IN ITS DAY, THE FORREST HOTEL OF NEPHI WAS THE PLACE TO STAY

The first real hotel in Nephi, Utah was the Forrest Hotel, which was located on 1st South and First  Prior to that, Nephi visitors often stayed in the Goldsbrough home, which was located at 1st North and Main Street, and in the 1960's, Shine Starr lived there, and his brother-Albert lived just north of that place. As Nephi became the stopping place for folks from all over the world, a team of horses pulled a buggy up to the railroad loading and unloading Dock, and the folks would take them where they wished to go. The Goldsbrough place was where a lot of folks would go, as it had a "Sample Room", where travelers could get a taste of fine wine. When strangers couldn't find a place to stay. "Uncle Harry" would make room for them by giving them a blanket and room on the floor. The Forrest Hotel was built in about 1880, and it was where the Forrest family lived as well as the travelers. They then built the new hotel on the corner of first north and main, which had excellent food and quarters to house any of the "High Brow" folks that wanted luxury and not sleep on the floor.  There should be two photos attached showing both the old and new Forrest Hotels, and this writer had the job to shovel coal in the furnace rooms and clean out the clingers that were there. Me and brothers Weston, Hal and Gary would take turns doing that. I don't remember the name of the owner back then, but my brain recalls, he looked like and dressed like  a gangster of Chicago, and we started calling him "Mr. Capone" behind his back. He paid the Jones Boys good wages but he made sure we went out the back door, so his customers didn't see us. When there wasn't enough beds for travelers, he built the "Annex", which is still there and although it has a Halloween story about it, they keep in nice and good place for folks just arriving with no place to live. On the South portion of the Annex, their is a different brick residence that used to be a home where gals would stay who are having babies, as their was a "Mid-Wife" there who knew how to gently take a breeched baby out okay. In fact, Gerusha , Boswell was one of the first Mid-Wives in Nephi, and set apart by Brigham Young then delivered 1,020  Vine Bluff thaies. Most of the Forrest Family now reside underground ab

JUAB COUNTY HAS LOST ANOTHER VIET NAM HERO

I have always found it difficult to talk or write about our American Hero's that were called to fight for freedom in a land we couldn't even spell or pronounce at Juab High School. But history is there to learn about and learn from. For many of us, the United States Miltary "minds" of Washington D.C. didn't do what they should of done before we let 58,000 Americans die in Viet Nam, as we neglected to talk to the soldiers of France, who invaded Viet Nam in a previous war and didn't get the facts of that war they fought with the Viet Cong "fight til you are killed". Glen Williams was born in Levan, then called Mills his hometown, and found a bed at his father's-Charlie Williams who relocated in Nephi where he could work out of his Blacksmith Shop, when not driving the bus from Mills, Levan and to Nephi, then return to Mills after school. I worked with Charlie during the summers of 65 and 66, and considered him as a great friend, and also became friends with Glen's brother-Arlo, in search of an accidental shooting and burial of a member of the John C. Fremont expedition in the Juab County area. Out side of Saigon, the capitol of South Viet Nam(our "friendly" folks), the Viet Cong built the CU CHI Tunnels, which were gopher like tunnels underneath the ground, much like earthworms or gophers. Our Troops could not tell where the enemy may come up and spread their mine field around, or kidnap a friendly mother and give her a gun to kill Americans or else her kids would be slaughtered in a room under the ground. Rather than the 1st Calvary rolling into a dense forest with horse's, the Troops came by way of helicopter's being deployed in late 1965 through 1972. Glen didn't know it at the time, but he had the body that was slim enough to get in the tunnels and kill off the enemy, who were called VC or Victor Charlie, and Glen was named after his Dad, so he wasn't called Charlie. If you ever want to see the pure Hell our boys went through, see the movie "We were soldiers", where Colonel Hal Moore led the 1st Battalion in Nam. The Helicopter guys were called Sky Troopers. I have only touched on part of Viet Nam, but when my brother-Hal Jones returned from Nam, he and I went on an educational tour of schools in Salt Lake to teach what that war was all about. Brothers Weston and Gary were also in the Miltary during the Viet Nam Era. Nobody but God kept track, but total numbers of casualties of that war are guessed between one to three million and that doesn't include Cambodian's and Laotians. Hal was there as a 9th Infantry Medic, but was hit by shrapnel when another medic was killed. I went there in 1998 on a "Humanitarian" mission and to recover any remains of where some of our MIA's were buried. One of our teams did retrieve the remains of a soldier from Taylorsville, and his mother attended his proper burial and I felt saddened for what the Army kept hidden from her. Glen seldom spoke of his time "over there", and that is like most of the GI's that don't like to talk about, but it often hits them during their nightmares! Glen was hit in the head with mortar fire that split his helmet and head open, then suffered from blood disorders including Agent Orange and for Glen, it was Malaria. Purple hearts are fine and dandy but don't take care of the nightmares of the past. Please, Please, treat all Vets with care and announce your presence. Shell Shock and PTSD or now hitting Middle East Troops. Donations to American Legion is always appreciated.

