Goings on... Meet Craig and Kinililani Sokia Albrecht

I want to say it’s a ghost town this winter day— but it’s not. The snow is crisscrossed with tracks.

BRYCE - The winter turns everyday moments into essential rituals.

Without them, the season could not progress along its course—the gears would halt, the frozen bite would clench, and spring would remain aloof. Thus, scrutinizing the houseplants becomes of utmost importance. When the spider plant unexpectedly blooms, out comes the paintbrush for a bit of pollination. The chai masala recipe is fine-tuned to perfection. Extra attention is given to the choice of stamps at the post office. No raven squawk goes unanswered.

As I wander through a barren, snow-covered field, my attention is drawn to a marshy dip in the terrain. A stand of cattails marks the wet spot. Most of the water in the dip is frozen. The cattails are stripped to the bone this time of year —a bunch of raspy stalks poking up chest-high—but some still hold their seeds.

The wind is strong in the field. I’ve been walking along the Sevier River, looking for birds. I've found only two in an hour of slow meandering within the shelter of willows, cottonwood, and sage. My cheeks are branch-whipped, and the sun is low. I want to say

On this day, I am companioned by foxes, coyotes, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, and mountain lions. Paw prints reveal where a coyote jumped onto a log and walked its length. I see multiple sets of cougar tracks sauntering down a service road.

I tell myself that the lions have moved on and are up to other things. But maybe not— they could be here, hiding in the blue shadows. I stand over the head of a cattail in the middle of the field. It looks like an eroding corn dog. The wind nips at a tatter of fluff. Who could resist? I dig my thumb into it, pushing. Suddenly it gives, unspooling dramatically in my hand. The soft mass is immediately snatched by a gust and danced away.

A flurry of seeds floats up and sticks to my lips. My coat, my hat, and my eyelashes, all get plastered with the dainty seeds. I smack my lips. I feel like I’ve just given a shedding cat a kiss with chapstick on.

The mountain lion that lurks in my imagination has his belly pressed low to the ground and is peering from the scrub. The brittle cottonwoods creak and rattle in the wind, and somewhere up the rock face, a Canyon Wren calls out. I walk back to my truck, blowing little “pfffft” sounds out of my lips, setting free the seeds.

Notes from the Nuthatch is a nature column written by Kadi Franson, a naturalist and artist living in Garfield County.

Winter Festival: Our family has enjoyed the beauty and fun of winter here for generations. The Winter Festival allows Ruby’s to introduce families from all over Utah to the adventures we have in the colder months —perhaps beginning new traditions for visitors.

—Lance Syrett, hotel general manager at Ruby's Inn

Festival

Winter

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Ice skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as crowd-favorite winter activities, with equipment rentals available onsite.

The opening of the ribbon precedes the 38th Annual Bryce Canyon Winter Festival on February 18-20, 2023. Regardless of snow levels, the festival brings visitors for a weekend of familyfriendly activities and educational opportunities. Registered attendees can attend archery classes and competitions, guided hikes/snowshoe treks and clinics on outdoor training and fitness options. For those who prefer to enjoy the snow from the warmth of the inside, educational classes about the geology and wildlife of the region along with various arts and crafts opportunities are available. The festival also features a family movie night and a dance for all ages, and if you want to venture out, Bryce Canyon National Park features extra program-

Craig and Kinililani (Kini) Sokia Albrecht live in Fremont, Utah. Craig is an assistant coach for the Wayne High School boys baseball team, and Kini runs Candy Leis by Kini and makes candy leis for special events and occasions.

FREMONT - Meet Craig and Kinililani Sokia Albrecht, better known as Kini to her friends. Kini met Craig while working at the Deseret Industries located in South Jordan. They were married on October 7, 2006.

Kini attended Taylorsville High School and was in the graduating class of 2000. Craig also grew up in Salt Lake County, but his roots run deep in Wayne county. They moved to Fremont over 16 years ago.

Kini’s father was born and raised in Fiji, and her mother grew up in Salt Lake. She is named after her grandmother on her father’s side. Kini has an older brother who is raising six girls and a little sister who has two boys and twin girls. Between her and Craig, they have ten nieces and six nephews with another on the way.

Kini runs Candy Leis by Kini, where she uses her talent to make candy leis for special events and occasions, like birthdays and graduation. She’s been branching out and trying her hand at creating beautiful bracelets out of beads and macramé.

Craig is an assistant coach for the Wayne High School boys baseball team. If you see them out and about, stop and say hello; you won’t be sorry that you did.

Candy Leis by Kini can be reached by calling 801971-8064.

—Lisa Jeppson

USU Extension Invites the Public to Meet Position Candidates

LOA - Over a month ago, the Utah State University (USU) Extension Office in Wayne County listed a new job opening for the position of Extension Assistant/Associate Professor for the Wayne County Home and Community Extension Office. USU Extension would like to invite the public to come out and meet the candidates who have applied for the position. They had over 30 candidates who applied and have whittled it down to three.

The first candidate will be in Wayne County on February 13. The session will start at 8:00 a.m. with a forty-five minute meet and greet with the extension office personnel and court house employees. The candidate presentation, which the public is invited and encouraged to attend, will start at 8:45. Each candidate has created a presentation that they will then present to the public, extension personnel and the county commissioners. There will be a question and answer period involved at the end of the presentation. After the presentation is complete the candidate will then meet with Dean White, Vice President for the Utah State Extension, and Heidi LeBlanc, the Home and Community Department Head.

ming over the weekend, included with the entrance fee to the park.

“Our family has enjoyed the beauty and fun of winter here for generations. The Winter Festival allows Ruby’s to introduce families from all over Utah to the adventures we have in the colder months— perhaps beginning new traditions for visitors,” explained Lance Syrett, hotel general manager at the resort. “We want to remind people that Ruby’s Inn and Bryce Canyon are more than just summertime destinations. Families need vacations in winter too— and we are much more affordable than an expensive downhill ski trip!”

Access passes to the Ice Ribbon with skate rentals included are only $7 and free for ages 3 and under, available at the Winter Activity Center. Links to registration and more information about the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival are available on Ruby’s Inn’s website: www.rubysinn. com.

—Ruby's Inn

The next two candidates will be presenting on February 17th. The first presentation will begin at 9:45 a.m., and the second of the day will start at 1:45. There is only one candidate from the state of Utah; the other two are from other parts of the country. Mary Clegg Sorenson would like each of you to come out and listen to each presentation and “help in selecting the perfect fit for the extension office.”

—Lisa Jeppson

SBSU Unveils Newest Logo

Courtesy State Bank of Southern Utah State Bank of Southern Utah's newest logo.

CEDAR CITY - After 22 years, State Bank of Southern Utah has unveiled its newest logo.

The previous logo featured Thor’s Hammer in Bryce Canyon National Park, the Great White Throne in Zion National Park, and a bristlecone pine tree.

The new logo is a minimalist, encircled green and black design of a bristlecone pine tree.

“We chose a strong local symbol because of the bank’s history. We love the symbolism that as the tree grows, branches are added, strengthening the tree. Similarly, as the bank continues to grow and branches are added, it strengthens our communities. This allows us to give back to the communities we serve, just like a tree bearing fruit," said Cordelle Morris, Chief marketing officer for State Bank of Southern Utah.

Source: St. George News