Jan 30, 2013

We are getting plenty of soupy London Fog.  One good thing about fog is that the decreased visibility causes traffic to slow down a little.  ‘Tis the season of rocks-coming-at-the-windshield any time you are on the road and increased speed makes for a stronger impact.

The LDS Ward held its annual Ward Conference on Jan 20^th.  Leaders of the Preston North Stake were in attendance, all three of the presidency, President Dax Keller and his counselors, Richard Swainston and Blaine Rounds.  All of the stake auxiliary organizations were well represented and these members instructed local membership in their particular callings.

MaKenzie Gunter, daughter of Eldon and Danita Wilcox, is presently enrolled at ISU in Pocatello.   While at Preston High this young lady excelled in several athletic pursuits.  She is now participating in track at ISU in the pentathlon event. This is a new one for MaKenzie as she does the shot put, hurdles, the high jump, long jump and the 800 meter race. In a recent competition she qualified for the Conference Championship in the high jump.

Beverly Bruderer took the long drive to Dickinson, ND, and back. Her husband, Doug, is employed there in the oil fields.  She reported that temperatures up there were similar to our locality, just plain cold, but that the prices of most ordinary items were sky high.  An example given was a gallon of milk for $4.50.

Betty Jensen Corbett passed away.  She grew up here, married and moved to Preston.  Her son Shane and Sherrie Corbett and children live here in the Albert Jensen home.  It was good seeing Betty’s daughter, Jackie, and  Jensen cousins that are now living in Utah:  Mark lives in Roy, Zina in Lehi, Joyce in Smithfield, Craig, here in Preston, and Clifford.  Cliff is the only one still in Mink Creek from that side of the family.

Moonlight nights seem to bring on owl talk. When the nights are bright the Mink Creek owls get in a conversational mood.  This isn’t just a winter happening, they gab during the warmer months as well.  Things are so beautiful right now, covered with sparkling snow that I am sure that is the topic of their discussions.

We have been dealing with the results of snow storms this week.  It has gone from rain turning into ice, to lots and lots of snow.  The county plows have shown up a bit late and that makes all glad to have equipment of our own to ge us in and out.  Two mornings so far this week and the school bus was late by more than an hour the first morning, then early the next day.  Of course buses have a right to difficulties on snowy morning, slick roads and big snowbanks don’t help anyone.

There has also been another funeral since the last news deadline.  Kristine Christensen passed away, that will be covered in next week’s column.