April 30, 2025

 

An Easter Egg Hunt provided some egg-citing fun on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Eggs were hidden all around the Mink Creek Church grounds, sponsored by the Young Women, it was for the children ages 11 and under. The young ladies had the extra fun of assembling the treats and doing the hiding. There were lots of plastic eggs filled with treats and all who participated had fun in the hunting and the excitement of the “find.” Containers went home full.

Jonia Jackson is home after enjoying a vacation time in Florida. She was visiting her son John and his family and the warmth made it all the more inviting.

Kim and Sam Daines were up from Lehi, UT, spending time in Mink Creek. Kim's mother, Judy Clark now lives in Preston and other family is scattered around the county.

With the “Mamma Mia” play two McKague siblings arrived to support sister Elsie McKague and their mother Claudine in the performances. Sage and Nathan Ricks were down from Idaho Falls, Ethan and Caitlin McKague drove up from Lehi, UT., This visit added even more fun for an Easter family gathering.

ReNea and Raphael Arnsworth enjoyed the Easter holiday at the home of her parents. Steve and Charlotte Haddock live in Pocatello.

David and Melanie Law were up from Kaysville to ready their house for summer gatherings. It was a bit of an escape from the Utah storms of late.

The true sign of spring's arrival is that of the awakening of the wasps in the Mink Creek LDS chapel. They are making themselves known and are taken in stride by the community, but visitors get a little more alarmed.

Sprucing up from winter has started. Trimming of evergreens into better shapes after the snow weight has done some bending. Patchy lawns getting some early treatment in hope for improvement. Fixing fences, both domestic and agricultural.

April 23, 2025

 

The Syringa Camp of the local DUP met this month at the home of Colleen Wilde on Capitol Hill Road. Julie Westerberg presented an interesting lesson about pioneer involvement with Indian tribes. Karen Erickson shared an ancestor story discovered through genealogy research, of a tribal ancestor from the 1500's, located in what is now Rhode Island. Last month's DUP meeting was at the home of Linda Carlsen in Preston.

Very well attended was the wedding of Lana Baird and Paul Swainston, held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mink Creek. Officiator of the ceremony was Bishop Nathan Palmer of the Preston 10^th Ward, where this new couple will now be residing. It was a joyous occasion for family and friends.

The Hansen House has been humming with springtime. Wes and Heather Hansen came up from the Ogden area for one weekend. Not long after the parking spots at the retreat contained outfits belonging to Roxanne and Wesley Beutler's family of Dayton. It is great to be able to always “come home to Mink Creek.”

Brad and RaOne Stuart were in Mink Creek for the funeral and burial of RaOne's cousin, Dee Virile Christensen of Dayton. Christensen was born and raised in Mink Creek, he recently passed away resulting from a confrontation with a bull at his farm.

Each week for some of the wintery months there has been a game night. In the village. Those who wish can gather at the LDS Rec Hall for playing rounds of Bunco and this is serving as a way of getting acquainted among those who are recent residents of the community. The social side, plus some potluck refreshments has made this a popular cold weather activity. We will see what happens when warmth brings on outdoor work and longer daylight hours.

The winter sleep of nature  is sliding away with growth and animals waking up.  Canadian geese have arrived and are enjoying our ponds, building nests.  Skunks are out and about particularly during night hours.  Deer are checking out their old snacking areas.  

April 16, 2025.

 

When a weed burning project gets out of control it becomes distressing and alarming. This was probably the case with a fire that burned some acreage in the Station Creek hills. Several fire departments arrived to take care of the spreading blaze and the smoke could be seen for miles around. We are grateful for the firefighters and their expertise.

Phee and Robert Crosland drove down to Eagle Mountain, UT, to witness the blessing and naming of a new grandchild. She is the daughter of Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield, UT, and was named Britta Crosland.

Kim Rasmussen was able to stay true to a personal tradition. He went to the March Madness in Las Vegas, NV, with his brother-in-law, Hays Carr, and enjoyed every minute. Such a relief after dealing with the long-lasting seasonal cough this year.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward has a new organ in the chapel, much to the enjoyment of all who attend. There are also three recently baptized members in the congregation. Kason Rhees, son of Matt and Chelsey Rhees was baptized in February when the family was on a vacation in New Zealand. The Rhees family were visiting grandparents who are serving a mission in New Zealand. Jamie Osborn and her daughter Shylynne Osborne were baptized in March at the Preston East Stake Center.

Bryan and Shannon Erickson of Wellsville, UT, held a nearly family reunion when they celebrated the birthdays of Bryan's mother Karen Erickson and his sister, Terrie McKay, born on the same day. A goodly number of the Erickson family gathered in Wellsville to recognize the day.

Expected a change from the warm spring weather we have been having--and it surely came to pass.  All things white  and we look like a normal January, meaning that it is on the verge of thawing but hasn't quite decided yet.    We are hoping that anything that has decided to put forth some greenery does not get wiped out in the next few days.

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