Ever had one of those nights when a million things are running through your head, and you just had to get up and write things down? Well, its 2am in Twin Falls Idaho, and my brain is jumping with things to say, so here we go...
This seems to be the norm, since I moved out here to Idaho in early October, and met Bev and Gary Stone. Bev has named me the "whirling dervish", cause it seems like I am constantly spinning around spouting ideas that come to me as they tell me more of their life story...
These 2 amazing people were "celebrities" of sorts, not just here in the Magic Valley, but throughout Idaho.... and the Pacific Northwest.... and in Washington DC... and even in China!
Did you know that Gary's Mural at the Magic Valley Airport in Twin Falls was featured as the backdrop for the Chinese National Television DAILY broadcasts back in the year 2000?
Yep.... it was, and there is an interesting story behind how that happened.... more later....
And did you know that Bruce Willis and Demi Moore (when they were still together), knew the Stones? and that Bruce owns Soldier Mountain ski resort north of Twin Falls?
And that the Amazing Kreskin (oldtimers will remember him from Johnny Carsons Tonight show) at his show in Jackpot Nevada, said that someone in the audience had "powers" like him, and he picked Bev out of the crowd! She was there to cover his show for the local newspaper, and met him after the show, and according to Gary, they communicated with hardly saying a word to each other.... the Amazing One still sends the Stones a Christmas card each year.
Speaking of Amazing.... someone DID start to write a book about their incredible life adventures over 25 years ago, and spent a couple of weeks with them taking notes, went to Vegas to cover the very 1st World Series of Poker for a periodical, stepped off a curb and got hit by a car and killed! I sure hope that doesnt spell bad Karma for me, as after spending the past 2 months with Bev and Gary, I KNOW that I could write a book!
But life has changed a ton since the early 1990's when they were at the "pinnacle" of their "fame" so to speak, following the publication of their book, "Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail". At that time, Gary's paintings that were the basis for the book, were placed on display in the Senate Rotunda in Washington DC... he was the ONLY LIVING ARTIST to have been given that honor!
Since then, the Internet has taken over as THE means for transmitting information and the Stones "gathered some moss" so to speak, as they never got onto the Information Highway. They did try, and had a website for awhile, but in their words, they "got ripped off" by some "shady characters" who took a lot of their money and ran.
The more I hear about their "affairs" and learn that they have not been paid for much of their work on their Oregon Trail books, the Historical centers they have helped create, and other projects that they have created, the more determined I am to help them!
You dear readers, will be amazed at the things I have discovered about Bev and Gary Stone. They were once called "living treasures" by the Governor and other leaders here in Idaho, because of their wealth of knowledge about the History of the Pioneers who traveled west and settled this wilderness just over 100 years ago. And the things they have found in the Canyon!
Bev and Gary own land in the lower Snake River Canyon, of which Gary is fond of saying, is less known about than the Mayan Culture! After all, it has only been settled for just over 150 years by white man, but there is an incredible history (and artifacts to prove it) that certainly pre dates those settlers.
And that is another story in and of itself, which we are being cautious about telling, as Gary firmly believes that it is his responsibility to protect and preserve the land where the Ancient Americans lived hundreds of years ago, and also where the Chinese mined for gold not that long ago.... all of which we intend to "show the world" at some point... more on that later too!
So, if you have read this far, you still know only the tip of the Stones "iceberg".. if I were a movie producer, I would want to make a movie of their life story; somebody would need to write the screenplay... i could help outline it, but it would still take me months just to do that...
but I will try to convey to you in future stories, the scope of their work as Writers, Artists, Historians, Story tellers, Ranchers, Inventors, Tourism promoters, Guides, Cowboys, Courtroom lawyers, Rights advocates, and just plain good ole' folk!
There is plenty more to tell... they had a 10 year legal battle with Idaho Power over the Canyon, and access rights, etc.... How about the Murder trial where Bev defended her cousin? Gary has inventions he is working on for natural shelters, and wind turbines.... and he continues to win awards for his work on the Veterans Mural at the Airport. And people over in China want to buy his amazing Woodcut art of Western Scenes... he has been cranking out scenes of Wild Horses painted on Saw Blades... it is truly amazing and beautiful artwork!
Please tell your friends about Bev and Gary Stone, and invite them to visit our website (http://www.stonebystoneenterprises.com/) , which will be updated after the Holidays to show more of Gary's Art and also how to find Bev's wonderful and entertaining short stories on Amazon (another project I am working on).....
Until then, thanks for tuning in, and helping me to tell the world (again!) about Bev and Gary Stone and their accomplishments! Your friend... Billy Bob Knopp
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