West Valley City Journal | October 2022

CLINGING TO THE RURAL LIFE IN WEST VALLEY CITY

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Step onto their three acres in the 3800 block of 6400 West and you step into what life was like before West Valley City was a city.

Billie Burke, his son Bob, and their families have lived on that plot of land in the Hunter area for more than 70 years.

On a Saturday afternoon in September, Billie, who’s 92, and 72-year-old Bob sat in Dad’s modest decades-old brick home on the north side of the property and recalled the life they’ve lived in what was once a rural area with homes few and far between and where farms dotted the landscape.

The back half of the Burke acreage is pasture, and the front half facing 6400 West is fronted by three homes — one is Billie’s, the middle one and newest (finished in 1980) is occupied by Bob and his wife, and the third is the first one built on the property about a century ago.

Between the pasture and the houses is what you might call a small farm where a variety of fruits and vegetables are still grown to this day. Bob Burke, who is retired, spends a lot of his time toiling in the giant garden/mini farm.

Along with corn, cucumbers, cantaloupes, peaches, and beans, the main crop is tomatoes — lots of tomatoes. Bob put in more than 600 plants this year, but a bug of some kind killed off about two-thirds of them. If that sounds like a lot, Bob said he used to plant as many as 3,000. He and his wife can and store some of the produce and sell the rest

Bob Burke walks through some of the three acres where he lives and farms in West Valley City. He and his family have lived there for 70 years. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

Council should be helping people in

Suzanne Harrison is a doctor at Riverton Hospital and represents Sandy and Draper in the state legislature. She has devoted her life to helping our community and has always put progress and fiscal responsibility above politics and partisanship.

Meet Quinn Kotter

Quinn is a Utah native, University of Utah graduate, and multi-state licensed professional chemical engineer who uses his expertise to take sulfur pollutants out of our air.

Quinn learned the value of hard work, community service, and love for Utah growing up on a

family farm.

Quinn is committed to listen and serve you. Quinn Kotter is running to listen and lead while focusing on improving our quality of life. As inflation gets worse, our family budgets are getting smaller. As your Representative, Quinn Kotter will champion legislation to provide relief for working families and those living on a fixed income. He will listen to and work with all stakeholders to find solutions that bring opportunities and elevate our community.

Quinn will focus on policies that benefit the people in our district, not the special interests. He will prioritize responsible growth that brings good-paying jobs to keep our families strong, and he will support law enforcement and work with them to keep our families safe. In addition, Quinn will protect parental rights and support our teachers to improve education and provide an excellent future for our children.

Election officials address claims of mail-in voter fraud

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Following widespread allegations of voter fraud after the 2020 presidential election, Salt Lake County election officials want res idents to know the mail-in-ballot system is safe and secure.

During a voting rights discussion, host ed by the League of Women Voters, panelists addressed voting concerns and invited the public to be involved with the process.

Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Sw ensen has been administering county elec tions for 32 years. She said her office is dedi cated to ensuring elections are run efficiently and smoothly, and that every eligible vote is counted.

“I’m so glad we have a vote-by-mail system in Salt Lake and the State of Utah,” she said. “It has been a wonderful system. It’s served the voters so well.”

Since 2016, all elections in Utah have been conducted by mail, with ballot drop-off boxes and Election Day voting booths avail able as alternate options. During the 2020 presidential election, Salt Lake County had a 90.1% voter turnout, with 498,000 residents voting by mail, 100,000 more active regis tered voters than the 2016 election.

Residents were encouraged to vote by mail in 2020 because of COVID, but mis information spread that the voting system had been compromised. Swensen said alle gations of voter fraud in the county are abso lutely not true.

“We heard people could print ballots in their living room, foreign countries could print ballots and insert them into our sys tem, but they would never make it through our system,” she said. “Every single ballot that is sent to a voter is correlated to a record of an active registered voter with a unique nine-digit number.”

During the last legislative session, Rep. Phil Lyman (R-Blanding) tried to pass a bill

that would dismantle the state’s mail-in vot ing process, claiming the system was vul nerable to fraud. The bill failed but election officials are worried a similar proposal will come up again.

“It is a secure system, we have total confidence in it,” Swensen said. “It is dis heartening to me to hear all this rhetoric about the vote-by-mail system not being safe and secure. I really believe that it’s an attempt to suppress voter turnout.”

She invites voters to attend tours of bal lot centers to witness the transparent and se cure process, and to address misinformation and false claims.

“We love to conduct tours and we have done so many tours, I can’t even count them all. Everyone walks away feeling very con fident. They are impressed after they come to see it in person,” Swensen said. “It’s best when processing ballots so you can actually see what’s happening when it’s being done.”

Deputy Director of Elections for the State of Utah Shelly Jackson said election officials are constantly culling lists to make sure voter information is accurate and up-todate. Several security elements are in place to stop voter fraud, including signature veri fication and unique voter IDs on every ballot.

Ballots are not mailed to every person in the state, only voters who are actively registered receive a mail-in ballot. For infor mation about the election process, visit slco. org/clerk/elections.

“I love that people are now paying at tention to elections,” Jackson said. “I love that people are wanting to come see our log ic and accuracy tests. When I worked at the county we would beg people to come, we would beg city recorders to come, we’d beg friends and family to come. I don’t think I ever had anyone come.”

Nathaniel Brown, 24th Navajo Nation

council person, and Nikila Venugopal, di rector of campaigns for the ACLU of Utah, expressed concerns that bills like Lyman’s proposal would disenfranchise thousands of voters.

In 1962, Utah was the last state in the country to give Native Americans voting rights. Brown said members of the Navajo Nation still face obstacles to voting, includ ing remoteness and language barriers. Doing away with the mail-in ballot system would further restrict voting access to this popula tion.

“I think we need to remove the classism mentality and think about who we are at the soul level,” Brown said.

Venugopal said sometimes the voteby-mail system isn’t feasible, like for voters with disabilities who need to sign a ballot

when their signature could change over time. She said the ACLU is working to create greater access for voters with disabilities and works with the disability law center to make continued changes to the process. She’s also keeping an eye out for legislation that could suppress the vote throughout the state, like Lyman’s bill in February 2022.

“Claims of voter fraud are rooted in trying to stoke fear, and our elections are in fact secure. But maybe there are areas of improvement,” Venugopal said. “This bill essentially would have gutted our vote-bymail system and really caused a disenfran chisement crisis in our state if it had passed.” l

WEST VALLEY TEAM

The West Valley City Journal is a monthly pub lication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Val ley.

For information about distribution please email brad.c@thecityjournals.com or call our offices.

Rack locations are also available on our website.

The views and opinions expressed in display ad vertisements do not necessarily reflect or repre sent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.

© 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com 801-254-5974

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR

Brad Casper | brad.c@thecityjournals.com 801-254-5974

Rack locations are also available on our website.

EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN

Ty Gorton

Amanda Luker

Stacy Bronson Anna Pro

WEST VALLEY CITY JOURNAL

9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 PHONE: 801-254-5974

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media.

PUBLISHER

Designed, Published, & Distributed by

Utah’s mail-in voting system has been in place since 2016, and Salt Lake County’s election officials say the process is secure and accessible. (Stock photo)

West Valley City residents, businesses cut water use despite hottest summer on record

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Arecord-breaking hot summer in 2022 coupled with the ongoing drought in Salt Lake County and the rest of Utah did no favors to the area’s already tight water supplies.

This summer saw 34 days that reached 100 degrees as recorded by the National Weath er Service in Salt Lake City, shattering the old mark of 21 days in 2021, 1994 and 1960.

But the three water districts that serve West Valley City say they got through the hot test time of the year as well as could be expect ed thanks to the efforts of residents and busi nesses to cut their water use.

Granger-Hunter, Kearns and Magna im provement districts were able to keep the wa ter flowing without major restrictions because customers in each district reduced their water consumption from 2021 levels by up to 13%.

It was 12% from January through August in the Granger-Hunter Improvement District, according to general manager Jason Helm.

He attributes a big part of the reduction to stepped-up public information campaigns that have convinced people of the growing urgen cy to slow the flow after meager to mediocre snowpacks the past few winters. “People of this community as well as other communities really took that to heart and there’s been a re duction in use,” Helm said.

Most savings came from a cutback in outdoor watering, which takes up most of the precious resource. Indoor use stays pretty con sistent throughout the year.

Granger-Hunter has over 27,000 connec tions serving 132,000 residents and 7,330 busi nesses, the most of the three districts serving West Valley City.

The district purchases most of its water from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, which is a wholesale supplier to mu nicipal water purveyors throughout Salt Lake County. “We’ve also got wells within our dis trict that we will utilize” if Jordan Valley pulls back on deliveries, Helm said. He added that neither Granger-Hunter nor Jordan Valley are projecting cutbacks in the near future. If Moth er Nature fails to come through this winter and next spring, that could change.

Similar water savings have occurred in the Kearns Improvement District, which serves a portion of southwestern West Valley City. Gen eral Manager Greg Anderson said by email that customers on the receiving end of the district’s 13,500 connections are using 13% less water so far this year than in 2021, thanks to several factors including “a strong tiered billing sys tem combined with community outreach and effective conservation messaging.”

Since 2020, water use is down 21% in the district. Daily household water consumption is trending so far this year at 113 gallons per capita per day, 25 fewer gallons per day than in 2021 and well below the state goal of 187 gallons. “The Kearns Improvement District

has among the lowest gallons per capita per day water use in the state of Utah,” Anderson said. The district itself is doing its part by not watering “significant portions of turf” around its offices and has stopped watering large turf areas around its water storage tank sites. An derson said those efforts have saved over 5 mil lion gallons of water so far this year.

In the Magna Water District, which serves 11,000 connections and 34,000 customers in the northwest part of West Valley City and all of Magna, homes and businesses have also heeded the call to cut back on water. Savings this year through July amounted to 10% com pared to 2021, said general manager Clint Dil ley. “We’ve seen quite the impressive response from our customers,” Dilley said. Dilley said the conservation comes even amid rapid growth in Magna and West Valley City with hundreds of new homes and industrial build ings going up. “We’re really pleased with how things are going.”

Dilley expects the district to get through what is left of the watering season with no anticipated early cut off of secondary, or irri gation, water. Much of that water is delivered from Utah Lake to Magna Water District by canal companies. Those companies recently informed MWD that they would end deliver ies in late September to preserve dropping lake levels.

Dilley said MWD is looking to create a more reliable source of secondary water by equipping its wastewater treatment plant (the district also provides sewer service) to treat more wastewater and pipe it back out for irri gation purposes. “Treated wastewater is pretty consistent. You’re not going to see huge fluc tuations in (supplies),” Dilley said. “Why treat high quality water in our drinking water plant that’s pretty expensive just to go to lawns?” The trend is for new developments in MWD

to be hooked up to infrastructure and meters to receive secondary water, while older prop erties must still use culinary water for outdoor purposes.

The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District is primarily a wholesale provider of water from area reservoirs to cities and local improvement districts, which supplement those supplies with various sources of their own, such as groundwater pulled from wells.

Linda Townes Cook, public information manager for Jordan Valley, said water demand so far this year generally has been down with a couple of exceptions. “August was five degrees hotter than last year resulting in a 13% rise in water deliveries,” she said. Record-breaking heat in early September also threatened to bump up water usage. Deliveries from January through July were down 15% because of great er conservation by residents and businesses. The goal for 2022 was 10%.

“We knocked it out of the park through July,” Townes Cook said.

Sixty percent of the Jordan Valley’s water is used outdoors and most of that is during just four months of the year. The largest sources of the district’s water are Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs, which sat at a surprisingly high 67% and 49% of capacity through July. August and early September were likely to drop those water levels.

A wet fall is just as important as a heavy winter snowpack. Precipitation early and often before winter will help saturate the soil, allow ing more winter and spring rain and snow to run along the surface of the ground into water ways that feed reservoirs.

The prospects for 2023 water supplies come down to one thing. “We really are at the mercy of Mother Nature,” Townes Cook said.

“We’re praying for a good winter,” Dilley added. l

Dinner Seminar

Learn more about Advanced Funeral Planning, Wills, Trusts, Burial Plots, and Cremation

SEMINAR DATES:

October

Start Time: 6:00 PM

Oct 25th 6pm Golden Corral 665 7200 S, Midvale,

Oct 26th 6pm Marie Callender’s 1109 E 3900 S, Millcreek

Oct 27th Paradise Buffet 4425 State St, Murray

Thanks for supporting us since 1950. Ask us about all your pre-planning needs.

4330 South Redwood Road Taylorsville, UT 84123

McDougalFuneralHomes.com

The Magna Water District is one of the three water providers in West Valley City to report a reduction in water consumption during record high temperatures in 2022. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

Needs Beyond Medicine reduces financial stress for cancer patients

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Acancer diagnosis brings up so much un certainty. Along with the emotional and physical fears of possible surgery and treat ment, cancer takes a financial toll on patients as well. Many patients miss work and people in rural areas might have to travel to get the chemotherapy or radiation procedures they need.

That’s where Needs Beyond Medicine steps in. The organization was founded by Philip Brown in 2006, and expanded to a 501(c)(3) in 2009. It offers living expense grants to cancer patients who need help pay ing for food, bills and transportation. The goal is to alleviate some of the stress that accompanies a cancer diagnosis.

“I don’t think people realize the toll [cancer] takes, along with everything else you’re dealing with in your life,” Brown said. “We help current cancer patients with non-medical costs. That includes transporta tion, groceries, rent or anything considered non-medical. We also do education out reach.”

A longtime advocate for cancer educa tion, early detection and care, Brown has his own connection to the disease. His mother passed away in 1996 after an 18-month-long battle with ovarian cancer. His mission is to raise awareness about cancer screenings in

the hope more lives can be saved.

The concept for Needs Beyond Med icine started when Brown was going to school to earn his bachelor’s degree. He got an internship working with doctors, nurses and social workers who created a task force to help cancer patients. Brown eventually took it over and has helped nearly 2,000 peo ple with the nonprofit’s relief program.

Because the group is not aligned with any specific hospital or provider, people across the state are eligible for its services. Patients are usually referred to Needs Be yond Medicine by a social worker who knows what the individual is going through.

“We’re Utah-based and cover the whole state. I think people don’t realize we help a lot of people in the rural towns who have to travel a few hours a day to get treatment,” Brown said. “We can work with all the can cer programs in the state, which is unique, so we’re able to help all the patients.”

On Friday, Nov. 4, Needs Beyond Med icine will hold its annual canSURVIVE gala at the Cottonwood Country Club (1780 Lakewood Drive) in Holladay, from 5-9:30 p.m. The fundraising event lets cancer survi vors tell their stories and helps raise money for the organization with a raffle and silent auction. All proceeds go to help Utah cancer

patients with living expenses.

Needs Beyond Medicine helps an av erage of 15 people each month as they go through their cancer journey. For informa tion about sponsoring the canSURVIVE gala or to donate items for the raffle and silent auction, email Brown at info@needsbeyond medicine.org. To learn more about the relief

program, visit needsbeyondmedicine.org.

“It’s shocking that each year we’ve done this, we’ve made a profit. Even the first one, which is kind of mind-boggling. I’ve been told if you’re making money, you should keep doing what you’re doing,” Brown said.

“It’s a public event and we just accept dona tions at the door.” l

Heidi Jo Taylor (left) and Annette Page are cancer survivors who volunteer with Needs Beyond Medicine, a nonprofit that helps cancer patients with living expenses and provides education about early cancer screening. (Courtesy of Chad Hurst)

USA Wheelchair Football League to highlight amazing athletes

Move United is the largest grassroots adaptive sports pro gram in the world. Based in Maryland, the nonprofit part nered with the National Football League and the Bob Woodruff Foundation to create the USA Wheelchair Football League, the first-of-its-kind league for adults with disabilities.

Working with Salt Lake County, the league will host a wheelchair football tournament Oct. 22-23 at the Salt Palace Convention Center (100 S. West Temple St.) with nine teams, 20 games and dozens of athletes. Games will be held on three fields from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Admission is free.

“We use adaptive sports to push what’s possible for peo ple with disabilities and show all the ways that people with dis abilities can integrate into society, just like everyone else,” said Karalyn Stott, Move United senior program manager. “We’re excited to be coming to Salt Lake to spotlight all of our athletes and highlight the amazing things they’re able to do on the foot ball field.”

Salt Lake County adaptive recreation manager Taylor Smith has been an official with the league since they announced the program in May 2020. As the only female official, she’s worked at tournaments in Tampa and Chicago, and is excited to help bring the USA Wheelchair Football League to Utah.

