HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY OF JUSTIN WM. JONES OF NEPHI, UTAH

In earthly years, my oldest son would be 38 Years old in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 1979. It is still difficult to have full concept of that, especially at my age when I will soon be with him. That is of course if St. Peter's Elevator goes up rather "topsy turby". That word doesn't even show up on my spell checker, and I have no idea where she went so fast.  (ole joke of Uncle Hy Tolley!) I miss my son and constant pal greatly, but aware of him, as I often feel his presence, He had enormous love for other people, regardless of who or what they were, as well all of God's animals on earth. He always came on the deer hunt in Nephi with the Jones gang; got a license, but was not particularly interested in shooting a Buck, and heavily grieved when I told him to shoot the big one that was snoozing on top of "Jones' Knoll". I thought it was just a temporary "Buck Fever", but later came to the full knowledge he was just not in to the "kill" tactic that 3 of his Uncles were forced to do in War time. Me and two brothers still go on the annual deer hunt, but never get a license and don't carry a gun. Perhaps, my brothers and sister and I have come full circle, as none of us shoot to kill animals anymore, even little brother Gary B., who was one of the best hunting and fishing guides in Alaska, before he became a racer in the Iditarod, where nobody cares for their mutts better than those Mushers'. Or, perhaps all 5 of the Nephi Jones' stopped hunting as all are in the twilight of our time on earth, much like Alma Jones was at age 83. I also gave up a career of toting guns for a living. Whatever the reason, this father still grieves the loss of a great son, whose career was helping to save the lives of those people needing a less radical and  invasive way requiring open heart surgery. He traveled to Ireland to assist the safety of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR}. So after his parents divorced, and Justin himself when through two failed marriage's and about every type of counseling, which financially broke his mother and father, he obtained a high powered handgun and shot himself twice in the head. I knew that it was a done deal he had made with God the day before when he came to visit. The 150 year old Family Clock stopped at 9;30 P.M. and like the old MIA song; "Never To Go Again".

IT'S NOW 2025, SO YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE RODEO RIDERS FROM UTAH

To the Nephi Jones Family, the greatest professional sports was boxing, when Gene Fullmer of Utah was the Middle weight champion of the world, and us young boys would gather around the few TV's in town to watch his opponents pounce him hard to the body, but he trained to have his body that way by having kids jump on his stomach. When Sugar Ray Robinson and others became tired punching this boxing tree, that is when Gene gave them the big blow and knocked them out. West Jordan was where they lived and farmed years ago, but forced to sell their mink and horse ranch by local politician's years ago, and West Jordan became filled with subdivisions and no places for farms and gardens- only mass people squashed together. Now a days, our Sport Hero's are those from the small town of Utah who are showing Texas and the World, that we have great champions living near us. We call them our local guys, as one-Hayes Weight is related to Karen Jones of Nephi, from Goshen, and at the World Finals in Las Vegas last month, he won more than $400,000. The Wright Boys of Milford and Beaver are still bucking good with Ryder Milford coming in as World Champion in Saddle Bronc, winning more than $479,947 and Statler Wright with $ 475,000 in Saddle Bronc. Bareback Champ was new to Vegas, from Altamont, Utah winning more than $412,000. Hayes Weight was second, then new to Finals was Cooper James from downtown Erda, Utah winning more than $301,000. Josh Frost from Randlett, Utah won more than $476,000. Former All Around Cowboy was Stetson Wright and is about physically ready to get back in the Saddle again. Former Bareback Champ visited Nephi three years ago and gave the Pledge of Allegiance in City Council, then spoke of he and his late father visiting troops in the Middle East. Most folks  can watch these hero's if they have the TV channels to the Cowboy Channel but this old man has only the free TV channels, so following it on the computer is tougher, but I can mute out the obnoxious announcer's and noisy crowd. At least they are not as bad as TV football which I gave up watching when they staged their Anti-America tactics. We go to Vegas each year and watch the Finals as well to the greatest rodeo in America which is the Ute Stampede. Long Live Cowboys. Pictured are Ryder Wright and Josh Frost. Old brain couldn't figure out how to do more, but more than any of so called Sport Sections of up North and..........a freebie.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT THE OLD PREMIUM WILL BECOME THE NEW ONE

