As a first-generation college graduate, he holds a BA in Sociology from Alfred University, an MS in Sports Management from American Public University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. His doctoral research focused on the retention and persistence of Black male students at predominantly white institutions. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Antonio Williams on his new appointment! Contact us(585) 275-2121See maps and directionsRochester, NYSearch Rochester.edu SearchPrivacyCopyrightEmergency Information© University of Rochester 1996–2025 KEARNS — A Kearns man was arrested Thursday and accused of sexually abusing four boys over the past 20 years was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of 42 felony crimes including 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child four counts of forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse Unified police say the abuse happened at Bates's Kearns residence and at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center swimming pool "There are numerous victims who have reported abuse from the defendant," a police booking affidavit states Investigators say they seized several CDs belonging to Bates that contained child sex abuse material A total of 134 photos of child sex abuse material were found including images of at least two boys who police identified as victims for his arrest At least one picture was of an 11-year-old boy in 2006 A second boy says he was abused while participating in the Boy Scouts of America between 2007 and 2013 Unified police confirmed that Bates "was a Boy Scouts leader and the abuse began when (the boy) was in Boy Scouts," the affidavit states A third boy says he also met Bates when he was 13 and a member of the Scouts "(He) would go to Charles' house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts "These incidents (of abuse) occurred in Charles' bedroom and the community pool family bathroom." A fourth boy told police he was abused five or six years ago "These are extremely serious crimes that have persisted over decades," police said while requesting that he be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail Unified police say anyone who believes they were victimized by Bates Utah (KUTV) — The Silver Alert issued for an 88-year-old man last seen in Kearns on Saturday evening has been canceled Clarence Duone Pollard was reported missing after April 26 at 6 p.m Authorities stated Pollard was believed to be headed to an unknown location in West Valley City with brown eyes and gray or partially gray hair known affectionately to friends and family as Carol Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Military Honors and Fireman’s rites he was a son to the late Charles and Thelma Mullinix Kearns Carol graduated from West Montgomery High School in 1964 he honorably served his country for two years in the U.S Army as a Military Police officer stationed in South Carolina and Georgia His dedication to service continued long after his military tenure ended as he became a charter member of the West Montgomery Lions Club and the Uwharrie Volunteer Fire Department Carol had worked for the North Carolina Department of Corrections from 1982 until his retirement Carol was an active member of Love Joy Church His voice was a cherished addition to the church choir and he could often be found lending a hand at the annual men's BBQ serving both fellowship and food with a warm smile Carol's spirit of community service was matched only by his love for nature; he found joy in feeding the birds He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years at Love Joy Church prior to the service and other times at the residence on 167 Morton Road NC 27371 or Uwharrie Volunteer Fire Department  Bumgarner Family Funeral Service is serving the family Pulitzer Prize winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin knows what it’s like to face the past She talks with Anderson about how Abraham Lincoln and other historic figures dealt with grief She went through boxes of papers and mementos with her husband Dick Goodwin before he died and it changed both of their lives in ways she never expected Visit the All There Is online grief community at cnn.com/allthereisonline and watch the video version on YouTube CNN Audio's transcripts are made available as soon as possible They are not fully edited for grammar or spelling and may be revised in the future The audio record represents the final version of CNN Audio Utah (KUTV) — According to Unified Police in Kearns video taken from buildings near a crosswalk shows Adam Mahamat did not stop at the crosswalk before he got hit While police had initially identified Adam as 12 “The information that we have shows that he [Mahamat] did not stop he continued on that bicycle right out into traffic,” said UPD Kearns Precinct Chief Levi Hughes The video was not released to KUTV while police work to edit the moment of impact Police are still investigating the evidence but said this tragic crash is a reminder to pay attention “We all need to take time to use the safety measures that we have,” Hughes said students walked through the intersection with a crossing guard in place for the first time a crossing guard will remain at the intersection until further notice while engineers will conduct traffic studies to help determine how to keep everyone safe hopes the city will keep a crossing guard here “I’m hoping that they keep the crossing guard as it is needed,” Wallace said KEARNS — A West Valley man is facing more than 80 felony charges for alleged sex crimes against children over the past 30 years Charles Shelton Bates was charged with a total of 84 crimes on Thursday in 3rd District Court including 25 counts of forcible sodomy six counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child first-degree felonies; 30 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of forcible sexual abuse second-degree felonies; victim retaliation and aggravated kidnapping Prosecutors say the alleged abuse started in 1986 and the last known case was in 2022 The charges reflect abuse to at least a half dozen victims not all of whom met Bates through the Scouting program "We hope that the filing of these charges help the victim-survivors see that their community is working together to bring them justice This office will provide the resources necessary through our Survivor and Victim Services Division to help these victim-survivors heal from their traumatic experiences," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Thursday "We appreciate the years of investigation by Unified Police Department that helped collect the necessary evidence which led to the filing of these charges." Unified police say much of the abuse happened at Bates's Kearns residence and at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center swimming pool At least two boys told investigators they were abused while participating in the Boy Scouts of America beginning as early as 2007 A witness told investigators that Bates was a Scout leader and "groomed" boys back then One boy said he was abused when he would "go to Charles' house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts Another boy told detectives that he met Bates through the Scouting program and the abuse began with Bates taking pictures of him claiming it was for "Boy Scouts," the charges state The pictures evolved into frequent sexual abuse Unified police seized several CDs belonging to Bates that contained child sex abuse material "(Bates) not only sexually abused these victims but he also produced child pornography with two of the victims and then keeping (the photos) until they were turned in to the police department by his family in 2022 experienced a magnitude of abuse at the hands of (Bates)," the charges continued "While the state is filing charges related to events that occurred over the last 36-plus years it believes it's essential to recognize that (he) forced each of these victims to engage in sexual activity each time they were together (Bates) using coercion tactics and grooming forced each victim to engage in sexual activity with him and the number of charges filed does not diminish the abuse that these victims had to endure." Jess McCane standing in front of an ivy-covered wall on the University of Rochester’s campus University of Rochester.McCane says that is all intentional her way of letting students know they are entering a safe space and that she is there to help and assist with anything they may need McCane is an academic coach with the Student Support Services program in the Kearns Center and in May will celebrate her one-year anniversary at Kearns McCane came to the University of Rochester from Nazareth University where she worked as an adjunct history lecturer and advised history education students McCane has committed to expanding her horizons and striving towards excellence—working to learn as much as she can and finding ways to have the most impact in her work McCane says the students she got to work with at Nazareth really inspired her to consider a job in the academic advising space “I really enjoyed advising my students working through their career plans and all the other intricacies of their lives and it made me think about wanting to pursue that and see if I would be able to use my degree and make a career out of that.” Now that she has been in her new role at the Kearns Center for a year she is proud and grateful for her previous experiences that have allowed this next step to be such a great fit “I feel like my ability to teach history and make it applicable and exciting has translated into my ability to be a really