This weekend we took the opportunity to attend the Moses Lake Washington Temple Open House. The place was humming, not just the bees over the Salvia. There were lines and they were trying to move people through quickly. There were even the classic protesters! Not a proper temple open house without protesters.
Amanda, Aliza, Hiram, Lillian, Paul, and James Ross at Moses Lake Temple
Fortunately I had some business opportunities in Moses Lake, so I scheduled that the night before and the morning of the open house. Very excited about those prospects, we will see what comes of them.
Ross Family waiting in line for the Moses Lake Temple Open House
Aliza Ross with Eliza, Aleah, Elise, and Anson Hales at Split Butte
Split Butte is located in Blaine County Idaho about 15 miles north of Minidoka Idaho. It isn’t far to the east of the territory of the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
Ross and Hales families walking back to the truck at the bottom of the crater
Split Butte looking northwest, a phreatomagmatic maar-type volcano comprised of a tephra ring and inner basalt lava lake. The lava lake partially flowed over the southwest rim and collapsed leaving a circular shelf of basalt within the crater.
It isn’t far from the Wapi Flow that nearly reached the volcano.
It is an other-worldly type of place. The heat, the barrenness of the desert, and the constant wind erosion of the rocks makes it unique.
Hales and Ross families exploring the exposed ring of Split Butte
Brad & Rachel Hales came to visit in early June 2021. We ventured out to the desert. For Split Butte we sardined all 13 members of our families into my air-conditioned 2014 Ford F-150 for the trek from the main road to Split Butte. That turned into a story of its own.
I took this panorama from the highest point I could attain. You cannot even really make out my truck at the bottom.
I must comment how disappointed I am that some people have done damage or not tried to preserve this phenomenal feature for future generations. Garbage is minimal, but the off-road vehicles going to this place are not careful and undermine the beauty and grandeur that still exists. I hope if you make a visit you will leave it better than you found it.
Split Butte with is accompanying Crater/Caldera from June 2021
This weekend I traveled to beautiful Custer County to participate in the Idaho GOP Summer Meeting at the beautiful Living Waters Ranch just west of Challis, Idaho.
Around the table from left to right: Mark Johnson, Kimberly Kaehler, Jordan Marques, Chris Boyd, Nick Woods, Vince Rundhaugh, Hari Heath, Elena Wise, Luke Sommer, Stewart Hyndman, Brent Regan, Machele Hamilton, David Taylor, Jeff Siddoway, Larry Oja, Trent Clark, Paul Ross, Rick Jessinger. Idaho GOP Rules Committee, 23 June 2023.
I was in Boise on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and made the trek through Idaho City, Lowman, Stanley, Clayton, to Challis. I don’t think I have been to Challis since about 2003 when I took a friend from England to Challis on a road tour. I came here a couple of times in the 1980’s with my Grandma selling insurance. It really has not changed much since my memories here in the 80’s. One time after Camp Bradley we were brought to Challis to the hot springs. I recall stopping at Yankee Fork Dredge and the ghost towns of Bonanza and Custer.
Throughout the late 80s and 90s we also came up multiple times to herd cattle for Aslett Ranches. We moved quite a few cattle from or to Mackay to the wilderness up near White Knob. I quite liked that time with my Dad. I don’t miss the ticks, saddle sore legs, and dry heat.
Aslett Mackay Ranch
As an attorney, I find myself drawn to the Courthouses. I actually have a pending case in Custer County at present for a high school friend whose father passed and a probate needed to be done. We are working through that case and published in the local paper, recorded at the County Recorder, and have the ongoing case at the Courthouse.
The drive over was beautiful. The road from Boise to Lowman is gnarly. My pickup felt even less safe on that road due to height and length. I just cannot hug the road like those low cars that seemed to just want to ride close behind. I was happy to pull over them a few times to let them pass. I drop a gear and let the engine keep me slow too. One car passed me and I could see the smoke from his brakes and that distinct smell.
There are the usual breathtaking views of various vistas in the Sawtooth Mountains. There is also evidence of the perils too.
Evidence of an avalanche. The large boulder sitting on top of snow and all the flattened trees of a forest already devastated by fire.
