April 2018 | Vol. 12 Iss. 04
SOUTH JORDAN
FREE
801-446-0840 10382 S Redwood Rd
Buy One Get One
TWO CORNER CANYON STUDENTS PLACE HOPE IN MAKE-A-WISH REQUESTS
Expires 4/30/18
By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
W
hen Corner Canyon sophomore Tyler Easton was led blindfolded to the free-throw line at half-time of the CCHS versus Timpview game in January, his shot swished. “It felt pretty good; it was muscle memory,” he said, adding that he played basketball his freshman year, but was unable to play this year as tiredness from his cancer took its toll. Easton wasn’t ready for what happened next. After being led to center court, his blindfold was removed and his family was on the sideline with a paper banner that read, “South Africa.” “I learned then that my wish was granted to go to South Africa,” he said about his Make-a-Wish request he placed in the
FREE
ON ANY COMFORTER OR LARGE BLANKET
mrlecleaners.com
fall. “I wanted to do something crazy and travel to see new places. I’m hoping to go on a safari and shark diving in Capetown is one of the best places to do it. My whole family will come with me. It will be like a National Geographic expedition; I’m very pumped.” Easton’s travel plans aren’t set in stone, since much of it depends on his health and treatments. Five years ago, when Easton was in fifth grade at Willow Springs Elementary, he started getting headaches during physical education. “My head was pounding. It felt like a gunshot exploded in the middle of my head,” he said.
factory seconds blowout!
only $
15
50 count box!
or 3
American Heritage School 11100 S. Redwood Rd., S. Jordan
for
40
$
Saturday, April 14 • 8:30AM -3PM
Corner Canyon sophomore Tyler Easton will travel to South Africa for his Make-a-Wish request. (Tyler Easton/Corner Canyon High School)
For the next week, Easton visited his doctor’s office daily until his pediatrician diagnosed him with a golf ball–sized tumor in his adrenal gland. That was April 11, 2013. Within two weeks, Easton’s pheochromacytoma — a rare tumor that raises blood pressure — was immediately removed and was not cancerous, he said. Two years later, the tumors returned. This time, Easton, who was at Draper Park Middle School, had six tumors in his kidney and abdomen. He also learned that the doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital wouldn’t perform the surgery since only 10 percent of people affected with pheochromacytomas are children, who usually develop symptoms between the ages of 6 and 14. That began his trips — 12 times in the past two years, mostly with his mother — to National Institute of Health in Maryland. The tumors were removed in August 2015, with some being cancerous. “My mom is a silent carrier. So is my sister,” he said. Through routine blood work and scans, Easton learned last year that 25 tumors appeared and had spread to his liver, spine, lungs, kidneys, abdomen and lymph nodes. Continued on page 4…
Farmers
Know Soil Premium Black Garden Soil blended at our family farm. It’s loaded with organic matter and microbial activity which naturally feeds your plants.
SOIL BLENDED BY FARMERS FOR YOUR LAWN AND GARDEN.
TAKE DELIVERY BY APRIL 30TH
SAVE $10 BLACK GARDEN SOIL REGULAR $139
WIN
Discount Code
Visit BigYellowBag.com and ENTER THE CODE to receive your DISCOUNT and/or WIN a BigYellowBag®
* BXC248 BIOGRASS SOD FARMS
801-562-9090 BigYellowBag.com
Page 2 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
CycleAbility teaches special needs students to ride a bike By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com The Draper City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Draper. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.
Draper Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton travis@mycityjournals.com ADVERTISING: 801-254-5974 DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Ryan Casper ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com 801-671-2034 SALES ASSOCIATES: Melissa Worthen melissa@mycityjournals.com 801-897-5231 Tracy Langer Tracy.l@mycityjournals.com 385-557-1021 Corbett Carrel Corbett@mycityjournals.com 385-557-1016 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Ty Gorton
Draper City Journal 9500 South 500 West Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 Phone: 801 254 5974
Designed, Published & Distributed by
E
lijah Palmer had a desire to ride his two-wheeled bike with his high school bicycling team. As a special needs student he had never had that opportunity. His parents, Draper residents Steven and Sally Palmer set out and organized the first week-long camp to help other special needs students enjoy the experience of riding a bike. In its fourth year, CycleAbility has again partnered with iCanShine, a nonprofit with specialized bikes, to host the annual Cyclpoolaza June 25–29 at Summit Academy High School in Bluffdale. “Elijah wanted to race in the high school league,” CycleAbility director Rachel Warner said. “He has autism and did not know how to ride a bike. With his family and the Utah High School Mountain Bike League (UHSCL) in 2015 they started the Elevate Program with an adapted course in conjunction with the high school races.” Learning to ride a bike is a life-improving experience, but helping someone can be even more life changing. Teaching a child without a disability can be difficult and working with children with disabilities is a challenge, but CycleAbility has found a way to bridge the gap to adaptive cycling. “We have kids with coordination challenges, anxiety, autism, Down syndrome and behavioral issues. It is our fourth year and we take 40 kids every year. We need several volunteers to help us,” Warner said. Each rider is allocated at least two spotters that walk and run alongside as well as offer moral support and help. The bikes are specialized roller bikes that teach balance gradually rather than a normal two-wheeled bike. Other volunteer positions include registration help, photographers, videographers and people to help with setup and cleanup. “Each rider works with his spotters during 75-minute sessions each day. They start in the gym and graduate to a tandem bike with a staff member and then hopefully graduate to their own personal two-wheel bike outside in the parking lot,” Warner said. The UHSCL was organized in 2011 and is an affiliate league of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association for riders grades 7–12. CycleAbility accepts 40 riders ages 8–18 in their week-long camp and the cost is $150. “It is a seamless next step for our riders when they get old enough to start racing with the league in the Elevate program,” Warner said. “Elijah was team manager and the kids loved working with him. Many of the high school kids come and volunteer during our week camp. The families are very supportive.” Corner Canyon, Fremont, Summit Academy and Alta high schools have been supporters of the program. They have had riders included in the camp and have worked as volunteers.
CycleAbility riders are congratulated for their accomplishments with awards and smiles. (Rachel Warner/CycleAbility)
Elijah graduated from high school last June. He participated in the mountain biking league riding a full course. As he finished his last race the announcers asked him how he had done and he said jubilantly, “I won.” “This program helps kids overcome challenges that they never thought they would be able to. It is empowering them into the normative world. We have about an 85 percent success rate,” Warner said. CycleAbility has several donors that help with costs of equipment, sponsor riders and space rental including Coldwell Banker, Bountiful Bicycle, DNA Cycling and the Autism Council of Utah. “Learning to ride a bike gives these kids a sense of freedom and independence. One of our parents told me their son loves his bike so much, but every once in a while they find him riding to the grocery store down the street,” Warner said. “The kids ride away with big smiles on their faces and our volunteers come away with lasting memories as well.” If you are interested in the program or would like more information about volunteering, visit www.cycleability.org l
Thank You
to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media.
free l community l papers
City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.
April 2018 | Page 3
DraperJournal .com
163 East 13800 South & Bangerter Hwy E-6 • Draper, UT 84020
Manager Special
ONlY $7.99
$8 OFF
Includes: One Sandwich with Choice of Meat, one side and a small yellow cup.
aNY Xl Family pack
Not valid with other offers or discounts. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with online orders. No cash value. Valid at participating locations only. Expires 4/30/18.
Not valid with other offers or discounts. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with online orders. No cash value. Valid at participating locations only. Expires 4/30/18.
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 4 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Continued from cover…
Easton said that he took the news in stride. “I keep a positive attitude. If I sulk, I’m going to be miserable, so I’ve learned to deal with it head on,” he said, adding that after an 11-hour surgery, it took him a couple days to improve. “I’m able to recover faster since I’m young. The biggest thing was how my family and friends would reach out to me, call me on FaceTime and if they were in the Maryland area, they’d come to visit.” Currently, Easton, who added that now through so many treatments, his interest in pursuing a career in the medical field has heightened, said he has about “20-some tumors now” that measure a couple centimeters. “I can’t remember how many, but they’re super small nodules. We’re trying injections to try to stop the growth. They said they’ve never tried it on a patient who has my cancer. I hope they work,” he said, knowing his health and treatments progress will determine whether he will go to South Africa. Junior Jacie Remund’s journey began last year. After weeks and weeks of feeling sick and having no energy, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “I had seen so many doctors and nobody knew what was wrong with me, I wasn’t freaked out that the ENT (ear-nosethroat) doctor had diagnosed it,” she said about her biopsy result. “I was happy that I knew what it was and that it could be treated.” Remund said the only part that made her sad was that the diagnosis hit on her mom’s birthday, March 24. She also learned that only a small percent of thyroid cancer cases occur in children and teenagers so she had to seek medical help from a doctor who would treat her. One month later, her thyroid with 12 lymph nodes were removed. “I take a thyroid replacement medication and it’s really hard
on me,” she said. The side effects have been hot flashes, insomnia, weight loss and gain, lack of energy, shakiness, headaches and more. “It’s been hard since a lot of people don’t have any idea that I have cancer.” Easton said that educating others about cancer is part of coping with it.
“F
dealing with stuff that adults deal with, but it is part of our path and for that, we’ll be better persons,” she said. Easton said that through his treatments, he has learned to be patient. “The doctors don’t know what to do as only a couple kids across the world have my cancer. Every once in a while I may get sulky, but then I stop because it won’t do me any good,” he said. Remund, who competed in cheer and gymnastics while she attended Oak Hollow Elementary and Draper Park Middle School, said, “I really can’t do sports anymore. School is always a priority so I try to keep up with my homework as I go to so many doctor appointments and have blood work done every week and a half.” However, the 3.9 GPA student was able to take part at the recent Canyons School District high school job shadow day, where she shadowed general counsel Sarah Starkey for Larry H. Miller companies. While chemotherapy won’t help Remund, she said that radioactive iodine or radiation may be a treatment. For now, they’re watching her cancer markers. “It’s still hard because there are no answers why they keep fluctuating,” she said. Remund also put in for a wish through Make-a-Wish — a shopping spree for clothes — that will keep her close by in case she needs additional treatments. “It would be hard for me to go out of the country with my numbers fluctuating, so I opted for something fun and something I wouldn’t have to worry about,” she said. “I’m so excited if I can get it. I haven’t had good news in so long and it would make me so happy.” l
or me, cancer sucks and it’s hard as well. I just try to keep a positive attitude.”
-Tyler Easton
“If you look at Jacie and me, you don’t know that we have cancer and that we’re dealing with it. We want people to know. I hear how some people say what they’re going through is so hard. I don’t make a judgment. For them, it probably is and I try to support them. For me, cancer sucks and it’s hard as well. I just try to keep a positive attitude.” Remund said that she can’t be angry about it, so she also tries to joke about it and stay positive. “I want people to know. It’s like a hidden illness and if they can learn about it and our treatments and side effects, they’d have a better understanding. And some people are able to make connections as they know others who have thyroid cancer. We’re
City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.
April 2018 | Page 5
DraperJournal .com
Christina Oliver joins Draper City as community development director By Michelynne McGuire | m.mcguire@mycityjournals.com
Christina Oliver. (Christina Oliver/Draper city community development director)
D
raper City’s newly appointed Community Development Director Christina Oliver has worked many hours as a civil service leader. Oliver has worked for Salt Lake County as an associate division director for parks and recreation, as a department manager for Utah Transit Authority and other various civil service positions. She has managed large budgets and pursued negotiations that have brought hundreds of millions of dollars of investment to the state of Utah. “You have to work really hard and a lot of hours,” said Oliver.