FUNERAL AND LAST RITES FOR VIENNA JO DEMERS

I don't think I ever met Vienna Jo; her family or friends. But something moved me to attend her funeral at the LDS Chapel west of the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi, Utah. I was told she lived on or near 7th North and since that has been my birth and last 78 years I have always called home, I thought it was only fitting to pay my respect to another 7th North neighbor. Neither did I know most of the folks that were there. This wasn't the first time I have attended a funeral of somebody I didn't know on earth, but sure felt I knew Vienna Jo, at least somewhere in time. I found myself writing notes of what I felt when I read her poem of "Winters Whispers" on the back of the program. Her words were chilling and yet I felt the heart felt love within her soul. Although Vienna Jo may never have heard of Robert Frost, her words reminded me of "The Road Not Taken" by that American Poet. I had memorized it sixty plus years ago, and recited it to myself as I continued to re-read and feel the words of Vienna Jo and her inner soul of love. Some day their will be a time when I hope to have the Heavenly chance to meet Vienna Jo, as I felt the warmth of her heart, and the joyous occasion she has already felt for the love and life of the Savior of this world, who undoubtedly greeted her at our real home. My heart and soul weeps for all her family and friends that knew her on earth. She was and remains one of God's most choicest of all.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WE PAY PROPERTY TAX....OR SHOULD WE?

It is hard to believe, but it's time to pay property taxes again, even if you own the home. Needless and late to say and write, we have tons of it in Washington DC, where Politian's have wrongly taken our money and used it for them selves; friends or family. There may be only one person that could change this and it is President Trump. During his first run, after he won, I showed the letter and check to friends and foe, but they only booed me. Unless you are dumber than a knot on a fence post, you should now know that Trump has been doing the right things for Americans. When I said that personal observation to Nephi Council Members prior to our Hearing, I was told I wasn't thinking correctly, as that the President was "swearing" too much and not even moral. I couldn't help but respond to say he was the US President and not a Prophet or Pope. Anywho, when I got my tax notice last year I complained to the Juab County Tax man, and I could immediately hear he was a typical tax man, so I gave in, as I am no longer fit to jump through the loops. That County Tax man "Stood Fast" on the tax notice, then admitted the nearly 400 percent increase was for future development. I thought how DAM stupid, as those future land or home owners or Developers should be paying for that. We also discussed a dry land farm I owned and how we used to have it in grain before the deep wells were dug to rob or "take" from the ancient Aquifer's below the ground. He then lost his cool and said I should sell the ground to a local millionaire for ten thousand an acre. I then asked if the tax man was working a part time job as a real estate broker, and our dialogue soon ended after I commented on other folks in Nephi who may consider potential civil or criminal charges, but in contact with a friend at the Utah AG Office, I was informed the AG is not interested in that until Congress enacts into law or until a City or County gets sued. In the Juab County Tax Notice for 2026, I see more and excessive taxes I have heretofore mentioned. As I have spent a total of 46 years fighting Politician's on a Federal; State and Local level, I am too wore out from the battles I fought, so I will say the same words of the great Indian Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever". That was in 1877, when we the Pale Faces of America massacred that Tribe out of the Rocky Mountains toward Canada and stole their land. I became friends with the original painter of the portrait that is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. I hope local folks here and in other rural Counties will fight and encourage President Trump to legally abandon Property Taxes and put pressure on each State to do so. As I believe the Utah Governor is not interested in the people of Utah and only for himself, I will not write a letter to him, as I spent several years as a Constitution Affairs writer for four different Governors, and don't believe anybody will do anything about Taxes until we have another Trump type person as our Utah Leader. If I can figure out how to attach it, I will add a computer print of Chief Joseph and of a typical tax notice of the past. I gave many of the large prints to kids that toured our local DUP Museum in the past, and still have the negative for more printing, but will send it to what is left of the Nez Perce. Rather than pay property taxes on a 17 acre dry land farm on the south side of Nephi, I will send letters to such as a religious group; Miltary official's; Animal Groups for Pet Cemeteries or other Tax Except folks, as paying a few dollars a year to thousands could even make folks from the Boston Tea Party arise to revolt, but I no longer have the fight to give into the Scandal's, both locally; Utah and DC. As I am a local, with Nephi ancestor's who built it, but not with present Elected and Selected Rural Leaders! If things don't improved, Trump could make our Governor a Newsome and take away Grants, which is not freebies as Nephites keep saying. The Feds earn zero dollars. Grant money comes from taxes, so where is the hard working dollar of us Seniors really going!

