South Valley December 2016

Christmas!

December 2016 | Vol. 26 Iss. 12

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Riverton graduate discovers similarities, differences in organic and conventional chicken

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

page 16

Kimberly McClellan holds a chicken she raised. McClellan raised two groups of chickens at her home in Riverton to test the impact of organic and conventional feed on chicken meat. (Jessie Hadfield)

Herriman Youth Council

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Copper Mountain career day

Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

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Herriman little league champs

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LOCAL LIFE

Page 2 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Herriman recognizes home decorating as art

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com The South Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Valley. The South Valley Journal covers news for Herriman, Bluffdale, and Riverton.

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The South Valley Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Tori La Rue tori@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 Steve Hession steve@mycityjournals.com 801-433-8051 CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Melody Bunker Tina Falk Ty Gorton

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H

ome decorating isn’t just an activity; it’s an art, according to the Herriman Arts Council.

“Our mission is to provide as many opportunities as we can for people in the community to experience art in all the different forms,” said James Crane, arts council chairman. “We are trying to instill into the residents the importance of art and give people an opportunity to showcase the things they feel passionate about, and I’ll tell you, there are people who love to decorate.”

The arts council has provided an avenue for home decorators to be recognized in the community since 2001 with their annual Best Dressed Houses contests. The first activity, hosted in the month of October, centers around Halloween decor, and the second activity focuses on December holidays, including Christmas.

“It is a fun way to celebrate the holidays and bring attention to that kind of visual art, ” Crane said.

Arts council members used to determine the winners by driving around the city and placing wooden signs in people’s yards to let them know that they won a contest, but online communication has provided a platform for residents to submit their decor for adjudication.

Residents enter the contests by posting their address and a photo of their house on the Herriman Arts Council Facebook page and adding the tag “#HACBestDressedHouse.”

The Halloween entries were accepted Oct. 15–26, and the Dec. entries will be accepted Dec. 7–21.

Chelsi Dall, event planner, took live Facebook video footage as arts council members presented Megaplex gift packages to Halloween winners on Oct. 26. The arts council selected Leigh Anne Duff’s entry for the Scariest award and Andrea Herbold K.’s entry for the Overall Best Dressed award.

Erin Brown and Ashley Middleton won the

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Herriman Arts Council invites residents to enter their decorated homes into this year’s Best Dressed Holiday Home contest. The categories are People’s Choice, Overall Best Dressed and Most Dazzling. (Pixabay).

People’s Choice award for getting the most likes on Facebook.

Duff’s house was decked with fake, giant spiders hanging in the yard above ground and an imitation cemetery, complete with headstones and a skeleton inside of a coffin.

Herbold’s entry included pink and purple lights which were set up to flash to a designated radio station, lit headstones including one talking headstone, fog, inflatable objects and projections across the garage.

Brown’s house included creepy scenes using hand-made dummies, giving the impression of a man hanging upside down from a tree, a clown lounging in a chair while holding a doll and a ghoul running over a person with a lawn mower. Middleton’s house included banners of phantoms whose capes flapped in the wind.

After the Halloween contest ended, Dall said she’s looking forward to the Best Dressed Holiday House submissions.

“I always look forward to the houses covered in Christmas lights that dance to music,” she said. “It is very entertaining to watch.”

The Categories for the Best Dressed Holiday House will be People’s Choice (the entry with the most likes on Facebook), Most Dazzling and Best Dressed House. The competition may be fiercer this time around because Dall said there’s always more entries during December than in October.

The process for entering the contest is the same as the process for the October contest.

People who aren’t interested in decorating their home can participate by driving around to the local homes and seeing the decorations in person or by voting on other people’s submissions through liking their entries on Facebook.

“Our hope is that this activity will bring a community feeling of togetherness,” Crane said. l

December 2016 | Page 3

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SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Dogs jump, catch balls, socialize at Flyball events

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

Zuni, a border collie, jumps over a hurdle during a Thunder Paws practice.

(Nikelle Perkins/Thunder Paws)

F

lyball is a dog sport and Thunder Paws, a local club based out of Murray, is aiming to take Flyball by storm.

The sport sees teams of four dogs compete in a relay race.

Dogs jump over four hurdles to a spring-loaded pad where the dog releases a tennis ball for them to catch and return over the hurdles to their handlers.

“I just love working with the dogs. You become close to the dogs, you feel their passion,” said Jenny Woods, president of Thunder Paws.

Thunder Paws holds practices every Sunday at various parks.

The location generally rotates between Midvale City Park, Bluffdale Park in Riverton, Browns Meadow Park in West Jordan and at one of the member’s houses in Herriman. During winter the club utilizes space in the Intermountain Therapy Animals building in Holladay for practice. The team also goes to competitions in places like Hurricane or Las Vegas.

Dianne Roberg is the Thunder Paws vice president and has been involved with Flyball since 1998. She said they discovered it at a national guard event before the club’s founder, Lori Thomson, eventually started Thunder Paws.

“We just started it as something fun for us and our dogs,” said Geri Rich, whose participation also began in 1998.

The club was officially put together as a non-profit about five years ago with Woods becoming the president. Woods initially got involved in the sport due to a rambunctious blue heeler named Ralph. “[Ralph] was a fruit cake, a nut job and drove us crazy. He wouldn’t settle in the house and I thought, ‘this dog needs a job,’” Woods said. Members said the sport is great for canines with a high

Dogs practice running through the flyball course at Bluffdale park on Oct. 23. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Bandit, a jack Russell terrier, leaps off the springboard during practice.

Thunder Paws competes in competitions in Las Vegas and Hurricane. (Nikelle Perkins/Thunder Paws)

drive and boundless energy.

“It gives the dogs something to do,” Rich, who’s had four different dogs participate, said. “You get these high bred dogs where they have to have something to do or they get destructive. To them it’s like a job and they thrive doing it.”

Woods said the sport can go against typical obedience training, but it is useful for herding breeds. “[Normally with obedience] you’re all about keeping them quiet and mellow and calm. Here we’re building up their energy, then they’re tired at the end of the day,” Woods said.

Nicky Perkins is new to Flyball with her Australian shepherd, Callie. She said Callie fell in love with the sport the first time she did it.

“Running and balls is perfect for her, it’s everything her world revolves around,” Perkins said.

A bond is forged through the sport between owner and dog.

Woods said Flyball helped her develop a stronger relationship with Ralph.

“It’s with dogs that will drive you crazy, but it unites you so you learn to really love your dog. That’s how it was with Ralph, but by getting into this I learned to love him,” Woods said.

It’s not only herding breeds or dogs with high energy who participate in the sport. One dog, Apache, is deaf and does the sport by seeing hand signals from his handler. Poodles, dachshunds and Shar-Peis have participated with the Thunder Paws. Perkins said it doesn’t matter if it’s a purebred, rescue, tiny or big dog. Any kind can do it, even breeds typically known as lap dogs.

“If I can teach my little Chihuahua to do it, any dog can. It just depends on your dedication,” Woods said. Woods has four of her

five dogs playing Flyball.

Woods said the experience is a really good way to bring rescue dogs out of their shells. It helps them build confidence and get used to random people. Dogs are kept in kennels when not participating to avoid disruptions.

“It’s a good way of getting dogs to socialize with each other without forcing them all to be together,” Woods said. She added that it doesn’t require dogs to be super obedient, but it does help if they have a good recall or if the dog comes when called.

Originally invented in the early 1970’s in Southern California, Flyball became official when the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was established in 1984 with its first official rule book written in 1985. Thirty-one years later, there are more than 400 active clubs and 6,500 competing dogs.

Thunder Paws has about 15 members with about 30 dogs. It’s that team spirit that Woods appreciates.

“I like that it’s a team event rather than just you and your dog.

I like the team camaraderie with everyone,” Woods said. Sunday afternoon practices can serve as a dog community with the animals and their owners.

“It’s fun to do with my friends and make new friends and see all the dogs,” Perkins said.

Woods said people are always welcome to come watch and they’ll even work with anybody’s dog for three free sessions. In order to maintain equipment, which includes hurdles, gates, and springboards, the club has a yearly fee of $75.

“Come out and watch, see what your dog loves to do. If they love balls or if they love to run or tug, you can come see if you like it,” Perkins said. To learn more, go to thunderpawsflyball.com. l

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December 2016 | Page 5

Santa sighted in Bluffdale

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

S

ome say that Santa’s workshop is in the North Pole, but some locals claim it’s in the Bluffdale City Park.

For six years, the jolly, bearded fellow has greeted hundreds of residents at the park‘s Trading Post building as part of the city’s Santa and the Lights tradition. Santa is escorted to the park via a side-byside fire engine before he leads a tractor parade, reads a Christmas story and invites families to meet with him within the Trading Post.

“It’s something we as a city look forward to every year,” said Bluffdale Mayor Derk Timothy.

This year’s celebration on Nov. 26 included live entertainment, photo stations and hot chocolate to keep participants engaged while they waited in line to talk with the honored guest. The tradition is one of the most widely attended events within the city, according to event coordinator Connie Pavlakis.

Originally Newlyn Green and Bill Underwood, both public works employees, came up with the idea to turn the Trading Post into Santa’s workshop while the post was being used as a children’s prize gallery during Bluffdale’s summer Old West Days. Volunteers from Bluffdale Old West Days got involved to make Green and Underwood’s vision happen.

Volunteers suggested a tractor parade be added to the Santa festivities to give the event an old-town feel. Since that time, community members deck their tractors and all-terrain vehicles with lights, ornaments, tinsel, streamers and other decor, and follow Santa around the park in a parade before the Trading Post opens for Santa visits. Community members watch the sight, and activity volunteers judge the tractors and award prizes.

“The holiday time of year is all about our children and helping them to have fun, but the tractor parade helps us all to be kids no matter how old we are,” Timothy said. “Some people get really into

decorating their tractor no matter what kind of tractor they own, and we realize that we are really all kids at heart.”

Timothy’s five grandchildren ride in the train attached to his tractor. He said coming to the Santa and the Lights activity each season has become a family tradition, as it has for many other locals.

Pavlakis calls the event “unique,” because of its personal feel.

Instead of rushing from one kid to the next, Bluffdale’s Santa takes time for each family, she said.

“When people go inside the Trading Post, it is like the family’s personal time in Santa’s workshop,” She said. “We keep door closed to keep the cold air out, so it’s one family’s turn at a time to get their picture taken with Santa Claus.”

Families are willing to wait in line for two and a half hours to see Santa because of the event’s intimate nature, Pavlakis said. Pavlakis said she remembers one attendee who was upset by the length of the line but had a change of heart.

“She was complaining a little, asking why it was taking so long,” Pavlakis said. “We told her that after the event she could give us feedback of how we could improve or speed up the process.

After a more than two-hour wait, the woman and her family visited Santa. After the event, Pavlakis followed up with her, asking how the city could improve its Christmas festivities. The woman told Pavlakis that it was an incredible experience that was “worth the wait.”

“You just have people like that who end up so appreciative,” Pavlakis said. “It is a private, little small activity for Bluffdale and our community, but it’s one that’s celebrated and important to us.”

Timothy said the Santa tradition represents what Bluffdale is all about.

“We like to make things as family-friendly as possible, so we do

Hundreds of Bluffdale residents come to the Bluffdale Park to get their pictures taken with these characters each year. (Bluffdale City Volunteers)

things as much free as possible,” he said. “This gets neighbors, who even though they live next to each other hardly ever see each other, to finally talk and meet. It is a good thing.”

Pavlakis said the event will continue.

To suggest ideas for Santa and the Lights or to volunteer for future Bluffdale events, contact the city offices at 801-254-2200. l

Page 6 | December 2016

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SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

ccording to Councilman Brent Johnson the current Utah drought has the potential to cripple all of Utah’s cities.

At the Oct. 18 council meeting, Johnson reported briefly on the effect the drought has had this season on Riverton City and the saving efforts the community took, and can still take, on conserving as much water as possible for years to come.

Currently, the secondary water is shut off for the season. Low water levels in Utah Lake threatened Riverton residents this summer season. The threat meant having secondary water shut off mid-season on Aug. 1. Luckily, efforts the residents made allowed secondary water to be available till Oct. 1.

“I want to commend those residents that headed the call to stop wasting,” Johnson said. “Within a week our secondary water consumption went to ten million gallons a day reduction as soon as that plea went out.”

The good news: currently Riverton’s culinary water reservoirs Jordanelle and Deer Creek, are still doing well as far as water capacity. The greatest reservoir is the snow pack.

With a good winter season, it can provide water for Utah’s water needs for next season.

In addition to a good winter season, there are many efforts that Riverton residents can do on their part to help conserve water. One of these programs that residents can take part in is called Flip Your Strip. This is a park strip replacement program.

Residents can save thousands of gallons of water a year by planting perennial plants in these park strips as well as replacing overhead spray sprinklers to a low drip system. Finally, adding mulch or gravel to the strip in conjunction with adding the plants and irrigation drip system will help in conserving water.

Concrete is not an acceptable replacement in flipping a park strip, according to Mayor Bill Applegarth.

“Usually, along residential areas there are pipes under the park strips if the residents put concrete and it has to be dug up, the public works department will haul it away but will not replace it,” Applegarth said.

Another effort Riverton residents can make is taking their lawn-dominant yard and

Entrance sign to the water department in Riverton.

(Tiffany Webb/City Journals)

renovating it to be a localscape or xeriscape yard. Much like Flip Your Strip the bulk of the yard would be low irrigation planter beds and functional activity zones.

Lastly, there is another effort Riverton residents can take in conserving water—dialing the settings down for water softeners. Since 2015, Riverton’s water source has been with Jordan Valley, which has meant that residents can now dial down the water hardness. l

Bayview landfill to be new home for Trans-Jordan cities’ waste in few years

By Tiffany Webb | t.webb@mycityjournals.com

I

n approximately 10 years, the Trans-Jordan Landfill will be full. There is a solution to this issue, however, and it will be found at the Bayview Landfill.

The Trans-Jordan Landfill is a few years away from its end of life. Luckily for the TransJordan cities, however, there is already a new home for the cities’ waste when that end of life comes. Around 2024 – 2026 Trans-Jordan will start transporting waste to the Bayview Landfill.

The Bayview Landfill is located at the south end of Utah Lake in Elberta. Construction on this landfill began in 1989. Bayview Landfill is now fully operational to other cities. Once TransJordan starts using their portion, it has a potential life-span of 85 years.

Currently, the Trans-Jordan Landfill has a new executive director, Mark Hooyer. He introduced himself at the Nov. 1 city council meeting . He has been busy at work with many different projects at the landfill. One of those projects being the Northern Utah Environmental Resource Agency – Bayview Landfill project.

The Trans-Jordan Landfill takes waste from seven different cities in the Salt Lake Valley, including Riverton. Riverton comprises about 10 percent of the Trans-Jordan population—and with that about 15,000 tons of residential waste per year.

At this rate, combined with the waste gathered from the other six Trans-Jordan cities,

The entrance sign to the Trans-Jordan Landfill. (Tiffany Webb/City Journals)

Hooyer has estimated the Landfill has another eight- to 10-year life expectancy. They have a construction project that started three years ago that they plan on opening up at the first of the year. This project was creating a new waste cell at the current landfill.

“Landfill life is hard to project,” Hoover said. “This is our secondto-last cell that we are developing right now. I can confidently tell you that we will have space at the Trans-Jordan Landfill for at least the next 10 years. Our design capacity is 15 million tons, and since 1960 through July, 9.3 million tons of waste is in place.”

In addition to the Bayview Landfill project

and the excavating and lining of the new waste cell, Hooyer had another issue that he came into contact with shortly after becoming the new executive director. The issue: the number of bicycles brought to the landfill on a weekly basis. Most of these bicycles are brand new, and they would always just end up being scrapped for metal.

Hooyer, being a cyclist by hobby, wanted more for these bikes.

“I looked at these bikes and thought we could do better. We looked around the city and found the Bicycle Collective; they exist primarily just to rehab and to recycle these bicycles for reuse.”

The Bicycle Collective is a nonprofit organization. They not only rehab these thrown out bicycles, but they also help train interested youth from the Decker Lake Youth Detention Center on how to fix these bikes. These youth have the option of joining an eight-week mechanics program. Once they leave the facility they will then have a diploma and be certified as a mechanic in fixing bikes.

“I think that Riverton can be happy knowing that as citizens, they are a part of this waste stream,” Hoover said. “They can be happy that this waste is going to a better use for the bicycles that have been thrown away.

In small steps, we are trying to reuse things as wisely as we know how.” l

EDUCATION

S outhV alleyJournal .Com

December 2016 | Page 9

Youth council takes oath of office

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

Y

outh Mayor Rachel Hale and the other Herriman Youth Council members are getting ready for a year of learning, service and community involvement.

“It’s a way for us to widen our perspective on local government and get involved with city events,” Rachel said.

The members took the oath of office at the Nov. 9 meeting, pledging to obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Herriman City. Each member was congratulated by the Herriman City Council, and Herriman Councilwoman Coralee Moser, the Youth Council Liaison, presented several of them with service awards from participation last year.

“We are very grateful for their service to the city,” Mayor Carmen Freeman said about the youth council. “We have always felt that this is a great experience for our youth to increase their relationships but also to really see the dynamics of the city. Hopefully that will instill a great desire in the future for their getting involved and taking our places one day.”

Thirteen members are returning to the Youth Council this year, and seven joined their group. The Herriman City Council interviewed each new member of the youth council, and the returning members submitted a letter of intent to remain on the council.

The youth council’s main responsibilities are to participate in city council and citizen comments projects, spend a day at the Utah State Legislature, aid in the planning of city events and conduct service projects. They also work directly with elected Herriman officials and administrators.

One of the service projects Hale said she’s looking forward to is their food drive series. First, they will be collecting food at the Herriman Holiday Sing Along held at Silver Crest Elementary School on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. While youth council members are figuring out the details, councilmember Sellianda Rome, 16, said their next drive

The Herriman Youth Council poses for a picture with city officials. The Herriman Youth Council for the 2016–17 year took the oath of office on Nov. 9. (Destiny Skinner/Herriman City)

for the Utah Food Bank will be a unique approach to food collecting.

“We’re doing a dance,” Sellianda said. “Our friends or whoever wants to come to the dance will have to bring a food donation as their entry fee.”

Abbie Chapman, last year’s youth mayor, came up with the idea, and the rest of the council decided to pursue it. The food drive dance for youth will be held at the J.L. Sorenson Recreation Center on Jan. 20.

