South Jordan - August 2015 - Vol. 2 Iss. 8 by The City Journals

August 2015 | Vol. 2 Iss. 8

FREE Miner Magic: Fact or Fiction?

By Kaleb Loftus

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page 5

page 12

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“Six years back, we were talking about current events and a

student didn’t realize we had soldiers in Afghanistan and that’s when I realized I had to do something.” page 14

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Page 2 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

New Police Chief Sworn In For South Jordan By Aimee L. Cook

outh Jordan Police Department officially welcomed their new Police Chief, Jeff Carr on July 7 when he was sworn in. Carr’s career in law enforcement began 32 years ago, with 24 of those in the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, starting in patrol. “I am excited to obtain a chief with the professional credentials that Mr. Carr brings to our top law enforcement job,” South Jor-

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Creative Director Bryan Scott: bryan@mycityjournals.com Assistant Editor: Lewi Lewis: lewis@mycityjournals.com Staff Writers: Julie Slama, James Luke, Aimee L. Cook, Amy Teachman and Kaleb Loftus Ad Sales: 801-264-6649 Sales Associates: Ryan Casper: 801-671-2034 Melissa Worthen: 801-897-5231 Circulation Coordinator: Vitaly Kouten: Circulation@mycityjournals.com Editorial & Ad Design: Ty Gorton

“I am really excited about

the opportunity to get back to my policing roots at the local level and hopefully bring value to the city.” dan City Manager, Gary Whatcott said. “Mr. Carr’s background will afford the community the continued benefit of low crime through his strong leadership and commitment to community. He’s innovative and personable which will allow him to feel at home here. The future of our police department and the security of our community will be in good hands with Mr. Carr as our new police chief.” Recently, Carr was a deputy commissioner with the Utah Department of Public Safety. There he and his colleagues created the SIAC (Statewide Information and Analysis Center), which every state in the nation now has. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Brigham Young University and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Carr was also one of the original security planners for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, having been instrumental in writing the first safety draft. “I am really excited about the opportunity

South Jordan Police Department’s new Police Chief, Jeff Carr. to get back to my policing roots at the local level and hopefully bring value to the city,” Chief Carr said. “One of the challenges the city faces is growth, we need to ensure that through that we are able to provide the continued high quality police service that the citizens are accustomed to in the city. An initiative that I really want to accomplish is connecting to the community. I want to get out of the office and get out into the community and address the problems that they see that are relevant to their lives.” Carr hopes to have a successful department by implementing four words that are his mantra — character, competency, trust and transparency. l m i ss i o n s tate m e n t

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August 2015 | Page 3

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Special Care Nursery Riverton Hospital Expands Its

and enhances the care offered to babies and their moms.

iverton Hospital now offers advanced respiratory support in the Special Care Nursery for babies with respiratory distress. Heated Humidified High Flow Nasal Cannula (HHHFNC) provides respiratory support for babies who need extra breathing assistance, decreasing the need for transports to another facility and keeping babies at Riverton Hospital with their moms.

• The Special Care Nursery can care for newborns born as early as 34 weeks. • The 10 rooms are designed with the smallest patients in mind, even allowing twins to be cared for in the same room. • Parents can enjoy private rooms that include a bathroom, sleeping couch, and TV.

• The Special Care Nursery is located on the fourth floor of the Primary Children’s Unit at Riverton Hospital. • Riverton Hospital is the only hospital that partners with physicians and nurses from Primary Children’s Hospital to provide inpatient and outpatient services outside of Primary’s main campus.

Riverton Hospital Women and Newborn Services

on the cover

Page 4 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

Miner Magic: Fact or Fiction? By Kaleb Loftus

alk down the east halls of Bingham High School and you’ll pass trophy after trophy. It is hard not to be impressed by the Miner’s success in sports and academic competitions over the past 40 years. It could be luck, it could be the school’s location in the thriving city of South Jordan, or it could be a bit of Miner Magic. That’s the term coined for whenever Bingham students did something no one thought they could do or the moment when natural laws were somehow broken. But there is one thing though that Bingham High School wants everyone to know: its success is no miracle. But is Miner Magic real? Is there more than good dancing behind the Minerettes’ four straight 5A drill titles or is there more than just the right talent coming together at the right time as the football team will try to three-peat in this upcoming season? Long time Bingham Miner and coach Joel Sato thinks it isn’t just a flip of a wand.

The Miners were doing their best just not to be embarrassed. In the bottom of the sixth the Miner Magic came to life. Slowly the scored went from 10-1 to 10-3, to 10-5, until eventually Taylorsville was only up 109. The Miners had two on base and then Bret Boyd comes and hits a three hit home run. And Bingham won 12-10. There’s a noteworthy difference between a Miner Miracle and Miner Magic. “A miracle just falls on you out of the sky, but I don’t think they’re miracles. It’s a type of culture we have and promote here at Bingham High School. Where kids buy into the school, they work hard and pay the price. And it’s not just in sports either,” Sato said. Miner Magic is built from a legacy. It is a mindset, a culture that has formed from years and years of Miner excellence. And it all started with the first Bingham Miner who believed he or she could do something no one else thought they could. “It is a product of long-time traditions, the legacy left behind

“If you take a look at it, it started in

1973. Ever since then almost every year we’ve had a championship, and some years multiple. The culture and success has just continued to grow ever since then.” He recalled the first time he truly saw Miner Magic was in 2003, as a heavily armed Taylorsville baseball team came to battle with the Miners in the state championship. “Our team was good, but they had 10 or 11 Division One baseball players on their team, and we had zero, a couple of our guys went and played junior college. On paper it was a big mismatch,” Sato said.

by the incredible, dedicated people here at the school,” Sato said. “When you look at it like that, it’s a culture that makes the magical things happen,” Sato said. The magic is made when a student studies hard and passes a chemistry test they didn’t think they could, or it’s the extra hours the Miners put in during the offseason when no coach is around. In essence, the Miners

The “B” torch is lit after each championship at Bingham High School. create Miner Magic. It isn’t a heavenly gift or favoritism. “If you take a look at it, it started in 1973. Ever since then almost every year we’ve had a championship, and some years multiple. The culture and success has just continued to grow ever since then,” Sato said. Just the idea of believing in Miner Magic affects Bingham’s performance on the field. “It’s a confidence builder, the expectation’s there.” The Miner’s never play in a small game. The expectation to be the best is there every year. Every set of eyes is always watching whoever has on the uniform with the M-I-NE-R-S on it. “The expectation is huge every time we go and play,” Sato said, attributing that

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expectations remaining high is what creates and sustains the culture.

ow do you create Miner Magic? “You buy into the school,” Sato said. Bingham High School, through excellent coaches, teachers and mentors will sustain the culture. But more importantly, it needs for the students and players to believe in their magic as much as the crowd believes in their miracles. But, in the end, whether or not Miner Magic is real isn’t the question. The real question that each successful Miner asks himself or herself is, “Do I believe enough to try the impossible?” And the magic comes from there. l

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South Jordan Donates Money to Homeless Assistance Funds

he City of South Jordan shared its burgeoning Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds with two groups that work to address the needs of homeless and low-income people in the state. At a brief ceremony at the opening of the city council meeting on May 5, Mayor Alvord explained, “The South Jordan RDA collects a tax increment to promote economic development within the city. Under state code, the city is required to set aside 20 percent of the funds for low-income housing development.” Recognizing the good work of the two organizations that the city selected for the gifts, Alvord presented checks in the amount of $700,000 to the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund and $300,000 to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund from the city’s RDA low-income housing fund. Economic Development Director Brian Preece explained to the council at the March 3 session, when they approved the donations that the RDA low-income fund had grown to nearly $7,000,000. Under state law the city has a duty to spend money from the fund on projects to benefit low-income individuals. Due to high land values in South Jordan, it is not economically feasible to create projects aimed at helping to house people who are in the 50 percent or lower categories of median income, Preece noted in presenting the proposal to donate money to the statewide housing assistance funds. The Garden Senior Living development at 10800 South Redwood Road is an example of a local project that benefitted from a $275,000 grant from the city’s RDA fund. The condominiums have been added to South Jordan’s supply of housing options for those who are in the 80 percent of median income category. The state encourages use of RDA funds to assist with

regional housing needs, so the South Jordan City Council agreed to contribute money to two deserving groups. Both of the organizations work in Salt Lake County and throughout the state to address the needs of low-income and homeless populations. The Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund is one of the state’s principal means of helping non-profit agencies to provide critical services to the roughly 15,462 homeless individuals in Utah (as of 2010). About a third of what the Pamela Atkinson Fund provides is transitional and permanent housing resources, with another third going toward emergency shelters for homeless people. Families make up more than 43 percent of the state’s homeless population, many consisting of a single mother with young children. The Pamela Atkinson Fund focuses the final third of their efforts on helping this vulnerable group and others with services such as outreach, case management support, meals and day centers that provide critical services. The Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund was created in 1987 to help make safe and affordable housing available for people in Utah who live on low incomes. Money from the Olene Walker Fund serves as bridge financing for developers, in the form of grants and loans that they are able to leverage to get federal and private equity and tax credits to develop housing for people who are typically unable to access the housing market without some assistance. l

The Garden Senior Living at 10800 South Redwood Road benefitted from a grant of $275,000 from the city’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) lowincome housing fund.

August 2015 | Page 5 By James Luke

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Page 6 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

South Jordan Asks Salt Lake County to Put Tax Hike on Ballot in November By James Luke

oining dozens of other cities within the county, the South Jordan City Council voted in favor of a resolution requesting that Salt Lake County put a .025 percent sales tax increase on the ballot in the November 2015 election. The request arises as a result of HB 362, passed by the Utah Legislature in March 2015 and signed into law by Governor Herbert. One part of the law is designed to allow voters to approve the sales tax, with the money to be allocated for transportation uses and divided between cities, counties and public transit agencies. The resolution passed the city council by a 3-0 vote (Councilmembers Steve Barnes and Chris Rogers were absent) at the June 16 regular meeting. The request from South Jordan joins similar requests from cities throughout the county, including Salt Lake City, for the county to put the tax proposal on the ballot this fall. The next step lies with the county council, which is responsible for the decision of whether or not to put the sales tax increase on the ballot in the November 2015 election. Some 70 representatives of cities and municipalities turned up for county council meetings when the issue was recently on the agenda, according to the Utah League of Cities and Towns. Only Grant County has confirmed that they will put the HB 362 tax question before the voters this fall in the 2015 election. The ULCT says that every other county in the state is considering the issue. Counties must decide by late August whether they will put the issue on the ballot, so as to allow the elections officials to prepare materials and receive statements from opponents for the ballot materials. South Jordan resident Paul Bateman, a candidate for city council in District Two,

noted at the city council meeting that “expected voter turnout is lower in the odd year election” scheduled for this fall. He expressed his opinion that “residents are taxed enough, and an increased tax of any kind is inappropriate until UDOT and UTA” assure voters that they are wisely and responsibly using the taxpayer money that they already receive. Groups such as Cycling Utah have been active supporters of HB 362 and the local option tax, in part because the legislation specifically provides that money collected from the sales tax can support “active transportation” facilities and projects. Active transportation facilities allowed for in the law include bicycle and pedestrian elements either as part of other transportation development or as independent projects. Trail maintenance, linkages and upgrades, new bike lanes and other investments in active transportation are all approved uses of the funds to be generated, if the tax is approved by the voters. Local governments such as South Jordan appreciate the flexibility allowed by the tax provision, in that the funds derived from the tax are to be split three ways, between the county, the transit agency (UTA) and the cities. Councilman Chuck Newton expressed the urgent need for local and county transportation funds. He listed some projects that are at the top of the list for additions and improvements, such as the Mountain View Corridor and Bangerter Highway. Mayor David Alvord expressed his concerns that this has been a surplus year in the state budget, and that new taxes are unwelcome for many voters who feel that there is adequate money available for needs of transportation and public transit. The city’s state legislative lobbyist, Dave Spatafore,

South Jordan City Retains a Lobbyist in Washington, D.C. By James Luke

outh Jordan residents have a voice near the heart of the federal government, with a lobbying firm now watching out for the city’s interests in Washington, D.C. The city council passed a resolution at their April 21 meeting to authorize an agreement with Polaris Consulting, LLC for federal lobbying and consulting services. The vote in favor of retaining the services of the District of Columbia lobbying firm was 4-0, with Councilman Mark Seethaler abstaining. “I think this is probably a good idea,” he said, “but I need to consider it a little longer” before making a final decision in support of the commitment. One of the main reasons for the city to have a voice in close proximity to the federal government relates to water issues. Councilman Seethaler inquired why water reuse is not more of a regional issue involving the sewer district and Jordan

The new county tax proposal calls for spending not just on roads and public transit, but also on “active transportation,” including bicycle lanes and amenities as well as pedestrian-friendly projects.

who was at the city council session in June to answer questions about HB 362, explained that the state is forbidden by law from doing vertical revenue sharing of state tax dollars. In other words, he said, the state can’t pass surplus transportation funds down to local municipalities because it is unconstitutional. Councilman Don Shelton noted his view that “there is a time when it is fiscally responsible to raise taxes,” and that the city’s request to the county to put the sales and use tax on the ballot represents just such an occasion. Agreeing with Councilman Newton about the urgent need for local transportation project funds, he said that he has felt that HB 362 is an important thing for the city from early on. l

Valley Water Conservancy District. City Manager Whatcott responded that it is a regional issue. “The difficulty is that the various cities have different priorities,” he explained, as well as the resources to fix their own problems individually. Federal water quality agencies have the final say in many projects and funding decisions involving water bodies such as the Jordan River that flows through South Jordan. Whatcott said that, in many ways, South Jordan’s water issues are unique. They have an unusual and more compelling need than other cities for assistance with federal agencies that have jurisdiction over water issues. Councilman Chris Rogers reported that when he was recently in Washington, D.C. for work, he did some lobbying on behalf of South Jordan. He spoke with some of their federal representatives, and met with Bryan Cunningham, the new lobbyist for the city and one of the partners in Polaris Consulting. Rogers said that the state’s “federal delegation is supportive of helping the city acquire whatever funding needed to assist with water and transportation. Senator Lee offered to assist with the process of getting smart water grants offered by the Bureau of Reclamation.”

August 2015 | Page 7

S outh JordanJournal .com

Ordinance Change Refines the Rules for Posting Signs By James Luke

WAR NING

South Jordan, UT — In our office we have seen far too many patients suffering with the debilitating symptoms of peripheral neuropathy like burning, weakness, pain, numbness, and tingling. We even see individuals whose neuropathy is so far advanced they are at risk of having their feet amputated.

andidates for public office, real estate businesses and even residents holding yard sales may all need to be aware of some changes to South Jordan city sign ordinances. The city council passed Resolution 201541, Notice of a Pending Ordinance Change Regarding Signs, at the June 2 meeting. The 3-1 vote in favor of the resolution will put in place some new sign regulations and enforcement provisions, but the rules are temporary. Change to the city code requires a six-month notice period before becoming final. The ordinance changes will set new standards for signs posted around the city throughout 2015, impacting signs for political campaigns in this year with three city council positions up for election. The city has produced a map, available online, to clarify the areas where signs are not allowed. City staff has received instructions to remove all signs that are posted in violation of the resolution.

Figure 1: Falls affect millions of seniors in the U.S. every year.

“I don’t think the problem has been erratic enforcement, just that staff is not always able to keep up with enforcement.”

“The goal has been to clarify enforcement,” said City Attorney Ryan Loose. He noted that after the six-month notice period, the council can address any concerns with the rules in the final ordinance. Loose noted that city employees are not authorized to tamper with campaign signs that are on privately owned property. “If something is unclear, we will be lenient in enforcement,” he promised, noting that this policy change applies to all types of signs, not just political signs. Section Three of the resolution defines enforcement. Under the new regulation changes, all city staff are directed to remove signs from city property, not just the code enforcement officers who previously had sole charge over sign removal efforts in South Jordan. Signs found in violation will be taken to Public Works for storage and can generally be reclaimed by the owner. “I don’t think the problem has been erratic enforcement, just that staff is not always able to keep up with enforcement” under the existing sign regulations, noted Councilman Steve Barnes of district four, who is not running

Peripheral Neuropathy:

New rules govern placement of all signs on public property in South Jordan, with signs not permitted in park strips along 10600 South and 11400 South, among other areas. for re-election. He cast the opposing vote to the resolution authorizing the ordinance change. Some areas of South Jordan are tightly controlled. Most fencing and park strip areas are off limits to signs along most of 10600 South and 11400 South, for example, limiting sign-posting options to private property with permission of the owner. “I feel that this resolution will make campaigning more difficult,” noted the lone incumbent council member who is facing a reelection campaign this year, Councilman Chuck Newton of district two. “While campaign signs are one issue, I worry that this might affect other businesses, such as real estate signs.” In light of his potential conflict as a candidate with the restrictions of the law, Newton abstained from a vote on the resolution. l

However, none of these are the reason neuropathy can be a deadly condition. The biggest risks from peripheral neuropathy are the balance problems and falls that this condition can cause. You see, the nerves in your feet help send signals to your brain to maintain proper balance. When the nerves are damaged by neuropathy it is common to feel like you are off balance, or going to fall. Many of you reading this may have already fallen, and live in fear that your next fall may result in a fracture or concussion. Sadly, over 2.4 million seniors in the U.S. every year visit the emergency room each year due to falls, and nearly 23,000 die. This damage that results in balance problems is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow. As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems as well as, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms. Figure 2: When these very small blood vessels become diseased they begin to shrivel up and the nerves begin to degenerate.

To make matters worse, too many doctors simply prescribe medications which don’t fix the cause of the problem. Even worse, some of these drugs have side effects that include dizziness and loss of balance! There is now a facility right here in South Jordan that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects. (See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article.) In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined. 1) What is the underlying cause? 2) How Much Nerve Damage Has Been Sustained. NOTE: Once you have sustained 85% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you. 3) How much treatment will your condition require? The treatment we use in our office is like watering a plant. This technology will allow the blood vessels to grow back around the periphFigure 3: The blood vessels will grow back around the nerves much like a plant’s roots grow when watered. eral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair. It’s like adding water to a plant and seeing the roots grow deeper and deeper. The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 85% nerve damage there is hope! Dr. M. Shane Watt at NeuroBolic Health Center will do a Neuropathy Severity Examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage for only $57. This neuropathy severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy. Call 801-495-4444 to determine if your peripheral neuropathy can be treated, pain reduced, and your balance restored. Our Peripheral Neuropathy program is the most comprehensive and state of the art treatment that exists in Utah. Dr. M. Shane Watt Chiropractic Physician

1664 West Town Center Dr., Ste D South Jordan (Next to Cafe Rio)

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Page 8 | August 2015

Save Time And Money With New Shopping App By Rachel Hall

great deal is hard to find, especially when life gets busy. Angela Ramirez, founder of snach.it, understands that time is valuable for everyone. That is why she created the new shopping app to put the right deal in the right hands at the right time. “I love to shop. I am a mother of two. I work and I am always on the go,” Ramirez said. Her morning routine of browsing through Facebook and Groupon, coupled with her expertise as a former merchandise manager, helped spur the idea for an app that would supply great deals without having to search through irrelevant items.

“I would find myself browsing through pages and pages under Groupon trying to find great fashionable items, but all I would find was toothpaste [and] granola bars,” she said. Daily deals will be available to the customer through the app, but timing is of the essence. Each item is offered for 30 seconds during which the decision to snatch up the deal must be made. The only way to gain additional time to view an item is to share the deal. “I saw the need for an app that could present a customer every morning with a curated collection of items. We are taking the time urgency from Snapchat, the amazing deals from Groupon, and the social aspect from Facebook,” she said. Ramirez’s focus on the start up of snach.it aligns with her belief that mobile shopping is where the future lies, even for major retailers trying to simplify the customers’ experience. “With us, you will only get an app – no website. Therefore, the way the app is being built, it truly simplifies your shopping habits and with three clicks you can purchase an item of your choice,” she said. Companies such as Ray-Ban, Beats By Dre, Nike, Safavieh, Cavalli, Michael Kors, Skullcandy, Sterling Arts, Diesel and Under Armour are already listed to offer deals with the new shopping app. For more information, visit http://snach.it. l

Angela Ramirez is the founder of the snach.it app, which is being developed to save customers time and money on things they want to purchase.

terrific tuesday schedule

tours Schedule a tour of the Gale Center of History and Culture, an educational facility where children and adults can explore the past in a hands-on manner.

docents needed The Gale Center is looking for Docents for two hours a week. Training and new friends provided. Contact: Candy Ponzurick if interested.

resident on display Resident on Display is a program that spotlights an artist or photographer from South Jordan. We love to show off the amazing talent of the residents of South Jordan!

rentals The Gale Center Auditorium is a great facility for parties, piano recitals and other gatherings. The room will fit 70 people with chairs only, or eight round tables to seat a maximum of 48. Weekday, daytime rates, are $25/hour and would be great for children birthday parties. Contact: Candy Ponzurick for rates and availability.

the gale center promotes utah history through exhibits, events and education

S outh Jordan City Journal

August 2015 | Page 9

S outh JordanJournal .com

South Jordan City Website Gets Extreme Makeover By James Luke

outh Jordan residents and visitors can expect to have a smoother and easier experience accessing the city on the Internet with the new city website redesign to be complete by year’s end. The city council voted 3-0 (Councilmembers Steve Barnes and Chris Rogers were absent) at the June 16 meeting to authorize a contract for a complete rebuild of the city’s website. Arizona-based company Hackett Advertising Public Relations Interactive and South Jordan City agreed to a scope of work and budget for the project at a total contract price of $96,250. When HAPI completes the process before the end of 2015, the city’s web presence will be smoother and optimized for tablets and other mobile devices, features which are lacking with the current website. City Communications Director Tina Brown explained the importance of the project, and of getting it right, at the council meeting. “The first impression that many residents have of the City of South Jordan City government is through the website.” Brown summarized the exhaustive search process that city staff conducted to find the company to conduct the redesign, which concluded with selection of

HAPI based on recommendations from previous clients and review of the company’s work on the websites of other cities and municipal organizations. In addition to being optimized for mobile devices and tablets, the new city website will be capable of processing secure financial transactions to allow for utility bill payments online. A live calendar will list community and civic events to provide residents and visitors with up-to-the-minute schedules of important happenings around town. Initially, HAPI will work with city staff in assessing resident and the city’s needs and expectations of the new website. Strategy services are expected to include primary and secondary research, interviews, competitive research, online surveys, creative strategy and more in arriving at a new look and design for the city’s digital presence. Programming services anticipated with the contract include all back-end coding needed for the site, including hosting, programming the website platform, content management, search engine optimization, tracking and analytics, beta testing and ultimately, the launch of the new site for the new year. l

Utah.gov Gets a Redesign By Lewi Lewis In 2014, the number of Internet users worldwide hit 3 billion people: that’s 40 percent of the world’s population, and it continues to grow at a pace that boggles the mind. With Utah outranking all other states for the number of households with computers, the need for faster connectivity and more timesaving, userfriendly sites is a ubiquitous reality. The state of Utah has entered that reality with a partnership with Utah Interactive by giving Utah.gov a much-needed facelift. “Through our partnership with the state we were able to complete the redesign at no cost,” Sarah Watts, general manager of Utah Interactive, said. The objective was to break down the barriers that exist between city, county and state services by creating an ease of accessibility. “When state employees, residents, professionals and businesses can conduct state business quickly and efficiently online, it allows them more time to focus on their own work and creates more free time for the things we love to do,” Watts said about the benefits to the community. The look of the new site reflects something familiar: the search engine.

With a simple quick search (with an even quicker response time), citizens can navigate to where they need to be; the site was built and created to be more interactive, localized and personalized. Utah State executive director, Department of Technology Services, Mark VanOrden, said, “We are always looking for new ways to help the citizens of Utah get more from state government.” In August, Utah.gov began evaluating and planning for the redesign of the website, which had already been award-winning. By studying behavior they were able to better understand the needs of the visitors and what content was useful and relevant and what wasn’t. The site was designed to work on the go, compatible for a desktop, tablet or mobile phone. Utah.gov serves 2.7 million users statewide. “Government should always look for the best ways to serve people, and today that means providing services and information online,” Gov. Gary R. Herbert said in a recent press release.

www.SouthJordanJournal.com

Page 10 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

here are nearly 23,000 low-income families with one or more children under the age of five living in Salt Lake County. Data shows that low-income mothers and their children are more at risk to experience troublesome birth, health and development

school diploma. Can we make this county a better place for children and families by investing in what works, by testing and retesting it and by holding ourselves to a higher standard? I believe the answer is yes.

“Parents as Teachers” to be our lead agency. The concept for Parents as Teachers was developed in Missouri in 1981, when educators there noted that helping parents embrace their important role as their child’s first and best teacher made a striking difference in the child’s development of learning skills.

outcomes, compared to the general population. Low-income moms are 17 percent more likely to have a premature baby. About half of these low-income children score poorly as 3-yearolds on standard language development tests. Being at such a disadvantage so early in their lives makes is more likely they’ll continue in the cycle of poverty, trapping their mothers—75 percent of whom don’t have a high

In April, we began a search for a nonprofit partner who would provide services to this specific population. The proposal we issued asked that our prospective partner should have an evidence-based track record, can provide services to both mothers and children, can provide educational employment services to mothers and has experience providing this service to similar groups. In July we selected

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he county is now working on contract details with Parents as Teachers. Specifics will include a timeline and total number of participants to receive services. But rather than pay for a program, we will only pay for specific outcomes that are achieved. Those outcomes include: reductions in premature births, reductions in emergency room use, improvement in standard school readiness tests and an increase in the mother’s employment and income. In other words, this is our next Pay for Success project. Pay for Success is an innovative new tool to measurably improve outcomes for communities in need. It builds on public/private partnerships in a way that delivers more money more quickly to address social needs, such as homelessness or criminal justice. Government often means well, but has a poor track record. Sometimes a program continues year after year, with no proven results. But with our emphasis

on the Pay for Success model, we’re attempting to change that in Salt Lake County. What we learned in 2013-2014 with our first-in-thenation Pay for Success support of high-quality preschool for low-income kids is that working in this different way is a game changer. Private sector funding spurs innovation and selects for programs that achieve measurable results. Government bureaucracy is reduced because the nonprofit provider receives sufficient upfront funding to run the program and serve residents. Taxpayers benefit because government only pays if outcomes are met. Data and evidence are at the core of this model and we know for sure if a program isn’t working. Safeguarding taxpayer money is important. But the consequences of failing to measure the impact of our policies and programs go well beyond wasting scarce tax dollars. Every time a person participates in a program that doesn’t work when he or she could have participated in one that does—that represents a human cost. We can and we will do better. l

Smoke and Mirrors By Peri Kinder

just celebrated another birthday, which is fine, because I’d rather be old than dead. But as I was going through my morning routine, trying to trick my hair into behaving and attempting to gather sagging skin and staple it behind my ears, I suddenly realized the futility of it all. I do all the regular things to stave off aging. I eat fresh produce, use sunscreen, drink the blood of a virgin unicorn and exercise. But even after decades of primping and preening, I’ve never figured out how to make that youthful glow last longer than the flavor of Juicy Fruit. Every morning I apply make-up. I layer antioxidant serum, wrinkle cream (which is working because now I have wrinkles), moisturizer, primer, foundation, spackle and powder—and that’s just the groundwork! I’ll try (again) to create the perfect “easy” smoky eye, using 17 shades of brown, two types of mascara, five different brushes and that stupid cat’s-eye liner that never looks like a cat’s eye. Well, maybe a cat that got hit by a bus. My eyebrows are carefully tweezed, penciled and shellacked into an almost discernible arch, then I slap on some 14-Hour Long-Lasting Never-Fade lipstick (with instantpout lip gloss) and turn my attention to my thick, unruly hair. I have more hair than a yeti. One day, my hair can be presentable-ish, and the next day it looks like two squirrels spent the evening mating on my head. I’ll spray, mousse, balm and texture my hair into a coiffed aura of blonde fuzz

and head out the door. In the time it takes to drive to the office, my hair has collapsed like a furry blonde creature imploded. Around 10 a.m., I notice my 14-hour Long-Lasting Never-Fade lipstick is completely gone, leaving my lips looking like a couple of albino earthworms. By noon, my cat’s-eye eyeliner has slunk to the inner corners of my eyes, creating a tar-like substance that cannot be removed without kerosene and a match. My “easy” smoky eye is now a sparkly brown smear and by 2 p.m., my carefully

groomed eyebrows are scattered across my forehead. My brows drift tiredly toward the floor like weary caterpillars. Random hot flashes during the day create lava-lines of sweat streaking through my foundation. At 2:30, my all-day mineral base has leached into my wrinkles, while my droopy cheeks are being propped up with toothpicks. By 3 p.m., my hair is completely wilted around my face, dangling listlessly from my scalp and dripping melted hair products onto the floor like a head stalactite. Around 3:30, co-workers start asking if I’m feeling well. “Maybe you should go home. You look so . . . watery.” “I’m fine. My make-up has just worn off.” “You should see someone about that,” they say, as they gesture toward my entire face. But I’m okay with all that. My husband doesn’t care if my eye shadow never inspires its own Pinterest board. My dog couldn’t care less if I wear lip gloss while we’re running through the neighborhood. My grandkids already think I’m on my deathbed and they’re just happy I’m still breathing every morning. Me too. I can watch the sun rise and realize beauty comes in so many different ways. Still. I’ll be the 106-year-old woman who won’t leave her home without lipstick. I’ll be slathering on moisturizer the day of my funeral. I’ll wander the Sephora aisles on my 75th birthday, looking for the perfect foundation; and I’ll do it with a smile. Because happiness is the best make-up. l

EDUCATION

Page 12 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

Bingham Student Tells President Obama About Growing, Donating Produce to Food Bank By Julie Slama

ingham High junior Jake Jensen doesn’t typically take a phone call during his foods class, but when he saw the 4-H state director calling, he excused himself knowing it must have been about an upcoming national event. “He said he got a call from the White House and they wanted to talk to me about the Utah 4-H donated meats program and about the healthy living program I’m doing,” the 17-yearold said. “It wasn’t the typical call I’d expect and I’m not sure anyone believed it when I said it was a call from the White House when I went back into class.” Jake is a Utah student state ambassador for 4-H. 4-H is a global network of youth organizations whose mission is “empowering youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.” In Utah, 4-H is administered by The Utah State University Extension. Jake said that with President Barack Obama’s interest in poverty and hunger, the 4-H programs in Utah fit right in. Plus, he added, that First Lady Michelle Obama’s healthy eating platform tied into his own local program. “Utah 4-Hers have raised cows and donated them from across the state to raise 900,000 pounds of meat for those who are hungry. My family’s own garden has produced and donated 1,000 pounds of vegetables that we give to the Utah

“Today, President Obama and I met with eight members of the national 4-H community in the Oval Office. Each one of them had an inspiring story about how they are opening up new doors for kids in their hometowns, and how this work is building stronger communities where they can learn, play and grow,” he wrote. Jake and the other students were given boxes of red, white and blue peanut M&M’s with the Presidential Seal, a White House coin and the U.S. Constitution with Obama’s signature — and the first-hand opportunity to speak to the president about an issue important to him.

President Barack Obama listens to 4-H students talk about issues concerning healthy living, poverty and hunger during their visit April 13. Jake Jensen from Utah is third from left. Photo courtesy of White House photographer Peter Souza Food Bank and I’ve developed a healthy living curriculum that promotes staying active, eating right and having healthy snacks,” Jake said. Jake said he, and seven 4-H students from other states, met with Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack April 13 in the Oval Office and he outlined how his family plants a garden every year and thought with the extra food they produce, they could help out the Utah Food Bank. They have given them fresh, canned and dried corn, peppers, tomatoes, peas, carrots, potatoes, squash, pumpkins and raspberries. “I wasn’t nervous and I was prepped with anything President Obama may have wanted to know, but he already knew quite a bit. He just leaned back on his desk and asked us to share about the programs. He is easy to talk to and asked clarifying questions. He told me to ‘keep up the good work and continue to make a difference,’” Jake said. Vilsack posted on the United States Department of Agriculture and White House blogs about the visit.

Bingham High student Jake Jensen, Utah’s state 4-H ambassador, donates food from his family garden to give to the Utah Food Bank. He recently spoke to President Barack Obama about helping serve his community. Photo courtesy of Jake Jensen

Classes Start August 3!

“Of all the many different

opportunities to serve, child hunger and poverty is the one that I felt like I could have the most impact.” “Of all the many different opportunities to serve, child hunger and poverty is the one that I felt like I could have the most impact. This is where I felt like I could make a difference,” he said. Through Jake’s 13 years in the Salt Lake County 4-H program, he has learned about public speaking, small animals, sewing, cooking, leadership, community service, music and other 4-H programs. His two older brothers, who both were state leaders, as well as his younger brother and parents and grandparents all are involved in 4-H. As state ambassador, Jake has taught more than 160 lowincome youth about healthy eating, mental health, substance abuse and physical fitness, as well as represented the state at national conferences and congresses and meeting with Utah’s leadership, including Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Rep. Mia Love, Rep. Rob Bishop and former Rep. Jim Matheson. “After I came back from Washington, D.C., my classmates realized I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to the White House,” he said. “I feel fortunate that I have done a lot and have the ability to do a lot more. What’s the point of learning all of this if I can’t help someone else?” l

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August 2015 | Page 13

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Have a Blast Learning About the Past

South Jordan Historical Sites

By Rachel Hall

Pioneer Dugout: 10300 South Beckstead Lane

ll it takes is a matter of time before things start to change. Life will never be as it once was, but the coming years are sure to be full of countless possibilities. The future of South Jordan City is something residents can look forward to while holding on to traditions and memories rooted in the area’s past. The Gale Center of History & Culture in South Jordan is committed to preserving and sharing the rich history of the city and the prominent families who helped establish

the area in 1859. “I think it’s important that kids learn what life was like back then and appreciate some of the values,” said Jana Kochevar, a volunteer docent at the Gale Center. Children and families are welcomed to tour the museum and experience another way of life by playing in interactive exhibits such as a schoolhouse, homestead and general store. “You come here to learn something [new] each time you come,” said Nedra Sproul, who is also a volunteer docent. Families’ original homesteads, called dugouts, were built into the sides of hills and the community had a oneroom schoolhouse. Life in the late 1800s and early 1900s seemed to operate at a different pace, which was much slower than modern society. “It wasn’t about what was fun and entertaining all the time [back then]. Although, they did have fun,” said Kochevar about how children spent a great deal of time doing chores and helping to The Pioneer dugout is a replica of an original homestead care for brothers and sisters. built by South Jordan City and is located next to the Gale “In the 1870s, the mail for the whole Center of History & Culture. end of this valley was delivered once a

1938 Bus Accident Memorial: 10800 South Redwood Road Founding Families Statue: 10800 South Redwood Road Samuel E. Holt Farmstead: 10317 South 1300 West Veterans Memorial Statue: 10630 South 1055 West White Fawn Flour Mill: 10702 South River Front Parkway The schoolhouse exhibit located inside the Gale Center provides an opportunity for children to learn what life was like through interactive play. week to Sandy, and then one person would go and take the mail and drop it off [to the towns]. Before the 1940s, they didn’t deliver mail to people’s homes. They [families] would come to the post office and pick it up,” said Kochevar. The learning opportunity to discover the past extends beyond the Gale Center

with historical markers located throughout the city. Statues, plaques and other sites provide a guide to honor and remember significant people and events. The Gale Center of History & Culture is located at 10300 South Beckstead Lane. For more information, visit www.galecenter. org or call 801-254-3048. l

EDUCATION

Page 14 | August 2015

Elk Ridge Students Learn First-Hand About Veterans’ Experiences

As Eye See It Information on Vision and Eye Health by Dale F. Hardy, O.D. During summer vacation, I spent some time reading several studies related to children and vision and thought I would share some of the high points from them with parents as they prepare their child to go back to school. One of the studies, which is not really very new, and is a repeat of a prior study done by Columbia University, looked at the various tasks performed in a classroom and how much of what is done requires vision. The number was over 85% of classroom tasks required vision, not just vision was nice to have, but was required to do the task. It follows in my mind, then, that not having good vision would handicap a child’s school experience. Hard to get things right when you are not sure if the teacher just wrote a 3 or an 8 on the board. Another study that I found interesting indicated that up to 40% of children with a tentative diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder actually had uncorrected vision and/or hearing problems that made it difficult for them to attend to tasks. It appears that a tentative diagnosis means that it was not confirmed by a positive response to medication. The authors of this study were recommending that a multi-disciplinary approach to these cases would be the best method of assuring proper treatment. The last study I am going to review related to school vision screenings and why they are not adequate as an eye examination. This study was done in Kentucky and all children in the study were given both a standard school screening and then a comprehensive eye examination. 1 out of 4 children who passed the screenings were diagnosed with an eye or vision problem that needed correction in the full examination. The worst part of this report was that only 1 out of every 10 notifications sent home to the parents advising them that they needed to take their child in for a complete examination were ever returned to the school. When they followed up to see how many had been taken to the eye doctor, only 1 out of 8 parents had done that. Many reported never seeing the note so maybe it never got home, but it did show problems in school to parent communication. If you have children in your home, whether you use my office or someone else, please make good vision a part of your back-to-school preparation. You can contact my office at 801253-1374. Dr. Hardy’s office is located at 10372 South Redwood Road, South Jordan.

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By Julie Slama

bout 100 eighth-graders at Elk Ridge Middle School prepared questions, tested their recorders and jotted notes as they listened to local enlisted personnel and veterans tell their experiences serving the country. “The students are learning the difference in primary and secondary sources and they are recording interviews of these veterans’ personal experiences to save for future generations,” teacher Kaye Rizzuto said. It also is a way for students to gain first-hand experiences in learning about current events as well as interviewing and listening skills. “Six years back, we were talking about current events and a student didn’t realize we had soldiers in Afghanistan and that’s when I realized I had to do something. I saw that the Library of Congress wanted to retain personal accounts from World War II and that’s where I got the idea,” Rizzuto said. She wrote and received a Jordan School District Service Learning Grant and a Qwest Technology Grant, which allowed her to purchase 30 digital recorders and 12 iPods,

to harm them, there were some great people in Iraq who wanted to improve their vocational and educational skills. “It changed my priorities, living outside the country. It’s good to see different cultures and societies, but it put it into perspective that it’s a right and privilege for our freedom and I am more appreciative for my country and family,” he said. He also said that being deployed with his unit allowed them to become a tightknit platoon. “We had great relationships where we would do anything for each other,” he said,

was in the military. I enlisted for 15 years, then was commissioned as an officer for the past seven years,” he said. Day said that he often visits schools to tell them what it is like being in the National Guard to give kids a sense of understanding about serving their country. He also hopes students understand their own individual rights and exercise them by getting involved in their community whether through its student government or city council. Abby learned the importance from Day of those who serve in the military. “I learned serving in the military is super

“Six years back, we were talking

about current events and a student didn’t realize we had soldiers in Afghanistan and that’s when I realized I had to do something.” which the students used to interview local military on May 28, mostly from the National Guard stationed at Camp Williams. Rizzuto maintains her own website and through the past half decade, has posted recordings of her students interviewing servicemen and women in World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and other military assignments. Eighth-grader Abby Van Uitert interviewed Major Shane Day of the Utah National Guard 145th field artillery battalion. “The hardest part (of serving in Iraq) mentally and physically was the stress,” Day said. While serving one year in Iraq, Day told Abby that fortunately, he didn’t see any casualties with the people he served with; that it felt like it was 120 degrees as they always wore body armor and needed water; and that although there were some people who wanted

Elk Ridge students interview members of the Utah National Guard as part of an oral history class project. Photo courtesy of Julie Slama adding that they have played pranks upon each other for fun and to relieve stress. Day said that he initially thought he’d serve for six years, then go to school and leave the service, but instead, he has continued. He has been deployed to Iraq, Korea, Morocco and Japan, leaving his wife and four children behind. “That’s always the hardest part. I take photos and write letters to the kids because they like to get something in the mail. We can email and Skype and we receive support from the communities with lots of care packages. Fewer than one percent serve in the military. I didn’t think about joining even though my grandpa served in World War II and my dad

important and cool and that we shouldn’t take things for granted, like voting,” she said. “He shared what he has learned from serving, his knowledge and leadership from being deployed to right here how it serves us in our community.” Eighth-grader Sisi Kaili said she appreciated the experience she gained from her interview. “I came up with questions from my curiosity, wondering what they did and why they did it,” she said. “It was neat that he told stories of pranks they played, experiences they shared, times they were scared. I learned to respect these people who are helping other people with their lives.” l

August 2015 | Page 15

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Utah Teacher Selected To Attend Prestigious Leadership Academy By Lewi Lewis

nline charter school Mountain Heights Academy teacher, Amy Pace, is one of four teachers nationwide - and the only one from Utah - to be selected to attend the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology

her chances of being selected. “I felt like when I applied it was a long shot because they were only taking four teachers in the entire United States. But I decided I would just give it a shot.” That shot hit its mark.

“You can go through the material much quicker than you would [in a traditional school] … and even though the students are in the same class, because of this technology, I am able to really customize what each student sees.”

Leadership Academy in Tokyo, Japan. Pace will join a team of Japanese counterparts to design disaster-resilient smart communities of the future, and work with other teachers and students toward development of solutions to problems that are central to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the engineering design process. “I was super excited,” Pace said about

The passion Pace has for teaching is evident in the essay she wrote that got her selected to the program at the Science & Technology Leadership Academy. It outlines how she has utilized growing technology to improve her teaching, as well as the experience for her students. The technology of the online classroom has more benefits than the traditional classroom,

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according to Pace. “One of the things is that if you know what is going on you don’t just have to sit there,” she said, explaining that the students get to set a pace that they are comfortable with. “You can go through the material much quicker than you would [in a traditional school] … and even though the students are in the same class, because of this technology, I am able to really customize what each student sees.” But does Pace miss the orthodoxy of the physical classroom? Parts of it, she admits. “I don’t miss interacting with my students because I do that probably more so now than I ever did in a regular classroom, and I taught in a regular classroom for 11 years so I have a really grasp on that aspect of teaching.” Pace said that the cyber classroom gives her more time focusing on a really good lesson, rather than repeating the same lesson multiple times throughout the day. Pace knows just how great an opportunity that the acceptance to the Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy is, not just

Amy Pace is one of four teachers in the nation to be chosen to attend the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy in Tokyo, Japan. for herself, but for her students as well. “I hope that I can make some contacts with the other teachers from the United States and Japan so that we can work together on projects between our students using the digital technology … so we can see what kind of things in science they are doing and they can see what we are doing, hopefully for the best, and incorporate that shared knowledge into our classes.” l

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EDUCATION

Page 16 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

South Jordan Second-graders Get Down and Dirty at Their Rock-a-Thon By Julie Slama

n May, South Jordan second-graders in Joann Wilcox’s class, walked to the field near their school looking for rocks that they could share at their class rock-a-thon event. Second-grader Jamison Wayman picked up a rock thinking it was dark so maybe it would be obsidian. He took it back to the classroom, washed it off, and instead, discovered it held a fossil of sea life. “It was way cool to see that,” he said. “Some rocks can be native minerals and not just made up of dirt.” Other students brought in their treasures to show to family, friends and classmates at the May 28 event. Christopher Pacini had pirate or fool’s gold. Komron Manbeian brought in a lava rock he found in the corner of his back yard. Mason Glazier brought a volcanic rock from Hawaii. Hannah Rigby shared a trilobite that she found at a farmer’s market and said that they are found around Topaz, Utah. Danika Johnson learned geodes are commonly found around Dugway, Utah. The students also shared posters, tri-folds and books they created. “We usually try to do an experiment every week on the rock unit, which is part of the second-grade curriculum,” Wilcox said.

Above: South Jordan Elementary Principal Ken Westwood looks at second-graders’ displays at the school’s rock-a-thon event. Photo courtesy of Joann Wilcox. Left: South Jordan Elementary’s Hannah Rigby shows off a trilobite fossil during her second-grade class’ rock-a-thon event. “We’ve made crystals for a crystal garden, made fossils out of plaster, and made a volcano with salt, dough and baking soda.” The experiments also can be fun, such as learning about erosion by putting Smarties in their mouths. They also watched water filter soil, silt, sand and clay in jars after they were shaken.

“I want students to have first-hand experiences so they’ll retain what they’ll learn.” “I want students to have first-hand experiences so they’ll retain what they’ll learn,” Wilcox said. Danika said she learned more about geodes by researching about them for her poster. “They look so cool inside with all the crystals and color, which is weird because outside, they’re just normal plain rocks,” she said. Christopher said he learned the different types of rocks — igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary — and how they are part of the earth’s core. “I learned rocks aren’t a piece of nature we don’t use,” he said. “They are the most important things ever.” l

sports

Page 18 | August 2015

The Price Of Talent

TAYLOR

HICKS American Idol Winner

performing at the

FRIDAY

JULY 31 8 PM

S outh Jordan City Journal

By Kaleb Loftus

any parents dream of the day that their kid takes the high school team to the state championship or wins that college scholarship, but how much are they willing to pay for it? The cost of youth sports are rising and the commitment and sacrifice to play increases with the money. Matt and Tina Jensen, residents of South Jordan and parents of aspiring athletes, have felt the financial pressure from the rising youth prices. “In just the past three years the prices have doubled from when one kid plays to when the next reaches that level,” Tina said. But will it ever reach a point that the price to have kids succeed will exceed parent’s wallet size? The Jensens worry that this will be soon for them if the prices continue to go up and their kids choose to still play. The sport in the Jensen home is soccer. Matt has been passionate for the game his entire life and that passion has been passed on to his sons, and they aren’t just passionate, they’re good. Their oldest son is one of the top players for an elite club for his age group. “The talent development in the competition level is much higher than that in rec soccer,” Matt said. Matt is an assistant coach with his son’s team and believes that paying the extra money is well worth it. “We’re hoping that eventually it will pay off during high school and ultimately lead to a college scholarship,” he said. The idea of a child turning into an investment isn’t uncommon in today’s youth sports-oriented culture. The idea of spending so much now doesn’t seem as bad when a kid excels and parents look at college costs and

Is the price we pay for sports worth the reward? wonder if, just maybe, their kid could be the what the parents want most is to be educated. one to win a scholarship. Matt and Tina know very little about where Tina stressed though that she is more their funds actually go. Instead of just a worried about the values and lessons her sentence saying, “Registration Fee”, “Jersey children are learning than anything else. Fee” or “Coaching Fee” they would feel better “We’ve been blessed with very good coaches if they knew exactly why the price is what it is. who teach great values. And they’re learning to The Jensen’s story isn’t unique. Families work with a team, be a leader and be disciplined. And that’s what is The talent development in the most important to me for them.” The prices have risen and competition level is much higher

“

than that in rec soccer. We’re hoping that eventually it will pay off during high school and ultimately lead to a college scholarship.”

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across the community deal with the same problem, torn between scrimping and saving and seeing their kid excel in the sports realm. Playing a sport opens doors, teaches lessons and creates friends. But it also may stretch each dollar bill as far as it can go. The Jensens, like all parents just want what is best for their children. They have been impressed with the clubs and coaches they’ve worked with and if it wasn’t that way they’d consider trying to find an alternative route. But for now, the Jensens feel that what is best for their kids is to pay the extra money. “We try to do our best and just let our kids do their best,” Tina said. l

August 2015 | Page 19

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Local Girl Appears in Nike’s “Find Your Fast” Campaign By Aimee L. Cook

ho says girls can’t play tackle football as good as boys? Twelve-year-old Samantha Gordon might have something to say to those naysayers. Since 2012 Sam has been rushing and tackling alongside boys her age and that got the attention of the folks at Nike. “Sam started playing football at recess when she was in second grade,” Brent Gordon, Sam’s father said. “Her older brother, Max, played tackle football. When Sam was in third grade, Sam attended Max’s practices and joined the team’s end-of-practice wind sprints. Sam beat most of the boys on Max’s team during those wind sprints. After a practice, Max’s coach talked to Sam and told her he thought she could be a good running back. The next year, Sam played with the boys.” Sam recently traveled to California at the request of Nike to be part of the “Find Your Fast” campaign, which brought many of the world’s fastest athletes together to inspire other athletes to train for their fastest time. Sam had the opportunity to meet Richard Sherman, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, while filming her 3-second stint. A few of the other athletes in the commercial are Serena Williams, Michael Johnson and Rafael Nadal. Sam is no stranger to the spotlight. Her father posted a video of Sam in 2012 showing off her skills that went viral. In addition, she has appeared on a Wheaties cereal box making her the first female football player to be featured on the box. Being an avid soccer player too, Sam has big goals for her future in athletics.

“I love playing football! It’s really fun to hit hard and make tackles and to score touchdowns,” Sam said. “My goal is to play soccer for the US Women’s National team and win a World Cup and Gold Medal.” Sam and her dad are founding members of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League. Started by Crystal Sacco, the football league was a dream come true. Sacco had wanted the opportunity to play football as kid and did not get the chance until she was 26 years old and joined a semi-pro adult women’s football team. “I had to learn how to play from the ground up, because I had given up on that dream after my gymnastic coach had told me it was only for boys,” Sacco said. “The things I had learned from playing football were huge. My teammate, Angela Cox who is one of our board of directors for the Utah Girls Tackle Football League, had told me that we should start a youth tackle football league for girls. She kept saying the talent is in the kids. I thought that was a great idea, and we decided to hang up our helmets and football pads after playing for a few years with adults and started a youth girls tackle football league.” Sam is well on her way to being a super star. Not many kids get invited to watch the Super Bowl by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but Sam did.

12-year-old Samantha Gordon proves girls can play tackle football right alongside boys.

Thom Geilmann • Served as Precinct chair and State/County Delegate for Republican Party • Awarded “Soldier of the Year” while serving in the Utah National Guard • Retired senior-level executive in a $12 billion manufacturing company with experience in budgeting and management • Service in local charities including the Boy Scouts, United Way and American Cancer Society • Married, father of eight children, 25 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren

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thomgeilmann

.org

ADveRtiSeMeNt PAiD foR BY thoM GeilMANN

sports

Page 20 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

Running To Heaven

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he LDS faith is known for building temples and going to them, but have you ever seen them run to them? That’s exactly what will be happening in the 7th Annual Temple to Temple Steeplechase. On Labor Day, September 7, 500 participants will run from the Oquirrh Mountain Temple to the Jordan River Temple. The run is 5 miles long and all registration fees are donated to the LDS Temple Patrons Fund that provides financial assistance to impoverished members of the LDS faith so that they can attend the temple. Race slots are not full yet and registration is still open and can be done on their website, www.templesteeplechase.com. The race is unique to South Jordan as it is the only city where there are two dedicated LDS temples. Darylne McPheeters and Cynthia Dye founded the race when the Oquirrh Mountain Temple was being built. They would run in between streets from temple to temple and thought it would be cool to get a lot of people to do it. “We named it a steeplechase because runners have to run across obstacles and we feel that going to the temple has obstacles. Obstacles are like running across the bridge over Bangerter Highway, running with your family, and just running five miles. Every family and individual has obstacles as they try to get to the temple,” McPheeters said. The race is more than just exercise or receiving your medallion at the finish; this may be as close as you get to running in heaven. The race motto is, “Where your feet are firmly here on earth, but your sights are lifted to the skies!” At the beginning of each race they begin with a group prayer and they ask all the runners to walk reverently through the temple parking lot. Anyone can participate and run in the race. “A lady

pushing triplets in a stroller. At mile four a mom is putting her little kid on her back and carrying her the rest of the way. The second year I ran next to someone who just finished cancer treatment and it was the first big thing she did and that was really touching,” McPheeters said. Along with the race, there’s a fireside held where anyone is welcome to come, whether they run or not. In past years speakers have included Elaine S. Dalton, Paul Cardall and Janice Kapp Perry. This year the speaker will be Adam Abel, the producer of “Saints and Soldiers”, “Freetown”, “The Saratov Approach”, and the original producer of the “I’m a Mormon” campaign. The fireside will be Sunday, September 6 at the Temple Point Chapel in South Jordan. The race continues to become popular and for good reason. Above all it exemplifies an important lesson. “It’s more than just exercise. It is a meaning of wanting to get your family to the temple. And wanting your children to know the temple is an important place for them … ” McPheeters said. From babies to an 80 year old, the race has seen it all. Whether you choose to walk or to run, the race is for you. It doesn’t require being physically fit, just simple, a love for the temple. l

The U.S. Ski And Snowboard Association Adopts A New Mascot

By Aimee L. Cook

rescue puppy that was surrentheir respective teams. This seemed dered to the Humane Society of like the perfect opportunity to do that.” Utah by his family was recently adHarkins put the word out that she opted by the U.S. Ski, U.S. Freeskiing was looking for a dog. She was put in and U.S. Snowboarding Teams as the touch with Heidi Myers, the corporate Olympic-bound teams’ official mascot. partnership manager for the Humane Champ, a five-month-old chocolate Society, who helped her find the perfect Lab, now has new digs and a great job. rescue dog. They met Champ right after Champ will be traveling domeshe was dropped off and knew instantly tically with the teams. He will be athe was the perfect fit for them. tending big events such as world cups, “This was an incredible experigrand prix, snow balls and media and ence, and you could tell that Courtney fundraising events. Champ will be and Brandon were not taking it lightmeeting fans and donors and hanging Champ, the rescue puppy that is now the official ly,” Myers said. “ Champ will be an mascot for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association out with the teams. incredible ambassador for the winter Champ was adopted and will be sport industry and we couldn’t think cared for by Courtney Harkins, the content manager for the of a better spokespup to help promote the ‘Adopt, Don’t U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and her partner, Brandon. Shop’ message. Champ will also help to dispel the myth that “My partner and I have been talking about a dog for companion animals finding themselves in a shelter are bad, years,” Harkins said. “When watching the Super Bowl this unwanted pets.” year, we saw that adorable Budweiser commercial with the yellow Lab puppy and horses. That’s when the idea struck hamp will be spending the summer running behind that a puppy would be a perfect compliment to the teams. We roller skiing cross country skiers, bouncing on tramreally wanted to build a stronger brand behind the teams so the polines with snowboarders and free skiers, and biking befans can really relate to the athletes and associate them with hind the alpine athletes. l