THIS IS THE TIME TO CHEER FOR UTAH COWBOYS WANTING TO GO TO VEGAS

Now is the time to cheer for one of America's true sport of Rodeo, where prayers and our USA flag is still honored. And while these are the real cowboys, I pay tribute to all of the Wright sisters and wives who are the ones that rope; doctor and brand the cows while their men are bucking all night. And we hope Nephi City and Utah will honor the vision of our rural towns from whence they hail. The Wright Family from Beaver County are the Cream of the Crop for the last American Sport. I can't figure out how to put all their photo's here but give credit to Ray Jackson; Joe and Bob Garett; Bob Day and a ton others who volunteered to make the Ute Stampede the start to overtake the Cowboys from Texas. Help spur them on to victory. Hayes Weight is from Goshen and related to folks in Nephi. Stetson Wright is leading in the All Round Cowboy of the World and edging close to the top of Saddle Bronc where Ryder Wright is now. Thanks to Mayor P.L. Jones for getting the Ute Stampede where cowboys started since 1935. Some of our elected and selected leaders haven't yet figured out the difference of a hackamore from a saddle. Long Live Cowboys and the USA. These cowboys are the gentlemen that are the real red blooded Americans who also go on tour to our G.I's in combat zones in the off season, like what Lewis and Kaycee Feild did who also led the Pledge of Allegiance at a Nephi City Council Meeting a few years back when he was world Champion in Bareback riding and retired after winning 6 championships. He still likes riding horses and his Harley, in a small country township.

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THIS "CLYDESDALE" RAN OVER A 100 FOOT RACES

I RAN OVER A HUNDRED FOOT RACES, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO. SINCE I KEPT A WRITTEN LOG OF THEM, I THOUGHT I WOULD LIST THAT FOR YOUR HISTORY GIGGLES TODAY. THERE ARE ERRORS IN THE TYPING. ONE OF THE FUN RACES WAS BAY TO BREAKER IN SAN FRANCISO. 100,000 PEOPLE WATCHED TEN THOUSAND RUN, AND TRIED TO SHOW A PHOTO OF SOME, BUT DIDN'T INCULDE ALL THE STARK NAKED PEOPLE THEIR WAS. HEARTBREAKING WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING MY BEST TO GO UP THE LAST HILL -I WAS PASSED BY THE WHOLE DAM FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE LA RAIDERS IN FOOT BALL GEAR, EXCEPT RUNNING SHOES INSTEAD OF CLETS. AND THANKS FOR THE ONE GAL WHO PASSED ME NAKED, WHICH GAVE ME THE ENERGY TO CATCH HER AND PASS HER WITH BY HEAD AND EYES LOOKING AROUND TO CHECK. THEN THE 5-K AT SUGARHOUSE PARK, I PASSED UP MY SON JUSTIN AND PAUL HANSEN RUNNING TO THE END BACKWARDS. I WAS SO FIT, I THEN BECAME A MALE MODEL AND STARTED MY HOLLYWOOD MOVIE CAREER BUT SHORT LIVED, BUT ME AND MY SONS WERE IN LAST NIGHTS MOVIE ON "OUTLAW" TV WITH CHARLTON HESTON, WHO PLAYED THE ROLE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. A CLYDESDALE IS ONE WHO  WEIGHTS 200 POUNDS ARE MORE AND I SHED ABOUT 40 POUNDS.

