Judy Garrett Higginson departed us four years ago, but her legacy lives on.

The family legacy of Judy Higginson will live on, but today is one of those days that is difficult to forget. If you didn't know Judy, she had a high work ethic, learning how to milk cows and ride horses from Ross, and then to be a proper mother and wife from Aileen. Both were teachers, with one in regular school and Aileen in Sunday School. Judy was like Florence Nightingale and as good as they get when it comes to being a provider of care. She lost her mother Aileen when young, and it seemed her husband went way before his time. My guess is that Judy, Aileen and Jim are making a dynamic trio in the great beyond. She taught her kids well, and their kids are teaching others to be great people. The first house is the one she was raised in, and the second is where she and Jim brought up great kids. I couldn't pass up the time to say well done Judy and yes your Dad is going to make it just fine when he reaches a hundred, and Mike will saddle the horse for him.

Welcome to the Johnny Cash show-in the Isles of the British.

From 1930 to 1981, Salt Lake's Terrace Ballroom was where the action was! It was located a block north of the Newhouse Hotel, which was a block north of "Coveys" Little America. In the 1960's, Lagoon's favorite entertainers were the Beach Boys and Johnny Cash, and people from Juab County would load their vehicles to watch them and the Demolition Derby. The "Man in Black" became famous throughout the world, and I attended one of his concerts in England in 1968. Secondary entertainment was watching British bloaks figure out which way a cowboy hat went on. The Tennessee Three and Carl Parkins continued their popularity but some folks thought that U.K.'s James Royal should have stuck to dropping bombs with the R.A.F. as he never did make it big in show business. June Carter died in 2003, and 20 weeks later, so did Johnny Cash, as he couldn't make it without his personal "ring of fire".

Alice Newton Roundy was buried in view of her beloved Mt. Nebo.

Death is a part of earth life, and although we will all experience it, those who remain miss whom we have loved and lost, regardless if they are babies or in their eighties. I attended the funeral of Mrs. Newton today, out of respect for her and first husband-Ross Newton. Their act of kindness to me was more than fifty years ago, and simple to some, but meaningful to me. Ed Newton and I had the opportunity to represent the Mt. Nebo Chapter of the FFA at the National Convention in Kansas City, and that bonded Ed and I as pals.The Mona Newton's didn't have a lot of money, nor did the Nephi Jones family, but Ross volunteered to drive us to Salt Lake where we caught the long train ride to Missouri. Mrs. Newton knew what the Train Porter would soak us for food, so she prepared goodies for the trip. Although we listened to Barry Goldwater campaign for the Presidency, and a chance to holler at Harry S. Truman, and he hollered at us, the greatest memory was the graciousness of Mr. and Mrs. Newton. Thanks for your food Alice, and for properly raising the "three gentle giants". Your earthy remains will be shielded by the Swasey, Molyneux, Kay, Keyte, Ellertson, Yates, Roundy and Young's.

True beauty remains beautiful.....forever!

If you were around Nephi, Utah fifty years ago, you would often see Dana Phillips and Val Kelson together. They were a perfect match then, as they are now, with both having class, beauty and refinement. Although the musty odor of the air and water tight containers buried fifty years ago is not good, the contents remain beautiful! Among the items are several folded copies of The Times News, so thought we should share four classic sets of beauties. After Steve Greenwood purchased Nebo Chevrolet, he liked to show off his "well balanced" beauties in the front show room. No, not his beautiful daughters, but the brand new Impalas! We will also show the other beautiful couples, and if you read the small print, you can see where Dana Phillips assisted with the gifts at the reception of Mr. and Mrs. John Ellertson.

I still don't understand Opera and some plays!

