By Bill Anderson

Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 21-28, started out with a bang, complete with a thunderstorm, wind and hail as Mother Nature’s study aids. The hail was heavy enough to cover the surface of ND Highway #11 out by the Dennis & Lori McLaen farm, 2 miles north of Town, but no reports of damage to vehicles or buildings have been received.

Marcia Moen, Margo Ganske, Kate Tagg, Laura Feltes, Victoria Parker-Christensen, Marianne Parker, Susan Guilbert and Sue Anderson gathered at the home of Kathy Brakke for a cousins quilting weekend that had scissors clicking and sewing machines clattering from the afternoon of Friday, April 18, to Sunday afternoon. All but the two Susans are related to Ransom Township pioneers K. P. & Ingrid Ahrlin. Sue Anderson is Kathy Brakke’s sister-in-law and Sue Guilbert is Mary Ann Parker’s sister. In addition to getting in a weekend’s worth of quilt making and reminiscing, the group enjoyed a visit to the Rutland General Store and a Saturday luncheon at the home of Mary Ann Thornberg in Weber Township.

Word was received here on Sunday morning, April 20, that Rutland native Inga (Ahrlin) Dallman had passed away that morning at her Lake Metigoshe home, near Minot. She was 94 years of age at the time of her death. “Old” was never a term that could be applied to Inga. she was one of the 4 children of the late Carl & Christina (Sorenson) Ahrlin of Rutland. Inga was a member of RHS Class of ’32 and, according to life-long friend Irene Anderson, Inga was one of the best girls’ basketball players in the County during her high school years. She and her husband, Donald Dallman, lived in the Rutland & Cayuga communities for several years before moving to Minot in the 1950’s. Mr. Dallman was employed by the Great Northern Railway there. Inga and Don were frequent visitors in Rutland over the years, never missing a school reunion or other community event until age and ill-health restricted their travel. Mr. Dallman preceded his wife in death several years ago. She is survived by 3 sons: Donald of Manassas VA, Dale of Minot and, Lyle of Bottineau; by a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and, by several nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held on Thursday, April 24, at the Thomas Funeral Home in Minot. Interment will be at Minot as well. The Rutland community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Inga Dallman.

Rutland General Store assistant manager Debbie Liermark was in Des Moines IA over the weekend of April 19-20, attending a product fair put on by the Farner & Bocken wholesale grocery firm. Farner & Bocken is a new wholesaler in this region, and Debbie reports that she was favorably impressed with the quality, variety and value of the groceries and other goods distributed by the firm. Nick Hajek, son of Toni & Shannon Hajek, accompanied his great-aunt on the Iowa trip. Mrs. Liermark is also planning to attend the products fair presented by Food Services of America at Brainerd MN later this week.

Well, they’re off and running. Seeding of the 2008 crop got started in the Rutland area on Friday, April 18, when both Lyle Erickson and Mike Lock were able to get into fields in Rutland Township, 2 to 3 miles west of town. Local golfers got a 2 day head start on the farmers, though, as both Richard Bradbury and Larry Christensen of this community were out on the Forman Golf Course on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Sometimes the answer is obvious, but we’re too close to the problem to see it. Last Saturday, April 19, Mike Kulzer was working hard trying to get the gas engine that powered a piece of equipment at his local feed and seed business going. Mike pulled and pulled and pulled on the starting rope, but the engine would not fire, a very aggravating situation that anyone who has ever owned a small, gasoline powered lawn mower is familiar with. Mike’s friend, customer and fellow farmer, Dennis McLaen, stopped by and commiserated with Mike that he had the same kind of engine on a piece of equipment out on his farm, and he couldn’t get his started, either. Meanwhile Cole Rohrbach, teen-age son of Vaughan and Polly Rohrbach had also come by and stopped to observe Mike’s efforts. After watching Mike give several more mighty pulls on the rope, Cole asked, “Shouldn’t you turn the switch on?” An audible groan was heard from Mike. He reached over, turned the switch to “on”, pulled the rope once more and the engine roared to life. We have had no report as to whether Dennis had similar success. Sometimes it just takes a disinterested observer to spot the problem.