“The NFL and the Bob Woodruff Foundation donated funds to make this program start happening for those veterans who wanted to stay competitive and continue doing things they love, even after they were injured,” Smith said. “[Being an of ficial] is stressful but it’s really fun and amazing. These guys try so hard and they really want to be there. You can’t ask for anything more of people who just want to play.”

Many athletes participating in the tournament are military

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

veterans, excited to participate in a team sport. This event high lights the athleticism of the sport which is competitive and fastpaced.

“So many of them lost that team feeling when they were injured overseas so they’re excited to feel that brotherhood and family again,” Stott said. “Others played the sport as a kid and got injured and now get to get back to a sport that they didn’t think they’d be able to play again.”

The wheelchair football tournament is one of the ways Salt Lake County is bringing adaptive sport programs to the state. Other adaptive recreation opportunities offered through the county attract people from all over Utah, and even Idaho and Wyoming, to take part in the athletic events.

With the popularity of pickleball, the county just an nounced an adaptive pickleball program that will run from Oct. 29-Nov. 19 at the Copperview Recreation Center (8446 Harri son St.) in Midvale.

The six-week program includes 90 minutes of instruc tional-based practice along with scrimmages and matches. For more information, visit slco.org/adaptive.

“This will be a new sport that we’re bringing in,” Smith said. “We haven’t done adaptive or wheelchair pickleball in the past. It will be our first one and we’re really excited about it because most of the population have really gotten involved in pickleball and we want to bring it that to the adaptive world.”

Salt Lake County has offered its para programs for 20 years and Smith said no one else in county recreation is offer ing adaptive programs, although several private companies do wheelchair sports.

The county has two groups, one for intellectual disabili

ties and one for physical disabilities because sports are played differently based on the population. Adaptive sports are open to all ages, but most wheelchair programs are geared to ages 5-15.

“It’s available for anyone who is open to playing, we’ll bring them in with open arms,” Smith said. “I think sports is valuable to anyone in the world. You learn communication skills, learn how to calm yourself down, you’re learning how to work hard and persevere through challenges in your life, so I think sports are vital in how you’re dealing with everyday sit uations.” l

Members of the USA Wheelchair Football League will compete at the Salt Palace Convention Center Oct. 22-23. (Photos courtesy of Move United)

Lancers don’t quit during bounce-back season

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

The start of the football season at Granger High School has had some exciting wins and glimpses of a bright future.

“These kids don’t quit,” Lancer head coach Pala Vaitu’u said at the end of last season. “They play to the whistle and the end of the game. I am proud of them for that. We have learned a lot.”

That learning has produced results this season. Granger started the year off strong with a 30-7 victory over a team from Konawaena, Hawaii. It was the team's first win since last September.

The Lancers then lost two close games to Mountain Ridge and Davis high schools. The losses did not seem to affect them.

As they began region play, the Lancers seemed ready to have positive changes to this season.

“We want them to be positive in how we act and how we deal with adversity,” Vaitu’u said.

The Lancers traveled to Hunter for the rivalry matchup. A touchdown pass and a 59-yard interception return for a score helped them jump out to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter. A lead they never relinquished, beating Hunter 21-0.

The turnaround helped them to a 52-10 victory over Taylors ville. Helping them vault to 3-2 on the season.

Ricky Momone leads the team with six touchdown passes and over 500 yards passing part way through the season. Sophomore Chevas Gregory has the most carries and averages 5.9 yards every time he touches the ball.

Senior Matt Jones has amassed 11 sacks so far this season. He has become a leader on the defensive side of the ball.

They will close out the season against the two toughest region opponents, Roy on Oct. 6 and West on Oct. 12. The state playoffs are scheduled to begin Oct. 21. l

Lancer running back Matt Jones reaches for the goal line against Taylorsville. (Photo courtesy of Granger Football)

Nature’s Virus Killer

By Priscilla Schnarr www.copperzap.com

Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast.

Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria that cause illness.

Colds and many other illnesses start when viruses get in your nose and multiply. If you don’t stop them early, they spread and cause misery.

Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.

“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.”

National Institutes of Health.

Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.

CopperZap® and put it on the market.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of bad germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.

Users Say:

“It works! I love it!”

“I can’t believe how good my nose feels.”

“Is it supposed to work that fast?”

“One of the best presents ever.”

“Sixteen airline flights, not a sniffle!”

“Cold sores gone!”

“It saved me last holidays.

The kids all got sick, but not me.”

The EPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.

“I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

“Best sleep I’ve had in years!”

The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in the bottom of the nostril, where viruses collect.

When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold never happened. I used to get 2-3 bad colds every year. Now I use my device whenever I feel a sign I am about to get sick.”

He hasn’t had a cold in 10 years.

After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented

As thousands more tried it, some found other things they could use it against, including: Colds, flu, new viruses and variants, sinus trouble, cold sores, canker sores, strep throat, nighttime stuffiness, morning congestion, nasal drip, skin infections, thrush, warts, styes, and ringworm.

The handle is curved and textured to increase contact.

Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.

Scientists placed millions of viruses on copper. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it,” said Dr. Bill Keevil.

Tarnish does not reduce how well copper works, EPA tests showed.

CopperZap is made in America with pure copper. 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95.

Get $10 off each CopperZap with code UTCJ19

See www.CopperZap.com or call tollfree 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever.

Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

advertorial

New research: Copper kills viruses in seconds.

