CAPITOLETTER

May 6, 2024

The weather forecast for Capitol and Tie Creek had been that there would be rain every day. Somehow that prediction was completely wrong. The sun was out every day, and the few clouds dissipated. Sunday was so windy that it was almost impossible to be away from the shelter of a building, if you wanted to stay on your feet.

Erma Albert had another attack of the coughing flu. By Wednesday, she was better, and went with Dick to do some shopping in the Hills. On Friday, they both went to the Senior Citizen dinner, but neither of them stayed for the card playing this week. They both went to the Catholic Church on Sunday. Then, they had lunch at Saloon Number Three with Father Brian and the Helms family. John and Carol had been on a wonderful trip to Athens, Rome and Munich, and had just gotten back home. Later that day, Erma called relatives, and learned it was snowing in Utah.

Alvin Cordell is finishing up his farming. Marlee Cordell had gone to Belle Fourche on Thursday, to hear grandchildren in the band concert at the school. Cade Pearson takes piano lessons, and plays saxophone in the band. On Saturday, Alvin went to Belle Fourche for the funeral of his cousin from Fruitdale, Chris Fox. That evening, he and Marlee went in to Camp Crook for supper at the Corner Bar. They both went to church at the Methodist Church in Camp Crook, on Sunday, where Marlee conducted the service for the congregation. There had been a couple of very cold nights for the month of May. Alvin had seen the thermometer at twenty degrees, and Clark Blake had seen twenty-one degrees.

Lynn Gustafson and Linda Matthews made a trip to Bowman, on Monday. Bruce has been planting during this week, when the wind was slow enough to let the grain hit the ground. They both went in to Camp Crook, on Saturday night, for supper and to play bingo.

Julia Davis has been trying to prepare for shearing next Monday. She has been baking and preparing for the big meal. The wind has been making it difficult to navigate on crutches, but she got to work each day. On Saturday, she went to Belle Fourche for the Chris Fox funeral, and then went to the Branding Iron afterward to visit with friends. One day, she got new tires put on her vehicle at Wolffy’s, and went to church at Little Missouri on Sunday.

The big event for the Melum family was brother, Daniel Kalbach’s, wedding in Baker on Friday. Ernie, Rachel, Tommy, Junior and Shirley attended the wedding. Ernie was Best-Man, and Rachel was a Matron-of-Honor for the wedding. It was a wonderful time in a great relaxed atmosphere, with a great group of people. Rachel’s niece and nephew and their little boy had been expected to participate in the wedding, but their scheduled flight was canceled, making it too late for the family to get anther flight. They had to miss the wedding. Still it was a really wonderful occasion. It was a long day for Shirley and Junior, but they had such a wonderful time visiting, it was worth every second, and it was great for Rachel and Ernie to see the visiting relatives.

Dorothy Padden has finally returned home from an excursion into Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Kevin and Lisa had come to take her to Billings. Then, son Brett, Stacey, and Dorothy headed south to Colorado. Easton and Lindsay had a new baby for Dorothy to meet. Dorothy got to see a grandson’s baseball game. They visited with Jess and Nichole and their little ones. Dorothy got back home on Monday. That evening, she went with Bryce and Dawn to the school Spring Concert at Buffalo. Nancy Johnson had asked Dawn to take pictures at the Senior Tea, so she headed to Buffalo, on Wednesday. On Thursday, Dawn decided to go to Sundance to take pictures of the junior high track meet. It was cold and windy, but Dawn got some good pictures. The high school track meet was the next day at Sundance, so Dawn ventured out again. It was only thirty-five degrees when she got there. Then she saw school buses driving in with snow piled on them. The temperature raised about ten degrees during the day and some of her pictures show snow coming down. Back home again, on Saturday, things were calm and warm and sunny. Brenton and a friend came over to find a project to work on, so Dawn had no trouble finding work for them, and kept them busy all afternoon. That evening Dawn invited, Brenton to come back with Brandon’s family for supper.

Karen Odell did some outside work in the sunshine, this week. She has many inside plants big enough for planting in the garden, but the nights are still hovering below freezing, so they still prefer to stay indoors. Karen got to see grandson, Carson Odell’s, middle school choir concert, in Mitchell. She could watch it on YouTube on the computer. It is great that schools provide the video of school programs, for those far away. Chancey Odell reminded Karen that there would be bingo at the community hall, so on Saturday night, Karen went in for the lasagna supper and bingo night that was to benefit the Camp Crook Community Center. It was good to visit with friends, and some were people she hadn’t seen for quite a while. On Sunday, Karen went to church at the Camp Crook Methodist Church. Marlee Cordell conducted the service this week. The Wolff boys rang the bell, acted as acolytes for lighting the candles, and as ushers. Lynnette Wolff presented the children’s sermon, and Karen Odell played piano for the hymns. By Sunday afternoon, a hurricane had hit Capitol and Tie Creek. The only difference was there was no water with it. Karen promised to wave to Dawn Padden if her house went flying past their place. She could envision the scene from Wizard of Oz, when a house flies past a lady peddling a bicycle up in the air. If there had been any moisture in the green grass, it surely was sucked out by the end of the day. Karen could hope that the grain being planted by Bruce Gustafson or Alvin Cordell, might land at her house, but it may still be headed toward Miles City.

Remember there is no time like the present to procrastinate.