By Deborah Banish and Bill Anderson
Paul Anderson departed Rutland on Thursday, October 31, bound for Punkin Center AZ via Fargo ND, Minneapolis MN, Phoenix AZ & Sun City West AZ. Paul visited at the Sun City West home of his mother-in-law, Etha Quinlan, on Friday & Saturday, November 1 & 2, before heading out for Punkin Center and the 45th Annual Arizona Hunt Club Quail Hunt from Sunday, November 3 to Friday, November 8. At the conclusion of the hunt, Paul retraced his steps and arrived back in Rutland on the evening of Saturday, November 9. At Punkin Center a dozen more members of the Arizona Hunt Club joined Paul for some long walks in the sun and some great campfire cooking. Among the North Dakota natives participating in this year’s gathering were: Cavalier ND native Lynn Hartje, now a resident of Punkin Center; Cayuga native Don Isensee, now a resident of Perham MN; Rutland native Bill Anderson, still at Rutland; Stanley ND native Don Hynek, now residing at Ventura CA; Cavalier ND native Rodger Kemp, now a resident of Minneapolis MN and Tucson AZ; and, Elgin ND native Barton Thompson, now a resident of Flagstaff AZ. Over the years other friends have been adopted into the group, and its members now span the continent, from Virginia to California. As many of the members of the group are military veterans, the final evening campfire of the gathering includes appropriate beverages and toasts to the health of the Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines, as well as the singing of the Marine Corps Hymn by all present. All in all, a good time was had by all, and justifiably so.
The Sargent County Complete Count Committee (SCCCC) held its kick-off meeting on Wednesday, November 6, in Gwinner. Nine individuals representing Rutland, Milnor, Havana, Gwinner and DeLamere attended the training session with Erin Musland from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The group discussed why the 2020 census is important for our communities and were informed that $1900 in Federal funding is tied to each person counted in the Census. The Census data is used to determine the distribution of more than $675 billion in Federal funds to tribal, state, and local (county and city) governments. The 2020 Census has only eleven questions covering name, sex, age, date of birth and race of each person in the home and their relationship to a central person in the home. For the first time, households can respond online, by mail or by phone to complete their Census. The big push of publicity and information on the Census will begin in January and possibly more in North Dakota. The Governor has appointed a Statewide Complete Count Census Task Force with a $1 million budget, and they will use some of those funds to hire a professional media vendor to focus on North Dakota. In mid-March Census forms will be mailed to home addresses. For individuals with post office box addresses, Census workers will drop packets off at homes. By the end of April or early May, households that have not submitted responses online/by mail/or by phone, will have a Census taker knock on the door. The SCCCC hopes to get more members and will meet again in January to plan informational meetings and ways to help residents complete their census forms. Census workers are still needed in Sargent County. Individuals with computer access and email address can apply for field jobs by checking out 2020census.gov/jobs.
Joanne Harris and Andy Harris of this community drove to Green Bay WI on Saturday, November 9, to meet up with Joanne’s daughter, Kathy Harris Stout, and her eldest son, Captain Mike Harris USN, and to attend the Green Bay Packers-Carolina Panthers football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 10. Mike currently serves as Captain of the USS Green Bay, and he, as well as many members of the crew of the Green Bay were among those saluted by the National Football League (NFL) on the day before Veterans Day. The USS Green Bay is currently assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet, with its home port at Sasebo, Japan. In addition to the sailors who man the ship, the Green Bay also carries a substantial contingent of U.S. Marines along with their supporting arms including artillery, tanks, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Mike’s ship is capable of projecting American military power anywhere in the world on short notice, and it is often called upon to “show the Flag” in potential trouble spots, just to let the bad guys know that the good guys are keeping an eye on them, and are prepared to take action, if necessary. With his ship in port undergoing resupply and refitting at the present time, Mike and much of the crew had the opportunity to have some leave time at home. Mike and Ms. Joy Page of Tokyo, Japan, accompanied Joanne and Andy to Rutland on Monday, November 11, for a brief visit back in the old home town. Mike assures his former Sargent Central Elementary School teachers that, despite any misgivings they may have had 45 years ago, the USS Green Bay is in good hands. Really, it is. Capt. Harris and Ms. Page departed Rutland on Tuesday, November 12, bound for Sasebo, Japan, via Fargo ND, Dallas TX & Tokyo, Japan. The USS Green Bay will be back at sea in short order, commanded by Capt. Mike Harris and protecting America’s interests in the western Pacific.
The snowbirds have started heading South and the Sargent County residents have already had their first meeting. Curt Larson submitted the following report on the first gathering:
“A small group of Sargent County residents, both past and present, met on Monday, November 11 for the monthly Sargent County Breakfast. We always meet on the 2nd Monday of months November through April. Our gathering took place at the Golden Corral on N. Power Road, Mesa, Arizona. Present were the following: Charles Anderson, Forman; Patty Boehm, Forman; Curt and Renee Larson, Forman; and Donna (Wohler) Rolfe, Mesa. We anticipate a number of other winter visitors are ready to head south; so December’s meeting (December 9) should have many more attendees. There a number of past winter visitors who will not be going south this season. Among them are: Orvis Pearson, George & Elaine Marquette and Kenny & Faye Waloch. We will be missing their smiling faces and hope that a few new faces will appear. Our numbers are dwindling and so I am recruiting for new attendees. I have email addresses for many of you; however, if you don’t get an email reminder…I may not have an address for you. You can submit your email addresses or phone number to me at: clars@drtel.net and I will add you to the list. That’s all for this report; keep smiling…people will wonder what you’re up to. Curt Larson”
Thanks Curt. We look forward to getting your updates!
Monday, November 11th, Rutland American Legion Bergeman-Evenson Post #215 held its annual flag retirement ceremony near the Legion building on Gay Street. Six Legionnaires attended to assist in the ceremony along with a few hearty bystanders. Despite the cold and somewhat windy weather, the Legion accomplished the task at hand and many more flags than in the past were retired this year.
On Monday evening, the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary hosted the annual Veteran’s Day Supper that was held at the Nordland Lutheran Church. About a dozen Veterans and some family members attended the supper. Those present complimented the talented cooks who prepared and served homemade soup, sandwiches, bars and beverages. The warm soup helped take the chill off from the day.
The Rutland Community Club met on Tuesday, November 12, at the Rutland Hall. The first event is Santa Day on Saturday, December 14, starting at 5p.m. Santa is expected to arrive at 5:30 p.m. There will be kid crafts, bingo and a free-will taco bar along with the ham raffle. The event will conclude around 7p.m. The tree, donated by Joe Breker, will be erected before Santa arrives. The first Zumba session held November 3 was a success and people are begging for more. Kari Breker has agreed to offer Zumba twice a month starting in December, on the 1st and 3rd Sunday, for one-hour. The cost will be $2/person. Members discussed the RCC event calendar noting upcoming events include: Pinochle Tournament February 1; Fun Night in March; Easter Egg Hunt April 11; Memorial Day in May; and the Block Party in June. The next meeting will be held December 9 at the Hall.
That’s it for Rutland this week. Stay safe and stay warm. Be sure to watch for updates and information on the Rutland Facebook page and get City-related updates and information on the Rutland website at www.rutlandnd.com. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
rutlandramblings 