July 26, 2023

 

It is July and that means that Hannah Costley Singleton and her sons, Gray and Samuel are here for their annual summer stay in Idaho. Wynn and Cecelie Costley are her parents and several of her siblings live within an hour or two of driving, or less, so a lot of reunion and cousin time takes place. It is a time of rejoicing.

The combined families of Jacob and Christy Cheney and Ken and Jean Ross have had extended family visitors this summer. Extra aunts, uncles and cousins have added to the fun of living in the country and experiencing country chores and surroundings not part of their daily more citified, routines.

Recently Jared Keller was released from his calling as the clerk for the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Steve Baldwin will now be serving in that office with the Mink Creek Ward Bishopric.

The youth of the community enjoyed an evening of obstacles that was presented on a ninja course in the backyard of Kurt and Margret Iverson’s home. Various skills were needed for this activity and both strengths and weaknesses were explored. There were some aching muscles as a result but nothing serious. They also had some challenges with boxes and beams that took teamwork to solve within a limited time. Amazing what teamwork can accomplish! All of this provided learning experiences and building confidence.

Hats off to Elizabeth Greene! She has achieved a Masters Degree of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from the Western Governors University. This will only serve to make her an even better teacher for the youth of this area.

Joseph and Rebecca Jones came up from Herriman, UT, to spend some time with his aunt and uncle, Vicki and Richard Free at their ranch. Extra hands can lighten up the summer work load.

Our gardens are doing well, after having such a late start with the up and down spring. The hope now is that this growing can be maintained without the local deer gobbling produce up before it is ready to harvest. Their food of choice seems to be anything edible. Then add the winged creatures called grasshoppers. 

The grasshoppers are voracious. Beautiful landscaping is disappearing , one can almost hear the munch, munch as they crunch, crunch. They even find their way indoors, so a person doesn’t  dare stand chatting with a friend in an open doorway.

July 18, 2023

 

ReNae Egley has returned from a trip to the Orient—Japan, to be more exact—with her friends Jill Baird Hobbs and Lelan Daines. They saw so many beautiful things along with having more of those “once in a lifetime” items. To name a few: cruise on a lake, with a ride on a gondola to an active volcano, rice paddies and beautiful Japanese gardens everywhere one looked, an ancient 16^th Century building, riding in a bullet train, wearing kimonos, Tokyo, Koyoto, new and different food offerings. She has commented it was good to find a pizza place every so often. Home, safe and sound, and more than welcomed home from this adventure.

Jay and Kristin Collins have made their long anticipated move to Mink Creek. They purchased land here several years ago and will now begin construction on a home. They come from Lakeview, OR. Kristin is the daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson and is pleased to be able to be “back home.”

July and Mink Creek go together as a summer vacation destination for many families. Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, plus Jon and Jacob, and older siblings came down from Caldwell, ID, spending time with grandparents, Cathy and Scott Seamons and Kathy and Joe Jarvis. Peter and Gretchen Haws and family escaped the warmth of Solvang, CA for more than a week to soak up some Idaho time. David and Melanie Law are in and out of their place on the shores of Mink Creek and Julie and Jeff Workman spend as much time as possible here, with employment still calling them to Utah.

St. George claims Jim and Debbie Harrison and Sam and Sylvia Stanger during the winter months, but home is really in Mink Creek. The Harrison’s place received much damage from the snow slides and their repair work is ongoing.  The Stangers hop right in to civic activities when they are here.

The afternoon rainstorms have played havoc with the first hay crop. The lightning streaks have put on a nature fireworks show to match the rolling thunder as it echoes off the mountainsides. South Canyon is a perfect backdrop.

An afternoon storm blew through Mink Creek with force today. That wind was forceful, but didn’t push any cooling air ahead of the few drops of rain. It rattled everything in its path. I hope no trees lost their branches or were tipped over during the intensity.

A much anticipated driller of water wells arrived in Mink Creek. There are several families hoping to be on his list of accomplishments in the near future.

July 11, 2023

 

The barn swallows have returned in force. They are looking for insects with much swooping about. They are also packing mud and straw for nest building to anyplace that looks like it might adhere, often right above an entryway, which threatens the comfort and cleanliness for anyone who might approach a home.

Clifford and LaDawn Jensen just celebrated their Golden Anniversary, 50 years. All of their children came home to celebrate with them. Mercedes Mackelprang and her daughter Rachel of Statesborough, GA, Kristine and John Gore from Vienna, VA, and Jeremy and Heidi Jensen and their children of Preston. Extended family gathered in Mink Creek for lots of catching up on July 3^rd. The together time extended into the July 4^th activities at Mink Creek’s ballpark for even more fun.

Mink Creek’s July 4^th Celebration was a day for memories. With our huge national flag flying on the eastern side, our ballpark filled early with families coming to claim a spot that was in the shade as their headquarters for the day, with tables, pop up shelters, chairs, blankets. The airplane candy drop delivered several times with a group of children zigzagging from one drop off rto the next gathering the sweets. This activity is always a highlight for the day. Other activities were an ongoing Ultimate Frisbee under Conner Iverson’s direction, a popup Obstacle course with double slides, face painting, and a coin hunt in a small mountain of sawdust.

Jesse Wilcox was in charge of the patriotic program. Kurt Iverson was the master of ceremonies and the national anthem was sung by Ty Jepsen, Wally Christensen, Kerry Jepsen, Eldon Wilcox, LaMar McKague, and Mike Jepsen. They did well and set the stage for three speakers of patriotic thoughts: Warren Wilde, Clare Christensen and Mike Jepsen.

Many volunteers lighten the load and preparing food for around 350 people is no small task. Just preparing lemonade and homemade rootbeer is a bit daunting. Those in charge were: Clare Christensen, meat; Relief Society, tossed salad; Jody Rasmussen, baked beans; Jan and Necia Seamons, Dutch oven potatoes; Kim Christensen, rolls; Cecelie Costley, the gigantic cake. Just prior to being dismissed for the meal, Bishop Paul McKay reminded us of a past resident, Hugh Hansen, then a Marine in World War II, located just off of Iwo Jima, eating a basic diet of sardines for two months. It left a worthy image of gratitude for our free land of today.

For a time it felt like the melt-off of the winter’s snow would continue all summer long. It has backed off and streams are more normal. We’ve been getting frequent afternoon rain showers, nothing that lasts very long, but enough to be discouraging for those who are trying to harvest a hay crop and get it moved into a stack or barn, all the while with the next crop growing around the drying windrows.

July 5, 2023

  I will save the report on the community's July 4th for next week and the newspaper, but rest assured the event took place and was well attended.  You were missed.

The lush green scenery of Mink Creek has been attracting visitors. Larry and Lillian Hansen had quite a group of family about their place. Peyton and Judith Newby and their children were up from Utah to spend some time with his parents, Sharla and Lin McKay. This is perfect weather for outdoor fun, not too hot and, if chilly, an easy fix with a jacket. Jeff and Barbara Olson enjoyed a visit from his daughter, Liz. LaMar McKague’s cousin Richard White, his wife Leigha, and their three girls drove up from Hobble Creek, UT, to check on the progress of the McKague house construction.

The Young Women’s group spent a fun evening holding a “Sing-along” at the Heritage Home Legacy First Branch. The girls, their leaders, and the residents enjoyed recalling old songs from the past that stirred memories for the residents. They shared songs from John Denver to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and even “Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.”

With warm weather and school out it is 4-H time in our community. Several of youth have been attending the 4-H Horse Camp held recently on the Franklin County Fairgrounds. This was a three-day camp and their reports are that the activities increased their confidence as well as their knowledge of handling horses. Our Allie Ostler belongs to a club in Fairview, led by Erin Seamons. Lacey Christensen is Mink Creek’s club leader and those attending from this club were Jyllian Christensen, Greenlee Christensen, Kassidy Christensen, Jancy Henderson and Lilly Nicholls. This is a great time for youth to get training and instruction if they love horses.

Jyllian and Greenlee had to leave the Camp early in order to participate in the Bear Lake Rodeo Royalty competition in Montpelier. They did well. Jyllian was awarded the Rodeo Queen and Greenlee won the Teen Queen and had plus points that earned her a new saddle. Congratulations to these equestrian ladies!

These beautiful days make for mirror reflections in windows that our flying feathered friends often mistake for wide open spaces. The creatures fly into a pane of glass and are lucky if they just get a good bump and nothing broken---the window or the bird.

We continue to get hit by a rain shower now and again. Usually they are brief, but with such intensity that it may be mistaken for a hail storm. Of course, we have residents who are dealing with the harvest of their hay crop.

There is a home in Mink Creek, soon to be on the market. It is the Reed Swann home and they are getting ready for a move to be closer to his son Charles. There is also a home for rent, it now belongs to Jeff and Jennifer Seamons who live in Caldwell. Formerly it was the home of Basil and Mollie Crane.

June 27, 2023

 

Linda Shewmaker and Sheryl May, sisters of Bruce Crane, from the area around Burley, spent a few days here with Bruce and his wife Shauna roaming the hills and remembering their childhoods years in Mink Creek. Their parents are Rex and Brucia Crane. No matter where they might live the love of home in Mink Creek is strong. They managed to pick some of the warmer days and avoid the recent storms.

The Crosland family has had multiple gatherings during the last month. Parents, Robert and Phee spent a few days in Moroni, UT, Robert’s hometown, during the Memorial Day weekend. Nearly the whole family were able to get together a week later to support Angelo and Karissa Crosland as they were sealed in the Rexburg Temple. Celina and Jesse Groesbeck came down from Boise for the naming and blessing of their newest daughter, giving her the name Willow Groesbeck. Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield, UT, Arianna and Ben Hostetter of Peyton, CO, Armando Crosland of Arlington, VA, Rico Crosland of Portland OR, Jason and Malia Kunde of Rigby, ID, Giovanni and Kristina Crosland of Franklin, ID, were all able to celebrate with the family. It isn’t often they can schedule things to all be together.

