UTAH TROOPER SCOTT SPARKS ALWAYS GAVE GOOD ADVICE

When the spark plugs were hitting just fine in the life of the earthly body of Scott Sparks of Nephi, Utah, the Jones Clan would hang out at his house for a couple of different reasons. First and most important was we had to get over to his house on Saturday's to help his Dad load and unload the candy truck, as he may head out to various stores in the area. At the time Dee Sparks was the Candy Man who made sure all people near and far had their adequate supply of chocolate covered sugar! Mr. Dee Sparks was an excellent business man and not just a good father figure. His Candy Elf's were Hal, who was Scott's close friend all the days they were both on earth riding their Harleys or fishing with a Mepps spinner, then there was Kent, who was built like a Mars Bar, but basically brain dead; then Gary- the tall skinny brilliant kid who needed more sugar to grow, then little sister Jaynette, a friend of Scotts sister-Ann, as she couldn't lift the heavy boxes of candy, but had enough Spice in her to make us clean or dust the shelves in Dee's candy truck. Parents in those days knew who and where their kids were and didn''t need a hand held teleprompter to guide them or us. At lunch time, Mrs. Sparks would fetch us something, or we would hike the block home to find some of LaVon's hot bread or cookies, then more chores mowing the lawn with a motorless push mower or clean house and iron clothes; chew on a cherry stick from the two trees that held up our Thermoid made hammock. Weston Jones wasn't a "certified" Candy Elf, and too busy with Joe Garrett catching wild horses on the Juab West Desert. When all that fun stuff was done, we would head back to the Scott's place for a game of  Kick the Can and others would stop by to join up including the granddaughter's of Uncle Hy Tolley(Zabriskie's). Hal and Scott weren't too much into football but they both had strong legs which could send a can out on Main Street. Those were the days My Friends and like the Song says, We Really "Didn't Think They Would Ever End." But as we get older we discovered that our short existence on earth is merely a weekend in God's eternal plan and Scott and his family had to deal with it on earth and Scott is undoubtedly doing what he has been trained to do while his Class of Juab High pal-Hal went to war with the 9th Infantry Division in a foreign land that most students still don't know about. Scott became a Utah Highway Patrol Trooper and a good one at that. And so did another friend and Class of 64 buddy-Mike Royce who not only served in Viet Nam, but convinced Hal Jones if they were going to buy one of those brand new Honda 50's, Hal would have to find a real job as the "Serv" won't take candy bars as money. Hal started working dam hard and still does at 80 plus! A bunch of those very great friends consisted of John Lomax, who became one of the best Undercover Cops Utah ever had, then Leon Pexton, who eventually became refined with his intelligent abiity and became an Excellent Mayor of Nephi. Mike also became a State Trooper and renowned pilot like Leon and all the Pextons. He used to  fly Governor Matteson around and also assisted me in a flight to the Northwest to bring back a Fugitive Cop Killer, and the bad guy got nervous when Capt. Royce did some circling around a dense forest in Idaho and when I put my hand on the door, our bad guy had to sit in his own ......Diaper, as I had him chained down. Then came Carl Parkin or Frank to his widow, but everybody else in Nephi called him "Chopper", and what a cut-up he was, who turned to be an excellent Army Man stationed in Germany, then artist; wood turner and just an all round friend for life. Scott was the one that made sure they would all get together once a month and have dinner together, and on a couple occasions, this no-account Jones kid had the privilege of meeting them at a secret fishing hole for all the Nephi buddies and their spouses and even though both Chopper and Scott would be hit with paralyzing diseases, neither of them complained but accepted it as a part of life, and with Scott, I joined Hal when we would pick him up for a lunch or when confined to a bed or mobile chair never complained even when his mother was tragically killed in a car wreck or other medical issues in the family. We give Thanks and Celebrate the Life and Times of He would would become the Savior of all of us. We pay special tribute to Scott Sparks as one who will be crowned as a "Great Cop"  and his wife will undoubtedly be crowned one of God's Top People. Scott, You Did Well, but don't send any more of  Fub Hebbler's spinners up here! They get snagged on the wings of our Guardian Angels.

