December 29, 2020

 

The Mink Creek community gathered for its annual celebration of Christmas season. This year things were a bit different, as has been all things since March 2020. Keeping in mind the limitations, the social distancing and the wearing of masks, the program was televised into three rooms at the LDS Meetinghouse. It was a showing of videos centered on the birth and life of Christ, with narration by Michael Jepsen and the prompting to follow Him, to Hear Him, to try to do as He does. Following the program the group adjourned to the rec hall for a reading of an original Christmas story written and read by Marty Mickelson, a friend from Lewiston, UT. The book was large on a screen and all ages could enjoy the story telling of a moose family who helped out at Christmas time. Social distancing could be practiced, but it was great to see one another. A treat of cheesecake all packaged prettily and a cup of hot spiced cider were ready to be taken home as the evening closed down. The Relief Society presidency was there to pass out a gift of a hand towel and poem to each sister, attached to it a metal ornament of Christ’s story.

Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson traveled to Richfield, UT, this month for a chance to watch twin granddaughters, play in a volleyball game. Their parents are Jerry and Christine Olson of St. George and Jimmie and Anna Beth took advantage of the game in Richfield as being the closest they would get to Preston in their games this year.

Neil Lemon, Juli Egley’s father, is with us for these winter months. It gives a warm feeling to the whole community to see the lights on in the Bryce Egley home where he is staying, within a stone’s throw of Juli and Jared Egley’s home.

The Christmas Star was very visible from our valley. The lack of street lights simply added to the beauty of it. The local coyotes have been pretty vocal lately, can’t help but wonder if these critters noticed this phenomenon.

Along with the coyotes we have the owl conversations during the moonlight hours. I love going out in the dark to hear their talking. Somehow it carries so clearly in cold crisp temperatures.

The turning over of the calendar in just a couple of days will reveal 2021. After the last nine months of uncertainty and restrictions it causes some questions as to what the next 12 will bring into our lives. Change is always a part of life and we can be hopeful there will be some good changes during this time. “Old acquaintances should not be forgot, and Happy New Year.”

Christmas week, 2020

 

Three storms have moved in during the past week, depositing several inches. Every piece of land in our village is on a slope so it is a bit of a challenge to claim we have so many inches. It might be 4 inches on our lower levels and twice that or more as one gets closer to the entrance of Strawberry Canyon. We are happy to have it, the fall has been super dry. The snowmobiling crowd can hardly wait to visit and play.

With the recent storms that effectively cover portions of the highway surfaces we are grateful for those road crews who painted the center and fog lines of the state/county roadways. Those yellow lines help keep us safe if everyone would heed their meaning. The lines makes staying where one belongs a little easier as we maneuver the slush and possible ice. So far only a little fog, but it will increase in the future.

The Young Women of our community have accomplished another service project. This time they made homemade soup and delivered soup baskets , plus some suitable additions, to the adults who are widows, widowers, or single and on their own.

Charles Iverson, son of Dr. Kurt and Margret Iverson, and a junior at Preston High, earned special recognition for his football talents in being named to the 4A District All conference team, the First Team offense. Congratulations, Charles, on a job well done.

This feat has seemed like an impossibility but it has finally happened. Members of the Mink Creek ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been able to participate in ZOOM meetings. Our hills and mountains have caused various barriers to this type of activity, but recently there has been at least three of such gatherings that were proclaimed “successful.” Almost beyond imagination, but true!

I hope you all had skies clear enough to see the "Christmas Star." From the valley of Mink Creek it was beautiful and the night was perfect for this once-in-a-lifetime event, clear and cold.  The planets were visible when the sun went down leaving a lovely streaked blue color on the horizon reaching up to the darkening sky and the 'star'. A wonderful time of this strange year for this to happen.  I consider it an extra gift for the 2020 season.  A positive memory.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

December 15, 2020

 

Ken and Lauren Nash were up from their home in Santa Ynez, CA. Hoping for a taste of winter, it is still a nice time of year to be in Idaho at the Haws family dwelling, soaking up the peaceful sound of Mink Creek as it flows in the back yard.

Ron and Mary Norris spent the recent holidays in Bluffdale, UT, with their daughter, some grandchildren and several more happy faces around that table of feasting.

Laural and Jody Janke and children spent a fall vacation of four days in Mink Creek with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Coming up from Richfield, UT, they were hoping we might have some snow, but still found plenty of entertainment. One goal achieved was that of harvesting their annual Christmas tree and getting it back to Utah with the evergreen needles still attached. Abigail Janke, their daughter, was just finishing the at-home MTC training and left the next week to begin her service in the Washington, Everett, Mission.

The family of Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay gathered at their home on Station Creek for the holiday. Andy McKay and Morgan and Eli Curtis came up from Logan. Only Cody and Kevyn Mckay who now live in the southwest were missing. Terrie’s parents, Karen and Layne Erickson shared in the bounty of the day.

