West Valley | October 2026 by The City Journals

October 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 10

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West Valley City

Color code of pumpkins

Paddle the River

Jordan River festival takes over September

Page 5

What each color on the Halloween porch could mean Page 16

City council approves 5% property tax increase By Mattie Noall | m.noall@mycityjournals.com

Funds will go toward hiring new firefighters, pay increases for other employees.

Pie charts displaying the city’s general fund budget revenue and expenses for the 2027 fiscal year. (West Valley City website)

n the property tax impact statement issued by the West Valley City Council, the approximate dollar amount that will be generated by the increase is $1,907,662. The approximate percentage increase to the amount of property taxes paid on an average residence per year as a result of the increase will be $32.71. The proposed increase will help fund nine new firefighter positions and increase the pay for non-sworn employees in order to help improve emergency response. It will also fund the police department as well as more government employees. The city wants to increase the wages for the officers to stay competitive and retain quality employees. “We need to increase the tax in order to deal with new employees and inflation. Property tax is the easiest and most reasonable place to receive those funds,” said Jim Welch, West Valley City finance secretary. Some residents voiced their opinions. “I do not think the ordinance control department needs any more money for

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operations since they are not currently keeping the area between the curb and asphalt in front of my section of the city clear of weeds when the ordinance control officers can fine citizens when the weeds in their property are taller than six inches,” stated a letter from Helen Jones. Councilmember Lars Nordfelt said, “If we don’t raise property tax, our lack of revenue is not sustainable. This is how good people make hard decisions.” Councilmember Tom Huynh said, “As a council, we need to think outside the box. We raise taxes because it’s easy but it is not in the best interest of our residents. Our actions don’t show that we love the people.” The proposed tax increase was approved by a majority vote with only one in opposition. The council meeting was not well attended. Five residents spoke out against the proposed tax increase. For more information about city council meetings and agendas, visit www.wvc-ut.gov/2129/ City-Council-Meetings.l

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COMMON GROUND

A Vote of Confidence

Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?

WEST VALLEY TEAM

The West Valley Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2026 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Peri Kinder

Common Ground

Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.

PUBLISHER

Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

EDITOR

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it

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sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.

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West Valley City Journal

El motor invisible de Utah: Como las empresas de limpieza mueven la economía del estado

El trabajo de limpieza trasciende la simple tarea doméstica o comercial, es un servicio esencial que sostiene la salud pública, la estética urbana y la calidad de vida de toda la sociedad. By Marisol Camacho m.camacho@mycityjournals.com

etrás de los deslumbrantes edificios en construcción y la calidez de las residencias familiares en Utah, existe un motor invisible pero imprescindible, el trabajo de limpieza. En un estado que experimenta uno de los crecimientos económicos e infraestructura más acelerados de Estados Unidos, la comunidad hispana se ha consolidado como la columna vertebral de este sector, demostrando profesionalismo y una ética de trabajo insustituible. Según cifras de la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Vivienda (NAHB), los trabajadores hispanos representan hoy cerca del 32% de la fuerza laboral en la construcción a nivel nacional, casi el doble de su participación en la economía general. Y en Utah, uno de los estados de mayor crecimiento del país según el Departamento de Servicios Laborales de Utah, ese porcentaje se siente todavía más cerca de la mitad en muchos proyectos.

Según cifras de la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Vivienda (NAHB), los trabajadores hispanos representan hoy cerca del 32% de la fuerza laboral en la construcción a nivel nacional. (Marisol Camacho/City Journals)

Alan Martínez, ingeniero de piso mexicano con cinco años de experiencia en proyectos de construcción, lo confirma desde su día a día. En su edificio trabajan alrededor de 16 personas de limpieza, y calcula que la proporción entre trabajadores latinos y estadounidenses ronda el 50-50. Para él, la limpieza no es un detalle menor, es lo que define la percepción final de cualquier obra. “Si el edificio no está limpio, al final va a ser un edificio feo”, explica que, “La mano latina es primordial”, al destacar la

participación de los hispanos en sectores esenciales para el crecimiento del estado. Su experiencia también evidencia otro elemento de la realidad laboral latina, la barrera del idioma. En reuniones y jornadas de trabajo, muchas veces es necesario traducir instrucciones para facilitar la comunicación entre trabajadores. Aun así, asegura que basta con dar una indicación clara una sola vez para que el trabajo se cumpla con disciplina y sin necesidad de repetirlo. De educadora a control de calidad La historia de Milanyela Gentile, venezolana y profesional de la educación, refleja otra cara de esta realidad. Al llegar a Estados Unidos, la limpieza fue su primera oportunidad laboral. Lo que comenzó como una alternativa terminó convirtiéndose en una experiencia de aprendizaje y crecimiento. Milanyela recuerda que los primeros meses fueron duros, tuvo que aprender de nuevo a limpiar, bajo normas y protocolos profesionales. Pero también encontró algo inesperado, que el trabajo en equipo y los valores de disciplina y paciencia que asimiló en la universidad, se aplican igual en una cuadrilla de limpieza que en un aula. “Es un trabajo digno que te enseña a ser humilde”, afirma, e insiste en que ningún oficio debería denigrarse, porque todo trabajo es importante.

“En nuestros países dejamos profesiones, pero aquí descubrimos nuevas fortalezas. La limpieza no es solo pasar un trapo; tiene normas, procesos y exige una enorme disciplina. Para ella, el cansancio de jornadas de hasta 12 horas se transforma en motivación: Cada espacio que limpiamos lo hacemos con amor y esmero. Además, es la semilla para grandes sueños, como emprender una empresa propia”. Ambos entrevistados coinciden en algo esencial, la comunidad latina llega a Estados Unidos con una disposición particular hacia el esfuerzo. Alan lo describe como ganas de sacar adelante trabajos que otras personas no quieren hacer. Milanyela lo llama, simplemente, amor por el trabajo bien hecho, ese cuidado extra que convierte una tarea rutinaria en un servicio hecho con orgullo. Sus historias son un espejo de miles de latinos en Utah que, como Milanyela, dejaron carreras profesionales en sus países de origen y hoy sostienen escobas o como Alan dirigen el mantenimiento de una empresa. No es resignación, es resiliencia. Utah crece a un ritmo que pocos estados igualan, cada edificio nuevo, cada casa entregada impecable, tiene apellido latino. Reconocerlo no es solo justicia laboral, es entender que la dignidad de un trabajo no depende de cuánto se vea, sino de cuánto sostiene a los demás. l

Paddle the River participants drum up excitement for Get to the River Fest

The first Paddle the River event in the four-week series for Get to the River Festival started with plenty of people looking to get involved. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com

n early September, community members gathered to paddle the Jordan River (Pia Okwai) from General Holm Park in South Salt Lake to Pioneer Crossing Park in West Valley City as part of the Get to the River Festival. Alongside bike rides, bird walks, trail clean ups, film screenings, yoga, dance performances and more, the first and free Paddle the River event was a quintessential part of the annual month-long festival, now in its 13th year. Festivities span the 50-mile length of the Jordan River Parkway, with events at parks, trails and, of course, on the river itself, everywhere from Utah County to Davis County. After paddling between the parks, participants enjoyed a drum circle session at the river’s edge with Drum Utah. “What a beautiful way to enjoy the river,” Susan Klinker with the Utah Cultural

WVCJournal.com

Paddlers exit the river to get in touch with nature in a new way—through connecting to its rhythms. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)

Celebration Center said. “We love working with Drum Utah. This is the fourth year we’ve done it, and this year we connected it with the float coming down, which made just a beautiful, beautiful evening and a wonderful way to kick off the Labor Day weekend.” Nels Anderson, owner of Drum Utah, brings his instruments and instruction to gatherings like this as his full-time job. “Events like this get people to notice things

like how the changing wind feels, maybe we’re changing rhythm with the way the weather’s working. When the wind is really calm, I notice everyone is in a serene state, and kind of hard to amp up, but I’m not going to try to push them. I just let them experience this place where you kind of feel a little bit reverent or sacred. You sit by a big river and it makes you breathe deeply. You can tell how it affects people’s attitudes.”

Tiffini Adams from West Valley thought the festival was awesome. “It’s a beautiful way to experience the beauty that’s in our own backyard and gives a really unique perspective on our beautiful river.” The river is known as Pia Okwai (Big Flow) by the Indigenous Shoshone and Goshute people and weaves its way north from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake, passing through 16 cities. The Jordan River’s riparian area is a crucial ecological site as the habitat for hundreds of species and millions of migratory birds, as well as other creatures, including humans, who have relied on the river for thousands of years. It has tremendous ecological, cultural, recreational and economic value. Through outdoor recreation, conservation, the arts and social opportunities, the festival’s goal is to “highlight this amazing slice of nature through the most urbanized and populated region of Utah’s Wasatch Front, sparking discovery, stewardship, creativity, and fun” at the Jordan River year-round, per their website. If you missed the boat on the limited-space river float, fear not, the Jordan River Commission website offers a water trail map with entry and exit points to help create a paddle plan of your own. Visit jordanrivercommission.gov/maps-trail-guides/water-trail/.l

October 2026 | Page 5

KID’s 10-year-old water tank changed the game New construction elements created a more efficient tank. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

earns Improvement District recently celebrated a milestone: the 10th anniversary of the completion of a 5-million-gallon (5 MG) water tank that paved the way for future growth. Located at 5350 W. 5400 South, near the KID offices, the original concrete tank, complete with a wooden roof, was a remnant of the World War II era and served Camp Kearns around 1942. Replacing the tank meant rethinking how it could maximize capacity while working within the constraints of the existing facility. “It was quite a large tank and we still had to keep the business open, but situate the tank so that it fit back there in the corner,” said KID General Manager/CEO Greg Anderson. “In some places on the site, there was only five feet of separation between the fence and this large tank.” The 2016 water tank project was done through Gerber Construction, with Structural Technologies providing the design that used post-tensioning systems and reinforcing steel for the tank.

Kearns Improvement District celebrates a decade of growth that began with the 2016 water tank project at 5350 W. 5400 South. (Photo courtesy of KID)

The project replaced two tanks at the location: a 1 MG and a 2 MG, utilizing tendon technology that reduced the amount of concrete used and eliminated cracks to prevent leaks. Structural engineers had to get creative when placing the tank that measured 192 feet in diameter and 24 feet deep. It worked so well that all new KID

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water tanks have used the same technology. Over the next 10 years, KID plans to build four new tanks, with two of those being 5 MG tanks. Locations for those tanks include two near Mountain View Corridor (one at 6200 South and the other at 5400 South). “That is in anticipation of the growth we’re experiencing out on the west side,”

Anderson said. “[The design] actually saves the district money because it uses less concrete. So it’s cheaper to build and the crackfree aspect of it has been great.” Aging infrastructure is another ongoing challenge for the water district. KID replaced the original 16-inch steel line that was used to supply water to Camp Kearns from the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, with a 30-inch water line to address increased capacity. The district serves more than 60,000 people across Kearns as well as areas in West Valley, West Jordan, and a small part of Taylorsville. Anderson said KID aims to provide high-quality water despite economic and supply challenges. He said KID is always looking for grants and federal funding to help reduce the costs of these projects while providing residents on the west side of the valley with the “highest quality of water they can get.” He said it’s an honor to serve the community by providing safe drinking water and sewer services. “There are a lot of obstacles that we’re facing with additional tariffs and with additional costs that seem to escalate,” he said. “We recognize how difficult that is on our customers. We try and absorb as much of that as we can, but we are striving to make sure that we are providing the best value that they can get.” l

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West Valley City Journal

WVC animal shelter recognized for ‘no kill’ since 2012

Best Friends calls the shelter “remarkable” in their efforts to help animals. By Mattie Noall m.noall@mycityjournals.com

est Valley City is known for leading the way when it comes to its animal shelter. “They aren’t afraid to try new things,” said Holly Sizemore, chief mission officer for Best Friends Animal Society. West Valley City Animal Services is a partner of Best Friends and they work together to save the lives of dogs and cats in the community. In addition to finding foster homes and volunteer help, West Valley Animal Services has adoption events to find homes for homeless animals, does educational outreach, as well as offers trap, neuter and return services for feral or stray cats. This year marks the 14th year that West Valley animal shelter has achieved a ‘no kill’ recognition from Best Friends. According to the shelter’s website, No-Kill Utah (NKUT) is an initiative led by Best Friends that brings together dedicated individuals, city shelters and a group of animal welfare organizations to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters throughout the state. “Not many shelters have achieved ‘no

WVCJournal.com

Let’s get cozy. Mel Bennett, Holly Sizemore, Tess Hartwell and Hannah Wright squat down with Sploosh. (Mattie Noall/City Journals)

kill’ this early,” Sizemore said. Best Friends has partnered with 59 shelters in the state. Out of those, 57 have managed to achieve ‘no kill.’ In order to achieve this rating, the shelter has to be 90% ‘no kill’ cats and dogs for the year. “West Valley has achieved a staggering 94% ‘no kill.’ They are simply remarkable,”

Sizemore said. West Valley Animal Shelter receives up to 300 animals in a month. This includes birds, rabbits and raccoons. Summer can be particularly hard on the shelter. “Summer is kitten season and this year with less snow, the whole year was kitten season,” said Mel

