West Valley Newsletter | November 2021

November 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 11

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MAJOR CRIME DIPPED IN WEST VALLEY CITY IN 2020

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

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ucking a national trend, West Valley City saw a decrease in reported violent crimes in 2020 from the previous year.

The Utah Department of Public Safety released its 2020 Crime in Utah Report, a compilation of crime statistics reported to the FBI by most law enforcement agencies in the state for last year.

West Valley City, with a population of 136,000, the second highest of Utah cities, recorded a slight drop in violent crimes that include homicide, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, which are among those referred to as “index crimes” by the FBI. Six homicides, 79 rapes, 519 aggravated assaults and 96 robberies were reported in 2020.

In 2019, the West Valley City Police Department logged 11 murders, 112 rapes, 654 aggravated assaults and 136 robberies.

In all, 5,198 index crimes were reported for a crime rate of 38.25 per 1,000 people in West Valley City in 2020, a slight dip of 1.1% from 5,256 or 38.29 the previous year.

By comparison, South Salt Lake, with a population of 26,000, had a 2020 violent crime rate of 100.91 per 1,000 residents in 2020, including five homicides. Salt Lake City, with 200,000 people, had a crime rate last year of 82.21 per 1,000 residents.

“In spite of what people say about the west side having more crime, it’s not borne out by the statistics,” Mayor Ron Bigelow told the West Valley City Journal in April.

Most West Valley City violent crime perpetrators and Continued page 11

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Hunter’s unified soccer.

Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

The West Valley City Police Department reported a slight decrease in violent crime in 2020 compared to 2019. (File photo, Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

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West Valley City Journal

801-938-4345 SUPPORT FOR THE HAYES TOUGH FOUNDATION Larkin Mortuary has donated $12,500 to the HayesTough Foundation from proceeds received from its annual golf tournament at the Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake, Utah on August 25, 2021.

The contribution from the Larkin charity event will support the mission of the charity to provide financial support and hope to families affected by childhood cancer.

The mission of The HayesTough Foundation is to fund research for childhood cancer and support families with a child experiencing a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Every year nearly 100,000 kids die from childhood cancer, which is almost 300 kids per day. Despite these numbers, childhood cancer research is vastly underfunded. The HayesTough Foundation believes that every child deserves to have a better quality of life as they battle this disease.

“We are extremely grateful to our vendors and supporters who generously rallied to offer their support for the ToughHayes Foundation this year,” said Lance Larkin, President of Larkin Mortuary. “With this year’s donation, we look forward to stepping up our long-term commitments to benefitting children with terminal illnesses.”

Founded in 1885, Larkin Mortuary is one of the most respected funeral homes in the Salt Lake Valley and offers six generations of experience in the funeral and cemetery services industries. The family-owned company offers four funeral homes in Salt Lake City, Sandy, and Riverton, as well as an on-site crematory and two fullservice cemeteries.

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Roundtable Talk with Representative Weight VA LU E S, VOT E S, A N D ACCO U N TA B I LI T Y In a recent West Valley City meeting of the Independent Redistricting Commission, one commissioner emphatically pronounced that accountability was the real point of the map consideration and that would only come with my vote and those of other legislators on the final maps. I agree with his point about my accountability, but I question that commissioner’s value of process, particularly since he quit his sworn duties at the critical time of decision-making. I question a leader who challenges the significance of broad inclusion and deep deliberation that the Independent Commission has provided Utah. As I expressed in the meeting that day, after the exclusive and secretive selection of district maps ten years ago, those who have publicly shared their ideas and comments this time are truly valuable leaders in our communities.

Maps are a huge topic of discussion these days, but other issues will be or must be on the table for the people of West Valley City and

Liz4Utah.com

ElizabethWeight@le.utah.gov

their elected leaders. What information, open discussions, and opportunities are offered for participation and deeper involvement by residents? With emphasis on growth and commerce, what analysis and reporting will be easily available on sustaining jobs, renewable energy, air quality, traffic design, transit options, affordable housing, and health impacts from all the development in and around our city? What avenues do our young people, a huge segment of our population, have to learn and contribute?

Yes, as an elected official, I recognize my accountability in the role and on the votes I make. Additionally, with all that goes on under the direction of elected and selected government, I encourage and am deeply grateful for those who participate with thoughtfulness toward community interests and understanding that a diverse array of views has always strengthened our neighborhoods. I always look forward to hearing from you.

Elizabeth Weight, Utah Representative

@RepEWeight

November 2021 | Page 3

ChamberWest hosts elected and business leaders on a junket to our nation’s capital

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

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aylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson was one of more than two dozen Utahns who traveled to Washington D.C. late last month, to meet with all six members of our state’s congressional delegation: Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, along with Representatives Blake Moore (Dist. 1), Chris Stewart (Dist. 2), John Curtis (Dist. 3) and Burgess Owens (Dist. 4).

“I really enjoyed hearing from our business owners; it was a very dynamic trip,” Overson said. “It was exciting to meet with all of our elected representatives. And we spoke with representatives from several other states also.”

ChamberWest President Barbara Riddle and her staff coordinated the junket. However, the 28 Utahns who flew out on Sept. 26 and back on Oct. 1, came from all over our state.

“We had 18 people from ChamberWest: myself and 17 members, including Mayor Overson from Taylorsville and Mayor [Ron] Bigelow from West Valley City,” Riddle said. “The other 10 people on the trip came from the St. George, Davis and South Valley Chambers of Commerce. We are trying to make this an annual trip. We went in 2018 and 2019, but the pandemic forced us to cancel last year.”

That particular week was a busy one in our nation’s capital, as the race was on to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill, along with the larger $3.5 trillion Reconciliation Bill. As the visiting Utahns met with the various elected officials, they say those measures dominated the conversation.

Before meeting with any elected officials, the visitors’ first official event was a field trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a

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two-hour train ride away, on Sept. 27.

“That was my first visit to Philadelphia, and it was really exciting,” Overson said.

“That’s where our [United States] history began, and a great way to begin our trip. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

It was delightful.”

One of the Taylorsville businessmen who attended the tour was Nick Markosian, owner of Markosian Auto (4238 South Redwood Road). He enjoyed the way the Utah group was treated before they ever arrived in the City of Brotherly Love.

“We really got the VIP treatment from the subway people and Amtrak people,” Markosian said. “They ushered us around so professionally and provided us with a great waiting room. It was first class.”

