, ‘Hi, I’m Janet’s daughter and this is my baby and I married a good man because I went to this university because you trained my mom.’

“It was this generational break in poverty,” Bird said. “I just started bawling. It was so unexpected. You sit there and listen to these younger adults and you know because you landed on that plane in 2005, they were the ones running around barefoot in their little tank tops and shorts… and here they are dressed so properly you don’t even recognize them and they’re saying, you trained my mom and my life is different now.”

Pearls With Purpose endured through COVID on fumes and held a fundraiser in February to rebuild its accounts. The community can help by purchasing jewelry and books at Pearlswithpurpose.org, donating cash or frequent flier miles, and by spreading awareness on Facebook and Instagram.

Bird’s husband, David, is her biggest cheerleader. As travel opens back up in developing countries, he wants her to get back to doing what she does best: teaching women to build self-reliance and self-worth.

“For years, she has given keynote speeches and had the opportunity to sell the jewelry that these women make,” he said. “My wife is amazing and has dedicated her life to helping hundreds of women in several different developing countries.” l

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Riverton resident Wendy Bird (left) created the Pearls With Purpose Foundation to provide jewelry-making training for women in developing countries. The women can create an income while building self-reliance. (Photo courtesy of Pearls With Purpose)

Debate League advancing to ‘Sweet 16’ Round in Global Debate Competition

By Morgan Olsen | m.olsen@mycityjournals.com

Riverton’s very own Wasatch Independent Debate League is advancing to the Sweet 16 round of the International Public Policy Forum Global Debate Competition. The team, made up of Alexander Henage, Richard Henage, Owen Amakasu and Bronson Bishop, will win an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete against other finalists if they advance to the next round.

More than 200 teams submitted a debate essay in October 2022, and in November, the top 64 teams were chosen and began a single-elimination, written debate competition.

“Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email for the next six weeks,” stated a press release. “A panel of judges reviewed the essays and selected the winning teams.”

In the round of 64 and the round of 32, the Wasatch Independent Debate League advanced over schools from Missouri and Texas, respectively, taking them to the Sweet 16 round.

“The teams advancing demonstrate excellence at research, writing and advocacy,” William A. Brewer III said, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and a founder of the IPPF, in a press release. “The 16 teams remaining will compete in a final round of written debates – in hopes of moving on to oral debates during the IPPF Finals in New York City.”

The Wasatch Independent Debate League is led by two coaches, Daniel Henage and Samuel Martineau. The league is designed for homeschool students who would like to participate in speech and debate tournaments without being enrolled in a traditional high school. The debate league, of which Martineau is the director, has classes across Utah and neighboring states. Each month the students all come together to compete in debate tournaments. This year, nine different teams representing the Wasatch Independent Debate League entered the IPPF Global Competition, but Henage’s team, centered in Riverton, was the only one to advance past the qualifying round.

“The first three rounds of the competition are essay-based,” team member Richard Henage said. “We all work together to write those essays. If we advance past this round, we’ll fly to New York and do speech debates in-person for the final three rounds.”

Each summer, the IPPF releases the topic for the debate for the following school year so students can start working on their first round of essays, which is usually due sometime in October. This year’s topic is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, specifically, whether NATO is good or bad for international cooperation. The competing students have enjoyed learning more about a complex topic they might not otherwise be interested in.

“This is my first experience with debate stuff,” team member Owen Amakasu said. “The research has been my favorite part. I get to stay current on a bunch of news and, normal-

ly, I probably wouldn’t follow this stuff. It’s a unique thing to do and it’s a fun environment.”

Alexander Henage and Bronson Bishop both participated in the IPFF competition last year but were cut after the round of 32.

“Alexander and I were part of a team last year and we got to the round before this, which was exciting,” team member Bronson Bishop said. “But it’s really cool to advance to the Sweet 16 because it feels so close now that we’re only a round away from finals. It’s kind of exciting and intense, but it’s definitely a good feeling.”

Being part of the Wasatch Independent Debate League has given students the opportunities to learn skills they feel will serve them far beyond their years of competition with the debate league.

“My favorite thing about competing in the IPPF is the skills I am able to develop,” team captain Alexander Henage said. “I’ve always been a writer and loved writing. Through participating in the IPPF, I’ve seen more improvement than I have in any other class or extracurricular activity just because of how intense this process is over writing, researching and completing a finished project. It’s really rewarding.”

Learning how to research and work together to create a polished essay together has been another benefit the students have appreciated as they work towards advancing during each round of competition.

“This has been a great experience as a search for truth,” Richard Henage said. “Learning how to research and get into the facts of things and switch sides and research on both sides to see what points everyone has, has been interesting. It’s nice to see which sides are easier to argue and which are harder. It’s interesting. I can use these skills in my future, as well.”

Aside from developing essential skills, the IPPF delivers a competitive edge with a grand prize of $10,000 for the winning team.

“The IPPF Finals give students the opportunity to supplement their written scholarships with oral advocacy – competing in debates in front of some of the world’s foremost experts in business, law and politics,” said the organization’s most recent press release. “Judges will include Brewer and New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, among others. The winning team will take home the

Riverton-based Wasatch Independent Debate League team, made up of Bronson Bishop, Owen Amakasu, Richard Henage and Alexander Henage. (Alexander Henage/Wasatch Independent Debate League)

Brewer Cup and the $10,000 grand prize.”

The team is currently in the middle of their Sweet 16 round and will find out on March 30 if they advance to the Elite 8. Should they advance to the Elite 8 round, their preparation will consist of lots of practice debates and feedback on how to improve their arguments.

“This is a huge competition,” Alexander Henage said. “We’re so grateful for the foundation. They need a lot of funding and a lot of volunteers, and I’m grateful they’re putting this opportunity together for all of us. They are improving the debate experience for debate students all over the world and that’s really cool.”

Students interested in competing in the International Public Policy Forum can find more information regarding debate topics and deadlines at www.ippfdebate.org. l

Landers Gaydosh competes in ice climbing in Finland, brings home gold

AnOquirrh Hills Middle School student, Landers Gaydosh, is the reigning champion of an international ice climbing competition that took place in Finland earlier this year. He won gold medals in the speed and combined events, and a silver medal in rope climbing.

Although he is talented in ice climbing, rock climbing was the sport Landers was initially passionate about. He started rock climbing at age 4 and his hard work, natural talent and dedication led him to a national championship in both rock climbing and speed ice climbing in his 13 years of life thus far.

“Landers was a rock climber before anything else,” said Landers’ mother April Gaydosh. “He’s been rock climbing since he was 4 and has always done competitions in that and even won a national climbing championship.”

Landers’ passion for rock climbing in the spring and summer months quickly translated into a passion for ice climbing during the winter months.

“He tried ice climbing a year and a half ago after a coach reached out and said they were looking for rock climbers who want to try ice climbing,” April said. “Landers took to it really quickly and liked the adventure part of it. He competed in Switzerland last year and in Finland this year, winning gold in both competitions.”

When he isn’t competing, Landers spends three or four days per week in the gym, putting in lots of hard work and dedication to improving in the sport.

“I practice once per week at the Scratchpad, which is my gym,” Landers said. “Then I practice three times a week at my rock climbing gym. Ice climbing season is normally in the winter and I practice pretty hard through those winter months of November, December and January. Towards spring and summer months I take three or four months off of ice climbing and I mainly focus on rock climbing, which is when I do my rock climbing competitions.”

The 2023 ice climbing competition in Finland was the second competition Landers has competed in. His first was in Switzerland last year.

“The competition last year was really special because he’d only been climbing on ice for a few months and we went with no expectations—he basically just didn’t want to take last,” April said. “He was nervous and put pressure on himself, but he ended up unexpectedly winning. It was really emotional and exciting.”

April says her favorite part of supporting Landers in his competitions is seeing the passion he has and the success that comes with it.

By Morgan Olsen | m.olsen@mycityjournals.com

“It’s been really fun watching him,” April said. “It’s always fun to watch your kids be passionate about something and love what they’re doing. Then, when he’s successful at it, it makes it really fun.”

While the pressure can be intense, Landers says he finds strength in remembering to keep himself healthy mentally.

“I think the mental part of it is huge for me,” Landers said. “Knowing that,

even if you lose, there’s always going to be another competition or something to improve on. It helps a lot during tough times. The mental part is the most important for me.” l

Above and below left: Landers Gaydosh gets suited up for his ice climbing competition in Finland (Photo credit Robert Hendriksen) Below right: Landers Gaydosh wins gold at an ice climbing competition in Finland (Photo credit Jonathan Gaydosh)

Riverton duo, other youth, bring awareness of inclusion to state leaders

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Riverton High junior Lettie Hendricks talked to senators and representatives about being a unified sports athlete, where she is partnered with other high school students, playing together.

“Basketball is my favorite, but I’ve also done soccer and track for two years,” she said. “I like being part of my team. It’s fun and I can play. It gives me a chance.”

Her unified partner, senior Marinn Cahoon, broke into a smile.

“I love that she said that it gives her a chance,” she said. “She made it clear to them it gives her an opportunity, just like any high school student.”

The two Riverton students are part of Special Olympics Youth Activation Committee and participate in unified sports and were at the Utah State Capitol, meeting with legislators, sharing their stories and asking them to sign the pledge for inclusion.

The group had a chance to talk with Gov. Spencer Cox and interacted with First Abby Cox several times during the day. In the governor’s office, both the governor and First Lady signed the pledge during Inclusion Week.

Earlier in the day, the Riverton pair, along with 18 other statewide YAC members, were recognized on the Senate floor as Sen. Kathleen Riebe introduced them and their mission. They were met with a standing ovation.

“It’s been awesome,” Unified Champion School’s College-growth Coordinator Boston Iacobazzi said, who advises Utah’s YAC high school students. “They have never felt they had a voice and now, they have.”

Cahoon said it was great to be acknowledged.

“Being applauded by the senate means they recognize the change we’re making, and they value it,” she said.

Hendricks agreed: “It meant a lot to me.”

Iacobazzi said about 20 legislators signed the pledge of inclusion and even more became aware of Unified Champion Schools, which promotes a three-tier approach through unified sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement.

During their visit, the First Lady said it is through their leadership that will help define the state’s future.

“You are going to be the leaders in this state in just a few years and what kind of state do you want to see?” she asked. “Do you want to see a more inclusive state? Do you want to see a state where everyone feels a sense of love and belonging and that they can do what they want to do and they can be who they want to be?”

Cox, who was a special education teacher, has Special Olympics Unified Sports as one of her pillars for her “Show Up” Initiatives.

“My heart is with the Special Olympics unified sports, and I will always be a champion for my friends who don’t have a voice and I want you to be that too,” she said. “I want to do a special shout out to my athletes, for the work that you do in being able to show the world what it means to have ability. You have incredible abilities. Don’t ever let anybody tell you that you don’t. To my partner athletes, you are making a huge difference in creating an inclusive environment, not only in your schools, but in your entire communities and in this state. You are being powerful leaders to be a voice for people that don’t always feel like they have a voice. I want you to recognize your power in that and continue to do what you’re doing and bring more along with you.”

Special Olympics Executive Committee Board Chair Michelle Wolfenbarger echoed those sentiments to the youth delegation.

“You’re all choosing to spend your time here and let your voices be heard and it will be heard; they are by far the most important voices out there,” she said. “There’s nothing like being here with you and seeing the future leaders of our country and our state and of our communities be here and want inclusion, want kindness and love and unity.”

During their visit, the group toured sights such as the Hall of Governors and Gold Room.

“I got to sit in the governor’s chair (in the Gold Room),” Hendricks said.

They also saw behind-the-scenes places by taking spiral stairs or the governor’s elevator past the capitol printing press to the emergency operations center. There, Mike Mower, community outreach and intergovernmental affairs senior advisor for the governor, walked them through the coordination and cooperation of civic leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It took everyone working together to bring awareness and understanding in the decisions that were made,” he said. “That’s what you’re doing—bringing awareness and your voices, and that means so much here at the capitol.” l

Riverton High junior Lettie Hendricks was excited that she got to sit in Gov. Spencer Cox’s seat in the Gold Room when she and senior Marinn Cahoon visited the capitol during inclusion week. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Left: Riverton High junior Lettie Hendricks (left) and senior Marinn Cahoon shared their stories about inclusion with First Lady Abby Cox during inclusion week. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Above: Riverton High junior Lettie Hendricks and senior Marinn Cahoon and other members of Special Olympics’ Youth Activation Committee met with Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox about the need for inclusion. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Sentinel swimming: boys take region title, both teams finish eighth at state

Photos by Travis Barton

Left: Carter Schwebach (right) and Steven Collins compete side by side in the 100 breaststroke at the 6A state championships where the Sentinels finished in eighth place. The two took second and third in the region meet and were part of a boys’ team that won the Region 3 title with almost 500 points. While the team had no winners in any event, the depth of the team carried it through.

Above: The Mountain Ridge girls’ swim team finished eighth at the 6A state championships in Provo. Here the 200 freestyle relay team of senior Gennovah Hansen, senior Charlotte Cabiness, freshman Capreis Conradi and senior Chalisse Rich take third at state. The squad took third at the Region 3 meet with Rich and Hansen both winning two individual titles: Rich in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and Hansen in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle.

French Fair furnishes facts, food, fun for francophiles

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Using the vocabulary she has learned in her level one French class, eighth-grader Ainsley Gorringe said she was able to order “the best creme brulee I have ever tasted” from a native French speaker, Sophie Garaix, owner of My French Delicacies.

The exchange was part of the Jordan School District French Fair organized by middle school French teachers.

“It is for students to have an opportunity to do some real world tasks in the target language, learn a little bit about culture, and just have an opportunity to meet other students who are also learning the language and getting to use that basic language that they’ve been studying,” Sunset Ridge Middle French teacher Susan Robinson said.

Because most of her friends at Hidden Valley Middle take Spanish, Ainsley said it was nice to meet other French speakers.

“I was able to actually have conversations with people, and other students taught me things that I hadn’t learned and I taught them things they hadn’t quite learned,” Ainsley said.

About 150 students from five middle schools learned about French culture and practiced their language skills in a variety of activities at the fair, held March 13.

Hidden Valley Middle School French teacher Arielle Plétain brought her most motivated first year students to spark their curiosity and let them see there are many other students learning French.

“They had to commit to speaking French while they were here—not easy for students who just started French in August,” she said. “But I was just super impressed with the willingness of the students to participate in the activities.”

Eighth-grader Hudson Reid said he made new friends and learned new vocabulary.

“It was a ton of fun,” he said. “On the bus ride there we were nervous, but we had a great time.”

Ainsley said it was challenging to say everything in French.

“I liked that they’re forcing us to speak in French, but I will say Google Translate has been my friend,” she said. She was relieved that students were allowed to speak English during the lunch break.

Emil Peterson and Avery Pitcher, ninth-graders in the French Dual Language Immersion program at Sunset Ridge Middle, enjoyed the opportunity to use their language skills outside of the classroom. They said the fair was more fun than sitting in a classroom conjugating verbs.

French students used to attend a language fair held at BYU, but when it was discontinued, Jordan District French language teachers organized their own. They plan to hold it every year.

“Kids need good memories, a variety

of positive learning opportunities outside of the classroom and opportunities to connect/ interact with people,” Oquirrh Hills Middle French teacher Julie LaFranca said.

This kind of gamification is becom ing more common in education, said Victor Neves, French teacher at West Hills Middle School. “The kids learn, without feeling like they’re doing a learning activity necessari ly,” he said.

The language teachers arranged a French pen pal exchange for their students to keep in touch with the friends they made at the fair, while also practicing their French writing skills. Neves said this will help stu dents from different middle schools who will feed into the same high school because they will already know the kids in their high school French classes.

One of the goals of the French Fair was to encourage students to continue their French language studies.

“We’re hoping that it really shows them how useful the language is have a greater desire to continue on in that lan guage, to learn more and get to a higher lev el of fluency so that they could do a lot more things,” Robinson said. “Learning a language opens up the world to see that there are people that live different ways than we live and for the students to understand that and to expand their world that much. I think that’s one of the big gest goals of language classes, and this [fair] helps them see the possibilities.”

Eighth-grader Ainsley Gorringe uses her level one French language skills to order French treats from local bakery My French Delicacies as part of a district-wide French language and culture fair. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Riverton unified basketball catalyst for inclusion, friendship

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Riverton High junior Lettie Hendricks participates on her school’s unified soccer and track teams, but unified basketball is her favorite.

“It’s just the best,” she said. “I like shooting (baskets). It’s good exercise. We practice a lot as a team. I love my team.”

She was warming up with her teammates, including senior Marinn Cahoon, at a regional unified basketball tournament held in early March.

“We’ve been practicing for months and they’re learning so much,” she said. “They’re excited and love basketball. As partners, we help them learn, but we’re really friends and there to support each other.”

In unified basketball, teams have five players on the court—three athletes and two unified partners. Teams play against other squads of the same ability in two eight-minute halves. Supported by Special Olympics and the Utah High School Activities Association, unified sports has both a competitive and a player development level, the latter which provides more of a cooperative environment with partners being teammates and mentors.

UHSAA referee Paul Madsen said he appreciates unified basketball.

“There’s great sportsmanship,” he said. “Everyone is helping each other. It’s wonderful to see.”

In Utah, involvement in unified high school basketball has skyrocketed. This year, there were the most teams in its history competing to play at state—73 teams competed for 32 state seeds, said Courtnie Worthen, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools manager.

Riverton had two teams compete at regionals. One team placed third, and the other, fourth.

At the March 8 state unified basketball tournament, there were smiles and cheers as Riverton beat Layton High to take seventh place in its division.

In addition, Jordan School District was honored with the District of the Year Award for Unified Sports in Utah.

“I love cheering for our athletes; they make us proud and represent us so well,” said Jordan Education Foundation President Dawn Ramsey, who along with JEF Executive Director Mike Haynes and Jordan District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey accepted the award. “Unified Sports is an incredible program and Jordan District has been a leader in the state as the first to implement a program districtwide. Special Olympics Utah, First Lady Abby Cox with her Show Up initiative, and the Jordan Education Foundation have been wonderful partners in supporting this effort.”

Administrators from several school districts and educational foundations joined the

Abby Cox said she was proud of everyone in the gym.

“Utah, as a state—we are part of the inclusion revolution,” she told them.

Unified sports engage students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams, leading to not only sports skills development and competition, but also inclusion and friendship, Worthen said.

“Unified sports provides social inclusion opportunities for all teammates to build friendships on- and off-the-court,” she said. “The teammates challenge each other to improve their skills and fitness and at the same time, increase positive attitudes and establish friendships and provide a model of inclusion for the entire school community.”

Unified sports, Worthen said, is included in the Unified Champion Schools model, where a unified team is supported by the entire school and there is inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement.

“With schools that embrace the Unified Champion Schools model, they create communities where all students feel welcome and are included in all school activities and opportunities. Students feel socially and emotionally secure, they’re more engaged in the school and feel supported, and are respected,” she said. “It changes school climates.” l

First Lady and Gov. Spencer Cox to support the competition that was held at Weber State University.

Above: At the state unified tournament, Riverton High marched into the gym during the Parade of Athletes. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Above left: At the regional unified basketball tournament, Riverton High wins the jump over Hillcrest High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

First Lady Abby Cox awards ribbon to Riverton High unified student-athletes at the regional tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Riverton wins region title

Photos by Travis Barton

Right: Kobe Nielson helps up fellow senior Stratton Johnson during an away win at West Jordan. After winning the region title in the final game of the season, at home against Mountain Ridge, the Silverwolves earned the 5-seed for the 6A state playoffs where they would fall to Davis in a tight 46-44 loss.

shouts instructions to point guard Kaden

Wilson repeatedly called his team “different” this year as it won six games by three points or less. Riverton went 17-7 (8-2 in region) to win region for the first time since 2018.

Above: Senior Jaxon Kerekes was the leading scorer for the Region 3-winning Silverwolves. Kerekes averaged almost 16 points per game and was one of the best free throw shooters in the state over the past two seasons.

Above left: Junior Christian Heninger will be one of the returning contributors for the Silverwolves next season.

Above: Head coach Skyler Wilson

Allred.

RIVERTON REVIEW

Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

Introducing Our New Police Chief

By Mayor Trent Staggs

After much consideration and many interviews, I presented Blair Barfuss to the Riverton City Council to be appointed as chief of police on Tuesday, February 21. I’m pleased to report that the council unanimously confirmed the appointment.

Chief Barfuss has brought with him a wealth of law enforcement experience. He comes to Riverton after serving as chief of police most recently at Utah State University and previously as chief of police and director of public safety at Utah Tech University. He spent the majority of his career in law enforcement with the West Valley Police Department where he held a variety of leadership roles, including training unit commander, patrol watch commander, detective sergeant, administrative sergeant, patrol sergeant and SWAT team leader. He is a graduate of the FBI National

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Academy and holds a master’s degree in human resources from Utah State University and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in criminal justice administration.

I am confident his servant leadership style and commitment to communityoriented policing will make him very effective as he leads the Riverton Police Department. His team consists of 36 sworn officers and four civilian staff.

Chief Barfuss stated the following about his appointment as chief, “It is an honor to be selected to lead the Riverton Police Department. I look forward to serving the residents of Riverton and ensuring the Riverton Police Department’s commitment to service and community continues.”

Residents continue to see savings and improved service since the city left the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area back in 2018 and left Unified Police Department to create the Riverton Police Department back in 2019. In fact, since forming our own taxing district to fund police services in Riverton, our residents have saved over $10 million in property tax that would have otherwise been paid to the county taxing district, with over $4 million in savings just last year.

Riverton City officials are committed to ensuring we have the very best law enforcement we can and are thrilled Chief Barfuss has joined our team. Please join me in welcoming him to Riverton!

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“Chief Barfuss is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and holds a master’s degree in human resources from Utah State University and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in criminal justice administration.”

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Trent Staggs - Mayor

Andy Pierucci - District 1

Troy McDougal - District 2

Tawnee McCay - District 3

Tish Buroker - District 4

Claude Wells - District 5

MANAGER

David R. Brickey

April 4 & 18, 7 p.m.

MESSAGE

Prioritizing Connectivity and Infrastructure COUNCIL

By Councilmember Andy Pierucci

Our community has seen tremendous growth over the past decade. Growth, transportation and infrastructure impact us all, which is why these issues are a priority for me and the rest of the Riverton City Council. In fact, connectivity and infrastructure are one of the city’s four strategic themes, which are the city’s primary area of focus. We have been reviewing and updating the city’s five-year strategic plan during city council work sessions over the last few weeks and the issues surrounding growth, transportation and infrastructure have been the main topics of our discussions.

We are committed to finding ways to improve east-west connectivity

in our city. This is especially a concern for the residents in Council District 1, who live on the western side of Riverton. The city is also engaged with our neighboring cities because we know that people live, work and shop across political borders. Given how interconnected our communities are, it is essential that we work together to improve transportation and infrastructure throughout our corner of Salt Lake County.

The mayor and city council have advocated for increased transportation and infrastructure funding for our community at the state and county level, and we have been successful in those efforts. We are working closely with the state and county on multiple transportation and infrastructure. We are eager for the UDOT Bangerter Highway and 13400 S freeway-style interchange project to get underway.

In addition to several road

projects we are working on, we are committed to ensuring our residents can safely travel around our community by a variety of means, whether that is by car, bike, on foot or through public transit. We are developing a plan and identifying funding sources for a pedestrian bridge near the Welby Jacobs Canal to cross 13400 S to help improve the walkability of our city and increase the safety of our children as they go to and from school and then enjoy the amenities found at Mountain View Village.

Responsible growth, diverse and updated transportation networks and modern infrastructure have direct benefits to the lives of people, businesses and the overall economy and impact our quality of life. As a member of the Riverton City Council, I am committed to increasing the total amount of infrastructure investment in our community, while delivering better transportation outcomes for all of us.

Statewide Earthquake Drill: The Great Utah ShakeOut

Earthquakes in real life are not always what they are depicted as in movies. A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Salt Lake Valley in March of 2020 and caused hundreds of aftershocks in the following weeks and months. For the most part, minimal damage was done. Although this earthquake was relatively mild, it is projected that the Wasatch Fault, which extends 240 miles from southern Idaho to central Utah, has a 43% chance of experiencing a 6.75 or greater magnitude earthquake by 2070.

Given those odds, it is a good idea to conduct drills to ensure people know what to do in the event of a

big earthquake. The Great Utah ShakeOut is a great way to discover what things you may or may not know when it comes to staying safe during an earthquake.

The Great Utah ShakeOut is a statewide earthquake drill that is held annually. This year’s drill will take place on Thursday, April 20, at 10:15 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the drill regardless of where you are.

You may only have a few seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you. If you are inside a building, look for

the nearest desk or table, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk or table and hold on until the shaking stops. If you are not by a table or desk, crawl next to an interior wall and hold your head and neck with both arms. If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, find an empty area away from buildings, trees and powerlines and remain there until the shaking stops.

For the drill on April 20, The Great Utah ShakeOut has prepared a list of ways you can plan your own drill and share it with friends and neighbors. You can find this list and other information about the event at shakeout.com/utah.

Secondary Irrigation Water Notice

Secondary irrigation water is scheduled to be available for use by May 1.

Maintenance on Riverton City’s irrigation system has begun, so please ensure your ball valve is closed to prevent flooding at your home.

Please ensure your ball valve

is closed.

Youth Council Applications

Riverton City is accepting applications from youth age 14-18 years old or in grades 9-12 to serve on the Riverton Youth Council and in executive board positions.

