By Bill Anderson

“Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head” has been Rutland’s theme song throughout September. The approximately 2.4 inches that fell on Sunday evening and Monday morning, September 29 & 30, brought the total for the month to well over 8 inches. Paul Anderson reports that his electronic rain gauge has recorded more than 26 inches of precipitation since January 1, with three months remaining until 2020 wades in. County Commissioner Richard Ruch reports that his farm west of Brampton received more than 3 inches of rain from the Sunday evening-Monday morning downpour that turned the entire area west of Brampton into a lake. It’s a good thing that Richard’s farm was too wet to plant this past Spring, as it would surely be too wet to harvest anything this Fall.

Travelers, as travelers will do, have been arriving in and departing from Rutland lately. On Friday, September 20, Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson arrived back home at their Weber Township farm after a 6 week journey that took them through the northeastern portion of the country. The Andersons took the northern route, skirting the southern boundary of Canada. They towed their 5^th wheel travel trailer across the Mackinac Bridge and just kept on heading east until they reached the Atlantic Ocean. They stopped for a couple of days in Rutland, Vermont, where Chuck wore his Uff-Da Day T-shirt that has the question “Where’s The Lefse?” emblazoned across its front. Chuck said that a couple of ladies asked “What’s lefse?” and they got an invitation to Uff-Da Day in Rutland on Sunday, October 6, where they could enjoy some. The Anderson’s brought back some Rutland VT bumper stickers which they were distributing to friends last week. Dick Meyers stated that the “VT” stands for “Very Thankful,” which is what he is whenever he is in Rutland. Chuck reports that, with Mary Beth navigating and Chuck doing the driving, they by-passed the huge metropolitan areas of Boston and New York City, but still managed to see plenty. One of the highlights of the trip was a stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. North Dakota native Roger Maris, who hit 61 in ’61 to break Babe Ruth’s single season home run record, is still not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Chuck said that he did not see any mention of the Rutland Roosters, either, but it is understood that folks back east are kind of intimidated by the character and competence of individuals like Maris, and teams like the Roosters of old. For the Andersons, though, the biggest highlight of the trip was arriving back at their own home on the prairies of North Dakota.

Norbert & Beverly Kulzer arrived back in Rutland from their 58^th Anniversary trip to Branson MO on Monday, Sept 23. They were joined in Branson by their son & daughter-in-law, Stan & Karen Kulzer of Wichita KS, for a couple of days during the week. Norbert & Beverly toured the theaters and heard country music legends Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee sing many old favorites. The Kulzers had departed Rutland back on Sunday, September 15.

Dick Meyers headed south on Tuesday, September 24, bound for his winter roost in Sun City AZ by way of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Dick had resided in Rutland throughout the Summer of ’19 in “The Bunkhouse,” Lori McLaen’s short-term rental property on Main Street. He plans to be back here next Spring, sometime before Memorial Day, and to resume play in Southeastern North Dakota’s Seniors’ Golf Tour.

Steve Wyum of this community, a member of that All Star singing group “The Rutland Brothers,” that wowed the crowd at the Rutland School Reunion back in July, has also been “On The Road Again.” The following report of his most recent road trip was received from Steve on Monday, September 30: “Tim Anderson & I returned in the wee morning hours from Las Vegas; main mission to see an Eagles concert. It was fabulous… Vince Gill & Glen Frey’s son have joined the band, following Glen Frey’s death. Toured Hoover Dam , an infrastructure marvel even after approximately 90 yrs. We met up with our Sargent Central High School senior drama teacher, Gerald Bollinger…had dinner together & reminisced about our 2 plays, 10 Nights in a Bar Room & the Arthur Miller play, All My Sons. 53 yrs. ago, TIME FLIES!!” Steve & Tim are members of the SCHS Class of ’66 and have been the best of friends since the Rutland School District joined with Sargent Central at the beginning of their Sophomore year in high school back in 1963.

Sunday. Fun Day. Uffda Day! After months of planning and preparation, Rutland is putting the final touches on everything in preparation for Uffda Day. The Hall kitchen has been very busy and, most recently, the krumkake crew took it over on Tuesday to make the final goodies for Sunday. The schedule is full and there is something for everyone on Sunday.  The information has been in The Teller but just in case you missed it, here is a rundown:

• 8 a.m. – 5-K walk/run
• 10 a.m. – Vendor and craft sales and demonstrations – indoor and outdoor; car show on Gay Street; lefse, krumkake and sandbakkels sale at Legion Hall; Museum, Pioneer House and Schoolhouse open for viewing.
• 11 a.m. – Hall Dinner at the Community Center; Rommegrot and fresh lefse for sale at the Senior Center; Uffda tacos and brats at the Fire Hall; Abelskievers outside by the Legion Hall; wine tasting in the Bank building.
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1:30 – 3 p.m. – Jump houses open!
• 1 p.m. – Parade time – followed by the nickel scramble by the Bank and then the pedal tractor pull
• 3 p.m. – Norsk-Ski competition on Bagley by the Fire Hall

See You all in Rutland on Sunday, October 6, for Uff-Da Day XXXV. Be sure to share your photos on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat – There is even a Snapchat filter for Uffda Day so when sharing your memories from this Sunday be sure to swipe to find our filter!