After close to three years of study and a great deal of public input, the Utah Department of Transportation released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the accompanying Record of Decision last week for the I-15 corridor between Farmington and Salt Lake City. Construction could start as soon as 2027.
“One of the challenging parts was taking the feedback and determining how to incorporate it and balance it as well,” said Michael Romero, I-15 EIS Project Director. “It’s a unique process. People look at how it would directly impact them versus trying to see the impact overall. Public input is important for the project. We looked at every single comment prior to finalizing the document.”
This corridor will provide a new connection that will improve the inter-
change, he said. “It will make it easier to navigate for those walking, biking, taking transit and driving.”
Residents have expressed concern about adding additional capacity, said Romero. “Utah is one of the fastest growing states in the nation.
That’s not the only thing they looked at, he said. “We also need double tracking for FrontRunner. People say ‘then why not just do FrontRunner and not I-15?’ We can’t just do that, we need improvements to I-15. That explains the alternative we ended up with.”
There will have to be some adjustments to widen it, Romero said. “It depends on what part of the corridor. In Salt Lake it’s wide enough but if you go further north we’ll have to push it to the east because of the train on the west.”
Home impact is pretty low, he said. “Except that’s hard to say if you’re the
homeowner, it would be very impactful for you.”
State and federal law prohibits the threat of eminent domain, said Romero. “You can’t take property without compensation. We’ve hired a professional appraiser that doesn’t work for UDOT to determine how much property is needed, whether it’s a partial or the entire thing. When that is identified we reach out to the owners.”
If it’s a full acquisition they look at different things, he said. “If we have to relocate the owner we put them in a similar situation as they’re in today. If
Continued page 16
In 2008, two friends, Zack and Chris were talking together at a party about their unhappiness with their current employment. During their discussion, a third friend walked by and commented, ”You two should go into business together.” They looked at each other and the idea for Precision Auto Glass was born. 16 years later Precision Auto Glass has three locations and over 30 employees.
Zack Simonsen and Chris Bryson were both raised in Davis County, and both presently have homes there. They each are married and have three children with almost identical ages. Both are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy activities like hunting, fishing, rock climbing, ATVs and many others.
Chris’ background and training dates back to when he was a teenager. Zack’s previous experience was in sales and business. Their combination in talent and desire to provide the highest level of customer service has led to many happy customers and repeat business over the years.
They started out working together in a single natural gas van.
After several years they were able to open their first physical location, on Highway 193 in Layton. They worked there for several years before opening a second physical location in Centerville in 2021 at 1301 West and 50 South, between I-15 and The Legacy Highway. In 2022, they moved their Layton location to 1620 W. Hill Field Rd where they presently operate. Last December, they were able to open their 3rd location at 124 20th Street in Ogden. They have plans to expand into other areas of the state as opportunities present themselves. Friendship has been one of the keys to their success. That combined with their desire to work hard and take good care of their customers has helped them grow at a surprising rate these last five years.
Precision Auto Glass tries to provide the best combination of pricing, service and quality workmanship to give its customers top value for their product and services. Their top value is creating a customer base that wants to use them over and over again. They want to prove to their customers that “Your best decision is to Choose Precision.”
Utah Dumped Ducks Duck Network’s mission to save domesticated ducks
By Shania Emmett | s.emmett@mycityjournals.com
There are many ponds throughout the cities of Farmington, Centerville, and Bountiful. One major thing they all have in common is a large number of geese and ducks waddling or swimming around. But some of those feathery friends, mainly the geese, are not meant to be there. They were released by people who either couldn’t take care of them anymore or – in the more unfortunate cases, did not care for them anymore as pets and believed that they would be better suited for the ponds.
But, there is a group in Davis County that is trying to teach people about how they can help these ducks and educate them on what happens when visitors of the various ponds leave domesticated ducks behind.
“So in October 2022, I started the Utah Dumped Ducks Duck Network group,” Marisa Loertscher, the creator said. “And what it essentially is, is just a Facebook group. But I had been fostering ducks. I’d started fostering ducks for the nonprofit, Wasatch Wanderers, and noticing that there’s just dumped domestic ducks all over Utah. Especially in Davis County. Then learning about the difference between dumped domestic ducks and wild ducks and seeing that they need help to survive through the winter.”
Just a few people can't take care of all of Utah, she said. “So I started the Utah Dump Ducks Network group on Facebook, and essentially it’s just community members coming together, offering to go out daily or whenever they can during the winter. And we just schedule to feed the dumped pets, ducks, and geese at the ponds in Utah in the winter.”
The Utah Dumped Ducks Duck Network has undergone research and found out a few facts that many people don’t know and some information that would be helpful for park and pond goers to keep these domesticated ducks safe and out of the ponds.
“After talking with several people and doing a bit of research it was found out that it is actually illegal to dump ducks, most people aren’t aware of this law though,” Lorri Blanc a member of the Utah Dumped Ducks Duck Network said. “Causing them to inadvertently dump their domesticated ducks without realizing it. Another little-known fact is that domesticated ducks aren’t able to survive as well as
wild ducks. They don’t have the survival instincts nor the ability to fly north for the winter.”
“One of the sad things is that the domestic ducks, have to fight for their food in the winter, too,” Chelsea Condi, another member of the Network said. “Against the wild ducks mainly, because there are so many wild ducks, and they can get up and fly and they go away and eat and come back. But the domestic ducks can’t do that.”
There seems to be a lot of information that people can learn about in order to limit the number of domesticated ducks that get dumped into the local ponds. If just one duck can be saved each day or once a week, many of
THE CITY JOURNALS TEAM
The City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS USPS and our Bountiful office.
these feathery friends have better chances at long healthy lives. A few other ways people can help solve this issue is by not feeding the ducks things such as bread or most human foods, picking up trash and random fishing hooks and fishing lines that end up floating in the waters, and finally learning more about domesticated ducks as a whole so they can spot the difference between wild ones and domesticated. l
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EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN
Ty Gorton
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DAVIS JOURNAL
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Some dumped ducks with wild baby ducks.
Wounds on a dumped domesticated duck. Courtesy photos
It takes a lot to become an “ace” pilot in combat. It takes courage, determination, skill, and five or more enemy kills in the field. Davis County, and Farmington more specifically, are home to one of the more impressive American fighter aces of World War II: Colonel Glenn T. Eagleston.
Born and raised in Farmington, Eagleston had joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1940 at age 19, and by the time the United States entered the war in 1941, he had already become a second lieutenant. This young man would enter the war as a commander, and pilot of his own aircraft: the famous P-51 Mustang.
The hotrod of military aircraft, the Mustang was a highly coveted aircraft amongst flyers of the day. With a greater range than many other fighter aircraft, plus a top speed of 440 mph, it was easy to see why so many pilots wanted to get behind the controls. Second Lt. Eagleston didn’t just get behind the controls, however: he found his home there.
Over the course of one short year, Eagleston was able to achieve the designation of “fighter ace,”downing the requisite five enemy aircraft all in his Mustang, “Feeble Eagle,” and earning him the rank of Captain. Eagleston wasn’t done yet, though. By the end of 1944, Eagleston had a confirmed 8 ½ kills to his name, including an intense
The fighter ace from Farmington
By Braden Nelsen | braden.n@mycityjournals.com
dogfight in October 1944, in which the pilot downed BF 109s in the space of 30 minutes.
By the end of his service in the Second World War, Eagleston would add 10 more kills to his total, plus two more probable kills, seven damaged aircraft, and at least five enemy aircraft on the ground. Eagleston would go on to serve honorably in the Korean War as well, attaining the rank of Colonel before his retirement, and adding two more to his downed enemy aircraft total, for a career of 20.5 by 1967.
Colonel Eagleston remains one of the highest decorated veterans from Davis County, including such honors as the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the French Croix de Guerre, and a Distinguished Service Cross, among many others. As his citation for the Distinguished Service Cross read, Colonel Eagleston’s “unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.”
In May of 1991, the Colonel passed away at the age of 71. In accordance with his service, and wishes, he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. l
April 7, 1944. Public domain
Touchless crosswalk buttons provide safety, accessibility
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
Crossing an intersection has now become easier and safer for pedestrians with Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) new radar-enabled crosswalk buttons. The accessible pedestrian signal (APS) technology can be activated by nodding or waving without the need for pushing a button. It also triggers an audible function that says “wait” or “walk sign is on.” UDOT is one of the first in the nation to implement widespread use of this technology.
“We call them ‘talkable buttons,’” said Mike Blanchette, UDOT traffic engineer. “There is a speaker built in that gives real time feedback on the status of the walk signal.”
Pedestrians can also activate the button with the PedApp. According to UDOT, the app provides live supplemental information at crosswalks such as the amount of walking time remaining or the street name.
APS also gives cues on pedestrian direction, eastbound, etc., said Blanchette. “It has a pulsing, ticking sound to help them to orient themselves to begin crossing and points them straight toward the sounds.”
It started out to help pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired or have hearing loss or other disabilities, he said. “It could help them know when to cross.
It would take the visual information and transfer that to help them navigate more safely and comfortably and tell them when to walk or not to walk and when the countdown is active.”
Downtown Salt Lake currently has signals that beep when it is time to cross.
“That’s older technology,” he said. “It’s essentially the same but it’s been improved upon. The audible signal might say ‘wait to cross.’ It’s got more features.”
The APS has doppler radar which gives the ability to set the distance from the signal, Blanchette said. “There was someone in a Provo rehabilitation center who contacted us in 2023. He doesn’t have movement of his limbs so he couldn’t push the button. We put the doppler out front and extended the range to 20 inches so he could just create motion like nodding his head. We can also dial it back so that it’s not quite as sensitive, it's more intentional.”
“I’m glad UDOT added the touchless crosswalk buttons,” said Kris Johnson, the wheelchair-bound man in Provo. “It’s made crossing the street much safer for me and several other residents at the care center.”
It also has a lock out feature for weather, he said. “It helps disable it if there’s rain or snow so it doesn’t trigger it.”
During COVID people didn’t want to touch the button, said Blanchette. “This benefits both worlds, pedestrians can activate it without touching the button. It gives the option to touch the button or wave with the radar.”
It’s another way to improve safety, he said. “It’s not just for the disabled. Research done at Portland State University shows that the audible cue helps able-body pedestrians start walking four seconds earlier from the curb when it’s time to walk. It wakes up a pedestrian that might not be paying attention.”
UDOT has installed over 1,000 buttons at nearly 250 intersections with plans to install APS technology at every signalized intersection on state routes by 2023, said Blanchette. “A lot of our funding comes from the legislature but we get some federal dollars for the new technology. We have about $800,000 to use a year.”
Blanchette said when UDOT redoes an intersection they will install the new signal. “Currently we aren’t using a targeted approach unless someone has a special request. We’d like the public with an intersection near them that they want to get the APS in to contact us. We want it to start benefiting those who need it.”
For more information on how to get the PedApp go to https://polara.com/pedapp. To make an online request for an APS visit udot.utah.gov. l
Lt. Col. Glenn T. Eagleston, 3133 Poplar Blvd., Alhambra, Calif., one of the leading 9th AF aces, in his North American P-51 Mustang 'Feeble Eagle' 44-63607 at an advanced base in Ober Olm, Germany on
Kris Johnson, a man who lives in a Provo rehabilitation center, is unable to push the cross walk button so the new APS system will makes crossing the street much safer for him and several other residents at the care center. Photo courtesy of UDOT
Centerville City honors All-Star Baseball Champions
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
TheCenterville All-Stars Baseball Team was recognized by Mayor Clark Wilkinson and the city council at their Oct. 1 meeting. The first/second-grade team took first place at the Northern Utah All-Star Baseball Championship played July 15-19 at Ellison Park in Layton. The Centerville team played against three Layton teams, two Kaysville teams and a Syracuse team in the tournament.
The Centerville players had to participate in the city’s spring season and try out to make the All-Star team. They practiced throughout the summer before playing in the tournament.
“Thank you for allowing the kiddos to play,” coach Zac Fisher, who had two sons on the team, told the city council. “It was an absolute honor to be able to coach these guys.”
Getting ready for the tournament was a challenge, Fisher said. He had expected he was going to have as many as 40 kids show up for tryouts but just 11 did. That meant they each had to work particularly hard, he said.
“My favorite thing is you know we're talking to the other coaches as we’re playing, and they had 30 and 40 and 150 kids showing up and we had 11 kids and they grinded.
We had practice two days a week and we put the effort in.”
The team was composed of Chase Butters, Houston Cook, Jarom Cook, Cy Fisher, McCoy Fisher, Brody Gardner, Cole Hansen, Miles Ingram, Logan Kolendar, Bode Lackey and Everett Reese.
“The parents have talked [with] me and my assistant coach,” Fisher said. “It was probably the most fun week of our entire life watching these boys just play baseball the way it’s supposed to be: work hard, listen, pay attention. As you know, for first and second graders that's not the easiest thing in the world but it was so fun to watch them.”
“We’re here tonight because of these guys,” he said. “They absolutely baled out and worked their butts off and are champions and they deserve everything they’re getting.”l
The first/second-grade Centerville All-Stars Baseball team, pictured with Mayor Clark Wilkinson, were recognized at the Oct. 1 city council meeting after winning in their division at the Northern Utah All-Star Baseball Championship. Courtesy photo/Centerville City
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Centerville gives businesses and residents longer to pay overdue drainage fees
Centerville City has given some businesses and residents more time to pay drainage (stormwater) and sub drain fees they may have unwittingly owed. Earlier this year the city conducted an audit of drainage utility fees for all commercial and non-single family residential utility accounts and discovered many of these accounts were not paying the correct amount. Some of the accounts had been misbilled for as long as 20 years, but the city is only seeking the fees going back four years (the time allowed by the statute of limitations). Residents with single-family homes have borne an undue burden and the situation needs to be rectified, city council members say.
“We want to make sure that there was a fairness equalization across the board,” City Councilmember Spence Summerhays said at an Oct. 1 city council meeting. “… If we had as a city found that somebody had overpaid us and we didn't remit it, it feels the same as somebody on the flip side knowing that the city wasn’t charging them enough and not paying it. We are dishonest on both fronts.”
Council member Gina Hirst agreed.
“As hard as it is there is the other side
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
which would be just the same story,” she said.
The city has also raised drainage fees by about 50 percent, even though more is needed, they say.
“We’re only going up 50 percent versus a doubling rate because our hope is to find grant funding or other mechanisms out there so we’re not putting all the burden on the residents, but this will give us an opportunity to find those funds,” City Manager Brant Hanson said.
A letter was sent out around Sept. 1 to 220 account holders informing some that they had a credit because they had been overcharged and others that they needed to pay the uncollected fees. The city gave those people three options to pay the overdue amount. They could pay the entire amount and receive a 15 percent discount for doing so; pay it off over 12 months and get a 5 percent discount or they could work out a payment plan with finance fees with the city. As of Oct. 1, 49 accounts have been paid; 47 paid in full to take advantage of the 15 percent discount, Finance Director Nate Plaizier told the council.
ImagineCenterville resident and business owner Jeff Cook addressed the council at a Sept. 17 work session where the issue was discussed. It’s a lot more than not giving the affected account owners sufficient time to pay, he said.
“What you guys have done, I think is reprehensible,” he said. “You've raised the rates, on the notices that I've gotten, anywhere from 300 to 600 percent – seems like you should be more up on what you’re doing business wise with your fees than that. If you’ve been out that far, that long, shame on you.”
Cook cannot go back to his customers and recoup that money, he said. “I’ve been in business for over 50 years, and I have never once gone back and charged people four years ago because we looked and realized maybe we hadn’t been charging what we should.”
Cook is not the only one affected, he said.
“My mother is 96 years old; she’s a widow,” he said. “You bill her over $21,000 with this going back four years. I just don’t understand that. I don’t know how you can
do that except you’re obviously not business owners. And you know, this doesn’t affect you. It only affects people without a face. I’m really offended by it, very upset.”
The council did not respond to Cook’s comments.
After city council members were contacted by other business owners and residents upset at the charges and the short time they were given to pay, they decided to extend the deadline until Dec. 26. Also, those who pay within 12 months will now be given a 10 percent discount and city staff will work with individual account holders on payment terms where needed.
“We heard heated responses, and we had some debate as council,” Summerhays said. “You know, [with] some self-reflection maybe we could have rolled this out a little better and given staff better direction, and I’ll say that’s on us collectively.” l
Applied Medical Engineering Lab pushing the limits to life-saving care
living in a rural area, hiking in a remote place or taking a family trip away from a city where there are life-saving medical services and needing that help to survive. The University of Utah has just launched a new laboratory called the Applied Medical Engineering (AME) Lab to create cutting-edge medical technology designed to deliver that life-saving care at any location and for any patient with any injury.
“Just being 10 miles from a facility where you don’t have access can make the difference to slow down a heart attack or if you need blood,” said Dr. Jake Jensen, Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Utah. “For example, there are some freezer system treatments that maintain medication that an EMT or field medic doesn’t have access to.”
There is some promising research going on at the U for more portable freezers, he said. “It’s smaller than a mini fridge. It’s more the size of a Rubik’s Cube that is ultra frozen that medics can carry in their pack that can stop hemorrhaging more quickly. Or it can be sidestepped completely with freeze drying to maintain efficiency.”
That is one of the first things being researched through the AME platform is to work on these problems, said Jensen. “Another huge one is lightweight robotics. There are so many applications.”
If an EMT or field medic is triaging pa-
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
tients in the field, there’s usually only one field medic or just one or two EMTs, he said. “If they’re treating multiple patients they have to spread out life saving measures that require more than one medic. The EMT has to make the choice whether to continue applying pressure to stop blood flow or get bandages from his pack. A lightweight robotic arm with controlled voice (AI) command could apply pressure, etc. A single provider then becomes more than one.”
The U of U has been a leader in robotics
for a long time, Jensen said. “We have already developed robotic legs, arms, etc. that are high functioning mostly for prosthetics. It’s amazing technology but we decided to branch out and ask ‘where else could this be useful? What problems can we solve?’”
Who hasn’t been in a situation where they couldn't use three hands? he said. “Take movers. A lightweight robotic arm would allow them to move safer and faster. The functionality for multiple people is incredibly exciting.”
Another area of AME application is men-
tal health. “It’s an issue from many people,” said Jensen. “But there are noticeable disparities in rural counties. Rural communities have more signs of mental health issues such as suicide than urban areas. This is designed to help mental health. That is huge. People can receive counseling wherever they are and there is a Telehealth component.”
Jensen said the area he’s most excited about is women’s health. “The AME lab is developing technology to assist in maternal and infant survival. There’s been work in this for over 100 years, but there’s been little progress in infant and maternal mortality. You’d think we’d be further along.”
Think about a baby and mom that don’t have access to medical facilities, he said. “They live too far away from treatment that could have saved their life. Ten miles could be the difference between if a mother or infant dies. If treatment is available we need to use it.”
The AME lab showcased its groundbreaking work at the 47G Zero Gravity Summit held on Thursday.
47G promotes and advocates for companies in Utah that are developing the next generation of aerospace, defense and cyber technologies, said Aaron Starks, 47G president and CEO. “Our partnership with the University of Utah’s AME Lab reflects our commitment to collaborate on applied research that will directly benefit Americans serving around the world and right here at home.” l
A concept photo shows how the robotic arm can be used by medics in the field. The arm is just one of many cutting-edge medical technologies being developed by the AME Lab. Courtesy AI image
New roads pave the way for economic development of North Farmington Station
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
Plans for North Farmington Station are coming together and the opening of two new roads last week helped put the pieces into place. Innovator Drive and Maker Way, north of Burke Lane, represents the largest public infrastructure initiative in the city's history.
The roads improve community traffic on Shepard Lane to the interchange, said City Manager Brigham Mellor. “It gets traf-
fic off of that road. That’s the biggest benefit. They also provide the infrastructure for North Farmington Station with all of the utilities so that it is ready for development.”
North Farmington Station, northwest of Farmington Station and Station Park, will be mixed use with office space, commercial and housing, Mellor said. “We’re not trying to build Station Park. The lion’s share of retail will be there. Housing will buoy that up.”
Basically this is allowing the city to meet compliance to the state initiative on housing, he said. “Planning for that housing we’re building the infrastructure that can handle it. It makes sense because we have FrontRunner and the bus route and the interchange there.”
They originally started Station Park in 2007, said Farmington Mayor Brett Anderson. “People said it would be foolish to build a new development during a recession but it worked.”
It’s a natural twin sibling north of Station Park, he said. “The next section has businesses and housing. We anticipate a $3 billion investment from the private sector for the commercial, office and housing component. They’ll live here, go to work and keep things vibrant with nighttime after work evening activities to have a thrilling community.”
Ultimately, until the road opened there was no access to the property, said Mellor. “With the utilities in place it’s ready to develop.”
It won’t be just traditional housing, he said. “The building plans for the type of population and demographics. People want to live in this type of housing. It meets the evolving housing we need in the state of
Utah.”
The tax increment is exponentially larger than the city gets from raw ground, Anderson said. “Houses don’t make the money, commercial development makes the money to pay for the needs of the city. It’s 10 fold what we can make on the same lot size in a residential neighborhood.”
Some people don’t want the city to grow, they like a small town, he said. “It’s a great place to live. The secret is out. As people come we have to build the infrastructure with roads, water, police department, etc. that would have to raise tax revenue. This commercial development is a way to pay for growth so taxes aren’t on the backs of the residents. That’s a heavy load.”
Anderson said he doesn't like congestion or crowds either. “To assume we’re not going to grow is not realistic.”
There is so much demand for these things, he said. “It seems the odds are in our favor. Before these roads opened it was just an old dirt road. If you try to pitch it to an anchor tenant they look at it and say ‘this is just a field.’ Now we actually have something to show them and say ‘look at the access to the freeway.’ It’s a totally different conversation.”
It will take about 10 years to complete buildout, said Anderson. “When the recent increase in interest rates slow down and stabilize the economic environment will improve. It has to be right.”
There is nothing like it north of Salt Lake or Hill Air Force Base, he said. “It’s a unique thing and Station Park and this project will feed off of each other.”
It’s a big positive deal for Farmington, said Anderson. “It’s exciting and scary.” l
An aerial view of the new roads that give access to North Farmington Station. The mixed use project is north of the retail development Station Park.
City leaders and residents gather for the ribbon cutting to officially open Innovator Drive in Farmington. Photos courtesy of Farmington City.
Centerville Police Department replaces some of its fleet
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
The Centerville Police Department recently ordered three new vehicles for its fleet: two Police Responders (Police F150s). and a Ford Explorer. The two F150s will be used by patrol sergeants and replace Police Interceptor Utilities vehicles. The Ford Explorer will be used by new Police Chief Allen Ackerson.
The cost came in at $187,285 which was below the budgeted amount of $196,650.
“When we asked for the budget we were expecting the manufacturer [to] raise the price and they did but probably not as high as what we had planned,” Lt. Will Barnes told the city council Oct. 1. “So, it looks like we’re going to be coming in underneath which can be good. Sometimes unforeseen things come up when you get these new vehicles expecting them to come
a certain way and then the equipment that you already own doesn’t quite fit, but we don’t expect any of that.”
One of the pick-ups will cost about $3,000 more than the other because it will include a new 800 MHz radio. The department tries where possible to move equipment over from old vehicles, he said in answer to a question from council on the cost. The department has been gradually replacing the radios in its vehicles to comply with a state mandate to be compatible with a new state system, he said.
“We have been switching out the radios over time,” he said. “That’s the last one of the old ones and we’re getting down to the wire on those not being able to work anymore with the new radio system that that is coming in with the state.” l
Centerville Police Department’s two patrol sergeants are getting new pick-ups. Courtesy photo/Centerville City
This Ford Explorer will be assigned to Centerville Police Chief Allen Ackerson when it comes in. Courtesy photo/Centerville City
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More than a memory – Josie’s Angels provides hope and healing for grieving parents
By Shania Emmett | s.emmett@mycityjournals.com
Whenparents experience the still birth of their child it can be one of the most heartbreaking things they can go through. The devastating loss can be overwhelming. An organization called Josie’s Angels was created to make the grieving process a bit easier.
“Nov. 25, 2021 my second daughter, Josie Lea Ann, passed away during labor, three hours before she was born (on Thanksgiving Day),” said Jennifer Rader, the creator of Josie’s Angels. “A few months passed by in complete grief, but quickly turned into a desire for action and to help others who were experiencing our same type of loss. It came from wanting to ‘pay forward’ the love and compassion and support we were shown during our darkest time.”
In February 2022 the final design for Josie’s Angels was created, she said. “I started making Angels in my home to send to other ‘loss parents’ that we learned of through friends and family. I started making these angels with my mother-in-law, Jina, as a way to clear my head and be able to sit in silence while dealing with my grief. We expanded to making and selling bracelets, and entered craft shows to raise additional funds to be able to make even more angels to donate.”
Rader said they knew that their daughter had a genetic condition and would likely not survive long after birth. “When we shared this news with family and friends, and publicly, we received so much support and love from people that we knew, and even people that we didn’t know. It was so important to us that we repay all those people in a way that ‘paid forward’ their support to us. In the hospital, on the day we lost Josie, the hospital
gave us a bag of items to commemorate our daughter’s life. I knew immediately that we wanted to contribute something to a bag like that. We donate our Josie’s Angels to organizations that work directly with the hospitals including Utah Share and Share Parents of Utah, in addition to sending Josie’s Angels directly to individuals who are experiencing a loss.”
Already Josie’s Angels has helped many parents get through the grieving process or at least it has helped bring a bit of peace and solace to them knowing they can honor the child they lost, Rader said. “We offer things like rings that can have your child’s birthstone, memory bracelets and even charms in the shape of angels that can have your child’s name on it.”
Rader said receiving that bag of items from other families who had dealt with a loss like theirs gave them hope. “It told us that we were not alone. It told us that there will be ways to honor our daughter in the future. I hope that when someone opens a Josie’s Angel from us that they have those feelings as well. I hope that they understand that there is life after the immense amount of grief they are feeling at the moment. The grief never fully goes away, but as much as you feel like you will not be able to go on, it is proof that you can.”
This year they will be hosting their second Angel Making Day Event on Josie’s Third Angel Day. “Last year we invited about 50 friends and family to our house and everyone made Angels and celebrated our girl (we made 337 Angels in a few hours),” she said. “This year we hope to make it even bigger and make even more Angels! We also offer Angel Making Events for youth groups,
churches, teams, and company days of giving. We bring out the supplies and people can spend time making Angels and donating their time to an amazing cause. I know how important the support from others felt for me throughout our journey, and I wanted to be
vocal about it and loudly support others to help them understand that they are not alone, their feelings are valid, and their baby existed and matters. I hope that our mission helps people to feel supported.” l
One of the charms made by Josie’s Angels. Photos courtesy of Jennifer Rader
Jennifer Rader mourns at the funeral of her baby Josie Lea Ann. Rader created Josie’s Angels to help other parents who have lost a child.
Mayor presents check to Farmington Rotary Club
One of Farmington City Council’s community partners, the Farmington Utah Rotary Club, put on a car show for a good cause. During the City Council meeting on Oct. 1, 2024, Rotary Club President Justin Jones, in tandem with former President and current Secretary David Stringfellow, gave a presentation on the Rotary Club’s 2024 service projects. The presentation culminated in a review of one of the club’s most outstanding recent projects: organizing the Car Show for Farmington City’s Festival Days.
Festival Days, which took place this past summer from July 8-13, 2024, is Farmington’s annual community celebration. Featuring a carnival, a parade, a lineup of Utah-based musicians, and a host of outdoor activities, the festival brings together local talent and national sponsors for a week’s worth of fun and fundraising. Each year for the festival, a community partner is selected to champion the annual Car Show.
This year, the Rotary Club partnered with 93.3 The Bull radio station to put on the greatly-anticipated event, transforming the length of Farmington Historic Main Street into an exhibit of eye-catching, locally-owned cars. As part of their City Council presentation, Jones and Stringfellow announced that the proceeds from the event will go to the Rotary Club’s mission
By Camille Bassett | c.bassett@mycityjournals.com
of ending polio worldwide.
The Farmington Utah Rotary Club is part of the global organization Rotary International, whose mission is to promote world understanding, provide service, and build community at the local, national, and international level. As one of the largest service organizations in the world and a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary Interna-
tional has played a monumental role in fighting polio across the globe, helping to reduce cases by 99.9% since its first vaccination effort in 1979, with the goal of one day eliminating the disease entirely.
Polio, which primarily affects children under the age of 5, was all but eradicated in 2023 until recent international conflicts led to severe outbreaks, prompting Rotary Interna-
tional to renew its efforts to fight the disease in 2024. For impacted children, the complications can be devastating and lifelong, often leading to paralysis. “We want to do everything that we can to help prevent that,” Stringfellow said during the presentation. “For about a quarter, you can vaccinate a kid, so they won’t have to have that disease.”
In addition to the Festival Day’s Car Show, the local chapter of Rotary International promoted the organization’s annual fundraiser for World Polio Day on Oct. 24, 2024. Established by Rotary International to raise awareness about polio and the necessity of the polio vaccine, World Polio Day helps bring attention to worldwide efforts to ensure that vulnerable children and communities receive the care they need. Through all of these contributions, the Farmington Utah Rotary Club did its part to advance the service initiatives of Rotary International.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Mayor Brett Anderson gave Jones and Stringfellow the check for the proceeds earned at the Festival Days Car Show. The check, totaling $500, marks Farmington Utah Rotary Club and Rotary International’s most recent contribution to this important global cause. l
The Rotary Club and the City Council gather for a picture with the check. Photo courtesy of Paul Roberts, City Attorney, Farmington City Council
The State Board of Higher Education rolled out a new program Oct. 4 called Admit Utah, that guarantees high school graduates admission to at least one of the 16 public universities, colleges or technical colleges in the state. The concept is to help remove any barriers to students receiving a college education.
“Admit Utah marks a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure that every Utah student has access to a quality college education,” Utah Board of Higher Education member Cydni Tetro said in a statement. “This platform will provide students with even more clarity and simplicity in the college application process, empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations with confidence.”
Utah follows several other states that have instituted similar direct or guaranteed admissions to public colleges with Idaho being the first in 2015. The hope is to reach students who might not have been considering higher education.
In Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties three institutions are taking the state’s initiative even further by creating the Northern Wasatch Collegiate Coalition, comprising Weber State University, Davis Technical College and Ogden-Weber Technical Col-
State implements direct admissions program
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
lege to launch a direct admissions program for 10,000 high school seniors.
“We’re working with our four school district partners and charter schools and private schools in our region,” said Weber State University president, Brad Mortensen at a kickoff celebration last week. “So what that means is in the next few weeks, 10,000 high school seniors in Weber, Davis and Morgan counties will be receiving letters of admittance to our three institutions without ever filling out an admissions application or paying an application fee.”
This means a great deal to students who may wonder if they’re college material or who are scared about filling out high school or college admissions applications, he said.
“That’s no longer a barrier to them. We think this will provide great promise to the students in our region to take advantage of that guarantee that college is really available to everyone.”
“Our community is stronger with accessible, quality higher education,” said Darin Brush, Davis Technical College president.
“Fortunately our region enjoys three nationally recognized higher education institutions and we’ve harnessed this advantage for collective impact in Northern Utah.”
In Utah, nearly 40% of our high school
students don’t enroll in higher education within three years after graduation, he said. “We want to change that. After three years the likelihood that they ever will drops dramatically. We also want our kids who don’t think they are cut out for college to understand that we want them at our institutions and that we are committed to their success.”
“We’re also launching two additional programs to streamline the transition for students who might choose to go to one of our technical college partners first and then hope to pursue an associates or a bachelor’s degree at Weber State,” said Mortensen. “The first of those programs is called jumpstart. What that means is for students who are taking their certificate program at a technical college, they can take core general education courses through Weber State University for the same tuition that they pay at the technical college which is $95 per credit hour.”
That’s a lot less than what they would pay once they came to the university, he said. “So jumpstart will really help students who are in the technical college who know they want to go on to get an associates or bachelor's degree.”
The second program is called tech transfer, Mortensen said. “That is for students who have completed their certificate
at one of our technical colleges to transfer up to 21 general education elective credits toward their associates or bachelor’s degree at Weber State.”
Again that is a huge cost savings for those students, he said. “They don’t have to pay to take those credits and elective courses over again. It also is a huge time savings as far as them being able to be quicker at progressing through their degree.”
Mortensen said between the direct admissions program, jumpstart and tech transfer, this will do tremendous things in the region. “We are being a model for the state and country that’s streamlining and improving higher education access.”
Data shows that over the next five to 10 years, there will be a big increase in the number of jobs in the workforce that require some type of post secondary certificate or degree, he said. “We know that we have to entice more of our population to come to college and get a degree in order to meet the workforce needs that we have in the state. We also know that there is no better pathway for people to improve their economic ability than through education.” l
Ogden High School senior Grace Malan shakes hands with Waldo the Wildcat, Weber State University’s mascot at a kickoff celebration for the direct admissions program. Malan has already been accepted to WSU and has also received a scholarship to the school. Photo by Becky Ginos
Don’t let winter stop you from getting into the mountains
The nights are getting crips, and the shadows are growing longer, but the “off-season” can be the best time to get out and explore the local trails. Late fall through early spring can be an excellent time to enjoy some of the many trails that Farmington has to offer. With easy access to Farmington Canyon just minutes from the valley floor, these trails can offer an excellent opportunity to stay active throughout the off-season. As the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches, the crowds on the trails will also fall back just like the pending hour on our clocks. With fewer people hitting the trails during this timeframe, you get a little deeper sense of solitude and more opportunities to see wildlife that you may not encounter during the peak season. As with all outdoor activities, be sure to dress appropriately for the current conditions and take the same necessary precautions as you normally would. When snow is present, it can be a good idea to carry Yak tracks, or micro spikes for additional traction on some of the steeper portions of the trails.
Flag Rock via Firebreak Road: Choose your own adventure
Flag Rock, via Firebreak Road, has something to offer for everyone looking to explore the many trails that Farmington has to offer. This dog-friendly, action-packed trail offers fantastic views of the Davis County area, including Antelope Island, Farmington Bay WMA, and the Great Salt Lake. Of course, you are also treated to a majestic view featuring the American Flag atop a rocky outcropping, mounted at the same height that the World Trade Center stood in New York City, prior to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This is an outstanding hike or trail run that can be completed as an out-and-back or looped trail. There are several access points for this hike, giving you plenty of options to choose from. The most popular route starts south of the trail from the Davis Creek Trailhead parking lot. The first mile of the trail is relatively flat and follows along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). The trail crosses over Steed Creek before hitting the fork that leads to the main Flag Rock Trail, noted by a trail marker featuring an American Flag. The trail becomes adventurous from this point and becomes challenging as it begins to gain elevation quickly. During the ascent, there is an off shoot of the trail that leads over to Patsy’s Mine. This was an old mine that was built by Patsy Morely in the early 1900s in hopes of finding silver. A once explorable mine, the entrance has recently been closed off and is no longer accessible. After you return to the main trail, you will continue up several more switchbacks before finally reaching the top of the hike, where the flag stands. At this point you can choose to return the same way you came up or take the trail to the north that loops back down to Firebreak Road. This is a great trail for anyone looking to add a little challenge to their winter hiking and gives you the ability to choose how you want to explore it.
Firebreak Road (BST): Always reliable and rewarding Firebreak Road and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail are great resources for access to dirt trails when we begin to get some heavy snowfall. The road intertwines with the BST in several places and can be accessed from several points in the community. This trail offers a bit of a more mellow experience while staying lower in elevation and avoiding hefty climbs. A popular access point to Firebreak Road as a hike or trail run can be found via the mouth of Farmington Canyon. There is Bonneville Shoreline Trail access via the Farm Mountain Bike Park, or you can start from the Skyline Drive parking lot. You can head south along the BST from this point and as it intersects Firebreak Road, there are dirt options all the way to Bountiful via this trail. It is relative-
By Tommy Rivas | t.rivas@mycityjournals.com
ly flat in most places, with some sections containing some descent ascents depending on how long or what portion of the trail you are on. This is a great route during peak winter season when higher elevation trails are snow packed, or conditions don’t permit safe access on foot.
Davis
Creek Trail: Farmington’s waterfall
The Davis Creek Trail is a classic Farmington area hike that leads to a beautiful large waterfall. This is considered a strenuous and challenging route, especially in the off months when trail conditions are not the greatest. Due to some portions of this trail, it is best accessed in early winter or spring, depending on the snow conditions. Dogs may accompany you on this trail and may be off leash in some areas. The trail is approximately 2.7 miles out-and-back with several smaller waterfalls along the way. The north side of the trail can be hazardous, so it is recommended to stick to the south side of the trail which is marked well and typically traveled year-round. This is a beautiful trail that rolls through thick wooded areas with beautiful views the entire way. This trail can get hot during peak season, so it is nice to enjoy during the cooler months and helps to cut down on the crowds. Sometimes overlooked in the winter, this is always a beautiful trail worth exploring. l
The off-season can be the best time to get out and explore local trails. Davis Creek Waterfall
Flag Rock Overlook. Courtesy photos
Firebreak Road
Looking for a way to perfect that golf swing? Tee Box might just be the answer. The 24/7 facility, recently opened in Centerville, offers putting green areas, hitting bays with screens that analyze a golfer’s swing, club speed, etc. and also a gym. The location is home to the Corporate Headquarters in the back with the Tee Box in the front.
“It was started in South Weber for golf improvement for youth,” said Colby Kendell, head of marketing for Tee Box. “All of the locations have gyms. We’re avid believers there is a correlation between fitness to help fuel the body and promote health. Kids do 30 minutes of fitness and 30 minutes of golf.”
Kendall said they noticed parents bringing their kids were very interested as well so they moved into creating offerings for adults as well. “Families can come and while kids work on their game, parents golf and use the gym.”
“I’m a big golfer and my son plays for Viewmont,” said Blake Barnes, a golf coach at Viewmont who runs the Centerville Tee Box. “You can play the course and if you want to improve your game it kind of shoots you out on the range in real time. It shows you how you hit the ball and you can connect
Tee Box golf facility opens in Centerville
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
and play courses from all over the world.”
It’s cool technology, he said. “You can join tournaments and have leagues in real time.”
“We have club fittings and lessons,” said Kendell. “There are different combinations for different games.”
There are six Tee Box locations, he said. “We opened one in Kaysville and membership is almost full. It opened our eyes to Davis County and how many golfers love it.”
Kendall said they chose Centerville for the headquarters because it’s so central between Ogden and Salt Lake City. “We found a building right off of I-15 and it was the perfect size. It also had enough square footage for a Tee Box location as well. We love being here. There are so many high schools – we’re creating a community.”
It’s very rewarding, he said. “It’s fun to see the high school kids get so good. They play all over the state.”
Tee Box is located at 702 W. 400 South, Centerville. For more information visit tbx. golf. l
Photo 1: Photo 2: Tee Box also has a gym available at the Centerville location that is open 24/7. Courtesy photos
Screens show golfers how they hit the ball and they can connect and play courses from all over the world.
Courtesy photo
Viewmont’s girls soccer season ends with heartbreaking playoff loss
By Josh McFadden | joshdmcfadden@hotmail.com
It’salways tough to lose a game, but on the soccer field, shootout defeats can be especially painful.
That’s how the Viewmont girls team’s season concluded.
The Vikings, playing at home as the No. 13 seed, faced 20th seed Salem Hills in the first round of the Class 5A state tournament Oct. 10. Viewmont had an up-anddown regular season, going 9-8 overall and 8-6 in league play, placing fourth in Region 5. Meanwhile, Salem Hills, out of Region 7, was 6-10 entering the contest. The SkyHawks placed last in their region.
But as is often the case in tournament action, the unexpected can happen.
Viewmont struck first when Alauna Titensor scored a goal off an assist from Tally Smith in the opening half. Up 1-0 at halftime, Viewmont couldn’t find the back of the
net in the second half. Salem Hills knotted things up before the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime. After two scoreless sessions, penalty kicks would decide the outcome. By the closest of margins, Salem Hills made four penalty kicks to Viewmont’s three, denying the Vikings a chance to advance.
The season ended for Viewmont, as the team finished the year 9-9 overall.
There were some high moments in the season. The Vikings had a big victory on Aug. 29 over Bountiful, winning 1-0 over the eventual region champions. Viewmont ended the regular season with a 3-0 shutout at home over Roy, getting a pair of goals from junior midfielder Annie Layton and a goal from senior Brooklyn Jones. Titensor and senior Mazie Tullis had assists. Goalie Susan Lamb capped a successful season with
Fora shutout.
This past season, Viewmont also posted six shutouts in league play and allowed just 25 goals in 18 games this season. The Vikings were competitive even in defeat, as the team had three losses by a single goal and lost three games in shootouts.
Viewmont had 10 goal-scorers this season, with Layton leading the team with nine goals. Fellow junior midfielder Lucy Morris had three goals and two assists, while junior Raegan Rast also had three goals. Junior Tally Smith had a team-high five assists and added two goals. Tullis had a pair of goals and three assists.
The strong defense had some standout performers, with Lamb headlining the group. The junior had eight shutouts and now has 11 in her career.
In 2025, the Vikings will have a solid
group of returning starters and contributors, with its top three scorers and leader in assists coming back for their senior years. Other returning players in 2025 with varsity experience will be freshman Avery Tyler, sophomore Savannah Randall and junior Kamree Day.
Many of Viewmont’s players play club ball in the offseason, so there won’t be much time off from the sport. Underclassmen returning to the team in 2025 will begin workouts in July in preparation for the season in August. The Vikings will once again compete in Class 5A’s Region 5 against Davis County rivals Bountiful and Woods Cross, among other foes. l
Shootout losses end the season for Farmington girls soccer
By Josh McFadden | joshdmcfadden@hotmail.com
the second year in a row, the Farmington girls soccer team finished the season with a .500 record.
The Phoenix were 9-9 a year ago and followed that up with an 8-8 mark this past season. In 2023, the team advanced to the Class 6A state quarterfinals, while this season’s group barely missed reaching that round again.
On Oct. 15, Farmington, the No. 9 seed in the tournament, played at No. 8 Lehi in what looked like an even matchup. The game certainly played out that way, with both teams scoring in the second half of regulation. Oaklee Stanford scored off an assist from Mo Nielson for Farmington, sending the game into overtime. Neither team put the ball in the net in two extra sessions, so penalty kicks decided which team would move on to the quarterfinals.
Farmington came up short.
Lehi outshot the Phoenix in the shootout 4-2, ending the season for Farmington. Pre-
viously, Farmington had lost four games by a single goal.
In Region 1, Farmington was 5-5 finishing in third place. The team was competitive in all its losses and enjoyed some dominant wins along the way. The Phoenix defeated Fremont 6-0 on Sept. 12 and exploded offensively in a 9-2 triumph over Fremont on
Oct. 1. Farmington also scored a big 2-1 win over second-place Syracuse on Sept. 19. It was one of just two region losses for Syracuse this season.
One of the hallmarks of this Farmington team was that it had balanced scoring. Twelve players had goals this season, and 12 players recorded assists. Pacing the team was junior Taytem Grant, who scored nine goals this season. She also added three assists. Stanford, a sophomore, had seven goals and five assists, tied for second on the team. Senior Breklyn Archibald and Nielson, a sophomore, both had five goals. Senior defender Claire Rencher led the Phoenix with six assists. Three different Farmington goalies saw action. Freshman Abigail Child, senior Belle Jones and freshman Olive Wayland each posted a shutout.
With Grant, Stanford and Neilson coming back, along with Child and Wayland at goalkeeper, Farmington could be a team to watch in 2025. Another key contributor this
season was junior Macey Call, who had four goals and an assist. Defender Addisyn Webb will also return. The sophomore was an important defensive player for Farmington, and she added a pair of assists as well.
With multiple close losses, Farmington’s season could have had some different outcomes had the ball bounced its way a few more times. Still, competing in a tough region, the Phoenix more than held their own. In 2025, the team will look to return to its 2022 form when it went 14-6 overall. Head coach Sara Beecher is the program’s second coach since the school opened its doors in 2018. She came on board the following year and has put together a strong 66-38 mark in her career leading the Phoenix.
Farmington will regroup as a team and return next summer for preseason workouts in preparation for the 2025 campaign, which will start in August. l
the backyard extends to I-15 and we only need 10 feet they will still have a lot of usable yard left and it won’t impact the home or structure so we would buy a small portion of the property.”
UDOT is looking at adding sidewalks and better connection to transportation hubs, Romero said. “We’re improving I-15 and related active transportation that’s not here today and to make it safer.”
Romero said UDOT is looking for
ways to incorporate trails, etc. “We take it very seriously to accommodate other modes of transportation and shared use. We’ll also work with local communities to make sure it’s consistent with their active transportation plan to get people around safely.”
It’s a busy stretch, he said. “With a project this size it will take three to four years to complete. Probably closer to four.”
For more information visit i15eis. udot.utah.gov. l
Six local nonprofits to support this holiday season
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Davis
County residents have long demonstrated a commitment to service, upholding the belief that collective action leads to meaningful change and stronger communities.
With hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the area, there are many options to donate time, money or expertise to a cause close to your heart. Take time this month to show gratitude for all you have by supporting one of these charities doing big things along the Wasatch Front.
Bountiful Food Pantry, 480 E. 150 North, Bountiful
Providing food to any Davis County family in need, the Bountiful Food Pantry offers assistance with no questions asked. In 2023, the pantry distributed more than 1.7 million meals and is on track to exceed that number in 2024. Residents can visit the pantry twice each month for a box of groceries. The nonprofit also provides pantry packs to 80 schools in the county, allowing thousands of children to have food for the weekend. Support this organization through monetary or food donations, host a food drive or volunteer to work at the pantry. More information is available at BountifulFoodPantry.org.
Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue
It’s not just cats and dogs being abandoned along the Wasatch Front. Rabbits, domestic ducks, turtles, lizards, chickens, guinea pigs and other animals are often dumped by their owners in the wild, where they don’t survive long. Wasatch Wanderers rescues
Thisthese rejected pets and finds new homes where they can be part of a loving family. Get involved with this organization by adopting or fostering an animal, transporting rescued animals to rescue farms or donating money to their care. Visit WasatchWanderers.org for more information.
Warrior Rising Through strategic partnerships, Warrior Rising helps veterans become thriving business owners. Using a network of professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, the nonprofit created a remote learning platform that uses mentors, coaches, experts and
grant money to provide vets the opportunity to build a successful life after they’ve served the country. Entrepreneurial volunteers are needed to teach skills and help vets through the business start-up process. Find more info at WarriorRising.org.
The Christmas Box International, 3660 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City Open all year, The Christmas Box International is a short-term, emergency shelter helping children suffering from abuse, neglect, trafficking and homelessness. More than 14,000 children were served at the home last year and organizers are always looking
for donations to help support the programs offered including resource rooms and international projects. To honor the children they serve, The Christmas Box International only accepts new donations of clothing, books, toys and toiletries. Monetary donations are also accepted. Learn more at Thechristmasbox.org.
Davis County Library
With seven branches throughout the county, volunteers are always needed at the Davis County Library. Working with library staff, volunteers perform a range of vital services including shelving materials, clerical support, leading story times and helping with library programs. Volunteers 14 and older are invited to work at the library (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Visit daviscountyutah.gov/library/volunteer to sign up.
Fourth Street Clinic, 409 W. 400 South, Salt Lake City
With cold temperatures on the way, people experiencing homelessness will need extra support to stay safe. Fourth Street Clinic provides health care to a population that often doesn’t receive continual medical attention. The clinic accepts donations including travel-size hygiene items, tents, sleeping bags, tarps, gloves and hats, new underwear and warm socks. Monetary donations to Fourth Street Clinic are leveraged to create an additional in-kind donation dollar for every $1 raised. Learn more at FourthStreetClinic.org. l
Bright economic numbers signal a strong holiday shopping season
fall’s better-than-expected economic showing is good news for the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Retail sales rose 0.4% in September, beating analysts’ expectations. Meanwhile, the economy added a remarkable 254,000 jobs in the month – 100,000 more than most forecasters predicted. The national unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% in August to 4.1% in September, while wages accelerated to 4% in September compared to 3.8% the previous month.
Bolstered by a strong job market, winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s in line with historical averages and similar to Deloitte’s 2024 projection of 2.3% to 3.3% sales growth. Most of the growth will be driven by online purchases, which are expected to jump 7% to 9% over 2023.
Holiday shoppers’ dollars will stretch further this year than in 2023 and 2022, thanks to slowing inflation and rising wages.
By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist
The Consumer Price Index slowed to 2.4% in September, down from 2.5% the previous month. And inflation in the mountain region of the U.S. slowed even more, to 1.4% in September.
While wage growth has been outpacing inflation since May 2023, household income has yet to fully recover the purchasing power lost to inflation in recent years. Many people are starting off their holiday shopping season already in debt. Credit card debt hit a record $1.14 trillion in the second quarter of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And half of credit card holders are carrying a balance from month to month – the highest level in four years, according to Bankrate’s 2024 Credit Card Debt Survey.
Nearly half – 48% – of Utahns say they are worse off financially compared to a year ago, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. The way people feel about the economy often influences their spending decisions. However, easing inflation and lower
interest rates could improve Utahns’ feelings about the economy.
This holiday season may bring price relief in certain categories. Toy prices, for example, dropped 2.9% over the last year. Some electronics, including televisions and computers, are also cheaper overall. Motor fuel prices are down 15.5% nationally and 18.6% regionally. These are all great trends.
Other factors impacting holiday spending include an abbreviated shopping season. With Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 28 this year, there are 26 days from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Additionally, the economic uncertainty surrounding the U.S. presidential election could play a role in how consumers do their holiday shopping.
Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A l
Volunteers and monetary donations are always needed during the holidays. With dozens of nonprofit organizations in the county, there are ample opportunities to provide service. Stock photo
Bison – Antelope Island’s role in conservation
By Bridger Park | b.park@mycityjournals.com
The turn of the 19th century marks a cornerstone in American conservation. This is when the first men began to recognize the trends of North American Wildlife, and the necessity of conservation. Through fur booms, settlers, and
company trappers the West had begun to change. The American Bison, an animal described as infinite since the arrival of Louis and Clark, had all but disappeared, yet even at this time few men seemed to understand the importance of what was
happening. This is when the first true and great conservationist of our time began to emerge. Men such as Teddy Roosevelt, Aldo Leupold, and John Muir.
“Mixed with the eager excitement of the hunter was a certain half melancholy feeling as I gazed on these bison, themselves part of the last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished race.” Teddy Roosevelt, states in his text “Hunting the Grisly and Other Sketches.” “Few, indeed, are the men who now have, or evermore shall have, the chance of seeing the mightiest of American beasts, in all his wild vigor, surrounded by the tremendous desolation of his far-off mountain home.”
Killing the bison from the plains was seen as more than just a market for the tongues and coats, it was a means to an end of the conflict with Native Americans. This reasoning led even those who predicted what would happen, to have a sort of resigned acceptance. This is what makes the first conservationists so respectable, they not only recognized what the American Society was doing, but fought back.
John Dooly, was a pioneer to Salt Lake, and worked as a banker. Around 1884, Dooley took ownership of Antelope Island. In 1893, a time when an estimated 800 bison remained on the American Landscape, John Dooly, performed the monumental task of purchasing 12 bison for the island. Even if conservation wasn’t the forefront of Dooly’s reasoning, it was a defining moment for Antelope Island. Dooly bought the herd with the intention of supplementing his income by using them as an attraction, intending to charge people to hunt them, and to visit to see the animals. The hunts opened in 1898, and the $200 charge attracted the types such as
heavyweight champion Jack Dempsy.
In later years, Dooly realized that in order to retain the profits he wanted, he needed to switch gears to cattle ranching. To clear space to run cattle, and despite protests to the governor, Dooly organized a hunt that took the near 400 head, the largest at the time, down to just 50. Years and failed attempts to sell the herds passed, including an attempt to sell them to zoos, the department of interior, and various others. Over time the herd numbers exploded once more.
By 1981 the state of Utah had acquired the island, and the herd. By 1986, the officers decided the numbers needed to be managed, and thus started the annual Great Buffalo Roundup. During the event the animals are all herded to a pen in the interior of the island, where the health and weights are evaluated, before they cull necessary numbers. Steven Bates, the current biologist out on the island, switched gears to a cow and calf operation. The herd now sees a 150-250 calf bump, and is able to feed conservation across the entire country.
It is speculated by some experts now, that every bison currently has cattle in their gene pool to some degree. Cattle were mixed with bison to help in conservation efforts, to make them bigger, and to make them eat better. Around 12 years ago, the biologist on the island ran genetic testing on the herd-they found only three animals with cattle genes. This is a testament to the success the island has seen since its birth.
It seems one thing is certain, if it was not for operations like Antelope Island, bison would no longer have any presence on the landscape. l
A bison feeding across the western shore of Antelope Island, with a view of the Stansbury Range across the Great Salt Lake. Courtesy of Utah State Parks
An adult bison feeds along the roadway. Courtesy of Utah State Parks
County submits four possible Code Blue locations
DAVIS COUNTY—The Davis County Commission has submitted four potential locations for a Code Blue facility to the Office of Homeless Services (OHS), one primary location and three alternative sites. There are three county owned buildings, Clearfield Senior Center, Valley View Golf Course and the Inspection Maintenance Center in Kaysville and one private entity.
“The state is good with all of them,” said Ryan Steinbeigle, Grant Administrator for Davis County. “Davis County and the Office of Homeless Services worked together to develop the plan, now it will go to the Utah Homeless Services Board for voting on funding for Code Blue.”
The legislature passed a bill in 2023 requiring counties the size of Davis County to provide shelter beds for Code Blue and Winter Response. Code Blue and Winter Response mean beds for unhoused people for extremely cold days and also 60+ beds from Oct. 15-April 30.
After the law was passed, Davis County created a task force made up of voting city mayors from Bountiful, Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Clearfield, Syracuse and Sunset and one voting county commissioner, Bob Stevenson. The task force worked to submit the required plan that was due Aug.
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
1, 2024 for this coming winter. The plan was a Dignity Bus with 20 spots.
“The bus would have pickup spots at a designated time and they would be taken to a (Code Blue) location,” said Steinbeigle. “They would spend the night and then get back on the bus the next day and be taken
back to where they were picked up. We’d have volunteers doing intake and giving them resources. The state denied the plan due to insufficient funding. That puts it back to the state to make a decision.”
There has been a great deal of controversy over where to have a Code Blue fa-
cility and more recently to find a suitable location for a year round homeless shelter.
Last month, Switchpoint, a private company that provides resources for those who are experiencing homelessness, was considering purchasing the Lifeline building at 1130 West Center Street in North Salt Lake that would have met the county’s requirement for a year round shelter.
Residents were in an uproar and fought hard to stop the purchase. Ultimately, Switchpoint pulled the offer killing the deal, leading the county to go back to searching for another building that could be repurposed or finding property to purchase.
The (Homeless Services) board won’t meet until Nov. 14, said Steinbeigle. “It’s from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Capitol, Room 445. The board is a public body that approves funding requests from the Office of Homeless Services. They function together but OHS can’t approve funding. That has to be done by the board.”
In the meantime, the timeline of Oct. 15 has passed. “If it gets 18 or below the state will have to decide what to do but the first one last year was around Thanksgiving.” l
The Clearfield Senior Center is one of four sites the county recommended for Code Blue response. Courtesy photo
Monday
NFL Football
(4) KTVX ESPN 6 p.m.
You can say that Tampa Bay looks battle tested as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers head into Arrowhead Stadium to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for Monday Night Football. The Chiefs last beat the Bucs 41-31 in 2022 in Tampa, Fla. What We Do in the Shadows FX 11 p.m.
The zany misadventures continue in this latest episode as Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) head out to retrieve Nandor (Kayvan Novak) before his crazed mental state leads to more trouble.
Tuesday Election Night 2024: Your Voice/ Your Vote
(4) KTVX 5 p.m.
ABC News anchor David Muir and the ABC News team get the latest information from various election locations to provide results in the 2024 presidential election. As results continue to stream in, experts will piece together the Electoral College.
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez FX 11 p.m.
During this new episode, Terri (Tammy Blanchard), Shayanna (Jaylen Barron) and Tanya (Lindsay Mendez) process Aaron’s (Josh Andrés Rivera) conviction. As they come to terms with their new reality, they are forced to make a difficult decision.
Wednesday Treasure SHOW 3 p.m.
Ruth (Lena Dunham), an American journalist, brings her father (Stephen Fry) to Poland to visit his childhood homeland and help understand her family’s past. But as a Holocaust survivor, he prefers to forget, creating unintentionally funny moments.
Chicago Fire
(5) KSL 8 p.m.
Nature is a challenge and Mouch (Christian Stolte) runs afoul of a bird on the apparatus floor. Then, Severide (Taylor Kinney) finds illegal guns on a call and gets pulled into a police investigation. Carver’s (Jake Lockett) attitude worsens.
Thursday
After the First 48 A&E 6 p.m.
Season 10 premieres tonight, beginning with a gruesome tale. When a violent melee leaves two men dead, Mobile, Ala., detectives work to track down multiple suspects, using all available evidence to piece together what really happened that fateful night.
Doctor Odyssey
(4) KTVX 8 p.m.
Making waves might be par for the course on the open ocean, but aboard The Odyssey, it’s sometimes best to keep your head down. Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) is still getting his sea legs, but Capt. Massey (Don Johnson) is not offering Dramamine.
Friday
Cold Case Files: The Grim Sleeper A&E 7 p.m.
This special episode of “Cold Case Files” explores the crimes of infamous serial killer Lonnie Franklin Jr., who preyed on the women of South Central Los Angeles for over 25 years. Various victims share their stories, and hope not to be forgotten.
Joan (30) KUCW 9 p.m.
From a penniless mother struggling to make ends meet to a skilled thief capable of becoming anyone at any time thanks to her talent for disguise, Joan (Sophie Turner) must pull off the heist of a lifetime in this season finale. However, doubts remain.
Saturday
Big RV Remix
Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story
LIFE 6 p.m.
Hoping to make the world safer for her young daughter, Regina (Karrueche Tran) joins the Dallas Police Department. She and her partner Eddie (Blair Penner) find crucial evidence of a serial killer targeting female sex workers known as the Eyeball Killer.
48 Hours
(2) KUTV 8 p.m.
No matter the story — be it a shocking criminal case or salacious real-life scandal — viewers turn to the investigative reporting of Erin Moriarty, Peter Van Sant and the rest of the CBS News crew to give them the answers in this latest episode.
Sunday
The Penguin
HBO 7 p.m.
Gotham is reshaped and Oz (Colin Farrell) has orchestrated as much of it as possible with the tools he’s been given — or taken — in this season finale. With Sofia (Cristin Milioti) working her angles and Oz mastering brutality, many hope for a Season 2.
Yellowstone (2) KUTV 8:30 p.m.
John (Kevin Costner) thinks he has finally shaken out the chaff, revealing his true alliances. After his run-in with the justice system, Rip (Cole Hauser) is left with more questions than answers. Jamie (Wes Bentley) worries about his political future.
The Penguin HBO 9:50 p.m.
Wednesday
PBS Nature
An all-new episode of “Nature” airs Wednesday, Nov. 6, on PBS, It might be known for its zoo, coastline and stunning weather, but San Diego is also wild. Nowhere in the United States has as many species as this city. From blistering deserts to snow-capped mountains and tidal estuaries, biodiversity calls San Diego home.
Celebrity Profile
By Jay Bobbin TV Media
Kelli
Williams spent several years focusing on work behind the cameras as a director, but she’s back to being a full-time actress again. Best known previously as attorney Lindsay Dole in ABC’s “The Practice,” Williams is co-starring in the drama series “Found,” now airing its second season Thursdays on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Her character, Margaret Reed, is one of the recovery specialists on a team led by crisis management expert Gabi Mosely (played by Shanola Hampton, “Shameless”). Margaret sadly has personal experience in missing person cases, since her own son disappeared more than a dozen years ago, and she has never given up her search for him. After directing a number of other shows in recent years, Williams also fills that job on a “Found” episode later this season. “I think [producers] like the fact that I am an actor and I know actors,” she reasons of her behindthe-scenes work, “so I can use some of the shortcuts that actors have. In talking about character and story, I can ask them, ‘Are you a person of many words, or do you prefer just a few words?’ I find that’s something a lot of directors don’t ask, so I think that maybe that’s an advantage I have.”
Williams adds about acting, “Sometimes you can be prepared, then you suddenly get in front of the camera and you don’t quite have it in the same way, or your nerves get hold of you. [As a director,] I feel I also can be a mom and a therapist in that moment, as well as a fellow actor.”
In the often-repeated 2004 cable movie “A Boyfriend for Christmas,” Williams worked with her late mother, fellow actress Shannon Wilcox. “That was so much fun to do with her,” Williams recalls. “I had just had my second child, so I was there with my mom and my new baby.”
Preparing Thanksgiving dinner never gets easier. I always start with lofty culinary goals based on recipes from “The Pioneer Woman” that include truffles and capers but end up scraping scorched gravy into a dish and hoping the turkey won’t give anyone food poisoning.
Because of my poor cooking skills, I’m always looking for Thanksgiving hacks to make meal preparation more sunshine and less hurricane. I thought I’d share some tips I found to survive the food frenzy that is Thanksgiving.
Ask for help. Stop being a martyr. Don’t complain about having to do everything and then refuse any help. Give out assignments and not like “Can you bring one can of olives?” or “I need someone to pick up some napkins.” No. Ask someone to bring mashed potatoes or all the desserts or even the turkey. You don’t get a blue ribbon for Thanksgiving suffering.
Don’t make foods no one eats. Stop wasting time preparing “traditional” foods, even if it’s a recipe handed down from your quadruple-great grandmother. Especially if it’s handed down from your quadruple-great grandmother because there weren’t a lot of food options in the 1800s besides lima beans and fried hominy.
Use a mandoline to slice vegetables.
Hacking Thanksgiving
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Not to be confused with a stringed instrument from the 19th century, the mandoline slices onions, celery and carrots quickly and easily. The guest who finds the tip of my index finger in the stuffing wins a prize!
Make only one batch of dinner rolls. Homemade rolls are always a hit but now you can use them as leverage. Your grandson wants a second, hot-buttered roll? He’d better start washing dishes. Bonus hack: Purchase pre-made bakery rolls. You won’t get docked Thanksgiving points. I promise.
Thaw the turkey in water. Not only will this leave you with a bucket full of disgusting waste water but then you can spill it all over the kitchen floor on Thanksgiving morning. Maybe don’t even cook a turkey. There are no Thanksgiving laws. Have chicken wings or spaghetti bolognese.
Spatchcock the turkey. If you insist on roasted turkey, watch a three-hour video explaining how to spatchcock the bird, which involves removing the turkey’s backbone so
it lies flat and cooks quickly. (Sidenote: Who spatchcocked Utah’s governor and legislators?)
One tip said, “Use tongs to stem kale” and none of those words make sense together.
Use a Thermos to keep gravy warm. Gravy is notoriously dreadful when served cold. Trust me, I know. Grab your sisterin-law’s gallon-sized Stanley cup to ensure there’s hot gravy for the mashed potatoes.
Use pre-made pie shells. People think pies need to be made from scratch to get that flakey, buttery crust. Baloney. Unless you’re a professional pie baker, do yourself a favor and buy frozen pie crusts. Right now. Even better, get delicious pies from the grocery store.
Celebrate Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. There’s nothing worse than working three days and trying to fit in Thanksgiving preparation. On Friday, it can be a celebratory meal after everyone’s done shopping online.
Create a fun playlist. Before Uncle Jim can cue up the Jan. 6 prisoners’ chorus singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” have a variety of tunes ready to go. Include everything from Bach to ZZ Top, to equally irritate every family member.
Give yourself a break. I’ve overcooked
turkey, burned gravy, made inedible broccoli-cornbread stuffing, forgot the cranberry sauce, dropped a pumpkin pie and used Tupperware lids when I ran out of dinner plates. No one cares. If you’re being judged for the way Thanksgiving dinner turns out, it’s time to find a new family.
