February 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 02
FREE LATEST EXTENSION OF MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRIDOR THROUGH WEST VALLEY CITY ALMOST COMPLETE By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
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re we there yet? Almost. The extension of Mountain View Corridor from 4100 South to state Route 201 in West Valley City is now down to just a matter of a few months before it welcomes motorists. What began in spring 2019 with some homes and buildings being razed and tons of earth moved along the latest 4-mile path of the highway is in the final stages of construction. “We’re sitting at 85% complete” as of mid-January, said Codee Raymond, project engineer with the Utah Department of Transportation. “The majority of the pavement is in, the majority of the structure work has been completed.” He says most of the remainder of the project will focus on erecting barriers and noise walls along the sides of the highway. Everything is on schedule for an early summer opening of the roadway. Finishing touches will also include installing signs, crash cushions, guardrails and other necessities to make the highway navigable and safe. Lighting and traffic signals are being put in at state Route 85’s (its official designation) bigger intersections at 3500 South and Parkway Boulevard and where it connects to S.R. 201. Mountain View Corridor will also cater to pedestrians and bicyclists with overpasses for them nearly finished at 3500 South, 3100 South, and Parkway Boulevard. Those crossings are part of a trail system that will run alongside this newest stretch of highway. Trail access and accompanying parking are also nearly finished at several points along the corridor. Despite periodic inconveniences for drivers, residents and businesses, Raymond says the public feedback has been mostly positive Continued page 5
A nearly finished section of Mountain View Corridor crosses 3500 South in West Valley City. (Photo courtesy of UDOT)
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Vaccines started in January for older adults in long-term care lder adults in Utah residential facilities started the COVID-19 vaccination process in January. All Utahns age 70 and older are eligible to get the vaccine, but demand far outweighed supply and appointments quickly filled up. Care centers had an advantage because they partnered with pharmacies that brought the vaccine to them. “We chose to partner with Walgreens Pharmacy to administer the Pfizer vaccines. Three days were set aside for vaccinations. Jan. 7 was the first day of administration to all residents and staff,” said Derek White, senior vice president of Cascades Health, which runs Sandy Health and Rehab on 50 E. 9000 South. “The vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart, so subsequent dosing days are scheduled on Jan. 28 and Feb. 18. The process went smoothly, with a sore injection site being the most common complaint,” White said. In South Jordan, vaccinations started at Riverway Assisted Living on Jan. 8. Riverway is run by SAL Management Group, which also manages care centers in Sandy, West Jordan, Holladay, West Valley and other Utah sites. They are all on the same vaccination schedule and also used Walgreens Pharmacy. For Riverway administrator Jim Scadlock, the vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel that we’ve all been waiting for. “It’s all paying off. When we get to the 21 days after the second shot on Feb. 19, our building is going to be able to open up for visits with friends and family,” Scadlock said. “This won’t last forever—just a few more weeks, and it will start to feel normal around here. That’s what I really want people to know,” Scadlock said. Scadlock’s urgency to get the vaccine administered is personal. In November he
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Journals
By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com urged families to be cautious about holiday get-togethers and shared that his own mother had recently passed away under lockdown conditions. “My mother lived in assisted living in Pleasant Grove. I had not seen her since March—eight months. In November, my sisters and I received a call from the hospice nurse telling us she wouldn’t last through the day and that we could come say goodbye. “An hour later, she quietly slipped away,” Scadlock said. The CDC reports the risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19 increases with age. Older adults are one of the most vulnerable populations, which is why residential care centers had access to the vaccine. But their ability to protect residents from the virus varies. Sandy Health and Rehab is a skilled nursing facility. They accept patients directly from hospital discharge. They have a generally sicker population and more residents coming and going. The rehab center is in the “red zone” on the Utah Department of Health’s dashboard for facilities with outbreaks reported on Jan. 19. Riverway is an assisted living and memory care residential facility. Their residents are generally healthier and more independent than at a skilled nursing facility. As of Jan. 18, Riverway reported in an email that one resident was infected with light symptoms and there were less than five infections in staff members. Months ago, Scadlock took the initiative to get Riverway certified as a lab so they could do their own rapid testing. He describes the rapid test as a swab in the nostril as opposed to the deep and uncomfortable “brain tickle” of the PCR tests. CLIA certification allowed Riverway to test after exposures and get results in 15 min-
Older adults in residential centers like Riverway Assisted Living in South Jordan got the COVID-19 vaccine in January. (Angelica Roman/Riverway Assisted Living)
utes. This limited quarantine times, during which residents would be restricted to their rooms for at least five days. Both facilities interviewed for this story said there were no adverse effects or reactions to the vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine does not contain weakened or inactivated strains of the virus. Instead, it uses mRNA to trigger an immune response and produce antibodies. Older adults who don’t live in facilities can find information about getting the vac-
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Continued from front page through the duration of the project. “I wouldn’t say we haven’t had our hiccups,” he said, pointing to impacts on businesses around 3500 South and 5600 West. “We did everything we could to work with them. At the end of the day, I think we all have a product that we’re happy with.” Raymond says the new section of Mountain View Corridor is expected to alleviate congestion, especially along 5600 West, which experiences heavy northbound traffic weekday mornings and similar slow-going heading south during late afternoons. The nearly finished stretch of Mountain View Corridor is the latest section of the four-lane highway that will run 35 miles from state Route 73 in Utah County to Interstate 80 at its completion, providing a much-needed north-south route on the fast-growing west side of Salt Lake and northern Utah counties. The segment from S.R. 201 to I-80 has not yet been funded and there is no clear schedule for when it will be built. The goal is to convert Mountain View Corridor into a full-fledged freeway some years down the road. l
Future of Utah Media Group building unknown By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com Loading docks are silent at the now-closed Utah Media Group printing plant in West Valley City. With the end of a nearly 70-year joint operating agreement between the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune on Dec. 31, 2020, print, advertising and business operations shared by the two newspapers came to an end at the facility at 4700 S. 5600 West. “We are working on wind-up activities for the Newspaper Agency Corporation through March. What happens to the building is being discussed with no confirmed plans at this time,” Utah Media Group president and CEO Brent Low told the West Valley City Journal in January. The site is zoned for light industry. A city economic development official says any change to that designation would have to be approved by the planning commission and possibly the city council should the building be repurposed or razed to make way for another type of development. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