Double, double toil and trouble for witches of yesteryear

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

What’s a witch? Throughout human history, the defini tion has changed. Witches have been defined as peo ple casting spells or calling upon spirits for help, or to bring about change. Many witches were seen as pagans doing the devil’s work. Others were known as simple natural healers and called wise women. Mostly, this choice of profession or life was simply misunderstood and societal fear took over. The prosecution of witches took hold in Europe during the mid-1400s when many people confessed, often under torture, to a variety of witch-like behaviors. Within the next century witch hunts were common, and most of the accused were executed by burning at the stake or hanging. Women, who were single, widowed, and those who lived on the margins of society, were the usual targets. Between the years 1500-1660 there were about 80,000 suspected witches that were put to death in Europe; 80% of them were women. Germany had the highest witchcraft execution rate while Ireland had the lowest.

What started this witch hunt and the witch hysteria that followed was in part caused by the publication of a book “Malleus Maleficarum,” which was written by a German Catholic clergyman in 1486. The book usually translates as “The Hammer of Witches,” and was essentially a guide on how to identify, hunt and interrogate witches. The book labeled witchcraft as heresy, and became the authority for Protestants and Catholics at the time trying to flush out witches living among them.

Although the witch hunt was far larger in Europe than it was in the Americas, most Americans are familiar with the Salem Witch Trials more so than what happened in Eu

rope. The New World, at the time, had fallen under many hardships and trials including a war between the French and British, a smallpox epidemic, and the ongoing fear of attacks from Native American tribes. The tense atmosphere was ripe for finding scapegoats, and these tensions are one of the reasons historians suspect led to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692-93 in Massachusetts.

The witch trials initially began when 9-year-old Eliza beth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams began suffer ing from fits, body contortions, uncontrollable screaming, and odd behavior. As more young women began to exhibit symptoms, hysteria ensued. Three women were accused of witchcraft as an explanation to this problem. The three women were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba In dian, an enslaved woman owned by Parris's father. Tituba eventually confessed to being a witch, but she then began accusing others of using black magic on June 10, 1692. Bridget Bishop became the first accused witch to be put to death during the Salem Witch Trials. Between 1626 and 1730 there were around 150 people who were accused of witchcraft and 18 were put to death. While women were the main victims, there were six men who were also convicted and executed during this time.

Massachusetts wasn't the only state in the Thirteen Colonies to be obsessed with witches and witch hunting; it also spread throughout the rest of the colonies, but it was most prevalent here. Historians speculate that much of the hysteria and the reasons for the fits, body contortions, and uncontrollable screaming first displayed by the two girls could possibly be from a poisonous fungus, found in the

eastern U.S., that causes spasms and delusions.

So as people go about this year’s Halloween season and make-believe (or real) witches are safely out and about, it’s interesting to remember a time when this wasn’t so. l

County finds ways to keep you safe

In Salt Lake County our top priority is to keep you and your family safe. That's why over 70 percent of our general fund budget is allocated to criminal justice as we oper ate the jail, handle prosecution and indigent defense, run behavioral health programs and fund the sheriff's public safety bureau. One of our challenges has been a shortage of offi cers to work in the jail, and I know many of our cities are struggling to hire enough po lice officers for their communities. The past few years have been tough for our men and women in blue, and morale has taken a hit. That's why public safety has been a huge fo cus for me as I serve on the council.

Last fall the Sheriff’s office was faced with a very small pool of new recruits and public safety agencies across the valley were competing for officers. In order to support effective recruiting, we must fund competi tive wages and benefits which is why I voted to support the Sheriff's compensation re quest providing a structural pay adjustment for all Sworn Correction and Public Safety Officers.

The county jail houses around 2,000 inmates and operates its own healthcare sys tem. Inmate medical needs range from basic general care to specialized treatment includ ing dental and mental health, which the jail is constitutionally mandated to provide. In addition to seeing a shortage of sworn po

lice officers, we are also seeing a shortage of healthcare workers. This spring the County Council voted to increase the pay rate for medical staff at the jail. In addition, I led ef forts to add a $5,000 hiring bonus for med ical staff who remain working at the jail for two years.

Staffing shortages contribute to in creased wait times when officers are booking an individual into jail. As law enforcement agencies across the valley face their own recruitment and retention efforts it is my priority to focus on reducing this wait time so officers are back out on the street quickly, keeping your neighborhoods and their fel low officers safer.

As we look at ways to better improve public safety, I believe investment in Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT) is critical. MCOT teams work alongside our police when mental health crises arise. The team

is made up of highly trained licensed men tal health clinicians and certified peer sup port specialists. Right now, we only have about half the number of teams necessary to help our officers and the public. I am on the State’s Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission, and we are pushing for addi tional state funding to fully operate these MCOT teams.

Addressing staff shortages requires bold and steady leadership. I maintain my commitment to you that every vote I cast as a county council member comes after thought ful consideration of how it will impact the county overall, as well the constituents whom I represent in this role. I am commit ted to safe neighborhoods by focusing my at tention on the county’s public safety efforts.

An artist’s rendition of the trial of a suspected witch. (Courtesy of His tory.com)

time when emotions are tender, receiving guidance by someone who has been around and understands your needs can help you find the perfect service.

Lake City,

(801) 582-1582

(801) 254-4850

• Supports well funded Police for safe neighborhoods

• Received the prestigious "Taxpayer Advocate" award from the Utah Taxpayers Association in recognition of efforts to avoid tax increases and improve efficiency

• Believes in bipartisanship in working with Democrat and Republican colleagues

• Widely recognized as a trustworthy, dedicated and hard working public servant

• Baseball coach and Boy Scout leader

• Graduate of The University of Utah...go Utes!