Although I have attended Opera's, I still haven' understood them, and the same goes for some plays, even though I have traveled to Broadway; San Francisco and watched "King Lear" at Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born; raised, wrote and worked the stage. When I saw the ad of "Into the Woods" in The Times News, I wanted to support local actors in rural Utah. They performed in what they call the "Juab Fine Arts Auditorium", but I remember it as the Juab High School Auditorium of decades ago. When the lights turned down, I could feel myself sliding back to 1962, and I became uneasy, but wasn't sure why. It then hit me like a ton of  brick. Years ago, I sat nearby watching "Twelve Angry Women" on Feb. 28, 1962. I knew the actors back then but they were happy friends-not angry women. I am still trying to learn to be artistic and tomorrow night, I will try to figure out why a person with a weird hat is standing near a blue elephant and a gold fish about to be eaten! This time it is at the Juab Junior High Auditorium, so maybe I won't panic as much and not have to call for Dr. Boston; Beckstead, Steele or whoever Dr. Seuss is!

If it was good advice in the 1960's, would it still be good today!

In 1962, students of Juab High School published a paper called the "Clarion".  It was considered an excellent and professional newspaper, and they would often have a local person write a guest editorial, as did Sheriff Ray Jackson in the Feb. 23, 1962 paper. Although we didn't submit the entire article, he ended writing about the importance of honesty, and how important it is in our neighborhood; with public officers and how dishonesty "can destroy a nation just as it can blight an individual".  Then in 1967, the editor of the local Nephi, Utah paper wrote an article of "How to kill a good town". Perhaps, just perhaps, what both of these respected people said a half century ago, could very well apply today. Just in case the culprit is still around, we thought the local Sheriff's office just may re-open the cold case of who burglarized "Petes" place in Levan. The Ballow family will appreciate the honesty if you step out in the blue!

Tonight is the night. A new Miss Nephi will be selected, just like it was in 1960.

Come one, Come all! For five bucks, you get to look and listen to pretty entertainment when the six Nephi beauties compete in the Miss Nephi, USA Pageant. Whoever the top voter is-just may utilize their talents like the current Miss Nephi-Hannah Robins, who donated her time and effort to help clothe young kids who didn't have enough. And how about Miss Nephi of 1960. Trudy Boswell used her scholarship to attend Stevens Henager Business College, then worked in a Salt Lake law firm for several years. She married Gary Peterson and both became outstanding citizens. Trudy not only raised great kids, but involved in the Willow Creek Country Club; on the Women's Board for Westminster College; assisted with the Utah Legislature; reviewed scholarship applicants and help with various fund raising activities. Over the years, whoever becomes Miss Nephi-just may be that perfect person who will help in areas we can't even imagine.The first photo is the 2017 Miss Nephi Royalty; the second is the 1960 Miss Nephi; the third is the contestants for tonight. The program emcee is JessieKate Riley, the current Miss Utah. Photo's and information courtesy of Livingston Photo; Deseret News; The Times News and the Jones Family Library.

Steve Wilson-He was a friend of mine!

Steve Wilson lived from 1947 to 1979, passing away at age 32 from injuries related to a truck accident in Salt Lake. Being raised in rural Nephi, Utah, he and I became close friends. As thirteen year olds, we worked for his Dad-Glen Wilson, taking care of a turkey herd in the area where the Juab High School is now located and south west of Wes Lynn's place. We took turns feeding the chicks at night, then took the family tote gote to travel the streets of small town, USA. If you ever saw the motorcycle scene on the movie "Dumb and Dumber", watching Steve and I motating around town had to be like a future movie titled "Funny But Butt Dumb". With a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour, we decided to head across the Divide to Moroni, to see if there were any girls about. Needless to say, there wasn't any at three in the morning. For me, his funeral was heartbreaker number three, as the small town "Class of 65" had already lost Bradley Brough and Linda Howard, and now another close friend. Once again I cried real tears!  For the past year, I had various photos of him that kept dropping in front of me, even after I gave one to his sister-Linda Steele, a year ago. That is when I knew it was time to say a public thanks to Steve Wilson, who will always be a friend of mine. He served in the National Guard and left a son and daughter-Angela and Anthony Wilson. Steve was a hard worker, and ran on "high octane", with his hands knowing how to fix things. So when Dennis Steele sang "These Hands" at the funeral, it was very fitting. The house photo was taken today, where he grew up. His sister-Linda Steele, didn't stray far, living a block away. It seems she misses her brother like she does Dennis. It is a heartbreaker to deal without the ones we love.