Nick has operated Markosian Auto 21 years, eight at its Redwood Road location.

His wife, Jen, accompanied him on the trip.

Why did they pay their own way to go?

“Well, let’s just say [ChamberWest President] Barbara [Riddle] is a good closer; she convinced me,” he said. “I think it’s important [Taylorsville business owners] get to know our elected representatives. You never know when you might need help with some piece of legislation. It was a great trip, and we’ll probably go again next year, if they do it again.”

After returning from Philadelphia, the Utah visitors spent that Monday evening at the prestigious Taiwanese Twin Oaks Estate, where they enjoyed dinner at the invite of Sen. Mike Lee. His Communication Director is Lee Lonsberry.

“There is a strong business relationship between our state of Utah and Taiwan, and our office also has a great relationship with the Taiwanese friendship house,” Lonsberry

Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson (center, yellow jacket) was part of a Utah delegation that recently spent several days in Washington DC, meeting with our state’s House and Senate members. (Barbara Riddle)

said. “[Lee] wanted to do something special, because he believes relationships with the Utah business community is important.

Traditionally, when constituents meet with the Senator in D.C., they are just quick stops.

These kinds of trips allow for more robust exchanges.”

Markosian says another highlight of the trip came two days later when the Utah delegation met with Rep. Stewart, a member of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“We met Chris Stewart in the Intelligence Committee meeting room, and he told us about the kinds of things the committee deals with,” Markosian said. “I really liked him; he’s a very down-to-earth guy. But I don’t know how representatives can sleep at night after hearing all those things.”

The Utah visitors also received an up-

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date from the United States Chamber of Commerce. And several, if not all, of them attended the annual Congressional Baseball Game, a charity fundraising tradition that’s been around since 1909.

On the day before their return to Utah (Sept. 30), legislative analysts from Lee’s office led the group in a discussion of how bills become laws. That meeting was held in the Russell Senate Office Building, just across Constitution Avenue from the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court building and the Library of Congress.

“The whole week was great,” Overson said. “Our Taylorsville businesses are so important to us. It was great to spend time with our business leaders. I enjoyed hearing their questions and learning about the concerns and challenges they face.”l

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West Valley City Journal

Drills held at Magna school prepare parents and students for emergency situation

By Summer Seschillie | s.seschillie@mycityjournals.com

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n Oct. 13, at Lake Ridge Elementary in Magna, administrators, staff, parents and partnering agencies practiced for the school district’s biggest emergency drill to date.

“We would anticipate using a reunification drill in an active shooter situation, where we need to evacuate a building site,” said Ben Horsley, the communications director for Granite School District. “We’ve used these in the past for gas leaks or other situations where the building is not able to be occupied. So that’s what this drill is for, is to kind of help educate us on how that process works, and some things we can do to fix that, to make any adjustments as necessary.”

As part of this emergency drill, students would be transported and led to a designated area outside of the school building. For this particular school, their designated spot would have been a local church building nearby.

Parents would then be notified through their permitted form of correspondence, and then be able to pick up their children at the designated spot. For this practice drill, students were led into the school’s gymnasium, along with their teachers and aides.

“A lot of families that are participating today who can’t get out of work would normally have their child walk home, would be notified and they hopefully arrange for somebody to come pick up their child,” Horsley said. “I visited with an uncle here earlier who was here to pick up his niece.”

The local fire and police department, along with medical responders awaited outside, ready to assist with any help the students, staff or administrators would

Students and teachers practice the reunification drill in the gymnasium in October. (Summer Seschillie/City Journals)

need, should it be a real emergency.

“It’s important because in an emergency, if it’s the first time you’ve done anything, it never works out perfectly, so it’s important to allow the teachers and al-

Roger Brooks, emergency manager of Granite School District, discusses the plan of the reunification drill.

(Summer Seschillie/City Journals)

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low the staff to practice what our plan is in place so that they have an understanding of how it works,” said Roger Brooks, the emergency manager for the Granite School District. “The plan is to reunify every stu-

dent in our school with their parents safely and make sure that they’re getting to the right parent or the right guardian. In any emergency, our No. 1 priority is to keep those kids safe.” l

Administrators, staff and emergency responders wait outside Lake Ridge Elementary to practice reunification drills in October. (Summer Seschillie/City Journals)

November 2021 | Page 5

Hunter wins state unified soccer tournament, brings more than gold to school

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unter High sophomore Angelly Velasquez loves to play soccer with her friends on her unified team.

“I love how we work together as a team,” she said. “It’s fun playing soccer together and scoring goals.”

While she scored several goals throughout her regional tournament as well as in the pouring rain at both the Oct. 8 state-qualifying and Oct. 9 state tournaments, she also likes to get together with friends to watch movies or bowl and plans to compete with them in unified basketball and unified track.

Playing alongside her is senior Dalila Luna, who helped pass the ball so her teammates could score. She also participated last spring in Hunter’s inaugural season of unified track.

“I like playing in a sport that doesn’t exclude anyone,” she said. “This brings us closer, so we have become friends and equals. Whether we win or lose, we’re having fun just playing together.”

Unified soccer is a UHSAA-sanctioned sport supported by Special Olympics Utah that joins high school-age students with and without intellectual disabilities playing side-byside on the same sports teams. In soccer, five players take to a smaller-sized field; this year, high school teams from across the state played in either competitive or player development divisions.

Through playing unified sports, students build friendships and inclusiveness as well as improve sports skills, said Unified Champion Schools manager Courtnie Worthen, who hopes all students are supported in their community to succeed and belong.

“We hope this helps to create lasting friendships,” she said. “When you’re approximate to someone who’s different than you, you learn that they are people too. You learn why they are different, and you can appreciate their differences and you can understand your similarities.”

This year’s state tournament consolation finals and finals in each of the four divisions were held at Rio Tinto for the first time, promoted by Utah First Lady Abby Cox’s statewide “Show Up” initiative.

After a player and coach oath, an athlete, accompanied by her highway patrolman father and Gov. Spencer Cox, lit the torch. The First Lady and other community leaders had previously announced the desire to introduce the unified sports program to more schools— from 40 across the state to 100 by the 2022-23 school year—and expand it from soccer, basketball and track to more sports. Jordan Education Foundation, Salt Lake Bees, South Jordan and Mountain View Village (Riverton) Chickfil-A franchises and the Joe and Renae Ingles family were the first to pledge their support.

