Rep. Jim Matheson was invited and does participate with the Utah Congressional Delegation, his press secretary, Jessica Gail, said. “He was unable to attend yesterday due to a scheduling conflict … there are a lot of things with the delegation that we do participate in.”

Among the issues discussed were sequestration and delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Those who attended the meeting with Welsh released the following statements:

HATCH:

“I really appreciated the opportunity to sit down with General Welsh and talk about some of the most pressing issues facing the Air Force today. General Welsh assured us that the Air Force is doing everything it can to deal with the sequester in a responsible way, and we’re going to hold him to his word. And we’re now in the third delay of the delivery of the F-35 – this has been studied, it’s been discussed, and it’s high time to move forward with the delivery of the jet.”

LEE:

“I was proud to join with the Utah delegation today to further cement the longstanding friendship between Utah and the Air Force.  I greatly appreciate the candid conversations we were able to have with General Welsh and General Hostage, and discuss issues facing the Air Force in our state and across the country.  Sequestration is having a devastating effect on the readiness of the Air Force, and today’s meeting underscored the fact that the massive federal debt is a national security problem.   We must have a balanced budget and return fiscal sanity to Washington in order to return readiness to our fighting forces.”

BISHOP:

“I appreciated the chance to talk personally with the Air Force Chief of Staff General Welsh about the detrimental impact that furloughs of civilian defense workers will have at Hill Air Force Base.  General Welsh agreed that the planned furloughs ordered by Secretary Hagel will unfortunately be disruptive and costly to our dedicated civilian workforce.  He pledged to continue to work with the delegation and Pentagon Leadership on trying to find ways to mitigate those impacts as much as possible.”

CHAFFETZ:

“I thank General Welsh for meeting with the delegation to discuss important issues concerning the mission of the Air Force in Utah.  Hill AFB plays a critical role in our nation’s defense. We will continue working together to ensure the Air Force’s presence in Utah for years to come.”

STEWART:

“I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with General Walsh today, along with other members of the Utah Delegation. As a former Air Force pilot, I know first-hand how critical it is for our nation to have a strong, able and equipped Air Force and military. We need to work to find solutions to some of the current challenges at Hill Air Force Base, including furloughs due to sequestration and grounded flight squadrons. I was encouraged by today’s meeting and trust that General Walsh will do all that he can to minimize the effects of sequestration and continue to support Hill Air Force Base.”

Email: jkuzmanic@stgnews.com

Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2013, all rights reserved.

From L to R: Rep. Chris Stewart, Rep. Rob Bishop, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Mike Lee; Utah Rep. Jim Matheson is not shown as he did not participate in the subject matter involved in this report | Image by Sarafina Amodt, St. George News

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My husband only goes through me to connect with our children. He has hardly any relationship with them. I’m getting tired of always having to relay messages between him and them. As well, they always come to me to talk with him.

It’s not like he’s a terrible father and doesn’t love his children, but he just doesn’t communicate with them. Even when I say to them, “go ask your father”, or “go tell your father,” I still somehow get involved. Sometimes it’s no big deal, but I’m mostly worried that I’ll end up being the only way they’ll have a relationship with him. Do you have any ideas on how to change this?

Answer

You’re actually doing better than you realize because you can at least recognize that there is a problem here. Most of the time when these types of parent/child dynamics are going on, everyone is clueless. Awareness is a major part of changing a stuck interactional pattern between family members.

If your husband doesn’t have any awareness of this pattern, it’s time for him to be enlightened. This is going to require a formal sit-down conversation between the two of you. Not only should you describe the pattern you see, but also include how you feel it’s negatively impacting him, you, and the children. Describe your fears for the future as well as your hopes. Give him a big picture of this dynamic so it doesn’t just appear to be an isolated situation.

Now comes the difficult part – actually doing something different. This is where your consistency and persistence will be tested as you begin to shift the pattern. You are the main player in this drama, as you get pulled from both directions. You can resent your role, or you can leverage it to help your family move to a healthier place.

You will get heat from both sides as they face the unfamiliar reality of facing one another. They will reflexively come to you over and over to pass along messages or resolve issues. Your response has to be a well-worn message of redirection.

Treat them like they’re strong and they’ll rise up to the challenge. If you buckle under the fear that they’re all too weak to actually interact with each other, you’ll keep getting pulled in.

And, if there is a part of you that enjoys being the center of this dysfunctional universe, even though you complain about it, you won’t want to give up your power position.

