February 23, 2015

        The annual Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts, their parents and leaders provided a fun evening for all in attendance. The theme of the evening was “Fiesta” with the recreation halldeorated with items of a southwestern flair. The menu featured tacos, nachos, and set salads. Dessert was a choice of a variety of ice cream treats. Bracken Christensen, son of Lisa Christensen and Bryan Christensen, was awarded his Arrow of Light and will move on to the 11 year old scout troop. Cub awards were presented to the younger boys. Dawnell Greene, Cubmaster, was in charge of the event, with help from Marie Keller, Cubmaster Assistant.

         Marie Aupperlee in the hospital has spent a few days in the Franklin County Medical Center. She is back home now and on the mend. It is good to have her daughter Sandy Wiley here to take care.

        Peggy and Jon Flinders and children were down from Rigby, ID, to spend Valentines and Presidents' weekend with her parents, AnnaBeth and Jimmie Olson. This family was in norther Idaho and a job change for Jon has brought them closer, a bonus for the Olsons. The slopes around Station Creek were bare of snow this year, but there was plenty of places to invite rides on the 4-wheeler.

         This is news we wish were nonexistent. A stack of hay caught fire in a feeding area for horses, both belonging to Ed Hansen. It is on a little triangle of Johnny Youngman's farm. This blackened pile will be smoldering for quite a few days.

         Jake and Holly Longhurst were up from their Utah home for a weekend. His parents are Sheldon and Candy Longhurst, hers are Kathy and Bart Ramsbottom. A visit to“home” for this couple means more than one stop.

         Our wildlife are enjoying this springlike weather. Nights bring the call of coyotes echoing across our valley. Owls can be heard chatting through the dark. And, the deer are still munching on our farmers' haystacks, even though they are grazing the snowless fields.

         We did get a day of snow after I had sent in the above section of this blog. We woke up Sat. morning to a white day, enough to drape the trees, cover the fields. Now we are back to the bareness of this winter.

          How many of you remembered that Feb 22nd was George Washington's birthday?  I think the merging of the birthdays of George and Abe, calling it Presidents Day, is all well and good.  After all, this country has had lots of presidents and that can apply to all.  I just feel George covered so much more for us, the founding and forging of the nation, so I still try to think of his day.  I celebrated his day with a cherry dessert.

February 17, 2015

           More has happened for the Crosland family since this column was readied for this week's publication. They are now living in the Bryce & Carlene Egley home. It has been empty for a few months since the Egley grandson, Jared, and wife Julie and their children moved into the newly constructed home on the same farm. The new home is one knoll east of the original home. There is an effort amongst the Mink Creek community to look through our photos from past activities, trying to find Crosland family members, and then to share. We know photos are something impossible to replace.

         The Syringa Camp of the DUP held their monthly meeting at the home of Bonnie Hansen, a long time Mink Creek resident, even though she now lives in Preston. This way she is a little closer to the reach of her children should the need arise. Quite a few of this camp's enrollment are women whohave Mink Creek connections. Virginia Flippence gave a lesson on the challenges of baby care during the time of the early settlers.

         Bridger Hall, son of Kristi and Bret Hall, chose February 6^th, as his wedding date. He married Cassie Albertson, daughter of Curtis and Genny Albertson, of Blackfoot, ID. Kristi's sisters, Kayleen Hill, Karma Wood, and Karla Jensen and her brother Kelton Keller, along with several other family members, came up from Utah for the occasion.

        Tammy Beardall has spent some time in the grandmother role recently. She has been in Grand Junction, CO, at the home of Michelle and Gary Wall, where they have a new tiny boy. This little one is the third child in the Wall family, born on the 23rd of January.

         The countryside is already doing a little greening. It is too early, but the warm days encourage such things. Our deer seem to be loving it, but they still raid our farmers' hay stacks as part of their diet. 

          A strong wind from the north kept temperatures lowered to start off this week. One needed to be dressed for a blizzard if there was any outside chores than were needed to be done.

           It appears that the voles have been very busy this winter, not needing snow cover for their activities. The fields, pastures and yards are riddled with their paths and holes. One can only imagine what raking a lawn this spring will produce. Not good!

February 10, 2015

        Mink Creek has had a more than crazy week. By now nearly all readers will have read or heard about out horrible fire. Phee and Robert Crosland discovered flames shooting out from their home around 3 am on January 31^st. They and the children who were at home got out just minutes before the fire began in earnest. The home burnt to the ground, with only the chimney still standing among a few skeletons of trees. The out buildings, animals, and such are in good shape. For those familiar with the Mink Creek of old, it was the home that had previously housed the family of Tom and Vera Jensen on Birch Creek Road. The Crosland family purchased the place twenty-three years ago. We are happy to report they will continue to live in Mink Creek, a temporary home is being readied as this is written. The county and beyond have responded to this tragedy and it only serves to remind all of what a great place this is to live.

         The same weekend we had sirens howling for another reason. This was the injury of a person snow mobiling up Birch Creek Canyon. Even though our weather has been dry and the lower grown is bare, the snow in our canyons pulls in many people for recreation at the end of each week.

         At the Sugar-Salem Wrestling Invitational two of our local high school wrestlers placed in the tournament. Sam Seamons was third place at 170 lbs, Ben Seamons, was fifth at 185 lbs. Both are sons of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons. Travis Greene, at 160 lbs, was third in the JV division.

         Lorraine Christensen has gone down to Phoenix, AZ. Royce and Lorraine's son, Kevin Christensen, and his children have enjoyed some days of special care from Grandma.

         There has been a ring around the moon on a few nights, but the storms produced have been brief. We need whatever moisture might come, but were hopeful of a snowfall, rather than scattered showers. Preston received some snow one day, but for us, nothing.

         Plans are being made for a new Mink Creek community phone directory. Between marriages, deaths, people moving in, people moving out, my speculation is that there is about thirty changes that need to be made for an updated version.

        Happy Valentine's Day to my readers, I do appreciate each one of you!

February, already!

         Even though our weather has been warmer than usual it is still the season for vacations in tropical climates. Danita and Eldon Wilcox joined the Wilcox side of the family for a couple of weeks on a cruise of the southern Caribbean. They sailed with three of Eldon's brothers and their wives. One might call it a mini-family reunion. To be so far away it was a surprise to meet another couple with Preston, ID roots..

        Austin Straight, son of Avery and Pedro Gomez, was ordained to the office of a priest in the LDS Ward. His grandparents, Doug and Beverly Bruderer, witnessed this event. Doug works in the oil fields around Dickinson, ND, so it took some family scheduling to make these arrangements..

         MaKenzie Wilcox Gunter, a student at Idaho State, placed second at the Snake River Open Track Meet in Pocatello in the pentathlon event. This is McKenzie's first performance since her injury a year ago this January when she broke her Achilles tendon in a similar event. Her parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox, will be there to watch in the upcoming Mountain States Games. Update for blog readers, Makenzie performed just as well in the aforementioned track and field meet. We need to keep an eye on this young lady as she shares her excitement.

        On January 24^th we were plagued with invisible ice on sidewalks, driveways and parking lots. What appeared to be an overnight rain was the camouflage of a very slippery surface. Several people fell in the church parking lot as they were trying to make their way into the LDS Ward meetinghouse. There are reports of others around the community with trips to the Preston ER for stitches in the resulting wounds.

        George and Bobby Garr, Mink Creek and Lakewood, CA, residents, celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary on Jan 18^th. Our congratulaations to this delightful couple! We are so glad they joined our ranks permanently several years ago when they discovered Mink Creek.

          Happy Groundhog's Day, shadow was seen off and on from this mountain spot, even though the day was given to gloom with a sprinkle of rain now and then. We are hoping the critter happened to be out at the same moment the sun was shining.

           The home of Robert and Phee Crosland burnt down to the ground in the wee hours of Jan 31^st. The chimney stands as a sentinel. They woke to flames at 3am. All the family got out, clad in their pj's, but safe. Much gratitude. The whole county is rising to help them move forward after this tragedy. I would imagine there will be something  about it in this coming week's Citizen so I won't go on and on with details.The response of others in this time of need makes  a person realize how wonderful it is to live here.

January 27, 2015

        Don't talk turkeys with many of our residents! These huge birds have no manners and try to dominate wherever they decide to take up occupation. They eat the feed that our farmers have intended for domestic animals, they poop all over the place whether it be a barnyard, a feeding lot, a sidewalk or yard. Around here turkeys are increasing in numbers, it has been noted in the lower half of our community and they are scattered all over the middle of the village center.

         Brigham Wilcox, son of Eldon and Danita Wilcox, has been living back amongst us for a few weeks. He has been studying pharmacy at Idaho State University and is now doing a 6 week internship at Preston Drug with the Craig Haslam family. Brigham's wife, Jennifer, and their children are at their home in Idaho Falls.

          It is nearing the end of the wrestling season for the grapplers of Preston High School. Mink Creek has four young men on the squad this years. They are Justin Longhurst, son of Candy and Sheldon Longhurst, Ben and Sam Seamons, sons of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, and Travis Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene.

        This week there have been memorial services for Nathan Parker, prior to his burial in the Mink Creek Cemetery. He is the son of the late Pam and David Linton, former residents, a brother to Jesse Parker, now residing here. Another brother, Matthew, lived here previously. Nettie and Joe Linton, David's brother, also former residents, now of Logan enjoyed the return to our community.

         The Agricultural Expo, currently going on at the Holt Arena in Pocatello has attracted some of our farmers. It makes for good entertainment and information on these winter days when much of farming is at a standstill. 

           Still so dry around here, a dry winter.  Low lying clouds leave something akin to heavy dew on some mornings.  It is still cold, but cold and dry only make for lots of static electricity.  Even our fields are mostly bare of white patches.

           The cluster of winged scavengers along the roadsides makes a person aware that there has been yet another deer fatality as we make the trip from Mink Creek into Preston.  There are four such spots currently under observation.  Every so often the carcass of a racoon might add to the carnage.  Drivers beware, the critters come close to the highway seeking the salt from the winter road runoff.

 

January 20, 2015

            Kerry and Lacey Christensen are the happy parents of a baby boy. In addition to his parents this infant is welcomed into the family by three sisters who are determined to spoil him as much as possible. They are already working on teaching him the ABC's.

            David and Judy Wilde enjoyed a visit from Judy's sister, Susan Robison and her son from Elko, NV. Susan was here to celebrate the marriage of Judy's twin, Trudy. Trudy's son, Aaron Brown who resides in Kansas, stayed with the Wilde family for two weeks for this event.

            Winter, the season for basketball. Our community has both a boys' team and a girls' team. Richard Free is coaching the young men and Kerry Christensen will continue to be the coach for the young women. Both teams will be competing with other youth teams from the Preston North Stake.

            Marlene Christensen has welcomed a new couple, Josh and Elizabeth Greene, into her home. Josh calls Marlene “Grandma,” which is not quite biologically correct, and Elizabeth is better known as Lizzie.

             Michelle and Tracy  Gibbs are becoming part of our community. They have bought the Maple Grove Hot Springs on the Bear River. They are moving into a home with Mink Creek history, one that has been here for several generations. Most recently it was owned by Mark and Debbie Baird Heaton.

               The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' meetinghouse is in the process of a routine maintenance boost. Some of the rooms are being painted and upgraded, scuffed walls repaired, all that sort of thing. There has even been some changes in the artwork displayed. This building was built in 1929 and has some nice features still from that era.

              Mike Jepsen has recently had some back surgery in Logan. He is now home and doing well. In fact he is determined to undertake more tasks than advisable.

               I am too much out of the blog habit, sorry about this being late online.   I feel guilty when it dawns on me Wednesday morning after the Citizen is published that this blog is now one day behind for those who read the paper edition.  I will work on getting back into the swing of things.

             The winter is not going as hoped for.  It is strange to complain about sunshine, but  when a good snow pack is hoped for and the weather continues to be dry and sunny---well, complaints come to mind.  People  down across northern Cache Vally who are dependent on the waters supplied by Mink Creek  are beginning to ask questions about the coming year's possibilities.

             This situation is not discouraging the snow mobile crowd.  They flock to our mountains every weekend, indicating that there is sufficient white stuff to accommodate that activity.

January 13, 2015

         The Freeman &Ada Jepsen Christmas party of their descendents took place at the family farm over the holidays. JoAnn an Kevin Auger and family are in the area of Woodland Hills, UT. Dan and Jean and their bunch are in Bountiful, UT. Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen family have their headquarters here in Mink Creek. Melinda and Kerry Jepsen hosted the event. Kyle Jepsen took a break from his dental practice in Texas, Jana Musgrove and her children of North Ogden enjoyed the extended family fun.

          Payton and Judith Newby have a brand new baby at their house. Grandma, Sharla McKay, spent a few days enjoying some good cuddle time.

           Brittany and Matt Durrant and their little girl visited with her parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox.  Matt is currently studying at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

           Karen and Mark Arnout had a home bursting at the seams during the two weeks of holidays. The couple have twenty-two grandchildren and all of them, plus parents, spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Arnout. Now the Arnouts are noticing the quiet at their house.

           Johnny and Jeannine Iverson have had a visit from daughter Rebeccah and Dane Jones and their four children from Washougal, WA. They loved some snow time, a change from the rainy northwest.

           Our community gathered for our annual Ski Party at Beaver Ski Resort up Logan Canyon. The event combined with the folks from Preston 4^th Ward. It is always a potluck affair for the food offerings and the variety never fails. There was a good turnout of all ages and the slopes were filled with skiers and snowboarders until it was closing time.

           Bill and Myrna Despain were happy to have his son Max and Jennifer Despain and theis children, Jordan and Jake, with them during the holidays. Max and Jennifer live in Lolo, MT.

           Mink Creek seems to be located on the edge of the northern Cache Valley fog line lately.  Most days we can look westward and see the fog lying in the lower parts of the valley, tendrils reaching in and out on the fringes.  This morning was a bit strange, with fog on the lower side of my home, but clear sky on the upper side.  (For readers unfamiliar with our local terrain, it is all slopes of one degree or another, the homes sitting on the slopes.)  One evening earlier this past week, it was fog all around, couldn't even see our farm buildings across the road.  That is the story of fog, ever changing, and one of the dangers that accompany moving through the stuff.  Please, drivers, turn on your lights when you find yourself surrounded by the stuff, whether thick or thin.

           We are still hoping for more snow.  Rain has been coming, but that doesn't store in the mountains for the times when it is needed this planting season.  At this rate we can't anticipate a "January thaw" since there is very little for thawing.