At long last, it can be said that the “good old summertime” is over, and not a moment too soon for some. Labor Day was celebrated in ElmSprings around another fire, and not a cozy one either. But now all school-age children are back in school, some in brand new schools, and on the weekends the hurrah’s can once again be heard in the football fields. The Elm Springs schoolchildren have begun basketball practice once again in Union Center, as the “Rebels,” along with children from Hereford and Alkali and a maverick or two from everyone’s favorite town of Wasta.

Although the temperatures have dropped some, we have yet to feel the first “nip in the air,” which some of us are eagerly awaiting.

The past summer was so hectic at times that the ESN fell far short of expectations. Hopefully, as the world returns to it’s slumber, the ESN will regain it’s former vitality.

The change of pace has enabled the kind citizens of Elm Springs to embark upon or assist in several projects, most notably, the work that is being done at the Wasta Stockyards and the painting of the Lakeside Church.

The Elm Springs Jolly Ranchers 4-H Club met at the Kenny Wilson residence Sunday night.

Marvin and Dunny Anders, and Melvin and Dorothy Anderson all participated in the Family Wagon Train over the weekend at the Gerold Kessler Ranch near Pierre. While the Anders’ pickup performed ably on the trip home, the Andersons were not so lucky.

Clyde and Connie Arneson went to Belle Fourche Sunday, where they visited Clyde’s mother Gladys, and helped Connie’s parents, Ray and Millie Schmidt, move.

Edgar Simon was a visitor at the Lawrence Burke residence Friday afternoon. Saturday, Lawrence and Doris attended Riverfest in Belle Fourche.

The Linn families would like to thank all who helped fight the Labor Day fires.

If it were not for the activities of the Morris Linns, that would be all of the Linn notes in this weeks ESN.

The Morris Linns returned Monday from a camping getaway in Pierre with the Simons families. Tuesday Shirrise visited at the Brian and Misti Walker residence near Union Center. On Thursday, JW Wrachford and Clyde Arneson were dinner guests at the Morris Linns and on Friday they returned for supper, bringing Cary Tines with them. On Saturday, Morris participated in the golf tournament in Wall. Sunday, Shirrise attended a stamping function at the Francie Brink residence near Union Center, and then attended the softball tournament to watch Bummer play.

Melvin and Dorothy Anderson were supper guests at the Bud Pauley residence Thursday night, where they celebrated Melvins birthday a day early. On Friday the Pauleys attended the Levi Palmer Memorial Rodeo in Faith before visiting Grandma Vigorn in Bowman ND on Saturday, and attending a youth rodeo in Marmarth ND on Sunday. The Pauley girls did very well at the rodeo, and young Mattee placed first in all of her events.

Kody Devries, JW Wrachford, and Tyler Philips were all supper guests at the Cary Tines residence Saturday night, and Kody Devries was a visitor on Sunday as well. Matt Trask showed up at the Tines residence Sunday evening, just in time for ice cream.

The “Upland Trasks” are cherishing what may well be their last days with sister Becky, as she will enter the convent this coming Thursday. It seems unfortunate that there was no one handsome enough or charming enough to talk her out of this arduous vocation. Steph went to Valentine NE to interview for a job with the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, and then on to Huron to represent the SD Stockgrowers at the State Fair. She returned Sunday morning. Sunday evening, most of the “Upland Trasks” went to Rapid City to play miniature golf and enjoy the company of Becky.

Matt, however, is not one to let such drippy sentimentality get the best of him. In what may be his most vile act yet, he introduced his little sister Celine to his treacherous ways Monday when he took her to the Melvin and Dorothy Anderson residence, where she had two pancakes and he had six. On Sunday, after cake and ice cream at St. Margarets Church in Lakeside, he embarked on a solo project, with the aim of visiting the Jem and Kelly Kjerstad residence to see infant Paige Maria, who, with a brother in college, has a lot of catching up to do. But first he got lost and ended up at another Kjerstad residence where he visited with Lonnie Kjerstad. After visiting the proper Kjerstads and eating cookies, he rounded off his merry adventure with lunch at the Mike and Anita Heathershaw residence, where he also visited Milton Trask. At each of these residences, he found people who, of necessity and against their will, were attending to unpleasant labors which presented themselves on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. It made even Matt a tad uncomfortable to see these people going to perform their duties while he went in their houses and ate their food. Visitors for the week at the Matt Trask residence, who were treated to absolutely nothing, were John Tines and Amanda Humphrey, Sunday evening.

Jim and Caroline Wilsey hosted Marge Fenner’s nieces and nephews over the week, who were in South Dakota to take care of Marge’s effects, as she will not be returning. On Friday, the Wilsey’s had supper in Rapid City to celebrate Carolines birthday.

Kenny and Janet Wilson hosted Jerry Wright and his son Patrick of Rapid City for lunch on Thursday. The Wrights donated books to the ElmSprings School in memory of his mother, Cecilia (Gannon) Wright, who taught there.

The Melvin Anderson news is scattered throughout the ESN this week, but in addition to all the things mentioned above, Dorothy met Leslie Anderson for lunch in Rapid City Wednesday.

Your last chance to see Becky Trask in the temporal world will be sometime this Thursday morning at the Wall Drug Store, should you wish to do so.

The kind citizens of Elm Springs hope she prays for them.