February 19, 2019

         The recent open house of the Rome Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Italy has been of interest to many people in this area. Three of our residents were able to be in Rome during this time for one of those “once in a lifetime" experiences. AnnaBeth Olson, Terrie McKay and her daughter Morgan Curtis, spent a week in the famed city while performing with a choral group. The group, Gem Valley Community Choir, performed in both cathedrals and a country village. Franklin county was well represented in this group. AnnaBeth's sisters, Carol Jean Jardine and Linda and Roger Kennan joined them along with Peggy Christensen, her daughter Heather, and Judy Geddes from Winder, ID.

          They were able to see many of the tourist sights during the week. The Colosseum, the Forum, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and other parts of Vatican City, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon which was built in 27 B.C. The last was Morgan Curtis' favorite with her background of art history from college. There was ancient history no matter where they toured. The weather presented a little rain daily, but compared to Idaho they enjoyed the warmer degrees.

           Kent and Tammy Beardall are announcing the arrival of a new granddaughter. She arrived the last day of January, her parents, Nicole and Nathan Denney.

          Ramona Hatchett invites all ladies who might be interested to join the group “Stitch 'r Knit”. Actually any type of handwork is the order of the day. In the “little house” behind Ramona's home, the women get together Wednesday afternoons between 2 and 6 pm for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, mending, whatever, plus lots of visiting and camaraderie.

         Candy Longhurst, with daughters Emily and McKinley, plus married siblings Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler, and Justin and Cynthia Longhurst all gathered for the blessing and naming of a new grand daughter. Little Alice Longhurst is the first child of Jake and Holly Longhurst of Smithfield, UT.

          The family of LaRon and Liesa Baird has been in a whirl lately. Their son James brought his fiance, Rebekah Wilmes of Chico, CA , plus other friends, Spencer and Sierra who are planning their own wedding, and Rebekah's roommate Darcy, all students at BYU/I in Rexburg, ID, for a winter weekend in Mink Creek. One of their objectives was to obtain help from Liesa in the sewing of Sierra's wedding dress. The goal was achieved. Just recently Katiana Baird, daughter of LaRon and Liesa, has undergone surgery on her left foot. This took place in Murray, UT, and will help Kati's walking. She now has six weeks before she can put any weight on the foot.

          Some travelers on our highway must not realize that turkeys have the right of way, all over the road and along each side. Driving back home this afternoon there were three turkey fatalities that had not been there when I left earlier. These were not in a group, miles between. This is unusual because those creatures can be in the middle of the road, but move out just before a car reaches them. They appear fearless of all the traffic that uses Highway 36. That includes snow plows and logging trucks.