The gorgeous weather in Elm Springs held through Thanksgiving Day, but then got colder as the week progressed. Several houses in Elm Springs were filled to capacity for Thanksgiving dinner, while the kind citizens gave thanks for the fact that they were not fighting fire.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders were very thankful that they had added a sunroom to their house this summer, providing more space for the Rod Anders, the Ted Thompsons, the Scott Sextons, Clint Hufty, Jo Strong, Louisa Lang and Chance and Courtney Trask, who all showed up for Thanksgiving dinner. Marvin and Casey Trask attended a hay auction in Vetal Saturday, while Carolyn met Pam Livermont and Twila Trask for lunch in Wall.

The Clyde Arnesons assembled at the New Underwood Arneson residence for Thanksgiving dinner. Clyde took a different pickup to New Underwood so he wouldn’t have to shift out of four wheel drive. Clyde visited the Ryan Elshere residence for supper Friday.

And Lonnie Arneson met with Gladys Arneson and the Travis Arnesons at the Bill and Shawna Eastman residence near Belle Fourche for Thanksgiving dinner.

Lawrence Burke’s birthday is on the 23^rd of November, and periodically it falls on Thanksgiving Day. Such was the case this year, as he and Doris went to Rapid City to eat Thanksgiving dinner with Melissa Burke and a friend. Of course, all of the Burkes are very thankful for Lawrence. On Monday, Lawrence had coffee at the Clyde Arneson residence.

Ryan and Chrissy Elshere joined a host of other Elsheres at the Jim and Lana Elshere residence near Milesville for Thanksgiving dinner.

Lynn and Sandy Fields will probably be very thankful when they are moved into their new house. As it is, they are in transition, and so they enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the Jason Fields residence in Rapid City. Saturday Lynn and Jason went to St. Onge.

Larry and Peggy Gravatt joined other Gravatts, including Jack, at the Jerry Gravatt residence in Rapid City for Thanksgiving dinner.

Kellie Linn’s parents Jim and Jean Ross of Pueblo CO, arrived at the Andy Linn residence on Monday to spend Thanksgiving week. They were joined for Thanksgiving dinner by Kellie’s aunt Helen Arends and Andy’s uncle Jim Linn. Uncle Jim Linn and Matt Trask were visitors Friday night. Jim and Jean Ross left Saturday.

John and Jean Linn spent Thanksgiving with Charlie and Carol Linn of Rapid City. Charlotte Wilsey and girls spent the weekend at the “Big House.”

Shirrise Linn and Cheryl Simons returned from Rochester, MN, on Thanksgiving Day. Morris and Shirrise hosted Jack and Cheryl Simons, Scott and Lynn Simons and family, Bummer and Jodi Simons and family, Sanden and Elaine Simons and family, Deb and Jaren Brookman, and Clyde Arneson for Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday. On Sunday, the Morris Linns went to the “Big House” to visit Charlotte and the girls before going to (oh my!) cut their Christmas tree.

The Pauleys went to Camp Crook Thursday to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family at the Rex and Cheryl Burghduff residence. They returned Sunday.

Cary and Pam Tines entertained Grandma Natalie, Joan Racicky, the Dennis Jensens, Kay Williamson Delynn Willis, John, Ty, Coby and Jim Tines, Lexy Northup, David and Kyle Scott, JW and Dara Wrachford and Sean Troxel for Thanksgiving dinner. Evening guests were Matt, Nick, Steph and Julie Trask and Heather Denke.

Al and Bridget Trask visited the “Upland Trask” residence briefly Monday before leaving for Columbus, OH to spend Thanksgiving.

The “Elk Creek Trasks” wrapped up the Dakota Trophies hunt and are now trying to catch their breath. They were joined Sunday by Craig Smith of Colorado, Kenny Wilson and Tyler Trask for a black powder shoot.

The “Upland Trasks” welcomed Steph and John Paul from their respective places Wednesday. Thanksgiving morning, all of them but RoseMary and Matt left for Rapid City to participate in the “Turkey Trot” 5k run. After feeding cows, poor Matt joined his mom for a Thanksgiving dinner of left over steak and spanish rice. But when the “Turkey Trotting Trasks” returned, they all sat down to a proper Thanksgiving meal, Thanksgiving supper perhaps. As Steph will not be able to come home for Christmas, it was decided that a night on the town was in order, and so Matt, Nick, Julie and Steph went to Rapid City Saturday night. Matt decided that he would celebrate his fifth anniversary of not drinking. Oddly enough, Matt does not remember the exact date, but it was in the end of November, 2001. Odder still, this occasion was toasted quite heartily by the other members of his party, who bought him a Roy Rogers. While out on the town they encountered Dace Price, Tony O’neill, and Thomas Paulsen, who Matt hadn’t seen in quite a while. Steph and John Paul left Sunday.

Kenny, Janet and Kelly Wilson went to Rapid City Saturday to celebrate a late Thanksgiving dinner with Mandy Wilson and Justin Tschetter. Tyler Wilson and Heather and Saber Sessions joined them there.

Philip and Mary Kay Wilson hosted their entire family, Amy, Josh and Mary Wolberg, Beth, Patrick and Pam, as well as Kenny and Janet, for Thanksgiving dinner. Friday, they went to Rapid City to attend Jerome Wrights induction party at Blessed Sacrament. And Saturday, Kevin and Joan Howland and boys were guests of the Philip Wilsons.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we are being pounced on by the Christmas season, so we had just as well start the Christmas announcements now. The Elm Springs Church will have regular services on December 3^rd and December 17^th. Matt Trask’s guitar students, Ben Linn and Autumn Deering, are giving their Christmas recital, with interference from their teacher, following the December 17^th service. The Elm Springs School Christmas program will be held at the Elm Springs Hall on Monday, December 18^th around six. And the Elm Springs Church Christmas program will be Friday the 22^nd of December at five thirty. These dates will appear in subsequent editions of the ESN.

The term “Thanksgiving dinner” was used 15 times in this week’s ESN.

The kind citizens are very thankful for all of their blessings. And for dinner.