In Elm Springs, the week began with bitterly cold temperatures and high winds and no precipitation of any kind. By Thursday, the weather had warmed considerably.

The Elm Springs People Who Play Cards met Wednesday night at the Jim and Caroline Wilsey residence. Deann Barber of Boneita Springs substituted for Andy Linn and Matt Trask substituted for Morris Linn. At the conclusion of the evening, many of the regulars noted that the finger foods and snacks served at this function were pretty well gone, and they were not casting sidelong glances at Deann Barber.

The Elm Springs Fall Festival at the Elm Springs Church was a success Sunday, with songs and recitals by several. Matt Trask, who had a spectacular week, showed up at this as well and not only did he help himself several times to the potluck meal, but he insisted on getting one of his guitars and performing surgery on several venerable old hymns as some sort of strange “payment” for his meal. If only the kind citizens could have their skunks back!

Several of the kind citizens attended either Melvin Anderson’s book signing at Borders Bookstore or Melvin and Dorothys 24^th wedding anniversary party at the Golden Corral restaurant, or both, Saturday in Rapid City.

Lowell Wentworth of Pennsylvania was a visitor to the Lawrence and Doris Burke residence Wednesday morning. Clyde Arneson was a visitor Thursday morning. And Friday, Lawrence picked up Russell Burmeister in Wasta, who accompanied him to Floyd Kjerstads 70^th birthday party in Quinn.

Shirrise Linn returned home Tuesday morning, in the company of her mother, who has stayed the whole week. The kind citizens of Elm Springs have once again proven their kindness, and Shirrise wishes to thank all those who stopped by and left food. The Morris Linns were visited on Tuesday by Andy Linn and Cary Johnston. Wednesday, Jean Linn and Matt and Nick Trask. Clyde Arneson accompanied Morris to Rapid City. Friday, Shirrise and Kassandra visited at the Sam Johnston residence, where Kassandra spent the afternoon. On Saturday, Sandy Van Vleck of Wall was a visitor. Jack Simons was a dinner guest. Shirrise and Kassandra visited the Ryan Elshere residence in the afternoon, and the Sanden Simons family were visitors at the Morris Linns that evening.

Sunday, Grandma Arlene and Dayton were visitors at the Morris Linns. Cary Johnston and Chrissy Elshere stopped by in the afternoon. And Scott and Lynn Simons were supper guests.

The “Elk Creek Trasks” are busily engaged hosting the Dakota Trophies hunting camp at their place. Several very nice deer have been harvested in the Elm Springs area, both by Dakota Trophies shooters and others. Many of the kind citizens may have been at the hunting camp supper Sunday night, which would explain why they don’t appear in this week’s ESN.

And the “Upland Trasks” are still making too much noise up on the flat, with trips to the four winds, and visits from David Kalil of Rapid City Friday and Howard and Linda Risenhower of Beech, ND on Sunday.

Matt Trask, as noted before, had a spectacular week. He did not go back to work poisoning prairie dogs until Thursday because of the weather, and so had three days to enjoy himself in Elm Springs. Enjoy himself he certainly did, with visits to both the Andy and Morris Linn residences on Monday night, a visit to the Tim and Linda Haugen residence on Tuesday night, and the card party Wednesday night. And his appearance at the Elm Springs Church on Sunday was preceded by a similar appearance at St. Margarets Catholic Church that morning, where more devout parishoners than he had brought food to celebrate Fr. Leo Haussman receiving his Canon Law Degree. More temperate people might get indigestion when they consider the fact that Matt did all of this the week before Thanksgiving.

Janet Wilson and Linda Tift attended the end of the year party for rest area workers, held in Sioux Falls over the weekend.

Mary Kay and Pam Wilson, meanwhile, attended SDSU’s Senior Day in Brookings before attending the rest area party themselves.

After hosting cards Wednesday night, Jim Wilsey left Thursday morning for Dallas, TX, to see his sister Marge Fenner. Caroline, meanwhile, entertained Harlan and Carol Fawcett of Bismark ND, Brad and Taryn Fawcett of Byron MN and John Mariner of Rochester MN over the weekend.

In addition to the book signing and anniversary party, Melvin and Dorothy Anderson attended the funeral of Melvins cousin Norma Hertel in Gillette WY Thursday and John and Aaron Reule Saturday. Friday, Dorothy joined Jean Linn and Sandy Fields for the trip to Wasta to meet with the quilters, and then to Wall for lunch at the Red Rock Cafe.

Be sure to read next weeks ESN, where Al Trask flies off to Columbus OH again, and the rest of the “Upland Trasks” go to visit Becky for the first time since she joined the convent.

The kind citizens wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings!