South Jordan Journal | April 2023

SOUTH JORDAN MOMS TRAIN

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

South Jordan residents Sarah Makoni and Kim Binks are personal trainers at F45 in Daybreak. Part of being a personal trainer is to inspire others to push past their physical limits and be their best selves. Part of that inspiration means leading by example. Makoni and Binks were invited to participate in the HYROX World Championship competition in Manchester, England in May after placing second overall in the HYROX competition in Los Angeles, California in early December 2022.

According to the HYROX website, “HYROX is a global fitness race for Every Body. Participants from all around the world compete in the exact same format. The race starts with a 1 km run, followed by one functional movement, which repeats eight times, taking place in large indoor venues, creating a unique stadium like atmosphere for all participants.”

Competitors can race individually or on a team. The specific divisions are as follows: open, individual pro, doubles and relay teams.

Binks, upon learning of the race from a member of F45, was ready to sign on, having not only her professional background of approximately 15 years of personal training

to help guide her but also some Spartan race experience as well.

“I’ve always loved working out and going to the gym as long as I can remember,” Binks said.

Makoni admitted she was not looking to start any type of competitive training following the birth of her second child in May 2022, especially when the training consisted of running 0.62 miles in between functional strength training sets repeated eight times.

“I certainly was not in a position to

Continued page 10

Sarah Makoni (right) and Kim Binks (left) competed in their first HYROX competition in Los Angeles, California in December 2022. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Makoni)

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Bingham

High School doesn’t have a lot of homeless students, but Heather Smith, the McKinney Vento representative at BHS, believes even one homeless student is too many.

During the 2021-22 school year, Smith had 125 students on her rolls, but only 10 were truly homeless, living in cars or parks. Others were in shared-housing situations with other family members or living in motels or shelters, and several were couch surfing at friends’ houses.

This school year, the number of homeless students on her radar dropped significantly to 25, with a handful of actual homeless teens. Smith’s job is to ensure students living in homeless situations keep their education stable, continue to attend classes and graduate.

McKinney Vento is a federal program for schools to identify and help homeless students who might not otherwise get the support they need to succeed. Smith works with organizations to gather resources to help these students, as well as anyone else who might need help at BHS.

“I know a lot of people and because of that, I put the word out about what I do, and I get a lot of donations,” she said. “Because I get a lot of donations, I’m able to share with other schools and I’m able to open my doors to any kid who attends Bingham High School. That’s really what I’m known for. I think probably 95% of the kids I serve are not at risk in any way, shape or form. They just need a place to land and food and a mom for a minute.”

When teens register for school, a parent checks the box that says they are in a homeless situation. Part of Smith’s job is to find out if the family is truly homeless, and if it’s temporary or ongoing.

Also known as “The Snack Lady,” Smith keeps her office stocked with meals, snacks and drinks so students can stop by and get what they need, with no explanation or judg-

Bingham High students Quinton Vuong and Ryelynn Blair help out in the pantry run by Heather Smith through the McKinney Vento program. Although the program is a support for homeless teens, Smith welcomes any BHS student who needs a snack, a drink or a listening ear. (Photo courtesy of Heather Smith)

ment. Most people don’t even know she works with homeless youth, they just want a place to sit for a moment and have a granola bar.

Quinton Vuong is a junior at BHS and member of the Hope Squad, a Utah-based organization that prioritizes mental wellness for students from elementary to high school. He said Smith makes students feel welcome, while easing the stigma of having them ask for help.

“Heather finds a perfect balance of having her rules while still having a safe and open, inviting environment,” Quinton said. “There are still some kids at Bingham who are considered homeless…she allows those people to have a meal. I think it’s so incredible. She doesn’t just do food. She provides things like

clothing and menstruation items for girls.”

Smith is aware there are schools in Jordan District with higher numbers of homeless youth, but she takes her job seriously for the individuals she works with. When a student was kicked out of their home for revealing their sexual identity to their parents, Smith worked with county resources to find a safe place for the student to stay.

She holds one-on-one meetings with the students to make sure they are keeping up on schoolwork and she keeps them focused on graduation.

“I tell the kids, ‘I’ll love you no matter what, but I’ll also tell you when you’re being stupid.’ I call them out,” she said. “I can yell at them and put them back on the right track

or I can pat them on the back and tell them it’s okay, now go back to class. My doors are open to anybody and everybody. I don’t ask about their financial situation when they walk through my door.”

She calls the Jordan Education Foundation the “hero of the day” for providing food and snacks for her students. She also receives community donations and the PTSA steps in when she’s running low on bottled water or fresh fruit.

“Heather doesn’t gatekeep on who can come in,” Quinton said. “Everybody is welcome to come and grab a water bottle, grab a snack, even grab some microwave food. She provides the benefit of having a safe space within the school.” l

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CIRCULATION

Brad

Is it too much to ask of community news to share the voices of those that don’t often get heard?

Valene Peratrovich doesn’t think so.

In fact, Peratrovich, or Val to those closest to her, and others like her who work in community news feel the more news and information we get from the lesser-known communities around us, the more understanding there will be.

Peratrovich, who joined KRCL 90.9 FM radio in February as a production assistant, did not grow up with aspirations of being a storyteller on a community radio show. But the fact is, she did grow up with unique stories as a part of her reality. An indigenous woman, Peratrovich, belongs to the Tlingit - Eagle Moiety, Unungan + Athabascan and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. While some may hear stories from her childhood and focus only on the negative things they hear, for Peratrovich, those experiences helped her storytelling evolve.

Growing up in poverty, Peratrovich learned to recognize that those within her sphere of influence were social workers, teachers and doctors. Wanting to make her family proud, she was intent to go into medicine and become a doctor, believing that it was that type of occupation which would take her out of that poverty cycle. Even after being granted a highly competitive Indian Health Services scholarship to study medicine, Peratrovich noticed something missing.

“I had all the resources there,” Peratrovich said. “But my passion and heart were not there.”

Peratrovich, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in the human development and family sciences field, said she went into that area of study with the intention to help heal generational wounds encountered by her relatives.

“How can little girls who were abused, grow up and have families full of love if they were never given that,” Peratrovich said.

This background has helped to inform her on how to “be a better mom,” and give her kids the emotional stability that the previous generations did not have.

Another part of her story was witnessing her parents not able to proudly share their indigenous customs and practices with her and her siblings, admitting that at that time, there was a lot of shame and fear.

“I didn’t grow up with a lot of traditions, I had to seek them,” Peratrovich said. “I’m like a student, I’m always learning more and more.”

After several stints in various jobs and career paths, Peratrovich went in search of a way to tell stories. It was during this time of returning to school at Salt Lake Community College that Peratrovich was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer.

“School distracted me from thyroid cancer and Covid,” Peratrovich said. “Literally and figuratively, I was finding my voice.”

SLCC student learns to ‘Pass the mic’

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

Peratrovich found humanity in storytelling and in so doing, found a way to share more about the traditions she has sought out for most of her adult life.

In April of 2022 she wrote an article as a student that was published in the Salt Lake Tribune in connection with Amplify Utah, a collaboration with SLCC, about the return of pow wow dances.

“We dance to tell a story,” Peratrovich said. “All dances are founded on storytelling and movements.”

Peratrovich and KRCL executive producer of public affairs talk show ‘Radioactive’ Lara Jones recently won first place at the Utah’s Society of Professional Journalists award for best public affairs talk show, the topic: exploring truths of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Jones got to know Peratrovich more than a year ago through course collaboration with Marcie Cancio Young at SLCC. It was because of these Zoom interactions that Jones recommended Peratrovich become involved in spe-

cial programming on KRCL.

