The Elm Springs News
Elm Springs received an inch of rain Sunday night and Monday, which slowed fieldwork, but by Saturday evening, the Elm Springs Fire Department was back in action, this time returning the favor in the Boneita Springs Area. “It’s getting to the point,” remarked kind citizen Sandy Fields, “where we can’t go out on Saturday nights!”
Amid the hyperventilation over the fires in last week’s ESN, no mention was made of the fact that Elmer and Christina Steiner, David Barrier, and Jim and Nadine Wanek were all visitors at the Brady O’Rourke residence Saturday afternoon.
Several of the kind citizens left Elm Springs in the hands of others to attend the Days of ‘76 festivities in Deadwood over the weekend.
Jim and Myrna Smith hosted the Elm Springs Jolly Ranchers 4-H Club meeting Wednesday night.
Clyde and Connie Arneson visited their parents Saturday in Belle Fourche. Sunday, Kody DeVries was a helpful visitor at the Clyde Arneson residence.
Clyde Arneson was a coffee vistor “one morning” at the Lawrence Burke residence. Saturday, Lawrence and Doris took a drive, with stops in Sturgis and Spearfish, among others. They were unfortunate enough to be accosted by Matt Trask at their mailbox upon returning to Elm Springs. Matt struck up a conversation in their driveway, and seemed to have no end of things to talk about, until, in desperation the Burkes gave him cookies so that they could go home. It was more unfortunate for the Burkes that about the time they were feeding Matt cookies, Austin Trask and Clay Tines showed up, and so more cookies had to be passed around before the Burkes could go home.
Ryan Elshere competed at a rodeo in Burwell, NE Thursday, and at the Days of ‘76 rodeo Saturday.
Lynn and Sandy Fields entertained grandchildren Austin, Cheyenne and Marshall Langley until Friday, when Sandy and Peggy Wetz took them to Chamberlain, where their mother picked them up for the return to Sioux Falls. On the way home from Chamberlain, the car that Sandy and Peggy were in was hit by a deer near the Melvin Anderson residence.
Matt Trask was a coffee visitor at the Andy Linns Monday morning. Clyde Arneson was a visitor a different morning. It is becoming apparent that everyone remembers that Clyde showed up, but nobody can remember when. John and Jean Linn were supper guests at the Andy Linns Saturday night. Sunday, Kelli took the kids to everyone’s favorite town of Wasta, where they went swimming.
Shirrise Linn spent most of the week in Salt Lake City, UT, at the annual stamp convention, while Kassandra stayed with Jeff and Shelane Graham near Hereford. Morris took advantage of the wet field conditions to run errands in Rapid City Tuesday, visiting Gene and Marsha Pluth for supper. Sunday, Morris, Shirrise and Kassandra went to the Jack and Cheryl Simons residence where they moved furniture and had dinner with Jack, Cheryl, and the newly expanded Sanden Simons family. The Linns visited Bummer and Jodi Simons on the way home. Jean and Andy Linn, Roger Shull, and Matt Trask were all Sunday afternoon or evening visitors at the Morris Linns.
Ashley Thybo was a visitor at the Bud Pauley residence until Wednesday, when she returned to Reva. Mayzee visited Rex Burghduff on Wednesday. The Pauley children attended the playday rodeo in Wall Thursday. And Jodi Negaard and Crystal Fisher were weekend visitors at the Bud Pauleys.
RoseMary, Becky, Gemma, Maria and Celine Trask all attended a party in honor of Paul and Maureen Yantes’ 25th wedding anniversary Tuesday in Rapid City. Becky left for Steubenville, IL Wednesday, while Pat and Julie kept dentist appointments in Rapid City. Steph and Julie Trask left Sunday morning for Chadron, NE on business.
Besides having coffee at the Andy Linns and intimidating his next-door neighbors, Matt Trask didn’t do much this week, except visiting Justin and Kayla Wulf of Owanka Sunday morning before church. Nick, Al and Austin Trask, Clay Tines, Morris Linn, and Larry Gravatt were all visitors at the Matt Trask residence Saturday night.
Millie Eldridge, and Mike and Tanya Kroeger, all of Washington, IL, were visitors at the Jim and Caroline Wilsey residence during the week. Saturday, Jim and Caroline visited the Harland Fawcett family of North Dakota at Sheridan Lake in Rapid City, and later got together with the Bruce Wilseys at Nemo.
Philip and Mary Kay Wilson attended the wedding of Jayme Pahl to Jay Napoli at Sylvan Lake Saturday.
Dave Jedlicka dropped in at the Kenny Wilson residence Saturday morning for coffee.
