At 12 noon we drove the 12 miles over to Carthage, east of the river in Illinois. On our arrival at the Carthage Jail and Visitor's Information Center maintained by the Church we were pleased meet a couple from Mesa who were also traveling: Gary and Janet Tipton. We learned that their son Wesley Scott (Wes) Tipton was the Tempe police officer so greviously wounded in a gun battle some 8 years ago. He suffered 7 bullet wounds at point blank range. You may recall how, despite his severe injury he was able to return fire on his attacker and prevent a further assault upon a woman in the Tempe shopping center parking lot where the confrontation took place. We remembered knowing about this shooting at the time of its occurance. It was quite compelling to stand there at this sacred site of the maryterdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum and listen to brother and sister Tipton tell about the miracle of their son's survival and that he is in good health and doing well. Wes Tipton is, in fact, in Show Low, Arizona. He is a Real Estate agent. In fact he and his wife and family live in Linden! Interesting, uh?

This is the walkway leading from the visitor parking area to the Carthage Jail and Visitor's Center. You can see the bronze statue of Joseph and Hyrum. There has been much of improvement and beautification of the property since we were here some 24 years ago.