This discussion is Beehive CEO's - monthly column as found on the last page of Americas Network magazine. They have been printing his letters for nearly 20 years. This column will remain posted till he writes the next one. The Last Word..                                                February 2001 Clueless in Utah. My daughter Anastasia 11, was leafing through an issue of Americas Network, and said that she couldn't find my story. Watching her, I pointed out that it was because she was left handed. My stories are for right handed people?.cause right handed always start at the back of the book and flip to the front! Oh! More about Capt. Clay Bud's first mission was what he calls his tour of the Rhur Valley. Irrespective of his background as an instructor of B-17 Bomber pilots, his first combat mission on November 5, 1943 was flying the tail end Charlie position in a flight of 21 Fortress bombers. Hitler had recalled all Luftwaffe fighters from Russia and elsewhere to defend Germany from the pounding our Bombers were handing out. Seven planes turned back for various reasons. Fourteen made it through heavy flak (with some damage and casualties) and 25 German fighters. Bud's co-pilot was not his regular. The tail end aircraft generally had a very difficult time holding position as planes ahead went up - or down - then faster - or slower. Following aircraft had an extremely difficult time to hold formation on such uneven lead aircraft. Bud's assigned co-pilot could not hold his position for more than one minute. To keep from being a straggler - thus easier to get shot down - Bud flew the entire 7 hour mission. Tired - hardly the word. The flight did destroy four of the German fighters with one probable and 3 damaged. On landing, Bud's right wing had so many bullet holes they had to replace the entire wing. As an aside, more P-51 fighters were pouring into theatre and by early spring of 1944 had pretty much defeated the Luftwaffe. The Wind Mill I while back, I mentioned details about solar panels and telemetry built to monitor a mountain top microwave site. After a larger solar panel was added last year, surplus amps became available from a marine wind mill formally used to top off batteries. Two amps at 15 mph, and 8 when the wind is over 25. We modified a tiny 150 watt mini heater truckers like. It consists of three negative temperature coefficient ceramic cubes in a tiny aluminum box. Resistance is 6 ohms cold, and drops to 1.5 when the volts stuff max amps in. A miniature ball bearing muffin fan was placed on top to blow air though the hot cubes. Thermostat control. Therefore winter wind outside keeps cold away. Happy battery. Lasts long(er) time. What's that? The United States Bureau of Land Management (that owns most Western Land) has published a regulation saying Cell phones and GPS units are legal to carry (and use) in wilderness areas! Again, there are two kinds of people. Those who believe everything is prohibited except that which is permitted - and those who believe everything is permitted except that which is prohibited. Which are you? Your friends? Really?? Birthday I am happy to report that I turned 70. A nice party was held in the Alta Club in Salt Lake City. About 70 souls came. Good food. I was told I could not come unless I wore a suit and looked spiffy. Yeah - right. All three of our Public Service Commissioners came by as did some staff - whom sometimes I think wonder how long they've got to put up with me and my Beehive Telephone Company. I'm planning on it being awhile. However, key employees have been getting stock and Chuck McCown has taken over as General Manager. Often they do ask me about plant or when I get on them with instructions on how to find and fix a specific problem that these kids don't have the answers to - yet. I sort of backed into the telephone business. In 1963, I was making a living as a manufactures representative. I specialized in communications and related electronics such as TV for remote areas. In 1963, I got talked into filing for State telephone authority for remote areas of Utah and Nevada. Areas passed over by Ma Bell. The Utah PSC said OK. REA wanted me to get the adjacent Nevada area so they could fund the project. Ma Bell defeated the Nevada application. Using recycled stuff mostly free if I hauled it off, I built a 30 mile toll line and cut over Beehive's first exchange on January 6, 1966. One thing led to another, and now I've got 20 remote exchanges with a plus 7 mil book value. None of it would have been possible without the help of countless individuals who encouraged and helped me in one way or another. To all of you - my grateful thanks. And, I have always enjoyed the access Bob and Ray provided me - to tell you stories each month for the past 21 years. When Art Brothers isn't impeding traffic flow in the desert, he operates Beehive Telephone Co. (Wendover, Utah) Copyright 2000 by A. W. Brothers and Americas Network magazine. All rights reserved. © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Beehive Telephone Co.