Dara Wrachford is the proud owner of a brand new black Toyota Tacoma, which the Wrachfords purchased Friday. Saturday, Pam Tines accompanied the Wrachfords to Kadoka, where they picked up their trailer.
After last weeks ESN, you are probably expecting more than this, but this is all you are going to get this week, because this is almost all of what happened. The kind citizens hope that the Pink Hat Cookie Monster never shows up in your driveway!
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It must have been a sign of the chaos in old Elm Springs that there was no ESN last week, and indeed there was chaos. It could be said without fear of exaggeration that Elm Springs almost went to hell last week. While the usual social happenings of last week will have to be forgotten, some attempt must be made to chronicle the events of last weekend before diving into this weeks happenings. Please take a moment, dear reader, to make another gallon of iced tea and turn your air conditioner selector knob to 10 before continuing.
The weather last week varied from hot to intolerable, with Satan’s breath blowing most of the time, which helped to set the stage for the wild weekend. Saturday dawned clear and bright, and hot right from the start, as the “Upland Trasks” began preparations for what was to be the third annual Farm Bureau picnic. There was a large white tent set up on the rim of the Cheyenne River, flanked by two “Porta-Potties.” About one o’clock in the afternoon, the fun began as the windrower mowing around the sight of the picnic started the first fire of the day. This fire burned right under the tent and tables and chairs and charred the picnic area. Intrepid firefighters from near and far made their way to the “Upland Trask” ranch and banded together to put this fire out rather quickly.
If this story ended here, it still would have been a good one. The “Upland Trasks” still planned to host 300+ people and a band in a fire-blackened area, with one hour to prepare. But unfortunately for the kind citizens, the story does not end there.
About five o’clock that afternoon, a fast moving thunderstorm swept across Elm Springs, with frequent ground lightning, a strong wind, and not enough rain to do anything. Matt Trask, on his way home from a second wasted trip to Wall for ice (for the party!) was reminded of the James Taylor song, where he sings “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain,” as fires broke out in every direction, and large sporadic raindrops only served to obscure his vision through the windshield.
In no time at all, Elm Springs resembled the First Battle of Bull Run, as the picnickers, who had come to Elm Springs expecting a party, were faced with the choice of fighting fire or fleeing for their lives. Worse, there were now four new fires along the Belle Fourche River, from the Huddleston Bridge to Dalzell, and the fire trucks and fighters were regrouping from the first one.
At this point, further narration is virtually impossible. The wind blew steadily from Saturday night to Monday morning, to every point on the compass. The two largest fires, one north of Elm Springs and one west of the Forks of the river, started and restarted alternately, keeping a large army of fire trucks scrambling. The west fire jumped the Belle Fourche River Saturday night and threatened to burn the Tim and Linda Haugen residence, and it was feared Sunday morning that if the north fire got onto the flat, that it would go through downtown Elm Springs. Sometime Sunday night, the wind blew the big tent down and knocked the “Porta Potties” over.
These “snapshots” of the weekend should give readers of the ESN some idea of the scene:
Ryan Elshere fighting fire with a brand new pair of jeans, with the tags still attached;
Lonnie Arneson towing disabled firefighting vehicles out of the Belle Fourche River breaks;
RoseMary Trask trying to coordinate firefighting efforts and amuse the remaining picnickers, who had assembled at the “Upland Trask” house;
Matt Trask sleeping in his pickup;
George Micheal and Jack Wieser, who seemed to enjoy themselves immensely as they drove through the hottest parts of the fire, trying to put them out;
A gaggle of young single women handing out food to firefighters;
Matt Trask posing as a firefighter so that he could eat food, and also flirt with the women;
Linda Haugen packing her belongings, while Tim Haugen and Brady O’Rourke disced a fire break at the back door;
Joe Trask commanding a small army of boys in the supervision of the first fire, which never restarted;
Mike Heathershaw trying to find a ride home;
Matt Trask eating pancakes;
Bleary eyed, exhausted firefighters trying to figure out where to go next;
Matt Trask on the fire line, with a pillow in his hand;
Dave Humphrey and Jim Jaquot dissappearing in the Belle Fourche River breaks in the dark of night to fight the fire, with a Jeep and Matt’s obscenely bright flashlight (his only real contribution to the firefighting effort);
Leo and Rosalie Stangle driving through the smoke and confusion to find their grandson Dace Kelly, who had come out to Elm Springs with Matt Trask for a “fun weekend;”
The new Elm Springs fire truck on its second and third missions, with Morris Linn at the wheel;
And now for this weeks rather subdued news;
The weather here in Elm Springs has remained the same, although thankfully no new fires have started. People kept a watchful and weary eye on the previous fires through Tuesday. Haying and harvesting continue, but everyone is very careful.
