June 25, 2025

 

The newest members of the Mink Creek LDS Ward are Logan and Emma Shurtz. They are building a home at the top of Capitol Hill Road. The couple come from the Tremonton, UT, area by way of Cupertino, CA, where Logan's line of work had them living previously.

Phee and Robert Crosland went up to Archer, ID, to participate in the blessing and naming of a new granddaughter. She has been named Jaycie June Crosland, daughter of Angelo and Karissa Crosland.. While there they celebrated the second birthday of Angelo's oldest daughter Elsie. Several of the Crosland family gathered at the cabin of Malia and Jason Kunde in Island Park, an unplanned reunion.

Dan and Casey Christensen had all their family home for Fathers' Day. That includes three married daughters, Sydney, Ellie, and Annie, plus husbands and two grandsons, and daughter Josie still at home. It was a wonderful day of memory sharing.

Candy Longhurst took some days for a trip to Hawaii to be with daughter Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler and their children. It was a plus for Candy when her pilot on the flight was her son Jake Longhurst. Coincidence?, or not.

Forrest and Patti Christensen have returned to Mink Creek for their summer break from their present home in Florida. While the temperatures here lately have been very warm it does lack the humidity that is hard to escape near the ocean.

Yes, it is mid June, but the temperatures have dropped now for several days, to the point that it is wisdom to cover what garden growth there is as night approaches. Some residents have reported frost on their windshields in the morning as they got to work. The weather reports that the 90 plus degree days will shortly return. A confusing start for hopeful gardeners.

June 17, 2025

 

Local farmers in the hay business have been taking advantage of the warm dry days, mowing the crop into windrows for drying. Waiting for the next step of baling before the first hauling of the season. A newcomer to Mink Creek asked why more round bales were not used, until they gave it some thought, realizing that round bales on a sloping field would present problems of rolling in various directions and causing one more challenge to harvesting the crop and removing it for the next growth.

School out, good weather, both tend to bring summer folk of Mink Creek to their homes for extended periods. Sam and Sylvia Stanger have the lights on in their perch above the Mink Creek Ballpark. Jim and Debbie Harrison are at home more often, escaping the St. George summer heat.

The first week of June was on the schedule for the annual Girls' Camp for the Young Women organization. This years it was organized at the Stake level for all girls in the Preston East Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their camp was in Heber Valley Camp in Utah. Four girls were able to attend and their leaders were Claudine McKague, Jonia Jackson, Kaytlin Jackson (not related) with Kerry Christensen as a priesthood leader for the group and Paul McKay serving on the stake food committee. They all came home, grateful for these few days of being together, learning and having fun and enriching experiences.

The new lambs, calves and goats are enjoying this weather. They get exhausted from too much play.

Our yards are full of birds that have returned and the turkeys have gone to higher ground for a season. The frequent hot winds have a way of drying things quickly and we are enjoying the green landscape for as long as nature allows.

Some days our Highway 36 sounds like it could be a part of a freeway. This two lane road is one route to Yellowstone Park and the Tetons which may add to the traffic. Heavy trucks, semis, motorcycles individual and in packs. At all hours day and night. Of course, there is also farm equipment as befits the growing and harvesting season, and can slow down some of the rest.

June 10, 2025

 

Garth and Robin Stevenson went south to Bluff, UT. They spent some time with friends, Eldon and Danita Wilcox, who are presently serving a mission in that area. There are all sorts of things to learn about the “Hole In The Rock” site from it's history, as well as pioneer crafts and skills.

Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox and their son Desmond have returned from a long vacation to Annavelyn's family in the Philippines. They soaked up the closeness of the ocean, did some trekking through the jungle, visited places where Jesse had served when he was a missionary in the Philippines.

Royce and Lorraine Christensen celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary recently with a dinner at Maddox in Brigham City. All of their children were able to meet them there and share memories. Kevin came up from Arizona, Kim from Boise, Fred from Provo, UT, Carrie now in Layton and Colleen from Riverdale, ID.

Nate and Dana Olson of Station Creek enjoyed a visit from his daughter, Mary Lou, who drove down from Boise.

The Primary children and leaders, plus some extra volunteers, headed to the Mink Creek Cemetery with the beginning of June to clear the grounds of the leftovers from Memorial Day. Using gloves was the order of the day and the task was accomplished fairly quickly. Those youngsters could move up and down the slope with ease and agility. It was a deed well done.

Kent and Tammy Beardall were in Spanish Fork, UT, to celebrate the graduation of their grandson, Braxton Beardall from Spanish Fork High School. He is the son of Shawn and Callie Beardall. The graduation program was held at the UCCU Center in Orem, UT.

Graduations are in full swing. Bob and Claudia Erickson attended ceremonies for their granddaughter, Sophia Janke, graduating from Sugar-Salem High School. This program took place in the BYU/I Center in Rexburg, ID. Sophia's parents are Laural and Jody Janke of Teton, ID.

With the better weather showing some consistency  there are at least three new houses under construction at this time.  Small acreage, homes away from the city that seems fast encroaching.

June 4, 2025

 

The Lewis & Clark Volunteers, a Mountain Men group based in Soda Springs, have held their annual Memorial Day Rendezvous spread out over some of the Vernon Keller farm on the shores of Mink Creek. The weather held good this year for them to enjoy their activities and target practice.

It was certainly a “Come Home” weekend in Mink Creek during the Memorial Day holiday. The chief meeting place was the cemetery, beautiful with flowers, decorations and pictures of those now resting there. A new bench has been installed at the top.

Two Crane families gathered for the holiday. All of the children of Keith and Ramona Crane were able to come along with their spouses. They had several days together at a local Air BnB, that just happens to be the former home of their uncle Basil and Molly Crane. RoZann now lives in Salt Lake City, Lisa is in St. George, UT. Dr. Gilbert is well known in the Burley, ID, area. Tracy calls Vernal, UT, home, and Kelly is in Laramie, WY. , connected with University of Wyoming. It has been a great time to share memories in a place well loved.

The children of Rex and Brucia Crane came together at the Crane House of Bruce and Shauna Crane with sisters Linda Shewmaker of Jerome and Sheryl May of Rupert and their husbands. It has been quite awhile for such a concentrated Crane assembly.

The Hansen House was full of Hansen family. Siblings: Pat and Dirk Bowles of Fairview, Wes and Heather Hansen of Ogden, UT, Sandra and Earl Kemp of Farmington, UT, Roxanne and Wes Beutler of Dayton. This group built a retreat on the farm where they grew up and it has been perfect for family gatherings.

Colleen Pearson Hawkes came home to the Pearson property with her daughter Melanie and Greg Evans of Lehi, UT. Colleen still lives in Kaysville. Her son, Chad and Denise Hawkes of Morgan, UT, joined the family group this year.

Warm days, cool nights, a perfect time of year for those who choose to live here.  And those warm days, this year, are warmer than usual.