Oliver is a first-generation college graduate, with parents who were very supportive toward her college aspirations. Her father was from Holland and her mother from the states. “They knew I had to go (to college),” she said. Oliver added they were “great parents” who told her to pursue her passions. At the suggestion of her mother, Oliver went on to get her masters of business administration, and a graduate certificate, in finance from Westminster College. Falling into her calling with hard work and happenstance, Oliver remembered how she was working as a waitress during college, at the Salt Lake Country Club, meeting two figures who had a hand in helping her take the next steps in her career. Izzy Wagner, a business man, patron of the arts and known for being generous; and his attorney James Holbrook, who was a professor at the University of Utah, were members at the country club, and took interest to advance Oliver’s scholastic endeavors. “I have such great mentors that took me under their wing. (Holbrook) was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known in my life,” Oliver said. “This gentleman (Izzy Wagner) was one of the greatest philanthropist in this state of Utah…Izzy became like a grandfather figure to me, and was just absolutely wonderful.” Always having a knack for calculation, Oliver continued to advance her career. “Numbers
were my thing; I love taxes and legislation and processes and I just kind of went from there,” she said. Oliver is looking to simplify the city codes in an effort to clarify the process and hear what the people want “to ensure that what is developed not only in the town center, but generally in the city… reflects what the community actually wants,” she said. Oliver hopes to use social media to bridge the gap for working people and busy families who may not always be able to attend meetings or public hearings. As a leader in civil service she is also paving the way for other women interested in pursuing careers of their own in city service positions. She and her husband are raising two young children, and she hopes she can act as a positive role model for all women out there who may have hopes of pursuing careers while raising families. One of her goals is to be a strong female figure. “I want to be strong in this position so that hopefully other women can, and see that it is okay to work full time and raise two kids, and be in positions of leadership, especially in economic and community development,” Oliver said. Having had a career with various leadership roles, she is confident in her ability to assume her position as community development director, and looks forward to “creating documents that are more transparent and streamlined and easy to follow,” said Oliver. l
Biomat USA Plasma Center New donor s
can
575 ear n up to $ onth, in their fir st m 75 in and up to $4 nths! following mo
Take The
ElevateHER Challenge
Are you a business leader? Join businesses across Utah in our mission to elevate the stature of women’s leadership. Take the ElevateHER Challenge and stand with other businesses as we pledge to elevate women in senior leadership positions, in boardrooms, on management teams and political ballots.
for more information:
wliut.com/challenge
com We offe p care limenta r for o r ur re y child tu don ors! rning
Bring this coupon in for a $20 Bonus for first time donors. Expires 4/30/18
Pride for Donors. Passion for Patients. 727 E 9400 S, Sandy, UT 84094 | 801-566-2534
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 6 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Belated buzz on Draper’s 40th birthday party By Michelynne McGuire | m.mcguire@mycityjournal.com to celebrate the 40 years Draper has been an incorporated city (1978–2018). Party gifts of playing cards were given out and city scrapbooks were open to the public for viewing. The Draper Elementary School Choir performed, local speakers shared memories on the history of Draper and there were some poetic readings for attendees. Police Chief John Eining and other police and city staff made appearances. Mayor Troy Walker gave a speech as well. He said “turning 40 is a good milestone. Forty is when most of us really start to hit our stride.” “Most 40-year-olds, we have a few scars and have had some hard knocks. But we are all grown up now and we are using our life experience to our advantage,” Walker said. He reflected on how much Draper has “changed in just the last 15 years. Even more has changed in the last 40. We have gone from being a one-stoplight farming town to an important city of almost 50 thousand people,” Walker said. A printed booklet containing some of the history of Draper City was compiled by Draper’s Public Information Officer Maridene Alexander. A few interesting facts from the booklet include: • Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, but A picture of the playing cards given as party gifts in honor of Drapers 40 year Draper wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1978 starting out as a small birthday. (Michelynne McGuire/City Journals) farming community of 4,430 people. The intervening years has seen the city’s population grow to 47,328 in 2017. • Between 2000 and 2015, Draper’s population grew from f you weren’t able to make it to Draper’s 40th birthday party on Feb. 21 at Draper City Hall, here is some belated news to 25,516 to 45,469, increasing at a rate of 78 percent and is slated to double by 2040 keep you buzzed in. • The average Draper resident is 31.1 years old, well The party was open to the public, and guests were served educated and married with three to four children. cake that had commemorative pictures printed on it and ice cream
I
• Draper’s boundaries include 30.2 square miles. • The average annual household income in 1978 was $20,460 whereas now it’s $123,678. With this rich history, Draper is, as Walker said, just beginning to hit its stride. With the growing families of Draper, a nice feature of the city is there are a number of ways to enjoy the community with 41 parks, 25 events per year, 99 miles of trails and 4,243 acres of city open space. With new development coming to the growing city, 414 business licenses are issued each year. And most recently, in 2017, the new Draper Fire Department began serving Draper residents. It seems that Draper is booming with development. The Draper Parks and Recreation Department plans and coordinates 15 events during the year, headed up by Event Planner David Wilks. Every year during the summer, a celebration called Draper Days is held, featuring park activities, parades, sporting events, fireworks and more. New events are springing up as well, such as the Daddy/Daughter Dance, Easter Egg Hunt, Arts and Crafts Festival, Children’s Bike Parade, Draper Days, Veterans Day Program, Haunted Hollow, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candy Cane Hunt, something for hopefully everyone. And if you want to give your fury friend an eventful time, there is something for them to enjoy as well at Dayland Dog Park, Draper City’s first dog park. Perhaps no longer a spring chicken, Draper seems to be robust with change and aging with dignity. l
ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. Same day and next day appointments are available. INSURANCES ACCEPTED:
Tina Goldsmith, MSNP
Sue Anders, MD
Jeffrey Quinn, MD
Robert Merrill, DO, MD
Select Med & Med Plus Select Value Select Care & Care Plus Select Shared Select Advantage Select Choice Select Community Care
David Matthews, MD
Blue Cross Blue Shield PEHP United Health Care Aetna Altius Tricare Educators Mutual
And Many More
Diane Heubusch, CNM, FNP
Angela Judd, MD
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT: (801)-285-4800 801-285-4800 3723 West 12600 South, Suite 350 Riverton, Utah 84065 www.westerngynob.com
City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.
April 2018 | Page 7
DraperJournal .com
Understanding elected official compensation in the wake of pay raise controversy
“A
By Justin Adams | j.adams@mycityjournals.com
witch hunt.” “A failure on many levels.” “An unfortunate situation.” Those are the terms used to describe a controversy that came to a conclusion at a Sandy City Council meeting on Feb. 27. A few weeks prior, KUTV reported that Sandy’s recentlyelected mayor, Kurt Bradburn, had given himself a $15,000 raise during his first month in office. The news resulted in a firestorm of social media backlash—KUTV’s post on Facebook garnered 72 (mostly) angry comments—resulting in an announcement by Bradburn that he would take a pay cut instead. The city of Sandy appeared ready to move past the controversy at the Feb. 27 council meeting. Most of the residents who spoke as well as the city council expressed continued trust in the mayor. The city council also passed a resolution that codified mayoral compensation, meaning that the Sandy mayor will no longer be responsible for setting his or her own salary. The resolution also included an increased commitment to transparency. As suggested by Councilman Zach Robinson, the city will begin disclosing both the mayor’s and the city councilors’ salaries in the city’s budget. “If we’re going to publish the mayoral ranges, I’d recommend that we publish the council ranges as well. I feel that would be an open and transparent communication from us to our citizens,” said Robinson. Part of the reason for the public outcry about the mayor’s self-appointed raise is a lack of public understanding about how local elected officials are compensated. In response to a query on social media concerning this subject, respondents who live along the Wasatch Front said by and large that they weren’t quite sure how much their mayor was paid, but guessed anywhere in a range from $10,000 to $50,000. While some mayors’ paychecks do fall within this range, there are many others who are paid two or three times that amount. According to the report by KUTV, Bradburn’s initial salary when he took office was $147,000, meaning the raise
would have brought him up to $162,000. That would have municipalities with a council-manager form of government. been more than double the median household income of Sandy According to Dahle, his main role is acting as a spokesman for ($76,807) as well as the highest salary of any mayor in the the city. valley, including Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “We’re a pretty small municipality and it allows for a citizen The resolution passed by the Sandy City Council set a mayor where their primary function isn’t to be employed by the minimum mayoral salary of $119,000 and a maximum of city. It’s more of a service,” said Dahle. “These small cities $144,000. Those figures were recommended to the council by don’t really justify a full-time mayor so that allows any citizen Mike Applegarth, the council office’s director, who said that the to be able to throw their hat in the ring to run for mayor.” mayor’s compensation should be based on “similarly situated Dahle said that transparency is the key to avoiding cities” such as Provo or Ogden. In 2017, the mayors of those controversies similar to what happened in Sandy. “Whatever cities received salaries of $109,500 and $128,699 respectively, you do, you make sure it’s a public process. The mayor should according to information from the state of Utah’s public finance not have unilateral authority to set his own pay. That’s just bad website, transparent.utah.gov. policy,” he said. While the mayor’s new salary of $119,000 is more on par When it comes to the compensation of city council members, with some of the larger cities along the Wasatch front, it is still there isn’t much of a difference between cities of different near the top of what a municipal mayor can make in the state forms of government. Instead, the principle determinant seems of Utah. to be population. The highest-paid city councils belong to the Of the 15 cities considered for this article (13 Salt Lake cities with the most people such as Salt Lake City, Sandy and County municipalities plus Ogden and Provo) there is a wide Provo The average salary for a city councilor ranges from range in the amount of money that a mayor is paid. In fact, around $10,000 on the low end (Herriman) to over $40,000 on Salt Lake City Mayor Biskupski made almost 10 times as much the high end (Salt Lake City). money in 2017 ($149,220) as the lowest-paid mayor last year, Residents who want to know more about how government former Riverton Mayor William Applegarth ($15,521). entities spend taxpayer money, including employee Of course, Salt Lake City and Riverton are two completely compensation, can access that information through various different cities in a variety of ways. First, Salt Lake City has online resources such as transparent.utah.gov and utahsright. more than four times the number of residents as Riverton. com. Secondly, one city’s budget is much larger than the others. Last As for Bradburn, he’s working to regain the trust of Sandy year, the city of Riverton’s expenses totaled about $30 million, residents who felt betrayed by his actions, saying on a Facebook according to the city’s 2017 financial report. Salt Lake City post, “I always said when I was campaigning that I was going meanwhile, had a budget of over a billion dollars. But the most to make mistakes, but I would always own up to them and fix critical difference between the two cities, at least when it comes them when I did. Hope you can still support me as I try to do to determining mayoral compensation, is form of government. the best I can while I have the privilege of serving you.” l Utah state code specifies a few different forms of municipal government and the roles and responsibilities of the mayor vary greatly from one to another. The form of government in which the mayor has the most power and responsibilities is the council-mayor form of government. The cities of Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, Sandy, Murray, South Salt Lake, and Taylorsville fall under this category. Because this form of government places more responsibility on the mayor, the position is well-compensated. “In our form of government, the mayor position is a fulltime position,” said Cherie Wood, the mayor of South Salt Lake. “I’m charged with running the city and we have a multimillion dollar budget and we have 300 plus employees.” Without an above-average salary, Wood said that the position would not attract candidates who are qualified to manage such a large organization. Another problem, according to Mike Applegarth, is that an extremely low salary might exclude all but the “independently wealthy” from running for office. In contrast, there are the five-member and six-member council forms of government. Under these forms, the mayor’s principal responsibility is to be the chair of and preside over the city council. The responsibility for the daily administration of the city instead lies with a City Manager. With the decreased responsibility comes a smaller paycheck; in some cities, the mayor even makes less than the city councilors. Holladay, Draper, Midvale, South Jordan, Cottonwood Heights, Herriman, and Riverton fall under The salaries of most of the mayors within Salt Lake County. There is a clear these forms of government. distinction in pay between mayors in cities with a council-manager form of The average salaries of city council members in most cities within Salt Lake “You don’t do it for the money, that’s for sure,” said Rob County. government and mayors in cities with a council-mayor form of government. Dahle who is currently the mayor of Holladay, one of the
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 8 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Draper Elementary welcomes Year of the Dog By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
D
raper Elementary fifth-grader Monet Oaks said her favorite part of the Chinese New Year assembly was performing to poetry from the Tang Dynasty. “I learned different things this year about the Chinese culture than I had others,” she said. “We learned that these poems have been sung for more than 1,000 years and represent that period of life.” Monet and her classmates demonstrated four famous Tang Dynasty poems through singing, reading and performing. Fifth-grade Chinese teacher Nissa Lu said the poems are famous in China. “Everyone in China knows them,” she said. “The fifthgraders are learning about the culture, not just singing songs. They are able to tell why this is important as well as why we do what we do to celebrate.” The students’ instruction about the Tang Dynasty and their assembly performance was all given in Mandarin. “By the time these students are fifth-graders, they’re able to fully have a conversation with me in Chinese. Their abilities are very good,” said Lu, who came from Taiwan and is teaching her second year at Draper Elementary. First-graders included bright colors with traditional fans in their performance of singing “Jasmine Flower.” “It’s a famous song about the jasmine flower. First-graders already have learned so much of the language; it’s impressive,” Lu said. Second-graders showcased their knowledge of kung fu. Their presentation was mixed with using fans, poetry and music. They also thanked parents, teachers, friends and nature for helping them learn and grow. Third-graders played instruments and danced to the traditional “White Horse” song that is based on stories from the
journey westward, and “Fireflies,” a song of praise. “It’s a pop song in China that everyone knows. It praises nature. It’s a song about as long as you work hard, you can achieve it,” Lu said about “Fireflies.” Fourth-graders started the program with the traditional dragon dance and lion dance that wove amongst students and parents seated in the multipurpose room on Feb. 12. There were two assemblies so all parents could see the showcase. Fourth-grader Chloe Francis said they practiced the dance over a couple weeks. “We learned what we should do, how to make it move and wave, and how we shouldn’t scare anyone,” she said, adding that they also went over traditions of the new year as a class. She and her friend, Sarah Edmunds, were lions in the morning assembly and planned to be part of the dragon dance in the afternoon. Classmate Brecklin Bijou said that after first learning the language in first grade, they’ve built upon learning more about the customs and traditions. “It was a challenge at first to learn the language, but since then, it’s been fun learning the culture,” she said. The fourth-graders also sang songs, played the guitar and Draper Elementary second-graders used traditional fans as part of performed skits. their program during the school’s Chinese New Year celebration. “They acted as if they were foreigners in China, pretending (Julie Slama/City Journals) that they were tourists and apologizing that their Chinese isn’t any good. It’s a fun song,” Lu said. her home. While the assembly ended with the common Chinese New “My dad cooks Chinese food for our new year’s party and we Year song wishing everyone “gong xi” or “congratulations,” Lu have red envelopes which represent luck for the year,” she said. “I said this celebration isn’t common in schools when she grew up. thought the second-graders’ kung fu was really cool, but everyone “We would celebrate in our hometowns or our community, worked so hard. That’s what the dual-immersion program teaches but not at school since we’d be on break,” she said. you — to work hard in everything so you can complete what you Fifth-grader Mckenna Wong celebrates Chinese New Year at set your mind to.” l
Protect Your Investment! Exclusive Commercial Grade Wood Protector ... Looks Better, Lasts Longer BEFORE
Our proven process works GREAT on: • • • • •
Decks Cedar Roofing Log Homes Privacy Fences Siding & More
FREE
ESTIMATE
CALL TODAY!