Bennett, animal services director for West Valley City Animal Services. For stray or feral cats, the shelter focuses on trap, neuter and return. This entails following the regulations and time restrictions on the shelter’s website, humanely trapping the cat, and bringing it in to be fixed. Later, the cat must be returned to the same area. “If you are wondering if the cat is one that the shelter has returned, look for a tipped ear,” Sizemore said. While the cat is sedated during the procedure, vet technicians tip the ear to help people identify cats that have already been returned to the neighborhood. Community support is vital to the life of the shelter. “There is lots of help and support in West Valley City. Community is key,” Sizemore said. The shelter’s work is based mostly on lost pets and licensing. “We want to get pets returned to people. Microchips are great but have a collar and tags, too,” Sizemore said. There are lots of expenses, especially in medical, and West Valley City has created Paw Partners, a nonprofit donation center for medical expenses. For more information about donating, visit zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/pawpartners-of-west-valley-lifesaving-fund. The shelter is located in the Jill Robinson Memorial Building, 4522 W. 3500 South. For more information on the shelter and their services, visit their website at www.wvcpets.com.l

October 2026 | Page 7

City council approves zone change for medium-density housing project

Homes will have basements, but not walk-out basements, due to concerns of multifamily living arrangements. By Mattie Noall m.noall@mycityjournals.com

tah Land Co., a land investment company, requested a zone change for a 1.99 acre piece of property at 2325 W. 3560 South. “The intent of the request is to allow the development of a 22-unit residential townhouse community designed to provide high-quality housing that integrates with the surrounding neighborhood and supports the long-term planning objectives of West Valley City,” said the letter to the West Valley City Planning and Zoning Division. The area had been zoned for a residential business zone. There was one resident who spoke out against the proposed zone change at the Aug. 25 West Valley City Council meeting. He said there was enough traffic in the area already. Building more townhomes would just make matters worse. According to the letter from Utah Land Co., the zoning of residential business is a

hybrid zone and allows for financial institutions, day care centers/preschools, and professional/medical offices. “These uses create all-day trip generation, employee shifts, deliveries and service calls, customer/visitor parking demand, and nonresidential operating hours,” according to the letter. Allowing them to build the townhomes would actually lessen traffic congestion and lock in the maximum number of cars for the 22 units. The letter also states that the developer reserves approximately 50% of the property as open space. There were some concerns over the zone change from the city council. Councilmember Scott Harmon was concerned that the townhomes, which would be single-family homes, would be used for multiple families especially if a basement was included. If more than one family were to live in the home, there would be a dramatic increase in traffic. The increase in traffic would change the way the neighborhood acts and feels. “Developers are bending the rules,” Harmon said. The plan is to have a basement. Several city councilmembers said that a basement is essential. “You have to have somewhere to store your Christmas decorations. If you

Aerial visual of the property that will have several more townhouse units built on it. (West Valley City)

don’t have a basement, you store things in the garage. I would rather have it in the basement than the garage,” said Mayor Karen Lang. Due to the concerns, the motion was

amended to exclude walk-out basements. The hope is to prevent the townhomes from being used as apartments or multiple family dwellings. The motion then passed unanimously.l

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Page 8 | October 2026

West Valley City Journal

California sleep company donates over 4,000 pillows to Granite School District teachers

Honeydew’s policy is that for every pillow purchased another pillow is donated to someone in need By Lizzie Walje l.walje@mycityjournals.com

ranite School District teachers spend their days supporting students. Recently, Honeydew Sleep Company found a way to offer some support in return. At the beginning of September, Southern California-based Honeydew Sleep Company donated over 4,000 pillows to Granite School District educators. Per the event’s press release, Honeydew emphasized the importance of giving back to educators in the classroom, stating the donation was “a gesture of appreciation for the work [teachers] do for students and their communities.” On the morning of the donation day, Honeydew representatives kicked off operations early, first visiting Skyline High School in six in the morning. Following Skyline, representatives also stopped by Taylorsville High School and Hunter High School, wrapping up the day’s festivities in the afternoon. Throughout the day, representatives donated a complimentary pillow to countless educators and secondary educators within Granite School District. Honeydew Sleep Company was established in 2017 by Jonathan and Evita Kunkle. For nearly a decade, Honeydew has manufactured a variety of sleep products, principally among them, pillows. Per the company’s website, Honeydew

seeks to “change the world through better sleep.” Pillows have become an area of specialty for Honeydew, as they believe in the importance of sleep hygiene and regulation. “Our pillows are handcrafted with utmost quality, purpose and passion. Our hearts are poured right into the innovative design, the luxurious fabrics, the carefully cultivated fill, every stitch and every seam,” per their website. Honeydew has a long established history of philanthropy work, maintaining a permanent policy where every pillow purchased results in another pillow donated to someone in need. They routinely engage in philanthropic donation work, particularly centered around the holiday season. “Our work has always been driven by our core belief that every person deserves comfort, care, and the chance to wake up restored. Quality sleep is the key to living our most vibrant lives,” per their website. Granite School District’s own philanthropic organization, The Granite Education Foundation, helped facilitate the September donation day alongside Honeydew. The Granite Education Foundation focuses specifically on reducing barriers between students and learning, regularly hosting or collaborating on various community outreach projects, specifically targeted toward educators and students. For this event specifically, The Granite Education Foundation aided significantly by helping outline and execute the logistical components of the day. Back at Skyline High School, following all of the necessary preparations, Honeydew distributed pillows ahead of the Labor Day weekend. During the event, Honeydew

representatives took the time to thank and acknowledge Granite educators while discussing the importance of sleep hygiene and comfort. Teachers then received their pillows and got to test them out in real time. l

Southern California-based Honeydew Sleep Company, focuses on improving the lives of others through sleep related products. (Honeydew Sleep)

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October 2026 | Page 9

Guest Clinician REGINALD GOLDEN •

Music Director of the Howard Gospel Choir

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Founder and Artistic Director of the Reginald Golden Singers

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Hilltop Gospel Choir Fifth Annual Music Director of the National Convention of Gospel

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Worship Leader

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Page 10 | October 2026

Investments in both infrastructure and staffing are ongoing as hospital looks to fulfill health needs in the community.

• Music Director of the Howard Gospel

Has worked extensively in Choir the US and abroad in numerous countries spanning Asia, Europe and the Ameri-

cas

New president aims to grow Holy Cross Hospital-West Valley

oly Cross Hospital-West Valley is under new leadership. Nathanael Budge was recently named president of the CommonSpirit Health’s Holy Cross Hospital-West Valley and Holy Cross Hospital-Jordan Valley in West Jordan. Budge takes on the new role after serving as CommonSpirit Health’s Utah Market Vice President of Strategy and Growth. He was interim president of Holy Cross Hospital-West Valley since March when Christine McSweeney left for a similar position in Northern California. Before that, Budge was administrator of the West Valley campus for four years and chief operating officer for the West Valley and Jordan Valley hospitals. “As a hospital president, one of my main responsibilities is to set a vision for the organization and to insure that vision aligns with our broader mission at CommonSpirit,” he said. That is “to make the healing presence of God known in the world by improving the health of the people we serve,” as part of its mission statement reads. CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit oriented toward the Catholic faith. It acquired Holy Cross- West Valley and four other hospitals in Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties in 2023. Budge assumes his new leadership position at a time the parent company has invested many millions of dollars in those five medical centers to better serve their respective communities. “That includes buying fixtures and finishes, equipment and infrastructure, as well as investing in our people,” he said. West Valley has added various specialists to its roster of medical providers, including a cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon and urologists. An ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor is being recruited. The hospital is also looking to upgrade its mental health services. These additions come after several million dollars have already been spent on improving and modernizing facilities within the 102-bed hospital, including those dedicated to patient care. Additions and improvements to the hospital’s services are partly driven by what Budge says are community health needs assessments “where we look at the

