West Jordan Journal | January 2022

January 2022 | Vol. 8 Iss. 13

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MEET WEST JORDAN’S NEWEST COUNCILMEMBER: PAMELA BLOOM

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

W

est Jordan will have a new face in 2022.

Pamela Bloom earned one of three atlarge seats for the West Jordan City Council this year, along with incumbents Kayleen Whitelock and Kelvin Green.

Because of the tight vote—she finished 37 votes behind Green and 326 ahead of incumbent Chad Lamb to win the third and final spot—it wasn’t until a week after the election that Bloom could pop the champagne.

“I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders,” she said.

The newest councilmember has lived just about everywhere in her life with a dad in the Air Force. Born in Turkey, she spent most of her childhood in Alaska also spending some time in Utah. She graduated high school in Omaha, Nebraska, before going to college at Iowa Western and the University of Utah.

Since officially returning to Utah (originally as a radio host), she’s lived in Logan, Taylorsville and now calls West Jordan home.

Bloom should be recognizable on the city scene, having served on the city’s plan-

ning commission and several other committees including events, open land and parks, and design and review.

“I’ve always liked being involved and volunteering—that’s something I’ve done my entire life,” she said.

From there it “kind of organically snowballed” into running for city council as she witnessed the changing demographics of the city “seeing West Jordan evolve.”

“I felt that I would be a good fit and a good mindset for the direction that West Jordan was going,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why not give it a shot; we only live once.’

I really feel like giving back, so why not see if this city agrees with me and letting me have that opportunity. I genuinely enjoy giving back and helping make where I live a better place. Sometimes it sounds cheesy when I say it out loud, but it’s genuinely how I feel and if it’s cheesy then so be it.”

In 2019, she ran for the District 4 seat but fell to David Pack 53-47.

It was a unique experience for Bloom, who had a miscarriage during the campaign, forcing her to step back “to focus on healing.” Even with the terrible setback, Bloom Continued page 4 Pamela Bloom won an at-large council seat in the November election. (Photo courtesy Pamela Bloom)

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Continued from front page was encouraged at how close the race was despite taking a break from the campaign.

Losing the election also led to her joining the planning commission in 2020 where she could learn even more about the city, its processes and get to know city staff.

“I’m not sad I lost at all,” Bloom said.

“I’m glad things worked out how they did because it allowed me to grow within the city in a really good way. I think it’s prepared me a lot more for actually now being on the city council.”

That unique 2019 race perhaps prepared her for the difficulties she faced in 2021.

They say things come in threes. For Bloom, she had three more major challenges occur during the 2021 campaign.

First, along with her family, she had to move to a new house in West Jordan.

“I would never recommend that to anybody,” she said of moving during a campaign.

Second, she stepped away from a 20year career to start a new job.

Bloom cut her teeth in the film and photography world for two decades working a variety of jobs from account and product management to teaching. But with the pandemic came a heavy hit to the industry, combine that with a job where she constantly traveled, she decided on a “major shift in life.”

“One of the most important things I learned is that I need to be home a little more,” said Bloom, who now works for University of Utah Healthcare. “The pandemic changed some of the priorities, and I wanted to be home for the next few years while my kids get through school.”

Third, to cap off what she described as an “interesting” campaign, she lost hearing in her left ear.

“Despite all the challenges, I had a good thing going; it just made everything

Journals T H E

West Jordan’s newest councilmember, seen here, loves Utah’s outdoors notably the mountains for skiing and snowboarding. (Photo courtesy Pamela Bloom)

more special,” she said.

Both mentally and physically, Bloom said the challenges made for a difficult election campaign, but she “had a gut feeling that was good and positive about this race.”

“Everything I went through, all the challenges—it almost lit a fire under me to make sure that I am going in with everything I have for this to make a difference,” she said.

Bloom only plans to serve four years, pledging in her campaign to be a one-term council member. She said she never wants a reelection campaign to possibly determine how she votes.

“I never want to be influenced by that,

and I see it so much in every level of politics,” she said.

She also wants more voices participating in city government, noting the city needs more women and people of color. Her being a one-term councilmember gives more people a chance to serve on the council.

“We need more people to step up,” Bloom said. “If I can do this, despite everything, so can my neighbor. I love this city, and it’ll make it better if we can get more people involved in every way on every level of our city including planning commission, city council and all the committees. I want to make that happen.”

Big picture, Bloom spoke of the need

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to strengthen the city’s vision, making it clearer for residents and staff alike.

She also said every councilmember is committed to making West Jordan more business friendly.

“One of the No. 1 priorities is to make having a business, building a business and moving a business to West Jordan a much simpler and cost-efficient process unlike it is now,” Bloom said, noting when that brings in a stronger tax base, it helps with property taxes and for a strong and healthy budget.

“It is a priority for pretty much every council member to make that happen,” she said. l

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Councilmembers could vote electronically in the future from the dais rather than a sequential voice vote. (File photo Erin Dixon/City Journals)

Casting a vote: Council considering adjustment to its voting methods

V

ote with your voice or with an electronic button? That was the question for the West Jordan City Council in a November study meeting with the majority interested in a combined approach.

The inquiry came from Council Director Alan Anderson as the city prepared to implement a new agenda management software. One of the features offered was an electronic roll call vote for council members. Currently, the city recorder will call upon each councilmember who will vote out loud in favor or against a motion.

Anderson wanted direction from the council if they should look into the electronic voting aspect of the software.

Under the new method, council members would input their vote electronically, once all seven members of the council have submitted their votes, the monitor in the council chambers (or on the video stream) would display how everyone voted.

Councilmember Zach Jacob said during the November meeting this way if the council is split 3-3 then the final councilmember voting isn’t put on the “hotseat.”

“I like that idea,” he said. “I like that you’re not necessarily put on the spot as much if it’s something you’re really struggling with and you’re not sure how you want to vote.”

The electronic method, currently used

by Highland City in Utah County, could potentially streamline the voting process, but Councilmember Chris McConnehey worried you could “lose some of the nu-

WestJordanJournal .com

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com ance” if someone reluctantly votes in favor or against.

“With the voice vote, it’s nice to be able to hear when someone has hesitation or how strong they are for or against it,” he said.

McConnehey also noted possible examples where you vote one way to send a message to the residents so they “feel heard” despite knowing the right thing is to vote the other way.

“So if I’m toward the end [of the voting order], and I see the motion going the way I feel like it should, sometimes my vote will be more to make a statement than how I think it should end up,” he said. “I like being able to have that nuance.”

“I want to make sure people realize that it’s heard,” he later added.

But for Jacob and Councilmember Chad Lamb, there would be plenty of time to voice how a council member feels about how they should vote.

“For me, I think you vote something up or down based on whether you want it passed or not,” Jacob said.

Lamb felt it may help for better decisions.

“This takes the emotion out of it,” Lamb said. “You’re not voting based on what the other voted for; you’re voting for what you want to vote for.”

“I think it makes it more honest,” Jacob added.

For Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock, who said she wasn’t sure how she felt about the electronic method and

wondered what problem they were trying to solve with this technology, she said “emotion is good” with decision making.

“I don’t think emotion in votes is a bad thing,” she said. “Having emotion is a good thing, you’re adding the human insight.”

Voting without the knowledge of how others voted could affect the way members consider their votes. Casting a council member’s vote after hearing how or why others voted could influence their decision, something Whitelock said is useful.

“That’s weighing everything out, that’s taking an additional layer of data and using that for your vote,” she said.

The order of who votes first and last is randomized, according to Anderson.

The compromise came in Councilmember Kelvin Green’s suggestion to allow a request for traditional roll call vote.

“If it’s nuanced, just ask for a voice vote,” he said, later adding it could be part of procedure to inquire if anyone objects to electronic voting prior to the vote, giving someone a platform to call for a voice vote.

Councilmember Melissa Worthen said she liked the “flexibility” of Green’s compromise, pointing out some votes are straightforward, while other votes may require more explanation behind a person’s choice.

Anderson was directed by a majority of the council to learn more about the electronic process. l

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January 2022 | Page 5

Autism: In the schools and workplace; local opportunities promise bright future

T

emple Grandin, perhaps the most famous person with autism, visited Utah in August and was impressed with the opportunities she saw for children and adults with autism.

“I’ve seen more good stuff yesterday and today than I’ve seen in a long time— you’re doing some stuff that’s really special,” she said after visiting the Utah STEM Action Center and seeing the creative design and building tools available to Utah students in the STEM Lab. Grandin believes hands-on learning is ideal for encouraging innovation—especially for kids with autism.

“I watched an autistic kid just blossom in there,” she said. “[He was] about 12 years old, acting really autistic. He started doing a 3D printer, he turned into a different kid.”

Grandin worries that many children get stuck in the “autism box” and that many capable autistic young people are wasting away their time, playing video games in their parents’ basement, when they should be in the workforce innovating, designing and building.

She said many visual thinkers could be successful engineers but they struggle to complete traditional engineering programs because of the math requirements.

“I get worried that my kind of visual thinker is getting strained out because we can’t do algebra,” she said. “But it’s my kind of visual thinker that will build the next Amazon warehouse.”

Grandin has written 13 books explaining the different ways autistic, or neurodiverse, minds process information. As an object visualizing thinker, Grandin transformed the meat processing industry with her revolutionary engineering designs. But she had to go through untraditional channels because of her autism.

Grandin will explore the different ways people think to come up with innovative ideas in a podcast, “How Do You Think of That with Temple Grandin,” which will launch early this year in partnership with the Utah STEM Action Center and Sheri Quinn Productions.

“Temple is interviewing a variety of people working on research projects and innovations, talking to them about their lives, the way they think, and the way that they incorporate STEM into their lives on a daily basis,” said Julienne Bailey, a program coordinator at the Utah STEM Action Center.

The podcast will also delve into the role of education and what teachers and counselors can do to drive innovation.

Grandin has strong opinions about the education of children with autism. In addition to hands-on classes such as shop classes, she said children with autism need life skills training.

“The big thing we’ve got to be doing with kids in the pipeline is learning life skills, learning work skills—not enough emphasis on that,” Grandin said.

Life skills training is what has made a difference for Amy Baker’s two sons with autism.

Page 6 | January 2022

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Auticon provides an autism-friendly work environment. (Photo courtesy of David Reeve.)

The boys struggled in mainstream classes with neurotypical peers because of their delays in social and verbal skill development, which are typical with autism.

The boys attended specialized schools, the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning and Spectrum Academy Charter School. Spectrum Academy’s teachers use research-based instruction methods and provide a variety of technological tools so that students are not held back by writing, reading, or verbal delays, Baker said. Their on-staff occupational, speech, behavior, and mental specialists worked with the teaching team to help Baker’s boys figure out what modifications they needed to succeed in the classroom.

In Spectrum Academy’s social skills classes, Baker’s sons learned and practiced how to respond in social situations, something that comes naturally to neurotypical students but not those whose brains are wired differently.

By the end of middle school, both of Baker’s sons were able to transfer to their neighborhood school in mainstream classes. They are now in their junior and senior years.

“They’re doing so well,” Baker said. “But they wouldn’t be where they are without being at Spectrum to learn those tools. Those life skills that they’ve learned at Spectrum have just changed every aspect of our lives. Socially, they are keeping right up with their peers, which is huge. They need social skills to be able to get along in the world.”

Jordan School District provides autism support classes at three elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school. The smaller class sizes and Individualized Education Plans help teams of teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists address each student’s academic needs, social skills development and

Students with autism at Spectrum Academy enjoy small class sizes and specially trained staff who use research-based instruction methods. (Photo courtesy of Christina Guevara.)

behavior, said Angela Johnston, a special education teacher in one of Rose Creek Elementary’s three autism support classrooms.

In the autism support classrooms, students learn appropriate replacement behaviors to reduce disruptions to learning. Things that are small annoyances to neurotypical children can trigger a sensory overload tantrum in an autistic or neurodiverse child. When they become overwhelmed, they may respond with stimming behaviors (rocking, pacing, flapping, biting, yelling.) In the autism support classrooms, students learn to prevent and replace those behaviors.

“Our goal is for them to realize they’re starting to get overwhelmed and they come to

us and ask us for a break, or say ‘I need to go for a walk’ or ‘I need to go get a drink of water’ or ‘Can I go to the sensory room?’ or ‘It’s loud in here, I need some headphones,’” Johnston said. “Our goal is to get them to a place where they can use those strategies independently.”

Last year, Rose Creek Elementary created a Sensory Room, a former storage closet with low lighting, stocked with fidget toys, playdoh, pillows and a swing.

“It’s been a great place for kids to go just to get out of the classroom if they feel like they’re starting to escalate or they’re overwhelmed, if it’s too loud, or they’re feeling off that day and they need to just be somewhere quiet,” Johnston said.

West Jordan City Journal

Once students learn to prevent and replace behaviors, they are able to participate in mainstream classrooms, which is the goal of the program, said Johnston.

“We teach them appropriate replacement behaviors so they can be in a school setting and get to the point where we can have them mainstream, or their parents can take them out into the community,” she said.

In her 20 year career, Johnston has seen an improved educational experience for autistic students due to research and innovations as well as more parents advocating for their children, and more schools providing specialized services. Utah’s private and charter schools for autistic students are in high demand; Spectrum Academy, which has grown from one campus to seven in the last 15 years, continues to have a long enrollment waiting list.

Job skills training is part of secondary school instruction for teenagers with autism.

Both Spectrum Academy and Jordan District schools begin transition planning in seventh grade. Throughout their middle and high school years, students explore career opportunities and learn job skills through school-based and community-partnership work experiences.

Special education students in grades 9-12 can participate in part-time vocational instruction at JSD’s South Valley School in West Jordan, which also provides post high school life skills and job skills training for special education students ages 18-21.

Some students learn and practice job skills while working in South Valley School’s greenhouse and woodworking, framing and engraving shops. Others fill jobs in the community. SVS Principal Rita Bouillon said students with autism have abilities that fill a need in the job force and community employers are thrilled to have such dedicated workers.

“These students have such great skills because they pay such attention to detail, they like doing repetitive work, and they like doing work accurately,” Bouillon said. Many prefer jobs that are predictably the same every day such as gathering grocery carts, stocking shelves, making pizzas, and working on assembly lines.

Bouillon said these first job experiences help young adults with autism learn basic job skills—how to be on time, follow directions, dress appropriately, use public transportation and budget—that will translate to any future career. In class, students role play how to ask for a raise, request a day off, and arrange an accommodation. They learn to advocate for themselves and to educate others about autism so that it is not a barrier.

Autism is misunderstood by many and often causes a frustrating cycle of unemployment and underemployment.

“The autism community suffers from an 85% underemployment rate,” said David Aspinall, CEO of U.S. operations of Auticon, an international IT service provider. “Underemployment is the notion that somebody who could be an expert technologist is working in a role that doesn’t make them the compensation that they deserve for their skills. The other

WestJordanJournal .com

Above: A boy with autism gets an autograph from Temple Grandin during her visit to the Utah STEM Action Center. (Photo courtesy David Wicai.)

Right: Many teens and young adults with autism thrive at jobs with repetitive tasks. (Photo courtesy of Rita Bouillon.)

version of underemployment is an individual, an incredibly skilled technologist, that has gone from organization to organization, never growing roots, never feeling fulfilled, because they’re not an autism-friendly environment.”

That was the experience of Scott McKell, a 30-something computer programmer from Hyrum, Utah. He said he felt he escaped the stigmatizing ‘box of autism’ because his mother opted to keep him out of the special education system. She did push his social skills development and he was able to do well in school. But post high school, he struggled to find stable work that paid well. He was a skilled musician and computer programmer but found himself working temporary jobs in warehouses and call centers.

There were always problems with the jobs—call centers were uncomfortably loud, and if there was a big crash in the warehouse, it affected his ability to work accurately.

“I’ve had lots of odd jobs because I hadn’t quite found something that fit or I didn’t realize how to ask for accommodations to make something that was a close fit a solid fit,” McKell said.

Finally, in 2020, he found Auticon, which employs adults on the autism spectrum as technology consultants.

Auticon has tapped into the autistic pool of employees to utilize their skill sets that are ideal in the software development and data science industries. Aspinall said one autistic cognitive strength is brutal honesty, which is an asset in data science. He said an autistic worker is dedicated to the data and provides unbiased results, while other people may have an interpretation bias based on what they want the data to show.

Aspinall said people with autism who have the hard skills for a job often don’t make

it through the social skills portion of a job interview.

“The traditional interview process is one of the reasons our community is 85% underemployed,” Aspinall said. “There’s human bias, where you’re in an interview and you get that social spark with someone. That has zero bearing on that individual’s ability to do the job, especially in data science and software engineering.”

Auticon uses an autism-friendly recruitment process—gamification to understand the applicant’s technical skills, and a series of chats with job coaches to understand their soft skills. They provide job coaches to help employers understand how to support neurodiversity in the workplace so that they are inclusive and integrated. Many of the accommodations autistic workers ask for are just good business practices, Aspinall said.

“Things we work with our partners on are things like written instruction instead of verbal instruction, making sure that meetings have an agenda, that communication is concise,” he said. “If you think about it, that is really not that much of an accommodation, that’s just good business practice.”

Grandin attended the ribbon-cutting for Auticon’s Salt Lake operations center when she was in Utah in August and praised the company for recognizing the skills and capabilities of employees with autism. The majority of Auticon’s employees are autistic but Aspinall is quick to dismiss it as anything but good business strategy.

“This notion that this is altruistic is not accurate,” he said. “It’s performance-based. This isn’t altruism. Our team is bringing them a performance advantage. They are using what has been considered a barrier as a strength.”

McKell was hired by Auticon as a con-

Autism takes front stage The workings of an autistic mind is front stage in Riverton High School’s upcoming production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” The protagonist of the Tony Award-winning play is a teenager with autism who is determined to solve a mystery.

“It’s from his perspective, so we are seeing life through his extraordinary brain and how he’s able to maneuver things and do things that seem impossible for him,” RHS theater teacher Erin McGuire said.

One of the cast members is autistic and McGuire is planning a sensory-friendly performance for autistic audience members.

The play runs February 24-28.

Visit rivertonhigh.jordandistrict. org for information and tickets. sultant for Fidelity Investments and said the workplace environment is the best he’s ever had because his employer understands what he needs to do his job; it is normalized for him to wear noise-cancelling headphones or to take a break.

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before—in a positive way,” he said. “Just the mere understanding that if I get overstimulated and I need to take a break and walk away, they’re not only OK with that but they encourage that. If I’m too uncomfortable or bothered by something, I disengage and find my zen, so to speak, and then come back and I’m much more efficient than when I was overstimulated and trying to push through.” l

January 2022 | Page 7

West Jordan’s best photos of 2021

Clockwise: Copper Hills takes on Weber at the state playoffs where the Grizzlies would finish fourth. (Justin Adams/City Journals) Principal Dixie Garrison earned a lifetime achievement award halfway through her career for her innovative programs that help students succeed. (West Jordan Middle School Facebook) The long awaited 24,000-pound metal bridge is finished along the Jordan River Trail at 7900 South and 100 West. (Photo courtesy West Jordan) Joel P. Jensen Middle School has one of the most diverse student bodies in Utah. (Bryan Leggat/JPJMS) West Jordan’s Clara Mae sings in various music videos. (Photo courtesy Emily Robbins)

Page 8 | January 2022

West Jordan City Journal

Clockwise: Former Copper Hills standout Brayden Taylor is playing third base at Texas Chirstian University. (Photo courtesy of TCU athletics.)

Kymberli Cosner was chosen as Jordan District’s Teacher of the Year as well as a JEF Outstanding Educator. (Photo courtesy of Kymberli Cosner.)

Austin Klingler won the state championship in the 400 and 800. His coach called him one of the greatest middle distance runners in the history of the state. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Hatch.)

Firefighters and city officials push the engine into the bay where it is now ready for service. (Erin Dixon/City Journals) Students will become independent decoders through a new way of teaching reading skills in Jordan District classrooms. (Doug Flagler/Jordan School District)

WestJordanJournal .com

January 2022 | Page 9

Students get a look into manufacturing principles, careers at Rock West Composites

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

W

hat may look like a single layer of fabric may actually be several layers of alternating carbon fiber coated with resin to create a stable, yet pliable composite that is being used in manufacturing for tubing as well as many customized projects.

That may have been what approximately 25 students from high schools in Canyons School District learned as it toured Rock West Composites in West Jordan on National Manufacturing Day. “They manufacture components made of carbon fiber, which is lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel,” said Christy Bond, Jordan High work-based learning coordinator who escorted the group that toured the facility.

“They walked us through the cutting process, the molding process, and showed us the raw materials. Students got hands on to see what carbon fiber is like before the resin is added and then after the resin is added, how it becomes pliable and can turn into something super sturdy.”

Bond said students also learned about thermal stressing where the material runs through “minus 30 to 280 degrees back and forth to stabilize that material, which they sometimes use for calibration of devices.”

While the students learned the company does a lot of stock tubing, they also saw some of the customized items they made.

