May 22, 2024

 

Skyler and McKinley Longhurst Stevens are back home in Franklin County. They have finished their educational pursuits in Raleigh, North Carolina and are now checking out opportunities for future plans. It is nice to be on their home turf. It has been a year of learning a new culture in the east as well as the schooling.

These two did some “house sitting”, along with Emily Longhurst and Tony Viviano, for their mother Candy Longhurst while she was on a trip to the British Isles. Candy is a hiker of our green mountains and she loved hiking in Scotland and Ireland, that are equally green right now. She spent two weeks roaming the spring beauty with friends. They took in Inverness and its history in Scotland, loved the beauty of the lochs (lakes). Then there was Dublin in Ireland and the Blarney Castle and gardens. Candy was able to kiss the famous Blarney stone.

LaMar and Claudine McKague drove down to Lehi, UT, to attend a surprise farewell party at Thanksgiving Point that was honoring Jeff and Christine Waddoups Rich. Jeff, Christine and Claudine grew up together, best friends during their high school days at Preston High School. They were joined by another classmate, Kim Clark. It will be President and Sister Rich this coming summer as the couple depart to serve in Thailand as the Missionary President and wife for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that area. Jeff is the son of Larry and Dorothy Rich and Christine is the daughter of Jerry and Caroline Waddoups.

We are saddened to write of the death of Elaine Mikesell Larsen, the wife of Craig Larsen. She had recently spent some days in the hospital and was happy to be going home. She has lived in Mink Creek for nearly fifteen years and will be missed by many. A graveside service took place on May 17^th, at the Fairview Cemetery.

We hear of the “wind sweeping down the hills,” but this week we had the wind roaring up into our mountains. Local amateur weathermen recorded it at 32 mph steadily, with gusts at over 37 miles per hour. At least one barn roof was damaged and multiple loose outdoor garbage cans and furniture went rolling to new locations. The downpour of rain that was part of the blitz gave us a good soaking.

We got an unexpected freeze last night. Ice on the sprinklers this morning and any unprotected garden plants likely taken out. Around here the general rule is don’t plant until after Mothers’ Day—that was 10 days ago.

May 14, 2024

 

Ballroom dancing has taken the front stage for two of our families recently. Mink Creek had three young performers participating in Dancing With the Stars event at Preston High School. Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen are daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen. Hazen Baird is the son of Liesa and LaRon Baird. Greenlee and her partner, Dr. Hansen, were awarded 3^rd place for their fast-stepped dance. Beautiful gowns, dancing music and performers, what a great show!

Eldon and Danita Wilcox enjoyed a warm trip to Cloverdale, CA to reconnect with friends made while serving in Pennsylvania on their mission. While down that way they visited four new Latter-day Saint temples. Then they drove up the coast to Kennewick, WA, and the Tri-Cities to spend time with Eldon’s brother. On the trip home they managed two more temples, Twin Falls and Meridian.

Lorraine Christensen spent some time in Layton, UT, with daughter, Carrie and Ken Melton and their family. The occasion was that of Carrie receiving her Masters Degree from Weber State in Ogden. Later they were able to take in a tour of the open house at the Layton Temple, along with the Melton grandchildren.

ReNae Egley recently joined her friends Jill Hobbs and LeLan Daines for another trip abroad. This time it was back to parts of Europe: Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania. It was a mixture of scenery, architecture, statues, new foods and all sorts of long ago history. Monasteries, castles, the Danube River, multiple lakes, rose gardens, ancient Roman ruins and artifacts, museums, cities large and small. It was an amazing adventure for this traveling trio.

There are reports, with pictures, of moose moving around in Strawberry Canyon. It is amazing how those big creatures can pop out of the forest while crossing the highway in front of a vehicle.

Long before I had any idea I would spend most of life in Mink Creek, Idaho, a friend's father who had passed through this valley many times going from Star Valley to Utah  described it as an "apple valley." He had memories of smelling the blossoms on the trees as they drove thru in the spring, and again a more mature scent of the trees filled with apples in the fall trip.  Now it is the spring apple valley time in Mink Creek. Breathe it in.

May 8, 2024

 

Bob and Claudia Erickson and LaMar and Claudine McKague drove up to Newdale, ID, to take part in the celebration of the marriage of Abigail Janke to Austin Leas. These two met while attending classes at BYU/ Idaho in Rexburg. It was an outdoor party, blessed with lovely weather and plenty of space for the games, visiting, and dancing that had been planned. Abi grew up in Mink Creek and is part of the nursing program at BYU/Idaho. The family of Jody and Laural Janke now live in Teton, ID.

Courtney Carr was here for a few days with her grandmother, Mary Jean Rasmussen and her uncle, Kim Rasmussen. Courtney is finishing her first year in the graduate program at Utah State University.

Andy Olson, son of Jeff Olson, spent a few days with his father and Barbara Olson at their home near Station Creek. Andy has now retired from his career in the military where he has been headquartered in Ft. Collins, CO. He and his family are currently living in South Carolina.

Congratulations to Brooke Corbett Reichman on her graduation from Utah Valley University in the College of Health and Public Service. Now a Registered Nurse with the desired degrees she is looking forward to a new chapter in her life, as her husband Josh readies for more medical school. She was home to spend some time with her Dad, Shane Corbett and brother Austin.

It is always fun to see the high school prom attire and the floral arrangements that come out the morning after the Prom. Guys look just as great as the girls.

Jonia Jackson is the new water master for the Mink Creek area. She is assuming the position after the retirement of Reed Swann last fall. Jonia has recently had her sisters Julie and Jennie arrive for some fun family time.

The return of semi-winter days and temperatures is a bit discouraging, but we know it will not last. The blooming tulips look beautiful in a light blanket of snow. The winds have been pretty rough on any fruit tree that is in the blossoming phase, but it is part of Idaho spring. In the seed catalogs we are not listed in the balmy regions for a reason.

May 1, 2024

 Happy May Day, Everyone!  In all the researching of the past that I do I have found that at the beginning of the 20th Century and for years beyond May Day was a time of big celebrations, at least in the farming areas.  They had a May pole, colorful streamers, danced around it.  Families gathered for a day of fun.  My guess is that it was a welcome day to take a break from the hard physical labor they put forth daily in order to survive and progress  with their neighbors.  

The last few nights have been beautiful with the full moon and a few cloud strips to serve as reflectors. Recently several of our residents were able to travel to an area in the United Stated where it was possible to observe the total eclipse of the sun with that same moon. Wynn and Cecelie Costley timed a visit to El Dorado, AR, and the home of their daughter Hannah and Spencer Singleton. The Kent and Tammy Beardall family made a trip to Oklahoma. Robert and Phee Crosland drove down to Texas, current home of their son Marco Crosland and his family. Most of our community enjoyed getting a smaller percentage of the eclipse here at home.

Emma Rasmussen, daughter of Trevor and April Rasmussen performed in the Bennett Cup vocal competition at Preston High School. She sang “It Might As Well Be Spring” and was accompanied by Judy Wilde. There was quite an “Emma Rasmussen Fan Club” in attendance that night to offer support and cheer. Congratulation on a performance well done!

Layne and Karen Erickson and their daughter Terrie McKay went to Logan for the blessing of the Erickson’s granddaughter. This tiny girl is the first child of Connie and Adam Westenskow. She was given the name of Emma Lynn Westenskow. Emma started her life as a preemie and it has taken a few months to be ready for this occasion.

Leon Loveland passed away in a motorcycle accident and his funeral was held in Mink Creek on April 20. He was buried in the Mink Creek Cemetery. His son Mike and a niece, Jamie  Osborne are residents.

There are blossoms on the apricot, peach and cherry trees, and wild plums. It makes for a fruity perfume in the outdoors. There are also sniffles and sneezes, as allergy season kicks into gear. With the snow receding there are more trails sufficiently dry for good hiking. We are hearing the roar of motorcycles rather than that of snowmobiles.

April 24, 2024

 

Some of our residents are getting ahead of the garden game. Those who own small greenhouses are enjoying the fun of watching for sprouted seeds. Some have devised ways of indoor planting without the greenhouse, and are looking forward to when the weather will be favorable to actually dig in the ground. It is that time of year. This includes getting lawnmowers ready for the ongoing task, checking on weed killer, lawn fertilizer and all the various activities that abound with warm weather.

It is also the time of year for our spring Roadside Cleanup morning. On the 13^th of April volunteers gathered at the Mink Creek Ballpark at 8 a.m for instructions and a supply of orange pickup bags, then headed to their assigned areas to search out debris that had been deposited, mainly by passing motorists, along the sides of Highway 36, that also happens to be the main drag of our village. Task completed, the workers gathered back to the ballpark to share a breakfast that had been created by Clare and Linda Christensen and their crew of helpers. The weather was perfect for the activity, a factor that always figures in on the success.