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A tale of two seasons: Resorts enjoy strong business while water experts monitor worsening drought By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com Editor’s note: this is the first in a fourpart series looking at the state’s drought conditions. elow normal snowpack totals this winter have contributed to worsening drought conditions and concern for water in an already parched state. So far this season, the effects of Utah’s drought conditions have been mixed. While water resource experts have raised red flags about the severity of the state’s drought conditions, ski resorts have reported a strong start to the season. “As expected, demand has been high,” said Paul Marshall, director of communications with Ski Utah. “Visits are better than expected.” Ski resorts throughout the state have reported strong seasons in terms of skier turnout, despite COVID-related safety measures. Below-average snowfall has led to reduced snowpack totals and fewer snow days, but that has not had a significant impact on the ski industry early in the season. The story is different for Utah’s water supply. “Everything is sort of hurting right now, and we’re looking for some more snow kind of urgently at this point,” said Jordan Clayton, data collection officer with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in a December presentation to the Board of Water Resources. “We’ve really received a dismal amount of precipitation over the last 12 months, and it’s getting frankly kind of frightening.” Unless that pattern changes, well-below average snowpack will lead to reduced runoff, even drier soils, and lower reservoir levels. By December, about 70% of the state had fallen into category D4 drought, or exceptional drought, which is the worst degree of conditions in the NRCS tracking system. The agency’s maps of Utah showed a red swath of drought covering most of the state. Clayton stated that, while it is statistically possible that conditions could change and trend toward a normal snowpack for the year, Utah has a lot of ground to make up to rejuvenate its water stores. Persistent dry conditions have affected more than just the annual snowpack and reservoir levels. The state’s soils are also parched. “The fact that we have such extremely dry soils is going to affect the efficiency of our runoffs in the spring,” Clayton said in his presentation to the Board of Water Resources. “We’re going to lose a lot of that snowmelt runoff to our watershed before we can start filling our reservoirs. What that really means effectively is that we
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Page 6 | February 2021
are going to need to receive a well-above average snowpack to get even close to an average runoff.” A tale of two seasons While low snowpack totals will likely have a significant impact on Utah’s water situation come spring and summer, skiers have made the most of the snow that has fallen. “We definitely have had a demand for skiing,” said Andria Huskinson, communications manager for Alta Ski Area. “The skiing is still great out there. The snow quality is holding up.” Huskinson said that by mid-January, the resort area had received nearly 140 inches of snowfall. Just down the canyon, skiing has held up at Snowbird as well. “With 138 inches of snowfall this season to date, accompanied by cold temperatures, we are thankful to have the entire mountain open at Snowbird right now,” said Sarah Sherman, communications manager at Snowbird. “That being said, everyone is eager to have more powder days, soon.” Even in Southern Utah, where drought conditions have been even worse than along the Wasatch, skiing has been strong so far this season. “Business levels have been surprisingly good,” said Brian Head Public Relations Coordinator Mark Wilder. “Lack of snow hasn’t kept people from coming. We were more worried about the COVID situation than the snow situation.” During the first few months of the season, concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary safety policies have concerned resorts more than snow levels. “Due to ongoing and effective efforts, mask compliance at Utah resorts has been very good,” said Ski Utah’s Marshall. “Lower than average snowfall has hampered visitation, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Overall, resorts fared better than expected over the holiday period.” As in communities everywhere, skiers seem to have adjusted to COVID-related protocols, which has helped resorts to a strong start to the season. “Our guests have been very understanding about our community well-being standards, including wearing masks,” said Sarah Huey, communications manager at Solitude Mountain Resort. Should snowfall remain below average for the rest of the winter, the real impact will likely be felt as the snow melts and thirsty soils soak much of it up before runoff can reach reservoirs. “Reservoirs are suffering,” Clayton said. l
Skiers and water officials hope to see more snow in the coming months. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)
Higher than average snowpack will be needed to fill reservoirs during the current drought. (Joshua Wood/ City Journals)
West Valley City Journal
Voting methods could change in the future, but West Valley officials are in no rush to do it this year. (Photo by Parker Johnson/Unsplash)
City to research ranked choice voting
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By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
est Valley City officials discussed the possibility of changing the voting method of its municipal elections to ranked choice voting at its Jan. 19 study meeting. Ranked choice voting works like this: Instead of choosing one candidate as is currently done, you would instead rank them in first place, second place and so on. If no candidate reaches 51%, a clear majority, then the candidate with the least votes is eliminated. Those who voted for the eliminated candidate would then see their votes assigned to their second choice. This continues until one has the majority. Overall, the City Council was interested in learning more, but felt no urgency to implement ranked choice voting in 2021. Payson and Vineyard cities utilized this voting method in 2019 where by all indications it proved successful. Though both cities have reportedly not made any plans to continue with ranked choice voting yet. Both plan to make decisions by April. Citing both cities having yet to make the decision after using it, Mayor Ron Bigelow said he doesn’t “feel a sense of urgency to pursue anything.” Proponents of the system argue
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ranking candidates would require a more informed voter and more civil campaigns as candidates would want to appeal to as many voters as possible. Also, cities would need to run only one election, jettisoning the primary election—held in June—for the general election held in November. Councilman Lars Nordfelt also felt no rush, but was interested in pursuing the concept. “It gives more voice to the voter, which is what we really want, but I don’t want to try something that’s not been tried yet,” he said during the study meeting. While it was done in Payson and Vineyard, both cities’ populations combined don’t equal one council district in West Valley City, Councilman Jake Fitisemanu Jr. noted. Fitisemanu said he’s in the info gathering phase and wants to “learn more of the nuts and bolts.” “What I’ve seen so far is more of a ‘general satisfaction’ (with ranked choice voting) than anything else,” he said. Officials from Utah Ranked Choice Voting, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), have presented the concept to various cities over the last few years with municipal leaders showing varying degrees of approval. Draper City’s
Mayor Troy Walker supports the new voting method while former South Salt Lake City Councilman Mark Kindred wanted his city to adopt it while he was still in office. Two primary proponents for the system were Riverton Councilwomen Tish Buroker and Tawnee McCay. Buroker noted the city’s most recent election had only 36% participation and felt it might be time to try it. McCay pointed to an election race back east that used ranked choice voting where the candidates recommended voting for a specific candidate if they didn’t vote for them. Riverton Councilman Sheldon Stewart was skeptical, worried there was a political agenda behind the movement as well as voter fatigue. West Valley City Recorder Nichole Camac said Salt Lake County Council recently approved an agreement to purchase the equipment necessary to perform such elections, however they have not received the equipment yet and would need time to test through everything. There are also bills at the legislation that could address this, though all three were in their infancy. One bill would reportedly allow cities to choose. l
February 2021 | Page 7
‘We are on our way’—GSD employees receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
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an. 15 was a big day for many Granite School District (GSD) teachers, staff and administrators because they received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. GSD, working with their partner Community Nursing Services (CNS), operated three vaccine locations. They were held at the district office, Hunter Junior High School and Churchill Junior High School. Those receiving the vaccine on this first round were individuals 55 years old or older. Other employees will receive the vaccine on upcoming Fridays. For the first round, about 2,400 GSD employees received the first dose. At Hunter Junior, the line snaked through three halls while at the district offices, the line went outside the building to the parking lot. Even with the long lines, the clinics ran smoothly and everyone showed patience. “I’m a communications director, but this week I was a vaccine coordinator,” Ben Horsley, communications director for GSD, said. He also explained that all 9,000 GSD employees would have a chance to receive the vaccine. They do not expect 100% coverage. “Getting the vaccine is not a requirement. It is just an added level of protection for our employees,” Horsley said. GSD worked with Salt Lake County Health and other school districts to ensure the vaccine was available for their employees. Brent Jones, President and COO of CNS explained that his organization has been giving vaccines to educators throughout the state. “By the end of Saturday, we will have given 14,500 shots,” Jones said.