“[If] we have the same people behind the mic, it’s the same stories being told,” Jones said. “Val brings such a breadth of lived experience.”

Peratrovich earned an Associate of Applied Science in radio and television production in August of 2022 from Salt Lake Community College and is currently taking courses for film production.

Jones said individuals like Val are “stewards of the community resource” that is available to expand the conversation and challenge the mainstream.

“Val can connect with the community in ways that I can’t,” Jones said.

Peratrovich credits Jones in giving her the opportunity to go into the space of radio production and host and moderate the Thanksgiving show that would end up winning them rec-

ognition from the local journalism community. Through this journey of family, school, parenthood, work, cancer, discovery, Peratrovich admitted that her family has had to make sacrifices for her to be able to tackle school while simultaneously working full-time at KRCL. She credits her husband, children and mother-in-law in being her support, and recalled that her six-year-old’s favorite moment of 2022 was watching his mom walk across the stage to get her diploma.

“I really want my kids to know early on, to listen to their spirit,” Peratrovich said. “I want to teach them to be proud.”

To listen to the Thanksgiving special on RadioActive visit https://krcl.org/blog/radioactive-112521/

RadioActive is a weekly segment that airs at 6 p.m. and can be accessed via live stream at krcl.org/listen-live or via a free mobile app. l

Valene Peratrovich was hired by KRCL radio in February afteRCG Law ad dor SJr hosting and moderating award-winning public affairs talk show (Photo courtesy of Valene Peratrovich).

Part of teaching her children to be proud of their indigenous background, Peratrovich shares traditional practices in her son’s classroom at school (Photo courtesy of Valene Peratrovich).

[If] we have the same people behind the mic, it’s the same stories being told, Val brings such a breadth of lived experience.

Lara Jones

Mountain Creek’s inclusion play takes center stage to an audience of peers, VIPs

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

About30 Mountain Creek Middle School students took the stage to share what inclusion means to them and its importance through a play and personal messages.

“Calling All Leaders” was performed by special education students and their peer tutors in Karlee English’s class to not only their classmates and faculty, but also to a VIP audience that included Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller, Jordan School District leadership and others.

“I’ve attended hundreds of assemblies in my life, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen one done around the subject of inclusion,” Ramsey said about the play students performed during inclusion week.

One of Ramsey’s favorite parts was when the performers opened, saying, “When you see me, I want you to see…” and their responses, which ranged from a good sister, ukulele player and skateboarder to being funny, having a great imagination and being a good friend. One student even said, “being the No. 1 Utes fan.”

The next scene takes the students on a school bus ride, where nobody wants to sit next to a peer tutor. Eventually, a student said that wasn’t right and invited the peer tutor to sit with them at lunch.

“We want kids to know making rude comments isn’t OK, that everyone should be kind and inclusive,” English said.

The play moves to a PE class where a student missed kicking the soccer ball and is made fun of—until they’re reminded kicking the ball isn’t the only part of soccer and doesn’t determine if the player is a good

teammate.

Students also demonstrated inclusion when doing group art projects. English said one group showed how they were leaders by inviting the left-out student to join their group despite knowing art isn’t his forte. However, those students learned he had a great idea which helped make their poster “fantastic.”

The play ends with students recapping what was learned — not putting students down, including everyone and being respectful and treating everyone with kindness.

Throughout the play, messages of inclusion were shared—who inspired them to be more inclusive, how they can be more inclusive, how has someone made them feel included, and what can they do to include more students at Mountain Creek.

In one video, ninth-grader Penny Messel shared her message when asked “What does inclusion mean to you?”

“The best way to put it is, inclusion is having the people around you not care about who you are, what you believe in or who you love,” Messel said. “I remember helping tutor one day and hearing a student ask why they weren’t normal and all I could think about was how things like that need to change. Nobody should have to feel like they aren’t normal or they need to change to be loved—and how people not being included goes so much deeper than not sitting with your friends at lunch and being able to play a game with a new friend. It’s something that people need to choose to let you into. So, I guess to answer your question about what inclusion means to me, it’s having a bad hair day and no one batted an eye, talking with the voice you love and people still laughing at your jokes. Inclu-

sion isn’t an action. It’s a way that we can live our lives.”

Despite their rehearsals being shortened by two days when the school moved to virtual learning because of a snowstorm, English said peer tutors, who took responsibility for the production, helped students learn and memorize their lines.

“The students in Ms. K’s class did an amazing job. It was evident they had practiced and prepared well,” Ramsey said.

Principal Mike Glenn said the play helped “to understand and see the value that differences bring. We have a lot of different people around us and in this case, we highlighted kids with some severe learning disabilities. There’s a lot of diversity in that we need to learn to accept and embrace diversity.”

English, who describes herself as an advocate for inclusion, said many students could relate to the play—students who may be English Language Learners, or members of the LGBTQI+ community, or even a high-functioning student with autism, may feel it’s hard to integrate in the community.

“At Mountain Creek, we try to integrate every student in every experience so we’re inclusive,” she said.

Many of her students have been student body officers, held club leadership positions, played in band, participate in unified basketball and golf, and are active in other aspects of school life.

Glenn said Mountain Creek students are becoming more accepting, with peer tutoring in English’s classroom being the backbone of inclusion.

“We put peer tutoring on our schedule,

and already we’ve had 70 students register and want to be peer tutors next year,” he said.

English said they see value in the service they give.

“It gives them a purpose and a sense of leadership in being able to help someone else and make a difference,” she said.

During the assembly, Cox talked with the student body about the importance of being a friend to everyone. She shared her background growing up with friends in school who had Down Syndrome.

“She was in a class with them growing up in second, third and fourth grade and she was actually happy they included her in their group,” English said, adding that Cox’s desire to become a special education teacher may have stemmed from that experience. “The kids were excited she was here, and she sat forever afterwards and talked to all my students and took pictures with us. She was great; she wanted to spend time and speak with the students. It’s nice to have someone in power have a voice so people listen to advocate for kids with disabilities and inclusion.”

Ramsey said English speaks up for all students.

“Ms. English is an incredible teacher doing great things at Mountain Creek,” she said. “I had the privilege of awarding her the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for their school last year and after spending time in her class, it’s easy to see why. She is an ambassador and advocate for her students in the best ways and I believe everyone who attended the assembly left with better understanding and greater appreciation for all abilities. It really was awesome.” l

Mountain Creek Middle students take center stage to talk about and present a play about inclusion. (Photo courtesy of Dawn Ramsey)

Coat exchange offers students warmth as snow continues

Withthe cold and snow continuing as spring approaches, Welby students recently had an opportunity to exchange or grab a coat to stay warm.

After posting photos of coats left at the school for months, Welby Elementary PTA decided to give some of its patrons a helping hand.

“We took our unclaimed coats and traded them with another school’s lostand-found coats and then, we brought theirs here and offered our patrons coats in case they need some,” Principal Aaron Ichimura said. “We had some people bring in their small coats and trade for a larger size, too. We wanted to make sure everyone has a coat this long winter.”

Ironically, the coat exchange was set during parent-teacher conferences, but with a snowstorm those became virtual. The coat exchange was instead held during a school day and there was a steady stream of patrons checking them out at drop-off and pick-up times, he said.

“We liked this idea because it fostered a sense of community, helping one

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

another out,” Ichimura said, adding that the idea came from Welby’s custodian, Emily Christensen.

Historically, coats are donated to charity, he said, adding that a lot of effort goes first to find coat owners, including the PTA posting photos of the lost coats on its Facebook page.

About 50 coats were exchanged with Aspen Elementary.

Aspen Elementary Principal Suzie Williams was grateful for the coat exchange.

“We have a large population of students in need of warm coats,” she said. Ichimura said the coats still are in good condition.

“It’s a good way to reuse coats and make sure all our students have the proper clothing and warmth they need,” he said. “It’s a great help all students.”

District French Fair trés bon for language learners

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.

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“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 becoming 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 necessarily,” 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 students 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 and helps them have a greater desire to continue on in that language, to learn more and get to a higher level 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 biggest goals of language classes, and this [fair] helps them see the possibilities.” l

At Welby Elementary, families checked out the coat exchange. (Jennifer Bodell/Welby PTA)

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)

Middle-schooler urges others to help those in need, receives MLK award

AMountain Creek ninth grader was recently honored for her leadership and service with the University of Utah Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Leadership Award.

Kennedy Hawkins was one of 12 secondary school students across the state who was selected for the honor.

“I love that my first big award is something that’s going to help the community out,” Hawkins said. “I know that with this, I can further help more people.”

As part of the selection, Hawkins and others wrote essays, sharing their experiences, advice and actions why they chose to love and support nonviolence when encountering intolerance or hate. It fit with the week’s theme, “Choose Love Over Hate.”

Hawkins, who was urged to apply for the award from a friend, wrote about her volunteering to serve the homeless population.

“I feel a lot of people get the wrong idea about homeless people,” she said. “They think these people are scary or crazy, but maybe they don’t really know why the people become homeless in the first place. I want people to become more aware of why people are homeless and how we can help. There are so many people who need help and likely, there are kids going to school who are homeless or are having a hard time. I want people to come together and help.”

Since she was young, Hawkins has helped at shelters and now, she volunteers at Circles, an organization which aims to reduce poverty in Salt Lake City through providing support such as goal setting, financial literacy and peer counseling while providing job opportunities, transportation and other services.

“I try to help as much as I possibly can. On Thursdays, when I’m free, I go help with families who are in poverty. I also have people donate socks, jackets, clothing, and other items. I put those in bags and deliver it to people in need,” she said. “There’s a lot of hate going around the world and I think especially that it is aimed toward homeless people. No matter your situation, we’re all humans and especially in these times, we just need to choose love over hate. We need to help those people who are especially in need, instead of thinking of them as different and hating them.”

Hawkins said she was “shocked” when she learned she was going to be recognized with the Martin Luther King, Jr. award. She received a plaque and swag in front of her parents and others during an awards breakfast at the University of Utah alumni house.

“I didn’t think that I was going to be recognized like this, but it is a good chance to share the message and be heard,” Hawkins said. “I’m glad that people are listening and stuff I feel that more people will be able to recognize their need and come forward to help.” l

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Mountain Creek ninth-grader Kennedy Hawkins, who received a leadership award. attended the University of Utah Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Martin Luther King, Jr. award ceremony with her parents. (Photo courtesy of Kennedy Hawkins)

compete,” Makoni said. “[However] Kim and I both are of the mindset that if we are going to race, we’re going to podium, we’re going to be the best.”

Despite not feeling like the “best,” Binks persuaded Makoni to join her team, and the two began training in August 2022 for the December 2022 race in Los Angeles, California. Makoni and Binks placed second overall in their age category of 30-39, and fifth overall in the women’s category.

Two days after the race in Los Angeles, the ladies got an email inviting them to compete in World’s in Manchester in May. They were given only 48 hours to respond to the invitation, otherwise they would lose their spot.

As if competing at World’s wasn’t enough to fill their minds, Binks is a mother of seven, and Makoni is a mother of two, which is enough to keep anyone busy. However, thanks to the support of their communities: family, friends and F45, the team decided to go for it.

Beth Laberge has been a member of the F45 community in Daybreak since September 2022. She has witnessed firsthand how Binks and Makoni have been able to inspire others and balance their own training schedules.

“I watched these ladies train extra workouts. I enthusiastically listened to their stories about miles they were logging running, and extra workout nights and weekends with fellow competitors,” Laberge said. “I admired their hard work and dedication, knowing they were both young moms made it more inspiring.”

After taking some time off for the holidays, and after Binks experienced an injury that prevented her from running, the team has once again resumed their training in anticipation for the World’s competition.

“[Sarah] is really good at pushing me in a way that I love

to be pushed,” Binks said. “I knew if I had her as a partner, she would push me and help me.”

Because HYROX is the same race format no matter where you train or compete, the ladies know what to expect. The competition is always indoors, so weather is not a factor they need to calculate into their training. Makoni said that at World’s, the amount of weight increases.

According to the website, “The HYROX World Championships of fitness racing 2023 are the pinnacle of HYROX. Out of 90,000 athletes from all over the world, only 2,000 qualify to participate in the ultimate HYROX showdown and to represent their country.”

Both women have made sacrifices to get to this point of preparing to compete against those other 2,000 participants. Whether it’s the financial sacrifice to be able to afford plane tickets to England and back, or time spent away from family with mid-day training sessions on Saturdays, both Makoni and Binks have made this a priority.

“I think there is a lot of value to your children seeing you do things like this and accomplish big things,” Makoni said. “We’re moms first but we have cool and exciting things happening in our lives.”

For more information about HYROX races visit hyrox. com. l

As part of the HYROX competition, each team or individual has to run 1 kilometer then moves onto a functional movement. That cycle repeats eight times. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Makoni).

HOW DO YOU SAVE A LIFE?

It is not uncommon that individuals witness a choking, a drug overdose, heart attack or some other life-threatening issue. How many of us know what to do in this kind of situation? Apparently, it doesn’t take a lot of training to help out in many types of emergencies. We reached out to Brenda Hatch with Heart Song Rescue Training to find out more about this important topic.

CITY JOURNALS: Hello Brenda and thank you for talking to us. I understand you took the instructor courses through the Red Cross and have been teaching for five years now. Why did you decide to become a CPR Instructor?

BRENDA: Well, that’s a great question. I did not grow up wanting to be a CPR and First Aid Instructor. I’d been a nurse for about 15 years when I had an accident. One night while I was recovering, I walked into my son’s room and found him lying on his bed, blue and lifeless. I knew I was looking at cardiac arrest. I’d seen it and worked through it at work many times but I’ll never forget how different this felt. I provided care for about 8 minutes while we waited for the EMTs. When they arrived, they started a Naloxone IV on him. Naloxone, also referred to as Narcan, is the drug that is used to reverse a drug overdose. My son responded promptly, which confirmed my suspicion that the situation was drug related.

After this incident, I shifted focus and decided to become an advocate for First Aid and CPR. This is my way of battling the opioid epidemic. Back to my son: He’s fine. He is a pleasant and productive man with a wife and 4 children. Because of these events, I have become thankful for the accident that crashed my career. It put me home the night that he overdosed, and in a position to save his life. I guess, sometimes bad things happen so worse things don’t.

CITY JOURNAL: In your expert opinion, who needs to know CPR and First Aid?

BRENDA: Well, when you recognize the fact that every living, breathing human is at risk for becoming the victim of a life threatening emergency at any given moment, this is something we ALL need to know. People often deceive themselves into thinking that their family and friends are young, healthy people and this will not happen in their world. The truth is, injuries and illnesses can occur anywhere and anytime.

