It is now almost November, and soon we will be voting, caroling, eating, gathering, and celebrating. Most of the above are pleasant prospects.

The WTL Club met Monday at the Old Hotel in Wasta. Members present were Margee Willey, Jean, Shirrise and Kellie Linn, RoseMary Trask, Dorothy Anderson, Sandy Fields, Janet Wilson, Linda Tifft, and Joanne Sutton.

And the Elm Springs Halloween Festival was a rescheduled success Sunday afternoon. The weather was so nice that the organizers opted for a costume parade outside. Many thanks to all who attended.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders and the Rod Anders helped the Schells ship calves Saturday, and then they helped Schells eat ribs at the Wasta Bar.

Young Dunbar Anders competed at the US Team Roping Finals in Oklahoma City, OK, with his partner Owen Daneen. He returned Sunday.

Uncle Clyde Arneson picked Carter Elshere up from school on Tuesday afternoon, and Carter spent the afternoon helping Clyde fix fence. Chrissy brought supper for the three of them, which they ate at Clyde’s house.

Melissa Burke and Barry Ellenbecker spent Friday at the Lawrence Burke place, where Melissa went bowhunting.

Larry and Peggy Gravatt hosted Madi and Steele Fuegen over the weekend.

The Andy Linns traveled to McIntosh Sunday to help Bob Campbell celebrate his 40^th birthday, which is Tuesday.

And the Morris Linns only have two entries this week, hosting Clyde Arneson and Matt Trask Monday night, and visiting Sanden and Elaine Simons in Wall on Friday.

Jean Linn and Dorothy Anderson attended the Wasta quilting party on Friday.

The Pauley’s went to Buffalo Tuesday, where they watched the Harding County football game and celebrated Mattee Ann’s birthday at aunt Rexene Till’s. Thursday, after helping ship several bunches of calves and visiting Grandma Vigorn in Bowman, ND, they returned to Elm Springs. But their hats weren’t even settled on the rack when they left for the Extreme Rodeo and concert in Rapid City Friday evening, accompanied by Mary Berry and Carlee and Savana Johnston.

Matt Trask, Tracy Kluck and Amanda Humphrey were all dinner guests at the Cary Tines residence Wednesday night.

This week’s big news comes from Al and Bridgets Castle, where they are expecting a new resident sometime in June. The official announcement was made at the “Upland Trask” residence Thursday night. All of the Trasks agreed that what we need is more Trasks. In other Castle news, the skirting continues with help from RoseMary Wednesday, Matt Thursday, and Patrick Wilson Friday and Sunday. Visitors included Lane, Tucker and Jace O’Rourke on Wednesday, and Lawrence Burke and Clyde Arneson Thursday morning. Al and Bridget spent some of the weekend in Rapid City, partly to celebrate Bridget’s Saturday birthday.

And over at the “Upland Trasks,” Steph came home from Colorado Springs, CO, Thursday so that on Saturday she could accompany RoseMary, Matt, Nick, Julie, John Paul and the Three Little Girls to Sioux Falls, where cousin Sarah Eberhard married Sam Hemenway. On the way home Sunday, they visited Sister Magdalena in Alexandria. Throughout the weekend, they had fun guessing what time it was, as they entered the Central Time Zone, then had the time changed back thanks to the foolishness of the Daylight Saving system, and finally returned to the Mountain Time Zone two hours behind where they had been Saturday. Some of them are still confused.

While they were gone, Pat, Joe, Austin and Tracy Kluck had supper at the Red Rock in Wall Saturday night, and Pat, Joe Austin, Al and Bridget had supper in Rapid City Sunday night.

Kenny Wilson had some news, but he forgot it before he could report it.

Melvin and Dorothy Anderson had a big day in the Northern Hills Saturday, going to Spearfish to help grandson Taylor celebrate his 18^th birthday and tour the Spearfish Fire Department with grandson and firefighter Ryan Anderson, driving through Spearfish Canyon, doing what they do in Deadwood, and then returning to Spearfish to attend a fundraiser for the High Plains Heritage Center.

The kind citizens wonder where the year has gone.