The kind citizens of Elm Springs were caught firmly in the clutches of Old Man Winter on Monday, and he has not let go. If anything, his grip is getting firmer. As they stare out the window at the blowing snow, or chop ice from the water tank, the kind citizens find it hard to believe that not so long ago, they fought fire almost every Saturday night.

Of course, the first full blast of winter generally puts a damper on social activities, which was the case this week, with one notable exception.

Several of the kind citizens attended the Ag Banquet Thursday night at the Civic Center in Rapid City. It should be noted that Hugh Ingalls of Faith, whose bulls reside in several pastures throughout Elm Springs, was awarded Ag Producer of the Year at this function. The usually conversational and always charming Mr. Ingalls was so flummoxed by the award that he had almost nothing to say at the podium.

Lynn Fields took his mother Leona to Sturgis Friday to run errands.

Kody DeVries visited at the Robert Dennis residence near Red Owl Sunday afternoon.

Larry Gravatt brought Jack home from Ft. Meade for good Thursday, and Jack is happy to be back, Old Man Winter notwithstanding. Cherry Denke spent Saturday night with Jack.

Rick, Vicki, and Shania Johnston visited the Sam Johnston ranch on Saturday to cut a Christmas tree. At the conclusion of this event, the Sam Johnston children persuaded their parents to allow them to accompany the Rick Johnstons back to their residence, which they did, staying Saturday night.

Matt Trask showed up bright and early Tuesday morning at the Andy Linn residence, for breakfast. Kelli Linn and the kids went to Rapid City Wednesday.

Matt Trask visited the Morris Linn residence Monday night. Friday, Morris hosted his NFR calcutta party. Participants this year, besides Morris, are Andy Linn, Matt, Nick and Al Trask, Ryan and Chrissy Elshere, Lonnie and Clyde Arneson, Clint Hammerstrom, Nichols Caspers, Bud Pauley, Larry Gravatt, Jack Simons and Jay Price. Several of the participants stayed at the Morris Linn residence until well after the showing of the first round of the NFR had ended.

And now to the notable exception mentioned earlier. Every year for at least fifteen years, Morris Linn, in the company of Gene Pluth and Roger Shull, has gone to Deadwood on the Saturday before his December 8^th birthday. As part of the tradition, the merry trio has always stopped at the Elk Creek Steakhouse on the way to Deadwood. This year, because Morris will turn 40, his wife decided that a surprise party was in order, and she decided that ambushing her darling husband at the Elk Creek Steakhouse on his way to Deadwood would be the perfect surprise. To that end she began, as early as January, setting the trap. The wily Shirrise spun a masterful web of subterfuge, complete with phantom stamping parties and bogus hotel reservations, and enlisted the aid of Morris’ closest friends in the betrayal of tradition that they hoped he would ultimately appreciate.
And so, on Saturday, Matt Trask showed up at the Morris Linn residence at noon, to accompany Morris “to Deadwood.” As Matt had invited himself along on the trip last year, his aid was requested as well. Matt was absolutely no help in keeping Morris out of Shirrise’ way, and in fairness to Matt, he was in a rather delicate position. But finally, Shirrise and Kassandra Linn and Cheryl Simons left for the “stamp party,” and shortly thereafter, Morris and Matt left Elm Springs, first going to Wasta to pick up Chuck Van Vleck and then continuing to the Gene Pluth residence in Rapid City. As part of the plan, back in Wall Roger Shull was stalling for time, and circumstance intervened quite helpfully to make him even a little later than he had intended to be, so that when the merry five left the Pluth residence, they were actually a tad behind schedule. If there is any such thing as a “perfect tad,” that was it, because Morris, thinking that they should only stop at the Elk Creek Steakhouse out of respect to tradition, was had but good when he walked in. As they had hoped, he did appreciate the party, and a good time was had by all of the numerous birthday well-wishers at the Elk Creek Steakhouse on Saturday night, and yes, into Sunday morning. Morris, Gene, and Roger have already planned a trip to Deadwood next Saturday, and in another stroke of luck for them, Matt Trask has prior commitments and cannot accompany them.

On Sunday, Morris and Shirrise had lunch with Chuck and Sandy Van Vleck. Matt and Nick Trask stopped by Sunday night so that Matt could get his pickup.

It was not noted two weeks ago that Cheryl Simons returned to South Dakota with Shirrise and is recovering at the Morris Linn residence. Cheryl, and the Simons and Linn families, are extremely grateful for all of the cards, calls, wishes and dishes that have been sent their way. Meanwhile, Cheryl has been having great fun at the Morris Linns, where on Friday night she selected Al Trask’s NFR team, and Saturday night she spent with Arlene Talley.

Bunny and Jesse Bail attended the 50^th anniversary SDRA banquet Saturday night in Ft. Pierre, where Bunny was recognized as the 1985 SDRA All Around Cowgirl.

Cary and Pam Tines left Saturday for Las Vegas NV to watch performances of the NFR in the company of friends. While they are gone, Grandma Natalie is supervising at the Tines residence. Tad Northup and Jimmy Allen of New Underwood visited the Tines residence Sunday night where they watched the televised NFR performance.

James and Jim Hansen accompanied a man named Fred to the “Upland Trask” residence Wednesday. On Thursday, the “Upland Trasks” had Ray Olson over and celebrated his birthday in pretty good style.

Not much of note happened the rest of the week at the “Upland Trask” residence, except for the things mentioned elsewhere in the ESN, but certain details of Al Trask’s wedding are beginning to take shape. The wedding will be in Columbus OH sometime in June, and it’s going to be a right proper ceremony, complete with fourteen flankers, chosen almost entirely from the two immediate families, with extra kids to watch the punch bowl. Al left the decision to Matt and Nick as to which of them would serve as Best Man. As they were both honored to be asked and deferent to the other, they decided to settle the matter in Old Western fashion. A shootout was deemed too extreme, and so they played a hand of poker. Nick’s pair of eights beat Matt’s pair of sevens and Nick will be Best Man at the wedding. Given what we know about the character of Matt, Lady Luck seems to have made a most prudent selection.

On Saturday, Janet Wilson and Linda Tift were the only kind citizens to brave the weather and board the Wasta Pie Bus for it’s annual trip to Pierre. Mary Kay and Pam Wilson, meanwhile, attended the first gymnastics tournament of the year, in Spearfish. On Sunday, both the Philip Wilsons and the Kenneth Wilsons attended the Rest Area Christmas party at the Wall Drug Store before cutting Christmas trees on the Wilson ranch. However, while Pam Wilson left Sunday to watch a movie in Rapid City with Susan Aker of Wall, Mandy Wilson, now of Rapid City, and her boyfriend Justin Tschetter came out to Elm Springs to cut a Christmas tree.

There are two announcements this week, and they are both heartwarming reminders that we are in the Holiday Season. Pay attention now, because they are similar enough to be confused one with the other.

The first is the Elm Springs School Christmas Program, which will be held on Tuesday the 20^th of December at the Elm Springs Hall, beginning at six pm. At the conclusion of the program, a free will soup supper will be served.

The second is the Elm Springs Church Christmas Program, which will be held on Friday, December 23^rd at the Elm Springs Church, beginning at 5 pm.

Just about as tricky as a kaleidoscope, ain’t it?

They will both be charming, and if you miss them both entirely out of confusion, you can still have Holiday Fun here in Elm Springs.

The kind citizens hope to see you soon!