CAPITOLETTER

April 8, 2024

It will be darker today at Capitol and on Tie Creek. The moon will be blocking the sun, so hope everyone stays inside, saves their eyes and doesn’t look up. It won’t be a perfect eclipse here, as it will be in the eastern states.

Dick and Erma Albert had a good Easter, and attended the Catholic Church service. This week the church time in Buffalo had been moved up, so that the Bison church could have a special service. The service was over in time for them to have the Breakfast Buffet at Saloon Number Three, and the food was great. The Erks joined them for breakfast, too. Erma had a doctor’s appointment in Spearfish on Thursday. They had already stocked up on groceries, so they just got supper at Subway, and brought it home.

On Friday, they both went to the Senior Citizen Dinner, where Bobbie served roast beef. The special event was a History Day presentation by some of the school students, that included a play about Clara Barton, and would be presented again at the national competition.

Alvin and Marlee Cordell had about six-tenths of an inch of rain by Sunday evening. It was a good rain that came softly, and soaked in. Ryan Cordell had gotten just under an inch up at the Horton place in the Sheep Mountains. Alvin, Marlee and Charlie Casteel went in to Camp Crook for supper at the Corner Bar, on Wednesday. Alvin went to Buffalo to do some shopping, on Thursday. On Friday, Marlee went to Belle Fourche to spend a couple of days. Granddaughter Rhys, had a junior high track meet where she ran the 400 and the 800 and won both. Gavin had a high school track meet at Spearfish, and was in the 400 and a relay.

Ian and Jenna Flatgard, who moved to western Montana a couple of years ago, have kept in touch with the Capitol News. Their daughter, Marla, was a baby when they moved away. Now they have another daughter, Ruth Elise, and Marla is a big sister. The girls look a lot alike, and I can imagine they will be great companions. Marla was big enough to help make Easter cookies this year. What a fun time. Thanks for the update.

David Morgan’s family, from California, came to Junior and Shirley Melum’s on Easter, and brought the whole Easter dinner with them. It was a wonderful surprise and great eating. Ernie, Rachel and Tommy joined the group, and the whole day was lots of fun with lots of visiting. They had also gotten a good rain this weekend, and expect to see the green grass when the sun comes out again.

Dorothy Padden and Brandon and Ashley’s family stayed home for Easter. They spend the weeks monitoring the heifers for calving. The kids had a track meet this week, and then ended the week with Prom night. It was wonderful to see them all dressed so handsomely for the dance. Dorothy is hoping for more rain, but had about a half-inch so far.

Karen Odell did usual chores in the week after Easter Sunday. There were a few days of very warm weather, and she got some outside work done in the sunshine. Ernie and Tommy Melum stopped by to level some ground for Karen. They picked good weather even with the wind, because after that the rain and snow began. By Sunday she had gotten about an inch of rain. Karen made a couple of trips to Camp Crook with mail, and stopped at Wolffy’s. She got her Easter (Christmas) letter mailed, and enjoyed getting a return call from Johnny Odell in Maryland. He was planning to come out to the McFarlane reunion in the summer. Karen’s Christmas letter has become habitually late, so friends are not surprised to get her letter on any holiday after Christmas (and before the next Christmas).

Karen sent one of her books to a high school classmate in Ohio and he texted back with an update on their friend, Phyllis, who had been in a terrible car wreck not far from his home. It was good to hear of her progress. Karen made a trip to Buffalo on Friday, to get some supplies, and did a little visiting there, too. Track season has begun for Cody’s boys, and it soon will be time for baseball.

Let’s keep Baine Maupin in our prayers this week.

Remember, we can stand ourselves, we can stand the hardships.