by Bill Anderson

When it’s Winter in Dakota, and we’re frozen, cold and blue; When we’re stoking up the furnace and opening up the flue; When it’s Winter on the prairie, and we’re battling ice & snow; We’ll be glad we’re warm and cozy, ‘cause it’s only 15 below.

Tim & Jodi Bogenreif of Moorhead MN were Rutland visitors on the afternoon of Saturday, January 5, calling on 2 of Jodi’s cousins, Paul Anderson and Bill Anderson of this community. Jodi is a granddaughter of the late Rudy & Edna Anderson of Rutland, and one of the daughters of Marilyn Anderson, formerly of Wahpeton and now of Moorhead, and the late Arden C. Anderson, a member of RHS Class of ‘60. The Bogen reifs were accompanied by Jodi’s Mom, Marilyn, by their son, Darien Bogenreif, now a Freshman at The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, and by a friend of Darien’s, Miss Gretchen Espedal of Ada MN. During their visit in Rutland, the Bogenreifs accompanied Bill Anderson on a tour of The Old Parsonage at 217 First Street, where they checked out the construction work now in progress and joined the Anderson brothers for an early supper at The Lariat Bar where the Special Of The Day was a steak & shrimp “Turf & Surf” combo.

Rob Hoflen has informed friends here that he recently retired, as of Thursday, January 3, from his longtime career with the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge. Rob had put in 4 decades as an Engineering and Equipment Operator Specialist with the F&WS.

Randy & Cheri Pearson headed for Mesa AZ on Sunday, January 6,for a winter vacation. Randy reports that his mother, Alphie Pearson, suffered a broken leg prior to Christmas, and is now recuperating in a therapy center in Mesa. Alphie had celebrated her 90th birthday this past Fall, before she and Orvis headed south for the Winter.

Doug Olstad and Jesse Brakke headed north for their Winter vacation on Monday, January 7, when they departed Rutland bound for the Sportsmen’s Resort on Lake of the Woods near Baudette MN. Jesse reported that they got in 3 days of fishing out on the ice, with the catching not so good on day 1, when they tried to tempt the walleyes with every trick in their well-stocked tackle boxes. Finally, on day #2, Doug tried a bare hook on a leader, a rig that is usually guaranteed to catch only derisive jeers and laughter from other anglers, and the walleyes started biting. The rules are that all fish that are between 19½ and 28 inches in length must go back into the lake, and the largest walleye Jesse and Doug caught was 27 inches long, so they didn’t get any trophies, but there were plenty of walleyes and sauger in the 14 to 19 inch range to fill their daily limits, once the fish started to bite. According to Jesse, accommodations at the Sportsmen’s Lodge were good, as were the ice fishing houses, meals and other items furnished by the Lodge. In addition to walleyes and sauger, though, Jesse also caught a cold, and one is the limit in that category.

Occasionally, even those North Dakotans who spend their Winter Vacations in Arizona need a Winter Vacation from Arizona, as is revealed in Curt Larson’s latest report of the January 14 Sargent County Breakfast in Mesa. “Renee and I are in Redmond, WA watching our grandchildren while their parents are at a church retreat in San Diego. So, Sharon Lock took attendance at the Sargent County Gathering this morning, Monday, January 14. Sharon reported a very small group for January. Al Ciota & Clarice Ordahl; Jim & Kathryn Gaukler; Carolyn Hopewell; Duane & Sharon Lock; Harley Anderson; DuWayne Minnaert; Richard Meyers & Pauline Carnahan; Clarice Renschler; Marlys (Wells) Stevens; Larry & Peggy Swanson; and, Kathleen Thomas.” Well, those attending the Sargent County Breakfast this month will be heartened by the news that their investment in Arizona lodgings has not been in vain, due to the sub-zero cold that has their northern homeland locked in its icy grasp. We’ll have bragging rights. They’ll have a nice suntan.

Norbert and Beverly Kulzer returned on the evening of Saturday, January 12, at the conclusion of a week-long trip to visit their son and daughter-in-law, Stephen & Ann Kulzer, at their home near Hartford SD, near Sioux Falls. The Kulzers kept appointments at the Ortman Clinic at Canistota during the week, and also took in 3 basketball games in which their youngest grandson, Will Kulzer, played. Will is now a Senior at Tri-Valley High School and is a starter on the school’s basketball team. Norbert reports that one of Will’s plays, a 2-handed dunk shot, even made the evening sports news on one of Sioux Falls’ TV stations. Will’s not only a basketball all-star, he’s a TV star, too!

