Here in Elm Springs, the kind citizens cannot help but hear the whispered promise of spring. If only they could hear the shouted promise of rain, dumped in great bucketfuls on their heads!

The kind citizens of Elm Springs celebrated St. Patricks Day in various ways, and the saddle-stock of Elm Springs breathed a sigh of relief when the sun set.

The Meade County Farm Bureau held a general membership meeting at the Elm Springs Hall on Wednesday. Attendance at this function was a little light, but people are busy this time of year.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders attended the Bachand farm sale near Bear Butte Saturday.

Ryan Elshere, accompanied by his family, brother JJ and the West boys, competed in the rodeo in Rapid City Saturday, where he won 3^rd place.

The Sam Johnston family went to Lead Saturday, to attend a basketball tournament in which young Calder participated.

The Andy Linns had a whopping big party Sunday, to celebrate the birthdays of Jean, Andy, and Jacob Linn, and Karen Brunch, which were deemed close enough together to warrant a joint birthday party. Besides the Birthday People and their families, persons in attendance included Charlie and Carol Linn, Morris and Kassandra Linn, and Roger Shull. Pat, Julie and Matt Trask were visitors Sunday morning.

John and Jean Linn attended granddaughter Laura Wilseys stringed orchestra concert in Rapid City Saturday night.

On Monday, Shirrise Linn went to Rapid City to run errands, stopping at the Brett and Charlotte Wilsey residence, and attending a stamp meeting at Peg Irelands. Tuesday Nick Trask was a visitor at the Morris Linns, just in time for supper. Nick, being of much slighter build than his older brother, could become very bothersome indeed if he cultivates his older brother’s habit. Thursday, Kassandra went to Wall with Grandma Jean and cousin Jacob and Ray Olsen was an afternoon visitor at the Morris Linns. Saturday. The Morris Linns visited for dinner and cards at the JD and Dana Keffeler residence near Red Owl. And on Sunday, while Morris and Kassandra were birthday partying, Shirrise attended a scrapbook party near Opal. Matt Trask, the original, was a visitor Sunday evening.

Young Tucker O’Rourke accompanied his uncle Brian Fulton to the rodeo in Pocatella, ID., over the week, while younger Jace O’Rourke spent the weekend with Pops and Grandma O’Rourke in Interior.

Bud Pauley graciously allowed Matt Trask to accompany him on a very fun business trip to Kadoka, Belvidere, and Philip Thursday, even buying him dinner and seeming pleased about the whole experience. Upon Matt’s return to the “Upland Trask,” residence, he was most pleasantly startled to discover that Mayzee and Mattee Pauley were guests there.

The Cary Tines’ hosted the Morris Linns, Dara Wrachford and Sean Troxel, and Kody DeVries for supper on St. Patricks Day. Saturday night the Tines’ went to the rodeo in Rapid City to watch young John Tines ride a bull. And Sunday, Cary, Pam, John, and Clay Tines and Amanda Humphrey visited at the “Upland Trasks” before hosting Kody DeVries for supper at their house.

At the “Upland Trasks,” Pat, who makes a very striking leprechaun, presided over a week of Irish merrymaking. It should be noted that due to the lack of rain and the subsequent lack of rainbows, there is a decided lack of “pots o’ gold” lying about, but that did not stop the “Upland Trasks” from sharing their Irish merriment with anyone brave enough to venture onto their property. These were numerous, and included, besides those already mentioned at various intervals in the ESN and in no particular order, Jim Scull, Tanse Hermann, Chad Kaltenbach, Janet and Kelli Wilson, Morris and Kassandra Linn, Ray Olsen, and Patrick and Tyler Wilson. There were as always several trips made during the week, the most notable being Al Trask and Patrick Wilson’s trip to Sioux Falls on Saturday to pick up a “new-to-them” Peterbilt semi tractor, which was the partial object of the Tines’ Sunday visit to the “Upland Trasks.”

Dara Wrachford and Sean Troxel made a trip to Rapid City Friday. Saturday the “Brustol AFB” hosted Matt Trask, and Sunday, John Tines and Amanda Humphrey.

In other News, the Elm Springs Fire Board would like to thank all who have come to work on the new Fire Hall, which is becoming a magnificent thing indeed, through the selfless work of volunteers.

There will be a baby shower for young Mary Ann Wolberg, daughter of Josh and Amy Wolberg of Minneapolis, MN, at the “Elk Creek Trask” residence on Saturday, the 26^th of March, with brunch beginning at 9:30 am.

And Master Sergeant JW Wrachford, who had a wonderful opportunity to call the Cary Tines residence during the St. Patricks Day supper mentioned above, reports a welcome warming trend in the country with the unpronounceable name where he is stationed, where temperatures now hover near the very balmy point of freezing during daylight hours.

The kind citizens of Elm Springs shudder at the thought.