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We Ais rCougars’ e S a n pnewest e t e .recruit com Former Wasatch Academy player | www.heraldextra.com
An Edition of the
Thursday, July 16, 2020 • Vol. 129, No. 29 • 75 cents
BY DARNELL DICKSON
MT. PLEASANT—Former Wasatch Academy basketball player Caleb Lohner happily dances to the beat of the music in his own head. Brigham Young University’s latest basketball recruit has been described as a massive basketball talent, a surfer, a skateboarder and a terrific guitarist. He stands 6-foot-8 in his bare feet and checks in at 230 pounds, giving him a college-ready body. His long curly blond hair — recently trimmed to comply with the school’s honor code — makes him stand out on the court and just about anywhere else. The secret to his luscious locks, he said on a recent radio interview on ESPN 960, is a product called “Diva Curl.” “I’ve been blessed with curls,” Lohner said. “I don’t see a lot of people who have curly hair like me. It sucks (cutting his hair). I love my hair, but I’m all in with the program and it’s something I’m willing to sacrifice. It was hard for me to see it go but I can always grow it back.” He grew up a BYU fan since his father, Matt, was a walk-on for the Cougar basketball team in the 1990s. Caleb admires NBA players Gordon Hayward, Klay Thompson and Dray-
COURTESY PHOTO/WASATCH ACADEMY
BYU basketball commit Caleb Lohner drives to the basket while playing for Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant earlier in 2020. mond Green for their styles of play but says that ultimately, his favorite player has to be Larry Bird, who retired in 1992 — nearly 10 years before Lohner was even born. Last fall, Cougar coach Mark Pope was trying to put the finishing touches on signing Lohner’s Wasatch Academy teammate, Richie Saunders, and
was in Mount Pleasant for a game. “This cat (Lohner) put on a show,” Pope said, relating the story on BYUtv’s “BYU Sports Nation.” “He hit a game-winner and was walking off the court while the ball was in the air. I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He has an unbelievable spirit when he turns it on. He rolls differently that
just about anyone else in college basketball.” Lohner exhibited some of that spirit and uniqueness when he suddenly announced he was asking out of the letter of intent he signed with Utah almost a year ago to enter the transfer portal. His uncle and coach at Wasatch Academy, Dave Evans, said Lohner was close to the previous BYU staff and likely would have committed to the Cougars as a junior if Dave Rose hadn’t announced his retirement in March of 2019. As he adjusted to becoming a Ute, something didn’t quite feel right for Lohner. “At the end of the day there were so many pushing and pulling factors during my decision-making that I didn’t ultimately choose where I wanted to go,” Lohner said. Now he’s a Cougar. Bracken Funk is a former Lone Peak and college basketball player. In his post-college days, Funk is the director of operations at the Renaissance Space Academy in Lehi. In his spare time he is the public address announcer for the Wasatch Academy basketball team, making the hour and 15-minute drive to Mount Pleasant for home games. He’s had ringside seats to Lohner’s
basketball development. He’s also the PA announcer at the Huntsman Center for the University of Utah men’s basketball team, so Lohner’s defection to the team down south wasn’t the best news he received this spring. “You can’t paint this like I’m really excited he left Utah,” Funk said with a laugh. “I think BYU got a steal with him. He has such extreme explosiveness. He can take one dribble, one step to the basket and dunk it. But the first thing I noticed in the very first game I saw him play was his first quick step to get around a defender, like an elite player does. He can create space and shoot the ball. He’s a guy you want stretching the floor for you.” Funk said he was impressed with Lohner channeling his “inner Dennis Rodman” as a ball-hawking rebounder. “One of the things I love about the guy is when the ball is in the air,” Funk said. “I can’t remember who they were playing — maybe Springville — but he had like 12 offensive rebounds in the first quarter. He just goes and finds the basketball. That’s one of those things some players have and some don’t.” Please see RECRUIT, Page A6
Local districts planning for VOLUNTEERS CARING FOR CITY GARDENS students’ return to school BY CHRISTI C. BABBITT
