Tooele

Senior Center

The senior center is for the enjoyment of all seniors 55 and older. New and exciting activities include bridge, pinochle, bingo, exercise program, line dancing, wood carving, Wii games, watercolor class, movies and health classes. Meals on Wheels available for homebound. Lunch served weekdays. For age 60 and above, suggested donation is $3. For those under age 60, cost is $5. Transportation available to the store or doctor visits for residents in the Tooele and Grantsville areas. For transportation information call (435) 843-4102. For more information about the Tooele center, call (435) 843-4110.

AARP Smart Driver Course

A one-day AARP Smart Driver Course is scheduled for May 14, 2015 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Mountain West Medical Center, 2055 N. Main St. in Tooele. Cost is $20 or $15 if you show a current AARP membership card. For more information, call (435) 843-0690 or (435) 843-0691.

Tooele City 4-H Garden Club

The Tooele City 4-H Garden Club is for youth in kindergarten through 12th grade and their families. Each participant will be given their own garden plot. Kids can plant whatever they would like and what you grow belongs to you. There is $7 registration fee. We will meet every Wednesday or Thursday from June through September. If you would like to join the Club plan on attending the registration meeting that will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Tooele City Hall (90 North Main St., Tooele). For more information visit www.tooelecity.org or contact Tooele City Parks and Recreation at (435) 843-2142 or at terras@tooelecity.org.

Grantsville

Family History Center

Greet your ancestors free at the Grantsville Family History Center, 117 E. Cherry St. All are welcome with consultants there to assist you. Open Mondays noon to 4 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday noon to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Senior Center

The senior center is for the enjoyment of all seniors age 55 and older. For info, call (435) 884-3446. Activities include Bunco, exercise programs, bingo, ceramics, pinochle, movies and wood carving, etc. Meals on Wheels available for homebound. Lunch served weekdays. For age 60 and above, suggested donation is $3. For those under age 60, cost is $5. Transportation available to the store or doctor visits for residents in the Tooele and Grantsville areas. For transportation information, call (435) 843-4102.

Grantsville Irrigation

Agricultural users have been issued an additional turn for a total of two turns for the season. We do not anticipate giving any more turns this year. Residential users have been allotted 200,000 gallons per share. Please monitor your meter closely to avoid exceeding your allotment. “Like” us on Facebook for updates on the system.

Little Miss Grantsville Pageant

The Little Miss Grantsville Pageant will take place July 1, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Grantsville High School auditorium. A mandatory parent meeting will be held June 2, 2015 at the Baird residence, 200 E. Main St., Grantsville, at 7 p.m. To be eligible to participate, girls must be in grades 1-6. Girls must be Grantsville residents or attend Grantsville schools. For more information, contact Jan Baird at (435) 224-3288 or Krista Sparks (435) 841-9951.

Flapjacks at the Farm on Memorial Day

Start the holiday off with a delicious breakfast at the Clark Historic Farm on Memorial Day, May 25! Bring the family to enjoy flapjacks, eggs, sausage, bacon and juice. Breakfast is $4/plate and begins immediately after the flag raising ceremony at the city cemetery (starts at 8 a.m.) until 11 a.m. In front of the farm, take a stroll past the J. Reuben Clark Freedom Walk, a patriotic tribute to fallen Grantsville soldiers and to J. Reuben Clark’s service to the U.S. (free, all day).

Historic Grantsville 5k

Run, walk or stroll through Grantsville history! The course takes you past over 40 historic sites, each marked and described in a booklet given to each participant. Awards for top three in each age category, and raffle prizes for everyone. Check-in is 6:45 a.m., or 6:30 for late registrants, at the Grantsville Fire Station, 26 N .Center, and race begins at 7 a.m. Finish line is at the Clark Historic Farm, 378 W. Clark Street. Register online at www.clarkhistoricfarm.org/memorial-day-2015.html. $25/first entrant, $20/additional family member or Tooele Running Club member. Benefits the GHS tennis team and Clark Historic Farm.

Stansbury Park

Restoration at Benson Gristmill

The Historic Benson Gristmill Restoration Committee is seeking donations from individuals, groups, and businesses to help with restoration efforts and the operation of the historic Gristmill site. Donations may be sent to Tooele County Benson Gristmill Fund, 47 S. Main Street, Tooele, Utah 84074. For more information contact Mike (602) 826-9471.

Ophir

Park reservations

There are some open dated for reservations at Ophir Town Park. Groups only. No individual space reservations are available. Limited dates available for 2015, more for the 2016 season. Call Betty Shubert at (435) 882-5701. Note that this is a new phone number.

Schools

Saint Marguerite Catholic School

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR SUMMER LEARNING AND EXTENDED DAY CARE PROGRAMS! Our summer Learning and Extended Day Programs are open to all children, regardless of school attending. Summer Learning will run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30-noon. Extended Day operates from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Give us a call or stop by to complete registration. (435) 882-0081.

Summer Food Service Program

The Tooele County School District announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program. Free meals will be made available to all children through age 18 from May 26-Aug. 14, except for July 24. Lunch will be served from noon-1 p.m. The locations will be at Harris Elementary, 251 N. 1st St., Tooele, Utah; Northlake Elementary, 268 North Coleman St., Tooele, Utah; and Anna Smith Elementary, 741 N. Aria Blvd., Wendover, Utah. Meals will be available to adults also for $3.20 Adults are not permitted to eat off children’s trays.

Grantsville Cross Country

There will be a meeting regarding next year’s cross country season at Grantsville High School on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in Mr. Mouritsen’s classroom. Come check it out!

TATC

Business/IT

Rethink education and enroll today in our Business and/or IT programs for a better chance to succeed in today’s economy. Enroll today, there are some openings in these programs for new students. Call (435) 248-1800 or stop by our campus at 88 S. Tooele Blvd. for more information.

Industrial Maintenance Program

TATC offers a 900-hour Industrial Maintenance Training Program where you can learn about maintaining and operating industrial type machinery. This career is in high demand, and skills are needed nationwide — if you have an analytical mind and like to solve problems, you might find this to be a great fit. Stop by the campus today to learn about this exciting program, call the campus for more information at (435) 248-1800.

TATC Summer STEM Camp

Looking for something fun for your kids to do in the summer? TATC will be holding 3 STEM Camps during summer. The camp is for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Spaces are limited so please register early. The dates for the camps are June 26, July 17 and Aug. 14. Visit tatc.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. You won’t want to miss it!

Education

Online courses

Online courses in Network+ and Security+ IT are designed for the IT professional seeking to upgrade their skills and knowledge of networking and security, and prepares you for the CompTIA Network+ and Security+ exams. Call the TATC at (435) 248-1800 for more information or to enroll.

Adult education

Get your high school diploma this year. All classes required for a high school diploma, adult basic education, GED preparation and English as a second language are available. Register now to graduate — just $50 per semester. Located at 211 Tooele Blvd., call (435) 833-8750. Adult education classes are for students 18 and over.

ESOL

ESOL conversational classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays. ESOL students may also come anytime the center is open for individualized study. Registration is $50 per semester. Call (435) 833-8750 for more information.

Early Head Start

Do you have a child under age 3? Are you currently pregnant? VANTAGE Early Head Start is a free program for eligible families that offers quality early education for infants and toddlers in the home; parent education; comprehensive health services to women before, during and after pregnancy; nutrition education and family support services. Call (435) 841-1380 or (801) 268-0056 ext. 211 to apply or for free additional information.

Free developmental evaluation

DDI VANTAGE Early Intervention offers a variety of services to families with infants and toddlers from birth to age 3. Individualized services are available to enhance development in communication, motor development, cognition, social/emotional development, self-help skills and health concerns. Contact us for a free developmental evaluation at (435) 833-0725.

Gardening

Tooele Valley Beekeeping Club

The club meets the second Wednesday of each month during the active beekeeping season from 7-8:30 p.m. at Tractor Supply Company, located at the corner of SR 36 and SR 138 in Stansbury Park. Open to all and free of charge, come and learn from both experts and fellow hobbyists about the exciting world of beekeeping. A wide range of topics and equipment will be discussed in meetings, and will coordinate with typical beekeeping activity that is happening in that month. For more information, contact Jay Cooper at (435) 830-1447 or jay@dirtfarmerjay.com.

Annual Master Gardeners Plant Exchange

Open to the public — bring potted plants to exchange Wednesday, May 27, after the free monthly gardening presentation. The exchange will begin at 8 p.m., located at the USU Extension Building at 151 N. Main, Tooele. Label plants with variety and growth info. Bring home as many plants as you brought. For more information, call Jay Cooper at (435) 830-1447 or email jay@dirtfarmerjay.com.

Free landscape design class

This class is Wednesday, May 27 from 7-8 p.m. at the USU Extension Office, 151 N. Main, Tooele. You’re invited to this free presentation hosted by the Tooele County Master Gardeners featuring Virginia “Ginny” Hooper, professional landscape designer. Ginny completed her master’s degree in landscape architecture at USU. Prizes will be given out during the presentation, as well as a grand prize drawing for a 1 1/2-hour front yard design consultation. For more information, contact Jay Cooper at (435) 830-1447 or jay@dirtfarmerjay.com.

Churches

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

To find a meeting house and time of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, go to http://mormon.org/meetinghouse or contact (435) 850-8211.

Berean Full Gospel Church

We invite you to discover how God’s Word can transform your life and provide you with the answers for questions and for problems you may be struggling to overcome. Come join us this Sunday morning for our 10 a.m. worship service where we will assemble in praise, share testimonies and explore worship in ways that strive to highlight the greatness of God. After our morning praise and worship time we enter into a one-hour Bible Study at 11 a.m. Attend with us Sunday mornings at 635 N. Main St., (Phil’s Glass), or call (435) 578-8022 for more information.

Tooele First Baptist Church

The Sermon on the Mount — go through it with us, and learn from Jesus. Sunday Bible study: 9:45 a.m., Worship: 11 a.m. Tooele First Baptist — 580 S. Main St., 882-2048.

United Methodist Church

Tooele United Methodist Church services are held on Sundays at 11 a.m. Please check our website, tooelecumc.org, or call Tooele UMC’s office at 882-1349 or Pastor Debi’s cell at (801) 651-2557 for more info. We are located at 78 E. Utah Ave. in Tooele.

Church of Christ

Church of Christ meets at 430 W. Utah Ave. Bible class, Sunday at 10 a.m. and worship from 11 a.m. to noon. Wednesday Bible class at 7 p.m. We seek to be the Lord’s church established about 33 AD. Jesus is our only head of the church, headquarters are heaven. Come and grow with us. Call (435) 882-4642.

Cornerstone Baptist

Passion for God, compassion for people at 276 E. 500 North in Tooele, phone: (435) 882-6263. Come as you are this Sunday, where you can hear a message from the Bible and meet new friends. Service times: Bible study (for all ages) 9:45 a.m.; morning worship 11 a.m.; evening worship 6 p.m.; WiseGuys children’s program 6 p.m. Nursery provided for all services, and children’s church during morning worship. WiseGuys Program during evening worship.

Mountain of Faith Lutheran

We’re a healthy, growing congregation who welcomes newcomers and reaches out to those in need. Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., 560 S. Main, Tooele. We treat the word of God with respect without taking ourselves too seriously. Check us out on Facebook by searching for Mountain of Faith Lutheran Church. Please join us for meaningful worship that is also casual and relaxed. For more information, call (435) 882-7291.

St. Barnabas’ Episcopal

Weekly service of word, prayer and sacrament followed by fellowship. Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, 1784 N. Aaron Drive, Tooele. Phone: (435) 882-4721. Email: info@stbarnabasepiscopal.org. Web at www.stbarnabasepiscopal.org. You are God’s beloved child, beautifully created in God’s own image. Whatever your history, wherever you are in life’s journey, the Episcopal Church welcomes you.

Spanish services

La Iglesia Biblica Bautista de Tooele le invita a sus servicios en español los jueves a las 6 p.m. y los domingos a las 2 p.m. We invite you to their Spanish services on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Come to know a church that focused in the word of God rather than the emotions. God loves you and he wants to reveal himself to you. Located at 276 E. 500 North, Tooele. Call (435) 840-5036, rides provided.

St. Marguerite

St. Marguerite Catholic Community welcomes you to worship with us. Our liturgy schedule is as follows: Saturday Vigil 5 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m. (Spanish), 10:30 a.m. Daily Mass(M-Fri) 9 a.m. Confessions 4-4:45 p.m. on Saturday or by appt. Office hours, M-Fri 10-2. Our office is closed on Tues. (435)882-3860. St. Marguerite Pre-K-8th Grade Elementary School (435)882-0081. We are located on the corner of 7th St. and Vine.

Brit-Ammi Kahal

Covenant People Assembly are teaching the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith. Visitors welcome on Saturdays at 1 p.m., 37 S. Main Street, Tooele. Call (435) 843-5444 for more information.

Bible Baptist Church

We would like to invite you to a good old-fashioned revival with some bluegrass music and old-fashioned preaching every night at 7 p.m. at Bible Baptist Church, located at 286 N. 7th Street in Tooele. Contact Pastor Sinner at (435) 840-2152.

Mountain View Baptist Church

We would like to invite you to discover what God’s plan and purpose is for your life. The Bible contains all of the answers for life’s questions. Come and join us this Sunday for our adult Bible study and graded Sunday School which starts at 9:45 a.m. Our worship service begins at 11 a.m. We also have a Bible study time each Sunday at 6 p.m. We meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for prayer time. Bring your needs and let us pray together for God’s help. Mountain View Baptist Church meets at the Eastgate Plaza in Grantsville, Suite 2C. Join us.

Stansbury Park Baptist Church

Please join us each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. for Worship Services and Bible Study at the Stansbury Park Clubhouse (next to the SP Swimming Pool). For details, please call us at (435) 830-1868 or go to www.stansburyparkbc.org.

First Lutheran Church

First Lutheran Church, on the corner of 7th and Birch, would like to invite you to hear of God’s grace and the love of Christ, who died to forgive you of your sins and attain salvation on your behalf. Worship is at 6 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month and at 10 a.m. on all other Sundays. Sunday school at 11:15 a.m.

New Life Christian Fellowship

We invite you to worship and serve Jesus with us. Our clothing closet and food pantry is open from noon to 3 p.m. every Tuesday to Thursday at 411 E. Utah Ave. Programs for kids, teens, women and men are also available every week. Sunday services are at our Tooele building at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Come join us. Find out more by calling 843-7430 or visiting www.NLOT.org.

Tooele Christian Fellowship

Sunday School 9:45 a.m., Worship Service 11 a.m. Services are held at 40 N. Main, former Stowes Family Music building. For more information, call (435) 224-3392 or www.tooelechristianfellowship.org. Parking and entrance in back of building.

Tooele First Assembly

Sunday school at 10 a.m., morning worship at 11 a.m. Spanish services: Escuela dominical a las 2 p.m., y el servicio general a las 3 p.m. Services are held at 127 N. 7th Street.

Charity

Tooele Children’s Justice Center

Tooele Children’s Justice Center is in need of DVD-Rs, soda, bottled water and snacks. We appreciate all donations. For inquiries or drop-off call (435) 843-3440. 25 S. 100 East, Tooele.

Friends of the CJC

Children’s Justice Center charity golf tournament on June 5 at Stansbury Golf Course. Call 435-843-3440 for more information. Have fun while supporting a great cause! We will have many great prizes.

United Methodist dinner

Tooele United Methodist church offers a free dinner every Wednesday. Coffee and social hour starts at 4 p.m. and dinner is served from 5-6 p.m. All are welcome.

The Tooele Valley Resource Center

The Tooele Valley Resource Center is currently in need of donations. Please consider donating items such as deodorant, chapstick, lotion, diapers, formula, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, combs and brushes. Cash is also welcomed. Those who receive services include individuals or families in crisis, the homeless and families at risk of becoming homeless. Located 23 S. Main Street, (435) 843-9945.

First Baptist Food Pantry

The First Baptist Church in Tooele is offering an emergency food pantry to meet the needs of our community. The food pantry is available for emergency needs. Hours of operation are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. We are located at 580 S. Main Street. For information call (435) 882-2048.

The Tooele County Food Bank & Grantsville Emergency Food Pantry

The Tooele County Food Bank and Grantsville Emergency Food Pantry are in need of canned meats, soups, pasta and any non-perishable foods. We are accepting donations for Pathways Women’s and Children’s Shelter (victims of domestic abuse). They are in need of socks, underwear, blankets for twin beds, hygiene products (hairspray, hair gel, body wash, nail polish and remover, toys. Anything will be appreciated. Underwear and socks must be new. Other items can be gently used. Please help us help our community. Drop boxes are located in the Intermountain Staffing Office, 7 South Main Street #203, Tooele, UT 84074.

First Baptist Church Food and Clothing Closet

We have clothing for everyone from newborn to adult. We ask you to take what you need and then pass the information to others. We ask that you call for an appointment as we are not at the church all the time. Contact Linda (435) 849-1849, Sondra (435) 849-3222, or Sandie (435) 830-7876.

Red Cross Blood Drives

The American Red Cross asks eligible donors to give blood in the weeks leading up to summer to help prevent a seasonal decline in donations. Blood donations often decline when regular donors get busy with vacations and school is out of session, but the need for blood is constant. Local donation opportunities are as follows: May 23 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Denny’s Restaurant, 925 N. Main St. in Tooele; May 29 at the Tooele Utah Stake, 250 S. 200 East in Tooele; and June 4 from 1:30-7:30 p.m. at the Tooele South Stake, 1026 Southwest Dr. in Tooele.

Moose Lodge

Meals at the Lodge

Friday and Saturday night dinners will be served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday night dinners include clam chowder or homemade soup, and/or fish baskets (halibut, shrimp), or chicken strips. Saturday night dinners include 16-ounce ribeye or T-bone steak with choice of baked potato/fries, salad and roll; halibut or salmon steak with choice of baked potato or fries, salad and roll, or Jumbo shrimp with choice of baked or fries, salad and roll. All meals are for a reasonable price. No orders are taken after 8:45. Daily lunch specials are available at the lodge from 11 a.m. After purchase of 10 (ten) meals either Friday/Saturday nights you get a free one. If you have more than four people in your party, please call ahead to ensure the cook can plan better. For members and their guests only.

Entertainment

Hot Diggity will be performing on Saturday, May 30 from 7-11 p.m. For members and their guests only.

Navajo Tacos

WOTM are serving Navajo tacos on Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Idaho/Utah Moose Association.

Golf scramble

The first Moose golf scramble will be Sunday, June 28 at Oquirrh Hills Golf Course. 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Sign up at the lodge starting in June.

Eagles

Sunday breakfasts

There will be a breakfast every Sunday. There is a special every Sunday for $5 per person and you can order off the menu for $7 per person or $3 for kids age 11 and under. The breakfast includes juice, coffee, etc. Bad beer is available and the food is delicious. Public invited.

Dinner specials

The May 22 steak night is canceled. On May 29, the dinner special is a rib eye steak for $15.

Planning meeting

The monthly planning meeting will be on Tuesday, May 19 at 6 p.m. at the hall to plan the activities for June. All officers and chairmen of activities are invited to attend.

Auxiliary Past Presidents
dinner

PMP Cinda McCully will host the monthly dinner for the Auxiliary PPs at the Sun Lok Yen Restaurant on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. All PPs are invited to attend.

Officer installation

The Tooele Eagles Aerie and Auxiliary will install the newly elected officers into office on Saturday, June 6, 2015. The officers are asked to be there at 4:30 p.m. and the installation will be at 5 p.m. A buffet dinner will be held in the game room downstairs after the ceremony. All officers and any other brothers and sisters who are coming are asked to bring their favorite dish for the buffet and a raffle prize for the raffle if you can. Come out and support the new officers and start the year off right.

Elks

Friday night dinners

Dinner will be served each Friday night from 6-9 p.m.

Veterans Appreciation Day and Car Show

Sponsored by Tooele Elks Lodge #1673, this event will take place Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Tooele City Park, 55 N. 200 West. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and costs $20 per entry. Veterans eat for free.

Golf scramble

Tooele Elks Lodge #1674 will host a golf scramble Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Overlake Golf Course, located at 2947 N. 680 West in Tooele. There will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Greens fees are $20, a cart is $12, prizes and donation are $10 and a chicken cordon bleu lunch is $8. Sign up at the lodge, 61 N. Main St. in Tooele.

Memorial Day service

There will be a Memorial Day service Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. in Veteran’s Square.

Tooele County Historical Society

Historical books

Tooele County Historical Society’s books will be available to purchase at our meeting. The History of Tooele County Volume II is $30, The Mining, Smelting, and Railroading in Tooele is $20, and we also have eight note cards depicting four different pioneer buildings for $4. These will make great gifts for your family and friends. Please call Alice Dale at 882-1612 if you would like to purchase these books.

Seeking Historical Items

Tooele County Historical Society would like members of the community who have any family or personal histories, photographs, books, brochures, DVDs, VHS tapes, or newspaper articles that you would like to donate to our organization to please call us. We are also looking for books, newspaper articles, photos, brochures or any history that pertains to the Tooele County area. If you would like to donate them to our organization, or if you would let us make a copy for the Tooele County Historical Society, please call Alice Dale at (435) 882-1612.

Groups and events

Local author seeks photos

A local author and historian is seeking original photographs of Saltaire, Black Rock, Garfield Beach and/or Lake Point, as well as any similar turn-of-the-century attractions and resorts for an upcoming book project. Those who wish to contribute information or photographs of these parks should contact Emma Penrod at elpenrod@gmail.com. Contributions will be printed with credit in a yet-to-be released pictorial history book. There is no such thing as too many photographs as the author needs a minimum of 160 photographs, and any help is greatly appreciated.

Tooele Valley Flute Choir

The Tooele Valley Flute Choir seeks members interested in our inaugural effort to raise the profile of local flautists. If you love to play the flute and want to grow your musical horizons, please join us! All levels of skill and experience welcome. Contact Emma at elpenrod@gmail.com.

Tooele Valley Free Masons

The Tooele Valley Free Masons meet the second Friday of each month for dinner and socializing. If you are interested or have questions please join us at the Lodge, located at the corner of Settlement Canyon Road and Highway 36, or give us a call at (435) 277-0087.

Tooele Valley Family History Center

Research your ancestors free with trained FamilySearch volunteers at the Tooele Valley Family History Center, 751 N. 520 East, Tooele. Phone (435) 882-1396. Hours of operation: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7-9 p.m. Wednesday evenings by appointment only. Special classes offered regularly. Call the center for more information.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly

Give yourself the gift of health and wellness. Resolve to lose those extra pounds. TOPS can help you achieve your goals and support you in your journey. We provide accountability through weekly weigh-ins and support and encouragement in a non-judgmental environment. TOPS is open to all men, women, teens and preteens. There are now two TOPS chapters in Tooele to accommodate your schedule. UT 330 Tooele meets Tuesday at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 276 E. 500 North. Weigh in from 5:30-6 p.m., meeting at 6 p.m. Call Mary Lou at (435) 830-1150 for information. UT 365 Tooele meets Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Bit n Spur Clubhouse, 240 W. 500 North. This chapter will meet occasionally at a private residence, so call ahead for the exact location. Call Lisa at (435) 882-1442 for information. Also see the TOPS website at www.tops.org.

Tooele Gem and Mineral Society

Our Club meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Tooele Applied Technology College (TATC) Auditorium at 88 S. Tooele Blvd, Tooele. Come learn about rocks, minerals and ways to craft with them and enjoy field trips for rock collecting. Membership $10 per year. Visit us on Facebook or www.tooelegem.com. Contact info: (435) 882-5752 email TooeleGemAndMineral@gmail.com.

Mood disorder support group

Do you or someone you love have a mood disorder? NAMI-Tooele affiliation offers help, hope and healing. Please join us for support group sessions every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at the New Reflection Clubhouse on 900 South in Tooele. For more info, contact Kelly at 841-9903.

Tooele Family Al-Anon

Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at the Tooele Pioneer Museum, in the basement at the back of the building. For questions or more information, please call Allene at (435) 830-0465 or Elizabeth at (435) 884-0825 or (435) 241-9200.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Meeting daily at noon and 8 p.m. at the Oasis Alano Club, 1120 W. Utah Ave. For more information, contact Glenn at (435) 882-1789 or (860) 798-2139.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a free, 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food addiction. Meetings are held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Pioneer Museum, 47 E. Vine St. in Tooele. Enter at the north back entrance. For more information, call Millicent at (435) 882-7094 or Denise at (435) 830-1835 or visit www.foodaddicts.org. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Stansbury Art and Literary Society Meeting

The next meeting of the Stansbury Art and Literary Society will be May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Tooele Applied Technical College, 88 S. Tooele Blvd., Tooele City. Dustin Frank will do a presentation on digital photography. In his words, he wants you to “find out how easy it is to organize, enhance and share your entire digital photo collection. Discover how to turn ordinary snapshots into great photos. Explore some simple editing techniques and learn to design your own professional-quality photo book or create a gorgeous calendar using your own photos.” All are welcome. The optional project for the month is to create a work of art using the theme of “Vacations” in the medium of your choice. Bring the completed piece to the May meeting.

Stansbury Art and Literary Society Artist of the Month

The Stansbury Art and Literary artist for the month of May is Patricia Jessie. Originally from the South Shore of Massachusetts, where she was an award-winning fine arts photographer, she now concentrates on doing digital close-ups of the roses and flowers she grows in her own yard. Most of her photos reflect what she sees through the lens as what she will print on her choice of photographic paper. Her training as a film photographer has allowed her the expertise to manually use her digital camera as she did for her film photography. What Pat sees is reproduced as an expression of her artistic talent. Her photographs are being displayed on the Chamber Wall Gallery at the Chamber of Commerce Building, 153 S. Main, Tooele. All are welcome to come and view the artwork during the Chamber’s regular business hours.

Life’s Worth Living Foundation

Suicide support group every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the TATC, located at 88 S. Tooele Blvd., Tooele. If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or have lost a loved one to suicide, please plan on attending. Please go on Facebook and like our page to keep current with our latest news and events. Contact us on that page. lifesworthlivingfoundation.com.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tooele Summer Club

For ages 6-12, the club runs from June 3-Aug. 14 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost is $390 for the summer, with $130 due upon registration. Register daily at the Dow James Building, 438 W. 400 North, between 3-6 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, call (435) 843-5719.

DAV Chapter 20

The DAV will hold its monthly EC meeting from 7:30-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Pioneer Museum. The general membership meeting will follow from 8-9 p.m. The next meeting will be May 21. In addition, the DAV is looking for three volunteer drivers. No DAV membership is required. Will need a VA physical. Call Curtis Beckstrom at (435) 840-0547 or Ross Curley at (801) 641-9121.

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group

Meetings will be held every third Friday of the month at 1 p.m. Tooele Applied Technology College (TATC) has generously donated their beautiful boardroom for the meetings. This is a very comfortable setting with ample seating and ADA access, located at 88 S. Tooele Blvd. in Tooele (west end of Vine Street). For more information, you may contact Barbara Royal at barbcroyal55@hotmail.com or (801) 656-9673. Look for our booth in the upcoming Senior Expo in September.

Rosewood Dental Military Makeover

May is National Military Appreciation Month. At Rosewood Dental, we would like to help honor our hometown heroes by giving away a smile makeover to a deserving military member. Please nominate your hero and tell us why they should win by May 22. For more information, call (435) 882-0099.

Community Education Program on Legal and Financial Planning

A “Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease” workshop will be presented by the Alzheimer’s Association on Saturday, May 30 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Tooele City Public Library in the Community Meeting room. All are welcome to attend. This free program is sponsored by the Tooele County Aging Services and the Caregivers Advisory Council.

Boy Scouts Trash Can Cleaning

Tired of your dirty trash can? Let the Boy Scouts help! The scouts of troop 1552 will be holding a trash can cleaning fund raiser Saturday, May 30 at 8 a.m. cleaning trash cans to raise money for camp and equipment. They will be cleaning garbage cans for a suggested minimum donation of $25 for one can or 2 for $40. They will be cleaning the cans at the church at the corner of 1000 North and Broadway (about 300 East).

Eastern Star

Tooele Valley Chapter #25, Order of Eastern Star, will be holding its monthly get-together at Jim’s Family Restaurant at 4:30 p.m. on May 24. Anyone is invited to attend. June 6 we will be holding our regular scheduled meeting at 2 p.m. for members only. June 13 at 2 p.m., we will welcome home our very own Worthy Grand Matron Raelyne Estep, accompanied by her Worthy Grand Patron and other Grand Officers (members only). Dinner will follow the meeting at 6 p.m. at the Eagles Nest. Cost is $30. Please RSVP to Joyce Noxon at (435) 882-4858. For more information regarding Eastern Stars contact Trish Ferry at (435) 830-9553.

Eighth grade students in Tooele Valley went to college during the last two weeks of school.

Clarke N. Johnsen, Grantsville, and Tooele Junior High schools sent their eighth grade students to Tooele City’s education corridor for one day on either May 13,19 or 20.

Called “Education Corridor Days,” the event allowed students the chance to experience local educational opportunities at Tooele Applied Technology College, Utah State University Tooele Regional Campus, and the Tooele County School District’s Community Learning Center.

The students toured each facility, participating in some hands-on experiences.

“Studies show that if you get a student on campus and into a building they are more likely to enroll in higher education,” said Julie Hartley-Moore, USU Tooele Regional Campus director.

At USU, students participated in a mock battle between Sparta and Athens.

Armed with foam swords and plastic trash can lids for shields, they formed a tight phalanx and pressed forward.

Associate history professor Bob Mueller explained how the phalanx influenced shared political power across social classes, which gave birth to democracy.

Other stations at USU Tooele engaged students in English, anthropology and other college subjects.

“We hope students find learning fun and want to send them home with a desire to learn more,” said Donna Dillingham-Evans, dean of USU Tooele Regional Campus.

At TATC, industrial maintenance instructor Don Bryant introduced the students to 17th century scientist Blaise Pascal.

The students put Pascal’s principle to work and used hydraulics to crush cans with their little finger. They also created 20 tons of force with one arm.

Welding, nail technician, medical careers and information technology were among the other stops at TATC.

“As students tour TATC, they are introduced to hands-on training methods that exist throughout our college,” said Scott Snelson, TATC president. “Our goal is for students to discover something that makes them think a little about their future and to go home excited and share possibilities with parents and friends.”

At the CLC, programming computer games and apps were a popular stop on the tour.

Other careers explored at the CLC included information technology, health careers, cosmetology, culinary arts, criminal justice, engineering and commercial art.

“The Corridor Days tour provides a hands-on look at the different educational institutions that provide classes and learning to help with post high school careers,” said Marianne Oborn, Career and Technical Education director for the Tooele County School District. 

If the top students in Wendover High School’s class of 2015 shared memories of the school as though they were family, that’s because they are.

The 30 WHS graduates were lead across the stage of the Peppermill Concert Hall on Tuesday evening by valedictorian Vanessa Cuevas and salutatorian Jessica Cuevas — both twin sisters.

The sisters addressed the class and reminisced about their class achievements, the teachers who helped them along the way, and fond memories they had made with their fellow graduating seniors, according to Tammy Wadsworth, Wendover High School secretary.

The twins also spoke powerfully about the importance of pursuing and achieving their goals, Wadsworth said.

The student speakers were joined by guest addresses by Alex Jeppson, a former Wendover High School teacher, and Dale Higley, a current teacher who will retire this year. Higley’s son, Dale Higley, Jr., walked during the ceremony and read the introduction for his father.

The graduation ceremony also featured Wendover High School’s traditional senior class slide show, and a flute solo by Kate Henderson with accompanist Alan Rowley.

Shaunnae Bateman, Jessica Cuevas, Vanessa Cuevas, and Jasmine Maldonado all graduated with high academic honors.

Blas Aguirre, Jr., Minerva Daum, Dale Higley, Jr., William Connor Kennedy, Jaqueline Luna, Jasmin Mendoza, Kyler Bryan Murphy, Angelica Serna, Landyn Gerald Shepherd, Jerica LaRae Solt and Damion Valadez graduated with academic honors.

Jesus Barboza, Dallan Bateman, Shaunnae Bateman, Jonathan Botello, Evelyn Carrillo, Ruben Chavez, Yulisa Chavez, Steven Gallo, Valeria Gomez, Estefania Gonzalez, Erik Guevara, Nicolas Herrera, Jose Juarez, German Hernandez Ramos, Salvador Rivera and Julissa Santiago rounded out the WHS class of 2015.

This year’s class also stood out for the amount of scholarship funds they raised to pursue further education. The graduating seniors claimed a combined total of more than $100,000 in scholarship funds, which were announced at a May 18 awards ceremony. 

Tooele County’s annual Memorial Day activities will return again as residents take time to remember the county’s servicemen and servicewomen.

Tooele City will host its Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the corner of Vine and Main streets. The service begins at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Also on Monday, the Grantsville City Memorial Day service and flag raising will be held at the heart of the city cemetery and will begin at 8 a.m.

Both the Tooele and Grantsville events are free and open to the public.

The Clark Historic Farm will host its Historic Grantsville 5K on Memorial Day as well. Runners and walkers competing in the event will pass more than 40 historic sites in the city.

Online registration is available through Friday and is $25. The run begins at 7 a.m. and starts outside the Grantsville City Fire Station.

There will also be a flapjack breakfast held at the farm from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Every plate of pancakes will cost $4.  

Dugway High School saw eight graduates transition into adulthood at the school’s Wednesday evening graduation ceremony.

The ceremony, which honored the smallest graduating class in the county this year, featured addresses by Principal Robin Nielson, valedictorian Bonnie Faith Kruse, salutatorian John Catalla, and David Gardiner, a former DHS teacher.

Nielson called the graduation ceremony a night of firsts and lasts. It was the first time the graduates’ future fell entirely to their own devices, she said, and the last time they could seek shelter in high school’s safety net.

For the first time, their life would no longer revolve around school, Nielson said. But it could also be the last time many of them would set foot at Dugway for some time, she said.

Kruse, the class valedictorian, said the school’s small size gave each student the opportunity to participate and find a place at the school. Nielson said Kruse spoke of the class’s desire to see each member succeed, and also paid special thanks to the school’s guidance counselor for helping the class make sense of their teenage years.

Catalla said he would remember high school not in terms of quarters or years, but in terms of the time he spent with friends.

Dugway’s graduating class of 2015 consisted of Adam J. Adamson, John Severus Tagulinao Catalla, Mariah Rebeka Cole, Courtney Dale Hardy, Bonnie Faith Kruse, McKenzie Elizabeth McCollin, Garrett Jones Thackerary and Oscar Arnulfo Valdiveiezo Balderrama. 

A change in Blue Peak High School’s yearbook disappointed at least one special needs student and triggered an avalanche of negative national attention for the small alternative high school.

For the last two years a group of adult special education students, who attend Tooele County School District’s 18-22 transition program housed in the district’s Community Learning Center, were included on a page in Blue Peak High School’s yearbook. Blue Peak is also located at the CLC.

However, a decision was made not to put pictures of the special education students in the 2015 Blue Peak High School yearbook.

The mother of one of the special education students at the CLC purchased a yearbook. The student was reportedly disappointed when she searched the pages of the book and couldn’t find her picture.

Media outlets across the country picked up a Salt Lake City news report of the incident. Some ran headlines that read, “Utah school bans special needs student from yearbook.”

The headlines were misleading, according to school district officials.

They have apologized for the confusion that caused some students to feel left out. A yearbook insert is being prepared for free distribution to all students who purchased a yearbook, according to Bryce Eardley, Blue Peak High School principal.

This is Eardley’s first year as principal of Blue Peak. He has accepted responsibility for the confusion and hurt feelings.

“I just feel awful,” he said. “I love those students. I would never want to do something that would hurt or offend them.”

Parents of the 18-22 transition students were not notified of the change in the yearbook. Eardley admits that was a mistake.

The decision not to put adult special needs students in the high school yearbook had nothing to do with wanting to exclude special needs students or running out of pages, district officials say.

The decision was made to be consistent with the evolution of the school district’s new 18-22 transition program and help achieve the goal of independence for the 17 students in the program, according to Mat Jackson, Tooele County School District Special Education director.

He explained the reason for the change in Blue Peak High School’s yearbook, and it starts with understanding the CLC’s purpose.

The structure was built to house several programs. Each program at the CLC is a distinct and separate program.  They are not a school within a school, but they share a building, he said.

Currently there are four programs that meet at the CLC. They include Blue Peak High School, the district’s alternative high school; Adult Education, a program for students over 18 who are working on a high school diploma; Career and Technical Education, students from high schools throughout the county attend classes for cosmetology, information technology, law enforcement, engineering, medical careers and other careers; and the 18-22 year old transition program for special education students, according to Jackson.

The 18-22 transition program is new to the CLC. It started as a pilot program four years ago and expanded two years ago to include all special education students between 18 and 22.

Initially, students from Blue Peak High School were involved with peer tutoring the students in the 18-22 transition program.

Although the special education students were not students at Blue Peak High School, they were included in the school’s yearbook because of the peer-tutoring program.

The district evaluated the 18-22 transition program last year and decided the students were not achieving a desirable level of independence. As a result, the peer-tutoring program was ended.

The district formed a partnership with the state Office of Rehabilitation, Tooele Applied Technology College, the Utah State University Regional Campus, and local businesses.

“We place these students in real jobs in the community,” Jackson said. “They work and earn a paycheck. Instead of peer tutoring, they work with a job coach.”

The program has been immensely successful, according to Jackson.

Most of the students are gainfully employed. One former student in the 18-22 transition program now attends USU Tooele. Other school districts use the program as a model for their 18-22 special education students, Jackson said.

As a result of the change in the program, Blue Peak High School students and the 18-22 transition students no longer officially interact at the CLC. However, they share hallways and a lunch room with all students in other programs at the CLC.

“We want the 18-22 transition students to feel like college students,” Jackson said. “They are transitioning into adulthood and becoming independent.”

The decision was made not to include the 18-22 transition students in the high school yearbook. These students have already attended four years of high school, been included in their yearbook, and had the opportunity to walk at graduation if they met the requirements for a certificate of completion, according to Jackson.

Instead of a printed yearbook, a local professional videographer donated services and produced a video yearbook for students in the 18-22 transition program, according to Eardley.

However, Eardley doesn’t want anybody to feel left out. He has called the yearbook company and an insert featuring the 18-22 transition students will be printed.

The insert will be printed on the same quality of paper as the rest of the yearbook, he said.

So far Eardley has heard from parents of four transition students who do not want their students in the insert.

“I don’t know what it will look like,” Eardley said. “But we will print an insert. We need to do that. Nobody should feel left out.” 

This time next year, Stockton Mayor Mark Whitney hopes the town will prepare for its Memorial Day ceremony in a new veterans memorial park.

A committee of veterans was formed last year to locate, design and fund a park space for veterans and the town’s founders. At the Stockton Town Council meeting on May 14, the location for the new park was finalized.

In 2006, Stockton resident Rulon Aufdemorte donated a lot for the park. The council determined the location wasn’t suitable due to concerns about parking.

The park will instead be moved to the town’s north entrance at the corner of SR-36 and Kings Way. Whitney said the property is larger than the donated lot, which will be returned, and has room for the park to expand.

Gathering funds for the park will be the most difficult piece to make the park happen, Whitney said. So far the committee has received a $1,000 donation from a Moose Lodge golf tournament and a $5,000 grant from Tooele County.

The committee tasked with ensuring the park happens includes veterans Terry Edwards, Jack Hollien, Kent Baker, George Anderson, John Rydalch, Steve Bevan, Ken Edwards, John Sandstorm and Nando Mali.

Ken Edwards said the grant from the county will go toward installing flagpoles on the designated property, including one for each branch of the U.S. military: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.  Another flag will be flown for prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Edwards and Whitney both said they expect the flags could go up on the property as soon as this summer. Landscaping will be completed by master gardeners and feature drought resistant plants suited for Stockton’s climate, Edwards said.

Finishing any monuments to accompany the flags is an issue of funding, Edwards said. He said he’d like to see monuments for each branch and POW/MIA, as well as one for the Navajo Code Talker who lived in Stockton and was one of the first local casualties of the Vietnam War.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said. “We hope to have it done within two to three years.”

Whitney also said the memorial park would be a nice way to mark the entrance to the town.

“We’re really excited about how it will welcome people into the Town of Stockton,” he said.

There will be a community yard sale later this year to help fund the park, Whitney said. The town and private citizens will provide goods for the sale, with all proceeds going to the memorial park, he said.

Edwards said that a space is needed in the town that not only remembers the sacrifice of local servicemen and servicewomen, but all U.S. veterans.

“All I want to do is honor the veterans,” he said.

Whitney said he hopes to have enough completed at the park to unveil it a year from now on Memorial Day.

“If we can get something done there this fall and into next spring, it’d be nice to have a ribbon cutting,” he said. 

The first of three Utah State Prison relocation open houses for the public was held Wednesday night in Salt Lake City and here is a summary of what attendees were told by a panel:

• Prisons don’t lower property values or increase crime, and inmates’ families don’t relocate to prison communities.

• Prisoners haven’t escaped from the state prison in over 20 years, and prisons don’t scare businesses away.

• New infrastructure for a prison, paid by the state, will attract new business.

• Property tax payments won’t go down and sales tax collections will go up.

• Old prisons have tall towers and bright lights, and modern prisons are low profile and high tech.

• The new prison will have the same number of beds as the old one, and the new prison will have programs to help keep prisoners from coming back.

• Members of the Prison Relocation Commission who  try to use their position for profit may get a chance to see the prison from the inside.

That’s some of what the state’s Prison Relocation Commission’s panel of experts told nearly 200 citizens who attended the PRC’s question and answer panel discussion at the Utah State Fairgrounds.

But the panel’s answers didn’t sway No Prison in Tooele County co-founder Jewel Allen.

“I think they covered things with a broad brush stroke and ignored some of the negative things,” she said.

The open house started at 4 p.m. with a series of display panels and videos that explained different aspects of the prison relocation process.

The display panels featured maps and pictures of each of the five sites under consideration for the new prison, while legislative staff members manned a display that explained the economic benefits of a new prison.

Staff from the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Adult Probation and Parole answered questions at a display on criminal justice reform.

And the PRC’s consultant team engaged the public at a display that highlighted construction elements of modern correctional facilities.

The panel of experts for the question and answer session consisted of PRC co-chairmen, Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville and Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton.

Also part of the panel were Ron Gordon, executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; Rollin Cook, executive director of the Department of Corrections; PRC consultants Bob Nardi and Brad Sassatelli, and Bruce Blackham, mayor of Gunnison, home of the Central Utah Corrections Facility.

Alexis Cairo, a University of Utah adjunct professor of communications, moderated the discussion.

Cairo read written questions submitted during the open house and continued to accept written questions throughout the evening.

Repetitive questions were consolidated. Otherwise, every question or comment was read during the two-hour panel discussion.

The two PRC co-chairmen made it clear that leaving the prison in Draper was not an option.

“We are not here to talk about whether or not to move the prison,” Wilson said. “The PRC is charged with where to move the prison.”

“We live in a republic, and your elected representatives have already voted to move the prison,” Stevenson said.

The PRC has been to Draper and looked at the site. With 100 buildings on the site there isn’t room to build a new prison while operating the old prison at the same time, according to Stevenson.

“I don’t know how the plan could ever come together,” Stevenson said. “We can’t put the kind of incarceration facility we need on the Draper site.”

Even if the prison could be rebuilt on the Draper site, it is not an acceptable location, according to Wilson.

“It doesn’t make any sense to rebuild the prison in the economic job creation hub of the state,” Wilson said. “The consultants and the Legislature all agree that that would be a bad decision.”

Mayor Blackham answered several questions about the impact of a prison on his community.

The crime rate hasn’t gone up in Gunnison, and the community is safe for families, he said.

“We are so lucky to have so many professional trained corrections officers living in our community,” Blackham said. “Our safety has been enhanced by their presence.”

Families of inmates have not moved to Gunnison, according to Blackham.

“On visiting day people come into town,” he said. “They buy some gas and some goodies and they go home.”

The entire Wednesday night question and answer panel discussion can be found on YouTube by searching for “Prison Relocation Panel Q&A.”

The PRC open house will come to Grantsville High School on May 28. The open house will start at 4 p.m. with a question and answer session from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Another open house will be held June 2 at Frontier Middle School in Eagle Mountain.

Stevenson expects the commission will have a site recommendation ready in six weeks after the June 2 open house.

David Stack

When Tooele County Sheriff’s Lt. Travis Scharmann attended a conference on cold cases a few years ago, he was reminded of a 35-year-old unsolved homicide near Wendover.

A young man, in his late teens or mid-twenties, had been found near a sanitary landfill with two gunshot wounds to the head. Scharmann submitted the details of the case to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs.

About eight months ago, discussions between NamUs, the state medical examiner’s office and the sheriff’s office revealed a possible match with the unidentified homicide victim.

On June 1, 1976, David Stack left his family home in Broomfield, Colorado. The 18 year old planned to hitchhike to California, with likely stops at his sibling’s homes in Truckee, Nevada or Berkeley, California, according to the NamUs’ database.

He never made it to either destination.

Stack had brown hair and brown eyes. He also had a scar on his left elbow and a scar on his forehead.

On June 10, 1976, sheriff deputies discovered the body of the unidentified man. He had no ID, but had last been seen in Wendover the previous afternoon, according to NamUs.

The body found in Wendover was that of a 17- to 22-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He also had a scar on his forehead.

Scharmann said reopening the cold case was initially difficult because of insubstantial reports or evidence. Anyone still with the sheriff’s office who remembered the initial case didn’t remember details or was no longer with the department, he said.

When the case reopened, Scharmann, who now heads the patrol division, forwarded the information to the investigations department. Eventually, enough evidence was gathered to exhume the John Doe.

On May 12, crews exhumed the body from the Tooele City Cemetery. The body, which was buried by the county after the case went nowhere, was transported to the state medical examiner’s office.

The remains will undergo dental and DNA analysis at the University of North Texas through the NamUs program, but it could take six to eight months for the results to come back.

The sheriff’s department has been working with the Broomfield Police Department to obtain the original missing person report on Stack and correspond with his family.

Stack’s family no longer lives in Broomfield but still lives in Colorado, according to Broomfield Police Department spokeswoman Joleen Reefe. 

Another year at Grantsville High School ended Wednesday night as 157 seniors crossed the school’s gymnasium stage to receive their diplomas.

Principal Mark Ernst presented the 2015 graduating class to a gymnasium full of families, friends and the Utah Board of Education.

“On behalf of the faculty and staff of Grantsville High School,” he said, “I hereby declare that these candidates have met all requirements for graduation from the state of Utah and Grantsville High School.”

The event featured several speakers, including those in student government, administration and long-time community members.

Angel Cloward, the class historian for this year’s graduating class, recounted a full year’s worth of activities, including athletic achievements and memories made through the years as she helped the Class of 2015 reflect on a lifetime of camaraderie.

“Our history will influence our future decisions and paths,” she said. “I hope everyone will remember their time at Grantsville High School as much as I will.”

Autumn Dzierzon spoke as the class’s salutatorian. She said the choices this year’s graduates make in the future will impact the rest of their lives and commended her classmates for their accomplishments.

“In our classes, teams and clubs, everyone has found a way to improve themselves,” she said. “Through your diligence, you have accomplished amazing things already.”

Jacquelyn Cowdell, this year’s valedictorian, moved to Grantsville from West Jordan just before she began the fifth grade.

“It’s been a great four years,” she said. “We’ve had some fun times and we’ve had some emotional times, and now here we are. The future is at the door, and while life seems scary at times, I know we’ll be OK because we’re Cowboys.”

Don Wayne Nelson was the guest speaker. He attended Grantsville High School from 1960-66, was student body president his senior year, and led the boys and girls tennis teams to 31 state championships as head coach.

“I feel very honored for the opportunity to speak to you,” he said. “A school is like life. It has the exterior of brick, mortar glass and steel, but what really makes a school is the school’s soul and spirit. … It’s where acts of kindness are found and where we learn to win and lose.”

Cowdell and Dzierzon were accompanied by Erin Anderson and Kaitlyn Broadbent as the only Cowboys to walk in this year’s class with a 4.0 GPA.

“We wouldn’t have done it without the support,” Dzierzon said, addressing the audience.

Seven students also earned Academic All-State honors: Wyatt Barrus, Angel Cloward, Dzierzon, Hansen, Gavin Holt, Ericka Hughes and Braden Sandberg.

Dzierzon, who will play softball at Snow College next year, and Braden Sandberg, who starred on Grantsville’s varsity basketball and tennis teams, both earned those honors in two sports each.

The senior class officers for the Class of 2015 were President Lauren Johnson — who led the class in changing their tassels on Wednesday — Vice President Kennedy Kelley, Secretary Kim Brown and Cloward, who served as class historian.

The student body officers for the 2014-15 school year were President Mandy Wilson, Holt — serving as vice president, Secretary Nathan Beckett, Historian Aaron Imlay, Public Relations Officer Wesley Allen, Treasurer Tanner Rust and Academic Officer Matt Waldron.

“Many of you have achieved much,” Nelson said, addressing the class of 2015. “To me you are all ‘A’ students in the areas of kindness, caring, humor, listening, helping and loving.” 

But he at least saved his cap and tassel — and his senior picture, too.

Life and death. Beginning and end. Love and sacrifice.

Originally this column was meant to run last week.

It was high school graduation week. I intended to take a tongue-in-cheek walk down my high school memory lane and tie the memories together with an Aesopian moral.

I found out, however, that after 40 years the recollections of graduation day have faded. But 12 years of school, well 13 including Mrs. Buzzard’s kindergarten, did leave some permanent marks.

So too have the last couple of weeks. They were very poignant for me.

They started with writing my eighth story about Blue Peak High School and Adult Education graduations. Then we received word that my wife’s oldest sister lost her battle with cancer.

Bruce Clegg’s sudden death came as a shock and another reminder of the fleeting nature of mortality.

I also went to Tooele Transcript Bulletin’s former star reporter Lisa Christensen’s wedding reception.

I spent Memorial Day morning at Tooele City’s Veteran’s Memorial Square and attended a wonderful service that honored those who gave the greatest sacrifice possible for their country and the people they loved.

Later that evening, I sat for two hours at Bruce Clegg’s viewing. I looked around at the people who came to honor his life — and I pondered my own.

The words of “The Quest” from “Man from La Mancha” came to my mind as I thought about Bruce.

“And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest.

“And the world will be better for this, That one man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star.”

That star isn’t unreachable, and I think Bruce touched it.

Graduation ceremonies remind us life is full of moments of where the end of one path meets the beginning of another.

Every time I hear “Pomp and Circumstances,” at a graduation ceremony, my right thumb and index finger curl slightly towards each other. My other fingers on my right hand curl and line up in a row next to my index finger.

Then as if holding a violin bow, but with my arm down to my side, my hand begins to move from the wrist to the cadence of the marching music.

For four years, starting in the seventh grade, I played in the symphonic orchestra at graduations for two high schools in my community.

“Pomp and Circumstance,” “The Grand March” from Aida, and “The March of Toreadors” from Carmen, all bring back memories of warm spring afternoons watching people graduate in St. Martin’s College Pavilion in Lacey, Washington.

I dropped out of orchestra my junior year in high school to make room in my schedule for two years of French so I could get into the University of Washington. I never played at another graduation again.

My graduation ceremony was in June 1975. My last day at high school was June 4 on my 18th birthday. But that’s about where my memory ends.

I assume, after listening to several speakers. I walked across a stage and was handed an envelope holding an empty diploma case. That was graduation.

I have no memory of who my marching partner was, whom I sat next to, who spoke, or what they said. I don’t recall any events of that day, except that both of my grandmothers were there.

I had to go home afterwards to be with them. But that’s OK; I wasn’t invited to any graduation parties.

It’s hard to write about something you can’t remember. But I do remember the music.

Maybe because I used to play in the orchestra, or maybe because I was a member of the committee that planned the graduation ceremony.

I know we marched into the pavilion to the tune of the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance.” And somebody sang “The Way We Were,” a Barbra Streisand hit song.

We marched out to a recording of “The Long and Winding Road,” by Paul McCartney.

“The Way We Were” was Streisand’s first No. 1 single in the United States, and “The Long and Winding Road” was the Beatles’ last No. 1 single.

A first and a last hit seemed fitting for the day, the beginning meeting the end.

I remember one graduation card I received. It was from Don Johns, a friend of my mother. He was a psychologist for the state Department of Corrections.

It read, “Graduate, keep your dreams and someday they will come true.”

