By Bill Anderson

The only people who get hurt on a roller coaster are those who try to get off while the ride is still in motion. Well, there’s no getting off the 2021 weather roller coaster, and it’s still in motion. From an extremely windy high of 76 above on Monday, March 29, to an extremely windy low of 20 degrees on the morning of Tuesday, March 30, Mother Nature showed that she is quite capable of changing her mind without notice. Monday’s wind was from the south, moving soil from worked fields, and even from some no-till fields, to Canada, and Tuesday’s wind was from the north, bringing an equal amount of dirt back with it. The soil in motion never gets put back where it came from, though, and ends up clogging road ditches, culverts, and air filters. The extremely dry and windy conditions of Spring, 2021, are reminiscent of the Spring of 1988. Fortunately, history does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. The weatherman is predicting a steady warm up beginning on Thursday, April 1, and we’re hoping that he’s not foolin’, cause he’s predicting sunny and mid-70’s for Easter Sunday. Bring it on!

Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson hitched their 5^th wheel travel trailer to their pickup on Monday, March 22, and headed southwest, bound for Sedona, Arizona, and a sight-seeing tour of the Grand Canyon. On the morning of Wednesday, March 24, Chuck called a friend, Mark Wyum, to report that they were snowed in at a campground in the mountains of New Mexico. Chuck reported that at least 6 inches of snow had fallen, and it was still coming down.  A later call to friends here carried the information that the New Mexico Highway Department had opened the roads, enabling the Andersons to resume their journey. Last year, Chuck retired from the North Dakota Highway Department after 24 years, including many hours in a snowplow, and it is assumed that New Mexico’s promptness in getting the road opened for Chuck & Mary Beth was an example of professional courtesy between Knights of the Road.

Dale McLaen of this community has been hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center in the Twin Cities for the past week. Dale underwent surgery last Thursday, March 25, and reports are that he came through the procedure quite well. It is expected that he will be recuperating in St. Paul, under the supervision of his wife, Lisa, for the foreseeable future. Cards & letters may be sent to Dale at the following address: Mr. Dale McLaen, 720 Arlington Avenue West, St. Paul MN 55117. His many friends here wish him a speedy recovery and return to his usual good health.

Palm Sunday worship service at Nordland Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 28, included First Communion for the congregation’s 5^th Grade students. Those receiving First Communion were: Hadley Bladow; Maddie Erickson; Kylee Jochim; Brody Mahrer; and Lucy Mahrer. The Rutland community extends congratulations to these new communicants, and to the Nordland congregation for furthering the spiritual education of these young people.

Easter Sunday worship at Nordland is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 4, with Pastor Julie Johnson officiating. Due to covid-19 and the fact that the Nordland Fellowship Hall kitchen remodeling project is not yet completed, there will not be an Easter Breakfast or Brunch served in the Fellowship Hall again this year. The plan is that the traditional Easter Breakfast will be back in 2022.

Norbert & Beverly Kulzer drove to Sioux Falls SD on Saturday, March 27, to attend a 25^th birthday party for one of their grandsons, Noah Kulzer, the #2 son of their son & daughter-in-law, Stan & Karen Kulzer of Wichita KS. Noah is employed by Tailgaters, a popular restaurant in Sioux Falls. Stan & Karen’s youngest son, Jonas Kulzer, is a student at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and is planning to graduate this Spring. Their oldest son, Nick, is employed by a beverage distributor in Des Moines IA. The Kulzers returned to their home in Rutland on the evening of Sunday, March 28. Norbert & Bev are planning to be back in Sioux Falls on the weekend of April 3 & 4 to spend the Easter holiday with their son & daughter-in-law, Stephen & Ann Kulzer, and their 3 children: Lauren, now an RN in Kansas City MO; Brooke, a student at SDSU in Brookings SD; and Will, a student at SDSU in Brookings SD.

Rutland City Auditor Debbie Banish has reminded owners of property within the City that the annual Board Of Equalization meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 5, in the Rutland Town Hall. The Board Of Equalization meeting will be followed by the regular monthly meeting of the Rutland City Council.

Reports from across the country, and around the world, indicate that the covid-19 pandemic is still far from over. Many European countries, as well as a number of more populous States in this country, are reporting upswings in both the covid-19 infection rate and in the covid-19 mortality rate. Covid-19 is also wreaking its havoc in less wealthy nations of the world, the so-called “Third World” nations, too. A friend of Rutland’s from Chimbote, Peru, Mr. Wildur Benites, sent a text message to his friend and former employer, Joe Breker of this community, on Monday, March 29, reporting on what covid-19 has done to his family. Mr. Benites was a summer employee on the Joe & Patty Breker farm south of Rutland for several years prior to 2019, and he made many acquaintances throughout the Rutland community during that time. Wildur told Joe that he had been diagnosed with covid-19 back in July of 2020, and that he had recuperated from that ordeal. Recently, though, the more contagious Brazilian mutation of the virus has been sweeping through Peru, reinfecting many who had already been ill with covid-19 and thought themselves to be immune. Wildur was one of those reinfected, as was his wife, Roxanna, and the couple’s 6-year-old son, Albero. In his message to Joe, Wildur reported that his wife, Roxanna, had passed away as a result of covid-19 last week, and that her funeral was on Monday, March 29. She was 40 years old. Wildur & Roxanna also have an 18-year-old daughter who has, so far, been spared by the virus.  The vast majority of the Peruvian people are extremely poor, economically, by American standards. They live their lives in a state of poverty that would be difficult for even the most economically deprived American to imagine. Medical care, other than home remedies, is non-existent for the average Peruvian. Professional healthcare, where it exists, is available only to the wealthiest Peruvians. So far, only 1% of Peruvians have been vaccinated against covid-19, and most Peruvians are unlikely to ever have the opportunity to obtain a vaccination. The next time you hear one of our fellow Americans whining like a spoiled child about mask regulations, hand sanitizing, social distancing or being urged to get vaccinated, say a prayer for our friend Wildur, his family and hometown of Chimbote. There, but for the grace of God, or the luck of the draw, are we.

Meanwhile, on the national scene, the President of the United States showed up at his Thursday, March 25, Press Conference armed with a 3-ring binder filled with notes and data about issues of concern to the gathered reporters. Throughout the session, the President referred to his notes often as he presented clear, concise & informative answers to the questions posed by the press. No name calling; no insults; no chaos; no controversy; no drama; and no lies. The consensus of the assembled reporters was that the Presidential Press Conference was boring. That’s right, boring! What a relief.

Well, 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. 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.