June 30, 2015

           The Haws family BroMoto ride took place this month. Brothers, plus in-laws and Dad, Karl Haws, spend several days on their bikes, riding Idaho. With three days of riding, they enjoyed 125 miles of back country around here and Soda Springs. At the end of each day a visit to Riverdale Resort soaked off the grime. This years participants were Karl, his sons Aaron, Adam, Kasey and Max, plus Ken Nash and two grandsons, Sam Haws and Nelson Nash. They avoid cooking so Preston food spots are the sources of sustenance during this adventure. Julie Haws, wife of Kasey, enjoyed some Mink Creek down time while the guys were roaring about.

             Tony Mainini graduated from Idaho State University. The son of Steve and Terry Mainini. Tony's area of study was Information Technology Systems. His early hobby has become his source of employment as an IT Specialist for the Pocatello School District.

           RaNae and Doug Mellor were visiting family in Station Creek. She is the sister of Jimmie Olson and Nate Olson. The Mellors live in Meridian, ID.

           Fred and Victoria Christensen spent the weekend with his parents, Lorraine and Royce Christensen. Lorraine has been back east visiting Carrie and Ken Melton and their children in Indiana. While in that location she took the opportunity to visit the Church History sites around, Kirtland, OH.

           Bob and Claudia Erickson had a houseful lately. Two daughters and families came for a summer vacation, filling up empty rooms. Claudine and LaMar McKague, with four children , live in Vancouver, WA. Carla Nielsen plus two sons came up from American Fork, UT, for some cousin time. While here Sam McKague, recently returned from a mission in Brazil, gave a slide show of his time there. Adding the family of Laural and Jody Janke to the audience made up a good sized group.

          The temperatures are more than toasty. 104 was registered a few days past. It makes a person glad for dry weather, just imagine how it would feel with humidity thrown in!

           Mink Creekers and friends are gearing up for our annual July 4^th celebration at the ballpark. It is great that there is lots of shade to offer for visiting time as families return home for the festivities.

           We have a young skunk in our neighborhood who does not follow the usual rules. He(or she) parades through my backyard in the early morning hours, very sure of himself. He is just as likely to show up later in the day on the front side of the house, staying clear of the highway. This makes me a little nervous about being outdoors myself, seeing as how the two of us may have a conflict on just whose place this is! So far I haven't seen this beautiful creature at night, and I always thought that skunks were nocturnal. I am learning to look about before proceeding, day or night, with this little striped teacher.

June 24, 2015

         Kurt and Margret Iverson and several of their children have been gone on a lengthy trip to the United Kingdom. They spent most of their time visiting the area where Margret served as an LDS missionary, near Manchester, England and parts of Wales. It is also great genealogy ground for this family.   Kurt's parents, Johnny and Jeannine Iverson tended the younger children in this absence.

         Lin and Sharla McKay were in Springville, UT, recently for the naming of a grandson, He is the child of Payton and Judith Newby.

         Mink Creek School Reunion brought former schoolmates together to enjoy a June afternoon.  Nate and Dana Olson, who currently live here, organized the event. Lots of pictures of early Mink Creek added interst and some were posted with inquiries as to the identity of the models. Some featured men who were blasting with black powder to begin the canal system that originates in Mink Creek, others featured a horse drawn school “bus.” There were school classe, buildings and vintage cars with proud owners. After a potluck luncheon Glade Larsen announced the answers for the history quiz. Alums of the school donated prizes for a drawing, the most interesting one was a section of the old giant stride from the playground of the past. As the event closed Clare and Linda Christensen were elected to be in charge of next year's gathering.

          Karen Olson Tribett and Nancy Olson Puente drove up from their homes in Payson, UT, to rekindle friendships with this community where they grew up. They are two of the daughters of John and Edith Olson.

         The weeds bordering our main thoroughfare, Highway 36, are very high, often blocking vision at intersections. Be alert for the varieties of critters that may come dashing out from the hedge of weeds as you drive through. Deer, fox, racoons, rabbits, turkeys, and skunks are in abundance, along with our domestic and farm animals that could be hidden in this thick growth.

         Tragedy struck our village a few days ago. Camille Knudson, vibrant and full of fun and life in the morning hours, took a ride on an ATV that afternoon and had a fatal accident. Her obituary is in this weeks paper. She and her husband Jeff moved to Mink Creek several years ago and have been happy to call this home. She will be missed by many because of her caring, kind ways, a smile for all. Even if you were being a stinker in her Primary class you knew Camille loved you. She was that kind of woman.

June 16, 2015

        The highlight of the week was the celebration for Naomi Wilde's 100^th birthday. Her sons, Ross, Van, and Dean and families made it a gala affair at the Mink Creek Ballpark. Weather cooperated and the turnout was wonderful. The parking lot overflowed into the adjoining roads, the pavilion was jumping with people remembering special moments from associations with this good lady. Refreshments were plentiful and two huge birthday cakes needed no candles.

         The Relief Society started the summer monthly meeting with one of genealogical flavor. Tammy Coleman directed the evening, giving possible internet sites to use in the ongoing search. Each woman who attended brought an ancestral story to share . All sorts of things were revealed and left some motivation for the writing of their own life stories. A tasting table of the ladies' heritage recipes helped to illustrate how even food is passed on from ancestors.

         Two young ladies received their Young Women Medallion in the LDS Ward recently. Wendy Westerberg reported that her major project was helping her mother, Arda Smith of Riverdale, to compile a book about their family history, complete with pictures. Claire Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, met the challenge of completing the reading of the Book of Mormon.

