By Bill Anderson

After a week of what can only be described as oppressively hot and humid weather conditions, relief arrived early on the morning of Tuesday, August 14, in the form of a cold front that swept down from Canada, entered the U. S. free of tariffs, and dropped temperatures from the 90’s to the lower 50’s before the mercury bounced back up into the mid-70’s by mid-afternoon. The hot weather has allowed the wheat harvest to proceed at a rapid pace, with semis hauling wheat to the Wheaton-Dumont Co-op’s Rutland facility in what seems like an endless stream of huge trucks with smiling drivers, and the Co-op’s semis hauling the wheat out to larger, unit train loading facilities about as fast as it comes in. Much of North Dakota’s grain harvest: wheat; corn; and, soybeans; has gone for export, to markets in Asia and Europe, for many years, but America’s withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, and the escalating trade war with China and the European Union, has resulted in favored treatment in those markets for wheat from traditional competitors, such as Canada, Australia & Argentina, and Chinese domination of a trading bloc on the Pacific rim that was once dominated by the U. S. until early in 2017 when the U. S. pulled the pin and abandoned the field to the competition. North Dakota’s soybean producers are now looking at a potential bumper crop to harvest with a shrinking market into which to sell it. As of Thursday, August 9, according to a member of the North Dakota Soybean Council, there were no orders for North Dakota soybeans at ports on the Pacific coast. “Trade wars are good, and easy to win,” a President once said, but this trade war is starting to look bad for the good guys, and any way you cut it, it’s looking as if North Dakotans are once again being played for suckers by powerful interests, both political and economic, outside the State. Well, election day is coming up. You never know, those North Dakotans just might fool them.

Saturday, August 4, saw a lot of action in Rutland: RLF & MD rummage sale & scalloped Potatoes w/ham dinner at the Town Hall; Sargent Central International Ambassadors of Music Junk-Fest, Farmers Market and dunk tank fund-raiser on Arthur Street; and, the 10^th Annual Rutland Rib Fest on Main Street. Following are reports from Pam Maloney, Debbie Banish and Mike Pyle on the day’s activities. From Pam: “We did very well at the rummage sale/dinner. We made $500 on the rummage side & $525 on the dinner. The total of $1025 will be split evenly between Sargent County Relay for Life and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.” From Debbie: “We had 10 junk-Fest vendors and 5 farmers market stands. All five of the music students: Tyler Banish, Eric Bergeman, Ethan Bergeman, Kiauna Bergh, and, Thomas Mehrer took turns getting dunked. Their day started around 7:30 am when they greeted the vendors and helped them set up, as needed. A freewill bucket was set up at the ‘entry’ to the vendor area which was outside, on Arthur Street, between the Erickson Building the Rutland water tower and the Rutland Oil Co. building. The students had fruit trays and water for sale, as well as the metal artwork. Thanks to Rutland Fire Chief Andrew Woytassek and the Rutland-Cayuga Rural Fire District, the dunk tank was set up and filled with water just after noon to give the water time to warm up before the fun began at 4. Each of the kids took a 30-minute shift on the dunk chair. Their time in the tank ended around 7 when others who wanted to donate the $5 could sit in the tank and be dunked. That was a big hit with the younger kids. The students made just over $1,200 from their August 4 effort. The Sargent Central International Ambassadors of Music students and parents also volunteered at the Bobcat employee picnic in Gwinner on Sunday, August 5, to raise more funds to help pay for the trip. They will also be selling the metal artwork and will have a raffle board at Uff-Da Day in Rutland on Sunday, October 7. A freewill supper fund-raiser will be served prior to the Sargent Central One Act Play in November at the Sargent Central Events Center.” From Mike: “There were 5 rib chefs in the competition for the Best Ribs In Rutland title this year: Mahrer Brothers; Hanna Brothers; Digger’s Barbecued Ribs; Little Guy’s; and, Stoke & Smoke. The Best Ribs In Rutland title went to Hanna Brothers this year, the second time they have won the competition in the event’s 10 year history. Second place went to Little Guy’s, in that teams first appearance in Rutland. The judges admitted that all the ribs were delicious, and that their decision was both difficult and delightful. The judges in 2018 were: Arthur Davidson of Rochester MN, Mike’s Dad; Jeremy Becker, formerly of Rutland, now of Rochester MN; and, one surprise, anonymous judge selected from the crowd at the last minute when the regular judge was not able to be here. It’s a tough job, but somebody had to taste all of those ribs. The people judged all of the ribs to be delicious, because all of the rib vendors sold out. The 11^th Annual Rutland Rib-Fest is being planned for the same weekend, same location in 2019.” Thanks to Pam, Debbie & Mike for the reports, and for another big day in the little city that can.

