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JOHNSON RETURNS AS CITY COUNCILWOMAN 12 YEARS AFTER FIRST STINT, SHE WILL REPRESENT DISTRICT 2 By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

t’s been more than 12 years since Kathie Johnson served as a member of the South Jordan City Council–which she has rejoined after winning the election last November. And though the community has changed a lot, her love for the city has not. “I really enjoy being involved in the community,” she said. “It just seemed like a good time to try for the council again when the seat in District 2 came open. I’m very excited to be serving on the council again.” She was a council member from January 2008 to December 2011. Before and after that term, she has been active on the city’s Planning Commission, the Architectural Review Committee, the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Republican Club of Salt Lake City (where she was president for 2014-2015) and working with Justice Court Mediation. The biggest difference from her first term to now is the city’s growth. “Our family moved to South Jordan 33 years ago, and since then we have experienced many changes in our family and the community,” Johnson said. “Our children have grown up in South Jordan and now have their own families and careers. South Jordan has also grown during this time and has faced many challenges.” Johnson said South Jordan’s population went from just over 53,000 in 2011 to more than 86,000 today. Much of that growth has come from the creation and expansion

of the Daybreak area. “The challenge of keeping up with the increased demands for essential services of fire, police, roads, sewer, water and parks continues today,” she said. In that regard, she feels the two biggest issues for the city are traffic and economic growth. “The largest concern in my district, and really the community as a whole, is traffic,” she said. “It’s flowing east to west and there are more cars than ever before. It would be great if we can get Mountain View completed and create a true corridor that would benefit all the cities on the west side of the valley. That has largely to do with decisions the state makes, so we need to continue working with them to get the road fully developed.” Second on her list of priorities is economic growth, a key for the city to keep the impact of taxes lower on residents. “We need to work with good commercial partners and help grow Daybreak into what we envisioned for it,” she said. “There is a lot of land west of Daybreak that has been annexed into the city. We need to monitor that so we can see how it’s developed. That can be done through the connections we make with businesses and builders.” She said the state is under pressure to open up more stacked housing, which means more apartment buildings near single-family housing areas. That growth has been Continued page 22

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New South Jordan City Councilwoman Kathie Johnson. (Photo courtesy Kathie Johnson)

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February 2024 | Page 3

AI gaining traction as a mental health tool By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com Editor’s note: this is part of a series of articles about artificial intelligence in schools.

hat teacher can determine the mood of each of their students within the first few minutes of class? A teacher who uses AI tools. Jordan School District has provided their teachers with SchoolAI, a platform which not only helps them address students’ academic needs but also their social, behavioral and mental health needs as well. With SchoolAI’s bell ringer tool, teachers set up a chatbot with specific parameters to engage personally with each student. It asks what they ate for breakfast, how they feel about what they are learning, or what they remember about yesterday’s lesson. On the teacher’s monitor, the students' answers are color-coded according to mood and tone. “The teacher is sitting there, kind of like in the command and control center on their laptop,” Kevin Morrill of SchoolAI explained. “They can see a kind of heat map and emoji showing how the class is feeling. At a glance, teachers can immediately see their entire class's feelings within the first few minutes of coming to class.” Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said, “SchoolAI helps triage where teachers are needed most in that moment.” Valley High School teacher Graham Bany said the color-coded visual indicators alert him when a student types something off-base or worrisome. “So I can go and actually check in one-to-one with that kid and give them the support that they need,” he said. Jordan Hills Elementary school teacher Jill Firkins said it helps her know when

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something may be affecting a student’s mood or ability to focus on learning. “I had a student who mentioned in a science chat with SchoolAI that their dog had died,” Firkins said. “It gave me a heads-up and I was able to check in with that student.” Godfrey said one of the benefits of the tool is it helps teachers to be aware of how their students feel about their learning. “If a student feels confident and curious, a lot of learning can take place; if they're frustrated and confused, that will block learning,” Godfrey said. “So understanding a student's disposition toward learning and how they feel about their own progress is an important aspect of what SchoolAI can offer.” The interface also allows shy or easily embarrassed students to ask a question privately instead of speaking up in front of their peers. “In the past, you may say to students, ‘Work on this assignment and raise your hand if you need help,’” Godfrey said. “Well, what that says is, ‘Raise your hand if you'd like to signal to the whole class that you're struggling.’” Kimberly Mendenall, a computer science teacher at Fort Herriman Middle School, said the AI tools in Adobe Express have been beneficial for students who struggle with shyness or anxiety. Instead of reading their report in front of their peers, they have the option to use AI tools to easily create an animated character to present their material. “It allows students to have that freedom of not feeling like they are personally being seen, but their voice is still being heard,” she said. Bany said it is common for some high school students to feel uncomfortable con-

tributing to class discussions. “We all know that kids will not speak up in the classroom all the time,” he said. “Some of the kids— especially the ones that feel wronged or feel hurt or disenfranchised, or not a ‘cool kid’ or ‘popular kid’—are sometimes afraid to actually use their voice because they're afraid of that retaliation—even just verbally or nonverbally—from those people in those spaces.” Bany and his journalism students used AI tools to create a class mission statement. Each student contributed their ideas privately and AI crafted a statement that incorporated everyone’s ideas. “Had we not done it that way, some kids may have never actually contributed or tried to say something or really advocat-

The class mission statement students created with the help of AI is posted in Graham Bany’s classroom at Valley High School. (Photo courtesy of Graham Bany)

ed for the thing that they felt,” Bany said. “So what it does is actually allows them to be a part of the process instead of hoping to not be noticed during the process.” And because all the students contributed to, edited and personalized the statement, they all feel ownership of it. “Our classroom culture has taken a dramatic shift because they wrote the rules, it was all of their ideas anyway, and so they're just being held to their own expectations and standards,” Bany said. AI tools are also being used in school counseling centers to meet students’ mental and social health needs. Kip Webster and Sierra Dickson, both licensed social workers working at Mountain Ridge High School, use a metrics program with AI features to assess student’s levels of anxiety, depression, overall happiness, optimism, grit and their feelings about school. The AI

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students are already comfortable with, will help them learn how to utilize technology tools to improve their mental health. “With a lot of kids, their anxiety is school-based, and so they're still in school when they come in and talk to us, and so they're still pretty amped up,” Webster said. “So there's some apps that we could use through the iPads—like the Calm app, the Headspace app, or paint by numbers, things like that—to help them just slow down and relax.” As school faculty members utilize AI technology tools to improve their students’ behavior and mental health, they also acknowledge its effect on their own mental well-being. “I unequivocally credit AI with 100% saving a lot of my sanity as a teacher,” Bany said. “It automates hours of work that I would do a week into minutes that I

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collects the data, provides a general analysis, identifies areas of concern and then suggests videos that would be helpful for the parents of the struggling child. Dickson said as the metrics program gathers information from students, they can monitor the effectiveness of treatments. “Eventually, we will be able to see not only how they're doing now, but also be able to measure if meeting with a therapist in school or in a group therapy setting is benefiting them,” she said. To streamline the assessment method and provide coping strategies for students, both Dickson and Webster have set up a DonorsChoose project to acquire iPads. They believe the use of iPads, which

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SchoolAI’s bellringer tool lets teachers see which students need help. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Morrill of SchoolAI)

can then take and work with in the different ways that I need to. So it saves all of my sanity, all of my time. It helps me fill in the gaps of my own ability—not for lack of ability—but lack for availability.” Amber Saffen, an engineering and robotics teacher at JATC, said AI tools that digitize resources and reduce monotonous work have reduced the workload and the stress of teachers, especially new teachers,

who, according to a KSL report, have a 45-50% turnover rate within their first five years. “Everyone knows starting to become a teacher is a lot of work—it's a hard profession to jump into,” Saffen said. “And so to have them say, ‘Hey, here's some more resources to help you,’ is going to help with teacher burnout a lot.” l

AI tools can benefit students who are frustrated or shy. (Image created by Firefly Adobe AI)

South Jordan nonprofit wins international .ORG Impact Award By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

