The Elm Springs News
It has been so unbelievably hot here in Elm Springs that man and beast alike have all they can do just to survive. We have been extremely fortunate to have only had one fire so far this summer, and we should probably stop to take stock of that.
Several of the kind citizens attended a cookout at Al and Bridget’s Castle on Thursday night, where they were required to help dispose of a beer keg. They did a very good job.
And several of the kind citizens attended a going-away party for Sean Troxel on Friday night at the Wasta Bar. Young Mr. Troxel is leaving for the U.S. Army boot camp Tuesday.
Marvin and Carolyn Anders hosted Justin Lineberry and family of Meckling for a few days last week.
Larry and Peggy Gravatt returned Wednesday from Lake Ganeva, WI, where Larry had been taking classes for the REA and Peggy had been relaxing. Friday, Larry and Peggy picked up granddaughter Abigail Miller, who spent the night with them in Elm Springs for the first time, while her parents Mike and Amber biked the entire Mickelson Trail. Larry and Peggy went to Deadwood Saturday to return Abigail to her parents. Sunday, they went to Rapid City to take Jack out for lunch.
The Andy Linns had so much fun in the Belle Fourche River last time that they returned with more people on Sunday. The Andy Linns, Brett Wilsey and his girls, Clyde Arneson, and Lonnie Arneson’s dog all had fun in the Belle Fourche River near the Lonnie Arneson residence. Lonnie, it should be noted, was not home.
John and Jean Linn returned home from Union, OR, Saturday.
Morris Linn hosted Nick Trask for supper and a haircut Tuesday night. Friday, Morris went to Deerfield, where he spent the weekend helping Dave Hicks build a garage.
Bunny Pauley and her girls went to the Playday rodeo in Enning on Tuesday, spent Thursday and Friday near Ft. Pierre helping Diana Melvin with the “Back at the Ranch” program, watched Jesse Bail at the Days of ‘76 Rodeo in Deadwood on Saturday, and competed in the 4-H rodeo in New Underwood on Sunday before hosting Jesse Sunday night.
Cary and Pam Tines helped with the going away party on Friday, went to Douglas WY to celebrate Max and Sarah Miller’s 50th wedding anniversary and attend the Miller family reunion, and hosted motorcycling friends from Florida Sunday evening.
Young Tucker O’Rourke became the first guest at Al and Bridget’s Castle, staying overnight Friday. Al and Bridget have of course hosted several “Upland Trasks” during the day.
The “Upland Trasks” bid farewell to Mike and Steve Bucher and Jim Haneke of Sioux Falls Monday. RoseMary and Bridget Trask made a quick trip to Rapid City Friday to pick up a washer and dryer. Stephanie Trask set up a booth at the Farmer’s Market in Rapid City Saturday. And the “Upland Trasks” celebrated John Paul’s Friday birthday with supper at the Millstone and golf at Pirate’s Cove in Rapid City Sunday night.
While Matt Trask hosted fencing crews for lunch, packed from the “Upland Trask” residence, several days at his place.
Patty Ruff of Waco, TX and Steve and Tyler Fenner of Dallas arrived at the Jim Wilsey residence Wednesday and stayed until Sunday. On Friday, Jim Wilsey and the Fenners went to Pedro to visit Frank Wilsey, while Caroline and Patty entertained Ashley Wilsey and Faye Volmer, who arrived independently of each other.
Mandy Wilson and boyfriend Justin Tschetter were among those evacuated from their homes during the East Ridge/Piedmont Fire. They were very happy to have a home to return to, although they lost a shed which contained, among other things, all their Christmas decorations.
The kind citizens think thats a real shame.
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The Elm Springs News
Before any idle comments about the weather or thoughts about human nature, we must make a correction. It was incorrectly reported in last weeks ESN that Mark, Mick and Mackenzie Trask visited the Mike and Anita Heathershaw residence near Quinn when in fact they visited the Mike and Terry Karrels residence near Terry, MT. In our author’s defense, feeble though it is, both subjects are named Mike, both married Trask women, and both raise horses.
Now on to the idle comments. Our blazing blistering hot heat was interupted by a cool front which arrived Thursday and left Saturday morning, dropping temperatures in some cases to the high eighties.
The Elm Springs Fire Department responded to its first fire of the season Wednesday, on the Scott Shoun place right here in Elm Springs.
Most of the kind citizens joined friends and neighbors from near and far at the “Upland Trask” residence Saturday night for a spectacular outdoor reception for Mr. And Mrs. Al and Bridget Trask, who arrived in a procession of four white vehicles, and walked from the van to the dance floor on a red carpet. Guests enjoyed hamburgers grilled by David Kalil and Jay Behrends, both of Rapid City and both of whom work for Farm Credit Services, and drinks served out of the horsetrailer by family friends Jim Jaquot and Paul Yantes, also both of Rapid City. Matt, Steph and Julie played the first dance, a cover of Emmylou Harris’ “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” and mostly thanks to Matt’s lack of practice, it was atrocious. The newlyweds either appreciated the attempt more than they loathed the execution, or else were gracious enough to appear that way. After that, the pickin’ and grinnin’ was left to the professional Classic Country Band, who kept the dance floor packed with lots of classic country. The party shut down about 3:30 in the morning, and everyone called it a success.
Marvin and Carolyn Anders hosted most of the Kim Kling family of Belle Fourche Saturday night after the reception.
Lawrence and Doris Burke joined Shannon Burke at Chuck Davis’ funeral Monday in Rapid City. Clyde Arneson visited the Lawrence Burke residence one or more times during the week.
The Linn households were almost barren this week. Kellie Linn and children left Monday for Pueblo, CO where they returned Greg Ross to Scott and Judy and then spent the week with Jim and Jean Ross. While they were gone, Andy had supper at the Clyde Arneson residence Wednesday night.
And John and Jean Linn left Tuesday for Union, OR to attend Jean’s cousin’s fiftieth wedding anniversary.
While Shirrise, not to be outdone, sent Kassandra to spend the week with Jim and Jen Magee in Glenrock WY before catching a plane to Salt Lake City, UT Monday to spend most of the week at the Stampin’ Up! Convention. Friday, Morris took Shirrise out to dinner at TGI Friday’s in Rapid City for her birthday. And Gene Pluth was a dinner guest at the Morris Linn residence Sunday.
Matt and John Paul Trask and Clyde Arneson were coffee visitors at the Cary Tines residence Wednesday morning. Morris Linn visited the Cary Tines residence more than once during the week.
At Al and Bridget’s Castle, the phone was busy. We do know that they arrived Wednesday night from their honeymoon in St. Thomas and have been busy directing their subjects in the establishment of their house. We also know that on a trip to Rapid City Sunday night, they bought groceries to stock their house for the first time.
The “Upland Trasks,” needless to say, were very busy this week preparing for the reception. George Leonard of Iowa arrived Thursday and spent the weekend, while Brent Turnipseed of Brookings arrived Thursday and spent the night. Friday, a crew came out and set up an even bigger tent than the unfortunate one they had set up the year before. Saturday, the “Upland Trasks” received much appreciated help from Troy Schulz of the Wall Food Center, who brought along Tony and Dean Schulz, Chad Walker and Stan Andersen; Philip and Patrick Wilson, and Chris “Slim” Fischer of Pierce, NE. Saturday night, the “Upland Trasks” hosted Mike and Steve Bucher and Jim Haneke in a camper in the driveway, and Ashley Turgeon and Cody Elfrink and Mauri Bestgen and assorted other people in the house. Sunday was spent entertaining reception guests.
Gemma Trask spent Friday night at the Matt Trask residence, helping him clean it so that Saturday night he could host Tom Bruch and John Bestgen of Sturgis, Ty White of Rapid City, Andrea Neumann of Rapid City, Rob Goodman of Kyle, Chris “Slim” Fischer, Gene Baker of Farmingdale, John Munk of Brookings, and Kevin “Homer” Vaith of Aberdeen.
Tyler Wilson, his fiancee Heather Sessions, and her brother Nick, stayed at the Kenny Wilson residence Saturday night.
The “Upland Trasks” would like to thank everyone who helped make their reception the success that it was.
And the kind citizens are very hot.
