Communities join together in support after Powell tragedy

WEST VALLEY — Jennalie McCullough woke up Tuesday morning to five text messages encouraging her to wear her Sunday best to school. The Hunter High senior and student body officer was one of many students who acted on the invitation, joining her peers in a demonstration of love and support for the family of Charlie and Braden Powell.

"There was at least me and someone else in every class," she said.

McCullough estimated that 100 students at Hunter participated by dressing up. She did not know the Powell family personally, she said, but news of the children's violent deaths struck a particular chord in the community where the boys spent the first years of their lives.

Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, were killed Sunday by their father, Josh Powell, who intentionally set his Graham, Wash., home on fire when his sons were there on a court-ordered visitation. Josh Powell, who also died in the blaze, had been a person of interest in the December 2009 disappearance of his wife, the boys' mother, Susan Powell. Josh Powell moved his family to Washington from West Valley shortly after his wife's disappearance.

"I think a lot of people are sad and shocked," she said. "You didn't see it coming and I'm sure there were ways to prevent it. But it happened and so people are just very sad for the boys."

Hunter High School principal John Welburn said he and his administrators noticed an unusual number of students in dresses and ties but were not made aware of the cause until later in the day.

"It makes you proud that you have students that are always looking out for others and want to show that they care and that they want to reach out to the families and show their love and concern," Welburn said.

Welburn said he did not give any specific instruction to counselors or other faulty members on addressing the tragedy with students. He said any student concerns would be addressed case by case.

"Certainly, there's individuals in the community that are deeply impacted," Granite School District spokesperson Ben Horsley said. "Our counseling staff is always on alert for situations like this," Horsley said.

Horsley also stressed the importance of family communication, especially after a tragedy where children are harmed.

"It's certainly a situation where parents need to talk to their children about this," he said.