South Jordan nonprofit beat out nearly 1,000 organizations to win $10,000 at the .ORG Impact Awards in Washington, D.C. WHOlives was presented with the Hunger and Poverty Award after competing against applicants from more than 70 countries. “WHOlives shows us a better way forward,” Jen England of Food Rescue Hero said at the ceremony. “They’ve created the self-sustaining solution to bringing clean water to developing communities. To this date, this has ensured that over 12 million people across 40 countries now have access to clean water.” John Renouard started WHOlives 13 years ago with the help of BYU engineering students. Together, they designed the Village Drill which has created 13,000 water wells in 40 countries, helping millions of people with their innovative design. When WHOlives made it to the final 35 in the contest, a film crew from .ORG came to the Renouard home to take some videos and interview Renouard and his wife Nicci. For the award ceremony, the couple was flown to Washington, D.C. and put up in a nice hotel with the other finalists. They participated in a dinner and mixer to meet the other organization leaders

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before the award ceremony. The D.C. ceremony was hosted by Padma Lakshmi, activist, author and host/ producer of Hulu’s Taste the Nation. Renouard said when WHOlives was announced as the winner of its category, he was completely surprised. “We knew everybody would win something,” he said. “There was a first, second and third and I think the smallest prize was $2,500, followed by $5,000 and $10,000 if you won your category… And $10,000 might not sound like a lot to some people, but for us it’s amazing. That $10,000 turns into a lot of people that get help. When it’s $5 a person to get clean water, that means there are 2,000 people we can bring clean water to. So it really is a big deal.” Public Interest Registry is the company that coordinates the .ORG Impact Awards. The annual program recognizes and celebrates mission-driven organizations and individuals working to make the world a better place. Not only does WHOlives provide clean water to millions of people, but it also has created a program to rescue girls from genital mutilation and child marriage. Last year, Renouard partnered with

local police precincts in Kenya to provide resources to help officers track down and arrest the criminals involved in the heinous crimes. “We’ve had over 65 arrests, and that’s never happened before,” he said. “People are thinking twice before they commit this hideous act with the threat of being arrested.” More than 2,000 young girls have been rescued through WHOlives intervention. Renouard said he continues to be amazed that a small group in South Jordan has made such a difference for women, girls and people in water-poor communities. “We’re small but powerful, and we didn’t know we could have such an impact a world away,” he said. “It keeps us going, that’s for sure.” For more information, visit wholives. org. l

Nicci and John Renouard of WHOlives accepted the .ORG Impact Award in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit was recognized for its work to bring clean water to millions of people. (Courtesy of Renouard)

February 2024 | Page 5

Elk Meadows Elementary’s carnival celebrates 25 years of student learning

t was 1998 and back then, Jordan School District stretched east to west in the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley. With a population boom, several schools were being built, including Elk Meadows Elementary in South Jordan. “We started as a year-round school as our student body was a lot larger, probably double of what it is now,” said Tricia Troester, who is one of only a couple of the original staff and faculty members still working at the school. “There was a real need for a school in this area so they built Elk Meadows to accommodate the growth.” While few were there on that opening day, 25 years later, the school PTA held a celebratory carnival, complete with games, inflatable obstacle courses and slides, a magician and balloon animals, cotton candy and popcorn. The school choir performed three songs, including the Elk Meadows song written by a former teacher. Former principals and Superintendent Anthony Godfrey were invited to the event and the school mascot, Falco the falcon, made an appearance. The school mostly looks like it did a quarter of a century ago, Troester said. “We have new carpet, but they put in the same color of carpet. We now use badges to open the doors and the office was redone when it flooded last year,” she said. “Some of our programs have changed through the years. We have an orchestra and theater programs and we used to have a computer lab where they would test students’ words per minutes to see if they could type faster than the principal. Now, the computers are gone, and it has changed to a hands-on STEM lab. They also added an emotional support unit and everyone welcomes those kids.” Throughout the years, Troester, echoed by former and current administrators, said it’s a supportive community. “The PTA is amazing; there are always volunteers. It’s a great school to be at,” she said. Steven Burnside was the school’s first principal. “Our PTA, along with our faculty and staff and students established our charter, colors and mascot,” he said. “Some students wanted to name our mascot Burnie after me; I had a couple of grandkids there then and I think they were pushing for that. When the students voted, I was glad they voted for Falco. I thought we’d have an elk as our mascot as we had a beautiful picture of an elk in the main lobby. But the children just decided on a falcon. They also voted on the school colors.” Early on, Burnside established a culture of service and appreciation.

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By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com “That first year, we helped with the landscaping of the school. We had every child plant a tulip. That next year, we had hundreds of tulips,” he remembered. “Our students also made 1,000 hospital dolls for Primary Children’s Hospital that could be used to explain their medical procedures and then the patients could have to cuddle with. At our assembly, we laid the dolls on the steps of the stage and a representative from the Primary Children’s Hospital came to accept them. An NBC national correspondent did a report on us. It was very touching for our students.” Burnside worked with Elk Ridge Middle to establish a peer mentorship program. “As part of their leadership programs, Elk Ridge students came to talk about safety, they’d tutor and would play with the kids on the playground or help with activities in the classroom. They were good students who were being role models to our students,” he said. Throughout his nine years at the school, there were moments Burnside remembers: inviting University of Utah and Brigham Young University cheerleaders to eat lunch with the students; having “tremendous” participation in Reflections and a packed audience for choir concerts; watching Shakespeare plays in language arts classes; posting students’ photos for citizens of the month; telling stories at the annual Christmas program; gathering by the flag pole for Veterans Day pledge of allegiance; and during the Olympics, joining a sixth-grade field trip to Soldier Hollow to see cross country events. “We had a Halloween parade every year and I had the privilege of leading the parade with kindergarten kids,” he said. “On Dr. Seuss day, I wore my striped redand-white hat and read with students. I enjoyed doing that.” Talent shows were a hit at the school, with lots of participation. He said two custodians performed country music programs and “the kids enjoyed that.” Burnside was an involved principal. “We had a powerful group of teachers who were really good, so I got to be with the kids more. Every year, we did the American Heart Association’s Jump for Heart and we would exceed the goals they set for us. I would jump and try double Dutch. I got a pie in my face a couple of times when the students reached a certain reading level; and the teachers and I dropped containers the sixth-graders made to protect their raw eggs from the roof for egg drop day,” he said. However, about two years before he retired, Burnside had a heart attack and a brain bleed. “I was out five or six weeks. The beautiful thing about that time was hun-

Elk Meadows and Jordan School District leaders came to support the school’s event celebrating its 25th birthday. Pictured (L-R): Former Elk Meadows Principal Aaron Ichimura, Jordan School District Elementary School Administrator Jill Durrant, Elk Meadows Assistant Principal Molly Morgan, Elk Meadows PTA President Liz Howard, Elk Meadows Principal Tiffany Smith and Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Ichimura)

dreds of posters were made and signed by all the kids and posted covering my entire hospital room and down the hallway. The doctors had never seen anything like that,” he said. “Every school has a special spirit. At Elk Meadows, there were dedicated people who loved kids and we had such a tremendous PTA.” His successor, Howard Griffith, also remembers the fun times he had with the Elk Meadows community. “One time, we roller skated in our parking lot,” he said. “A company in town had a trailer that he brought out with hundreds of pairs of roller skates, so we set up an area in the parking lot with the drop off lane and made a big oval and invited the whole neighborhood. We had music on until 8 or 9 o’clock at night. It was a great success with a lot of people having fun.” Other times, on vehicle days, Griffith would bring his motorcycles and sports cars. “A couple times, I brought my limousine when I had limo service on the side. I had fun taking some kids, parents, teachers who had never even been in one before. I tried to wear our falcon mascot costume, but I found it a little short, so I left that to the others,” said the 6-foot-5-inch former principal who served 30 years as an educator before retiring. One memory that stands out was when a parent called who lived two blocks south of the school.