Back in 2017, on Uff-Da Day in Rutland, according to the recollection of at least one of the parties, a couple of classmates from the Sargent Central High School Class of 1968 met on a sidewalk in Rutland, and one of them asked the other, “Is our class going to have a 50^th?” The two stood right there, on Rutland’s Main Street, and decided that there would be a reunion, that it would be at Silver Lake, and that it would be on the first Saturday in August of 2018. Following is a report on the results of that planning received from Rutland native Judie (Anderson) Seavert, a member of the SCHS Class of ’68: “If you heard a loud roar coming from Silver Lake on August 4th, it was the excitement of the Sargent Central class of 1968 gathering together for their 50th reunion. What an amazing day it was, with rib-aching laughter from stories from our high school years. As the day came closer to ending we decided it was such a great time we had better do this again, and 50 years was out of the question. Two years sounded good, with the meeting at the same place and same date and same time. Hopefully it would make it easier to remember for it being that far in the future. Attending, Classmates from Rutland were (maiden names only) Judy Lee, Judie Anderson, Lyle Erickson, Michael Wyum and Vincent Young. From Cayuga attending were Judy Isensee, Gary Kratcha, Clifford Keifer, Bill Keifer and Horst Wunderlich. Forman classmates were Rhonda Scheller, Randy Bjork, Bill Amerman, Doug Freitag, Dan Stenvold, Jim Seavert and Michael Seavert. Cogswell and Brampton classmates were Sherry Bopp, June Schreiber, Carol Schreiner, Kathy Holmgren, Cathy Coultas, Connie Christiansen, Larry Albertson, and Gene Thompson.  A few spouses came along to chaperon “the most entertaining class to ever graduate from Sargent Central.” We also remembered our classmates who have left this earth too early. They are Mark Susag, Jerry Christianson, Loretta McNeil, Sandra Anderson, Edgar Grammond, Fred Hayen, Dana Bishoff, Valeria Shelton, Andrea Weller and Rodney Milbrandt. Since Rib Fest was going on in Rutland, our meal was catered by the Mahrer family with the meatiest and delicious rubbed ribs from their smoker. When we meet again in two years, we hope more classmates can join in to remember those wondrous years from the class of 1968.” Thanks to Judie for the report, and congratulations to the SCHS Class of ’68 for a successful reunion, and on half a century of challenges and achievements. After 50 years, they have figured out why graduation from high school is called commencement.

Doug & Nancy Glarum were in town on Wednesday, August 8. The Glarums have been at work on their Tewaukon Township farmstead, which they are considering putting on the market. The original core of the house began as the Great Northern Railway’s section foreman’s house in Rutland. Originally, the house was situated at the west end of the rail yard, on the north side of the tracks and near the location of the Great Northern’s engine roundhouse and coal dock. The section foreman’s house was later moved to the east end of the rail yard, on the north side of the tracks, across from the stockyard. About 60 years ago, the railroad stopped providing housing for any of its employees and put the section house on the market. It was purchased by Doug’s parents, Roy & Jill Glarum, and moved to its present location on the Glarum farm. Since then, that original, sturdy framework has been added to and thoroughly modernized. No more Aladdin lamps or coal fired “Warm Morning” stoves! Doug, Nancy and their granddaughter currently make their home at Pickerel Lake, near Otter Tail MN. Nancy reports that the abstract company she now works for is busy handling property transactions in Minnesota lakes country.

Joe Breker stopped in at The Lariat for coffee & conversation on the morning of Thursday, August 9, and reported that the small grain harvest had been completed on the Breker farm. Joe raised spring wheat, winter wheat and rye this year, and states that the yields were good, but not as good as first anticipated. Winter wheat topped the yield competition at 60 bushels per acre, Joe reported, and that’s a lot better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Joe also raises radishes and harvests the seed for sale to other farmers who plant it as ground cover and as a soil conditioner. Radish seeds are too small to qualify as small grain and are in the “mini-mite” category.