Chad and Dawnell Greene are missing a son due to long distance. Travis Greene has moved to Florida. Two of the Greene sons, Josh and Robbie, and their families live here in Mink Creek, Heston’s family is in Preston and Izac is in Cache Valley. Only daughter Hannah now fills the Greene nest.

Tracy and Joni Hilliard-Crane came up from Vernal, UT, to do some visiting within the area. They headquartered in Grace, ID, but as Mink Creek is Tracy’s family’s roots there were several stops here. Memories and the Crane and Keller cemetery plots make this a comfortable place for these two. Seeing Tracy it was like having his father, Keith Crane, back in town.

 Depending on your perspective, our weather has improved. Since the last post of the blog two storms have moved through on their way east. The first dropped an inch or two of snow, enough to warrant shoveling the walkway. The second brought in about 4 inches more. When the fall season has been as dry as this past one has been every bit of moisture is welcomed. I had a reader comment that I often write about the weather. I am a farmer’s wife and weather with its ups and downs has always played a very important role in our lives. In this village we pay attention to the weather, 24/7, year round.   

December 8, 2020

 

We were grateful that the last power outage was of a relatively short duration. It served as a reminder to keep our alternate lighting systems handy because there is no warning for the unplanned situations.

A new grand child has arrived for family of Phee and Robert Crosland. Marco and Christina Crosland have a new little girl down there in Texas. She is named Arienna Rae Crosland, weighed 8 lb. 8 oz, and was 21 inches in height. They live in Pilot Point, north of Dallas.

Juliana and Blaine Packer and their children Cedar, Kimber and Casen have been home for a visit with her parents, LaRon and Liesa Baird. They were able to see her brother Dallon in the high school musical. Juliana, who lives in Jackson, ID, came to join her grandmother, Lana McCracken, in watching over her siblings while mom Liesa was able to go on a sisters’ retreat in Park City, UT. Liesa’s sisters and sisters-in-law, joined efforts to create a wedding dress for one of their daughters while having fun just being together. Some came from a considerable distance: Germany, Louisiana, and Oregon.

Some of the Young Women of the community took one of their Saturdays and ventured forth into our nearby forests in the quest for Christmas trees for several residents of our village. The girls were Jyllian Christensen and Emma Rasmussen, assisted by their leaders, YW President Jody Rasmussen, her husband Brett, and ReNae Egley.

Jim and Debbie Harrison left the warmer days of St George, UT, for a cool weekend in Mink Creek at their home here. It is always good to batten down the hatches in preparation for this season’s change.

Ben and Molly Collins Seamons were able to participate in their temple sealing at the Logan Temple. They were married last spring in North Carolina, Molly’s home state. Ben is the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons. The following evening family and friends celebrated this event with a “meet and greet” time at the Mink Creek church house. Ben and Molly have spent their summer month in the northwest with summer employment..

We are still dealing with an occasional case of the COVID-19 among our residents. Ivan McCracken got past his quarantine time, but continued having to deal with some after effects for several more weeks. It is good to see him out and about a bit more.

The holiday spirit is spreading with lighted decorations seen in the darkness as one drives through the village. Even with only snow in patches here and there, the time of year helps that isolation in this year of craziness.

December1, 2020, Already!

 

Stetson Ostler was injured in the last Preston High School football game with a complete ACL tear and a complex tear of medial meniscus. He is the son of Stuart and Alona Olstler. Another senior from Mink Creek, Emily Longhurst has had similar injuries playing volleyball for Preston High. Her parents are Candy and the late Sheldon Longhurst. Both Emily and Stetson have had surgery to repair these wounds recently. It is amazing that they have been able to even be walking in these last few weeks, with smiles through the pain.

During the month of November there have been two ordinations in the Aaronic Priesthood of the Mink Creek Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First was Morgan Keller, the son of Jared and Hollie Keller, to the office of a deacon. Later Challis Jensen, son of Kalee and Russell Bair and the late Shawn Jensen, was ordained to the office of a priest.

Bryce Egley ended the 2020 bike racing season in St. George at Green Valley. He had a win in the Varsity class and the season overall win. He was awarded a very nice beer stein for all of his hard work. Bryce’s dad, Jared, did some racing too and “survived well.” They are looking forward to season 2021.

The road sides of Highway 34 have been the object of a cleanup program. There have been the customary orange bags all up Riverdale Hill and beyond perched on the side of the highway, awaiting pickup by those authorized in this activity.

“Over the River and through the woods” is an annual tradition for many families during the days before and after Thanksgiving. The River is the Bear River at the mouth of Mink Creek. The woods are those that fill the various canyons of the Caribou National Forest that is on the eastern border of the village of Mink Creek. They come to find the tree to grace their homes during the Christmas season and they are successful in their quest.

Have you already turned your calendar over to this last month of 2020? I did, and couldn’t help wondering what unexpected thing might happen before 2021 comes rushing in. It is nearly impossible to not wonder and pretend than life is going along at what we consider normal---because it isn’t.

During the month of November the Family Search site showed me that I have quite a few Puritan ancestors that came over on the Mayflower and quite a few of them died that first horrible winter. If any of your genealogical lines go back to 1620 in the New World we very likely are related. I am ok with that. Merry December as you get ready for your Christmas and being thankful for His birthday.

November 24, 2020, two days until

 Happy Thanksgiving, readers.  May gratitude fill your hearts this week and beyond. 

Four of our residents traveled down to North Ogden to spend the day donating time and effort at the Cannery of the LDS Church. They were Jeff Olson, Clare and Linda Christensen, and Jonia Carlson. The product of the day was beef stew for the cannery. The group did manage a stop at Maddox in Brigham City on their way home, with a change of the menu.

The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mink Creek Ward, were able to meet together this past Sunday after several weeks of canceled meetings. They have been looking forward to once again greeting each other with elbow and knuckle bumps rather than the handshake, smiling eyes above the face masks, and safe-distance conversations. Two auxiliary organizations have had a shift in their leadership positions since the last meeting. The new officers of the Young Women are Jody Rasmussen as President, Amy Baldwin as 1^st Counselor and Lacey Christensen as 2^nd Counselor. The secretary is ReNae Egley. The Primary organization will be staffed with Brittnee Phillips, President, Wendy Westerberg, 1^st Counselor, April Rasmussen, 2^nd Counselor and Hollie Keller, the Secretary.

This being the month of November when we honor our veterans the Citizen is recognizing those who live in the county at this time and have served in the military at some time during their lives. Mink Creek has two past members of the National Guard: Layne Erickson and Charles Swann. In the US Army were Clare Christensen, Royce Christensen, Bob Erickson, Richard Free, Glade Larsen, and Michael Jepsen. We have two who served in the Navy, Warren Wilde and Ted Mainini. Several were part of the Air Force: Glen Jepsen and his son Dr. Kerry Jepsen, Nate Olson, Raphael Arnsworth, and Ernest York. Ernie’s wife, Sherry York is also military, in the Naval Reserves. Dr. Jepsen’s son Clay Jepsen is currently serving in the Air Force and is stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. These individuals are recognized annually in this community at our July Fourth festivities. If any of our residents have been missed I apologize and would appreciate your letting me know.

Families  here are getting ready for Thanksgiving. Feeling the warmth within, even when there is such cold without. Feelings of gratitude are always uplifting.

We have had a steady stream of Christmas trees being harvested from our canyons and it has been going on for over a week. For many families it is their tradition to come here, looking for that ‘perfect’ tree, and what is perfect to one is not to another. Hope these evergreens bring happiness to their destinations.

November 17, 2020

 

Julie and Jeff Workman were happy to have another weekend getting their home ready for the coming of winter. They live with one foot in Mink Creek and the other in Stansbury Park, UT.

The Relief Society planned a reaching out activity for the women of the village. It was strictly a drive-up affair and ‘come as you are’ since there was no need to leave your vehicle. Organizers Lacey Christensen and Jonia Carlson, aided by the Relief Society Presidency members, Kim Christensen and Phee Crosland, handed out a bag of chocolatey treats and a gratitude journal to start off the month of November to each lady who participated. Brief conversations accompanied the gift to start the month off with feeling of gratitude for blessings. It reminded us that we are all still neighbors and friends, even though safe distancing.

Our first snow has arrived and laid a light white blanket down the length of our village, increasing in depth from south to north. The mountain tops are feeling well covered, but there is still hope that the snow isn’t here to stay for the next several months.

A power outage hit us in the middle of a Saturday night, after we had gone to bed with most dreaming of being able to meet the following morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Sunday worship services which has been interrupted so often in the last 8 months. No power, it didn’t happen, the power being out until nearly 10:30am, meeting hour being at 9am.

As the season has progressed so has the amount of box elder bugs multiplied. Skunks are moseying around, perhaps searching for a suitable winter home. Both deer and turkeys are down from their summer retreats in the high country, back to being problems for driving through our community. Our wildlife know that cold days are ahead.

We were able to have our church meeting this week, it has been several weeks since we were able to meet together. There has been some changes in both the Primary and Young Women organization. The details will be in next week’s issue of the Citizen. The rise of COVID-19 cases all over the western US has had its affect on even our little village. With Governors in state around us, as well as our own making decisions and tightening restrictions again it is hard to plan ahead more than a day or two for any thing beyond our home boundaries and even those get changed when a new announcement hits the news. Hang in there, in the long run, it will be all right.  Have faith, not fear. Not saying it will be easy.