April 9, 2025

 

The family of Stuart and Alona Ostler did some splits during spring break and had a marvelous time. There was a fishing trip to the Salmon River country that turned out very successful. Mexico is an annual spring sprint for Alona and her mother Jody Sharp and this time they included sister Brenda Shaffer. Lots of smiles and lots of fun.

Lauren and Ken Nash were up from Sol Vang, CA for a few days to get things ready for more frequent visits from various Haws family members at the hang-out on the shores of Mink Creek itself.

ReNae Egley just got back from another travel session with her friend, Jill Baird Hobbs. They have been to Thailand and seen and done wondrous things. The buildings, museums have much to offer, the scenery was beautiful. Preparing Thai food as well as eating it is something they can add ti their everyday lives. They learned so much about elephants with personal interaction, feeding them, playing with them, preparing food for them and just enjoying the personality of each animal.

Heather Tuttle came over from Garland, UT, to spend some time with her parents, Tammy and Kent Beardall. There was a special occasion, that of her parents speaking in a Sunday meeting. .

Kurt and Margret Iverson took advantage of the spring break time to visit New Zealand. One objective of this trip to faraway was the attending of the Wellington, New Zealand , Temple newly completed for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is much to enjoy in beautiful New Zealand.

Lawns are being raked, even mowed.  Flower beds are being readied.   Green shoots of daffodils are in evidence at the back entry of the LDS church.  All sure signs that the population, human and otherwise are feeling the shift of the seasons.  I am even hearing the roar of motorcycles quite regularly.

April 2, 2025

  The Influenza A strain has taken a number of residents out of commission for a lengthy stretch.  One resident was down with the stuff for six weeks.  Nothing good can be said about the bug, unless it might be that a person so afflicted enjoys staying home with lots of naps of exhaustion.

A project for the community of Mink Creek that took considerable time to complete was the compiling and editing of a book entitled Women of Mink Creek. It is a record about the women who now live in this small community, and includes glimpses into the past as well. Some of the stories are from residents of long-standing, others may have lived here only a short time. The project grew and blossomed as stories were submitted to Cecelie Costley, a counselor in the current Mink Creek Relief Society presidency. Cecelie was the inspiration and provided the narrative to tie the stories into the final copy. The printed edition has been very popular and gives a little different perspective from some of the past histories of Mink Creek.

Jyllian Christensen, daughter of Kerry and Lacey Christensen, and a junior at Preston High School participated in the Distinguished Young Women pageant recently. A skilled horsewoman, Jyllian has competed in a number of rodeo royalty competitions in past years.

Kasey and Julia Haws are now permanently Crickers. Kasey has been spending vacation times in Mink Crik since he was a kid, coming with his parents from California to enjoy Idaho summertime with his grandparents, Louis and Eleanor Engel. Through the years, as the senior sibling of his family, Kasey has made sure the Engel/Haws home was taken care of. Now they have purchased the former home of Drew and JoAnn Ford up Bear Creek Road and those Idaho roots are spreading out, here to stay, with reverse visits to California.

A newer resident is Anita Hadley, also from California. She purchased the Steve and Amy Baldwin home with its beautiful porch and view in the distance of the west side mountains.

There is that feeling of spring, and along with it has come the awakening of dormant box elder bugs and the invasion of early mosquitoes. The storms passing through have not been sufficient to discourage them