By Bill Anderson

The Equinox has come and went; Back to Ireland has St. Pat been sent; But no one’s complaining that it’s been a bummer; Cause we’re on the downhill slide from here to Summer! Spring arrived on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21, the first full day of Spring 2021, was full of sunshine, bereft of wind and perfect for sitting on the porch to survey the neighborhood. Still no rain, but, as the old timers used to say, “Every day that it doesn’t rain is one day closer to the day that it will.” Can’t argue with those old timers. Those modern-day old timers, the Assembled Wise Men at the Round Table, were once asked how it was that they seldom made mistakes. “Experience!” they replied. Then the question was asked, “How did you obtain experience?” “By making mistakes,” was the response. So it goes, from one generation of old timers to the next.

Norbert & Beverly Kulzer, Bill Anderson and Andy Harris joined Joanne Harris of this community for a St. Patrick’s Day supper on the evening of Wednesday, March 17. The main course was the traditional Irish meal of corned beef, cabbage and boiled potatoes. At the conclusion of the evening the hostess and guests drank a toast to the memory of the late John Harris, a descendant of Irish immigrants who took great pride in his Irish heritage. The Irish invented Guinness and Jamiesons, both of them being outstanding gifts to humanity.

Dale & Lisa McLaen of this community were back in the old hometown from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21. Dale has been in the Twin Cities for the past several weeks, consulting with medical personnel at Hennepin County Medical Center. He reports that teams of doctors, sometimes as many as 6 at a time, have been examining, double-checking, discussing and diagnosing his condition for a couple of weeks, and that surgery is now planned for Thursday, March 25. Follow up treatment will be decided upon after that. As of Sunday, March 21, with the sun shining and Spring in the air, Dale said that he is feeling positive, and is ready for the surgery to be done. His many friends here wish him a speedy recovery and return home.

Kyla Temple of this community, Chairperson of the 26^th District Democratic-NPL Party, has announced that 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon of Sunday, March 28, has been selected as the date and time for the District’s reorganization meeting. The meeting will be virtual, via ZOOM, so those participating can do so from their own homes, according to District Vice-Chairperson Cameron Gulleson. 

Rutland City Auditor Deb Banish reports that the City’s Annual Board of Equalization meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 5, at the Rutland Town Hall. The members of the City Council will convene as the Board of Equalization to consider questions and complaints about the valuation of property situated within the City. The regular monthly meeting of the City Council will follow the Board of Equalization meeting.

As of Monday, March 22, 43.4% of Sargent County residents had been vaccinated against the covid-19 virus, according to statistics from the North Dakota State Health Department. All Sargent County residents over the age of 18 are now eligible to obtain their covid-19 vaccinations and may call the Sargent County District Health Department at 724-3725, the Forman Drug at 724-6222 or Sanford Clinic at 742-3267 to get on the list to obtain their vaccination as vaccines become available. In the meantime, wear a mask, wash & sanitize your hands frequently and maintain social distance. We are close to winning this fight, but covid-19 can still deliver a knockout punch if we let down our guard. Just keep on exercising common sense and common courtesy for the common good to come out on top.

Monday, March 29, is Vietnam Veterans Day. It commemorates the day, back in 1965, when American ground combat forces were first committed to the war in Vietnam. At the height of U. S. involvement in the conflict, more than 500,000 American military personnel were on the ground in Vietnam. Those who served in Vietnam had no part in planning or strategy, but they were tasked with fighting a war that had no clear objectives or definition of victory. On their return home, they were surprised to find that half of the country hated them for fighting the war, and the other half hated them for not winning it. They never lost a battle, and they did their duty to their country, but that was not enough. Those who committed them to war said that they were “Fighting for peace,” and those who gave up and lost the war said that they wanted to “Support the troops.” They got off scot free, and America’s warriors paid the price on the battlefield. American veterans of the war in Vietnam are now in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and are gradually fading from the scene. Largely through their efforts, veterans of subsequent military operations have received better treatment from their countrymen than those who served in Vietnam received back when they were young men, in the 60’s and 70’s. Monday, March 29, Vietnam Veterans Day, is an opportunity for Americans to contemplate the costs of war, and to appreciate those whose service paid the bill. 

Meanwhile, on the national scene, two mass murders in less than a week are still not enough to get the U.S. Congress, particularly the Senate, to examine the causes of gun violence in America, and to take steps to address the slaughter. Even the timid bill recently approved by a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill that would toughen background checks for gun purchasers, has no chance in the U.S. Senate. How long are the American people going to put up with this nonsense? Do we have to accept the contention of the NRA that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was intended to be a license for every kook with a firearm to go on a killing spree whenever they feel the urge? Back in 1791, when the Second Amendment was ratified, firearms were single shot, flint lock, muzzle loading weapons, expensive to acquire, cumbersome to use and neither reliable nor accurate. A far cry from the military style assault weapons favored by today’s mass killers. This is the nation that won the Second World War, put men on the Moon and invented computers. Surely we can figure out how to keep our families and friends from being gunned down in schools, movie theaters and grocery stores. It’s time, it’s past time, to get serious about violence in general, and gun violence in particular, in this great country. We, the American people, can get the job done if we quit spouting the slogans and the preconceived conclusions, investigate the problem, determine the facts and work out a solution. It can be done, if we are finally tired of all the shooting and all the killing.

Well, That’s the news from the little city that can for this week. For additional information about what’s going on in Rutland check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and check out the Rutland 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.