JUAB HIGH SHOOL GRADUATES OF 1989-Where are they now?

When I graduated from the old Juab High school, their was about 100 of us, and that included the auditorium and girls gym. My father helped build the old school when it was being build in 1923, and said it would last 100 years, which it is now and used as the County complex. The community protested(they were right) but school officials voted against it and advised to have it condemned(they were wrong), and it withstood and still in good shape. The Class of 1989 was one of the first to use your new complex, and I hear tell the school wants more money to build another and use taxpayers money, not school funds. Like most governments, they think the money is free, but hope students know there is more in the school than just the sports and pep clubs. Oh well, Congratulations kids. Here is a photo of each graduate; the program and committees. This is just a guess, but quite certain teachers were glad to see the departure of my Nephew-Shane Jones, like the day I was kicked out of Kindergarten at the old Central School(Nephi's First High School). And if Shannon Sutorius was better known in 1989, she would have out sang Bette Milder in "Wind Beneath My Wing". A song that still beckons my heart forever. 

Today's History Lesson will be on 3 Lawmen, all of which is true "To The Best Of My Knowledge"

Anytime somebody, including a wanna be historian, such as me, there is always a chance it is not real true, but only as I believe it to be, then read of it or saw it or heard it second hand or third and so forth. The third Lawman is one I didn't know personally or professionally, but read about him and spoke to folks about him after a briefing with Texas Rangers and touring their museum in Austin, Texas years ago. His nickname was "Bigfoot" but his real name may have been Wm. Wallace Anderson. He volunteered to fight for America in the Mexican War, and helped to fight for the Republic of Texas, and almost may have overdone it with his intent to kill Mexicans with his border patrol, but simmered down with the Texas Rangers and tried to be lawful as an Indian Fighter; Trapper; Adventurer and how to use his "Bowie Knife" and answered the call when Capt. Jack Hay's called him up to be a Texas Ranger. He became the "Daniel Boone"  of Texas. He was a tall big guy and had an unincorporated town after him called "Big Foot", Texas. Others say his honest to goodness name was Jack or John Coffee, and even writer Larry McMurtry wrote him in the script of "Lonesome Dove", although a fictionized account. The second lawman I come to know professionally and personally is Dan Knight of West Branch, Iowa, where he was Chief of Police for 17 years. He is now retired, but like myself, likes to read about the Civil War and the Old West. His motto was "It is much easier to STAY out of trouble than it is to GET out of trouble". He does that by playing in the dirt, but calls it gardening. The first Lawman is now retired, but was the former Sheriff of Millard County, Utah, ending his 27 years in Law Enforcement, but also a big wig with the Utah Dept. of Pubic Safety. Like others in rural Utah he developed a keen relationship with all Utah law enforcement, and their Deputies were always a back-up to other agencies or vice versa. Like many of the heads of rural Utah, their is always controversies and contradictions, especially when it comes to who gets the money, and State Legislatures often make those decisions with little input from law enforcement. Like other rural communities, they also a have to do an all year battle with US Forest Service and the BLM. Professionally, I was amazed how Ed put together a integral and disturbing murder case 31 years ago, while one of the culprit remains on Death Row, getting 3 squares a day-at the expense of Utah taxpayers, when our military's may not. Photos courtesy of individual; Deseret News and Internet.

WELCOME TO NEPHI, WHERE AGRICULTURE IS STILL KING

When the Mormon Pioneers settled this area, it was known as Salt Creek, but later changed to Nephi, a Mormon type name. You won't find many folks by that name any more, but we used to have a slew of them including Nephi Jackson, who arrived with the Martin Handcart Company in 1856. Mormons believed in self sufficiency back then and do now or at least we would like to be, but then big city folks want to take away the importance of growing our own vegetables; fruits, chickens and eggs and squeeze all together so we can shake hands from one bathroom to another! Double Yuk! At one time, the whole area was covered in wheat and had our own flour mills for that. But more people; homes and highways take water and land, so we are not quite as self sufficient was we were raised to appreciate and acknowledge our heritage, history and work ethics. And if have noticed or haven't noticed- we love our hamburgers and steak, as we still produce some high quality beef. But remember to drive with caution up and down Nephi Canyon, as more deer are killed by speeders than hunters. We also have county roads that are "Free Range", which means that the cattle are free to choose where they roam, so please don't kill our industry and cut off our supply of food. And this is the time of year, when all of your little Bulls and Cows are being born, so please help preserve our pioneer heritage, rather than taking a chance from food from one of our enemy countries. Pictured below is one of twins that were born last night. Welcome to Nephi, even if it was 10 degrees, your Mommy will help you make it and so will the rest of us. Come up with good names for the calves and you may win a free steak at Rays Cafe or the Snak Shak!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAYNETTE JONES GRIMARD FOR JAN. 21ST

