January 26, 2022

 

It is basketball season among the youth of the Preston North Stake wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. The Mink Creek boys are playing with the youth of Riverdale 1^st and Riverdale 2^nd wards, combining so that we all have sufficient number to make a team and enjoy the fun. Brandon Stephenson of the Riverdale 1^st ward is coaching this bunch.

We have another sporting event in Mink Creek. Each Wednesday evening the community residents are invited to gather at the LDS Rec Hall for games of pickleball. The invite is for all, beginners and experts, with the first part of the time spent on getting acquainted with the game before the heavy competition and skills begin. The duo behind this fun night are Brittnee Phillips and her mother Jonia Jackson. They claim that a little exercise is good for the soul and are committed to proving that claim. Spectators are invited as well, cheering while visiting.

The family of Laural and Jody Janke, now living in Rexburg, ID, came down for a few days of sledding on the Mink Creek slopes and remembering their years of living here. Jody is still employed by Rocky Mountain Power and was transferred to Rexburg a few months ago. The family is pleased to be back in Idaho.

January arrived and with it the anticipation of the annual Mink Creek Ward ski night at Beaver Resort up Logan Canyon. It has been a highlight of our winter activities over many years. The event took place on January 7, a Friday night that began officially at 5 p.m. All ages are welcome and some who are now grandparents had their first skiing experience as a child at the Ward Ski Night. This year it was reported that Royce Christensen was the oldest skier on the hill and Timber Christensen was the youngest, at seven years. These two do not belong to the same immediate family although their roots are connected genealogically.

VeyAnn Colvin is staying in Mink Creek with her grandparents, JoAnn and Drew Ford, while she is in between semesters at BYU/I in Rexburg, ID. Her home is in Iowa. The Fords have just welcomed a new great-grandson. He was born to Jay and Elle Sievers, of Rockland, ID.

We had some water from the Upper Ditch overflow during the thawing days and it made its way down through the fields, across the next irrigation ditch and on down until it caused water and muck to sweep across Birch Creek Road located just after the first turn from Highway 36. The county road crew came out and cleaned it up, posted signs to caution drivers.  I recall a similar situation a few years back and a driver during the early morning dark went off the lower side, lucky to be caught in the heavy chokecherry bushes growing below. 

These last few days the only thing close to flowing is ice. The snow, rain, snow, thaw cycle, then add that all surfaces in our community is slanted and that is the picture for anyone wanting to take a stroll outdoors.