By Bill Anderson

The stock market was about all that was dropping faster than the temperature this past week. The mercury bottomed out at 20 below on the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, January 19 & 20, but the stock market is still in free-fall with no bottom in sight. When it finally does hit bottom, the impact is likely to send shock waves around the world. The only thing colder than the weather this past week was the reception given to the President’s so-called economic stimulus program, seen as too little, too late and off target, unless you happen to be a major corporation or one of the super-rich, in which case it’s only seen as too little and too late.

Janice Christensen timed it just right this year, as she departed Rutland on Thursday, January 17, bound for Honolulu and a cruise in the Hawaiian Islands just in time to miss the coldest weather of the Winter, so far. Janice was accompanied on the trip by her niece, Janelle Brakke of Fargo. They are scheduled to return to reality on Sunday, January 27. Brad Christensen has been running the shop at the Lariat Bar during Janice’s vacation holiday.

County Commission Chairman Maurice Orn of Stirum treated his wife, Pat, to dinner at the Rutland General Store on Thursday, January 17. Commissioner Orn reports that he and Pat enjoyed a delicious dinner and a delightful visit at the General Store.

Arnold Banish has taken up temporary residence at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman following surgery to replace a worn out knee joint. Arnold is undergoing physical therapy and expects to be back at his Tewaukon Township farm home in the near future.

The staff at the Rutland General Store has been at work during the month of January, rearranging and redecorating the store. The store looked good before, and it looks great now, but it’s different than it was the last time you were in, so stop in and take a look. General Store proprietor Gretchen Vann, Toni Hajek and Sue Anderson traveled down to Minneapolis-St. Paul on Monday, January 21, to check out new inventory for the fabric, antiques and collectibles departments.

Steve Wyum, Mike Wyum and Paul Bergh were among farmers from this area who attended the ag seminar sponsored by Agstar Farm Credit Services in Fargo on Thursday & Friday of last week. Topics covered at the seminar included: 2008 meteorological outlook; global warming and its impact on local agriculture; world trade and the declining value of the U. S. dollar; and, 2008 crop marketing outlook.

Greg Donaldson accompanied Clint McLaughlin, Travis Paeper and Bruce Bosse to Minneapolis last weekend to take part in the Pheasants Forever organization’s 25th anniversary observances. The local men represented the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club at the event. The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club, in cooperation with the Sargent County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the Windy Mound Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation, sponsors an annual Youth Day each August which has developed into the largest event of its kind in the United States. At the 2007 Youth Day, more than 300 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 were introduced to, and received expert instruction in, rifle and shotgun marksmanship, archery skills and fishing techniques at the Sportsmen’s Club’s John Narum Memorial Trap and Rifle Range just north of Silver Lake. The event is held annually, in mid-August, just prior to the commencement of the school year. Norbert Kulzer looked after the business at Rutland Oil Co. during Greg’s absence.

Pinochle is the game, and the Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament is the name, of the premier pinochle tournament in Southeastern North Dakota. Preparations are well under way for the 2008 version of the tourney, which will be held on Saturday, February 2, in the Rutland Town Hall. The tournament is organized by the descendants of the late Rudy & Edna Anderson of this community, and has been an annual event in Rutland since 1996. Arden Anderson, Sonja Christensen and Judy Seavert, 3 of the organizers, report that 64 teams were pre-registered as of Tuesday, January 22. “We limit participation to 60 teams,” says Arden, “that’s why we’ve had 66 teams in the tournament for the past 2 years.” Cash prizes are awarded to teams with the top point totals, but a number of additional prizes will also be awarded, including: tickets to a UND Fighting Sioux hockey game at Englestad Arena in Grand Forks; tickets to an NDSU Bison basketball game in Fargo; and, many more. According to Judy Seavert, the adoption of the “Jack Brummond Rule” is being considered for this year’s tournament. The Rule would require a 50 cent fee from any player who complains about the cards he or she is dealt and then finishes the tournament in the money. If you are wondering why the rule is named for our friend Jack Brummond, you don’t know Jack. The Anderson clan plans to be in Rutland on Friday, February 1, getting set up for Saturday’s tournament. They are extending a challenge to all comers to engage in some pre-tournament pinochle action at the Lariat Bar on Friday evening. The Rutland Community Club will be serving lunch and dinner to tournament participants and kibitzers throughout the day on Saturday, February 1, with Rutland scalloped potatoes being the featured item on the dinner menu, by popular demand.

Rutland’s internet web site is satisfying popular demand by supplying the latest information about what’s going on in the old home town. Stop by for a visit. Check out Rutland’s blog site, to, at http://www.rutland.communityblogs.us. See you on line.

The following are excerpts from the L. S. Sanderson column of January 22, 1953: A wedding dance will be held at the hall in Rutland on Saturday evening, January 24, in honor of Bud Harles and Elaine Rehak who will be married on Saturday. Bud is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Harles and a more popular fellow where he is known cannot be found anywhere. He was one of the mainstays in Rutland’s baseball team until called into the army where he was stationed in Germany until discharged. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Rehak of Forman and is well known in the Forman-Cogswell vicinity. No doubt these popular young people will be greeted by the largest crowd of the season? The Evenson Heating and Plumbing Co has purchased the building here formerly owned by Owen Christianson and work has begun to remodel the building suitable for this business. This firm has enjoyed a large business extending over a large area and we congratulate them as well, as the town is securing another business place on main street? In attendance at the Live Stock Show in Denver this week are Dave Hoflen, Milt McLaen, Les Herman and Geo. Smith of Lisbon.  Mrs. H. E. Dyste was passenger in their car and will visit her sister who resides in Denver. Others attending the show are Alphonse Kulzer and family, Gene Nickeson, Clint Nickeson and wife of Veblen. No church services were held on Sunday and school was closed on Monday and Tuesday because of an epidemic of flu. Emil Christenson of Cogswell was a Rutland visitor last week and drove home a new Chrysler car, New Yorker model, which he purchased at the Hoflen Agency. Red Green and Art Brown spent Sunday with friends in Minneapolis. Everyone here is wearing a “No. 11” button, but it does not mean that they have joined the crap shooters union. It means that they are not in favor of the state giving away Highway No. 11 as it proposes to do. It seems that the cost of black topping roads in North Dakota is higher than in other states and taxes are rapidly becoming a headache No. 1. High taxes drive people from better places than North Dakota as is shown in the following true confession: A man arrived at the pearly gates and was told by St. Peter to come in. He entered, but when he saw the highways were paved with gold he walked out. “Aren’t you coming in?” asked St Peter. “No”, replied the man, “Why Not?” asked St. Peter. “Because your taxes will be too high,” replied the man. “Stranger,” asked St. Peter, “Where are you from?” And his reply was “North Dakota.” “Well, I don’t blame you,” replied St. Peter. Anton Silseth took off on Sunday for Kansas City, Mo., where he will spend the rest of the winter season at the home of his daughter. Ted Helberg, Henry Johnson and several others whose name we did not learn, were passengers on Monday night’s train to Minneapolis, where they will witness the inauguration of Pres. Eisenhower, by television. The new highway patrol purchased by the county was delivered at Rutland last week and will be operated by Art Spande. The old patrol which has been in use 17 years was traded in for the new one. The machine is modern in every way and will be able to patrol a larger territory which as been assigned to Mr. Spande. A basketball game between the teams from Forman and Rutland was played here last week, the proceeds of which were used in the March of Dimes. Winners were the Forman girls and the Rutland boys. A return game will be played at Forman for the same cause. For Rutland, Big Jim Povlitsky, was the hot shot and for Forman it was Ronnie Shasky. The only bad weather we have had this winter came on that date and reduced the attendance considerably, but $60 was realized as proceeds of the game. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bauman came from Fairmont to spend Sunday with their son, Walter and family. Walt has been in a hospital at St. Paul where he submitted to surgery but has recovered and returned to his duties as brakeman on the G. N. Ry.