Canyons School District high school students toured Rock West Composites where they learned about its manufacturing principles. (Christy Bond/Jordan High)

“One of the cool things they make is a lightweight, portable X-ray machine, that…is able to use on football fields as well as Third World countries. Another cool thing they showed us was called the HANS (head and neck support) device; it’s a head and neck restraint device that’s used in Speedway racing,” Bond said, adding that they also discussed composite being used to manufacture bicycles, drones and other aerospace applications. “One of the kids thought that was really cool that you could use it to create pieces for auto design.”

Students also had the chance to ask what other uses the company manufactures for (materials that are used in marine, energy and sci-

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“The thing they said they like to emphasize is employability skills: how you have to be a hard worker, a good person and willing to learn,” she said, adding that they trained people on-site. “They rotate people through the manufacturing, the purchasing, the office work so that they get a feel for the company.”

While most of Jordan High’s students are taking the manufacturing principles course in the medical innovations pathway, the tour was open to any student who was interested in manufacturing.

“All the manufacturing principles can be applied into when they eventually make their own medical devices” in the second term of the medical innovations pathway, she said.

The year-long medical innovations pathway, which is housed at Jordan High, is open to any junior or senior.

In the one-credit pathway, students who are interested in engineering or biomanufacturing learn the manufacturing process, learn the history of the industry, product development, operational structures and optimization, cost and quality control. The second semester includes a course in biomanufacturing to explore the medical device industry, U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulations as they apply to the medical device industry, and careers in the field.

Students also have the opportunity to have job shadows and internships in biomanufacturing companies. Then, students are guaranteed an interview and if selected to work at the company, they are eligible for tuition assistance for ongoing training, Bond said.

At the successful completion of the program, students receive an industry certificate and are hosted at the state Capitol building by the governor or governor’s representative for an award ceremony. Since the medical innovations pathway began six years ago, about 90 students have completed the program. l

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WestJordanJournal .com

January 2022 | Page 11

West Jordan shelter employees talk importance of ‘safe place’ for animals

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

T

he West Jordan Animal Shelter is cityowned and operated. The shelter cares for thousands of lost, abandoned, or stray animals, and helps them find a home. The shelter has been in operation for 19 years and opened in October 2002. Prior to 2002, West Jordan City housed animals at the Murray Animal Shelter.

With the fast-growing population in West Jordan, city officials decided there was a need to have a shelter to serve residents under their own jurisdiction.

The purpose of the shelter is to fulfill vital roles in the jurisdiction of West Jordan.

Shelter staff wants to receive and provide care for abandoned animals and help pets reunite with their owners. An adoption service is provided for animals that aren’t reclaimed by their owners. The shelter oversees the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program for feral cats to reduce the feral cat population in the community. West Jordan staff provides education and information regarding animals and the animal regulations. There is a dispatch center for animal-related calls for service, which provides an office for animal service officers.

“The shelter is a safe place for the animals,” said Officer Colby Haws, Animal Services officer. “We do the best we can to keep the shelter clean to provide a welcom-

ing experience for the public.”

“We are so grateful for the tremendous and ongoing support West Jordan Residents and businesses provide for the animals at this shelter,” said Dan Eatchel, animal services manager, West Jordan Police Department.

“Members of our community regularly visit our shelter to view, interact with and adopt animals in our care. Due to the generosity of the public, we receive a large amount of donated pet food and pet supplies that help make the animals in our care well fed and comfortable without our shelter having to purchase those items.”

One of the most rewarding parts of working at the shelter is being a part of the adoption process as homeless animals are placed into new, loving homes,” said Rebecca White, shelter technician.

Animal shelters play a vital role in our communities as they continuously work to reunite pets with their owners, shelter those in need and find new homes for animals that are lost without a permanent home or for those animals that, for our own security, shouldn’t be roaming the streets. For animal shelter workers, it’s often a thankless job as they balance having enough space to house all the animals, coordinating pet adoptions and developing their campaigns to encourage people to be responsible and spay and

neuter their animals. Animal shelter staff members do all of this while trying to convince people to look first at animal shelters for that special family pet.

Animal shelters help create many human-animal love connections. Lifelong best friends have been established through the low-cost adoption of animals just waiting for a loving family to adopt them. Animal shelters are the perfect place to adopt a companion that could very well end up being a best friend. Every animal adopted means one less animal purchased from mass breeders.

Established shelters help lost and injured pets reunite with their owners through animal shelters. Pets can get loose and run away, or they become frightened and escape their homes and get taken in by city animal control agencies, or turned in by residents that see a loose animal. Animal shelters help to reestablish family connections and ease a lot of potential suffering by families.

Shelters and rescue groups are important. Without animal shelters or rescue groups, it can put a strain on communities.

Thousands of animals could be roaming the streets and impact the safety and health of neighborhoods. Luckily, there are animal shelters that protect the safety and health of communities and animals.

By adopting an animal, you are giv-

A cat peeks out from behind a bush. (Photo courtesy Rebecca White)

ing them a second chance for a new life in a loving home. Adopting from a shelter helps weaken the pet overpopulation cycle.

Every year, millions of dogs, cats, puppies

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West Jordan City Journal

135 Years

OF TRUST Taking Care of

YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS

EVERY STEP A husky is one of the animals that could be found at the animal shelter. (Photo courtesy Rebecca White)

and kittens are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. Adopting from a shelter will bring a lot of joy to the family and the pet.

The shelter not only houses dogs and cats; it will also house found rabbits, birds, ferrets, reptiles and small or medium-sized livestock. Large livestock animals are housed at the South Jordan Animal Shelter, or the rodeo grounds.

When the animals get adopted, they are current on their vaccinations, spayed or neutered. If the animal is too young, they will be scheduled for a spay or neuter appointment when they get old enough. The animals will receive a microchip and get a health exam at the time of their spay or neuter surgery.

By providing excellent veterinary care in a shelter, then referring the adoptive family to veterinarian clinics, it leads the way to improving pet health in communities. Animal shelters help to stabilize the pet population as well as increasing the well-being of residents.

The mission of the animal shelters is to bring communities together and play a vital role in keeping our pets and cities safe, educating the public and providing resources for cities dealing with pet overpopulation. It is important for communities to support animal shelters to save, shelter, reunite, adopt and improve animal health and educate the public.

The West Jordan animal officers find and rehome dozens of pets every year. Many of these animals have to spend a few nights in the shelter and wait for their owner to pick them up.

Those animals need food, toys and warm blankets to keep them warm and help them feel secure in an unfamiliar environment.

WestJordanJournal .com

“Our staff works diligently to provide a safe and comfortable experience for the animals in our care,” said Dan Eatchel. “We strive to exceed the public’s expectations by providing a cleaner than expected facility to help visitors have a positive experience when viewing and interacting with the animals.”

“We are so grateful for all the donations and supplies our residents donate every year,” said Marie Magers, digital senior communication specialist. “If not for them, these animals wouldn’t have a comfortable stay while our officers work to find them a forever home.”

The shelter has worked very hard to become a no-kill shelter. The shelter joined the NKUT (No-Kill Utah) Coalition in 2017 and achieved a no-kill status in 2018.

