Mt. McCaleb Cemetery Veteran's Graves Each Honored With A U.S. Flag - May 24 2013

Back in 2002, I walked the Mt McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay (Custer County) Idaho and photographed EVERY headstone (approximately 1,500). I, then worked on entering all of the data from the headstones and photos to findagrave.com. ( link: http://www.findagrave.com ). As you may imagine, this was a daunting task, but I LOVED working on it! I love our cemetery in Mackay, Idaho and all of my deceased maternal relatives are buried here (below the Malkiewicz-Lundberg graves)! We decorate with yellow mums each year because Mom loved them. My headstone will be here too when it is time.

I made a typed plat map of the cemetery. You might think I was proficient at making things like this - I WAS NOT and it took me a long time to create.

We (Earl Lockie and I) enlarged and framed the plat map for display at the cemetery. Harold Smith's family provided the little open kiosk building for the display and cemetery book.

Since, 2002, I have kept a typed excel Cemetery Book for the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery so people can find their graves. Sample Section:

City Manager, Ken Day, keeps the official cemetery book at Mackay City Hall and he HELPED me identify the location of more than 7 pages of graves that were missing from my list. I WANTED TO HUG THIS MAN!!!!

Before this time, it was a "wander around the cemetery" to find your graves.

Each Memorial Day, the American Legion and the local scouts place a memorial U.S. Flag on each veteran's gave (approximately 200 at this time). Locating the veteran's graves has always been a challenge and NOT MISSING any even a more or a formidable task. Hence, this year, I wanted to create a document that could used by the flag bearers showing the location of all the veteran's graves. I had a really good start on the project with Jani and Robbyn arrived to HELP ME - thank the universe! They literally spent days in the cemetery verifying  the location of graves and updating the excel list.

I made arrangements with he Olsen's for the local Cub and Boy Scouts, along with Scoutmaster Wayne Olsen and the Commander of the local American Legion, Campbell Gardett to meet at the cemetery this morning to place a U.S. Flag at each veteran's grave using the NEW SYSTEM. I was so happy to see so much help this morning!

Scoutmaster Wayne Olsen instructed the scouts on why we honor veterans in this way and how to place the U.S. Flag in their honor locations at each veteran's grave. 

Each adult leader took scouts and a bundle of flags and off they went in a systematic way to mark the veteran's graves. The flags will be picked up and stored at the American Legion on the evening of Memorial Day until next year. 

(Above) Cubs and Boy Scouts who lent a hand included L to R Standing Adults: Judy Malkiewicz, Jani Malkiewicz, Lana Pehrson, Wayne Olsen, Lucky Rogers and his daughter, Cassie Rogers, Shirley Olsen, Campbell Gardett. Boys L to R: Christopher Ivie, Nolan Moorman, Bryson Woodbury, Danny Robertson, Nick Burroughs, Lafe Gamett, Jayden Bell, Cassie Rogers, Caleb Hampton, and Joey Robertson.

Cub Scouts from Pack 98, Jayden Bell, Caleb Hampton, and Lafe Gamett (below) were great helpers!

Burger Time on Highway 93 Open for the Season - Summer 2013

Burger Time is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week (17, 18, and 19 of May 2013).  And will open full-time on 23 May 2013. This is their 8th year in business. Get out and enjoy a burger and milkshake with the Pehrson's! 

 The only business in town with a drive-through window other than the banks!

South Custer Historical Society 28th Christmas Bazaar - November 17 2012

 New Coordinator, Diane Wilson (on right) with Evadean Bauer at the Baked Foods Table.

 Ladies Aid with Linda Williams and Virginia Anderson.

Baked Foods Table with Evadean Bauer, Lesley Szabo, and President Lana Pehrson (President of the South Custer Historical Society).

Mackay Barbecue 2012 Part 1 of 4 - September 15 2012

The average person standing in line at the Mackay Barbecue to get their free beef sandwich probably doesn’t know much about what has taken place in the days before the barbecue to ensure they are well fed once they get to the head of the line.

A Barbecue Committee is formed and a Chair chosen. This year Co-Chairs are Justin and Maleah Ivie. Subcommittee's are formed each with a Chair to accomplish the many tasks required by the Mackay Barbecue.

Money is raised and carefully tracked. Hopefully, more on the Committee structure will appear here later.

Preparations begin with barbecue sauce making at Ivies on Wednesday night before barbecue. The Moonshooters Pinochle Club of Mackay, Idaho gathered at Ivies grocery with Randy Ivie this evening and prepped the special, secret barbecue sauce for the Mackay Barbecue to be held this Saturday, 18 Sept 2012 at the Mackay Tourist Park - "TONS OF MEAT - MACKAY'S TREAT" - It's FREE and open to EVERYONE!

The best roast beef sandwich has tasty SAUCE and it is not an easy task to get it made in LARGE quantities.

Moonshooters Pinochle Club L to R: Carol Ivie, Terri Pehrson, Julie Johnson, Glenda Jardine, Peggy Pehrson, Terrie Bone, and Lana Pehrson (Note: Kirra Jardine Nalley was there helping too, but missed the photo op).