Still no blackout winner at the Rutland Community Club’s weekly BINGO games at the Rutland Senior’s Center. Next Sunday, April 27, the prize will go to $85.00 and the numbers drawn up to 58, reports Diane Smith. Yvonne Johnson won the $20.00 prize for first BINGO in the final game of last Sunday’s games.Some upcoming events in Rutland this week include: Sunday, brunch starting at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the Rutland General Store; Rutland Community Club BINGO, starting at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27,at the Rutland Seniors’ Center; Rutland Park Board “Baked Potato Feed” starting at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, at the Rutland Town Hall; Relay For Life Fund Raiser featuring a rummage sale, car wash and grilled hot dogs at the Rutland General Store on Saturday, May 3.

This is the 572nd installment of the Rooster Crows, and it will be the last, at least for a while. When the current incarnation of this column began, back in April of 1997, eastern North Dakota was in the midst of a tremendous natural disaster, the worst flooding in over a century, coupled with ice storms, blizzard conditions and demolished power lines. The City of Grand Forks had been hit by the triple whammy of flood, blizzard and a fire that destroyed a major part of the City’s downtown area, all on the same day.

The Rooster Crows reported on the impact that disaster had on the local community and on how Rutland folks throughout the area were dealing with it, and one thing led to another for more than a decade. Well, now it’s 11 years later, there’s no natural disaster and it’s time to take a break to attend to other matters. Thanks to The Teller for printing these ramblings over the past 11 years, and thanks to the readers for reading them. So long til next time, whenever that may be, and keep those Rutland Roosters crowing! Keep checking the Teller, and Rutland’s web site at www.rutlandnd.com, for up to date information about what’s happening with Rutland folks, wherever they may be.

The following are excerpts from the L. S. Sanderson column of April 30, 1953: The fear of another dry season which has prevailed all spring, gave way to a feeling of optimism since a rainfall of nearly two inches was received over the weekend. Seeding is completed, most of the wheat is out of the ground and grass is making a fine comeback…A Fireman’s Ball will be held here on Thursday, May 7th, with the Tempo Kings furnishing the music and a radio will be given away as a door prize. The firemen always have a way of doing things and on this night they will be setting the woods on fire, so no one can afford to miss it…Ray Folz has rented a house and moved his family from Willmar last week to be residents of our town. Ray is employed by the Great Northern as conductor on the Rutland-Forbes line…Jimmie Kunkel and wife were weekend visitors at the home of his uncle, Ole Jacobson. Jimmie was recently married, is present in the U. S. Air Forces stationed in Kansas. He expects to leave the U. S. soon to be stationed in Japan…An attack of Bright’s Disease was responsible for the death of Bob Bauman at the Breckenridge hospital on Monday morning. He had been unable to do any work the past year. Funeral services were conducted at the Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Rev. Gjernes officiating. Interment was in the Rutland cemetery. He leaves his wife and four children…Rutland’s High School Band won a superior rating at the music festival conducted at Wahpeton last week, in which bands from a dozen towns participated. Prof. Schildberger and the band members are to be congratulated on the fine showing they have made in but two year’s time…Noble Aus has purchased the Otto Meyers home east of the Lutheran Church and will move as soon as it is vacated by the present occupant…Rutland will be well represented at the South Dakota lakes next Sunday when the fishing season opens there. We will be more interested in the big fish stories than in the big fish they bring home…Baseball will be a popular sport this season with three teams in town. The high school, the American Legion and the Twin State League each sponsoring a team. The high school team plays its first game this week. The League team opens the season on May 10, with Hankinson furnishing the opposition. The starting line up has not yet been announced, but we will have it in next weeks news…The American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring a bake sale and lunch on May 6 at the Legion Hall. Serving will start at 2 and continue till 8 o’clock. Menu is Baked Beans; Potato Salad; Pickles; Egg Salad and Cold Meat Sandwiches; Pie; Cookies; Cake; Doughnuts and Coffee.