• Married to JoLynn Turner and are parents of 4 children with 9 grandchildren

• Business executive. Founder and President of Snelgrove Travel Centers Inc. Celebrating 30 years in business

Women’s Leadership Institute

non-partisan,

female political candidates.

annual cohort

started,

Medical

of Snelgrove

Roundtable Talk with Representative Weight

SOME VOTER BASICS

Our ballots arrive in October. Then, we’ll have about three weeks to decide our votes. From my experience in teaching at Hunter High and Cyprus High, I know how strongly people care about the issues that directly a ect their households and neighborhoods. People believe in hard work and doing their share, and they expect elected leaders to work for policies that build secure, prosperous communities.

I’m impressed that most voters are really common-sense thinkers, ready to learn about this year’s state and county candidates and ask good questions about what we can do together. So what are the topics?

Education – People want good teachers and are shocked to learn that they are paid much less than other professionals with the same quali cations. Yes, salaries for teachers and para educators are critical, and what also makes a huge di erence is our realization and respect for what they do every day for every child in their

classroom. Just like us, they are interested in good discussions and ideas to solve problems.

Taxes – In general, every level of government has some taxing authority along with the responsibility to account for how revenue is spent. Speci cally, in our neighborhoods, people want fair taxes and recognize our state tax on food is unfair and unnecessary. Speci cally, on the issue of accountability, the recent audit raises great questions about state tax dollars going to the Utah Inland Port, important in all our local discussions about economy, air quality, health risks, housing, and our kids’ futures.

No to Extremism – Utahns are problem solvers by nature! We believe in sharing ideas, noting common goals, and working toward agreements. We know that ideas that divide people are destructive, and we want leaders who coordinate productive discussions.

Thank you for your active role in our community. I look forward to learning more about your ideas!

I am running for the State School Board in District 5. I want to improve the academic focus of our schools, simplify teacher workloads, and enhance transparency for parents. I am mother of four children who have all attended Murray Schools. I’ve been involved in their education for over 20 years and volunteered in many capacities.

I would love your vote! ”

www.votelaurel.org vote4laurel@gmail.com Laurel Fetzer

Paid for by Committee to elect Laurel Fetzer

ElizabethWeight@le.utah.gov

Elizabeth Weight, Utah RepresentativeLiz4Utah.com

o C tober 2022 | Page W15 VC J ournal . C om @RepEWeight

Comcast and the USDB Foundation partner to help unique students

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

erving more than 5,000 students statewide, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and USDB’s Educational Support Services provide education and ac cessibility technology that make a real difference in a child’s life.

Comcast, the largest home internet service provider in the country, has provided grant funding to the USDB Ed ucation Foundation so these unique students can have the technological needs vital for their education and growth.

Assistive devices and digital learning provide sight and sound that connect children to the world and improve their overall communication. Use of these assistive devic es gives students a higher chance of success as a confident and independent adult.

“Comcast has been a really great community partner this year,” said Amy Zaharis, USDB Education Founda tion executive director. “They gave us funds that support the students with assisted technology. There’s a lot of awesome technology our students can use that helps them, and they need a lot of different things, and those things are expensive.”

While the state provides funding to cover the basics for the campuses and programs at USDB, sometimes families need help procuring hearing aids, glasses, white canes, magnification devices, unique technology and other assistive devices. With Comcast’s donation to the program, several deaf and hard of hearing students, and children who are blind and visually impaired can get the resources they need.

It is imperative that students have technology and

assistive devices to help bridge the gap caused by their hearing or vision loss.

“If you can believe it or not, hearing aids are not cov ered by insurance,” Zaharis said. “We do assist families with children who are hard of hearing. Hearing aids are really expensive and we help some kids with purchasing those.”

The national grant from Comcast supports digital lit eracy training to help students with the technology. Stu dents who are blind can learn how to access apps and soft ware, plus have access to smart glasses equipped with an HD camera to magnify a computer screen or classroom.

The USDB provides overhead and administrative re sources for the foundation which allows 100% of dona tions to go directly to students.

There are campuses in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Springville, and a classroom in St. George. In addition to the campuses, education for the majority of these unique Utah students is offered by USDB teachers who travel to schools across the state through outreach programs.

“Everyone deserves to have the same advantages and many of the children the foundation supports might not be able to,” said Ioana Platon, Comcast community impact specialist. “They might not be as likely to pursue educa tional or career pursuits they don’t think they can do. With our grant, we help provide tech and assistive devices used to bridge the gap.”

Comcast is focused on accessibility and providing the highest possible experiences for all of its customers. This grant will help students learn how to use the different

technologies and help them live better lives.

For more information about the USDB Foundation, visit www.usdbfoundation.org.

“We love to have community partners and Comcast has been such a great community partner for us this year,” Zaharis said. “It’s great to have community support, just to help our kids with the extra needs they have. We wel come Utah businesses and individuals alike to make dona tions to the foundation.” l

Students at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind receive assistive devices and training through a Comcast community grant. (Courtesy of Todd Keith)

Centenarian recounts small town life, simpler times

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

As a girl, she was an early riser. She had to be.

Every morning before 4 a.m., she’d be walking into town to gather customers’ laun dry to bring home to her mother. Afterwards, she’d walk back into town to grocery shop for the day. Then, she’d cross the railroad tracks one more time to attend school — sometimes barely making it on time to the two-story build ing that housed all 12 grades.

“Sometimes the train would stop, and I had to cross the tracks to go to school,” she said. “Then, I would crawl under the boxcars to get to the other side so I wouldn't be late for school. My mother told me not to, but she didn’t know every time I did it.”

After school was let out at 4 p.m., she’d race home to get the laundry her mother had cleaned on a washboard and ringer to deliver back into town — before she began some of her chores.