New Holy Cross Hospital-West Valley President Nathanael Budge. (Courtesy CommonSpirit Health)

needs in the community and what available resources there are and where we as an organization can help fill that gap.” He added that his goal is to help the West Valley hospital meet 85% to 90% of the health care needs of the communities it serves. The new president said the investments are paying off as his personal interactions with current patients and those who were treated at the hospital in past years show that the level of care and overall satisfaction has improved. Holy Cross Hospital-West Valley’s goal to elevate itself to better serve westside communities comes at the same time University of Utah Health is building a major new full-service hospital about twoand-a-half miles to the west. The new hospital is projected to open in 2028. Budge says his hospital sees the Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital, as it will be called, not as a competitor but rather a partner in expanding access to medical care in the area. “With the number of patients who need health care services, our data shows that both the new University of Utah hospital and the West Valley campus both can be filled with existing demand and need,” he said. “We’re in good conversations with the University of Utah to ensure that we have a good working relationship and that we partner…to make sure that we’re providing excellent care to the community.” l

West Valley City Journal

UHSAA’s new Composite Realignment Index to form all classifications in all sanctioned sports

The UHSAA Board of Trustees meets in November, with meetings to be held through December on realignment before it makes its final placements on Dec. 17. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

tarting this December, the Utah High School Activities Association is doing business differently. On Aug. 21, the UHSAA announced at its next Board of Trustees meeting in November that it will be using a different set of metrics to determine how Utah high schools will be placed into classifications over the next two school years. “Beginning with the 2027-29 alignment cycle, member schools (from Class 1A to 6A) are placed into classifications using a Composite Realignment Index (CRI), which combines school enrollment, socio-economic status (SES) and competitive performance,” read the release. The No. 1 determinant factor according to the UHSAA? School size. That alone will carry 77% of the weight for each Utah high school.

WVCJournal.com

The UHSAA’s new CRI assigns a final Z-score to each school based on three criteria: school enrollment size, socio-economic status and competitiveness. (File photo City Journals)

After that though, things look a bit more interesting. Thirteen percent of a school’s score will be weighed by socio-economic status. And, before anyone presumes that portion will be based solely on said high school’s economic disadvantage, that’s only part of the equation. It includes the share of K-12 students within that school’s boundaries that are at said disadvantage, also. Finally, 10% of a school’s overall Z-score is to be weighted by its competitiveness, or, how it actually performed in the sports it offers

to its students. How will this score be given? By taking a school team’s Post-Season Ranking or StateMeet Finish, in which its final MaxPreps and RPI will be combined into a single numerical value. If you’re asking whether or not it will be graded on a curve against the schools in the same classification that same season, the answer is yes. From there, the UHSAA will take an average of that school’s previous three seasons in said sport. Schools will then be given Z-scores

ranging from -2.08 to +1.16. It’s at that point that all six classifications from 1A to 6A will be drawn across it. According to the UHSAA, the score decides the order—where the lines fall, however, will be a judgement call. The UHSAA’s Board of Trustees will have its preliminary meeting Nov. 19 to hold initial discussions on the new CRI criteria and make its first placements of member schools. On Dec. 1, schools will then be able to apply for a higher classification in a specific sport or activity and also make recommendations for geographic consideration at the second trustees’ meeting. It will also serve as the second round of adjusted school placements for the trustees, who will also begin placing schools into regions in their respective sports. On Dec. 8, the public will have their first chance to weigh in on the new CRI, via a Zoom meeting. The board will then reconvene the following day on Dec. 9 to make their second region placement, and on Dec. 17 will make its realignments final. According to the UHSAA, “realignment includes both a general alignment and a separate football alignment. Region assignments are finalized in December of even-numbered years, with competition under the new alignment beginning the following August.” l

October 2026 | Page 11

APA West Valley girls soccer earns their first win in two years Eagles have already equaled their win total from two years ago and have a shot at surpassing it in the coming weeks with four out of six contests to be played at home.

“I am very happy with the job coach Eric (Bambabate) is doing,” Wood said. “Our girls looked organized and got it done.” APA West Valley then grabbed their second win of the season Aug. 28 when the Eagles outlasted Utah Military Hill Field 3-1 to move to 2-3 overall. The team has shown renewed energy By Brian Shaw under new head coach Bambabate, a spirit b.shaw@mycityjournals.com that has resulted in these Eagles scoring five goals as a team. Last year was difficult for the or 80 minutes, the APA West Valley Eagles; they finished the 2025 season with a girls soccer team found themselves at 0-14 record, scoring one goal the entire season. a standstill. Though APA West Valley has suffered The Eagles had played well at Centen- a handful of defeats thus far, the Eagles sit nial Park against North Summit in this 2A in fifth place with a 2-2 record in their 2A North showdown Aug. 18, holding the Braves North Region. to just one goal in two halves of action. This year’s team has already shown APA West Valley had also notched a marked improvement, equaling the 2024 goal of its own in the home opener, knotting team in the number of wins and has a shot at it up at 1-1—which sent the game into over- surpassing it with four of its next six games time to decide the victor. to be played on its home field. During the extra period, Samantha APA West Valley (2-3, 2-2 2A North Bahana found herself in the 18-yard box. Region) will continue playing its region slate Having received the pass, she blasted the of games through September and will wrap The 2025-26 APA West Valley girls soccer team celebrates after their first win in two years, a ball toward the goal, where it sailed past up the regular season on Oct. 6 when the 2-1 win over North Summit. (Photo courtesy of Eric Wood) the goalkeeper and into the net, handing her Eagles host Utah Military Hill Field. Eagles team a 2-1 overtime win. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 19 The victory for APA West Valley marked in the 2A RPI that seeds the schools one to 16 under new head coach offseason to replace the previous coach, the first time the Eagles program has won inside the classification for the state tournaAt APA West Valley, girls soccer wasn’t according to Wood. a game since 2024, according to Athletic ment that is set to begin Oct. 14. the only program that had to hire a new leader. That could have been a tall order, conDirector Eric Wood. Eagles girls volleyball off to great start Madison Chase was hired in the sidering how last year’s Eagles squad won the Region title, going a perfect 14-0 on the season. They advanced to the 2A Second Round before falling to Duchesne to end their season with a 17-3 mark. This year though, APA West Valley is already flying out of the nest with a 5-1 Come try Utah’s Best Barbecue Restaurant record, their only setback at Waterford in a Scan for $10 OFF your next order thrilling five-setter in the season opener Aug. 17: 16-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23 and 11-15. Since then, the Eagles have rolled, sweeping American Heritage, Pinnacle, Wasatch Academy, Utah Military Camp Williams and Rockwell. A number of key players from last year’s 17-3 team have returned, and it’s one reason APA West Valley is in first 4483 W. 3500 S. | West Valley City, UT | centralbodyshop.com place in its region, one-third of the way into the season. l www.randrbbq.com | |