My dream was to study political science, attend law school, and then get involved in politics, maybe even run for office someday.

I would end “pain, misery, and hunger.” I would “beat the unbeatable foe … right the unrightable wrong … and fight for the right.” (More “Man for LaMancha” stuff.)

My life has been a long and winding road. And I’m happy with where it took me. After a year of studying politics following high school, I decided to be a teacher instead.

But I never got a job teaching. I worked 20 years for the Boy Scouts of America, furthering what I still believe to be a noble mission.

Then I landed here. I enjoy my work as a writer. With my job and family I’m living my dream.

Graduates, you may not remember your graduation ceremony years later, but do remember the good times from your past and keep your dreams in your heart as you embark on the journey known as life.

You know, I never even applied to the University of Washington and my violin sits in my living room closet, virtually untouched for 42 years.

I wonder if it still knows how to make music? 

Grantsville Mayor Brent Marshall said indecision on the future of the Clark Historic Farm property could lead to a finding in the city’s financial audit during a work session meeting on May 20.

Findings in a financial audit indicate there is an issue or discrepancy with a business or organization’s financial records. The audit includes recommendations of how the problem could be resolved.

Marshall said Gary Keddington of Keddington & Christensen Certified Public Accountants, who is completing the audit, is concerned about the $35,000 in cemetery funds Grantsville City used for a sprinkler system and other improvements after a 40-acre parcel was designated for the cemetery expansion in 2009.

According to Marshall, the city council has two options to avoid a finding related to the cemetery in the audit: restore the money to the cemetery fund or begin using a portion of the fields behind the Clark Farm for burial plots.

“The cemetery funds are highly restrictive and they need to be transparent,” Marshall said.

At its May 7 meeting, the city council voted down the sale of burial plots at the site to give the Friends of the Historic Clark Farm four more weeks to negotiate a purchase of the property.

During a closed session at the end of its May 20 general meeting, the council met with representatives from the non-profit to negotiate a contract for over an hour.

The city had previously offered to sell the Friends of the Historic Clark Farm 12.5 acres and the home on the property for $754,500. The offer expired on April 30 but the council agreed to additional negotiations.

Councilman Scott Stice said the field behind the farm is zoned to be a cemetery and burial plots have been mapped out, meaning the property is essentially already a cemetery.

“If we wanted to next month, we could sell plots on it,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned it’s a cemetery.”

Marshall said the auditor had not made a finding of the cemetery funds use in the past because the property’s future was in-process. If the auditor writes up the city for its use of the cemetery funds, Stice said he’s not concerned.

“If he wants to write it down as a finding, it’s an explainable finding,” he said. 

Changes are coming to the Utah Transit Authority’s F401 bus route between Grantsville and Tooele cities due to low ridership numbers.

Ryan Taylor, the coordinated mobility manager for UTA, said a committee of shareholders in Tooele County were involved in drafting preliminary plans for the adjusted route. Instead of the existing hourly service, the committee recommended several changes that more efficiently use UTA’s resources.

“We’re not going to reduce service in the county,” Taylor said.

The recommendations include creating an additional morning route to the existing F401 route to ferry riders to buses that run to Salt Lake City in the morning and evening, Taylor said. The buses to Salt Lake have additional space but also have the heaviest ridership in the county, he said.

The F400 bus route, which runs through Tooele to Walmart, Mountain West Medical Center and Utah State University, might also be altered to create an additional route, Taylor said. The proposed F402 route would make a smaller loop near the university and low-income housing in Tooele to provide better service along a higher traffic corridor.

Taylor said the proposed changes also include an on-demand service that could ferry riders to the doctor or other appointments during the day. The service will require riders to schedule transportation one day in advance to start, but will require less notice as time goes on.

Grantsville Mayor Brent Marshall served on the shareholder’s committee that helped draft the potential amendments to the bus routes in Tooele County. He said he hopes the on-demand service could follow the success of a similar program in Park City, which now requires only about an hour of prior notice to pick up riders.

“Our hope is it will prosper and get down to an hour (notice),” Marshall said.

Residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed changes to bus service in the county during a public hearing at Tooele Applied Technology College on June 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Representatives from UTA will be on hand to hear residents comments and answer questions, Taylor said.

After the public hearing, a 10-day comment period will be open to gather additional input from the community. After UTA approves any changes to the bus line, the decision will be announced 30 days prior to the changes taking effect, Taylor said.  

A Tooele City Police Officer shot and killed a dog that bit him while responding to a domestic dispute Friday morning.

The officer was responding to a home on East Broadway Street after dispatch received a call that said it sounded as if the male and female involved were “going to kill each other,” according to a Tooele City Police release on the incident.

Once he arrived on scene, the officer said he heard a woman screaming at the rear of the residence, the release said. The officer entered the backyard of the residence through an open gate and observed the woman, who was still screaming.

According to the release, it is common practice for another officer to respond to domestic calls to provide backup and other support. The officer who responded did not wait for backup because he feared the circumstances were too urgent, according to Tooele City Police.

Once in the backyard, a large dog attacked the officer, biting his hand, said police. The officer fired two rounds, killing the dog.

Following the incident, the officer was treated and released from a local hospital for the injury to his hand, according to the release.

A body camera was active during the response to the call and Tooele police said they will release the footage as soon as possible. The incident is still considered an active investigation.

Charges in the domestic abuse case are being referred to the Tooele County Attorney’s Office.  

Despite rising prices in Grantsville and Stansbury, cemetery burial costs remain low across Tooele County.

Burial sites in the county average just under $300 for those who wish to be buried in their community of residence, or about $700 for residents who prefer to be buried in a neighboring city — still well under the national average, which hovers around $2,000 per site, according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a national nonprofit organization.

But while a burial site in Tooele County remains a bargain, some local cemeteries have increased their prices in the last few years to more closely reflect national trends.

The Grantsville City Cemetery increased its rates on burial plots to $500 for residents and $1,500 for non-residents, making Grantsville the most expensive burial site in the county. Prior to Sept. 2014, the city charged $290 for residents and $500 for non-residents.

Grantsville City Clerk Kristy Clark said she wasn’t sure exactly why the rate increase occurred, but said it had been at least 20 years since the city raised its prices.

The new Stansbury Cemetery also recently raised its prices to $400 for residents or $800 for non-residents after running a “promotional” starting price of $300.

Stansbury Cemetery Trustee Glenn Oscarson said they sold nearly 300 lots at that price before adopting the regular rate. They’ve had 14 burials at the cemetery since it was dedicated about a year ago, he said, and the popularity of the cemetery continues to surprise him.

“I spend a lot of time working over there, and I’m surprised by how many people come there every day,” he said. “I guess I didn’t realize how important a spot a cemetery was for a lot of people.”

Prices at Tooele City Cemetery, the county’s largest, have remained constant over the last five years. Residents can buy a plot for $300-$400, and non-residents for $700-800.

But those looking for a bargain should look to the county’s outlying community cemeteries. Stockton continues to charge $150 for residents and $300 for non-residents.

“That’s pretty cheap for burying,” said Stockton Town Clerk Fredda Root. “I think that’s the least expensive I’ve ever seen it anywhere.”

Stockton’s cemetery also has a fascinating history, Root added, with some of the graves going back at least to the early 1900s.

But Stockton can’t quite lay claim to the cheapest in Tooele County — Wendover’s city cemetery charges just $150 a lot for all comers. 

About 70 percent of incidents the North Tooele Fire District responds to are medical calls.

That’s one reason the agency announced Wednesday it will pursue its ambulance licensure through the state Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The move could expand coverage and save taxpayers’ money, according to NTFD Chief Randy Willden.

The only ambulance service in the county is run by Mountain West Medical Center and anyone transported by ambulance pays the private service. While NTFD responds to all medical calls, they have no way of recouping the cost of responding without an ambulance service, according to a release from the agency.

The fire district requested an ambulance feasibility study in 2013, which was updated this year, to determine the financial impact of starting a new ambulance service. Based on the study’s findings, initial start up costs and the first year of operation would cost $435,500, including $144,000 in one-time expenses.

The one-time expenses will be covered by $200,000 from the fire district’s capital projects fund, Willden said.

According to the study, the annual projected operating expenses of about $291,500 would be covered by revenue from patient transport. The study anticipates an ambulance service run by the NTFD would bring in about $300,000 per year at a 60 percent collection rate.

“After the first year, ongoing ambulance transport expenses are forecast to be consistent with incoming ambulance revenue projections,” Willden said.

Included in the operating expenses is $197,000 for personnel, which will fund four full-time equivalent paramedic positions. Willden said a pool of 10 to 12 part-time, certified paramedics will rotate to keep the ambulance fully staffed.

The fire district’s $1.1 million budget is primarily funded by property tax revenue, but Willden believes an ambulance service should be able to pay for itself.

“Revenues from the ambulance will cover the remaining expenditures and if needed, additional budget areas will be reviewed and trimmed so there will be no anticipated negative financial impact to the community,” he said.

One way the NTFD hopes to cut costs is preparing an appropriate response to medical calls. Right now a fire engine responds on every medical call, which increases fuel costs and other expenses, Willden said.

If the state approves its license, the fire district could tailor its response based on information from dispatchers. If a call comes in for a medical call with a patient in fair or poor condition, one ambulance may be all the response needed, according to Willden.

In more serious situations, a second ambulance or fire engine may be necessary. Willden said a fire engine will always respond to vehicle accidents with injuries, for example, due to the potential need of fire suppression or extrication.

Should the NTFD take over ambulance duties in its coverage area, Willden said there will be no change in service.

“We will have the exact same capability because it’s required by state law,” he said. 

Tooele County is growing — but at a slower pace than a few years ago.

Four years after the 2010 census, Tooele County has grown from a population of 58,218 to 61,598. That’s 3,380 new residents, a 5.8 percent growth rate, according to the 2014 population estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tooele County is the 11th fastest growing county in Utah in terms of percentage of growth since the 2010 census.

That’s slower than the beginning of the last decade when an 8.5 percent growth rate made Tooele County the fastest growing county in the state for 2000.

From 2000 to 2004 the county’s population grew by 22 percent, which made it the 33rd fastest growing county in the nation.

Tooele County’s average annual growth rate for the last four years is 1.4 percent. The slower rate is good, according to one local real estate broker.

“That’s a stable and sustainable growth rate for the future,” said Vicki Griffith, broker/owner Premier Utah Real Estate in Tooele City. “You don’t want to grow too fast or then there is trouble keeping up with the infrastructure to support the people.”

Although growth has slowed in Tooele County, the county maintained its position as the seventh largest county in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau report. There are 29 counties in Utah.

The community or area in Tooele County with the largest percentage of growth since 2010 is the town of Ophir. The town added 10 people to its 2010 tally of 38 for a 26.3 percent growth rate.

Grantsville was second with 945 new citizens for a growth rate of 10.6 percent.

Unincorporated Tooele County, which includes Stansbury Park, Erda, Lake Point, South Rim, Ibapah and other rural communities, added 1,396 new people for third place with a growth rate of 9.3 percent.

Tooele County’s growth from 2010 to 2014 was largely due to new babies. The natural growth rate, the net growth after subtracting deaths from births, was 2,890.

Net migration into the county was 506 since 2010, according to the Census Bureau report.

The fastest growing county in the state is Wasatch County with a growth rate of 17.8 percent. It added 4,184 people since the 2010 official count.

Wendover, Utah lost three people since the 2010 census. Seven counties in Utah also lost people. The largest was Carbon County. During the last four years it shrunk by 743 residents, a 3.5 percent loss.

Growth in Tooele County reached a high at the beginning of the last decade.

In 2000 and 2001 the county’s growth rate was 8.5 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. That made Tooele County the fastest growing county in the state for two consecutive years.

The 2000 growth spurt began back in 1996. From 1990 to 1995, the county averaged 2.2 percent growth — behind the state average of 3 percent.

Then in 1996, the county posted a growth rate of 4.2 percent, compared to the state rate of 2.4 percent. The growth rate climbed to the 2000 peak of 8.5 percent and then dropped to 2.3 percent in 2004.

In 2005 the growth rate jumped back up to 5.1 percent and then stopped at 1.1 percent in 2010 following the housing bubble burst and the Great Recession.

Tooele County will continue to grow, according to Griffith.

Low prices, a short commute to Salt Lake County, a good quality of life and rural loans that offer no down payment for first-time homebuyers will continue to attract people to Tooele Valley, she said. 

After months of talk and planning, the pair of state road projects called SR-36 Renewed are set to begin next Monday.

Commuters will notice new traffic cones going up as two different contractors begin work on two related construction projects that will at first progress simultaneously, said Carlye Sommers, Utah Department of Transportation’s public involvement manager for SR-36 Renewed.

At the north end of Tooele Valley, SR-36 will be reduced to one lane of travel in each direction on a nightly basis from 2000 North in Tooele City to Stansbury Drive.

Northbound closures will begin at 7 p.m. but will end at 5 a.m. to avoid disrupting the morning commute. Southbound closures will hold off until 8 p.m. to allow for a late evening commute, but will remain in place until 7 a.m.

Road crews may do some shoulder work during the day, but these repairs should not require lane closures, Sommers said

Because the northern end of SR-36 only needs a new topcoat, the Stansbury Park-area work should be complete in 45 days. Sommers said the contractor, Kilgore, will employ a “racetrack” approach to ensure a quick completion. Road crews will grind, repave and repaint the road in rapid succession, working down a lane before turning around and going back down the other.

The project from 2000 North to Stansbury Drive has a $2.94 million price tag, according to UDOT.

The second segment of SR-36 Renewed, the actual reconstruction of Tooele City’s Main Street, will be more involved. The $25.5 million project will completely rebuild Main Street, stripping off an average depth of 22 inches of pavement for 3.5 miles through Tooele’s historic downtown and business district.

SR-36 Renewed will also install a modern storm drain system beneath the road, and rebuild surrounding curbs, gutters and sidewalks. Turn lanes will be added where Main Street is wide enough to allow the improvement; elsewhere, especially through the historic district, a new concrete median will be added.

Road and lane closures during the reconstruction will be similar to the traffic control currently in place for the city’s water main replacement, Sommers said.  The contractor, Meadow Valley Contractors, has divided the project into seven phases, four of which will be completed this summer. The rest will be completed when construction resumes in spring of next year.

Work will begin with the first phase between 1280 North and 1000 North, with construction crews beginning excavation on the east side of the road. Motorists will be restricted to one lane of travel in each direction on the west side.

As the first segment nears completion, workers will move on to the east side of the second segment between 1000 North and 600 North. When the reconstruction of the first phase is complete, traffic control will shift over to the east side of the road, allowing crews to begin work on the west side of the first segment while completing the east side of the second.

The work will progress in a like manner for the rest of the summer, with additional segments located between 600 North and Vine, and Vine and 520 South.

UDOT officials will host a presentation with details about the construction process at next Wednesday’s 7 p.m. city council meeting at Tooele City Hall. There will also be regular online updates, as well as the continuation of weekly updates on page A2 in the Tooele Transcript Bulletin.

Sommers said she and several other public involvement specialists will also go door to door in Tooele through the next several weeks to appraise locals of the impact the road work will have on residences and businesses.

She said residents and business owners are also welcome to come to the June 3 presentation a half hour early if they would like to meet with officials from UDOT to ask specific questions.

“We just want to be as transparent as possible so we can help everybody understand what we’re doing here,” Sommers said. 

The Miller Family’s withdrawal of their property in Tooele Valley for a possible new Utah State Prison may have raised the odds of the facility landing in Grantsville.

A 4,224-acre parcel of property in an industrial park on SR-138 southwest of the Walmart Distribution Center is now one out of four properties on the state Prison Relocation Commission’s final list of sites.

Grantsville Mayor Brent Marshall, who has been blunt about his opposition to a prison anywhere in Tooele Valley, is aware that more eyes are now looking at Grantsville.

“The removal of the Miller Property from the prison relocation list was a positive move,” he said. “One down, one to go.”

The same reason that made Miller Family Real Estate pull its property off the table of prison talk applies to the SR-138 industrial park, according to Marshall.

“The economic value of developing the property with businesses far exceeds any possible value of putting a prison on the property,” he said.

Marshall has been working with the property owner, 90-year-old Bountiful resident Darrell Nielsen, who winters in St. George.

“I talked to him recently, but so far he has not agreed to pull his property from the list,” Marshall said.

The mayor is thankful for the support he has received from throughout Tooele County in the fight against the prison.

“A prison in Grantsville would affect the entire county,” he said. “Water and economic development affect the entire county. And then there is the cost of prosecuting crime at the prison that would be passed on to the county attorney’s office.”

The entire process of selecting a prison site has been flawed, according to Marshall. The state already has a site that meets all the criteria, according to Marshall.

“Leave it in Draper,” he said.

The Prison Relocation Commission is hosting an informational meeting at Grantsville High School tonight from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. A question and answer session will begin at 7 p.m.

The group No Prison in Tooele County is sponsoring a rally at the Grantsville City Park across the street from the high school. A food truck roundup will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. A free Blue Grass Concert with a rally that will include remarks from Marshall runs from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. 

Family and friends of former Tooele County Commissioner Bruce Clegg take one last ride with him after Clegg’s funeral services were held in Stansbury Park on Tuesday.  With his casket carried by a horse-drawn wagon, the large procession traveled from the Stansbury Park South Stake on Interlochen Lane to Bates Canyon Road, then down Rabbit Lane and ended at the Clegg family home in Erda. Amy Paulick, a daughter of Clegg, leads a riderless horse as part of the procession. According to his family, Clegg unexpectedly died last week from complications related to a fall he suffered in April. Clegg was a county commissioner for two consecutive terms from 2006 until last December.