“She said, ‘I can’t get my kid out of bed. So, I threatened him that I was going to have the principal come get you up.’ She invited me in and since I had a little time that morning, I went to their house. He was still in bed and, needless to say, that was the last time that he was ever not at school,” Griffith said. He appreciated the dedicated teachers who worked together to meet the needs of their students, with their caring attitude, work ethic, strong instructional skills and cooperative abilities. During his tenure, student enrollment was reducing, so “the District decided to move different units to schools so that it can better utilize the buildings,” Griffith said. “We had a special ed cluster that used two classrooms; I was surprised at how open and willing the rest of the population of the school was to embrace them and be open to the different challenges that came when they came to the school, like specific locations and time schedules to best serve them.” Aaron Ichimura followed Griffith as principal. “What makes Elk Meadows great is the amazing students and their families and our terrific teachers and staff,” he said. “At Elk Meadows, all students were accepted and they were loved. No matter where they were coming from, or what challenges they may be facing, when they walked through our doors, they were all

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Elk Meadows students.” Ichimura, like the others, appreciated the PTA, who stepped up to have successful events, including the jogathon fundraiser. “We had a lot of parents come to support the cause and running with the kids. I liked seeing the parents being active with the kids. At one fundraiser, the kids threw pies in my face — and they didn’t take the pie tins off. I got my face all cut up; that was memorable,” he said. Ichimura danced with students during cultural events; jumped during Jump for Heart; helped with third-grade Kids Marketplace; ran the fastest mile with them; and enjoyed morning choir rehearsals. “I would walk in and hear the choir and think, ‘What a great way to start today with happy music and smiling faces. There’s not a better way to start a day of school,’” he said. At Elk Meadows, Ichimura was known for being engaged with students, doing everything from dressing up in a toga with a laurel wreath on his head to be the “God of Rain” for a fifth-grade social studies ceremony to cheering on his cluster students on Sports Day. Before they left to compete, as well as sixth-graders on their last day of elementary school, he, along with the entire school population, would clap out the students in support. “Seven years flew by, but what surprised me was when Falco appeared at assemblies and celebrations, the students didn’t seem to pick up on his height variations through the years,” said the principal who now heads up Welby Elementary. Tiffany Smith is the current principal of Elk Meadows, with Molly Morgan as the assistant principal. A Break the Rules Day fundraiser now replaces the jogathon, where students raise funds to get tickets for opportunities such as running in the halls or using a pen instead of a pencil. There are opportunities for a class dance party or to be principal for the day. A new parking lot was added on the east side to improve parking and make it easier for buses to pull through, as Ichimura remembers nine buses at the school, three times his current school. But what stands out to Morgan, in her second year, echoes what others say about the school. “Our kids are amazing,” she said. “The teachers are unrivaled. Everyone’s willing to help one another and are always focused on what’s best for students. Our PTA is fabulous; there are so many people who are waiting in the wings for an opportunity to serve, which is such a blessing. The PTA always is looking to celebrate our kids and this carnival had an amazing turnout to celebrate the school we all love.” l

Decorated Bingham wrestler enjoying dominating stretch of the season By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

or Banks Love, last year’s Ross Brunson All-Star Wrestling Duals at Utah Valley University was a shot in the dark. After all, the Bingham senior was invited to participate as a Wild Card entrant. He hadn’t planned on participating in this unique one-off tournament format. But Love did. And he won it convincingly by the final score of 6-0. So Love returned to the scene of the crime Tuesday, Jan. 9 as an invited entrant, albeit at a weight class roughly 15 pounds heavier. Love won by the final score of 17-0. It was the Bingham senior’s second straight shutout victory at the Duals and an emphatic one at that. “That's great. He's a phenomenal kid and wrestler,” Bingham head football coach Eric Jones said of Love, who was one of the coach’s defensive backs. Wrestling, however, is where Love has made his mark. The Bingham senior happens to be decorated in the sport—so good that among all Utah high school wrestlers he’s currently ranked No. 13.

A 6A state wrestling finalist in 2023, Love certainly hopes that 2024 will be the year that he finally breaks through. According to Utah’s 6A Coaches Association, the Bingham senior is currently ranked No. 1 at 175 pounds, ahead of a wrestler from Layton and two grapplers from Herriman [Macrae Parker and Ty Carman]. The past two years were huge in a variety of ways for Love; he was a finalist at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions in December 2022 and was named an All-American at the Marine Corps Junior & 16-Under Nationals held in Fargo, North Dakota in July 2022. This year has seen Love learn a few hard lessons on the mat as he’s grown in stature, but he still finished as a consolation champion at Reno’s TOC in December 2023 after suffering two tough losses. Carman, a junior, finished 8th and so was named an All-American at 160 pounds at the most recently completed Junior Nationals in Fargo this past June. That the two of them, Love and Carman, may tangle at some point during the season [both compete in the same region

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and weight class according to 6A coaches and perhaps at the 6A state tournament is potentially a marquee matchup for the ages. For fans and alums of both schools, it’s a match made in heaven. Here you’ve got two rival schools with two All-Americans on the wrestling mat. The matchmaker at the Ross Brunson All-Star Duals— who did not pit the two against each other earlier this month—couldn’t have dreamed up such a pairing. For Love, he’s back on familiar turf. What’s more is since that disappointing showing at the Reno TOC in December, the Bingham senior hasn’t lost a match. In addition to that mystifying victory at the All-Star Duals, Love has won non-region matches by the final counts of 11-0, 5-0 and 12-4 [Dec. 30] and 13-0 [Jan. 10]. The last one came less than 24 hours after that Jan. 9 17-0 exhibition win at UVU. Love is still undecided on where he’ll wrestle in college, but it seems very likely that the Bingham senior indeed has his best wrestling ahead of him. l

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SoJo embraces chance to host MLB team By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

ith Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics currently relocating to Las Vegas, the franchise is in need of a temporary home. South Jordan has offered its services. The Larry H. Miller Company recently hosted the Athletics on a tour of its new ballpark site in South Jordan, where ground was broken in October for the new Salt Lake Bees stadium. That stadium is expected to open in spring 2025 and is being considered as a potential temporary home (along with the current Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City) for the team while its estimated $1.5 billion Las Vegas stadium is being built. Larry H. Miller Company’s CEO Steve Starks said in a statement they were in “regular contact with the Athletics” and “demonstrated we can accommodate their ballpark needs.” “In addition to Smith’s Ballpark, we will have a new ballpark opening in 2025 in Downtown Daybreak, South Jordan, anchoring a sports and entertainment district that features first-class player and fan amenities,” Starks said. “This new ballpark will support the A’s needs and has been the focus of their interest. It will include breathtaking views of the field and the Wasatch Mountains, is easily accessible from Mountain View Corridor and TRAX, and is in the fastest-growing part

of Salt Lake County. “Our unique, two-stadium solution would ensure that baseball stays in the Salt Lake market as the Salt Lake Bees return to Smith’s Ballpark for additional seasons.” South Jordan City released a statement adding its location “positions us as an ideal host.” “The City of South Jordan is ready to embrace the opportunity of hosting a Major League Baseball team and would love to welcome the Athletics to our community,” said South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey. “Our community has a rich history of baseball with a legacy that dates back to the South Jordan Red Gales. We continue to foster a love for the game today through our very popular youth baseball programs.” The city affirmed its commitment to being a “welcoming home” to the Athletics and MLB. “Along with our partners from the Larry H. Miller Company, we are prepared to roll out the red carpet, showcasing South Jordan as one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic areas in the state,” Ramsey said. The Las Vegas stadium, according to reports, won’t be ready until 2027, giving the Athletics at least three full seasons before its relocation. The franchise has played at the

Members of the South Jordan City Council, including Mayor Ramsey, join members of The Larry H. Miller Group in breaking ground last October where the new Bees stadium will be built by 2025. (Rachel Aubrey/City Journals)

Oakland Coliseum since 1968, sharing the venue with NFL’s Raiders franchise, who recently moved to Las Vegas as well. One year remains on the team’s lease with the Oakland Coliseum. Reports suggest Sacramento

could also temporarily house the A’s at its Sutter Health Park, home of the San Francisco Giants AAA minor league affiliate, the River Cats. l

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Hawthorn Academy’s literacy night inspires generations of readers and writers

econd grader Kanyon Walker was putting two puzzle pieces together to form a word. “I like solving them,” he said about the literacy puzzle. “I love reading Dog Man books, too. They’re my favorite.” Kanyon and his peers were at Hawthorn Academy’s literacy night, which had about 20 literacy activities for them to do, as well as ideas for parents to do at home with their children. “We’re informing parents what we’re doing here at school and giving them tools and activities to reinforce those skills at home,” Beverly Griffith said, Hawthorn Academy’s literacy coordinator over both the South and West Jordan campuses. Students rotated through opinion, narrative and informative writing and they practiced their vocabulary in story writing exercises. There were tongue twisters, syllable bingo and charades. “They’re learning about six syllable types through a game that uses different candies as examples. There’s the long vowel with a silent e as in ‘Mike and Ikes’ or the open syllables as in ‘Rolos,’” Griffith said. Students could also make and spin a paper wheel to add word chunks to different starting letters.

