mink creek news January 18, 2012

Interest in a community skiing night was revived and residents responded enthusiastically.   The Preston 4^th Ward skiers combined with those from Mink Creek and a wonderful night on the slopes of Beaver Mountain was enjoyed.  All ages participated, some were beginners, other veterans of the sport.  The lodge was filled with spectators and supporters.  Good food was available to keep the energy levels up and add to the social atmosphere.  For five hours the mountainside was filled with sounds of fun and laughter.  Even in this year of thin snow there was sufficient and plans are already being scheduled for a outing  during next year’s winter.

Dylan Larsen came over from Oxford, ID, where he lives with his mother, Beth. He spent some time with his dad, Craig Larsen and his wife, Elaine.  Their home on Birch Creek was glad to see this young man.

Keenan Janke is the newest member of the Mink Creek LDS Ward.  He is the son of Laural and Jody Janke and  was baptized and confirmed this month.  Family and friends gathered for this event in Keenan’s young life.  His grandparents are Bob and Claudia Erickson of Mink Creek.  Carla and Mark Nielsen and their sons of American Fork, UT and Danalee and Gene Abernethy and daughter, Mikell, of Alpine, UT, drove up for the occasion.

We are saddened to report the death of Merlin McKay.  He and his wife, Opal, spent many years raising his sons on the McKay farm up Bear Creek Road.  Opal passed away following lingering illness in December of 2010.  Their sons still live here, Paul and Terrie McKay and family up Station Creek, and Lin and Sharla  McKay and their children further up on Bear Creek.

Since this end of the news is no longer part of the Preston Citizen newspaper I will likely approach things from a more personal view with observations, comments, and such.  Please let me know through a comment on the blog your feelings about this, after all you are my “audience” and I hope to cover things in a way that meets with your approval.

Our Cub Scouts had a fun Pack Meeting this month, as usual.  The Bear Den put on a great magic show.  Their new leaders are Ivan and Lana McCracken.  The Pack did some “rabbit relay” games that turned out to be hilarious.  Most of the families of the Cubs attend this meeting and make up a fine cheering squad for the scouts.  Our current Cubmaster (what is the title for a woman leading Cubs?) is Dawnell Greene, a lady with great ideas for active boys.

A ride up Strawberry Canyon over to the Bear Lake area is on dry roads.  The snow up there is pretty scant.   Snowmobile diehards are still making use of what little there is.  The snow plows clearing off the parking lot at Copenhagen have to work pretty hard pushing snow from various directions to build a decent pile of snow.   The State plows have made a few early morning trips headed that up the canyon, but not many.  I did notice a sander truck out one morning recently. Montpelier might have a little more snow than we do over on this side of the summit, but not by much.  A weird year weatherwise, and a bit frightening for the future months.