Vincent Young drove up to Fargo on Friday, August 10, making some preparations for his return trip to Arizona. He plans to head south sometime on Saturday, August 11. Vincent has been in residence at the Prindiville Farm, on the south side of Rutland, since May. He plans to be back in Mesa by Friday, August 17, when his mother, Gwendolyn (Prindiville) Young, will be celebrating her 98^th birthday. Gwen and Harold had been vacationing at the farm until July 19, when they flew back to Mesa via Allegiant Airlines. Vincent will be making the trip by automobile. He states that Gwen is already getting organized for a 100^th Birthday Celebration in 2020. Vince also reports that he thoroughly enjoyed attending the 50^th Anniversary Reunion of his high school graduating class, the Sargent Central Class of ’68, at the Silver Lake Park Pavilion on Saturday, August 4. He states that he intends to be back in Rutland next May, and that he is looking forward to greeting the Sargent County Snowbirds who make their winter roosts in Arizona when they begin arriving this coming Fall.

Vacation Bible School at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland was conducted from August 8 through August 10 with 31 students from Kindergarten through 6^th Grade attending. Students were primarily from Rutland, with a number from the communities of Forman, Cogswell, Havana, Mooreton, Wyndmere and even Maple Grove IL. The faculty consisted of 3 staff members from Red Willow Bible Camp: Adam from Fargo; Tyler from Grand Forks; and, Louisa from the State of Texas. Volunteers from the Nordland and Havana Trinity congregations, including: Kathy Wyum; Sarah Pavek; Dana Wyum; Gabi Christianson; Joanne Anderson; Patty Woytassek; Miranda Wyum; Ione Pherson; and, Andrea Erickson; also assisted the staff with teaching duties. Numerous other volunteers provided snacks for the students and lunches for the staff. Nordland Sunday School Superintendent Kathy Wyum described the 3 days of Vacation Bible School as a great learning experience for the youth of the community. All expenses associated with Nordland’s Vacation Bible School were paid by the congregation, stated Mrs. Wyum, except for housing for the staff, which was donated by Ione Pherson. The staff members stayed at Ione’s rental house “The Bird’s Nest” on Front Street during their stay in the community.

Lauren and Brooke Kulzer of Brookings SD arrived in Rutland on the evening of Friday, August 10. The 2 young ladies, both students at South Dakota State University in Brookings, visited at the home of their grandparents, Norbert & Beverly Kulzer, while in Rutland, and accompanied Grandpa Norbert on a fishing excursion to Buffalo Lake on Saturday, August 11. Norbert reports that they could just as well have gone to Skunk Lake, because that’s what they got, skunked! Although the fishing trip did not produce any fish, it did provide plenty of quality time for Grandpa Norbert and his 2 favorite granddaughters. The Kulzer girls are the daughters of Stephen & Ann Kulzer of Hartford SD, near Sioux Falls. They headed back to Brookings on Monday, after participating in the morning coffeeklatch at The Lariat with Their Grandma Beverly.

Greg Donaldson of Rutland Oil Company, a longtime member of Rutland’s Men’s Slowpitch Softball Team, reports that a move is underway to honor a former member of the community’s Women’s Slowpitch Softball Team, Dorene (Carlson) Brown, with induction into the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame. Fans who saw Dorene play as a member of the Rutland Raiders team back in the 70’s recall that she was a powerful athlete, a power hitter and an excellent fielder who could play any position on the field. She could run like the wind, had an arm like a rifle and could throw from center field to home plate without a bounce. Her career also includes playing college fastpitch softball at Valley City State, and stints on the Havana and Cayuga slowpitch teams. The committee that is working on Dorene’s admission is soliciting letters of support for her nomination. Letters to the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame Admissions Committee can be sent to Dorene’s sister, Karen Christianson, at 442500 South Shore Drive, lake City, SD 57247, and the letters will be submitted with other documentation to the committee. Her fellow school students at Rutland and Sargent Central back in the 50’s & 60’s recall that when teams were being chosen for an intramural softball game during recess or the Noon break, Larry Anderson and Dorene Carlson were always the first 2 picked. Dorene’s many friends in Rutland enthusiastically support her nomination for admission to the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame.