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By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com Curriculum Director Brittney Garcia gets excited when she sees younger students put together sounds and letters. “It never gets old to see children learn and how excited they are when they realize they can form words,” she said. “I love this is a family event and they’re doing these activities together.” Her son, Cameron, was with her. “Syllable bingo has been my favorite,” said the third grader who likes the “I survived” book series. “There’s a lot of cool things here.” Sixth grade teacher Kim Leonard was overseeing the mimes and signs station, where students would find the mistakes and correct them, as well as an emoji challenge, where they solved the symbols to name the literary work. “It’s reading, but in other forms than with words,” she said. “The kids are learning and now, when they figure out the name of a book they don’t know, they’re curious about it.” In her class, Leonard’s students read as their only homework. “Afterward, they talk to me about the book and create a book brochure about it,” she said, adding that it includes an introduction, summary, theme and analysis of

Second grader Kanyon Walker puts together word chunk puzzles during Hawthorn Academy’s literacy night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

the book. “Parents have told me in the past that they were concerned about their kids not reading enough. Now, the students are engaged in what they’re doing. The parent feedback now is that they feel their kids are more prepared for middle school.” She said often when her class does a project, it’s on a topic each student picks.

“If a kid is wanting to write about electric cars, then that kid will research and read about how they became, their benefits and about its safety. The more engaged a student is in the subject, the more the child will read and do a good job,” she said. “I love seeing when they’re curling up with a good book and wanting to learn.” l

February 2024 | Page 9

Exhibit celebrates 100 years of Utah in films By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

n 1923, “The Covered Wagon” became the first-ever motion picture filmed in Utah. It was shot in Circleville. The silent movie was released in 1924, has enjoyed a lifetime box office total of $4 million (mainly through rentals) and still scores a 91 on Rotten Tomatoes. More importantly, it brought Hollywood to Utah, and it’s been here ever since. The Utah Film Commission has opened a new exhibit, “100 Years of Utah Film & Television,” on the fourth floor of the Utah State Capitol, where it will be on display through the end of the year. It’s free to the public. To celebrate, an opening night ceremony was held on Jan. 11 featuring actress Lacey Chabert, writer/producer/director Jerusha Hess, actress/producer/director Amy Redford, executive producer Danny Peykoff and author/film historian James D’Arc. UFC director Virginia Pearce moderated a panel discussion before the exhibit formally opened. Pearce said the exhibit showcases “the breadth of what has happened here,” over 1,000 movies and TV shows shot in the state, not including hundreds of commercials. “Utah started as a very insular, withdrawn society in the pioneer days,” said D’Arc, whose book “When Hollywood Came to Utah” was published in 2019. He is working on a centennial edition for later this year as well. “When the Parry brothers—Chauncey, Caleb and Gronway—opened it up to the Hollywood studios in 1920, they opened up Utah to the world.” He says filmmakers have returned regularly since those early days. Almost every corner of Utah has been featured in Hollywood productions from Cache Valley to Southern Utah. The exhibit has walls covered with posters and photographs from many of those films and includes artifacts such as a John Wayne saddle he called one of his favorites, shoes from “Napoleon Dynamite,” an alien head from “Plan 10 From Outer Space,” and memorabilia from the “High School Musical” movies shot at East High School. There’s a nice tribute to Kevin Bacon’s “Footloose” as well, a movie that really opened the way for contemporary filmmakers to come to the Beehive State. More than 200 episodes of TV’s “Touched by an Angel” were filmed in and around Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden, along with three seasons of “Promised Land” that was a spinoff from “Touched.” Redford said Utah has “a scrappiness in the way in which you accomplish things in this state.” She has filmed two movies here, and of course her father Robert Redford has been entwined with Utah for many years— from films like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Jeremiah Johnson” to his Sundance Film Festival, which enjoyed its 40th anniversary this year. Chabert is known as the “Queen of the

Page 10 | February 2024

The alien head from “Plan 10 From Outer Space,” with the Utah beehive symbol, is part of the display at the state capitol. (Photo by Roger Tuttle)

From left, actress Lacey Chabert, actress/producer/director Amy Redford, and executive producer Danny Peykoff spoke at the exhibit’s grand opening. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)

“The Covered Wagon” was the first movie filmed in Utah, released in 1924. (Photo by Roger Tuttle)

Hallmark” movies since she’s been cast in over 30 of them. Two of those, “Haul Out the Holly” and “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up,” were filmed in the same cul-de-sac in Salt Lake City. “I love working here in Utah,” she said. “I’ve worked with some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. There’s a collaborative spirit here, a sense of team.” Peykoff is the executive producer for “Horizon: An American Saga,” the Kevin Costner multi-part Western saga that was filmed in southern Utah. Two more parts of that franchise are in the planning stages for filming in the future. The first two films will be released this summer. “Kevin has been scouting locations in Utah since 2006,” he said. “He loves the American West and he has always loved coming to Utah, where of course the first couple of seasons where ‘Yellowstone’ were shot.” Peykoff added that while working on “Horizon,” he and his daughters also dis-

Paul Newman and Katharine Ross (inset photo) filmed “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in Washington County. (Photo by Roger Tuttle)

covered something else, Utah-based Swig drinks. “I don’t know why I can’t find anything like that in Southern California, but they’re great here.” Just wait, Danny, they’re growing nationwide. Hess and her husband Jared broke into the industry with their blockbuster debut film, ‘Napoleon Dynamite,” shot with a budget of just $200,000, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and going on to earn a $44 million box office and become a cult classic. Since then, the Hess’ have written and produced a number of films, Jerusha helming “Austenland” with Keri Russell, Jennifer Coolidge and Jane Seymour in 2013. “We always have about a dozen ideas for films floating around in our heads,” Hess said. “We love working here and can’t wait to film here again.”

The film commission said over the past decade, more than $600 million has come into the state from film productions, and 36,000 jobs have been created worth $1.5 billion in wages. Utah tourism estimates almost $44 million went to businesses and for wages in rural Utah for one 2022 film (the name was not disclosed). D’Arc said that for the most part, the locals who’ve been involved in the film industry as it’s come to Utah—from extras to crew members to merchants and hospitality hosts—have said the same thing about the days when Hollywood comes to town “All they take are pictures,” he said, “and all they leave is money.” l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Bingham girls basketball battling for Region 2 title By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

he Bingham girls basketball team is saving the best for last. The Miners dealt with a brutal preseason schedule, arguably one of the most difficult slates in recent memory. But Bingham [12-6, 4-1 Region 2] weathered the storm and is now reaping the benefits of having played some of the state’s best teams. “We’re doing well,” reported Bingham head coach Skyler Beard. “Got a big 68-67 win over Mtn. Ridge (Jan. 18) and in a 4-way tie for first in Region right now.” For Beard’s squad, the preseason might have been tough with a few potholes along the way, but it paved the way for what the Miners are doing in league play. After a tough 52-33 loss to a Copper Hills squad that is arguably one of the state’s best on Jan. 11, Bingham has settled into a groove. The Miners didn’t let that home loss sour their mood in their next game Jan. 16; they let the wizardry of transfer Addy Horsley do the talking [19 points, three rebounds and four assists] in a 60-45 dismantling of rival Riverton. Brianna Badonie knocked down three triples for 15 points in total, and Mak Horsley added eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Two nights later, Bingham was back in the gym at Mountain Ridge Jan. 18, ready to do battle against Addy and Mak Horsley’s former school. In a tense atmosphere, the Miners started slow, trailing 19-16 after one quarter of play. But Bingham evened the score by halftime at 32-32. However, a spirited Mountain Ridge squad burst out of the locker room and surged ahead by eight points, 55-47, to end the third quarter. That set the stage for a seesaw fourth quarter in which there were a dozen lead changes. But it was the play of Addy Horsley [20 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals] down the stretch against her old teammates that spelled the onepoint difference of 68-67. Lena Casperson was also pivotal for Bingham, scoring 15 points and hauling in five rebounds. Brianna Badonie chipped in 12 points and had four rebounds, while Mak Horsley had eight points to go with four rebounds and three assists. For the Miners, Badonie has been leading the way in the majority of the games from a scoring standpoint; her 16.8 per game scoring average has helped the Miners as they head into the brunt of region play. Addy Horsley has also been instrumental in Bingham’s success; the transfer from Mountain Ridge is averaging 14.8

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

Addy Horsley brings the ball down the court during a tight 68-67 win over her former team, Mountain Ridge. (Photo by Pat Mcdonald

points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a whopping 2.7 steals. These are all per game averages for the junior. Addy’s older sister Mak Horsley has also stepped up big for Bingham. The senior is the Miners’ third leading scorer at 7.1 points per outing. Her 4.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals give Bingham that third scoring option that has proven big in recent contests. Junior big Lena Casperson is not only the Miners’ fourth leading scorer at 6.1 points per game—she is also the team’s leading rebounder, while junior Raylynn Richardson is hauling in 5.6 rebounds per game, second-best on this Bingham squad. There will be more battles to come, including a Feb. 1 showdown at Copper Hills (after deadline) that will occur after the Miners have played two home games at The Pit [49-42 win vs Herriman and Jan. 25 vs. Corner Canyon]. l

February 2024 | Page 11

CELEBRATING 10 Years in Riverton!

Vocal Tapestry Utah, an LGBTQ-friendly choir, will hold auditions for singers and musicians in South Jordan in February. (Photo courtesy Deb Veater)

Vocal Tapestry Utah seeking LGBTQ-friendly singers and musicians By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

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eborah Veater thought 2024 would be the year she could finally relax and retire. Veater taught music for decades and stepped down as assistant director at the Seasons Chorale (part of SoJo Choral Arts) in 2023. But after attending the Gather Conference in Provo, she realized a new career was just beginning. The Gather Conference is an event for LGBTQ+ members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the people who love them. Its mission is to create an environment of hope and support in a Christbased community. “I went to the conference, walked in the door and felt a spirit like I’ve never felt before,” Veater said. “It was so strong. It was a spirit of acceptance. We were all there together, whether we were LGBTQ family or friends or church leaders or whatever. And we were all there to talk about how we can nurture each other.” On her way home from the conference, the idea hit her like a brick: she needed to create an LGBTQ-friendly auditioned choir and call it Vocal Tapestry. It would bring people together with the desire to uplift and create harmony. She wanted the choir to be a sanctuary where everyone felt included and individuals are celebrated. The concept is dear to her heart as her son is gay. She remembers the heartbreaking conversation with him that started with, “If I am gay, will you still love me?” His question shattered her. She thought about the Madrigal students she’d worked with at Bingham High School who told her they were LGBTQ+ and afraid to come out to their families. She thought of the young people who died from suicide because of the fear involved with their sexual or gender identity. She knew she had to be a voice of love and Vocal Tapestry was a way to begin. “I feel like the purpose in my doing music all these years has been to love the individ-

ual,” Veater said. “My goal is to love them and take care of them and make sure they don’t turn suicidal. I want to make sure that they know that someone is going to be there for them and that there is light in this world.” Veater has scheduled auditions and rehearsals to be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 1244 W. Chavez Drive in South Jordan. She’s looking for singers who can read music and perform a cappella. She’s also auditioning musicians, including guitarists and drummers, to accompany the choir. Introduction meetings will be held on Feb. 8, 15 and 22 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals will be held at the same location on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. She understands members of the LGBTQ+ community might have a difficult time auditioning and rehearsing at an LDS church, but she asks them to put their reservations aside in order to give the group a chance to flourish. “I am a strong member of the church and yet I have a view of the LGBTQ community that is inclusive,” Veater said. “I want them to see that they can come and know that they’re cared about. It will be a safe place.” For more information, visit Vocal Tapestry Utah on Facebook. l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Bingham boys basketball tough preseason slate translating to wins in league play By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

or the Bingham Miners boys basketball team, this season was a road laid out by head coach Kyle Straatman in painstaking detail long before the season started. “We have a very inexperienced team that is going to play one of the tougher in-state schedules in the state,” Straatman said one week before his Miners team would be heading to sunny Southern California for a tournament over the holidays. But something happened right before the Miners hopped on a plane. They took 5A power Olympus to the absolute brink before losing, 87-83, on Dec. 19 in double overtime. Once at the Desert Holiday Classic, Bingham thumped a team from Washington 81-39, destroyed a highly regarded team from Northern California by 11 and wrapped up the tournament by defeating a team from Simi Valley by 10 points. The only game the Miners lost during the 3-day tournament was another dogfight with one of the top teams in Arizona [Liberty], a 63-62 loss. Back on home soil, the Miners took 6A quarterfinalist Davis to the depths at Davis for three quarters before succumbing, 67-58, on Jan. 3. Bingham then knocked off American Fork, the 6A runner-up, 73-67, Jan. 5 at American Fork. So when Straatman said Bingham had one of the tougher in-state slates, he wasn’t kidding. “We return 2 starters in Stockton Tueller (senior) and Luke West (sophomore) who are going to be a big part of what we do on both ends of the court,” Straatman said. He says West is a great player and a very unselfish scorer. “He [West] has the ability to score on all 3 levels at the varsity level,” said the fifth year coach. “He is also shooting above 50% from the 3-point line through our first six games.” In California, West’s worst game was a 16-point night against highly touted Liberty, who employed all kinds of tricks to keep Bingham’s leading scorer [20.6 points per game] in check. But West is only one half of the Miner equation, Straatman said. “Stockton [Tueller] is one of the best passing and rebounding point guards in the state,” he said. “He had a game already this season with 13 assists and 0 turnovers [Dec. 1 vs Pleasant Grove].” That said, there’s something else that makes this relative of basketball royalty tick, according to Straatman. “Stockton is also one of the most competitive kids in the state,” Straatman said of the blood relation to Utah basketball coaching legend Rod Tueller, averaging 13.8 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. [If you know anything about Rod Tueller, you already know he had a fire burning within him as he paced.] For the Miners, two newcomers to Bing-

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ham’s varsity are already making their marks on the team. Tate Boman comes over from league co-leader Corner Canyon and is already contributing in different ways [4 ppg, 2 apg, 2 rpg]. Another big spark off the bench comes from Tyson Shewell, who is Bingham’s second leading rebounder and fourth leading scorer, averaging just over four boards and 6.8 points per game. “We have a lot of other guys who are ready to step into big roles with the varsity team after seeing a lot of success on the JV level last year … Jason Peterson, Rhett Dawson, Rykan Meadows, Luke Cantwell are all guys who can score in a variety of ways both inside and out,” said Bingham’s coach who now has a 75-37 record at the school. “All of these guys can shoot the ball and bring different things to the table. Luke Cantwell is also a great leader, and all of our players look up to and listen to him all the time.” For Cantwell, the senior is one of Bingham’s key cogs, averaging about eight points per contest—with a season-high of 13. Meadows is Bingham’s big man in more ways than one; the 6-foot-8 senior was critical in the Miners’ double-OT loss to Olympus, scoring 17 points, and is the Miners’ third leading scorer on the season. “We will play a very up-tempo game [with guards Boman and Gabe Sivulich] and will give our players a lot of freedom on the offensive end. We pride ourselves on playing a tough brand of basketball and being physical on the defensive side of the ball,” Straatman said of his squad that now sits at 9-6 overall with a 2-0 record in Region 2 action. “A lot of our current players are overlooked as far as individual rankings and recognition at the state level but are very high-level players,” he said. “We are going to be involved in a very competitive 6A state tournament. There are a few teams slightly ahead of everyone else but there are a legitimate 10-12 teams out of 18 in 6A who can win a state championship.” l

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February 2024 | Page 13

Bingham alum Dalton Schultz bet on himself this season and won big By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

ive years after having been the 137th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Dalton Schultz found he was the odd man out by the Dallas Cowboys team that drafted him. The Cowboys no longer appeared to have much use for Schultz, who said in 2022 that he was fortunate to have had the opportunity that Dallas gave him. "Obviously, I think this is the place that I want to be," Schultz said in a statement on the Cowboys’ Website. "I've got a good rapport with a lot of the guys here. I love being here. I love this organization.” Sometimes though, the organization may not love you back and you may not be able to sign that long-term deal. Enter the Houston Texans, who were able to sign Schultz to a one-year, $6.25 million deal in 2023—essentially a proveit contract in layman’s terms. Though the Bingham Miner’s market value was arguably significantly higher than the deal he inked—and the Cowboys had offered a 3-year, $36 million deal that Schultz himself turned down—he did have to settle for significantly less than what he believed his market value was. You can’t fault Schultz for that, for the Bingham product has done over a

5-year period what he has to do to deserve a longer deal. Schultz was able to prove as much this season, his finest season yet. The 6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound tight end had 59 receptions for the Texans, good for 635 yards and five touchdowns—numbers that helped lead Houston to the NFL Playoffs, where it won the Wildcard game over Cleveland thanks in part to Schultz’s 37-yard touchdown catch in a 45-14 win on Jan. 13. With that victory, Schultz’s Texans advanced to the NFL Divisional Playoffs, where their season ended on Jan. 20 in a 34-10 loss. "Every week it's going to be a fight one way or another," Schultz said back in Week 5 when Houston lost a nailbiter to New Orleans, 21-19. "We just didn't make enough plays." For Schultz though, betting on himself has paid off and you probably could’ve said the same thing about his team’s performance in the season-ending loss to Baltimore. Naturally, nobody on the Texans had much to say about the season’s curtains drawing to a close. But you still get the sense that even

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The 6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound tight end had 59 receptions for the Texans, good for 635 yards and five touchdowns—numbers that helped lead Houston to the NFL Playoffs. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty images)

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S outh Jordan City Journal

Pros and cons of AP and concurrent enrollment courses

aking college-level advanced placement and concurrent enrollment courses is a popular choice for high school students. In 2023, Utah students took 45,308 advanced placement exams and 9,000 Salt Lake area high school students took concurrent enrollment college courses. Jordan District had a total of 3,354 enrollments, with 1,523, the most of any school in the valley, at Copper Hills High School. Two of the main draws for taking college courses during high school is that students get a head start on a college degree and they can save a lot of money. According to Collegeboard.org, the average college course at an in-state public university costs $1,100 ($2,700 for out-of-state.) In comparison, the cost of an AP course is $100, and the cost of a CE class is $5 per credit ($1520 per class). Mountain Ridge High School Counselor John Blodgett said while it is a cheap price for credits, taking more college level classes isn’t always a good deal. “Sometimes when I have a parent in my office, they're looking at the dollar sign,” he said. “They say, ‘Okay, we're going to sign up for six concurrent enrollment classes’ and students may not be quite at that level to handle that many credits.” Some parents and students assume that because they did well in honors classes in middle school, students can handle the rigor of a college course. Blodgett said honors classes can help prepare students for future AP/CE classes, but others struggle with the course content and pace so that they earn a lower grade, lowering their GPA and their chances for academic scholarships. “I see a lot of incoming sophomores that think AP is just like an honors class, but it’s harder than they think,” Blodgett said. “I'm just straight up honest with them about what they're going to see in this class: It is not going to be easy. You’ll have extra homework. You're held accountable to more things. The teacher can’t just go back and reteach things the same way. They've got a curriculum, they've got to move on. The grade is on your college transcript. It's going to follow you forever.” Some students realize after one college-level course that it is too difficult, they don’t have the time to keep up with the work or they want to protect their GPA. Others continue to take multiple college courses over the four years of high school. “They start to learn about themselves and what they can handle and what they can’t,” Blodgett said. “It helps them learn how to time manage—trying to handle a 10-hour a week job plus two CE and an AP—that’s a lot to handle. Sometimes you don't know how to do it unless you push yourself.” Blodgett said students who take challenging classes in high school are better prepared for college.

S outh JordanJ ournal.com

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

In 2023, Utah students took 45,308 advanced placement exams and 9,000 Salt Lake area high school students took concurrent enrollment college courses. (Photo by Ben Mullins on Unsplash)

“I encourage kids to try AP, concurrent enrollment or honors,” he said. “Those are more academically challenging them for a transition into college. They're going to be more successful if they've been pushed, if they've had that experience in high school. It makes that transition so much easier than a kid who hasn't challenged themselves and hasn't tried to see what they're capable of. I view that as a stronger benefit, more than just earning the college credit.” Blodgett said there used to be a trend among high-achieving students to take as many college level courses as they could, some attempting to earn an associate degree along with their high school diploma. However, this led to the problem of elective baggage, credits students earned taking random college courses which didn't count toward their degree or certificate. While serving on the Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Committee at SLCC, Blodgett helped revamp the system for credit transfers to eliminate this problem. Now, instead of trying to earn an associate degree, high school students can take fewer college credit hours to earn a General Certificate of Completion, which packages general education credits into a one year certificate that transfers seamlessly to all Utah colleges and universities. “It just helps them focus their energy on

what they need and helps target a path to what they are interested in going into,” Blodgett said. “Sometimes kids are just taking credit to take credit, and this program helps us identify the specific needs for any major that they're going into.” Less than 2% of MRHS students are working for the general certificate of completion this year, but 36% of students are taking at least one college-level course (not including courses taken through JATC). Pursuing advanced classes is part of the culture at Copper Hills High School, the school’s CTE Coordinator Kristy Yeschick said. Last year, 70% of CHHS graduating seniors had taken at least one CE or AP course. “We are known as an academic-minded school,” Yeschick said. “Because of this mentality, we have always had one of the highest enrollments in the area for concurrent enrollment. Parents and students both enjoy taking college general education classes for $5 per credit hour. It helps the students see they can take a college class and be successful.” SLCC Director of Concurrent Enrollment Brandon Kowallis said taking college courses while in high school is ideal because students have access to a “robust support system.” “In the high school, if a student starts to struggle, counselors are going to reach out, teachers are going to reach out, and they're go-

ing to support them,” Kowallis said. “On our campus, there is none of that support. The student is considered an adult. They're responsible for how they do in the class, and there's not as much intervention if they start to struggle.” CE classes also have a later drop-deadline than on-campus courses. Students typically take CE classes at their high school, but SLCC also offers on-campus concurrent enrollment classes. This provides students with a wider selection of course offerings—ideal for students at smaller schools—as well as a taste of what college is like. “Concurrent on-campus is a chance for students to get the full 100% authentic college experience,” Kowallis said. “It's great for them to make a connection on campus with adults and students from different backgrounds. And it's nice to help them to feel comfortable on a college campus so that when they graduate from high school, they sort of know what they're in for.” Blodgett encourages students to be familiar with the pros and cons of AP and CE courses when making class schedule decisions. “I can’t tell a kid what’s best,” he said. “I just give them the information. I can give them advice. But everyone is unique in their own path and their choices are personal to them.” l

February 2024 | Page 15

Sheldon Stewart: Salt Lake County Councilmember, ‘Star Wars’ fan, extreme fiscal conservative By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com

hen he describes his role on the Salt Lake County Council, Sheldon Stewart says he’s one of three “extreme fiscal conservatives,” the others being David Alvord (District 2) and Dea Theodore (District 6), who often vote in a similar fashion on budget agenda items. While he might be an extreme fiscal conservative in council, on his softer side, he’s also a self-proclaimed “big Brené Brown fan,” with his favorite of her books being “Dare to Lead.” And he’s been a huge “Star Wars” fan ever since he was a kid. County Councilmember Sheldon Stewart serves District 5, which encompasses parts of Herriman, Riverton and West Jordan. It includes portions of West Valley City, as well as the entirety of Bluffdale. Finally, this District covers the portion of Draper that lies west of I-15 and the portion of South Jordan that lies east of Bangerter Highway. Prior to his election to Salt Lake County Council in late 2022, he served for over a decade on the Riverton City Council, also serving on the Redevelopment Agency of Riverton City and Riverton Law Enforcement Service Area. Sources of pride while on the County Council One of the issues he’s worked on in his first year on the Salt Lake County Council, that he’s most proud of, is that he’s helped create an ethics policy for county representatives, in how they communicate with state legislators and other entities. The new ethics policy should be completed before the 2024 legislative session and will put in writing who can speak on behalf of the county. In the past, he claims, there have been instances where the backing of the county legislative branch (the County Council) was implied in support of a project, when this wasn’t really this case. He aims for more transparency in communication. He’s also proud that the county did not have to raise taxes this year. In fact, he doesn’t advocate for any tax increases unless it is to fund public safety (police and fire). This year he, Alvord and Theodore advocated for a $32 million cut from the county budget. They succeeded securing reductions of $10 million by eliminating or shrinking some programs that were started during the pandemic, such as the Workforce Inclusion & Successful Employment (WISE) program and Division of Equity & Inclusion (DEI) staffing. He’s pleased that the county has a AAA bond rating and believes that council does a good job in maintaining that rating, but he also believes that the “county doesn’t need to continue to spend,” worrying that the county may “duplicate programs and services that might be better covered by city budgets or via private/ public partnerships.” He plans to continue to

Page 16 | February 2024

pursue this shifting of resources and funding by cutting staff and programs that he feels don’t serve all county residents equally. Focus on the southwest corner of Salt Lake County Stewart was triggered into running for County Council because, as a Riverton City councilmember, he didn’t think the former county councilmember (his opponent) was adequately representing the unique needs of the southwest corner of the county, and that Riverton, in particular, was not receiving their benefit of shared services. Services for which, he says, they were being taxed. In particular, he has taken issue with UTA and is currently working on a plan to drive costs back to the city who utilizes the service. In other words, to tax in proportion with services received, meaning if fewer bus routes are available in a particular district, residents of the district would pay less tax. He is pleased, however, that District 5 has recently received more county funds via the Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention (TRCC) program. “Tawnee McCay [Riverton County Council] and Lorin Palmer [Mayor of Herriman] have done a good job advocating for this funding,” Stewart said. TRCC funding is a program where eligible organizations can apply for funding for consulting, capital, or tourism expenses, paid for by county dollars. Personal life The best thing that happened to Stewart in 2023 was the birth of his first grandchild, a girl. “Receiving the title of grandpa is better than any other title I’ve ever received,” Stewart said, delight evident in his voice. “She brings so much joy.” Aside from his role on the county council, Stewart recently started a new job with a consulting group that works in banking. And now that he and his wife Heather are empty-nesters (they have three adult married children), he loves to travel. His favorite type of trip: cruising. He also loves to build with his hands. Last year, Stewart designed and built a backyard shed that he’s particularly proud of. When asked what “one thing” he’d like his constituents and county members to know about him he replied, “That I do things for the right reasons. I’m not making decisions to maintain political office or further a political career.” He ran for county council because “county budget and governance affects everything from household budgets to standards of living,” and he wasn’t happy with representation at the county level for his community. But the Salt Lake County Council is, “where I stop.” He’s not looking to run for higher office. l

District 5 Salt Lake County Councilmember Sheldon Stewart with his oldest daughter at the Eccles Theatre (a Salt Lake County Arts & Culture venue) for the Mat and Savanna Shaw Christmas performance. (Photo Sheldon Stewart)

First day on the job. Salt Lake County Councilmember Sheldon Stewart stands with the mayor of Riverton Trent Staggs at his swearing-in January 2023. (Photo Sheldon Stewart)

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As part of Jordan Education Foundation’s “Christmas for Kids,” more than 600 Jordan School District students, like this Miss Riverton Haylee Lamb and Miss Herriman Scarlet Lankford help a Jordan School one, were paired up with volunteers for an opportunity to shop for themselves, family and friends at the South Jordan District student with shopping during Jordan Education Foundation’s “Christmas for Walmart. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Kids.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Hundreds of Jordan District students in need receive shopping spree thanks to caring community By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

hortly before the winter break, more than 600 Jordan School District middle school and high school students were picking out items at the South Jordan Walmart. Through donations given to the Jordan Education Foundation, they were able to “shop” for their own presents as part of “Christmas for Kids,” but often, they found ones for others. Many of the students were excited at the opportunity. Evan, a middle school student who wished to withhold his surname, said he was shopping for his friends and family. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done this; I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I could get them,” he said. A volunteer or two were paired up with each student. This year, there were first responders, educational and community leaders, Miss Herriman and Miss Riverton, University of Utah’s and Brigham Young University’s mascots and Santa Claus — as well as community members. Local parent Laurel Bevans was with Evan. “I have seven kids in the District and I want to make sure all the children in the district get a good Christmas,” she said,

Page 18 | February 2024

We probably have 800 volunteers. I love this. It gets me in the Christmas spirit. It’s the highlight of the season to see all these happy kids with happy chaperones. Often there are toy drives and Sub for Santas for little kids, but sometimes these middle school and high school kids are hard to shop for, so this is cool to let them come and have their own shopping experience. And because we have such a great community and people who are willing to volunteer, we’re able to provide this to so many great kids. Tracy Miller explaining why she volunteered. Veronica, a middle school student who withheld her surname, was looking at paint supplies and Squishmallows. “I like to paint flowers and I want to give my parents one of my paintings for Christmas,” she said. “I’m looking at Squishmallows, too. I’d like to collect them like my friends.” Volunteers Michaela and Juan Larrosa accompanied her. “It’s nice to help out and provide Christmas to students,” Michaela Larrosa said, adding she learned of the opportunity as her sister is a teacher in the district. Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller is also on the Jordan Educa-

tion Foundation Board of Directors. “We probably have 800 volunteers,” she said. “I love this. It gets me in the Christmas spirit. It’s the highlight of the season to see all these happy kids with happy chaperones. Often there are toy drives and Sub for Santas for little kids, but sometimes these middle school and high school kids are hard to shop for, so this is cool to let them come and have their own shopping experience. And because we have such a great community and people who are willing to volunteer, we’re able to provide this to so many great kids.” She said that the program helps students in addition to the Foundation providing food, clothes, beds, school supplies,

hygiene items and other items for those in need. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’m not really shopping for me. For me, it’s pretty nice to actually get presents for my siblings. I got them some toys and clothes. That’s present enough for me. We usually don’t get presents.” Former Foundation president and South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey has served on the board for 12 years and “I could not be more proud to be part of the Jordan Education Foundation.” She said Christmas for Kids is one of her favorite events of the year. “It brings out the best of people as we all work together to make life a little sweeter for these amazing students,” she said. “As a Foundation, we work hard all year to try to make this event a success. Thank you to the donors, volunteers, administrators from every Jordan School District middle and high school, the parents. students and our Foundation staff and volunteer board for making our 10th anniversary event the biggest and best yet.” l

S outh Jordan City Journal

Zions Bank economist pegs 2024 recession chances at 50-50 By Brice Wallace | Salt Lake Business Journal

he economic forecasting season has begun, and Robert Spendlove has thrown out the first pitch. At the recent Zions Bank 2024 economic outlook event, the bank’s senior economist pegged the chances of a national recession this year at 50-50 but added that Utah likely would get through it OK. “I’ll tell you that that has been the thing that has gotten a lot of economists scratching their heads, because we all thought it was going to happen in 2023 and it didn’t happen,” Spendlove said at the event, held at the Zions Technology Center in Midvale. “I still think there’s about a 50% chance. A few months ago, six months ago, it was at closer to 65, 70%, so I do think that probability of recession has gone down, but there still are some of those factors that could tip the U.S. into a recession nationally. I think locally we are part of the national economy so we are exposed to that risk, but I think we’re well-positioned and if we do go into a recession, I think we’re in a good position.” Utah has been in a “good position” for several years now. Spendlove cited some U.S. News & World Report rankings showing Utah as the best state overall, topics in fiscal stability and the economy. Its population continues to grow, fueled by in-migration. It’s second among states with positive job growth since before the COVID pandemic, and its unemployment rate of 2.8% remains low. Utah also has seen its labor participation rate increase. However, housing affordability remains a bugaboo. Utah home prices relative to household income sits at 6.2 but should be about 3, he said. “What this is saying is, housing is too unaffordable in Utah,” Spendlove said. “Housing is very difficult, especially for low-income, especially for young families, people trying to get in. And how do you fix that? You essentially need to dramatically drop house prices, you need to dramatically increase income or you need to start thinking outside the box of what housing looks like. What we’re going to see is more multigenerational households, more multifamily households, and we’re going to have to start talking very seriously about thinking of different ways of what housing looks like in our communities.” Prefacing Spendlove’s presentation, Scott Anderson, Zions Bank’s president and CEO, likewise had an overall positive outlook for Utah’s economy this year. “As we head into 2024, our Utah economy remains strong and resilient,” Anderson said. “We continue to benefit from strong population growth and net in-migration, low unemployment and solid job growth. I’m confident that what we’ll see here in Utah will be a strong economy this year and that we’ll continue to thrive, even though other parts of the world and other parts of the U.S. economy may suffer a bit.” Most of Spendlove’s remarks focused on the national economy, which he said is still being distorted by the effects of the COVID pandemic. That is leading to a lot of economic uncertainty for 2024, just as it affected 2023. Last year, experts expected the economy to slow or contract, with a drop in GDP and employment demand. “We saw a little bit of that, but the economy ended up being very resilient and very strong,” he said. “We saw inflation has been coming down, employment has been improving, but people are still grumpy. That is one of the things that I hear all the time, is people say, ‘Well, you know, yes, things may be a little bit better, but they’re not the way they should be and they’re not the way they were before.’”

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As we head into 2024, our Utah economy remains strong and resilient. We continue to benefit from strong population growth and net in-migration, low unemployment and solid job growth. I’m confident that what we’ll see here in Utah will be a strong economy this year and that we’ll continue to thrive, even though other parts of the world and other parts of the U.S. economy may suffer a bit. Scott Anderson Zions Bank’s president and CEO GDP in the third quarter actually jumped, with 4.9% growth, but Spendlove told the audience that that is not an accurate reflection of what is happening in the economy. “I don’t think any of you think that the economy dramatically accelerated in the third quarter, but it’s some of those distortions from the pandemic that we have to be really careful about,” he said. “However, it’s very clear that we didn’t contract. In the third quarter, we didn’t contract in 2023, and this is a sign that the economy is much more resilient than we had expected in 2023.” Still, the economy could enter a recession in the second or third quarters this year, but he believes it would be relatively mild “and we’ll move through pretty quickly.” The big question is whether any “black swan” events— huge, upsetting surprises—would shock the system and amplify volatility. Nonetheless, consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of the economy, remains strong. Consumers “are all grumpy but you’re still spending,” he said. “That has been another one of the big surprises, is even with consumers being grumpy— you all went out and bought your Black Friday gifts and you all went out and got holiday presents for everyone and it kept the economy going—but you still are grouchy.” Spendlove foresees Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, inflation continuing to slow but remaining “sticky,” the labor market growing, unemployment increasing, the economy slowing but remaining broadly resilient, and international uncertainty and elections possibly adding to volatility.

Zions Bank senior economist Robert Spendlove speaks in West Valley City at a recent ChamberWest event. (John Rogers/Salt Lake Business Journal)

Anderson likened the past three years to a roller coaster ride but added that the national economy in 2023 transitioned toward pre-pandemic norms. The Fed raised interest rates and tightened monetary policy, but the economy avoided a recession and remained resilient, he said. The Fed now figures to lower rates, with the first reduction as early as the second quarter. “And why would they do this? I believe that they looked at inflation and they saw that it had dropped dramatically from mid-2022 and where it fell from a 40-year high of more than 9% in June of 2022 to about 3% in November of 2023. But with food and energy prices coming down, getting to the Fed’s target of a 2% annual inflation rate could take some time. We’re not there yet.” Higher interest rates and housing inflation colored consumer opinions about the economy in 2023, but recent consumer surveys have found that people are feeling more optimistic about 2024, he said. “And this is important,” Anderson said, “as consumer sentiments can drive behaviors like spending and investments, often acting as a self-fulfilling prophecy.” l

February 2024 | Page 19

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3 reasons to celebrate your birthday

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

irthdays. The ancient Egyptians initiated them, the Greeks added their flare to them with the radiance of the candle along with its wish, the ancient Romans brought them to the commoner, the Germans added the cake, and even a song was written in the 1800s for the occasion. In America we celebrate them—for ourselves, for celebrities, for our nation—we even designate national holidays for them. There are many cultural differences in how birthdays are celebrated too. From the piñata and high-end quinceanera celebrations in Mexico, the custom of throwing yourself a party in Norway and the Netherlands, celebrating certain years according to the Chinese calendar in China (1st, 10th, 60th, 70th, and 80th birthdays), designating the first slice of cake in honor of the person in the room who is most important in the birthday person’s life as in Brazil, to even measuring one’s life by their kindness vs. years in Bhutan, Birthdays are a celebration of life and love. However, not everyone is into feeling the observation, warmth, and power of celebrating their birthday. To those, might we unwrap a few reminders as to the reasons why birthdays are to be celebrated: 1) Celebrating our day of birth allows us to reflect on life. The good, the bad, the ugly. To see where we've been, and how far we've come. Our trials and our triumphs. Our hills and our valleys. To think of the blessings from within the past year. The accomplishments that have taken place and even some goal setting for the year ahead. Yes to reflect on a life given, a life living, a life still to be lived. 2) Celebrating our day of birth allows us to gather with

others such as our friends, and our family—those who matter to us. This could be a party like often done for kids, or even an opportunity to serve. When my mom turned forty our church congregation came over to our new house to help us lay sod. The pandemic created some unique ways Listen to the full episode on Holly’s of gathering with others Highlights podcast (photo courtesy of for celebrations such as Holly Curby) car parades in front of the birthday person’s home or social distancing BBQs. Oh, the gift of others in our lives. The gift to gather together. 3) Celebrating your day of birth allows you to be reminded that you matter. Not everyone is good about accepting compliments, gifts, or even attention. This one day allows others to do such things for the birthday person who often is a little more receptive to such acts. Whether we realize it or not, we need the encouragement. A perspective shared in the Stanford Daily stated that a birthday is "A celebration of the sacrifices the parents had to work through, up to and including the immense loss of time, energy, and perhaps a career’s forward trajectory." Celebrating our birthday helps us take a moment to reflect on our lives, the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf to get us to where

Birthday celebration (Photo courtesy of Holly Curby)

we are at, and perhaps think of what we may want to accomplish in the year ahead. So, this next birthday, instead of pulling a bah-humbug attitude, might we blow out the candles on our cake, surrounded by loved ones, and press into the unique sense of joy, laughter, and love as your friends and family choose to celebrate you? Want to learn more about intentionally living a life full of purpose? Visit www.HollyCurby.com or check out Holly’s Highlights podcast. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast.”l

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stymied, she said, by the stagnated national economy, something she hopes will change once the country gets back “on the right track and inflation decreases.” Her campaign gave her a chance to meet with many of the constituents in her district. “It took me two and a half months to go door to door. I gave out 3,400-plus copies of the Constitution of the United States and had the opportunity to find out their concerns about South Jordan. I have 32 maps covered with notes from these conversations. I am grateful to all who

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Coming up for air

or a state run by legislators who sneer at tobacco products, I find it confusing they don’t give a flying cigar about our state’s dangerous air quality. GOP legislators balk at green energy initiatives like a vampire facing the sunrise and a head of garlic. A 2023 American Lung Association report said Salt Lake ranks among the nation’s most polluted cities for ozone and short-term particle pollution. I don’t know what those words mean, but it doesn’t sound good. Lawmakers say Salt Lake has always dealt with inversions, we just have to work around a valley filled with pollution. That’s like saying the kitchen’s always been filled with rotting banana peels, crushed egg shells, open yogurt containers veiled in mold, and a greasy chicken carcass. We just have to work around it. Studies show polluted air is a bigger threat to our health than alcohol or tobacco. Maybe not breathing polluted air should be included in the Word of Wisdom next to wine (the devil’s fancy beverage) and tea (the witch’s drink). Then, perhaps, our lawmakers will pay attention. It’s true the valley’s design creates Utah’s crappy air quality. Temperature inversions trap cold air under a layer of warm air, like putting a lid on a pot of soup. Only this soup is filled with vehicle pollution, smoke from wood burning stoves, industrial emis-

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