The Sun always shines on Rutland, even when it’s raining, or snowing, too. The weather gods gave up on hard-core winter weather this past week. From Monday, February 15, to Monday, February 22, the mercury climbed more than 70 degrees. The high on the 22^nd was still only 47 degrees above, but it felt nearly tropical after the below zero siege of the previous week. The thermometer reading had slid below the freezing mark on Tuesday, January 19, with the below zero stuff clobbering us from Feb. 9^th to the 16^th, and didn’t get back above freezing until Saturday, February 20. It wasn’t a record, but it was beginning to feel like one. The nice thing about winter is that, like hitting your thumb with a hammer, it feels so good when it stops. Don’t worry, though, it’s not over, yet. Like the 45^th President of the United States, until it’s melted down into a puddle in the middle of the street, it’ll be back!

The recent spell of very cold weather thickened the ice on local bodies of water, allowing more anglers to get out on the ice to go fishing. Mark Breker of this community reports that he has been fishing recently, and has caught some fish, but, in adherence to the Fisherman’s Code, he is unable to reveal when he was fishing, where he was fishing and what kind of fish he has been catching. If you want to find out, watch for Mark’s Snowbear out on the ice somewhere within 20 miles of Rutland.

Meanwhile, in the Lone Star State, where everything is bigger than life, including winter storms, excuses, lies and cringing politicians, it took a small group of North Dakotans to give Texans an example of how to behave in a disaster. Once the power, heat and water had been restored to the winter home of Rutland native Judie Seavert and her husband, Steve Grohs, they reached out to others who were not so fortunate and provided a warm respite from the ice, snow and cold, complete with Judie’s home cooking, to other Sargent County folks, including: Mike & Cheryl Zirnhelt; Harris & Carol Hoistad; and Bill & Denise Huckell. While the Governor of Texas tried to blame others for his failure to prepare his State’s power grid for the disaster, and one of Texas’ U. S. Senators tried to blame his 2 little daughters for his cowardly decision to skedaddle to Mexico when the lights went out in Texas, North Dakotans in Texas did what North Dakotans do, and shared the comfort of their home, the warmth of their friendship and the products of their kitchen with those who were temporarily not so fortunate. Texas may be bigger and better in a lot of ways, but, when it comes to character, compassion and cookin’, North Dakotans take the prize, hands down. Thanks to Judie & Steve, Mike& Cheryl, Harris & Carol and Bill & Denise for being North Dakota’s ambassadors in Texas.

Paul Anderson & Carol Fridgen received their 2^nd covid-19 vaccination shot last week and headed off from Rutland to Arizona on the morning of Saturday, February 20, via Kearny NE and Albuquerque NM. Arriving at Sun City West AZ at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 22. They are planning to return to the Northland when Spring arrives here, or Summer arrives there, whichever occurs first.

Dr. Jerry Waswick of Gwinner stopped in Rutland on Tuesday, February 23, and enjoyed the Noon Special at The Lariat with an old friend, Bill Anderson. Jerry and Bill became friends while serving on the Sargent County Commission together for 14 years.

Peter & Michelle Denault have recently expanded the menu at The Lariat Bar with daily specials. According to Ms. Alex Sisson, an employee at The Lariat, a 1/3-pound hamburger with fries for $4.95 is the Noon special for Mondays, and a smoked turkey sandwich with lettuce & onion plus fries is Tuesday’s Noon special. The Wednesday evening special is “Chef’s Choice; Thursday evening is “Steak Night; Friday evening is “Walleye Night”; and Prime Rib is the special for Saturday evening. The food is great, the drinks outstanding and the hospitality superb. Stop in at The Lariat Bar in Rutland to greet old friends and meet new ones.

Meanwhile, the North Dakota State Legislature is in session at the Capitol in Bismarck, and, as some ancient sage once observed: “No man’s life or property is safe while the Legislature is in session.” The 2021 session is likely to go down in North Dakota history as “The Looney Tunes” session. Legislation has been introduced to solve problems that do not exist; to spend money we don’t have; to rescind ratifications of U. S. Constitutional Amendments that never made it into the Constitution; and, to increase benefits for State Legislators while denying healthcare coverage to low-income families. One State Senator has even launched a full-blown frontal assault on Daylight Savings Time, a phenomenon he considers to be dangerous to the people of North Dakota. At one time in the not-too-distant past, the 26^th District’s State Senator and Representatives could have been described as “The Three Wise Men.” In 2021 “The Three Stooges” is the most applicable moniker. Well, this, too, shall pass, but not soon enough.

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 www.rutlandnd.com, and stop by the Rutland Facebook page while you’re at it, too. Remember to patronize your local Post Office, and don’t forget to keep the pressure on the U. S. Postal Service and the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE! Later.