By Bill Anderson

Hot! Hot! Hot! Hotter than the Hinges of Hades, with wind to boot. The temperature has been pushing, or pulling, the 100 mark every day since Memorial Day on Monday, May 31. The heat has roused up some thunderstorms with downpours and high winds, in some areas to our north, but nothing in Sargent County, so far. Here, it’s heat and wind, but no downpours. The corn, soybean and wheat crops appear to be tolerating these conditions pretty well as of Tuesday, June 8, but the sustained combination of high temperatures and high wind speeds is not conducive to a good harvest. Well, as the old-timers used to say, “Every day that it doesn’t rain is one day closer to the day that it will.” The rain will come. Will it be enough? Will it be in time? Just relax. Mother Nature will furnish the answers in her own good time, and nothing we can do will change her pace.

A crew from the Indigo Sign Co. of Fargo worked through the drizzly rain on Thursday, May 27, the last significant rain that has visited Rutland, to install the new Stock Growers Bank sign in front of the bank’s Rutland Station. The new sign replaced the Sargent County Bank sign that had been in front of the bank’s station here since it opened on November 1, 1976. The name changed on September 14, 2020, when the Sargent County Bank of Forman, Gwinner, Rutland, Milnor and Lisbon merged with the Stock Growers Bank of Napoleon ND. Signs at all of the Bank’s locations have been in the process of being changed since then. So long, Sargent County Bank, and a hearty “Welcome!” from the Rutland community to the Stock Growers Bank.

Family & friends of Orvis Pearson of Rutland gathered at the farm home of his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Betsy & Tyler Speich of Delamere, on Monday, May 31, to celebrate Orvis’ 96^th birthday with him. Orvis grew up on the family farm east of Rutland and took over the farming operation when his parents, Gottfried & Martha (Anderson) Pearson retired in the early 1950’s. Their son, Randy, took over the farm about 30 years ago, but Orvis & his wife, Alphie, continued to make the farm their home base until moving to Four Seasons Villa in Forman back in 2019. Alphie passed away later that year. Orvis & Alphie’s grandson, Chris Pearson, now makes his home on the farm east of Rutland. Orvis many friends in the Rutland community extend congratulations and best wishes to him on the occasion of his 96^th birthday. May there be many more.

Kurt Breker reports that he and two friends, Al Murack and Nate Lee, made a quick tour through the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota on Thursday & Friday, June 3 & 4, last week. The trio had driven out to Alexander ND and Arnegard ND to pick up some plastic culverts for Kurt and a loader bucket for their friend, Rodney Erickson of Rutland. Kurt said that the Park looked very good after receiving nearly 3 inches of rain during the previous week. The areas that had been burned by the wildfire that swept through it a few weeks ago is now green and growing, according to Kurt. The three musketeers arrived back home in Sargent County on the evening of June 4.

Mark & Kathy Wyum and Mike & Debbie Banish of this community enjoyed a North Dakota Farmers Union tour of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan State from Tuesday, June 1 through Sunday, June 6. The trip included a tour of Mackinaw Island, in the middle of the strait that connects Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. The island is a very beautiful place, Mark & Mike said. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island, except for a fire truck and an ambulance. All of the transportation is horse powered, and they were told that there are about 400 horses on the island. The Rutland folks had boarded the Farmers Union bus at West Fargo on the morning of Tuesday, June 1, and returned home on the evening of Sunday, June 6.

Paul Anderson departed Rutland on Friday, June 4, bound for Seattle WA and a visit with his daughter, Katie, her husband, Josh Elfering, grandson Rhys and his new granddaughter, Arlo, for the first time since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic back in March of 2020. Arlo was born on March 4, 2021, so this was Paul’s first visit with her. Paul returned home on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 8, and reports that grandson Rhys, age 2, has two speeds – full speed ahead, and sleep. Grandpa can keep up with him when he’s in sleep mode.