The shelter continues to operate as a nokill shelter.

Every year the Shelter hosts an annual Holiday for the Animals Event. This year it happened on December 11, 2021, at the Animal Shelter located at 5982 W. New Bingham Hwy. The purpose of this event is to receive donations for the animals. The event often provides supplies for the animals well into the following calendar year.

By donating to the West Jordan Animal Shelter, you help find the animals a safe place to be.

The items needed are dog and cat food, cat furniture, kitten food, scratching posts, puppy food, treats, toys, bones, cat litter, and dog and cat beds.

You can drop off donations at the West Jordan Animal Shelter located at (5982 W. New Bingham Hwy.), or you can participate in a contactless donation by visiting bit.ly/ wjanimalshelter. l

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West Jordan City Journal

G O OD NE IG HBOR

NEWS

JANUARY 2022

Paid for by the City of West Jordan

M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E Happy New Year! May 2022 bring you and your loved ones much joy and happiness.

With every new year, comes new resolutions. My focus for 2022 is great customer service and open communication for residents in our fantastic city. As the city continues to provide tremendous customer service, service problems are solved, and work moves forward.

Since I took office two years ago, I’ve implemented some new ways to communicate with residents and connect them with city staff.

As you know, last year our city was named the third largest city in Utah. To keep up with our growing population, we’ve found additional ways to communicate. The upgrades in communication and customer service I have applied include: • A new city website that is much easier to navigate and is mobile friendly • A resident texting service which allows residents to text in a single word inquiry and receive a response.

• Added additional customer service staff.

These new resources are going to be particularly important as City Hall undergoes construction this year. While things may look a little different for a while, everything that was accessible before will still be accessible during the construction.

Of course, you may still email me at: mayor@westjordan.utah.gov or call my office at 801-569-5100 or make a personal visit appointment.

In this month’s edition of the West Jordan Journal, you will find an article describing details of the renovation. We will continue to keep you informed of changes and updates. We look forward to making these much-needed upgrades to our City Hall to increase efficacies and reduce costs.

Sincerely,

Mayor Dirk Burton

WestJordanJournal .com

West Jordan City Hall to Undergo Limited Remodel Beginning in February, you may notice a shift in activity at West Jordan City Hall. The inside of the 30-year-old building is scheduled to undergo some needed renovations.

Built in 1992, when there were about 40,000 residents in West Jordan, City Hall was originally designed to serve a projected population of 75,000 residents. Today, we’re the State’s third largest city with more than 118,000 residents.

1993, Contractors put the finishing touches on City Hall.

WHY RENOVATE NOW City Hall has not seen significant upgrades since it opened 30 years ago. The building does not meet current building and safety code or accessibility THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS standards.

Residents should not expect an interruption to city In addition, the building’s original uses have services or communication due to the remodel. changed dramatically over time. The building was • Customer service and passports will remain open originally built to host the police department, court, in the northwest corner of City Hall, with regular and Salt Lake County District Attorney’s offices. As operating hours. service levels have expanded those operations have moved out, but the space has not been updated to • Development services (building and safety, account for current staffing needs. A remodel will save engineering, planning, and business licensing), the city money in the future through greater flexibility as well as the Mayor and his office staff will be in staffing, community space, and by generating energy available at Public Works (7960 South 4000 West) efficiencies that are not currently available. and will maintain regular hours of operation.

• City Council and Planning Commission meetings WHAT TO EXPECT will be held next door in the Thomas M. Rees This remodel is expected to start in early 2022 and Justice Center (8040 South Redwood Road), in continue for more than a year. The finished interior will the Police Department’s community room. be more accessible for residents, provide additional They will continue to operate on the regular space for after-hours activities, have a more practical meeting schedule. layout for visitors to City Hall and staff, and be updated to all modern safety codes.

WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM During the pandemic residents in West Jordan stayed close to AT A G L A N C E home, spending a large portion of • West Jordan City Hall, as it stands their income locally, which resulted today, first appeared on the city’s in a one-time increase in sales masterplan in 1974 and was originally tax revenue. As resident habits designed in 1978. return to normal, city leadership is looking for opportunities to • Construction on the building began use this one-time money to in 1992. No significant upgrades have create ongoing efficiencies that been made since the building opened. will benefit the city for years.

• The city has nearly tripled in size over Designating some of these funds the last 30 years. to the remodel of City Hall will • Work on the building will begin in benefit residents for generations.

February 2022 and will be completed a little over a year later.

The city will continue to keep residents informed on its social • Changes will be made to the interior, media accounts, through emails, but there will be almost no change to the newsletter, and website – the building’s exterior. westjordan.utah.gov.

January 2022 | Page 15

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

Public Meeting Location Changes

City Snow Removal

The West Jordan City Council and Planning Commission will be moving in-person meetings to the Thomas M. Rees Justice Center (8040 South Redwood Road), in the Police Department’s community room. The community room is on the north side of the police station.

A virtual option will still be available for viewers to watch live from anywhere. For more information on times and dates for the public meetings visit westjordan.utah.gov.

West Jordan’s Senior Meal Program Did you know - the City’s Senior Meal Program has provided more than 1,800 lunches and over 2,000 dinners to local seniors?

The city has partnered with several local restaurants to meals to seniors. See if you are eligible by visiting: https://bit.ly/wjmealprogram

Page 16 | January 2022

City street crews are responsible for clearing more than 890 lane miles of streets in West Jordan. Its top priority is to make all roads passable for schools, hospital, and fire stations. After the main roads are clear, plows will work on residential streets.

PRIORITY CATEGORIES: • Priority one – arterial and major collector streets.

• Priority two – subdivision collector streets.

• Priority three – all other residential through streets, (excluding cul-de-sacs) • Priority four – Cul-de-sacs and other dead-end streets.

West Jordan City Journal

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

File a Service Request online – 5 easy steps What do potholes, loose pets, and graffiti all have in common? They are all problems that can be fixed by completing a service request online. Let the city know what’s going on in just five steps: Step 1: Go to http://bit.ly/WJSERVICE (case sensitive) Step 2: Choose from the list until you find the request you would like to make Step 3: Click ‘Submit a report’ Step 4: Fill out the form Step 5: Click “Report it” You should receive a confirmation email following your submission. Someone from the city will be in contact with you throughout the process to ensure your request was completed.

If you are still experiencing issues, please call 801-569-5174.

COUNCIL CORNER It’s a brand-new year, which means that Council Members are setting goals both individually and together as the legislative body of our City. One of the Council’s shared goals is to increase awareness of what actions the Council is taking during our meetings in real time. We hope to achieve this by live-tweeting our meetings.

Council Member Kelvin Green said, “We as a council know that West Jordan is filled with hard working people who look forward to spending time with their family and friends when they get home from their jobs. By live-tweeting our proceedings, we hope members of the public can tune into the parts of our work sessions and meetings that are most important to them.”

In other news, a majority of the Council has selected the Justice Center Community Room as

our alternate meeting location to City Hall. We needed to select an alternate location, as there will be a point during the City Hall remodel when Council Chambers is inaccessible.