On this Friday, they were working at eight schools in Salt Lake and Utah counties. GSD and CNS have worked together on the “Say Boo to the Flu!” initiative, which provides no-cost or low-cost flu shots each September. Jones explained that CNS hires about 250 part-time nurses to do flu clinics. “This year, our nurses said they wanted to stay on for the vaccine effort. They consider it their patriotic duty,” Jones said. Paulette McMillan, an administrator with the district, was emotional as she talked about how long they’ve been looking forward to this day. “It brings us hope. And hope for the future. Hope we keep kids in school. And hope that our lives can move on,” McMillian said. Other vaccine recipients voiced similar thoughts. “I can teach the way my kids need me too,” Patty Tobin, a fifth-grade teacher at Copperview Elementary said. “I can soon be around my family and finally see my grandchildren in person.” “I can safely serve my students in the environment they should be learning in,” said Kim Frandsen, an English and math resource teacher at Granite Connections. Frandsen also mentioned the vaccine also reduces her anxiety over the virus. “I am very grateful. I am completely impressed with the science. How quickly we got the vaccine in the first place,” Matthew Parola, a social studies teacher at Hunter Junior, said. “We turned the corner on it. We are on our A CNS nurse draws up a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while Granite School District employees wait in the background. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) way.”. l
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West Valley City Journal
Lady Pirates get takedowns at wrestling tournament
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n a Friday night Tayleigh Robertson won a medal in the school’s first-ever girls-only wrestling tournament then Saturday morning she competed in an individual drill down with the Spinnakers drill team and won her division. She can throw ‘em down. “Some of my friends wrestled so I thought I would try it,” Robertson said. “It is so competitive, and I have been dancing my whole life so it is a lot different.” Robertson is a junior at Cyprus High School. She is starting her first year on the wrestling team but is also a member of the Spinnakers, the Pirates drill team. Wrestleutah.com currently ranks her fourth in her weight class for the entire state. “I think drill helps me be competitive, but I learned not to be scared to give something new a try, wrestling is fun,” Robertson said. In her first tournament, the Girls Christmas Clash, Robertson placed third. This season is the first as a sanctioned high school sport for girls wrestling. On Dec. 19, 2020, Hunter High School hosted the first-ever girls-only tournament in the Granite School District; nearly 50 girls competed. The Pirates wrestling head coach Charlie Brown oversees both the girls and boys
By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
Cyprus junior Tayleigh Robertson won a medal at her first wrestling tournament, the next day she won a drill competition with the Spinnakers, Cyprus’s drill team. (Greg James/City Journals)
teams although they are operated separately. He began an assistant program with several former wrestlers to help him keep things organized. “It is a challenge,” Brown said. “It has been good though. This is the first official year for girls wrestling, but I have coached a few of them before. I really think girls are the best and hardest working athletes, but they need to enjoy it.”
Cyprus began the year with nearly 20 girls on the team, but injuries and the pandemic have pared down its roster to 11 girls. The team still has room to grow. “The girls are always asking their friends to come to try it,” assistant coach Terron Eagen said. “We have been successful so far. We have had a few girls place and we won the Granite School District tournament.” Cyprus held the first-ever Pirates Ladies
Invitational on Jan 2. Westlake took home the initial trophy by finishing 70 points ahead of Mountain Crest. Cyprus finished ninth overall and 17 schools participated in the tournament. “I am having fun watching the girls wrestle. They all seem to be having fun,” Brown said. “I think the biggest difference (between girls and boys wrestling) is it is emotional for these girls. They want to enjoy it.” The sport has the same rules as boys wrestling does. The Utah High School Activities Association is still experimenting with weight classes. As the season began they supported 10 classes, but may expand to 14 before the season ends. “I have been a huge supporter of girls wrestling,” Brown said. “I knew a few years ago that we would have a lady Pirates team. I feel like we got a jump on it last year with our organized team. I have seen cute frilly girls step out of the girly thing and throw down their opponent.” Coaching girls in wrestling is not much different. “For the most part it is the same,” Eagen said. “I explain things better and try to be softer with the girls. I try to help them understand. It makes it more comfortable.” l
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Grizzlies start the season on a high note
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By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
he Utah Grizzlies lost their first game of the season and then reeled off four straight wins. This season could be full of excitement and constant change. “This is a fun hockey team to watch,” Grizzlies radio announcer Tyson Whiting said. “It is so early in the season, but the team has looked sharp.” The East Coast Hockey League began play and, despite one cancellation already, hopes to play a flexible season. They decided to expanded rosters from 16 to 18 active skaters and two goalies. The Colorado Avalanche will continue their working agreement with the Grizzlies and after the NHL season gets in full force the Grizzly roster could change. The Grizzly roster contains four former players and several players that are making their first professional appearances. Parker Gahagen is new to the team. He recently signed a contract to play goalie in Utah. He played college hockey for the Army at West Point. Last season, he was with the Newfoundland Growlers and saved 93.9% of his opponent’s shots. In his first game in Utah, he allowed two second-period goals in a 3-2 victory over the Rapid City Rush. Peyton Jones has played six games in goal this season. He has saved 90.1% of the shots he has faced. Ty Lewis, last season’s leading scorer, is currently in American Hockey League camps. It is possible that he and some other players might return to the league. Diego Cuglietta currently leads the team with eight points. “With this strange season the NHL will start in January and the AHL soon after that. There will be plenty of players moving teams and plenty of roster changes,” Whiting said. The forward line of Jack Jenkins, Joe Wegworth and Trey Bradley have scored six
goals at press time. “We are doing a great job of generating chances,” Whiting said. “I see us getting better as we contest every bit of ice on the forecheck.” Its 23 goals in the first seven games are the most in the ECHL. Yuri Terao is one of many players that can create his own shots. “The magician (Terao) is a player that makes game-deciding plays. This is a team that is full of this type of player. There are guys that are scratches (not on the active roster) that are good hockey players. There is lots of depth on this roster. Tim (Branham) and Ryan (Kinasewich) have done a great job assembling this team,” Whiting said on his radio broadcast. Branham is the winningest coach in team history and Kinasewich has the most goals, assists and points in franchise history. The Grizzlies opened their season Dec. 11, 2020 against the Rapid City Rush. The ECHL currently only has 13 teams. The Idaho Steelheads, a natural rival to the Grizzlies, opted for a voluntary suspension of this season. The Grizzlies play in the ECHL’s mountain division against the Wichita Thunder, Tulsa Oilers, Kansas City Mavericks, Rapid City Rush, and Fort Wayne Komets. The ECHL is announcing schedules one month at a time as the season progresses. They are scheduled to host the Allen Americans Jan. 29-31. Tickets can be purchased at www.utahgrizzlies.com, the games are limited to 1,500 fans and masks and social distancing is expected. The radio broadcast for the games can be heard on Mixlr. FloHockey.tv presents the video telecast of all this season’s games.. l
