July 25, 2017

           It was fun to have Cheryl and Mitchell Cowgill and their two children, soon to be three, up for a visit. They currently live in North Logan, UT, having moved there from the northwest this past year. Cheryl is the daughter of Craig and Elaine Larsen, grandparents happy to have these grandbabies a little closer.

          During the summer months traffic varies on our main street, Highway 36, according to the activities at Camp Bartlett, just through our canyons, over the mountains into Bear Lake County. When ever a group of Boy Scouts finish up a campout and head home the southwest flow of vehicles increases. As a new group is due to arrive the northeast flow with loaded trailers and vans head up the canyons. Some outfits even stop at our homes with questions, making sure they are on the right route to their destination.

            The first Bob and Claudia Erickson Family Reunion was held this month at their home in Mink Creek. For this year, the Claudine and LaMar McKague family of Vancouver, WA, and the Laural and Jody Janke family of Richfield, UT, were the organizers. Other families attending were those of Danalee and Gene Abernethy, Alpine, UT; Carla and Mark Nielsen, American Fork, UT, Drew and Hilary Erickson, Tempe, AZ; and Shannon and Jeremy Armstrong, Provo, UT. The three day event was made up of good food, fun events and games with one night of song and talents and a morning devoted to the water slide.

           The Mink Creek Ward trekkers of the Martin Cove reenactment came home tired, a bit dusty, and very pleased with their experience, appreciating 'home' a little more than before. We had four couples who trekked in the role of “Ma and Pa” couples: Trevor and April Rasmussen, Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, Miles and Jasmine Erickson, and Kerry and Melinda Jepsen. Sherrie and Shane Corbett were an important part of the Chuck Wagon crew that eased the burdens of the trek company.

         A welcome sound in the hours of darkness is that of the county mosquito crew. They come and spray as they go, to lessen the mosquito threat throughout the area. For me, this is a happy sound and so improves my outside evening time.

           Maria and Devin Flake and their son Jude have been up from Saratoga Springs, UT. They give some good grandparent time to Lana and Ivan McCracken.

          This is it---Rodeo Week in Preston. There will be class reunions, family reunions, etc. all scheduled to match up with these three days of rodeo, parades, and carnival fun.

July 19, 2017

           Ron and Mary Norris to Manila, UT, to watch grandchildren compete in rodeo events Events are open to kids from Utah and Wyoming from preschoolers to high school graduates. They particularly enjoyed Ranch Rodeo and being in the cooler daytime temperatures compared to what we are now experiencing.

           Sam and Sylvia Stanger are home for a few weeks' break from their missionary labors in Florida. It must be time for a dance at the Yellow Brick Schoolhouse.

           Leon and Katherine Noorda are here for a month's worth of visiting and family fun. Their daughter Brooke came early to pave the way at the Keller apartment.

           The Mink Creek Ward recently had two young men baptized and confirmed members of the LDS Church. They are Devlyn Nathaniel Currie and Larien Samuel Currie, sons of Wendy and Clayton Currie.

           Ben Keller is now employed at the Camp Bartlett for the Boy Scouts as a Ranger. His wife Marie grins when she calls him the chief fix-it man, but those skills are always needed.

            We have had a lightning-caused fire in the valley. Luckily it was small and quickly contained. It serves as an alert to the dangers of this dry season, particularly the dry weeds and undergrowth near any of our buildings.

             The children of Moss and Carmen Lewis and their grandchildren, great-grands and great-great -grands had a fun family reunion at the Mink Creek Ballpark. This includes families of Colleen & Warren Wilde of Mink Creek, Beth and Bud Alford of Idaho Falls, Lynne and Steve Cherrington of Santaquin, UT, Bob and Renae Lewis of Denver, CO, Benson and Julie Lewis of Sandy, UT, and the descendants of Ann Lewis Stephenson from California and Arizona. All totaled there were around 103 participants in this gathering

            Our July 4^th celebration was terrific, even if it did take place on a Tuesday. Around 400 people attended on the warm day with families claiming shady spots all over the area. Kim Rasmussen and Forrest Christensen headed up the committee preparing the Dutch-oven potatoes, with lots of help from a small army of potato peeling volunteers. Clare & Linda Christensen, with help from Ross and Judy Young, were in charge of the meat on the menu which turned out to be sausages with sauerkraut and grilled chicken. Tossed salad and baked beans were provided by various ladies of the village. Colleen Carter produced a beautiful chocolate cake in the form of the American flag for dessert. Many hands help lighten the load when it comes to this meal preparation. Thanks to all.

            The program started off with the posting of the colors by our veterans, led by Glen Jepsen. A vocal rendition of the” Star Spangled Banner” was rendered by “the Jepsen Girls.” Jimmie Olson shared some patriotic remarks and Jennifer Seamons sang “America the Beautiful.” Activities that went on during the day were softball,volleyball, bottle rockets, an airplane candy drop, poison ball, painted faces, giant bubbles, paintball target practice, win-a-fish and of course, the ever favorite water slide.

              Most afternoons some storm clouds gather on the western horizon, things darken down a bit, they shift to the north and pass us by. All well and good when the hay is down in windrows, but some moisture would also be welcome. Things are pretty dry outside of where the irrigation covers the growing green.

             In the earlier writing I mentioned a lightning fire. In my perusal of the newspaper archives today there was a report of a lightning fire in Mink Creek twenty five years ago, August of 1992, just a little further down the slope from the one most recent. The old one ignited a solitary tree, which in turn burned a small stack of hay. Don't think that would be a good spot to build a home.