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West Valley City Journal

Through four weeks of action, Cyprus boys golf leads the way in Region 4

Pirates have plenty of talent to try for the state championship. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

ometimes, when you fall off the horse, you’ve gotta get back up there and try again. That is what the Cyprus Pirates boys golf team did to open the 2026 season Aug. 3 at The Ridge in Kearns. Following a disappointing ending to last season, five Pirates finished in the top six to tee off play with a pop at The Ridge, as Beckham Flater hit a second-place 74 with Ammon Zito to lead Cyprus at that tournament, followed by Brody Loutensock in fourth at 76. Meanwhile, Carson Knight was fifth with a 77, Drake Dymock sixth with a 79, Sam Ellsworth eighth at 81 and Cam Tingey 10th, at 83. The following week, four out of five Cyprus golfers finished in the top five at Stansbury Park Golf Course Aug. 11. Cam Tingey (75) and Knight (79) finished first and third, while their teammates Tatum Crosby and Tate Zufelt came in fourth and fifth places with scores of 80.

After a 14th place finish as a team at state last year that saw them miss the cut, Cyprus is off to a hot start after winning three out of its first four tournaments. (Unsplash)

It was the kind of effort that the team needed after failing to make the cut at last year’s 5A state championships. They came close though, finishing in 14th place. Having lost their top two golfers from last year to graduation, the Pirates still have plenty of talent at the ready to make a run this year. Thus far, they’ve also been able to improve on their performances. At Oquirrh Hills Aug. 18, Pirate golfer

Brody Loutensock shot a 70 to finish in first place at that tournament. Beckham Flater was third at 78 while Carson Knight was fifth with an 80. Dymock (81), Zito (83) and Sam Ellsworth (84) gave Cyprus six golfers finishing in the top eight for the first time all season. Most important was it marked the third consecutive tournament victory that Cyprus earned as a team. Loutensock then notched his second

consecutive first-place finish Aug. 25 at Copper Club, tying for the honor along with Ammon Zito after shooting a 69. Dymock was third at 72 along Cyprus’ home 18-hole course. They were followed by Flater, who finished in fourth at 75, and Knight and Ellsworth, who tied for 10th with a 78. What made these finishes even more impressive after four weeks of action, however, is that the Pirates also had six golfers with stroke averages that ranked them in the top 10 in all of Region 4: Loutensock (No. 1, 73), Zito (No. 2, 77), Flater and Dymock (Nos. 4 and 5, 79), Knight (No. 7, 79.5), and Tingey (No. 9, 81). As a team, the Pirates have not only had so many great finishes from an individual perspective—they’ve won all four tournaments by increasing their margin of victory with each passing week. From an individual standpoint, Loutensock is currently ranked the No. 13 golfer in all of 5A with an average adjusted score of 72. Play will continue for Cyprus through September, followed by the Region IV championships and then the 5A state championships. l

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The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

West Valley City Journal

Could your home be exposing your child to lead? Children can look healthy while lead poisoning quietly causes harm. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

s public health agencies prepare for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this fall, Salt Lake County health officials are reminding parents that childhood lead exposure can be difficult to detect and may come from more sources than many families realize. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be observed Oct. 25-31 with the 2026 theme “Keep Kids Safe from Lead.” The annual campaign, coordinated nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, emphasizes learning about potential lead hazards, testing children who may have been exposed and identifying lead sources in homes. The issue has particular relevance in Salt Lake County because of the age of some of its housing stock. According to Gabriel Moreno, partnerships manager with the Salt Lake County Health Department, more than 30% of homes in the county were constructed before the federal

government banned consumer use of leadbased paint in 1978. “Many parents assume they’d know if their child had been exposed to lead,” Moreno said. “In reality, kids can look healthy, active and happy while lead quietly affects their learning, behavior and development.” That concern is consistent with CDC guidance. Most children with lead in their blood do not show obvious immediate symptoms, and a blood test is the best way to determine whether exposure has occurred. The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels have been associated with developmental delays and difficulties with learning, attention and behavior. Older paint remains a well-known potential source, particularly when it deteriorates into chips or dust. However, exposure can also occur through contaminated soil, some plumbing and water fixtures, certain toys and consumer products, and dust created during renovations. Lead can also enter a home indirectly. People working in occupations involving lead can carry contaminated dust home on clothing, shoes, tools or other items. Moreno said jobs such as construction, auto repair and plumbing may present potential

Local. Reliable. Done Right the First Time.

exposure risks. Because symptoms alone are not a reliable indicator, health officials encourage parents who believe their children may be at risk to discuss blood lead testing with a health care provider. “A blood test is the only way to know for sure, and right now, too few children in our community are getting tested,” Moreno said. Medicaid covers blood lead testing for enrolled children, and many private insurance plans also cover testing. Salt Lake County offers free testing to qualifying families. Testing is only part of the county’s prevention effort. When lead is detected in a child’s blood, the Salt Lake County Health Department’s Lead Home Visiting Program can help families identify possible sources and determine ways to reduce further exposure. Qualifying households may also receive assistance through the county’s Lead Safe Housing Program to address lead hazards. The goal, health officials emphasize, is to identify risks before they cause further harm. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week encourages families to learn about lead hazards in their surroundings, consider whether their children should receive a blood lead test and determine whether older homes may contain lead hazards.

ELECT ELECT

Salt Lake County wants families to consider their risk of lead exposure. (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

Salt Lake County residents with questions about testing or lead exposure can call or text the county’s Lead Poisoning Prevention line at 801-382-8877.l

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October 2026 | Page 15 PRECINCT 6

Teal, purple and red pumpkins: The color-code of Halloween porch pumpkins explained Painted pumpkins are meant to bring awareness and spark conversation about health and safety topics. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com

Participants painting purple pumpkins at Epilepsy Foundation Utah’s Purple Pumpkin event last October. (Epilepsy Foundation Utah)

My Hometown adds 77-year-old church building as its fourth location A

Photo by Darrel Kirby d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Page 16 | October 2026

former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stake center in central West Valley City is the newest location of the city’s My Hometown Initiative neighborhood resource center. Even before the city’s acquisition of the 77-year-old building at 3900 S. 4000 West from the church was finalized last year, it was surmised that it would be to establish another location for the program that joins West Valley City, local churches, private and nonprofit organizations to provide resources and training to help residents improve their neighborhoods and life circumstances. That includes neighborhood cleanup projects and education, language and job skills training to enable people to raise their incomes and quality of life. West Valley City is currently paying $2,000 a month to lease the old stake center for up to 24 months which will be applied to the agreed-upon purchase price of $2.55 million. The building was known as the “lighthouse church” because of its lighthouse-like steeple atop the brick structure. There are now four such centers in West Valley City, each in former church meetinghouses. My Home Initiative was launched in January 2020.