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Rob Beck of Wealth Management CPAs in Murray has a simple but effective approach to help people plan for the future – he gets the experts in the same room. “I am a CPA who loves helping people build their wealth,” said Beck, who loves numbers, math and watching the economy. But he does not like watching his friends delay their retirement. And he does not love it when the government gets a portion of someone’s legacy that could have gone to loved ones or a favorite charity. “In 2008 the markets took a hit. I watched one of my mentors – an accomplished CPA – delay his retirement. I also watched my tax clients’ investments go down as their taxes went up. “I wondered what on earth was going on. How can you lose money and have to pay more in taxes?” Beck said. So he did something very simple – he asked his friends, who were financial planners and estate planning attorneys, what advice they were giving. “I realized each professional was independently giving good advice, but without all of the pieces of the puzzle, it was incomplete. We were focused on different things. I saw that many people often need all-encompassing financial advice, that includes
not only financial planning, but a comprehensive tax strategy as well. So, I started Wealth Management CPAs, to bridge that gap” Beck said. Beck has a business motto: Be kind, be competent. The motto works. People who schedule a complimentary consultation with him at www. WealthCPAs.com often become loyal clients. “Call us at (801) CPA-HELP (801.272.4357) or email us at info@ WealthCPAs.com and we’ll look over your retirement plan for gaps,” Beck said. Beck enjoys talking to clients without watching the clock run. “We always offer two complimentary consultations to answer
questions. In these consultations, we’ve been able to help many people with their financial, tax, and estate plans. We take pride in our work.” A powerful video on Beck’s website www.WealthCPAs.com demonstrates how they helped a woman dramatically improve her plan. It is under the “Why Choose Us” tab and well worth four minutes of your time. “A woman came to us after her husband passed away. She had an IRA, money in the bank and a life insurance policy. “Her attorney created a family trust and told her to move the three assets into it. But her financial advisor told her to just name her family as beneficiaries. She was confused,” Beck said. Beck knew both experts were only looking at their pieces of the puzzle. The woman needed someone who would look at the whole picture. “With her original plan, we noticed as CPAs, that upon her death the IRS would receive $450,000! Yikes.” “We rearranged her exact same assets so that her family received $1.5 million. And the IRS? Well…they got ‘disinherited’,” Beck said. As a fiduciary, Beck is obligated to
make sure he gives his clients unbiased advice. His industry is heavily regulated, and he wants people to know when they call him at (801) CPA-HELP (801.272.4357), they will find a partner who cares about them, with the necessary skills to help set up a comprehensive plan for them. “I’ve learned that genuinely listening to people and helping them on their journey in life comes back to me in spades. When you have professionals working together as a team to build a coordinated comprehensive strategy, you will find the gaps and missing pieces in your plan. Let us help you do that,” Beck said. Advisory services are offered through Wealth Management CPAs, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Utah. Tax services offered through Wealth Management Tax Solutions, an affiliated company. Insurance products and services offered through Wealth Management Insurance Solutions, LLC, an affiliated company. Wealth Management CPAs, LLC, Wealth Management Tax Solutions and Wealth Management Insurance Solutions, LLC are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
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February 2021 | Page 11
Cameras in gyms broadcast games, help coaches review practices By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
A
n unwanted side effect of a worldwide pandemic—empty bleachers at sporting events because COVID restrictions won’t allow fans. “It stinks,” said Cyprus wrestling fan and parent Jaylnn Merrill. “We get one ticket and some of the larger events don’t allow fans.” “It’s horrible,” Sara Harding said. “There are only like four of us cheering and clapping.” Schools across the state were forced to minimize interaction because of social distancing rules. The large student sections and cheering parents had to be eliminated to reduce exposure. To increase opportunities for student-athlete interaction, schools have embarked on a previously tried feature of live streaming their events. “As long as the event is held in the main gym we can stream it,” Cyprus athletic director Chaine Henson said. “We installed a camera and it is super easy to stream from there.” YouTube and other streaming services have become the home to local high school sports coverage. “This year COVID and the restrictions on attendance were catalysts on streaming becoming more mainstream,” Hudl Focus General Manager Greg Nelson said. “I find
If you see this camera in a high school gym it is not the FBI spying on your life. It is a new tool to help coaches and live stream games. (Greg James/City Journals)
there is a broader community of students, alumni, and community members that would like to connect with the activities. Our program has taken a huge step forward in that this year.” Hudl provides video review and performance analysis tools for sports teams and athletes at entry-level. “Our primary vision is to help coaches. They can record their own games and practices. The coach can start a recording from his phone during practice. When the drill is done they can immediately review the drill they just did. It is a good teaching skill,” Nel-
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son said. “It has been a great tool,” Cyprus boys head coach Tre Smith said. “It is definitely worth the money.” The company has installed over 3,400 cameras in schools around the country and to date, more than 205,000 games and practices have been recorded. “Our business has nearly doubled in the last few months,” Nelson said. The program has been used for more than just athletics, dance concerts, and music performances. It has also opened up new opportunities for students interested in broad-
casting. “As part of the streaming service, preroll audio, static ads, and play by play can be integrated. At some schools, the students have taken over. It is interesting to see how creative schools have gotten. I have seen computer classes take ownership of the broadcast. I have also seen it add revenue to the school through pregame ads,” Nelson said. Schools now have their own YouTube channels that carry the games. Depending on the camera location it can run between $2,000 and $3,500 to have the system installed. “We knew that this year was going to be hard for school budgets,” Nelson said. “We began the ‘Return to Play’ program, an upgrade for our athletic department application. I think remote coaching and live streaming has never been more important.” Hudl plays a vital role in recruiting. An online presence for players and teams is an essential tool for student-athletes to gain opportunities on the next level. “College coaches can no longer travel as much so evaluating players relies on video,” Nelson said. “The future of sports is ‘I am going to show up for practice and know that it is being recorded,’” Nelson said. l
