Last one for August, 2013

The community had a closing social at the ballpark.  A favored activity, the water slide down tarps on the southwestern hill, was in full operation.  The kids paused to eat, but kept at it till nearly dark.  There was a feeling of summer folding up for the year as grownups visited in the pavilion.  Food?  Of course there was food, hamburgers, hot dogs and the appropriate condiments, potato chips, punch and cookies.  Clare and Linda Christensen did most of the cooking, including the whole wheat cookies.

Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson spoke in the LDS services. They have spent the last eighteen months serving a mission, living in Hull, on the northeast coast of England. Their family gathered in great numbers:  Olson siblings, Stocks siblings, and Olson children and grandchildren.  That the welcome mat was rolled out was very evident. 

            Austin Corbett, son of Shane and Sherrie Corbett, was ordained to the office of deacon.

His grandparents,   Sherrie’s parents, Craig and Vicki  Golightly of Preston were here to witness the event.

Todd and Julie Kunz and their children spent a weekend with her parents, Karen and Layne Erickson.  They live in Idaho Falls, where Todd is an anchorman for KIDKTV.

Another new family has moved into Mink Creek.  Thomas and Donna Nichols are living at the point of the upper intersection with Highway 36.  The home belongs to Lynn and Cathy Mason, who now live in Wellsville, UT.  The Nicols family has lived in Franklin previously.

It will be nice having them here, closer to their daughter, Shoni Henderson, and her family.

A group of men took on the towering Tetons in Wyoming recently.  It was a short, exhausting trip, hiking all one night and into the next day., no easy jaunt.  Paul McKay was the only one from Mink Creek, his companions were Tom Lucia, Tony Hale and Lewis Palmer.

            The Easter Idaho State Fair gets started over Labor Day weekend in Blackfoot.  Anyone in our community who qualified to show at the fair have been busy getting things ready, including themselves if their presence is required.  One more little bit of excitement.

             We have had a heavy rain storm this past week, sufficient to put the last crop of hay harvest on hold, at whatever stage it might have been when the moisture fell.  It has been so very dry, it was all welcome.

            Families have reported that the last two of Mink Creek Ward’s LDS missionaries have reached their field of labor.  Elder Spencer Wilde is in Williston, ND and Sister Tiffany Longhurst has barely gotten to California, the Anaheim area, and is awaiting her assignment.

August 21, 2013

Amateur astronomers, friends of Connie Erickson, gathered for a late night of viewing the August meteor showers from the lawn of her parents, Karen and Layne Erickson.  Since the group lives in Logan they needed the absence of city lights, a spot filled with starry skies.

Clifford and LaDawn Jensen had a round of family visits.  Jeremy and Heidi Jensen, plus their  four children come over from McCammon, ID. Kristina Gore and her three youngsters flew in from Arlington, VA and were able to spend some good vacation time in Mink Creek

            Karen and Mark Arnout  have had children visiting off and on over the summer.  Most recently Travis and Amber Armout and their little family came from Utah.

            Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen’s home has been filled with fun when their daughter Jill and her children arrived from Canada.  At this home there are always games and activities to enjoy.

A new family has moved into the home formerly occupied by John and Sandi Cude.

Patty Barnett and her two sons came up from Logan two months ago.  Austin is eleven, Brent is eight.  Welcome to Mink Creek!

A drift down the Colorado River sound like a fun idea!  Steve and Terrie Mainini  signed up for the Colorado Wooden Boat Float, took their boat (built by Steve a few years ago), and headed for Kremmling, CO.  Their guide gave good instructions and it turned out to be an adventure they want to repeat.  This time they floated the upper half of the Colorado River, some drifting, some rapids and narrows involved.  The area is just below the Rocky Mountain National Park.

A dust storm moved through our little village, right up the main highway.  This was no average whirlwind, it broke off tree limbs, sent garbage cans rolling and somehow extracted a sizey section of dead wood from a large, living tree in the ballpark and pulled it out, leaving the tree intact. 

Jim and Debbie Harrison were up from their place in St. George.  Our hot temperatures in Mink Creek are cooler temperatures than southern Utah.

We have had our share of wrecks on Highway 36 lately.  In the last ten days the whine of the sirens has put us all on alert.  Each time there has been at least three responds:  the police, the ambulance, and the fire truck. Generally there is a phone call prior to these to bring them here to assist. There has been no local reports with more details, but just hearing the sirens always reminds me that having serious problems, of one sort or another,  is a frequent occurrence.

The County Fair is all wrapped up.  There were several different projects underway from Mink Creek with the youth.  We had a sheep club, others with horses, some sewing, some cooking.  I noticed some art and quilt exhibits from the more mature participants.  Maybe I missed some, but it always is a pleasure to see the community’s involvement in this annual event.