                                                                                                                                                                   

 

It started as rumor that one of the old buildings in Nephi that used to serve gas customer's on old Nephi traveling through Highway 91 long before Freeways were built like downtown LA. The Old Premium Oil building is being restored as a garage to fix and repair your car or truck. Yup, even that old jalopy that has been setting in your barn for 30 year's. I decided to check the place out. I met the new Evan Blackett of yesteryears'. His name is Bryce Chappelle, and since he married one of the Sutherland gals from Mona, he is a Local guy. And I then informed he was automatically local as the name of Chappelle was of Pioneer names that built and preserved pioneer heritage. I then preceded to grill him about himself; why he is doing this and if he was honest. No, I didn't swear him in, but I gave him a Juab County handshake which confirms the deal, better that an attorney or Judge to be honest with all customers, even those that drive in with their pajamas on, like I did. He will be officially open in a couple weeks. No he doesn't have gas, but knows oil and engines, so he will be a great person to deal with. If he does work on your pedal pusher and their is a squeak in it, take it back to him. He wants customers to be happy with whatever work he does. He won't be like some of the bad guys along your trip, who want to put a new engine in your car when you only "needed summer air taken out of the tires", which was an old trick they used to pull on customers. When it opens, give them a chance. I think they will be honest and good. And no, this is not Bryce Garner, who was an early cook at the Snak Shack, cooking the fresh eggs from the chicken Coop behind the Premium, and yes, he has his a Nephi Business License and cleared through the State to use the name of Premium and has a Clean Record, according to Ray Jackson!. Case Closed.

  

PHOTO AND NAMES OF STUDENTS OF CENTRAL SCHOOL-THIRD GRADE-1956

 

Top Row from left to right is: Gloria Jean Gustin; Joan Barton; Shelia Sperry; Betty Jo Greenhalgh.

Second Row Standing: Carol Ostler; Linda Lou Corbin; Barbara Houghton; Dennis Paxman; Clayton Anderson; Earl Bolton; ??; Connie Kendall; Linda Draper;  Marilyn Christensen; Mrs. Gadd.

Third Row-Sitting; Deann Anderson; Claudia Smith; Marilyn Worwood; Shirley Howard; Ann Hall; Kent Jones; Randy Sperry; Kent Worthington; Betty Ann Worwood; Kay Wilkey.

Front Row; Don Johnson; Kent Jarrett; Robert Harmon; Norman Jarrett; Bradley Brough; Creig Tidwell; Gean Sperry; Bruce Beal; Roger Stowell.

I apologize for any mix up or improper spelling of names. But it stands to reason. As far as I know, I still hold the record for the Juab School District as the only High School graduate who was kicked out of Kindergarten. That was when we attended it in the Industrial Arts Building, just north of the Central School. That is where lunches were prepared before the new school was built on 4th East. I helped my father tear down the pioneer built homes on Track Street, where the mother of Mrs. Harry Carter lived; Jim Bean and the Gee family. But that is what was ordered, but I look back on it and shed a tear how folks were forced out of their home's. Mrs. Gadd was a great teacher and looking back, I believe that this class and the other one or two classes were made up of some of the best kids anywhere. Some were KIA during Viet Nam; many still served their country and Church. As I gazed at the photo, I do recall in those days in the1950's, we treated each other as family,  and we as kids volunteered to put our arms around our class mates and helped them along, through high school. Citizens have to pay for those teachers now, but we all did it as an honor to serve our fellow friends. The times we had during those days are lost and gone forever, and we can just be grateful we lived when we did and the family and friends we will always be. And no, Bradley  Brough was not the Mean guy he looks like in the photo. He was one of the most friendly of all. And a better teacher can't be found. Mrs. Gadd was a God send to pranksters like me and Earl Bolton! And I started with those pranks in Kindergarten, as I didn't want to lay down and take a nap, so while the teacher turned her head, I got our pet frog out of the holding tank and put it next to the face of a class mate. Mr. Bailey was the principle, who kicked me out and called my mother. She and I had to walk across town to apologize to the teacher and to the student.