Letty Jean Burmeister, long time resident of Elm Springs, was laid to rest Saturday at the Elm Springs Cemetery, following a funeral service in Rapid City. Many kind citizens attended both the funeral and the burial, and the subsequent gathering at the Elm Springs Hall.
Lawrence and Doris Burke went to Chadron NE Saturday to ride a passenger train, enjoying a five-course meal in the dining car, which explains Matt Trasks newfound interest in passenger trains. On the way home, they stopped at Ft. Robinson.
Clyde Arneson hosted Gary Gilbert of New Underwood overnight Monday. Morris Linn was a visitor twice on Sunday.
Ryan and Chrissy Elshere dropped the kids off at Jim and Lana Elshere’s near Midland Friday before going to rodeos in Pretty Prairie, KS and Woodward, OK.
Larry, Peggy and Jack Gravatt attended the wedding of Jordy Soesbe to Jessica Van der Laan at the Chapel in the Hills Saturday. Sunday, Carter Gravatt, his girlfriend Teresa, and her parents Calvin and Ruth Rehborg of Minnesota visited the Gravatts, enjoying Jack’s tour of the ranch. Andy Linn was also a visitor Sunday.
The Sam Johnstons attended the 4-H rodeo in New Underwood over the weekend.
Stephanie Trask accompanied Kody Devries to the Ian Tyson concert in Deadwood Sunday night.
Andy Linn returned Tuesday from his fishing trip to Canada with his in-laws. A hunting or fishing trip to Canada or Alaska is rather routine business these days, and certainly pales alongside an African safari. Pat Trask was a running visitor to the Andy Linns Sunday morning, and Kelli and Emily Linn bicycled to the “Upland Trasks” Sunday afternoon.
John and Jean Linn attended a Republican doings at the Schneider residence near Tilford Sunday afternoon.
Monday, Shirrise and Kassandra Linn had lunch in Rapid City with Peg Ireland before visiting Grandma Arlene Talley. Tuesday Shirrise visited Brian and Misti Walker, who now live permanently in Union Center, while Kassandra spent the day with Grandma Jean. Wednesday, Shirrise and Kassandra had lunch with Sandy Van Vleck in Wall before gymnastics. That afternoon, Morris and Kassandra attended Andy’s Canadian fish fry, and Charlotte Wilsey was a visitor. Thursday, Jean and Emily Linn visited Shirrise for her birthday in the morning. The Jim Jepsens and Nick Trask were supper guests and Clyde Arneson was an after supper guest. Friday, Cheryll and Allysa Oberlander treated Shirrise and Kassandra to lunch in Rapid City for Shirrise’ birthday. Saturday young Jace O’Rourke was a visitor at the Morris Linns, and Sunday Allysa Oberlander and Matt Trask were visitors.
Cary, Pam, John, Coby and Clay Tines and Amanda Humphrey attended the Miller family reunion in Chamberlain over the weekend.
Tom and Shelia Trask returrned to the “Elk Creek Trask” ranch from deepest darkest Africa Wednesday. Sunday, the “Elk Creek Trasks” hosted Juston Eisenbraun, the Kenny Wilsons, the Philip Wilsons, and the Jim Smiths.
The “Upland Trasks” hosted Joe, Tom, and Pete Bruch of Sturgis Monday night. Thursday and Friday various “Upland Trasks” went to Rapid City. Stephanie Trask manned a booth as Ms. Stockgrower at the Ellsworth Appreciation Days Friday. Sunday, Tom, Pete and Theresa Bruch and John and Mauri Bestgen of Sturgis visited the “Upland Trasks,” and Ashley and Caitlin Turgeon came out with the Trask girls, who had gone to Wall. The “Upland Trask,” Bruch, Bestgen, and Turgeon kids went to the Coby Shearer residence across the Cheyenne River.
