By Bill Anderson
What would the 4th of July be without fireworks? There was quite a display of fireworks from every corner of Rutland commencing about 10:30 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, July 3, but Mother Nature topped off the evening an hour or so later with a Thunder & Lightning sound and light show of her own. She even added half an inch of rain for effect.
The heat and humidity of recent weeks, coupled with plenty of soil moisture and a few timely rains, have had crops in this area literally jumping out of the ground. Despite having been planted only a little over a month ago, local cornfields had all surpassed the traditional “knee high by the 4th of July” indicator of a good crop coming. Well, a lot can happen between now and harvest time, and we don’t want to be counting our chickens before they’re hatched, or our corncobs before they’re picked.
Rutland’s City Election was held back on Tuesday, June 14, in conjunction with the North Dakota State Primary Election. The City had two 4-year terms on the Council up for election, and one 2-year term to fill out, Bert Siemieniewski’s unexpired term. Incumbents Rodney Erickson and Lori McLaen had filed petitions to be put on the ballot for the 4-year terms, and both were elected. No one had filed for the 2-year term, though, and some voters wrote in their choice for the position. The result was a tie, with Kathy Wyum and Bill Anderson each receiving four write-in votes. At the Council’s Reorganization meeting on Tuesday, June 28, the two names were put on slips of paper and placed in a bucket. The Council selected the winner by drawing out one name. Bill Anderson was declared to be the victor as the result of his name being drawn. No claims of election fraud, stolen election or shenanigans at the polling place have been made by either Kathy or Bill, and no riotous crowds have assaulted the Rutland Town Hall as the result of the election’s outcome. Bill had previously served on the Council from 1978 to 1985. He says that he intends to work with Mayor Mahrer; City Auditor Banish; and the other Council members: Rodney Erickson; Delores Lysne; and Lori McLaen; to maintain & improve Rutland’s services and infrastructure. In other business at the Reorganization meeting the Council set the first Monday of each month, with the exception of those months in which the first Monday is a legal holiday, as the Council’s regular meeting date; re-appointed Debbie Banish as City Auditor; re-appointed Mike Basingthwaite of Interstate Engineering as City Engineer; and, reappointed Attorney LeeAnn Even as City Attorney. The next meeting of the Rutland City Council is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 11, at the Rutland City Hall.
Rutland native Harold Young, now a resident of Mesa AZ, arrived in Rutland on the evening of Thursday, June 23, intending to vacation in his old hometown for a couple of weeks. Harold brought Arizona’s heat and North Dakota’s humidity together for a tropical experience. This is Harold’s first visit in Rutland since the Summer of 2019, pre-pandemic. This time, he was here for the interment ceremony for his mother, Gwendolyn (Prindiville) Young, on July 2, and said that he planned to start working his way back to Arizona on July 6.
This community was saddened on Thursday, June 30, when it was learned that Rutland native DelRoy Christianson had departed this life at his home in Aberdeen SD at the age of 53. DelRoy was one of the sons of the late Leroy Christianson of this community and former Rutland resident Rita Preble, now of Forman. The Rutland community extends its sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of DelRoy Christianson.
Steve & DeeAnne (Breker) Paulson of Austin TX have been visiting at the home of DeeAnne’s sister & brother-in-law, Janet & Cliff Kiefer, in Cayuga since the evening of Wednesday, June29. The Paulsons have made their home in Austin TX for the past several decades. DeeAnne, a member of RHS & SCHS Class of ’64, grew up on the Clarence & Adeline Breker family farm in Tewaukon Township, and Steve is a Hankinson ND native. The Paulsons expect to be in the Rutland-Cayuga area until July 10. Prior to their arrival in North Dakota, they had toured the States of the northeast. DeeAnne says that she & Steve have now visited every State except South Carolina, Florida and Hawaii.
Sometimes you just have to adapt, improvise and overcome. That’s what Gwen Young’s family had to do on Saturday, July 2, out at the Rutland Cemetery. The family had arranged for the Roman Catholic priest who serves the Cayuga, Geneseo & Lidgerwood parishes to conduct the graveside service for Gwen that afternoon, but, at the last minute the priest was laid low by an attack of asthma and couldn’t make it. Members of the Rutland American Legion Post were on hand to render military honors to Gwen, a veteran of World War II, and it was decided that Post Commander Larry Christensen could use the reading and prayer for a Catholic burial provided in the American Legion’s Post Officer’s Handbook. Back on Tuesday, June 28, Larry had conducted the Jewish burial service for Noel Liermark, so he knew the drill. A Sergeant and a Spec. 4 from the U. S. Army Reserve unit in Fargo were on hand to fold the American Flag and present it to the family. So, the reading and the prayer were done by Larry, the Flag was presented by the two Army reservists, and the American Legion honor detail fired the 3 volleys and played “Taps,” over the grave. The service was completed with the dignity & respect due to a U. S. veteran who had served her country, her community, and her family loyally and honorably. Members of the American Legion detail included: Post Commander Larry Christensen; Sergeant At Arms Calvin Jacobson; Post Chaplain Ted Lee; Bugler Roger Pearson; Andrew Hoflen; Bill Anderson; Doug Olstad; and, Andy Harris. Adapt, improvise and overcome. Gwen overcame many difficulties during her lifetime, and she would have appreciated how her family and friends handled this one.