good advisor,” says McCane McCane also attended Nazareth for her undergraduate schooling and was excited to teach there after obtaining her master’s degree from Colombia University “I knew Nazareth like the back of my hand it was very easy for me to go from student to teacher there,” McCane explains But making the transition from working at Nazareth to working at UR has been more of a ‘winding journey’ “The U of R is massive,” McCane admits “When you live in Rochester your entire life all you hear about is how distinguished UR is and how massive and beautiful and impressive everything is I realized that all of that was true and all of the students that I have met with are all so genuine and kind—along with [having] massive brains—they are so intelligent and wildly talented!” McCane credits the students she works with and her Kearns Center colleagues—including her supervisor Student Support Services (SSS) Program Manager Jazmin Dunham—with being so helpful and making her feel a part of the team “It has been really exciting because there are always new things going on,” McCane explains “We have new events that we are looking forward to every month There are always new things to learn about U of R and the students that I work with so it has felt like a marathon—but in a good way!” Dunham is grateful for the work McCane has put in and says having her as part of the SSS team has been fantastic “She brings a strong sense of dedication and enthusiasm to her role Her ability to connect with students so quickly and contribute innovative ideas has helped strengthen the program’s mission,” Dunham says McCane has come into the Kearns Center during a time of growth McCane was one of six people were hired at the Kearns Center in 2024—leading to a lot of excitement and buzz about the future of the center the SSS program has been able to focus on new ideas for student engagement I’m able to engage students more effectively by hosting more workshops increasing the number of one on one advising sessions and providing more personalized support overall,” says Dunham “It’s allowed me to be more present and intentional in my interactions which helps build stronger connections with students and better meet their individual needs [McCane’s] contributions have been invaluable and her presence has truly enriched the SSS program,” Dunham says Building those stronger connections has included hosting cohort dinners for students in the program something the SSS team introduced this semester for the first time The first cohort dinner was held on March 17 Visit the Student Support Services program page learn more about the SSS team. If you are interested in attending events hosted by the Kearns Center, see our events page. SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two Honduran nationals were charged in connection with an alleged drug trafficking organization Attorney's Office District of Utah said Detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force had been investigating an alleged drug trafficking organization since March 2025 They reportedly purchased narcotics during a controlled buy and identified two possible "drug runners" and their vehicles Detectives executed a search warrant and seized approximately 4,500 fentanyl pills Hernandez-Valle and Hernandez were taken into custody Attorney's Office District of Utah said Hernandez-Valle was previously removed from the U.S Hernandez was removed in July 2009 and in September 2018 Both men were charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl Utah (KUTV) — A 12-year-old student of Kearns Junior High was fatally struck by an SUV in a crosswalk while heading to school Granite School District officials identified the boy as Adam Mahamat Officials with the Unified Police Department said they received multiple calls about a student who was hit by an eastbound Chevy Tahoe at 7:45 a.m The crash happened as the student was crossing northbound at 4140 West and Sam’s Boulevard in Kearns Mahamat was listed in critical condition when officers and firefighters arrived Life-saving measures were conducted by people at the scene while medics were en route He was then transported to a local hospital where police said he later died Witnesses remained on the scene to assist in the investigation and the SUV driver was cooperating with police The Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to investigate and was working to determine the cause of the crash "This school is heartbroken," Granite School District officials said in a statement "Kearns Jr High is an incredibly close knit community and this accident has had far reaching effects." Traffic was temporarily diverted from 4140 West and Sam’s Boulevard during the investigation Grace noted that there was no crossing guard at the time of the crash She could not confirm whether the light was activated "Schools and districts do not have the authority over traffic safety including crosswalks and safety lights," district officials said we do not hire any personnel to staff crosswalks This authority lies with law enforcement and municipalities We will continue to collaborate with our city and law enforcement partners to work to provide safe walking routes." They advised students to pay attention when crossing the street and said drivers should be "extra vigilant when you're driving in or around school zones The mother of a student who was friends with Mahamat said "I’ve been worried because a lot of kids go to the library and there’s an exodus of kids crossing there Maybe it would be appropriate to have a crossing guard there just to make sure that the kids are safe and not taking risks they shouldn’t take." Details about the exact cause of the crash were not released the Mojave Desert resident unspools stark tales of cursed outsiders and sentimental fools with an empathetic touch presenting these dusty sagas without passing judgement or romanticizing tough times Together and Alone feels timeless and immediate at once resident who’s now based in the Mojave Desert (where he runs his own solar-powered recording studio) the veteran solo artist is joined by wife Susan on upright bass – hence the Family tag – but it’s essentially a one-man show otherwise as well as blowing sporadic lonely harmonica reminiscent of Neil Young This pared-down setting is the perfect complement to his weathered voice which can evoke deep weariness without conceding defeat while the occasional scruffy falsetto adds a hint of lunacy “Bandito” surveys the bleak prospects of a man who has “less than seven miles to go” to the border concluding “the wind and sun / Will stop you dead.” In “The Funny Thing About Keeping Moving” Kearns portrays a wild drifter caught up in a deadly train robbery and betrayed by a former lover when an outlaw does stop running…That’s the moment they don’t expect to die,” he sighs “The Old Days” tenderly recalls summer afternoons with a long-departed father “My heart aches,” while “Charlie” remembers a ne’er do well buddy who was “always high and drinking,” though such recollections of boozy excess don’t seem like much of a legacy to treasure Together and Alone opens with the spectacular “Dust,” a brooding ode to perseverance in the face of decay and closes on a gentler note with “Love Will Win in the End,” seeking comfort from another lonely soul after a romance implodes The Kearns Family’s Together and Alone is out Jan FRESH TRACK: Steve Bardwil Band – “Send ‘Em Love”Check it outSPONSORED BY Steve Bardwil Band KEARNS — A 12-year-old boy died Thursday after getting hit by a car while riding his bicycle to school The child was riding a bike north on 4140 West and was crossing Sam's Boulevard near Kearns Junior High School around 7:45 a.m First responders arrived on scene and began performing life-saving measures on the 12-year-old before he was transported to a hospital in critical condition where he later died from his injuries Kearns Junior High is an incredibly close-knit community and this accident has had far-reaching effects," said a statement from Granite School District Witnesses stayed at the scene to help with the investigation as did the driver of the vehicle that hit the child The district's statement added that schools and districts do not have authority over traffic safety and do not hire any personnel to staff crosswalks "This authority lies with law enforcement and municipalities We will continue to collaborate with our city and law enforcement partners to work to provide safe walking routes," the statement said The incident remains under investigation and authorities are urging drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution especially near school zones and crosswalks The district said its crisis response team has been in the school providing initial support to students and staff and will continue to be at the school through Friday The team will "work with families for any additional ongoing support or resources that may be needed." 2024 Kearns Center Summer Award RecipientsThe David T Kearns Center at the University of Rochester is a place aimed at staying true to its mission of Transforming Lives Through Educational Opportunity The staff at the Kearns Center are focused on that mission every day offering support - whether it’s academic or financial – can be the most transformative The Kearns Center can offer financial support in a couple different ways “Donor contributions are integral to the Kearns Center's mission of expanding educational opportunities and creating pathways to success for our students,” says Director of the Kearns Center “These gifts not only enable the Center to offer financial awards but also empower students to pursue their academic goals without the total weight of financial stress This support opens doors to transformative experiences such as research opportunities and study-abroad programs that might otherwise be inaccessible donor contributions allow students to dedicate themselves fully to their education and personal growth,” Baique says Students interested in applying for funding through the Kearns Center have the opportunity to do so with the 2025 summer awards application now open the Kearns Center awarded five students summer awards including - Jennasea Licata The students say the financial support they received was instrumental in enriching their college careers and allowing them to reach their academic goals The funding was used by the students in a few different ways; to either take a course over the summer support a study abroad experience or pay for food and housing to stay in Rochester over the summer and complete research or an internship The students say they would not have been able to afford those experiences if it weren’t for the money they received donor funds are more than just monetary support—they represent an investment in the next generation of leaders “By directly contributing to the success and empowerment of our students donors play an essential role in transforming lives and advancing the Center’s mission of equity and excellence.” Award recipient Jennasea Licata a University of Rochester senior majoring in molecular genetics agrees and says getting a financial award can have an inspiring impact “Thank you to the donors...The funding that they provided lets students know that there are people out there that are willing to invest in them.” Licata received the Alan and Mark Frohman Fund Award and used the money to help her fund her stay in Rochester over the summer so she could participate in an internship at a biotech company “Receiving this award made it possible for me to complete a summer internship in the first place,” Licata says “It did more than just help me reach my specific academic and personal goals it elevated my professional skills and aspirations allowing me to participate in a deeply enriching and meaningful experience that has huge implications for my future career and personal growth.” Licata by eliminating financial barriers and helping support experiences that can mark a clear turning point in a student’s life “When you are finally given an opportunity and you’re ready to run with that opportunity it makes a myriad of difference in your goals,” Licata says was one of those students who used the funding she received to take a course over the summer “This scholarship helped me reach my goal of satisfying all pre-medical course requirements prior to my junior spring semester,” says Akhmadzhanova a junior at the University of Rochester who is majoring in mathematics and on the pre-medical track “This is a huge deal for me as a pre-med student and enables me to be closer to my dream of being a physician in fact the first physician in my family.” Akhmadzhanova was awarded the Mark and Jill Goldstein Fund Award and says she had the opportunity to meet Mark Goldstein earlier this year “It was also such a pleasure meeting Mark Goldstein during Meliora Weekend I did not understand that receiving this award meant I would be able to talk to and learn from such an accomplished leader.” Akhmadzhanova also says that receiving the award took a lot of weight off her shoulders and helped her build confidence in herself I also believe in myself more,” says Akhmadzhanova “The Kearns Center is constantly giving us the tools and supporting us and encouraging us to reach our academic goals and as first-generation college students Junior Emily DeVeyra is majoring in optical engineering and used the funding she was awarded to earn some math credits over the summer “I initially wanted to apply for the award because I was interested in taking a summer course that I wouldn’t have been able to afford Taking this course in the summer enabled me to take more classes related to my major and further explore my passion for optics,” DeVeyra says “I hope to be a part of the optics field and one day share my curiosities through teaching This award helped me catch up with the optics curriculum and left me with more room to take classes I’m interested in,” Deveyra explained Not only does the funding lift a financial burden off her shoulders but relieves some mental stress as well DeVeyra says because she was able to take the math course over the summer she didn’t have to overload on her classes once the fall semester began That allowed her to be fully immersed in her optics classes something she doesn’t take for granted All the summer award winners had encouraging words to students who are thinking about applying for funding this year.  “If you don’t try you won’t get it,” says Licata “You owe it to yourself to invest in yourself and know that you are going to get to where you need to go Not applying is not investing in yourself in that way.” Utah — Everywhere you look in our Cool School of the Week you can see their school colors Our Cool School of the Week is Kearns High School "I think Kearns High School is a cool school because we're very prideful and we take pride in our city and our school," said one People of the Pacific student The Kearns pride was on full display Wednesday morning with a combined dance from the drill team especially within our dance programs," said one Dance Company member students take hands-on learning to the next level with various class options and all that kind of stuff," said one welding student "I've done a lot of brake work on my own car I've done some oil changes," said the auto shop teacher's assistant Kearns High is also home to the only marching band in the Granite School District Their rendition of the classic "Sweet Caroline" had us all wanting to sing along Throughout the morning many students told us one of their favorite things about Kearns is the diversity of the student population they have a People of the Pacific class where students can learn about the culture of the Pacific Islands and its people "We haven't had a class like this that's able to have standards we assess," said one People of the Pacific advisor "It's just made it a lot more relevant to the students than an after-school club." Students at the school are also very engaged with service The Student Body Officers talked about their Sub for Santa and how they connect with their feeder middle schools Latinos in Action is also another school program centered around the community "Latinos in Action is a program and class for people of diverse programs to help the community," said one student Granite Credit Union surprised Latinos in Action teacher Andrew Busath with a donation for all the work he and his students are doing at Kearns High and beyond "We are proud to support the amazing program that you have here," said Granite Credit Union's Director of Community Relations Ileana McDonald "It's an awesome honor for them because it attributes to all the work you can email nominations to GoodDayUtah@Fox13Now.com or fill out the nomination form on our website Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application lovingly known as "The Face of the Lottery," passed away on September 18 She was the loving daughter of the late Mary (O'Neill) and Joseph McCabe She was also predeceased by her beloved husband William's sudden passing in 1970 left a profound void in Ann’s life but she faced this loss with courage and strength dedicating herself to her children and finding new ways to serve her community Ann took on the role of a teacher’s aide in the Weymouth public schools where her passion for helping children to learn and grow was a testament to her nurturing spirit She was a pillar of support and an inspiration to both students and teachers alike Family was the cornerstone of Ann's life She cherished every moment spent with her loved ones whether gathered around to celebrate a birthday watching a favorite television show together or sharing stories of the day’s events around the dinner table Ann was never happier than when she was surrounded by her children Ann's warmth and charisma made her a beloved figure during her 37-year career at the Massachusetts State Lottery Her infectious smile and genuine interest in the people she encountered while managing the reception desk and lobby brought joy to both colleagues and the countless winners she helped over the years Ann wasn't just an employee; she was a friend Her spirit will forever remain intertwined with the heart of the Lottery where she made an unforgettable impact on so many lives In addition to her love for family and work Ann was an animal lover who owned many cats and a dog over the years She found joy in her daily walks whether it was to her neighborhood library She also loved a good cup of black coffee no matter what time of day Ann will be remembered as a woman of immense love and her memory will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her Larkin and her late husband Paul of Duxbury and Tom Kearns and his wife Cindi of Milford Ann was the cherished grandmother to Meaghan Chandler and her husband James of Duxbury Caitlin Waters and her husband Michael of Quincy Michael Larkin and his wife Samantha of Annapolis Molly Jenkins and her husband Eric of Milford and Jill Brewer and her husband Miles of Bermuda  Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Ann’s life during visiting hours on Monday from 5-8 PM at McDonald Keohane Funeral Home A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 9:45 AM on Tuesday followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church