Hot and dry weather, high winds, and frequent lightning storms continue to make life miserable for the beleaguered Elm Springs fire department, and all fire departments across western South Dakota. The Elm Springs Fire department spent part of the week battling blazes at Enning and Plainview, and as this is being written, they are battling another one in Elm Springs. The ESN, therefore, will be rather short this week.

Mattie Goff Newcombe, South Dakota celebrity and trick rider extraordinaire, was laid to rest Monday at the Elm Springs Cemetery.

Marvin and Carolyn Anders attended a birthday party for Jack Smith in Union Center Saturday. Later, they had supper with Jo Strong.

Clyde Arneson accompanied Ryan Elshere to a rodeo in Kansas, as he put it, “seven hours down, eight seconds there, and seven hours back,” over the weekend.

Lawrence and Doris Burke met Melissa Burke and Barry Ellenbecker in Wall Sunday and had lunch at the Cactus Cafe to celebrate Doris’ birthday.

Kody DeVries escorted a Lt. Chris Hermann of Ellsworth AFB on a Sunday afternoon horsback ride through the Belle Fourche River breaks. Mr. DeVries and Lt. Hermann, it should be noted, rode separate horses.

Ryan and Chrissy Elshere hosted Lonnie and Clyde Arneson for supper Thursday.

Lynn and Sandy Fields went to Rapid City Friday to run errands. Sunday, John and Amy Barley of Rapid City visited the Fields’.

John and Jean Linn had supper at the Brett Wilsey residence in Rapid City Friday.

Pat, RoseMary, Matt and Maria Trask were all visitors at the Andy Linns Sunday morning.

Monday, Shirrise and Kassandra Linn went to Wall where they visited Elaine Simons and kids. Wednesday, they went to Rapid City to visit Grandma Arlene and Dayton. Thursday, Shirrise and Kassandra left for Glen Rock, WY, to help Cameron Magee celebrate her birthday. They returned Sunday afternoon, where they joined Morris at the Cary Tines residence.

The Pauley girls attended the last Lemmon playdays rodeo Thursday, where young Emilee, having accumulated the most points, won a saddle.

Cary and Pam Tines had a houseful this past week. Nick Baggs, along with Cat and Zeuss, all of Florida, and all here for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, stayed at the Tines residence both Tuesday and Thursday night. Friday, Cary, Pam, and Clay accompanied these three on a motorcycle ride through New Underwood, Scenic, Interior and Wasta. Saturday, the Tines hosted John Tines, Amanda Humphrey, Gene Pippert and Kody DeVries. And Sunday they hosted the Morris Linns, Natalie Termes, Matt Trask, and the Danny Hall family, who were headed home from a weekend tubing adventure on the Belle Fourche River.

Ashley Turgeon visited the “Upland Trasks” Tuesday. Boys and men across western South Dakota will be saddened to learn that the Turgeon girls, Ashley and Caitlin, returned to Iowa for the school year Friday. They do promise to return to Wasta next summer. Stephanie Trask left Wednesday for Washington DC, where she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Heather Wier. When they last heard from Becky, she was somewhere in Poland, visiting places of significance to Catholics on her way to Germany for World Youth Day, to see the new Pope. Ray Olsen was a visitor to the “Upland Trasks” Saturday night, and Ernie and Nancy, Chris, Andrea, Tyler and Cole Garcia and Danielle, Jean Luc and Bobbi Jo Rodarte were all visitors at the “Upland Trasks” Sunday.

Matt Trask took Dace Kelly to Rapid Saturday, where they watched the “Dukes of Hazzard” movie, which they enjoyed immensely. Saturday evening, Matt visited Faye and Larry Volmer. Kody DeVries was the sole visitor at the Matt Trask residence Sunday afternoon.

JW and Dara Wrachford went to Kadoka Saturday to pick up a colt. On the way back, the vehicle they were in died, and they had to be rescued by John Tines and Amanda Humphrey.

The kind citizens of Elm Springs are tired, so very tired.