May 31, 2017

          We are happy to announce six young men of Mink Creek as graduates of Preston High School this spring. They are: Ty Beardall, son of Tammy and Kent Beardall; Kyle Christensen, son of Phillip and Krysta Christensen; Travis Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene; Clay Jepsen, son of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen; Andy McKay, son of Paul and Terrie McKay; and Austin Straight, son of Pedro and Avery Gomez.

            Our Seniors presented their Senior Projects prior to their graduation. Ty Beardall experimented with saddle bronc riding, rode competitively, got a 4^th place and won himself a belt buckle. Andy McKay chose a topic dealing with nutrition. Andy did some research in the field of nutrition. He cooked some healthy meals, particularly using varieties of fish and had a great time learning about healthy eating. Clay Jepsen increased his horsemanship with equine domestication, which translated is the training of a horse. He worked with a colt on their farm. Kyle Christensen discovered some things about criminal justice. Kyle obtained permission and was able to ride along with our police officers and learned about various aspects of the profession like the importance of filing reports and seeing a chain of evidence in cases. Travis Green delved into the area of sports broadcasting. He tried his hand at it by helping to broadcast a Preston High baseball game and worked with stats of various sports and the need to know bits of information about team players to help fill in the blank moments when action isn't progressing. Austin Straight researched the part that the cowboy and his horse played in the settling of the American West. He checked out Cowboy Poetry and experimented a bit with it himself.

           Angelina Mainini was married to Iyar Koren on May 20^th in Springville, UT, at the home of friends on Hobble Creek. She is the daughter of Steve and Terry Mainini. Friends and relatives met in Springville to celebrate this event.

            Kim Christensen took a few days to head to the northwest and visit Sharon Moran in her new location in the state of Washington. Sharon lives on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound. These two women have always shared a passion for gardening and this time of year was perfect to witness the green and flowers of that area.

           Judy and Dennis Clark went vacationing to the southern tip of Nevada in Laughlin.. Besides warmer days that they expected they took a bit of a cruise on the Colorado River and celebrated Judy's birthday while they were gone. Just a few get-away-days are great for the soul.

            I write the words Mink Creek and it might give the impression of a meandering stream. Not so, at the present time this waterway is more like a raging river, swift, wide and high. Its tributaries are contributing their share. There is still snow in the higher elevations, even visible from below.

May 23, 2017

         Richard and Vickie Free traveled to Disneyland for some family fun. Following that their agenda included attending an interfaith concert performed in Salt Lake City with their son Brandon and Heather Hodge.

           Jennifer Seamons made the long trip to beautiful Coeur d'Alene, ID, where she was the accompanist for string musicians from the Preston High School Orchestra. They were performing at the Idaho State Solo and Ensemble Competition. One of the soloists was her son, David Seamons with his violin. Her mother Kathy Jarvis went along for the ride as a chief supporter and fan. A great time was had by all.

           Bob and Claudia Erickson flew to Tempe, AZ, for several days of overly warm sunshine. The reason for the trip was witnessing the baptism of their granddaughter, Paige Erickson, daughter of Drew and Hilary Erickson. While there they were able to tour the campus of the College of Central Arizona where Drew teaches music classes. The morning after their return to Mink Creek presented them with two inches of snow, reassurance of Idaho spring after their days of 100plus degrees.

           Our local turkeys have moved to the back country, hopefully for the summer season. The owls seem to have picked up on having things less crowded and are holding nightly conversations up and down our valley. Our creeks are running full and fast with snow still in the mountains. The snows that arrive off and on have melted during the warmer hours of the day, but it is still a bit startling to find all things white at this time of year.

             The Relief Society held an evening meeting to start off the month of May, The topic for the night was most appropriate for homemakers, Spring Cleaning. Dana Olson gave a tutorial full of good ideas and tips for easing the process. She even gave away prizes in the form of cleaning products. The ladies enjoyed refreshments of an apricot slush and cookies provided by Patti Christensen and AnnaBeth Olson.

            There is another generation of Canadian geese that will claim Mink Creek as their home. Some goslings have been spotted as they try to keep up with their parents when on parade to the nearby waters. They will soon be in flight training.

           We are beautiful, everything is so green and fresh. New growth is evident in those parallel lines that result from the seed drills. Recent temperatures are encouraging the planting of gardens, as long as there are protective devices for any hot house plant that could take a frost hit badly. The risk is still very evident and evenings are chilly, but not freezing of late. That snow in our mountains and experience reminds us to be cautious.

May 16, 2017

          Emily Longhurst competed in the Idaho State Tumbling Championship event in Burley recently. Prior to this it is a requirement that the competitors have pasrticipated in 3 other meets across the state. Emily came home with a 1^st place in the Double-mini and 3^rd place in her floor routine. She is the daughter of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst.

            In the Mink Creek LDS Ward Ty Jepsen, son of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, has turned 14 and was ordained to the office of a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood this last week. His sister, Tara, also had a birthday and is now part of the Laurel class in the Young Women organization.

           Wendy and Terry Westerberg are announcing the engagement of their son, Matthew, to Haylee Harrison, daughter of Lance and Andrea Harrison of Preston. The wedding will take place in June.

            The annual Mink Creek School Reunion will be held on June 17^th at noon in the Mink Creek Ward recreation hall. Those who have attended school in the days of Mink Creek's school system are invited for fun, food and prizes. The food is potluck and never fails to please those dining. This year it is Mike and MaryAnn Jepsen who are making the arrangements.