welve-year-old Charlotte has celiac disease, and her friend and neighbor Liv has a nut allergy. The girls love trick-or-treating together each year, but so many of the treats they bring home on Halloween eve they can’t eat. They tend to relinquish a large portion of their stashes to friends. But, when they spot a house with a teal pumpkin out front, their eyes light up with excitement, because this signals that there may be inclusive options for them there. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2012 by the director of FACET, a Tennessee-based food allergy group, Becky Basalone. Now, Food Allergy Resource and Education promotes the annual activity of offering nonfood items on Halloween across the US and beyond, citing on their website that one in 13 children have food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities, and encouraging participants to paint a pumpkin teal, put out a sign, or “get creative and add some teal lighting.” Teal was chosen for its bright, easy recognizability from afar. In addition to being displayed on porches, some children may carry teal totes/candy baskets to signal that they have a food allergy. Charlotte says the people who participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project make her feel included. “When I was younger, sometimes kids would bring cupcakes or cookies or doughnuts to class for their birthday, and I felt so bad seeing everyone else eat theirs while I had to watch with nothing. I was little enough that sometimes, it was so hard to resist that I would eat one too because I felt left out. I knew it would make me so sick, but it’s hard to resist when you’re a little kid, and I didn’t want to feel so sad and alone or different,” she said. When fall rolls around, her neighborhood goes all-out with elaborate decorations. Getting in the spirit last year, Charlotte’s family set up an “I Spy”-themed trick-ortreat trading table for their version of the Teal Pumpkin Project. “Everyone was excited to come to our house, it had the neighborhood talking all night. People thought it was so fun and different from what they’d seen before. My friends told me they thought more people should do things like this more often,” she said. “I think pumpkin projects are a good way for people to consider others and show support for each other, and you can get creative,” she said, adding that she looks forward to another fun display this year. 2012 was also the year another pumpkin project for awareness and consideration

began: the Purple Pumpkin Project. Started by Ron Lamontagne in Connecticut for his son with epilepsy, the display of painted purple pumpkins are meant to prompt the question: “Why is your pumpkin purple?” and start a conversation about epilepsy awareness. Purple is the official color of epilepsy awareness, as of 2008 with the founding of Purple Day by a girl with epilepsy named Cassidy Megan. Purple was her favorite color, and lavender as a symbol has an association with things that are hidden or overlooked, such as epilepsy in this case. The Purple Pumpkin Project is now an annual tradition by the Epilepsy Foundation of America and has spread to other countries. The Foundation encourages participants to join their local pumpkin-painting event and tell their individual stories (sharing them on social media, too) when asked “why is your pumpkin purple?” 2012 was a big year for pumpkin projects and also saw the creation of the nonprofit The Pink Pumpkin Project, an effort for breast cancer awareness based out of New York with the motto “Giving Hope to Fighters, One Pumpkin at a Time.” October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2018, Mothers Against Drunk Driving designated red pumpkins as a talking point for awareness around Halloween being one of the deadliest DUI holidays, with marketing stating: “Join us by displaying a red pumpkin as a reminder to designate a sober driver this holiday season. Red pumpkins create a conversation as a unique way to encourage the public to talk about these issues and make them think.” Dark blue pumpkins are another symbol of Halloween, one for autism awareness. There is not a clear origin story around an organization for this effort, but for several years, dark blue buckets have grown in popularity through social media for trick-or-treaters who may be nonverbal or potentially have a sensory-processing disorder, with the hope that the blue bucket will provide recognition for them to be welcomed without proclaiming “trick-or-treat!” Promoters of the blue pumpkin/blue bucket aren’t looking to start a conversation, but simply to help people receive patience, understanding and accommodation. Another more informal piece of pumpkin symbolism comes in the color white. Many within the pregnancy and infant loss community opt to remember their babies who have passed away with a white pumpkin on their porch during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. Rounding out the rainbow, yellow pumpkins were chosen to represent childhood apraxia of speech (which may also prevent a child from being able to say “trickor-treat) by mother Laura Slatter, who cites the Teal Pumpkin Project as inspiration. l

West Valley City Journal

Families build community at National Night Out

SummerFest closes out city’s monthlong National Night Out extravaganza. By Mattie Noall m.noall@mycityjournals.com

ugust is a big month in West Valley City. It’s when the city celebrates National Night Out, with a closing event called SummerFest, that was held this year on Aug. 26. National Night Out in West Valley City has been going on since the 1980s as a way to support city residents and help prevent crime. “The residents can meet the police, firefighters and city officials to help build community,” said Craig Thomas, West Valley City community engagement and culture director. In addition to meeting first responders, people could also listen to live music from a DJ sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power, eat at local food trucks, and enjoy free face painting, giveaways, games and activities for all ages. A crowd favorite was the turtle race, sponsored by Shiny Shell Car Wash at the Fairbourne Station water feature. Kids let a plastic, toy turtle race down the stream. The first one across the finish line won one month of free car washes from Shiny Shell. There were many booths featuring vendors such as the West Valley Library, Lead Poisoning Prevention, Bobby Lawrence Karate, Granite School District, the Utah Highway Patrol, Wonderbloom Nature Playschool and more. UHP brought the seatbelt device which

simulates a low-impact crash and shows the benefit of seat belts and air bags. There was also a climbing wall, a mechanical bull and lawn games. SummerFest was originally a launch party into the neighborhood block parties. It was held on the first Tuesday in August and then the parties were held throughout the month of August, around 50 of them. However SummerFest has gotten big enough that they hold it later in the month. The month also sees the city hold two safety fairs, one for families and one for seniors. At the fair, the groups can learn about safety at home, who they can turn to when they need help and while out in their community. SummerFest started out at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center and it was held indoor and outdoor. This year, because of the growth, it was held at Fairbourne Promenade located at 2883 Lehman Ave. “This is a central location that is close to city hall, the Trax and bus stations, and a parking garage. It also offers a water attraction for the kids to play in,” said Thomas. He did state that SummerFest may go back to the UCCC in the future. “I loved it,” said resident Ashley Regel. “My kids loved the addition of the rock wall and mechanical bull. It did seem like there may have been less attendance than normal, but I saw it advertised weeks ago on Facebook and there are signs all over West Valley with the information.” Many in the community expressed the desire to have SummerFest held on a weekend especially with school starting so early in August. What does the future hold for SummerFest? “We The turtle race is a popular event at SummerFest. (Courtesy of want to do what the community wants,” said Thomas. l Karin Toone)

