Sept 25, 2013

Our fall weather is starting off like a bouncing ball, up, down, up, down.  We have had a good share of rain with gloomy skies lasting all day.  After a summer of drought conditions we are now getting a drenching.   Harvesting that last crop of hay is a pure gamble.  It is hard to trust a sunny day.  As this is written some fields are full of soggy, brown hay.

There was a good representation of both Riverdale and Mink Creek residents recently at the funeral of Relda McGregor in Niter/Thatcher, ID.  Relda  Ane Smith was born and raised in Riverdale, ID, then married Bob McGregor of Thatcher who had several relatives living in Mink Creek.  With the passage of many years there were quite a few additions to those Smith and McGregor lines.

Macy and McKenna Jepsen, daughters of Kerry and Malinda Jepsen,  have been both excited and nervous about their plans for a trip abroad.  Now they are in Italy for three months of study and fun.  One very nice thing about this is that they have each other for support.

The Mink Creek LDS Ward was invited to view the Preston North Stake Conference at the Riverdale Church.  These two communities have been strongly connected since their founding years in the late 1800’s.

With a chill coming in with the weather change people are more conscious of the need to get their winter’s supply of firewood.  Our forested canyons are beginning to be filled with the sound of chainsaws in action.  Some families make getting wood a planned outing, complete with picnic and games.

            Quite a few kids from Mink Creek are involved in the Preston Recreation Program’s soccer season.    Between school, practices, and games they keep pretty busy.  There are Mink Creek players on three different teams, mixed with  other players from across the county.  There are also three Mink Creek men who volunteer to coach in the soccer league.  They are Kerry Jepsen, Jody Janke, and Kurt Iverson.

            The Lewis and Clark Volunteers, a mountain man group active in southeastern Idaho, met again at a favorite camping spot.  This is located on the banks of Mink Creek on the farm of Vernon and Sallee Keller.   The change in the seasons will soon have them heading indoors, planning the next rendezvous.