I had a conversation once with a grocery store employee. He noticed my “American Red Cross Instructor” badge and I asked if he was trained in CPR and First Aid. He wasn’t and was worried about having someone slip and fall at the store. Let’s look at the store for a second: The customer that might slip and fall is certainly something to be concerned about since this presents the possibility of serious head injuries and fractures among other things. The baker works with extremely hot and slippery surfaces. The butcher works with very sharp tools such as knives and bone saws. In the deli, you will also find hot surfaces and sharp objects. Any mishap here could throw multiple people into a life-threatening situation.

I, personally, would never want to be in a situation where I stand idly by watching a person die and not know how to help. I would like to believe that everybody feels the same way.

CITY JOURNAL: What have you found to be some of the major reasons people hold back from training up?

BRENDA: Time and money are big hang ups. However, CPR and First Aid training is not terribly expensive or time consuming. We need to consider the worth of a life. The cost of our training is less than $100 and will take about 5-6 hours every 2 years. People often think that they should get some training

but put it off for “the time being” because it’s just not in the budget or doesn’t work into their schedule. They rationalize that they will do it later. Then, suddenly, it’s too late and they are experiencing the loss of a loved one due to drowning, an accidental injury or an undiagnosed medical condition. Physical limitation is also often used as an excuse. They think they can’t get down on the ground because of bad knees, or perhaps they have a bad shoulder or a back injury. For whatever reason, some individuals feel like they just couldn’t physically help. People fail to realize that there is more to do at the scene of a life-threatening emergency than to actually participate in giving CPR or providing First Aid. Someone will need to call 911 while others may get an AED or bandages, handle crowd or traffic control, ensure that the scene is safe, or be the look out for the EMTs. There are a lot of roles that a person who is not capable of providing care can assume in order to promote a favorable outcome. We teach these things in our classes too. Even if I had 2 broken arms, I’d find a way to be helpful. Abraham Lincoln said it like this: “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.”

If you would like to find out more about CPR and Emergency Rescue Training, you can reach out to the Utah Red Cross or contact Brenda directly at 801-935-5004 or by scanning the link to her website below.

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Welby Elementary to perform on Utah Grizzlies’ home ice

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Shortly before the Utah Grizzlies challenge the Idaho Steelheads on April 8, 106 school children will take to the ice.

As members of Welby Elementary’s choir, the third- through sixth-graders will perform “God Bless America” before the face off.

“The choir is excited; this is such a cool opportunity,” said choir director Katherine Ross Hejazi-Far. “I was looking at outside school performing opportunities when I saw this. It’s the pregame spot before the national anthem, so I reached out.”

Welby’s choir also sang at the Salt Lake Family Christmas Show in November.

“I love giving them opportunities to sing beyond school assemblies and concerts, to broaden their experiences. Many of them are familiar with sports and they’ve seen on TV, perhaps at the Super Bowl, how big it can be to see the national anthem. It’s mixing their worlds, giving them opportunities to perform,” she said.

Hejazi-Far is planning to have the choir sing a two-part rendition of the patriotic song.

“It’s a beautiful version that is easy to learn so we can rehearse it plenty before our performance. I’m trying to keep it simple in case any of the students get too nervous,” she said, adding that her students will either wear their Welby Wildcat gear or school colors.

The choir also will perform the song as part of their spring concert, on a yet to-be-determined date in late April or early May. Its theme will be “kindness and positivity.”

“We’ll sing ‘Count on Me’ by Bruno Mars so their friends know they’ll be there for them and we have a song ‘The Light-

house’ which has an uplifting message about being a lighthouse for their friends. We also will perform some happy songs about the colors and spring,” she said.

This is Hejazi-Far’s second year instructing music at Welby as the Beverley Taylor Sorenson music specialist. She previously taught seven years split between teaching in Alpine School District and in Virginia.

Welby’s choir program increased from 35 students her first year to 80 last year to more than 100 this year.

“I go deeper in choir than just singing a melody. We explore what is harmony and have 50 students on part one and 50 on part two and make sure they listen to each other. They learn what it means to be in an ensemble and are getting experience being in a large choir,” she said.

Hejazi-Far teaches music to every class about once per week. She uses GAMEPLAN curriculum as her base resource, then adds opportunities for the school children. She teaches fourth graders the recorder. Students learn to play a kid-size xylophone, the triangle and rhythm sticks.

“I teach general music education, so we touch on everything. They learn about rhythm, different genres of music, study composers, and of course, do a lot of singing,” she said. “The students seem to like the music classes so then they join the choir. I like giving them new places to showcase their art. A lot of kids said they’ve never been to a hockey game, so this is giving them an opportunity to perform and a new opportunity to see a game.” l

A T G L E N M O O R G O L F C L U B

Katherine Ross Hejazi-Far will direct the 106 members of Welby’s Choir, seen here at the Salt Lake Family Christmas Show in November, at the April 8 Utah Grizzlies game. (Photo courtesy of Welby Elementary)

Cremation Services

Welby Elementary student council gets a firsthand glimpse of state government

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Welby Elementary student council members had the opportunity to sit in the House at the state capitol to watch discussion on a bill that wouldn’t require individuals with special needs to repay their training should they accept a job offer elsewhere.

“We saw the voting and it passed,” Welby sixth-grade teacher and student council adviser Josh Glover said. “It was almost unanimous, which I think is pretty rare. I used to teach fifth grade and we talked a lot about the division of government and how laws are made. It was a cool connection, and they probably hadn’t been able to experience before.”

The 10 Welby sixth-graders, Glover and other adviser Rachael Quinney were participating in PTSA’s Day at the Capitol on Feb. 9, where Welby’s student leaders joined about 100 other students for not only a capitol tour, but also to participate in a mock debate in the senate rooms.

“Our day started with a wonderful speech that explained how our government in the capitol works and we learned about leadership,” he said. “The main takeaway from the speech was to be successful at communicating. You have to be willing to extend an invitation and not necessarily demand someone to talk to you. I think that’s a good approach for our student council, as they’re working with their peers and leading activities and building relationships.”

Two Welby students were chosen to participate in a mock debate. The topic: should social media be restricted for people up to 18 years of age?

“One of my students who participated in the debate was very excited because she had been discussing that with her parents. She really wants to get a social media account and she made some good points,” he said.

Points in favor ranged from being connected to family and others outside of school and being able to share ideas to those against saying they’d be able to avoid cyberbullying or being exposed to pornography.

“There wasn’t really a winning side, but it just was a cool opportunity for the other students to watch and soak in,” he said, adding that it designed to give students a better

understanding of discussions that happen in the legislature.

Glover said on the tour, students were impressed with the grandness of the rotunda, the paintings of the state leaders in the Hall of Governors, the historical murals and statues placed around the capitol and the lavish goldleaf furnishings in the state reception room, commonly referred to as the Gold Room.

However, he said the students also appreciated some commonly “overlooked” sights, such as the elevators, the marble staircases and columns, and the beehive symbols throughout the capitol.

“I had a lot of students mention all of the little fine details throughout this tour like the tiling on the floor and how it looked like honeycomb,” he said. “They asked questions about why the Gold Room was important, how old the capitol is and how much money and time it took to build it.”

While the day’s sessions didn’t allow their local legislative leaders to meet with the young leaders, Glover said, they did see Utah State University President Noelle Cockett during their visit and were entertained by a musical performance.

