July 28, 2015

            The Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held a Ward Conference this month. The presidency and stake officers of the Preston North Stake attended, with Pres. Dax Keller presiding. The stake auxiliary officers presented information and instruction in their corresponding sessions. The Mink Creek Primary children sang “Gethsamane,” a selection that touched all in the congregation.

             The family of Laural and Jody Janke went on vacation time to the midwest. En route they stopped at places of historical interest. In Nauvoo, IL, they connected with friends from Richmond, UT, Hal and Leslie Briggs and discovered new things that they had in common. Most of their days were spent in the area around Ottawa, IL, where Jody's family has roots, with his brother and sister's families.

            Charles Iverson, son of Bishop Kurt and Margret Iverson, was ordained to the office of a deacon as he graduated from Primary. He also earned the Faith in God award.

            Linda Shewmaker and Sheryl May, sisters of Bruce Crane, came down from their homes near Burley, ID. They try to have this family time in Mink Creek at least once a year at the Crane Cabin on Birch Creek not far from where they spent their early years.

            We have a couple of houses that are in various stages of completion. Kerry and Lacey Christesnsen are doing some expanding on their home on Birch Creek road. Kerry is spending a lot of after work hours wearing a carpenter apron with his hammer handy. A new home is going up on Barley Hill, tucked around a corner off Station Creek Road. It belongs to Jeff and Deborah Olson. One of these first days they will move into the neighborhood. Jeff's Mink Creek roots run deep.

           Temperatures plummeted yesterday, down into the 40s. A big wind swept up our valley, ahead of a lengthy rainstorm. No freezes reported thus far. Our weather has been abnormal ever since last winter.

             People have been picking huckleberries in our canyons. What chokecherries there are will be ready soon. A spring that was full of blossoms has turned into a summer that is nearly bare of berries in the lower area of Mink Creek. I am guessing it is similar traveling east.

           I had surgery on my right hand last week and am bandaged up for a couple of weeks.  Please endure my left-handed endeavor to keep up with my writing assignments. 

Between the hand and the brain it is a challenge.