The weather has cooled off quite a bit here in Elm Springs, which is very nice. Thursday afternoon brought a thunderstorm which started several small fires around Lakeside and Elm Springs and then extinguished most of them, and left a nice rain in it’s wake. All in all, it was more hope than rain, but we’ll take it.

A small fire broke out on the Anders ranch Sunday afternoon. It was believed to have been started by a tree which had been ignited on Thursday.

The WTL Club met Monday at the Jim and Caroline Wilsey residence. Those in attendance, besides Caroline, were Jean and Kelly Linn, Sandy Fields, Lorraine VenHuizen, Audrey Singer of Rapid City, Betty Erickson, Margee Willey, and Bridget Trask.

Several of the kind citizens went to the way-cool Dixie Diner Saturday morning for the pancake breakfast, which benefited the Elm Springs Church and Cemetery.

And several of the kind citizens attended the Cammack Ranch Supply Rancher’s Roundup on Saturday.

And several of the kind citizens attended Kenny and Janet Wilson’s 25^th wedding anniversary party in Canyon Lake Park Sunday, which was rained and even hailed on. During the rain, most of them hunkered down under a tree.

Several of the kind citizens, it seems, were very busy. Also, it should be noted that the high school age children of Elm Springs are attending preseason sporting practices at their respective high schools.

Clyde Arneson was amused by the fact that his vacation was such a big deal to the kind citizens. “I’ve been on vacation here for fifteen years, just everybody thinks I’m working,” he said. Whatever the case, Mr. Arneson returned Monday from his family vacation more or less to Glacier Park in Montana. He spent the remainder of the week resting up.

Skyler Burke and friends of Rapid City went camping on the Belle Fourche River Monday night, and in true Matt Trask style, had breakfast at the Lawrence Burke residence.

Carter and Camry Elshere spent the weekend with Jim and Lana Elshere at Shadehill Reservoir before reuniting with their parents at the JJ Elshere residence for cousin Talon’s 4^th birthday party.

Jerry Gravatt brought his family and his dad Jack out to Elm Springs on Sunday, where they met Byron and Cherry Denke and family at the Larry Gravatt residence for a barbeque.

The Sam Johnstons attended the Saturday night wedding of Tyler Walker to Angela Tiede in Deadwood.

All of the Linns and Charlotte Wilsey of Rapid City attended the Printz family reunion, held at the Old Hotel at Wasta over the weekend. On Sunday, the reunionizers went to Wall, where they toured the National Grasslands Visitors Center. John Linn’s mother was a Printz.

The Andy Linns also hosted several “Upland Trasks” Sunday morning and followed up their visit to the Wilson’s anniversary party with an afternoon of fun in the Black Hills.

Shirrise and Kassandra Linn returned Wednesday from Rochester MN, happy to report that Cheryl Simons is doing well and won’t have to go back until January. Thursday, Shirrise and Kassandra left for Rapid City to take entries in the stamping contest at the Central States Fair, staying all night at Grandma Arlene Talley’s. Sunday the Morris Linn’s visited the Jim Jepsen residence to help Shelly celebrate her birthday.

JW and Dara Wrachford were supper guests at the Cary Tines residence Friday night.

Al and Bridget Trask quietly celebrated the anniversary of Al’s first letter to Bridget, sent one year ago Tuesday. They also hosted Nick Trask Wednesday night and Steph and Julie Trask Friday night.

The “Upland Trasks” met the Don Doerr family of Wisconsin at the Golden Corral Restaurant for supper Sunday night, and afterwards played mini golf.

And Matt Trask went to Rapid City Friday for an eye appointment.

Kenny and Janet Wilson would like to thank everyone who braved the storm to be with them for their anniversary party.

Philip and Mary Kay Wilson went to Hoven Monday to meet Mary Kay’s sister Nancy Mathison and family, visiting from Missasauga, Ontario, Canada. They returned Wednesday.

The kind citizens hope they get more rain.