Council Member Zach Jacob said, “Among the available rooms we had to choose from for an alternative site for council meetings, we decided the Justice Center Community Room made the most sense. It’s right next door to City Hall, so it won’t be too much of an adjustment for staff or for residents. The temporary adjustment should be rather seamless.”

The Council will remain in Council Chambers until construction makes it impossible to have meetings within City Hall. We will notify the public via social media and public notice when the transition occurs sometime in early 2022.

Christmas Tree Pick-up and Drop-off Program Don’t forget to take advantage of the city’s Christmas tree pick-up and drop-off program. Starting December 25th through January 21st, residents can place their Christmas trees curbside on their trash collection day.

Residents may also opt to drop off their tree at a designated drop-off location.

The three drop-off locations include: • The parking lot at the County Pool/Gene Fulmer Rec Center located at 8125 S. 2200 W. • The parking lot of Constitution Park located at the southeast corner of 3285 W. 7000 S. • The south parking lot at the West Jordan Soccer Complex located on the west side of 4000 W. at about 8070 S. Trees will be delivered to the Trans-Jordan Landfill to be composted. Please do not bag your trees, be sure that all your ornaments, tinsel, and other décor are removed. If your tree has been flocked (given a treatment to make it look like snow is on the branches) it will not be collected. This program is only for real trees, artificial trees will not be accepted. If you have any questions regarding this program, call: 801-569-5700.

WestJordanJournal .com

January 2022 | Page 17

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JA N UA RY

DECEMBER

DECEMBER

NEW YEAR’S DAY

HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR

WEST JORDAN’S HOLIDAY HOTLINE

1

1-26

Find more information on Westjordan.utah.gov

1-25

Hear a new message from Santa every day 801-256-2057

JA N UA RY

DECEMBER

DECEMBER

OATH OF OFFICE

SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN

BLOOD DRIVE

West Jordan City Hall 6 p.m.

Find more information on westjordan.utah.gov

JA N UA RY

JA N UA RY

JA N UA RY

PLANNING COMMISSION

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

West Jordan City Hall & online: bit.ly/WestJordan 6 – 9 p.m.

West Jordan City Hall & online: bit.ly/WestJordan 7 – 10:30 p.m.

CITY OFFICES CLOSED

JA N UA RY

JA N UA RY

JA N UA RY

PLANNING COMMISSION

CURBSIDE CHRISTMAS TREE PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF ENDS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

3

2

4

West Jordan City Hall 12 – 6 p.m.

12

18

17

21

West Jordan City Hall & online: bit.ly/WestJordan 6 – 9 p.m.

Page 18 | J

6

26

West Jordan City Hall & online: bit.ly/WestJordan 7 – 10:30 p.m.

The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation!

(801) 569-5100 West Jordan – City Hall www.wjordan.com anuary

2022

West Jordan Police Dept.

8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch

West Jordan City Journal

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Page 20 | January 2022

West Jordan City Journal

West Jordan basketball off to roaring start Photos by Travis Barton

Clockwise: Colton Blackham lets the play develop.

Justhin Hurtado, nursing a nose injury, was a constant spark in the Jaguars opening 71-61 win against Brighton.

Boston Farmer drives the court against Brighton. Farmer leads the team in assists so far.

After another impressive offensive possession, the Jaguars bench erupts celebrating the scoring spree.

West Jordan’s student section, decked out in Christmas sweaters, react to a big-time three-pointer in the team’s season opening win.

WestJordanJournal .com

January 2022 | Page 21

These families open their hearts and homes to foster pets

By Katherine Weinstein | k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com

T

he Spencer family gazed down with pride at the new mom, snuggled up in a make-shift bed with her nine healthy, week-old puppies. The Spencers took in the dog just before she gave birth as part of a fostering partnership with Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption. The family is just one of many who open their homes and hearts to homeless pets in need.

The Spencers have fostered a total of 23 dogs since they began working with Nuzzles & Co. last summer. “We always had dogs in our home,” said Misti Spencer. “I wanted to buy a home so bad so we could get a dog. I just have to have a dog in my life. I think I’ll be fostering forever!”

Nuzzles & Co. is always seeking volunteers to foster pets. The organization has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding in 1990 and now includes a pet adoption center in Park City as well as a Rescue and Rehab Ranch. Nuzzles & Co. works with the Navajo Nation and the Ute Reservation to care for and find homes for the many homeless dogs and cats on the reservation. In 2020, the organization saved a grand total of 1,863 dogs and cats.

There is a great need for people to foster dogs who are pregnant or nursing pups and the Spencers agreed to take on the challenge. Jonathan Spencer explained, “We help the moms to get back in good health, socialized and used to living indoors.

We’re helping them to become a desirable family pet.”

“We give the moms lots of love, they get a lot of attention,” said Ronan Spencer, a student at Corner Canyon High School.

“The moms are often in bad shape,” Misti explained. “The first mom we picked up was so sick, they thought she was going to die. It felt so good to bring her back to life.” She recalled the joy the family felt watching their first foster dog play with her

The Spencer family fostered these three puppies through an arrangement with Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption based in Park City.

(Photo courtesy Emerald Spencer)

puppies in the backyard. That dog was later adopted by a family in Murray and the Spencers had the pleasure of seeing her again when the family brought her to Draper Dog Park.

As a pet foster family, the Spencers are not responsible for

finding forever homes for the dogs. When the puppies are eight weeks old, they are taken back to Nuzzles & Co. to be adopted out. However, the family often finds ways to keep in touch with their former canine charges. Emerald Spencer, a student at Utah

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West Jordan City Journal

A proud mama poses with her pups in the Spencer family’s backyard in Draper. The family fostered the dogs as volunteers with Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption. (Photo courtesy Emerald Spencer)

State University, explained that a family friend adopted a couple of puppies that they had fostered. “We still get to see them, which is cool!” she said.

Emerald described how her family helps to socialize the dogs which includes leash training them and taking them on walks. “We invite the neighbors over to play with the dogs,” she said. Jonathan added, “The kids bring friends over so that the dogs get used to teens.”

Misti noted that having older kids who can help care for the dogs is a bonus when you’re a pet foster parent. She also explained that the key to being a good foster pet family is flexibility. “You have to be a problem solver,” Misti said. “Every dog has its own personality and issues, their needs are so different. Every batch of puppies has its unique needs.”

“There’s going to be some characters in this batch!” Jonathan said of the tiny, roly-poly puppies who are currently in their care.

“There is a stigma on rescue dogs,” he continued. “But these are good animals, dogs that are going to love you forever because you gave them a home. The pets we’ve had have always been rescues.”

“People pay a fortune for a purebred dog,” Misti said. “There are so many good dogs out there. Dogs make such an impact on peoples’ lives. That’s what I find so rewarding.”

Ronan observed that dogs can become a key part of the family. He explained that while he enjoys helping to care for the family’s dogs, “I feel a connection with cats. If I ever see a cat, I have to go up to it and pet it.”

There are many others in Draper who share that love of all things feline, including folks who foster cats and kittens. The Day family has fostered nine kittens so far since October 2020.

“I had thought about fostering for a long time,” Becca Day explained. She began her journey as a foster cat mom when her mother found a tiny stray kitten hiding in her garage.

