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Show A community newspaper serving residents and businesses on the west side of Salt Lake City Issue No. 3 DECEMBER 2004 of U Lineman, Out About ‘oaches and Parents S| run. Holtry’s second tenure began in 2002, making him both Aloia’s predecessor and successor. Holtry is troubled by the fact that for the past three years, under his leadership, West’s football program has been in a slump. “We didn’t win a single game this year, and that was a big disappointment,” he said. That is partly why Holtry has resigned and decided to retire early from his 35-year coaching/teaching career at West. Instead of coaching another year or two, Holtry feels better about having someone else come in to coach who would want to stay for ten years or so, Kite Afeaki, University of Utah defensive lineman, was a guest speaker at the West Ute Little League Football Conference awards ceremony held at Backman Elementary last. month. “Parents, so many of you take your kids to practice every day and cheer them on at early Saturday morning games,” he said. “I encourage you to push your kids just as hard in school.” Afeaki said that his parents emphasized education early to him. Now, he’s a college junior majoring in sociology on a football scholarship. He plays on the and who would really work hard with the little league to build up the program. “We’ve had a real difficult — time holding on to our players,” said Holtry. “West has a stigma as being a ‘tough-kid’ school where unbeaten 2004 Utes team, which appears to be headed for Phoenix’s Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. The 2000 West High graduate told the Backman audience he is proud of his West Side background. It bothers him when oth- kids are likely to get in trouble.” ers leave West High for another school. “Parents, leave your kids are great things here.” Afeaki has great praise for former West football coach Sam Aloia (1998-2001), who “pushed kids to the next level in the right way’ and emphasized college eligibility. Aloia cared about effort _and education, he said. But one West High parent, peak — Football Player Defections by Dale J. Neilson and Charlotte Fife-Jepperson at West,” stressed Afeaki. ““There 15 West fa Running back Vai Lutui gains yardage in the varsity football game against East. Lutui, a great asset to the Panthers, received all-region recognition and was named MVP of his team. Photo by Mary Sue Floisand who requested anonymity, has a much different take. He feels that during Aloia’s tenure, players didn’t work and now have no team has an attitude problem. “Losing is acceptable to them. They must be held to a [higher] work in foot- ball started going downhill. If we ball.” He also observed that not all players work out consistently on weights, and feels that the would’ve had Holtry, we’d have won state,” he said. ethic, “especially work ethic. In During 1999, West foot- his first tenure as West’s head Varsity football coach, (1985-97), Don Holtry coached the competitive Panthers to a 1992 state championship and a whopping 23-game winning streak in the early 1990s, which is second statewide only to Pleasant Grove High’s 26-game But, Holtry disagrees with that stigma. He thinks that West is one of the top schools in the city, with a great faculty, students and a top-notch academic program. West is the only high school in the district to house the ELP (gifted and talented program) and International Bacclaureate program. “Since the boundaries see Football on page 2 Jordan River Christmas Bird Count Approaches By Edie Trimmer This year, the National Audubon Society conducts the 105th Christmas Bird Count. During the months of December and early January, 53,000 participants will count birds at over 1800 sites throughout the United States. As part of this nationwide effort, Great Salt Lake Audubon will conduct its 73rd Salt Lake City Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 18. This survey counts all wild birds within a seven and a half mile radius of Temple Square. On January 1, the Jordan River Christmas Bird Count will be conducted ‘for southern Salt Lake County and northern Utah County. The purpose of these counts is to compile an annual census of all wild birds that are present during the harshest part of winter and then compare those counts with previous years. These volunteer efforts are important in tracking the rise or decline in approximately 370 bird species found in Utah. Up to 125 of these species can be found during winter months throughout the state. Charles Lockerbie, known as the “Dean of Utah Field Ornithologists,” organized the first Salt Lake- City Chirstmas with his grandfather, Dr. H.E. Garrett, in a house near the Jordan River at 1700 South. As a boy, he explored the river and many of the westside marshes along with his Lackerbie moved to Salt Lake City in 1890 as an eleven-. year-old boy. He; suc with his mother and sister, lived birders are welcome. This is a fun event with the added friends Carl, Preston and Tracy Cannon. As an adult, he benefit of contributing to the science and understanding of spent several years in the southwest and California before returning to Salt Lake City in 1920. He and his wife bird populations. Lillian lived in a house near 300 West very near where he grew up. The Salt Lake City Christmas westside neighborhoods. Although changed since Lockerbie’s boyhood, species because of the Jordan River bordering the Great Salt Lake. Bob Walters, Wildlife and 900 South, To find out more about these birds, go to birds .org/counties/saltlake/MurrayJRP.htm , www.utah- Bird Count includes the area has greatly it is still rich in bird and the salt marshes Coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will lead a team in the Glendale/Poplar Grove area. Bob Huntington will lead a team in the northwest sections of the city and Mark Stackhouse will lead a team in the marshes = Salt Lake City International Airport. _ If you are interested in participating in the Salt Lake City Christmas Bird Count, call Steve Carr at 277-7711. If ‘you are interested in helping with the Jordan River Christmas Bird Count on January 1, call Jeanne LeBer or Bird Count in 1932, four years before he’. Ray | Smith at 532-7384. West Side resident Edie Trimmer helped found an Audubon: chapter in. Salt Lake City. Both counts usually last most of the day. Bring binoculars and dress warmly. Beginning as well as experienced will be participating in the team for the Glendale/Poplar ‘Grove area and in the Jordan River count. She can be con- tacted at 671-5894 or at 532-1948. Canadian geese ; are one of 1 many species of birds found on or néar The Jordan River. — Photo Courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources |