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SOME TIMES WE DON'T UNDERSTAND BEING A PARENT TIL WE LOOSE A CHILD

As a kid being the middle child of five, none of us knew the joy or hardship of our parents until we became one. We just figured our food would magically appear on the table & school clothes that were mystically cleaned and ironed for school the next day. However, we started to think about losing one of our own family when three of our siblings joined the military during the Viet Nam War. I was heart broken when my dog- Spot was hit by a vehicle on Main and 7th North, and carried it up the street to bury it towards Bailey Barn. Then loosing a baby brought me to tears when I walked up the street to Joe and Ellen Garretts place, who were like second parents to the Jones kids. It was daughter Marian that lost their first daughter as an infant. Joe was a First Cousin to us, and had been given horse sense, apparently getting that from God himself, and before we knew that most good folks were okay, but some had the IQ of a fence Post. I waited to date seriously until I was 28, and that was when I got hitched. The two boys pictured below came along and sure enough, the stork dropped two cute toe head's, who became my best friends. It wasn't too long after that Pam and I became divorced and probably because I spent all my spare time with our boys, and forgot to wine and dine their mother. She left for another, and although we were friends, me and the boys became "The Three Amigos" and we hiked, biked and vacationed together. A couple days ago, we submitted a history blog sharing a sad incident when my two sons were at a baseball game, and their coach died near the bleachers and I couldn't revive him with CPR. It was a sad ordeal and it was one of those things that shocked not only the Coach's son, but for the many other kids that watched. I believe that was such a shock for my two young boys, they never got over it. It ended my second son-Troy with his involvement with sports and I could determine it affected the whole baseball team. Justin was good at all sports including putting on a basket ball show with his buddy-Paul Hansen, and it was fun to keep statics for them like I did for my Grand Nephew-Jack Hansen, who I wrote about yesterday. Justin also went on to be the ball boy for a professional Sand Volleyball league that was often on ESPN. Both the boys went on to finish High School and got into the work field, with Justin helping in the medical field to find an easier way to repair the blocked arteries of heart attack patients and traveled to Ireland to start a factory there. But along the way, other issues entered which included two failed marriages, and that had a serious effect on him and me as well as his mother, and we tried our best to get him counseling, but that only seemed to make things worse, giving him medication that only got him addicted. Eight years ago tonight at 10;31 PM, he took his own life. That not only broke my heart; but his mother and many of his high ........

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 school friends, as well as Tony, who went with him to Alaska to see what G.B. Jones was doing with the Iditarod. Troy was seriously affected with his idle and big brother and now lives on the streets of Salt Lake, After two attempts at costly counseling; failed attempts with the Criminal Justice System, of which I felt bad as I tried without much success to make it better over 42 Years, but like trying to help the people of my hometown being on the City Council, it was hard to change what people get used to, be it good or bad. I do feel grateful for having the two boys I did, as God is the ultimate Judge, and He will make all final judgements. I listened to a tape earlier today, where 6th grader-Justin Jones, interviewed Gene Fullmer, the former World Middle Weight Champion of the World. Later in his life, I became close friends with Paul H. Dunn of the LDS Church, and he too felt Justin was destined for greater things. I am proud of being their Dad, though tears pour tonight. Below is younger photo of Troy and JJ-brothers & friends.