Her father repaired railroad tracks so he often would bring home the old ties for her brothers to saw into chunks.

“It was my job to pick them up in the wheelbarrow and I’d wheel them across the yard and throw them through the open window into the basement so we could use them to burn in the big old furnace to keep the house warm,” she said.

Another chore was tending to the 250 baby chicks, which included sleeping in the hen house so the chicks wouldn’t overcrowd the brooder and suffocate.

Birdene Mae Mohr Shank Neuteboom, who will celebrate her 100 birthday in Septem ber, grew up as one of 12 children to Russian immigrant parents in Chester, Nebraska, a pic turesque farming community of a couple hun dred people near the Kansas state line.

Neuteboom was named Birdene after an other woman in Chester: “My mother said she was a sweet loving woman. So, she named me Birdene because she wanted me to be a sweet loving person. I don't know whether I turned out to be or not.”

When she wasn’t doing chores or in school, Neuteboom counted cars of the several freight and five passenger trains traveling daily on the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Line that ran right through town. At night, she’d lay on the hillside and count stars.

Named for President Chester A. Arthur, the town of Chester when Neuteboom was growing up had Dry Brothers General Store, some doctors’ offices, hotels, a lumber yard and other businesses.

“I remember the Great Depression and we were poor, that’s why my mother took in laundry, but I really loved chocolate stars and

if there was a penny or two, sometimes she would let me buy some at the store where my brother George worked. I’d get maybe five or six, and sometimes, he would sneak in an extra one,” she said. “The school had the first eight grades down on the main floor and other four grades were upstairs. We studied algebra, English, biology, home economics, penman ship and shorthand – I never could make those figures out right for the teacher. When I left eighth grade and went to the ninth grade, I thought, ‘Man, I’m something going upstairs to high school.’”

After graduation, Neuteboom worked at the Truckers’ Café to help support her family shortly after the U.S. entered World War II.

“I worked 12-hour shifts. There were two of us girls and one week, I’d work the day shift, and then, we’d switch, and I’d work a week of nights. I was paid $10 for one week and every check went to my mother,” she said.

It was at the diner where she met her War ren “Curly” Anthony Shank, who as a truck er, drove gasoline from Lincoln, Nebraska to McPherson, Kansas.

“He would put coins in the nickelodeon (old-time jukebox) and played ‘You Are My Sunshine’ over and over and over for me. It drove my boss crazy and she told me that she’d take the nickelodeon out of there as she was so

Nicknamed the “beautiful girl,” a photo taken when she was 21, this is one of Birdene Neuteboom’s fa vorite photos of herself. (Photo courtesy of Barbara Clegg)

sick of hearing that song, but because it made her money, she kept it,” Neuteboom said.

The two skipped over the border to Bel leville, Kansas to marry in November 1943, stopping on the way back to pick up her clothes.

“I wore an old dress, and I didn’t have but cardboard boxes for my clothes. So, we put the boxes on the fender of his old Ford Model T

PAID FOR BY THE Linda4utahsenate.com CAMPAIGN

Facebook: @LPutahsenate12 lindacampaign@linda4utahsenate.com

www.Linda4UtahSenate.com

truck, the one with a crank, and we went to his folks’ house in Lincoln,” she said. “He carried my clothes in a bedroom and then he left to drive to McPherson. He didn’t even stay the night when we got married, so I’m thinking, ‘What did I get myself into?’ But his mother had a heart of gold.”

Neuteboom’s granddaughter, Barbara Clegg, remembers her grandfather. “Grandpa was a good man. He did everything and any thing Grandma asked.”

Shortly after getting married, Neuteboom worked selling perfumes and powders at the cosmetic counter at Woolworth’s 5 & 10 be fore the first two of her five children were born.

Unable to serve in the war, Shank moved the family to Denver for his job. In the 1950s, about the time Elvis became an international sensation, they moved again to their home in Kearns, where she still resides.

“We were so poor, we had to borrow $100 from the neighbors for the down payment of the house, but I love it here,” Neuteboom said, adding that she enjoyed Elvis’ hymns more than his rock ‘n roll, and usually listened to Marty Robbins and Charley Pride on the radio.

Once settled, they purchased a television. She enjoyed watching one of John Wayne’s “pictures.”

In 1978, Shank died. When it came time to sell his car — as she never learned to drive a “handsome” gentleman came to check it out.

“He came over to look at the car, but he

looked at her and that was that; he was a nice man,” her granddaughter Barbara Clegg said.

Neuteboom smiled, then told a different version of the story.

“I babysat in my home, so I had met him before when he brought over a child for me to babysit. But when he was sitting behind the steering wheel, I don’t know what came over me, I kissed him on the cheek and we went from there,” she said.

She and Earl “Neut” Neuteboom married at the nearby Methodist church and spent the next 15 years together before he died.

She inherited good genes — her mother lived to age 95, brother Eddie to 100, and the last of her living siblings, sister Arlene, died six months ago at age 93. She has found that one of the “rewards” of long life is that she has out lived some of those closest to her — spouses, friends and even a child.

So, Neuteboom treasures the time she has — even though she relies on others at times.

“I used to work in the yard 24-7, but my son doesn’t want me out there doing it any more,” she said. “I did go out there last week though and weeded. He didn’t know until af terward. I had friends, who called me Birdie, and they’d pick me up so I could sing with the church choir or at the senior citizens center and we’d go to the theater or to restaurants with the Red Hats (Society), but they’ve moved or are deceased.”

Neuteboom said being active is the key to a long life.

