The Rutland Community Club (RCC) Freezer Meals program concluded with another ten women in the kitchen on Wednesday, October 23. Organized by RCC President Katie McLaen, this program has been done annually and is always a fun – and often needed – event for those who are lucky to register early enough. Katie is planning a similar event in January – Kids in the Kitchen – to get the youth started early in making good, nutritious meals and to get them involved early in what Rutland has to offer. Thanks to Katie and the Community Club for sponsoring these programs!

On Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m.,  the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary members went around town to “Trick or Treat”. The group included Carolyn Christensen, Joanne Harris, Pam Maloney and Taryn Jenson accompanied by Taryn’s children, Beckette and Cohen Jensen. The Rutland community provided a generous donation of blankets, warm coats, gloves, scarves, stocking caps, and bags of men’s and women’s clothing and $285.00 in cash donations. Now the group will box up all the items and deliver them to the Gladys Ray Shelter for Homeless Veterans. It will take a couple trips to transfer all the items so if anyone still wants to donate there is time – just contact Carolyn Christensen.

On Wednesday, October 30, Sargent County Emergency Manager Wendy Willprecht, issued a warning to drivers to be cautious of flooding and other hazards that are plaguing many county and township roads in Sargent County. The unseasonably high rainfall amounts over the summer and this fall have caused many roads to be closed due to flooding. The list of township road closures is on the Rutland website and will be updated when additional information is received. The Sargent County Sheriff’s Department has received notices of vandalism to signs and signs being taken down or stolen which creates a higher risk to unsuspecting drivers. Any unmarked hazardous road conditions should be reported to your township or county officials.

With the Statewide flood emergency, the removal of hay bales on ND highway rights-of-way has been extended until Friday, November 15. Hay bales need to be removed for snow management and safety reasons. Hay bales remaining after November 15, will be removed by the ND Department of Transportation.

The County still needs members for the 2020 Census Committee and is seeking representatives from all seven incorporated cities and from the six unincorporated towns in the County. The timeline for the process includes a meeting on Wednesday, November 6^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Gwinner Community Center for a two hour training session with Erin Musland, U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist. Meetings will be held from January to April 2020 to make decisions on how to educate and contact the public to encourage participation in the census. The final work will finish in May 2020. Contact Deborah Banish, City Auditor, if you are interested in representing Rutland on this Committee.  Anyone – including youth age 18 and up – can help with this important effort.

Upcoming Rutland events: Sunday, November 3, 5:00 p.m. the first session of Zumba will be held in Rutland City Hall sponsored by the RCC (held the first Sunday of each month) – open to all ages and only $1 per person; Monday, November 4, 5 p.m. Rutland City Council meeting; Monday, November 11, 5 p.m., Rutland Community Club will finalize Santa Day activities and start planning for the Pinochle tournament in February 2020; Saturday, December 14, Santa Day sponsored by the Rutland Community Club. Be sure to check the Rutland website for upcoming events.

That’s it from Rutland this week. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and on the Rutland blog. Keep up with events and announcements on the rutlandnd.com website and share your events by sending an email to rutlandnd@drtel.net. Later.