Protects NEW wood ... Restores OLD wood. AFTER
Convenient Online Appointment Scheduling at:
info@nu-wood2.com Locally Owned & Operated
® www. NU-WOOD2 .com EXTERIOR WOOD RESTORATION SPECIALISTS
801-300-7516
S
April 2018 | Page 9
DraperJournal .com
Students victorious in Channing Hall’s Triwizard Reading Tournament
C
hanning Hall students read more than 352,000 minutes outside the classroom during a three-week period, with one fifth-grade boy amassing 7,400 minutes alone. It was during a reading competition, the Triwizard Reading Tournament, where students individually read as many minutes as they could to compete against other students and classes. While there were incentives each week from doughnuts to restaurant kids meal vouchers, as well as an overall individual prize of a Harry Potter coffee table book and other items, read wars chair Nina Dalley said they also acknowledged the most improved readers. “We had some students move up three or four reading levels,” she said, adding that typically students move up six or seven levels per school year. “With more reading, they all win. We want this to be the new normal — to read more. We want them to go forward and read, not just to have done it for the prizes.” Dalley said that studies show it takes 21 days for new habits to form, the same amount of days in the reading challenge. “They’re used to reading all the time now and we want them to continue that habit as they love to read,” she said, adding that as a result of the challenge, her daughters have structured their homework around their pleasure reading. Dalley said the tournament, held Jan.
By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com 17 through Feb. 6, was set at a good time, as students returned from winter break. “It helped them to get focused again and they could throw themselves into it. Winter tends to lend itself to reading and everyone was so excited,” she said. With flying keys and other Harry Potter decorations displayed throughout the school, teachers also agreed to motivate students through the “teacher torture challenge.” Some “tortures” included taking a pie in the face, flying on a broomstick to play Quidditch while be attacked by silly string or taking the potions challenge when students met their reading goals. “Even though Harry Potter came out years ago, the students were still so excited about the theme,” Dalley said. Next year’s theme will tie in Legos, which students already are looking forward to with the recent releases of Lego movies. The winning class, fifth-graders in Heidi Wright’s classroom, won a chance to not only learn about tarantulas, lizards and dragons from Scales ’N Tails, but also a chance to pet an eight-foot python. “Some of the students didn’t have any hesitation and walked right up to pet it,” said Dalley, who was taken aback when she was asked to help hold the snake.
All the students were entertained by learning from HawkWatch International. “The students were really excited to see a horned owl; it was a great presentation,” Dalley said. “We focus on reading all year, but this was
a chance for them to work together in a healthy competition to try to reach goals and help each other improve.” l
Students in the class that read the most minutes during Channing Hall’s read wars could pet a python. (Nina Dalley/Channing Hall)
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 10 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Corner Canyon students shadow professionals to learn about careers By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Corner Canyon junior Jacie Remund, center, shadowed the general counsel for Larry H. Miller and was able to attend a legislative session and learn about lobbying at the state capitol during Canyons School District’s annual career and technical education job shadow day. (Patti Larkin/Canyons School District)
C
orner Canyon High School junior Lauren Wilson spent a recent morning learning about product design, advertising, marketing, web design and international relations. “I learned a lot; it was like a crash course of how to get to where I wanted to be,” she said about her experience job shadowing professionals at O.C. Tanner. “It was really inspiring and a lot of fun.” Wilson, who competes for her school’s DECA business and marketing team, said shadowing gave her real-world experience she can bring into studies. She was one of about 100 students who took part in Canyons School District’s annual career and technical education job shadow day, which had representatives from 40 companies. Students spent the morning job shadowing professionals in fields such as
marketing, architecture, medicine, finance and others before networking with them during lunch. Canyons District CTE Coordinator Patti Larkin said this job shadow opportunity linked students from all five Canyons traditional high schools as well as Canyons Technical Education Center with larger companies, such as eBay, O.C. Tanner, Larry H. Miller companies and Hunt Electronics, which supported the job shadow day and allowed students to explore careers in engineering, IT, medicine and diesel. Larry H. Miller Megaplex e-Commerce Manager Shelley Goodell said sophomore Cade Jackman job shadowed her as they explored the online side of building a business. “He was goal-oriented and driven,” she said. “He knew what he wanted to do and was learning how to do it.” Canyons Superintendent Jim Briscoe applauded students for getting a jumpstart in researching possible careers. “This will make a huge difference as you move on after high school; you’ll have this experience to know if these careers are your passion and a field you want to pursue,” he said. Keynote luncheon speaker, Gail Miller, oversees 11,000 people in 80 companies in 46 states as chief operating officer of Larry H. Miller companies. She was a silent partner in the family business until her husband, Larry, died of complications of diabetes in 2009. “I certainly didn’t need the headache of running a business that large, and I didn’t need the money,” she told students, but it was the responsibility of continuing the family legacy and values she wanted to continue. Of the values Miller mentioned, she told students, “Treat employees and customers and those with whom you interact with respect. You’re not better than anyone else so treat them with
kindness you’d want in return. People are our most valuable asset.” Miller, who keeps money in perspective (“use it wisely so you don’t become a slave to it”), also told students, “don’t forget your roots — where you can from — that’s where your values come from and that is part of you.” She recalled how they started out with one Toyota dealership in Murray before expanding to more than 60 car dealerships as well as professional sports teams, movie theaters and more. Miller still owns the original dealership today. “Give back to the community and pay it forward. No one can make it alone; the success belongs to those who also contribute,” she said, adding that they should share the knowledge they’ve learned as well as ask for help along the way. “Don’t be afraid to lead. Be a student always; learn something every day to add richness to your life.” Corner Canyon junior Jacie Remund job shadowed the general counsel for Larry H. Miller and was able to attend a legislative session and learn about lobbying at the state capitol. “It was so cool,” she said. “She (Sarah Starkey) introduced me to a judge and all these key people there. I’m passionate about debate and law. I was able to learn so much.” Canyons Board of Education member Nancy Tingey said the job shadowing career opportunity was beneficial to students. “These community members support our students and give them the opportunity to receive valuable experience,” she said. Miller challenged students to not only think about their paths, but to improve those around them. “Wherever you go and whatever you do, do something that makes a difference in this world,” she said. “Light your fire and while looking for your success, help others who are doing the same thing.” l
May 15
April 2018 | Page 11
DraperJournal .com
Lt. Gov. encourages Draper students to speak up about issues By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox takes a selfie with 318 students at the recent Parent-Teacher-Student Association day at the capitol. (Spencer Cox/Utah State Capitol)
D
uring the recent Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) day at the capitol, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox hoped students took away one message: to speak up about their concerns on issues. “I want them to meet their legislators and talk to them about big issues and share their ideas,” he said. “Few people actually talk to legislators, especially students, and this is their opportunity to make an impact on their world and future.” Cox welcomed 318 students Feb. 7 and spoke to them about issues that may concern them — teen suicide, education and air quality among them. “Teen suicide is a really big issue in Utah,” he said. “Any suicide is one too many as it impacts all of us. Out of about 200 of us, 40 will contemplate it.” Cox made sure students were aware of the statewide SafeUT electronic device app, which provides real-time crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program. He also said that by 2025, Utah will have a significant increase in education funding and a significant reduction in air pollution. “We’d like to have hydro transit pick you up at your houses by the year 2030 as a way to carpool going to work. We have 25 percent cleaner air than 10 years ago, but the bad news is Salt Lake City is always going to have air quality issues. The Native Americans called it the Valley of Smoke as the inversion can’t escape,” he said. Ann Rasmussen, who is Corner Canyon’s
PTSA adviser along with Kathryn Myers and Jennifer Kalm, said that students appreciated his honesty. “They just loved him since he is down to earth and not the stereotypical politician,” she said. “He understands kids and has kids of his own at this age. He wants students to be informed and maybe this will get them active — if not now, later in life.” After Cox’s welcome, where students asked questions and learned that his first career choice was a professional basketball player (“I was too short and too slow”), students divided into groups to participate in a mock debate, a 40-minute tour of the capitol and learn about Digital Citizenship Week. State auditor John Dougall and Rep. Ryan Wilcox led the mock debate session, asking students to voice their opinions over whether cell phones should be allowed in school. Rasmussen said her 24 students went up against some Hillcrest High debate students. “They argued that it was easier access for research versus the phones being distracting during quizzes. It was pretty much divided, but they learned how to speak up for a position and study both sides of the issue. It gave them the right tools to learn how to voice their opinion and can lead them to a bigger role in being involved and not being passive,” she said. Utah PTA Student Involvement Commissioner Betty Shaw said she hoped students gained a better perspective. “We want them to start having conversations
about current issues so they can get involved,” Shaw said. Shaw, who said she had no idea about her state’s government growing up, said she hoped students got “a flavor of what is going on and see part of their history.” “They’re our future, so they need to see the process and how it works. It would be great to see them get involved in issues they have concerns about, if not at the capitol then locally with their school board or local district agencies and city councils” she said. Corner Canyon students took a behindthe-scenes tour of the Capitol, which ranged from seeing the downstairs earthquake safety renovation to looking for statues during a scavenger hunt and learning their symbolism before meeting Rep. LaVar Christensen at lunch. “He took the time to meet with them and several students asked questions on different topics,” Rasmussen said. At the Digital Citizenship Week session, Canyons School District spokesman Jeff Haney reminded students that what they post on social media would be available for people to see, including college recruiters and employers, not only now, but in their future,. “He wanted students to question before sharing if it could be embarrassing to both the person and themselves and to ask whether it’s something they’d want to have posted throughout their life. He was asking them to make good judgment decisions,” Rasmussen said. Haney said that all five Canyons traditional high schools had students at the capitol as well as six of the middle schools. Shaw said about 180 additional students from across the state attended the event a second day, Feb. 20. Rasmussen said that experience helped to unite her students. “It was really bonding. We talked in a lowkey setting and it was fun environment for ours students to learn. We rode the bus with 32 Draper Park students, so we told them to come be a part of our student club when they come to Corner Canyon and made that connection,” she said. Next up for Corner Canyon PTSA is to help with the school’s Health and Wellness Week slated for the week of March 26, then provide support for AP testing later this spring. They just completed promoting a healthy relationship month, defying bullying and teen dating violence. Canyons Education Foundation’s Holly Bishop said she hoped students gained an understanding for the Capitol and what happens within it. “I hope they appreciate and become aware of how the capitol works and can get involved,” she said. “It’s exciting when they stand up as a leader and have their voices be heard.” l
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 12 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Juan Diego’s AP Capstone program designed to give students critical, deeper thinking skills By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Juan Diego Catholic High School is Utah’s first high school to offer the AP Capstone program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
T
wo Juan Diego Catholic High School students are scheduled to graduate this spring with the school’s first ever AP Capstone distinction. Four additional students are on target for a spring 2019 graduation. “AP Capstone is the advanced placement college board program that teaches students how to conduct in-depth research, analyze evidence, organize data and write comprehensively,” said Mary McConnell, Juan Diego AP Capstone director and curriculum consultant. “These students are independent thinkers who can work collaboratively with their peers on projects.” While Juan Diego has had AP courses for years and is currently offering 25 classes from AP French to AP environmental
science, the AP Capstone program is relatively new. Juan Diego also is Utah’s first high school to offer the AP Capstone program. “We wanted to provide a systemic training for more gifted students,” McConnell said. About 40 students are enrolled in the AP Capstone program, including junior Chloe Tatum. “I’ve taken AP courses this year, but through this format, I feel more comfortable,” she said. “It’s also really cool how being in this program we’ve created a community where we work together. It feels like a family and we have one another for support as we go through this rigorous work.” At Juan Diego, students are invited into the program based on their scores on the Accuplacer, a reading comprehension test that many colleges use as prerequisites for students taking introductory classes. Students in the program begin by take four AP courses, starting with AP art history. “The class gives them an introduction to this world,” McConnell said. “Students enter high school and are ready for a challenge, but even so, the classes surprises them with the amount of work and its depth. Students learn about complex matters and study visual cues to analyze as well as put into historical perspectives.” McConnell said the Juan Diego freshmen who took the course did well this past year, with 18 of the 22 taking the exam scoring 4s or 5s out of a perfect 5 score. A score of 3 is passing. “We out-performed the nation’s average,” she said. In addition to taking four AP courses, students in the AP Capstone program enroll in the newly offered AP seminar and AP research courses, which McConnell said are designed to complement and enhance the other courses. Through the AP seminar course, students research in depth, evaluate evidence and write a 5,000-word paper, complete with
about a dozen sources, which Principal Galey Colosimo said “compares to a master’s thesis.” “The juniors and seniors in AP research write their thesis whether it’s the science and math strain or the social studies and English strain,” he said. “When it’s done, they’ll be able to defend their writing.” The AP seminar is a group project, where the team has to orally present their project. Their presentations are videotaped and graded and sent to the college board for review. The school already is earning a distinction — one of its videos of student presentations is being used as part of an internal online training, McConnell said. She said that they tie in AP world history with its AP seminar course. “This requires students to examine the evidence they discover and historically debate it,” she said. “Not only do they learn how to put together an effective presentation, they reinforce what they have learned in history. The final capstone project is one that is a culminating academic and intellectual experience for our students.” Before graduating, students need to pass the final AP exam, which includes both essay questions and multiple-choice questions. McConnell also said that by earning the AP Capstone diploma, it will save money on entry-level college classes, but more so, she said the program is good preparation for future study. “Through AP Capstone, students will learn the step-by-step on what makes a good research paper and will know how to do the research,” she said. Colosimo said the program isn’t for all his students. “Students have to apply and desire to really want to do it,” he said. “The program is not for everyone. Some kids thrive for an environment to excel. They really want it and are really serious about their academics.” l
April 2018 | Page 13
DraperJournal .com
Students join nationwide protest, many focus on kindness
A
cross the country students made their voices heard on March 14, one month after the school shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school. They honored the 17 victims with tearful moments of silence, they protested gun laws and pledged kindness to their peers. Salt Lake County was no different as schools around the valley participated with walkouts and “walk ups.” Murray “I’m scared at school and I hear that from my friends as well,” said Academy of Math, Engineering and Science junior Grace Wason. “I don’t think fear should be in a place of learning.” About 150 students, most wearing black in mourning, lined 1300 East near the Murray school. They held signs showing each victim and chanted, “Books not bullets; no more silence. We are change.” During the walkout, Grace recited names of each victim, then added: “These are only 17 of the 75-plus students we are mourning today. We do this in solidarity not only with lost victims, but also their mourning friends and families. This has gone too far.” Grace participated in a routine school lockdown earlier in the week. “It was daunting,” she said. “I was working on the posters and saw them on my desk as I hid in the corner and thought, this is the exact thing those Florida students went through only they had someone with a gun come in their door.” Students, many who planned to take part in the “March for Our Lives” rally at the Capitol March 24, also signed up to vote as leaders organized voting registration as well as planned to hold a letterwriting campaign to Congress. Murray Board of Education Vice President Kami Anderson said Murray School District allowed students from Murray High, Hillcrest Junior High and Riverview Junior High the opportunity to walkout. “As a school district, we wanted to facilitate the conversation between students and parents about what the walkout means and why or why not participate and provide a safe place for them,” she said. “We need to allow students to make the choices for themselves.” Murray High student body president Kate Spackman said student government ushered the student-organized walkout to the school plaza, which had about 250 students participate. “Some students stood up and spoke out; we paid our respects to the victims,” Kate said. “I felt the kids who walked out for the right reasons supported the victims and it was awesome. For the kids who walked out to miss school, I hope they realize what this is all about and the importance of it.” Kate and other student government leaders organized “17 days of kindness of positivity.” Suggestions include to make a new friend, smile at 17 people, post a picture on social media “NeverAgain” in support and write to Gov. Gary Herbert and the legislature. “We wanted to do something that will make a difference immediately in kids’ lives,” she said. Cotonwood Heights Brighton student government also will hold a kindness campaign to create a more welcoming environment, said Principal Tom Sherwood after about 500 students participated in the studentled walkout. “I believe if students want to make a statement about changes to protest future lives, they have a right,” he said. “Students for generations have used civil disobedience in the community or country to stand up for what they believe is not right — and they still do.” Students, who gathered in the football stand, were silent for 17 minutes as the names of victims were held up and read out loud. Student leaders also urged students to use their voice — “we can’t let kids our age die in vain,” to vote and to write to their representatives. Afterward, two juniors — Evelyn Compagno and Lilly Olpin
By Julie Slama, Justin Adams, Lori Gillespie and Travis Barton — lingered. “I’m so glad we raised awareness for such a horrible thing,” said Evelyn, adding that she had friends who survived the Las Vegas shooting. “Those kids were murdered for no reason.” The future of the country is being impacted as well, Lilly said. “You never know the potential those children had. They could have been someone great, like the next Isaac Newton,” she said. Community members and Jim and Bonnie Despain came with their signs supporting the students. Jim Despain, who once hunted rabbits, said that he has wanted better gun control for years. Bonnie is a retired Ridgecrest Elementary schoolteacher and remembers faculty discussing the best course of action after the Columbine and Sandy Hook shootings. “It’s taking the kids across the nation to say enough and get the movement going on this,” she said. Utah State Rep. Marie Poulson, who taught English in the south end of the valley, agreed and supported students who participated. “I’m so proud of the courage, how they came out and spoke up,” she said. “It’s taking our young people’s activism to come out to remind us to look at it and make changes. Kids should have the right to feel safe at school.” Poulson said she recalled how the Columbine shooting terrorized both students and teachers and puzzled them about what they could do to make schools safer. Since then, she said phones and panic buttons have been installed in classrooms. “And we’re still discussing it now, but I’m hoping these students caught the attention of other officials and have embarrassed them to do more,” Poulson said. “We don’t want schools to become an armed camp, but we want our students to be safe. We’ve called a school safety commission and if they can find a way to make a difference, we’ll call a special session (at the legislature) and I hope they do.” Sugar House Students from Highland High School and the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts congregated on the Highland football field where they linked arms and sang the Highland school song. Highland principal Chris Jenson estimated they had 1,200 students walk out. “The kids that did walk out, it was really nice to see them make a peaceful statement,” Jenson said. Ermiya Fanaeian organized the student protest—which also included voter registration booths—at Highland having grown tired of the mass shootings that have transpired over the last decade. “I am sick and tired of American schools being the new American battleground,” she said, adding the protest serves as a “call to action” for Congress and state legislators to limit access to weapons that put student safety at risk. “It is important that we express our dissent, it is important that we stay pugnacious to the change that we want to expedite.” Kearns Kearns Jr. High focused its energies on what principal Scott Bell hoped would be a “positive direction” rather than getting into the political aspect. The school’s “walk up” concentrated its attention on supporting school kindness and safety, standing united against school violence and honoring the 17 Parkland shooting victims. “My hope was there would be a uniting activity for us as a school and I think it exceeded my hopes. It really turned out just awesome,” Bell said. Before exiting the school, a student-made video was played with students requesting those watching to stand against school violence and pledge to do 17 acts of kindness. On the lawn outside, students and faculty held a moment of silence for two minutes, 14 seconds (the date of the tragedy 2/14).
Not Just News... Your Community News...
SStudent organizers lead the Brighton High students in 17 minutes of silence, one minute for each victim in the Florida shootings that took place one month prior. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Once students returned to class they were given a KJH Cares card with 14 suggested acts of kindness and three blank lines for them to come up their own ideas. “We’re giving a challenge to our students over the next month to do 17 acts of kindness for others and to use the #KJHCares to share their acts of kindness on social media,” Bell said. Bell was impressed with his students saying they struck the right tone of respect and solemnity. “One thing I didn’t count on was the level of emotion it had for some students,” he said. “We had some of our students and staff be a little emotional about it. There was a real connection with what we were doing.” Holladay At Churchill Jr. High, Principal Josh LeRoy estimated that 80 percent of the student body joined the nationwide walkout. The administration took a hands-off approach to the demonstration, letting student leaders organize it themselves. They did notify the PTSA so that parents were aware of the walkout, many of whom attended to show solidarity for their children. The students formed a large circle and had a moment of silence to honor the victims of recent school shootings. Afterward, some of the student organizers spoke through a megaphone about the need for more gun control and more kindness between students, noting that many of those who carry out school shootings were previously victims of bullying. One of those students, Lydia Timms, said that the opinion and activism of students across the country shouldn’t be discounted just because of their age. “Just because we’re young doesn’t mean that we can’t be patriotic,” she said. Following the demonstration, the majority of students promptly walked back into the building to return to class. LeRoy said he was impressed with the behavior of the students throughout the demonstration. “For most of these students, this was their first experience in civic engagement so we wanted to make sure that it went well,” he said. Eric Holley, one of the parents who attended, said that he thought it was a valuable experience for his daughter. “Something like this works for these kids on their level,” he said.
Page 14 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
High school civics project goes all the way to the Hill By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournal.com
Passionate about protecting K-9 officers, Emily Addison raised money to provide ballistic vests for South Salt Lake Police Department’s K-9 unit. (Photo courtesy Emily Addison)
E
mily Addison’s sophomore civics class assignment is now a bill on the Hill. Two years ago, Addison was attending Summit Academy High School and taking a civics and government class. She was assigned to create, change or enhance a local bill. “It was one of those assignments that you could actually make change in society,” Addison said. As a member of Draper Police Youth Explorers and a daughter of a Draper City police officer, she chose to focus her assignment on the safety of K-9 police dogs. “It was something I had seen in the news quite a bit around that time and so I knew from the start that it was something I wanted to
do it on,” Addison said. “These service dogs are a very big part of the law enforcement community and family. I find them to be quite honorable — their duty is it to protect and serve, not knowing the risks.” Her bill, SB 0057 “Police Service Animal Amendments,” changes the penalty for knowingly killing a police K-9 from a thirddegree felony to a second-degree felony. Addison said the increased penalty is commensurate with the cost to replace the dog, which can cost more than $40,000 to purchase and train. “It’s more appropriate to have a stiffer penalty when considering the dog is an officer of the law,” said Addison, who hopes to work with canines in a career with the FBI. She graduated last year at the age of 16 and is currently studying criminal law at Utah Valley University. “Seeing police officers and the duty that they do, their role of protecting those who cannot protect themselves — that’s always something that I wanted to be able to do,” she said. While waiting for her bill to progress last fall, Addison raised $1,710 to purchase three ballistic-proof vests for South Salt Lake Police Department’s K-9 unit. Addison’s civics teacher Callie Geisler said Addison was a very self-motivated student. “Emily is amazing,” she said. “She has always been incredibly focused and driven.” Others have been impressed by Addison’s determination to make a difference, including Utah Senator Jani Iwamoto. Geisler’s civic action project required students to contact community leaders with their ideas. Addison contacted Iwamoto, who began to look into the issue. “I found there were a lot of things wrong with the code for all kinds of animals,” the senator said. “It was a very involved piece of
legislation.” When two unified police dogs, Dingo and Aldo, were killed in the line of duty in 2016 and 2017, their deaths hit close to home with the senator, who had served on the city council in the area the dogs had served. She met with officers and learned how valuable the dogs’ service is to the community with their ability to find criminals and save lives. She continued to build on the changes Addison suggested and the bill gained the backing of V. Lowry Snow in the House. Because of the strong opinion on both sides of the issue, Iwamoto said it was a very difficult bill to pass. She is hoping for a ceremonial signing from the governor. The senator invited Addison to attend the committee hearing for her bill so she could see the whole process. “I think it’s so important for students to get involved,” the senator said. Geisler said Addison is the only student to ever take their assignment all the way to the state level, but many students proposed their ideas at the local level. They asked city councils to preserve bike trails, add stoplights and stop signs at specific intersections, and fill troublesome potholes. “Once students realize they have a voice and it is heard, they are unstoppable,” said Geisler. She said about 20 percent of the students’ ideas were addressed by local governments. “It’s incredible what can come out of providing our youth with a basic framework of expectations and letting them fill in the rest.” Addison is grateful that Geisler assigned the project and pushed her out of her comfort zone. “It’s amazing that you have these teachers that really inspire you and push you to achieve greatness,” Addison said. “She’s helped me understand that at such a young age, I can have my voice heard and I can go out and achieve so many things.” l
CENTRAL AIR Utah’s Home Comfort Experts Cooling | Heating | Fireplaces | Repair & HEATING Spring Savings! 0% APR Financing for 72 months* or Trade-In Allowance of $1,500
*With approved credit. Additional financing and trade-in allowance offers available on select HVAC systems. Expires
4/30/18.
FREE
IN-HOME ESTIMATES excluders service/repair
Call Today or Visit Our Showroom:
Sandy: 801-590-6442 801-528-9073 8451 S. Sandy Pkwy. 3451 S Sandy 801-758-7921 1470Pkwy. Wall Avenue
SERVICE SPECIAL
SAVE $25
On Heating & A/C Service or Repair Excludes
www.COMFORTSOLUTIONSUTAH.com
Diagnostics Expires 4/30/18
UrGent Care:
Only $10 A Visit!
WITH MEMBERSHIP Medallus Medical Membership is a simple membership program to all of our 9 clinics. Members can receive discounted medical services at $10/visit flat fee in exchange for a monthly membership fee: • $45/ individual / month • $35/ person/ month (party of 2) • $25/ person/ month (party of 3+) • $100/ month / family (cap up to 8) $20 registration fee – 12-month contract
801-810-7058 arlissf@medallus.com
AfterHoursMedical.com
April 2018 | Page 15
DraperJournal .com
Juan Diego boys basketball second best in state By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
Juan Diego Catholic High junior Jason Ricketts averaged 13 points and seven rebounds a game for the second-place Soaring Eagle squad. (Photo courtesy of Mikelle Marston)
F
or the third consecutive year, the Juan Diego Catholic High School boys basketball team earned a trip to the state championship game. And for the third year in a row, the Soaring Eagle squad finished the season in second place with a 64-55 loss to Salem Hills at Utah Valley University March 3.
“It was another frustrating ending,” head coach Drew Trost said. “To even get to the final game three years in a row is a great credit to the program and the consistency we’re trying to build here. It’s just that the ultimate ending for us this season was frustrating. We fell a little short again.” In the title game, Juan Diego and Salem Hills went toe-totoe for three quarters with the Soaring Eagle up at the end of each, including a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter. But, Salem Hills’ James Nelson made key shots while Juan Diego shot 2-of-9 from the free throw line and the Skyhawks pulled away for the win. At the 4A state tournament, Juan Diego defeated Lehi 75-50 Feb. 24 in the first round behind junior Jason Ricketts’ 22-point, six-rebound effort. Against Hurricane March 1, Juan Diego pulled out a 58-54 win with Ricketts again leading the scoring with 16 rebounds and 10 boards. Senior Matt Kitzman had 15 points while junior Raimoana Tinirauarii put in 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds. In the semifinals, Juan Diego held Orem to 15 combined points in the second and fourth quarters — while scoring 36 points — to defeat the Tigers 57-40 March 2 to reach the championship game. “We came into the state tournament feeling like there were four or five teams that could win, with us being one of them,” Trost said. “Orem was also on that list, so coming into their place and winning like we did was a huge win for us.” The Region 11 champions went undefeated at home for the second year in a row this season as it ended the year with a 22-6 record.
Mention This Ad &
WE WILL PAY 28 West 700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-363-4400
$ 50
OF YOUR BILL! (Bills over $500)
WWW. R I C K WA R N E R B O D Y S H O P.COM Not Just News... Your Community News...
Juan Diego was led by Kitzman, the region’s Most Valuable Player, who averaged 15 points a game as the point guard this year after starting as a shooting guard the last two seasons. “He exceeded all of my expectations,” Trost said. “He was terrific all year.” Ricketts also had a “terrific year,” according to Trost, with his 13 points and seven rebounds averages this season, while Tinirauarii, who has “really developed this year,” according to Trost, put in 11 points a game. Junior Lawson Roe, who was a non-varsity player last season, hit a school record 82 3-pointers this year. Others on the 2017-18 team were seniors Brady Greene, Turner Crooms and Chinonso Opara; juniors Mikey Curran, Campbell Magrane and Kalthom Kur; and sophomores Gabe Soto, Lorenzo Soto, Jobi Gelder, Laurbong Gai and Kemari Bailey; and freshmen Talon Valdez and Jag Martin. “I’m really proud of how these guys joined together,” Trost said. “I’m just proud of how they developed and the hard work they put in this year.” Trost was assisted on the coaching staff by Ron Preece, Hector Marquez, Joe Colosimo and Larry Colosimo. Next year, Juan Diego will return Ricketts, “one of the best players in 4A,” according to Trost, along with Kur, a 6’6” player who will figure into the rotation more, and Bailey, who provided six points off the bench this season. “We still definitely have some good pieces coming back,” Trost said. l
Page 16 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Corner Canyon boys basketball finish 2nd in state By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
I
Corner Canyon High’s Gabe Toombs helped the Chargers to the 5A state title game where they lost 76-49 to Olympus March 3. The junior guard, who was the squad’s leading scorer this season, was named to the All-Tournament Team. (Photo courtesy of Corner Canyon High)
t took the Corner Canyon High boys basketball program until its third year to reach the postseason. A year later, the Chargers lost to Olympus by four points in the semifinals. This season, the squad reached the 5A state championship game as Region 7’s third seed and faced an undefeated Olympus team and lost 76-49 March 3 at Utah Valley University. “I thought we played very well in the state tournament,” head coach Dan Lunt said. At the 5A state tournament, Corner Canyon defeated Highland 69-57 Feb. 26, coming back from a 12-point halftime deficit to outscore the Rams by 24 points in the second half. Hayden Welling led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds while John Mitchell added 13 points and Gabe Toombs had 11. In the second round on Feb. 28, the Chargers beat Box Elder 79-54 behind a key 16-point second quarter — while giving up just five points — on their way to a 25-point win. Welling again led offensively with 19 points while Luke Warnock scored 14 points and Toombs put in 10. Against Timpanogos on March 2, Welling went off for 29 points and eight rebounds to carry Corner Canyon to a 65-52 win in the
semifinals. The Chargers opened up a close game with a 44-point second half effort and outrebounded the T-Wolves 39-21, led by Toombs’ 10 boards. In the title game, Corner Canyon got down early and were behind 22 points by halftime. The Chargers played tough in the second half, scoring 25 points to Olympus’ 30, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Blake Emery had 12 points to lead the offense. Welling and Toombs were named to the 5A All-Tournament Team. Corner Canyon finished the year with a 16-11 record. “Overall, we had a great season and I am very proud of the kids,” Lunt said. “What makes us successful as a team is when we play together and everyone accepts their role.” Also on the 2017-18 squad was Josh Chandler, Josh Christensen, Cole Hagen, Andrew Heath, Shane Hertgen, Ammon Jensen, Parker Miller, Trace Ross, Dallin Tullis and Carter Welling. Lunt was assisted by Scott Sexton, Ken Smikahl, Taylore Anderson and Perrin Anderl on the coaching staff. l
Junior Jazz player brings everyone together and ‘changes hearts’
W
By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
hen 13-year-old Sammy Jeanes, of Draper, was born with Down syndrome and dealt with a collapsed lung, open-heart surgery and other health issues in his first six months of life, his father, James, felt impressed that his son “would be here to bring people together.” “That’s his mission here,” James said. “And that’s exactly what he’s been doing.” Sammy has been playing Junior Jazz basketball the past two seasons with his older brother Mark and his best friend, Ryan Roberts, who coaches the freshman/sophomore team and is 15-year-old Carson Roberts’ dad. “This came about because Coach Roberts has been wanting to get Sammy into games and invited him to be a part of their team,” James said. “He said he didn’t care if the clock was started or if the score was counted, he wanted Sammy to get some time on the court.” Ryan Roberts said he talks to opposing coaches before each game about Sammy to get everyone on board with Sammy’s presence in the game after halftime. “Everyone just clears out and lets Sammy do his thing,” Roberts said. “He actually shoots really well and usually hits his first shot or two. What happens in that moment is that it takes a competitive game and turns it to what’s most important and allows
us all to see that those with differences are just as important as we are. Everyone’s hearts change and coaches and referees will thank me afterwards for letting them be a part of this.” After Sammy makes a bucket or two, he shows off for the crowd with a “dab” or twirling fake guns and putting them into fake holsters. “Sammy is literally a part of our team,” Roberts said. “We do drills and he does his thing. He really thrives on it.” “I like playing basketball with Mark and my friend, the coach,” Sammy said. “This has allowed Sam to open himself up,” James said. “It has been an opportunity to bond with others.” James said this Junior Jazz experience has always been “wonderful” for him and his wife. “With a special needs kid, you’re always kind of worried that they’ll fit in,” James said, noting that much of the reason he — a native Californian — and his wife — who is from Phoenix — live in Utah is because of the programs and “heartwarming response” offered among this community. “Sammy loves life and literally everyone and people love him,” James said. “That’s how we all should be.” Sammy’s teammates on the team also include Andrew Bui, Will Dells, Cinco Lucerto, Tyson Packer, Henry Purser, Matthew Sharp
Coach Ryan Roberts’ Junior Jazz team poses with their special teammate Sammy Jeanes (No. 3). (Photo courtesy of Ryan Roberts)
and Luke Tea, and his coaches are Roberts and Roberts’ sons Trevor and Jentzen. Coach Roberts said his team has learned to “be inclusive despite where someone is at, who
may be facing challenges we don’t face.” In other words, Sammy is bringing his Junior Jazz team — and more — together. l
City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.
Page 18 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
CCHS softball begins season with new coach By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com new head coach,” CCHS Athletic Director Kenneth Smikahl said. “He is looking to continue the success our program had last year and build for the future by working with the youth that live in Draper. Even though the season hasn’t started yet, he has actively been involved with open gyms and reaching out to other athletes in our school to encourage them to play softball.” Opheikens said the program is in position to succeed. “I feel like we have put great coaches into place to help these girls achieve those goals that they have set,” Opheikens said. “Corner Canyon has a great athletic department as well as administrators that also want to see this program reach new heights. It is really nice to see everyone at Corner Canyon take so much pride in a women’s sport. I am truly lucky to be here.” Opheikens said he always wanted to be a football coach but got into coaching softball instead more than 10 years ago after his daughter brought home a dance flyer from school. “We somehow discovered on the back of the flyer was girls softball,” Opheikens said. “My daughter decided that softball sounded cooler than dance and the rest is history.” From there, Opheikens began coaching in the recreation leagues and then was managing up to three teams a year in the The Charger softball team exits the dugout to celebrate a home run during accelerated ranks. “I really loved watching my daughters achieve the 2017 season. The 2018 version will feature a new coach in Chris Opheikgoals and get better and make friends,” Opheikens said. “As my ens. (Travis Barton/City Journals) daughters continued, I also had the opportunity to meet and coach a lot of great players which have turned into many great he Corner Canyon High School softball team finished last friends.” season with a 19-9 overall record and a two-win, two-loss Opheikens employs a simple coaching philosophy of showing at the 4A state tournament in May. This year, the working hard, having fun and being a team family. “Putting in Chargers have a new coach, Chris Opheikens, who is hoping to the work is critical,” he said. “The girls will only get out what continue to build a program that has made the postseason three they put in. Our coaches are there to motivate and assist but of the four years since CCHS opened its doors in 2013. cannot put the work in for them.” “We are excited to have Coach Opheikens on board as our “The team must trust and support each other on and off
T
the field. When they come to a game and play as a ‘family,’ we believe that they are unbeatable. And lastly, if they work hard and have family, the having fun will follow. It is hard not to have fun when you are with people that you know have worked hard for each other and genuinely enjoy being around each other.” Opeheikens said he strives to help the athletes he coaches be team players. “When softball is over and they are moving on to other things in life, they will remember what it felt like to be part of a family and that will make them more employable and everything,” he said. “I feel like sports are more than just an activity. It teaches us a lot about each individual and how we can help them be better on and off the field.” Corner Canyon began its 2018 season March 9-10 at a St. George tournament. The Chargers lost to Ridgeline 11-0, Tooele 5-1, Fremont 12-3, Grantsville 7-0 and Box Elder 17-0. “We had a bit of a rough weekend,” Opeheikens said. “We lost all five games, but made significant progress in teaching the new girls as well as strengthening the team spirit and camaraderie. We are excited to get better and see how we improve. We just have to remember that this season is a marathon, not a sprint.” Corner Canyon also lost to Springville 12-6 Mar. 13 and Maple Mountain Mar. 19. Players on the 2018 squad include senior Quinn Wansel; juniors Abbi Opheikens, Lexi Parker, Broke Meyers, Josee Haycock, Jessica Nemelka, Hannah Knoop and Mia Kunkal; sophomores Whitney Opheikens, Abby Kleinman, Maggie Ramos, Olivia Sunderland, Mckenna Jealy and Emory Smith; and freshman Anna Nemelka, Selma Kohler, Lauren Dupree, Rylee Taylor and Sydney Taylor. Opheikens will be assisted on the coaching staff by Troy Johnson, Steph Losee and Lyndsay Walker. l
Take The
ElevateHER Challenge
Are you a business leader? Join businesses across Utah in our mission to elevate the stature of women’s leadership. Take the ElevateHER Challenge and stand with other businesses as we pledge to elevate women in senior leadership positions, in boardrooms, on management teams and political ballots.
for more information:
wliut.com/challenge
April 2018 | Page 19
DraperJournal .com
Oquirrh Mountaineers hockey team wins state By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com defeated Southern Utah 5-1 Feb. 10 and then UCI-South 5-4 Feb. 12 in the semifinals matchup to reach the final game. “Because we are an independent team, it is always difficult to blend the different mentalities together and have the players bond quickly,” van der Sluys said. “This team had an influx of new players, but it was Oquirrh Mountaineers hockey players Jackson Bybee, Ian Murray, Piper van amazing how quickly they der Sluys, Giovanni Mammano, Christopher Panek, Kenyon Johnson, Jeffrey Kain and Jackson Strelow were key players in the team’s Utah High School came together and relied on Hockey Division 2 Independent State Championship, which they won by de- each other early on. They really acted and played as a team, feating Southern Utah 10-1 Feb. 21. (Photo/Sharon Kain) which is what you need to take it to this level. Of course, we t’s not how you start, but how you finish. had some standout players but The Oquirrh Mountaineers hockey team, it does take the entire roster to win.” made up of boy and girl players from various Sophomore All-State player Ian Murray high schools, had a fourth-place showing in from Juan Diego Catholic High School led their regular season in Division 2 of Utah high the state with 41 goals while senior captain school hockey before heading into the state Christopher Panek, an Academic All-Star from playoffs. JDCHS who scored 24 goals this season, was a Head coach Moe van der Sluys said his “game changer as well,” according to van der team was playing extremely well and were Sluys. looking to “make a deep run for the playoffs” “When put together on a line, they were and that they did, winning the Division 2 unstoppable,” van der Sluys said. Independent State Championship with a win Senior assistant captain Jeffrey Kain, an over Southern Utah 10-1 Feb. 21. All-State player and Academic All-Star who “It was an amazing feeling, especially since is also from JDCHS, was credited by van der it’s the first time in 11 years of coaching high Sluys as their “smartest player” and for his school hockey for me, but, more importantly, “amazing” defensive contributions, while to see the players and their reactions at the end senior goalie Joey Combs, an Academic Allof the game was priceless,” van der Sluys said. Star from Hunter High, was “solid all year.” “Hockey is one of the longest seasons in high Also on the 2017–18 state title team were school sports. We started practicing in August senior All-State player and Academic Allso to have it culminate this way was amazing.” Star Jackson Bybee from JDCHS, All-State During the state tournament, Oquirrh players Reagan Tolley (Taylorsville High)
I
and Dylan Burton (Cyprus High), along with other Academic All-Stars Piper van der Sluys, Jackson Strelow and Giovanni Mammano (JDCHS), Sarah Mason and Jared Wood (Hunter High), Austin Mendenhall and Ryan Wood (Bennion Junior High). Other players on the squad were David Broadhead, Ethan Broadhead, Thomas Christensen, Ian Frederick, Jackson Gordon, Jeade’en Haygood, Casey Horne, Kenyon Johnson, Garrette Moore, Owen Peterson, Tristan Schetzel, Jonathan Schild, Samuel Schild, Ryan Weed and Jared Wood. The team had six players participate the league’s all-star game. The team was also recognized by the West Valley City Council for their championship. “What can I say, but I’m so proud of all the work these boys and girls put into the sport and the team,” van der Sluys said. “The cost to practice is $170 an hour so we don’t have as many opportunities to practice as other sports so players have to go on their own to dropin hockey sessions and open skates. You can definitely tell those that put in the extra work. I’m just very proud of the coaches, trustee, parents and players for what was accomplished this year.” Van der Sluys, who was named the division’s coach of the year, was assisted by Mike Dykman and Kory Palmer on the coaching staff with Dana Combs as team trustee. “Hockey is a physical sport and it’s unlike any other in high school sports,” van der Sluys said, also noting the four girls on his squad — Piper van der Sluys, Tolley, Terrill and Mason — “who play and hang tough.” “We look to the future with our young players who will be making an impact for years to come.” l
Five Soaring Eagles sign with football programs
You Deserve
The Best offerinG: • Botox & Fillers • Laser Treatments • Luxury Skin Care • Hydrafacial • Health Clubs • Massage • CoolSculpting • And More ...
BEFORE
AFTER 3 TREATMENTS
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com Juan Diego Catholic High School football players Chinonso Opara, Zach Hoffman, Quinn Brown, Matt Kobs and Kyle Abundo pose with Soaring Eagle head football coach John Colosimo during a National Letter of Intent Signing Day ceremony at JDCHS Feb. 7. Opara will play for BYU, Hoffman is going to the Colorado School of Mines, Brown to St. Vincent’s College, Kobs to Benedictine College, and Abundo to Occidental College. (Photo courtesy of JDCHS)
save 25%
on your treatment
Call for details: 801-513-faCe 6322 S 3000 E Suite 170 • Salt Lake City, UT
formmedspa.com Not Just News... Your Community News...
Page 20 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
Welcome to Draper City! Draper Area Chamber to thank ...
Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes
Utah State Senator Howard Stephenson
... for their many years of service in the State Legislature at the Annual State of the State Luncheon. Utah House Representative LaVar Christensen
Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Support Signings and Patriot Awards. Manager Nik Wilson receives Patriot Award for his Support of Service Member Anton Thomas (Army National Guard) who works for Swire Coca Cola in Draper.
Manager Mark Howe receives Patriot Award for his Support of Service Member Samuel Warren (ARNG) that works for Sportsmans’s Warehouse in South Jordan.
Left to right: Bill Rappleye ESGR, Nik Wilson Swire recipient, Coca Cola Anton Thomas Service member ARNG (not pictured).
Left to right: Bill Rappleye ESGR, Samuel Warren Service member ARNG, Mark Howe Recipient.
Draper Chamber serving the Draper Business Community Since 1994
PHONE 8015530928
www.draperchamber.com
CCHS girls basketball’s historic season ends in first round of state tourney
F
or the first time in school history, a Corner Canyon High School basketball team won a region title. This season, the girls squad secured the Region 7 crown with a 9-1 showing this season, its only loss a 63-56 game just prior to the 5A state tournament. At state, the Chargers lost in the first round 51-45 to Highland Feb. 19. Corner Canyon “started off really loose,” according to head coach Jeramy Acker, and found themselves down nearly 20 points at one point in the game. Corner Canyon struggled offensively, shooting just 20 percent from the field on 66 shots — while Highland shot 60 percent on 33 field goal attempts. The turnovers were also the story with 23 committed by Corner Canyon to just seven by the Rams. “Our girls played their hearts out and I’m super proud of them,” Acker said. “Both of our best players had an off night, but they are still amazing. We just ran out of gas.” Annie Bowen, who usually leads the team in assists, was the leading scorer with 15 points. “She was the player of the game for us and was the reason we were even in that game,” Acker said. Corner Canyon began the year for the second season in a row welcoming in a new player. Fortunately for the Chargers, those two players were Jaeden Vaifanua, who came from Louisiana last year, and Kemery Martin, who joined the team this season. The two junior captains have led the team in scoring this past season with 16 points and 21 points, respectively. “I’m so proud of our girls for the support they give each other,” Acker said. “Our mantra is, ‘Charger Family,’ which we say after our huddles, and we really are all about caring for each other and loving each other.” Corner Canyon started the year 7-1 and ran off another winning streak — this one of 11 games — before closing out its 20-3 record. “This is a special group of players,” Acker said. “Four years ago, we never won a game. The next year, we won our first region game. Last year, we were in the conversation for the region title and ended up a fourth seed, making the playoffs for the first time. We are doing better every year and still breaking records.” Acker also noted the classroom excellence of his six seniors — Nicole Critchfield, Hannah Sanderson, Bowen, Alyssa Crow, Andi Humble and Ashlyn Bird — who had a combined 3.86 GPA, and were all named Academic AllRegion. Critchfield and Sanderson were also named Academic All-State. “We emphasize academics to help our players get scholarships and try to give them the athletic opportunities as well,” Acker said. “What our seniors have done academically is
Corner Canyon senior Hannah Sanderson drives to the basket in a game against Box Elder earlier this season (Photo courtesy of Lesa Bowen)
not easy to do.” Also on the squad this season were juniors Megan Astle, Alexandra Wright, Livi Redden and Marissa Wicherski; sophomore Abby Kleinman; and freshman Baylee Bodily. Acker was assisted on the coaching staff by Heather Humble, Christie Duke, Brian Vaifanua, Lexi Gagon, Andie Nicholes and Brian Rhay with team managers Hannah Knoop, Maddie Moushey, Cara Chambers and Cora Butler. Next season, Corner Canyon will return Vaifanua and Martin, who are looking to play Division I basketball. “Those two are very highly skilled and they will have a full offseason to work together,” Acker said. “It will be nice to have some consistency.” Acker has been instrumental in developing a youth girls basketball program for Corner Canyon. A free clinic will be held March 29–30 in the school’s main gym. A clinic for girls in grades K–4 will be held from 6 to 6:50 p.m. with grades 5–8 scheduled from 6:50 to 8 p.m. “We’re trying to share the loving of the game and teach fundamentals while also noticing interested and capable young girls that can be developed through this program,” Acker said. l
City Journal is a free publication made possible by our advertisers . Please shop local and let them know you saw them in the City Journal.
April 2018 | Page 21
DraperJournal .com
Shot clock or no shot clock? That’s the ongoing question By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
T
he high school basketball seasons may have ended, but the discussion about whether or not to have a shot clock (a timer designed to increase the game’s pace and scoring) continues. Eight states – California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington – have employed the use of a 30- or 35-second shot clock while other states are moving towards the idea, including Wisconsin, which is slated to have a shot clock for the 2019-2020 season. Many coaches around Utah seem to be in favor of the shot clock, according to Joe Ogelsby, Utah High School Activities Association assistant director and director of Basketball Operations. One of those coaches is Corner Canyon High girls basketball coach Jeramy Acker who said, “We not only need it, we as coaches are wanting it. Every level of basketball has a shot clock. We are really doing a serious disservice to the student-athlete and really inhibiting the game by not having a shot clock.” Acker points out that there are more 20-point scorers in the state than ever before, indicative to him of the “different style of basketball that they are wanting.” “The game is about playing with pace and tempo which typically has you scoring within 15 to 20 seconds,” he said. “It seems that the teams that struggle offensively employ the stall tactics and try to control possessions.” The coach of the 5A Chargers program in Draper said he was “bitten by stalling” earlier in his coaching career. “What I’ve found since is that wins and losses comes and go, but what is more important to me is, ‘Am I helping my player to develop to the next level?’ Stalling doesn’t help me do that,” he said. Bryce Valley boys basketball coach Gary Syrett said that speaking for his 1A program, “We would like it,” he said. “It’s a fun type of basketball. Even though stalling can be effective at times – and we’ve taken some minutes off the clock at times – I still like basketball to be played up and down and most of the kids do too.” Syrett said his staff and school administrators have discussed the shot clock and recognize the cost, but are still in favor of moving that way. Bruce Bean, principal of 3A Carbon High in Price who was a basketball coach for 13 years, also said he would welcome a shot clock. “In my coaching style, we better get a good shot off before we turn the ball over. That lends itself to needing to move the ball quickly towards the basket,” he said.
“If we are supposed to prepare our kids for the next level, they need to be familiar with what’s going on. I don’t think it’s going to bother the game.” “Change is inevitable,” Bean said. “I’m old enough to remember when the three-point line came in and we had to adjust to that. I remember when we went from two officials to three and at first everyone was asking, ‘Why do we need this?’ and now it seems like no one is arguing that point anymore.” Tom Sherwood, Brighton High’s principal, feels a shot clock would positively impact the game in the state. “We’ve discussed it several times and as basketball evolves, it’s worth revisiting the issue,” he said. When Brighton’s 5A boys basketball team played in the Under Armour Holiday Classic in California over the Christmas break this past season, they used a shot clock and defeated nationally-ranked teams from Torrey Pines (California) and Oak Christian (California). “The shot clock was good for us in the tournament and I think we thrived with it,” Sherwood said. “I think it encourages kids to be more aggressive offensively and be less hesitant to take open shots when you’re on a clock.” Former NBA coach Barry Hecker called the shot clock a “double-edged sword,” saying that it hurts struggling or average teams while it favors better teams. He said that while he was coaching at Westminster, his squad, who was picked to finish last in the conference, ran “four corners” to spread the ball around offensively and found themselves at the top of the division much of the season. “If we would have had a shot clock, we would have got our butts spanked,” he said. Hecker also noted that a shot clock would appeal to spectators and would get those on the court ready for the use of the shot clock in college. So, where does the UHSAA sit on the issue of bringing a shot clock to the state? Oglesby from UHSAA said the shot clock topic has been brought up over the years and their organization has given – and continues to give – the subject extensive time, research, thought and discussion. “Our organization is completely membership-driven which drives a rules process and feasibility of things while being risk adverse,” Oglesby said. “We have to do not just what is in the best interest of segments of student-athletes; we have to safeguard to ensure that decisions made are done with the best interest for everyone. We have to be concerned with equity.”
Oglesby said that the UHSAA is “not negligent with knowing” about how coaches and administrators feel about the shot clock issue, but that there are “fundamental issues that we need to answer,” that have received the support of many coaches around the state, while not being able to “get a lot of support from athletic directors and principals,” according to Oglesby. The two main points, he said, are financing the acquisition and maintenance of shot clocks and staffing the running of the shot clocks during games. Estimations on shot clocks vary depending on the type of scoreboards schools already can range in the thousands of dollars. A shot clock operator is simply “one more position to pay for,” said Oglesby. “Several larger classifications want to just do it,” he said. “Things are always moving and we are not wanting to make any quick changes. It’s going to take a long time to get through the process.” The National Federation of State High School Associations does not allow for the use of a shot clock, so the states that do have them are not allowed representation on the Rules Committee within the organization. In an article, “Shot Clock in High School Basketball – the Debate Continues” by Mike Dyer from Feb. 5, 2015, the NFHS Director of Sports and Officials Education Theresia Wynns said that the NFHS stance on the shot clock is that the high school game does not need the shot clock. It is in good shape as it is. Their summary: 1) A shot clock takes away strategy from some coaches to slow the ball down to match up to the opponent. 2) Some committee members are opposed to “state adoption” because everyone should be playing the same game. 3) Education-based basketball does not warrant that student-athletes and coaches play to entertain the public. Carbon High’s Bean said that there are valid points of financing that he would have to consider being a school from a rural area and he understands the equity part of the shot clock discussion. Brighton High’s Sherwood also said he can see both sides of the shot clock issue and the costs associated with a change, but he suggested a pilot program within the 5A or 6A ranks to see the results. “The girls may not be ready for the shot clock, but the boys might be,” he said. “Who knows who’s ready if we don’t try it?” And so, the discussion continues… l
Not Just News... Your Community News...
Carpe Di End
Gain peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of your way.
Helping Families Heal for Over 130 years
4 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE WASATCH FRONT Larkin Mortuary 260 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-5781
Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 582-1582
Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.) • Sandy, UT 84092 (801) 571-2771
Larkin Mortuary Riverton 3688 West 12600 South Riverton, UT 84065 (801) 254-4850
Call For Your
FREE
Personal Wishes Organizer
801-363-5781
LarkinMortuary.com
Page 22 | April 2018
Draper City Journal
The Value of Choices I recently watched a Netflix Original show called “Ozark,” starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner and Peter Mullan. The show opens over a lake, late into an evening sunset. Over the next three minutes, a dimly-lit montage of the main character doing some menial tasks makes the audience question the morality of the character. Bateman’s voice is tracked over this scene.
by
CASSIE GOFF
“Money: that which separates the haves, from the have-nots. It’s everything if you don’t have it, right? Half of all American adults have more credit card debt than savings. Twenty-five percent have no savings at all. And only 15 percent of the population is on track to fund even one year of retirement. You see, I think most people just have a fundamentally flawed view of money. Is it simply an agreed upon unit of exchange for goods and services? Or is it intangible – security, happiness, or peace of mind? Let me propose a third option; money as a measuring device. You see the hard reality is how much money we accumulate in life is a function of….patience, frugality, and sacrifice. When you boil it down, what do those three things have in common? Those are choices. Money is not peace of mind. Money’s not happiness. Money is, at its essence, that measure of a man’s choices.” For months, the above quote has stuck with me, challenging my perceptions of money, poorness, richness, currency, and value. As the season of new beginnings—spring—approaches, it is a time to challenge ourselves to think
more positively, meditate incrementally, comprehend the daily quotes from calendars. If you aim to change mentality, instead of physicality, as part of your new beginnings, I challenge you to begin questioning the perception of money. Most of us view money as an agreed upon unit of exchange for goods and services. You’re reading this newspaper segment with the word “coupon” in the title, hoping to find ways of protecting those units already possessed. Without such coupons, or mentality of frugality, those units diminish. In viewing money as units of exchange, statistics like the ones mentioned above are frightening. Half of all American adults need to earn units to replenish the units they’ve already exchanged, instead of inheriting them. Fifteen percent of the population has not obtained enough units to exchange for a oneyear lifestyle free from work and responsibility. However, if we perceive money as a measure of an individual’s choices, those statistics are less anxiety-ridden. Half of all American adults made choices to live outside of their means. Fifteen percent of the population chose to live a different lifestyle. As I’ve been challenging my perception of
Committed to the
MUSIC LESSONS
GROWTH Of Your Business
ANNOUNCING advanced piano study with concert pianist, Ran Duan, DMA
“Everyone told me that print ads no longer worked and to not waste my money on this type of advertising, but the City Journals were attractive to me because of their local readership and community spirit, so I took the plunge and advertised in just one of the thirteen journals. You can imagine my surprise, when I received two inquiries the day after the first issue of the journal came out with my ad! In addition, the fantastic staff helped my design-challenged self create an attractive ad so that I would see traffic from this investment. In every way, I’d recommend advertising with the City Journals.” –Rebekah Wightman, J.D. CORBETT & GWILLIAM, PLLC
CALL FOR AUDITION *free practice record with this coupon
CALL: 801 9187740 danwhitleymusic.com DRAPER
801-984-8954 126 E 12300 S
(Formerly Dry Cleaning Superstore)
10 Shirts For
Now Hiring
BEAT WRITERS
$20
Earn extra cash. Be involved in the community. Write for the City Journals.
