In what seems to be a repeat of last year, and the year before, and the year before, the weather here in Elm Springs has become unbearably, excruciatingly hot. And our stubborn, unceasing, psychologically tormenting stiff hot southerly breeze has returned to sing in our ears both day and night. The aforementioned conditions have given rise to four small fires, all started by Trasks of one stripe or another.

Despite all that, there is big, fun, joyous news to be found in Elm Springs. Patrick Alexander Trask replaced Rylan Elshere as the Newest Kind Citizen on Wednesday at 10:35 am. He weighed 8.7 lbs and measured 22 inches long. He arrived at Al and Bridget’s Castle on Friday.

On a sadder note, most of the kind citizens attended the Marge Fenner funeral, burial and reception, all in Elm Springs on Wednesday. Marge was most recently from Texas.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders attended Richard and Martha Johnston’s 25^th wedding anniversary party in Wall on Saturday. It should be noted that Melvin Anderson attended the same party. On Sunday, Casey, Shirley and Chance Trask were dinner guests at the Marvin Anders residence.

Clyde Arneson went to several towns Tuesday on business.

Wayne and Maureen Fields of Loveland, CO arrived Friday night at the Lynn and Sandy Fields residence. Sandy and Maureen went to Rapid City Saturday, where they attended the Heritage Festival in Memorial Park and the Presidents Festival downtown. Sunday morning, Maureen accompanied Sandy to church in Red Owl and then Lynn and Sandy and Wayne and Maureen and Leona Fields went to Wall to eat at the Red Rock restaurant.

Chase Gravatt was a helpful guest at the Larry Gravatt residence most of the week. Larry and Peggy Gravatt went to Rapid City Wednesday night to watch young Steele Fuegen compete in his last baseball game of the season. Peggy returned to Rapid City Saturday to pick up Steele and Madi, who will be spending several days with the Gravatts. On Sunday, Peggy and the kids had fun making sock puppets.

The Sam Johnstons most likely attended the Kling family reunion in Belle Fourche over the weekend, although we did not hear that from them.

John and Jean Linn left last Sunday on a bus bound for Williston, ND. From there, they boarded a train which took them to Glacier National Park. After spending a few days tooling around the park, they made the trip in reverse, returning home Friday.

Shirrise and Kassandra returned from Wyoming Monday. Morris and Kassandra went to Wall Tuesday. Morris visited the “Big House” Thursday to visit the Brett Wilseys and Bart Wilsey of New Mexico. When Morris returned, the Morris Linns left to spend the weekend at Shadehill reservoir with the Simons’.

Andrew Smith of Pierre arrived at the Jim Smith residence Friday for an extended stay.

Cary and Pam Tines accompanied Dennis and Tanya Jensen and Monte and Loni Reichert on a motorcycle excursion to Huron to visit relatives Saturday.

Al and Bridget Trask spent about half the week in Rapid City having the baby.

Grandpa and Grandma “Upland Trask” and Aunts Gemma and Maria went to Rapid City Wednesday night to meet Patrick Alexander. John Paul Trask arrived at the “Upland Trask” residence Saturday, having quit his job in Gilette. Bridget and Patrick Trask visited the “Upland Trask” residence Saturday evening so that every one else in the family could meet him. The young lad shows a remarkable determination to spend the beginning of his life sleeping. He hardly cracked an eyelid during the three hour visit to Grandpa and Grandma’s. Ray Olsen was a Saturday evening guest at the “Upland Trask” residence. On Sunday, John Paul, Nick and Austin went to Gilette WY to finish John Paul’s move, while Joe Trask, accompanied by Clay Tines and Shane Green, went swimming in Wall.

On Friday, an apparently orphaned fawn showed up in the “Upland Trask” yard, which was promptly taken in by the “Upland Trasks.” On Saturday she began to defecate in the house. This problem was addressed in several ways, the most notable being a diaper fashioned for the little critter out of a plastic bag and duct tape by the Three Little Girls. When the diaper proved to be extremely difficult to change, she was let out into the yard and could not be found Sunday morning.

Matt Trask went to Rapid City on Sunday for a touch of business and on his way home visited the Dan Turgeon residence, the Kendall Kjerstad residence and the Terry Schell residence in Wasta..

The Kent Wilseys of Edmond OK arrived at the Jim Wilsey residence Monday and have spent the entire week. Tom Wilsey of Tea arrived at the Jim Wilsey residence Wednesday, and was joined by the rest of his family, except for Ben, who was already there, on Saturday. On Sunday, Tom’s daughters Jeanette and Ashley went to Rapid City.

Kenny, Janet and Kelli Wilson went to the Elk Creek Steakhouse Friday night to celebrate Janet’s Thursday birthday.

Bunny Pauley and the girls visited the Melvin Anderson residence Thursday afternoon. Tyler and Taryn Caspers visited Friday. On Saturday, Dorothy met Leslie Anderson in Rapid City.

The kind citizens would like to welcome Patrick Alexander to their community.