The Rutland Community Club held its regular monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13, in the Rutland Town Hall, with President Bonnie Anderson presiding. Secretary Andrea Erickson delivered the Minutes of the July meeting, and Treasurer Hal Nelson reported that more than $11,000 is available in the Club’s treasury for community projects. In response to a request from the Sargent Central Supporters of Education, the members approved a $250.00 donation to the Sargent Central playground improvement fund. Club members also approved a request that the Community Club pick up the $100 Hall rent tab for the August 4 Rummage Sale. A report from the Rummage Sale organizer Pam Maloney showed that $500 had been raised from the sale of rummage, and that the scalloped potatoes with ham dinner netted $525. The proceeds of the rummage sale and the dinner are slated to be equally divided between Relay For Life and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. Marcia Brakke reported that Uff-Da Day lefse production has begun, and, as of Thursday, August 9, 741 lefse had been made and bagged. The next lefse making sessions will be on Thursday, August 16, followed by 2 sessions each day on Tuesday & Thursday, August 21 & 23, and on Tuesday & Thursday, September 11 & 13. Anyone interested in pitching in can give Marcia a call at 763-221-7862. Katie McLaen informed Club members that a new Pedal Pull producer has been found and a pedal pull competition will be among the activities on Main Street during Uff-Da Day. Also, a Nor-Ski cross country skiing team competition is slated to replace the Wife Carrying race that has been on the schedule during the previous 3 years. Bill Anderson reported that notices for the 2018 Uff-Da Day Parade have been sent via e-mail and posted on the Rutland Facebook page and on Rutland’s internet web site.

The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s 20^th Annual Youth Day will be in full swing on the afternoon of Sunday, August 19, at the John Narum Memorial Trap & Rifle Range 3 miles west and 1½ mile south of Rutland. The event is co-sponsored by the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club, the Sargent County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the Windy Mound Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation. It is open to all youths, boys and girls, up through Seniors in High School. Participants must be accompanied by a parent or some other responsible adult. The boys and girls participating in Youth Day will get hands on training with shotguns, rifles, archery and fishing equipment in a supervised setting. The youngsters will also be eligible for a number of prizes supplied by area businesses. According to Club Secretary Travis Paeper, the event will begin at 1:00 on Sunday afternoon and will last until 4:00 p.m, or until the supply of kids and ammunition runs out, whichever occurs later. Everything is free for the participating youths, with food and beverages available on the grounds. For several years, Youth Day at the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s grounds just north of Silver Lake has been the largest event of its kind in the United States. You can check it out!

Last weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the racial violence that rocked the normally peaceful city of Charlottesville VA last year. A year later, this paragraph from The Rooster Crows of August 18, 2017, still seems to be appropriate. From a year ago: “There were two disasters in America this past week. The first occurred in Charlottesville VA when a group of torch bearing, gun toting, swastika waving neo-Nazis, chanting racial epithets and ethnic slurs, clashed with a group protesting their presence in the city where Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia; and, the second occurred when President Donald Trump opened his mind on the subject, and exposed a moral wasteland, devoid of conscience, compassion or courage. It was a chilling spectacle, to watch and listen to the President defend his decision to remain impartial in the struggle between good and evil, between hope and hate, between tolerance and intolerance. Eighty years ago a lone member of the British Parliament, Winston Churchill, stood alone as he sounded the alarm bell to warn his countrymen, and the rest of the world, of the threat posed by the Nazi ideology then poised to engulf Europe in the conflagration of total war and the horror of the Holocaust. When cautioned by colleagues that he should be impartial in his comments about those who opposed the Nazis and those who sympathized with them, Churchill’s response was, ” I decline utterly to be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire.” This past week the alarm bells have been sounding in America. Our President says that there is no moral difference between the neo-Nazis and racists among us and those who oppose them. It is up to each American to decide whether or not they will be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire; to decide whether the alarm bells are the signal for them to stand with those who oppose racism, bigotry and intolerance, or whether the bells are the death knell of the American experiment in self government, individual liberty and the rule of law. Impartiality, if it is an option, is siding with the fire. As of Friday, August 18, 2017, there are 30 weeks down, and 178 weeks to go until January 20, 2021, if we last that long.” As of this Friday, August 17, 2018, there are 82 weeks down and 126 to go until January 20, 2021, and America will last long beyond that date.

Well, that’s the news from Rutland for this week. For additional information about what’s going on in the little city that can, check out Rutland’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and stop by the Uff-Da Day and Rutland Facebook pages while you’re at it, too. Don’t forget to patronize your local Post Office and remember to keep the pressure on the U. S. Postal Service and the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE! Later.