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October 2026 | Page 17

LDS Earth Stewardship hosts Great Salt Lake photographer Chris Carlson’s images highlight the lake’s diversity and beauty. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Chris Carlson’s image of Stansbury Bay on the Great Salt Lake is one of hundreds of images he took for his book, “Preserving Greatness.” (Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson)

hris Carlson has a deep connection to the Great Salt Lake. Not only is he a descendant of the Garr family, who settled Antelope Island, but he’s dedicated himself to photographing the lake’s ever-changing landscape. News about the Great Salt Lake’s demise is everywhere, from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times. According to Grow the Flow Utah, the statistics are dire. The lake is eight feet below the minimum healthy level, 56% of the lakebed is exposed and it’s not quite 31% full. Carlson has a different story to tell about the lake. He addressed the Northern Wasatch chapter of the LDS Earth Stewardship during an event in August at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center in Farmington. At the event, Carlson shared images he’s taken of the lake over the years. His message is one of hope, stewardship, conservation and beauty. “Sometimes when you’re out there, and you have your camera, Heavenly Father just serves you the image,” he said. “If you want to love the Great Salt Lake, go out and spend time with it, because it’s remarkable.” Carlson published a book of photos

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highlighting the lake’s stunning scenery and interconnectedness. “Preserving Greatness” includes more than 200 pictures, documenting the natural wonder found in and around the Great Salt Lake. The photos came about as his father was dying from Alzheimer’s. Carlson spent hours on Antelope Island, searching for solace and peace during that difficult time. He noticed how quickly the lake was disappearing, much like his father. “Just like my dad’s memories and his mind were leaving, the memory of this place is going to leave if someone doesn’t capture it,” he said. “So that turned from a meditative, therapeutic exercise into an obsession. I spent a lot of time there in the early mornings.” Carlson grew to love the Great Salt Lake, from the migratory birds to the bison. He explored all areas of the lake, documenting its beauty, its loss and its capacity for wonder. He’d always considered himself a landscape photographer, but after witnessing the wildlife on the lake, he became an expert in capturing the perfect animal image. His connection to the animals that live there became a gift. “What I’ve learned, and this is the spiritual part for me, is that eye connection is everything,” he said. “I don’t know what heaven’s like, but I know it’s not going to be heaven if we don’t have animals there.” Carlson hopes that using creativity to address environmental issues will get more people earnestly engaged in saving the lake. He recently organized a Great Salt Lake fashion show, featuring couture designed by local college students studying fashion. The goal is to raise $300,000 that will go directly to conservation efforts. He encourages residents to go out on the Great Salt Lake, get to know its landscapes, its birds, its animals and its tenuous plight. Carlson wants people to visit Antelope Island to see the bison and antelope, walk along the south shore at the Great Salt Lake State Park and take time to visit the Spiral Jetty artwork. “There are young people in Utah who are paying attention, who are turning their love for this place, and grief about what’s happening, into something tangible,” Carlson said. “I encourage you, however you can, to use your voice to try to make people aware of it. Write your legislators in the House and in the Senate, and try to find ways to conserve your personal water use.” The Northern Wasatch chapter of LDS Earth Stewardship is a nonprofit focused on stewardship, environmental education and inspirational collaborations. “We gather people who care for creation,” said Sara Johnson, the chapter’s chairperson. “It’s for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but we invite all to come.” For information about membership and future events, visit ldsesnorthernwasatch. substack.com. l

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October 2026 | Page 19

The races you can’t afford to skip: Salt Lake County’s 2026 candidates Three new representatives will join the Salt Lake County Council for 2027. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

ational and state races may receive most of the political attention this election season, but farther down the November ballot Salt Lake County voters will make decisions about the people who oversee some of the government functions closest to home. Who watches the county’s money? Who administers its elections? Who prosecutes criminal cases? Who oversees the county jail? And who sits on the council that approves the county budget and makes decisions affecting more than a million residents? On Nov. 3, voters will select candidates for four Salt Lake County Council seats as well as county auditor, clerk, district attorney and sheriff. The ballot includes longtime officeholders, former elected officials, attorneys, accountants, law enforcement officers, businesspeople and political newcomers.

County Council A countywide choice

at-large

The largest field is for County Council at-large A, a seat elected by voters throughout Salt Lake County rather than from a particular council district. Republican Kathleen Anderson, Democrat Zach Robinson, Constitution Party candidate Gregory Beglarian, Forward Party candidate Maleah Bliss Caulford and unaffiliated candidate Olghen Ocean Saintelus are competing for the seat. Anderson is a small-business owner who has lived in Salt Lake County for more than three decades. Robinson has worked as a firefighter and paramedic and served two terms on the Sandy City Council. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and currently works at University of Utah Health. Unlike the three district council races, every Salt Lake County voter will have an

The county council will see three members stepping down in 2027: Aimee Winder Newton, Laurie Stringham and Sheldon Stewart.

opportunity to vote in the at-large A contest.

District 1: Northern Salt Lake County

In County Council District 1, Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson faces Libertarian Casey Poe. No Republican qualified for the general-election contest. District 1 covers a portion of northern Salt Lake County and includes communities in and around Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and West Valley City. Johnson, who was appointed, is seeking another term on the nine-member County Council, where council members approve the county budget, adopt ordinances and make policy decisions affecting county services.

District 3: Murray, Midvale and central county communities

One of the more locally significant council races is District 3, where voters will choose a successor to Republican Councilmember Aimee Winder Newton. Republican Mike Bird faces Democrat Luke Maynes for the open seat. District 3 encompasses Murray, Taylorsville and Midvale, along with portions of West Jordan and West Valley City, putting the contest before voters across a substantial portion of the central county. Maynes works as a systems analyst and project manager for a technology company, experience that includes examining organizational processes and systems. He also serves as vice chair of a community council in Midvale. Bird has been involved in Republican politics and community activities in the district. Because Winder Newton is not seeking another term, District 3 voters are guaranteed to send a new representative to the County Council.

District 5: Southern Salt Lake County

Aimee Winder Newton is stepping down from District 3 after several terms in office. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)

Page 20 | October 2026

Another open council seat is being contested in the rapidly growing southern portion of the county. Republican Traci Crockett faces Democrat Sara Cimmers for County Council District 5. The district includes Bluffdale and Riverton and portions of Draper, Herriman, South Jordan and West Jordan. Crockett has previously held elected office, serving two terms on the Bluffdale City

Council. She advanced to the November election after narrowly defeating Chris Null in the June Republican primary, 51% to 49%. Cimmers is a community advocate who has been involved with issues affecting families and children. Like District 3, District 5 will have a new representative following the election.

a primary. Gill prevailed in June with approximately 52% of the vote to Robinson’s 48%. Davis is an attorney who worked as a Salt Lake County deputy district attorney from 2017 to 2021, where his work included felony prosecutions and the creation of the office’s cybercrime prosecution unit. Davis currently works as corporate counsel and director of cybersecurity for Woodbury County Auditor Corporation. He also served as an Army infanFor Salt Lake County auditor, voters try officer and deployed twice to Iraq. countywide will choose between two candidates whose professional backgrounds are Sheriff directly connected to financial oversight. Democratic Sheriff Rosie Rivera faces Republican Chris Harding, the incumbent Republican Shane Manwaring. auditor, faces Democrat Ali Cloward. Rivera has served as sheriff since 2017. Harding was elected in 2022 and is a certi- She began her law enforcement career in 1993 fied public accountant, Certified Internal Audi- and spent more than two decades with the tor and Certified Fraud Examiner. The auditor Unified Police Department before becoming operates independently from other county sheriff. The office oversees Salt Lake County’s offices and conducts audits and investigations jail system and performs other statutory pubinvolving county finances and operations. lic-safety responsibilities. Cloward is a director at a national consultManwaring is a law enforcement officer ing firm and a Certified Internal Auditor. She and military leader with more than two decades earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees of experience. He has served with the Unified in accounting from the University of Utah and Police Department and as a colonel in the Utah works professionally with organizations on Army National Guard, giving voters a contest internal controls, risk and accountability. between two candidates with lengthy careers in public safety.

