July 17, 2018

          The smoke from the Treasureton Hills fires has been rolling through our heavens for most of this day. As the sky clears it brings gratitude that those fighting the blazes have once more tamed the monster down. This has been an area of frequent summer fires over the past several years.

           A group of 30 girls and their Young Women leaders from an American Fork, UT, LDS ward enjoyed a fabulous Girls' Camp with the Mink Creek Ballpark as their base and headquarters. Their camp director, Carla Erickson Nielsen, grew up here and she knew what the area could offer to these young ladies. They toured Minnetonka Cave, rappelled at the Paris Ice Caves, swam in a local farm pond, and had fun in general, eating great food and sleeping in tents, all without access to electronic devices.

           Royce and Lorraine Christensen have had a busy week or two. Fred and Victoria Christensen and their daughter Pearl were up from Orem,UT, to spend some time with his parents. Grandparenting is always good. Then Royce and Lorraine drove out to Lafayette, IN, to help their daughter Carrie and Ken Melton move their family to Layton, UT. This includes a new job, a new house and other major changes.

           Hannah Costley Singleton and her sons, Samuel and Grey, are here for their annual month of sharing time and memories with her parents, Wynn and Cecelie Costley. They come from Arkansas and welcome our cooler temperatures. Yes, it is hot here, but compared to the south, not so bad, and it does cool off of an evening.

            Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen have been having a grandchildren 'retreat.” Cousins of near ages hang out with their grandparents and are thoroughly entertained with horses and various outdoor activities.

           Things were humming at the home of Bob and Claudia Erickson when three children and their families gathered to celebrate July 4^th, Mink Creek style. Kristin and Jay Collins came from Lakeview, OR, and their daughter Claire drove down from BYU/I in Rexburg to join them. Carla and Mark Nielsen and son Aidan came up from American Fork, UT, getting here in time for Aidan to run in the 5K race in Lewiston, UT, festivities. A day later, Drew and Hilary Erickson arrived with children Spencer and Paige, taking a break from their overly warm lives in Tempe, AZ.

           We had some severe wind storm gusts move through our valley last evening. They did some damage, trees down, garbage cans on the march, limbs of trees deposited. Sudden and unexpected.

Cleanup ahead for some of us.

           Summer is moving along. With summer comes highway road construction and we are getting our share. The crews have refinished Hwy 34 between Preston and Thatcher, and now the work on our Hwy 36 has begun. Lots of sitting in hot cars waiting for the pilot car to guide the lines.