Worthen said the program isn’t just for high schools, some which also have unified sports PE classes. There also is a young athletes’ program in elementary schools and uni-

Page 6 | November 2021

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

In a qualifying game, Hunter High sophomore Angelly Velasquez dribbles the ball to the goal. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

fied programs also are being introduced at the college level.

Unified Champion School’s college-growth coordinator Boston Iacobazzi, who was a partner athlete for his high school and then continued to be instrumental in beginning and playing for the RSL unified program, now is reaching out to higher education institutions to support the program.

“When partners and others get to know the athletes and become more involved in accepting them at their lunch tables and proms, it changes the climate and culture,” he said. “I gained friendships and never had so much fun on any sports team or as SBO (student body) president than I did with unified sports. It is so much fun, so high energy and we just cheer, sing and dance and want everyone to succeed.

Having the tournament at Rio Tinto gives these teams the same opportunities as the boys and girls high school soccer teams being hosted there.”

Hunter’s unified soccer program, which is new this year, took first in its competitive division, rewarding each participant with a gold medal.

John Young coaches the team.

“It’s a super group of six kids with special needs and four peers who love to play,” he said before the state tournament. “The first question when they get to school is ‘Are we practicing today?’ We’ve gone over the rules and fundamentals. We talk about sportsmanship; we cheer for other schools when a goal is scored.

We give all our players a chance and set them up to be successful. They’re really excited to have a chance to play in the stadium; I’m not even sure how many have even been there before, but they know it’s a big deal.”

Alongside Young is Ashley Ellis, who is the school’s unified program coordinator and teaches a unified sports PE class during the spring in which students together can go over skills and practice.

“They really are athletes and get so excited to go and play—and to have people cheer for them,” Ellis said. “It’s the whole point of sports to see the sport in its purest form and people get excited for each other, regardless of what team they’re on, and they play to have fun. Right now, we just want to compete. If we win, awesome. If not, we just like being together and playing so we still win.”

She said the goal is to bring students together.

“Our ultimate goal is that of inclusion and to bring both student body populations of our special ed and our regular ed students together and just unite them,” Ellis said. “We want our athletes to be more visible in our school and our partners to be more accepting and understanding. The very first day of school, I had a warm, fuzzy moment because a partner and an athlete from last year were sitting down and eating lunch together. I don’t think that would have happened before.” l

Hunter High unified soccer team arrives in Rio Tinto stadium for the parade of athletes before winning the state title. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

West Valley City Journal

Magna Regional Park opens, giving West Valley City residents another recreation option

What’s your legacy?

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

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alt Lake County’s newest park is now open and West Valley City residents can take advantage of it.

Magna Regional Park officially welcomed the public following a ribbon-cutting in early October.

The 28-acre facility at 4042 S. 7200 West is just across from the western boundary of West Valley City.

It’s the first phase of what is planned to be a 62-acre park when the remaining two phases are finished sometime in the future as funding becomes available. But even at just under half of its full potential, the park offers plenty of amenities for adults and children: a multipurpose field, inclusive playground and splash pad, walking paths, pavilion, restrooms and parking. Inclusive playgrounds incorporate designs and equipment that make them accessible to people with a broad range of physical, mental and sensory abilities.

“We’re excited,” said Walt Gilmore, associate director of planning for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation.

The park was made possible by voter approval in 2016 of a $90 million county parks and recreation bond to build new and improve existing parks, trails and recreation centers. The newly finished first phase of Magna Regional Park used $11.5 million of those funds. The land for the park was sold to the county by aerospace firm Orbital ATK with the intention that a future park would serve the community and provide a buffer between homes and testing that occurs on the company’s property nearby.

Gilmore expects the park to attract visitors not only from its namesake township, but from West Valley City, Kearns, Taylorsville, West Jordan and other communities around Salt Lake County and beyond.

“We expect between 1,000 to 2,000 people per day, mostly moms and kids,” Gilmore said. He expects a good number will bring chairs, shade tents, and other comforts to make a day of it when the weather allows.

Just over a week after officially opening, Justin Beardall of Magna was enjoying the park with his two kids. “This is our first time. It’s great. It’s built well,” he said.

Benjamin, 11, agreed. “It’s wonderful.

My favorite is the zip line and the jungle gym.”

“I just love it because there’s things that you can play on and it’s really fun,” said sister, Joy, 8.

The park is part of the vision to make Magna a better community to live and play.

“Physical fitness, sports and outdoor activity, as well as beautification, are some of Magna Metro Township’s strategic planning priorities. The thoughtful design of Magna Regional Park embodies these priorities,” said Magna Township Deputy Mayor Trish Hull.

The park will have a full-time maintenance staff and facility. Cameras will provide 24-hour video monitoring for security.

Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The master plans for the full completion of Magna Regional Park and 14 other recreational spots in Salt Lake County can be found at slco.org/parks-recreation/planning/ master-plans/. l

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Joy Beardall, 8, and her brother Benjamin, 11, of Magna enjoy their first visit to Salt Lake County’s Magna Regional Park, which opened in October. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

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November 2021 | Page 9

Latino organization seeks to combat misinformation about COVID-19

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

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ne thing’s for sure during the COVID-19 pandemic—the public has been bombarded by information from numerous sources about the virus and vaccines to the point where many people don’t know what’s fact or false.

West Valley City’s Latino community has been on the receiving end of a lot of questionable data.

A Latino civil rights and advocacy organization is reaching out to the local Hispanic population to try to provide more accurate information about COVID-19 and how to control its spread.

UnidosUS, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza, brought its national campaign, “Esperanza Hope for All” to different locations around West Valley City in October to talk with people and hand out literature in hopes of combating confusing COVID-19 information, especially among people who encounter language, cultural, and other barriers to getting accurate data.

“We’re basically making it as convenient and comfortable as possible where no question will go unanswered,” UnidosUS spokeswoman Karina Diehl told the West Valley City Journal. “We’re also helping

them find where they can get tested and where they can get vaccines.”

Diehl said recent statistics indicate that of the 77% of adults in the U.S. who have received one of the COVID vaccines, 23% have gone into the arms of Hispanic people, a number she thinks should be higher. “Beyond fear, it’s misinformation and lack of information that’s really the issue within our community.”

At a booth in front of Azteca Indoor Bazaar on 3500 South, Aaron Tristan of the local UnidosUS affiliate echoed the belief that conflicting information is clouding many Latinos’ understanding of the virus. “They hear things from their coworkers and they take that to be true. We’re trying to give them the right information,” Tristan said.

