September 26, 2018

           

           Mink Creek has been on fire this past week, literally. No homes were lost thanks to the expertise of those fighting the fire. Smoke filled the air for the afternoon and night of the 19^th. Planes dropped retardant, bulldozers were all over the place, along with the brush trucks and fire engines and all those that operate them. Over a dozen homes lay in the path of the flames and miraculously none caught fire. The flames licked the edges of their lawns, heated the spaces, but were directed around. Many had their vinyl siding melted, so it was close. A 5th wheel trailer and shed were burned. Spots were still smoldering the next day, with trucks and fighters still around, checking things out. Mink Creek hearts are full of gratitude.

           Doug and Beverly Bruderer welcomed some friends made while Doug worked in the oil fields of North Dakota. They are Daulene and Jerry Williams from Dickinson, N.D.

Cliff and LaDawn Jensen are enjoying having a granddaughter living close by while working in Logan. She is Rachel Mackelprang, from Georgia, the daughter of Mercedes and Darren Mackelprang.

          The family of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst have been spending time in this vicinity. Sheldon has been in the Portneuf Hospital in Pocatello, undergoing chemo, and they are all keeping close tabs there. Justin Longhurst and Cynthia Zilles' wedding took place on Sept. 15^th, so all gathered with friends and neighbors for that special event. Earl and Barbara Craythorn, Candy's parents, came over from Declo, ID, to celebrate with Justin, and give family support.

          Karen and Keith Tribbett of Elk Ridge, UT, brought some friends up for a taste of Karen's childhood. Diana and Dan Steele also of Elk Ridge and Steve and Kathi Tanner of Payson enjoyed some time at Bear Lake and Mink Creek. Now back in Utah they are dealing with evacuation and problems with those fires in Utah County.

           Lori Muldner is home recuperating from her 'only' shoulder surgery. She spent a few days in the Franklin County Medical Center, needing a day or two of extra care since she is an amputee. A very talented, capable amputee, I may add.

Jarin and Brynlee McKague took a few days break from jobs and school at BYU/I to visit with his grandparents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. The two have decided Mink Creek makes a good get-away.

             Loads of fuel,in the form of logs, or portions of the same, are moving down our canyons. Pickup loads, trailer loads, whatever will haul. This activity must accompany the lowering of the temperatures. Spots that had water going overnight were a bit crystalline this morning, at least until the sun peeked over the eastern mountain tops.

September 19, 2018

          This is a day off of the arrival of the Citizen in your mailboxes, but not totally missed.  We had too much excitement around here with a raging brush fire for my brain to remember the blog.  More about that next week.

         The LOTOJA bicycle race pedaled its way up through our community and canyons on its way to Jackson, WY. There was a great deal of preparation for this race by the organizers. They set up outdoor privies every few miles, had signs of instructions for the bikers, etc. Much litter was left at various locations and our community is scheduling a highway cleanup soon to collect the trash that was tossed in areas not so designated.

         The whole family of Steve and Terry Mainini gathered to take part in the Cow Tag Ride held at Kelly's Ski Resort near Idaho Fall, ID. This is a fundraiser for dirt bike enthusiasts to help maintain the bike trails and keep them open in the state of Idaho. Cow tags are hung at various points along the trail adding to the name of the event. Steve and Terry had relatives from California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah enjoying the day with them, to the point that plans are to add it it to the family calendar.

         Steve and Terry Mainini have further reasons for celebrating. They have recently become grandparents with the birth of a beautiful baby girl to their daughter Angelina and Iyar Koren of Eagle Mountain, UT. She is a tiny thing, weighing 6 lb 3 oz, with a lovely head of black hair so similar to her mother's. They have named this little miss Ariella Koren.

          Jill Neitz and her children have returned to their home in Alberta, Canada. They live on a ranch north of Calgary. At the end of recent summers this family travels south to soak up some good grandparent time with Jill's parents, Betty Jo and Glen Jepsen, before their school year begins. Glen and Betty Jo are celebrating the birth of an new granddaughter, the first child of Kyle and StacyJepsen of Dallas, TX. She will be named Alexandra Emery Jepsen and was born August 23^rd, weighing in at 8 lb, 12 oz. Betty Jo was able to go down and enjoy those early days of a new baby in her arms.

            The two oldest daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen have ridden their horses to another win, this time at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Jyllian and their mount Haida received 5^th in equitation. Greenlee and Haida got 2^nd place with the walk/trot competition. Who could resist those beautiful smiles of these young ladies!

           Ivan and Lana McCracken enjoyed a visit from Ivan's brother, Sam and his wife Roberta McCracken. They are from Raymond, Alberta, Canada They were able to stay for nearly a week and during that time did some fun thrift shopping and exchanging of kitchen creations.

           Our colors are changing on the mountainsides. This being a dry summer and fall the reds and oranges that are hoped for are rather muted. Those maples are looking more rusty, but still provide a break in the greens of our pine and junipers. The yellow of the quakies is dull as well, but it all indicates the changing season.

Never Forget, 2018

          Yes, it is 9/11, and I think the reminder a worthy one.  My recollections are crystal clear.
Sorry I didn't get the blog up last week.  You will read that I was dealing with the death and funeral of a great friend, one of my husband's cousins.  The blog just wasn't on my mind. Even the news of Mink Creek did not make the week's issue of the Citizen. What follows is this week's column, plus. Thanks for reading.

          The Mink Creek community was happy to attend the wedding of Sydney Eugene Whitehouse and Lisa Jean Blackmon on August 10th. The couple took their vows in a ceremony performed by Bishop Kurt Iverson. Missionary friends, David and Suzanne Ward, gave Lisa a lovely bridal bouquet. Friends and neighbors celebrated with the couple at a reception following the ceremony at the Mink Creek Ward recreation hall. It was decorated with fresh floral arrangements from local gardens. Refreshments of punch, muffins and fruit were provided by friends. Cecelie Costley decorated a beautiful wedding cake for the occasion. Out of town friends came from Brigham City, UT.

           Sunflowers, grain harvest and grasshoppers seem to go together. The happy yellow faces of the flowers dot the landscape all around us, heads searching for the sun. Some of these cloudbursts that have come our way have totally obliterated that sun. Those same storms have seriously depleted some of the grain that hadn't yet been harvested. A dry stalk of wheat takes a real pounding from those marble sized balls of hail that shucks out the kernels with such force, breaks the straw. The storms seem to have little affect on the insects. The yellow, red or black winged grasshopper creatures are everywhere. They do their share of gobbling up growth in their paths, giving us a reminder of the pioneer cricket invasions.

            Kent and Tammy Beardall have been kept on the road quite a bit this summer. They have been following the area rodeo circuit in support of their son Ty. Ty has been trying his hand, and all the rest of his jolting body, by participating in the saddle bronc events. His athletic prowess in other areas has discovered a new one to pursue.

            As befits the season, Mink Creekers enjoyed a water party as the fall days arrived. I am not sure if we were celebrating the beginning of fall, the end of summer, or that school was starting, all are a good excuse for getting together. It began with the adventurous set tubing the Bear River, starting from Red Point. A raft was available for those needing more security. All who wanted to stay dry assembled at our ballpark for dinner a bit later. Menu choices were hamburgers, hot dogs and slices of chicken, with whatever garnishes might be desired. A variety of chips went with the main plate along with glasses of homemade root beer. Brownies and ice cream topped off the evening. There was a good turnout for lots of fun.

             Bryan Erickson, Karen and Layne Erickson and Bob and Claudia Erickson traveled to Cedar City, UT, to attend the funeral of a cousin, Judy Spencer Larsen. She grew up in Mink Creek and married Ervin Larsen, also of Mink Creek. Judy passed away August 25^th, after a year's struggle with cancer.

           Margret and Kurt Iverson and family enjoyed a lengthy visit to the British Isles. Margret served as an LDS missionary in the England, Leeds, Mission, so much of this was familiar ground to her. They took a few days for Scotland and were able to visit two LDS Temples, one in Preston, England and one in London. They enjoyed the tourist attractions of the country and had fun renewing old friendships.

           We have survived another LOTOJA. Those letters represent the annual fall bicycle race from Logan, UT, to Jackson, Wyoming. Our Highway 36 is closed from 7am to noon on that day and our residents need a special pass to prove they have a true need to use the thoroughfare during those hours.