Weston Jones just walked off his job at Juab County...and every where else!

Weston Jones is a goner! He is all washed up! Enough is enough! After paying into Social Security for 60 plus years, he put up the surrender sign and quit working. He was the first one of us kids to work and the last of this Nephi Jones family to retire! In case he gets bored, his siblings put some suggestions together. If you find him on a corner panhandling....he only needs enough for a Keno ticket!

Phil Sperry-a true American Idol!

If you missed the funeral of Phil Sperry today, we wanted to make sure the world knows we still have hero's among us that don't make the nightly news. As kids, we watched Phil excel in all he participated in, but I especially remember him being the speedster go up and down the basketball court to help Juab High win back-to-back State Championships in 1959 and 1960. But that was just the start of his heroism. He went on to graduate from college, then work in the medical field to help others. He joined the National Guard and served in Desert Storm. When we attempted to scan the photo of Phil, the machine wouldn't accept just his photo.....not without Dorothy in it. So was their love, and everybody knew it from day one. The good guy did get the best looking gal in town, and their family love will endure forever. Although Phil suffered from Parkinson disease for several years, it didn't stop him from being a funster! He was still able to go four wheeling in Moab and a year ago he watched Juab kids play basketball with the faithful assistance of Dorothy. When I spoke to him, he tried to trip me and we both smiled. He never, ever gave up. When a medical technician has difficulty getting an IV started on a patient, they call it a "hard draw". Prior to a surgery, nobody could get the IV in Phil, so the patient calmed his physical body and did it himself. There were a lot of Juab Wasps that welcomed him on the other side, but up front was his beloved brother-Johnny. Phil Sperry, a true American Idol!

It was a hundred years ago today, but hopefully the world will never forget Armistice Day.

Since the beginning of time, there has always been Bullies, which have led to family quarrels; neighborhood fist-a-cuffs, and Dynasty battles that led to wars. Since 1776, Americans have always answered the call to scrupulously protect the Civil Rights and Liberties-not just of Americans, but people of the world, whatever their background. They often do so while protestors spit in their face. Such is the case a hundred years ago, when America didn't want to go to war, but 53 Juab County men were called to battle in the trenches of France. Today, we pay respect to those who continue to serve in the military. Not just the small percentage on the front lines, but those who help on the supply lines; the cooks; the order givers and the families of the soldiers while away. First photo is of Nephi brothers-Vic and Alma Jones. Vic was severally wounded in Germany during World War I, and had a gimp in his gallop the rest of his life, but never complained. His little brother was called up in the Army during World War II, and both served with honor. The family clock is one their grandparents brought to Utah during Mormon Pioneer days and placed on the fireplace mantle in Nortonville, Juab County. The clocks have stopped ticking for these Veterans, but we should never forget their service...ever!

The Times News is about the only newspaper you really need to read!

The Times News paper is based in Juab County, USA and does a great job reporting the news, rather than express their personal idea of what the news is. Over the decades, a Times News correspondent seldom misses a deadline, but things do happen, such as when reporter-Myrna Trauntvein slipped and fell during a family hike, causing broken bones. She so wrote about it, so it is public! The weekly gazette continues to go to press and we all hope that Myrna's new leg springs are well oiled and healed. In case you missed your Oct. 8, 1964 paper, we wanted to give you a repeat of some important events back then. We have already lost some of those you became famous then, so read up before we loose more. We also included a section that gives information of "Who's Who" in the local 4-H, and some special Peaches on sale. Oh by the way, the 100,000 Ponderosa Pine seedlings they planted in McCune Canyon behind Mt. Nebo during 1913 didn't get hit by the recent Pole Fire. You can take the Nebo Loop Road next spring for their viewing!

Election Day is tomorrow, and then we can go back to being plain Americans!

I am not sure if it is just me, or if the political ads are more distasteful than they used to be! Maybe it is the same negative stuff, just a different era. For a little break from the usual candidates being slammed in our faces, we thought we would take a delightful journey to the past, and bring you some political names, at least for Juab County and the State of Utah. These ads are from The Times News in 1964. Dr. Beckstead won the primary, but later withdrew his name, because of extended illness. If you didn't vote in 1964, tomorrow is your chance to do that American thing your parents told you to do!

After 50 plus years of full time work, Hal Jones is officially retired!

Hal Harris Jones didn't work as a kid! He had the capacity, but not the motivation! While his brothers cut lawns; delivered newspapers; bucked hay; feed animals and paid his Coke and fries bill at the Snak Shak, Hal spent his day laying under the cherry tree, with a piece of grass in his mouth. He had such a great personality, nobody seemed to mind. At about sixteen, he and Mike Royce wanted to buy a Honda 50 from Garrett Honda which was the "in thing" during the 1960's. Oh no, Hal had to go to work, and he went at it hard for fifty years, only taking time off for the deer hunt and rodeo's. He started recapping tires for Steve Greenwood, then Rancho Trailers; then 2 years as a front line medic in Viet Nam.That got him prepared for the rest of his career, spending 28 years at the Tooele Army Depot as a Paramedic; then another twenty years as a medical examiner. Along the way, he had part time jobs, but enough time to write great letters to those he loved. My hat goes off to one of the hardest working guys I know and to say his 1964 graduation prediction was way wrong. I now hope he can figure out how to put snow chains on his Harley for winter.