Old friends here were saddened on Friday, June 4, when word was received that Rutland native Doreen Brown had passed away at Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman. Doreen had attained the age of 72 years, 7 months and 4 days at the time of her death. Doreen K. Carlson was born to Robert & Joyce (Jacobson) Carlson on October 31, 1948 at Britton SD. She grew up on the Carlson family farm east of Rutland, where she assisted her parents with farm chores. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland. Doreen attended elementary school in Rutland, and graduated from Sargent Central High School in 1967. At a time when most North Dakota schools had no athletic programs for girls, Doreen was an outstanding natural athlete. She loved the game of softball, and she could run, throw, hit and field as well, or better, than the best of the boys. When teams were formed for impromptu games during recess, Doreen was usually the first one chosen. One of her friends from school days, Judie Seavert, recalled that when Doreen was up to bat the outfielders backed up against the fence, just in case she didn’t get a solid hit. Usually, though, the ball sailed over the fence and out into Prindiville’s pasture where someone who wasn’t afraid of J. D. Prindiville’s shorthorn cows would have to retrieve it. Doreen kept on playing softball for more than 20 years. She was an All Star player for the Rutland Raiders Women’s Slowpitch Softball team throughout the 1970’s & 80’s. She was inducted into the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame in 2020. On August 23, 1969, Doreen married Jack Brown of Milnor in a ceremony at St. Arnold’s Catholic Church in Milnor. They lived in Milnor for 2 years, and then moved to Rutland where they resided while their children, Angela and Erick, were growing up. Over the years, she worked for International Multi-Foods in Forman, worked at the Bobcat factory in Gwinner for 25 years and worked at Teal’s Market in Gwinner. Among her other interests, Doreen was an avid reader, and she enjoyed the sport of fishing almost as much as she enjoyed playing softball. Doreen is survived by: her husband, Jack Brown of Gwinner; one daughter, Angela Rosenberg of Fargo; a son, Erick Brown of Walcott ND; 4 grandchildren; 3 sisters: RoseMarie Sebens; Karen Christianson; and, Helen Banish; one half-sister, Mary Raines; many nieces and nephews; and, by a host of friends. She was preceded in death by: her parents, Robert & Joyce Carlson; by three brothers: Arthur; Clifford; and, Edwin; by one half-brother, Robert Pires; and, by her beloved dog, Molly. The funeral service for Doreen Brown was at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland with Rev. Julie Johnson officiating. Interment was in the Rutland Cemetery. Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Milnor was in charge of arrangements. The Rutland community extends condolences and sympathy to the family of Doreen Brown. As her niece, Erin, said at the funeral, “Heroes are remembered, but legends never die. Doreen was a legend.”

On Saturday, June 5, word was received here that another old friend, Darlene Huckell, had passed away while a patient at the Oakes Hospital. Darlene had attained the age of 83 years, 6 months and 15 days. A complete obituary for Darlene Huckell was not available as of this writing, and more information about her life in this community will be in next week’s column. The funeral for Darlene Huckell was at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland with Rev. Julie Johnson officiating. Price Funeral Chapel of Britton & Forman was in charge of arrangements. The Rutland community extends condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Darlene Huckell.