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The Elm Springs News
It’s a shame that after the biggest week in Elm Springs so far this year, there was no ESN. Apparently either the Good Lord or the Other Guy didn’t want it written, because there simply wasn’t time in the week to write it.
And so, before this week’s news, an insufficient treatment of last week’s;
Most of the kind citizens attended the Wasta Centennial Celebration Monday, which was without a doubt a stunning success. The Linns, the O’Rourkes, the Pauleys, the Gravatts and the Wilsons, not to mention the Elm Springs Fire Department, were all in the parade. The Wilsons took over the Old Hotel at Wasta for a family reunion, and looked to be having a grand old time of it. There were Wilsons from near and far, hundreds of them, wearing different colors of the same shirt to denote tribal affiliation. Philip, Kenny and Patrick Wilson gave almost the entire bunch a ride on one of their three motorcycles.
Arrivals to the celebration from the eastbound lane of I-90 had second thoughts about attending at all when they encountered Matt Trask at the off-ramp, beaming and grinning and confusing everyone with vague directions to parking spots. By now, no one wants to hear how Matt cleverly arranged to park his pickup at the Laura Jean Gunn residence, so that he just happened to be there for both breakfast and supper.
We must move along even though it is not right to do so. Suffice it to say that the people of everyone’s favorite town and their helpers from the surrounding area should be congratulated until they fall over.
And then on Saturday, our Prince Charming, Al Trask, was wed to the lovely Bridget Madrid in Columbus OH. For the purposes of this narrative, the “Upland Trasks” can be conveniently grouped into two categories; the “Up Trasks,” who flew to Columbus, Pat, Nick, Julie and the Three Little Boys, and the “Land Trasks,” who drove to Columbus, RoseMary, Matt, Steph and the Three Little Girls. The “Land Trasks” left Wednesday, making fairly steady progress out of cow country and through corn country, while the “Up Trasks” drove to Sioux Falls on Thursday, staying overnight at the Wade Eberhard residence before boarding their plane Friday morning. The “Up Trasks” and the “Land Trasks” arrived at the Patrick Madrid residence in rural Hebron OH within ten minutes of each other and began a crash course in Madrid family nomenclature, with help from Prince Charming, who was already there.
After the rehearsal, the “Upland Trasks” and the Madrid family ate supper at a table that was easily 75 feet long at a place called the Amazon Grill. Steph and Julie Trask spent Saturday night at the Madrid residence, while the rest of the “Upland Trasks,” including Al, stayed at a nearby hotel.
The next morning, while the girls were doing pre-wedding girl stuff, Pat and his six boys and family friend Ted Rhodes of Gettysburg, PA who brought his family to the wedding, had breakfast at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant before preparing for the wedding.
At two pm at St. Patricks, a large beautiful church in downtown Columbus, the wedding began. There were eight bridesmaids, eight groomsmen, four altar servers, three flower girls, two priests and two ring-bearers, and a partridge in a pear tree. RoseMary Trask, the mother of the groom, looked radiant in her green dress, and Pat, who ditched the t-shirt and pliers holster for a tuxedo, made quite an impressive figure. Prince Charming distinguished himself from the groomsmen by wearing a white Windsor tie while the others wore black. And the bride looked like a princess in a storybook in her elegant white wedding dress and veil, with an impressive train following behind her.
After the wedding, which went off without incident, the wedding party began a whirlwind tour of Columbus OH with the wedding photographer, before returning to St. Patricks Hall to party like a bunch of Catholics into the night. It should be noted that through the entire two days, RoseMary’s cousin Mike Bucher of Indian Head MD, as the only member of the grooms extended family present, was paraded amongst the Madrids and shown off like a trophy.
Sunday morning, the “Upland Trasks” once again divided forces, with the “Up Trasks” catching an early morning flight back to Sioux Falls and arriving in Elm Springs Sunday night, while the “Land Trasks” attended an outdoor mass and brunch at the Pat Madrid residence, bid fairwell to the newlyweds, on their way to the island of St. Thomas, and crawled into their van and the vehicle Al had driven out for the drive home. Sunday afternoon they experienced mechanical difficulty with Al’s vehicle outside of Veedersburg IN. They were helped immensely by gracious local farmer Ed Hettrich, who towed the vehicle to his place for the night. The next morning, after staying all night in Danville, IL RoseMary and Matt took the vehicle to Discount Tire and Lube (regionally pronounced “Discount Tar and Lube”) in Veedersburg, but eventually had to go to Bergners Automotive, also in Veedersburg. They left Veedersburg Monday afternoon, with a working vehicle and some new friends. The “Land Trasks” returned to Elm Springs late Tuesday night.
And now this weeks news;
The devil is winning the weather wars here in Elm Springs, and gloating over his victory at that. The heat has been indescribably oppressive, as the humidity has sunk to record lows. Sunday was the hottest day in Elm Springs since Jean Linn started recording the weather in 1988. So far there have been no fires here in Elm Springs though.
Many disrespectful remarks have been aimed at the Red Hat Ladies in the ESN, but they earned our admiration by going to the un-air conditioned Black Hills Playhouse on Sunday to attend a performance of “Fiddler On the Roof.” True Grit Red Hat Ladies included Sandy Fields, Carolyn Anders, Jean and Kellie Linn, Dorothy Anderson, Norma Pellegrin, Natalie Termes, Paula Eisenbraun, Kay Johnston, Norma Oldenburg, and Myrna Smith.
Clyde Arneson on Saturday accompanied Ryan and Chrissy Elshere and family to a rodeo in Casper, WY in which Ryan competed.
And Lonnie Arneson hosted Bill Tines Wednesday morning, and Clint Hammerstom and the Andy Linns Saturday.
Lawrence and Doris Burke returned Thursday from a trip to Texas, where they visited Lawrence’s sister Jonell Fawver in Lubbock, and visited Lawrence’s brother-in-law Johnnie Cates and attended Doris’ family reunion in Floydata. They also enjoyed the cool weather while in Texas.
Lance Fuegen and girlfriend Heidi dropped Madi and Steele Fuegen off at the Larry and Peggy Gravatt residence over the weekend.
Cary’s sister Billy Jo Winkus and her three kids of Pennsylvania spent a few days at the Sam Johnston residence. Saturday, the Johnstons attended a 4-H rodeo in Faith, where the kids did well.
Andy Linn and his kids went tubing down the Belle Fourche River, from the Huddleston Bridge to the Lonnie Arneson residence Saturday. Later in the day, Kellie, thinking they should be done tubing, went to the Lonnie Arneson residence to see what had become of them. She ended up visiting with Lonnie and Clint Hammerstrom while she waited for her exhausted and happy family to appear around the riverbend.
Mark and Mick Trask joined cousin Mackenzie Trask for a few-days stay at the Mike Heathershaw residence near Quinn.
Since returning from Columbus, the “Upland Trasks” have been keeping a rather low profile. They entertained Robert Campbell of MacIntosh Thursday, and Pat went to Rapid City Friday. Sunday, after dinner in Wall, they stopped at the Big Green Trask House before going to visit Milton Trask and Lois Shearn in Phillip.
Coby Tines stopped briefly at the Cary Tines residence Saturday. Sunday, Ty and John Tines and Amanda Humphrey visited the Cary Tines residence to relax.
Kent and Jo Wilsey of Edmund, OK arrived at the Jim Wilsey residence Wednesday. They left Saturday, taking Zach and Zara with them.
Melvin and Dorothy Anderson attended a birthday party for Nick Caspers at the Tyler Caspers residence in New Underwood Tuesday. Saturday, they attended a 30th wedding anniversary party for Gene and Carla Jobgen.
Everyone is invited to the “out here” wedding reception for Al and Bridget Trask, this Saturday, July 22nd starting at 5 pm at the ranch. Enjoy hamburgers, drinks, the company of the “Upland Trasks” and all your friends and dance to the “Classic Country Band,” the same band that entertained the crowds in Wasta on the 3rd of July.
The kind citizens wish Al and Bridget a long and happy life together.
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The Elm Springs News
The ESN is quickly becoming the Elm Springs Lament these days, but nevertheless some mention should be made of our tremendous plague of grasshoppers, so great in number as to make our ancestors proud. The past few years have been relatively free of these insects, which made those droughts more palatable.
