December 18, 2023

 

The Rotarian’s annual Christmas concert was an event to bring in the season. Several Mink Creek residents have been attending the weekly practices since October, particularly Anna Beth Olson who was conducting the music for much of the concert.

There are encouraging reports on the progress of the repairs taking place in the meeting house for the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sheet rock has been installed and painting was planned for this past week. There is hope that the membership can be back in their building by the end of this month, with much appreciation to the Riverdale community for sharing their church house during these past weeks.

The Young Women of the village have done a couple of fun activities. They met at the Pop n’Pins bowling alley and competed in “skittles bowling” giving much laughter and possibly sticky fingers. The following week they were treated to a “breakfast for dinner—french toast, sausage, cocoa and cider” at the home of Claudine McKague, YW President. Activities were holiday decorating and sessions of ping-pong.

Due to the repairs underway, the community had considered canceling the annual Christmas Party, but opted instead to do a rather simple, spur of the moment gathering at the Riverdale Cultural Hall. It was fun and being together is important during this season. A variety of carols were sung, a skit using “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the basic script—in a variety of languages brought out that the holiday was celebrated worldwide. Primary children portrayed the Nativity, with no pre-rehearsals. The three wise men, in costume, Jimmie Olson, Eldon Wilcox and Mike Jepsen dispensed treats. The evenings refreshment was a slice of delicious cheesecake. The last offering was the viewing a video of a silhouette Nativity, the reason for the season that brought the group together.

Highway 36 between Mink Creek and Bear Lake was closed to traffic for some time. Snow slides across the roadway in Emigration Canyon blocked any passage and time was needed to clear the road.

We are seeing small groups of deer, five or a few more, crossing the highway. Perhaps there is more safety in numbers. One report was of around 25 claiming their right-of-way and holding up traffic—this in broad daylight.