Plenty of trees sitting on top of the packed snow still straddling Canyon Creek. Looking up the hill you could see the path the avalanche came down the mountain bringing the dead trees with it.
I also stopped at the Sunbeam Dam near Sunbeam, Idaho to snap a picture or two and walk along the Salmon River.
Remains of Sunbeam Dam on Salmon River.
Highway 75 Bridge over Yankee Fork near the confluence with the Salmon River.
I could see some fish in the river. I was tempted to try and catch one but the water was so cold I decided not to do anything silly.
All of Custer County is only pushing 4,500 people for the entire county. Custer County has some of our highest mountains, including Mount Borah, Idaho’s tallest mountain. Much of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area is also in Custer.
We purchased a new home last September. With a considerably bigger yard, we had to purchase a riding mower. We debated on whether to get a zero turn or a regular. I opted for the traditional riding mower so the kids could learn how to drive properly and hopefully also reverse.
They were anxious to give it a try. However, neither Aliza nor Hiram were heavy enough to trigger the switch in the seat to keep it running. We put them together and their combined weight was enough. This is a fun picture of the two of them together learning how to mow! It is also a picture in front of our new front door of our new house/home.
New house, new mower, new skills, new excitement. Hopefully they will be as excited to mow the lawn in a year from now!
The old mower we kept to continue mowing the office lawn and other little jobs as needed around the house.
Lagoon old style photo, Back (l-r): Brook Jonas, Paul Ross; Front: May Melycher, Colleen Jonas, Jackie Melycher
This photo was found by an acquaintance and who recognized me. I am glad they did! They were kind enough to provide this photo, and some other photos and documents, to me. You can see it had something spilled on it and has a number of scratches. Makes it seem more authentically old.
Honestly, I forgot this photo was even taken. I did not have a copy of it. I seem to remember seeing it once or twice through the years, but here is a copy for me. I was pretty excited about it. The back of the photo says 1993, which does not seem correct. Based on the age of May and me, I am thinking this is more like 1995. I seem to recall that Brook came to visit before going into the Navy, and 1995 would have put him at 18, later if he was older. However, I found this photo from the same occasion, which is dated 12 June 1993. So I have adopted that date as accurate and Brook was visiting when he was 16. This will post at 30 years after the fact! Time flies… Grandma and Jackie took us to Lagoon. I would have thought Andra would have come as well, but I don’t remember her being there and I have no idea why she would have been left out of the photo. If she had been at Lagoon, we would surely have waited for her to be in the photo.
Lagoon in 1993
A year or two later, this photo was taken of me and my friend, Dustin McClellan. This photo has 1994 written in the name, perhaps it was written on the back as well.
The Silver Nickel Saloon is in old town of Lagoon found in Farmington, Davis, Utah. There are probably even more photos out there from high school, but I do not have copies of those photos.
Last week I mentioned my Grandfather, Milo James Ross, preparing a Power of Attorney. This week I share the Last Will and Testament he executed the next day, 2 June 1943. Camp Clipper, near Needles, California, was a harsh environment to help train soldiers. It was here, the day after, he signed this document for what might need to be done should the War take his life. Fortunately for him and his family, it didn’t take his life for another 71 years. Although he lived with the shrapnel and effects of the War until the relief of death took him to the next stage of our eternal journey.
Last Will and Testament of Milo James Ross, page 1
Last Will and Testament of Milo James Ross, page 2
Notes on the witnesses.
Charles Edward Witham, born 12 October 1918 in Pisgah, Morgan, Illinois. Married in 1958. Died 10 March 2009 at age 90 in Jacksonville, Morgan, Illinois.
Frank Fancher or Faucher, unable to find anything on this person. Nothing quite adds up for Cudahy or that name.
William Luther Mills, born 14 March 1918 in Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina. Died 12 June 2001 at age 83. He is buried in Anderson, Anderson, South Carolina.
For Memorial Day this year, I ask you to consider a thought. As 1 June 2023 approaches, what will you be doing? What will you be dreaming about, who will you be missing, what will you be dreading? I take you back 80 years to 1 June 1943.