         A beautiful baby girl, daughter of Vern and Tiesha Britton, was given a name and a blessing in the LDS Ward. She was named Adriana June Britton.

         Local farmers are in the middle of harvesting first crop of hay. Fields are full of stripes laid down by the swathers, now waiting to dry before baling begins. Farmers are keeping a constant watch on forecasts from weathermen. Weevil has infiltrated the crops and cotton flying through the air is thick enough this year to plug up machine action , prompting frequently cleaning.

         Paul and Terrie McKay and family have been down in southern Utah, again. One of their favorite family activities is hiking those sandstone trails and rappelling down the canyon walls. No matter how often they vacation in that area there are always challenges to be met, and conquered. Sore muscles and sunburn is often part of the price.

         It is that time of year. I hear the county mosquito abatement equipment making the rounds on a nice still night. I wonder if there could be some abatement program for our local skunk population.

         If you don't get the Citizen you may not have access to the obituary of Reed Jensen who died this past week. His whole life of 92 years was connected with Mink Creek one way or another. His last years were spent in Preston, but working with nature. More recently he has been in the Heritage Homes care facility. Now he is resting in the beautiful spot on our cemetery hill with his wife Gloria.

June 11, 2015

          This is two days behind my scheduled posting.  Perhaps that is because I have started the month of June without checking the planner.  Too much overload on the brain, without a reminder on paper.

            The first day of June was both lovely and fearful. Morning hours were beautiful, great for planting that garden that has been too wet to touch for most of May. That evening cumulus clouds stacked up and turned blueblack. A wild wind pushed through, shed a little rain on its way, but broke branches, uprooted some long-standing trees, broke off many branches, topped a tree or two. On the whole Mink Community survived the onslaught in good shape. Reports from the western part of our county were much worse, they reported winds up to nearly 70 mph. Perhaps our mountains and slopes offered some protection. This sort of power is humbling, even while attempting to repair the damage left in its wake.

           We have George and Bobby Garr back in town. Their winter days spent in warmer climates like California are done for the season. Now it is time for Garr friends and relatives to come visiting Mink Creek.

            James Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, was ordained an Elder in the LDS Ward. James has been called to serve as a missionary in the North Dakota, Bismarck, Mission, beginning this fall. His grandmother, Lana, and Ivan McCracken witnessed this occasion. Earlier in the month Devin and Maria Flake, Lana's daughter, were here visiting the McCrackens.

            We have a new baby in our community. Josh and Lizzy Greene went to the hospital a few days earlier than they planned because this little guy was determined to arrive. At 6 lb, 7 oz, he fits perfectly into their arms. Lizzy missed out on a baby shower scheduled for the following day

but babies take priority over parties.

             Jonathan and Portia Jepsen and some family were here visiting from the Salt Lake area.   Some of Mike and MaryAnn Jepsen's children have been up too so the Harley and Lima Jepsen farm has been a busy place lately.

             Jim and Debbie Harrison have been here in their Mink Creek home. Jim is now a published author and I have found one of his creations in the bookstore of the Preston Citizen.

             Vernon Keller had family home recently. His daughter Kayleen and Jeff Hill brought some of their family to celebrate a holiday with their Grandpa. Vernon also hosted the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous for the Lewis and Clark Volunteers who headquarter in Soda Springs. The group have a camping park on the shores of Mink Creek at his farm.

June 1, 2015

          The Pearson Place has been an active spot. Early arrivers were Howard and Colleen Hawkes, with Greg and Melanie Evans and sons Layton and Lloyd from Davis County in Utah. Steve and Joanne Pearson of Burley, ID, brought grandson Ethan for family fun. More relatives showed up as the days passed and a good time was had by all.

           There was a “Mini McGregor Reunion” at the Bob Erickson park to celebrate Memorial Day. Planned spur-of-the-moment, this provided fun for cousins visiting in the area. Locals were Bob and Claudia Erickson, Layne and Karen Erickson, Jody and Laural Janke and their children. Sheri Scott and her children drove up from Preston and Peggy Ashcroft and the young Ashcrofts from Roy, UT.

          Phee and Robert Crosland and family have returned from a eastward vacation. First stop was Kirksville, MO, attending the graduation exercises for their son Giovanni, a med student at A. T. Still University. Adding family members along the way they drove to Winona, MN, for a reunion with Phee's siblings and families. With Robert's biology interest everyone was excited when they came across snapping turtles and bullfrogs, not your usual tourist attraction. Next destination was Nauvoo, IL, with plans to see Franklin county friend,Tate Bradfield, perform in a historical production. After that it was on to Colorado Springs, CO, to see Arianna and Ben Hostetter and family, before turning their wheels back to Idaho.

            With recent storms the waters in Mink Creek and all its tributaries are running high. In quiet moments one can hear the rush as the water makes its way to Bear River at the west end of our community. Another pleasant sound is that of blackbird choirs, whether the birds are gathered on a fence, a power line or marching in parade down a road or field.

           A storm rushed through here this evening. Not much in the way of moisture, but a very forceful wind. The thrashing tree in the Harry Potter movies had nothing on the way our trees were whipping about. More comments will come in next week's blog when there is time to check out possible damage in the community.

           All of our houses with school age children are adjusting to these first days of no school. Not enough time as passed yet to cause the “I'm bored” comments. Most are just enjoying sleeping in a little later. Even an extra half hour is considered sleeping in after meeting the buses between 7 am and 7:30, as is the case for most of our community.  Love summer in Mink Creek!