The Elm Springs Township members met at the John Linn residence Wednesday night.
Marvin and Carolyn Anders entertained various “Upland Trasks” throughout the week
Clyde Arneson accompanied JJ and Lindsay Elshere to a rodeo in Greeley, CO Thursday. Clyde and Lindsay returned to South Dakota, while JJ continued on to more rodeos.
Lawrence and Doris Burke went to the way-cool Dixie Diner in Wasta Thursday where they met four generations of cousins, visiting the Black Hills from Sioux Falls. They enjoyed visiting great grandma Rachel King, Grandpa and Grandma EJ and Donna King, mother Vanessa, her husband David and daughter Maren, whose last name unfortunately escaped them.
Peggy Gravatt spent most of the week in Minnesota and Wisconsin, visiting her sister and attending her aunt Vernie Manz’s funeral. On Saturday Cherry Denke visited the Gravatt residence, and Sunday Larry and Peggy visited Jack in Rapid City, where they took him out for a malt.
Scott and Greg Ross spent the weekend at the Andy Linn residence, visiting Scott’s sister Kellie. On Sunday, Robert Campbell and family of Macintosh visited the Andy Linn residence.
Ben Linn, on a fishing excursion Saturday, managed to get a fish-hook stuck in his hand, requiring medical attention to remove. We must all remember to be extra careful during our summertime recreation.
Shirrise Linn met Shelane, Jade, Sanden and Sage Graham for lunch in New Underwood Monday. Matt Trask visited the Morris Linn residence Monday night. Wednesday, Sandy Van Vleck accompanied Shirrise to a stamp meeting in Rapid City, and to lunch with Peg Ireland. Kalee Jepsen was an overnight visitor at the Morris Linn residence. Thursday, Shirrise had lunch once again in New Underwood, this time with Shelly, Sutton, Kalee and Bralee Jepsen, and Kalee Jepsen stayed overnight with the Morris Linns. Clyde Arneson was a coffee visitor Saturday morning.
The very well attended steak feed at the Wasta Bar Friday night also served as Cary Tines birthday party. Sunday afternoon visitors at the Cary Tines residence included Natalie Termes, Stan, Kristi and Bailey Cihak of Texas, and DeeDee, Michaella and Megan Stahl and Bonnie and Nathan Dix of Doland.
The “Elk Creek Trasks” had supper in Phillip Monday night, and the boys attended an FFA meeting before going to visit Milton Trask in the hospital.
And the “Upland Trasks” just can’t slow down. In addition to hosting Brian Herr of Newton, WS all week, they hosted a group of shooting enthusiasts from Ann Arbor, MG Wednesday, Doug and Debbie Reif of Pennsylvania and Steve and Tom Hobart of Custer Thursday, and Holly Sukup of O’neill NE over the weekend. Matt, Nick, Steph and Julie Trask and Holly Sukup went to the Rushmore Mall in Rapid City Saturday, where they met with moderate success selling hamburger patties. That evening, they happened upon the Jordan Kjerstad/Rachel Parsons wedding reception, which nobody seemed to mind too much. Sunday, Nick, Joe and Austin Trask, Clay Tines, Sean Troxel, and Tyler Wilson, back from WY for the upcoming Wilson family reunion, all went to the Rushmore Waterslides in Rapid City, while Andy and Ben Linn and Robert and Robbie Campbell joined the madness at the “Upland Trask” residence.
Matt Trask visited the Brady O’Rourke residence one afternoon, possibly Thursday. Other than that, he is apparently saving up his energy for the week ahead. Eating can be a very strenuous activity, when done like Matt does it.
Tom and Kelley Wilsey returned to Tea Monday from the Jim Wilsey residence where they had been visiting, while Zach and Zarah Wilsey of Oklahoma City OK, much like little Goldilocks, are still there. Wednesday, Jim Wilsey went to Hay Springs NE where he met his brother Wes for a day of golfing. He returned Thursday.
The Wilson families could be getting ready for their family reunion, or enjoying a pre-reunion at another location. Or they could be working on their combine. At any rate they were not home to answer their telephones.
The kind citizens caution you to keep your mouth closed when driving an open-air vehicle through our community, lest it fill with grasshoppers.
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