We are not exactly sure how old or young she is as she has always been our "little sister" for a quite some time. When our Dad took us up to the Juab County Hospital to look through the window at our new baby sister, we were all happy, but befuddled. When us boys got together later, we were trying to figure out how she was going to 'fit in" to playing Cowboys and Indians, as that was a natural thing to do in the Olde Hollow or anywhere we chose to play. And if we didn't have a real Roy Rogers Cap gun, we used a long stick. Well, she fit in and liked that more than dolls. When we got a little older, we gladly accepted our Dads acknowledgement that she was the "best boy of the whole herd" and we found out she really was. She could out shoot and out ride a horse anyday. Not only that, she became the instant caregiver for not only her kids, but all of us big boys who got an itsy teeny bit of scrap on our knees.Thank goodness God granted us a little girl who saved my own life on a couple occasions and always around to help out a neighbor or anybody in need. She has been a lifesaver. And if you see the smile that is always on her face, she has a positive mind and heart and all genuine. And the later portion of this blog shows something I wrote a few years ago on  her birthday. If you , but be careful, as she has that Tolley/Jones wit too. And on the last page, if you can't figure out what the hell I ran over,  call or send a note to our little sis. I will clue her in. And if you know where she lives, take a gander at the Jones family home she restored from the old log house it used to be when built 133 Years ago. And yes she knows how to driver a hammer and hit the square nails too.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE FAMILY OF DON AND BERNICE ROYCE OF NEPHI, IT IS TIME YOU DID.

Don was born in Flint, Michigan to Andrew and Alta Royce. He had only one sister. In the year 1930, Don moved with his parents to California, and it was in  Glendale, California, where he finished his schooling. In his youth, he enjoyed ice skating, bowling, fishing, swimming and music. After high school, he worked 10 years with Lockheed Aircraft Company, then moved to Utah, where he spent 3 years farming on the Chase Ranch, south of Levan. Then Don moved to Nephi, where he became employed at the Thermoid Rubber Co. and I seem to remember he was in the Production and Planning Department and there for about 25 years, and if you worked anywhere at Thermoid like my family did, it was a tough job and with no retirement or benefits. He then retired from there, but not tired enough to become a couch potato! During his work years and after retirement, he kept busy with the LDS Church, being Dance Director, Ward Chorister, Organist, Elders Quorum secretary, Extraction  program, and last but worst of all, he was the Scoutmaster for me and three brothers from hell, and "Mr. Royce" was a great one, exploring nearby glory holes; Scout Camp and pushing us troubled kids to... almost goodness, one of which became a Scoutmaster and another an Eagle Scout. He loved kids and the Nephi area, and made an honest Nephi Council Member, then a great Juab County Commissioner. Wife Bernice kept busy as a Bee. She was born in Manti, to Byron and Jane Barton. The family later moved to Burbank, California, where Bernice finished her schooling. As a young girl, she enjoyed roller skating, bike riding and dancing. Before her marriage, Bernice worked as a waitress in a drug store, in a bakery, then upon arrival to Nephi, she became Supervisor of the Juab County Hospital kitchen. In the LDS Church, she gave her time to be an Extraction worker, along with Don; Dance Director: Librarian, but if you had asked, her greatest pleasure, was her service to her husband and children. And to us Boy Scouts, we knew we could count on her and neighbor-Mrs. Max Bowles to bake a cake whenever we were fetching donations for Troop 134. Both Don and Bernice kept busy, but both of them like "surfing" on  the dance floor while in California and it was probably during a slow dance that Don popped the question. She didn't hesitate for the next song and they were hitched. Along came four kiddos including Jean, who graduated from Juab High School; worked as a secretary for the Sta

