March 18, 2025

 

With the excitement of Preston High's basketball team headed to Boise for the Idaho State 5A tournament a number of Mink Creek residents followed them for the three day challenge. This team has provided many hours of spectator fun this whole season. It was extra exciting when the team proved their prowess and became the State Champions for the 2025 year.

The community was part of the food drive of the Preston East Stake for supplies to be donated to the Preston Community Food Pantry. Some foods were brought to the meetinghouse, others were gathered door to door by the young men and all delivered to the food bank.

LaMar and Claudine McKague's family all gathered in Utah to attend the wedding and festivities of their son Ethan McKague and Caitlin Paulson, the daughter of Clint and Jamie Paulson. There are five McKague siblings and all were able to make the trip: three from southeastern Idaho and one from Vancouver, WA, where the McKagues resided prior to moving to Mink Creek. Ethan and Caitlin will make their home in Lehi, UT.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox have received another mission assignment for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This time they will be serving in Bluff, UT at another historic site. It is the area of the famous “Hole In the Rock” that was part of the early colonization of the church members to the southwest. The Wilcox are due to arrive in Bluff before the end of March and will soon be on their way. Several of their children and grandchildren have made recent visits in Mink Creek, aware of this next time of extended absence of their parents.

Some of the local wildlife are as confused about the spring/winter as are we humans. Migrating birds with their overhead  view considering the landscape might think twice about dropping down into a land where the snowplows are busy into the wee hours of the mornings. They may want to have a break further south before resuming their flights.

March 12, 2025

 

On a Saturday morning the members of the Mink Creek Relief Society were invited to join a session of tying quilts. Spearheaded by Danita Wilcox this was a project long in the process. Donations of scraps and larger pieces of fabric had been given to Danita to assemble into quilt tops as a humanitarian service, quilts for those needing the same. The results, after several months of stitching, were six tops that had been pieced together, set in frames and now in need of tying. About twenty ladies volunteered their services and gathered at the recreation hall. A brunch was served of breakfast casseroles, a french toast casserole, fruit plates and veggie trays. Along with the task at hand there was the enjoyment of being together and socializing. The next step was to find volunteers to sew the binding of the quilt edges to have a finished wrap of warmth.

The Young Men also had a a couple of days of snowmobiling together, knowing the days of fresh white snow may be limited as spring nears. Dads and leaders went with the guys, starting out from the Birch Creek parking lot. Those on the ride were Bishop Jared and Morgan Keller, Jesse Wilcox, Carson Christensen, Matt Rhees, Brian Peterson, Kurt and Conner Iverson, Per and Krister Danfors, Jesse and Elliot Keller. They met at the warming hut in Horseshoe Basin for lunch then rode over to the Bear Lake side to spend the night at a cabin in St. Charles. LaRon Baird and his sons Hazen and Orrin drove over from Mink Creek with food to meet them in St. Charles and spend the night.  No injuries were reported and just a few scratches on the machines. Lots of smiles from a great activity.

We have multiple indications of health issues.  Among them are arms in special slings to keep  shoulders in place,  a leg scooter for a healing broken leg, several leg boots, not to mention absences due to respiratory disturbances. 

There are reports of crocuses putting in appearances and the recent warm days have pushed yard snow way back.  Spring?  Forecast is for three stormy days this coming weekend.  I guess that does make it spring.

March 5, 2025

 

The community Winter Dinner Night Out event was enjoyed by many. A nursery was provided for the benefit of those attending who had children needing a babysitter. The evening took place in the recreation hall of the LDS Church building and the room was full with ten round tables, seating eight at each table. The theme for decorations, of course, was Winter. Those in charge for the dinner were members of the activity committee: Lacey Christensen, Kim Christensen and Clare Christensen, all separate families, a common surname in this area. The menu was Beef brisket with a barbeque sauce, baked potatoes, mixed vegetables, rolls. Dessert was a choice of chocolate presentations, provided potluck style by those attending. The warmth of mutual friends was felt throughout the night.

Laura Cheney and Cindy Hanson have returned from their cruise to the Bahamas and the Caribbean waters. When they left to enjoy this venture the local temperatures were fairly warm and on their return they found that winter had arrived in this corner of Idaho.

Mink Creek has had two of its youth participating in the winter sports of Preston High School. Hazen Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird was on the wrestling squad until an injury made it impossible for him to be active. Elliot Keller, son of Jesse and Shawna Keller, played on the JV team in basketball.

Connie and Adam Westenskow and Emma spent an overnighter with her parents, Layne and Karen Erickson. The Westenskows live in Logan but this was an occasion of celebrating Connie's birthday at home in Mink Creek.

There is constant change. Is the mud season upon us? But it is only the first few days of March, which came wafting in as the proverbial 'lamb' weather-wise. Seed catalogs have arrived and some residents are even ready to do their indoor planting in preparation for a early spring with their gardens.