County Clerk

There is less uncertainty surrounding the race for Salt Lake County clerk, an office elected countywide. Democratic incumbent Lannie Chapman is seeking another term without a Republican challenger.

District Attorney

One of the county’s most closely watched contests could be the race for Salt Lake County district attorney, another office decided by voters throughout the county. Democratic incumbent Sim Gill faces Republican Kent Davis. Gill has occupied the office since 2010 and has worked as a prosecutor for more than three decades. Before reaching the general election, however, he faced a challenge from within his own party. Assistant Utah Attorney General Shawn Robinson defeated Gill at the Democratic convention, but the nomination proceeded to

Important ballot information

The county races will share the Nov. 3 ballot with a number of federal and state contests. Voters can see exactly which candidates and issues will appear on their individual ballot through Utah’s official voter information website, Vote.Utah.gov. The site allows voters to look up their sample ballot, check or update their voter registration, find voting locations and review other election information. Voters can also obtain election information through the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Elections Division at www.saltlakecounty.gov/clerk/elections/. Vote-by-mail will remain available for the 2026 general election. One important change is that mailed ballots must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, rather than simply postmarked by the deadline. Utah’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. l

West Valley City Journal

‘Ghost Adventures’ celebrities investigate The Great Saltair at ParaCon finale

Salt City ParaCon’s inaugural year draws such a wealth of local participation that the 2027 paranormal conference is already scheduled. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com

“W

hat’s up with Utah, man?” asked Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, actor and producer. “There’s something going on with the land. It’s just weird.” Goodwin and Jay Wasley, his fellow “Ghost Adventures” actor, producer and director, were in town for the first-ever local paranormal conference known as Salt City ParaCon. Salt City ParaCon drew local paranormal enthusiasts together for various paranormal guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, local vendors and late-night investigations of The Great Saltair. “We love all things spooky and paranormal,” said local haunt actor Kookie The Clown. “The people here are amazing. It’s a great community.” David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event planner, was inspired by events like Vernal’s PhenomeCon and Pennsylvania’s Pennhurst ParaCon. He wanted to create a space and community in Utah specifically focused on the paranormal, as opposed to other areas of supernatural focus like Big Foot, aliens and skin walkers. “I didn’t know what to expect for the turnout,” Sandoval said. “Once we got Jay on

David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event organizer, and Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, prep to investigate The Great Saltair. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

WVCJournal.com

board, it snowballed. Everybody in the community knows Jay.” As he was planning an event of this scale for the first time, Sandoval took care to pick and format the 45 local vendors into the conference. He wanted to have paranormal investigators included, of course, but he also wanted to bring in skeptics to balance out the vendor floor. “I always like the idea of a conversation,” Sandoval said. “I wanted to have both sides of the argument.” “The mystery of the paranormal has to have definitive answers,” said Zayne Searle from the YouTube show “The Unknown Investigators.” Sandoval personally buys into the “residual energy” theories to explain the paranormal world and to understand what we don’t know after death. “Past, present and future are happening all at the same time,” he said. During the daylight hours of the ParaCon weekend, attendees were able to browse local artist booths, snack on food from local artisan trucks (like The Haunted Wagon Philly Cheesesteak and Crazy Chicken), and listen to panel discussions and guest speaker presentations. “We love coming out to build connections with the overlapping community,” said Ollie Odinson, content creator of Slash Lake City. But after the sun went down, they were able to explore The Great Saltair (12408 W. Saltair Drive) in Magna with investigations led by Goodwin and Wasley. (Because as Sandoval noted, any paranormal conference must “end with a ghost hunt.”) “We asked the ghosts if they came to our booth,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. “They said yes.” After the Salt City ParaCon weekend was over, Sandoval shared that some of the vendors reported back to him with some of the biggest sales days in their entire business careers. Sandoval has already made announcements for Salt City ParaCon 2027 with returning appearances from Goodwin and Wasley, and new attendance confirmed by Amy Bruni, Jessica Chobot and Patti Negri. “I don’t want to keep it exclusive to the paranormal,” Sandoval said. “We’re reaching out to other celebrities that don’t believe in ghosts.” (Sean Kanan from “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” has already signed on.) Salt City ParaCon 2026’s local art vendors included Curst Beauty (www.curstbeauty.com), Erica Lackey (on Instagram @ bone.n.ware), Chesley Jewelry (www.chesleyjewelry.com), Haderlie Designs (www.haderliedesigns.com), ideas2ink (www.ideas2ink. net), Haunted Haven LLC (with Northern Utah Paranormal) (on Facebook @Haunted Haven Paraphysical Shop), The Traveling Whisper (on Instagram @the_travelingwhisper), Kookie Creations (on Instagram @kookiezcreationz),

“We’re pumping up and supporting other women in the community,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)

and Slash Lake City (on Facebook), Local paranormal services attending ParaCon included: Wasatch Investigative Society for Paranormal Studies (WISPS) (www. advancedparanormal.com), Beehive Skeptics (www.beehiveskeptics.com) and “The Unknown Investigators” (on YouTube). Salt City ParaCon’s artwork and logo were designed by Claudio Bergamin (on

Instagram @claudiobergamin.art). Salt City ParaCon 2026 was sponsored by Western Paranormal Society, Fear Factory, Castle of Chaos and Nightmare on 13th. Salt City ParaCon 2027 will begin on April 15, 2027 and run through April 17, 2027 at Asylum 49 in Tooele (140 E. 200 South). To learn more, or to buy tickets, visit their website at: www.saltcityparacon.com. l

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October 2026 | Page 21

Give people grace

eptember 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost Salt Lake County someone that close to me so suddenly, and Councilmember it was jarring. In the days that followed, I District 3 thought often about how precious life is— and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. George Their car slid off the road and rolled several times. My mom was killed instantly. My dad and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 survived with only a few bumps and bruises, a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. but his heart was broken by the loss.

Aimee Winder Newton

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Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery store after the funeral, everything felt strangely normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their errands. Meanwhile, my life had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt broken and numb, still trying to understand how my mom could be here one day and gone the next. I probably looked fine—just like any other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our best selves. Do you ever see people who seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day.

It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the coworker who snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a marriage falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.

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West Valley City Journal

hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a

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Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised

by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?

Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.

October 2026 | Page 23

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