Becca and her family cared for the kitten until it was adopted by a family friend. “We still get to see it,” she said with a smile.

Becca joined Celestial Zoo Pet Rescue,

WestJordanJournal .com

a Facebook community based in Bluffdale.

Unlike Nuzzles & Co., Celestial Zoo does not have a brick-and-mortar location. There are separate Celestial Zoo Facebook groups for those who foster cats and dogs. Through the online community, “the nice thing is that we can find other kitties that need help,” Becca explained. “They do a lot with feral cats. If a cat shows signs of being a potential good pet, we foster them. Really feral cats end up as barn cats.”

The Celestial Zoo community often coordinates foster care for homeless cats and kit-

tens found in the rural areas of southern Utah and brings them north where they are more likely to find forever homes.

The first two kittens that the Day family fostered from Celestial Zoo were from a large cat colony in Utah County. At first, the black kitten later known as Jiji was very fearful of humans and would hiss when approached.

Becca’s husband, Ben, helped to socialize Jiji by sitting with him and eventually had the kitten literally eating from his hand. “It was calming for me,” Ben said. “I gave him the opportunity to build trust with humans and form a bond.”

Fifteen year old Oliver Day is a bit wary of getting too attached to the kittens but enjoys playing with them. “I really like cats,” he said.

“They are always cute! I like the experience of raising them and finding them a good home.”

For Oliver, the best part of fostering kittens is, “You get to have the experience of having a lot of pets and, if you like one, you get to keep them.”

Currently, the Days are fostering a young gray and white cat who has bonded with their own older pet cat. The family is leaning toward adopting him, making him a so-called, “foster fail.” Becca admits that it’s hard not to keep all of their young feline charges. Sending kittens off to a new home can be bittersweet. “Of course you’re going to be sad at the end,” she said. “It’s because you care.”

The cats and dogs being fostered through Celestial Zoo are advertised for adoption on Petfinder and the organization hosts weekend

adoption events at PetSmart stores in Sandy, West Jordan and Orem. “Celestial Zoo really cares about who is adopting the cats,” Becca explained. Prospective owners need to complete an adoption form and are interviewed by the pet’s foster parents.

Making sure that a prospective owner is not getting a pet on a whim is key as is determining the sort of home environment that the pet would be going to. Not every dog or cat has the temperament to get along with young children or other pets. “If the adoption doesn’t work out, the kitty goes back to the foster,” Becca said. She happily keeps in touch with some of her adopters.

Becca would encourage others to foster pets if they have the time and capacity, but added that there are other ways people can help homeless pets. “Maybe you can volunteer to transport animals or make a donation,” she said. “Keep an eye on your neighborhood and if you see a cat that is clearly not someone’s pet or find a litter of kittens, contact a rescue group to help.”

Both Nuzzles & Co. and Celestial Zoo are seeking people to foster pets and volunteer in other capacities. Nuzzles & Co.’s Pet Adoption Center is located at The Outlets, 6699 N. Landmark Drive, Suite B-103 in Park City. Call 435-649-5441 for more information or visit www.nuzzlesandco. org. Celestial Zoo Pet Rescue has a website as well; visit www.celestialzoo.org or find them on Facebook. l

January 2022 | Page 23

Help wanted: Officials for youth sports

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

he number of high school referees and sports officials is declining rapidly across the country. Until recently, Utah had not experienced much of a decline, but this season it has finally hit home. Why is this happening, and what can be done to make sure athletes don’t miss games because of it?

“If high school is in session I am doing a sport,” Harley Gold said. “I have officiated since 1967. I started because I was invited to a little league umpires clinic then, and I became an umpire. I enjoy all of the sports, and picking a favorite is like picking my favorite child.”

Gold is not alone. Many of the officials started young and have continued for years.

Former USA Hockey Supervisor of Officials Jim Mckenna started officiating youth and adult recreation hockey games in 1994. He continues working collegiate and junior league games as well as games in the ECHL. “I was looking for a way to earn some extra money back then,” Mckenna said. “I dealt with the assignment of officials and contracts with leagues and organizations and helped with training. It was a lot of work, but it was fun.”

Both of these longtime arbiters enjoy what they do.

“I like being around the game and with the kids,” Gold said.

High school basketball referees work together to make sure rules are followed and the games are officiated correctly. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

According to an Ohio University study, many states are reporting a decrease in officials. Oregon alone saw a 12% drop in registered football referees this fall.

The shortage has finally hit our state.

Two weeks before the boys basketball season

began, the Utah High School Activities Association had 450 people registered for the job, nearly 250 less than what it needs to complete the season.

In northern California, there has been a decrease of nearly 30%.

Here in Utah, we have also increased the number of schools therefore increasing the number of games, making this a two-headed problem for officials.

The lack of officials has forced postponement and cancellation of many sub-varsity games in the state. Some schools are moving games to make it easier to find people to help.

“Every year in the last five or six years, we have seen a decline in the number of officials,” McKenna said. “The abuse from parents and players contributes. The younger officials wonder why they would want to go and get yelled at for two hours.”

Sportsmanship has become a key in the decline of officials. It refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control and courage. In today’s sporting culture, it takes a back seat to winning and positive results.

“We have really lost the sense of what is appropriate,” McKenna said. “It seems OK to scream at some official and tell them how crappy they are. Society is a lot less accepting and willing to come to an understanding,” In a National Association of Sporting Officials survey, adult recreation and youth competitive sports had the worst sportsmanship, and 47% of officials surveyed feared for their safety because of a fan, player, coach or administrator.

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“Sportsmanship is probably the No. 1 reason an official does not return,” UHSAA assistant director Jeff Cluff said. “We lose about 75% of first year officials. It is hard if you don’t have the personality to handle it. There is no place for bad sportsmanship.”

In early November at a 13–14-year-old division hockey tournament in Colorado, Ron Groothedde, a 25 year veteran referee, was sprayed in the face with a large can of Lysol by an angry parent. The suspect was arrested for harassment.

Incidents of poor sportsmanship are numerous.

“I think it takes communication,” McKenna said. “I see a lot of officials that get yelled at and they yell right back, and all that does is fuel the fire. Talking to a coach and explaining what you saw in a conversation and come to an agreement. Some of the younger officials are intimidated by the coaches.”

The extra money of a part-time job like officiating was a big draw to begin with, but many potential officials have found other jobs that also pay well.

In March of 2020, when the pandemic started, many games and competitions were cancelled. For six to eight months, officials sat at home. Many have not returned, citing COVID concerns and also a lack of interest.

“We have tried a few different things,” United States Specialty Sports Association’s Utah Director Jerry Ong said. “We work hard on having good compensation, umpire treatment and fan control. I know as an industry we have suffered with the loss of referees.”

The UHSAA pay scale for officials varies by sport and level. A varsity football referee can take home $74, whereas a volleyball official makes $59. Some schools offer dinner and food stipends to help with travel expenses.

The current pay rates have increased nearly 10% across the board. Some officials can get paid mileage to travel to an event.

“Basketball and softball have been affected the most,” Cluff said. “We have games in rural areas that need to have officials. We are paying more to get guys to travel to those places. We are looking for ways to recruit new help.”