As you firmly and lovingly redirect them to each other, you will experience tremendous emotional discomfort watching these individuals either avoid each other completely or bumble their way through interactions. It may never look as good as the relationship you have with your kids, but remember, it’s not your relationship with them. It’s his. He gets to be in charge of how he wants it to look.

Stay connected!

Geoff Steurer is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in St. George, Utah. He specializes in working with couples in all stages of their relationships. The opinions stated in this article are solely his and not those of St. George News.

Have a relationship question for Geoff to answer? Submit to:

Email: geoff@lovingmarriage.com

Twitter: @geoffsteurer

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2012, all rights reserved

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Seven years ago NBC ran a similar investigation which spurred an apology and a promise from Jiffy Lube management that they would make changes to curb the cheating of clients. However, the recent investigation demonstrated that the cheating is still rampant.

Local Jiffy Lube managers declined commenting on the situation reported by NBC, and the response NBC reporters received from management at the Jiffy Lube corporate office stated that these issues are taken seriously, but did not reference any intent to take action regarding this particular investigation.

Protect yourself

The repair and maintenance industry can be dicey for people not familiar with cars, but there are ways to avoid falling victim to mechanics willing to scam trusting patrons.

One way is to know your mechanic or get references from people you know to be trustworthy who can vouch for their own experience with the mechanic.

“It’s all about trust,” Guy Simkins, owner of Guy’s Automaster in St. George, said. “Second opinions are worth their weight in gold. If you don’t trust someone, get a second opinion.”

Simkins runs a local mechanic shop, he said part of running an honest shop is not offering commission to his mechanics for selling extra products, as well as educating customers to help them understand what services are being performed on their vehicles.

“There’s going to be plenty of chances to spend money on your car without shops finding stuff that may or may not be wrong.” Simkins said.

When having work done on your vehicle don’t be afraid of looking for second opinions. If a mechanic is overly pushy it can be a red flag that they are trying to pull something over on you. There are some mechanics who will tell you that you came by just in time, and weave a horror story of all the things that could have gone wrong. If you drove your car to the shop, and everything was seemed to be working normal, chances are you won’t have to be spending thousands of dollars just to get back on the road.

Ask if the shop and its mechanics have credentials. Certifications by the Automotive Service Excellence organization or AAA indicate a certain level of knowledge and expertise.

Utah consumer protection law 

Utah law provides consumer protection in transactions involving repairs, inspections or other similar services for a supplier. Among other things, express estimates are required to be given in advance, express estimates are required to be given again if further repairs or parts are required in excess of 10 percent over the original estimate, reassembly is required at no cost unless a charge for reassembly was specified in advance. Considered deceptive and unfair by the consumer protection law are false representations that repairs are needed or have been made. And more. For further detail see and print the attached PDF: Utah Consumer Sales Practices – Repairs and Services.

Resources:

• NBC Investigation
• Utah Consumer Sales Practices – Repairs and Services

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Email: ccaldwell@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2013, all rights reserved.

Pictured is Jiffy Lube St. George. It was not one of the stores exposed by the NBC investigation which took place in California. Management of the St. George franchise declined comment on the exposé of the California stores. St. George, Utah, May 21, 2013 | Photo by Chris Caldwell, St. George News

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A work by Andrew Zabela-Zabelin on display at the St. George Art Museum | Photo courtesy of St. George Art Museum

Summer schedule

The museum’s summer lineup features an extraordinary combination of exhibits and events. Exhibits run May 25 to Aug. 10 during museum business hours.

The main gallery will feature “In Translation,” a collection from classically trained Russian artist Andrew Zabela-Zabelin. Educated in the St. Petersburg Art Institute, he specializes in figurative art and cityscapes. Zabela-Zabelin has received an award from International Artist magazine, is exhibited in numerous American galleries, including the prestigious Green House Gallery and he is also currently a member of the American Impressionist Society. His works hang in private collections in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.

In the mezzanine gallery will be “Sparkle & Glow: A Clear View” from the Utah Glass Guild Plus. The Glass Art Guild of Utah has been fostering talent and furthering glass techniques for more than 10 years. Glass forming is an ancient art that is now experiencing a revival. From tiny jewel-like universes that fit in your hand to sleek sculptures that catch and hold the eye, see a variety of technical aspects used in glass art creation during this first-ever exhibit from the Glass Art Guild of Utah and Southern Utah glass makers and collectors.

The legacy gallery will present “Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons” by The Museum of Russian Icons, which was founded as a nonprofit educational institute in 2006 by Gordon B. Lankton, a Massachusetts industrialist. Through his many travels to Russia, partnered with a passion for Russian history, Lankton’s collection spans an astounding six centuries.

Windows to Heaven brings together 24 historically significant works from the collection, dating from 1590 to present day. This spectacular exhibition helps demonstrate how religious structures and organizations are created by civilizations to reflect their own spiritual, social and political needs. The showing in St. George is part of a three-year national tour organized by The Museum of Russian Icons.

Art conversations, special educational programs, are held the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. On June 20, Slava Lubomudrov will present “Russian Icons in a Historical Context,” with a preblessing of the icons by John Haydukovich at 6 p.m. The Glass Guild of Utah’s Kerry Transtrum will present on July 18.

Schedule

Exhibits (May 25 to Aug. 10)

Main Gallery – “In Translation” by Andrew Zabela-Zabelin

Mezzanine Gallery – “Sparkle & Glow: A Clear View” by Utah Glass Guild Plus

Legacy Gallery – “Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons” by The Museum of Russian Icons

Art Conversations

June 20 – “Russian Icons in a Historical Context” by Slava Lubomudrov

July 18 – “Glass Guild of Utah” by Kerry Transtrum

A work by the Utah Glass Guild on display at the St. George Art Museum | Photo courtesy of St. George Art Museum

Summer Art on Main Gallery Stroll

The summer Art on Main Gallery Stroll will take place in downtown St. George on June 14 from 6-9 p.m. Start at the museum, then walk down Main Street in St. George to visit fine art galleries with featured artists, and live music. Pick up a punch card at the museum for a chance to win a piece of original fine art at the end of the evening. A map and more information can be found here.

Blue Star program

The St. George Art Museum has announced a collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the United States Department of Defense. Through this partnership, the museum joins more than 1,800 participating Blue Star Museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

As a Blue Star Museum, the St. George Art Museum is pleased to be able to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013.  Free admission is available upon presentation of a Geneva Convention common access card, a DD Form 1173 ID card or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card from any active duty member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, as well as those currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve – up to five members per family.

A work from The Museum of Russian Icons on display at the St. George Art Museum | Photo courtesy of St. George Art Museum

“When the call for museums to participate in the first Blue Star program came, St. George Art Museum signed up immediately,” Museum Curator Deborah Reeder said. “The military is actively working hard to make us safe in America. The St. George Art Museum and the City of St. George are pleased to do something in return for the men, women and the families of those who serve.”

For active military personnel and family members who may be traveling during this traditional family vacation season, Blue Star Museums also include science museums, history museums, nature centers and 75 children’s museums across America. In addition to the St. George Art Museum, other participating museums in Utah include the Ogden Treehouse Children’s Museum, the Heritage Museum in Orem, the CEU’s Prehistoric Museum in Price, the Fort Douglas Military Museum and Utah Museum of Fine Arts in Salt Lake City.

The St. George Art Museum is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 47 East 200 North in St. George. The city-owned and operated facility exists “to educate … through quality exhibitions from all periods, cultures and media … and to collect, conserve, inventory, exhibit and interpret art and artifacts from Utah and the West.”

For more information, the museum can be reached at 435-627-4525.

Submitted by: St. George Art Museum

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The award recognizes a manager who has demonstrated dedication and ingenuity by successfully implementing a project to improve his or her school meal program. Johnson is the kitchen manager of both Hurricane Middle School and Hurricane High School and worked as a lunch lady for over 20 years.

“When I found out about (receiving the award) I felt very humble,” Johnson said. “No person can do this alone. It takes many people working together to make it happen. I have a great boss and mentor, I love the children I feed each day and I work with the greatest lunch ladies.”

Hurricane High School moved to a brand new building for the 2012-2013 school year and Johnson was thrilled to have a kitchen to prepare lunch on-site each day, rather than having meals transported from the middle school. With the brand new kitchen and cafeteria ready to go, her goal was to start a breakfast program and increase lunch participation. She began by serving new breakfast and lunch offerings to parents, students and staff on Back to School night to generate buzz about new meals. To make the cafeteria environment more inviting, she decorated with tablecloths, baskets and seasonal decorations and worked with her staff to encourage and foster positive attitudes and excitement.

She also served as a guest teacher in two consumer science classes about safe food storage and sanitation so that students would have confidence in the food they were being served. Johnson’s efforts proved a success, with 10 percent of students participating in the new breakfast program within the first two months.  Her initiatives more than doubled the average amount of lunch participation.

“My hope is that we can feed every child who comes to school each day a healthy breakfast and lunch. I’m proud to be part of the new food plate, helping young people learn about nutritious meals,” Johnson said. “Nothing is more important than our children; they are our future. I love my job.”

“This award highlights the best in creative thinking and effective planning by school nutrition managers to implement projects that directly benefit students,” said Sandra Ford, president of the School Nutrition Association.  “Pam has shown tremendous commitment to her students and is an inspiring example of a dedicated school nutrition professional.”

In July, Johnson will be honored during the awards ceremony of the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

The annual award was created in memory of Louise Sublette, a leader in school nutrition in Tennessee and in the nationwide School Nutrition Association.  During her 43 years in the profession, Sublette worked in many areas of food service, including public schools, colleges, hospitals and elderly feeding programs. Sublette dedicated her career to honoring school nutrition professionals and ensuring those who work in school cafeterias have access to professional development opportunities, empowering them to help their school meal programs flourish.

The School Nutrition Association is a national non-profit professional organization representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, the association and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today’s school meals, visit TrayTalk.

Email: news@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News

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Chair Dorothy Engelman addresses the Washington County Democratic Party 2013 Organizing Convention, Washington City, Utah, May 18, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Dorothy Engelman

The convention was open to all interested Democrats, but only precinct chairs and delegates were allowed to vote. Dorothy Engelman was reelected chair and will serve until 2015. Robert Maloney was elected as vice chair, Katie Madsen will serve as treasurer and Randy Thomson was elected as the new county secretary. Additionally, the County Central Committee is expanding to nine people as a result of growth within the party.

At the convention, Utah State Democratic Party Chair Sen. Jim Dabakis spoke about the successes and challenges of Utah Democrats and charted a course forward for party growth. Party Program Director Lauren Littlefield discussed upcoming voter registration drives targeted toward eligible, non-registered citizens.

Elizabeth Roberts, LDS Dems Outreach & Policy Coordinator for the Utah Democratic Party, spoke with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to the meeting and described the goals of the LDS Caucus, the largest Democratic caucus in the state. Roberts will be scheduling activities for this group in Washington County in the near future.

Sen. Jim Dabakis attends the Washington County Democratic Party 2013 Organizing Convention, Washington City, Utah, May 18, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Dorothy Engelman

A “State of the County” report was presented by Engelman, who highlighted advancements in the past year including an increase in caucus and convention attendance in 2012, more involvement by 30 to 50-year-olds in party activities, the establishment of a year-round Southern Utah Democratic Party Field Office and more visibility in the media. Barbara Rusick, president of the Democrats of Southern Utah and Linda DiSante, co-chair of the Women’s Democratic Club of Southern Utah, also touted achievements of their respective organizations.

As part of its growth, the Washington County Democratic Party will host the following activities in the coming months:

Conversation Over Easy, a new informal breakfast gathering to be held Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at George’s Corner Restaurant, 2 West St. George Blvd. in St. George beginning this week.

The Women’s Democratic Club will meet June 1 at 11 a.m. at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant on St. George Blvd. Reservations are required.

A Progressives’ Potluck Picnic in the Park is being sponsored by the Democrats of Southern Utah and will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 15 at Vernon Worthen Park.

Chris White attends the Washington County Democratic Party 2013 Organizing Convention, Washington City, Utah, May 18, 2013 | Photo courtesy of Dorothy Engelman

More information about these activities and other party activities can be found on the party website or by calling Engelman at 435-879-1558.

The State Democratic Convention is scheduled for June 21 and 22 in Ogden. Delegates will be electing new state officers as well as deciding whether to continue using the caucus system to choose state candidates or to begin using a direct primary approach.  The decision will be first implemented in the 2016 elections. More information about the Utah State Democratic Party can be found on the party website.

Ed. note: Elizabeth Roberts’ title has been corrected.

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Submitted by: Dorothy Engelman

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Twitter: @STGnews

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Growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Mo., tornadoes are nothing new to me.

We didn’t live in Tornado Alley, but we were close enough to it and I can remember tornadoes ripping through St. Louis and tearing the top off of The Arena — that’s what it was called — where the St. Louis Hawks played basketball. That same storm toppled the KPLR-TV television tower. It bounced through the city, wreaking havoc in its wake. It hit my aunt and uncle’s neighborhood, which was near the old Sportsman’s Park, where the St. Louis Cardinals of my childhood played baseball.

Their house was spared, but others on their block were demolished.

I was just a kid and wondered, aloud, why some houses were standing while others were toppled.

All Mom and Dad could do was shake their heads.

When I lived in Southern California, a very unlikely place for tornadoes, I made it through three tornadoes, one that I was sure was going to put a branch from an old tree in the front yard through the picture window.

I’ve seen a roof ripped off of one structure and carried to the top of another. I’ve seen windows blown out, walls knocked down, sturdy brick homes reduced to rubble.

But, I have never seen anything like what I am watching on the news as I write this.

They are saying that a tornado that was rated as at least an EF-4, with winds from 166 to 200 mph, ripped through a densely populated area in and around Oklahoma City. Debris picked up by the tornado near Moore, Okla., has been found in Tulsa, about 100 miles away.

A school went down. In some areas, all that remains are foundations where homes once stood.

This comes two years after a killer tornado hit Joplin, Mo. and four years after a monster tornado hit this same patch of Earth.

They are saying the base of the tornado was two miles wide.

The cost in lives and dollars won’t be known for some time yet, but federal agencies are moving in to help rebuild.

And, our economy will take yet another hit.

As a nation, we have frittered away billions over the last few decades, fighting wars that have no moral base, funding projects that serve no other purpose than to reelect hapless leaders who are more concerned with saving their seat in the House and Senate than serving their constituency, and foreign aid, simply to keep us on friendly terms with oil-rich nations.

When will this nation finally get a clue? When will the United States realize that preposterous expenditures of lives and treasure on violent incursions across the globe are fruitless; that our Congress is polluted by career politicians who would rather shove a buck into their back pocket than find a way to increase jobs, discover efficient alternative fuel sources, or take care of the medical needs of the nation; that charity begins at home?

I’m not getting partisan here. Both sides stink up the room when the House and Senate convene, both sides take the money and run, both sides are unified in only one thing: self-preservation.

We are having more and more of these environmental events that are only supposed to occur every 100 years — from floods to hurricanes to earthquakes to tornadoes. I mean, how long ago was it, after all, when Hurricane Sandy ripped through the East Coast?

We are expected to persevere, to pick up our chins and move forward, to rebuild, and these people will, I am sure. But, they need help, right now. They need food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, the day-to-day necessities of life and that means federal assistance as they go through these difficult first days of recovery.

And, they deserve all of it, now, this very minute.

We can’t sit idle and we can’t line up politically. It seemed, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, that more ink was wasted on comparing the response time of the Obama administration to that tragedy with the response time of the Bush administration to Hurricane Katrina.

None of that matters, not at this moment.

You want to argue politics?

Put it in a box and store it for another day.

There really is no time for that right now. We have people in genuine need, people whose homes are gone, people whose friends and family are missing. It doesn’t get any more important than that.

Want to boost military funding?

Great, as long as you send those troops to Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and anywhere else people from this country need help instead of shipping them to participate in some senseless exercise in a faraway desert.

It’s time we considered us in the U.S. It’s time we stand prepared to take care of each other. Yes, I realize, powerfully, how important this nation is in the world. I also realize how the stature of this nation has crumbled over the last dozen years.

It’s time to rebuild, whether it’s homes in Moore, Okla., or the nation’s home, in Washington, D.C.

The sword cuts both ways and it is neither red nor blue.

It is a collective red, white, and blue.

No bad days!

Ed Kociela is an opinion columnist. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.

Email: edkociela.mx@gmail.com

Twitter: @STGnews, @EdKociela

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2013, all rights reserved.

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“We are very pleased with the quality of work that is coming in,” DOCUTAH Artistic Director Phil Tuckett said. “Our screening teams have identified several contenders and festival directors are now reviewing those top films.”

More than 50 local screening teams comprising over 250 community volunteers are working to view and score submitted film entries in this year’s judging process. More than 35 films have already received a nine out of 10 score on the critical question, “Should this film be shown at the Festival?”

“We expect some really outstanding productions this year,” Tuckett said.

DOCUTAH originated at the former Dixie State College of Utah in 2010 and has since put Southern Utah on the map for hosting an event that attracts professional, amateur and student filmmakers each fall. It has been praised as one of the nation’s best “Small-Town Documentary Film Festivals for 2012” by the Public Broadcasting System. Since its inception, more than 1,100 films have been submitted from 60 countries. DOCUTAH provides an opportunity to envision the world through documentary film. Festival attendees come for the films, stay for the scenery and depart having experienced inspiration.

As part of the festival’s ongoing commitment to provide quality exposure to meaningful documentary films, DOCUTAH now offers year-round screening events to Southern Utah communities. The Festival serves as the organization’s culminating annual event.

The 2013 DOCUTAH Film Festival will be held Sept. 3 to 7. For more information, or to learn about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, call 435-879-4273 or visit the DOCUTAH website.

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“They played their hearts out,” Head Coach Cathy Hasfurther said. “It (was) a great experience.”

The girl’s team has only been in existence for three years now, and “they’re third in the nation,” she said.

Split into two divisions of eight teams each, a total of 16 teams competed in the national tournament. Snow Canyon played in Division 2.

Earlier this month the Lady Warriors’ also took second place in the state in their division.

(Story continues below)

The Snow Canyon Lady Warriors Rugby team, St. George, Utah, May 20, 2013| Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Love of the game

The sign speaks for itself, St. George, Utah, May 20, 2013| Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

“The girls love (the game),” said Gali Conley, Snow Canyon High School vice principal. Conley, who also has a son on the boys’ varsity rugby team, said the sport has become quite popular in Southern Utah high schools and across the state.  “It’s an amazing game.”

Rugby itself has been described as a “hooligan’s game played by gentlemen.” On the surface the game may look rather brutal as the players go onto the field with minimal padding and proceed to smash into each other over a game. Casual observers may draw comparisons to football or hockey with how physical the game can get. While it is a physical sport, Conley said there were very explicit rules concerning how individuals may be tackled. Take a player down the wrong way, and you’ll either be given a warning by the referee or kicked out of the game altogether.

“(The coaches) teach you how to hit and how to fall,” Conley said. He then praised the coaches of both the boys’ and girls’ rugby teams for their training.

He also said rugby has no exceptions on size, as the smallest players also tend to be the quickest – and in a game of constant running and very few time-outs, it counts. Conley said jokingly that when people first see the Snow Canyon rugby teams, they immediately think the smaller, skinnier players will be massacred by the larger players of the other team. Nothing could be further from the truth, he said.

Trophy from the 2013 National High School Girls’ Rugby Championship, St. George, Utah, May 20, 2013| Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

As for it being a “hooligan’s game played by gentlemen,” examples of “civilized” conduct by the players and coaches can be seen in how they deal with the referees. The only people allowed to speak to the referees are the team captains and the coaches, and they have to address the referees by “sir.”

At the end of each game, the opposing teams also bow to each other and to the families and fans in the bleachers.

Community support after gun raffle incident

Though affiliated with Snow Canyon High School, the rugby team is not an officially sanctioned school team, but rather is a “club team.” Rugby has yet to be recognized among the official canon of high school sports like football or basketball, and therefore doesn’t receive funding through the school. As a semi-independent club, the team has to raise money on its own in order to go to state and national-level tournaments.

“They don’t get all the extra stuff that regular sports do,” Conley said.

The teams needed to raise around $16,000 in order to get themselves to Wisconsin. So the club began to put it out in the community they were raising money. On April 27 a bake sale was held on Sunset Boulevard that also included a raffle for a rifle.

The gun raffle was subsequently shut down after Dorothy Engelman, of St. George, contacted the Washington County School District and media outlets over the matter.

“We’re selling cupcakes and guns to raise money for our kids?” Engelman said.

The gun raffle was a put on by a parent of one of the rugby players, Hasfurther said. None of the coaches had any idea about the raffle until after the fact. Money raised from the gun raffle was also returned to those who wanted refunds.

Despite some initially negative responses, Conley said, things soon turned around. The media frenzy triggered by the gun raffle put the spotlight on the team’s need to reach nationals.

“Good things came out of it,” Conley said.

Jon Smith (left) and Murphy (right) of Mornings with Jon Smith and Murphy on KZHK 95.9 FM, St. George, Utah, May 17, 2013| Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

One example of community support came from a local radio station where disc jockeys held a gun auction to help replace money lost from the original gun raffle.