the family requests that donations be made in Ann’s memory to a charity of one’s choice honoring her generous spirit and lifelong commitment to helping others Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page USC’s Tilly Kearns Earns MPSF Women’s Water Polo Player of the Week Award April 01 Senior served up six goals to help USC beat top-ranked Stanford Utah (KUTV) — Crews from multiple agencies were having to deal with an array of hazards as they battled a fire in Kearns in below-freezing temperatures The incident was reported just before 4 a.m Wednesday at a retail plaza near 4700 West and 5400 South which included a Papa John's restaurant and the La Placita Market public information officer with Unified Fire Authority said crews arrived to find the building fully-involved with "lots of flames and lots of smoke." A second alarm was called shortly after crews arrived spraying the flames from fire truck ladders high above the blaze as temperatures dipped to 25 degrees creating an additional obstacle for firefighters Porter said that all the water being sprayed was creating a "very icy scene," and crews were having to navigate slippery surfaces amid the firefight The ice may have played a part in an auto-pedestrian crash later in the morning, when a vehicle hit an officer who was directing traffic away from the scene While the cause of the fire hasn't yet been determined Porter said investigators have ruled out arson a portion of the affected building collapsed It wasn't immediately known if anyone was injured though Porter said crews were being kept a decent distance away as part of the defensive strategy Authorities closed the road in both directions Closures were in place on 5400 South at 4800 West and at 4585 West UDOT advised drivers avoid the area if possible Porter said that due to the multiple facets involved in this particular firefight he didn't expect 5400 South to open any time soon The officer involved in the auto-ped was the only injury reported as of the most recent update time on this report (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The La Placita market in Kearns Para leer este artículo en español, haz clic aquí. Kearns • The musky odor of soot and charred wood permeated the frigid January air at the corner of Northwest Avenue and 5400 South in the once-bustling plaza known to locals as “La Placita.” The plaza’s current state — littered with burst soda bottles and scorched glass — is not how Claudia Palacios remembers it Short summer walks across the street to La Placita Market were routine for Palacios and her family her four kids piling the market’s sole register high with Mexican sour candy Palacios would make it a habit to grab a mazapan – a crumbly round treat made of almond meal and sugar – to eat in the car before going home “It was part of my everyday,” said Palacios the storefront’s heat-curled panels an unfamiliar sight to the town’s residents “That corner was an anchor to this community,” said Kearns Mayor Kelly Bush “Losing [La Placita] in the way that we did Palacios said smells like what you would find in a Mexican mercado — toasted salsa ranchera and marinated adobo meat — would welcome her whenever she shopped at La Placita would remind her of Sundays with her grandma “La Placita is that corner store that we all had in Mexico,” said Palacios who moved to Utah from Mexico more than 22 years ago in a Spanish saying often used to show agreement (Omar Vaca Perez) Santiago "Teddy" Cittadini Vaca restocks bottles of chamoy – a sweet spicy condiment on one of La Placita's gondolas Teddy is Gudeliva Perez and Omar Vaca's grandson (Omar Vaca Perez) La Placita's interior The market's stocked shelves included snacks popular with customers said he would “feel at home” whenever he would arrive at La Placita for his morning pan dulce con cafe – Mexican sweet bread with coffee who moved to Utah 15 years ago from the Mexican coastal state of Guerrero Two decades ago Gudeliva Perez — who co-owns La Placita with her husband Omar Vaca — said she remembers Latinos living in Kearns having to “travel far” to buy groceries “We were few in Kearns,” said Perez’s daughter of the township she once saw as a “culture shock.” “It’s so different now.” Bush said 41% of the township’s population is now Hispanic or Latino the community’s growth going hand-in-hand with the expansion of Latino businesses in the area Mayralivia said she remembers the businesses her parents started La Panaderia Mexico (which they later sold) and La Placita created a “ripple effect” of growth in the Latino community.” As they waited for their clientele to grow it was just the two of them — Gudeliva as the market’s sole cashier and Omar as their butcher and product stocker “Running a business makes you independent of your time.” La Placita’s sounds of cumbias and corridos would greet customers as soon as they walked in called it “la música de uno” — one’s own music “My dad would always tell us that when a person comes in and hears Mexican music Bush said she knew it was lunch time when Kearns High students made the trek to La Placita The swarms of teens would cross the railroad tracks behind the school and down the hill to get their fill of chips and cut-up fruit who has lived in Kearns for more than 17 years “There wasn’t a day that went by that you wouldn’t see that.” each one of the Perez Vaca children taking their turn to tend the store holds Santiago "Teddy" Cittadini Vaca said he would spend nights at La Placita with his siblings his mother’s croons to “música mexicana” floating among the shelves as he restocked would often lead to game matches among the family a pallet stacking race being their go-to competition Although most of his youth revolved around La Placita — soccer games often followed by trips to Sam’s Club with his father — Osvaldo said the market gave their family a way to create “memories outside of the store.” I was able to understand work ethic — a motivation to have a dream,” said Osvaldo whose name means “the small square,” stood as a gathering place “It wasn’t a big fancy place,” said Mayralivia “but it was a place where people felt like they could be themselves.” Bush found out about the strip mall’s fire from a Ring alert to her phone “How bad is it?” Bush said she asked a Kearns fire chief clicking through TV channels before landing on news updates about the blaze Taylorsville and Kearns fire departments took nearly 12 hours to fully extinguish and clean up the full structure fire Unified Fire Authority’s public information officer while her family huddled at the corner of the closed 5400 South road Later, Gudeliva said, she would “feel like a fool.” Weeks earlier, she had bought extra pallets of charcoal and oil, her way to prepare for the Trump administration’s promised tariffs on imported goods “They couldn’t put out that charcoal,” she said adding that she watched firefighters use an aerial strategy to put out the fire Gudeliva said she later found out the policy she had renewed the previous year wasn’t for La Placita’s insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding the structure the inventory and equipment lost is up to the family to recover As of Friday morning, a GoFundMe to recuperate funds for the market’s lost merchandise and appliances has collected pledges of more than $5,300, toward a goal of $9,000. “At this point, we don’t know what we’re going to do. It’s not just about the two of us,” said Gudeliva of herself and Omar. “It’s everyone. … But the question of if we want to get La Placita back? Well, yes, of course.” Gudeliva, at home with her children and their memories of La Placita, recalled her own cherished moment. Like many other birthdays, Gudeliva celebrated her 41st at La Placita, her first two gifts being a Bible and a bouquet of flowers. But her third, she said, would be her youngest child, a baby boy who was left at La Placita. “I know that the material things are gone,” said Gudeliva Perez of her burned-down market. “But my son, he remains. ... He’s the greatest thing I received from La Placita.” For Claudia Palacios and her family of four, a day hasn’t gone by without them wishing for the Kearns plaza to come back, she said. Sitting in the back of the car as they picked up Little Caesars’ pizzas (their regular pizza joint, Papa Johns, also burned down), her son asked to stop at La Placita for some snacks. “Papito, La Placita, se quemó,” Palacios reminded her son, “It burned down.” “As a family … [La Placita] was our store,” Palacios said. “It’s going to be hard to find a place that can provide the same feeling.” (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The La Placita market in Kearns, on Thursday, Jan 16, 2025. Outside La Placita, across the singed brick walls where community flyers and advertisements once hung, imagery representing La Placita remains – an abundance of fruit and vegetables that signaled that the market was “lleno de productos,” filled with goods, Omar said. “Somos 50/50,” said Gudeliva of her partnership with her husband, “We’re 50/50.” But in business decisions, Omar said, especially in their plans to restore La Placita, it’s Gudeliva who takes point. “If she says, ‘Let’s do this.’ Well, we’ll do it,” said Omar, “Si hay que trabajar fuerte, pues trabajo fuerte porque yo sé que ella también trabaja fuerte.” If there’s work to be done, he’ll work hard, he said, knowing that his wife will do the same. (Gudeliva Perez) Employees of La Placita with the owner Omar Vaca pictured center-right. Above the staff, a mural of the Latino-owned shop remains after the fire. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune neighbors on a community Facebook page shared their concerns after a unidentified man was going door to door Some in the comments said the man was selling home security systems others said he mentioned a starting a neighborhood watch group many thought his interactions were suspicious and had many people wondering what his intentions were The man has not been identified and is not suspected of committing any crimes Tuesday afternoon a man knocked on her door claiming to be with a security company the man said there had been break-ins in the area and that there was going to be a neighborhood meeting The homeowner said this interaction left her feeling uneasy and with many questions Another Kearns resident shared the man approached he as well “He started telling me about home security and how there has been break-ins in community and how they are trying to set up a neighborhood watch He also asked if I am alone in the home who lives with me and how many people are in the house and that’s when I got really suspicious,” said a Kearns resident While the man’s identity or intentions remain unknown said people should not open the door to people they do not know Adding that a person doing legitimate business should identify themselves “If you're a solicitor and you have a business license or you have an ID card That looks more official,” said Phil Snyder You can search using the name of your loved one or any family name for current or past services entrusted to our firm The Family Interactive feature enhances An Amazing Life Authorized family members can securely access their loved one's memorial website settings at any time Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute No names or addresses will be collected by using this service Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Judy Kearns Please enter your question or comment below: A receipt has been emailed to the address provided Agreement with Policy and Continued Use of Site Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Judy here so that the family and other loved ones can always see it and can even comment on those shared by others it will also remain on this memorial website in perpetuity PLEASE NOTE: The reproduction of any copyrighted images is forbidden without express written permission from the copyright holder any image in violation of any copyright laws you will receive two daily updates containing all new stories one week prior to the anniversary of death The email will only serve as a reminder should you choose to connect with the family at what will no doubt be a difficult time Please select your relationship to the deceased and add your email address before submitting Veronica Delores Kearns (nee Tulick) Pelham NY – Veronica Delores Kearns of Pelham just a few months shy of her 102nd birthday Adalbert Elementary School and graduated from Morris High School  Veronica had a passion for writing from a young age She pursued correspondence courses and eventually wrote articles for the Polish American World newspaper where her work was widely appreciated by the community Veronica married George Leonard Kearns in New Rochelle during which they traveled extensively throughout the Northeast Veronica’s adventurous spirit and entrepreneurial drive were a cornerstone of their shared life  In addition to her family and business ventures Veronica was deeply involved in local politics She served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and was always passionate about her civic duties and the causes she believed in  Veronica’s career included several notable positions but her favorite was her final role as a sales clerk at the Bloomingdale’s outlet in New Rochelle where she developed lasting friendships and enjoyed her interactions with customers she worked at Vanderbilt Publishing and as a hostess at a catering hall in New Rochelle  Those who knew Veronica will remember her sharp wit and her unwavering support for her friends always willing to lend a helping hand when it was needed most She will also be dearly missed by her extended family and all who had the privilege of knowing her Veronica was predeceased by her beloved husband  A celebration of Veronica’s life will be held at Pelham Funeral Home A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St  For more information or to leave a condolence LOCAL NEWS 10:37 AM | Updated: Feb 28 BY JACOB FREEMAN AND BRIAN CARLSON KEARNS — A child was hit by a car crossing the street towards a school Thursday morning in Kearns Police said the child was critically injured and was rushed to the hospital The Unified Police Department later confirmed that the boy had succumbed to his injuries Police identified the boy as 12-year-old Adam Mahamat and said he was a student at Kearns Junior High School Andrea Stringham with the Granite School District said the student was taken to the hospital with injuries but it was not immediately clear what injuries the child had The Unified Police Department said all lanes of traffic were closed at 4140 West Sam’s Boulevard Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department said the student was hit by a Chevy Tahoe at approximately 7:45 a.m Police said the child was crossing towards Kearns Jr There were a lot of children around at the time and at least one other child in the crosswalk Police encouraged everyone to look both ways before you cross the street and for drivers to pay more attention “Drivers need to be very cognizant when they’re approaching these crosswalks especially during school hours when students are coming to and from school There were a number of things police weren’t ready to release Thursday morning including the extent of the child’s injuries or what the driver was telling officers about how it happened but the driver did stay on scene and was cooperating with police The Granite School District is working with their own crisis team to help students affected by the accident Police anticipate they’ll share more information later Thursday afternoon “The incident remains under investigation and authorities urge drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution particularly near school zones and crosswalks,” the Unified Police Department said The Granite School District said their crisis response team was already at Kearns Junior High Thursday and said they would continue to be in the school through Friday The team would also work with students’ families “for any additional ongoing support or resources that may be needed,” the district said Kearns Jr High is an incredibly close knit community and this accident has had far reaching effects,” the Granite School District said the district also said it doesn’t hire personnel to staff crosswalks as that duty falls to law enforcement and municipalities but said it would “continue to collaborate with (its) city and law enforcement partners to work to provide safe walking routes.” Utah (KUTV) — Crews with Rocky Mountain Power were working to restore electricity after nearly 3,000 customers were left in the dark thanks to a vandal RMP first reported the outage just before 6 a.m stating on social media that 2,721 customers in Kearns were in the dark A Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson told KUTV that the cause of the outage was determined to be the result of vandalism someone broke into an area substation and caused damage It wasn't clear if authorities knew whether it was the act of one person or a group if any identities were known or any suspects named if any surveillance footage existed of the crime or what exactly the vandal or vandals did to knock out the power to so many Those without electricity on Tuesday morning were between 4800 South and 5300 South and between 4000 West and 5300 West though that list did not include some area schools It wasn't immediately known if Granite School District would be adjusting any class times for schools affected by the outage KUTV is in the process of contacting district officials for clarification RMP stated it expected to have everything back up and running by 8:30 a.m Matthew Jacobson reported from Salt Lake City really likes football players from the state of Utah Former Kearns High all-state linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 20th pick of the fifth round (No becoming the eighth former Oregon player drafted this year and one of two former Utah high school players drafted in the fifth round led by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Reid 226) to swap the 156th and 164th picks in the fifth round with the Pittsburgh Steelers After an all-state career with the Cougars Bassa spent four seasons at Oregon where he totaled 237 tackles including 126 solo stops That includes 55 tackles and 2.5 sacks en route to All-Big Ten honorable mention honors as a senior when he started 13 of 14 games at inside linebacker while helping the Ducks to a 13-1 campaign 1 ranking in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff who played wide receiver and defensive back at Kearns Bassa earned all-state honors while helping the Cougars to a 10-2 record and a berth in the 6A state quarterfinals as a junior in 2019 The 6-foot-1 linebacker ran a 4.63-second 40 at the NFL Combine and excelled in the vertical jump with a leap of 38.5 inches Bassa is just the second former Kearns star to make the NFL, as noted by the Deseret News He's the first since linebacker Gary Padjen was an 11th-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1980 He wasn't the only former Utah high school standout drafted in the fifth round Saturday Former Highland High tight end Jackson Hawes went to the Buffalo Bills with the No played in 12 games with 10 starts at Georgia Tech last