The ESN is quickly becoming the Elm Springs Lament these days, but nevertheless some mention should be made of our tremendous plague of grasshoppers, so great in number as to make our ancestors proud. The past few years have been relatively free of these insects, which made those droughts more palatable.

The Elm Springs Township members met at the John Linn residence Wednesday night.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders entertained various “Upland Trasks” throughout the week

Clyde Arneson accompanied JJ and Lindsay Elshere to a rodeo in Greeley, CO Thursday. Clyde and Lindsay returned to South Dakota, while JJ continued on to more rodeos.

Lawrence and Doris Burke went to the way-cool Dixie Diner in Wasta Thursday where they met four generations of cousins, visiting the Black Hills from Sioux Falls. They enjoyed visiting great grandma Rachel King, Grandpa and Grandma EJ and Donna King, mother Vanessa, her husband David and daughter Maren, whose last name unfortunately escaped them.

Peggy Gravatt spent most of the week in Minnesota and Wisconsin, visiting her sister and attending her aunt Vernie Manz’s funeral. On Saturday Cherry Denke visited the Gravatt residence, and Sunday Larry and Peggy visited Jack in Rapid City, where they took him out for a malt.

Scott and Greg Ross spent the weekend at the Andy Linn residence, visiting Scott’s sister Kellie. On Sunday, Robert Campbell and family of Macintosh visited the Andy Linn residence.

Ben Linn, on a fishing excursion Saturday, managed to get a fish-hook stuck in his hand, requiring medical attention to remove. We must all remember to be extra careful during our summertime recreation.

Shirrise Linn met Shelane, Jade, Sanden and Sage Graham for lunch in New Underwood Monday. Matt Trask visited the Morris Linn residence Monday night. Wednesday, Sandy Van Vleck accompanied Shirrise to a stamp meeting in Rapid City, and to lunch with Peg Ireland. Kalee Jepsen was an overnight visitor at the Morris Linn residence. Thursday, Shirrise had lunch once again in New Underwood, this time with Shelly, Sutton, Kalee and Bralee Jepsen, and Kalee Jepsen stayed overnight with the Morris Linns. Clyde Arneson was a coffee visitor Saturday morning.

The very well attended steak feed at the Wasta Bar Friday night also served as Cary Tines birthday party. Sunday afternoon visitors at the Cary Tines residence included Natalie Termes, Stan, Kristi and Bailey Cihak of Texas, and DeeDee, Michaella and Megan Stahl and Bonnie and Nathan Dix of Doland.

The “Elk Creek Trasks” had supper in Phillip Monday night, and the boys attended an FFA meeting before going to visit Milton Trask in the hospital.

And the “Upland Trasks” just can’t slow down. In addition to hosting Brian Herr of Newton, WS all week, they hosted a group of shooting enthusiasts from Ann Arbor, MG Wednesday, Doug and Debbie Reif of Pennsylvania and Steve and Tom Hobart of Custer Thursday, and Holly Sukup of O’neill NE over the weekend. Matt, Nick, Steph and Julie Trask and Holly Sukup went to the Rushmore Mall in Rapid City Saturday, where they met with moderate success selling hamburger patties. That evening, they happened upon the Jordan Kjerstad/Rachel Parsons wedding reception, which nobody seemed to mind too much. Sunday, Nick, Joe and Austin Trask, Clay Tines, Sean Troxel, and Tyler Wilson, back from WY for the upcoming Wilson family reunion, all went to the Rushmore Waterslides in Rapid City, while Andy and Ben Linn and Robert and Robbie Campbell joined the madness at the “Upland Trask” residence.

Matt Trask visited the Brady O’Rourke residence one afternoon, possibly Thursday. Other than that, he is apparently saving up his energy for the week ahead. Eating can be a very strenuous activity, when done like Matt does it.

Tom and Kelley Wilsey returned to Tea Monday from the Jim Wilsey residence where they had been visiting, while Zach and Zarah Wilsey of Oklahoma City OK, much like little Goldilocks, are still there. Wednesday, Jim Wilsey went to Hay Springs NE where he met his brother Wes for a day of golfing. He returned Thursday.

The Wilson families could be getting ready for their family reunion, or enjoying a pre-reunion at another location. Or they could be working on their combine. At any rate they were not home to answer their telephones.

The kind citizens caution you to keep your mouth closed when driving an open-air vehicle through our community, lest it fill with grasshoppers.