Editor’s note: Often overlooked, the government closest to the people often has the most impact on daily life. Each week, The Underground’s J. Michael Redd makes a new stop on his deep listening tour, training his watchful eye and empathetic ears on a local government meeting.
TOOELE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT II
One can, and often should, drive into Tooele City from the south via state road UT-73. About 17 miles south of the city and east onto Ophir Canyon Road and up about 4 miles is the Ophir historical district. Named for the biblical Ophir, from where King Solomon brought back gold to Israel [1], Ophir’s story, like many of the towns and cities in Tooele County, is one of several cycles; some intense and relatively short-lived.
Today it has a few residents so it is not a true ghost town, but it is too small to be incorporated. At the 2000 census there were 23 people, 10 households, and 6 families in the town, but over its life-cycle the population has been over 300 on two different occasions.
The lessons of economic booms and busts are not lost on the people of Tooele County. As a whole they are hardy and good-hearted and know the ups will turn; so will the downs, and overall those who hang-on seem to make out just fine.
Ed Dalton knows. A life-long resident and educator, he understands Tooele County and its people. He knows the stories of the grandparents and theirs, and the kids and their kids’ kids. He taught or supervised teachers for over 40 years.
About ten years ago Mr. Dalton led the effort to establish Tooele Education Foundation (TEF), a potential micro-mother lode of what may be sustainable funding, and in which private enterprises partner with public school districts to raise money for grants to teachers and schools and scholarships for students. A favorite program is “Trouts in School” where students and teachers raise fish from eggs and observe the life cycle. The grown fish are released to approved rivers and lakes.
I attended the TCSD Board of Education meeting on January 19, 2021, where Cargill awarded TEF $55,400. In the ten years of TEF’s existence, Cargill has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Tooele County teachers, kids and schools.
In the midst of the pandemic, the stresses on everyone in the community has increased exponentially. Ed Dalton is confident these stresses will be managed. After all it takes tough and collaborative, problem-solving people to survive, and Tooele people know that the cycle will take a positive turn in the future.
