Serve Daily Volume 9, Issue 97 June 2020 by Serve Daily

VOL. 9 ISSUE 97 | JUNE 2020 | SERVEDAILY.COM

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE SERVING SPRINGVILLE, MAPLETON, SPANISH FORK, SALEM, PAYSON, SANTAQUIN, NEPHI, EUREKA

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SERVE DAILY FROM THE PUBLISHER

Time to Get Your Try On By Chris Baird

Serve Daily is published monthly and dedicated to being your source for inspiration and information.

WWW.SERVEDAILY.COM Publisher / Executive Editor Chris Baird • chris@servedaily.com Editor James Davis • editor@servedaily.com Contact Serve Daily 801-477-6845 Submit news at servedaily.com/submit

Many say this is a year that should just be cancelled, however, I believe this is a year that can be used to learn lessons and make positive change. Having plenty of time during March to May, Serve Daily decided to make some positive changes with some additional or improved digital services for the community and potential business partners. One of the changes is within our online Community Calendar Event System. We partnered with a local company, CitySpark, to provide an impressive Community Calendar on our website. It will be found at servedaily.com/ calendar as well as have widgets on many pages and posts on our site to find local events or even events across the nation for when you travel. Event planners are invited to create a free account for the Serve Daily Community Calendar and submit and publish all family friendly events.

In July we will be placing a selection of events published on our site in the print copy of Serve Daily. We have space built into our new website layout to allow for Digital Community Sponsors for the site as a whole or specific categories. A few of the benefits for the Community Sponsor includes your business logo on just about every page of the site, a large banner ad, and sponsored content on the site. Another amazing change is our listings for businesses for the following business types: Attractions, Restaurants, Retail, Services, and Travel type companies. More information on creating a listing will be available later as we finalize plans. Let’s all make the decision to make 2020 a great year. One of our prior Serve Daily Cards had a quote by Mahatma Gandhi that said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” At this time, with all the crazy things hap-

pening, it’s time to slow down, take some deep breaths, and reflect what we truly want. How are we at home? How do we treat our family, neighbors, friends, extended family, and community members? From the song, “Ayo, I’m Working Hard” by Jasper Sawyer, “I’m up in the middle of the night putting hours in. The world is full of WONDERFUL PEOPLE, I’m one of them. My hopes go up and down. But still my life must mean something. It means something to me.” A little later in the song, “I got to get my wake up early on, get my smart and nerdy on, I got to get my reach the sky on, GET MY ALWAYS TRY ON, I got to get my hit the gym on, get my sink or swim on, I gotta get it,... I got to get my DON’T COMPLAIN on, I got to get my win this game on, I gotta get my don’t sit still on, get my pay these bills on, I got to get my Jasper Sawyer on, don’t say my name, say your own. I

VOL. 9 ISSUE 97 | MAY 2020 | SERVEDAILY.COM

On the Cover

The Write Stuff

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE SERVING SPRINGVILLE, MAPLETON, SPANISH FORK, SALEM, PAYSON, SANTAQUIN, NEPHI, EUREKA

Teen Authors Boot Camp provides inspiration for young people in love with words

Columns contributed are appreciated but may not directly

JUNE 2020

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reflect the views and opinions of Serve Daily or its advertisers. Reproduction in whole or in part without editor’s permission is prohibited. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 payable to Serve Daily in advance. No person, without express permission of Serve Daily may take more than one copy of any Serve Daily issue. All rights reserved.

gotta get it, I gotta get it.” I gotta get my Chris Baird on. I gotta get my be kind on. I gotta get my treat others with respect on. I gotta get my give what I can on. I gotta keep making positive changes on. Now make your mantra and be the change you want to see in the world. As always, go out and find someone to Serve Daily, it’ll put a smile on their face and yours. Until next time, find more great local stories in the remaining pages of this paper and visit our site at servedaily.com. (Baird is the publisher of Serve Daily.)

SERVE DAILY FOCUS

Rodeo Ready! Fiesta Days Rodeo is a go as organizers develop plans to continue tradition during pandemic Spanish Fork City, the Fiesta Days Rodeo Committee, and the Diamond Fork Riding Club are excited to announce that the 2020 Fiesta Days Rodeo will be held as scheduled on July 20-24. Entering its 78th year, the Fiesta Days Rodeo is a staple in the annual Fiesta Days celebration, renowned throughout the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and a member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. “Deciding to continue with the Fiesta Days Rodeo this year has been a very deliberate and thoughtful process”, said City Manager and Rodeo Committee Member Seth Perrins. “Since March, we have met regularly with staff, the Mayor and City Council, the rodeo committee, PRCA representatives, and even county and state officials to determine how we could continue with the rodeo while honoring

public-health guidelines.” The City has worked with State and County health officials to determine the measures that will be required to reduce the potential for spread of COVID-19 at the rodeo. The following measures will be required of attendees, staff, and participants: Attendees and staff will be required to wear a face covering. This eliminates the need for 6-foot distancing between non-family groups. Children under the age of 2 will not be required to wear a face covering. Face coverings will be available for attendees who come without one. Participants will be symptom-checked before competing. Participants will be required to wear a face covering, except for when they are competing. “We are thrilled to have the Fiesta Days Rodeo this year”, said

Courtesy photos

Mayor Steve Leifson. “It has been a priority to do whatever we can to make sure the rodeo could happen. In a time when there has been so much change, having our rodeo represents getting back to a more normal way of life.” Rodeo tickets may be purchased online at sfcitytix.com. Current ticket holders who choose not to come to the rodeo may request a refund before June 19. To request a re-

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fund, please call 801-8044501. Spanish Fork City and the Fiesta Days Rodeo Committee appreciate the support of our loyal sponsors and attendees and look forward to having a great 2020 Fiesta Days Rodeo. More information regarding the rodeo is available at sffiestadaysrodeo.com. The Fiesta Days Committee continues to evaluate all other Fiesta Days

events and posts those updates as they become available

at sffiestadays.com.

JUNE 2020

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22-year-old Mapleton Man, Caleb Johnson ‘CJ Sleeves’ Dies in Car Accident By Arianne Brown

On the morning of May 29, 22-year-old Caleb Johnson of Mapleton was involved in a car accident that ended fatally. He left behind a loving family including his wife of less than one month, along with countless others who had grown to know and love him as a person and an artist. Serve Daily readers were introduced to Johnson

back in November when an article was published about the young artist who also went by the stage name “CJ Sleeves.” In the interview given to Serve Daily, Johnson expressed a deep love for rap music, and of connecting to people through music. He spoke about how influential his family has been in his life and his music. He made note of his

then girlfriend Marissa, who would soon become his wife, expressing how he loved to sing with her, and how she inspired him to write meaningful lyrics. In a statement given by the family to the press, his mother, Sheri Johson wrote the following: “Thank you again to Mapleton City Police, ambulance and fire. Because of their quick response in aiding my son at

the scene of the accident, it gave him a chance to fight as hard as he could for his life, a chance for his sweet wife Marissa to be with him and pray for him, and for our family to be with him and pray for him and share our love to him one last time! “So many miracles are unfolding with this story and it comforts my broken heart to hear of all the selfless, Christlike people who tried to give my son

a fighting chance! Forever grateful! “Also a huge thank you to Mapleton City Chief of Police, John Jackson, who had the awful job of rushing to our home to inform us that our son had been in a horrific accident, and then put us in his vehicle and rushed us quickly and safely to Caleb’s side at the ER. “He was genuinely concerned about our wellbeing as well as Caleb’s

condition. I feel so much gratitude for those first responders on the accident! Thank You from the bottom of my broken heart!” We at Serve Daily send our heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family. A GoFundme page has been set up under “Help for Caleb Johnson” for any who would like to donate. (Brown is a Serve daily contributor.)

Mountainland Association of Governments providing meals for seniors in need By Amy Baird

The Mountainland Association of Governments is providing meals for seniors in need. The meals are being distributed through senior centers and are available for seniors ages 60 and older. You do not have to go in or get out of your car because the meals are distributed via curbside pick-up. You pull up and someone will hand you a bag with your meal. Meals are pre-packaged and include hot items like spaghetti, Malibu chicken, meatloaf, and Swedish meatballs. All meals come with a vegetable and milk.

You can pick up a menu at your senior center. The distribution of the meals depends on the location where you are picking up from. You will be required to call the day before to reserve a meal. When you call, they will ask you questions to ensure that you qualify. If you are not in the Mountainland Congregate Meal system, you may need to fill out a form. Meals are available Monday through Friday. For Spanish Fork Senior Center, you need to call the day before between 9 a.m. and noon to make your reservation. Meals are available to residents between 11:30 and 12:30.

You will enter on the west side of the parking lot and follow the cones to the southwest corner of the building where you will be handed your lunch. Call (801) 798-5015 for more information. For Springville Senior Center, you need to call before 1 p.m. on the day prior to reserve your meal. Then you can come pick up between 11:30 and 12:30 Monday through Friday. In order to pick up, you can drive on the sidewalk in front of the senior center. Follow the signs and cones. All are welcome regardless of senior center membership or place of residence. Call 801-489-

8738 to make a reservation for a meal. Payson Senior Center: Call before 1 p.m. to make a reservation the day prior. You can pick up from

11 a.m. to noon. They are in the process of determining pickup method and are changing to curbside. Call 801-465-5215 for more details.

If you are homebound and cannot leave your home, you can call Meals on Wheels for Assistance at (801) 229-3800. (Baird is a Serve Daily contributor.)

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Spanish Fork MIAs honored on Memorial Day By Ed Helmick

We are fortunate in Utah County that unlike other places we see in the national news, our local cemeteries were open for public visitation on Memorial Day. At the Spanish Fork Cemetery, the American Legion Post had a large area filled with row after row of small white crosses. On the south end of that field of crosses representing lost servicemen was a row of black Miss-

Photo by Ed Helmick

Military members from Spanish Fork missing in action from World War II were honored at the cemetery on Memorial Day

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ing in Action flags. Seven of those flags were waving in the breeze over small black crosses. Each of those small black crosses had a photo and brief description of seven Spanish Fork men who never returned home from World War II. The scene was a touching reminder of the thousands of men who gave their lives for this country, and a few whose bodies never came home. A few cemetery visitors were pausing to read the notes on the

row of MIA crosses and the cemetery was busy with visitors, many openly grieving for lost loved ones. The seven MIAs were identified with research by Angela Beecher and details of her work was reported in the May issue of Serve Daily. Her work continues and her desire is to have a permanent memorial for servicemen who are classified as missing in action and did not come home. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)

Payson-Santaquin chamber juggles events schedule in light of pandemic The last three months have been a wild ride for the Chamber and it’s not quite over yet. With the COVID 19 pandemic that hit our world a few months ago, things have changed...a lot. Here are some of the changes that we have made or are making: Drive around Easter Egg Hunt; Virtual Board Meetings and networking events; Canceling live events

and substituting virtual ones; A focus on content and training for this strange new business world; A focus on social media and Google advertising. Some of these things have already happened and some are in the works. As always, we’re working on creating value for our members and getting our members name out there as much as possible. Keep your eye out for emails and notifications

for up-coming trainings or networking events. They may be virtual but they’ll be full of relevant information and strategies to keep moving forward. The events that we usually enjoy during the summer such as, Onion and Orchard Days, are still uncertain but we’re moving forward with planning as if it’s going to happen. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and our optimism high.

SERVE DAILY

Spanish Fork Youth Arts Festival goes online in wake of pandemic By Amy Baird

Ready to get creative? Ready for a challenge? The Spanish Fork Youth Arts Festival is going online this summer, and everyone can participate. Each day between June 1-5 and June 8-12, we will be posting an art challenge on the Spanish Fork City Facebook event page. Kids can post a picture or video of their artwork on the Facebook event page to be entered into a drawing for a $10 voucher toward next year’s Youth Arts Festival.

There will be two winners chosen at random per day. Kids can share and check out each other’s art on the challenge page. Join the Facebook event page today at https://bit. ly/yaCHALLENGE. If you don’t have Facebook, you can still follow the event for the daily challenges and then email your pictures or videos to sfevents@spanishfork.org by 8 p.m. each day to be entered in the daily drawing. Creating an Online Challenge, Charla Anderson, co-director of the

Youth Arts Festival explained how they came up with the online challenge. “When we found out that it wasn’t looking good for us to have the art festival, we thought we could do a challenge and the teachers were super excited about it. It was fun to figure out what kids could do at home and what can go across age groups.” When creating the challenges, Anderson said, “The goal is to get art still happening in the home.” One difficulty was replicating the in-person interactions and synergy that

exists at the festival. “A big part of the art festival is the camaraderie and feeding off of each other’s creativity. We are missing that with not being able to be together. Instead of sending out a list of things to do, we wanted to say, ‘Do this and share it with us so we can see what you’re doing.’ Even though we can’t be together that way they can still see each other’s art,” Anderson said. The decision to cancel the Youth Arts Festival was difficult to make, especially with the changes

going on with COVID-19. “We are heartbroken that this is cancelled,” said Whitney Hancock, co-director of the Youth Arts Festival. “The difficulty was that the state health guidelines were changing so rapidly, it was almost impossible to plan. There are a lot of restrictions so the school couldn’t have large groups until after July 1. So, we couldn’t use the school unless we moved the festival to July. We were trying to figure out what we could do so that everyone could be involved.”

Multiple options were discussed, including the possibility of having packets with supplies and online Zoom classes. They even toyed with the idea of holding the festival outside behind the library but that would be difficult. Hancock said, “We really held out to the very last minute on cancelling. This year was going to be so cool. We got grants. We had over 110 classes planned with over 1,500 slots available,” Hancock said. (Serve Daily submission.)

New charity works to give hope to adult survivors of sex trafficking A new charitable organization, Dahlia’s Hope, is open to provide adult survivors of sex trafficking with comprehensive aftercare services, including clinical and recreational therapy, medical and dental services, education and vocational training, and job and life skills training. This Utah organization is one of the only comprehensive aftercare services in the nation for

trafficking survivors. Today, Dahlia’s Hope offers outpatient treatment for adult (18 years and older) survivors. “The purpose of Dahlia’s Hope is to meet each adult survivor of sex trafficking where they are in their healing journey and help them advance effectively with licensed clinical care, education, love, and hope,” said Caroline Marriott, executive clini-

cal director. “Some survivors have pieced together their own resources, perhaps finding employment or a place to live, but they haven’t benefited from therapy or medical attention. Our community and nation need more places where a survivor can receive comprehensive care – where they can receive the resources, skills and support they need to build a self-reliant, suc-

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cessful life. Dahlia’s Hope exists to fill that need.” Dahlia’s Hope will be working with local hospitals, police departments, urgent care clinics, shelters and first responders to care for survivors of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is “when force, fraud, or coercion is used to make someone perform sex acts.” It is

important to note that the person who is forcing the victim into slavery is the only one who makes money from sex trafficking. While more than 80 percent are thought to be female, boys and men are also trafficked. A commonality that victims possess is some sort of vulnerability which can include homelessness,

poverty, abuse, addiction, neglect, poor family relations, and isolation. Traffickers exploit these victims and their vulnerabilities to draw them into sex trafficking. Anyone who is an adult survivor is encouraged to contact Dahlia’s Hope at 801-885-6294 or info@ dahliashope.org. (Serve Daily submission.)

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The

Write Stuff

Teen Authors Boot Camp provides inspiration for young people in love with words By James L. Davis

riting is a lonely endeavor, but inspiration is often a crowded room. A combination of the two can lead to magical places. Founders of the Teen Author Boot Camp have been providing a crowded room of inspiration for teenage writers for a decade. Today, the writers’ conference, held each year at the Utah Valley Convention Center, is one of the largest gatherings of aspiring writers in the nation.

Photo by George Loch

During the conference, teens 13-19 have the opportunity to share ideas and learn from established authors tips on improving their craft.

JUNE 2020

Photo by George Loch

What started as a simple idea by event founders to share some of the inspiration they had been given has blossomed into an annual capacity crowd of young authors gathering to share their love for the written word.

The conference began as a simple idea by strangers who met while searching for their own inspiration on the craft of writing. Jennifer Jenkins, Tahsha Wilson, Jo Schaffer and Margie Jordan attended the same community writing course in 2009. The course, conducted by J. Scott Savage and sponsored by Spanish Fork City, found the women seeking inspiration gathered in the same room. At the conclusion of the writing course, Jenkins was reluctant to let go of the experience. “We were a bunch of strangers in this room together. I threw out my email and suggested we start a writers’ group,” she said. Initially, the writers’ group considered different possibilities to pass on the inspiration they had received in the course presented by Savage. The women in the group were all aspiring writers at the time, and they knew they were not alone. “We wanted to give it back; pay it forward, what Jeff (Savage) had done for us,” Jenkins said. They considered a first chapter writing contest for teenagers, and then decided to take the leap and try something bigger. Jenkins, who is a graduate of Utah Valley University with a degree in History and Secondary Education, returned to her alma mater with a challenge. “Looking back, I was really audacious. I went to UVU continuing education and said I think you need us. We want to put on a conference for teen writers. They said, let’s try it.” And with that, Teen Author Boot Camp became a reality; an annual writers conference for teenagers only, with guest speakers and breakout sessions designed to inspire. In its first year 140 young people

attended, and the organizers of the event were awestruck. Since then, the conference has only grown in popularity and attendance. Now, the event draws a capacity crowd, with 1,000 aspiring teenage writers attending. The conference has since outgrown spacing requirements at UVU and is now held at the Utah Valley Convention Center. One hard and fast rule for the event that hasn’t changed is that it is for teenagers 13-19 only. No adults allowed. “We want the teens to feel like this is their event, to be able to be themselves. It’s so addictive to see the impact. They have a place where they can interact. A lot of kids aren’t into sports, they don’t want to be on the cheer squad. They love words,” Jenkins said. Looking back on how the conference has grown over the years, the founders of the event are overwhelmed with the support they receive not just from attendees, but publishing houses, local businesses, and authors. Best-selling authors speaking fees can be thousands of dollars, but the non-profit (where no one in the organization takes a paycheck) has never had to bear the cost. “There are some great publishing houses that have gotten behind this conference. We’ve never paid an author to speak. They fly themselves out and waive their fees,” Jenkins said. J. Scott Savage, who inspired them with his writing course, has presented at Teen Author Boot Camp every year. Book donations arrive at Jenkins house in a steady flow and there are boxes of them piled in her garage, much to the consternation of her husband, Clint. Many of the donations come by way of LitJoy Crate.

SERVE DAILY King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City has been instrumental in helping the conference attract keynote speakers. For Jenkins and the founders of the Boot Camp, the desire to pass on the inspiration they received returned tenfold. Some of the teens that have attended the conference have gone on to get literary agents and publishing deals. Jenkins was an unpublished author when the conference first began, but today has published four novels and a nonfiction book for teen writers. She also teaches writing courses for Utah Valley University and Westminster College for both teens and adults. Jo Schaffer has likewise found success as a published author. This year will mark the tenth year of Teen Author Boot Camp, but nothing is certain it seems in 2020, and organizers of the event are aware of the fact. Since its inception, Teen Authors Boot Camp was held the last Saturday in March, but as with every event, plans changed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the impossibility of the event being held in March, organizers rescheduled it for Sep. 12 at the Utah Valley Convention Center. Keynote speakers for this year include popular novelists Brandon Sanderson and Kiersten White. While restrictions on public gatherings have eased, Jenkins is aware that a gathering of a 1,000 young people may still be impossible in September, so they are developing contingencies that span the alphabet. While they hope if restrictions are still in place, they can break the conference into smaller venues to reduce the number of people gathering in the same place, if it is impossible the conference may have to be online this year. But they hope not. “One of the reasons the conference is so impactful is the sense of camaraderie. It’s really hard to replace that interaction. They need that interaction. They’re so sick of Zoom,” Jenkins said. Since the conference is postponed until the fall, the organizers of Teen Author Boot Camp have tried to give teens a bit of the inspiration to be gained in a crowded room of like-minded people digitally. On its website, Teen Authors Boot Camp offers free webinars every Tuesday and Thursday from authors such as Marissa Meyer, Jessica Day George, and others. The webinars, like the conference itself, is about reaching out and sharing inspiration and the love of prose in all its forms. For the women who met as strangers and together produced an idea that grew into something beyond their dreams, it has been an inspiring 10 years. Not just for them, but for thousands of teenagers who found kindred spirits at Teen Authors Boot Camp. “Getting published is not what this is all about. Some people make a lot of money in writing. The vast majority don’t. Writing is a way to work through your emotions, manage anxiety, escape the rigors of everyday life,” Jenkins said. “That’s the most gratifying thing, when you see these kids realize they aren’t all alone. I shouldn’t call them kids. They hate it when I call them kids. I always call them my children because that’s what they feel like. They’re my kids.” (Davis is the editor of Serve Daily.)

Photo by Mike Morgan

Original organizers of Teen Author Boot Camp: Jo Schaffer Layton, Jennifer Jenkins, Margie Jordan, Tahsha Wilson, Lois D. Brown.

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Author J. Scott Savage, who inspired the Teen Author Boot Camp founders with his writing course, has presented at the conference every year. Photo by George Loch

JUNE 2020

SERVE DAILY IN OUR BACKYARD

Salina once site of POW camp during World War II By Ed Helmick

It is almost forgotten history that during World War II 425,871 prisoners of war were brought to the United States and housed in 686 camps throughout the nation. One of those POW camps was in Salina. This site had previously been a Civilian Conservation Corps camp which was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program during the Great Depression. The CCC program was cancelled with the onset of World War II and the facility was used to hold German prisoners of war. Unlike most POW camps located in isolated areas in the United States, Camp Salina was located right in town on the east end of Main Street. The Salina POW camp was used to house 250 German soldiers captured while serving under Er-

win Rommel’s Afrikorps in North Africa. They were paid a small sum to work in the local farm fields. It was common to give them passes to visit stores and shops in town. They were friendly with the local people and considered low risk for escape. At midnight on July 8, 1945, Army Private Clarence Bertucci climbed to the camp guard tower to begin his night shift. A few minutes later he loaded 250 rounds of ammunition into a .30 caliber M1917 Browning machine gun and began firing into tents with sleeping German soldiers. It took about 15 seconds to empty the machine into 30 of the 43 tents. American officers rushed the tower and Private Bertucci surrendered peacefully. Nine German soldiers died and 20 were injured. It was the worst POW camp Massacre in

German prisoners of war were housed in the small town of Salina during World War II.

U.S. History. Bertucci’s only explanation was that “he hated Germans, so he had to kill Germans.” The victims were buried with full military honors at the Fort Douglas Cemetery on July 12. Their caskets did not have a flag because the Nazi flag had been banned; however, two flower wreaths adorned

each casket. Fifteen members from the Salina POW Camp attended the memorial service. A choir from the Ogden POW Camp sang “Song from the Monk”, Good Comrade”, and Down in the Valley.” At the time of the massacre Germany had surrendered and the wounded Germans were sent back to Germany

as soon as they were healthy. A military court found Bertucci to be insane and he spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital in New York until his death in December of 1969. In 2016 a museum was opened in Camp Salina that commemorates the CCC and POW camps and the historical event

Photo by Ed Helmick

that occurred in the small town of Salina. The museum has numerous artifacts and recreations of the barracks and guard tower. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A unique and interesting piece of Utah history. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)

Research leads to fascinating revelations about prisoners of war in the United States By Ed Helmick

Research into the World War II German POW Camp in Salina turned into a larger and equally fascinating story of the values and ethics of the United States. The captured German and Italian soldiers and sailors were impressed with what they learned about this country and its people. Equally impressive is the huge number of prisoners of war brought to this country, a number that has almost been forgotten in the common statistics of World

War II. By May of 1945, a total of 425,871 POWs were held in the United States. Just about every ship that took U.S. soldiers overseas brought a load of POWs back to the U.S. The number included 371,683 Germans, 50,273 Italians and 3,915 Japanese housed in 686 POW Camps located in every state except, Nevada, North Dakota, and Vermont. Keep in mind that Alaska and Hawaii were territories. Most of the camps were in the southern states because of the expense of heating barracks.

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It is also interesting that the Nazi “true believers” were kept in “segregation camps” to prevent them from harassing and even killing prisoners friendly to their American captors. Many of the POW camps provided help to local farmers and received a small salary for their work. They were never looked at as slave labor. The Italian POWs were particularly noted for volunteering for Italian Service Units to help with the labor shortage in critical areas such as Army depots, arsenals, and hospitals. POW Camp food was the

same as served to U.S. soldiers. Enlisted men could buy beer in camp and officers could buy wine. Many said they ate better than in the German Army. One prisoner reported that he weighed 128 pounds when captured and 185 pounds when he left the POW Camp. They were also provided recreational activities, religious services, hobby, and sports equipment. They were given liberty passes to visit nearby towns for restaurants and shopping. This did create one problem in the south where German POWs could eat in segregated diners

not open to black Americans. Some POWs became romantically involved with American girls. It was illegal for POWs to marry in the U.S., but our bureaucrats in Washington enacted legislation enabling the fiancés of Italian POWs to sail for Italy on troop transport ships with a chaperon. Each carried the documents required for legal marriage and two trunks of personal luggage. Once married in Italy the women could then legally bring their new husbands back to the United States to live. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)

JUNE 2020

SERVE DAILY LOCAL BUSINESS

Mike Rasmussen and his son, Talon, are fifth and sixth generation jewelers.

Photo by James L. Davis

It’s About Love

Rasmussen & Co. Fine Jewelers celebrate successful first year By James L. Davis

Mike Rasmussen doesn’t worry about customers in a bad mood, because he seldom sees them. “I deal with people in love all the time. Who doesn’t want to deal with people in love all day?” Rasmussen said. The owner of Rasmussen & Co. Fine Jewelers in Spanish Fork, Rasmussen has spent his life creating beautiful mementos for his customers to express their love. It’s a family tradition spanning 135 years. He is the fifth generation of

goldsmiths in the Rasmussen family. His son, Talon, is the sixth generation. Rasmussen learned his craft from his father, and after spending most of his adult life doing custom design only, he opened Rasmussen & Co Fine Jewelers in May of 2019. While they have showcases full of beautiful jewelry, the father and son team also fashion custom jewelry for their customers. Rasmussen said 80 percent of their bridal orders are custom designed, and the jeweler is unique among many jewelry

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stores because the custom work and repairs are all done on site. “We’ve had an amazing first year and We’re grateful to Spanish Fork and the support we’ve been given,” he said. The Rasmussen family originally immigrated from Denmark, where they were clockmakers, but they did their work as a side business. Rasmussen said it was his grandfather that devoted his career exclusively to being a jeweler. He opened his own store, Rasmussen Jewelers, in 1961 on Main Street in Spanish

Fork and later closed it due to purchasing a store in Laramie, WY. Which later became an independent chain of seven stores throughout the southwest. “My grandfather was doing custom work before it was a thing. His birthday was May 8, so we chose that date to open to honor him,” he said. Mike’s parents currently operate the jewelry store in Laramie, WY, but plan to retire this summer. Mike and his wife, Stephenie, will take over the Laramie store for them. Rasmussen & Co Fine Jewel-

ers motto is “It’s About Love,” and Mike said it is rewarding to hand someone a piece of jewelry he was able to repair or craft for them and see the joy in their expression. In closing, Rasmussen said “it’s metallurgy, just on a really expensive and beautiful metal. At the end of the day if your hands are dirty, they’re covered in gold.” Rasmussen & Co. is located at 654 North, 800 East, in Spanish Fork. It was recently voted jeweler of the year by Utah Valley Magazine. (Davis is the editor of Serve Daily.)

JUNE 2020

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American Fork High School • American Heritage School • Athenian eAcademy • Dan W. Peterson School • Orem High School • New Hope Academy • Polaris West High School • Lumen Scholar Institute • Lone Peak High School • Lehi High School • Skyridge High School • Karl G Maeser Preparatory Academy • Cascade Mountain High School • East Shore Online • Mountain View High School • Rockwell Charter High School • Polaris High School • South Region Deaf • Summit High School • Timpanogos High School • Telos Academy • Utah County Academy of Sciences (UCAS) • Payson High School • Liahona Preparatory Academy • Discovery Academy • Pleasant Grove High School • eSchool at Provo School District • Freedom Preparatory Academy • Provo High School • Cedar Valley High School • Independence High School • Oak Springs School • Provo Canyon School • Timpview High School • Walden School of Liberal Arts • East Bay Post High School • Salem Hills High School • Slate Canyon School • Horizon School • Westlake High School • American Leadership Academy • Landmark High School • Maple Mountain High School • New Haven School • Bridges Nebo Transition Center • Meridian School • Spanish Fork High School • Merit College Preparatory Academy • Oakridge School • Springville High School • Nebo Advanced Learning Center

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Two Utah County hospitals given top grades for safety The two MountainStar hospitals in Utah County, Mountain View Hospital and Timpanogos Regional Hospital, were awarded an ‘A’ in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing these hospitals’ achievements providing safer health care. The hospitals earned their tenth and fourth ‘A’s in a row, respectively.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients. “We are very happy to have extended our string

of ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grades from Leapfrog to 10,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO of Mountain View Hospital. “This represents five years of straight ‘A’s in providing safety for our patients and community. At a time like the COVID Pandemic, people want to be taken to hospitals that pay strict attention to safety. We hope this gives them some reassurance.”

“As the Nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and health care workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We hope this ‘A’ helps to thank the people who work and volunteer for your hospitals. They are role models in putting pa-

tients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.” Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The hospital safety

grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. The hospitals were awarded an ‘A’ grade, when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2020. To see these hospitals’ full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org. (Serve Daily submission)

Fundraising platform helps charities reach donors, goals By Luke Brandley

A Good Cause Global, LLC is a family owned and operated business. Three brothers got together with ambition to offer the absolute best fundraising and donating solution. aGoodCause. com is a free and secure platform that allows you to create, manage, donate, and market your cause with one easy to use service. Key features include; highest payout, simple

customizable campaign pages, a progress bar that encourages participation, social media integration, campaign dashboard and reports, a no hassle donation process, a secure website, and live customer support. This is all easily accessible via a desktop, tablet, and/or mobile device. One cause that we are seeking support for is Military Families Fortified. This is a nonprofit organization that courageously offers much need-

ed assistance to military families. You can donate to this cause at https://agoodcause.com/Veterans. In addition to the incredible persons sacrifices servicemembers make, we often forget that they also sacrifice being a spouse, a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or a sister. Those in the military deploy for great lengths of time away from their families and usually for multiple deployments within

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their career. For over 12 years, our team has had the opportunity and privilege in our practices to work therapeutically with the spouses, children, and the families that our military men and women leave behind. Military Families Fortified provide much needed hope to our deploying and returning soldiers and their families. We are asking for your help in honoring those in the arm forces. We are working to produce creative information and educational products that will reach out to the child and touch families in colorful story form and

other products that connect with both the head and the heart. Our products and services come directly from real life experiences and years of professional research. This will allow our nonprofit organization a way to assist these amazing families at no cost to them. Our First Book is called, “Military Hurble-Flurble: Ben’s Terrible Tantrum”. It tells the story of Ben, a young boy whose father has recently been deployed. With the help of the Hurble-Flurble, an ageless, warm, and whim-

sical character, Ben and his family learn proven successful strategies and tools through a full-color children’s story. Adapted from real-life experiences and successes of military families Ben’s Terrible Tantrum addresses the hardships of deployment through an enjoyable story that is fun and helpful to both children and adults. This incredible book is available on Amazon and the proceeds go toward our valiant mission to help these families. You can donate to this cause at agoodcause.com/Veterans. (Serve Daily submission.)

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SERVE DAILY SCHOOL NEWS

Jessica Lindley named Nebo School District Teacher of the Year By Lana Hiskey

Jessica Lindley, a teacher at Foothills Elementary, was named teacher of the year for the Nebo School District. Lindley serves as the special education team leader, social committee chairperson over parties and activities. She is also the character education specialist and the BYU Practicum Student-Teacher Mentor. In the community, Lindley has served as the Miss Utah Field Director, World Down Syndrome Day Family Dinner Chairperson, and Autism Awareness Family Night Chairperson.

“From our first meeting, Mrs. Lindley expressed a desire to help our son after his head injury. She would reach out to me via email, phone calls, and meetings to discuss what was going on and would listen to our concerns as she put together a plan of action,” expressed a parent. “Her compassion was not limited to our situation. She would reach out to each of her students in the same manner. She dedicates her life to teaching and loving children who otherwise might be left behind.” “As an educator, I aspire to build a classroom culture and educational

environment conducive to student learning and development; a place where students can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially,” Lindley said. “I seek to foster a positive relationship with students, colleagues, parents and the community. I provide quality education to all students and help every student to reach their full potential by providing a learning environment that is always striving for success.” Lindley received the Crystal Apple Award in 2019 and Excellence Teacher Award in Emery County School District in 2016.

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Jessica Lindley, a teacher at Foothills Elementary, was honored as teacher of the year by the Nebo School District.

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Local teacher selected for Excellence in Teaching Award By Lana Hiskey

Ten Utah educators received top 2020 teaching honors UEA/dōTERRA Excellence in Teaching Awards to be presented at the KeyBank ‘Superstars in Education’ Banquet. Nebo School District’s own Jesse Roberts, a social studies teacher at Spanish Fork High School, was selected as a top educator by the UEA/ dōTERRA Excellence in Teaching Awards. Roberts teaches Social Studies. Roberts’ top priority is providing opportunities for real student learning. “He implements researched-based tools to collect data to help iden-

tify areas of student learning and move his practice forward,” said a colleague. Roberts instructs students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. He makes a point to set academic goals with each student then supports them until they achieve those goals. Besides teaching, Roberts spends his summers working as a firefighter and is also a coach at the school. He uses his free time to take workshops to better his teaching. When his school designed a program to help at-risk students graduate, Roberts was chosen to be an adult advocate because of his talent in connecting with students.

Jesse Roberts One student said of him, “Mr. Roberts has been helping me get good grades. He helps me with my disability to do better in all my classes. I am so grateful for his help.” Fellow colleague, Melissa Hartley, submitted Jesse Roberts for the UEA/

dōTERRA Excellence in Teaching Award, produced by PBS Utah. Video profiles on each of the 10 winning teachers, produced by PBSUtah, will be shown at the banquet awards ceremony. Award recipients were selected based on their impact on individual students or groups of students. Each winner receives an award, a poster to display at their school and a check for $1,500, courtesy of award sponsor dōTERRA. “This has been a particularly stressful time for our public schools, so it is a tremendous honor to recognize these outstanding teachers for the work

they do,” said UEA President Heidi Matthews. “They are just a few examples of the remarkable educators serving students each day in public schools across Utah.” The UEA has presented the Excellence in Teaching awards since 2000. Originally planned for May, the KeyBank Superstars in Education Banquet will be rescheduled later this year due to COVID-19 concerns. KeyBank has sponsored the banquet since 2012. “We are privileged to support the Utah Education Association as it honors our state’s educators,” said Terry Grant, President of KeyBank in Utah. “These exceptional teach-

ers comprise a vital part of our communities by ensuring our children receive quality educations. Quality education helps our communities thrive and thriving communities benefit all of us.” For the past four years, PBS Utah has partnered with the UEA to produce video profiles of the Excellence in Teaching Award winners. “The videos are a moving tribute to educators across Utah who are committed to ensuring Utah’s children receive a quality education. We are honored to be a part of these awards,” said PBS Utah Education Program Manager Elise Brimhall. (Serve Daily submission.)

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Mapleton youth wins Arbor Day tree poster contest Emma Beach, a fourth-grader at Mapleton Elementary, recently won the Sweepstakes Award for

the Utah Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest. The theme was “Trees are Ter-

rific No Matter Where You Live.” Emma’s artwork and award meant that she got to choose a tree to be planted at Mapleton Elementary. She chose an Autumn Blaze Maple, and you can see it in the front of the school. Emma and her YEARS! family were even able to help plant the tree.

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SERVE DAILY STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Salem High graduate embraces the rigors of CrossFit By Anderson Brown

Student athletes come in all varieties. Some play on team sports or compete in their individual events as part of a team. Others, like recent Salem High School graduate, Rachael Ericksen has found that you don’t need a team or official competition to be an athlete. For the past several years, Rachael has developed a love and talent for weightlifting, in particular, CrossFit. She said that it was when she was in junior high when friends of hers introduced her to lifting, and she said that she was a little reluctant at first. “I used to do English riding, mostly hunter-jumper stuff,” she said. “One winter in junior high, I wasn’t able to ride because of the weather. I had friends who did CrossFit, and they were constantly trying to get me to go with them, so I decided that I would give

it a shot.” While Rachael admits that she only started to go because of her friends, she said she quickly found that she liked it. “When I first started, I went because my friends did, but very quickly I started going for myself,” Rachael said. “I know that I feel so much better physically and mentally when I go work out, so that is my main motivator. I have come to learn that oftentimes the days that I don’t want to go to the gym are the days that I need to go to the gym the most. Those are the days that I need a pick-me-up or just that I need to practice self-discipline so that I don’t get into the habit of slacking off. By not letting myself slack off here and there, it has stayed fairly easy to make it to the gym daily.” While many sport competitions focus on winning, fitness on an individual level focuses on self-improvement.

This is what Rachael says is what she loves most about her time at the gym and lifting weights. “For me, the most important things aren’t necessarily how fast I am or how much I can lift, but how it makes me feel,” she said. “Obviously when I am constantly working, I am getting new personal records and that feels good, but it’s not just because of how much I’m lifting or how many reps. It feels good to know that I am working hard. My goal is to continue to put in all the hours and effort to always become better.” Rachael will be attending Southern Utah University in the Fall with the goal of getting into the nursing program. She says that while the transition from high school to college may be difficult, she believes that staying physically fit will help her in other areas of her life. She also encourages teens like herself to

maintain and even start a physical regimen even if they aren’t part of a sports team. She even offered some tips to teens wanting to become physically fit. “You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself,” Rachael said. “There are going to be days where you feel so good and be so proud of yourself for how far you have come. You’ll hit new records, fly through workouts and surprise yourself. There are also going to be days where you feel like crap. Maybe the workout took you way longer than it should have, or lifts just feel extra heavy, or maybe you didn’t even make it to the gym. That’s okay. Those days are going to happen and the only thing you can do about it is to keep trying. (Brown is a Serve Daily contributor.)

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Rachael Ericksen discovered the challenge of weightlifting from friends.

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Goodbye to the wonderful town of Payson By Arianne Brown

It was supposed to be our forever home, but it was not meant to be. When jobs and other life commitments do not line up, that’s when reevaluation of priorities need to be made. In our case, we had to make the difficult decision to move from the wonderful town of Payson to a city farther north. Our stay in Payson may have been just two and a half years, but we made a lifetime of memories and friends. From day one, we were greeted by friendly neighbors who brought food and other supplies. We felt wanted. Truly wanted. We are a large family of 11, and we often feel like more of a spectacle to stare at, rather than a worthwhile keepsake. Not here. Not in Payson. But it isn’t just the way we were treated by the people in Payson that made our stay so memorable; it’s been the examples of the lives well-lived, and the services endured both in the past and the present. While here, I met a man who rides his bike up Payson Canyon each day to help him cope with PTSD as a Vietnam War Veteran. That man smiles and waves at me on my own effort-filled trips up that glori-

ous canyon road. I have gained a new and lasting appreciation for gardening and of sharing surplus to those in need. Zucchini may grow aplenty, but it will feed in many variations for weeks on end. Take your neighbor’s zucchini plant no matter how big. It’s always worth it. I’ve gotten to know the creators of the Four Bay trail system up Payson Canyon, and not only have I seen how the trails were created, but I’ve learned why and whom the trails were built for. Having run and biked hundreds of miles there over the course of my time here, I can attest of the special spirit that is on those trails. I’ve been the recipient of many high fives and smiles from the wonderful Brandon Baker on my way up to run on the canal trail. I have listened to stories from parents whose children are now grown. These stories have given me encouragement that while my time as a parent will not be smooth sailing ever, it will be filled with rewards if I just look for them. It has been these times that I have loved the most. Payson has been the place of acceptance and love for our family that we won’t soon forget. We may be taking our family out of Payson, but we will never be able to take Payson out of our

Arianne Brown and her family.

family. As I continue to write stories from afar, I look forward to having an in-

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sider-outsider view on this wonderful town I will always call home. (Brown is a Serve Daily contributor.)

Letters from Grandma: Help where you can during troubled times By Grandma Barkley

Dearest Max and Piper: Grandma is so excited that I will be able to go out and play with her friends at the senior center this month! It has been so long since I have seen any of my friends, I bet bingo will be a wild ruckus on Wednesday. Edith and Ermina sometimes heckle the man who calls out the numbers in German with some funny jokes. When those two get started, it is more entertaining than the bingo games! Before I forget, I want to let you know, Grandma sent you some gifts for your birthdays this month. I hope you have lots of fun on your special days. Did you know Grandma still has to

22 JUNE 2020

do chores too? No matter how old you get, that is one of the things in life that never goes away; chores or taking baths. Grandma is finally getting a new refrigerator, so I must clean out the old one. I am amazed that I could find things in my refrigerator from the year you were born! I think for the month of June, everyone should look for all the cans in the pantry with expirations dates in 2020 and donate them to a local food bank. I think right now there are so many people that need a little bit of help, people that usually do not find themselves in this situation of being quarantined and not working. In our area we have Tabatha’s Way that provides food for anyone that needs

food. We also have the food banks by the university. There are also other things besides food that we can donate. Habitat for Humanity “Restore” in Spanish Fork or Orem, (Grandma likes to shop there too). They take in all kinds of construction things, as well. They will also take the screen door I have that still works great or my refrigerator. They accept everything from roofing to windows and everything in between. It is a wonderful place to go if you want to improve, update, or fix your home. Donating clothes at your local thrift stores will help so many more people. Please send Grandma some pictures of what you donated.