Milo James Ross found himself enlisted in the United States Army. Dreaming of his new bride far away at 629 8th Street in Ogden, Utah. Missing his family and his son who will be born on Independence Day in just over a month. Missing the blessed Wasatch mountains of Weber County, Utah. Dreading what might be coming in the war against Germany and Japan. Waiting for his next assignment, but until then enduring the heat of San Bernardino County, California.
On that date, Milo James Ross prepared this document for the future. Hopeful that the future only required a Power of Attorney, not a Last Will and Testament. But with the sober reality he might not be competent to act either.
Another interesting insight into this document. Typewriter prepared, yet handwritten in for the specifics. That person who prepared this document, how many of these were typed up that day? Were they done in duplicate? What type of precision existed to type these time after time again with virtually no mistakes? What type of service would you have rendered in the War? Were you raising the flag on a chateau after a battle or typing Powers of Attorney? Were you cooking the food or making the clothes? Were you building the Jeeps or scouring the battlefields for remains? All just as necessary, but only a few more prestigious and recognized.
What will you do this Memorial Day that pushes forward the work of mankind for the better? What will you do this month that serves your Nation and State? Are you thinking of others and pushing for the work or just resting on the labors of others? How will you further Freedom?
While we remember the dead, we need take encouragement and strength from their Sacrifice. Pick up and go to work.
Brandon Woolf, McCord Larsen, Paul Ross with Idaho State Capitol
This year I was more involved in the legislative process than in the past. There were a few bills I was particularly interested and closely involved. I even helped write a few.
On 3 March 2023 I traveled to the Idaho State Capitol with my friend and Cassia County Prosecutor McCord Larsen to testify on a particular bill related to Public Defense. While there, we took the opportunity to make a number of other calls and visits in addition to the legislators/legislative. This photo comes from one of those visits.
Brandon Woolf is the Idaho State Controller. More importantly he is my friend. He is always out and about in visiting communities and friends. I have run into him in Preston, Soda Springs, Malad, Burley, Rupert, and Boise. Not only do I respect and honor this friend, our families have been friends for generations. Brandon is from Preston, where my Andra, Nuffer, and Wanner lines are all from. I have ran into Brandon at That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, the Rodeo Days Parade (also in Preston), and even the Independence Day Breakfast in Preston. It has been a small world and an oddity that I run into this guy as much as I do.
He took us through and shows us the new Transparent Idaho website. He is pretty excited for this website to continue to be rolled out and outfitted with all information for Idaho government. That is not just state, but every taxing district from cities, to counties; from cemetery districts to school districts.
The highlight was catching up between old friends (and Aggies). For the occasion, we snapped this photo from Brandon’s office. Somehow it seems enchanting. My beloved state, a phenomenal Idaho Constitutional Officer, friendship, and a beautiful Capitol. My experience with Idaho is that we are in good hands.
As for the legislation we were working on that day, well it was a disappointment. Representatives Weber and Cannon apparently were more interested in passing a bill than getting it right. We have tons of clean-up, which is always harder the second or third year than at the beginning. I have many, many reservations on the bill generally and don’t think it cannot be cleaned up but for a rewrite. But they didn’t care about that either. For a state that is independent, local control, and willing to do things different, this bill flew in the face of all that. It centralized power, removed local stakeholders, consolidated processes, ignored processes, and all at the same time wildly underfunded. I hope I am wrong, but I think it will get worse before it gets better.
Other bills were introduced too late and didn’t get too far. Others passed through unmarred and become clarifying law. The updates of bankruptcy related law all seem to have failed. But we will try again next year. Too bad it does not pay, it is hard doing all this on your own dime and sacrificing your gainful employment.
We were able to do lunch with our local Representative Clay Handy and visit with Representative Doug Pickett. Senator Kelly Anthon was kind enough to introduce us and welcome us from the Senate floor. We were unable otherwise to meet up with him.
Idaho is still small. I hope we do not lose the small state legislature, the gentleman’s creed, and the ability to do business. Please like Brandon keep hope in government when it is sometimes hard to keep hope in such a process.
Sagacity 