Blue Skies Do Exist!

           It is evident that the needs of irrigation for county crops is at the end of the season. A quick glance at the water levels of Foster Reservoir and Glendale Reservoir tells the story. A series of level lines show around their perimeters, dropping down, down, down. Now about all that is left is some mud and large puddles at the bottom of each. The water has been well used.

           The Robert Crosland family spent a few days in Texas for the happy occasion of naming a new granddaughter. Her parents are Marco and Christina Crosland. She was named Alia Mikelle Crosland. This new Crosland family live in Pilot Point, TX, north of Dallas. Robert and Phee spent some days helping them move into their home and getting things ready for a new chapter in their lives.

            We have had Haws family members dropping in for a few days here and there. Karl and Marion Haws were up from Santa Barbara, CA for a couple of weeks. Adam and Kamane Haws and their family and Peter and Gretchen Haws,with family, both brothers living in Solvang, CA, enjoyed some Idaho days and memory sharing.

          Johnny and Jeannine Iverson have had a summer full of relatives. Several of Jeannine's siblings have stopped by, plus children and grandchildren. The Iverson's have nine children so it makes for lots of coming and going during the summer when the grandchildren are out of school.

           New members of the LDS Ward are the family of Sam and Kim Daines. Kim grew up in Mink Creek, the daughter of Dennis and Judy Clark. Sam hails from Cache Valley. They have spent years raising their family back east, most recently in New York City. They are now in the process of renewing roots in the intermountain west. Sons Noah and Mathan Daines will be attending college at BYU/I in Rexburg, ID, and daughters Saige and Molly will be students at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

           The family of Dennis and Judy Clark were honored at the Livestock Sale at the Franklin County Fair. Dennis was killed in a traffic accident not long ago and his absence was felt in the management of the sales ring. He has been assisting in this position for a number of years. All of the Clark children were there for the presentation along some of the grandchildren.

              Finally a day with clear skies! It has been smokey sky so long that I have forgotten how lovely a blue sky, a vision of our nearby mountains, etc. can be. How that uplifts a person and helps the day start right! It has stayed that way the entire day. People have raved about the beautiful sunsets through the smokey haze, but the smell of burning wood, the constant haze diminishes the enjoyment of the sunsets. The brightness even seemed to enhance the green of the fields instead of the dry growth that exists this time of year when irrigation has pulled back.

August 21. 2018

            Happy First Day of School for the young set in our county, on both sides of the valley. The yellow buses arrived on time for excited kids.  They may complain in a week or two, but for now it is nice to get back with last year's friends.

           One of our young men, Dallon Baird, has had summer employment with the scouting program, serving at Camp Bartlett, just up and over our mountains on the Bear Lake side. For a couple of weeks a group of his friends, similarly employed, have traveled to Mink Creek to attend Sunday services in the LDS Ward. A good example of “get up and go,” since the services begin at 9am and Bartlett is definitely more than “a stone's throw” distance.

           Doug Bruderer ended up in a conflict with a horse, getting kicked in the face. Though his broken jaw is wired shut we are happy to have him home among us. Another resident in need of medical assistance has been Timber Christensen, small son of Kerry and Lacey Christensen. Between smokey air and the dust and dryness he was having trouble breathing and spent a few days in the hospital. We are glad to have that smiling face back at home up Birch Creek

           Sharla and Lin McKay have been on a biking vacation to the north. They took in Bear Tooth Pass on the Wyoming/Montana border and enjoyed the snow, the wildlife and beautiful scenery of Glacier National Park.

           Joseph and Rebecca Jones brought their young family home for a camping expedition in our nearby canyons. Though Joseph's parents, Austin and Kathy Jones, have moved to Gem Valley, Mink Creek is still home to Joseph.

            Patti and Forrest Christensen have been up north, all the way to Alaska on a fishing trip. They stayed at Boardwalk Lodge which is owned by Forrest's sister Raone and Brad Stuart. It is located on Prince of Wales Island. A friend of Forrest's, Laurance Leonhardt of Logan, UT, went with them for his first experience of ocean fishing. Patti reported that the weather was almost too great to go fishing. They saw bears and whales, both orca and humpback. One humpback put on a professional show for them, rolling and cavorting in the waves. Everyone had a great time fishing, catching mainly halibut and rockfish. As usual Patti caught the most and the biggest. Maybe they are attracted to her red hair.

           Hannah Singleton and her sons enjoyed their month of Mink Creek and family and are now back, ready for their fall season routine, in El Dorado, AR. The household of Wynn and Cecelie Costley has calmed down, with life resuming its normal pace.

            A garden fire that escaped brought the county Fire Department up to quench the hungry flames. The dry growth that covers all areas not under irrigation can provide plenty of tinder on occasions like this. Gratitude is expressed by the entire neighborhood and community to those men for their expertise and equipment.

            We were assaulted with a fierce cloudburst on Saturday past. It came with force and lasted longer than usual. Noise!!! and the results were piles of hail, new rivulets along the road as the swift water made its way down the slopes to the creek at the bottom of our valley. We got a real good soaking, and welcomed every drop. It was good to have the grain fields already harvested and tucked away. The deluge sank quickly into the cracks in the earth of those dry fields.

