Mike Green juggling at the Weippe Rodeo Parade. Weippe High School (WHS) bricks are a fundraiser for a new roof for the Heritage Museum in Weippe. Photo by Norma Brand
Rain in Fraser
By Norma Brand
The Fraser Community has had a spell of cold rainy weather. The week between Aug. 6 through 13 we received over two inches of rain, and the nighttime temperatures have dropped down to the 49 degree range. During the day we were lucky if the temperature got up to 70 degrees.
It was great to have the rain, but the wheat farmers would have preferred that it waited until after harvest was over. The sun came out on Monday, Aug. 17, if this weather continues the grain will be ready so harvest can continue. Clarabell Brown remembers when she and her late husband, Marvin, were farming, there were years when harvest time was cold and rainy She also recalled a year when a hailstorm hit and ruined the barley field.
The Wild Weippe Rodeo was held over the weekend. Glen and Gail Hibbs were the Grand Marshal's this year. Gail reported they felt it was a real honor to be asked.
Rachel Bonner, from Orofino, served as the 2009 Queen. Her great grandparents John and Irene Bonner were longtime residents of Fraser, her grandparents Glen and Laverna Bonner and her dad Wade were Fraser residents also.
A good crowd lined the main street of Weippe on Saturday to watch the rodeo parade. Mike Green was in front of the Rebekah's Lodge; his juggling act attracted a lot of attention. Mike was selling bricks from the Weippe High School to raise money for a new roof for the Weippe Heritage Museum. If you would like to contribute to this project you can contact Mike at 208-435-4277. A new roof will help protect all the valuable historical information about this area. Any help would be appreciated.
Reports have come in that Saturday's Rodeo was a little WILD because of the muddy conditions but Sunday's performance was great.
Bev and Barry Bailey held their "annual after the rodeo barbecue" on Saturday evening. Around fifty people attended this year. The Baileys furnished the meat and everyone brought a dish to share. Bev's dad, Jack Smolinski and Win Green from Peck were in charge of the grill. Fraser area families that attended were Peggy Ball, RoseAnna Thornton, Pat Donnelly, Mike Green, Mike and Linda Beard, Teresa and Jim Meads and their son Buster, John and Sally Marks, Dolores Watson, Kim and Toby Cox and their son Conner. Mark and Angie Jackson and their children JoJo and Michala came from Lewiston. Mark's sister Tammy and her husband Jamie Ward and their children Trevor and Hailey from Washington state were also among the guests. Everyone had a great time according to Bev.
Clarabell Brown celebrated her 87th birthday on Aug. 16. Her daughter Nancy Borders and her husband Ed brought dinner and ice cream and cake. Shirley and Ken Schoenek stopped by for a visit in the afternoon and her daughter-in-law Donna and her son Brad also stopped in for a visit.
Caitlin Brown's birthday is usually celebrated when the family is at Cavendish for wheat harvest. This year the rain changed their plans and they were at home. Family and friends were invited to her home for dinner, ice cream and cake. The theme this year was the Littlest Pet Shop. The cake was baked by Sherry's Cakes in Weippe. It had a bubble head horse on top for decoration. Her Mom and Dad gave her a gift of an Ipod; it is her favorite gift.
Last week Janet Kingen had back surgery in Lewiston. She is recovering at home. Janet reported the surgery relieved some of the pain and she hopes it will get better as the healing continues.
Summer vacation is almost over for the school kids. School will start again on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Time continues to speed along and the Clearwater County Fair is almost here. Are you considering what you will enter this year? Remember it is the residents of this county that make the fair a success.
The theme for this year is "Proud Past, Bold Future".
Happy birthday to Lorene Childers on Aug. 22, Lorene delivers our mail. Happy birthday to Kirk Gangewer on Aug. 24 and to Guy Walker on Aug. 27.