June 30, 2020

          The Mink Creek Ward Relief Society had their first get-together since all social gathering were dismissed in mid March. With restrictions still in place, practicing safe distancing the women met at the Mink Creek Ballpark on a warm evening. Each brought their own prepared tin foil dinner, seasoned to their liking. These were placed in the large fire pit at the park. Spaced around the area there was time for visiting, catching up on each other's lives and just friendship in general. About twenty ladies were able to attend, and all enjoyed ---they called the event “COVID-19 Jail Break.”

         Lizzy Greene (aka Elizabeth) has graduated from her years of college classes and is moving on. This moving is in a perfect direction as a teacher of Special Education at the Preston Junior High School. We are so pleased as she and her family take this step into this next chapter of their lives.

          Driving through our community one needs to be aware that this is a rural area with wildlife. Racoons, skunks, an occasional fox. The usual deer are still about, but now they are wearing their summer attire, with a change in color from that of winter and they have a tendency to blend in with their surroundings. Nature's camouflage is marvelous. Pedro Gomez has reported seeing elk grazing in a farmer's field when Pedro was on his way to work in early morning hours.

         Bryce Egley is having a great time as he competes in various races with his cross-county mountain bike. He is a member of a team of bikers from Draper, UT, who ride for Rouleur Development. His latest race was the Wasatch 50 held in Heber, UT. The trailhead was in Coyote Canyon. Bryce extended his efforts and ended up with a second place finish, having ridden the 50 miles with a time of 4 hours and 35 minutes.

          My grandmother always told me that if you have to write about the weather you are getting pretty desperate---however, as a farming community what the weather is doing matters to us. The last few days have been Idaho spring crazy. Wild winds, slashing rains, deluge type. Snow on our high ups. First crop hay down and drenched. But if the sun does show its smiling face, at dawn or sunset, it is beautiful. This is a great place to live.

June 23, 2020

          Hayden’ Egley's hard work at Utah State University this year earned her a 4.0 college GPA, and an Associates Degree after only one year. Not only that, she is the recipient of an amazing scholarship from the Delta Scholarship Fund to go with her studies for next year. She is the daughter of Jared and Juli Egley.

          It is summer time and that means rodeo time in these parts. We have three young ladies actively involved in the royalty side of that sport. Jyllian Christensen is the WarBonnet Princess of that rodeo, even though it has been canceled this summer due to the virus. She will still be participating in parades and other celebrations representing her title with the War Bonnet. Greenlee Christensen has been chosen to be the Cache County Fair and Rodeo Jr. Princess. These two daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen have always been in love with horses. Ella Jepsen, daughter of Melinda and Kerry Jepsen, will be the Jr. Queen of That Famous Preston Night Rodeo. It is a trio of beautiful young ladies.

        The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mink Creek held its first Sacrament Meeting on June 14. Members attended in two separate sessions according to surnames: A-J in the first session, allowing some sanitizing time following, and K-Z names in the second time slot. It was wonderful to see smiling eyes of friends able to meet together, to feel the emotional and spiritual warmth of one another.

         Tara Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, has accepted a call to serve in the New Zealand, Hamilton, Mission. She will be leaving for down under in September.

Shae Donaldson, who returned from her missionary service to Paraguay with the March COVID-19 changes, is now engaged to be married and making plans for a June wedding. It will take place in the Phoenix/Gilbert area of Arizona.

         Alex Huxford and his sons come up every so often from their home in Stansbury Park, UT, to spend time with his uncle, Richard and Vickie Free. Alex spent summers at the Free ranch during his teenage years so Mink Creek, community and territory, is a strong part of good memories.

       There was a motorcycle accident up Strawberry canyon and we had multiple emergency vehicles making their presence known as they hurried to the location on one of the curves, Rumor was that a pickup and a motorcycle got in each other's way.

        Some warm days, several in a row, that have helped to dry out the wet hay in the windrows. Cool nights that bring on dew and slows the harvest down a mite in the mornings.

June 16, 2020

          The fierce winds of last week, coupled with some hard rain took some of the brightness from our yellow and copper rose bushes that dot our landscape this time of year. Many of these bushes grow where once there was a pioneer home, now years gone, but the flowering bushes remain for reminders of what was.

         Trying to ignore the wet weather it is still haying season for our local farmers. The weevil have been producing a cloud of greyish white as they eat the hay that is ready for harvest. The rain storms flitting in and about keep the mowed hay, lying in windrows, too damp to bale, so it is a continuing battle to harvest this first crop this spring.

         Our Naomi Wilde has made it, one more year. She turned 105 on June 6. Although she now lives in Pocatello in an assisted living facility, she will always be a Mink Creek resident. Her wit and musical talents have enhanced our lives for a long time.

      

        Due to an overlook with the usual Mink Creek News in the Preston Citizen, last week and this week has ended up combined in the paper printed version. In an effort to keep the blog somewhat on the same page as the paper version this read is limited to what was added, plus a few.

         Today has been nearly a day-long drip of rain, starting before the sun got a chance to rise. The rain fell on acres and acres of mowed hay, so the day has had a shroud of gloom for those hoping for a choice first crop of alfalfa. Not sure who won this round of the battle—weevil or rain, but definitely not the farmer.

          There are still plans being made for the annual July 4^th celebration, but at the same time we are trying to stay within the restrictions and follow guidelines set up with the COVID-19. That said, there are bound to be some limitations, the usual feast is intended to be scaled back. It is pretty difficult to estimate how few, or how many, people may be in attendance. Trying to place some 'normalcy back into our lives is no easy task.

June 10, 2020

         Our River McKay Morgan, daughter of Sharla and Lin McKay, has graduated from Utah State University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Product Design and Development. She isn't just adding a new chapter to her life, this step into her future will be a whole new section, recently married, now has a new job where she will be creating motorcycle gear in a new location. Adventure as life unfolds.

         Phee and Robert Crosland are announcing two new grandchildren. Malia and Jason Kunde of Rigby, ID, had a baby boy on May 18. He is a first and is welcomed by four excited sisters. Dr. Giovanni and Kristine Crosland, now of Tremonton, UT, added a little girl to their family, now numbering three boys, three girls.

         Many thanks to our sextons who take care of the beautiful Mink Creek Cemetery. Over the holiday the colorful flowers, decorations and photos of some of the cemetery residents made it a spot where visitors wanted to come, linger and browse. The field of golden mules' ear blossoms that flow up the slope east of the cemetery only makes the place more attractive. Our founding fathers chose the perfect spot for their resting place.

          Laural and Jody Janke and their children drove up from Richfield, UT, and spent the holiday weekend with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Even the rain and gloom that arrived one day couldn't dampen the fun of being together for the first time since Christmas.

          The annual Mink Creek School Reunion, previously scheduled for June 20 at the church recreation hall, has been canceled for this year, due to the restrictions of the COVID 19. It has been postponed to take place the summer of 2021. Karen Olson Tribett, now living in Payson, UT, has been planning this and will continue to be in charge for the next gathering. She asks that all those planning to attend keep their memories intact and just put them on a shelf, ready for a year from now.

        Some of you may recall some years ago when we had a snow storm on the 4^th of July. We are hoping that doesn't happen again. This past week we have had rain, some cold, some a little warmer. We have had thrashing winds. No damage that I know of. For at least two nights it has been advisable to cover up our infant gardens and tomato plants. Not exactly ideal weather for haying season.

June 2, 2020

         Sherrie and Ernie York are back in town after having a great time in warmer climes the past few months. For these two retirees from Hill Air Force Base they were located in a spot with many things relating to their interests, near Bouse, AZ. It was close to where General Patton had a training camp for his soldiers during World War II. The Yorks took side by side rides to ghost mining towns. They learned about navigational aides for women pilots ferrying planes during the war. They are glad to be home in Mink Creek, but miss the new friends that they made down south. In some areas a welcome mat is red, but in Mink Creek it is certainly green during this time of year and that is welcoming the Yorks.

          Maria and Devin Flake and son Jude were up from Utah to spend some time just being 'home.' They all needed some time with Maria's mother, Lana, and Ivan McCracken and the open spaces of the surrounding mountains.

            A new tiny girl has arrived in Mink Creek. She was born to Cynthia and Justin Longhurst on May 14. Tiny is the right word for her, weighing in at 5 pounds and only 18 inches long, but round and doing well, bringing much happiness with her.

           Elder Walter Iverson is now back in the mission field. He is the son of Kurt and Margret Iverson. He was the first missionary to be reassigned from the Preston North Stake and is now serving in the Alabama, Birmingham, Mission. He flew there on May 15^th. Elder Iverson had been serving in the Dominican Republic and now needed a few changes made in supplies, clothing, etc. that he would need in this new location. He particularly needed new shoes, which is a positive sign for a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had been speaking Spanish in the Dominican Republic and that may, or may not, be part of this new assignment. Depending on the COVID-19 situation there is still the possibility of his return to his first field of labor, as he continues to serve. He got home on March 24, and self-isolated for two weeks with his family. Prior to that he had been quarantined for six days before his flight home. On May 14 he was set-apart for his new assignment.

          Parents, children and teachers are welcoming the release from their online school situation. It has been a learning experience for one and all. They are all looking forward to the change of pace that comes with summer, including nice weather.

         Warm days have arrived, along with active ants, pill bugs, renewed box elder bugs, and other tormentors for the average human. Air conditioning is appreciated already. Have yet to hear the activities of the county mosquito controllers, but hopefully they will be active again this summer. Irrigation in all forms is a top priority, whether it be for the lawn of field.

        We are still under the COVID-19 rules, but rumor has it that things will be loosening up soon. People are hungry for a bit of social interaction.