We really had quite a pile of news for mid-January. First we have to correct an error from last week, and then, more or less in order of importance, the happenings of the week.

Our dimwitted author was told and then promptly and inexplicably forgot that Jim and Myrna Smith went to Centerville last week to attend the wedding of Heidi Schubeck.

And now for the news, more or less in order of importance.

Young Jonnie Jo Anders was forced to relinquish her title of Newest Kind Citizen at 9:20 am on Thursday morning when Rylan Elshere was born to Ryan and Chrissy, weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz. And measuring 20”. The Elshere’s spent Wednesday night in Rapid City and returned home Friday morning.

Several of the kind citizens joined a host of kind people from all over in Wasta on Sunday for the Schell benefit dinner and auction, first to eat at the Wasta Community Center and then to bid on over 100 items at the Bar. Auctioneers were Clint Allison and Rod Volmer, and George Micheal and Zeb Hoffman were ringmen, for lack of a better word. Matt Trask bought a halter and a bag of cookies. He has not yet eaten the halter.

The Elm Springs School had their annual outing to Terry Peak on Tuesday. The children had great fun zooming down the hills, and their parents were exhausted watching them.

Brady O’Rourke and Baxter Anders both had their schedules interrupted Saturday morning, when Al Trask, hurrying to put his coat on, dislocated his shoulder. Brady and Baxter tried several times to help Al put it back without success, and they decided that medical attention would be necessary. When Al went in the house to tell his wife he would be going to the hospital, his shoulder slipped back into place. After that, probably everybody went home.

Clyde and Connie Arneson went to Rapid City on business Monday.

Clyde was a coffee visitor at the Lawrence Burke residence Tuesday morning. Lawrence went to Rapid City Tuesday to run errands and returned home just in time to welcome Matt Trask, who visited Tuesday evening.

Matt Trask visited the new Lynn and Sandy Fields residence Thursday morning, where he enjoyed coffee, rolls, and a spectacular view of the Belle Fourche River. Sandy joined Dorothy Anderson and Jean Linn at the quilting meeting in Wasta on Friday. Saturday visitors at the Fields residence were Jason Fields, Karlen Davis, Moshe and Micah, and Brian Teller.

Larry and Peggy Gravatt brought Jack out to Elm Springs Friday afternoon, and he spent Friday night at his house. Larry and Peggy drove him back to Rapid City Saturday, and had dinner before they came home.

Calder Johnston, accompanied by various family members, had basketball games in Wall on Monday, Draper on Tuesday, and New Underwood on Friday. The Johnstons and the Pauleys found a dam with enough frozen water to ice skate on the Jim Wilsey ranch, and so they went ice skating Saturday afternoon.

Kellie Linn and kids visited the John and Sylvia Rhoden residence near Union Center Saturday evening for supper.

Morris and Shirrise Linn had a positively sedate week. They hosted Matt Trask on Monday night and Clyde Arneson and Cary Tines Friday night.

Young Jada Maher arrived at the Pauley residence with Bud for a weekend stay. She returned to Isabel Sunday with Bunny.

Matt and John Paul Trask were supper guests at Al and Bridget’s Castle Wednesday night, and John Paul wound up being an overnight guest.

Tom and Shelia Trask and Philip Wilson, among others, spent part of the week in Salt Lake City, UT promoting the Dakota Trophies hunting organization at a hunting show there.

The “Upland Trasks” had a busy week, with more goings than comings. Julie left for Ft. Collins,CO to begin school and John Paul returned from Gilette, WY on Monday. Pat and Nick let Wednesday for Denver, CO to attend the R-CALF convention. John Paul left for Gilette Friday morning, Pat and Nick returned Saturday night, and Jim Jacquot of Rapid City and his nephew Todd visited the “Upland Trask” residence Sunday.

The kind citizens would like to welcome Rylan Elshere to their community.