The athletes and coaches of today are the officials of tomorrow. Cluff said getting them involved when they are young could help increase numbers.

“Our coaches make the best officials,” Cluff said. “A basketball coach can be a great baseball umpire or football referee. They have great relationships with kids and know how to work positively with them. It also gives kids a better understanding of the game.”

The UHSAA encourages its athletes to participate in little leagues and youth sports programs. Its older referees also attempt to persuade friends to join the organization.

“You can never find a more fulfilling parttime job,” Gold said. “I get to set my own hours, work when I want to work. There is also plenty of help available. Training every year and other mentors to keep you straight.”

According to a recent NASO survey, 48% of all current officials started because of an invitation from a friend.

There are also numerous other reasons why many people get involved. They include extra money, the love of sports, a way to stay active and giving back to a game they love.

“I get to work the ECHL game,s and there are times that I think, ‘Why do I still do this,’” McKenna said. “I just got berated for the entire game, but there are times when the action is intense and the game is back and forth. It is awesome to be involved in a game that is back and forth and the guys are playing well. I have also worked with other officials that have gone on and had great careers in the NHL.” The hard work of officials does not go unnoticed.

“I definitely think officials have the hardest job to do,” West Jordan boys basketball head coach Christian Wouden said. “No matter what they do, it will upset one side or the other. We have some great officials and they work extremely hard.”

In 2021, Tammy Spencer and Lance Nielsen were awarded officials of the year by UHSAA. Many leagues offer training for new officials. The UHSAA has set up official associations and they provide constant training and are always looking for new hires to try it out. l

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If you know of a child, birth to age 22, who is not receiving any education services or feel that your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your local school or call the Special Education Department in Jordan School District at (801) 567-8176.

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CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program.

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Hockey officials such as DeOrr Wight stand right in the line of fire, as coaches and players have direct access to them throughout the game. (Greg James/City Journals)

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JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT - Public Notices

SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD FIND Every child is entitled to a public education regardless of disability. Children with disabilities may go without services because families are not fully aware of their options.

If you know of a child, birth to age 22, who is not receiving any education services or feel that your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your local school or call the Special Education Department in Jordan School District at (801) 567-8176.

SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS DESTRUCTION On January 31, 2022, Jordan School District will destroy special education records of students born prior to September, 1994. Former special education students who are 27 years old may request their records from the school last attended; otherwise, the records will be destroyed.

CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program.

Further information is available at http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/Scholarships.aspx

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January 2022 | Page 27

Utah organization celebrates 10 years of empowering local women

G

By Hannah LaFond | h.lafond@mycityjournals.com

uests gathered at Venue 6SIX9 in downtown Salt Lake City in November for a black-tie gala to honor nine outstanding women. Those celebrated women were the 2021 graduates from WoWUtah.

“WoW” stands for “Women of Worth,” and the Utah-based nonprofit works to help women who have overcome difficult circumstances such as addiction, abuse or disease. The women selected for the program go through a year of workshops and training to help them gain self-worth and give them the tools they need for a fresh start.

Each of the women is paired with a mentor, a volunteer who is there to help through the entire journey.

Along with teaching them valuable life skills, each participant is given a makeover. According to WoWUtah’s Facebook page, they are gifted a collection of business attire and casual clothing selected by a team of stylists. “So she can feel confident and beautiful in her personal and professional life.” They also give each graduate formal wear and shoes for the gala event.

While the program usually spans a year, the graduates at Friday’s event had been with WoWUtah for two years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, workshops and classes that usually would have taken place in person switched to online. As a result,

Wo W U t a h decided to keep the same participants for another year so they could better experience the program.

G a l a attendees enjoyed w a t c h i n g WoWUtah gala venue. (Courtesy videos made of WoWUtah) by the 2021 graduates to highlight their achievements. Following their video, each graduate walked across the stage, just like in a classic school graduation. Then they were invited to say a few words about their experience, all of them finishing with the proclamation of “I am a woman of worth.”

Barbara Moeller, who graduated from the program in 2012, now sits on WoW’s Chair of Mentees. Speaking about her experience, she said, “WoW helped me to find out how amazing it is to be myself. I had gotten lost under the pressures and circumstances in life. The program gave me the

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Members of WoWUtah’s board with founder Judee Guay and husband, Lewie Guay, at the center. (Courtesy of WoWUtah)

tools to defend myself against challenges that eroded my self-worth. The magic is being paired with a mentor for a journey of self-discovery. I not only found my worth again but learned to be responsible and accountable for how I comport myself.”

Along with honoring the 2021 graduates, the gala also celebrated the 10 years WoWUtah has been in operation. Judee Guay, who founded WoW and now works alongside COO Marie Jess to keep it running, spoke about the organization’s beginnings.

She started WoW after she got a second chance at life. Guay recalled her years spent in an abusive marriage and how hopeless she’d felt. Hopelessness, only made worse by autoimmune diseases she was suffering from at the time. But, slowly, she was able to put the pieces back together. She left the abusive marriage, lost 100 pounds, and started to heal.

Going through such a life-changing experience made Guay want to help other women overcome their struggles. So, she started WoWUtah in 2011. Though she had a vision, Guay said their first gala was nothing like the event that evening. “If anybody had told me that 10 years later this would be here, I wouldn’t have believed them,” she said, looking out at the crowd.

The guests were also invited to participate in a silent auction to raise money for WoW’s continuation. The auction included prizes such as theater tickets, gift baskets, romantic getaways and several cakes. The evening presenter and a member of WoW’s advisory board, Ty Bennett, joked that he’d won several cakes that his children had bid on for him.

Speaking of how WoWUtah has operated and will continue to operate on donations, Guay said, “[WoW] has been supported by volunteers, including the directors, executive board and advisory board. No one has received remuneration, and it will stay that way with all donations going toward the women being served now and in the future.”

After presenting the graduates, Guay and Jess took turns presenting awards to those who’d helped WoWUtah throughout its 10 years. One of the award recipients included Chad Hymas, a highly respected international speaker who is also on WoW’s advisory board. Hymas was given the Inspiration Award.

Sheri Thompson, who’d come all the way from Arizona for the event, was given the Soul Sister Award. Guay told The City Journals, “Sheri's incredible connection with her WoW sisters and the mentees is why she is so deserving of this award.”

They also surprised Bennett, the presenter, with the Legacy Award, for being with WoW from the beginning.

Guay finished by surprising her COO Jess, and her husband, Lewie Guay, with the Founder’s Awards.

After the awards, they finished the evening by inviting the women of WoW to perform a special musical number. They stood on the stage to sing “Breaking Free; Becoming My Best Me,” WoW’s official theme song, written by Nina Angela Lee, the president of Wow’s Executive Board.

WoWUtah will be helping another group of women in 2022. l

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“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do... and to just expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% physically fit in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not even 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 did his program. 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

Complete Spinal Exam, Consultation (X-rays if needed) & 2 pain relieving Treatments for $27

(801) 302-0280 AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES ARE 100% COVERED BY AUTO INSURANCE. CALL FOR MORE DETAILS.