“Just don’t sit in a chair 24-7. Keep your mind occupied. Do your own housework or yardwork if you can. Keep yourself busy,” she said. “I don’t get out and exercise or walk to the church as much as I’d like, first with COVID and now the heat, but I at least walk around my home.”

When Neuteboom does relax in a reclin er, she enjoys playing Solitaire on an iPad, “I think it’s a lot of baloney schools don’t have textbooks and just use computers now;” reads Nora Roberts’ and Mary Higgins Clark’s books, “I don’t need the large print;” cares for her canary Dino, “for Dean Martin;” does nee dlework, “most every kid, grandkid and great has something I’ve made;” colors inside the lines in adult coloring books, “she has a steady hand;” and puts together 500-piece “picture puzzles,” sometimes joined by some of her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchil dren.

Other times they’ll enjoy the cottage cheese dumplings that her mother used to make back in Nebraska or her new love, eating Popeyes’ chicken.

“I love her hugs; I love to cuddle with her and doing puzzles with her,” said great-grand daughter Megan Clegg, who is attending Sun set Middle and hopes “Nana” can come see her in the school musical this fall.

A centennial birthday party is planned, with family coming from as far as Minnesota for the occasion. Barbara Clegg is planning to have a white cake, as her grandmother wishes,

At nearly 100 years old, Birdene Neuteboom has made numerous crocheted tablecloths and afghans, hand-stitched quilts and created other needlework for all the generations in her family, as well as for friends. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

and will put on 10, not 100 candles.

“She’ll have one candle per decade; I’m not sending the cake on fire,” Clegg said.

Neuteboom said she’s content.

“I don’t need anything. I don’t feel like I’m almost 100 years old. I don’t think I would have done anything differently in my life. I know what hard work is and I taught myself a lot. I really have had a good life, a blessed one,” she said. “If I had to have one wish, I’d want all my family to celebrate with me.” l

to get tough

Platform:

1. End plea deals for repeat violent

2. Reforge our relationship

3. Prioritize victims' voices.

DEMAND JUSTICE!

Daniellle Ahn believes in delivering justice and giving a voice back to victims by ending plea deals with repeat violent

deliver justice and get tough

enders.

crime!

Reasons why I am running?

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

I will not tolerate domestic violence and will ensure victim's rights are protected.

HOMICIDES These have recently increased 46% in Salt Lake County (see link, slide 7). This must be turned around!

SEXUAL ASSAULTS

As DA I will prioitize the prompt screening of sexual assault cases and will coordinate survivor peer networks to guide victims and survivors through the criminal justice system.

DE-PROSECUTION POLICIES

I reject the adoption of de-prosecution policies as they are stronly correlated with increased homicide rates.

INDEPENDENCE

It’s like pulling teeth

here are lots of people in this world who scare me, like toddlers, Christian nationalists and the barista who always compliments my shirt, even when I’m wearing a blood-stained hoodie.

T

But dentists! Dentists are a higher level of fear. I'm sure they get tired of being compared to the sadistic den tist in “Little Shop of Horrors” but if the tooth fits…

My dentophobia is rooted in an experience when I was 5 where many of the details are still slumbering in my subconscious, waiting to burst when I’m least expecting it. The only thing I remember was the dentist was not my friend.

is a privilege.

My rational mind knows all those things, but I’ve never left a dentist’s office thinking, “Hmmm. That wasn’t too bad.”

I recently had my first root canal, which didn’t ease my fears. At all. I was upfront with the endodontist and told him I didn’t like him very much.

“I understand,” he said.

“No, really. I loathe you,” I said.

“Yeah, I get that a lot.”

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

I start ed dreading my annual checkup. Mom would write our dentist’s name on the bathroom mirror in red lipstick, so she’d remember to schedule the appointment. But every time she wrote it, I’d take a wet washcloth and wipe it off. I’m sure she never noticed the smeared lipstick or the dripping-wet mirror.

Now that I’m older, I should be braver, right? I should be grateful I don’t have a medieval dentist who also works as the village butcher, barber and blacksmith. I’m lucky I’m not Tom Hanks in “Castaway” when he uses an ice skate to knock out his abscessed molar. Modern dentistry

We went from there. He offered me nitrous oxide be cause if I’m going to be root-canaled, I’d rather be float ing somewhere near Venus. After I was nice and drifty, he told me I’d feel a little pinch as he numbed my mouth. Then he proceeded to nail my face to the chair while the nurse handed him a Black & Decker drill. He laughed ma niacally, donned a hockey mask ala Jason Voorhees and started excavating my back teeth.

At least, that’s how I remember it.

After the root canal, I had to make an appointment with my dentist to put a crown on my tooth. I called the receptionist who said I could schedule time on Sept. 12 at 2:30 a.m. or wait until June 2023. Typical.

I don’t know why I’m still terrified of all things den tal. The smell of a dentist’s office makes my stomach roll. The sound of a drill makes my jaw clench, which makes it really hard to work on my teeth. When it was time for my crown appointment, I sat in my car for a good 15 minutes, giving myself a pep talk.

“You’ve got this,” I said. “You’re a big girl.”

“Nope. I’m going to Starbucks,” I responded. “No, you’re not. You’re going to act like an adult

and walk in that office.”

I stuck my tongue out at myself and went to get my crown. Not a cool crown like a Dutch sapphire tiara but a porcelain crown that I’m afraid to chew with. I’m pretty sure my dentist has a hook for a hand and he proceeded to stab my gums repeatedly, probably just for the fun of it. And then it was over. For now.

I’d rather face a zillion zombies, a multitude of mum mies, a van full of vampires or a ton of toddlers before seeing the dentist again. He’s the scariest monster I know.