G. B. JONES-ONCE OF UTAH, WON'T BE RACING THE 2026 IDITAROD IN ALASKA

I know, I know, it is a difficult thing to accept, but his siblings down here in the Lower 48 will miss G.B. not pursing the Red Lantern at next year's Iditarod. That race is more or less the distance of 1049 miles, and various rules apply to the management and care of the dogs, and needless to say it is not just a weekend 5-K for the Musher or the Mutts. In Nephi, Utah, where Gary grew up and still calls it his hometown, he has been told by all of us that his town is not what it used to be when he graduated in 1966. In Alaska-the last frontier, there is no other sports quite like the Iditarod. To us folks down here in Ruralville, working or Little League is a critical thing to start off with, and although we no longer have the great dirt roads we used to, a good family like the Wright's in Beaver County, Utah still does and have the biggest rodeo fans in the lower 48, and some of us just returned from Las Vegas, where we watched three brothers take Championship buckles home, and a million dollars of cold hard cash. What the boys may have forgot, however, is they left their wives and sisters at home to take care of the horses and cattle while they are hitting rodeos, and they- more than City Slickers have earned their rightful share of the profits! G.B. has raced in several of the Iditarod races, and as may be noted by an attached Utah paper clipping, he has an absolute love for those dogs he trained and ran with, and did so without money from the big profit folks that we often see other professionals get addicted to. As such, he is the idol of school kids, and a gifted speaker. When any of G.B's dogs wear out, he will give them to a proper home or other Musher and did send "Nick" home to his sister here in Nephi. In his spare time, he is a writer of books that motivates the best in all of us, and his latest one may hit home with many in "The Man From Booger Hollow" and available at: AlaskanGardens.com or contact GB directly at GBJones@gmail.com. When he grew up down here he won various accolades as a gifted speaker, winning in speech and written contests. Back then he was known as Gary B. Jones; then when he hit the blizzards of The Last Frontier, he went with G.B. Jones, and now with his latest book, he uses his full name of Gary Bryan Jones. Many of the folks here remember he was the Jones Boy who was born with a gift to be a Musher, as he grew up in a barn, where he took care of chickens, ducks; miniature bovines, horses, swine and started us in the sheep business. When he went in the United States Army,  he sat right up front to be the gifted Ranger he was during the Era we called Viet Nam, but us teenagers at Juab High, we didn't know where Japan or Korea was, even though we had recent wars with those countries too. G.B. was then called up in the National Guard to be on Stand By for the first Middle East War, but that war was over before those folks had finished their cup of shai or Mint tea. That's a Rap!

PIRATES OF PENZANCE-A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE ON THE ROAD TO GUNNISON

While driving on the road to Gunnison, we saw two boys walking close together and tried to figure out who they were and why the older one was scaring looking with a patch over one eye. Making it more concerning, we couldn't tell if the kid carried a sword or axe of the Nobleman of England. By golly, those two young whippersnappers were my young nephews who lived in downtown Centerfield,Utah, kids of Matt and Kami Hansen. We stopped to chat. It wasn't Halloween so we asked Wyatt what the heck he was doing dragging his little brother Brayden off to. Wyatt responding by saying they were heading to the Gunnison School to be in Pirates of Penzance. So, they jumped aboard our ship and we all went to watch Pirates of Penzance, while they listened to my ghostly story of the time I spent in Penzance, but not a Pirate did I see, but viewed many a barnacle on the faces of wrenched people working in the Tin mines there. I told Wyatt in a gastly manner he better act his part goodly or the Barnacle Woman would snag him for sure. The play was a delightful experience, and so difficult to think it has now been ONE complete Score ago they put that play on. A Score is an old English word, as I threw that 20 year term in as Penzance and the people of that Cornwall area is whence the blood of the Nephi Jones family dwelled before they jumped on ships to downtown Mormonville.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A 100 YEARS OLD " D0N'T ACT YOUR AGE".

While sitting at the hospital waiting to see if I am dead or alive, I decided to pick up a People Magazine That wasn't quite my cup of tea, but was intrigued with the Wit and Wisdom of Dick Van Dyke, who is turning 100 years old. His simple, but sound secret was "Don't act your age!" I was so lured in to reading about his advice, so I had to read further. He and his first wife were married in 1948, and when he came home to their small apartment, he found his belongings were out on the highway. Dick then called his buddy Ted Danson, and Carl Reiner hooked him up with Mary Tyler Moore in 1961 and their show was a hit and went on to star with Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins in 1964; Chitty Bang Bang in 1968 and his success continued. He then married his second wife and had four kids, but that wife died of Cancer, so his charms picked up his forever wife-Arlene Silver, who was 46 years younger. When they were asked how that matched up, she called her husband of 13 years "the best human being I've ever met". And Dick says "she is responsible for keeping me in the moment". Dick also says that his many years could be related to his positive attitude "I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides-and hate-and I have never was able to work up a feeling of hate." He also said his good humor may have started in high school, when he got elected to be the junior class president, and "I wasn't even on the ballot. I was the class clown, so made people laugh". So that is the total good parts I found in this magazine, but will credit two photos of Mr. Van Dyke who also said "Emotionally I'm about 13, and she(Arlene) is responsible for keeping me in the moment and alive every day. Thank God for that."

Now if one was to ask Hal Harris Jones of Nephi, Utah, how he was planning to continue to celebrate his 80th BD of last week, it was at the Rodeo Finals in Vegas, and itching to get home and ride his Harley. I told him instead of buying more Harley Shirts and caps, how about some motorcycle chains for those tires. He said "Nope, I got roll bars that push me right back up straight". If one can live to be an old geezer and still have the fun of being young, then you have it made.

IF OLD BLOOD AND GUTS REALLY SAID THIS, PERHAPS WE SHOULD TAKE NOTES

GENERAL PATTON BECAME FAMOUS DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND AVOIDED DEATH OR INJURY IN HIS PURSUIT OF THE NAZI, BUT WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER, HE CELEBRATED IN A HOTEL THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME KNOW AS HOTEL GEORGE PATTON. HE WAS KILLED BY A RUN AWAY VEHICLE COMING DOWN THE STREET. SO YEARS LATER, I HAD TO GO ASCERTAIN THE REPORTED FACTS, AND THE NEWS REPORTS BACK THEN........WERE PRETTY DARN CORRECT.

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MORE PHOTOS OF NEPHI JONES FAMILY SINCE THEY FIRST ARRIVED IN 1852

We have shown a couple of these photos before, but will throw in a couple more here. The Ones below show photo should be the Fourth Generation of Boys including Hal, Weston, Gary and Kent. We are assigned to twiddle our thumbs and keep quiet as Dad was bringing the new baby home from the Juab County Hospital. We were stupid back then as we were hoping for a boy. Glad God knows better, as the average age of these old duffers' is 80 and only gals take care of people that old. Hard to believe but true. We were glad as we would eventually need help, and Jaynette arrived, who like her sister/cousin-Tara Garrett, she can outdo her brothers work ethic as well as Jaynette. In fact I had to call her this morning to have her to change my 8-Track.Then their should be one of Hal carrying two buckets of lime to help Dad plaster another home. Then the four boys dressed up(finally) with Jaynette taking the photo of  her marriage of 1975; then the four boys in Vegas, then one of two deer on the Jeeps. Then  Guess who got them and was able to get Lori?  It just ain't right to have gals dressed up or dressed down like that., so we all gave her some orange things to put on. It made Weston so mad he started riding bulls at the "Pale Face Stampede"!

SINCE WE LEFT VEGAS, NO DOLLARS TO BET, BUT THINK STETSON WRIGHT WILL BE THE ALL ROUND COWBOY TONIGHT

It is with great hope, but my guess we can all enjoy watching one of the best sports in these the United States of America.That is rodeo, and my love for it started as a kid at the Ute Stampede. The Nephi Jones boys wanted to be on those bucking horses and mean bulls that take no.....bull..... from the riders. That is when we had Chuck Parkinson as the announcer, who had a deep and resounding affect for all of us. When Bob Garrett took Cotton Rosser to visit Sherm Jones, both Sherm and Cotton Rosser cried during their hug. Cotton Rosser was a great leader. He reminds me of John Wayne, who was a loving father to a herd of kids, but was a tough cowboy on the silver screen to rope in the bad guys, but was good enough to promote those young pups who wanted to make it to the level of Marion Robert Morrison, but it took John Wayne more than 100 films to have the wanna be's to be John Wayne! The Nephi Jones kids have been going to the Rodeo Finals in Vegas for about a quarter of a century. The Ute Stampede is still the cream of the crop, but it was good to see one of the mean animals belonging to the Flying U. Although I often type whatever comes to my heart or damaged brain, I just type like my mother taught me at age 12. Anywho, back to rodeo. Nephi folks have elected and selected leaders who wish to get rid of the farms and get their water to make money on the big bucks from people who want to live here, but it seems they want it like China, which has homes or huts upon homes, with little support. I was walking down the street of Kowloon Tong, China, and I got nervous. I could almost swear dam it, but I won't....but if they find me dead my obit reading should be; "found dead in China being crushed by plaster mixed in with dead Carps!" Oh well, good to be home. Now back to the rodeo. I am no longer into loud noise(too many blows to my brain-Subdural Hematomas), so we find a big screen in Vegas and watch from there. But if you have a computer, one can locate the avenue of the PRCA final rodeo. Or if you got the dough you can purchase the Cowboy Chanel but I don't have the dough or desire to listen to the yacking noise of the announcers. But if all goes well tonight, Stetson Wright will continue to be the best Cowboy in the world. And two other Wright boys are right behind him. Their old man is Cody Wright and he is the computer expert to tell the kids how the horse or bull will act once they are let out the gate. I met him several years ago at Strawberry Days. Stetson Wright was the All-Round Champion last year and although he was in Vegas to cheer other Wrights on, he had already been the Champion. The winners are those who have rode their bucking animals and the money that goes with it. I don't understand how they determine the Average of the rides, as it is Greek to me. We like the Wrights from Beaver as well as Hayes Weight from downtown Goshen, Utah. Our Nephew's wife is Karen Tew Jones, and a cousin to Hayes as well as going back to Nephi, J. Ivan Tew was an old town Bishop of the North Ward and a great carpenter, but knowing Ivan, he just may do one of those ghost whispers to Hayes.."don't get on that dam bull".  We support him and the Right Wrights who do rodeo and farming in a great small town, like what Nephi used to be! In Saddle Buck, Ryder is in first place and earned $358,947; 3rd in the world is Stetson Wright with $345,855 and second place is Statler. Last night the three of them won nearly 100 thousand dollars. That will feed their horses and cattles though the winter. If you have never been to the Finals, plan on next year. It is once in a lifetime deal. My hat goes off to the wives and sisters while their Men are out making money, they are the ones that really work their....!!! off.