CAPITOLETTER

May 20, 2024

Ronda Cordell spent much of last week getting ready for branding on Mother’s Day weekend. In spite of the inch and a half of rain, they had a good crew, got the branding done, and also moved pairs to summer pasture. It is a relief to have gotten some rain, and the branding done, too.

On Mother’s Day afternoon, Ronda went to Belle Fourche to meet Cristen and Jayda Westling. They had planned to have a late Mother’s Day dinner, but Cristen had gone to Kirk, Colorado to pick up a puppy for Ronda on Saturday, and it was car sick when they pulled into Belle Fourche. They decided to cancel dinner till a later date. Now, there’s a new half Border Collie - Blue Heeler in the house. She has become a busy pup, after getting used to her new home. She found the dog’s toy box behind the recliner in the bedroom, and there are doggy toys from one end of the house to the other. Ronda’s Swiss heifer made one attempt to check for cake in the back of the Can-Am, but Cudley gave a few barks as she headed toward the startled heifer.

Ronda called her back, thinking she is a bit young to try to make contact with that long-legged heifer’s feet. Ronda had enjoyed the play ‘King Arthur’s Quest’ at Buffalo, last week. The play had been put together in a matter of days. Try-outs were on Monday, and the play was done twice back to back on Thursday afternoon. Ronda commends the Directors and all the students that took part in the play.

This Thursday, Clint Zolnoski, Gene Secrest and Ronda moved pairs to the Buck home place. Later that afternoon, she met a crop adjuster to look at the Winter Wheat that isn’t. Then, Ronda went on to have supper at the Wagon Wheel in Ekalaka. On Saturday, Ronda attended the open house for Hattie Cramer at the Camp Crook Community Center.

Dick Albert and Erma went to Spearfish on Monday, where Dick had a doctor’s appointment. Erma went to physical therapy in Buffalo, on Wednesday. Then, they both went to the Senior Citizen dinner on Friday. It was Kay Baier’s birthday, so there was cake for the occasion. Kay’s daughter, Zona, made a surprise visit, too. Then Erma stayed to play cards for a while. Dick and Erma went to church at the Catholic Church, on Sunday, and then joined the Helms and Erk families for lunch at Saloon Number Three.

Doug Davis has spent the week farming. One day five heifers and two cows all decided to have calves at the same time, but things turned out good for them all. Besides work at Buffalo, Julia got some of her plants repotted at home.

Junior and Shirley Melum’s daughter, Andrea, came to visit them this week. On Saturday, Ernie, Rachel, Tommy, Andrea, Junior and Shirley went to Belle Fourche and Spearfish for the funeral of Dan and Lois Nikodym. Lois was Shirley’s sister who had lived in Idaho. After the funeral, Ernie invited the family to the Buffalo Jump in Beulah, Wyoming for supper. Then the group hurried home again to check cows. On Sunday, Ernie, Rachel and Tommy went to church at the Baptist Church in Baker.

Dorothy Padden leads an exciting life. This week she went with Bryce to Bowman for the Raymond and Sterling Lee bull sale. On Wednesday, Dorothy went with Bryce and Dawn to the eighth grade graduation in Buffalo. Then, on Thursday, Kevin and Lisa Olmsted came to visit from Billings. Kevin, Lisa and Dorothy went to Rapid City, on Friday, to see grandson, Kade Olmsted play baseball for Stevens High School. His team won that game, and won again against Central, on Saturday, to earn a trip to the state tournament in Sioux Falls next Saturday. On Sunday, Kevin and Blake did some trap shooting practice before they headed back to the ranch to drop Dorothy off on their way home. Bryce and Dawn went to Buffalo, on Saturday, for the high school graduation.

Karen Odell finally got some of her plants outside, this week. They seemed glad to get out in the sun. Karen learned that son, Jeff and Amanda Odell are gardening. Mollie and Kyia Smith are doing beautiful artwork. South Dakota grandchildren have finished their school year. Micki and Jesse Hinds will still be teaching into June in Washington.

On Friday afternoonc a storm came through to the north, and blew down some of Southeast Electric’s main poles. When Karen called to report the electrical outage, the storm hadn’t reached Tie Creek and Capitol, yet. It was nearly an hour before the winds finally hit that area. The damage would take hours to repair, so after playing the piano, Karen finally got out her violin and did some practicing. She could easily remember when there was no TV or computer, and everyone found their own interests in art or music, woodworking, writing letters or reading. Our newer habits are not nearly so creative. The best newer habits are being able to see, on the internet, granddaughter Kenna Odell receive her high school letter for being on the Mitchell speech team, and seeing grandson, Murphy Hinds, hit a home run in Tacoma.

Karen’s brother had taught her how to bat, even before his left-handed pitching career at ONU and being called up as pitcher for Detroit. Karen taught her kids to bat left-handed, too, and now, even her grandchildren bat left-handed.

On Saturday, Karen went over for a short visit at Chancey Odell and Megan’s. Karen played piano for the hymns at the Methodist Church in Camp Crook, on Sunday. Sam Cordell was in charge of the service, this week. Lynnette Wolff gave the children’s sermon. It was Tate Wolff’s birthday, so everyone got to enjoyed cake and ice cream after church. Tate is half-way to eighteen, and is looking forward to that. Karen Odell wouldn’t mind moving back to eighteen, too. In the afternoon, Karen went to church on the internet at Marietta, Georgia, and then saw some of Mitchell’s high school graduation and music concert. Their final song, ‘Homeland’ with choir and orchestra was purely wonderful.

We have heard that there will be a hymn-sing at the Harding Church on Sunday, May 26, at five o’clock. It will include audience participation if you wish to sing, or you can just enjoy listening. It will include a group of singers from Belle Fourche and as many more as can attend.

Women who carry a little extra weight still live longer than men who mention it.