 

L to R: Lana Pehrson, Terri Pehrson, Peggy Pehrson, and Terrie Bone.

The prepped barbecue sauce will be chilled in the Ivies coolers until Friday, 17 Sept 2012 when it will be taken to the Mackay School cafeteria to be cooked and sealed in jars for the barbecue the next day. Look for the Moonshooters Pinochle Club on the day of the barbecue as they ALSO serve the sandwiches and sauces. Thanks Randy Ivie and Gals!

Then, the Tourist Park is mowed to perfection, while Barbecue Co-Chair, Maleah Ivie, her mother, Lana Pehrson (in charge of Serving), and Ken Day, City of Mackay Foreman, make sure all the needed supplies are in the serving shed storage area. Prior to the construction of the serving shed in 2004 and first used in 2005, Ken Day put up a serving tent.

Serving Tent used Sept  18 2003.

 Building the new Serving Shed and Storage. Ken Day ducks in the storage area, 2004.

New Serving Shed and Storage used for the first time in 2005.

Wood was delivered from the Forest Service by Pat Powers from the  Lost River Highway District to the Mackay Tourist Park to be fed in to the barbecue oven all night beginning at 5 PM today, Thursday, September 13 2012. Wood will be continuously added for 24 hours.

Pat Powers from Lost River Highway District delivers the wood for the barbecue on Sept 18 2008. Jake Drussel and Manny Guerrero in the foreground.

Terry Ulhenhopp and Manny Guerrero have loaded wood in the barbecue oven for years. For the 2012 Mackay Barbecue, the oven was fired 5 PM September 13 2012.

]

After the oven is full of wood, Terry Ulhenhopp lights the fire with a propane torch at 5 PM, Thursday, September 13 2012.

Manny Guerrero and Terry Uhlenhopp placed a metal shield up at the top of the barbecue oven door and will feed the fires ALL NIGHT from the bottom. The burning wood will heat up the barbecue oven. Before the meat roasts are added to the barbecue oven tomorrow night, all of the wood and ash will be removed.

Terry Ulhenhopp and Manny Guerrero stoked the barbecue with firewood.  As the fire burned, Terry used a metal tripod with a long metal pole to stir the embers frequently and then reloading the oven with firewood.  This is done continually from 5 PM Thursday until approximately 6 PM Friday night to ensure the bricks of the oven are thoroughly heated.  Workers stoking the fire in the oven wear a fire suit borrowed from the Mackay Fire Department due to the intense heat.

These four young men fed wood in the barbecue oven at the Mackay Tourist Park all night and will continue throughout today until the beef roasts are prepared tonight at the Mackay Fire Hall. The oven should be the PERFECT temperature when the meat is put in!

L to R Standing: Nate Yowell and Nate Laib - L to R Sitting: Terry Uhlenhopp and Dennis aka Wally Wallin - September 14 2012

Mackay Barbecue Sauce Made at Ivies in Mackay, Idaho - September 12 2012

The Moonshooters Pinochle Club of Mackay, Idaho gathered at Ivies grocery with Randy Ivie this evening and prepped the special, secret barbecue sauce for the Mackay Barbecue to be held this Saturday, 18 Sept 2012 at the Mackay Tourist Park - "TONS OF MEAT - MACKAY'S TREAT" - It's FREE and open to EVERYONE!

The best roast beef sandwich has tasty SAUCE and it is not an easy task to get it made in LARGE quantities.

Moonshooters Pinochle Club L to R: Carol Ivie, Terri Pehrson, Julie Johnson, Glenda Jardine, Peggy Pehrson, Terrie Bone, and Lana Pehrson (Note: Kirra Jardine Nalley was there helping too, but missed the photo op).

The prepped barbecue sauce will be chilled in the Ivies coolers until Friday, 17 Sept 2012 when it will be taken to the Mackay School cafeteria to be cooked and sealed in jars for the barbecue the next day. Look for the Moonshooters Pinochle Club on the day of the barbecue as they ALSO serve the sandwiches and sauces. Thanks Randy Ivie and Gals!

Blast from the Past - Lost River Highway District Working on Alder Creek Road - July 23 2003

Lost River Highway District Working on Alder Creek Road - July 23 2003. Left to Right: Ed Denison, Travis Nielson, Chance Pehrson, Dustin Lords, and Pat Powers.

Blast from the Past - Leslie Ward LDS Relief Society on Mine Hill Tour August 5 2008

Pehrson's Bucking Stock Nursery near Darlington Idaho July 21 2011

Babies along Highway 93 near Darlington June 29 2011

Couldn't resist the Pherson babies and went back today, June 29 2011.

First cuts of hay June 28 2011

Loy/Lana Pehrson and Byron/Terri Pehrson's place near Darlington June 28 2011

Lost Rivers Museum in Mackay, Idaho to open for the season Friday and Saturday 1-4 PM May 27 and 28 2011

South Custer Historical Society Members Cora Lockie and Fay Hansen clean the Museum for the seaon opening

Lana Hansen Pehrson and Sharon Pitkin on the cleaning crew. In the background, birthday girl, Charlotte Manson McKelvey shows a family member around the museum.

65th Annual Mackay Rodeo Parade June 19 2010