Matt Trask, unembarrassed by his many pretences from the previous weekend, sauntered gaily through another week, imposing upon everyone who crossed his path. On Tuesday, he attended a birthday party for Matthew Heathershaw, where he ate heartily and then borrowed a pickup to return to Cuny Table, clipping a buffalo on the way back. How the young Heathershaw child is supposed to become a good Christian with a godfather like that is hard to say. On Friday, Matt stopped at the Wall Drug Store to buy a new shirt and ended up buying two new shirts. He then crossed the street to the Cactus Cafe, where he encountered Ashley Turgeon in need of a ride to Wasta. Matt promised to give her a ride to Wasta as soon as he had eaten. When Matt had finished eating, he and his make-believe girlfriend, complete with flowers given to her by someone else, visited the Big Green Trask House, where, in his sole act of kindness for the week, Matt prevented Uncle Milton from taking a walk in the heat of the afternoon. Matt and Ashley extracted a solemn promise from Milton that he would not venture outside until it had cooled off, and then went to Wasta where Matt dropped Ashley off and visited Dan Turgeon, hastily explaining that “we’re just friends” and “certainly I have only the most noble of intentions” etc. etc. On Saturday, Matt persuaded Kody DeVries to accompany him to Wall and Quinn, where they picked up Matts vehicle and dropped off the buffalomobile.
Sunday, Matt picked up Sean Troxel for a quick trip to New Underwood, where Matt bought a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. He had great fun roaring around Elm Springs in his new car Sunday afternoon, wearing a brand new girly-pink baseball cap. Kody DeVries was a coffee visitor at the Matt Trask residence Saturday morning.
Kenny and Janet Wilson visited at the Marvin Anders residence Friday. On Sunday, Kenny, Janet and Kelli visited at Tucky and Linda Tifts.
JW and Dara Wrachford and Sean Troxel had supper at the Cary Tines residence Friday night.
The kind citizens, and in particular Tim and Linda Haugen, would like to extend a very sincere thank you to everyone who helped put out the fires. They also hope you don’t get that stupid James Taylor song stuck in your head.
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The weather here in Elm Springs has turned “a bit summery,” as kind citizen Marvin Anders put it, with daytime temperatures rising to Saturday’s crescendo of a whopping 110 degrees Farenheit, where it stayed almost until dark. Add to this a wind from the south like the very breath of Satan, and it was rather uncomfortable.
The high temperatures and wind aided the first fire of the season, and the first test of the new super-duper Elm Springs Fire Truck. Friday evening a fire of some size broke out on the “Upland Trask” ranch near the Brady O’Rourke residence. Several ambitious “Upland Trask” children, including Matt, whose gargantuan supper protested violently in his stomach, battled the blaze, along with a heaping handful of kind citizens, until the trucks arrived and made short shrift of the fire. The “Upland Trasks” would like to thank everyone who helped.
Most of the kind citizens attended the charming Fourth of July festivities in everyone’s favorite town of Wasta, and many attended Wall’s annual celebration over the weekend. Andy Linn took part in the reunion of the Wall High School Class of ‘85.
Rod Anders went to Steamboat Springs, CO over the weekend.
Lawrence and Doris Burke visited Melissa Burke in the hospital in Rapid City on Wednesday.
Dan and Gayla Piroutek of Milesville were Saturday visitors at the Lonnie Arneson residence.
Kody DeVries went to Iowa over the weekend to visit family and friends.
Chrissy Elshere and children stayed overnight Saturday with Marcia Arneson in Rapid City, while Ryan and JJ Elshere competed in rodeos in Minnesota. Sunday visitors at the Ryan Elshere’s were Lindsay Elshere and children and Lonnie Arneson.
In addition to celebrating Andy’s class reunion, the Linn children visited the Shulke Ranch to see the dinosaur dig on Wednesday and went to the Rushmore Waterslide Thursday. Matt Trask showed up for a fresh supper Saturday night.
John and Jean Linn attended John’s SDSM&T college class reunion over the weekend.
And finally, the Morris Linns regain their rightful place in the ESN, with a stamping party which eleven “addicted ladies” attended Tuesday, a visit from Philip Wilson on Thursday , and two visits from Matt Trask on Sunday.
The Sam Johnstons attended a 4-H Rodeo in Belle Fourche Sunday.
And ranking right up there with the fire is the news that Tom and Shelia Trask left Wednesday for deepest darkest Africa, where they will embark on a hunting expedition. While they are gone, Tomilyn is staying with Mike and Terry Karrels near Terry, MT. And Mark left Sunday for an FFA leadership camp in Custer, leaving young Mick and “Uncle Bob” McDaniels to run the “Elk Creek Trask” affairs.
Matt and Al Trask met David Hansen of Ft. Pierre in Wall early on the morning of the Fourth to take an airplane ride over much of western South Dakota, which was very fun indeed. Ray Olsen was an afternoon visitor at the “Upland Trasks” on the Fourth. Tuesday, Julie had a dentist appointment in Rapid City, and afterwards several of the “Upland Trasks” met the Don Doerr family of Minnesota for supper. Thursday, RoseMary and the little girls had more dentist appointments in Rapid City. Ray Olsen was a visitor Saturday and Sunday both. Other Sunday visitors included Cary, Pam, Coby and Clay Tines.