“We’re here trying to educate our Hispanic community where they can go to get the COVID shots. We’re explaining the different vaccinations that are available to them,” said Ana Farias, who assisted at the booth.

Diehl said that UnidosUS hopes to expand the Esparanza Hope for All mobile tour in the future to address other issues impacting Latinos. l

Aaron Tristan of the local affiliate of Latino advocacy organization UnidosUS speaks with a man at a booth in West Valley City to provide information about COVID-19 and its vaccines to the Hispanic community. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

Page 10 | November 2021

West Valley City Journal

Mountain biking team encourages families to be involved

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

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earns High School senior Joseph Davis was introduced to mountain biking two years ago by a friend. Now his younger brother and sister have started competing and it has turned into a full family adventure.

“We were all in to support our kids,” Joseph’s mom Melissa Davis said. “With all three of them involved, we have had to find ways to make it work.”

Joseph, Hyrum and Alexia are all competing this season in the Utah High School Cycling League. They each ride in their own age group and ability levels. Their season hinges on them having equipment and the ability to race.

“We needed to find a way to pay for all of the stuff. Bake sales and yard care, you name it we did it,” Melissa said. “We spent a couple of weekends making dozens of cookies and passing them out to our neighbors, all to keep this season going.”

The team is full of these kinds of stories.

Parents cook lunch, fix bikes, transport the equipment to the race site and organize the team’s rest area.

The West Granite Composite Mountain Biking team is composed of kids from Kearns, Hunter, Granger and Cyprus high schools and the junior high teams that feed into those schools.

The team began the season in July. They practiced twice a week at Lodestone Park in West Valley. They even worked with the county to add training trails to the park. They also traveled to available trails to practice skills that would help them on the race course.

The racing season began in August at Powder Mountain ski resort. They also ran in Cedar City, Price and Eagle Mountain.

“We have loved to watch and support the kids. Our team cheers loud for everyone and we like to see them all do better,” Melissa Continued from front page victims were in the age range of 20 to 29. The overwhelming majority of violent crimes occurred at residences. Most violent offenses were committed by people not known by the victims. Incidents between boyfriends and girlfriends followed close behind on the list of categories of the victim’s relationship to the offender.

Other statewide statistics from the Crime in Utah report: • In 2020, 79,077 index crimes were committed, which indicates a 5.69% increase in the overall number of index crimes from 2019.

• The overall number of violent crimes increased 1.04%. Violent crime changes were as follows: homicides increased by 44.16%, robberies increased by 5.78%, and aggravated assaults increased by 2.70%.

• Though homicides increased in Utah,

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West Granite rider Kason Holt finished his two laps at Eagle Mountain in 52 minutes and 14 seconds for eighth place in his division. (Greg James/City Journals)

said.

The West Granite Composite team has 30 riders this season. They include junior high and high school student athletes. Some are more experienced than others, but each races every week with others of equal ability.

The league had 6,300 participants this season. They have raced in four regions across the state and are scheduled to hold the state finals Oct. 28-29 in St. George (after press deadline).

“Our league grew more than we expected this season. In some of our race venues we are bursting at the seams. We also had a tough weather year with several lightning delays and rain. We will be headed to St George for our finals with approximately 2,100 riders who have qualified,” league director Dallen Atack said.

The league culture is different than most people have experienced.

“Mountain biking culture is different than a lot of the other sporting cultures. Everyone helps each other. They are racing for a team, but also for themselves. The only way to get better is for you to get better. Everyone races, no one rides the bench,” Atack said. the rate of homicides per 100,000 (3.1%) was less than half of the national rate (6.5%).

• Firearms were used in 66.67% of the homicides reported.

• 15.04% of the homicides reported involved family relationships, while 84.96% did not.

• Reported hate crimes increased from 45 in 2019 to 46 in 2020 a 2.22% increase.

• Rapes were the only violent crime against persons that decreased in 2020, with a decrease of 10.06%.

The report did not address if the COVID-19 pandemic or other social issues in 2020 had any impact on crime statistics last year.

“Despite the numbers we reported…

Utah remains a very safe state. The Utah Department of Public Safety is committed to keeping Utah safe by using every tool at our disposal,” Commissioner Jess Anderson wrote in the report. l

Joseph Davis’ family is now a big part of his mountain biking team. They race, cook lunch and cheer loudly for his entire team. (Greg James/City Journals)

The top finishers for West Granite Composite in the regional qualifier include an eighth-place finish by Kason Holt, Jack Haymond finished fourth, Eric Bucio 21st, Keira Kemp 28th and Lemont Weaver 30th.

The team competes in division 3 of the central region. They had 24 riders compete at the regional qualifier. l

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November 2021 | Page 11

Kids shop for clothes, school supplies thanks to foundation, companies

By Summer Seschillie | s.seschillie@mycityjournals.com

S

aturday mornings are often reserved for sleeping in, catching up on shows or even working. But for approximately 425 students attending school within the Granite School District, they spent one Saturday on a shopping spree provided by Discover Financial and the Granite Education Foundation.

Each child had $200 to spend on school clothes or supplies of their choosing. The students, who were chosen by social workers with the Granite School District, shopped at the West Valley Kohl’s, which closed their store to the general public for the morning and afternoon.

“Granite has more than 35,000 kids who live at or below poverty,” said Justin Anderson, chief marketing officer of the Granite Education Foundation. “We know we can’t do this for everybody, but we want to work with the social workers, with the principals, with the teachers, to really identify the kids who could really use a hand, who are in extreme circumstances.”

Anderson expressed gratitude toward other companies who also participated in the event, such as Friends for Sight, Foundation 4 Life, Malouf, Costa Vida, Burger King, Salt Lake Community College, and Best Seat in the House, a nonprofit organization based in Salt Lake City.

“As far as the services provided—the dental, the vision, the health screenings, the pillows that they’re getting out there—we’re getting all of these companies and sponsors who want to come and be involved, and really help however they can,” he said. “It’s so much fun to see.”

“It’s been amazing,” said Rich Simon, the director of operations for personal loans at Discover Financial. “We are doing so much good with the population of kids here that many of them have never been shopping before, they’ve never owned anything new. They’re having a new experience not only from a shopping perspective, but hopefully [this] will give them the confidence to fit in with their peer groups at school.” l

A volunteer employee from Discover Financial partnered with three siblings, assisting them in picking out their school clothes at Kohl’s on a Saturday morning. (Summer Seschillie/City Journals)

Comcast makes a $1 billion commitment to digital equity

C

omcast Corporation, the global media and technology company, connects people to moments that matter. In fact, over the last 10 years, Comcast has connected more than 160,000 people in Utah to low-cost, high-speed, in-home internet services.