Guests at the Bill & Pam Gulleson vacation home at Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, on the afternoon & evening of Sunday, July 3, included: Mike, Christine & Mason Harris of Crete; Mark & Kathy Wyum of Rutland; Lance & Natalie Gulleson and boys of Lisbon; Cody & Hannah Gulleson of rural Havana; Cameron & Jenny Gulleson & girls of Rutland; Jesse Wyum of Minneapolis; Johannes Jacobus “Jean” Cilliers of South Africa, residing in Rutland for the season; Rob & Dana Wyum & family of Rutland; and, Bill Anderson of Rutland. The hospitality that the host & hostess afforded to their guests was greatly appreciated by all.
The Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball team took on the Pirates from Hankinson in a double-header at Lou Sanderson Field on the evening of Tuesday, July 5. The Roosters have been struggling with a home field losing streak, and despite a good effort from the home team that generated 15 runs in Game #1, the Pirates scored 20 to extend the streak. Game #2 proved to be the charm, though, as the roosters came up with 23 runs to capture the contest by a score of 23-19. The Roosters’ next home games are scheduled for 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, when they are scheduled to meet the team from Sheldon at Lou Sanderson Field. Once again, the Rutland Park Board’s Concession Stand crew came through with a winning performance, serving up bratwursts, hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks and other snacks with a professionalism that can’t be beat. So, come on out to the ballpark for the final games of the season on Tuesday, July 19, enjoy some peanuts & Cracker Jacks and root, root, root for the home team.
Launa (Johnson) Peterson of this community is a patient at Sanford Hospital in Fargo this week. Her many friends here wish her a speedy recovery and return to her home and family in Rutland.
Harvey Bergstrom stopped in at the Rutland Seniors’ Center for coffee & conversation on the morning of Wednesday, July 6. Harvey reports that he and Judy had been visiting kids and grandkids in Grand Forks ND and East Grand Forks MN over the 4th of July weekend. He says that daughter Kayla has recently acquired ownership of a hair dressing salon in East Grand Forks, and that daughter Kari is employed by Aleris Financial in Grand Forks. The family is healthy, happy and doing well, says Harvey. He reports that he had .87 of an inch of rain in the gauge at the farm 2 miles south of Cayuga when he and Judy got back home on Tuesday, July 5.
Rick Bosse has been absent from his chair at The Round Table for the past several weeks but was back in town on the morning of Wednesday, July 6. Rick reported that he had been on a mountain motorcycle tour out on the west coast during his absence from Sargent County. He had trailered his cycle from his home at Brampton to a cousin’s home in Portland Or, and then the two of them, along with another couple, had commenced a motorcycle tour of the Oregon Cascades. He said the scenery around Crater Lake is breathtakingly beautiful. According to Rick, the mountain on which Crater Lake is located was once a volcano, 12,000 feet tall, before it blew its top some 7,000 years ago, reducing its height to 7,000 feet. Rick was not around for the eruption, but he says that the scene is quite peaceful now. The lake that now fills the dormant crater is over 2,000 feet deep. Rick said that he doesn’t have another tour planned for this year, at least not yet, but he’s pretty sure that there’s another one coming up some time soon.
Meanwhile, on the national scene, how long will Americans continue to tolerate the epidemic of mass murder and violence afflicting our nation? The latest event was a mass shooting on the morning of Monday, July 4, in the normally peaceful town of Highland Park IL, a suburb of Chicago. An angry, young white male used an assault style rifle with expanded magazine capacity to fire more than 70 rounds into a crowd that was peacefully watching the community’s 4th of July Parade. Seven were shot & killed, 2 dozen were wounded, and several others were injured in the scramble to escape the murderous fire. So far this year there have been more than 300 mass shootings in the United States. A mass shooting is defined as a shooting incident in which 4, or more, are wounded or killed. The common denominator in most of them is the killers’ use of one or more assault style rifles with extra-large magazines. How much longer will the American people and their elected representatives allow these deranged killers, armed with these destructive weapons, to arbitrarily deprive them, their families and their friends of life and liberty in the land of the free and the home of the brave? How much longer will we allow them to terrorize peaceful communities that are going about their normal daily activities, celebrating national holidays and attending other community events? How long, oh Lord? How long?
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.
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