Encouraged by the moisture we received last week, a thin carpet of green has begun to spread itself around the community of Elm Springs. And Sunday’s time change was a sure sign that spring is at hand.

Several of the kind citizens went to the Good Neighbor Banquet in Wall on Saturday, to watch Melvin Anderson get recognized.

And the Country Red Hat Ladies ventured to Rapid City Friday for something called High Tea (oh my!) and the Dahl Fine Arts production of “As You Like It.” CRH in attendance were Sandy Fields, Carolyn Anders, Caroline Wilsey, Dorothy Anderson, Jean, Kellie and Carol Linn, Maxine Smith, Natalie Termes, and Twila Trask.

The magnificently talented Gary Smith gave his senior violin recital to a sizeable congregation at the Elm Springs Church Sunday. Accompanied by his teacher, the talented Ms. Kristy Friedrich, on violin and his mother Myrna on piano, he succeeded in entertaining his audience with a one-hour performance which included beautiful twin-fiddle hymns, classical pieces, a few fan favorites, and, as he put it, “my attempt at ‘The Orange Blossom Special.” Technical proficiency on the violin, musical expression, and a shy and charming stage presence were evidenced throughout. Let us hope that that was not his last performance.

Young Jonnie Jo Anders took her first wagon ride Saturday afternoon with her parents, and seemed to enjoy it immensely.

Clyde Arneson and Lawrence Burke, while repairing Clyde’s tractor, visited each other’s residences Wednesday. Saturday morning, Thurlo and Albertine Jensen of Spearfish were visitors at the Lawrence Burke residence.

Jason Fields of Rapid City spent a few days helping at the Lynn Fields residence last week.

Peggy Gravatt, Marion Case, and Connie Michelson all had supper together at the Red Rock Cafe in Wall Wednesday night. Friday, Cherry Denke took Jack Gravatt to Rapid City where they met Barry Gravatt for lunch and then went visiting. Cherry spent Friday night with Jack.

While Sam Johnston went to his SDARL (that’s South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership) meeting in Pierre, and Cary Johnston took her kids and Austin Trask and Dunbar Anders to Spearfish for the Queen City Classic basketball tournament and young Savannah’s 7^th birthday, poor Richard Johnston was called upon to watch the Johnston ranch over the weekend.

Young Ben Linn scored well enough with his rifle to qualify for the State 4-H rifleshooting competition with both pellets and bb’s.

Morris and Shirrise Linn went to Rapid City Monday where they visited the Brett Wilsey residence and attended the Central States Fair Meeting. Shirrise visited her mother on Tuesday and attended a stamp party at the Kim Smiley residence near Red Owl Thursday. Sandy Van Vleck visited the Morris Linns Friday. Saturday, Grandma Arlene Talley and Dayton Shannon drove out from Rapid City for dinner while Morris left with Bummer Simons for the eastern part of the state. Matt Trask was a visitor Monday, Tuesday and Sunday.

Matt Trask visited the Brady O’Rourke residence Wednesday afternoon.

The Pauley children got a new dog, a long-haired Dachsund which they named Shorty, apparently because of his physical height and not the length of his hair. Shorty brings the number of dogs at the Pauley residence to something like three. In other news, Emily Linn was an overnight guest at the Pauley residence Friday night, and the Pauley’s had supper at the “Elk Creek Trasks” Sunday night.

Prince Charming returned to Elm Springs Tuesday night, where he was enthusiastically welcomed back by a bedraggled, bleary-eyed troop of “Upland Trasks,” given a quick tour, and promptly put back to work. It is hard to say whether or not he is enjoying himself. Visitors for the week at the “Upland Trasks” included Ray Olsen, Morris Linn, and Mike and Ben Fox of Reddig.

Matt Trask, for his part, visited the Larry Volmer residence Wednesday night, took Maria Trask with him to the “Big Green Trask House” in Wall Friday night and attended the Wasta Pie Social in Wasta on Saturday. At the pie social, he bought an apple pie and a strawberry pie, and reasoning that the strawberry pie would be difficult to transport since it was uncovered, sat down and ate it. Then he went to the Dixie Diner and had a shake, for dessert, you might say. As if he hadn’t made a big enough fool of himself at this point, he then visited the Schell Ranch, where the Schells were busy beginning the construction of a new shop, and where Matt spent the afternoon throwing welding rods at Terry Schell. Visitors at the Matt Trask residence were Andy and Ben Linn on Thursday, Sean Troxel on Friday and Saturday and Joe Trask and Clay Tines on Saturday. All of these were much more polite to Matt than Matt is to his hosts.

Kenny and Kelli Wilson kept appointments and visited Mandy in Rapid City Friday. Saturday, Kelli spent the afternoon at the Norm and Marsha Eisenbraun residence, where she babysat children for people who were attending the Good Neighbor Banquet.

And the lovely Mandy Wilson announced Sunday that she is engaged to be married to long-time boyfriend Justin Tschetter of Rapid City.

Mary Kay Wilson left Thursday for Minneapolis, MN where she helped Josh, Amy and little Mary Wolberg move into their new house. Philip Wilson and his motorcycle attended the first Wall Eagles track meet of the season at Douglas on Saturday.

John Paul Trask, Sean Barber, and Clay Tines all visited the “Brustol AFB” Saturday afternoon.

The kind citizens just love this weather!