By Bill Anderson

Mother Nature gave Rutland a shot of rain on Wednesday, November 10, that coated streets and sidewalks with a sheet of ice, and then followed up with some big, fluffy snowflakes to create a slushy, mushy, slippery mess. The rainfall measured .25 of an inch of rain according to the electronic gauges at the Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson farm 6½ miles southwest of Rutland and the Mike & Debbie Banish farm 2 miles south of town. According to The Assembled Wise Men, there was about 2 inches of snow from the flurries on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Fierce winds, gusting up to 60 mph, on the night of Thursday, November 11, raised concerns, but everything seemed to be intact when the big blow subsided on Friday. A sunny day on Monday, the 15th, and a temperature in the mid-40’s on Tuesday, the 16th, cleared out most of last week’s ice & snow, making room for the next blast that’s sure to come. A new blast of wind was tearing at the countryside on the morning of Wednesday, November 17, and chuck Anderson said that the anemometer on his electronic weather station indicated gusts up to 37 mph by 9:00 a.m. The wind was out of the west, so, if it doesn’t relocate us to Minnesota, we’ll report further next week.

Rutland native Janelle Brakke reports that she has moved from the South Fargo apartment which has been her home for the past 9 years to a townhouse on 39th Avenue South in Fargo, a few blocks west of 45th Street. According to Janelle, the townhouse complex in which her new home is situated was originally constructed in the 1970’s, but it has been well maintained and was recently thoroughly renovated. The townhouse is considerably larger than her old apartment and, best of all, it has an attached garage. Janelle is an RN, and is employed by Clay County Public Health in Moorhead.

Rodney Erickson reports that harvest activity in the Rutland area wrapped up last week, and that the final loads of corn from the 2021 crop were hauled in to the Rutland Elevator on the evening of Tuesday, November 9, just before the rain started. The best that can be said for the 2021 corn and soybean crops in this area is that neither was as bad as anticipated, and that both were better than expected. As the late Dave Hoflen of this community often observed, “There have been 2 good years in North Dakota, 1914 and next year.” Hope springs eternal, and there’s better times a’comin’!

The American Legion Posts from Rutland and Forman teamed up to provide the Color Guard that presented the National Colors to begin the Sargent Central Elementary School’s Veteran’s Day Program at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, in the Sargent Central Activities Center. The members of the Color Guard were: Roger Pearson; Ted Lee; Andy Harris; and, Roger Lunde. The students, faculty and staff at Sargent Central are to be commended for the talent and enthusiasm displayed as they saluted the contributions of their nation’s military veterans.

Pete & Michelle Denault celebrated their 1 year anniversary as the proprietors of The Lariat Bar in Rutland on Saturday, November 13. The “Anniversary Special” included a 16 oz. rib-eye steak, 12 jumbo butterfly shrimp, baked potato and a salad. Under Pete & Michelle’s management The Lariat has once again been restored to its place at the center of community life. The Rutland community congratulates them and their staff for a job well done, and wishes them continued success in the years to come.

The Rutland Community Club met at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 15, in the Rutland Town Hall. According to Club Treasurer, Hal Nelson, preparations for Santa Claus Day, coming up on Saturday, December 11, were the principal topic of discussion. There will be a spaghetti supper, crafts and BINGO, and Santa’s appearance to award Christmas hams donated by local businesses and to hear Christmas requests from kids of all ages has been confirmed. Club members also reviewed the new Christmas decorations that have been ordered for Main Street. Some of the new decorations have arrived and have already been hung on the light poles, but some are still on the way. All are expected to be on hand by Thanksgiving, ready to be put on display. The Community Christmas Tree and Santa’s Mailbox will be put up on the Rutland Oil Company lot at the corner of First and Arthur Streets. Club members also discussed scheduling some additional community activities, including the possibility of a dance later this winter, according to Community Club President Katie McLaen. The next meeting of the Rutland Community Club is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 13, at the Rutland Town Hall.

Sisters Kathy Wyum and Pam Gulleson of this community, accompanied by Kathy’s son, Jesse Wyum of Minneapolis, flew to New York City on Friday, November 12 and returned on Monday, November 15. Kathy reports that they landed at JFK Airport in NYC and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Times Square. They Toured Times Square; Bryant Park, with its interesting shops; Greenwich Village; the 911 Memorial; and, Cenntral Park. They took a horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park; Took in the Broadway play “A Girl From The North Country” that featured music by Minnesota born folk singer Bob Dylan; saw the movie “Tik, Tik, Boom!” at the quad Theater in Greenwich Village; contemplated “The Hunger Memorial” that honors the Irish immigrants who came to America to escape the famine of the 1840’s & 50’s; toured Rockefeller Center; and, admired Macy’s Department Store which was being decorated for Christmas. They also dined at an Irish Pub in downtown Manhattan, something of which their maternal grandfather, Bill McDermott, a descendant of Irish immigrants, would have approved. Kathy said that they had a wonderful time, thoroughly enjoyed New York City, and found the people of the city that has been called “Baghdad On The Hudson” to be friendly and helpful throughout their stay. They flew back to Minneapolis on Monday, November 15, and arrived back at home in Rutland at 10:30 on Monday night. Pam and Jesse had visited NYC on previous occasions, and Jesse lived there for several months a few years ago, but this was Kathy’s first experience in “the Big Apple,” and she says that she had a great time.

Delores Lysne returned to Rutland on Tuesday, November 16, after spending several days visiting her sisters in Minnesota. She said that she helped one sister celebrate a birthday, and lent a hand to another who is recovering from surgery. Delores is a hard worker, and if she can’t find enough to do in Rutland, she goes to where there’s work that needs doing.

Some upcoming events in Rutland include: Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25; Nordland Lutheran Sunday School Christmas Program on Sunday, December 5, at Nordland Lutheran Church, to be followed by the dedication of the newly renovated kitchen in the Nordland Fellowship Hall, and, a pot-luck dinner to which all are invited; Rutland City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 6, in the Rutland Town Hall; Santa Claus Day, commencing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, in the Rutland Town Hall; and, Rutland Community Club meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 13, in the Rutland Town Hall.

Meanwhile, on the national scene, President Biden’s $1.2 Trillion infrastructure bill has been signed into law, and the President’s $1.9 Trillion “Build Back Better” so-called social infrastructure bill is working its way through the Congress. The money projected to be spent on these projects will be expended over the next 10 years. The total of those 2 bills is $3.1 Trillion, which seems like a lot of money to a country boy from North Dakota. However, compare that amount to the $750 Billion per year military appropriation, totaling $7.5 Trillion over the next decade, and it just doesn’t seem like too much, does it?

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.