CAPITOLETTER

September 23, 2024

Tie Creek got about a half inch of rain this week. That is a good amount in a drought summer like this. Capitol got less in this storm, but they had regularly gotten more during previous rains, so it somewhat evened out.

Alvin and Marlee Cordell were glad to get a half-inch of rain, on Tuesday. They had bow hunters, this week, from Pennsylvania. They got two antelope, two deer and a cow elk, before going home. On Thursday, Marlee went to the cross country meet at Custer to see Rhys Pearson run. Alvin joined her on Saturday, and they went to a reunion barn dance. A big hip-roofed barn had been decorated for the dance, and couples dressed in clothing from the 1970s. Invitations had been sent out to many people who were just turning seventy years old, and it was great to visit with those people again. The dance did not last late into the night, though. It seems seventy-year-olds go home earlier than they used to.

Dick and Erma Albert went to dental appointments in Belle Fourche on Tuesday, and also went to vote. On Friday, they went to the Senior Citizen dinner, for pork chops. Not many were there, because of tailgate activities before the football game. They went to the Catholic Mass on Sunday, and had lunch at Saloon Number Three.

Bruce and Lynn Gustafson made a trip to the Hills for shopping, on Wednesday. Bruce and Lynn went in to Camp Crook, on Saturday, to visit with Pete Anderson. The frost had visited before they got up on Sunday, so gardening season is over, except for digging up potatoes and carrots. They went to Little Missouri Lutheran for church.

Junior and Shirley Melum had gotten a frost, too. On Tuesday, they had made a trip to Spearfish for their six-month doctor’s appointments. Their daughter, Bertha, had called for a visit.

Dorothy Padden spend a few days in Billings with her son, Brett’s, family. It was a special time, because her grandson, Easton Padden, was being honored at Carroll College. He was inducted into the college Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in track and field. Easton had been a three-time national champion in pole-vault, and on his fourth trip to the nationals, he was runner-up to the champion. That is quite a record. When Dorothy got back home, she spent time watching Harding County sports on YouTube. She is thankful for the videos and computer with YouTube coverage of the games.

Ronda Cordell is not sorry to see this summer go. She is hoping for future spring rains, and waist high hay fields next year. She was up bright and early, on Monday, to meet the Carter Charter in Ekalaka, for a five-thirty ride to Billings for her oncologist appointment. Luckily she had left early, because she got a flat tire at the Burch Ranch turnoff. Her first two calls were unanswered, and she didn’t know if her cell phone would have enough power. On the third call she got the sheriff’s number, and Jerry came out to rescue her. In Billings she had plenty of time to get to her appointment. It was a beautiful day, and she even got home in time for the five o’clock news. On Tuesday, Ronda visited Cheryl Burghduff and Reuben Balderez for coffee. She looked at some bales that they had gotten hauled in. At home she went in the barn to do chores. When she switched on the light it suddenly went black, and soon a high wind and rain came. Clint Zolnoski measured twenty-eight hundredths of an inch of rain. On Thursday, Ronda took a DNA sample to mail in Camp Crook and then went on to Buffalo for lunch.

She went to take a peek at the garden on Sunday morning, to see if Jack Frost had come during the night. Although her thermometer had read thirty-nine degrees at four-thirty, the squash, planted on the west and north edges, had gotten the top leaves slightly nipped. Nothing else showed any frost bite. Ronda went to Ekalaka for Ijkalaka Grocery Customer Appreciation, and visited with Diane Wear, Marion Kerr and many others. Ekalaka is always a good spot for a visit.

Karen Odell got some mowing done this week. The weeds got a boost after a nice rain. There was lots of lightening, and after the first shower, Karen could smell some smoke, but then another good rain came that must have put out any fires close by. The smoke had disappeared. Cooler weather moved in after the wonderful rain. On Wednesday, Karen spent some time reading at Wolffy’s in Camp Crook while Tyler changed the oil in her vehicle. It was nice to visit with a few people while she was there, and sit in by the cooler to read. On Friday evening, Karen got to watch grandson, Kellan, in the Mitchell-Watertown football game. She was watching on the computer, and the Watertown cameraman was very good. She got to save some good still pictures of the captains as they met on the field, Kellan being announced and running through the team, some of his tackles and other plays. Watertown is rated second in the state, but Mitchell was tougher than expected, and scored twice on them, even though they lost the game. Kellan is a defensive player, so he got lots of playing time. On Sunday, Chancey Odell came over for a visit, and put mirrors on Karen’s Honda, so now she can back up with less trepidation.

It’s okay to tell fish stories to people who know you, but just be sure they don’t know the fish.