On this the last day of 2016, I hereby officially tender my resignation.........as an adult!

I have decided to go back to being an 8 year old kid again. I want to walk down to Pick's Drive Inn and think its a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks down the irrigation ditch and make ripples in Burraston Pond's with rocks. I want to think Snaps are better than money because you can eat them. I want to lie under the old cherry tree and run a lemonade stand; do kick the can at the home of Scott Sparks. I want to think back when the world was colors; adding and subtracting the 2 cents I got for turning in pop bottles at the Serv or a penny for beer bottles at the IGA. To learn poems again. I want to return to happy times, not being aware of the dangers of the world. I want to think everything is fair and all people are honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be excited by little things, such as watching butterflies. I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes; watching depressing news; bills; gossip, illness, and the loss of loved ones. I want to be a kid again, and not worry about my own kids who are now adults. I want to take a long stroll from Whiting Bros. gas station all the way to the Frost-T-Freeze and look at the new Impalas that just arrived at Greenwood's and gaze at the beauty of Linda Howard and Betty Jo Greenhalgh. Perhaps Mike Royce would let me touch his new Honda 50 when he wasn't trying to dress so dapper. Maybe even stop at the Snak Shak where a Banana Cream pie is just 20 cents. I want to hike to the glory holes behind the J Hill. I want to believe in the power of smiles; hugs; a Juab County handshake for a deal; work; truth; justice; family; dreams and imagination. So this is it, the last day of being adult. If you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, cause........"Tag! You're it".

We hear and read a lot about "fake news" lately...but actually it has been around for a long time.

Years ago I had a college professor teach of the importance of reading and research, and not blindly believe everything you see or read-that some of it pertains to personal interpretation. Such is the case with the recent political campaigns and a lot of the "fake news" and who is writing it. People like to read about shocking stuff even if it is not completely true, so we may have false news for ever. Although a Salt Lake newspaper reported that a young boy was killed in Nephi when swept away by the "Juab River", the real truth is there was a lad swept away and nearly drought, but he wasn't killed and there is no such river called the Juab River. Oh well, it probably sold papers and in those days, anybody could write what they thought happened, and receive money for their submitted declarations. If any of you are driving by Garrett Honda in Nephi, Utah, stop by and congratulate Kirk Sanders who is still working there even though the Tribune thinks he was killed 64 years ago. Hey, I wonder if they would pay his life insurance claim!

Well, it is that time of year again....yup...property tax time.

More than a hundred years ago, Hyrum (Uncle Hy) Tolley was accused of horse theft. He denied it as he merely picked up a rope in Nephi and walked to his home in Nortonville four miles away. Once home, he found a horse on the end of the rope. The charges were dropped. As a cousin of Uncle Hy, I am not sure how our family got a hold of the official record of those that paid their property taxes in Juab County, Utah in 1892, but we will show them, then give them to the Juab County Treasurer for better safe keeping. The biggest property owner appears to be mult-million dollar Mammoth Mining Co. and the smallest was a nickel from Peter Norton of Nortonville. Even the notorious brothers paid their sixty cents.

List Number Two of those who paid Juab County, Utah Property taxes in 1892

Hopefully, this page will contain additional data of those who paid their property taxes for Juab County, Utah, in 1892.

Today is the day. If you don't know a US Veteran, find one and buy them breakfast or just shake their hand....they have earned it.

Today is a day that all Americans can be Americans! It is our day to pay tribute to the Veterans, both living and dead, who helped give us the freedom we have. As a kid, I loved listening to Matt Howard tell the stories of he and Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish American War. Later on I was saddened to hear Ches Williams explain how many of his World War Two buddies came home "Shell Shocked". Last photo is of Dell Jones, of World War I. We not only pay respect to Veterans, we also honor the non-Veteran Veterans! They are those mothers and fathers who cry not knowing if their soldier is returning home. We also pay respect to people such as Nephi's Norman Jarrett, whose work remains classified. It can be said that he worked as a civilian for the US Navy-underground, to help develop a nuclear warhead to be launched from a submarine. After 30 years of working with chemicals, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know how clean living Norman was hit with an unknown but deadly cancer which took his life in a painful way. To our military family, friends and neighbors, my thumb is up for you, both living and passed. And if you see Mona's Ed Newton, tell him thanks.....his body took the blast so the rest of us could last!

"The Crisis is over, now the healing must begin", so says Winston Churchill following World War II.

In 1901, Winston Churchill authored the book "The Crisis", of which we have an original copy which belonged to Vern Skeem of Nephi, Utah. At the beginning of World War II England's Sir Winston became the solitary leader fighting against Nazi controlled Germany. Through unbelievable odds, he was instrumental to muster up courage to fight to the end. If he had lived long enough President Franklin Roosevelt would have followed the Churchill lead to not harbor ill feelings to the people of Germany, but to assist them to heal as did President Truman. Even Japanese Emperor Hirohito declared "his desire to terminate the war". Perhaps, just perhaps, their thoughts could now help all Americans, who can recognize the importance of putting down the weapons of words, and take up the cause of continued freedom and permit political entities to heal for the benefit of all. On page 522 of  "The Crisis", Winston Churchill concluded "One more word. This book is written of a time when feeling ran high. It has been necessary to put strong speech into the mouths of the characters. The breach that threated our country's existence is healed now. There is no side but Abraham Lincoln's side. And this side, with all reverence and patriotism, the author has tried to take. Abraham Lincoln loved the South as well as the North." The book was donated to the Nephi City Library on Nov. 18th, 2016.

What is the difference between a Hackamore and a Harness! I will bet Vernice and Chad Winn know.

If you read the local paper of The Times News of Nephi, Utah, you will have read that Chad and Vernice Winn are returning from their 18 month LDS mission to Nauvoo, Illinois. All are invited to attend their friendly sermon on Oct. 30, 2016. You don't even have to be a Mormon, Democrat or Republican to go listen. It should be interesting as I heard that Chad enjoyed putting a harness on a team of horses and taking folks for a ride about. Since Chad comes from good stock of Juab County, Utah, we thought we would give a little history of his parents and their family which was written by LaVon Jones in 1979.

Not sure how they measured it, but apparently a team of Ox could travel at 3 miles per hour.

This is the family photo of the Will and Liz Tolley Jones family of Nephi, Utah. It was taken on April 9, 1935. They had lost two young boys early in their marriage. The remaining kids were actually fun and happy people, but back then, folks were camera shy as they weren't sure it was a camera or a gun! Starting on the back left would be Pearl Jones Ockey, then Grant, Alma, Bert, Vic and Dell Jones; then Norma Jones Kay. On the front is Pa and Ma Jones and daughter Erma Jones Garrett. Then we have the typed funeral speeches, prayers and so forth.

First taken in shorthand, then typed.....the 1947 funeral remarks of Juab County, Utah pioneer-Wm. Jones

The attached photo was taken on April 9, 1935, showing the living members of the William and Elizabeth Jones family of Nephi, Utah. Back row from left are Pearl Ockey; Grant, Alma, Bert, Vic and Dell Jones, then Norma Kay. In the front are Wm and his wife Liz Jones, then Erma Garrett.

Sometimes the Beauty is very close to the Beast. One just has to recognize them.

In the first photo, we have the beasts of the streets of Nephi, Utah which are re-defining the curbs, sidewalk and roads to beautify the downtown area. First comes the beasts, then the Beauty, but in today's scenario we have a photo of each, and they are 67 paces away from each other. The photo of the work machines of re-construction was taken from the Oct. 5, 2016 edition of The Times News newspaper. The second photo was taken by myself during a short stroll from the construction site, in the serene beauty of Salt Creek as it majestically runs through town to quench the thirst of man and beast. Perhaps in life, we need to keep an eye forward to the ever present beauty around us-it just takes some time sometimes!

What is the population of Leamington, Utah! Well it depends on when you visit there.

Give or take a dozen or so, the population of Leamington, Utah is 300 people, but during Leaminardo Day, it swells to about 3,000. At least one day a year, it is the time to return home and visit. Even if you are not from there, such as I, it is a good place for people to chat as if you were. Such was the case for me when I decided to visit on Labor Day. I took the slow way, turning off 1-15, going through downtown Holden, then Oak City and on to Leamington. As a youth, I recall watching my sister ride her horse during the barrel racing of their excellent rodeo, and filling up on all the food one could ask for. While driving around Oak City, I marveled how Americana this part of Millard County remains. They still have dirt roads; irrigation ditches and people who wave at you even though they weren't really sure who you are. I had to drive around the blocks a few times and found three constant things which may define who we are or should be. I saw American Flags that were respectfully flown; young people on horses, and several lawn signs promoting Ed Phillips who is running for Millard County Commissioner. Since I have known Ed for about four decades, I couldn't help but write a blog entry. Ed is one of those guys who is devoted to all Millard County citizens and although I don't know his opponent, or even what Ed stands for, whatever it is, it would be for the common good of all and my guess is there is no mug slinging with whoever he runs against.

This Postcard is a little over a hundred years old, and photo is thought to be the same.

This postcard was sent to Mrs. W.F. Tolley of Nephi, Utah. That would be Sarah Warren Tolley, first wife of Wm. Fisher Tolley. It was sent from Gridley, California in June, 1916, where one of her sons settled and became an excellent and well known builder. The postcard sender is from grandchildren Lola and Lucille. I am not real certain who the photo is of, but sometime ago, I wrote on the back that it may be "Miran Tolley", but not sure where I got that information. Most of the Juab County Tolley family came from England and were Mormon pioneers, but this woman carries a Catholic type Cross, so not sure. We think it is 1860 to 1880 vintage.

As proper Americans, we should vote, but do we really have to watch tonights Preidential verbal fist-a-cuff!

Although many Americans may be tired of politics, it seems that as citizens, we should listen to at least one debate before we vote. Indications are that America is as divided and polarized as they have ever been, along with Utah's who have "non-support" for Trump or Clinton. We, therefore submit a resolution as to whom to vote for, and have their photos, and some insight. It is true, we borrowed the photos from the local paper-The Times News- of Oct. 30, 1969. An additional fact is some of the candidates have now passed away, but even those that have died may at least keep us out of further debt and total destruction. The choice is yours, but each of these people may be a better choice for all America.