The weather here in Elm Springs has turned “a bit summery,” as kind citizen Marvin Anders put it, with daytime temperatures rising to Saturday’s crescendo of a whopping 110 degrees Farenheit, where it stayed almost until dark. Add to this a wind from the south like the very breath of Satan, and it was rather uncomfortable.

The high temperatures and wind aided the first fire of the season, and the first test of the new super-duper Elm Springs Fire Truck. Friday evening a fire of some size broke out on the “Upland Trask” ranch near the Brady O’Rourke residence. Several ambitious “Upland Trask” children, including Matt, whose gargantuan supper protested violently in his stomach, battled the blaze, along with a heaping handful of kind citizens, until the trucks arrived and made short shrift of the fire. The “Upland Trasks” would like to thank everyone who helped.

Most of the kind citizens attended the charming Fourth of July festivities in everyone’s favorite town of Wasta, and many attended Wall’s annual celebration over the weekend. Andy Linn took part in the reunion of the Wall High School Class of ‘85.

Rod Anders went to Steamboat Springs, CO over the weekend.

Lawrence and Doris Burke visited Melissa Burke in the hospital in Rapid City on Wednesday.

Dan and Gayla Piroutek of Milesville were Saturday visitors at the Lonnie Arneson residence.

Kody DeVries went to Iowa over the weekend to visit family and friends.

Chrissy Elshere and children stayed overnight Saturday with Marcia Arneson in Rapid City, while Ryan and JJ Elshere competed in rodeos in Minnesota. Sunday visitors at the Ryan Elshere’s were Lindsay Elshere and children and Lonnie Arneson.

In addition to celebrating Andy’s class reunion, the Linn children visited the Shulke Ranch to see the dinosaur dig on Wednesday and went to the Rushmore Waterslide Thursday. Matt Trask showed up for a fresh supper Saturday night.

John and Jean Linn attended John’s SDSM&T college class reunion over the weekend.

And finally, the Morris Linns regain their rightful place in the ESN, with a stamping party which eleven “addicted ladies” attended Tuesday, a visit from Philip Wilson on Thursday , and two visits from Matt Trask on Sunday.

The Sam Johnstons attended a 4-H Rodeo in Belle Fourche Sunday.

And ranking right up there with the fire is the news that Tom and Shelia Trask left Wednesday for deepest darkest Africa, where they will embark on a hunting expedition. While they are gone, Tomilyn is staying with Mike and Terry Karrels near Terry, MT. And Mark left Sunday for an FFA leadership camp in Custer, leaving young Mick and “Uncle Bob” McDaniels to run the “Elk Creek Trask” affairs.

Matt and Al Trask met David Hansen of Ft. Pierre in Wall early on the morning of the Fourth to take an airplane ride over much of western South Dakota, which was very fun indeed. Ray Olsen was an afternoon visitor at the “Upland Trasks” on the Fourth. Tuesday, Julie had a dentist appointment in Rapid City, and afterwards several of the “Upland Trasks” met the Don Doerr family of Minnesota for supper. Thursday, RoseMary and the little girls had more dentist appointments in Rapid City. Ray Olsen was a visitor Saturday and Sunday both. Other Sunday visitors included Cary, Pam, Coby and Clay Tines.

The lone visitor at the Matt Trask residence for the week was Kody DeVries on Sunday, returning from his trip to Iowa. Matt visited the John Wulf residence in Owanka Sunday, and from there, accompanied Wade Wulf and Houston and Devin Antone to the Jack Wieser residence, where they had great fun playing drums and guitars under the air conditioner.

Josh, Amy, and little Mary Wolberg of Minneapolis, MN were visitors at the Philip Wilsons over the weekend, while Pam attended gymnastics camp in Rapid City, staying with Kevin and Joan Howland.

Janet and Kelli Wilson visited Bud and Bunny Pauley Sunday.

JW and Dara Wrachford and Cary and Pam Tines attended a going away party for Lt. Christina Furr on Saturday.

The hot wind mentioned earlier has cured the wheat to the point where it is unquestionably ready to harvest. Soon wheat fields with be abuzz with harvest activity.

The kind citizens advise you not to eat an overly large supper before going out to fight fire.