August 2015 | Page 21

S outh JordanJournal .com

Robbery at 4400 West Open Hill Drive

n Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 1:00 AM, officers with the South Jordan Police Department responded to 4400 West Open Hill Drive on the report of a robbery having just occurred. Five juveniles (2 males, 3 females), were walking on a trail within the park when they were approached by three Hispanic males in their late teens. These three suspects produced handguns and ordered the juveniles to turn over property. The juveniles complied and the suspects left with a backpack, wallet and cell phone. The suspects were believed to be wearing black hats and blue jeans and left in a white or silver Dodge minivan. “These juveniles correctly turned over property to these armed suspects,” stated Master Officer Samuel Winkler with the South Jordan Police Department. “The loss of property is not worth risking injury or death to yourself or others.” Detectives are currently working with other law enforcement agencies to determine if there may be related cases. If anyone has information on this case, they are encouraged to call the South Jordan Police Department at 801-840-4000 referencing case 15F009807. For additional information, please contact Officer Samuel Winkler of the South Jordan City Police Department by cell (801) 330-2183 (swinkler@sjc.utah.gov).

Food Trucks Welcomed To South Jordan By James Luke

outh Jordan residents may have a few new tastes to sample this summer, as the city council welcomes food trucks to town. City Commerce Director Brian Preece explained the plan to allow street food carts to set up shop in the city at the March 17 city council meeting. The council voted unanimously to adopt the Mobile Food Vendor Pilot Program for a year. Street food has been previously available in the city only at special events such as festivals and parties. The new regulations allow food vendors, either with an enclosed food truck or a mobile trailer, to operate on private property in the city that is zoned for commercial use, with the owner’s permission. Unlike food carts that operate on a daily basis on city sidewalks in downtown Salt Lake City, though, mobile food vendors will not be permitted to set up on city-owned property in South Jordan, such as sidewalks, parking lots or open spaces. Similar to conditions in neighboring communities like Midvale and West Jordan, the new pilot program in South Jordan lets a food truck owner arrange with a private business to use a portion of the company’s parking lot to set up a street food operation. The food truck must meet a few conditions to qualify for a license to operate under the new program. Only pedestrian customers are allowed, with no drive-up service permitted under

the rules. The vendor must be licensed by the Salt Lake Valley Department of Health, like any food handler, and the food truck must be fully independent, without need to hook up to city water or power for operations. Applications for vendor permits are available for a $47 fee. The cost of the permit is separate from the application fee charge. The applicant must have a letter of permission from the owner of the proposed space where the food truck will set up, and must confirm that the area is correctly zoned for the food business. l

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Page 22 | August 2015

S outh Jordan City Journal

4 SIMPLE TRICKS FOR SAVING ON BACK TO SCHOOL By Joani Taylor

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s August approaches, kids and parents alike begin to anticipate heading back to school. Shopping for their needs can be expensive and even stressful. These costs can really add up. Parent report spending anywhere from $100 to $200 per child and the older they are the worse it gets. With our large Utah families, that can really add up. Thankfully, there are some simple strategies that parents can use to cut back on the costs of school needs. Here are four tricks you can use to trim the costs.

est. Check the ads weekly and stock up on the loss leaders. A loss leader is a strategy stores use where a few items are priced below cost to stimulate sales and get you in the store. Loss leaders are always right on the front page of the ad. So far this year we’ve seen 3¢ pencil sharpeners, 19¢ spiral notebooks and 50¢ Crayola Crayons. Use this opportunity to get office supplies too. Just last week I was able to pick up reams of printer paper for a penny. Coupons4Utah.com creates a weekly list of every stores loss leader items on one post. It’s great REUSE WHAT YOU HAVE No one wrote a rule that a full bottle of glue works price comparison making it easy to know what stores to better than one that’s half full. Schools don’t require put on your list for the week. Look for it every Monday. your child have an unsharpened pencil only that AVOID THE SPECIAL CHARACTERS they have them. You can cross many items off your The backpack character syndrome, we’ve all been list without leaving the house. If you have younger there, Leah wants “Frozen”, while Brandon wishes for children, use this opportunity to play a game by making “Spiderman”. Those special characters can add a lot of a scavenger hunt list, then have them hunt the house money to price of backpacks, notebooks and clothto see what they can find. You can cross many items ing. Avoiding these character-driven articles can save off your list without leaving the house. you money and makes it easier to pass them down to DON’T SHOP FOR EVERYTHING AT ONCE younger children next year. Tradition is that right after the 4th of July through I also suggest you do as much shopping as you early September schools supplies drop to their low- can without the kids. This allows you to stay focused

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and buy the items you need based on quality, price and need and not the shiny package. CHECK THE SECONDHAND STORES These stores are usually overflowing with gently worn clothing from children that outgrew them and often look brand new. This can also be a great way to pick up brand name items you can’t afford new. Watch for the Just Between Friends consignment sale (www.jbfsale.com). This massive organized kids sale is a great way to get some huge bargains on clothing. Information about the sales coming to Utah can be found on their Facebook page: www.facebook. com/JBFSaleUtah. The back-to-school time of year doesn’t have to be an expensive one, even if you have a large brood of kids. Using sensible strategies when buying school supplies, will help you avoid an empty wallet.

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city council report

S outh JordanJournal .com By Chuck Newton

ou’re living in the only city in Utah, that has not raised property taxes the last four years, and also cut property taxes - rolled back to pre-2011 levels! A huge turnaround from what we (Mark Seethaler, Steve Barnes, Scott Osborne and myself) discovered when taking office in 2012! In 2012, the City Manager told us previous Councils had agreed to approve whatever was requested financially, and asked us to follow that tradition. Then, we were told we needed to approve a 14% budget increase because the money had been spent without prior approval. As you might guess, we then spent weeks in day long meetings dissecting the budget. What we found was UGLY! From a poorly organized budget, poor budgeting, lack of financial controls, lack of cost centered accounted even in Enterprise funds, poor financial controls and poor auditing later uncovering employee embezzlement, bad fleet management, and staff problems including consulting businesses using city time, a couple of competency issues, the #8 highest debt in the State, all the way to unnecessarily higher property taxes. Previous City Councils rubber stamped requests because of a lack of expertise to deal with city issues, and kicked the can down the road to avoid tough issues like the city’s high debt, high density housing, financial problems with the

cemetery and Mulligan’s, staffing issues and Jordan School District issues hurting the city. Prior poor management of these issues placed the city on a financially unstable and unsustainable course, causing staff to prepare to start raising property taxes 5% a year, forever! Stopping that property tax increase plan, and confronting these sometimes controversial issues, placing the city on a

August 2015 | Page 23 better financial trajectory, while respecting your tax dollars! Facing Jordan School District issues also yielded very positive results, stopping a $40-$60 monthly increase on your property taxes and a new five year plan for building six schools, the first three without any bonding. A big thanks to Mark Seethaler and Steve Barnes -stepping down this year after many hours of weekly meetings, sometimes up to twice a week even now. Thank’em with a big hug or a sloppy wet kiss! Thanks also to newer Council Members Don Shelton, Chris Rogers and Mayor Alvord as it’s taken us four years and a new city manager to put things on the right track! Campaign Silly Season – some candidates don’t seem to grasp city issues. Some have voiced the unreasonable taking the city back in time to the financial mess it used to be, when one of them ran the city. Some are being supported by previous Council Members who created the city’s past problems. Some want to promote education, which is Jordan School District’s purview. Many say ‘they just want to listen, there’s not enough listening’ – that’s political speak for “they haven’t a clue”. Don’t fall for it. Make them tell you their plans so you can vote wisely to avoid returning to our past financial disasters. The future of South Jordan is in your hands – don’t forget to vote! See my blog www.chucknewton. blogspot.com for more. l

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