“It was a great opportunity for our students,” he said. “I hope they remember getting to see the law in action because a lot of times kids hear about it or they learn about it in school, but it’s just not very real yet. So, getting to go to the capitol and witnessing legislators voting and passing bills and laws is memorable. I think getting to participate in that debate was a big deal for them because they are modeling what is happening at the capitol. Debate skills are huge and will help them academically and in their leadership at the school.”

Welby sixth-grade students in good academic standing and citizenship are chosen for student council based on their application, essays and teacher input in the fall. Throughout the year, the student leaders are responsible for weekly student announcements, making videos to demonstrate school rules, collecting paper recycling at the school and an annual fundraiser. This year, they held a holiday giving tree to help families in need in South Jordan and West Jordan. l

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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.

Welby Elementary student council stands on the steps outside of the Utah State Capitol they visited on PTSA’s Day at the Capitol. (Josh Glover/Welby Elementary)

Bingham unified basketball scores—on and off the court

Next school year Bingham High senior Dylan Findlay is headed to Western Kentucky University to play football.

However, the offensive and defensive tackle is redirecting his focus to the basketball court where, as a partner athlete, he’s helping support his unified classmates at a regional unified basketball tournament held in early March.

“I love how much these students teach me about life; no matter what they face, they are happy,” said the second-year unified team member. “Here on the court, they’re able to play the same as everyone. To see the joy on their faces, and how much fun they’re having, is just awesome.”

Findlay is a peer tutor, so he interacts with students both on and off the court.

“They work hard in the classroom, and they don’t give up. Sometimes, they may not understand the concept as fast as others, but they keep trying until they do. It’s the same opportunity that they have here today. They’re working hard, but they can play. It makes me so happy to be a part of this team and what it means,” he said.

In unified basketball, there are 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.

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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.

Bingham, which placed first in its regional tournament division, went on to finish eighth at the March 8 state unified basketball tournament.

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

University.

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

Bingham High’s unified team shoots for two against Brighton High at the regional unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Bingham High’s unified student-athletes high-five after a made shot against Herriman at the state unified basketball championships. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Bingham High Miners pass the ball ahead of Corner Canyon High at their state unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Surya Kapu wins Regional Spelling Bee, heads to nationals for third time

WhenSurya Kapu, 13, spelled “linstock” correctly, he walked away as the winner of 2023 Regional Spelling Bee. The South Jordan resident will represent American Preparatory Academy Draper #3 at the 95th Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30-June 1 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. This will be Surya’s third time at the national competition, where he took fifth place in 2022.

Sponsored by the City Journals, the 2023 Regional Spelling Bee was held at Juan Diego High School on March 11, with nearly 170 students participating from 104 Utah schools.

To prepare for the spelling bee, Surya said he studies up to two hours each day. “A lot of it is just going through the dictionary and trying to find good words and looking at their information like their definition and origin,” he said. “I just have to keep studying and try my best and try to go as far as I can.”

It was his fourth time participating in the regional competition, and he’s excited about a third chance at winning the national title. He said staying calm is key during the bee as stress and expectations can trip a speller up.

“Sometimes it helps to take deep breaths and drink lots of water,” he said. “Try not to think about things too much, try not to think about the words for the other contestants. Just try to chill out and relax, especially when you’re getting to the end of the bee and the words get harder. But I try to stay calm.”

Surya will travel to Washington, D.C. with his parents and sister, all paid for by the City Journals. There’s also a possibility that the second place speller, Brooke Powell, will have the chance to attend the national spelling bee.

City Journals Publisher Bryan Scott is working with

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Scripps to see if he can send a second speller to represent Utah. If a person or business is interested in sponsoring Brooke’s trip to Washington, D.C., contact Scott at bryan.s@ thecityjournals.com.

Brooke, who turned 12 the day before the regional competition, is a homeschool student and resident of Fruit Heights. She finished in fourth place in last year’s bee.

“I’m not necessarily a writer, but I do write my spelling words down when I study them,” Brooke said. “I’m more of a drawing person but I’m naturally good at spelling because I have a strong ability to memorize things.”

Surya is looking forward to visiting the museums and historic buildings in the nation’s capital. He encourages other students to get involved with the spelling bee and maybe win a trip to Washington. For more information about the national spelling bee, visit SpellingBee.com.

“Try your best. Have fun with it and work hard,” Surya said. “It’s a fun experience.”

Scott said the City Journals sponsors the bee each year because strong spelling skills are good for many professions. The competition recognizes students who work hard and take the time to practice. He also appreciates the sponsors who make the bee possible each year.

“I want to thank Juan Diego for hosting the regional spelling bee at their facility, we are so lucky to have a great partner,” Scott said. “I also want to thank RubySnap who donated cookies and Handel's Ice Cream for presenting free ice cream coupons for spellers.”l

Surya Kapu won the 2023 regional spelling bee. (Photo courtesy Kapu family)

How South Jordan snow plow drivers handled Snowmagedden

Thiswinter saw a marked shift in snowfall as frequent storms regularly forced snow plows onto the roads. The Feb. 21-23 snowstorm for instance dropped well over 20 inches in South Jordan.

A South Jordan press release stated the storm was one of the biggest challenges the city has faced in years. But noted the city’s snowplow drivers kept the streets safe and clear.

Jordan Allen, South Jordan City’s streets manager, said in the press release it required an immense amount of time and resources.

“We had roughly 600 staff hours, 450 tons of salt, and 80 drivers, 12 large trucks, and 15 small trucks working around the clock to keep the roads clear,” he said. “This was an all-hands-on-deck operation, and everyone worked tirelessly to make it happen.”

Typical duties of the staff include street maintenance and repair, water line maintenance and repair, storm drain maintenance, dumpster delivery, park maintenance and more. These jobs were put on hold to keep the roads safe and clear. They worked 12hour shifts, with staff working from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and 7 p.m.-7 a.m.

They also had about five other trucks with staff members helping people who got

By City Journals staff

stuck on the roads during the storm. Allen said the team used 2,300 gallons of unleaded fuel and 3,200 gallons of diesel during the snowstorm.

"Our staff worked through some of the most challenging conditions," he said. "We are extremely proud of our team and their efforts to keep the city safe during this intense snowstorm."

South Jordan isn’t the only city dealing with higher-than-normal usage of resources. West Valley City will normally spread 3,100 tons of salt during the winter, this winter its public works department reported using 4,400 as of mid-March.

South Jordan City expressed appreciation for its staff in the press release.

“The City of South Jordan would like to extend its gratitude to all of the snow plow drivers and the staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the community's safety during this snowstorm. They have all gone above and beyond the call of duty, and all appreciate their hard work.”

BECAUSE NO TWO ARE ALIKE

South Jordan staff work round the clock during snowstorms, such as this one from last year. (File photo courtesy South Jordan City)

Bingham boys swimmers reach for their best finish ever in the 400 freestyle relay at state

For about 15 years, swimming simply hasn’t been a sport in which Bingham High School was historically competitive.

But times may be changing at Bingham, because the boys swim team coached by Clint Sorensen put on a heck of a show at the 6A state tournament Feb. 17-18.

That resulted in a number of firsts for the Miners boys who had their best-ever finish at state in over a decade despite only bringing seven total swimmers to the BYU Natatorium in Provo.

As a team, Bingham’s boys finished in 6th place overall at state with 125 points.

One team in particular was leading that surge in the water.

In the 400 freestyle relay, Coach Sorensen turned to sophomore Lincoln Hymas to lead the way, followed by senior Tyler Rock, and freshman Graden Tennant. Senior Neil Bennett anchored the team that finished in second place in the 400 freestyle relay.

For Bennett, this was his last state tournament swim. The senior finished fifth in the 100 freestyle in a time of 49.23, and touched the wall in seventh place, arching his back at the right moment with a time of 55.76 in the 100 backstroke race.

Another Bingham boys swimmer who had a nice meet was Hymas, who finished in

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

fifth [1:49.09] in the 200 freestyle race and then had a sixth-place finish in the 500 free [4:54.31].

Hymas was then paired up with Tennant, and junior Caleb Scott in a 200 freestyle relay team anchored by the coach’s son himself, sophomore Caleb Sorensen and they finished 13th in the 200 freestyle relay at the BYU Natatorium.

For the women who are also coached by Clint Sorensen, a total of six student-athletes had high enough scores to qualify for the state tournament.

None finished in the top eight in any of the races from an individual or team standpoint, but senior Shaye Anderson led the 400 relay team that featured sophomore Amelia Black and seniors Natalie Hymas and Aubrey Goates to a 13th place finish.

For Anderson, the senior swam one of her final races, earning a personal-best 21st in the 100 free, while Goates touched the wall for two personal-best finishes in the 200 free [17th place] and 500 free [20th]. Natalie Hymas also closed out her career as a Bingham swimming student-athlete with a 19th place finish in the 100 back. l

The boys 400 freestyle relay team celebrates its silver medals. (City Journals)

JDCHS three-time state champ says wrestling taught her ‘grit

Juan Diego Catholic High School’s Yvette

“Star” Vargas won her third straight wrestling title at the 1A/2A/3A girls state championships. This year, the senior defeated Canyon View’s Kristine Jensen in the title match in the 110-pound division Feb. 16 at the Sevier Valley Center. She was named the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the state meet.

“This year winning state I was emotional, but more excited than usual,” she said. “What made this title special was that it was the last time I was going to wrestle. And, I had always hoped to be awarded the outstanding wrestler.”

Vargas defeated North Sevier’s Isabelle Sorenson, South Sevier’s Shaynna Fillmore to reach the semifinals where she defeated Ogden’s Brighton Summers before taking down Jensen in the final.

“We are just proud of Star,” said her dad, Vince Vargas. “She knew she was going to walk away from the sport after this season, and she made sure she ended her career with a win.”

JDCHS junior Skyley Hanna, wrestling at 115 pounds, came in third place at state. She won her first two matches over Duchesne’s Daniella Spencer and Juab’s Andelynn Stephensen and then lost to Providence Hall’s Alyssa Lujan. She then beat North Sevier’s Kinsee Salling and then Grantsville’s Bailey Rainer to win the consolation bracket.

Star, the daughter of Vince and Christie Vargas of South Jordan, began wrestling 11 years ago and loved the real sense of community that she has found within the sport and “the unreal feeling of winning” she has also experienced. She said her journey is wrestling has also given her plenty of invaluable life lessons. “Wrestling has taught me that I have grit,” she said. “I know what it’s like to lose and what I have to do to bounce back and learn from my mistakes to be better. It’s also taught me that life gets hard, but without those hard times you as a person wouldn’t be getting stronger.”

“She faced some adversities with some minor injuries, but she stuck with it and ended on top,” said Vince Vargas.

Five members of Juan Diego’s boys wrestling squad participated at the 3A boys state wrestling championships Feb. 15-16 at the Sevier Valley Center but didn’t place.

Sophomore Mario Perez competed at 120 pounds, sophomore Corbin Buckley at 144 pounds, sophomore Antonio Archuleta at 157 pounds, sophomore Toby Hardin at 165 pounds and freshman Giovanni Hernandez at 190 pounds.

At the 3A/2A/1A Divisionals that were held in early February at Morgan High School, Star Vargas and Hanna won their weight categories to lead the girls team to a sixth-place showing. Also placing at Divisionals was Ximena Torales-Quintana (fourth, 125 pounds), Jade Alcala (fourth,

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

130 pounds) and Tiffany Nguyen (seventh, 110 pounds).

The boys squad, who placed eighth at Divisionals at Ben Lomond High School in

early February, were led by Hardin in fourth place at 165 pounds.

Other top-eight placers were Perez (sixth, 120 pounds), Buckley (eighth, 144

pounds), Archuleta (eighth, 157 pounds), Sebastian Ramirez (sixth, 190 pounds) and Hernandez (seventh, 190 pounds). l

Juan Diego’s Star Vargas became a three-time state champion Feb. 16 with a win in her final match on the mat Feb. 16 at the 1A/2A/3A girls state championships Sevier Valley Center in the 110-pound division. (Photo courtesy Salmen Sayyed/JDCHS)

Bingham girls basketball wins game at state, but bows out in second round

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

Ameteoricrise was bound to fall back to earth and it did for the Bingham high girls basketball team.

It was a team that grinded out results like its Miners namesake.

Nothing ever came easy for a team that head coach Skyler Beard said had a very simple objective in mind.

“We're looking to stack days and get better each day,” he said. “Goal is to continue to improve and compete every day.”

When City Journals contacted Coach Beard back in late December, he was pleased with what he saw from the Miners.

“Team is looking good after week one with two wins to start the season,” said the coach who went into this season with a 35-13 record. “We have a great core returning and have added some very talented players who have come into the program.”

But then a few injuries hit the team. When the Miners had returned from a trip to Las Vegas during the holidays, they looked like a MASH unit.

When play in Region 3 got underway, Bingham [10-14] was beginning to get some of its players back. Vani Key-Powell returned on Jan. 5 after almost a month’s absence—but the Miners didn’t record their first region victory until Jan. 19.

The Miners would again defeat West Jordan, the school they got their first region win over in January— then avenge a loss they had at Herriman earlier in the season with a 56-49 win over their rivals at home on

Feb. 14.

That set the stage for a team that had a little momentum and a red-hot Mata Peaua going into the 6A state tournament, where the Miners would play host to Cyprus, Feb. 21.

The Miners stormed out to a 32-16 lead at the half against Cyprus and cruised to a 49-35 win at The Pit, advancing to the second around of the 6A state tourney.

At Skyridge, the Miners trailed by eight points, 21-13, in the first quarter. But the Bingham defense clamped down in the second quarter and led going into the halftime break, 32-31.

In a seesaw battle, Skyridge regained control in the third quarter thanks to some timely baskets.

Trailing by 11 going into the fourth quarter, the Miners chipped away thanks to 20 points from junior Mata Peaua and a near double-double from Key-Powell [nine points and 10 rebounds], who is also just a junior for Bingham, but ultimately ended a roller-coaster season at Skyridge with a 64-54 loss.

Skyridge was able to hold the Miners’ leader in scoring [junior Brianna Badonie] to only nine points, well below her 14-point-per-game average in this door-die 6A state tournament second round game.

For the Miners, however, there is a lot of optimism for a squad that will only lose four players to graduation and is expected to be returning almost all of their starters, next year. l

By order of their jersey numbers, the 2022-23 Bingham Miners basketball team was:

Vani Key-Powell

Emailine Roberts

Sophie Curtis

Meg Burton

Brielle Blanchard

Paige Nelson

Sarah Broederlow

Stacia Peoples

Umu Tukuafu

Reagan Littlewood

Raylynn Richardson

Brianna Badonie

Halle Bayles

Lena Casperson

Shyann Banasky

Olivia Throndsen

Ane Henderson

Peyton Gough

Mata Peaua

Senior Ana Henderson brings the ball downcourt during Bingham’s senior night win over Herriman. (City Journals)

Intermountain Health performed a record-breaking number of organ transplants in 2022

Kristine Fogarty didn’t even hesitate. When she learned her friend and coworker Carrie Riggs needed a life-saving liver transplant, Fogarty went online to register as a living organ donor. No one in Riggs’ family could donate, but Fogarty’s bloodwork came back as a potential match.

“I told her, if you need someone to match you, I’ll do this because it’s important and it will save your life,” she said.

Fogarty was one of only 13 living liver donation transplants performed at Intermountain Health during 2022, a year when the facility performed a record-breaking 300 adult transplants, thanks to the generosity of organ donors, their families and a team of transplant caregivers.

The Intermountain Transplant Program performed a total of 104 liver, 159 kidney, 29 heart, and eight kidney/pancreas adult transplants last year, the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the program.

“Living donors are incredible people,” said Diane Alonso, MD, transplant surgeon and former medical director of Intermountain Health’s abdominal transplant program. “They are often undergoing major surgery to give new life to their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, neighbors—and sometimes to someone they don’t even know. They truly are giving the gift of life and we do our best to be great stewards of that gift.”

The uptick in transplants is due to generous donors, an increase in donor organ availability and advancements in technology and medicine. Liver transplants at Intermountain Health exceed the national average because they are able to match a wider range of donor organs to recipients.

Live transplantation saw the largest increase, with 32 living kidney transplants and 13 living liver transplants.

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

“Intermountain has created the environment and provided us the necessary tools and medical team to be successful,” said Jean Botha, MD, transplant surgeon and medical director of Intermountain Health’s abdominal transplant program. “I couldn’t be prouder and more honored to be working side-by-side with these caregivers who are changing lives in our communities.”

Within a couple of months, Fogarty passed all the screening tests and was approved to be a living liver donor for Riggs. The transplant was performed in October 2022 and both women are doing well. Riggs said she doesn’t know how to adequately thank Fogarty for saving her life.

“I thought I had to wait for someone to die and that scared me,” Riggs said. “Kristine was my lifeline. She saved my life. We are now closer than ever.”

The success of Intermountain’s transplant program, which serves patients throughout the nation, is the result of caregiver teams across the Intermountain system and community partners working together. The addition of an Intermountain Life Flight long-range medical jet in 2022 enhances organ transplantation by retrieving donor organs from across the United States. Intermountain also launched a new platform called iReferral with InVita Healthcare Technologies and DonorConnect, the organ procurement agency for the Intermountain West. iReferral streamlines the organ donor referral process and automates the identification of potential donors.

To learn more about organ donation or register to become an organ donor, go to intermountainhealthcare.org/donatelife.

Fogarty said although her experience was scary, she’d do it again if she could. She challenges others to look into becoming a living donor to give another person the opportunity to live.

“Do it. Save a life. Get this feeling of purpose in life that you helped be part of a miracle. There are so many people out there waiting,” she said. “Living donors are very rare. There were only 13 living donors for livers last year. There’s more people dying than 13. That’s why that number needs to change.”

Kristine Fogarty (left) donated a portion of her liver to her friend and coworker Carrie Riggs as part of Intermountain Health’s living organ donation program. Intermountain Health performed a record-breaking 300 adult transplants in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Kristine Fogarty)

Bingham boys basketball had a respectable run at state after having dug out from an early season hole

AsRegion 3 play ground to a halt and the complex machinery that is the 6A state basketball tournament turned into gear, the Miners were proving that old adage, that hard work did in fact pay off in the long run.

“Yes, we are having a great season for what we have,” said Bingham boys basketball head coach Kyle Straatman. “The boys are a very fun team to watch play because they play together and really move the ball on offense and then have a ton of energy and are very scrappy on defense.”

That defense led to a 59-39 win in The Pit over No. 18 Skyridge in the first round of the 6A state tournament, Feb. 23.

“We also have our Freshman Luke West who is starting to take over games offensively and then Senior Brayden Whitehead is leading the state in blocks per game,” said the head coach, who is now 66-31 all-time at Bingham.

True to what the coach said, Whitehead was a force inside against No. 18 seed Skyridge, providing that stick of dynamite type of presence in the painted area. The senior had 10 points to go with 12 rebounds for Bingham [12-13].

The freshmen West was also big for the Miners, scoring 18 points while knocking down three triples. Senior Carson Bagley also had 14 points and 11 rebounds for a 15-seeded Bingham team that would now travel to Magna to play Cyprus the next day—as luck would have it.

The Miners acted like Cyprus’ gym packed to the rafters was their gym in the first half. Hamfisted, the Miners wouldn’t give heavily favored 2-seed Cyprus any room to breathe in the first quarter and played to a 1212 stalemate.

In the second quarter, the battle between two mining towns was still anyone’s game. With the famed smokestack not far from the C on the hill that was not yet lit, the Miners refused to give Cyprus’—and the state’s—leading scorer Quentin Meza much room to move. Bingham merely trailed by one point going into the half, 24-23. But in the third quarter, Cyprus found some room and started knocking down shots from outside—which led to Meza cinching up his stroke.

The Miners were now trailing by 12 points after going ice-cold from behind the three-point arc after three quarters of play inside of an old, musty gym in the mining town of Magna.

You wonder if the two schools played every year if this is how the game would turn out. With a trip to the Dee Events Center in Ogden on the line the Miners gave it everything they had in the fourth and final quarter, because that’s the type of team Bingham had.

It wasn’t enough in a 68-60 loss at Cyprus, however, as freshman Luke West

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

showed why he may someday be mentioned alongside Meza as one of the state’s all-time greats.

West had 20 points for a Bingham team that never quit on Feb. 24—not even a day after the Miners had had to play their firstround state playoff game in this battle of mining towns.

Senior KJ Jenson did all that he could as well, firing down three triples in this round of 16 game en route to 17 points in his last game.

These were shots that this unsung team who won their last three region games in convincing ways had been practicing at 6 a.m. before the daybreak burst over the Oquirrh Mountains, every morning before and during the season.

These were days that seniors like Whitehead and Jenson and Bagley and two of the bench glue guys like Caden Wood and Gage Vance knew they would never again see.

So like their predecessors must have done they just got to the work, took these younger guys like Luke West and Jason Peterson and junior Stockton Tueller along and showed them the way.

Wouldn’t you know it, they almost made it to Ogden.

So for this group of unsung kids who

in all ways showed the heart and grit and character befitting a champion, who made their coach Kyle Straatman burst with pride when talking about them all, know this: you

watched all of your predecessors in this town of South Jordan burst with that same pride and spirit, right over those Oquirrh Mountains. l

Luke West will return for the Bingham Miners basketball team next year. (City Journals)

Brotherhood is a major part of the Bingham program’s culture. (City Journals)

Bingham boys’ wrestler Banks Love captures silver medal at 6A state championships

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

Bingham boys’ wrestler Banks Love has had a winter to remember. In the eyes of Bingham head football coach Eric Jones, however, the junior is someone to be remembered for what he does off the mat.

“Banks is a phenomenal young man! Best wrestler in the school but even more than that, he’s a great kid,” Jones said. “Very respectful, always doing what he should be doing, and works his tail off. He’s a coach’s dream athlete.”