Roundtable Talk with Representative Weight Policies and People In a committee meeting the first week of the legislative session, a person on Zoom commented about activism. The topic was civics education and civic engagement. The comment was that civics projects turn young people into activists for causes. What they need instead is knowledge of the Constitution. The speaker didn’t say what students might actually do with that awareness. She didn’t say anything about participating, as she was, in the governing process. Even though I have seen the opposite of her description from my interactions with students, it was helpful to understand her beliefs as we discussed and then voted on the bill. Policy-making in Utah and the U.S. is designed to include people and their ideas. In any group of people, we expect differences - different backgrounds, different experiences, different circumstances – that create a range of views and thoughts. That variety is important to understand and
Liz4Utah.com
ElizabethWeight@le.utah.gov
acknowledge in creating laws that people can agree to uphold. Listening and sharing ideas is necessary and powerful for us state lawmakers, and we rely on people who contribute their views in the process steps for deciding laws. We rely best on people who take the care and time to learn the points and purpose of a bill they want to influence. When students or any of us learn the text of the Constitution and also take action like contacting community leaders, making public comment, and joining others in the dialog, everyone benefits. In the last few years, we have witnessed outcomes from people acting without knowledge and also people retreating from participation even when they have informed views to contribute. As many have noted, this is a time of transition and recognition of our peaceful roles and power in our government processes. I look forward to your participation by signing up for my newsletter and contacting me.
Elizabeth Weight, Utah Representative
@RepEWeight
West Valley City Journal
Psych 101: What is gaslighting? By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
I
f you’ve tuned into the federal news at any point during the past four years, you’ve probably heard a phrase or two about President Donald Trump gaslighting America. Even though the term has been thrown about rather loosely at times, it seems to be becoming part of our common collective discourse. Personally, I wanted to make sure I really understood this term, and the research behind it, before evaluating the claims made about our current political climate. I’d like to take a moment to define and clarify gaslighting, discuss its prevalence, and illuminate potential harmful impacts. The term “gaslighting” has been used to describe abuse involving emotional and intellectual manipulation, most often recognizable through mind-manipulation strategies. Gaslighting often leads to a person questioning their sanity, perceptions of reality, and/or memories. Even though the term was recently popularized in politics, gaslighting has been well recognized within psychology research for decades. One of the first mentions of gaslighting was on June 21, 1969. Russell Barton and J.A. Whitehead published an article in “The Lancet” where they outlined two cases in which “there were definite plots to remove an unwanted and restricting relative by securing admissions to a mental hospital.” They compared this to the storyline of
a play titled “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton where a husband tries to get rid of his wife by driving her into a lunatic asylum. Dr. Paige Sweet attributes the common usage of the term to a story as well. In the 1944 film by George Cukor, “Gaslight,” a husband attempts to isolate his wife by making her believe she is insane. “His eponymous tactic is to dim and brighten the gaslights and then insist she is imagining it. (He) aims to undermine (her) sense of self and everyday life, to confuse and distort her reality such that she must accept his imposed reality in place of her own.” The term appeared minimally throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but eventually it began to recur in research as the focus on interpersonal relationships intensified. In 2007, Dr. Robin Stern published “The Gaslight Effect” focusing on how to identify manipulation in relationships. As might be apparent from the contextual history of the term, gaslighting is of importance in domestic violence research and intimate partner violence (IPV) literature. “Gaslighting is a conscious or unconscious form of psychological abuse that occurs when a perpetrator distorts information to confuse a victim, triggering the victim to doubt their memory and sanity,” defines Dr. Madeline Tormoen. In the popular conversation, confusion,
distortion and anxiety are all recognizable as consequences of gaslighting. However, the potential impacts of gaslighting can quickly become more harmful and severe. Those being gaslit may start to question their own perceptions and lose trust in their own experience of reality. Tormoen described how gaslighting may often affect memory, contribute to emotional abuse and interpersonal abuse, lead to a victim undermining their sanity, and betrayal. “Gaslighting can also prevent domestic violence victims from accessing institutional resources that would help them escape the abuse. The very institutions set up to help victims can become part of the gaslighting process,” she described. In addition, gaslighting may contribute to double-binding and depersonalization, resulting in losing a sense of self, multiple perceptions of reality, and varied internal versions of reality. Gaslighting creates hostile social environments. Sweet and others have argued that gaslighting is not just a psychological tactic, but a sociological phenomenon as well. “When perpetrators mobilize gender-based stereotypes, structural inequalities, and institutional vulnerabilities against victims with whom they are in an intimate relationship, gaslighting becomes not only effective, but devastating.” For domestic violence resources here in
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February 2021 | Page 13
Vaccines expanded and administered to more Salt Lake County residents
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3
Since COVID-19 vaccines were approved and rollout began for healthcare workers and teachers, we have all been a little more hopeful that the end of the pandemic is drawing near. A few weeks ago, vaccinations were expanded to Utahns 70 years of age or older. Vaccinations were prioritized in this manner by the State of Utah to provide protection to those on the front lines of fighting the pandemic and to reduce the number of fatalities among those most vulnerable to COVID-19. The State is making the determination on which groups will receive vaccinations, but they have recognized that counties and their local health departments are best equipped to carry out the actual vaccine administration. I was able to meet with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and health officials from both the county and state as we discussed the best way to vaccinate as many people as possible. The State of Utah is working hard to obtain more vaccines from the federal government and our county is dedicated to getting vaccines to residents as soon as we receive each batch. Your Salt Lake County Health Department has been hard at work preparing and executing the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the national vetting of the vaccine, no steps were skipped to ensure its safety and efficacy. I have seen the vaccine administered at the Mountain America Expo Center and the process is orga-
nized and sanitary. As of Jan. 19, the Salt Lake County Health Department had administered 21,400 vaccines. As you are eligible to obtain the vaccine, I encourage you to do so. The faster you and those around you can get vaccinated, the better off we will all be. Here is some additional information that may be helpful: Hospital healthcare workers are being vaccinated by their employers. Long-term care facility healthcare workers are being vaccinated through their employers by Walgreens, CVS and Community Nursing Services. All other healthcare workers who live or work in Salt Lake County are being vaccinated by the Salt Lake County Health Department.