           The weather if finally settling sufficiently to make a person think the dreams that come with the spring seed catalogs might come true. The fruit trees are blooming, cherry, pear, apple to name a few. Even the berry bushes look promising. The scent of the blooms is fine for the human population, but the bees are really attracted, filling the air with the sound of their buzzing on a warm day.

            Brad and RaOne Stuart came up from Utah to check on their home and various Mink Creek holdings. RaOne is the daughter of the late Carl and Lenna Christensen. Two siblings, Forrest Christensen and Danita Wilcox, still live in Mink Creek.

             Snow is expected this week and all my apple trees are in blossom. Mothers' Day was beautiful and all women attending the LDS Ward went home with a lovely geranium to plant. Very likely most will wait for that activity until the current rash of storms move eastward. What a weather year this has been so far!  It keeps us on constant alert, no relaxing or feeling that things are going to be what we consider "normal."  Do not bring up the topic of global warming.

May 9, 2017

          After a stormy month of April May arrived with sunshine and a degree of warmth. There seems to be a season called Spring slated for the year 2017 after all.

           Our local blackbirds are making us feel like warm weather has arrived. They chortle and gurgle as they march around our territory, in that step that makes one think of the German troops of WW II.

           We are living in a green environment as May gets underway. The trees are bursting into leaf, fruit trees in bud or blossom, weeds prolific, and the earth is starting to dry enough for field work.

           It has been a lengthy repair job for the maintenance crew of the Twin Lakes Canal company. A threatening bulge in the hillside below the canal at the base of Cedar Hill in Mink Creek has had heavy equipment and dump trucks busy for quite some time. The arrival of rain or snow has not helped to accomplish this project. Now the water is back in the canal and on its way to the Twin Lakes and everyone connected is glad to have the tension evaporated.

           The youth of the community were finally able to find an evening without storm that enabled them to take care of the semi-annual cleanup of our section of Highway 36. As usual there was plenty of litter to be gathered. After filling the orange bags they group met back at the LDS recreation hall for a cookie reward.

            Peter Haws has been called to be the president of the Santa Barbara LDS Stake in California. He spent considerable time in Mink Creek in his younger years. Peter is the son of Karl and Marion Haws who have been off and on Mink Creek residents for at least fifty years. They have dual citizenships in California and Idaho. Peter, his wife Gretchen and children live in Solvang. Peter is the Vice Principal at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

            The Mink Creek LDS Ward held its annual Ward Conference on April 30^th. Officers of the Preston North Stake attended and presented information and inspiration for the entire block program. President Dax Keller presided over the Sunday meetings.

          The end of the school year is fast approaching. The seniors have presented the dreaded Senior Projects and seem to have survived nicely. The elementary grades are busy going on field trips. Jr.High science teacher, Mr. Crosland's leaf collections are due. Spring sports are trying to fit in makeup games that were postponed due to our very wet spring months. All signs that it won't be long before graduation day.

May Day plus 1

          It isn't often that three returning missionaries speak on the same day in the Mink Creek LDS Ward. Elder James Baird, oldest son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, spoke of his experiences in the North Dakota, Bismarck Mission. He returned a couple of months earlier than scheduled due to breaking his leg. His sister Julianna Packer and her girls came from Heyburn, ID, for this occasion along with his uncle Brian Baird of Spanish Fork, UT, and Maria and Devin Flake and their son Jude of Saratoga Springs, UT. Both sets of grandparents were in attendance: Lana and Ivan McCracken of Mink Creek and Terry and LeAnn Orton of Preston. Orton cousins finished up the guest list.

          Bryce and Terri Stromberg served in the Utah, Salt Lake City Headquarters, Mission. They related moments while serving in two very different capacities. Terri worked in genealogy and family history. Bryce served in security. Bryce is a retired law enforcement officer and dealt with the safety of the Temple Square and the people in that area.

            The LDS Ward enjoyed a Linger Longer to celebrate the new United States citizenship of resident Pedro Gomez. The menu for the luncheon had a slightly Spanish slant, taco salad. Slices of a huge congratulatory cake, iced to resemble the U S flag, or a chocolate brownie, along with a scoop of ice cream filled the dessert for the meal. A group traveled to Boise with Pedro and Avery Gomez when he was sworn in and received his official certificate of citizenship: their son, Austin Straight, Lacey and Kerry Christensen and their children, Nicole and Matt Van Buren and son, Beverly and Doug Bruderer, LD Larkins, Patti and Forrest Christensen and Jay Wilde and his family.

             Josh and Sarah Newby and their boys came up from Farmington, UT, to spend a weekend with his parents, Lin and Sharla McKay.

            The youth of the community have found it necessary to postpone their semi-annual highway cleanup session. The weather won't cooperate, just too much rain. Even our dandelions are looking a little droopy. 

          I know this isn't exactly Mink Creek news, but thought my far distant readers might be interested. The doors to M. H. Kings store are closed, they have been having a going out-of-cusiness sale for the last few months and now it is over---and done with. They will be missed by many, it gets harder and harder to find many items on the home front.

          Today has been sunny and even a bit warm. A first in a long time. The sun has been out, but the winds have kept most days still cold. It wasn't many days ago that we were dealing with snow.

            John Warburton is back home from his most recent hospital stay. We are hoping this will be an extended situation, with his daughter Rita Cargill still helping him at home.