Riverton Turns 150 By Shawna Meyer
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iverton City has big plans for the new year, and its employees will set these plans into motion this month, kicking off the city’s 150th birthday celebration. The city will host 150 activities to commemorate the sesquicentennial, which are scheduled intermittently throughout 2015. Mayor Bill Applegarth views 2014 as a success for Riverton. However, he has even higher hopes for the upcoming year. With these birthday-themed events, Applegarth hopes to pay homage to Riverton’s rich history and build excitement for the years to come. “It was a great year . . . It’s been good in every aspect, in my opinion,” Applegarth said. “For the new year, we have a lot of things going on . . . It’s just going to be a wonderful year. We’ll have 150 days of activities.” The birthday celebration kicked off on Jan. 6 with a proclamation delivered by the mayor at the city council meeting in Riverton City Hall’s Council Chambers. Then, on Jan. 8, there was a birthday celebration opening ceremony at Riverton High School’s football stadium. “It’s a milestone, a very important milestone. It’s worth remembering those who came before us because we’re building on foundations that were laid previously. These birthday events give us time to reflect on our heritage,” Applegarth said.
Riverton Turns 150 continued on page 4
Riverton is celebrating its 150th birthday throughout 2015. Erik Rutledge built a special birthday cake out of plywood to help celebrate the sesquicentennial and earn his Eagle Scout.
veterans taking flight
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a banner year
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Bluffdale Cops Ahead of Curve By Lindsay B. Wolsey
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lot of noise has been made in the media about the importance of body cameras for law enforcement. Many agencies are working on ways to incorporate cameras, and others are trying to come up with funding. Legislation is even being considered to make it mandatory for officers to have body cameras. While other towns are trying to figure out a way to get body cameras for their officers, Bluffdale police have been using cameras as part of their daily routine since November. Bluffdale City contracts with Saratoga Springs for its police services. In August 2014, prior to the Sept. 12 officer-involved shooting of Darrien Hunt in Saratoga Springs, Bluffdale’s police department applied for a grant for the body cameras from The Department of Homeland Security. At the November Bluffdale City Council meeting, Corporal Shane Taylor reported that testing had been completed and a model had been chosen. The police department received a grant of $3,300 from The Department of Homeland Security. Then when city council members found out that all that stood in the way of the police department getting body cameras was an additional
Bluffdale Police Officer Nate Harward now wears a body camera on the job.
Bluffdale Cops continued on page 4
high hopes
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lady silverwolves shine 13
quotable community:
“I just want to say to all the married women that they should just dream.
Don’t think that marriage can stop anything; it’s not going to as long as you have a wonderful partner and a great family.” page 6
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Riverton, UT Permit #44
Page 2 | January 2015
South V alley City Journal
NEWS
Shining A Light On Child Sexual Abuse By Sherrie Ricks
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reston Jensen of Riverton will be bringing his message of hope about child sexual abuse in a free, family-friendly event, “The Power of One…Breaking the Cycle of Abuse,” to Herriman City on Thursday, Jan. 22. Jensen is a survivor of child abuse who is using his experience to shed light on the topic and melt the “victim shame” by teaching families to have open conversations to discover and discuss abuse. Jensen was abused by the stepfather of a friend from the age of 8 to 13. He said he kept his abuse a secret, and it went unreported until he had returned from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and reported it to the authorities himself. “Nobody ever asked, or talked to me about it,” he said. Raising awareness of child sexual abuse and learning
to open the discussion about it is the purpose of the evening. Detective Scott Russell from South Jordan, who handled Jensen’s case, will talk about the signs and statistics of child sexual abuse. Then Jensen, Miss Utah 2013 Ceira McCausland and Paula Jensen, Preston’s mother, will share their personal experiences, all having been victims of sexual abuse as children. “We’re not going to go into a lot of detail [with specifics about the sexual abuse]. We want families to come, to help open the conversation,” Jensen said. The program will be held at Herriman City Hall, 13011 South Pioneer Street (6000 West) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. l
Miss Utah 2013 Ceira McCausland and Preston Jensen stand together to fight the silence surrounding child sexual abuse.
Changing The World One Person At A Time
Cost Of Water Rises In Riverton By Rachel Hall
By Sherrie Ricks
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THE SOUTH VALLEY TEAM
esidents of Riverton City have made their voices heard in a recent water choice ballot sponsored by the city and most respondents are willing to pay more money for better quality water. The city held multiple open houses, distributed water quality information and even participated in a trial run of Jordan Water Conservancy Water to help residents make an informed choice on which water should run through the pipes of Riverton. Results of the water choice ballots originally mailed out in November 2014 were presented to the city council at its Dec. 16 meeting by Election Trust, an independent agency responsible for the distribution and collection of the ballots, via email and a telephone call placed on speaker phone during the council meeting. A majority of respondents preferred to switch to Jordan Water Conservancy District, despite the increase charged per gallon used that residents would see in their water bills. The base rate is scheduled to be $2.50 with each additional 1,000 gallons to cost $3.91.
The results were as follows: Council District 1: 162 yes; 94 no Council District 2: 844 yes; 189 no Council District 3: 809 yes; 180 no Council District 4: 908 yes; 242 no Council District 5: 848 yes; 220 no Residents can expect to see a switch over to Jordan Water Conservancy District, including increased cost, beginning in July. l
Editor: Linda Petersen: linda@mycityjournals.com
Ad Sales: 801-264-6649 Sales Associates: Steve Hession: 801-907-1606 Ryan Casper: 801-671-2034 Circulation Coordinator: Vitaly Kouten: Circulation@valleyjournals.com Editorial and Ad Design: Ty Gorton: Design@myutahjournals.com
Changing The World continued on page 5 m i ss i o n s tate m e n t
Creative Director: Bryan Scott: bryanscott@myutahjournals.com Staff Writers: Sherrie Ricks, Sherry Smith, Greg James, Rachel Hall and Lindsay Wolsey
ysa Johnson, who just turned 19, recently worked in a Tanzanian operating room as a part of a two-week service mission. She and the other 16 students of the Salt Lake Community College’s Jordan Applied Technology Center’s surgical technology program became the youngest people in the world to work in an operating room. Johnson worked on the 18-month training starting the summer before her senior year at Herriman High School and will finish this month. She has worked two six-week internships at LDS Hospital and Primary Children’s Hospital. It is required that she work in every medical field from plastic surgery to brain surgery. Johnson left for Tanzania Nov. 8, after four months of preparation and fundraising. “I had a hard time with the idea of her going. She was spending her whole life savings and traveling to an area of
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South V alley City Journal Riverton Turns 150 continued from page 1
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It was a little chilly, but the attendees dressed warmly and everyone got to enjoy hot chocolate. Residents sipped it while they watched the firework show put on by the city. There was also an Olympic-style torch ceremony. However, this torch ceremony didn’t include the normal seasoned athletes. Instead, students from every elementary, middle and high school in Riverton ran the 150 “torches” (which were really flashlights) to the middle of the football stadium where a giant birthday cake made of wood awaited them. “I think that the most important thing to keep in mind for this upcoming year is the great people who have lived or worked in Riverton
Bluffdale Cops continued from page 1 $3,200, they unanimously decided to fund the remaining costs of the cameras. “I don’t think we can get them quick enough,” Mayor Derk Timothy said. Two days later, Taylor placed an order for the body cameras. As soon as the cameras arrived in November, all Bluffdale officers immediately put them to use. “This had been in the works since August. We were way ahead of the curve which is why we got these so fast. It takes time to write grants and get funded,” Taylor said. Bluffdale police began testing cameras last spring. They tested eight different types of cameras before decided on VidMics by Safety Innovations, an Orem company. Safety In-
VIDEO CAPTURED BY BODY CAMERAS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO: Enhance Officer Safety Reduce Frivolous Law Suits Reduce Agency Liability Increase the Likelihood of Successful Prosecution
and are living here now,” Applegarth said. “It’s not the brick and mortar; it’s the people that make a city great. I think we need to not lose track of that.” Not all the 150 activities are planned fully yet, but there are a few already in the works. At the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20 Riverton City’s oldest and youngest residents will be honored at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers. One of the biggest events happening as part of the birthday celebration is the Riverton City Park grand opening, which happens in late June. People can explore the new park’s amenities, and there will also be performances by the Riverton Jazz Band, Riverton High School’s marching band and Silverline Drill Team. l
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ccording to research commissioned in 2004 by the US Department of Justice, 33 percent of officers report feeling safer while using a body camera. The study further found that 48 percent of officers reported successfully de-escalating potentially dangerous confrontations with citizens by simply informing them that the encounter was being caught on video.
novations brought the first body worn safety cameras to the open market, and is a top choice among law enforcement. Most officers already wear a lapel microphone that attaches to their radio, so adding an additional piece of equipment has been easy. The department upgraded the batteries in the VidMics from 10 to 16.5 hours. Another feature of the VidMics is that when activated they back-capture the last 30 seconds of video. At the end of an officer’s shift, data
“ Our officers are very excited
about this. It allows us to depict what really occurred.”
Reduce Court Appearance Time for Officers Improve Community/Media Perceptions of Police Enhance In-Service Training (Post Incident Use of Video) Enhance Officer Performance and Professionalism Simplify Incident Review Reduce Time Spent on Written Reports Source: International Association of Chiefs of Police
from the camera is uploaded to a server. The amount of time the data is stored depends upon its content. It might be burned onto a DVD and placed into evidence, cyber-stored for an unknown amount of time, or, if considered non-evidentiary, it will be deleted. Officers are able to view video content, but the only people able to edit or copy the data are administrators. “It’s been a very smooth transition; our officers are very excited about this. It allows us to depict what really occurred. Kudos to Bluffdale City for helping us get these cameras,” Taylor said. l
S outh Valley Journal.com Changing The World continued from page 2 the world that is riddled with disease and conditions she’s just not used to,” her mother Lisa Johnson said. But Aysa would assure her she was “meant to go.” She travelled with a team of nine people, from around the country, which included two surgeons, Johnson and two other techs, a medical assistant from Provo and two nurses. The team took 21 50-pound suitcases filled with medical supplies with them. The medical supplies they gathered were left over from American operating rooms, things that under American standards would be thrown away, items that were brought into the operating room but never used. However, in a place like Tanzania, where supplies are rare at best, these cast-off items can be lifesaving tools. “The hospital here saves everything. If it doesn’t get blood on it, it gets saved.
January 2015 | Page 5
NEWS the drape on the pillow, she found another. Removing that drape exposed yet another and another until she found one soaked in blood and dirt. She taught the staff that to remove and launder the soiled bedding is far better than simply covering it up. Although Tanzania has not yet had a case of the Ebola virus, the team taught and prepared the staff on how to safely treat it if or when the disease reaches them. The experience was humbling in many ways for Johnson. “I’ve learned that I’m spoiled in a lot of ways and need to toughen up,” she confessed. “These people have never had pain control medicine before. So, for post-op pain, for any procedure, they are given one Advil to take when the local wears off, and they’re good. They never complain. And 20 minutes after giving birth, the new moms stand up, put their panties and dresses back on and walk to the patient room with their baby.”
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Aysa Johnson holds Phillipo, the successful result of the first cesarean section she assisted with in Tanzania.
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FREE Estate Planning Seminar Funeral Planning • Financial Planning • Trust and Will Planning When a surgery was over, they took my gown to be used as a patient gown. I was kind of surprised at first, but now I am very careful not to touch my blood-spattered gloves to the front of my gown,” Johnson said from Tanzania via Facebook instant messenger. “It’s so hard coming from America where everything is sterile; everything is new and clean. There must be so many bacteria in the hospital here, I’m amazed that more patients don’t come back with SSI (surgical site infections),” she added. As a part of the work they did, team members cleaned the hospital and taught the staff there about the ways in which pathogens are spread and also taught them about sterilization and general cleanliness. An example of the need for education was a pillow Johnson found. After removing
Johnson has gone through some medical testing since her return just to be sure she did not bring any illnesses home with her. Her future plans are running in the 2015 Miss Herriman Pageant, where she was first runner-up last year. She plans to finish her associate degree at Salt Lake Community College and then complete a biology degree (which she has already begun) at BYU. Later, after completing medical school, she would like to become a surgeon herself. Working as a surgery tech provides a peek into the world of surgery and has helped Johnson decide to become a plastic surgeon. “Plastic surgery is often given a negative connotation and looked at as a shallow field of surgery, but I feel so accomplished after we fix a cleft palate or remove a large scar,” she said. l
Saturday March 14, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. Place: Broomhead Funeral Home 12950 South 2200 West • 801-254-3389
Page 6 | January 2015
Local Woman Named Mrs. Asia U.S.A.
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akshi Sharma Walia, a Riverton resident, was recently crowned Mrs. Asia U.S.A. at a pageant held on Nov. 22 in Redondo Beach, Calif. Walia was excited to represent her Indian culture and about her win, especially because she decided to compete just three months before the pageant was scheduled. Virgelia Productions, Inc., a California company, has produced the Mrs. Asia U.S.A Cultural Pageant for 10 years and the Miss Asia U.S.A. Cultural Pageant for 26 years. Both pageants empower Asian women by focusing on their beauty, confidence and talents. “It’s a cultural Asian pageant, and the main goal is to bring Asian women together to preserve their ancestry . . . It’s done every year to unite the Asian communities. It’s a great platform to raise awareness for our Asian heritage and traditions,” Walia said. There were 15 contestants in the final round of the Nov. 22 pageant from all over the world, including Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Philippines, China and Japan. For winning, Walia was awarded a cash prize, but didn’t want to disclose the amount because she said that wasn’t the point. She is more excited for the opportunity to tour the country promoting her culture.
South V alley City Journal
NEWS
Walia was born and raised in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a northern state in India. She competed in and won two pageants while living in India. After she was married in 2003 to Amit Walia, a man living in America, she moved to Utah to start a family. “My husband and son were my biggest supporters. They were cheering for me and screaming, and they were there right next to me the whole time,” Walia said. The couple has been happily married for 11 years, and they have a 9-year-old son named Arjun. Although she had competed in a few pageants before, Walia knew that competing as a wife and mother would be a completely different experience, which is why she was hesitant to register. However, while visiting friends in India this past summer, they talked her into entering the pageant. Her friends didn’t understand why she stopped competing in the first place and were confident that she could win again. They registered Walia in August, which left her just three months to prepare. “I think these types of pageants are a wonderful platform to empower Asian women to achieve their goals and dreams. Like, it’s our culture that we have to stay home, so it empowers Asian women to get out of the
By Shawna Meyer house. It also promotes leadership and personal growth,” Walia said. Walia wants to use her title to help raise awareness for two causes near to her heart. She works with an organization in Nepal that helps human trafficking victims recover and get back on their feet. She also works with an orphanage in India that helps stand up for babies who are discriminated against and often aborted just because they’re female. “We don’t want to release [the names of the organizations], just because of security reasons, but I go every year to help them,” Walia said. She said her favorite round of competition was the traditional outfit round, where each contestant wore an outfit that represented their cultures’ tastes. She worked with a store in Riverton called Zari Couture, and they spent months putting together the perfect ensemble. “The main thing we were judged on was how you’re promoting your culture, and that was through the clothing,” Walia said. After she returned home, Walia organized a Head Start program in Riverton. She wants to help families with kids in kindergarten who are in foster care and live below the poverty line get started with learning and schooling. She also volunteers at Summit Academy with
Aakshi Sharma Walia was crowned Mrs. Asia U.S.A. in late November. Her husband of 11 years, Amit Walia, and her 9-year-old son Arjun were her biggest supporters. the second-graders who need help learning to read. “I just want to say to all the married women that they should just dream. Don’t think that marriage can stop anything; it’s not going to as long as you have a wonderful partner and a great family. Go ahead and live your dreams because dreams don’t stop after you get married,” Walia said. l
January 2015 | Page 7
S outh Valley Journal.com
Unified Police Department and Riverton City officials cut the ribbon on the new Riverton Precinct building Jan. 12. (The ceremony was held indoors because of bad weather). The two-floor building contains two interview rooms, a kids room, along with a domestic violence victims’ advocate office, an Intox room, with offices for a detective sergeant, three detectives and a traffic office. Offices for the police chief and executive lieutenant are also located there. Downstairs features a squad room connected to a conference room which can be combined to make a large training room or emergency planning and operations area. Lower level restrooms include showers and locker space. The land for the police station was donated by Riverton City. UPD had previously leased office space in Riverton. The new building is located at 12810 South Redwood Road. Pictured from left, City Council members Tricia Tingey, Sheldon Stewart and Trent Staggs, SLCo Sheriff Jim Winder, Deputy Chief Shane Hudson, Riverton Police Chief Rod Norton and Herriman City Manger Brett Wood.
Hit The High Seas With Desert Star’s Pirate Parody
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ust when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Desert Star Playhouse sets sail with “Pirates of the Scaribbean: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Fun!” This zany parody for the whole family opened Jan. 8 and runs through March 21 at the playhouse in Murray. Written by Ben E. Millet and directed by Scott Holman, “Pirates of the Scaribbean” is a delightful send-up, full of romance, nutty characters and a huge dose of misadventure. The seas of the Caribbean are infested with a scourge of pirates and the pompous Captain Stubbing has sworn to stamp them out. He faces not only the famously eccentric Captain Jack Sprat, but also the devious and cursed Captain Barmitzvah, the Yiddish terror of the high seas. Barmitzvah kidnaps ingénue Eliza Swine
and it’s up to stable boy Will Doolittle to save her. Will forges an unlikely partnership with Captain Jack and sets out on a bizarre journey to stop Barmitzvah and his goofy crew of misfit pirates. This hilarious show, packed with surprises, will really swash your buckle! The evening also includes one of Desert Star’s signature musical olios following the show. “Awesome 80’s Olio, Part 1” features hit songs from the past mixed with more of Desert Star’s signature comedy. Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table. The menu includes gourmet pizza,fresh wraps, appetizers, and scrumptious desserts. Desert Star is located at 4861 South State St. in Murray. Ticket information is available at www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com. l
This motley crew makes up the cast of Desert Star’s newest production, “Pirates of the Scaribbean…” playing through March 21. Photo courtesy of Desert Star Playhouse
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Page 8 | January 2015
EDUCATION
South V alley City Journal
Cleared For Take Off By Sherry Smith
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hey’re young. They’re ready. And they’re able. At one time, these words applied to the courageous men and women who stepped forward to defend our country during World
Washington, D.C. built in their honor. Enter a charity called Utah Honor Flight whose goal is to plan and fund trips to Washington, D.C. for veterans. With this year’s fundraiser, OHMS
“ That means so much to these veterans, to see the thank you’s in the physical form. From a small group this is the biggest gift we’ve received.”
War II, but the words also apply to a group of middle school students who were ready to honor local veterans and Local Heroes. Each year, Oquirrh Hills Middle School collects money during the month of December to donate to a worthy cause. This year, students collected money from friends and neighbors and from donations for performances. This year, they donated to two causes and awarded $4,000 to Local Heroes and $18,500 to Honor Flight. We lose more of our World War II veterans each day. As their numbers dwindle rapidly, time is of the essence in helping them be able to visit the World War II Memorial in
students raised enough money to fund trips for nine veterans. At a final assembly revealing the amount of money the students raised, local World War II veterans were invited and honored in person by the OHMS students. The dance company performed and art students presented them with hand-drawn portraits of them. The students in the National Junior Honor Society also wrote thank you letters to them. “That means so much to these veterans, to see the thank you’s in the physical form. From a small group this is the biggest gift we’ve received,” Mike Turner, chairman of Utah Honor Flight, said.
Art students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School honor local World War II and Korean War veterans with hand-drawn portraits depicting them while they were in the service of our country. The portraits were presented at an assembly held Dec. 19 at OHMS. For Riverton resident and World War II veteran, Dorothy Smith, 91, the donation will mean a trip on Honor Flight sometime in April or May with other female veterans. “She has never been to D.C. before, and this has helped her feel very young again,” Dorothy’s son, John Smith said.
Local Heroes is a charity operated by the Unified Police Department and Fire Departments in Riverton that uses the money to provide gift cards for local families who would otherwise not have a Christmas. “I couldn’t be prouder of the kids at Oquirrh Hills,” Principal Mike Glenn said. l
January 2015 | Page 9
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Big Hearts Help Little Hearts
Ready To Walk Down Memory Lane? By Sherry Smith
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By Sherry Smith
oes the prospect of turning 40 make you feel old? If you’re an elementary school, you’re just getting started and the best is yet to come. Southland Elementary in Riverton will turn 40 in February and will celebrate with a public open house on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. All alumni are invited to walk down memory lane in hallways decorated with memorabilia from decades representing the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s. “Southland is the oldest school in this area. Since Riverton turns 150 this year, why not celebrate with them? The school started with humble beginnings and now has more than 800 students and has a Chinese immersion program. It’s a huge accomplishment for the school. We want to celebrate where we are today,” Parent Teacher Organization President Misty Rollins said. Current Southland Elementary band students will be performing and there will be other types of student performances. Refreshments will be served. The school PTO is looking for donations of memorabilia in the form of T-shirts, photos and other mementos to use in decorating the hallways. Southland’s main office has a
collection box set up for donations. Please include contact information on donations so that items can be returned after the open house.
Southland Elementary is celebrating its 40th birthday.
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ever underestimate what a group of dedicated teenagers can do when they set their minds and hearts on a task. This year’s task, in the form of Riverton High School’s Silver Rush charity drive, was to raise money for Intermountain Healing Hearts. The organization provides a support network for the families of children struggling with congenital heart defects and childhood onset heart disease. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the United States affecting one out of every 100 children. Intermountain Healing Hearts was formed to provide support and answers for families with children who are impacted. Twenty-five Riverton and Herriman families with children struggling with heart defects will receive grants from Intermountain Healing Hearts toward their medical bills due to the generosity of students at Riverton High.
Big Hearts continued on page 11 Riverton High student body officers reveal a banner showing the product of this year’s Silver Rush charity drive. Students set a record with $133,689.15 to donate to Intermountain Healing Hearts.
Opening in June 2015!
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Triton Investments, a locally owned investment, development and management company is currently building another apartment community: “Triton Terrace” in Draper. It is a community designed with YOU in mind, offering carefree and exceptional living. Our wonderful location at Bangerter Parkway and Vestry Road is right next to biking/running trails, minutes away from the best snow on earth, adjacent to Draper City parks with quick access to the planned Trax light rail station and North/Southbound I-15 and offers amazing mountain views. Our high quality amenities, beautiful landscaping, perfect mix of style, lease terms and comfort is going to guarantee that you pick our community to live in. As a local company we strive to partner up with business around us to create value for our residents and surrounding community. We pride ourselves in excellent customer service and our onsite Care Team is trusted to handle that. Triton Terrace is not just a place to live but a great place to call home. Listed are some of our upcoming amenities: Granite Counter Tops • Stainless Steel Fridges • Stylish Black Appliances • Designer Colors • Walk-in Closets • Wood and Tile Style Flooring • Fiber Optic High Speed Internet • Choice of Washer/Dryer in Home or Hook Ups • Year-Around Huge Jetted Spa • Heated Pool • Pet-Friendly • Bark Park • Garage and/or Covered Parking • Club House With Complimentary Coffee • Excellent Work Out Facilities • Convenient On-line Payments and Service Requests
Page 10 | January 2015
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ne of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get healthier. We have a new fun way for you to accomplish this. CatchWeight Fitness & Boxing, 12544 S. Pasture Rd (4030 W.) is a locally owned, fun, clean, cutting edge gym that offers boxing, kickboxing, HIIT Circuits, Thai Boxing, Zumba and yoga, as well as private personalized boxing and MMA lessons. The structure of their training will help you sweat, build muscle and strength, relieve tons of stress, have fun and find the best possible you. Whether you are crushing the bags or finding peace in a dynamic flow with yoga, their staff will help you reach your goals. Kids, adults, everyone...have fun, stay fit and live a long happy healthy life. You can burn up to 1,000 calories in a single 1-hr. box-
ing class, and be done before you know it! No startup costs. No hidden fees. No restrictions. As always, first class is FREE, so come try it out. They also have boxing gloves and hand wraps for you to use so just show up and you’re ready to go!! We welcome the new board of directors and they will be sworn in on Jan. 22 at the monthly Chamber lunch meeting. During this lunch meeting we will be having a presentation on Utah’s Avenue H insurance opportunities. Please come and learn about options for small business health insurance. Check out www. swvchamber.org for more information. The Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce has three areas of focus: networking, education and community/political active. We will be holding our annual Legislative Roundup starting on Saturday, Jan. 31 and will continue during the legislative session. All legislators are invited to attend and answer questions concerning upcoming legislation. All Chamber members are welcome to attend this free breakfast each Saturday. l
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South V alley City Journal
CHAMBER CORNER
Services offered: Obstetrics care Annual wellness exams Pre-marital exams Menopause and hormone replacement therapy Infertility and Reproductive care Contraception counseling In-office sterilization In office procedures
SENIORS Riverton Senior Center 12914 South Redwood Road 385-468-3040
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he center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. A requested donation of $2.50 for those 60 years and older. There is a mandatory price of $5.25 for anyone under 60 years old. Transportation is available daily to and from the center. Call in advance to arrange. Listed below are upcoming events. The center has many regularly scheduled classes (including exercise classes) and activities. Contact them for more information.
for February birthdays. Thanks to the Advisory Committee 12:45 p.m. – Bingo. Sponsored by Larkin Mortuary Feb. 4, 11, 9:15 a.m. -- Computer Class: Word and Email Processing Feb. 4, 2:30 p.m. -- Sweet Heart Dance with Riverton High; Music, Dancing and Refreshments Feb. 5, 12, 11 a.m. – Blood Pressure Checks with Unified Fire Authority
Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m. -- Wii Bowling Practice.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:45 p.m. – New Tai Chi Class Jan. 20, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. – Blood Pressure Checks with Harmony Home Health 11 a.m. – Filing for Social Security 12:45 p.m. – Bingo. Sponsored by BeeHive Homes Jan. 21, 10 a.m. -- Stampin Up Card Class. Registration needed. Beat the blues and join the card class.
LOCATING IMAGE
1 p.m. – Advisory Committee Meeting. Jan. 22, 11 a.m. – Live Entertainment: Brian Ballard Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m. -- Wii Bowling Practice. Join the tournament Jan. 23, 30, 11 a.m. -- Life Review and Transitions. Looking at spirituality Jan. 26, 9:45 a.m., 1 p.m. – “Fire and Rescue.” Planes movie.
Dr. Robert Merrill
Dr. David Matthews
SAME DAY AND NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE! MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED.
Jan. 27, 11 a.m. -- Around the World with Weston from Humana. Light refreshment always served.
Feb. 6, 8 a.m. to noon. -- Fitness Screenings by Fortis College. Sign-up needed
12:45 – Bingo. Sponsored by Performance Mobility
11 a.m. -- How to Improve Your Sleep: Facts About Sleep and Aging
Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 11 a.m. -- Memories into Memoirs with Melinda Van Komen
Feb. 9, 9:45, 1 p.m. -- Movie: “The Notebook”
Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12, 9 a.m.; $8 donation requested. -- Manicures by Kimberly Jensen. Appointments needed. Jan 29, Feb. 5, 12, 10 a.m.; $10 donation requested. – Podiatry. Appointments needed. Feb. 2, 9:45 a.m., 1 p.m. – Movie: “We are Marshall”
Gynecological and Obstetrical Clinic, Inc. _____________________ Total Women’s Health Care
3723 West 12600 South Suite 350 • Riverton, Utah 84065 801-285-4800
Feb. 3, 10 a.m. -- Come Chat with David and Sadie; the center’s four legged friend with Intermountain Therapy Animals 11 a.m. – Entertainment: John Speer 11:45 a.m. -- Birthday Lunch. Free lunch
Feb. 10, 10 a.m. -- Sharing with Terra from Silverado 10 a.m.; $8 donation requested. Cuts with Caroline. Cuts for men and women 12:45 p.m. – Bingo. Sponsored by Silverado Feb. 13, 11 a.m. – How to Improve Your Sleep 11 a.m. – “Time Steppers” Valentine’s Day Program Noon – Valentine’s Lunch. RSVP by Monday, Feb. 2 Feb. 16 – Center Closed for Presidents Day
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January 2015 | Page 11
S outh Valley Journal.com
BLUFFDALE CITY COUNCIL By City Councilmember Heather Pehrson
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he need for a City Hall has grown over the last few years as Bluffdale’s need for services has increased with its population. We currently have employees in three different locations throughout the city. The city building on Redwood Road houses our court, public works, building inspection, planning department and code enforcement. This building is over 40 years old, and a recent engineering report advised us to retrofit it with costly seismic structural reinforcements. Additionally, the design does not meet current municipal court code requirements. To continue using this facility the city would have to spend over $300,000 in remodeling and upgrades. The city engineering department is housed in rented office space at another location. Our city administrators, city council, utility billing, accounting, reception and police department are sharing space with the fire department at the fire station. Consolidating all the citizen services, except public works, at one location would better serve our residents. This would eliminate confusion and unnecessary trips. One location will also increase administrative effectiveness. As the need for a city hall has become clear, the city council has been considering its possible location for some time. After vetting several sites, the City Council is proposing that a Bluffdale City Hall be built on the southeast corner of the Bluffdale City Park (14400 S. 2200 W.). In anticipation of this upcoming need, we have been setting aside money in our Capital Projects Fund for the last
few years. Of all the sites the city council considered, the city park site is the only option where we own the land and all major utility infrastructure is already in place. Other properties could cost Bluffdale as much as $900,000. The city park site would allow us to instead make a large down payment toward our new city hall. Other benefits of the city park site are its central location within the city, the ability of the city council to control architectural design, and the opportunity to also provide more parking and community space to events at the park. At this time, the city park site is still a proposal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. A picture of the proposed location of the City Hall can be found on the city website www.bluffdale.com. I can be reached for comment and questions at heather4bluffdale@gmail.com. In other news, I am leading the Bluffdale Parks, Trails, and Open Space Citizen Committee. This committee’s goal is to prioritize park and trail planning and programming and to ensure resident involvement in the process. The city council has contracted with Conservation Technix, Environmental Planning Group, Inc, and ETC Institute to help develop a citywide parks, trails, recreation and open space master plan. Public involvement will be crucial throughout the development of this plan to make sure program goals and priorities are consistent with community needs and interests. Your first and most important opportunity for input in the Parks, Trails, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan will be responding to a Community Recreational Needs Survey which will be mailed to every Bluffdale resident household early 2015. PLEASE thoughtfully complete this survey and return it to our offices. For more information, call the Bluffdale Planning Department (801-254-2200) or visit www.planbluffdale.com. l
Big Hearts continued from page 9 “We have had an opportunity to change lives, but more importantly, we have had an opportunity to change ourselves,” Principal Carolyn Gough told the students at a closing assembly. “You gave of yourselves and you made a difference. The money doesn’t matter. You make us proud. We’re grateful for everything you’ve done.” Through a variety of events and doing chores and collecting change door to door, students were able to raise a record $133,689.15 for Intermountain Healing Hearts. The families and children impacted with heart defects spent time with students at Riverton High during various events in December. Zoey Spencer, age 4, spent her lunch time selling handmade reindeer necklaces to students in the RHS commons area to support the cause. She was able to sell more than 1,300 of them, raising more than $3,000 herself. English teacher Scott Gunther worked toward the goal by selling carrots to students for $1 each, and purple carrots for $5. The carrot sale culminated in the silent auction of a silver carrot in a wooden box.
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ew to the activities line-up this year was the Silver Swap. In a basketball game, the cheerleaders and drill team suited up and played basketball, with the basketball players serving as cheerleaders and drill team. Admission fees as well as donations to change the score were accepted for Silver Rush. “Riverton High has prepared you for a lifetime of being the change. Please know what you have done has changed our lives,” Intermountain Healing Hearts President Mimi McDonald told the students. l
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Page 12 | January 2015
South V alley City Journal
SPORTS
Mustangs Hope To Return To State Tournament By Greg James
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he returning players on the Herriman High School boys basketball team gained postseason experience last year. Their 67-37 loss to Davis in the first round of last year’s tournament was disappointing, but head coach Brad Tingey expects that experience to help them improve this season. “Overall, I am pleased with our team. We have the depth and are a year older and a year better. We have the potential to be a very good team and expect to get better every time we step on the floor,” Tingey said. The Mustangs return four starters from last year’s team. The most notable returner is 2014 5A first team All-State guard David Maynard. The 6-foot-4 senior is averaging 23.8 points per game in the Mustangs’ nine preseason games. “We challenged Dave to work on his shooting range and rebounding in the off season. Nobody works harder than him. The core of our team is our seniors, but we also have a good group of juniors that could have varsity impact,” Tingey said. “Tyus Jefferson has stepped into the guard spot and should have a great year. Stockton (Enger) has been
terrific defensively. Knock on wood, this could be a team that does special things.” Jefferson leads the team with 3.6 assists per game, and Enger, a junior, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 7.4 points per game. He is shooting 53 percent from behind the three-point line. Defensively 6-foot-8 junior center Jake Sutton is second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game. “Coach is always telling me to go straight up against the little guys instead of trying all these fancy moves. I like playing ball with Maynard. He draws in the opponents’ defenders and then passes it to me for easy layups. We want to get back to the state tournament,” Sutton said. The Mustangs have gone 7-3 in preseason games. Losses to Bingham (65-57), Juan Diego (71-69) in overtime and Syracuse (63-62) are the team’s only blemishes. They began Region 4 play Jan. 6 with a loss to defending state champion Lone Peak (55-53). “Everyone in Region 4 has gotten better, but our kids have confidence in our defense and our system. There is no question that our tournament experience last year will help us
Above: Senior guard Tyus Jefferson scored 25 points to lead the Mustangs to a 70-63 victory over Copper Hills Dec. 5. Right: David Maynard is the leading scorer in Mustang history. He comes into this season with 977 career points. Photos courtesy of dbaphotography.com later on. Last season we spent a lot of time trying to convince the kids they could win. They are catching on,” Tingey said. l
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January 2015 | Page 13
S outh Valley Journal.com
Silverwolves Hoopsters Bonding Like Glue By Greg James
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he Riverton High School girls basketball team suffered only one loss last season. Now, they have their finger firmly placed on the repeat button this season, but they are focused on bonding together as a team and improving every day they take the court. “We feel good about our season so far, and I know we will experience success as a program. We are not interested in last year. We are completely focused on this group’s development and reaching our potential. We have been playing excellent as a team, and our players have a great attitude,” head coach Ron Ence said.
Right: Silverwolves senior Tia Yazzie had a season high 15 points against Hunter Dec. 9. Below: Basketball and soccer star Kirsten Spencer leads the Silverwolves in scoring this season. Photos courtesy of dsandersonpics.com
The Silverwolves opened this season right where they left off. They defeated Viewmont 67-40, Roy 60-37 and Timpanogos 57-41 in their first three games. Senior Kirsten Spencer has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13 points per game. Four Silverwolves (Tia Yazzie, Tiena Afu, Tess Campbell and Rebecca McDougal) have combined to average 30 points per game. “Coach wants us to play together, shoot together and work on our team relationships. He teaches us to hustle constantly and be intense players. We all get along so well and hang out together,” Campbell, a senior guard, said. The Silverwolves have a 7-2 preseason record. Their two losses came by a combined two points. They lost to Bingham 52-51 in overtime Dec. 18 and Fremont 43-42 Dec. 6. “We are having a good season. We know how it feels to prepare well and succeed. We really are working on becoming better
defensively and bonding together as a team,” Yazzie said. Against Copper Hills Dec. 10, Afu was sidelined with an ankle injury, but junior Olivia Neilson came off the bench to score 14 points and senior Sarah Ralphs added 11 in the team’s 62-37 victory. Ence said his team competed with intensity and he can count on all the players to contribute. Ence is coaching in his 11th season at Riverton. He coached the Silverwolves to the school’s only state girls basketball title in 2013. “Wins are not guaranteed year in and year out because of the turnover in talent. We coach and emphasize the same things each season and hope to provide the kids a successful experience,” Ence said. They began Region 4 play Friday, Jan. 9 against Westlake and were scheduled to face their arch rival, Herriman, at the Mustangs Tuesday Jan. 13 (after press deadline). l
Premier Apartment Living Comes To The South Valley (DRAPER)—Triton Investments has broken ground on a premier new luxury apartment community in Draper at Bangerter Parkway and Vestry Road. Opening in June, Triton Terrace will
out or the more mature looking to downsize while staying close to the mountains, trails and amenities that they love. Residents can enjoy working out at the
club house, taking a dip in the heated pool and hot tub, playing with their kids at our parksized playgrounds or basketball court, along with our picnic and barbecue areas. Those with
“We consider Triton Investments much more than just a business, so we
maintain close relationships with all of our partners, contractors, employees and residents in an effort to sustain the spirit of a ‘Triton Family’.” feature 177 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments and townhomes. The high-quality units will include granite countertops, walk-in closets, stainless steel fridges, stylish black appliances, designer colors, year-around huge jetted spa, wood and tile style flooring, along with an individual garage and/or covered parking. With the terraced landscape allowing for breathtaking views of the Salt Lake Valley right from residents’ living rooms, this community is perfect for young professionals starting
four-legged family members will appreciate our bark park. Triton Investments is a local family business that primarily builds and manages apartment communities in the Mountain West. With over 30 years in the business we have found success in keeping our projects a low-risk investment by having a large percentage of invested capital. Our investors come from a wide spectrum financially and geographically, but one thing they all have in common is that they believe in us and our product, often reinvest and usually recommend us to family and friends. We consider Triton Investments much more than just a business, so we maintain close relationships with all of our partners, contractors, employees and residents in an effort to sustain the spirit of a “Triton Family.” l
January 2015 | Page 15
S outh Valley Journal.com
Take Two Aspirin By Peri Kinder
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’ve reached the time of life where parts of my body randomly fall apart. I’ll wake up feeling fine, but by the end of the day I’ve got a dislocated shoulder, bunions and smallpox. That’s all well and good, but 18 months ago we lost our health insurance, so now we carefully scrutinize each symptom to see if it’s really necessary to see a doctor. Is the ache in my chest a heart attack or that spicy burrito from Taco Bell? Is my cough a result of the disgusting Utah winter air, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? For Christmas, I asked Santa for the deluxe edition Fisher-Price doctor kit. Now I can set my own bones, remove any suspicious lumps with a melon baller, and unless I’m leaking blood from my armpits, I can avoid medical offices and expensive procedures for a while. But this time of year always reignites the discussion in our home regarding health insurance. We’re two basically healthy adults who experience the occasional strep throat or flu, and we visit our docs for annual checkups that we pay for out-of-pocket. So far we’ve survived (fiscally and literally). However, once again we have the “opportunity” to buy into an “affordable” health care plan. After talking with insurance experts, our monthly premium will be equivalent to two car payments, or one payment on a really cool car. At around $700 a month, once you add in our $5,000 deductible
(each), that adds up to nearly $20,000 a year. So we’d be betting thousands of dollars that my husband or I will have a horrific medical experience this year. And I thought gambling was illegal in Utah. This health insurance discussion has done everything but ensure my health. The thought of paying those high premiums causes insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure and the desire to eat copious amounts of comfort foods. Because I’m a writer (which doesn’t involve much danger besides nasty paper cuts), as long as I avoid sick people or falling pianos, I’m sure I’ll be fine. So, I’ve devised my own healthcare program that will save me thousands of dollars.
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First, I’ve taken to wearing a bike helmet, knee pads and wrist guards everywhere I go. Second, I’ve invested in a nurse’s outfit, a first-aid kit, face masks, vitamin C tablets and gallons of hand sanitizer. Third, I will continue using WebMD to diagnose and treat everything from emotional exhaustion to rare infectious diseases. WebMD comes in handy when I’m pretty sure I’m dying, but just want a second opinion. Fourth, if I happen to break a bone that I can’t set myself, I will drive my car into a light pole so my car insurance will cover it. Finally, I will ask the universe to keep me healthy and safe this year. Because Oprah said that works. The definition of health insurance reads, “A type of insurance coverage that pays for medical and surgical expenses that are incurred by the insured.” It doesn’t include the disclaimer that says, “Insurance kicks in only after you’ve paid premiums and deductibles equivalent to the purchase of a Harley Davidson, a 10-day Hawaiian vacation and the complete DVD set of ‘Dr. Who.’” My husband and I have gone over our budget, trying to eliminate unnecessary expenses like dairy products, new socks, 24-hour electricity and pomegranates. But unless we win the not-yet-approved Utah lottery, we won’t be forking out thousands of dollars for health insurance. l
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