By Bill Anderson

The first weekend in November may have been the last weekend of “Indian Summer” for the year of 2021. Friday through Sunday had temperatures in the 60’s, topping out at 67 degrees (that’s above Zero) on Saturday, November 6. Monday and Tuesday, November 8 & 9, were both bright, sunny days with the mercury hitting the mid-50’s, but the TV weather experts are assuring us that the pleasant conditions will end by Wednesday, November 10. Those dreaded 4 letter words, rain, cold, wind and snow are in the forecast for the days ahead. Farmers with crops still in the field have been running their combines and trucks day and night, trying to reach the end of the harvest before Mother Nature puts an end to it for them. Well, it’s not as if we didn’t know it was coming, and it won’t be the first time, nor the last, that mud and snow have made life difficult for local farmers. Still, it’s always preferable to have the harvest all wrapped up before Old Man Winter arrives, rather than to have him riding in the combine cab with you.

The 2021 North Dakota rifle season for Whitetail deer opened at Noon on Friday, November 5, but local hunters are not reporting much success, so far. The weather has been too nice, and neither the deer nor the hunters have been in the mood for the chase. The situation is expected to improve this coming weekend, though, as more seasonal conditions move into the region.

There has been one report of deer hunter success so far this week. Jim Huckell, who has been successfully hunting deer in the coulees of the Coteau des Prairies Hills south of Rutland since the days of John C. Fremont and Joseph Nicollette, well, maybe not quite that long, bagged a good sized 4 X 5 buck just before sunset on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 9. Jim has farmed and ranched in the hills since his childhood days, and knows every draw and coulee like the back of his hand. When you know the land you’re hunting on; the habits of the animal you’re hunting; and, the characteristics of the weapon you’re hunting with; you’re halfway to deer sausage on the grill.

Paul Anderson of this community has been doing some detective work concerning the Rutland Post Office, which has been missing in action since Thursday, September 30.  Here is Paul’s report of information gathered as of Monday, November 8: “I contacted Janene in Rep Armstrong’s office in Washington DC, and told her of our situation. She is sending the information to the Congressman’s consumer services group, and she said that they would call me back. This is the best info I’ve gotten from the Congressional delegation, so far. I Left voicemail messages for North Dakota’s 2 Senators last Saturday but haven’t heard back from either.  I encourage calls from Rutland Post Office patrons to all 3 of these gentlemen. The phone numbers are: Sen. John Hoeven, Fargo office, 701-239-5389; Sen. Kevin Cramer, Fargo office, 701-232-5094; and, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, Bismarck office, 701-751-1345. Friends and relatives should be asked to do the same. I also made a call to: Dr. John W. Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Enterprises Central, LLC, PO box 1706, Williston ND 58801; Phone # 701 770 3232. He stated that he had just received the report on the building issues from USPS last week. A different source had indicated that Dr. Hamilton had received the notice on Wednesday, October 20. He said that the issues dealt with something that appeared to be: mold in a corner; an issue with the floor sagging in one corner; and, a leaky roof. He said that there will be a team in Rutland next week to look over the situation, and possibly start repairs. He said that the USPS would then have to do another review. I explained to him that I was representing myself, and that I am neither a city council member nor an officer in any other organization.  I explained that the people of our community are very inconvenienced by this situation. I told him that we would like to have more local control over the post office building. In that regard I asked if he would consider selling the lease with the building. He said he would consider it. I told him I would pass this information on to the Rutland Community Development Corporation. We should be considering some options. Hamilton Enterprises Central, LLC, is the owner of the Rutland Post Office building. The LLC owns 70 post office buildings in 4 states. He said that he has good contacts within the USPS that can give him answers, and he indicated that they are good to work with. If he were to sell the Rutland operation, he said he would include the contact info. He said that, from his experience in these situations, if they close down his building they will not open another one in Rutland. I believe we have heard a different story through the USPS. He says he believes these issues are a result of some post master that has a friend or family member who wants to get the post office lease.  (There is no Post Master at Rutland, and, as it is nearly impossible to contact anyone in authority in the U.S. Postal Service, there is no evidence of anyone maneuvering for the lease, at least not yet.) At least we now know that there should be some movement next week. Paul Anderson” Thanks to Paul for ferreting out this information, and for making this report to the community.

The meeting of the Rutland Community Club that was scheduled for Monday, November 8, has been rescheduled to Monday, November 15, according to Community Club President Katie McLaen. The meeting is slated to be held in the Rutland Town Hall.

Four children in Rutland, three of them elementary school students at Sargent Central, have tested positive for the covid-19 virus in the past 10 days. All have been quarantined at home until they have a negative test for the very infectious, very dangerous, virus. According to Sargent County Health District Administrator Brenda Peterson, the three school districts in the County: Sargent Central; North Sargent; and, Milnor; have all been good to work within their efforts to halt the spread of the virus. As of this week, the Sargent County Public Health District has covid-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 thru 11 available at the District’s office in Forman. To obtain more information about covid-19 vaccines, or to set up an appointment for a vaccination or a booster shot, call: Sargent County Public Health at 724-3725; Forman Drug at 724-6222; or, Sanford Clinic at 742-3267.

Rutland native David Susag, now a resident of Fargo, was visiting in the old home town on Tuesday, November 9. David was accompanied by his son, Mark Susag, also of Fargo. The two were visiting with David’s brother, Joel Susag, and also getting in some whitetail deer hunting. While David joined Joel for dinner at the Rutland Seniors Center, Mark was out scouting the countryside, looking for a susceptible buck. According to David, Mark is more serious about the deer hunt than is his Dad.

Vernon Leist has been taking advantage of the recent spell of nice weather to make some improvements to his residence on the SE corner of Anthony & Bagley Streets in Rutland.  Vern says that he has been installing new vinyl siding on the exterior of his home. The new siding is white with dark red trim, and really brightens up that corner of town. Vern has been doing the work himself, with some assistance from the neighbors, and has the west side and the porch area on the east side completed, so far. He said that the new siding was obtained from his friend and former neighbor, Jerry Leinen. Vern’s home was moved to its current location by the late Salina Arneson back in 1988. Vern purchased the property from Salina in 2003. Congratulations to Vern on the improvements he is making to his residential property in Rutland.

Meanwhile, on the national scene, Democrats got the message that the voters delivered in elections in Virginia and New Jersey back on Tuesday, November 2. The message – get something done or you, too, can be replaced. The House of Representatives got into gear and, by a vote of 228 to 200, finally passed the President’s infrastructure bill on Friday, November 5, and sent it to the White House for signature. The bill had been approved by a 69 to 31 vote in the Senate last summer. The next fight will be to get the President’s “Build Back Better” plan approved by both houses of the Congress. The Democrats agree that it will pass, but they’re not yet sure what’s going to be in it. The Republicans agree that they are against it, no matter what’s in it. Well, at least both Parties are agreeing on something, even if it is just to disagree. On the County scene, Sargent County residents were disappointed last week to learn that longtime County Commissioner Jerry Waswick is resigning from the County Commission at the end of the year. He will be leaving Gwinner to take advantage of an opportunity in Minnesota. Commissioner Waswick first served on the Commission from 2004 to 2016. He took two years off, and then ran for office again in 2018. His current term expires in December of 2022. Commissioner Waswick has proven to be very capable, and always acted with the best interests of the County as a whole in mind. His dedication to duty, and his experience on the Commission, will be missed. His many friends in Sargent County wish him well in his new endeavors.

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. 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.