The lone visitor at the Matt Trask residence for the week was Kody DeVries on Sunday, returning from his trip to Iowa. Matt visited the John Wulf residence in Owanka Sunday, and from there, accompanied Wade Wulf and Houston and Devin Antone to the Jack Wieser residence, where they had great fun playing drums and guitars under the air conditioner.
Josh, Amy, and little Mary Wolberg of Minneapolis, MN were visitors at the Philip Wilsons over the weekend, while Pam attended gymnastics camp in Rapid City, staying with Kevin and Joan Howland.
Janet and Kelli Wilson visited Bud and Bunny Pauley Sunday.
JW and Dara Wrachford and Cary and Pam Tines attended a going away party for Lt. Christina Furr on Saturday.
The hot wind mentioned earlier has cured the wheat to the point where it is unquestionably ready to harvest. Soon wheat fields with be abuzz with harvest activity.
The kind citizens advise you not to eat an overly large supper before going out to fight fire.
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The weather here in Elm Springs has been seasonable, as the kind citizens put up hay and prepare for the Fourth of July festivities.
Many of the kind citizens attended the wedding of Mr. Grady Matt to Ms. Casey Baldwin Saturday, in what was described several times as a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the Murphy Ranch near Enning. Perhaps adding to the beauty was the fact that a nearby and violent-looking thunderstorm passed to the north and did not interrupt the proceedings. Several more of the kind citizens attended the subsequent reception at the Matt Ranch, in a shop that began to appear woefully small as the hordes continued to pile into it. As the wind abated, the crowd began to move outside and a good time was had by all.
Of course, the wedding ended years of speculation in the ESN and elsewhere about the future of Mr. Grady Matt. The kind citizens hope that, as on their wedding day, the storms of life pass to the north of Mr. And Mrs. Matt.
Several of the kind citizens attended the steak feed at the Wasta Bar Friday.
And, good news for the kind citizens, Matt Trask, the great burgling bear of Elm Springs, has gone back to work for the Gopher Choker, Leo Stangle. Right now, he is probably badgering the beleaguered residents of Cuny Table.
Marvin and Carolyn Anders visited the Bradley Ranch near Hereford Sunday, for the ever popular dinner and mule-team ride combo.
Lonnie Arneson went to Rapid City on business Friday.
Jack and Larry Gravatt attended the New Underwood High School class reunion Saturday. Sunday, Peggy went to Rapid City to pick up Madi and Steele Fuegen, who will be staying with Gravatts for the Fourth.
Of course, Matt Trask is still around on the weekends, a fact that he takes full advantage of, and that explains why he was a supper guest at the Sam Johnston residence Friday.
Kelli Linn and children returned Wednesday from Pueblo CO, where they had been visiting Kelli’s family. Saturday, Kelli and the kids went to Rapid City to ready themselves for the Fourth of July festivities.
It is known that the Morris Linns took their camper to Wall Sunday afternoon to begin the Fourth of July festivities. Unfortunately, they were not home to report what they had done the rest of the week.
Most of the “Upland Trasks” met up with the Bruchs of Sturgis to go clomping up Bear Butte Sunday afternoon. Ray Olsen and Patrick Wilson were guests at the “Upland Trask” house Sunday afternoon, where they visited Matt and Al Trask.
The “Elk Creek Trasks” attended Shelia’s high school class reunion in Philip Saturday. JW and Dara Wrachford were afternoon visitors at the “Elk Creek Trasks” Sunday.
Matt Trask, bird lover that he is, was pleased to see a Chinese Ring Neck Pheasant rooster crossing his front lawn Friday afternoon. And Saturday night, Matt had his first overnight guests. Trent Shearer, Wyatt Volmer, and Sig and Carl Lehrkamp all crashed at the Matt Trask residence after the Grady Matt wedding. Sunday morning visitors were Kody DeVries and Richard Johnston, both on their haying tractors. All of the above persons were offered a breakfast of coffee.
Mary Kay Wilson returned Sunday, from Rochester, MN, where she spent time with her dad, Darrell Haerer, while he was undergoing surgery. On the way home, she visited Josh, Amy and little Mary Ann Wolberg and Beth Wilson in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Kenny Wilson went to Timber Lake Sunday to visit his unle John Thill in preparation for a Thill Family reunion next week.
Young Tyler Wilson and Nick Sessions made a quick trip to Elm Springs over the weekend to get a pickupload of Tyler’s personal effects to move into his new house in Newcastle WY.
The kind citizens hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July!
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