January 28, 2020

          Hawaii is a favorite place for lots of people. Recently several Mink Creek residents have enjoyed some of that Pacific sunshine and the relaxed atmosphere that somehow goes with the islands.

          Jonia Carlson has just returned from some grandmother time with her son's family in the islands. The family of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen have gathered together in that warmth, even the older children. Kim and Wally Christensen are the most recent couple doing a round-trip ticket that lasted for several days.

          Karen and Layne Erickson with their daughter Terrie McKay, drove to Idaho Falls to participate in a family gathering when their grandson Kreighton Kunz, was ordained to the office of a deacon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kreighton is the son of Julie and Todd Kunz. The family of Bryan and Shannon Erickson, of Wellsville, UT, joined them for the occasion.

        Jacob Stansworth, a son of Kaci Avery, was ordained to the office of a teacher in the Mink Creek LDS Ward.

          David Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, is part of the varsity wrestling team for Preston High. He currently weighs in at 152 pounds. The wrestling season keeps him and the family on the go, recently he has been in tournaments in Boise and Farmington, UT.

            Mink Creek's young men enjoyed an official snowmobile ride. Their leaders were Brett Rasmussen, Lin McKay, Stuart Ostler, and Bishop Paul McKay. Our community is right in the middle of snowmobile country so it was no big challenge to locate a spot for a good ride. This one took place at Copenhagen Basin and they traveled to the warming hut, with lots of fresh snow to make things exciting. Having a pro snowmobile man, Brett Rasmussen, made it possible to provide not only the sleds for the trip but good avalanche safety training for the entire group. For some of the group it was a first time experience. Some of the major learning situations were when riders became stuck in the snow and it took organized teamwork to get back on the ride. Those involved were Stetson Ostler, Ty Jepsen, Dallon Baird, David Seamons, and the Iverson brothers, Andrew and Charles.

           The days are getting longer, it is amazing how quickly that starts to turn around. Pictures of spring flowers are filling people's heads and there is great anticipation for the arrival of the spring seed catalogs to appear in the mail.

          We have had a couple of days that resembled a January thaw. Not really a chinook, but enough to do some melting with drips coming from anything reaching out into the air. Cleared sidewalks actually melting down to the cement. We are needing some days like this to give encouragement that spring is more than a date on the calendar

           February is just a few days away. For those who are farmers February is income tax month. There is much organizing of records kept, receipts, loans, oh, so many things for tax preparation. But when April arrives it is a good feeling to have it all 'over and done with.'

January 21, 2020

          Some of the Young Women enjoyed a night of ice skating. They went to the Eccles Ice Center in Logan and had a great time, even thought they were few in numbers. The chauffeurs were Terri McKay and Candy Longhurst with Jyllian Christensen, Emma Rasmussen and Emily Longhurst along for the activity.

          Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen have had family visiting from afar. Jill and Mark Neitz and their children came down from their ranch in Stettler, Alberta, Canada, looking for some warmer temperatures as part of their timie with grandparents. It all depends on a person's perspective, and it fit just right for the Neitz bunch. Kyle and Staci Jepsen and their little girl came up from Dallas, TX, and found cooler temps and snow to enjoy for a few days.

           Another family seeking snow was that of Jody and Laural Janke. They spent several days with Bob and Claudia Erickson, enjoying the snow that they miss now while living in Richfield, UT. Another treat was a night of bowling at the Pop 'n Pins.

          Kent Keller spent some time in the hospital and is now recuperating at the home of his son Byran Keller in Utah.

           Both turkeys and deer are sharing whatever graze is being revealed between snow storms on the southern slopes of our snowy hillsides. Side by side they stand, pushing and pulling at the dried grasses that are the target of their hunger.

          Morgan Donaldson, granddaughter of Greg and Pearl Olsen, is graduating from the Primary organization and moving on to Young Women. She earned her Faith in God Award and is looking forward to a new set of activities.

          Bill and Myrna Despain, residents who have been living at the Heritage Homes, have moved back to their hometown in Wyoming. Both of them grew up in Lovell and have family still living there.

          Candy Longhurst and her daughters drove up to Parma, ID, to spend a weekend with Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler. Family time helps the winter months move along a little faster.

           I have seen flocks of pheasants claiming two different orchards this winter. One is my own, the other is at the Turkey Curve, Lella Smith's fruit trees. Better to be pheasants than turkeys, any day.

January 14, 2020

       Cindy Hanson and Laura Cheney are back at home. They traveled to Israel in December with Laura's family. It was a good time to soak up the sites of early Christianity, prior to the holiday rush.

        We have been missing Richie Hurst. He purchased a home in Fairview, a little closer to Logan, his general place of employment. Makes perfect sense.

        Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox and Danita and Eldon Wilcox spent some of the holidays with MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter at their home in Pocatello. The main attraction was the two children of the Gunter family, with pure entertainment and activities.

        Our community enjoyed its annual Ski Night at the Beaver Ski Resort up Logan Canyon just a few days after the new year arrived. It was a great way to start off the year with friends and family. At this event you don't have to be an experienced skier to have a great time. Past residents, raised in this place have fond memories of this activity being the moment they first put on a pair of skis and began loving 'Skiing the Beav.' Snowboarders and even table-sitters have fun. There are potluck treats at the lodge and lots of visiting for those just observing.

        Elizabeth Wallentine Greene has received the official document proclaiming her being awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree, emphasis on Special Education. She has been studying for this quite awhile, along with being the wife of Joshua Greene and mother of three small children. Now she can add teaching to the many roles she plays. Congratulations, Lizzy!

        Snowy mountainsides, a beautiful moon, the coyote choir practices on a regular basis. Owls carry on midnight conversations. It is also a time that puts cougars on the prowl. Turkeys are congregating where they can find leftover grain or the few residents that put out snacks for their consumption.

        Still getting the white stuff, several more inches today. As far as I know Preston schools were in session, but on the western side of northern Cache Valley roads were nasty, winds has drifted enough that schools were shuttered for the day, according to reports from friends living in that area.

January 7, 2020

         The New Year swept in with a storm that increased throughout the day. At times vision was limited to 'just across the road', and is that really the neighbor's place or is it a mirage. A winter mirage, born on the wings of wind. Snowmobilers, undaunted, have been up in the canyons. We hope no one gets disoriented and becomes lost. It has happened in the past.

         No turkeys out to gobble,”Happy New Year.” They are staying in their roost, hunkered down.

          The family of Adam and Camene Haws, with their children, Tessa, Cooper and Ainsley, came up from their home in Sol Vang, CA, for a lengthy Christmas break at their Idaho home. The weather obliged them with snow and a change of pace.

         It has been the holidays and as often happens, some sort of bug has been making the rounds. Even before school was out we had some staying home because of the yucks. We've also had some tonsillitis and mono. Not fun to be sick during the winter break.

          Sam and Katie Hatch have recently become first-time grandparents. Haylee and Bryce Jensen have a baby girl, named Emmalynn Delila Jensen. The family recently moved to Logan, having been located in Ogden prior to this.

          Two daughters of April and Trevor Rasmussen, Emma and Katelyn, have earned their Faith in God awards. The certificates were presented in Sacrament Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

           December brought home several 'visitors.' Rebekah and Jamie Juhasz of Logan, UT, were with her parents, Kim and Wally Christensen. Brooke and Josh Reichman, now at school in Provo, UT, spent some days with her folks, Sherrie and Shane Corbett. Alexis and Scot Strong came up from California for time on the Station Creek hills with her family, Margret and Kurt Iverson. Maria and Devin Flake of Orem, UT, brought their son,Jude to grandma's, Lana and Ivan McCracken.

         The weather man had us expecting snow today., but none showed. It was blue skies and a bit of melting, but not enough to give my car a much needed wash. The winter grime is building up.

          Our community held the annual January ski night on Friday, more on that in next week's news. We have been doing in for many years, for many residents it is their first time on skis and much learning takes place.