August 14, 2018

          Our main drag, Highway 36, has been undergoing a summer construction session. Chipping started at the county line on the road up Strawberry Canyon and has made its way steadily down to the intersection of Highways 36 and 34, just north of the bridge over Bear River. The time it has taken our residents to get to and from Preston has lengthened considerably while waiting for the pilot cars to guide us through. However, we know that it will be worth it in the improvement of future travels.

          The family of Wynn and Cecelie Costley celebrated her birthday with all family congregating at the Costley homestead. With five daughters and two sons, all with families of their own , it amounts to a good-sized group. They enjoyed the time together with games, food and lots of visiting and sharing of memories.

           There was a Jepsen Reunion, this time the Freeman and Ada Jepsen family. The headquarters of this group is on the family farm, now occupied by their oldest son, Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen. Seventy-three people attended. There were family representatives able to be here for all siblings except Bruce who lives in Washington state. Marilyn and Robert Godfrey of Mesa, AZ, JoAnn and Kevin Auger of Woodland Hills, UT, Dan Jepsen of Bountiful, UT. Projects and fun abounded: fence painting, timber cutting, attending the rodeo, and water fun at both the Mink Creek Ballpark and the Oneida Narrows Dam with three family boats to keep the water spraying. They included the annual family foot race for those feeling extra fit.

         The daughters of John and Edith Olson returned to their Mink Creek roots for a few days at their place perched on the western slope above Strawberry Creek. They have a splendid view in all directions and can soak up the mountains that became so dear to their family. They grew up in a spot called Heliga Vista. Karen Tribett from Elk Ridge; Margaret and Bill Wright, Janet Bergera, Mary Carter all of Payson; Nancy Olson of Alt Lake City; Emily Johnson and her daughter Jaycee of Moab; all are now Utah residents. Bill Wright is the mayor of Payson so Mink Creek is a good get-away for the Wrights. Some of the group included a visit to a neighbor from the past, Naomi Wilde, age 103, who now resides in Pocatello.

           Sheldon and Candy Longhurst announce the birth of their first grandchild. Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler, of Parma, ID, now have a tiny son, born on July 29^th. The whole Longhurst family drove up to celebrate this event.

          The Tate Family Reunion kept things going at the Egley Park on the shady banks of Mink Creek. There were multiple cousins from Utah and Idaho present to reconnect. There was no rain and it was good times all around.

            The grains are going through the combines. The whir of the combine motor is fall music. Golden fields transformed into tons of small golden kernels, hauled by trucks, dumped onto the storing floors of the recipient. Grain isn't the only thing in need of harvest at this time. Gardners are picking their green beans, chokecherries are nearly black in ripeness, summer apples are begging to be picked. It is a rewarding time to live in the country.

August 7, 2018

          We are certainly located in that part of southeastern Idaho that is listed as 'smokey skies.' To go along with the haze and the red sun is the smell of burning wood that wafts through the air.

           The sight of our country's flags flying at Pete Bennett's place as one drives on Highway 34 is wrapped up for a season. For nearly a month I have loved soaking up that feeling of patriotism that Pete regularly displays around certain holidays.

             We have one family moving out, another moving in. Kristi and Brett Hall have sold their riverside home to Garth and Robin Stevenson. On the evening of the official packing up some twenty individuals showed up to help Brett and Kristi load their belongings. The Halls will be living near the golf course in Preston. Garth is getting his fishing poles all in shape for a life on the banks of the Bear.

           Claudine and LaMar McKague and their family drove down from Vancouver, WA, to spend a week with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. From Mink Creek all headed to Idaho Falls for the wedding of Jarin McKague, the McKague's second son on July 28^th. They were met there by three of Claudine's siblings. Laural Janke, Danalee Abernethy and Carla Nielsen, and their families for a memorable day.

             Rodeo weekend brought past residents back for the festivities. That includes a fair sized group of Mink Creek's children of the past for the 50 year reunion of Class of 1968. Marilyn Jepsen Godfrey, Jeff Olson and Garth Wilde attended. Lois Larsen was absent. Sheryl Crane May had moved to Burley about 7th grade, and Ray Keller and Bruce Jensen have passed away. Lots of memories shared.

          The rodeo parade was high on the list of fun for those lining the streets of Preston.. Our April Rasmussen caught a Frisbee tossed out by a passing commercial float and their family ended up with 3 tossed T-shirts. Her husband, Trevor, says this is a first for their family. Our Jyllian Christensen was riding her horse, decked out in beautiful western wear as she represented the Cache County Fair and Rodeo royalty as the Junior Princess.

           Raphael Arnsworth is in the process of a big remodel of the home he purchased a few years ago in Mink Creek. It was the home of Floyd and Jessie Erickson and their family. He has made some ancestral discoveries in the walls and attic in his dismantling process that he has shared with the former owners.

           The week of the county fair is nearly upon us, and after that school will begin. 4H projects are being completed, any procrastination ha to be a thing of the past. The few stores we have in our county are offering 'School Sales' and the teachers are gearing up for another year in the classroom. In Mink Creek we have several teachers in the public schools, we have several families who homeschool. We also have several residents who are employed by the school district in other positions, so the start of the school year has an impact on this community.