The Young Women group enjoyed a fitting activity connected with horses. Several of the girls participate in various rodeo events and, in this way, those who don’t rodeo had a better chance to understand their love of the sport. They were assisted and instructed by one of the fathers, Kerry Christensen, who has three girls that rodeo.

Terrie Carr and her daughter Courtney were up for a weekend with Mary Jean Rasmussen, Terrie’s mom and Terrie’s brother Kim Rasmussen. The Carr family lives in Centerville, UT.

The wild grasses are already long, and that is a good thing when it is the pasture for cows. Not such a good thing when the high grass blocks the view of drivers as they turn from our side roads onto Highway 36, the main route through our village.

That first day of summer has come and gone, and still our outdoor temperatures are reasonable, even chilly now and again. But the first hay crop is in the process. Some has gotten rained on, so the raking, drying system had to be put in place. It is always a sigh of relief to get those bales finished up, and even in the barn or stack.

June 20, 2023

 

Friends and the family of Marion Jenny Engels Haws gathered in Mink Creek for her graveside service in the Mink Creek Cemetery. Her husband Karl and their seven children, spouses and grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in the services with song and memories shared. The Engel/Haws family have always had more than one place of residence: California and Mink Creek, Idaho, for nearly sixty years. Now the descendants are a little more scattered, California still, some in Utah and some living year-round in Idaho.

Three young women participated in the High School Rodeo event held a few weeks ago in Preston. They were Ella Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, and two sisters, Annie and Josie Christensen, daughters of Dan and Casey Christensen. Josie placed 3^rd in the Jr. High Division and qualified to participate in the National Jr. High Rodeo held in Georgia. Annie competed again at the Idaho State high school rodeo in Pocatello.

Spring, for real, brought Hansen siblings and their spouses home for a weekend at the Hansen House on the banks of the roaring Mink Creek. Wes Hansen is from Ogden, Roxanne Beutler lives in Dayton and Pat Bowles lives in Fairview. It was a time of many memories, laughter and fun.

The Trek to the Seller’s Ranch by members of the Preston Idaho North Stake was one of much anticipation and it didn’t disappoint. The countryside and camp offered a mix of pushingand pulling of handcarts, lots of walking. Mud, snow on the ground, rain and sunshine were part of their days, but somehow the heavy wet weather that had been forecast skirted their area. Mink Creek had two handcart families. Trevor and April Rasmussen were the parents of one cart, Claudine and LaMar McKague parenting the second one. The fourteen youth on the Trek were Emma and Kate Rasmussen, Conner Iverson, Morgan and Danny Keller, Clara Jones, Devlyn and Larien Currie, Jared Cheney, Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, Orrin and Hazen Baird, and Emma Rydalch. Other adults accompanying the group were Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay, Dallon Baird and Jesse Wilcox.

You’ve all heard “make hay while the sun shines”, when this is applied to a hay crop it is the major wish. We have recently had some sunshine and acres of hay were mown. Just a couple of days following the cold and the rains hit. The hay is at a stage where there are two choices, cut and risk the rain, or let it grow and have the weevil infestation devour the hay leaves. “Life on the farm.”

June 13, 2023

  Signs of repair are taking place at some of the farm buildings that suffered from the weight of the snow on their roofs this winter.  Even if the whole structure is disappearing after being broken up it is a positive thing.   It is a time of helping each other, always a good thing.

Jeff and Kaylene K. Hill were up from Taylorsville, UT, with some of their family. It was the weekend of the Lewis and Clark Volunteers, a Mountain Man group who do a Rendezvous that takes place at the Vernon Keller farm. Due to the high waters of Mink Creek at the usual campground the Volunteers moved onto higher ground than in the past. Kim and Dianna Keller still live on the farm.

True signs of summer; our off-and-on residents are coming to enjoy our green surroundings. Larry and Lillian Hansen are back on Bear Creek. Jeff and Julie Workman have made a couple of visits. The children of Eldon and Danita Wilcox are taking turns coming, lately it was Ami and Tom Fenton and their crew from Utah and Brigham and Jenipher Wilcox and their children from Idaho Falls.

There has been some repair work going on for the Preston Canal, which takes water from Mink Creek. It is now known as the Consolidated Irrigation Company. Shoring up canal banks is a job for heavy equipment and needs savvy operators.

Jonia Jackson was sustained as the 2^nd Counselor in the Mink Creek Ward Relief Society. Already the group has a hike planned in the near future. It is a fitting activity when living in hiking country.

The family and friends of Marion Jenny Engel Haws gathered in the Mink Creek Cemetery on June 3^rd as she was laid to rest in the family plot. Her husband Karl and their seven children and spouses, plus grandchildren and some great-grands were able to enjoy the beautiful day and the service conducted by the Haws children. Mink Creek has been a second home for these California people for over half a century. Marion passed away on May 14, and a funeral was held in California.

Some fierce winds came whipping through our valley doing some serious damage to trees and branches. Hefty limbs were detached from trees lining Birch Creek Road. The center of the village seemed the hardest hit with reports from homeowners Stuart and Alona Ostler, Tom and Donna Nicholls, and Reed Swann and his daughter Penny.