The local paper out of Brigham City is printed and then delivered on Wednesday each week and of course it’s a delight to read.  Small town news is the best.  There is certainly the ugly stuff that goes without saying like someone lost a bike or someone else was picked up for public intoxication or even worse sometimes.

But then there is the good stuff about the local communities that make up the county of Box Elder.  Promontory news, Willard happenings, Perry news, Corinne stuff and Honeyville things.  I love to read about all the goings on in those towns.

How the local folks went to visit with each other or even took the ride into town to have a bite at a favorite restaurant or pizza place.  How Mable and Harry made the trip to Wendover or Gertrude finished her latest painting.  And best of all to know that all the cows got rounded up off the summer ranges and are now safe at home.

THAT my friends is true down home news.

The absolutely dedicated writers of those small town news happenings should get paid more than they do (volunteers).  It would not be easy to find out what would be interesting for people to read about their towns.  They make a ton of phone calls, visit folks, go to town meetings etc. etc.  Not a job I would want.

Last Wednesday, as I was shuffling from page to page and reading all this good stuff low and behold there is an article about a barbershop I love to go into to get my hair cut a couple times a year (and I’m do right now).  Wyatt’s Barber Shop.  The headline read “Brigham City’s Last Bastion of Manliness” by Mike Nelson.  A great story Mike!  Thanks!

But what really caught my eye was a small picture in the article of a man’s hair being cut by the owner Ralph Wyatt.  I took a double take on the man sitting in the chair.  Looks familiar…a scruffy white beard, balding head, all serious looking.  And of course having been in that chair myself, he was holding very, very still so that Ralph didn’t make a mistake on the hair cut and have to cut more than he wanted off the sides, cuz their ain’t much to be cutting off in the first place.

Here is a picture of that picture.

Well, I’ll be!  I said to myself!  That there is my friend Magpie sitting there!  Says he has been having his hair cut at this place for over 10 years!  I had no idea!

Sure enough it is Magpie, even says so under the picture…”Ralph trims Doug Eames…”  We all know Doug Eames real name is “Magpie”.

And now I know what the window sticker on my car means.

Wyatt’s BS!  Right there on top.  I always thought it meant Wyatt’s Barber Shop, but since Magpie frequents the place the BS must stand for something else.

It’s still a great place to go visit and learn what is going on in and around town.  Most of what you hear there can’t be printed and so the newspaper guys don’t go in there to get their news.  They might go in there for a hair cut, but they leave their paper and pencils in the car.

Drop in there sometime and give them a try.  They actually do a pretty good haircut.  Their number is listed on that sticker, but I don’t think anyone ever calls them, they just drop in.  Where are they located?

Oh, ya, on 7th South just a part of a block East of  Main street there in Brigham, North side of the road.

Bears Butt

Oct. 12, 2012