• To learn more, or apply, visit rivertonutah.gov/youthcouncil.

Spring Clean Up Days

FREE Community dumpsters for trash, cardboard and tree branches will be available for two Saturday’s in April. Dumpster use is for residential use only. For details on what can and can’t be dropped off, please visit rivertonutah.gov/beautiful.

Saturday, April 15 and 22 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Two Locations:

Riverton City Park, 1452 W 12600 S, Riverton Western Springs Park, 4570 S Goshute Drive, Riverton

Register: Start Smart Sports Register: Tennis League Become a Town Days Sponsor

Arbor Day Tree Planting Workshop

Come learn the ins and outs of proper tree planting from an expert at Riverton City’s annual Arbor Day Tree Planting Workshop. Free and open to all at West Field Downs Park

• Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m.

Register: Town Days Country Races Town Days Parade Entry Applications

Register kids ages 3-5 in spring baseball, soccer and multi-sport Start Smart Sports programs to help them learn the basics. Register at rivertonutah.gov/startsmart

• Registration Opens March 6, Programs Begin May 2

Riverton City’s flexible tennis league is for all abilities, with one match played per week on your own schedule.

• Register at rivertonutah.gov/tennis Offered Monthly, May-August

Become a sponsor for Riverton Town Days to show your support for the community and gain exposure for your business.

• Find details, or submit an application, at rivertonutah.gov/ sponsors

Late registration for the Town Days Country 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Races begins June 1. Register at rivertonutah.gov/towndays and come run!

• Tuesday, July 4, 7 a.m. (10K), 7:15 a.m. (5K), 8:30 a.m. (1-Mile)

Get your business or organization signed up for an entry in the Riverton Town Days Parade. Apply online at rivertonutah.gov/parade

• Application Deadline: Monday, June 12, Parade: Monday, July 3

Riverton officials object to policies politicizing financial institutions

TheRiverton City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the influence of environmental, social and governance policies on credit rating agencies, investment firms and other financial institutions.

“ESG policies are a deliberate politicization of financial institutions,” Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs said in a city press release. “An individual or organization’s political views should not be a consideration when determining credit scores or whether to lend money.”

City officials were worried the agencies that score the city’s credit or its debt could be shaped by perceptions unrelated to its finances.

“We’ve been very aggressive in controlling our debt here in Riverton City, in paying off debt and making that a focus,” Councilmember Troy McDougal said during the March 7 council meeting. “The way they’re pushing the agenda is by controlling your ability to access cash and the more we become debt free and cash flow positive, the more we are in control of our destiny.”

One credit agency, according to city officials, gave the city top scores in social and governance policies, but rated Riverton as “moderately negative” in the environmental category.

Their report, Public Services Director Kevin Hicks told the council, said Riverton received a low score due to “elevated exposure to water stress” and “persistent drought conditions” that require “consistent investment historically.”

Staggs told the council he wanted them to know these ESG profiles were being done and that they could impact the city’s overall rating, stressing the importance to oppose such a possibility.

“It can result in market participants using economic force to drive a political agenda, and it prioritizes social or political outcomes over financial ones,” he said during the meeting.

The resolution directs the city’s financial advisers to work with investment firms that are committed to focusing solely on financial interests. Next steps for the city include a thorough review of its purchasing and procurement policies and how companies who subscribe to ESG policies should be ranked as the city determines what companies to do business with.

Staggs said he wanted to “ensure we’re working with organizations that really have the best cost and structure in mind.”

Councilmember Andy Pierucci felt strongly on this position, saying he was concerned about the “arbitrary and capricious nature of these scores.”

He was quick to note that while they reject the notion of an arbitrary score to these standards, it doesn’t mean they don’t care

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

about environmental, social and good governance issues.

“You can tell when a business is profitable,” Pierucci said. “Facts don’t lie. Data doesn’t lie. When you start bringing in these political perspectives, it becomes very subjective.”

Staggs agreed, pushing back on the environmental score by highlighting the $12 million they’re spending on secondary water meters.

The city’s resolution comes after push back against the policies in the recent legislative session and a year after Utah officials, including Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, Utah’s entire Congressional delegation, Gov. Spencer Cox, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Auditor John Dougall, and Utah’s legislative leaders sent a letter to S&P Global Ratings President and CEO Douglas Peterson and President Martina Cheung demanding S&P withdraw its released ESG credit indicators for states and state subdivisions.

In a statement at the time, Oaks criticized ESG saying it is “about controlling and forcing behaviors.”

“It attempts to do through capital markets what activists and their government allies have been unable to do through democratic processes. It is a political score that, intentionally or not, can result in market participants using economic force to drive a political agenda,” he said.

He noted the focus on ESG ratings when evaluating government threatens to obscure real investment risks, undermine faith in the impartiality of credit ratings and penalize states whose politics do not align with the political interests behind the ratings system.

S&P assigned Utah a “moderately negative” environmental score and “neutral” social and governance scores. But Oaks highlighted Utah being recognized for the 15th year in a row as the state with the best economic outlook along with being cited as one of the top states for business, GDP growth and quality of life.

“Our large and small cities are some of the nation’s top-performing cities,” Oaks said in the statement. “And last year, we were even cited as having the nation’s smallest wealth gap. How does a state that is consistently recognized as a leader in the nation for its broad fiscal and economic success receive an overall moderately negative ESG score?”

Staggs called on other municipalities to act as well in the press release.

“I call upon local governments to join us in pushing back against ESG policies that are transforming our nation’s financial system from one based on sound, unbiased monetary factors to one that rewards or punishes based on political views,” Staggs said. l

Mayor Trent Staggs and the Riverton City Council passed a resolution objecting to the financial sector using environmental, social and governance policies in credit ratings. (Photo courtesy Riverton City)

Contentious rezone approved by Riverton City Council

TheRiverton City Council approved a contentious rezone in February that removed elderly housing from the Parkside development located near 13000 South and Sand Hollow Drive.

In a 4-1 vote, the approval for six acres of land on the development removed zoning that was originally passed in 2017 for an elderly housing overlay. That overlay, part of a larger 36-acre development that includes housing on its northside, originally limited tenants of the buildings to ages 55 and over. The approval removed that elderly requirement.

“This rezone is a little unique,” Jason Lethbridge said, development services director, when presenting it to the council.

In 2017, the Parkside project was originally approved with multifamily housing of 14 units per acre designated for the northside of the development. Lethbridge said in 2020, the site plan—approved by the planning commission—for those six acres loosely defined the area as “assisted living congregate care” which allowed for three-story units that could include a caregiver or other family members living in the home.

The original owner sold the property with new owners Wright Homes applying to have the elderly housing distinction re-

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

moved. Owner Derek Wright told the council the city’s standards for elderly housing have changed, disqualifying the project since one of the requirements would be main level living, a feature not possible on the three-story units they’ve already started building.

Multiple residents turned out to voice their opinion, with more submitting comments via email. A majority opposed the project with residents, primarily neighbors, concerned that by removing the elderly designation, it would subject the area to increased traffic, additional strain on public services and delay their plan to form an HOA board.

Robert Woods, who lives next to the property, was frustrated the city allowed three-story townhomes in a planned 55 and over community in the first place. He added it wasn’t incumbent upon the city to help out a developer who didn’t do his due diligence before buying the property.

“What (the developer is) not saying is he’s gonna have a difficult time selling these townhomes to 55 and up people,” Woods told the council prior to the vote. “That’s the crux of it, is to make money, which I understand, I’m a business owner, he’s trying to make money I’m fine with that. What I’m not fine with is him not understanding what he was

purchasing and then trying to change it after the fact.

“I think the precedent is not a good look if you choose to remove the overlay.”

Alex Reese, another neighbor, said it was “disingenuous” for Wright Homes to begin building “these structures knowing that they didn’t qualify for what was needed there.”

“Bounds were set and it doesn’t make sense to hold the line and then change it at the end,” he said. “If there’s an issue, they should have thought of that before they started setting the foundation.”

Sarah Nelson, who also lives in the Parkside community, was against the proposed rezone, saying the streets are too narrow for more traffic, schools could be overcrowded further with influx of families and they need housing for the elderly.

“Having more medium growth density will increase the usage of our already strained utilities and I would hate to see the residents that have already purchased properties punished for that,” she said.

Daniel Horne lives directly west of the triangular-shaped area. He noted he is in the elderly community, saying the overlay would add age diversity to the community and reduce the number of vehicles in the area.

“I don’t think there’s any problem with stairs, I was still running at 55,” he said.

A couple people spoke in favor of the project, noting the project isn’t right for an older community and more families would be a positive.

“A lot of it makes sense, I just think more families like mine should have the opportunity to move into the development as well,” Manuel Palacios said, who moved into Parkside last year.

Wright indicated parking shouldn’t be an issue since each unit will have a two-car garage and driveway and suggested the city have Dutchman Lane connect east to Old Liberty Highway.

“That connection to Dutchman would be a huge benefit to this city as a whole,” he said later, adding it would have a large impact on community circulation as opposed to now where traffic can either go west or is funneled north to 12600 South.

Wright said a traffic study was done which reported an additional 60 weekday trips would be generated with the elderly housing removed. Lethbridge said according to the city engineer the existing infrastructure and roads were designed to handle the increased volume.

Reese questioned those numbers in the traffic study. “There’s no way you can tell me an elderly couple will have similar trips as a family like mine,” he said, noting he has two daughters in dance and two kids who do piano twice a week.

Mayor Trent Staggs, who was on the council in 2017, said he recalled the elderly overlay’s purpose was to be less impactful, and was confused why buildings were constructed unconducive to elderly housing.

Lethbridge explained the “assisted living congregate care” was the language the planning commission and staff were left with.

“In retrospect, we (staff) should’ve been much more specific in what was approved,” Lethbridge said. “What was approved was not done in ignorance of or ignoring existing text. We did the best we could with the language that was there.”

Councilmember Tawnee McCay— whose district covers this area—was frustrated those site plan decisions “need to come back to the council and not the planning commission.”

To find a compromise, McCay said she was willing to remove the elderly overlay if they reduced the building height to two stories.

“I’m sorry if the developer has to take down the current buildings, he shouldn’t have started building those,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a good product for 55 and over. I’m frustrated that it got approved by the planning commission.”

However, Councilmember Troy McDougal, who lives near the development and

was part of a group that opposed it back in 2017, highlighted the city didn’t have a specific enough code at the time to prevent this situation. He said they can’t go back on what was already approved by the commission, risking reputational damage if they did.

“I think it’s embarrassing to Riverton City that councilmembers want to go back on agreements we have made two-three years ago and try to change them,” he said. “We will hurt our reputation and our name in the community. We cannot be revisiting our decisions over and over and over again.”

He stressed it was a “bad decision” the council made in 2017, and a motivating factor in him running for city council, but felt they couldn’t legally renege on that agreement nor go back on three stories being allowed.

“I wish in 2017 we could’ve stopped this, everything we were concerned with is happening,” he said.

McDougal pointed to their more recent efforts to enact clear, crisp guidelines in the city’s zoning, getting more specific in what’s allowed for senior housing. There are now other senior housing options in the city with two on 3600 West in addition to the one on 1300 West, he said.

He felt they met the needs of seniors with other projects creating over 200 available units, but the city still has a shortfall in affordable housing. McDougal added the three-story units as elderly housing may not sell as quickly, delaying their HOA attempts.

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Councilmember Andy Pierucci agreed with McDougal that they needed to honor prior agreements to not risk legal or reputational ramifications.

But McCay argued they spoke of a reputation to developers but not to the residents. The legal agreement was for a 55 and over community, she said.

Pierucci said the market has shifted

from 2017, with demand for senior communities starting to taper off and, even though his initial inclination was to not support this, questioned the impact of partially finished lots or empty townhomes.

“There has not been consistency from the city on this, to the residents, the businesses, even among who the developers are,” he said. “This situation is a mess and it frustrates

ANGELO PULGIANO, MD Internal Medicine

Dr. Pulgiano joins Granger Internal Medicine – Riverton from the University of Utah. He graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine degree from Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2002. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in 2005.

Dr. Pulgiano is passionate about being a strong patient advocate and gives his best efforts to educate, support, and encourage each patient throughout all aspects of their care. He is a strong believer in preventative medicine, utilizing annual routine exams and age-appropriate screenings, combined with a healthy lifestyle.

COMMON AREAS OF TREATMENT

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• Dietary advice/exercise/ weight management

• Hypertension

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• Joint injections – knees/ burse/tendons/plantar fasciitis

• Wound care

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HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS

Lone Peak | Jordan Valley Medical Center | Riverton

The Riverton City Council approved a contentious rezone in February that removed elderly housing from the Parkside development located near 13000 South and Sand Hollow Drive. (Riverton City)

me because of the inconsistency. I commit to never support something like this again and we need to fine tune our process for how we approve our site plans.”