Expires 4/30/18
Send a resume and writing sample to
(tax included)
mrlecleaners.com
money, I’ve observed less stress about the number of units in my bank account and wallet. I’ve realized that the choices I make are my own. Some of my choices may not be acceptable, or even viable, for others within my community or country. I may not understand or support others’ choices as well. That’s why we make different choices, the ones that make sense to our individual selves. Our own currencies enrich our lives in different and meaningful ways. Choices are indefinite. We are provided the opportunity of choice with every moment we are alive. Our behaviors may be influenced; but we are the ultimate decision maker in what we wear, what we say, what we do, where we sleep, where we live, how we respond, who we fear, who we love, and who we are. Our money reflects those choices. And if we were to perceive money as a measure of human choice, I’d be pretty wealthy.
writers@mycityjournals.com
Your next customer is seeing this ad....
receive
$300 OFF any display ad
campaign
Melissa Worthen
CALL TODAY!
City Journals Account Executive
801-897-5231
April 2018 | Page 23
DraperJournal .com
Out in Left Field
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
Baseball has been America’s favorite pastime for more than 150 years, followed closely by gun control debates, reality TV and overeating. There’s just something about sitting in a ballpark surrounded by drunk fans that screams ‘Merica! The hubbie and I spent a weekend in Phoenix for spring training where teams get together for pre-season games and fans hope for a glimpse of a mega baseball star like Mike Trout or one of the racing sausage mascots from Milwaukee. As San Francisco Giants fans, we sat in a sea of orange and black, surrounded by men who obviously missed their calling as ESPN baseball announcers. Their color commentary got slurrier and slushier with each beer they drank. It made me wish real ESPN announcers would drink on the job. Whenever we walk into a ballpark, my husband turns into a 14-yearold boy. The crack of the bat, the smell of a leather glove and the roar of the crowd makes him absolutely giddy. Hubbie: We’re at a ball game! Me: I know. Hubbie: Maybe I’ll catch a foul ball! Me: Maybe. Hubbie: Do you think they’ll run out of
Draper
players and call me up to play? Me: Me: You’ve been in the sun too long. But it’s not just my husband, nearly every man there is reliving childhood dreams of baseball stardom, talking about games they watched with their dads or reminiscing about baseball legends they revered as teens. I love baseball, but not in the way my husband does. A lot of my experience revolves around food (as most things do). At ball games, I eat food I’d never eat in real life. My 74-ounce Coke and foot-long Bratwurst was an appetizer for my shredded pork nachos, drenched in a fluorescent orange “cheese” stored in plastic buckets in the basement of the stadium. I ate French fries so salty, I actually pooped jerky. Baseball is about tradition: team loyalty, peanuts, Cracker Jack, not caring if you ever get back, and yelling at the umps after every bad call. The drunker the crowd, the more hilarious the insults. “Can I pet your Seeing-Eye dog after the game, Blue?” “That’s why umpires shouldn’t date players!” “You drop more calls than Verizon!” And so on.
PROFESSIONALS
Value DENTAL INSURANCE
PLACE AN AD: Call
801-254-5974
Hiring Umpires Adult League Slow-Pitch Softball
Then there’s the stats. Baseball statisticians use more abbreviations than texting teens. You have your standard 1B, HR, BB, SB, K, L and ERA. But occasionally, a stat will appear on the scoreboard that leaves everyone confused. “What the hell’s a UZR?” slurs a drunk ESPN announcer. We all scratch our heads until someone Googles it. (Ultimate Zone Rating, if you were wondering.) Each game holds the opportunity to witness an unassisted triple play, a grand slam, a no-hitter, a perfect game or a squirrel being chased off the field by an octogenarian ball boy. Ballparks
Hearing Aids
Debt Relief
FENCING
Hearing Help Express FDA-Registered Hearing Aids. 100% Risk-Free! 45-Day Home Trial. Comfort Fit. Crisp Clear Sound. If you decide to keep it, PAY ONLY $299 per aid. FREE Shipping.
20+ Years Experience Licensed and Insured All types of Fencing Installs and Repairs
Call Hearing Help Express 1- 855-701-7349
National Debt Relief Have 10K in Debt? National Debt Relief is rated A-Plus with the BBB. You could be debt free in 24-48 months. Call 1-888-601-7028 now for a free debt evaluation.
YARD CARE
Book Publishing
Michael Deagle Utah’s Finest in Lawn Care, Spring/Fall Clean-ups, Aeration, Weekly Cuts All Your Landsape Needs
International distribution, print and digital formats. Books sold at major retailers. Contact Page Publishing for your FREE author submission kit.
or http://www.dental50plus.com/225 Ad# 6118
Excellent Pay - $20 per game/hour Games throughout Salt Lake County No Experience Necessary. We will train you. Much have YOUR OWN Car or Transportation For Info or to Apply Email Utahuic@yahoo.com
Page Publishing Become a published author!
Call Mike 801-597-0143
CALL 1-844-440-5622
LAWN SERVICES
TREE SERVICES
YARD SERVICES
GARAGE DOORS
DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 855-385-6690
PRO LAWN MAINTENANCE IN BUSINESS 35 YEARS!
Spring Aeration, Weekly Lawn Maintenance
Spring Clean-ups . FREE Estimates
801-550-6813 or 801-347-1238 Tile and Flooring Powell Tile and Laminate Flooring Tile, Back Splashes, and Bathrooms Laminate Flooring, Finish Work, and Handyman Services Call Chris for a free estimate 801.708.1123
INTERMOUNTAIN TREE EXPERTS
Removals . Trimming . Pruning Licensed and Insured / 15 Yrs Experience
801-244-3542 FREE ESTIMATES
ROOFING
801-449-9875
All types of roofs
$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.
are national treasures, each one unique and representative of their community. But my main reason for loving the game is this: baseball is a game of patience. There’s no time limit to a ballgame. It could last 3 hours or 5 hours; 9 innings or 13 innings. As our lives get busier, a ballgame is a reminder to sit in the sunshine, to talk to the person next to you and to order a hot dog without guilt as you root for your favorite team. All you have to do is sit, eat and cheer someone on. Shouldn’t that be America’s favorite pastime?
LANDSCAPING
Affordable Yard Care / Tree Trimming & Removal Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts
Call Dan:
A PLUS GARAGE DOORS
Service Available 24/7 Certified Experts 100% Warrantied
801-518-7365 801-260-2030
Lawn & Landscaping
Automotive Services
STRONG LANDSCAPING
Randy’s Tire and Muffler
Professional Lawn Care Services Mowing, Sprinkler Install and Repair Custom Landscaping 17 Years Experience, Licensed & Insured
801.867.7800 greg@stronglandscaping.com
Complete Auto Repair & Service Manager Owned and Operated Serving Bluffdale/South Valley for 3 Generations 14250 S Redwood Rd 801-254.9971
RandysTireAndMuffler.com
AJ Fencing
Free Estimates
801.471.9688
VEHICLES WANTED
Gumby’s Auto Parts We’ll buy your non-running, wrecked or broken car, truck or van.
(801) 506-6098
“It’s worth your time to call!” FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
OLYMPUS ROOFING
801.887.7663 SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973
CONCRETE WORK
Reasonable Prices, Quality Work, Prompt Service Flat work, Driveways, Patios, RV Pads, Sidwalks, Etc.
Call Dan.:
801.518.7365
Thank You to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
ECRWSS Local Postal Customer
Opening in Draper April 2018 Luxury Assisted Living
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Riverton, UT Permit #44
CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SCHEDULE A TOUR: 801-951-1300 BeaconCrestSeniorLiving.com
• Spacious apartments • Exceptional care • Fine dining • Housekeeping • 24/7 Nursing Assistance
Simply the Best Deposits now being accepted. Ask about our move-in SPECIAL.
591 Pioneer Road • Draper, Utah 84020 | 801-951-1300
BeaconCrestSeniorLiving.com
A Salt Lake Doctor’s Controversial Confession And How It Could Directly Affect You
Dear friendOver the past decade, I’ve been somewhat known as “the guy that sends out those flyers with his kids on them”. Whenever I do, my friends love to joke about it. I don’t mind, but my past flyers don’t “tell all “or as they say “that’s only a part of the story”. You see, new information has come out and new technology has been developed that has helped so many people eliminate pain without taking pills or shots. Before I explain, let me tell you about something that changed my life forever ...19 years ago, my beautiful wife Suzy was pregnant with our first child. As time passed, Suzy started looking like a cute little pregnant mom. The problem however, was so did I. At first, we just laughed about my weight gain. I didn’t feel bad as long as I just avoided mirrors. After Suzy had baby Stockton, she started running to get in shape. She quickly lost her original weight and more. Not me though!!! I was still up 35 lbs and FEELING IT. Run!?!? “I should run.” I gave it a try, but my knees and my low back were hurting so much that I quit... After popping ibuprofen, my friend told me to see his doctor. I was skeptical, but... Here’s what happened… The doctor did an exam, took some X-rays, and “adjusted” my
Most People DON’T WANT to see a Chiropractor that uses gimmicks or unscientific ways of practicing. Most people DON’T WANT to take drugs to just cover up pain without fixing the cause. I THINK MOST PEOPLE DO WANT to know what is wrong and if the doctor can really help. Most people WANT an honest skilled doctor that has experience, who is friendly, has a great staff, a nice office, top-of-theI’ve been in practice for 16 years now and I’ve been blessed to line technology, and is affordable with or without insurance. work with thousands of delighted patients. However, I still see As far as Confessions go, I don’t heal or “cure” anybody from so many good people just endure pain. But I get it, with so many anything. What I do is carefully remove pressure on spinal nerves, gimmicks and opinions out there, I would be skeptical too! Let’s help muscles to relax, help bad Spinal discs, and help you shed face it… extra weight. Only then, amazing Dr. YOU does the real work and Most People DON’T WANT to see a doctor a ton of times or only your body heals or “cures” itself! Back pain disappears, headaches stop, Sciatica is gone, neck stiffness leaves… feel good for 20 minutes after treatment. spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt. I got some serious relief, but would pain just come right back? The doctor recommended a couple more treatments and sure enough, when I tried to run again, I felt great… I HAD NO PAIN. I was so impressed, that I decided to go chiropractic school myself. I lost the extra 35 lbs. I became a Personal Trainer, a Strength & Conditioning specialist... and I just finished my 50th marathon.
Complete Spinal Exam (X-rays if needed)
& 2 pain relieving Treatments
for only $27($293 Value)
This is WHY the office, equipment, protocols, and my staff come together to Help YOU. We help you know what is wrong, if I can help...How long care will take and any costs. In addition to Chiropractic, we have the LiteCure Class IV Deep Tissue Laser and The DRX Spinal Decompression for disc problems and toughest pr. We are on most insurance including Aetna, Altius, Blue Cross, Cigna, Deseret Mutual, Educators Mutual, IHC Select Med, PEHP, UHC, and others. I have affordable cash plans. And Regardless of fault, Auto Injuries are 100% Covered by Auto Insurance. When you call to schedule your visit, you will receive a Complete Spinal Assessment and 2 Pain Relieving Treatments for only $17 ($297 Normal Price). My assistant’s name is Linda. We are Elite Performance Health Center. We are located at I-15 and Bangerter Hwy (13552 S. 110 W.). Don’t hesitate to call our office. The number is 801-302-0280 ... Thank you.
–Matthew D. Smith, D.C. CSCS Chiropractic Physician
P.S. I am also extending this offer to one family member for only $7.
Auto Injuries are 100%
covered by Auto Insurance.
888-yoUr-CArE (888-968-2273)
www.elite-spinal-care.com
DRX 9000