OCR Text |
Show vstniuMM , , , "Reflections" ' " I I J I I II N" IIK.IIH llll II i X ' V 1 i business. It is difficult for one to understand the complexities and demands of running one local newspaper, let alone three of them. I hand it to my cousin for persisting as long as he did. The Provo Daily Herald purchased the three newspapers from Cousin Brett with a promise they would continue the local news. Later they purchased other local newspapers in the county. One by one they discontinued these local papers with the promise their daily newspaper would cover local events. They certainly did a much better job covering local news than did the Deseret News or the Salt Lake Tribune, which my wife's ancestors helped found, but it was just not the same. So when Calvin Walker and his family decided to start up a local newspaper, I became a cheerleader and then a supporter. I evolved over the years from reading the Pleasant Grove Review to professional journals, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Each paper and information source had its place and there was certainly a need for more local news! It was no surprise to me that the Walker family stepped up to fill that void. The Walker family has been doing great things in this community since its earliest days. My journey in life has taken me to many places doing many things. At periods of time most of my energy has been focused elsewhere but we decided early on to make Pleasant Grove our home. We believed that parents should give their children roots and wings. We wanted our children rooted in good soil. We wanted them raised where they knew their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. As I write this article, my sister Carolyn is celebrating her 60th birthday in Virginia. I watched her grow up and establish roots right here in this wonderful community. Sure, I know we don't have that focuses primarily on this community. I grew up reading the Pleasant Grove Review. I can still remember going to the newspaper office when Abe Gibson and Jack Pace were working together. In those early days, the type was set by hand. Week after week, year in and year out, these good people met press deadlines to provide this community with news about us. What wonderful memories. A new generation of people purchased the paper. My cousin Brett Bezzant purchased the Pleasant Grove Review. He also purchased the Lehi Free Press and the American Fork Citizen. Brett carried on the tradition of providing local news to these communities for many years. Abe Gibson was a true pioneer in the local newspaper business. Brett was also honored by his peers as one of the best in the the best roads in all the world and there is lots of room for improvement in many areas, but in what really matters, one would be hard pressed to find a better place to live than Pleasant Grove. My dear sister has known much of success, as the world measures success, but the foundation was established right here. I could cite such worldly successes over and over and I have during the last 99 articles. More importantly we should never forget, we must never forget true greatness is not measured by worldly accomplishments. Most often those accomplishments are built on the true foundation of greatness and that is goodness. Asked why America was so great, the response was crystal clear. America is great because America is so good. Goodness (righteousness) exalteth a nation (Proverbs 14:34). It also lifts people. This writerauthor intends to celebrate the goodness and hence the greatness of this wonderful community. From where I sit the future looks awfully good because there is so much good in all of you. God bless you for being so good and making this community such a great place to live in! by Mark Bezzant Today marks the 100th column I have written for the Timpanogos Times. I got thinking about it when I was writing the 99th column last week. I celebrate the efforts of Calvin Walker and his family to provide this community with a newspaper |