The majority of Sanpete County parents want their children back in the classroom this fall, and the area’s school districts are working to make it happen. North Sanpete School District and South Sanpete School District are finalizing their plans for going back to school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. An order from the Utah State Board of Education approved by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has set a deadline of Aug. 1 for Utah’s public school districts to release their school reopening plans to the public. Those plans must first be approved by each district’s board of education. Utah’s schools have been closed since March 16 due to the pandemic. Ralph Squire, superintendent of South Sanpete School District said his district sent out a survey to parents on July 6 asking if they wanted their children to go back to schools or utilize online learning. More than 2,650 surveys were completed, an approximately 82 percent response rate. Squire said the district received 400 responses in the first five minutes of the survey, which was texted to parents. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of classroom learning. “Between 84 and 85 percent want to go back face to face. They want the kids back in the classroom,” Squire said. Nan Ault, superintendent of North Sanpete School District, said a survey sent out to parents in her district in June had a similar outcome, with more than 80 percent of parents saying they wanted their children in the classroom this fall. Figuring out what that classroom experience will be like has been key to creating the plan to return to school, Ault said. The district has had to consider things like how to conduct cleaning and maintain social distancing, how to control movement in hallways and classrooms, and how to provide accommodations for people at risk. North Sanpete has ordered reUSD 75¢
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usable masks and face shields for younger grades. The district has N95 masks for its bus drivers as well as glass shields for lunch workers and other staff. “We’ve tried to really kind of think ahead of what it is we need. … This is new territory, but we’re going to make it work,” Ault said. North Sanpete will be offering an online learning option for students in addition to classroom instruction, Ault said. A notice to parents on the South Sanpete School District website states that district is preparing to offer traditional face-to-face classroom instruction for all courses as well as online/virtual learning. “We strongly recommend students returning to the classroom with their teachers,” the SSSD website states. “Traditional face-to-face instruction with a teacher is the best scenario for students. We understand this is not possible for all students and in all cases.” Squire said the state provided a template districts could utilize in developing their plans if they desired, and the Utah state superintendent has been having weekly meetings with school district superintendents. Additionally, representatives of seven rural school districts – North Sanpete, South Sanpete, Juab, Tintic, Sevier, Piute and Wayne, all members of the Central Utah Educational Services organization – have been meeting regularly to collaborate as they developed their plans. “The nicest thing about this whole thing is it’s not just South Sanpete on an island. This is affecting every district in the state and every district in the nation,” Squire said. Squire said he believes his district needs to provide a school experience that’s as normal as possible while keeping the risk minimal. “We want parents to understand we’re doing the best we can and we’re not trying to make it difficult or hard for people,” he said. “We’re trying to meet their needs and we’re trying to meet requirements that are being placed on us as school districts.”
The Mt. Pleasant City Council would like to highlight the Mt. Pleasant Library flower garden located at Main and State. This flower garden was planted and is regularly cared for by volunteer Selena Mathews. There are five garden locations throughout the city that are being cared for by volunteers. Their efforts to beautify our city are greatly appreciated.
Trees, other items causing problems at Fairview cemetery FAIRVIEW—During the past several years, residents have placed trees, shrubs and decorations on gravesites throughout the Fairview City Cemetery – items that are now causing problems. For example, trees are now growing where new future gravesites were to be located and trees next to headstones have grown to the point where their roots are affecting other headstones. The city has announced that effective immediately, the city will begin removing these items. Residents who have placed items around their loved ones’ graves are advised to remove them. The following rules have been posed at the cemetery for many years:
nn Placing of monuments is done at the owner’s risk. nn All decorations must be placed within 6 feet north
or south of headstones. nn All holiday and funeral decoration will be removed after 7 days. nn All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. nn No planting of shrubs, trees or flowers. nn Trespassing after dusk is a misdemeanor. nn No placement of monuments without cemetery approval. nn Removal of flowers, decorations or containers by anyone other than those authorized constitutes theft and will be prosecuted.