By Bill Anderson

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, opened with a thermometer reading of +4 degrees F., and has turned out to be the coldest day of Autumn 2021, so far. The remainder of November, and the first few days of December have reached highs ranging from the upper 30’s to the mid-50’s. Not too bad for the month before Christmas. A return to more seasonal temperatures is forecast for this weekend, though, with even some snow included in the prediction. What a surprise! Snow in North Dakota in December. Will wonders never end?

Ted Lee reports that some consistent cold would be welcomed down on “the flat” south of Rutland, near the Lee farm in Tewaukon Township, where wet field conditions have prevented the harvest of several cornfields. Despite last summer’s drought, the rains of September & October turned the fields to mud, making them impassable for combines and impossible to harvest. Once the ground freezes, if it does, the task can be completed with relative ease. A covering of snow, which would insulate the ground and prevent its freezing, is not a possibility which the affected farmers prefer to contemplate.

Some local folks have been on the move this week. Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson; Mike & Debbie Banish; Mark & Kathy Wyum; and Roger & Caryn McLaen boarded the Farmers Union bus for a trip to Branson MO on Monday morning, November 29; and Joe & Patty Breker were seeing the sights in New York City during the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Brekers took in an NFL football game on Sunday, November 28, the Philadelphia Eagles v. the New York Giants, but, as they are Eagles fans and don’t like to see their team lose, the final score of Sunday’s game will not be reported here. Joe noted that it is ironic that the 2 NFL football teams claiming New York City as their home, the Giants and the Jets, both play their home games at a stadium located in New Jersey. Something to think about.

Betsy Anderson drove to Rutland from her home in Lincoln NE on Wednesday, November 24, to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday at the home of her father, Paul Anderson. This was Betsy’s first visit in Rutland since November of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. On Thanksgiving Day, Betsy prepared dinner in Paul’s kitchen for herself, her dad and her uncle, Bill Anderson. Betsy is currently employed as a history professor and a student counselor at a community college in Beatrice NE, near Lincoln. She departed Rutland, bound for her home in Lincoln, on Saturday, November 27.

Rutland native Matt Cramton was a hometown Thanksgiving holiday guest at the home of his mother, Renee Cramton. Matt, his wife, Nicole, 3-year-old daughter, Luella, and 1 year old son, Martin, now make their home in the City of Ramsey MN, near the Twin Cities, and Matt is employed in the Maintenance Department of the neighboring community of Andover MN. During his stay in Rutland, Matt got together with a boyhood friend, Bryce Carlson, for some pheasant hunting in the local area. They reported seeing plenty of hens, but not many roosters.

Rutland’s new maintenance superintendent, Scott Haan headed for the Twin Cities on Wednesday, November 24, to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The grandchildren are ages 10, 7, 4 and 2, so there was plenty of action, Scott reports. 

Christmas elves were at work on Monday, November 29, putting up Christmas decorations on Rutland’s Main Street. The elves were working under the direction of Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen. They installed a 7’ Christmas tree and a 4’ Christmas tree on the SW corner of First & Arthur Streets, near the Ray Siemieniewski Memorial Bench. Snowflake decorations on the streetlight poles on Main Street had been installed several days earlier. The lights and decorations will assist Santa and his reindeer powered sleigh make their pre-Christmas landing in Rutland for Santa Claus Day on Saturday, December 11.

Rutland’s Post Office remains closed, but the situation is beginning to get some attention from the North Dakota Congressional delegation. Last week, Paul Anderson reported that he had been contacted by Rep. Kelly Armstrong’s office, and this week Dawn Mahrer reports that she has received a message from Sen. John Hoeven’s office on Monday, November 29. According to a message from Ms. Shari L. Buck, Western Regional Director for Sen. Hoeven, she has been in contact with the District Management of the U. S. Postal Service and has been informed that the owner of the building in which the Rutland Post Office is situated was informed on October 20 that he had 30 days to begin making a good faith effort to remedy the building’s problems. The USPS is pushing to get the work done, but currently there is no definite timeline for completion of the work, according to Ms. Buck. Ms. Buck indicated that she would be in contact with Dawn when the Post Office is closer to reopening. Thanks to Dawn for her effort to bring the matter to Sen. Hoeven’s attention, and thanks to the office staff of Sen. Hoven and Rep. Armstrong for looking into the situation. Two men, one of them believed to be a handyman employed by the owner of the building, were observed checking out the building on Tuesday, November 23, but there has been no activity at the site, as of the afternoon of Tuesday, November 30. What the Postal Service considers to be a “good faith effort” has not been made clear as of the end of November. Rutland Post Office Patrons are urged to make phone calls and write letters to request assistance in getting Post Office services restored in Rutland from the State’s Congressional delegation.

Upcoming events in Rutland include: Nordland Lutheran Church Sunday School Christmas Program during the worship service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 5, in the Church Sanctuary, followed by Dedication of the newly remodeled Fellowship Hall Kitchen and a pot-luck dinner at the Nordland Fellowship Hall; Rutland City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 6, at the Rutland Town Hall; Christmas Caroling from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, commencing at Nordland Lutheran Church; 76th Annual Santa Claus Day activities, with a visit from Santa, games, BINGO, spaghetti supper and drawings for Christmas hams from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, at the Rutland Town Hall; and, Rutland Community Club meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 13, at the Rutland Town Hall.

Meanwhile, on the national scene: the omicron variant of the corona virus has panicked Wall Street and big biz; Q-Anon crazies and religious bigots have Republicans in a tiz; and, the President’s “Build Back Better” plan has the Democrats screaming “Gee Whiz!” It’s sometimes hard to believe, but Peace On Earth, Good Will To All is what our purpose is. Merry Christmas!

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.