Now, the company is doubling-down on its commitment to help low-income families in the state gain access to the internet.

“Utah is one of the most collaborative states we work with across the country when it comes to helping its citizens gain digital equity,” said J.D. Keller, senior vice president, Comcast Mountain West Region. “Leaders from the state, county and city are working together as we open more free WiFi Lift Zones, connect more families to the Internet at home, and increase speeds for businesses and families across the state.”

Comcast has pledged $1 billion to establish WiFi-connected safe spaces, or Lift Zones, in 35 community centers in Utah, and more than 1,000 zones across the country. These centers help students participate in online learning and will connect more than 8 million low-income people to the internet.

The COVID-19 crisis put low-income students at risk and Comcast’s Internet Essential Partnership Program is focused on creating digital equity, allowing students to continue their schooling, even when they can’t attend class. Just this year, Comcast estimates students across America will complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened.

“We are delighted to work with such outstanding corporate partners, such as Comcast, as we connect more Utahns to the Internet,” said Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. “Utah is regularly lauded for its innovative vision in numerous categories, and increasing our digital access helps everyone, including families, students and businesses.”

Page 12 | November 2021

The Comcast investment includes laptop and computer donations, more than $100,000 in digital equity grants for local Utah nonprofit community organizations, and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said Comcast is advancing the county’s effort in supporting economic prosperity throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The county is responsible for launching unique digital equity initiatives to connect its community.

“We have one of the most forward-thinking counties in the country and having such a robust partnership with leaders in government and community organizations means we can connect the pivot points quicker and more securely for all involved,” Wilson said. “We’re committed to digital equity. Our Salt Lake County libraries have more than 300 hotspots and 150 Chromebooks in circulation to assist residents with digital needs in their homes.”

As Salt Lake County collaborates with Comcast, the country’s largest internet provider, programs in the area will benefit from the partnership.

Comcast recently gifted Neighborhood House with 300 computers and laptops to help clients in its programs, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake was awarded a financial grant to support its mission to empower youth and guide them toward success.

“We are very grateful for this timely grant from Comcast,” said Amanda Ree Hughes, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. “Comcast is a 360-partner because they give more than just dollars for computers and programs. Their employees bring skills, experience and knowledge to create a whole solution in providing access and technology to help our kids succeed.”

Keller commends Utah for its “can-do attitude” and the willingness of state and county leaders to create long-lasting collaborations that will benefit students and impact Utah’s prosperity.

“Together, we have been able to connect tens of thousands of Utahns to the power of the internet at home and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides,” Keller said. “Today, we are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure the next generation of students in Utah has the tools, resources, and abilities to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

“Whenever we can help our community neighbors connect to reliable, high-speed internet access, we work to do that. It helps keep us all moving forward one family, one organization, and one community at a time.” l

West Valley City Journal

West Lake STEM Jr. High demolished, rebuild set for 2025

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com Rubble is all that remains of West Lake STEM Junior High School in West Valley following its demolition in October. The school was closed after suffering significant damage in the March 18, 2020 earthquake. Granite School District decided to rebuild rather than repair the school, which opened in 1964. West Lake students were moved to Westbrook Elementary School in Taylorsville, which was slated for closure when the school district redid boundaries to cope with declining enrollment. Officials are expecting a 2025 opening of the new West Lake STEM Junior High School. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals) l

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November 2021 | Page 13

World champion paraclimber shares story, empowers Girl Scouts to find their passion

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

bout 100 registered Girl Scouts had the opportunity to not only listen to a world-class paraclimber share inspiring tales of mountain climbing, they also could choose to climb with her at the local Momentum indoor climbing facility.

As part of the Girl Scouts of Utah’s Girls’ Empowered event, sixth- through 12th-grade girls listened as Maureen “Mo” Beck described competing at world championships and climbing the Lotus Flower Tower, a 2,200-foot granite rock face in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

That alone is challenging enough for many people; however, Beck did those one-handed as she was born without the lower part of her left arm.

By coincidence, her love of mountain climbing came at about the same age as the girls in attendance while attending Girl Scout camp near Acadia National Park in Maine, where she grew up.

“My counselor said that I may just want to sit this one out,” she remembered. “So, the little 12-year-old me just thought, ‘screw you, I’m going to do it just because you think I can’t.’

I’m sure I didn’t do that well and didn’t make it to the top of the rock, but I wasn’t going to not do it. I never used not having my hand as an excuse.”

She also used that same attitude to show her middle school coaches she could play soccer as the goalkeeper, the position where a player can use their hands; play softball—throwing the ball and catching it without a mitt; and play basketball—although she didn’t make that team since she missed tryouts.

“I just wanted to show I was an athlete and could play; don’t count me out because I only have one hand. My grandma used to say that I was just being a smart-ass,” she said.

But being defiant at Girl Scout camp meant more to the girl who once thought the best thing in the outdoors was hiking.

“I fell in love with mountain climbing. It’s just me and the rock. It doesn’t care if I’m a girl. It doesn’t care if I don’t have a hand. It’s just there to be climbed. I knew then I wanted to be a climber and a good climber. Period. I had never known anything more than hiking.

My parents weren’t climbers, so I went to the bookstore to buy magazines about mountain climbing.”

With the help of friends, Beck developed her own style of climbing to accommodate not having a second hand. Her efforts didn’t stop there; she even tried ice climbing by attaching an ice tool to her prosthetic and also duct-taped a paddle to her prosthetic so she could canoe.

Since then, most days Beck has given up wearing her prosthetic.

“I had to figure out I can’t really wear a prosthetic to rock climb. It doesn’t help. So, I’m just going to tape my arm so I can feel the rock and also, so I don’t leave a bloody trail behind,” she told the Scouts.

However, if Beck wanted to become a better climber, she told the girls, she had to confront her ego.

“I had to be honest that it’s hard for me to do some things physically or I was unable to—and that was hard to do,” she said. “I had to realize I didn’t have all the knowledge or all the

strength. I finally got to the point where I said at least I have to try and ask questions. I had to admit I didn’t know if I wanted to learn.”

