By Bill Anderson
Santa Claus is comin’ to town! He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. Jolly Old St. Nick will be making his 76th annual pre-Christmas visit to Rutland on Santa Claus Day, Saturday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m., at the Rutland Town Hall. He will be handing out bags of candy, consulting with kids of all ages about their Christmas wish lists and awarding Christmas hams donated by local businesses to the lucky winners of the annual drawing. Other Santa Claus Day activities will include: crafts & games for the kids; BINGO for all; and, a spaghetti supper. This is your chance to see Santa Claus in the flesh and to have a personal, face-to-face visit with him before he swings through town to make deliveries on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget: Santa Claus Day in Rutland from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, in the Rutland Town Hall.
Winter has definitely arrived, making its presence known with a thermometer reading of 2 degrees below Zero on the morning of Monday, December 6 and a 60-mph wind that battered the area the night before. Less than a week earlier, on Wednesday, December 1, the mercury had topped out at 58 degrees above Zero. Preceding the wind on Sunday, Mother Nature, or maybe it was Old Man Winter, had deposited about 2 inches of snow on Rutland and vicinity in a series of snow flurries that began on the afternoon of Saturday, December 4 and ended on Sunday, December 5. After sidewalks and driveways had been cleared of snow on Monday, another half an inch of the white, powdery stuff was delivered to the community on Tuesday morning, just to show us who’s the boss.
CORRECTION: Last week’s column contained a few errors that need to be corrected. It was reported that, as of Tuesday, November 30, there had been no activity at the Rutland Post Office building. In fact, workers were observed doing some cleanup work around the exterior of the building, and removing materials from the interior on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, November 29, 30 & December 1. No explanation of what is planned for the building has been received, however. Apologies for the error. We’ll try harder in the future.
This community was saddened on Saturday, December 4, when it was learned that Marie J. (Buen) Pearson, a lifelong member of the Rutland and Forman communities, had departed this life. She was a resident of the Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman at her death. She had attained the age of 97 years, 6 months and 17 days at the time of her passing. The funeral service for Marie will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Forman. A complete obituary for Marie was not available at this writing, and there will be more about her life among us next week. Marie was last in Rutland on October 16, when she attended the funeral of an old friend, Lois Nelson. Her mind was clear and sharp to the end. She never forgot her home community and her old friends.
Sunday, December 5, was a big day at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland. First, the Nordland Congregation welcomed 5 new members: Scott Haan; Donetta Hoistad; Curt & Janelle (Hoistad) Hanson; and, Curt & Janelle’s son, Adam; Second, The Nordland Sunday School presented its annual Christmas Program; Third, following the worship service and Christmas Program, the newly renovated & remodeled Fellowship Hall kitchen was dedicated; and, Fourth, following the dedication a pot-luck brunch in the Fellowship Hall was enjoyed by all. The Sunday School Program was titled “The Savior’s Birth, a Nativity Skit,” and was narrated by students Lilith Pavek and Crosby Willprecht. Cast members included: Cohen Jensen; Brooklyn Pherson; Lincoln Mahrer; Henry Pavek; Kyler Pherson; Avery Woytassek; Paislee Pherson; Beckette Jensen; Ruth McLaen; Adlie Woytassek; Max Hamilton; Carl McLaen; Audrey Anderson; Sophie Erickson; Rylee Roney; Landrie Jensen; Henlee Maly; and, Ryland Roney. The Sunday School students and their teachers are to be commended for an excellent presentation.
Mark & Kathy Wyum; Mike & Debbie Banish; Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson; and Roger & Karyn McLaen; returned from a weeklong pre-Christmas vacation trip to Branson MO on the evening of Sunday, December 5. They report that Branson is all decorated for the season, and that they thoroughly enjoyed all of the entertainment available there. Their trip was a tour sponsored by the North Dakota Farmers Union, and the fee included bus transportation, lodging, meals, and admission to the various entertainment venues. Merry Christmas!
It’s back! A message from Sonja (Anderson) Christensen has brought the news that the 26th Annual Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament is once again on the calendar, and will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at the Rutland Town Hall. This would have been the 27th annual tournament but the tournament had to be cancelled this past February due to the covid-19 pandemic. It will be back in 2022, according to Sonja, bigger and better than ever.
Violet Wyum of this community made a trip to the Oakes Hospital on Friday, December 3. On Monday, December 6, it was reported that she is in good spirits and doing well. Violet has been a resident of Four Seasons Villas Assisted Living Center in Forman for the past year. Her many friends and former students in the Rutland community wish her well.
Julia Mahrer, 10-year-old daughter of Kyle & Kaia Mahrer of this community, made a quick trip to Sanford Hospital in Fargo on Tuesday, December 7, after being diagnosed with appendicitis. Hospital beds in Fargo are in short supply right now, due to the number of unvaccinated victims of covid-19, but the folks at Sanford did find a bed for Julia before relieving her of her appendix and sending her home.
The Rutland City Council met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 6, in the Rutland Town Hall, with Mayor Mike Mahrer; Auditor Debbie Banish; and, City Council members Colton Corry; Delores Lysne; and, Lori McLaen; present. Council member Rodney Erickson was absent. Also present was City Public Works Director Scott Haan. The Public Works Director reported that the City’s Bobcat skid-steer loader is once again on schedule for annual replacement through the Bobcat Company’s Municipal Equipment Program. The Bobcat will be replaced with a new one on December 1 of each year. Cost to the City to get back on the program was $1,600. Mr. Haan also suggested that the City obtain a blade or V-plow attachment for the Bobcat for snow removal. Various options were discussed, and the subject will be brought up again at the January meeting. The Council authorized the Mayor to execute documents necessary to close out the City’s Emergency Sewage Lagoon Repair Fund. The $3,513.06 remaining in the fund will be transferred to the City’s General Fund account, and will be paid out to the contractor when, and if, a satisfactory seeding of grass at the work site is completed by the contractor. The Council also approved City Council President Rodney Erickson as a person authorized to sign checks drawn on the City’s accounts. The Council approved a motion designating the first Monday of each month in 2022 as the day for regular meetings of the Rutland City Council, except for the months of July and September, when the meeting day will be the second Monday of the month due to the Independence Day and Labor Day Holidays falling on the first Monday. After reviewing the City’s bills and authorizing payment, the Council adjourned. The next meeting of the Rutland City Council is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3, 2022, in the Rutland City Hall. All meetings of the Rutland City Council are open to the public, and City residents are invited to attend to observe their municipal government in action.
Meanwhile, on the international scene, America’s President Biden and Russia’s President Putin held a video conference call on Tuesday, December 7, in which they bared their teeth, grimaced, growled, rattled sabers and discussed potential conflicts “frankly and seriously,” according to their P.R. folks. Well, at least they didn’t draw & shoot, and the Russian Army is still on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border. Mr. Biden is well advised to keep a close eye on Putin, a man for whom “Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men,” means eternal peace and a quick burial for those who oppose him. He is a pal of our former President, #45, though.
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.
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