It takes a special kind of person to get into a Mixed Martial Arts ring. To willingly take a powerful punch to the face that can cause a concussion, black eyes, bloody nose or a knockout, makes for an arena where only the toughest of the tough need apply. Bobby King Bobby King is one of these tough fighters. He attributes his toughness to growing up with older brothers. “We … [Read more...]
Human remains—Native Americans, naked Mormons, or friends of dinosaurs?
Human remains are rock shop owner’s claim to fame Lin Ottinger is famous in the small town of Moab. Since 1960, he has owned and operated Lin Ottinger’s Rock Shop. The Moab Rock Shop is a combination store and museum can at once be seen as an authentic dedication to a love of geology and paleontology, and a tourists love it. Lin has an odd sense of humor, with some of … [Read more...]
A Labor of Love: Arborist Christopher Little cares about trees
Arborist gives urban trees a trim Christopher Little makes his living climbing trees. Kids might dream of growing up and having a job that includes tree climbing, but Little made it a reality. Little is an arborist. “An arborist is someone who works with trees in an urban setting. As opposed to a forester, an arborist works on trees at homes and properties removing … [Read more...]
Restoring the past, preserving a legacy—The Richard W. Erickson Foundation Museum
Passion for acquiring leads to eclectic collection Wallsburg, Utah—On a tip from Utah antique picker Matt Binyon of American Rust Company, I visited what he described as “one of the most amazing ranches/museums I’ve ever seen.”, Richard Erickson's 300-acre ranch in Wallsburg, Utah. I don’t know Matt as someone who uses hyperbole or conjecture, but he has seen a lot of cool … [Read more...]
Napoleon Dynamite Editor and Producer Jeremy Coon Visits The Utah Stories Show
Napoleon Dynamite was made for just $400,000. It grossed $40 million at the box office. But Napoleon wasn’t just a cult-classic comedy, it was a completely new style of humor never-before-seen in Hollywood: rural, small-town nerds trying to find their way in their odd world. How was Napoleon Dynamite made? How did it come out of BYU? How did it get widespread distribution … [Read more...]
Misfits Diversify Provo With Fine Art Studios and Community Events
A gang of artists, armed with heart and gall and tools from Harbor Freight, threatens to diversify Provo, Utah, with fine art, coffee, haircuts, tattoos, and community events. They’ve taken over the tired midcentury building located at 156 West 500 South and have turned it into a parlor of sorts, a source of golden light and galas and monthly drawing sessions with nude models. … [Read more...]
Uncovering the Mystery of Utah’s Oldest Person
July, 1963: America is uneasy. As American schoolchildren are enjoying the hot summer, the country as a whole is reeling from the effects of the Cold War. The Cuban Missile Crisis is a recent memory. In four months, the President will be dead. In this time of uncertainty, the oldest person in the world was largely dissociated with what was happening. This supercentenarian … [Read more...]
Inside Heroin Addiction and Homelessness in Salt Lake City
If a lighthouse were planted on Lookout Peak above Salt Lake City, you could trace the lambency of its beacon in a southwestern direction down the mountainside, across the polished spires of the Mormon temple, through the glass façade of Vivint Arena, and finally into the Block, where the light would disperse and settle like falling snow. The Block is the gathering place for … [Read more...]
Young Living Farms Wacky Somalian Adventures
Sultan Yusuf Ahmed Salah of Somalia recently posted a YouTube video in which he claims that Young Essential Oils Founder Gary Young visited Somalia to test resins from their rare Frankincense trees and write about his journey. According to Salah, Young promised to provide charitable donations to establish health clinics and money to train teachers. Young Living Farms’ legal … [Read more...]
Quitting Her Day Job: One Utah Artist’s Journey
Eighteen months ago Heather Ackley was working for Franklin Covey doing design work. In May of this year she had her first solo art exhibit at Mod a-go-go. From one point to the next how are dreams fulfilled? For Heather, it happened when a friend commissioned a portrait of her dogs. Heather’s first inclination was to do a drawing of the dogs, but the friend suggested she … [Read more...]