Once she did that, Beck said climbing became even more enjoyable. She told the girls that her first climbing title, the first U.S. Nationals held in Atlanta in 2014, she won because she was the only one in her category.

“I felt conflicted about that. Does it count?

Can I brag about being first if I’m the only one?

I settled on you can because often times, the battle is stepping out of your front door; the hardest part is showing up,” she said.

Later, she acquired four more national titles.

With only a couple competitive events for paraclimbers each year, Beck made each one count. In 2014, she won the gold at the Paraclimbing World Champions in Spain as one of 15 paraclimbing athletes representing the United States. Two years later in Paris when the next worlds were held, she repeated her title and was one of 50 U.S. athletes, showing that the sport is growing.

One championship was a three-way tie because “the people who built the competition underestimated us because it was too easy,” Beck said.

Recently Jim Ewing, a climber with a prosthetic leg whom she didn’t know, asked her to join him climbing the Lotus Flower Tower; she reflected back on her decision when she said yes.

“Society tells us, our parents tell us ‘no, we should stay safe. Our risks should be small, we should aim for incremental changes in our lives,’ but I think that’s wrong,” Beck said. “I think the more scared you are, the bigger risks you take, the worst that can happen when you take a risk is nothing changes. Failure is where you grow from. Failure when you take a risk is one of the best things that can happen. We’re so afraid of failure that we use it as an excuse to not grow. Life is too short for that.”

Beck and the others were gone one month, most of it waiting for the weather to clear so they could climb. For 10 days leading up to

Professional paraclimber Mo Beck speaks with girls after the Girl Scouts of Utah’s Girls’ Empowered event, encouraging them to find their passion. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Page 14 | November 2021

West Valley City Journal

the climb, they camped at the base of the peak, heating freeze-dried food on their backpacking stoves. When there was a break in the weather, they climbed part way up the steep cliff to a bivy ledge where they spent the night.

“We finally got on mountain, and you can tell, I was a little less than stoked. The rock was still quite wet. I wasn’t ready for truly how loose and gross and mossy it was. Every single hitch that we did…was a full rope length; these were full 200-foot rope stretchers. So, when Jim would take off to lead, I would just be alone for so long during these belays. I was freezing wet and thinking fairly dark thoughts: ‘This was a horrible mistake. I’m not having fun. I’m 1,000 miles away from my family (she’s married, living in Colorado). It’s August. I should be in Colorado right now getting sunburned,

sport climbing and having fun at the beach,” she told the girls. “But I knew anytime I was in a dark place, there is always something on the other side.”

After witnessing the northern lights that night and waking the next morning, Beck was excited, but her climbing partner was sick.

Knowing this was their only chance, they ascended the mountain, anyway. They reached the top—and rappelled down for nine hours arriving in the dark.

“We wanted this to be the first all-adaptive ascent. We thought about it more and adaptation doesn’t mean you have one hand you learn how to climb. Adaptation is more about taking what is wrong and figuring out how to make it work. I realized the more that went wrong with this trip, the more I learned,” said the woman

who was named the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

Now Beck is training for what she believes will be her last world championship before taking a break from competition. However, she isn’t ruling out the possibility of competing in paraclimbing if it is added to the Paralympic Games in 2028.

Next, she wants to continue scaling peaks, maybe in Alaska.

“Life isn’t over when you’re out of the spotlight and off of the podium, the world is still waiting,” she said, adding that now she teaches other adaptive climbers.

“I want these girls to find their voice, their passion, what pumps them up. I’ve broken so many barriers now I want to empower them to push those farther,” she said.

In addition to Beck, the Girl Scouts watched “The Empowerment Project,” a documentary made by women and featuring women across the country who were making a posit Girl Scouts of Utah CEO Lisa Hardin-Reynolds said that Girl Scouting gives girls opportunities—not only in the outdoors, but from STEM to life skills.

“We encourage Girl Scouts to try new things because it could open up a new passion that they can do for their whole lives, just like it has for Mo,” she said. “We want to give them the opportunity to face challenges, lift each other up and see other women role models so they can see that anything is possible.” l

World champion paraclimber Mo Beck tells local Girl Scouts that she never used not having a hand as an excuse and went on to win five national titles, two world championships and recently climbed a 2,200-foot granite rock face in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in Canada’s Northwest Territories. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Wvc Journal .com

November 2021 | Page 15

Some Holiday Prices May Not Be Merry, But Utah’s Economy Looks Bright

By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist

T

here are many reasons to be cheerful about Utah’s economy heading into the holiday season. While pandemic-related challenges – including supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and inflation – could make your holiday shopping a bit less merry this year, the overall economic picture looks bright.

Utah’s economy now has 47,000 more jobs than it did at its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020. There’s only one other state – Idaho – that is above its employment in early 2020.

And Utahns are ringing in the holidays with more economic optimism than the rest of the nation. The University of Utah’s Consumer Confidence survey was 83.0 in September, compared to 72.8 for the University of Michigan’s national Index of Consumer Sentiment. Both surveys use similar questions and methodology.

Consumers stepped up their spending in the fall, which is good news for customer-facing businesses after a summer of weakening demand. The winter season should bring an additional lift to Utah’s retailers, with the average shopper spending nearly

$1,000 on holiday purchases like gifts, food and decorations, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s on par with 2020 holiday spending, though holiday budgets won’t stretch as far this year. Consumer prices are up 5.4% compared to one year ago – the highest we’ve seen in 20 years.

Meanwhile, producer prices – selling prices received by domestic producers for their output – have jumped 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. That’s an indication that inflation may stick around for a while.

In addition to higher prices, holiday shoppers may deal with longer-than-usual lines and wait times because of the labor shortage, and out-of-stock items because of ongoing supply chain problems.

This “everything shortage” we are seeing right now presents real challenges and is causing real struggles for families in Utah and around the country. It is a continual reminder that we remain in a COVID economy. As the pandemic transitions into an endemic, these temporary effects should dissipate – but it will take some time.

However, Utah remains an example of economic success and strength. The state’s economy was not immune to the impacts of the recession, but it has recovered well and is again the envy of the nation. This should

make everyone’s holiday season a little brighter.

Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A

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November 2021 | Page 17

Council narrowly passes development along 4700 South

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

I

n a tight 4-3 vote, the West Valley City Council approved a zone change near 3500 West and 4700 South that will see a 12-unit townhome development built.

Property owners originally wanted 20 units on the 1.08 acre of land at 3540 W. 4700 South before lowering it to 14 and eventually 12 after feedback from city officials.

