The weather here in Elm Springs remains unseasonably warm and pleasant, which no one is complaining about. However, the weathermen are starting to suggest that this may change soon.

In the meantime, several of the kind citizens have taken advantage of the warm weather to work on home improvements, while others were simply thankful that the weather was warm while they made home repairs.

The Elm Springs schoolchildren, accompanied by their parents and a smattering of other relatives, went on their annual outing to the Terry Peak Ski Lodge Monday, where a great time was had by most.

And on Tuesday, Melanie Smith, Kelli Wilson, and Austin Trask, accompanied by Janet Wilson and Linda Tifft, attended Legislative Day in Pierre, with other rural 7^th and 8^th graders.

Carolyn Anders and Jo Strong played bridge at the Big Green Trask House in Wall on Friday.

Rod Anders and boys took in the Black Hills Stock Show on Saturday.

Clyde Arneson accompanied Morris Linn to the JM Nachtigall Bull Sale on Monday. Several other days, Clyde helped Morris with home repairs. And on Thursday, Jake Hall of Wasta visited at the Clyde Arneson residence.

Lawrence and Doris Burke took their grandchildren, Skylar and Shawnee, to the Black Hills Stock Show Saturday, and then brought them home to spend the night.

The Andy Linns went to Rapid City Wednesday, for musical instruction. And on Sunday, they were visited by Pat and Julie Trask and the Sam Johnstons in the morning, the Elm Springs Jolly Ranchers 4-H club in the afternoon, and Matt Trask and his new guitar in the evening.

Matt and his new guitar were also guests at the Morris Linns on Monday night. The kind citizens of Elm Springs are exceedingly glad that Matt’s new guitar does not eat anything. On Thursday, Shirrise and Kassandra went to Rapid City, where Kassandra had a dentist appointment. After that, the two had lunch with Misti and Statler Walker, shopped, and visited the Oberlanders. Sunday, while Kassandra visited her Grandma and Grandpa Linn, Morris was a guest of Roger Shull and Shirrise attended a stamping party near Red Owl.

Matt Trask, minus his new guitar, visited the Brady O’Rourkes Friday.

The “Upland Trasks” had a rather low-key week. Pat went to a few places. Visitors for the week included Coby and Clay Tines, Dr. Jerry Soderstrom and Pat Zimmerman, Nick Caspers and Todd Trask. Matt’s “quick trip” to Wall for chewing tobacco Thursday night extended itself into a visit to the Big Green Trask House, just in time for cookies, and two stops at the Wasta Bar. On Saturday, Matt went to Rapid City to fiddle around at the Black Hills Stock Show, staying in Rapid Saturday night. He left his new guitar at home on both of these outings.

It should have been noted last week that Matt got a new guitar, a Washburn acoustic, or “box,” guitar. This brings the total number of guitars at the “Upland Trask” house, with the inclusion of Gemma’s, to four, much to Pat’s alarm. In addition to being glad that Matt’s guitars do not eat anything, the kind citizens of Elm Springs, and in particular the “Upland Trasks,” are grateful that Matt does not have eight arms, so that he is forced to torture the ears with only one guitar at a time.

Jim and Caroline Wilsey returned Monday from a two-week trip through Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona, with stops in Missouri City, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK, to see their kids. The Wilseys went to Sturgis Wednesday on business.

Tyler Wilson and his nine fingers spent part of the week at the Kenny Wilsons.

It should be noted that Tyler’s faithful companion of the last ten years or so, Roxy the Amazing Coonhound, died during the week. She will be remembered for her insistence that the hunting party do some actual hunting, even when hunting was only the stated, and not the real, objective of the party.

Janet and Kelli Wilson visited the Jeff and Shelane Graham residence, while Kenny made and aerial call at the Lenden Kjerstad residence.

Andy Linn spent a few days helping at the Philip Wilson residence, where Philip is enclosing his back porch.

The “Brustol AFB” saw some activity over the weekend. Saturday, Pam Tines, Amanda Humphrey, and Jean Pippert helped Dara Wrachford clean out closets. On Sunday, the Sam Johnstons visited the “Brustol AFB.” Dara and Sean were supper guests at the Cary Tines residence Sunday night.

Melvin and Dorothy Anderson had supper in Rapid City with Sam and Bruce Leibold of Harvard, ID, Thursday and Friday night. Saturday, Dorothy went to the Black Hills Stock Show to watch granddaughter Kaycee Kraft compete in the FFA livestock judging. Cliff and Mary Langerud of Barnesville, MN, were overnight guests at the Melvin Anderson residence Saturday night, on their way to the Stock Show.

Levi Zink, whose likeness appears on the cover of Lawrence Burke’s book, “Hank Sez… Cartoons and Lies,” was laid to rest Friday at the Black Hills Memorial Cemetery.

The kind citizens of Elm Springs encourage you to soak up the sun before it disappears.