July 11, 2017

          Jake Longhurst has fulfilled a dream. He has put the study hours and the hard work to become a certified commercial pilot and a certified flight instructor. When I hear a plane over the Mink Creek skies my mind immediately wonders if it is Jake having an aerial view of home.

           Jeff and Leigh Knudson have moved a few miles northwest. They are now located in the southern part of Bannock County, just this side of Pocatello. At least they are “fairly close.”We already miss them.

            Wayne and Jackie, Olsen are now part of the Mink Creek community. They are Idahoans by birth and pleased to returning to this beautiful state. Wayne is empoyed with DeseretTransportation out of Salt Lake City, UT. Jackie is retired from numerous jobs in the past with her top favorites being piano teacher and chiropractic assistant. These are the first 'sen' Olsens we have had as residents for many years and these hail , most recently, from Newton, UT. There are several 'son'Olson families in residence that are descendants from settlers of the late 1800's.

            One of these is Jeff and Deborah Olson. This couple have had family visiting over the last couple of weeks. Jeff's oldest son, Andrew Olson is Lt. Colonel in the army and lives in the Seattle, WA, area. He and his wife Angela and their children; Greta, Bryce and Gus stayed a week, soaking up the beauties of Station Creek and the Olson home. Colin and Katie Olson, a younger brother now living in the Salt Lake area joined the group, along with sister Leslie Nehmer, also Salt Lake.

Jeremy and Heidi Jensen and their five children drove down from McCammon, ID, for a few days with his parents, Clifford and LaDawn Jensen. A granddaughter, Rachel Mackelprang, who now lives in Hyrum, UT, came up to share in the family togetherness.

          Jim and Debbie Harrison were able to spend their 4^th of July holiday at their Mink Creek home. They enjoyed the “cooler” temperatures than those of their place in St. George, UT.

           The Tracey and Michelle Gibbs family were overflowing with guests over the holiday. Some came from California, more from Utah.

            Clare and Linda Christensen's home was bursting at the seams with Robin Francom and her seven children down from Bremerton, WA. Robin's husband, Joseph Francom is retiring from their life in the Navy and they are looking at a new chapter in their lives in the midwest in Illinois. Devin and Shawndeen Christensen and family of six more came up from Layton, UT, to join the party, along with Janna Wolfley and three of her children of Preston. Stephen and Alicia Christensen, Logan residents, brought three children to increase the hilarity at the Christensen house.

           Many of the youth of the community, after much preparation on their part and likely even more on the part of their parents, departed to participate in “The Trek.” they were due to leave at 4:30am on July 5^th, all decked out in appropriate pioneer clothing. This year it is taking place we also had several sets of pioneer parents, also known as Ma & Pa sets that serve as parents for the family units in this experience.

          The new Sunday School Presidency now has a secretary. Ivan McCracken will be filling that position in the Mink Creek LDS Ward.

           The gates of the Pearson Place were wide open over the weekend and their parking lot full. The family was enjoying a retreat at their Leghorn Lodge.

           Temperatures are still high during the daylight hours, forcing some to take some siesta time during those hottest hours, returning to field work and the critters when the thermometer has dropped a mite.

Independence Day, 2017

            The Crane trio, siblings Bruce Crane, Sheryl May and Linda Shewmaker, have had a fun summer break in Mink Creek. Reliving their early years spent here is an annual event for these three. Bruce now lives in Logan, Sheryl in in Rupert area and Linda in Jerome. Sometimes family joins them, sometimes not, they repair, they hike, they feast, just several days of family connections to tide them over until the next time.

             The youth and leaders of the Wellsville 10^th Ward, Utah, enjoyed having their summer youth conference at the Mink Creek Ballpark. It isn't everywhere a youth conference can include a water slide, hill and irrigation water version.

             The Varsity Scouts of Mink Creek had an unusual high adventure this summer. This excursion entailed scuba diving, imagine that. One location was in Utah near Heber at Sand Hollow Lake, then they went to Lake Mead in Nevada. Those participating were Andy McKay, Walter Iverson, Andrew Iverson, Jacobi Johnson, Braydon Avery, Chance Hatch, Carson Christensen and Clay Jepsen. Their leaders were Bishop Kurt Iverson and Kerry Jepsen.

             A wind moved through a week ago intent on damage. It came at us from all directions, starting from the west, twisted over to the south and then applied speed and pressure. The pine cones, both green and dry, being ripped from the trees in my yard sounded like hail pounding the house. Branches were pulled off trees and sent like javelins in front of the wind. Some of us are still searching for the lids from trash cans. The wind grabbed the new pivot irrigation line that had been installed by Kent Egley on a hillside field and twisted it like a pretzel. Any wheel lines in its path moved to new areas. One can imagine what happened to the carefully piled windrows of hay when the bursts hit them. Then after a few moments of calm the wind moved around, relaxed a bit and started blowing from the north. It was time for the humans to pick up the pieces.

           Hope you all had a day of celebrating our July 4^th. Mink Creek at the ballpark went off beautifully with lots of people attending, even if it was the middle of the week. All sorts of activities to entertain, but the details will be in next weeks newscolumn. It was a day where all were glad to retreat to the shade of our lovely trees and pavilion.

            Our water levels are more normal with these hot drying days. People have been floating the Bear River all this past week and Mink Creek is more like its regular friendly  flowing self. The eroding of the road intersections has ceased. We are already wishing for rain showers now and again.