Love’s hard work paid off Feb. 16 when he made it all the way to the championship bout at this year’s 6A state tournament. On the campus of UVU, the junior lost a narrow decision to a wrestler from Fremont High School, 9-7, earning a silver medal at 156 pounds.

“It was close. I think he’d be the first to say he didn’t wrestle very well in the first round & a half,” Jones said.

At last year’s 6A state tournament as a sophomore, Love finished in fourth place overall at 126 pounds.

This year, the spotlight has indeed shined brighter on Love, but it hasn’t affected him much. Love qualified for the 6A state tournament after winning the 6A Divisional at Corner Canyon High School Feb. 4. Before that, Love

was a Wildcard entrant yet still won by fall in the featured bout of the evening at the Ross Brunson Duels in just 5:55 Jan. 11 at UVU.

To start the season, the Bingham junior earned All-American status Dec. 21, 2022 at the prestigious Reno [Nevada] Tournament of Champions.

In Reno, “Banks sailed through the early rounds of the tournament by racking up the pins,” said the statement from the Bingham High athletics department. “He finished second overall in the tournament which granted him [the] All American status.”

Heading into this season, Love had amassed an impressive record as an amateur wrestler. According to his TrackWrestling.com profile, he’d won 62 matches and lost just 17— with 32 of those victories coming by pin. Another 15 came by way of technical fall.

Love, who also plays defensive back on Bingham’s football team, plans to head into his senior season with a Region 3 title and 6A Divisional crown to defend and hopefully win it all at state next year.

“He was disappointed to not finish it off with a title, but he certainly had a great year.” l

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

Changes to Unified Police Department and sheriff duties WELCOME

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.

“ 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!

—Anna D

Utahns demonstrate attention span disruption with cell phone usage

It was 2007 when Apple released the iPhone as the first “smartphone.” Since then, consumers have become increasingly attached to their devices, to the point of distraction. Research shows looking at phones gives users a dopamine boost, creating a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, but at what cost?

In a study conducted by North Star Inbound, for the gaming platform Solitaire Bliss, smartphone users across 38 states submitted information about their cell phone usage. The study showed 41% of Utah residents frequently use their phones while watching TV, 49% of Utahns admit to looking down at their phones as they cross a street and 59% of Utah residents bring their phones to use while on the toilet.

“This study looked at a few ways being distracted by our phones can impact our lives,” said Melissa Stephenson, North Star Inbound media relations associate. “With 49% of Utah residents admitting to looking down at their phones at least a couple times while crossing a street, a personal safety issue is raised.”

While men are most guilty of looking at their phones while crossing the street, women reach for their phones while watching TV more often than men. Nearly one-third of Utah residents only last a few minutes before their mind wanders and they reach for their phone,

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

and 45% of Utahns talk to others on their phones while working on a separate task.

Habitual cell phone use has been connected with decreased attention spans. According to the study, it’s not surprising that the Gen Z population, who have grown up with smartphones, has the shortest attention span compared to millennials, Gen X and baby boomers.

The Child Mind Institute found an increase in phone use led to a decrease in connection. As attention spans decrease, effective learning is diminished. This includes the ability to retain information, pay attention to details and create cognitive flexibility, which is a brain’s ability to change and adapt.

“As our study points out areas where attention spans aren’t thriving, we can look at research done by George Washington University for recommendations on improving attention spans,” Stephenson said. “They listed meditation, practicing attentive listening, reading, practicing muscle relaxation techniques, mindful walking, reducing distractions and making time for mental breaks.”

Experts recommend putting phones in a different room where it won’t be visible and easily accessible. Sometimes, just the sight of a phone is a trigger to pick it up and use it. Placing a phone in a drawer at work is a

good way to keep from getting distracted on the job. Users can also set time limits on specific platforms or download apps to track cell phone usage.

The North Star Inbound study showed 76% of those surveyed are distracted by their phones at work and 62% give up when trying something new or difficult. For more on the

A Passion to Lift Moms Higher

Robbyn Scribner is a passionate advocate for women’s professional development. Her commitment to empowering women began in 2020 when she co-founded TechMoms to help women raise their game, develop skills, get higher pay and be Mom.

“During my 15-year-long career break, I met many women who found themselves in a panic and had not planned on having a career or hadn’t much work experience,” Robbyn said. “Some found themselves facing a divorce or a partner’s disability, and the financial stability they thought they had was suddenly gone. I wanted to help more women avoid that situation by creating ways for them to support their family.”

Tech-Moms, a non-profit organization that helps women transition into or re-enter a career in tech, empowers moms to create career development opportunities while simultaneously being great mothers and caregivers.

Robbyn's message to students at Tech-Moms is clear: take a chance on yourself. Of the 300+ students who have completed the program, 40% are single moms who are the

primary provider for their family.

“Being a single sole-provider for your kids can be scary,” she said. “When you’re a mom who has been faithfully working to raise your children, suddenly needing to get a job that pays a fair salary is overwhelming, especially if you haven’t developed the skills.”

That’s where Robbyn, Trina Limpert and Mikel Blake combined skills, vision and a firm determination to literally make dreams come true for women who may feel trapped or hopeless.

“I didn't know what else was out there,” said Allison Worthy, a mother of four children and cosmetologist. “I didn't know how I could do something for myself and finally get a job and do something besides being a mom. I had no idea where to turn or what to do.”

Robbyn champions women like Allison to look for new possibilities for themselves and to be successful in both their vital role as mom and caregiver, as well as pursue careers that will support their families financially.

But it doesn’t stop there.

“You have to make company

leaders aware,” Robbyn said. “That’s where we actively encourage employers to invest in diversified women by recognizing the unique set of skills and perspectives women bring to tech roles. When they see that, it’s like magic.”

Thanks to tireless work by Robbyn, Trina and Mikel, organizations such as Comcast have partnered with Tech-Moms, providing cash funding and in-kind support for their technical training program.

“The work Tech-Moms is doing is truly making a difference in the lives of hundreds of families in Utah,” said Deneiva Knight, Ex-

study, visit Solitairebliss.com/blog.

“Utah residents ranked the fourth worst at being on their phones while talking to loved ones, raising the issue of not being present in those situations,” Stephenson said. “Being present in moments of our lives has been proven to help with stress management and regulating our moods.”l

ternal Affairs Director at Comcast. “We wholeheartedly champion that cause.”

Allison and more than 300 Utah women have learned coding, cyber security, and data science from expert tech trainers. What’s more, over 100 companies have jobs for future tech roles, setting the stage for Utah women to make incredible contributions.

“During March’s National Women’s History Month, which honors women who quietly and profoundly influence society, culture, families, and communities, we celebrate Robbyn’s ongoing commit-

ment to help Utah women succeed in tech by increasing access to resources they need for fulfilling careers in this industry,” said Knight.

“More than ever, the opportunities are here in front of us,” said Robbyn. “To every woman, we say, ‘Take a chance on yourself’ because they deserve it, their families deserve it, and companies will benefit greatly.”

#TechMoms #NationalWomensHistoryMonth #RobbynScribner #WomenInTech #EmpoweringWomen #CareerDevelopment #Coding #CyberSecurity #DataScience #UtahWomen #Comcast l

A study conducted by North Star Inbound showed 49% of Utahns admit to looking down at their phones as they cross a street. (Stock photo)

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Expand Business Solutions

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

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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.

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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

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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