CAPITOLETTER

August 19, 2024

The weather was a little cooler, this week at Capitol and Tie Creek. It was a break from the hundred-degree weather, with highs in the eighties most days. We even got a pretty good rain, on Friday.

Dick and Erma Albert had enjoyed having their daughter visit. She and her family left on Wednesday to head home. On Thursday, Dick and Erma went to Spearfish and Belle Fourche to do some shopping. They attend the Old Timer’s Picnic, on Friday, and the free barbecue on Saturday night at the fairgrounds.

Alvin and Marlee Cordell attended some of the events at the Camp Crook Fair. Ryan’s family participated in some of the 4-H events.

Lynn Gustafson spent her week baking and cooking for the fair. She and Bruce attended the Old Timer’s Picnic and enjoyed visiting with the many people there. The Little Missouri Church women had a bake sale silent auction and cake walk after the picnic. People enjoyed bidding on the fancy cakes and pies, and mostly kids enjoyed the cake walk. On Sunday, they went to the outdoor church service at the fair, and then went to watch the parade. They visited with Jack and Kay Ovitz at the fair building and got to see all the exhibits, before heading for home.

Ernie Melum got Rachel’s new greenhouse finished, after her other one had blown away in the wind storm. Her plants are already thriving inside the safety of the new house. Ernie, Rachel and Tommy went to the threshing bee in Sturgis on Saturday. It is an interesting day of old time threshing, and is really fun to get to see all of the old-time machinery. They had gotten a half inch of rain, last Sunday, and another half inch on Friday. Ernie, Rachel, Tommy, Junior and Shirley Melum attended the graveside service for Alice Mae Brakke on Sunday at the Camp Crook Cemetery. Afterward they all went to the Methodist Church for a lunch, and had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends that they seldom get to see.

Karen Odell did some more cleaning outside on cool mornings. It will be a long time before things are all picked up after the big windstorm. On Friday, Karen went to the Old Timer’s Picnic, at the fair in Camp Crook. It was a great meal, and we appreciate all who donated to continue that event.

On Sunday, Karen and Hywel met Chancey and Megan in Camp Crook for the fair parade. That afternoon, Chancey came over to install a windshield on Karen’s side by side, and took home his chain saw that Cody Odell and Jesse Hinds had borrowed for cutting limbs after the big storm tore up many trees around the house. Karen talked to her brother, Jim Evans, in Ohio, and she talked to all her kids by texting. Mollie and Kyia Smith were visiting at Tacoma, with Micki and Jesse Hinds, and enjoying the beach.

On Monday, Ronda Cordell joined a well-attended meeting regarding drought, with the commissioners at Ekalaka. Many issues were covered; including tax issues if livestock had to be sold, and rancher’s active involvement in the production of the Montana Drought Moniter Maps. Ronda stopped for lunch at the Wagon Wheel, which is always a good place to visit with friends.

On Wednesday, Ronda hoped to make a quick trip to Spearfish, but she should have known better. She spent Thursday getting some photos and flowers ready for the Harding County Fair. She had said that she wasn’t entering anything this year, but when she learned that she had been chosen as the Fair Honoree, she decided she had better take some entries.

On Friday, she took her entries to the fair, and also attended the Old Timer’s Picnic at the Community hall in Camp Crook. There was good attendance for that, and always good food. Diane Wear spent the night at Ronda’s after having helped some at the Corner Cafe. They both headed into town the next day. Ronda went to look at the exhibits before going downtown. Chad, Debby and Roudy Zolnoski had come to Clint and Denise’s on Friday evening, because Roudy was going to play in the three on three basketball tournament. On his second basket, he came down on the opponent’s foot, and sustained a sprained ankle. Then, he spent the entire afternoon with an ice bag on his foot. Monday, his first day of school, will be a doctor’s visit. Cristen and Jayda Westling and a friend, Aubrey, came from Rapid City on Saturday afternoon. They all went to the Free Barbeque, and a bit of the dance, before calling it a day.

Curt, Krista, Caden and Carsen Zolnoski drove out from Rapid City. on Sunday morning. to join Ronda’s family on the horse-drawn wagon in the parade. They made a wagon full. Roudy was on crutches and Curt was using a walker. After the parade, they all went to the Watermelon Eating Contest. Abby Zolnoski, Cristen and Jayda joined in that contest. They ate at the Corner Cafe, and spent time visiting, before they all dispersed to their own destinations. It was a good weekend.

Most everyone from Capitol and Tie Creek, spent some time at the Harding County Fair in Camp Crook. Ronda Cordell was honored this year, and she and her family got to ride in the parade. The weather was good, and the many events seemed to run smoothly from one, right to another, keeping everyone busy. It was a successful weekend to enjoy and be proud of.

The most successful commentators understand that silence can often be the best and most informative comment.