Teachers and other school staff will have their vaccines administered through their school district via Community Nursing Services (CNS), but information can be found at cnscares.org/covid19vaccine-educator Those 70 years of age or older can sign up to be notified of vaccination appointments at SaltLakeHealth.org (click “COVID” then click “Vaccine”) or can obtain more information by calling the Salt Lake County Health Department at (385) 468-7468. There is no cost to get vaccinated, regardless of whether you have health insurance or not. For general information regarding the rollout and groups able to receive the vaccine, visit: coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine
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February 2021 | Page 15
The UHSAA realignment is set for next season. Where is your favorite school? (Photo courtesy of dsandersonpics.com)
The UHSAA aligned its schools for possibly the last time
T
he Utah High School Activities Association made its biannual changes to school region alignments. The adopted proposals have been applauded and scrutinized. “Looks like Region 7 was picked by throwing darts on a map,” Derek Erickson, a conTM cerned fan, commented after the alignment was announced. According to the Utah High School Activities Association’s constitution, the Board of Trustees has the responsibility and authority to classify its member schools and assign them to regions within the classification. This year may be the last year of regions as we know it. Considerations for alignment include fair competition, school enrollment, travel costs, and natural rivalries. Region 7 has a 348-mile spread. Uintah High School in Vernal was placed in the 5A region with Cedar Valley, Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Are you a business leader? Payson, Stansbury, and Tooele high schools. TM At no cost, the ElevateHER Challenge is easy Making it one of the most scrutinized region to accept and will benefit your company. placement divisions. “We can’t just look at the numbers of the Join businesses across Utah in school and say, ‘Hey, because you have 2,000 our mission to elevate the stature students you should play against other schools of women’s leadership. Take the TM ElevateHER Challenge and stand with that have 2,000 students. We need to look at the other businesses as we pledge to elevate balance,” Juab School District board president women in senior leadership positions, in Dale Whitlock said. Hillcrest has over 2,100 students; Cottonboardrooms, on management teams and wood and Uintah both have over 1,600 enrolled. on politcal ballots. “We are absolutely excited for realignment,” Hillcrest Athletic Director Scott Carrell LEARN MORE: said. “We have regions and the RPI (rating perwww.WLIUT.com/challenge formance index used to seed teams at state tournaments), they don’t work together very well.
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By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com When they started to put together the changes we were put in a very competitive region in Utah County. We sat down with our coaches and asked for that to be changed. We knew that in order for us to build our programs we needed to be put with similar schools. They told us we would have to travel more, but we were OK with that.” The teams at Hillcrest realize there will be challenges. “We know that not everyone will be on board, but we are excited to be able to build our programs back up,” Carrell said. “We are looking at ways to have hotspots on buses to help with homework and more opportunities for distance learning.” Many other schools were also enthusiastic about their new placement. “We are excited about our new region,” Copper Hills Athletic Director Ben Morley said. “Mainly because of the proximity of the member schools and having West Jordan back in Region 3.” West Jordan and Copper Hills have a natural rivalry again in Region 3 and are located just four miles from each other. They have played 25 football games against each other and Copper Hills has only one once, in 2013. It is not the only rival to be preserved in the current alignment; Hunter and Granger, Kearns and Taylorsville in Region 2; Herriman, Riverton, and Mountain Ridge now all reside in Region 3; Bountiful, Viewmont, and Woods Cross in Region 5; Olympus and Skyline in Region 6; and Alta and Jordan in Region 8. Roy administrators asked to be moved from Region 1, in northern Utah, to Region 2.
They stated competitive balance as their reasoning. Roy last won a state championship in 2012 in softball. West High School won Region 2’s most recent title in 2019 in softball, but Granger has not been a state champion since 1979 in boys baseball. In the upcoming season, Region 2 will consist of Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns, Taylorsville, West and Roy. “I like our region,” new Taylorsville head football coach Chris Rosales said. “I just wish that winning a region championship meant more. With the new RPI, it has all changed.” The UHSAA Region 3 will consist of Bingham, Copper Hills, Herriman, Mountain Ridge, Riverton and West Jordan. Because of an increase in enrollment Mountain Ridge was moved from 5A to 6A in all sports. Region 5 includes Bountiful, Woods Cross, Bonneville, Box Elder, Northridge, and Viewmont. Region 6 contains Brighton, East, Highland, Murray, Olympus, Skyline and Park City. Region 8 is comprised of two other Salt Lake County schools including Jordan and Alta. “I think no regions in our alignment will be beneficial for every school in the state of Utah,” Carrell said. “Then games could be scheduled against teams of like opponents, more participation is the ultimate goal. It would not work for every sport, but we need to make goals to improve.” UHSAA is exploring options for it realignment in two years. Some of those ideas include the adoptions of no regions allowing teams to make schedules of their choosing. l
West Valley City Journal
High school student-athletes undergo COVID-19 testing, change approaches to competitions By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
I
n swimming, the faster swimmers compete in the middle lanes. In basketball, traditionally, team captains shake hands with the opposing team and refs before the game and afterwards, players on both teams give each other a high-five. Wrestlers take the mats in multi-day competitions, but not anymore this season. Those, and many other norms, aren’t the case in high school sports this winter. As high school student-athletes and coaches follow the Utah High School Activities Association’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, winter sports have a new look—and likely spring may follow some of the same protocols, say local high school athletic directors. Throughout the state, the biggest change from fall sports to winter has been with restricting fans at indoor competitions and administering rapid COVID-19 every 14 days for student-athletes. It’s part of the UHSAA “Return to Play” guidelines after high school sports mostly took a two-week break in early November following former Gov. Gary Herbert’s mandate, said Sally Williams, Hillcrest High athletic director in Canyons School District. The “Return to Play” guidelines were issued in early December after the Utah School Superintendents Association and UHSAA worked with the Utah State Department of Health to provide protocols after the state health order suspended the start of the winter season. Those guidelines were updated, with new policies of “test to stay” and “test to play” that took effect Jan. 4, when schools resumed from winter break. These have included if individuals are exposed to COVID-19, they can end quarantine 10 days after the last time they were in contact with the person who tested positive if they don’t have symptoms or they can return after a negative COVID-19 test result. “We had to reschedule a bunch of games and give our teams time to prepare for the season; it was a bunch of shuffling for preseason and hard for both our boys and girls basketball teams as we have new head coaches in both programs and they had to put everything together, after delaying tryouts and early season preparations,” Williams said about the delayed winter season for her Midvale school. “But it still was probably good to get COVID numbers (of positive cases) down even though at that time, our school wasn’t high.” Even so, both Hillcrest programs have had coaches and/or players test positive or be exposed to COVID-19, playing preseason basketball games with a skeleton team and both teams, canceling at least one game.
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Already numbers at tryouts were down, about half as many for the boys and barely enough student-athletes to fill three team rosters for the girls, Williams said, because of the impact of COVID-19 and that some online learners aren’t involved in sports this year. “We’re at about 85% in-person enrollment this year,” Williams said. “The good news is that with the vaccine coming, we hope our spring season will happen since last year, their seasons were canceled because of COVID.” Admission to the basketball games and wrestling matches are restricted to assigned seats for contact tracing purposes and with two tickets issued per athlete, with Hillcrest stating no children in attendance. Masks are required for patrons. Even athletes sit socially distanced from each other, totes by their chairs with their own water bottles and face masks. Student-athletes are allowed to take them off only during competition, Williams said. Swim meets’ admission is restricted by the facility; many schools practice and compete at county pools, which limit capacity at 50 people including both boys and girls swim teams, coaches and officials often exceed that number. So, 11 of the 13 Hillcrest meets were scheduled at non-county facilities. “We looked at swimming boys or girls or varsity and JV separately, but that gets to be kind of a nightmare. They all swim together, so what happens with those other kids and how many days are they unable to practice if we do it that way,” Hillcrest head coach Ryan Thierbach said, adding that meets are livestreamed free for the Hillcrest community. Hillcrest swimmers also split the pool, so girls and boys teams have less interaction with one another to reduce possible spreading of COVID-19. At Jordan High, in Sandy, athletic director Jason Long said the school’s swimmers aren’t as much impacted as other schools since they practice at private pools and when public pools are shut down, those schools that practice at them have no options and aren’t getting time in the water. They also are finding a way for parents to watch their swimmers. “We have invited some of our parents of seniors to be timers and judges so they can be there,” he said. The competitions in the gym are different without student sections or pep bands. “We aren’t pulling out all the bleachers in the gym as only two parents are allowed in to watch competitions,” Long said, adding that most sports are being livestreamed for families to watch with a subscription. At Jordan, staff members are continuing
Jordan High’s girls basketball team sits socially distanced on the sidelines with masks on when they aren’t playing following UHSAA winter sports guidelines. (Jason Long/Jordan High)
to take student-athletes’ temperatures and go through health symptom checks just as they did in the fall in addition to administering COVID-19 tests, usually 45 minutes before the school day begins. Not only does Long’s crew test student-athletes, coaches and managers, but also theatre and debate students since those activities fall under UHSAA. “We’re not relaxing on anything,” he said, admitting that the days get long, with early morning testing to games at night. “We’re all on the same page following UHSAA guidelines. It’s a lot of extra work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every single day, but we’re hopeful our students can compete and showcase their talents—and that’s worth the work.” The push continues to wear masks for student-athletes, coaches, managers, trainers and athletic directors at practices, in huddles, team meetings, on the sideline and all the time, unless competing, he said. “We have assigned seats socially distanced on the bus, in the locker room, on the bench. We’ll be able to trace each athlete and with the guidelines, keep the spread low. We shouldn’t have to shut down this way,” Long said, adding that even basketball drills are kept in small groups and drill is spaced distantly for contact tracing purposes. “If drill does any kind of lifts, they’re to practice in small groups and sanitize their hands.” While the schools maintain the safety of its student-athletes and programs, referees fall under the UHSAA. “Many of our refs wear masks until the game starts, then they take it off so they can use their whistles. They put the mask back
High school athletes like Hillcrest High’s basketball player Maddy Sluga undergo COVID-19 rapid testing every 14 days. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