Syringa Camp of the DUP met this month at the home of Virginia Flippence in Preston, with nine ladies attending. The members were able to finalize their various assignments for the coming year. They are: Captain Mary Ann Jepsen, 1^st Vice Captain Linda Christensen, 2^nd Vice Captain LuJean Young, Secretary/Treasurer/Historian Ramona Lower, Registrar Linda Carlson, Chaplain Angie Griffeth, Lesson Leaders Julie Westerberg and Lorraine Christensen, Music Leader Mary Ann Jepsen, Parliamentarian Karen Erickson, Artifact Leader Mary Jean Rasmussen, and Museum Leader Virginia Flippence. Their historic lesson for this month was “Down and Back,” the church ‘train system’ of helping the pioneers with wagons and handcarts to travel the distance from the Midwest to Utah by having outfitting stations along the trail to help with difficulties and supplies.

Several days of spring beauty add sunshine for the soul as well as for our surroundings. The lacey pattern of new leaves on the bare winter branches is beautiful. It won’t be long, even with some storms along the way, before Mink Creek community’s main color will be green, in a variety of shades.

April 16, 2024

 

Eldon and Danita Wilcox enjoyed a reunion with a former exchange student who lived in the Wilcox home while attending Preston High. It has been 22 years since Omar Lopez lived in Mink Creek. Omar brought his wife and two children to share past memories of his life in Idaho. Living in Tijuana, Mexico, the kids were particularly interested in seeing snow. The group went up into our canyons in order to find enough to get in some sledding activity. MaKenzie Gunter and Brigham Wilcox were part of the Wilcox household when Omar was a teen and they came home to reconnect with Omar and meet his family.

Jay and Kristin Collins spent Easter weekend with their daughter Claire Collins in the Boise area. One of the objectives of their visit was helping Claire move to a new apartment, always a daunting task and extra hands help to lighten the load.

Doug and Kathy Wilcox have been building a lovely home on a spot of land they have owned for a number of years. They were up from Utah recently and brought some family as well, Steve and Brooke Wilcox and Darin and Maddie Wilcox. Mink Creek is a great place for a second home, especially during the warm, green months of the year.

Robert and Phee Crosland have recently returned from a long anticipated trip to New Zealand, in the company of two of their sons, Rico and Armando Crosland. Rico Crosland served as the organizer, planner and tour guide for this venture, having served in New Zealand for two years as a missionary. They loved the beautiful scenery, enjoyed a visit to the Hamilton, New Zealand, Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and survived a flat tire with no spare.

We have had a respiratory bug making the rounds with the coming of spring. Several of our citizens have reported three weeks of dealing with a congestion, head aches, etc. that simply will not leave. It is more than the annual “Spring cold” with the sniffles.

April 10, 2024

 

Easter in Mink Creek this year dawned with snow, sleet, and slush, all depending on where you were located in terms of elevation. That is how it works in the community. But it was a great weekend for people coming home and being together.

Kim and Sam Daines and their daughters were up from Lehi, UT, soaking up some village time and adding joy to the day of Kim’s mother, Judy Clark. Devin and Maria Flake and son Jude expanded the ranks of the Baird family, particularly with Lana McCracken and Nathan Baird, but stretching out to LaRon and Liesa Baird’s family.

Dane and Rebecca Jones and Clara made a long trip from Washougal, WA, for some time with her parents, Johnny and Jeannine Iverson. The Jones family lived for a year in Mink Creek so even without Mink Creek roots, this was a homecoming for them.

Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler of Parma, ID, brought their children, Hudson and Charlotte, home to grandmother Candy Longhurst so she could introduce them to the fun of farm chores and animals.

Mink Creek will always be home for Wes and Heather Hansen of Ogden. The Hansen House near the mouth of Mink Creek is a frequent host of Hansen siblings.

Ami Fenton and her family shared Easter traditions with her parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox.

Easter activities combined with birthdays for some celebrating for Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson’s bunch. Jerry and Christine Olson and daughters came up from Santa Clara, UT. C J Peterson, a grandson, joined the group.

LaMar and Claudine McKague are enjoying living closer to three of their children. They had Sage and Nathan Ricks down from Rexburg, Ethan McKague from Lehi, UT, and Jarin and Brynlee McKague and sons from Idaho Falls, visit on separate weekends recently.

David and Melanie Law, part-time residents with one foot in Utah, the other in Mink Creek, brought a good group of family to spend these special days.

As the holiday weekend approached many residents wondered how to make plans with the regularly changing weather. As reported it appears there was a good mix of both indoor and outdoor plans made, always with some flexibility.

The youth of the Mink Creek ward made a trip to Pocatello, ID, for a visit to the Pocatello Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After their activities there they enjoyed homemade cinnamon rolls produced from the kitchens of their local leaders. It was a sweet experience for all connected, in all aspects.