Adam Maher, the designated agent for the owner, said they pursued other options such as office space, but felt a residential plan was more fitting.

He explained prior to the vote that they went through the city’s process, which included making bigger units to incorporate basements, to make it “the best project it could be for the land, for the cost, for the area, and for what a lot of the citizens of West Valley are looking for: to not always be renters, but to be owners.”

“We feel good about the plan we put together,” Maher said, and feels they’ve been “responsive to (city) staff every step along the way.”

Usually during council meetings across the valley, when a higher density project comes before a city council, public comments tend to be disapproving.

However during the September council meeting where the project was approved, two men spoke in favor highlighting the owner, Rogelio Franco, as an quality landlord.

One of the men, William Bryan who currently lives in Taylorsville and works in West Valley, plans to buy one of the units of the newly approved development. He noted its affordability and his affability with Franco.

“He likes to help, he’s here to make the city better,” Bryan told the council.

The other man, Robert Beasley, said he currently lives in a two bedroom apartment with his wife and kids. They’re trying to build credit to buy a house, but it’s not possible for them right now with the current cost of housing. They plan to reserve a unit so their kids won’t have to change schools, he said, noting this “makes it possible for us to move up in our life.”

“This is an opportunity in this market, the way it is, to do better for us,” Beasley said. “To give my son his own bedroom and get the space that we need…this is a small piece of land for something that could be so affordable for families like ours.”

Franco said prior to the vote that cities are losing great people because they are being priced out, asking the council to ponder that opportunity to provide a home for those families.

Page 18 | November 2021

A map of the property that will turn into a 12-unit townhome project. (Courtesy West Valley City)

Land for the future townhomes will be to the right, while to the left is a Cyprus Credit Union.

(Courtesy West Valley City)

But not everybody was moved.

Councilmembers had issues with what ends up on the property.

Councilmember Tom Huynh said the council must think about the effect of their decisions long-term. West of the property is a strip mall that Huynh said he would prefer the property connect with something commercial.

Councilmember Steve Buhler pointed out that while he appreciates Franco being a “great landlord” and that they want “great landlords in the city,” the council has no say in the development’s affordability.

“What the price of these units will be is completely out of our control, it’s not on our table at all,” he said. He also pointed out that if Franco decides to sell the property, and the zoning changes and condos are built, it’ll be controlled by the market. “It’s not going to reduce housing prices in the city.”

Buhler, known for his stance on zone changes to require something unique, felt the same here.

“We have a 35-square-mile city,” Buhler said. “Every inch is zoned. Own-

ers can build as they see fit without coming to see the city council. They only need to come see the city council if they want to change the zoning. And for me, to change the zoning, it has to be something that’s special, it has to be something that’s ‘boy I’m glad you came, this looks like something we don’t have in the city, something we need, something that will be great.’ Then let’s change the zoning, let’s develop something special.”

Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu Jr. said while he acknowledges the council’s lack of control over housing prices or landlords, giving people a place to live was more important.

“When I talk to my neighbors, and I look at pending priorities here in the city,” he said. “I’m going to lean in favor of safe places for people to live with their families rather than storage units or commercial uses.”

Buhler, Huynh and Councilmember Karen Lang were the dissenting votes while Fitisemanu Jr., Mayor Ron Bigelow and Councilmembers Lars Nordfelt and Don Christensen voted in favor. l

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November 2021 | Page 19

Riders of all abilities race in high school cycling league

E

levate is the program in the Utah High School Cycling League for special needs students. In its eight years of existence, they have helped several student athletes participate just like every other rider in the program.

“We wanted to bring more inclusivity into this league,” league director Dallen Atack said. “We wanted to make it available to special needs athletes.”

This season the league has had about a dozen special needs student athletes participate. They are each members of individual teams across the state. They include riders that are legally blind, deaf, autistic or missing limbs.

These riders participate just like the rest of the members of the team. In some cases, they may race a small loop near the start finish line, but other kids race a normal lap, and spectators would never know the difference.

“It is based on the capacity of the team.

If they have the ability to work with these kids we can get them to practice and the races,” Atack said.

Each participant can be individually supervised as needed.

“We had an athlete that was deaf and rode a little slower so we had a parent ride behind her so that the oncoming racers knew to steer around her,” Atack said. “Another was

Page 20 | November 2021

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com legally blind. A coach rode in front of him to keep him safe. He could not see in front of him very well, but he was fast and usually had a small tumble during a race, but we made sure he stayed safe.”

The league provided training for its coaches with the National Ability Center in Park City. The NAC draws from decades of experience working with people of all abilities, using special equipment as necessary and techniques and teaching methods within its 1,900 volunteers.

“They helped us learn to work with the athletes and taught coaches skills for each individual athlete,” Atack said. “They have also helped acquire bikes with special equipment as needed.”

The league has 6,300 participants this season. They raced in four regions across the state and are scheduled to hold the state finals Oct. 28-29 in St. George.

“Our league grew more than we expected this season. In some of our race venues we are bursting at the seams. We also had a tough weather year with several lightning delays and rain. We will be headed to St. George for the finals with approximately 2,100 riders who have qualified,” Atack said.

The league culture is different than most people have experienced.

West Granite Composite rider Archie Wiley finished his lap at the Eagle Mountain course in 56 minutes. Riders in the series race to improve each time they get on course. The league is trying to make the series available to everyone. (Greg James/City Journals)

“Mountain bike culture is different than a lot of the other sporting cultures. Everyone helps each other. They are racing for a team, but also for themselves. The only way to get better is for you to get better. Everyone races, no one rides the bench,” Atack said.

The riders race in divisions of skill and

must pass levels of ability to advance.

“These Elevate riders are part of the team. It is a really neat program. We have had lots of fun with it,” Atack said.

The league begins its season in July. Its teams practice two or three times a week and welcome riders of all abilities.l

West Valley City Journal

Junior golf wins team championship and teaches young golfers

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

I

n Utah, junior golf is for athletes as young as four years old and includes more experienced players up to high school age students ready for competition.

“I would suggest a program like the ones this state has,” Todd Bingham said. His son Jordan graduated from Bingham High School this past year and is playing college golf at McCook Community College in Nebraska. He introduced Jordan to the game when he was six years old, but he did not have the programs that are now available for younger players.

US kids, a youth golf program, was established originally to help kids find equipment that fit correctly. In 2002 its first national tour event was held to encourage kids to learn a lifelong game and develop family memories.

The kids world championships are held every year in North Carolina. The event brings approximately 2,000 players from around the world to compete at all levels.

Team Utah won the junior league championship Oct. 11 in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the teams debut event, Utah defeated team Connecticut 7.5 to 4.5 to win the title.

“It was just amazing,” Utah captain Tele Wightman told Fairways Media at the Scottsdale event. “There were such good teams, but we really believe in ourselves.”

The team included Wightman (PGA pro), coach Jeff Pederson, Jordan Ofahengaue (11, from Lehi), Ryder Huish (11, Highland), Austin Shelly (13, Salt Lake City), Jack Summerhays (13, Kaysville), Mo LeCheminant (13, Vineyard), Tyse Bowman (13, Draper), Jaxson Erickson (14, Riverton) and Will Pederson (14, Holladay). Their home course is Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.

“I wish they had the team stuff when my son was little. Utah winning (a championship) is just really cool,” Bingham said.

Winning golf tournaments is only a small part of the PGA kids programs.

Glenmoor Golf Course offers an introduction golf class to educate new golfers in common golf knowledge and gameplay, and etiquette for players, spectators and supporters.

The First Tee program is required training for youth golfers to advance to the next levels of competitive play. Courses also offer group lessons of limited size. This encourages golfers to improve faster and compete against other golfers.

The Utah Junior Golf Association offers tournaments for ages 7-18.

Jordan Bingham, who is currently golfing at McCook, was an All-State honorable mention in 2020.

Jordan finished tied for ninth overall in

The Utah PGA junior golf series hosted the tiny tykes program at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville to end the season. (Photo courtesy of Utah PGA kids)

the final fall tournament in October. He shot a six over 146 in the two-day tournament.

McCook finished second overall to Eastern Wyoming College.

“He (Jordan) wanted a place where he could golf and study what he wanted,” Jor-

dan’s father Todd said. “He is doing so well as a freshman golfer.”

Youth golf programs can be found at any local golf course. The players are taught and can compete at several places around the valley. l

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November 2021 | Page 21

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One cool November morning, mom twisted my blonde hair into two braids and painted my face with orange and blue stripes.

I put on a fringed vest made from a paper grocery bag (decorated with stick figures and animals), donned my construction paper headband with its fake feathers and walked uphill (both ways) in the snow to school.

Along the way, I met up with friends dressed as Indians or outfitted in Pilgrim attire, with black, buckled hats or kitchen aprons. We were heading to our second-grade class party, unaware we were perpetuating a myth handed down for generations regarding the First Thanksgiving.

We’d been taught the feast was a celebration of friendship, that the Indians didn’t want their BFFs to starve during the winter.

We didn’t know Pilgrims were the guests that never leave, who end up stealing your bath towels and giving you smallpox.

We also didn’t know ancestors of the Wampanoag Nation hadn’t been invited to the feast, but responded when they heard Pilgrims firing guns, and thought the settlers were under attack. But the Pilgrims were just shooting their rifles into the air, celebrating a successful harvest, like ya do. Have Americans always been gun lunatics?

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forms of sugar, because that was one of the main food groups in the ’70s. Our meal was nothing like the first Thanksgiving where lobster or eel was probably the main course, not turkey. I don’t know how they stuffed an eel, but I’m sure it wasn’t pretty.

The teacher told us to write down things we were grateful for. My list included my family, Nancy Drew mysteries and apple pie.

We also brought offerings for a food drive where some lucky family in the neighborhood received 25 cans of cranberry sauce, four boxes of Stove Top stuffing and a case of olives.

Maybe the Pilgrims also made gratitude lists, including finding a land so completely devoid of other humans that they could take whatever they wanted and build a country.

Did they think the people native to this continent were just visiting? Lost?

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ed in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln was so tired of the Civil War, he just wanted a piece of pumpkin pie. Since then, in typical American style, the holiday evolved into a food orgy, consisting of overcooked turkey, mountains of mashed potatoes and nine different Jell-O salads. My food tracking app usually starts to smoke during dessert.

Although it’s true Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving, those observations usually involved fasting and prayer, not gluttony. These “thanksgivings” often occurred after a massacre of Native people.

For instance, in 1637, Massachusetts Colony Governor John Winthrop called for a day of thanksgiving after hundreds of the Pequot tribe were massacred.

Not really something you celebrate with grandma’s homemade rolls and jam.

Along with your holiday celebration, maybe you can learn about the challenges still faced by Native Americans including poverty, domestic violence, healthcare and the continuation of harmful stereotypes.

As a 7-year-old, I didn’t know cultural prejudice or appropriation was a thing. I didn’t realize the Disneyfied version of the first Thanksgiving wasn’t accurate, with its cartoonish Pilgrims, smiling Natives and bouncy soundtrack. But now I do.

When you gain wisdom, you get to make better choices.

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MAJOR CRIME DIPPED IN WEST VALLEY CITY IN 2020

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

B

ucking a national trend, West Valley City saw a decrease in reported violent crimes in 2020 from the previous year.

The Utah Department of Public Safety released its 2020 Crime in Utah Report, a compilation of crime statistics reported to the FBI by most law enforcement agencies in the state for last year.

West Valley City, with a population of 136,000, the second highest of Utah cities, recorded a slight drop in violent crimes that include homicide, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, which are among those referred to as “index crimes” by the FBI. Six homicides, 79 rapes, 519 aggravated assaults and 96 robberies were reported in 2020.

In 2019, the West Valley City Police Department logged 11 murders, 112 rapes, 654 aggravated assaults and 136 robberies.

In all, 5,198 index crimes were reported for a crime rate of 38.25 per 1,000 people in West Valley City in 2020, a slight dip of 1.1% from 5,256 or 38.29 the previous year.

By comparison, South Salt Lake, with a population of 26,000, had a 2020 violent crime rate of 100.91 per 1,000 residents in 2020, including five homicides. Salt Lake City, with 200,000 people, had a crime rate last year of 82.21 per 1,000 residents.

“In spite of what people say about the west side having more crime, it’s not borne out by the statistics,” Mayor Ron Bigelow told the West Valley City Journal in April.

Most West Valley City violent crime perpetrators and Continued page 11

Local Postal Customer ECRWSS

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Hunter’s unified soccer.

Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

The West Valley City Police Department reported a slight decrease in violent crime in 2020 compared to 2019. (File photo, Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

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