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT HAL HARRIS JONES IS NOW 79 EARTH YEARS OLD

Hal was given the middle name of Harris, as his mother was LaVon Harris, whose family came to Nephi with the Mormon Pioneers. Of the four boys born to Alma and LaVon Jones, Hal was probably the most handsome and all you have to do is look at that smile. As a kid, he didn't seem to like work like his brothers, as he was always laying on the Thermoid woven Hammock or under the big apple tree, and always chewing on a long straw. He was told he couldn't buy that Honda 50 from Kirk Sanders unless he found work. With his pair of Engineer Boots, he walked 30 yards and Steve Greenwood hired him as a tire recap expert, and he never seemed to take a breath since then. Of all us four boys and one girl, we thought he was the least of us that could pick up a foreign language, at least one that was East of Nortonville, anyway. Well, David O. McKay sent him a letter and told him to pack his bags, as he was heading to China. And in those days, they didn't have a Language Training Center but expected to spend the extra six months learning it in the field. When Hal got to learning it, a violent civil war broke out and all LDS Missionaries' where shipped to another Pacific Rim Country, and Hal learned a new language. He finally came back to Nephi, which was a very rural town, but it ain't no mo. Hal thought he could find some dry hay to take a well earned nap, but Hell No Hal. He and my other brothers got a call from an Uncle Sam, so Hal went back to a Hell Hole as a Medic in the upfront 9th Infantry Division. He survived, but little do most of our teachers and kids have NO real knowledge of what "Shell Shock" or PTSD is. And the older the Veteran, the kids have little respect for the soldier, or so it seems. So Dec. 7th isn't just a "Pearl Harbor" day, but Hal's 79th birthday. We headed to Vegas to watch the National Rodeo Finals. And I was willing to buy him a cake, but Hell No Hal chose Pie. I knew we shouldn't have sat behind that chute! Yup, he got a face full of .....well....lets call it a Cow Pie.

THREE STRIKE OUTS AND THEY ARE GONE. WELCOME BACK TRUMP

For nearly 50 years I have avoided listening to any news station, and I slipped last night, but got back up after 15 minutes of putting the sound on mute and watching the Presidential voting. Each station was proudly saying how much Harris was marching to Victory. I turned it off and did what many of the real Americans did. I prayed for Trump. Then this morning I called a friend and he told me the good news. Welcome back Donald Trump. Prayer does work and in this case, it was the saving of the true citizens of America. Yes, that is a personal observation, but in 50 years of studying Constitutional Law; 42 years working in Law Enforcement and 4 years as a City Council Member, I do solemnly swear I have seen and witnessed ample proof that we have shiploads of bad people in government positions; misinformed folks and just plain stupid voters. I have now completed over 1,000 chapters of history, and tried by best not to offend people, but in this case I don't mind doing it, as it is the truth. I can now rest from teaching History; Culture and being Kind to even those who fight against Freedom and our way of life. In Nephi, I only knew three Democrats, two of which are closet voters. But in the case of Nov. 5, 2024, voters changed or at least parted the sinful waters of the United States of America. Illegals will start the riots and all those who don't work or never been taught how too. Let us do what is right for all, especially Grandma Moses who cant survive with increase in Property Taxes. Beef up the Miltary; Build the Wall; No More Grants; No money to Enemies; Term Limits; Work for what you Want; Cut Taxes; Limit Government Control. The End for Me is near as I am in the twilight of 77 years on Earth. And it Will be for all if we don't change the Un-America ways we are dealing our cards! Get involved or lose it all.

IF YOU ARE A LEGAL AMERICAN; PLEASE VOTE PROPERLY

 I read where one American Presidential Candidate yelled at a person who said something that was a slur not only against HER opponent, but to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Vote according to what you feel is best, but remember you are voting or the future of America; your future and that of your family. Don't believe that which the news media want you to think, as well as GOOGLE and FACEBOOK who distort the lies. I haven't watched a news report in 50 years, and if I have a question I will do my own studies by talking to Veterans or going to Dallas or Vietnam to find out for myself. God is King and their needs to be a Leader who will drain the swamp in DC; Utah and right here in your small once rural area.