McCay, the lone dissenting vote, later encouraged they discuss in the future what housing approvals come to the city versus the planning commission. l

ACCEPTED INSURANCES

• Aetna/Altius/First Health

• BCBS

• Cigna/Greatwest

• DMBA

• Educators

• Health Choice Utah

• Health Utah

• Humana

• Medicare

• Medicaid

• Molina

• Multiplan

• PEHP

• Select Health

• Tricare West/ HealthNet

• United

• UUHP

• WISE

Jon graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies in 2012, then a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. Looking to expand his skill set, and broaden his ability to care for his patients, he went back to further his education once more and graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah in 2020. Prior to nursing school, Jon worked as a therapeutic preschool specialist at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake City which was ultimately the defining point that inspired him to seek a long-term career working with, and advocating for, children. He worked as a registered nurse at Primary Children’s Medical Center for over five years while working on his doctorate degree. Following graduation, he practiced family medicine for almost a year when he realized that pediatric and adolescent patients were the most fun and decided to switch to a pediatric care-focused clinic. Now he is excited to join Granger Pediatrics – Riverton and provide superior care for the children and adolescents of this rapidly growing community.

FNP-BC Pediatrics

Changes to Unified Police Department and sheriff duties

Changes to the Unified Police Department are coming. Some of the information out there has not been entirely accurate, so I thought it might be helpful to share some insight. This past legislative session, state legislators made the decision to remove language about the Unified Police Department (UPD) from state statute. This meant UPD would need to operate by interlocal only, and without the state giving specific guidelines.

This legislation originally removed the county sheriff as the CEO of UPD, as many cities questioned whether it was a conflict of interest with the sheriff wearing two hats. But when the sheriff’s association and Sheriff Rivera met with the legislative sponsor, they supported just removing the UPD language altogether from state code.

Unified Police Department is governmental agency created by interlocal agreement. It serves areas such as Millcreek, Holladay, Midvale, unincorporated Salt Lake County, and the townships. The board can choose their CEO, but for years they have just kept the county sheriff as the CEO. This has created some heartburn for cities not in UPD who wonder if there is appropriate financial separation between UPD and the countywide sheriff services. I have also been asked about this and have

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

been participating on a committee to gather more information.

All of our county residents receive great countywide public safety services from the sheriff’s office. Some of these countywide services include the statutory duties of the sheriff, such as operations of the jail, warrants and extraditions, and search and rescue. There are additional countywide services that provide a countywide benefit such as drug court, metro gangs, major investigations and drug enforcement, and canyon patrol.

For those who are UPD officers or live in UPD service areas, rest assured that leaders from Millcreek, Midvale, Holladay and other areas are working hard to ensure UPD remains a stable and top-notch police agency to take care of your needs. There will just be one difference and that is a cleaner separation between your policing

agency and the county sheriff who represents all areas of the valley. I believe this will give UPD a better chance to grow and thrive. It will also help other police agencies rest assured that there are no conflicts of interest, and all agencies will be represented well by the sheriff’s office.

As a Salt Lake County Councilmember, I believe funding transparency is vitally important for all county services. This is especially true as it relates to law enforcement services that are provided on

a countywide basis. The tax dollars used for these services come from residents and all taxpayers throughout the county. When deciding which programs to fund on a countywide basis I provide careful consideration to determine the usefulness of these services to your community, if the current resource allocations and service levels are appropriate, and the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the programs.

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Oral Birth Control/Contraception Study

Open-label, 13-cycle study; must be sexually active 1x/mo. Age 16-35 years of age. Up to $720.00 subject compensation.

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MONICA HINZ, DO, JD Pediatrics

Monica Hinz joins Granger Medical Clinic as a recent graduate of University of Florida, Jacksonville’s pediatric residency. Following residency she served as a chief resident for one year. As a native Floridian, she and her family have loved moving to Utah this past summer and are enjoying all the natural beauty and outdoor activities that Salt Lake City area has to offer. Dr. Hinz is of Columbian descent and is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Hinz is passionate about not only helping her patients grow, but also ensuring the entire family unit is thriving.

COMMON AREAS OF TREATMENT

• History and physical

• Newborn examinations

• Childhood immunizations

• Well child physicals

• Sports participation physicals

• ADHD evaluation and management

• Anxiety and depression evaluation and management

• Adolescent medicine exams

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS

Lone Peak | Jordan Valley Medical Center | Riverton

ACCEPTED INSURANCES

• Aetna/Altius/First Health

• BCBS

• Cigna/Greatwest

• DMBA

• Educators

• Health Choice Utah

• Health Utah

• Humana

• Medicare

• Medicaid

• Molina

• Multiplan

• PEHP

• Select Health

• Tricare West/ HealthNet

• United

• UUHP

• WISE

Silverwolves swim teams finish first,

second in Region 3

Left: Senior Andrew Janzen took the 100 breaststroke region title before finishing fifth at state with a time of 1:01:59. Janzen was part of a boys’ team who finished second in region with Payton Hill also capturing an individual title in the 200 individual medley. The boys’ team took 11th at the state meet.

Below: The 400 freestyle relay team made up of Alexandra Lund, Lainey Vander Linden, Ella Nordfelt and Lucy Haymond ready for the race start at the 6A state championships in Provo. The relay team took first at the Region 3 meet, winning the region title in the process. Haymond and Lund combined to win four individual titles at the region meet: the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke for Haymond and the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for Lund. Haymond, only a sophomore, finished with bronze at state in the 100 butterfly. Lund is only a freshman, signaling a bright future for the girls’ team.

Photos by Travis Barton

Silverwolves finish the year at .500

Emmalee Christensen was one of Riverton’s speedy guards along with Amaya Afatasi and Faythe Stauffer that helped the Silverwolves get out to a 7-2 start across November and December. Riverton would go 4-9 the rest of the way to finish 11-11.

Photos by Travis Barton

Sophomore Faythe Stauffer led the Silverwolves in scoring on the year, popping in 12 points per game. Stauffer and Emalee Christensen return next year for what will be head coach Jonathan Haag’s second year. Riverton earned the No. 11 seed for the playoffs, defeating Weber 55-45 before being knocked out by region foe Herriman for the second year in a row 61-50.

Riverton girls wrestling features three runners-up at state

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

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You may choose a burial plot, urn garden, scattering gardens, columbarium niche, or memory wall at our on-site crematory. Whether your family would like a direct cremation without a ceremony or would like to enlist the help of our funeral planners for a memorial ceremony, we are here to help. Choose traditional funeral services or life celebrations to honor the life of your loved one.

As you plan the end-of-life services, there are dozens of decisions to make during an emotional time. LET OUR TEAM HELP YOU choose urns, vaults, and memorials. We can also help with flower arrangements, catering, and grief resources.

The Riverton High girls wrestling team earned 100 points at state for seventh place featuring three wrestlers each taking second in their respective divisions. Sophomore Mina Trinh (who finished 33-19 for the season) won her first three rounds by fall to reach the championship match in the 105-pound bracket. Junior Bella Butterfield (33-7 on the year) defeated her first two opponents by fall before winning a 14-8 decision over Paris Bowen of Mountain Ridge in the semis. Senior Rachel Johnson went 39-9 on the year winning her first round and semifinal matches by fall either side of a 6-3 quarterfinal victory before ultimately losing to Taylorsville’s Cheyanne Ruiz, who went undefeated on the year. (Photo courtesy Becca Hamilton)

To the South Valley Chamber of Commerce

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Larkin Mortuary Riverton 3688 West 12600 South Riverton, UT 84065 (801) 254-4850

LarkinMortuary.com

The South Valley Chamber is committed to connecting, educating, advocating for and growing local businesses! To learn more or to join the chamber, please visit southvalleychamber.com

You can count on a variety of options for cremation services when you choose Larkin Mortuary.

EMERGENCY WATER

“ Robert and Mark were great! We had pipes burst at night and they were right there to help us get the water shut off and to help us get all the water out and dried. They were both professional, communication was great and they were thorough.I would recommend them to anyone!

801-754-6315

9500 S 500 West, Suite 104 Sandy, Utah 84070

GUARANTEED

MISSION STATEMENT: To strengthen the community through advocacy, partnership, & promotion of local business in Riverton, Herriman, & Bluffdale.

VISION STATEMENT: We bridge community & business—together we are stronger.

BENEFITS: Resources, Networking, Education and Advocacy

SUSTAINING

City

CONTACT: Susan Schilling

801-280-0595

susan@mountainwestchamber.org

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Join Keystone Chiropractic at its grand opening on April 13 from 4-6, 12447 S. Crossing Dr #109. In conjunction with its grand opening, they will be helping a nonprofit. The nonprofit is Bear-O Care in Riverton. There will be prize drawing and proceeds will support Bear-O Care. All are welcome to attend. If you can donate to the prize drawing or want to purchase a chance to win contact Dr. Jared at (385) 434-0123. Hope to see you there!

When you attend a ribbon cutting you get to meet the movers and shakers otherwise known as the decision makers of each company. What a great way to make a connection. We had ribbon cuttings for Lock 31 Outfitters in Herriman, Bout Time Pub & Grill in Bluffdale, Einstein Bagels in Herriman, and La Fountain, Herriman.

CHAMBER MEMBERS

WELCOME US Bank, Vasa Fitness, Burn Boot Camp, Greater Salt Lake Volleyball as our newest members.

We thank the following businesses for renewing: Hercules Credit Union, Riverton High School, South Jordan View Retirement, Riverton Hospital, Megaplex, ABC Great Beginnings, Kinetic PT, Puro Clean of Bluffdale, Wasatch Lawn Memorial, Bowcutt’s Flooring American, Broomhead Funeral Home, Dentists of South Jordan, Best Western Cottontree Inn, Goldenwest CU— Bluffdale, Intermountain Tire Pros, Jordan Credit Union, Slim Chickens, Robyn’s Realty, Jordan Valley Medical Center, Rio Tinto, REAL Monarchs, St. Andrew Catholic School, and Ultradent Products.

Bout Time Pub & Grill

Lock 31 Outfitters

First, robots came for assembly line workers. Then they came for agricultural and warehouse jobs. Then a cyborg assassin time-traveled from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor. What will artificial intelligence target next?

If you ask our publisher, journalism is on the robotic chopping block. He recently sat down with our editorial team and told us we’d better get our act together or AI will certainly replace us within five years.

It’s the plot of every sci-fi movie. “Let’s merge robotic efficiency and human connection to create a utopian workplace.” But then, the robots download a virus and turn into killing machines. It doesn’t end well for humanity.

But let’s back up a bit. When encyclopedias were created in the 1700s, people were astonished to have so much information at their fingertips. What’s an encyclopedia you ask? Thanks for asking, young whippersnapper.

Encyclopedias are books bound in fake leather that weigh the equivalent of a baby hippo. They were like printed versions of Wikipedia that became outdated as soon as they were purchased. They were used for footstools and sometimes for murder weapons.

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

Rage Against the Machine

came chatbots, or virtual assistants, like Siri, who learned to answer our stupid questions with a bit of sass.

Now, journalists are encouraged to use AI to produce copy. ChatGPT launched in November and millions of people have tried it out, creating everything from poetry to fake news. It’s like a Google search on steroids.

In fact, it’s so good at creating fake news, that the CNET media website published stories for months before the articles were discovered to be riddled with errors, misinformation and plagiarized material. Oops.

Following my publisher’s orders, I typed a few questions into ChatGPT and immediately ran into a virtual brick wall.

“How many people are living on Earth?” I asked. ChatGPT replied 7.9 billion but added its data ended in September 2021. I guess anyone born after that date doesn’t count.

by emotionless robots like Tucker Carlson?

Sometimes, the “journalism” churned out by AI is racist, offensive and inappropriate because, and here’s the issue, humans create code for these bots. Fallible, stupid humans who unintentionally create programming that mimics their own limiting beliefs.

In These Times writer Hamilton Nolan said, “Journalism is the product of a human mind. If something did not come from a human mind, it is not journalism.”

He said journalism requires accountability. The writer should be able to explain the origins and sources of any story. Can AI do that? Will robots request interviews from other robots? When questioned, will AI fall to pieces like HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey after being given contradictory orders: lie to the crew but be completely truthful. Pretty much like anything on Twitter.

They were also used for rampant plagiarism. Teachers often received essays copied straight from Encyclopedia Britannica.

As technology advanced, plagiarism got easier with the ability to copy-andpaste from any website; more efficient and much harder to detect. Then along

I asked it to tell me a joke. ChatGPT explained it didn’t have a sense of humor or emotions and didn’t understand jokes. So it could be a Utah legislator.

So, will AI adapt to create personality, voice, humor and journalistic ethics or will future generations get used to reading pedantic and pretentious articles written

I’m mixing movie metaphors, but if Sarah Connor’s interactions with the Terminator taught us anything, it’s that we control our own destiny. Can we unite robotic efficiency and humanity? The fate of journalism could hang in the balance.

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

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician