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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, October 24-26, 2018 The Park Record James Jeffs is running his own path Hildale’s first arsity star makes rand entrance ATE CARLISLE he Salt Lake Tribune SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — mes Jeffs helped build his gh school. That’s not a metahor. When he was 10 or 11 years d, he was sent to work with her members of the Fundaentalist Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in construcon of a bishops’ storehouse in ildale. The storehouse was latsold to the Washington CounSchool District and converted Water Canyon High School. Now 18, out of the FLDS and senior at Water Canyon, Jeffs helping transform Hildale in way only teenagers can — rough high school sports. “The coach is always saying, Represent the school,”’ Jeffs id, “and, for the most part, e high school represents the wn.” Jeffs finished seventh at this eek’s state cross-country meet Sugar House Park in Salt ake City in the 1A division of e Utah State High School Acvities Association. That helped ffs reach his goal of a top-10 sult after he finished 18th at st year’s competition. Jeffs, who at 6 feet 8 inchtall also plans to play center n Water Canyon’s boys’ basetball team later this fall and ants to run track in the spring, n lay claim to being the first ep sports star in the remade ildale. Earlier this year, resients pitched in to send him to ustralia to compete and train. If some voters have it their ay, Water Canyon will make ore high school athletes. The hool district is asking voters approve a $125 million bond finance school and facilities onstruction across Washington ounty. At Water Canyon, the ond would finance construcon of a new track and baseball nd softball diamonds in 2021. The district is emphasizing the bond would not boost tax rates; it would replace existing bonds when they are paid off. Hildale was once run by FLDS members loyal to the faith’s president, Warren Jeffs. The town has gotten more secular in recent years with two jury verdicts allowing federal judges to impose changes, as well as a municipal election last year when voters elected a mayor and three City Council members who are not Jeffs followers. The Washington County School District opened Water Canyon as a kindergarten through 12th grade school in 2014 — the first public school in Hildale in a decade. Hildale City Councilman Lawrence Barlow compares high school sports to a beer brewery that recently opened in adjacent Colorado City, Arizona They both show, Barlow said, that Hildale and Colorado City are not as standoffish as they once were and can be “venues of healing” for the community. Barlow said he’s also seen sports make a difference in his family. One of his daughters ran on Water Canyon’s track team. Another daughter was on the wrestling team. “I know it’s done a lot for them,” Barlow said, “to boost their confidence and interact and cope with everyday life.” James Jeffs’ family was once loyal to his uncle Warren Jeffs, too. James Jeffs, who says he falls somewhere in the middle among his father’s 16 children, said the family was moved through the years to FLDS homes in Colorado and in South Dakota. “Those are stressful times,” James Jeffs said Friday in a telephone interview. He was reluctant to say much about his family’s time in the FLDS but volunteered that when the bishops’ storehouse that became his school was under construction in 2010, he was sent there to sweep the floors and carry lightweight supplies and equipment. In 2011, Warren Jeffs was convicted of crimes related to sexually assaulting two girls he married as plural wives in Texas. He is serving a sentence of life plus 20 years in prison. Then, in mid-June 2012, James Jeffs’ father, Dale Jeffs, a half-brother to the imprisoned president, received a message from the then-FLDS bishop. Warren Jeffs had a revelation, the bishop said, that Dale Jeffs and two of his three wives had committed a number of sins. The purported sins, Dale Jeffs said Friday in a phone interview, were similar to what other evicted FLDS men have reported over the years — Warren accused him of murdering unborn children, having evil in his heart and being immoral, among other vague transgressions. (Dale Jeffs said all the accusations were lies.) Dale Jeffs and the two wives were told to leave Hildale and not speak to other family members. The three of them settled 300 miles away in Heber City. The children were left in the care of one of Dale Jeffs’ oldest daughters. It took Dale Jeffs and his wives about seven months to process what had happened and realize they needed to return to Hildale to care for their children and stop them from following his half-brother. That suited James Jeffs. “When we left,” he said, “things were starting to get to the point that I actually did want to get out.” James Jeffs enrolled in Water Canyon in 2015. An older brother had joined the cross-country team and invited James to practice. He had played basketball among his family but had no experience running competitively. Runners race 3 miles in cross-country meets. James Jeffs said he was asked to run about 2.5 miles in that first practice. “I stopped and walked some of the way,” he said. “It wasn’t until about two or three practices later I went the full distances without walking.” The teen steadily improved his times and, by the end of that first season, was Water Canyon’s fastest runner. He might be Utah’s tallest cross-country runner, though James Jeffs said he doesn’t perceive that he trains or races differently than those with shorter strides. He still has to strategize, deciding how to pace himself based on his competition and how many hills are on the course. Dale Jeffs grew up along the Wasatch Front and one of his brothers ran track at Jordan High School in Sandy. But, Dale Jeffs said, children raised in the FLDS and its earlier incarnations mostly played their sports within families. “We didn’t get out with the public that much,” he said. After James Jeffs qualified for last year’s state meet, Hildale took notice. When a program called Down Under Sports invited him to Gold Coast, Australia, to train with and race against other U.S. teens, his family, friends and the community were ready to help him. In a town where the household income is 69 percent of the state’s median and two out of every five residents live below poverty, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Hildale residents and other supporters amassed $9,400 for James Jeffs to go to Australia and Dale Jeffs to go as his chaperone. The trip was James Jeffs’ first flight on an airplane and the first time seeing the ocean. Dale Jeffs said other Hildale residents stop him and ask him how James’ season is going. Sports in Hildale, the father said, “has been a good thing. It occupies (the students) and keeps them busy.” James Jeffs said he would like to go to college to study engineering. He would like to play collegiate sports, too, but has not been recruited. “I try to think of myself as just another 18-year-old,” he said. On Friday, James Jeffs didn’t know how he would vote on the bond Nov. 6. By Monday, he decided he favors the measure. Like a runner planning his race strategy, James Jeffs needed to do his homework before deciding a plan of action. Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love hese animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday om noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open onday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Heifer Lucy Sprinkles Tupac Meet Heifer, a playful 4-yearold Lab mix! He’s eager to earn and needs an owner who s dog-savvy. He should be the nly pet in his home and can be a bit wary of strangers, so he eeds a loving family that will elp him be the best he can be! Lucy is an energetic and playful Shepherd mix pup who is about 4 months old. She loves to snuggle and spend time with people. Lucy does well around other dogs and doesn’t mind cats. She is looking for a forever home where she can grow up and have lots of fun! This sweet little gal is Sprinkles, a 10-year-old Chihuahua. She loves to be held and cuddled, and she also likes to go for walks. She would do best in a home without children and where she can be an only pet. Come and meet this snuggler today! Tupac is looking for unconditional love (no doubt)! This energetic and playful mixed breed is a sweet and lovable little guy. He loves to be around people and does well with other dogs. He could even share a home with a cat that doesn’t mind his bouncy and outgoing personality! Milo Ping Pong Sugar Pie Tawny Milo is a curious and outgoing short-haired tabby cat who is bout a year old. He is a sweet boy who gets along well with other cats and likes to spend ime with people. Milo is sure to be a loving and snuggly companion for his forever family! Ping Pong is an adorable 6-month-old patch tabby Domestic Shorthair. She is a friendly and sweet-natured kitten who loves to explore and would love a forever home where she can have tons of fun and then snuggle up with her family at the end of the day. Sugar Pie is ready for some snuggles! This sweet-as-can-be Domestic Medium Hair is looking for her perfect forever home. She’d love a family that will give her lots of attention and chin scritches. Sugar Pie would love to be someone’s best friend and constant companion. Tawny is an 18-month-old Domestic Medium Hair with a soft buff and white coat. She is gentle and sweet but can be a bit shy at first. Tawny is looking for a loving forever home where she can feel safe and loved and spend her days purring in her favorite person’s lap. WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words Canines With a Cause Canines With a Cause is looking for volunteers interested in learning dog training and assessment skills. Volunteers will foster and train prospective service and companion dogs to be placed with veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For more information please contact Cathy King at 435-640-9095. The Christian Center of Park City The Christian Center is looking for volunteers with a passion for helping the community. Open six days a week, the center needs volunteers (ages 16+) to help in the food pantry, boutique store, and thrift store, and with seasonal events throughout the year. Interested? Fill out an online volunteer application at www.ccof- ccofpc.org or 435-649-2260, ext. 15. EATS Park City EATS Park City is dedicated to working with the school district and community to improve the school-lunch program using education as the foundation for change. School volunteers are needed to help with programs like lunchtime taste tests, cooking classes, and community events. Give an hour a week or a few hours a month to support interesting and fun ways to increase Park City children’s healthy habits. Contact eatspc@gmail.com to get involved. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/ B- 1990 28 2018 2018 Committed To DEDICATED TO PARK CITY FOR 28 YEARS (435) 649-8322 theteam@parkcitytitle.com 1670 Bonanza Drive • Park Record Building Introducing... 435-645-7139 www.marketatparkcity.com Please look for our insert in today’s paper |