The Rutland City Council held its regular June meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 7, in the Rutland Town Hall, with Mayor Mike Mahrer; Auditor Debbie Banish; and, Aldermen Colton Corry; Delores Lysne; and, Lori McLaen; present. Alderman Rodney Erickson was absent. Also present was Rutland resident Bill Anderson. The financial report showed that all funds were in the black. Mayor Mahrer reported that Bucks Paving is scheduled to be in Rutland by the end of the week to mill down the portion of the garage driveway at 210 Gay Street that is currently obstructing drainage on the south side of the street. The property owners will be paying for the work, he said. Mayor Mahrer and Alderman Corry had requested pricing information from Bucks Paving Co. and Bituminous Paving Co. for the patching of several potholes and areas of broken pavement on the city’s streets, but only Bucks Paving had responded. Bucks indicated that they would do the repair & patching work for $3.50 per sq. ft. Mayor Mahrer estimated that the areas requiring repair & patching will cost approximately $23,000.00. The Council approved hiring Bucks Paving to get the work done at $3.50 per sq. ft. The Council also approved a gaming site application submitted by The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club for renewal of the City’s permit for the gaming machines now in The Lariat Bar. Mayor Mahrer also reported that no one has applied for the City’s Public Works position that has been vacant since the death of Ronald Narum back in April of 2020. For now, Jerry Leinen is doing the mowing for the City. Auditor Banish reported that a building permit had been issued to Tony & Lori Nesta for the construction of a 5’X6’ storage shed on their property at 103 Bagley Street. The Council also discussed the need to replace the sidewalk on the east side of Main Street from the Waloch-Johnson Insurance Agency office to the Rutland General Store, but took no action on that matter. After reviewing the City’s bills and authorizing payment, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Rutland City Council is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 12, in the Rutland Town Hall. All meetings of the Rutland City Council are open to the public, and Rutland residents are invited to stop by to observe their City Council in action.

Former Rutland residents Harris & Carol Hoistad were visitors in the old home town on Tuesday & Wednesday, June 8 & 9. The Hoistads, who are now retired and reside at Lake Poncet SD, were in Rutland to attend the funerals of old friends Doreen Brown and Darlene Huckell. Harris said that the area around Lake Poncet is even drier than it is here. Well, no one can deny that Sargent County is the garden spot of the northern plains.

The annual Rutland Community Block Party, an opportunity to get together with neighbors for good food, good company and a good time will be held in the City Park adjacent to the Rutland Town Hall on Thursday, June 10, commencing at about 5:00 p.m. Everyone is invited. There will be burgers, bratwursts & other good stuff, as well as water games for the kids, supervised by members of the Rutland-Cayuga Volunteer Fire Department.

The Annual Wild Rice Antique Tractor and Plowing Association tractorcade is scheduled to begin at Rutland at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 12. According to Mark Wyum, coordinator of this year’s tractorcade, the group will gather on Main Street in Rutland at 8:30 a.m. for rolls & coffee at the Rutland Seniors Center. Starting at 9:30 a.m., they plan to head north to County Highway #1, then west for a few miles, then back south to old Highway #11 east of Forman. They plan to be at Forman in time to join the Forman Car Fest Parade and have lunch. They will then proceed east on old Highway #11 for 3 miles, then south to Silver Lake for a tour of the County Park before heading back to Rutland via Sprague Lake. Congratulations to the Wild Rice Antique Tractor & Plowing Association for keeping their old tractors, in many cases Grandpa’s pride & joy, alive and running. Mark plans to be driving his old Co-op #3, and Joel Susag of Rutland plans to be driving his Allis Chalmers WD-45 tractor. Obed and Sig would be proud of them.

The first Farmers Market of the 2021 season is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, in the City Park adjacent to the Rutland Town Hall, according to Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen. Early garden produce, Rancher’s Rebellion beef and other farm products will be available. The Market is open to everyone.

Uff-Da Day XXXVI in Rutland is coming up on Sunday, October 3. Put another notch in your belt to make room for lefse, rommegrot and scalloped potatoes, and get your Uff-Da Day parade unit ready!

Meanwhile, on the national scene, former President Trump, the deceptive, deluded, demented Donald, made his comeback debut in North Carolina last week with a speech worthy of the late comedian Professor Irwin Corey. He mumbled, he stumbled, and he rattled and roared. He embarrassed himself, the North Carolina Republican Party and his loyal cult followers. The only thing he didn’t do was make sense. Well, a substantial chunk of the GOP thinks that he is still President. That qualifies as delusional, too. Maybe he makes sense to them. The rest of the world is relieved to have the Trump circus out of town.

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 take a look at 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.