For the past 9 decades, possibly more, every NDSU Extension Agent in the history of Sargent County, from Snorri Thorfinnson to Melissa Seykora and Cindy Klapperich, has hung his or her hat in the northeast corner office on the 2nd Floor of the Sargent County Courthouse in Forman. As of last week, that just isn’t so any more. As of last Thursday, January 10, 2019, Sargent County’s NDSU Extension office has been situated in the Wild Rice Soil Conservation District’s Building on the north side of Forman, west of ND Highway #32. Extension’s move out of the Sargent County Courthouse was directed by the Sargent County Commission due to the need for office space for the incoming Sargent County State’s Attorney and for the potential Tele-Health services that may be offered through the Sargent County Social Services department. The Wild Rice Soil Conservation District; the Sargent County office of the U. S. Natural Resources & Conservation Service; and, the office of the USDA’s Farm Services Agency for Sargent County; are all situated at the new location, and the services afforded by Sargent County’s NDSU Extension Office dovetail nicely with those afforded by the other agencies. The offices now occupied by NDSU Extension were once the headquarters for the Sargent County office of the Farmers Home Administration, prior to the reorganization of the U. S. Department of Agriculture that was accomplished in the 1990’s, back when Sargent County native Scott Stofferahn was the USDA’s State Director in North Dakota. The Sargent County NDSU Extension staff includes: Melissa Seykora, Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) Agent; Cynthia Klapperich, Family & Community Wellness (F&CW) Agent; and, Candy Hanson, Secretary/Administrative Assistant. Sargent County residents are invited to stop in to check out Extension’s new office facilities, and to get updated on Extension’s ever-changing role in today’s society.

The Rutland Community Club met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 14, in the Rutland Town Hall, with President Bonnie Anderson presiding. Secretary Andrea Erickson presented the Minutes of the December meeting, and Treasurer Hal Nelson reported that the Club has $18,867.00 on hand for community projects. It was noted that local carpenter Jerry Sapa was in the process of installing the new doors from the Hall Auditorium to the kitchen entrance on the Hall’s southeast corner. It was reported that Santa Claus Day on December 15 had been very well attended, with excellent participation from local businesses and the public, alike. Bonnie reported that Wendy Jacobson had been appointed to head up a committee to prepare and serve dinner and lunches during the24th Annual Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament on Saturday, February 2. It was also mentioned that Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of the American Legion will be serving a “Super Bowl Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast/Brunch” on Sunday, February 3, the day after the Pinochle Tournament. The Annual Winter Family Fun Night is scheduled from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, in the Rutland Town Hall, and that the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Annual Great Northern Pike Fish Fry is on the schedule to be served in the Hall on Friday, March 1, to be followed 3 weeks later by the Rutland Community Club’s Annual Play on the evening of Friday, March 22. This year’s play will be a series of short skits drawn from Rutland news columns written by the late Lou Sanderson back in the 1950’s, with live music performances between the skits. The title of the production, written by Diane Smith, is “Sanderson Sez!” The matter of new decorations, both Christmas and otherwise, for Main Street was discussed, and replacements for the “Welcome” banners that had been shredded by the wind will be looked into. Katie McLaen stated that 2 “Kids In The Kitchen” session that had tentatively been planned for January have been moved down the line to March due to scheduling conflicts and time constraints. Marcia Brakke informed Club members that the 2019 Uff-Da Day T-shirt design contest will get under way on Friday, January 18, with the deadline for submitting designs for consideration of March 31. This year’s winner will be selected and announced by mid-April. Marcia also reported that several Uff-Da Day committees are already making plans and preparations for Uff-Da Day XXXV on the first Sunday in October 2019. Joel Susag and Paul Anderson briefly discussed considerations for the annual tractor ride in June that had previously been organized by Jim & Ione Lunneborg and informed the Club that they will be meeting with the members of the Wild Rice Antique Tractor & Plowing Association in February to discuss organization of the event. Bonnie Anderson informed members that the annual election of Club Directors will be held in February, and that 2 positions will be open. The next meeting of the Rutland Community Club is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 11, in the Rutland Town Hall.

Pastor Nicholas Rohde wishes to remind members of Nordland Lutheran Church that the time for Sunday School will be 9:30 a.m. and the time for Sunday worship Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 20. The Congregation’s annual meeting will immediately follow Sunday worship, according to Pastor Rohde and the Congregation’s Chairman, Ted Lee.

Speaking of meetings, the Rutland Community Development Corporation’s (RCDC) annual shareholders meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, in the Rutland Senior’s Center. According to RCDC President and Board Chairman Bryce Carlson, there are two directors to be elected. Shareholders will also receive the corporation’s annual financial report and discuss potential new business activity in the community.

“I am not a crook!” said Richard M. Nixon, and “I am not a Russian Agent!” stated Donald J. Trump. In Mr. Nixon’s case, the overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that he was not being truthful when he denied being a crook. In Mr. Trump’s case, the overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that he wouldn’t know the truth if it snuck up behind him and bit him on the leg. Mr. Nixon had the decency to resign. There is no evidence that Mr. Trump has any decency about him at all. Meanwhile, the 2020 Presidential campaign is already in full swing, with Democrats of all persuasions lining up to take on The Donald for election to the highest office in the land. For the most part, those who are tossing their hats into the ring are young and good looking, the third and fourth most important attributes required of a candidate who has half a chance. According to the late Clayton McLaen, “To be successful, a good politician should have 2 primary assets – enough gray hair to look distinguished, and enough hemorrhoids to look concerned.” Right now, the current President looks quite concerned. Does he need a good lawyer, or a tube of Preparation H? As of Sunday, January 20, the current President’s term will be half over. Well, 230 years ago the Founding Fathers built to last. The next 2 years will test the foundations of that structure.

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 the community’s internet web site at http://www.rutlandnd.com, and take a look at the Rutland blog and Facebook page 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.