March lion roars in Fraser
By Norma Brand
The month of March came in “like a lion” in the Fraser community. The morning of the first day of March started out foggy. Later in the afternoon the wind started to blow which brought in snow showers. The bare ground is starting to show on the fields and the creeks are filling up with the melting snow. Spring is on the way but as the saying goes “Beware of the Ides of March.”
Derek Brown stopped at the Brands on Thursday, Feb. 28, to drop off some information on his house. They are researching information to see if it is a Montgomery Wards Kit House. He mentioned that as soon as the snow starts to melt off the fields they turn their attention to getting the machinery ready for this year’s planting season. As soon as the ground is dry enough to get the equipment on they will fertilize the winter wheat fields. If there is any time he would like to get the yard around their house cleaned up and grass planted. His family is enjoying all the room in their new home.
Mike and Linda Beard returned to Fraser on Sunday, March 2. They drove to Reno, NV recently then traveled on to Palm Desert, CA to visit friends and play some golf. Their next stop was Quartzite, AZ where they visited Weippe residents Tom and Phyllis Lee. An invitation to go skiing took them through Park City, UT. According to Linda the area was beautiful and the skiing exceptional.
Donna Brown called Norma last week just to chat. She and Danny had enjoyed Las Vegas and were at an RV Park in Wickenburg, AZ. Their new traveling companion, Sophie, was settling in. She loves to watch all the activities outside through the windows of their RV. It looks like Donna and Danny celebrated their birthdays on the road this year. Danny’s birthday was March 2 and Donna’s was March 5.
The Brand’s sighted a moose on Thursday evening as it crossed Cottonwood Road heading south. The next morning Steve spotted it on the hayfield west of their house. It was heading north. They found its tracks in the snow and took a picture of them to prove it hadn’t been a figment of their imaginations. This was their first sighting since they moved to Fraser in 2001.
Jason Cochrell’s shop on Highway 11 has a cement floor on the south side of the building. His neighbors Vern Kenny and Steve Brand and several other friends gave him a hand with the project on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Good luck, Jason.
The Fraser Cemetery Board held a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28 at the home of Cathy Walker.
Marie Green had a quiet week. She enjoyed a visit from her daughter Wilma on Sunday March 2. Wilma’s husband Dick Shedd and his mother Bev accompanied her. Tara Wilson also stopped in on Sunday on the way to visit her grandparents Oreta and Dale Stuart.
There will be a meeting on Monday, March 10 to discuss the forming of a new community club. The club will take over the community activities of the Fraser Grange which closed February, 2008. It will be held at the Fraser Community Center at 12 o’clock. A potluck lunch will be enjoyed before the meeting. Call Linda Beard at 435-4806 or Norma Brand at 435-4354 for more information.
Fraser Pine subdivision update
Seven Fraser residents attended the Clearwater County commissioners meeting Monday. They voiced their concerns about the lack of water in the Fraser area. The commissioners made a motion to take their concerns under advisement and will address their decisions at a meeting to be held on March 17 at 10 a.m. If you are concerned about this issue, send your letters of concern to the Clearwater County Commissioners immediately.
Information has been gathered and named continued to be added to a list of residents that have drilled dry wells in Fraser.
Norma spoke to Barbara Carr last week. They drilled three wells that came up dry on what is now Kirk Gangewer’s property, and two on the property Don Smith now owns. Norma also visited with Shirley Lutes on Saturday and they had one dry well. Water is scarce in the Fraser community and new buyers should be aware of this.
The Fraser Ladies Get-together Club will meet on Wednesday, March 12, 1 p.m. at the Fraser Community Center. Hostesses are Linda Beard and Rosena Aultz. Both St. Patrick’s Day and Easter come in March this year so remember your secret sister with a card or gift.
The Fraser Boosters 4-H Club will meet on Wednesday, March 12, 7 p.m. at the Fraser Community Center.
Pinochle Party
The date for the next Pinochle party at the Fraser Community Center will be Saturday, March 15, 1 p.m. Bring a potluck dish to share after the last game. Call Linda Beard at 435-4806 for more information.
Happy birthdays go out to Mark Fowler on March 9, Rose Anna Thornton on March 11 and Caresse Brown on March 13.
Happy anniversary to Oreta and Dale Stuart on March 11.