This past weekend gave the kind citizens an even more authentic dose of winter, as it rained and snowed all weekend. It is truly hard to believe that a place this cold can be so hot in the summertime.

The Elm Springs People Who Play Cards met for the first court whist game of the season at the Jim and Caroline Wilsey residence Wednesday. Matt Trask had so much fun last year as a substitute that he secured a spot as a regular member, taking Janet Wilson’s place as she is living in Wall with Kelli during the schoolweek.

And in what turned out to be their last game of the season, the Wall Eagles were defeated 52-0 by the Philip Scotties Thursday night.

The Elm Springs Rebels Basketball teams took on the Opal Braves Thursday night in Union Center. Elm Springs lost one game.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders met with Casey, Shirley and Chance Trask and Rod and Kelly Anders for supper in Wall Thursday before the football game.

Baxter Anders spent the weekend in Hot Springs visiting his grandparents Vernie and Carolyn Schnose.

Lawrence and Doris Burke hosted Jake Hall for coffee Tuesday morning. Wednesday, Lawrence drove Lynn and Sandy Fields, Matt Trask and Deanne Barber to cards at the Wilsey residence. Clyde Arneson was a coffee visitor Saturday morning, and Saturday night, Lawrence and Doris entertained horses Dan, King, Bud and Dudley in their corral for Cathedral Boy Scout Troop #7. Doris said that having horses in the corral “made us look like rich ranchers from the road.”

Larry and Peggy Gravatt met Jerry and Alyn Gravatt and Barry and Val Gravatt, Wilma Meyer, and several children and grandchildren at the Victorian in Rapid City for Jack Gravatt’s birthday party. Larry and Peggy brought him back to Elm Springs to spend the night for his birthday.

Andy and Kelli Linn drove to Sioux Falls Saturday to meet Kelli’s aunt and uncle, Jerry and Nancy Cole. While they were gone, the Linn children spent the day at the “Big House,” where they had fun making snowmen with pumpkin heads. Andy, with permission from his kids, loaned to the Boy Scouts the use of horses Jerry, Pilgrim and Whiskey for the weekend. Matt Trask visited the Andy Linn residence Sunday night to give Ben his guitar lesson.

In addition to hosting the kids Saturday, John and Jean Linn had supper with Charlie and Carol Linn in Rapid City Tuesday.

Clyde Arneson was a supper guest at the Morris Linn residence Monday. Tuesday afternoon Kassandra stayed at the “Big House” in the company of Uncle Jim Linn. Wednesday Shirrise went to Rapid City where she had lunch at the Charlotte Wilsey residence. Jean Linn visited the Morris Linns Thursday, and Sandy Van Vleck stayed all night Friday. Sunday evening the Morris Linns hosted Matt, Nick, Julie and John Paul Trask, JW and Dara Wrachford, and Clyde Arneson.

Laramie Opstedahl visited the Bud Pauley residence Thursday. Saturday, Dorothy Anderson visited the Pauley’s where she showed the girls how to embroider.

Matt and Julie Trask were Friday visitors at Al and Bridget’s Castle. Saturday, Al invited Patrick Wilson and Morris Linn over to help him put the skirting on the Castle, but the project was aborted due to the weather.

The Cathedral Boy Troop #7 enjoyed their stay on the Pat Trask ranch so much last year that they agreed to do it again this year, and so on a miserable Friday, Brett, Andy and Micheal Hanson, Cory and David Verhye, Elka and Cody Kopriva and Dean Hade arrived at the “Upland Trask” residence ready for a campout. Matt Trask, displaying his brilliance, suggested that they stay at his place since the weather was much too nasty for an out-of-doors camping experience. The Scouts agreed to this suggestion, and in no time at all, Matt had a meal cooked in his garage which he was invited to share, and coffee on the stove. And since their was rain water on the garage floor, the Scouts quickly set to work and repaired Matt’s garage door, a project which in almost two years Matt had not found the inclination to attempt. Saturday morning after breakfast, Matt helped the Scouts understand that camping elsewhere Saturday night would be unpleasant as well, and so leaving their gear in Matt’s garage, they saddled horses and rode in the wind and cold helping Matt move cattle all day long. They returned to the Matt Trask residence Saturday night to keep him fed and entertained until Sunday morning, and the Hansons even stayed beyond that to help him move some more cows. The whole weekend, several of the Scouts kept up a running discussion as to why Matt does not have a wife, which Matt found hilarious. If Matt would only use his intellect for good, he might make the world a better place.

Bobby, Dorothy and Brian Herr of Newton, WI spent parts of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the “Upland Trask” residence. On Friday, Celine Trask had all of the Elm Springs schoolgirls and Cheyenne and Autumn Deering over for a gigantic birthday party, which included foosball, cake and screaming. Morris Linn visited the “Upland Trask” residence Friday night. Saturday, Al and Bridget had supper at the “Upland Trask” residence to celebrate Al and Celine’s birthdays, albeit more sedately. Al and Celine were both born on the 20^th of October, fifteen years apart.

Shelia and Mick Trask went to Sioux Falls Friday, where Mick underwent knee surgery. Emma Slovek of Philip was a guest of Tomilyn Trask at the “Elk Creek Trask” residence over the weekend. On Sunday, the “Elk Creek Trasks” had a birthday party for Tom, with th Bud Pauleys, the Philip Wilsons, the Kenny Wilsons, and Paul Williams of Philip in attendance.

Pam Wilson returned from Brookings to spend the weekend at the Philip Wilson residence.

And Tyler Wilson returned to Newcastle, WY from the Kenny Wilson residence Wednesday.

The Elm Springs Fall/Halloween Festival has been moved from Saturday October 28^th at five to Sunday October 29^th beginning with the jack-o-lantern contest at noon. In all other respects it will be the same, although it may be less spooky in the light of day.

The kind citizens would like to thank Cathedral Boy Scout Troop #7 for keeping Matt Trask out of their hair over the weekend.