August 14, 2013

The month of August is upon us, along with grain harvests, fair time and school.  There are lots of preparations for all of these things going on in our community.  That feeling of any relaxation that goes with summer months is rapidly dissipating since the flip of the calendar to this month.

Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson have recently returned from serving eighteen months in the England, Leeds, Mission.   They have been residing in the city of Hull near the North Sea.  Son Mike Olson picked them up at the SLC Airport.  Their daughter Peggy and Jon Flinders and three little, blond, Olson granddaughters came down from Salmon, ID, to help warm up the empty Olson home on Station Creek.

The Mink Creek Ward received a new member when Jonathan Seamons, son of Jennifer and Jeff Seamons was baptized.   Andy McKay, son of Paul and Terrie McKay, was ordained to the office of teacher.  Andy also receiver his Duty to God award from his service as a deacon.

Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen have been submerged in family.  Annie and Steve Earl and their family spent some vacation time away from their home in San Jose, CA.  Joe and Kate Jepsen made a trip up from Utah, getting in a few free moments before the school year begins.

Two family reunions were wrapped into one when Tiffany Longhurst spoke in the LDS Ward.  The Longhurst group moved their reunion date and the Craythorn Family from the Burley area, who had planned to be at Island Park, gathered for the same purpose, both at the Erickson pond and park in Mink Creek.

The Relief Society held a closing social for the summer at our community ballpark.  The members, with husbands, enjoyed a meal of Navajo tacos with all the trimmings, slices of watermelon and punch.  Dessert was a scone dripping in butter and honey.  Entertainment was provided by participation in a variety of Minute to Win-It efforts.

 Wild fires are raging in the mountains to the south of us.  These particular ones are across our state border in Utah and some have been going on for days.  Just one year ago we had fires popping up much closer and we understand the tension that accompanies the situation. During a dry year, such as now, that concern is constant.

 Last summer a considerable size of acreage between Mink Creek and Preston went up in flames.  The view afterwards  was stark blackened hills, skeletons of brush and trees pointing skyward, scattered here and there.   It has been rewarding to see the greening return this spring.  Even some of those stark tree forms have sprouted green leaves in the tops, above the reach of the flames, showing how hard it can be to quench life.  It has been a message of encouragement for me.

August 7, 2013

Howard and Colleen Hawkes of Kaysville, UT, Dean Pearson  and his family from Cedar City, UT, some of Carmen Pearson’s family, and other members of the Perry Pearson family have been up to the Pearson farm.  145  relatives were at this gathering.  Four came from Sweden!  Through genealogy pursuits, the Pearsons are discovering more and more family members still living in Sweden.  Due to recent surgery, Rebecca, Dean’s wife, was unable to attend.  Some took the opportunity to dine at Deer Cliff Inn, showing more of our countryside to the Swedish group.

Hestin Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene, married Tristin Thomas from Preston on July 26^th.   Following the ceremony there was a reception at the Mink Creek LDS Ward.

Haylee Hatch, daughter of Sam and Katie Hatch was recognized in the LDS Ward, entering the Laurel class in the Young Women organization.

Bob and Claudia Erickson have had family making summer visits.  Jay and Kristin Collins and children drove down from Lakeview, OR.   Carla Nielsen and boys of American Fork, UT, joined in the week of fun.  Lots of swimming at the farm pond, shopping, the rodeo and cookouts galore.

Lana and Ivan McCracken had a dream come true.  They are antique enthusiasts and were able to be participants in the Antique Road Show television program when it was in Boise.  They met the master of ceremonies, Mark Walberg, and were able to have several item appraised: a painting, a Navaho rug, a stein and a bracelet.  It was such fun for them!  The broadcast date will be in January, 2014.

Mink Creek Ward has two young people leaving shortly to serve LDS missions.  Both spoke recently in a Sunday meeting.  Tiffany Longhurst, daughter of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst will be serving in the California, Anaheim, Mission.  Spencer Wilde, son of David and Judy Wilde, will be serving in the South Dakota, Rapid City, Mission.  By mid-August both will be at the MTC in Provo, UT.   

Daniel and Heather Baird and family came from Rexburg, ID to spend a few days with his mother, Lana and Ivan McCracken.

Weather is still hot and dry and it makes for long days in field work for those who have farms.  Barley fields are ready for the combine, the wheat crop still with a little time to go.  The yellow transparent apples are starting to fall from the tree.  Must be apple jelly time in Mink Creek.

We are happy to have Robbie Greene home from the hospital following his injuries in a car accident a couple of weeks ago.  From the description of the rollover it is probably good that he doesn’t remember anything about it.  For now he is in rest and recuperation.