Elm Springs was visited several days last week by the sort of merry breezes that make men spout whatever pleasant bits of poetry come to mind as they chase their hats about the countryside. Besides that, the weather was absolutely gorgeous.

Several of the kind citizens went to Union Center on Thursday to watch the Mattie Newcombe Ranch sell at auction.

Seven of the Catholic kind citizens of the community began their observance of the Lenten Season with 7 am Mass on Ash Wednesday morning. The remainder of the Catholics were apparently not yet ready for that level of mortification.

Rod and Kelly Anders proudly announce the arrival of the newest kind citizen, a girl, Jonnie Jo, born in Rapid City on Saturday at 12:35 am, weighing 6lbs 8oz, and measuring 19 inches long. It has been a few years since we had a new kind citizen. Congratulations to them both.

The kind citizens have suddenly become very quotable. Lawrence Burke, for example said that “I got my wife out of the hospital, and sent my washing machine to the hospital.” Perhaps it should be noted that “wife” and “washing machine” are two separate entities.

Matt Trask continues to fool people while eating cookies. Despite the fact that he is only slightly better than a camel at playing guitar, he now has another guitar student, an adult at that, Mr. Ryan Elshere, who arrived Thursday evening after Ben Linn, with young Carter and a guitar.

On Saturday afternoon, the Elshere’s took a scenic drive through Spearfish Canyon.

The only news at the Andy Linn house last week was Ben’s visit to the Matt Trask residence for a guitar lesson on Thursday. He was driven over by Andy.

John and Jean Linn had dinner with Charlotte Wilsey and her girls in Rapid City Saturday afternoon before attending the Lincoln Day dinner in Sturgis.

Shirrise Linn accompanied Cheryl Simons to Rapid City Monday for appointments and lunch with Deb Brookman. Wednesday she visited at the Scott and Lynn Simons residence, while Morris and Kassandra visited the Melvin Anderson residence and before Matt Trask visited their house for supper. Roger Shull was a repeat visitor at the Morris Linn residence Thursday. Friday Shirrise and Kassandra went to Wall where they visited Elaine Simons and children. Sunday, Kassandra stayed with John and Jean Linn while Morris and Shirrise went to Rapid City together.

Pat, Gemma and Celine Trask went to Rapid City Thursday to keep dentist appointments. Steph Trask attended the Lewis Bull Sale in St. Onge on Friday. Austin accompanied the Johnstons to a basketball tournament in Lead, where he played on the Wall Eagles Junior High team. Visitors at the “Upland Trask” residence included Ray Olson, Morris Linn and JB Lord of Piedmont.

In addition to hosting two guitar students, Matt Trask attended the Casey Stangle/Candice Bludorn wedding in Lead Saturday night, staying all night Saturday and most of Sunday at the Blas Sicavalo (just do the best you can and keep reading) residence. On the way home, he stopped to visit at the Bummer Simons residence in Enning.

Janet Wilson and her three sisters all went to visit their brother Russell Curtis in the Rapid City hospital Saturday.

And finally, Matt Trask visited the Wilson residence one morning on his feeding tractor. The Wilsons, who were on their feeding tractor were very gracious. Since everyone involved had feeding to do, very little visiting actually took place.

That’s all the news. If it weren’t for the baby, the ESN wouldn’t be worth reading probably.

The kind citizens hope she has a long and happy life.