Well, Miss Piper and Max, this is going to be an exciting month for all three of us! All our birthdays are this month, and Grandma’s is one of those prehistoric, bicentennial, diamond jubilee, centurion, special years, and I am so glad to be able to celebrate it with you. I find it amazing and a feat of ingenuity that your mom and dad arranged your birthdays to occur a few days before mine. I love you so much and so proud of you two. You are so young, but I know that you will do fantastic things in the world just like your Mommy and Daddy. See you soon. (Serve Daily submission.)

THE FUNNY-ISH FILES

Social Distancing or Social Awkwardness? By Joe Capell

Social distancing shouldn’t be that hard for me. Why? Because there’s not much difference between social distancing and being socially awkward, and I’ve been practicing social awkwardness for many, many years! I was single until I was 40 years old, so that gave me a lot of time to work on being socially awkward. It’s not that difficult to avoid having contact with other people when you’ve been keeping to yourself for most of your life. Being socially awkward is simple: just stay at home and stay away from other people. There are several things you

can do to have as little contact with the outside world as possible. Watch a lot of television. (With Netflix and Disney+, it’s easier than ever to just plant yourself on the couch and stare at the screen all day.) Surf the internet. (Is “surfing the internet” still a thing, or do people just “go online” now?) Play video games. Heck, you can even be socially awkward by reading a book. Yes, you do have to leave the house every once in a while. Although it may be easier than ever to work from home, most of us have to get out in order to make money to pay the bills. And, there’s also the little matter of getting food. You can offset the occasional trip to the grocery store by eating almost exclusively via drive-thru dining, keeping personal contact with others to a minimum. But, you may say, “that’s all good and well, but what do I do when I have to actually interact with other people?”

That’s simple! Avoid eye contact. Look down at your feet. Keep your hands in your pockets. If you need to say something, mumble. Whatever you do, try not to directly engage people in conversation. Saying, “Howdy!” is about the worst thing you can do, because that might make people think you actually want to talk with them. Of course, there are some people who actually like interacting with other people. They are drawn to social interaction and feel the need to be around other people. They seek out chances to connect with those around them. For these folks, social distancing is difficult, and social awkwardness is almost impossible. And, to be honest, I’m slowly starting to become one of those people. Thirteen years of marriage and four wonderful kids have chipped away at some of my social awkwardness. Oh, don’t worry, I’m still plenty awkward. But, once we’re through with

social distancing, I might even start saying, “Howdy!” to other people. (Capell is a Serve Daily contributor.)

VIEWPOINT

Don’t be afraid to ask for help while facing turbulent times By Jennifer Durrant

Since COVID-19 turned everyone’s livelihood upside down, there are more and more people in need of assistance. In April, the unemployment rate rose 10.3 percent, bringing the total rate to 14.7 percent — the biggest over-themonth increase and the highest rate since the U.S. government started counting the unemployment rate in 1948. In addition to those who have lost their jobs, there are also temporarily furloughed workers and others who took pay cuts but kept their jobs as a result of coronavirus. The economic future is looking bleak for many families, and it looks like recovery will be slow. Asking for help, though, often takes a huge hit to anyone’s pride, M. Nora Bouchard, leadership coach and author of “Mayday! Asking for Help in Times of Need,” told CNBC. According to Bouchard, people are hard-wired to be independent and self-reliant. “We don’t want to be ashamed of our situation, or come across as incompetent,” she says. “So, we work really

hard to make sure people don’t see us this way.” There is no shame in asking for help, especially in a significant economic and health crisis, and there are local programs here to help. Here is how to find them: Food/Household Goods If your family needs help putting food on the table, several local programs can help: Community Action Services and Food Bank has the largest food pantries in Utah, Summit, and Wasatch counties. Simply go to the pantry during operating hours. You will meet with a counselor to assess your situation and budget. Once you qualify, you will receive a prepacked box of food with enough to feed your family. Hours and locations are posted on the website. Food Not Bombs has refrigerators in Provo and Spanish Fork filled with food available to anyone. Clients need to wear gloves and only come during daylight hours. Watch the group’s Facebook page for updates. Food and Care Coalition in Provo provides meals and sack lunches to home-

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less, transient, and low-income people. For more information, call 801-373-1825. The Department of Workforce Services has a nutrition assistance program (SNAP) for low-income people. Call (866) 435-7414 extension 3 for more information. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offers food assistance to families. Call 801-851-7340 for details. Rent/Housing Assistance Community Action Services and Food Bank has both emergency housing and rent assistance available to those who qualify. New, recently approved funding is now available, so if you need help paying rent, call (801-691-5238, and a caseworker will discuss options and eligibility with you. Financial Advice The Financial Literacy Center at Community Action Services and Food Bank is not doing one-on-one financial counseling or classes currently. However, it prepared a virtual financial learning class, now streaming on YouTube, to help people during the crisis. Health Care If you have lost your job, you have

likely also lost your insurance. If you need to see a doctor, dentist, or mental health specialist during the crisis, there are places to get help. Community Health Connects mission is to improve access to health and dental care for low-income Utah County residents. It accomplishes this mission through a network of volunteer providers. Call 801-818-3015 for more information or check out its website. Another option for healthcare is the Mountainlands Community Health Center in Provo. It provides health care to low-income, underinsured, and uninsured Utah County residents. Go to mountainlands.org for more information. Other Help Do you need help with something else during the pandemic? United Way of Utah County has a helpline with a comprehensive list of community resources. Just call 211 for help. We are living through a significant health and economic crisis, and there is no shame in asking for help. In our community, you can find help with food, rent, health care, finances, and more. (Serve Daily submission.)

JUNE 2020

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