“We did not talk to the school district; we did not talk to the school; we did not talk to the team; we did not talk to the coach,” said Jon Smith, one of the host of 95.9 FM The Hawk’s “Jon Smith and Murphy” morning show. “We did this all on our own.”

“The community has supported (the auction) 100 percent,” Murphy said.

The auction, which was held on Friday, consisted of a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun donated by Rowdy’s Range and Shooting Supply, and 250 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition from the Western Arms and Ammo Company – at least, that was on the table at the beginning of the auction when it started at 6 a.m.

As the morning progressed, other local companies donated $300 worth of ink for tattoos, a paint job for a standard size bedroom, and a tire service check. Western Arms and Ammo then made an additional donation of 250 rounds each of .223 and .9 mm caliber ammunition to be included with the Glock 27 pistol to be auctioned.

The auction ended at 10 a.m. with the pistol and ammunition bringing in a winning bid of $1,500. Overall, the additional items and individual donations to the girls’ rugby team came to just over $2,000.

Donations continued throughout the day. On Monday, Smith said the total amount raised was just under $2,500.

“The community really stepped up,” Hasfurther said.

Peggy Proffit, mother of team forward Meagan Proffit, said, “It restores your faith in humanity.”

Ed. Note:  Dorothy Engelman, referenced in the report, serves as chair of the Washington County Democratic Party. She expressed her protest in this context individually and said it was not in her capacity as chair of the party.

Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2013, all rights reserved.

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Dixie State University senior Johnna Brown, St. George, Utah, 2012-13 | Photo by Rico Del Sesto, St. George Health and Wellness and St. George News

Originally from Las Vegas, Brown has career school-basketball records in scoring (1,212 points), field goals made (433), rebounds (726), and assists (232), to name a few. In softball, she has a .438 career batting average with 24 home runs and 133 runs batted in.

Each sport has a different draw for Brown.

“Softball is more relaxing to me and I enjoy the team camaraderie,” she said. “I’m really competitive and aggressive and get a lot of my points off of rebounds, so I enjoy the speed and physical nature of basketball.”

Beyond the field and court, Brown said she has gained valuable life lessons from her experience as being part of a team.

Johnna Brown plays for Dixie State University women’s softball, St. George, Utah, 2012-13 | Photo by Stan Plewe, St. George Health and Wellness and St. George News

“I’ve learned that you have to get along with your teammates beyond the floor. You have to go out to car washes, community service, give clinics – it just brings your team closer together and you play more for your team than yourself. I think that is how you build successful teams,” she said. “A lot of the girls look up to me on the softball team and I know I need to be an example. I also try to bring a lot of fun to the team. It has to be fun or you won’t do well.”

Another fond memory Brown will take away from DSU is meeting local youth.

“Over the last two years, we have been bringing kids to the games. They would line up and have us sign autographs,” she said. “They probably don’t know how much it means to us – as much as it means to them. They look up to us. It’s just a great feeling.”

Brown offered advice to other young women pursuing their sports dreams: Work hard but remember to always have fun.

“If you don’t enjoy it, it’s not worth it,” she said. “Enjoy more than just the game. It’s so important to enjoy what you do and build relationships with those around you.”

“I’m going to miss Dixie State,” Brown said. “Not only did I learn a lot about playing sports, I learned what it means to be on a team, serve my community and work hard as a student-athlete.”

Dixie State University senior Johnna Brown, St. George, Utah, 2012-13 | Photo by Rico Del Sesto, St. George Health and Wellness and St. George News

Jared DuPree

Written by Jared DuPree for St. George Health and Wellness magazine and St. George News.

The editor of St. George Health and Wellness magazine, DuPree earned a doctorate in human ecology with an emphasis in research, wellness, and relationships from Kansas State Univerisity. He also earned an International MBA from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in consulting and entrepreneurship. He has written numerous articles, curriculums, and book chapters on wellness as it relates to inviduals, families, and communities. He enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, fishing, playing basketball, and spending time with his wife and three children.

St. George Health and Wellness

Email: news@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc. and St. George Health and Wellness magazine, 2013, all rights reserved.

Dixie State University senior Johnna Brown, women’s softball, St. George, Utah, 2012-13 | Photo by Julie Buchanan, St. George Health and Wellness and St. George News

The post Success comes from loving the game, your team and yourself; DSU student-athlete Johnna Brown appeared first on St. George News | STGnews.com.