Here in Elm Springs the Holiday Spirit is as thick as frozen egg nog, as the kind citizens put up trees and decorations and go on shopping trips to town, amid the bone-chilling cold.

The Elm Springs People Who Play Cards met at the Marvin and Carolyn Anders residence Wednesday. The card game was preceded by a soup supper. Maxine Smith was the winner of the December contest, which featured Matt Trask as Andy Linn and Nick Trask as Cary Johnston. And the card players of course got the opportunity to view the Anders’ new refrigerator, which looks very nice.

Clyde and Connie Arneson went to brother Lonnie’s on Sunday for “show and tell.”

Clyde Arneson and Jake Hall were Wednesday morning coffee visitors at the Lawrence Burke residence. Saturday, Lawrence and Doris went to Rapid City, where they had lunch with Melissa before Christmas shopping.

Young Carter Elshere celebrated his birthday Friday with Carson Johnston, Jacob Linn, Tabor Oman, Lonnie and Clyde Arneson in attendance.

Lynn and Sandy Fields went to Rapid City Sunday where they celebrated an early Chirstmas with Sandy’s mother, Carmen Agner, and did some grocery shopping.

Larry and Peggy Gravatt hosted grandkids Madi and Steele Fuegen over the weekend, also holding a Christmas celebration Saturday night. Madi participated in the Ice Storm Skating Show in Rapid City Sunday, which the Gravatts attended before leving the kids with their mother.

Sam Johnston accompanied Brent Hoffman of Plainview to a SDARL convention in Sioux Falls, driving an “Upland Trask” vehicle back to Elm Springs. Al Trask was a visitor at the Sam Johnstons Thursday morning to retrieve said vehicle. Friday night, Emily Linn was a guest of the Sam Johnstons Saturday, Sam and Cary dropped the kids off at Norma Pellegrins in New Underwood before going to Rapid to Christmas shop.

Young Ben Linn celebrated his birthday with supper Thursday night, at which Clyde Arneson was a guest. Matt Trask visited a little while after supper. Friday night, Tucker O’Rourke was an overnight guest at the Andy Linns. Pat and Al Trask were Sunday morning visitors at the Linns before they left for Rapid City to Christmas shop.

Richard Johnston and Sanden Simons were dinner guests at the Morris Linns Monday. In the afternoon, Kassandra went to play at the Elshere residence while Morris went to Wall with Clyde Arneson, who, it seems, had a very busy week. Wednesday, Shirrise went to Rapid City, where she attended a stamp meeting and had supper with Peg Ireland and Sharon Faiman. On Thursday, Shirrise accompanied Cheryl and Bummer Simons to Rochester MN, where Cheryl received very positive reports from all her checkups. Kassandra stayed overnight with the Pauleys, and Morris visited Lonnie Arneson. Saturday, Sanden Simons and his brother in law, Chris, from Kansas, visited at the Morris Linns. On Sunday,the Morris Linns went to Wall, where Morris and Shirrise became godparents to little Thane Clark Simons before attending sister Regans second birthday party at the Simons residence and Kassandra’s piano recital at the Methodist Church and stopping to wish Chuck Van Vleck a happy 39^th birthday. That night, visitors at the Morris Linns were Sandy Van Vleck, who stayed all night, and Matt Trask, who did not.

The “Upland Trasks” made several trips here and there, but nothing of particular note. Visitors for the week included Morris and Andy Linn, Ray Olsen, Clay Tines and Sean Troxel. RoseMary Trask and her three little girls attended the pancake supper at the Wall Drug Store Friday night. On Sunday afternoon, several “Upland Trasks” ventured out in search of their own Christmas tree, and about dark it was announced on the two-way radio that the tree had been found. Straightaway, several more “Upland Trasks” hustled out to find the Christmas tree base and a tarp to lay on the living room floor to drag the usually enormous tree across. But as the hunting party was returning home, a gust of wind snatched the tree out of the pickup box, and it fell on the road and broke in two. By that time, full darkness had overtaken the land, and so the poor “Upland Trasks” had to abandon the project for another day, meanwhile tripping over the large tarp which still lay on the living room floor.

On his birthday, Matt Trask accompanied Kody DeVries to Rapid City to do some Christmas shopping, and on Tuesday Matt was joined by Matt Kelly, now of Rapid City, for more Christmas shopping. Matt, Matt and Amanda O’dea all had supper at the Flying J Truckstop Tuesday night. Matt Trask once again went to Rapid City on Wednesday, where he ran errands. Kody DeVries was a visitor at the Matt Trask residence Thursday night.

Philip and Mary Kay Wilson attended Pam’s gymnastics meet in Ft. Pierre before traveling to Hoven to celebrate an early Christmas with Darrell and Norma Harer.

Janet Wilson and Linda Tift went to Rapid City Monday, to Christmas shop.

The kind citizens wish you a very Merry Christmas!