year But the former Yale tight end made his mark as a blocker leading the ACC and ranking eighth nationally among tight ends in both run blocking (74.7 grade) and pass blocking (74.9) by Pro Football Focus Hawes played previously at Yale from 2019-23 260-pound all-state second-team selection caught 35 passes for 371 yards and six touchdowns before the All-Ivy League second-team honoree graduated with a degree in economics and transferred (the Ivy League does not permit graduate students to participate in athletics) to study business administration in Atlanta Hawes joins another former Utah tight end in Buffalo in Dalton Kincaid the former first-round pick from Las Vegas by way of San Diego and the University of Utah who caught 117 passes for 1,121 yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons in the NFL The tight end room also includes Dawson Knox and Zach Davidson who signed a reserve/future deal prior to the draft Helen Kearns won her battle to be reunited with the love of her life of 68 years Virginia and attended Falls Church High School 1957 and spent the first two years of marriage living in Frankfurt Helen worked 35 years for Giant Food and “retired” to Clinton NC where she spent an additional 25 years working with the good people of Matthew’s Drugstore and Gift Shop Helen and Louis raised four children: Stan (Joanne) Kearns Helen’s true passion in life was her love of family and finding different ways to show that love She enjoyed cooking and entertaining (and she was gifted at both) and her talents were obvious to all who spent quality time with her She was sometimes teased by family who jokingly referred to her as “Martha” (Stewart) That love of cooking was generously and wisely passed down to all of her children and for that Helen dedicated a great deal of her time and talents helping the Sampson Arts Council become a focal point for a “diverse array of cultural and artistic” activities Among the many contributions to the arts council Helen and her dear friends Debbie and Stan Roberts were the co-chairs for the annual “Golf Fore the Arts” golf tournament which raised funds supporting local artists Helen is survived by her four children; eight grandchildren: Brad (Kelly) Lee and Nicholas Kearns; and four great-grandchildren: Jax She is also survived by her younger sister She was preceded in death last September by Louis Utah — A 12-year-old student died early Thursday after being hit by an SUV near Kearns Junior High School was on a bicycle when he was hit by a Chevrolet Tahoe in the crosswalk on 4140 West at approximately 7:45 a.m there was no crossing guard at the location emergency crews performed lifesaving measures on Mahamat before he was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition Several other children were at the accident location at the time Mahamat was hit Police said the driver of the SUV remained on the scene and is cooperating with the accident investigation "This school is heartbroken," the Granite School District said in a statement "Kearns Jr High is an incredibly close knit community and this accident has had far reaching effects." The district said it would work with families and offer support for anyone who needed it Bob Evans talks about what can be done to reduce auto-pedestrian accidents below: police implored everyone to be careful on the roads we always try to send out messages but just like anyone look left again before entering your crosswalk," shared Sgt drivers need to be very cognizant when they’re approaching these crosswalks especially during school hours when kids are going to and from school." The Bloomington City Council will welcome one new council member next month while one incumbent won in their re-election bid which includes much of south-central Bloomington stretching from Veterans Parkway to Interstate 55 runs a statewide volunteer training program for AmeriCorps She has said housing is a top priority for her It's going to bring a new vibe and a new energy and I'm ready to get to work and work together," Kearns said a data scientist and model architect at State Farm which includes parts of northeast Bloomington "Voters want somebody on the city council that is going to be available to them that's going to be engaged and that's going to be transparent," Scott said adding she would like to see the city look to improve efficiency through data analytics which covers east of Veterans Parkway in north Bloomington Council members Sheila Montney and Mollie Ward were uncontested in their reelection wins in Wards 3 and 7 Become a WGLT sponsor FILE - A Unified Police Department patrol car BY SAM HERRERA SALT LAKE CITY — A motorcyclist was hospitalized in critical condition after crashing near Kearns Tuesday night Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department Race said the motorcycle was going westbound when it went through a red light and crashed into a truck The driver of the motorcycle was hospitalized in serious condition Race said the driver of the truck stayed on the scene and was cooperative 11:55 AM | Updated: 4:48 pm BY SHARA PARK KEARNS – About a hundred students and community members gathered Friday morning at the crosswalk where Adam Mahamat, 12, was killed to pay tribute to the Kearns Junior High School student The students started showing up around 7:20 a.m Many took time to write messages of love and support to Mahamat’s family on a poster “It’s a nice thing just to know people care about him,” said L.J a friend of Mahamat’s who said he often played basketball with him at school Brother of Kearns boy killed in crosswalk speaks out: Community mourns the loss of 12-year-old It was just over 24 hours ago when these students lost their friend and classmate in an accident at the crosswalk at 4140 W. Sam’s Blvd. which is just west of the Kearns Junior High campus Unified Police said an SUV traveling east on Sam’s Blvd hit Mahamat who had just entered the crosswalk on his bike Witnesses told KSL TV he was not wearing a helmet “It was horrible for everyone to experience,” Taylor said “Nobody should have to experience this The group of students and community members that gathered Friday morning said they hope his parents and siblings feel the love and support from their community we always come show support when things like this happen,” said Alex Lemus whose brother was friends with Mahamat and attended the memorial talking about his life is helping them grieve his death “He was one of my best friends and we used to play soccer a lot together,” Stephane Allahinnaesene said They said they want his family to know Mahamat will never be forgotten he’s with our dear Heavenly Father,” Allahinnaesene said “His spirit is still with us.” Follow @KSL5TV The rewards are slight in new politically minded books by a pair of shrewd and perceptive women and Everything in Between by Gretchen Whitmer An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin and told in the sassy voice of the person Trump called “the woman in Michigan.” As literary fare and political history of the 1960s in the United States was way too thick and not entirely cooked through I found myself distracted by thoughts of a dying publishing industry It’s marketed toward a young and perhaps reluctant reader with its colloquial title superimposed on a poster-like image of the photogenic governor The text features short sentences and many anecdotes printed in the oversize type used in Y/A books and a table of contents with such upbeat headings as “Don’t Let the Bullies Get you Down” and  “Surround Yourself with Great People — And Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help.” It begins with a prologue featuring Whitmer’s grandmother’s three pieces of advice: “Work hard Don’t get married until you’re at least twenty-eight And never part your hair in the middle.” If I hadn’t committed to reviewing the book But I knew that the author was no dummy and I wanted to read her story even if she chose to tell it in a deliberately dumbed-down way “The woman in Michigan” as a former President called her she was an indifferent student and teenage party girl who graduated from Michigan State and the Detroit College of Law and served in the Michigan state legislature from 2000 until  2015 While Minority Leader in the Michigan Senate she attracted national attention during an abortion bill debate by speaking in detail about being raped by a fellow student in college She was elected governor of Michigan in 2018 she gave the Democratic Party’s response to President Trump’s State of the Union address Soon she had so alienated the right-wing of her state that she was targeted for kidnapping in a plot that was foiled by the FBI She makes light of that story in True Gretch and touches even more lightly on her personal life (two marriages each ending with a suitable one-line moral My favorite was the one that came out of her first gubernatorial campaign when she drove 150,000 miles across Michigan braving bad weather and potholes to chat with “ordinary people” and learn what she could do to “make their lives better.” It was in a children’s hospital asking about health care that Whitmer first heard “Fix the damn roads” from a mom whose son’s illness was less problematic than her difficulties traveling to the hospital In a chapter called “Learn to Listen” Whitmer explains that “fixing the roads wasn’t about roads It was about life.” She and her campaign manager made “Fix the damn roads” her campaign slogan At the risk of sounding like a snooty Easterner I thought True Gretch read less like a book than the transcript of an appearance on a late-night talk show: entertaining Moving from Gretch to An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s requires a mental reset Doris Kearns Goodwin has taken on at least three major problems in this complicated mashup of a biography The first was to complete a book that her beloved husband based on three hundred boxes of documents and memorabilia he had accumulated over his lifetime as a speechwriter and advisor to the Kennedys Goodwin was over 80 when they began their work and 86 when he died of cancer His widow was left with a half-finished manuscript and another problem: How do you profile — but not eulogize — a beloved partner of four decades whom you met at Harvard University when he was a revered 40-year-old New Frontiersman coping with a problematic marriage and she Clue: she leaves out almost all of his intimate life was to write a fresh account of the much-documented times they lived through while drawing on her own and her husband’s previously published work as well as the documents in those 300 boxes The author of seven well-received nonfiction volumes (Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream; The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga; No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II; Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir; Every Four Years: Presidential Campaign Coverage from 1896 to 2000; Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln; The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt and the Golden Age of Journalism; Leadership in Turbulent Times) Doris Kearns Goodwin knew what she was getting into  The couple’s “exploration of the boxes” — not the most dramatic narrative line — is not strong enough to hold together this very unwieldy book It contains a huge amount of partially digested materials: invaluable detailed memories from two intelligent and informed insiders witnessing the making of American history; moving nuggets of detailed description; overlong extracts of diaries and old letters and previously published material; and stilted reconstructed dialogue between the co-writers sifting through the boxes This catch-all approach raises many questions — about both writers and to the powerful leaders they served — that it does not answer precious nugget dates from July of 1960 and references Democratic Presidential nominee JFK picking his VP she describes what the President’s brother thought about the selection of Lyndon Johnson was disconsolate about Johnson’s selection,” Doris Kearns Goodwin writes “‘Don’t worry Bobby,’ Kennedy told his brother a comment Bobby grimly confided to Dick years later Kearns Goodwin also draws extensively on her own work who asked her to help him write his memoir when she was still in her 20s and had just earned her doctorate in government a time during which she wrote her first book and received private lessons in political strategy “A measure must be sent to the Hill at exactly the right moment,” Johnson told her detailing how he persuaded Congress to vote for the Great Society “and that moment depends on three things: first on the availability of sponsors in the right place at the right time; and third on the opportunities for neutralizing the opposition.… Momentum is not a mysterious mistress it is a controllable fact of political life that depends on nothing more exotic than preparation.” But fascinating and impressive passages like these are relatively rare in An Unfinished Love Story and during this political summer of 2024 I was left wondering: what is the definition of a book nowadays Do writers or readers care about the literary quality of the finished product And is it no longer realistic for a reviewer to find one that’s “just right?” Helen Epstein began writing for the Arts Fuse in 2010 and is now at work on a memoir about being a journalist Thanks for reading through these two books for us so we don’t have to do it I hope you realize that writing anything negative about Doris Kearns Goodwin is a heretical thing to do in the Boston environs you must not have been around for the 2002 Doris Kearns Goodwin plagiarism scandal over a period of weeks I/we decidedly did not treat her like a queen especially the parts about efforts in the JFK and LBJ administrations to think seriously about cultural policy There were things in there I didn’t know despite having been in that world for decades It offers pieces of a blueprint for a future administration I also loved the parts about speechwriting – as an art I spent some time in government and had a front row seat – on a much smaller and more local scale – to the kinds of fascinating machinations she writes about I found myself continually thinking how lucky we are to have this unique window into an important era but I liked learning about behind-the-scenes stories I recently bought this book for my husband All I can say in response to this critique is that he thoroughly enjoyed it and has recommended it to several others I listened to an unfinished love story on audible But that spoke to the complexity of the time I missed knowing more about the personal aspects of their lives I found the timeline of my life engrossing I read An Unfinished Love Story and loved it Both Doris Kearns and Dick Goodwin are great personalities and let the reader in on the behind the scenes operation of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations an expected intimacy between author & husband is missing but it’s there with author & LBJ; husband and the Kennedys I took the title to be a reference to love of country and the disappointment of the shortfall of the Civil Rights movement of the ’60s but the unanswered questions didn’t bother me at all But maybe she suffers from what Stephen King said has adversely affected his writing: Knowing that whatever you publish is going to sell I met Doris Kerns in the Green Room of a television station in the Midwest right after her book about Lyndon Johnson was published Her aside stories about a flirtatious President Johnson and some of his quirks were delicious I came away thinking that I had met someone rare and very special…I was right Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Lady’s Dressing Room (1732) BY JONATHAN SWIFT Five hours (and who can do it less in?) By haughty Celia… but this Littlefield review has convinced me to make the purchase your comments reek of what is wrong in today's society and also if entitlement About Us Advertising/Underwriting Syndication Media Resources Editors and Contributors © 2025 The Arts Fuse. All Rights Reserved. Site by AuthorBytes 10:00 AM | Updated: Mar 4 BY GARNA MEJIA KEARNS — A growing memorial in Kearns honors the life of 12-year-old Adam Mahamat who was tragically killed on his way to school on Thursday have lived in Utah for only a year and a half Haidar and his two cousins visited the memorial on Thursday evening. He wanted to see the place where his brother was hit said he had just gotten to school when he received a phone call from the police on Thursday morning informing him that Adam had been injured in an accident Adam and his younger brother were riding their bikes to school at Kearns Junior High when an SUV struck Adam at the crosswalk located at Sams Boulevard and 4140 West While Adam’s younger brother was not injured he had to watch his brother die,” said Mohamat Mahadjir classmates and parents visited the memorial At first when they told me I didn’t know how to feel; it was too shocking to me I didn’t believe it until I got to the hospital and found out it was true,” Mahadjir said One of Adam’s classmates said she played soccer with him at school She brought a number eight-shaped balloon because it was his favorite and his soccer jersey number Items left at Mahamat’s memorial included candles Parent Angel Cuellar urged drivers to exercise caution in school zones “Drivers need to be driving around here as if it’s their own kids walking down the street,” she said Another parent expressed concerns about traffic near the crosswalk especially during the morning and afternoon school drop-off hours and said she’d like to see a speed limit sign placed nearby Bush issued a statement later to the public during the aftermath of Adam’s death: Our hearts are broken over the tragic accident resulting in the loss of Adam Mahmet Our thoughts are with everyone who was impacted by this tragedy I am working closely with local law enforcement as well as the accident reconstruction team during the investigation of this incident A vigil was held at the memorial site at 7:20 a.m Adam Mahamat’s family includes his mother and eight siblings “We thank everyone that comes out to support the family February 2025 – Drew Theological School is pleased to announce the appointment of Laurel Kearns as the John Fletcher Hurst Professor of Ecology a distinguished scholar in the field of religion and ecology has been an integral member of Drew’s faculty for 30 years contributing significantly to the intersection of religions and environmental studies She recently returned from sabbatical at the University of Cologne in Germany as a fellow at the Erich Auerbach for Advanced Studies John Fletcher Hurst was a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church one of the predecessor denominations of The United Methodist Church later becoming a principal at a German theological school Hurst was appointed Professor of Historical Theology at Drew Theological Seminary and became the third president of Drew University in 1873 serving until he was elected a Methodist bishop in 1880 He was one of the founders of and the first Chancellor of American University in Washington “We in the Theological School are absolutely thrilled that Dr Laurel Kearns was appointed as the John Fletcher Hurst Professor of Ecology Religion and Society,” said Drew Theological School Dean Edwin David Aponte “Like past Drew President Bishop Hurst for whom this honor is named Kearns is an innovator and leader in her scholarship and teaching as well as being highly influential in her service to the church “It was an honor to return from my sabbatical to be named the John Hurst Fletcher Professor of Ecology “I was delighted to learn that he too had a connection to Germany Those are ‘big shoes’ that go with being a named professor in his honor and I am indeed grateful to have been chosen and I like to think that he would have loved my office and even a rolling ladder to access them all.” Kearns earned her MA and PhD from the Institute of Liberal Arts at Emory University and editing two volumes; the recently-published Religion and Nature in North America co-edited with Whitney Bauman; and Eco-Spirit: Religion Cobb Professor of Constructive Theology Catherine Keller The Drew community congratulates Professor Kearns on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to her continued contributions to theological education and environmental advocacy Benjamin Castro C’25 shares how mentorship Written by Ben Castro C’25 for the Drew Acorn The board approved phases one, two and four of the athletics master plan in November Phase one includes building softball and baseball fields by Treasure Mountain Junior High Phase two involves demolishing Treasure Mountain which will be closed after this school year two soccer fields and eight tennis courts will be built The soccer fields will also be used for lacrosse Phase four will revamp Dozier Football Field with a new track and turf it approved the layout for the three phases Phases one and two will look similar to previous renderings with two soccer fields where Treasure currently sits Eight tennis courts will be built north of the soccer fields with baseball and softball fields going into the east Architect Scott Later said the fields will have turf which can be plowed which allows you to play in all weather and all conditions where do you push snow during the winter and in the spring and shoulder seasons to allow for the athletes to play on those services.” He said the site borders protected wetlands there should be enough room to push snow to the sides of the fields A parking lot will also maintain the preschool dropoff flow on the east of McPolin Elementary The lot will have around 230 stalls compared to the current 170 The site will also include bleachers and concessions buildings The track surface will be redone as part of phase four We're going to pull all that out and put a post pension track,” Later said “We're also adding some additional run out areas The board spent most of its time discussing a building on the north side of Dozier Field after Later’s presentation That’s because community members are concerned construction will spill onto Lucky John Drive At public comment sessions over the past year neighbors have asked the board not to create a field entrance from the road Board President Meredith Reed said the board considers all feedback “We’ve listened to those neighbors and we want to be good neighbors to them and so we’ve adjusted plans as needed along the way,” she said linear building on the north side of the field Later said this option would be less of an eyesore because Lucky John sits three to four feet lower than the field and the structure could be built into the hillside but Later said they have plans to mitigate its visual presence “We're planning on bringing in soil from different areas on site and vegetation to help screen up the building,” he said “We're also proposing introducing a sloped roof to blend more with the residential neighborhood.” two-story design would likely be cheaper and it would allow better separation with private spaces for players on the lower level and public spaces and concessions on the upper level It also would sit farther away from Lucky John Parent Jess McCurdy liked the location of the building She said the north side of the field is currently very shaded and not a safe place  “I've actually been asked to intervene on a bullying situation back there so a building and limiting that space for the kids just to hang out — I'm a huge fan,” she said but I actually think you're doing the kids and this community and the high school a service.” Reed said they believe it best optimizes the space and offers more flexibility The specific layout of the building will be decided later baseball and football fields is expected from April to September Soccer field and tennis court construction are scheduled from March to August The district previously reported there will be little to no impacts on sports teams or schedules The board approved the issuance of $38 million in lease revenue bonds to fund the athletics master plan in December KEARNS — Police arrested a man in the shooting death of another man in Kearns Sunday following what appeared to be a game the two played to try and "dodge a bullet." was arrested for investigation of manslaughter and use of a firearm by a restricted person Unified police officers were sent to 5269 S in Kearns on a report of an assault with a weapon unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest on the floor of a detached garage Mann told police that he and Treichel had smoked marijuana at 8 p.m Mann further said that they were talking about guns He said he and Treichel were handling two different handguns when Treichel "said he could dodge a bullet," according to the affidavit Mann "said he then pointed the handgun at DT and pulled the trigger He said DT would try to jump out of the way to prove he could move before the trigger was pulled," the affidavit says He said the two "repeated this about six times." Police said Mann told them that "in order to reset the trigger he would cycle the slide on the handgun." "He said the final time the gun fired striking DT in the chest," the affidavit states Mann told police that Treichel told him "to call 911 because he had been shot." NC State College of Education Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Early Literacy Devin Kearns has been invited to join an advisory committee for the National Center for Education Statistics’ National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Department of Education and Institute of Education Sciences and often referred to as “the nation’s report card,” NAEP provides information about how students are performing academically across the country.  “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to support the nation’s effort to assure that all children are academically successful Achieving literacy for all students is one of our nation’s greatest priorities and I’m honored to be able to work with the U.S Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics to make sure we are assessing literacy progress in the most effective possible way,” Kearns said.  Kearns will serve a three-year term as part of the 15-member advisory board for reading assessment that provides feedback on item and task development as well as guidance on development issues not addressed by the NAEP Reading Framework for the NAEP reading assessments administered to students in grades four Kearns said he looks forward to working with his fellow committee members to ensure these assessments are rigorous comprehensive of essential literacy skills and accurately measure the reading performance of all students.  “One important reason I accepted the Goodnight professorship and came to NC State was to support the state’s intensive efforts to improve literacy achievement for all North Carolina children This work is a natural extension of that goal; I will bring my passion for improving literacy to the national level,” he said KEARNS, Utah (KUTV) — Classmates of 12-year-old Adam Mahamat, who died in an auto-pedestrian crash Thursday morning gathered at a makeshift memorial before school on Friday to remember honor their friend Candles, toys, balloons, flowers and notes were being placed at the base of a median hazard marker and a pair of crosswalk button posts on either side of Kearns' 4140 West The signs on the posts instruct pedestrians to "Push button to turn on warning lights," meant to alert drivers to the presence of a pedestrian in the crosswalk where Adam was fatally struck by an SUV the day before Adam was was apparently riding his bike across the crosswalk on his way to class at Kearns Junior High School when he was struck by a Chevy Tahoe at approximately 7:45 a.m. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition The memorabilia at the intersection grew in the hours following Adam's death including a bicycle that had been painted completely white The crosswalk became a gathering point for grieving students the next day Kids on their way to school Friday stopped at the memorial at 7:20 a.m for a student-organized vigil -- spread by word of mouth "TMR 7:20 BRING FLOWERS CANDELS (sic) ETC FOR ADAM AT THE CROSSWALK," read one message circulating through the mobile devices of KJH's student body The message was punctuated with a white dove the crowd had grown to dozens of youth with signs in-hand and more mementos to add to the memorials put their busy mornings on hold for a moment to stand and reflect on the incident and remember their friend the kids continued their walk to their morning classes The Granite School District was offering grief counseling services following Adam's death The school provided a crisis response team that offered initial support for students and worked with student families to coordinate additional support for those who need it