CAPITOLETTER

December 18, 2023

It has been a quiet week at Capitol and on Tie Creek. The weather has been very mild, so it doesn’t seem like Christmas weather, but no one is complaining, and everyone is still able to get some outside work done.

Erma Albert had a doctor’s appointment in Spearfish, on Wednesday, so Dick went with her, and they did a little shopping. They picked up supper at Subway. On Friday, they went to the Senior Center for the Friday meal. Bobbie was not able to come, so Sherry Blankenbaker did the cooking this week. It was a great meal, and the courthouse even sent over some Christmas cookies to complete the menu. Erma went to church on Sunday at the Catholic church. There was a children’s program after church, and Erma and Dick got to watch that on the church website at home.

Alvin Cordell got the roofing done on his shed at the Horton place, this week. He was glad for the help, and the crew did quick work at roofing. The mornings were frosty and cold, but by mid-morning the days warmed up. Then the short days cooled off fast in the late afternoons, so there were only a few good hours for roofing. Still the crew got the whole roof finished this week. Charlie Casteel had brought along some of his relatives to round out the crew. Marlee went in to Belle Fourche, on Friday, to watch the younger grand kids play basketball. Then Alvin went in on Saturday, and they both got to see Gavin Pearson play in the State Line Tournament for Belle Fourche High School. The tournament included teams from Sundance, Newcastle, Lead-Deadwood and Belle Fourche. Alvin has begun feeding some hay to his cattle in hopes of retaining some of the grass.

Doug and Julia Davis have had a bout with sickness this week. Doug was sick only half a day, but Julia took a few days to recover. Amanda Davis, and the boys, came on Monday, and then Travis made it home later in the week. It will be good to have them here for Christmas. Doug had planned to bangs test and preg-test cattle, this week, but that was called off until a later date, and a baptism was postponed, too.

Bryce, Dawn and Dorothy Padden went to Buffalo, on Monday, for the basketball games. On Tuesday, Dorothy made a trip to Ekalaka to get her hair cut. On Thursday, the three went to Buffalo again for the varsity girls’ and boys’ games against Timber Lake. Soon school vacation may limit the sporting events, but Dorothy is hoping for a wrestling tournament during vacation.

On Monday, Ronda Cordell and Diane Wear went to Belle Fourche and Spearfish. Ross Phelps came to Ronda’s on Tuesday to inventory a few upcoming projects for her. On Wednesday, Ronda went in to Camp Crook to visit, and eat Darla Hammel’s lunch at Wolffy’s. Tony and Linda Hannah visited Ronda on Thursday, to return lawn mowing equipment. Bobby and Sam Cordell also stopped in, that day. Gene Secrest had taken over the feeding job, while Clint, Denise, Darby and Abby Zolnoski drove to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit Lynn and LuAnn Zolnoski for a few days.

On Sunday morning, Ronda attended services at the Little Missouri Church, to see granddaughters, Darby and Abby in the Christmas program. Clint, Denise and Kim Secrest were there, also. Ronda came home east of the river, and enjoyed an early lunch at the Over The Edge in Camp Crook. On Sunday evening, Ronda watched The Sound of Music again. She has watched it many times and still never gets tired of it.

Karen Odell made a trip to Buffalo, and then met with Mary Tarter and Marlee Cordell, on Monday afternoon, to prepare for the Methodist Church Christmas Eve service. Karen entertained the flu on Wednesday. It only lasted a day, and she even got some patching done on the stucco of the well house that day, too. It was a warm day for December. The next day she had a spoonful of honey, and that stopped a potential sore throat. This week she put a brace in one of the front windows, cleaned the storm windows and a heavy yoke that holds two lanterns.

On Monday evening, Karen got to hear a wonderful community Christmas concert that was held in Sioux Falls. The orchestra and choir consisted of talented members of the Sioux Falls community. Karen’s daughter-in-law, Amanda, told her about the event, and sent the YouTube site. Amanda’s sister was a member of the choir. Jeff and Amanda had taken time to go ice skating at a local rink in Iowa, and that proved to be an interesting time. Karen also got to see Kyia Smith dancing in her dance recital in Minnesota, and Kenna Odell winning fifth place at a multi-school debate competition. On two different evenings, she got to see Kellan Odell wrestle for Mitchell High School. Karen went to Wolfy’s in Camp Crook, on Friday to pick up some groceries, and Hywel rode along to keep her company.

On Sunday, Karen heard another of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s beautiful Christmas concerts, and she and Hywel went to church at the First Presbyterian church in Marietta, Georgia, where there was also wonderful music of bells, instruments and singers.

Don’t forget the special candle-lighting Christmas Eve services. The Camp Crook Methodist Church will have their service in the afternoon at 4:00 p m next Sunday, and the Little Missouri Lutheran Church will also have their special service at 4:00 p m next Sunday.

Merry Christmas to everyone from all of us at Capitol and Tie Creek.