on when talking to the coach or scorekeeper,” Long said. In Jordan School District, Bingham Athletic Director Andee Bouwhuis said that instead of totes for the sideline seats, they have placed command strip hooks for masks and athletes keep their individual water bottles next to the chairs. “We wipe down the bench with cleansing towels—the seats are spread out and assigned,” she said. “In the pool, we follow the county guidelines and limit five swimmers per lane, so our team is small this year.” After the governor’s shutdown, Bouwhuis said she was surprised to see more athletes at tryouts. “Kids are wanting to be involved and at school, not isolated at home,” she said. “Everyone is being flexible even as we’ve had to cancel or reschedule competitions. The coaches are just hopeful we’ll have a season and the athletes are putting it into perspective that just one or two games or meets aren’t that critical. I’m hoping that when spring comes, we can have a full season. That would be amazing.” l
February 2021 | Page 17
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West Valley City Journal
A lot on my plate
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
Fear sells, but why does the food industry use anxiety to sell products? I mean, if there’s one thing the seven billion people on this planet agree on, it’s that we need food. (And Baby Yoda is adorable. That’s universally accepted.) When COVID hit last spring, I heard we’d run out of beef by autumn. My husband lost his mind. Someone told me canned vegetables would be as valuable as gold, which is good because I’d rather wear a can of peas on a chain around my neck than have to eat them. Experts tell us food is plentiful and cheaper than ever before. Just the food left over from Las Vegas buffets could feed several Third World countries for generations. They’d all develop diabetes and heart disease, but they’d have plenty of food. And that’s the other fear; the idea that the food we eat, even broccoli and kale, has no nutritional value because the soil’s been depleted of nutrients and we’re consuming the dietary equivalent of Rice Krispies for each meal. So, we hear companies proclaiming to have discovered new, perfect foods. Not just foods— Super Foods (with a heartbreaking origin story). They ask questions like, Do you poop every day at noon? Are you often irritable? Well, you’re eating the wrong food! Social media is awash in these types of ads. “Buy our product made of 300 super-
foods found only in caves along the Ganges River!” “Learn the secret of Cleopatra’s radiant skin, Helen of Troy’s weight loss supplement and Queen Elizabeth’s longevity.” (Spoiler alert: it’s never having to clean your own toilet.) Companies tell us fans are “raving” about their green juice. False news. No one raves about green juice. The recipes have unknown ingredients like chlorella (a dried sea vegetable) and rhodiola, a cold-climate plant used by Vikings. Mmmmm. Yummy. (Sidenote: Vikings are dead. Did rhodiola kill them?) Mushrooms are the new meat. The reishi mushroom is called the Queen of the Mushrooms because…um…it has a crown? I guess psilocybin mushrooms would be King of the Mushrooms, or at least the laidback, hippie brother-in-law of the mushrooms. Pretend meat is also the new meat. Im-
possible Meat might be better for the planet, but with its soy, wheat and vegetable ingredients shaped and colored to look like chicken nuggets, it’s definitely not health food. And don’t think it’s safe to drink water. No, sir! You can’t drink tap water, bottled water, well water, river water, toilet water or any other water unless it’s gone through an expensive, artesian reverse osmosis process. I used to drink water out of the hose in my front yard. I’m sure I’ll die full of mercury, lead and chlorine. Spinach and romaine lettuce routinely try to kill us, and don’t get me started on GMO conspiracy theories. I don’t have that kind of time. Are apples still good for us? Can we eat corn without worrying about growing a third arm? Does everything have to be organic, farm-fresh and certified because according to Facebook, we’re all doomed! I know Americans don’t have the best diets but throw me a grass-fed bone. We’re assaulted on all sides and just trying not to dive headfirst into a bucket of chicken for a morning snack. Let’s drop the fear, food industry, and go back to promoting wellness as we wait to hear if Baby Yoda will be on the next season of “The Mandalorian.” Some things are more important than organic bananas.
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Hiring Umpires Adult League Slow-Pitch Softball $22 per game/hour Salt Lake, Weber/Davis, Summit Counties No Experience Necessary. Training starts February. Must have your own transportation For more info and to apply visit www.UmpiresofUtah.com/Become-an-Umpire
February 2021 | Page 19
RETIREMENT SEMINAR Given the current political & economic climate, many people are worried about planning their future
10 Reasons You Should Attend This Complimentary Seminar Your Retirement.
1
Learn how to protect your estate from long-term care expenses
Your Terms.
2
Lessen the chance that you outlive your retirement income due to taxes or inflation
3
Learn how to avoid being forced to sell your assets or surrender your money to Medicaid
4
Learn how to receive long-term care benefits while remaining in your own home
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Learn how to decrease the tax on your IRA or 401(k) for a more comfortable retirement
6
Learn how to avoid being taxed on your social security benefits
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Discover the pitfalls of probate and the steps you can take to avoid it
8
Learn why a living trust may be more effective for you than a regular will, and why you may need one
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Learn when you should not put your children on your bank accounts and property titles
February
18th 6 - 7:30PM Thursday
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25th 6 - 7:30PM Thursday
9750 S. 300 W. Building 1 Sandy UT 84070 Room 220
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Robert J. Beck CPA
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Elliot P. Smith JD, CPA
Register today! Visit WealthCPAs.com/Seminar or call (801) CPA-HELP (801.272.4357) Two complimentary consultations & a personalized retirement plan with registration ($1,000 Value)
Advisory services are offered through Wealth Management CPAs, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Utah. Tax services offered through Wealth Management Tax Solutions, an affiliated company. Insurance products and services offered through Wealth Management Insurance Solutions, LLC, an affiliated company. Wealth Management CPAs, LLC, Wealth Management Tax Solutions and Wealth Management Insurance Solutions, LLC are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
February 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 02
FREE LATEST EXTENSION OF MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRIDOR THROUGH WEST VALLEY CITY ALMOST COMPLETE By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
A
re we there yet? Almost. The extension of Mountain View Corridor from 4100 South to state Route 201 in West Valley City is now down to just a matter of a few months before it welcomes motorists. What began in spring 2019 with some homes and buildings being razed and tons of earth moved along the latest 4-mile path of the highway is in the final stages of construction. “We’re sitting at 85% complete” as of mid-January, said Codee Raymond, project engineer with the Utah Department of Transportation. “The majority of the pavement is in, the majority of the structure work has been completed.” He says most of the remainder of the project will focus on erecting barriers and noise walls along the sides of the highway. Everything is on schedule for an early summer opening of the roadway. Finishing touches will also include installing signs, crash cushions, guardrails and other necessities to make the highway navigable and safe. Lighting and traffic signals are being put in at state Route 85’s (its official designation) bigger intersections at 3500 South and Parkway Boulevard and where it connects to S.R. 201. Mountain View Corridor will also cater to pedestrians and bicyclists with overpasses for them nearly finished at 3500 South, 3100 South, and Parkway Boulevard. Those crossings are part of a trail system that will run alongside this newest stretch of highway. Trail access and accompanying parking are also nearly finished at several points along the corridor. Despite periodic inconveniences for drivers, residents and businesses, Raymond says the public feedback has been mostly positive Continued page 5
A nearly finished section of Mountain View Corridor crosses 3500 South in West Valley City. (Photo courtesy of UDOT)
15 SAUCES OVER 50 FRESH INGREDIENTS NAAN PIZZA DOUGH MADE FRESH DAILY
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Valid Monday-Thursday. Expires February 28, 2021. Any location. Cannot be combined with other offers.
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Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
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Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Ogden, UT Permit #190