In addition to Sellianda, Abbie and Rachel, the following youth are also planning the dance and comprise the Herriman Youth Council:

Aaron Burningham, Abby Kynaston, Danielle Fisher, Emily Tanner, Gabi Sudweeks, Jaden Bennett, Kala Hyte, Liam Hyte, Maddy Morgan, Nicholas Chevalier, Nicholas Chapman, Quaid Green, Ruth Barnum, Tanner Vasica, Tate Williams, Teighan Davis and Tyler Davis.

Emily, who is beginning her second year on the youth council, said the group is taking precautions to make sure each member feels involved in the food drive and other events. Creating a bond within the group is the key to make everyone feel included, she said.

The youth council started incorporating ice-breaker games during each monthly meeting to help them get to know each other which will hopefully help each member come out of their shell and be willing to share their ideas with the group, Emily said.

Emily originally signed up for the youth council only because it would look good on college applications but stuck around for another year after realizing she was having fun while giving service and learning, she said.

“I’d never really thought about government before, besides looking at just the mayor and the big positions,” she said. “I realized there are a lot of different positions that go into helping a city work.

I had no idea there would be a person at a city who just took care of social media, and that helped me to be a little more interested in government for when I’m older.”

Abbie said she realized something similar. Because she’s always wanted to be an accountant, Abbie said she thought there wasn’t any place for her in government.

“Then I realized there’s a city accountant, and the city has a finance department,” she said. “Sure, it’s kind of different than your typical CPA job, but it could be interesting.”

Coralee said she’s inspired by the youth council’s leadership and is excited to see what goals they set this year. l

EDUCATION

Page 10 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Suicidal thoughts on rise at Riverton High School

By Tiffany Webb | t.webb@mycityjournals.com

S

uicides have been on the rise since 1999 across the nation.

Since then, Utah has seen larger increases in suicide than other states.

Healthy Riverton has had a couple areas of emphasis within the community this year, one being traumatic brain injury on the rise in young children—and the other focus is on teen suicide prevention.

“Recently, our focus has been on Traumatic Brain Injury,” Riverton City Councilwoman Patricia Tingey, said. “Since football season is over, it doesn’t mean that concussions go away, since there are other sports, but our focus for the winter months has changed to teen suicide.” Riverton City Councilwoman Patricia Tingey, said.

Since September, there have been 18 teens from Riverton high school that have been reported for suicidal thoughts.

“I’m panicked this year,” said Linda Tranter, Riverton High’s Hope Squad Director and student adviser. “In 18 years, I have never seen anything like this. We are in full forces right now watching kids.”

There is hope for these teens and others like them. The Riverton High School Hope Squad is working in conjunction with Hope4Utah—a nonprofit organization that teams up with local schools to aid in the prevention of suicide. Hope4Utah has had a successful track record in the reduction of suicides in Provo for many years. Now, Hope4Utah reaches 65 different cities, 200 schools and has a national presence.

Hope4Utah is successful not only because it helps in schools with the Hope Squads, but it is also successful because

of the volunteers in the communities. What Hope4Utah members would like to accomplish in Riverton is to find residents who are passionate about suicide prevention —and to train and certify these individuals who can Question, Persuade and Refer.

In addition to having Riverton City residents take part, the city council as well as Hope4Utah would like to have local businesses involved in this effort to help prevent suicide.

“We definitely want businesses involved,” Tingey said.

Hope4Utah Founder and Executive Director Gregory Hudnall said having residents trained in this Question, Persuade and Refer suicide prevention strategy is the same as having CPR-certified residents. Just like CPR saving lives, the certification of citizens in QPR can save lives. This allows people to be aware of the warning signs, take action and save lives.

“If we train enough adults in the community, we can have exactly the same kind of results,” Hudnall said.

“The high school is still going to do everything they can to prevent suicides and be the lead on that in many ways. What Linda Tranter is asking is for the city to reach out and to help support hope squad in a different way than has been ever done before,” Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth said.

In addition to volunteering as a resident that can be trained to help prevent suicides, people can also help show their support to Riverton High and all everyone affected by suicide by participating in the Riverton High Hope Walk on Jan. 29 at 9 a.m. l

The sign at the entrance to Riverton High School, where reportedly suicidal thoughts have been on the rise. (Tiffany Webb/City Journals)

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December 2016 | Page 11

Herriman recognizes event manager’s ‘legacy’

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

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BEDROOM? Herriman City officials gather around Danie Bills and her family to present her with a framed aerial photograph of the park she helped the city create. Bills worked for the Herriman for more than 13 years but decided to take a new job at the Salt Lake County Sherriff’s Office, much to the dismay of Herriman officials. (Destiny Skinner/Herriman City)

A

fter more than 13 years of working as Herriman’s events and recreation manager, Danie Bills took a job as a graphic designer the sheriff’s office, leaving her friends, associates and acquaintances sad to see her go.

Some council members, city staff members and residents shed tears as Bills was honored during the Nov. 9 Herriman City Council Meeting. Bills’ recognition continued for more than 45 minutes and included two video presentations and remarks from nine people.

“I want you to know that you are leaving a legacy for this city,” Councilman Craig Tischner said, referencing the park that wouldn’t exist without the contributions of Bills and her family. “It is very much appreciated.”

In 1997, Bills’ daughters participated in minirider shows in Draper, and her grandfather Wayne Butterfield argued that they shouldn’t have to travel to watch the girls ride. He donated a 60-acre parcel to Herriman in 1999, before the city was incorporated, hoping to provide rodeo grounds for the local children.

Bills became the volunteer champion of the park, bringing physical labor and collaborative planning to the project before Herriman hired her full time as the events and recreation manager in 2003.

She had her hand in every facet of the park creation, said City Manager Brett Wood.

“Sometimes when I would work with Danie, she’s the one changing the teeth on the harrow for the arena—laying underneath it with an impact gun,” Wood said. “The next moment she’s doing schedules for our events, and the next minute cooking people lunch and breakfast in the department. I tried to think of all of the things that she’s done, but there are too many.”

Danie executed the project not because it was part of her job description but because it became her passion, Wood added.

Bills expanded her grandfather’s vision for the rodeo grounds by including other amenities in the park design. The park, which is now home to Fort Herriman Days, Pedal Palooza and other annual festivities, includes three football/soccer fields, volleyball courts, four baseball fields, two small pavilions, one large pavilion with a stage, restrooms, concessions and a playground in addition to its rodeo amenities: three rodeo arenas, a stall barn, concessions and restrooms.

“Because of you, my kids—and many kids—

learn to play baseball, football (and) lacrosse,” Trischner said. “Anytime a kid is having a time of their life on the playground, it is because of you.”

Bills said the W&M Butterfield Park is the thing she is most proud of, concerning her time working for and with Herriman City. She expressed her gratitude for the council and staff supporting her self-described “crazy ideas.”

Clint Smith, who knew Bills from his position as Herriman Planning Commission Chair and former position as Unified Fire Fire Battalion Chief, said it was ironic that Bills thanked Wood, himself and others for supporting her ideas when they should be the ones thanking her.

“There are some truly amazing, special things that have happened in this city because of Danie,” Smith said. “The truth is that those opportunities wouldn’t have been there if Danie wouldn’t have had the foresight to start them.”

Bills acted as a liaison to the Herriman Arts Council and oversaw the annual holiday events, Fort Herriman Days three-day celebration and the Endurocross challenge. While attending, planning and supervising these events, Bills noticed a gap in the activities they offered. She created an Easter egg hunt and rodeo experience specifically for children with special needs.

Herriman Resident Jeremy Green and four of his children, who participate in the special needs rodeo each year, attended the Nov. 9 meeting to express how the adaptive activities have impacted their family.

“Some of our children have the challenge of added difficulties,” Green said. “It’s really been such a neat opportunity to go to this function every year. It is a day where they don’t worry about anything that they have to do that’s a little bit different or out of the ordinary. They can relax and have a wonderful time.”

To recognize Bills for the events she planned and the people she touched, city officials presented her with a large, framed aerial picture of the W&M Butterfield Park. The council signed the matting to personalize the gift.

Bills said she looks forward to pursuing a new passion of graphic design at the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, but she said she will miss being heavily involved in Herriman activities.

“I still plan on volunteering for years to come,” Bills said. “Herriman city has been more than just a job—it has been a family.” l

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EDUCATION

Page 12 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Tumult for many for-profit colleges, why students still attend

By Mandy Morgan Ditto | m.ditto@mycityjournals.com

M

any students and graduates of ITT Technical Institutes didn’t expect a college to close so rapidly. However, that’s exactly what happened with ITT Tech on Sept. 6, right as the school year was beginning.

ITT Educational Services, which operates ITT Technical Institutes — private colleges that have operated in more 140 locations across the nation for more than 50 years — announced closures after the Department of Education decided “to bar the chain of colleges from using federal financial aid to enroll new students,” according to the New York Times.

The only ITT Tech location in Utah was in Murray, Utah, and students that planned to attend the 2016 fall semester on Sept. 12 were surprised to have plans changed a few days before.

“It is with profound regret that we must report that ITT Educational Services, Inc. will discontinue academic operations at all of its ITT Technical Institutes permanently after more than 50 years of continuous service,” said ITT Tech’s official news release announcing the closure of the schools. “The actions of and sanctions from the U.S. Department of Education have forced us to cease operations of the ITT Technical Institutes, and we will not be offering our September quarter.”

For Kevin Neff, a graduate from ITT Tech in Murray in 1998, the worth of his degree and the education he received is still entirely valid to him, no matter the school closure. Neff, who received an associate of applied science degree in computer-aided drafting and design technology, was looking for a school to help him get a secondary education degree and have time to spend with his family.

“In speaking with the school, reviewing the schedules and looking further at the classes offered, I was pretty much sold from day one,” Neff told the City Journals in an email. He had considered the programs for computer-aided drafting and architecture at both Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah, but the programs would take too much time while he was working full time, and he was hoping to get his degree in less than four years.

“I feel the education and training I received at ITT Tech was as thorough as I would have received attending any community college,” Neff said. “There was never a time at ITT that I felt the curriculum or my instructors were sub-par when compared to my public community college options. I did feel that the algebra and physics courses at ITT were tailored more towards real-world applications faced in drafting and design scenarios than an overall study of each course.”

Neff has worked for over the last 16 years in a position focused on “the utilization of both GIS and computer-aided drafting systems.” He and his family currently resides in Oregon.

Though most graduates haven’t felt much impact from the closure of the school, it was jolting for some employees. Tony Rose, who worked at the Phoenix location of ITT Tech, was surprised to see an email several days after it was sent to his work account about the school closure, before the semester started.

There was an email sent to all ITT Tech employees’ work accounts at 4:30 a.m. in Arizona, right after Labor Day weekend, he recalled. “Nobody had checked their email unless you worked in the offices,” he said. “I’m driving home from my day job, and I hear on the radio that they closed it.” He believes management was aware before other employees that the institute would close. He also said many people didn’t get their final paychecks due to scattered management of finances overall.

Luckily, Rose has another job working as a network administrator in the Creighton School District in Phoenix, but he won’t have a chance at another community college job until potential hiring takes place before the next semester that starts in January. For those students who were hoping to finish their degree at ITT Tech, there is a process some qualify for to get their student loans through

A sign posted on the door of the ITT Tech campus in Murray announces the closure of the school. The national for-profit school closed all its doors in September. (Kimberly Roach/City Journals)

“It is with profound regret that we must report that ITT Educational Services, Inc. will discontinue academic operations at all of its ITT Technical Institutes permanently after more than 50 years of continuous service,” the school forgiven, Rose said, though some are simply going to have to pay off federal loans and find another school that may or may not take already earned credits to finish a degree.

The sudden closure of ITT Tech hasn’t impacted Kyle Judson much, as he has security in his current job. Judson, who graduated from one of the previous two ITT locations in Massachusetts in 2007, was top in his class with a degree in computer networking.

He is still living in Massachusetts.

“I’ve never actually had a job in computer networking, but that’s the same old song and dance for all of us,” Judson said. “I work for a medical device company now, I’m a technical support manager after being in the engineering world for about seven or eight years after I graduated.”

Why students choose schools like ITT Tech over four-year colleges is a question that can only be answered by everyone at these schools, who like Judson, have found factors that work best for them.

Judson wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do after he graduated from high school; he attended a few universities before landing on ITT Tech. “I’ve always had an aptitude for math and science,” he said. “I knew computers were kind of a combination of the two, and I needed a degree and I needed one fast, so I said ‘ITT Tech, why not?’”

The smaller class sizes and regular interaction with professors who worked in the industry all provided positives for Judson at ITT, which led to more connections and networking. There wasn’t, however, as much hardware to use and learn from at the university, which was something Judson said he saw as a bit of a problem, especially with the amount of tuition being paid. For being a technical college, it was the one thing that didn’t quite make sense — to not have the very equipment there all the time to help students really learn the trade they were studying.

When it came to funding at ITT, Judson said “there were always some rumors and some whispers about — for lack of a better term

— some shady financial practice,” Judson said. “But at the time I didn’t really know about it, and I just wanted an education, but I’m lucky it worked for me. I got a great job after I graduated, and I was able to pay my student loans, but I also did really well in school so I got a really good job when I was done.”

Judson graduated with $48,000 in student loan debt, after a two-year program, including two private loans that were $20,000 and $18,000, with high interest. His federal government loan was low-interest, and he has paid off every loan since.

Though programs may end up costing students a lot at schools like ITT Tech, the quicker nature of getting degrees from them is often what brings students to their doors.

As for accreditation, Judson feels ITT Tech never had any problems with that; most concerns came with finances, which is ultimately what led to the closure of the nationwide school.

However, other colleges that have remained open in the valley are dealing with accreditation issues, since the Department of Education took away accreditation privileges from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), the largest national accrediting organization of degree-granting institutions.

Those like The Art Institute of Salt Lake City, Broadview University, Neumont University and Eagle Gate College are either waiting for the appeal to go through and provide ACICS with authority once again or are making plans to gain accreditation from another source. Though all schools accredited by ACICS will remain so through a transition period of 18 months, all will want to be sure students from their university will leave with valid, accredited degrees.

Neumont University President Shaun McAlmont announced shortly after the announcement about ACICS that they were already in the process — months ago, in fact — of changing accreditors.

Neumont is located in downtown Salt Lake City.

“We’re already through the first two steps of the five-step process for changing accreditors,” McAlmont said. “This change will not affect the quality — or value — of education that has always set Neumont apart. Regardless of our accreditor, Neumont will continue to deliver a hands-on, rigorous, project-based and results-driven computer science education for all of our students.”

Neumont expects to have a new accreditor in the next six to nine months.

Since finding out about the possible loss of accreditation from ACICS, Broadview University — located in West Jordan — has also started on the process of being re-accredited with a previous accreditor as a backup plan.

“The process is already in place as far as taking care of the front-end work, as kind of a preventative measure, just in case, should we need to use that,” said Michelle Knoll, senior marketing and communications manager for Broadview. “And then, should ACICS prevail, we would just stay with ACICS.” If any changes were to occur, Broadview University would inform students of the change, which would only mean they might have a different company accrediting the university by the time many of them graduated, Knoll said.

“It’s kind of a tricky situation, but we know that the students are top priority, so we want to make sure that anything that impacts them they are aware of, but now it shouldn’t impact them, until there’s a decision,” Knoll said.

If Broadview had believed that ACICS was doing anything they shouldn’t have done as an accreditor, they wouldn’t have stuck with them, Knoll said. The university supports ACICS and will stay with them if they win with the appeal.

No one at the ITT Technical Institute, the Art Institute of Salt Lake City or Eagle Gate College responded to the City Journals for comment. l

SPORTS Olympic hopeful elevates status in climbing world

S outhV alleyJournal .Com

December 2016 | Page 13

By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

E

veryone aims to climb the ranks of their given passion.

Nathaniel Coleman is literally doing it.

As a competitive climber, Coleman is enjoying a successful 2016. Earlier this year, he won USA Climbing’s Bouldering Open National Championship and the Youth Bouldering National Championship in Madison, Wis. In October, he took second representing the United States at the inaugural International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World University Championships in Shanghai, China.

“I feel honored really to be at a level where I’m able to win these competitions,” Coleman, 19, said. He also won the collegiate national championship in bouldering in May as a member/coach of the University of Utah climbing team.

“This year has been a picture-perfect way for him to complete his youth career,” said Jeff Pedersen, CEO and co-founder of Momentum Indoor Climbing—where Coleman began training at age nine. Pedersen was one of Coleman’s first coaches.

With the sport of climbing approved by the International Olympic Committee to be included in the 2020 Olympics games, Coleman’s success figures to see him as a prime contender to represent his country.

Coleman said he definitely has aspirations for the Olympics.

Already getting a taste of it by representing USA at international competitions around the world, Coleman said competing in China gave him a “team feeling.”

“It was cool to have that sense of team that you usually don’t get in such an individual sport,” Coleman said. “I was just excited to do well and have my team be proud of me.”

Olympic climbing will be a combination of sport climbing, bouldering and speed climbing. As a specialized boulder climber, Coleman said many world cup climbers specialize in one discipline rather than all three. Each discipline requires different types of training.

“It’s kind of up in the air whose gonna be best at that time, with four years to train I’m sure I’ll be able to get pretty decent at all three,” Coleman said.

Considering his career accomplishments, his parents, coaches and competitors expect him to continue his “incredible journey” because of his talent.

“He knows how to move his body, he knows his strength.

He can execute moves that a lot of climbers can’t because of his strength and body awareness,” said Rosane Coleman, Nathaniel’s mother and Momentum competitive team manager.

This natural talent has led to sponsorships and compensation for doing what he loves. Nathaniel has sponsorship deals with Prana clothing company, Five Ten footwear and Petzl, a climbing gear manufacturer based out of France.

Nathaniel doesn’t earn enough money to make a living,

but there remains a level to which he can make a living off of climbing. Something he realized a possibility at age 15 when he won the Youth Bouldering Nationals.

Nathaniel said the victory motivated him to train harder and get more comfortable in the competition setting. But it was when he took fifth at the adult nationals at age 18 that he took it seriously.

“At that point I knew this was definitely worth considering doing for the rest of my life,” Nathaniel said. “When I was 15 I knew it was a possibility, and at 18 I knew it was happening.”

“I see a lot of climbers get on a route,” Rosane said. “And then I see Nathaniel do it and he makes it look so easy that I think I could do that and then I go, ‘no never mind.’”

Introduced to climbing at age nine by his friend Palmer Larsen, Nathaniel started on the Momentum youth team.

Nathaniel said once he tried it out, he loved it and has been climbing ever since.

“It just fit my style of athleticism really well and my body type,” Nathaniel said. The challenge of the sport always gives him something to progress to, which plays a big role in his love for the sport.

“There’s seemingly endless rock in the world, you can always find a bouldering rock that’s harder,” Nathaniel said.

Rosane said he was a very independent and hyperactive child.

“Once he knew what he wanted, he went for it,” Rosane said.

His affinity for the sport incorporates the mental aspect as well. Nathaniel said it appeals to him that every time he climbs, he’s faced with a puzzle.

“You really do need to be able to work through these puzzles in your mind to be a good competition climber,” Nathaniel said.

He said he’s noticed many climbers he competes against attend ivy league schools.

Having taken third place in a state chess tournament in third grade, Nathaniel’s aptitude for general problem solving, he said, has developed his ability on the climbing wall.

“Climbing will help with my chess, chess will help climbing and it’ll help with my schooling so it all circulates back,” Nathaniel, a computer science major, said.

Physicality is just as essential to the sport with Nathaniel noting the importance of finger strength, bicep pulling power and core stability. He trains four days a week for anywhere from three to three and a half hours.

Training consists of lifting weights, body weight exercise, climbing different problems back-to-back, rings gymnastics, and hanging onto a ledge with weight hanging off him. He also works mobility exercises to make sure his stretching is being applied well.

Nathaniel recently aged out of the Momentum program, but attributes much of his success to his time there.

“Wouldn’t be where I am climbing without Momentum.

Even if I lived in a different state with a different climbing gym, I might not be climbing as well as I am today,” Nathaniel said.

He added that for youth considering climbing, joining a climbing gym provides needed technical knowledge.

“The more you get involved with climbing, the more obsessed with it you’ll become,” Nathaniel said.

One of Nathaniel’s coaches at Momentum, Kyle O’Meara, said their climbing program helps kids prepare for life.

Nathaniel Coleman, a Murray High School graduate, was The North Face’s 2016 Young Gun Award recognizing up-and-coming climbers. (Vincent Monsaint)

“From problem solving to long-term goal setting, climbing offers young people an opportunity to develop traits that are easily transferrable to college and the workplace,” O’Meara said.

Nathaniel’s parents have been an important part of his progress, whether it was coming to his competitions or paying for expensive climbing gear. “[They’ve] been the most supportive people in my life for sure…even when they though it was just going to be a hobby, they were sending me to Wisconsin and Atlanta for nationals so I could pursue what I loved,” Nathaniel said.

Rosane said he’s very humble so she’s constantly bragging about him with everything he’s done in his short life.

“He just has a very natural ability, it’s been an incredible journey watching him get to where he’s getting,” Rosane said.

Climbing has affected every aspect of Nathaniel’s life from the places he’s seen to his own maturation. The Murray native has competed all over the world from France and Italy to Wisconsin and Georgia.

“What I eat, how I sleep, the things I do with my free time. Other people might be playing video games, I’m usually watching climbing videos,” Nathaniel said. “When I’m at a public event I try to remain professional instead of making fart jokes with my friends.”

Rosane said the sport has helped to focus him from the hyperactive child he was growing up.

“When he gets on a climbing wall, it’s like nothing else exists,” Rosane said. “It’s made his life have more purpose, so that he’s able to set goals and reach them.”

It’s an inherent connection to it that means Nathaniel will climb until he is too old and “breaking bones when [he] falls.”

“I just feel it was what I was meant to do. I think I can achieve a lot in it. So I think it’d be a waste if I didn’t pursue this thing I was born to do,” Nathaniel said.

The University of Utah sophomore almost didn’t attend the local university. Rosane said many suggested he take a year off to just let him climb. Nathaniel chose to go to school and get a degree in computer science that not only can he fall back on, but he hopes he can do work while traveling the world.

“It would’ve been easy for him to just say, ‘I wanna climb,’ but he’s got goals and he wants a degree,” Rosane said. l

Nathaniel Coleman, 19, stands on the left side of the podium after taking silver at the IFSC World University Championships in China. (Josh Larson)

SPORTS

Page 14 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Students fast forward 15 years during career day

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

F

ast forward 15 years and Kyler Evans may be a computer software engineer who’s married with three kids. Kyler, a freshman at Copper Mountain Middle School, had the opportunity to see where his future may take him during the school’s Reality Town activity on Oct. 27.

“Really, I just started to learn about how expensive everything is,” Kyler said.

Kyler and the rest of the freshman CHMS class selected a future job based on their individual GPAs (higher GPAs provided higher paying jobs in the activity.), and Reality Town staff assigned them a salary and family situation. From there, the school and local community created a mock-life fair in the gym where students visited booths to do adult tasks such as buying a house, getting a car fixed, purchasing groceries and enrolling children in extracurricular activities.

Most booths gave students high-, medium- and low-priced options, so the students could see the approximate cost of the lifestyle they desire. A few booths were based on luck, and students were required to pay for mishaps that occur in family day to day living. If students ran out of money, they’d have to get a second job, sell their possessions or find another way to make money in the game.

“I was just trying to save money and buy cheap stuff, but I still ran out of money, so I had to join the military,” Kyler said. “I have three kids in Reality Town, and they are the reason why everything is so expensive.”

Kyler said he learned to be grateful for what he has and to plan finances wisely. He said he’d like to pursue a career in computer software engineering and plans to study in school to be ready for the industry.

Kristi Kemp, work-based learning coordinator for Jordan School District, said the district brings reality town to its schools because it gives students motivation to do well in school.

“We implement this in ninth grade during first quarter because it’s

Copper Mountain Middle School ninth-graders participate in Reality Town, a work-based learning activity that allows them to experience what adult life may be like. (Tori La Rue/City Journals)

a time for these students to realize that their high school grades will contribute to their success,” she said. “If they aren’t doing well in school, they may be closing doors later in life when they are 30. Likewise, if they are doing well, they realize they are opening doors for their future.”

More than 90 community volunteers helped run the event.

Shannon Youngblood said she volunteered because she realized the program would help students learn what it is like to be an adult.

“It gives them perspective, so when they are asking for money, they know what goes into that,” she said. “They learn how to budget, and they know better what to expect from parents and adults.”

Youngblood helped run the personal care booth where participants chose the kind of deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and other products they wanted to provide themselves and their family. She said it

was interesting to watch students deliberate on whether to purchase the designer, regular or knock-off brand products.

Youngblood has two children who attend CMMS, and said she hopes they learn self-mastery and budgeting skills from activities at school, such as Reality Town.

Ninth-grader Romone Vaughn’s pretend occupation was chef, and he dressed the part for the activity, complete with a white apron, red necktie and chef hat that he made out of lined paper. He said he’s learned that preparation is the key to living a successful life.

“I guess I decided today that I want to get a college degree,” said Romone. “I’ll be much better off that way and have more to spend” While the gym was bustling with ninth graders impersonating 30-year-olds, the auditorium was full of seventh-graders who were also learning about their potential in the future workforce. Employees from the KSL Morning Show taught the 12- and 13-year-olds about jobs available in the broadcasting industry.

The school follows state mandate to introduce seventh-grade students to six different career industries by incorporating presentations from professionals in the field. The KSL presentation was the first one of the year, and counselors determined to offer the assembly on the same day as reality town.

Eighth-graders weren’t at school to experience the KSL presentation or Reality Town activity because each student in their grade was required to complete a job shadow on Oct. 27.

With each grade concurrently participating in work-based learning, Copper Mountain Middle created its first Career Day. “When you ask a middle school student what they want to be when they grow up, some have an answer right away, but others have no idea,” said Teresa Bills, a school counselor. “Career Day is just one of the ways we help middle school students start looking ahead to what their future career might be.” l

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SPORTS

S outhV alleyJournal .Com

Mustangs claim championship amid band teacher turnover

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

December 2016 | Page 15

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Herriman High School Band students and their director, Brandon Larsen, pose for a photo after winning the Red Rocks UMEA State Championships in St. George on Oct. 28. (Herriman High School Band)

H

erriman high school’s band has welcomed a new instructor each year for the past three years, but the students didn’t let the teacher whiplash slow them down. The 2A marching band accepted their first state championship trophy on Oct. 28.

Shawn Mangum, Herriman’s band director, left Herriman’s program in the 2014–15 school year, so Jamie Kim took over in the 2015–16 school year.

Kim only stayed for one year, so Brandon Larsen, who previously taught at Fremont and Grantsville high schools, was hired to replace him this school year.

“The switching teachers made us flexible,” said Kyle Nielson, a sophomore clarinetist. “We learned how to run with it.”

Britain Bashore, a junior baritone player, attributed the band’s state championship win in part to the effect the directors’ styles had on individual members of the band.

“Mangum taught me how to focus, Kim taught me how to be a better player and Larsen taught me how to be a better leader,” he said.

Being new and unsure of what Herriman’s future would hold, Larsen said his goal for the marching band season wasn’t necessarily to win.

“Our goal this year was to be the band that other bands wanted to be musically, competitionwise and in the way we treated each other and in our band culture, and because of that, we created a winning culture as a by-product,” he said. “I tried to get them not to focus on what happened in the past but what is happening right now and in the future.”

Herriman’s marching band won every competition leading up to the state competition besides one at Timpanogos High School where they came in second place to Lehi High. When it lost, the band’s energy and confidence level plateaued, according to Peter Ovard, the band’s drum major.

Ovard and other band leaders encouraged their team by telling them that they performed to their best ability even though they took second place.

The band continued to practice for three hours

a day, four days a week in preparation for the Red Rocks UMEA State Championships in St. George.

Each section also practiced together every week to fine tune their show.

When it came time to perform the show at the state championships, Bashore said he was nervous and excited.

“I knew that we were good, but I didn’t know what the other bands would bring,” he said.

But more nerve-racking than performing was waiting for the results, according to Nielsen.

The judges break the bands’ scores into four categories called captions. The captions include percussion, visual, color guard and music. Music is the caption weighted the most heavily, accounting for 60 percent of the total score. The judges presented their findings for the percussion section first, awarding Herriman first place in this caption.

“We were excited, but we didn’t want to get too excited because we didn’t know if we’d landed the music caption,” Ovard said.

But once the judges announced that Herriman also took the Music caption, the band knew it won.

“I was just like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ because we really did this. We really came in first place across the state,” Ovard said.

The band returned to Herriman High School by bus on Oct. 29. Unified Fire Authority and Unified Police Department vehicles surrounded the bus at about 12600 South and Herriman Main Street, giving members an escort the rest of the way to the school with sirens blaring and lights flashing.

Larsen said he thinks this will be the first of many championships for the Mustang’s marching band and plans to stick around to watch the band’s momentum.

Now the band can claim a championship and a teacher.

“I’ve told the kids this, but I am here to stay,” Larsen said. “I fell in love with Herriman, and I felt like I was born to be a Mustang.” l

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EDUCATION

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Riverton graduate discovers similarities, differences in organic and conventional chicken

By Tori La Rue | tori@mycityjournals.com

F

armers and consumers wonder whether there’s a significant difference between organic and conventional chicken meat, so one 2016 Riverton High School graduate made it her quest to find out.

“A lot of people are concerned about genetically modified organisms in the food supply, and not just in fresh produce, but also meat because a lot of animals for consumption eat food with GMOs,” said Kimberly McClellan, 18. “I wanted to expand my own knowledge so I could help consumers know what they are eating, so that’s why I decide to do my projects.”

Two years ago, McClellan compared the physical and thermal properties of store-bought certified organic chicken meat and storebought chicken meat that was not certified. The conventional meat was more tender and held more water, according to her studies, leading her to believe it was a higher quality product. Not wanting to end her research there, McClellan decided to raise her own chickens and compare the data.

In October 2015, McClellan started raising two groups of chicks.

She said the only difference in the way she raised the chicks was the kind of food she fed them. One group ate food that was guaranteed GMO-free. The other group ate standard chicken feed. When it came time to harvest the meat 12 weeks later, McClellan took the meat to a Utah State University meat lab to test its properties.

“I was very surprised,” McClellan said about the results. “This year, we found that there wasn’t a significant difference in the groups.

These results imply that instead of the feed causing the difference, it has more to do with the husbandry practices.”

McClellan went on to explain that the two kinds of store-bought chicken likely had a very different upbringing. Organic chickens must be free-range, so they might get more exercise and exposure to the outdoors, creating a tougher meat product upon harvest. Organic chickens may also grow slower than conventional chickens, so

Kimberly McClellan, 18, stands next to her poster about the effects of organic and conventional feed on the physical properties of chicken at the Future Farmers of America National Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.

McClellan was one of 15 students from the nation selected to participate at the convention in her division. (JoLyn McClellan)

farmers may be slaughtering organic chickens later.

McClellan’s two groups of chickens, however, were raised in the same manner besides their feed, which explains why there wasn’t a significant difference in their physical and thermal properties,

McClellan said.

As a member of Riverton High School’s chapter of Future Farmers of America, an agricultural leadership organization in America for youth, McClellan used her project at competitions. She won the state competition during the end of her senior year and was one of the 15 students invited to the national competition in Indianapolis on Oct. 19–22 within her division.

“It was amazing, and I’m so glad I got to have that experience,” McClellan said. “I felt very lucky to go and present even though it was a little bit nerve-racking.”

The Riverton FFA representative did not place at nationals, but she said it was an honor “just to be there.”

Her favorite part about the trip wasn’t presenting to the judges but presenting to the public. Nationals included a convention and expo where locals could come shop, eat and hear from the students who presented at the competition. McClellan set up a booth to display her findings.

“They were really surprised,” McClellan said about the people who stopped by her booth. “It was great to educate people.”

Although McClellan must make her way out of the FFA program because it’s designed for high schoolers, she said she plans to complete her American FFA degree within the next year. The degree is the highest award within the FFA program and is given to people who complete enough projects within the program.

After completing her degree, McClellan said she will pursue agricultural learning in other facets. She said she’s interested in becoming an agricultural teacher, a reporter that specializes in agriculture or a vet tech.

“I will definitely continue agriculture, because I’ve really developed a passion for it,” she said. “For me, it’s the most important we can be involved in.” l

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December 2016 | Page 17

Herriman wins fall sevens championship

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

T

he fall rugby season is a different game than what is played in the spring. Herriman had a massive turnout for the fall sevens season and brought home two titles.

“The fall is a secondary season for us,” said Herriman rugby director Jeff Wilson. “Many of our spring players play football, which we support. The fall gives us a chance to develop players. Our fall players generally do not play another sport, so we give them a chance to learn and get better. We had 64 players come out to play this fall. We divided them into five teams: two varsity and three junior varsity. We always had good competition to practice against. We could also move players around depending on our needs and performance.”

Half of the players this fall had never played.

“With so many first-timers, they got the chance to understand the game before spring season begins. Our existing players got even better,” Wilson said.

Herriman graduate Zach Thorum has taken over as rugby head coach. He oversees the club’s day-to-day practice and organization. Rugby is not a Utah High School Activities Associationsanctioned sport. Teams are organized as clubs.

Herriman operates as a single school club—all of its players attend Herriman High School. Other clubs are multi school clubs.

Fall rugby is divided into four legs.

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capture the overall series title. The Herriman Red team placed fourth overall in the varsity division.

Gold’s only loss came in its final game to second place United 19-17. United is a multi-school team from Alpine.

“The rugby competition in Utah is incredible,” Wilson said. “United has won several national titles; Snow Canyon in southern Utah is generally a top team in the state, and Kal Toa from the Layton area is another team that is very good. Utah rugby teams and northern California teams are generally the most competitive in the country.”

Junior Taysan Hammer and captain Zach Barker became leaders of the fall team. Barker has played with the Utah Cannibals, an all-star team. Wilson labels him as an “all-passionate” type of guy.

“Taysan scored so much we lost count,” Wilson said. “We knew he had potential. I think I would fake an injury if he was coming at me.

Zach always gives 100 percent and is a dynamic leader.”

Hammer spear-headed a fierce comeback in the finals loss to United. He streaked down the sidelines after drawing several defenders and found Barker for a try, but with less that 20 seconds left time ran out on the Mustangs.

The rugby sevens game is full of speed. With fewer players on the pitch, scoring is generally more frequent. The 15’s game in the spring is a

The Herriman Gold team captured the fall state championship. (Shelli Simmons/Herriman Rugby)

longer game with 35-minute halves as opposed to seven minutes in the fall game.

“The games are shorter, yet you come away exhausted because there is so much sprinting,” Wilson said.

The Herriman Navy team won the junior varsity division series. Herriman Black and White finished tied for third.

“We have such a great community and get so much support from the Herriman administration and students,” Wilson said.

“Sometimes at away games we have more fans than the home team. Our players are the best recruiters. They always tell their friends how much fun they are having.” l

SPORTS

Page 18 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Forza soccer club seizes State Cup title

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

T

he Forza West 98 Boys Team captured the U19 State Cup Championship with a heart stopping 14-round penalty kick affair.

“I was impressed with these boys,” said head coach Ahmed Bakrim. “They set goals, and they showed me they were different boys.

After a difficult group play I told them, ‘This is not what I expected.’ I wanted more from them.

I told them I did not think we deserved to keep playing, that this was not who we are. When we stepped on the field against LaRoca, they were different boys. It was a big fight, and they played phenomenal soccer.”

Forza faced LaRoca in the quarterfinals winning 1-0. LaRoca had been unbeaten in pool play “I was impressed with how much effort they gave me,” Bakrim said. “They really stepped up.”

The quarterfinals match pitted Forza against Rangers Premier. In the regular season, the teams had traded victories. Forza came through with a 1-0 win. The Rangers had been undefeated in pool play.

The State Cup final pitted Forza against the Fire from southern Utah. The Fire had knocked off the No.1 team in the state, USA Premier, 2-1.

The Fire were trying to become the first-ever State Cup champion from southern Utah.

“I told them to focus for the 90-plus minutes,

and whoever put the concentration first would come out on top,” Bakrim said. “I could see the fatigue coming out in the players.”

The game ended in regulation and overtime in a 1-1 tie and then went to penalty kicks.

“I have coached for almost 15 years, and I have never seen anything like that,” Bakrim said.

“The shootout was crazy. We would miss—they would miss. It went on and on. I packed up my stuff several times. I thought there was no way.

I thought this must be a dream. We made our final kick, and they missed. I could see the tears coming down. These boys never thought they would achieve this.”

Riverton High School’s Micah Hammond made the final penalty kick.

This Forza team is made up of players of 10 different nationalities—the only team in the state with that much diversity.

The team will compete at Far West Regionals in Seattle, Washington, June 19–26.

“I felt like I needed to prove to my teammates that I could play at this level,” Murray senior Drayden Ricks said. “If you looked at our stats for the season, no one would have expected us to make it, but I felt like we deserved it. The finals were very stressful. I could not picture the other team celebrating.”

Ricks was the team’s leading scorer, putting seven goals in the net.

The U19 Forza West AB team is comprised of players from 10 different countries. (Alma Mendoza/ Forza Futbol Club)

“I love this team,” Forza’s CD Mendoza said. “We all get along so well. I knew we had a great team.”

Bakrim said goalkeeper Jaxx Goodrich made a big difference this season.

“I was overwhelmed with joy,” said West Jordan High School senior Jojea Kwizera.

“I could not believe we had made it. No one expected us to make it to the finals. The PKs were crazy. I felt sick.”

Bakrim played professionally in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Morocco and is a B-licensed coach. He also is the head soccer coach at Bingham High School.

Forza recently opened a 20,000 square foot indoor practice facility east of Bangerter Highway in West Jordan. The club’s 65 teams and over 1,700 players, coaches and parents will have access to the facility year-round for training. l

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December 2016 | Page 19

Skolmoski scores big at Utah

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

T

he Pac-12 soccer world has been shocked by a Riverton High School graduate.

University of Utah sophomore and former Silverwolves star Hailey Skolmoski has grabbed her opportunity by the horns and made the most of it.

“I am super excited at how the season has turned out,” Skolmoski said. “Last season I was like ‘coach put me where you want, I just want to play,’ but this season I told them I can score from wherever Rich (Manning, Utah head coach) puts me. I was nervous coming off my injury. The physical part of rehab was not the problem it was mentally.”

Skolmoski suffered a tear in her anterior cruciate ligament in a game against the University of Washington in October 2015.

In the knee joint, three bones (femur, shin and kneecap) connect. The ligaments join them together to support the backand-forth movement of the bones. The anterior ligament is on the front of the knee cap. Athletes that compete in high-demand sports such as soccer are more likely to suffer injuries to these ligaments.

Skolmoski had successful surgery, and after six months of rehab, she was cleared to compete in June. When she joined fall camp with the team, she found herself a little nervous.

“I had never been injured,” she said. “I was worried that I could not make an impact. I really surprised myself with the way I have been able to come back. I have been scoring goals, and every time I score I am like ‘Woah, how did I do that?’ It has been fun to be back on the field.”

She has been scoring goals in bunches. She led the Pac-12

Utah sophomore Hailey Skolmoski is the leading goal scorer in the Pac-12.

(Dave Sanderson/dsandersonpics)

in scoring with 13 goals (23rd in the country) and 29 points. She was named First Team All-Pac-12. She was one of three Utes to receive a postseason award: senior midfielder Katie Rogers was named Second Team All-Pac-12, and Tavia Leachman was named to the All-Freshman team.

Skolmoski is the first player to be named to the Pac-12 First Team since the school joined the conference in 2011. She

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also was named offensive player of the week twice, an award no other Ute women’s soccer player had ever been given.

“My first Pac-12 game I was like, ‘woah!’ The speed is so fast—fast and so physical,” she said. “It took some adjustment.

This year has just been another step. Playing against these teams is great. They are all so good. There is never a game that is easy.”

She has scored in 11 of the team’s 19 matches this fall.

She scored two goals in a game twice, against San Diego and Arizona.

The Utes have been selected to participate in the 2016 women’s college cup. They hosted Texas Tech in the first round Nov. 12, a 1-0 overtime victory. For Utah this is its seventh appearance in the tournament and second in the last four years.

They are one of six Pac-12 teams to be invited.

Skolmoski is also having a successful year in the classroom.

She was named CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 for 2016.

She is studying human development and family studies. At Riverton, she was an Academic All-state player.

She is not the only former Silverwolf making and impact in the Pac-12. Darian Jenkins, a senior at UCLA, scored seven goals this season before suffering an injury.

“I was bummed I did not get to play against her this season,” Skolmoski said. “I hope she can recover and pursue a professional career. For me, I have always dreamed of playing for a national team or professionally. It just depends on where I am in my life at that point.”

Skolmoski can compete at Utah for two more seasons. l

SPORTS

Page 20 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

Little league football wins nine championships

By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

L

ittle league football in Herriman has found a goldmine of success. Of the league’s 32 teams, 20 advanced into the Ute Conference finals. The community support has propelled the league toward its goals.

“It has been a great year,” said Herriman Ute Conference President Tom Jager. “We have seen the success with a great board and community support. It all starts with Herriman City; they have been awesome. They help provide fields and lights, and that trickles down to the community and having pride in our teams and neighbors.”

The league’s 637 players were divided into 32 teams. The support came from approximately 1,800 parents and family members.

“I did not have a kid on my team,” said Gremlins age group head coach Cory Hamre. “A friend of mine asked if I would like to coach this season. I got my son and son in-law to help out, and we had a great time. said Gremlins head coach Cory Hamre. We sat around at dinner and made plans and put it together at practice. Having my family come together like that was fun. Our team parents talked about how they have become a family. It has been great.”

Hamre’s Gremlin team went undefeated, finishing the season 11-0. The team defeated West Jordan Blue in the championship game 13-12 on Nov. 5.

“Cory was great,” Jager said. “I think we had three or four coaching staffs that did not have kids playing. These are guys that love football and volunteer their time. It starts in July six days a week and cuts back to four days a week when school

Twenty of the Herriman little league teams advanced into their division championship games. (Tonia McPeak/Herriman Football)

starts, but it is a time commitment. The reward far outweighs the time and commitment, though.”

The Mustangs won nine titles this season. Ute Conference divides its teams into 16 divisions. They play Saturdays starting at the end of August and finish with the championship round

Nov. 5. Some teams travel to Las Vegas for a final weekend tournament before Thanksgiving.

Ute Conference allows for players to begin playing at 7 years old. Freshman in high school can play in Ute Conference or try out for the high school sophomore team.

“Coach (Dustin) Pearce (Head Coach of Herriman High School Football) really helped out with our teams,” Jager said.

“He was with us a few times and took some of our coaches to the southern Utah team camp. They learned the Mustang terminology and were able to pick up similar plays. We did not expect the coaches to run the same stuff the high school does, but it helps to have some continuity.”

Herriman hosted a player camp in July with former Boise State and current Dallas Cowboy quarterback Kellen Moore.

“Life lessons that these kids can learn from football are great,” Jager said. “I have learned that if you work hard then you can benefit like with more playing time. Just like in life you work hard and can get the benefit. Football is hard, just showing up you cannot get a participation award. A great quarterback only benefits if everyone works hard. Teamwork is important.”

Herriman youth football strives to provide an excellent player environment. Their core values include integrity, commitment, pride, discipline and teamwork.

“We tell the kids: work hard, play hard and take pride in what you are doing,” Jager said.

More information can be found on the league’s website, www.herrimanfootball.org. l

December 2016 | Page 21

S outhV alleyJournal .Com

W

e all know someone who suffers from headaches and migraines, sometimes for years or decades. Many of us know people with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and vertigo issues that make daily life a constant struggle. We watch them visit doctor after doctor trying to find a solution with no results.

Dr. Chase Dansie hopes to change that. Dansie Orthodontics specializes in treating these conditions through methods of assessment and treatment that many physicians and most dentists don’t utilize. What does an orthodontist have to do with relieving headaches, migraines, vertigo and tinnitus?

Pain can be caused by a number of sources, including the position and function of each muscle, joint and nerve. Add teeth to that mix and the picture is more complete. Dr. Dansie practices “right in between the . . . areas of medicine where sports medicine, occlusion (the way teeth come together), and pain management all meet up with each other.”

Dr. Dansie holds a certificate of specialization in Orthodontics and a certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) that emphasizes full mouth rehabilitation and focuses on complex dental conditions. The sum of his education and dental and orthodontic training total 11 years of universitylevel study.

He made the transition from restorative dentistry to orthodontics after working with elderly patients whose teeth had worn so much that they could no longer viably chew.

“I decided to help adults, teens, and children avoid this problem by getting their teeth to fit together better before long-

term damage occurred,” Dansie explained. “What we now know is that much of the damage some people suffer is not visually seen, like in worn teeth, but rather is manifested in headaches, migraines, vertigo and tinnitus. And it actually can be fixed.”

Located at 11996 S. Anthem Park Blvd. in Herriman, Dansie Orthodontics offers Trudenta treatment for headaches, migraines, vertigo and tinnitus with or without specialized orthodontics, including Invisalign.

Trudenta treatment is a system of evaluation and treatment that assesses one’s head health by examining tooth alignment and the jaw, neck, and head musculature, all of which are

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associated with chronic headaches, tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness and temporomandibular joint dysfunction disorder (TMJ).

The office also offers traditional orthodontics such as braces, Invisalign, retainers and early childhood orthodontic treatment.

“There are no needles, shots, prescriptions, or other intimidating things,” Dansie said. “People in Herriman, Daybreak, Riverton, and West Jordan are getting their lives back by being free from headaches.”

Contact Dansie Orthodontics at (801) 447-1901 for a complimentary office tour or to set up an appointment for a comprehensive headache evaluation. l

Page 22 | December 2016

SOUTH VALLEY JOURNAL

The Holidays: Time to Start Giving Back…. Or, is it?

P

ay it Forward, Serve, Give Back, Random Act of Kindness, no matter how you spell it, it’s that time of year where we are all thinking about giving. What a relief! After the troubled times of November, I for one am looking forward to the positivity the holidays bring. But, this leaves me pondering, what is all the excitement about. After all, December is just one month out of an entire calendar year.

Studies show that people that help our fellow man are more successful in life, have improved health and happiness. Plus, children who volunteer are more likely to grow up to volunteer and serve as adults. Communities with more volunteers are typically more stable and better places to live (USA Today). So why are we saving all those positive benefits for only 1/12 of an entire year?

Lets face it, in today’s world we need to make the effort to put a smile on the faces around us everyday.

So, I’m proposing, in addition to the plans you already have to serve this holiday, you add just one more thing, a big cardboard box. For years I’ve had a box that’s plunked right next to my front door. It’s become a bit of joke for friends, as every time they stop by, I make some excuse for the tripping hazard. To the untrained it could look like a pile of unorganized junk waiting to be hauled out to the trash, but my charity box is actually a dropping ground for denotable food and clothing, household items or children’s niceties. I’ve found that having the box right where I enter and leave encourages me to add to it and reminds me to drop it of. To get you started here are a few things that have landed in this years box.

January: Hot Cocoa Mix A little treat to enjoy with a neighbor after shoveling their sidewalk

February: Oatmeal Did you know February is National Hot Breakfast Month? What a great time to do a neighborhood Oatmeal Drive for the Food Bank.

March: Books, Puzzles and Board Games It’s national reading month, so how bout encouraging a little reading? Volunteer at the Library; donate books to children in need.

Senior homes also enjoy donations of books, puzzles and games.

April: Pet Food Pet rescues, such as the Humane Society, Best Friends Animal Society and Rescue Rovers not only need pet food, they also need for paper towels, garbage bags, and old blankets.

May: Pantry Staples Because of Memorial Day sales not only is May a great month to break out the coupons for grocery shopping. It’s also the month we see both the Boy Scouts Scouting for Food and the Letter Carriers Stamping out Hunger. I like to buy extra so I’m ready for them.

June: Tomato Plants and Pots Plant patio tomatoes in flowerpots and deliver them to an elderly neighbor or retirement home.

July: School Supplies Kids all over Utah need school supplies and teachers love getting them too. Donate to your local school or participate in Stuff the Bus and help fill backpacks for kids. (stuffthebus.uw.org) August: Personal Care Items Even the casual coupon user knows that personal care items like toothpaste; soap and hygiene products are easy pickings. Instead of

piling these products on shelves in the basement, I pile any extras in the box and drop them off at the Road Home or a Women’s Shelter.

For more about how to get these items with just a little effort and out of pocket expense, make sure you are following the Grocery section of Coupons4Utah.com.

September: Craft Supplies Sharing Place is a place where children that have lost a parent can go to learn coping skills, share stories and learn to deal with grief. They are in constant need of arts and craft supplies. (thesharingplace.org) October: Diapers Families all across Utah are need of diapers, diapers and more diapers. Visit utahdiaperbank.org to find a list of drop of locations.

November: Holiday Wrapping Paper, Tape and Gift Cards Remember all of those donated gifts need to get wrapped. Most charities collecting gifts also have a need for wrapping supplies.

One idea would be the Holiday Gift Box. They provide individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families who are in need gifts for Christmas. More info at uaidutah.org/holiday-giftbox While I may trip over my charity box every now and again, it helps me remember to make those important little donations the entire year. And as for my friends that stop by, well… I’ll just let them continue to think I’m a little unorganized.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays, all year long. l

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S outhV alleyJournal .Com

O Tidings of Comfort Annoy

N

ow that Facebook has become a year-round newsletter, packed with enough posts to make us feel miserable all year long, can we finally call it quits on those dreadful holiday letters?

I understand a family newsletter can be a highlight of the season, recapping all your adventures with witty repartee and candy cane clip art, but to many people, this bragalicious tradition is lemon juice in the paper cuts of life. Reading about how you cured black lung disease or saved an endangered species makes others’ successes look like table scraps.

My newsletter would go something like this, “Dear family and friends, I did not get arrested this year. Happy New Year!

Love, Peri.” (Disclaimer: The year’s not over yet.)

So, first of all, don’t write a Christmas letter. However, if you feel you must write an annual message or your life won’t be complete, here are tips to make it bearable for friends and family.

Let your children do the writing. I would LOVE getting a Christmas message that read, “Mom cries in the bathroom and tells us to eat Froot Loops for dinner. Dad has a special ‘drinking mug’ in his garage. Aunt Ethel spent Thanksgiving in the county jail for walking streets. Happy Holidays!”

Use your letter as a weapon. A Christmas newsletter can encourage friendly competition amongst your offspring.

Announce who had the most As, the best-cleaned room or who

peed the bed the least amount of times. Be sure to embarrass the *&%$ out of them so they’ll be on their best behavior next year.

Create an acronym. For instance, NOEL can be Notice Our Exceptional Lives or No One Enjoys Letters.

Quote Quiz. Choose the funniest quotes said by your family during the year and have your readers guess who said it.

January--”Who left the %&@* lights on?!”

February—“Is there a reason there are a dozen shoes by the back door?”

March—“Who left the %&@* lights on again?”

Write from your pet’s perspective. “This is Peri’s dog, Ringo. I was taken to the vet three times this year and had to get shots. She forgot to give me a treat twice last week, even after I sat under her feet for three consecutive episodes of Westworld.

She also didn’t pet me long enough after she got home from work, but she gave me a steak bone, so all’s forgiven.”

Share a family recipe. If people ask for your sugar

cookie recipe, put it in your Christmas newsletter. But don’t be like my neighbor who leaves out key ingredients so my cookies never taste quite the same as hers. Not cool.

Don’t recount Family Disasters 2016.

Your water heater broke, your car died in the desert, you have rats in the basement and bats in your belfry. You lost several jobs, were abducted by aliens and SWAT kicked in your door at 3 a.m. Newsletters are not catastrophe competitions. Next!

Don’t brag. For every straight-A accomplishment, for every award-winning dance competition and for every highersalary promotion you exclaim over, your letter will be read by a man with kids struggling in school, a daughter with no noticeable rhythm and a woman in a dead-end, mind-numbing job. Take it down a notch, will ya?

Even better, since I never receive mail anymore (except for Hickory Farm catalogues and postcards from mortgage companies), maybe save all your glowing updates for Facebook and Instagram where you can gush all you’d like.

You can even add clip art. l

“Dr. Smith’s Confession Saga Reveals Shocking New Info”

Dear FriendOver the past 13 years, I’ve sent out literally millions of flyers with a picture of my family and usually I’m in there somewhere. I shared personal details of my back pain, my struggles with weight gain, and how I watched my cute wife get in shape by running. I shared my drama of trying to run to get healthy, but how my low back and knees didn’t agree with the running thing…and ultimately how this led me to discover how awesome Chiropractic care can deal with problems like mine. The long and short of this journey is that I eventually lost the weight, ran some marathons, and completed the 7 years of college required to become a Chiropractor.

But Here’s What I Didn’t Tell You… As time passed I continued to do what I could to be healthy, such as exercise and get regular chiropractic treatments. But as much as this helped me be active and pain free, I began to be aware of something that started bugging me. And the reality was I couldn’t stop it nor could I control it. The fact is…I WAS GETTING OLDER…time and gravity were creating problems for my back. To make matters worse, working as a chiropractor to fix other’s, ironically puts additional stress on my back.

So, even with my regular personal chiro treatments and exercise, I started hurting again. And to be open and real, I struggled with it. Not because of the pain, but because I felt that maybe there was some contradiction that I was treating and teaching patients how to get rid of their back pain.... but meanwhile I was having mine.

The Real Truth is This...

After taking X-rays of my back, I discovered that one of my spinal discs was in bad shape and that I also had arthritis. It took me only seconds

to see that my low back was going to need more than just chiropractic adjustments to get better. So as much I as believe in what chiropractic adjustments can do, I needed something more effective for this problem or else my back was going to be in serious trouble. If this took place 10 to 15 years ago, I would have just had to live it or roll dice with surgery.

But the REAL TRUTH and the REAL BLESSING is now days there is great technology and time tested protocols that have excellent success with these types of serious problem. And the good news is that solution to my problem was already sitting in my office. We use powerful protocol that includes the LiteCure class IV non-surgical laser (to help reduce pain and stimulate healing), the DRX 9000 Spinal Disc Decompression, and a unique exercise program that stabilizes the surrounding muscles. This specific combination has literally helped hundreds of my patients with severe disc and sciatic problems. I’m happy to report first hand that it worked for me as well… I now feel great.

As Seen on TV

Complete Spinal Exam

So Why Do I Share this…

I Think most People WANT to know that with a serious spinal problem, there are more options than just popping pills, or surgery, or just getting a bunch of chiropractic or physical therapy treatments to manage pain… they want solutions.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT an honest skilled doctor who is good at discovering what is wrong and what needs to be done to give the best outcome…even if that means turning the case down and referring them out.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT clear directions with their treatment plans and clear financial options that are affordable with or without insurance. 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 a second family member for only $7.

Spinal Disc Decompression

(X-rays if needed)

& 2 pain relieving Treatments

FOR ONLY $17 ($293 Value) Auto Injury 100% Insurance covered

The most powerful pain relief laser available.

801-302-0280

www.elite-spinal-care.com

385-722-0326

2882 West 12600 South • Riverton, UT 84065

We Now Offer Catering with a Pop! Utah’s Favorite Flavored Shot Soda pop_shop_pop

Pop Shop

DRX 9000

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE Of equal or lesser value.

Limit 1 per coupon.

Expires 12/31/16.

Some Exceptions Apply.