te Legislature; at First Security Bank; then as a Teachers Aide at Juab High. She married Lee Fowkes and I think four kids popped up. Then came Robert, who I only remember as one of the stars of our Basketball Team when Basket ball at Juab High was the only real sport around. I may be wrong, but seemed like he moved to Salt Lake; married Patricia Webster and for some reason, think he worked at a Rubber Company then had his own gas station, but I could have too much gas in my brain to recall. Along came a good friend of our family, and that was Mike. He did two tours of duty in Viet Nam, then worked as a pilot for the the state of Utah, and I can confirm that, as he took me on a hell of ride to pick up a fugitive in another state. I wasn't sure who had "an accident" during the flight home, as it scared the dickens out of me as well as the bad guy. He married one of Levan's beauty-Carolyn Stephenson, and she  has now learned how to put up with Mike's Shandiagans. And yup, Mike is the father of his son, who also became a Trooper, but be careful, as Todd is now the Big shot over Fish and Game and knows how to fly a hand held mini helicopter over ponds and fishing holes! Youngest son is Dale, and now retired from security work at the local hospital, although had worked in construction and road equipment. He served an LDS Mission and was in the Bishopric and father of 4 kids, with enormous help from wife-Gay Andreason,  Now don't you all feel better. You got to know the Royce family, a great Juab County family to know.

HAPPY HEAVENILY BRITHDAY JUSTIN WM. JONES

44 Years ago today, Justin Wm. Jones made me one of the most happy fathers ever. Although he has been gone from this earth for a few years, I still feel his presence and influence of protection. I am grateful for you and the proud things you stood for while on earth. You helped the poor; always willing to play sports with the kids that nobody wanted to supervise and your love of life. Sometimes, Depression gets to all of us as it did for you, but nobody felt it as much as you did. Other people make money believing that substance abuse is the major problem, but we both know that it's only a secondary source for the pains of depression. Thanks to you, you were a great source of inspiration to many folks on earth, and know that you and God have greater things to accomplish on the other side of that rainbow of hope. I seldom visit your headstone, as I know you are not really there. We miss you greatly, but we know you are a valiant kid, as always. 35-1 is 10-4.

Love Dad

THREE HISTORY STORIES-ALL FOR THE PRICE OF ZERO

Yup, we will start of the new year with 3 separate stories. First one is from an article of the Oct. 5, 1967 The Times News of Juab County, saved by my mother, as I recognize her writing. In those days, the Juab County 4-H was a big thing for all kids to participate in, and their were a heck of a lot of people and pins given out. If you are from these parts, you will undoubtedly recognize a name or two. The second article appears to be from the same local paper, and even today "The Times News" is the only paper or news I read, as I have always suspected that other papers and toxic TV have their own motives, other than what Sgt. Joe Friday said on "Dragnet" saying "just the facts ma'am"! I am assuming it was published about a 100 years ago, as it shows the talks given by the various teachers and Administrator's over the LDS Seminary graduates of Juab Stake, when they gathered at the old Tabernacle and graduates marched a couple blocks north to the Nephi High School(now called the County Complex). Again, if your family members were around back then, your may recognize a few names, and as I am an oldie, I sure do. The third historical artifact is a puzzle. It is a match book cover from the Wm. Len Hotel in the town of Vicksburg, of Civil War fame. I am not that computer savvy, but the President of that hotel was "Mrs. H. Grady Manning", but couldn't figure out how to find the right info. about her. I do believe however, that it was brought home to Nephi, Utah by a family member who stayed there during World War Two Era, simply because of the pencil handwriting on the back side. So, I am beckoned to start my evening wood stove to warm my cottage and well....just speculate about what it all means. Often times, those sort of  thoughts are more entertaining than the real truth. I have spent time in Vicksburg but not at this hotel build in 1930 and built similar to Hotel Utah or the Newhouse hotel of the City of Salt, up north. It is worth 40 bucks on the Internet, but think it is better to burn baby burn.