By Bill Anderson

The days are warm, the nights are cool, the lawns are getting brown, but the leaves have not yet begun to fall. It’s September, the most pleasant month of the year. Other States are flooding out or burning up, but up on the northern plains, out here on the prairie, residents are enjoying their reward for surviving December, January, February, and March. This little bit of Heaven called September doesn’t last very long, although it can occasionally stretch out and wrap itself around a substantial chunk of October, too, but it sure is nice while it’s here. Every silver lining has its cloud, though. Our old friend, the late Clayton McLaen, used to remind us that, “North Dakota has only two seasons: Winter; and getting ready for Winter.” It’s a sobering thought. Brace yourself, it’s coming. But, could we enjoy September half as much had we not experienced January?

Harvey Bergstrom, Mike Banish, Rick Banish, and Chuck Anderson took advantage of the pleasant weather for a trip up to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion at Rollag MN, on Friday, September 2, the first day of the 4-day event. Rumley Oil-Pull tractors were featured at the event this year. “Kerosene Annie,” the oldest Rumley tractor in existence, built during the first decade of the 20^th Century, was the star of the show.  She is normally on exhibit in a glass case out in Idaho, but this year she broke loose and came out to Rollag to display her power and do some of the work she was built to handle more than a century ago. The four local men report a very good time observing steam power, horsepower and oil power in action.

The whitetail deer archery hunting season opened on Saturday, September 3, and two expert hunters in the hills of Tewaukon Township, Jim Huckell and his son, Bill, wasted no time in filling their tags. By sundown on opening day, they had each bagged a big buck, with its antlers still in velvet, and were getting ready to enjoy some venison.

Chuck Sundlie took advantage of the nice weather during the Labor Day weekend to apply a coat of paint to the south side of his house in the 400 Block of Cooper Street. Chuck’s house was originally built and occupied by the Osterberg family back in the early days of the 20^th Century. Dick Meyers recalled that Grandma Osterberg was a very kind and generous person who was always willing to contribute her time or donate her resources to community and school causes back in the 1930’s & 40’s.

Joel Susag was honored at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on Monday, September 5, on the occasion of his last birthday as a sexagenarian. More than 30 family and friends, including three of Joel’s brothers: David Susag of Fargo; Ivan Susag of Hawley MN; and Ron Susag of Park City MT; and cousins Alison Hoflen of West Fargo; Kent Hoflen of Hankinson; Bob Sundlie of Dayton OH; and, Chuck Sundlie of Rutland; were on hand to help celebrate the event. Guests enjoyed chocolate cake topped with peanut butter frosting and ice cream, coffee and a delightful lemonade prepared by cousin Allison Hoflen. Joel was born to the late Lloyd & Beulah (Donaldson) Susag back in 1953, and things have been looking up ever since.

Stephen Kulzer of Brandon SD was a Labor Day weekend Rutland visitor, at the home of his parents, Norbert & Beverly Kulzer. Stephen participated in the SCHS Class of ’87 Golf Tourney at the Forman Golf Course during his weekend visit. Among those from the Class of ’87 who participated in the tournament were: Scott Christianson; Al Murack; Dan Narum; Mike Keiper; and many other school day friends from that carefree era.

Bob & Christie Sundlie of Dayton OH were Labor Day visitors in Rutland. The Sundlies had come out to Dakota to visit Bob’s brother, Chuck Sundlie; help Bob’s cousin, Joel Susag, celebrate his birthday; and to visit Christie’s mother in Moorhead MN and celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, September 6. Bob & Chuck’s parents were the late Leif & Phyllis (Donaldson) Sundlie.

Lefse Larry Christensen was the ramrod of a “lefse ball” rolling crew that included Carolyn Christensen; Doug Olstad; and Bill Anderson onTuesday September 6. Larry and his crew were part of the assembly line process that starts out with the raw materials and ends up with the lefse that will be served and sold in Rutland during the Uff-Da Day Fall Festival on Sunday, October 2. Two more lefse making sessions, on Tuesday, September 13, and on Tuesday, September 20, are on the schedule. Anyone interested in learning how to make lefse, or in just helping out, should contact Rutland Community Club President and Uff-Da Day Chairperson, Katie McLaen, or just show up at the Rutland Town Hall kitchen on Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening, ready to roll, flip, fold and package.

The Rutland City Council’s September meeting is coming up at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 12, in the Rutland Town Hall. Some items on the agenda will include continuation of the Lariat Bar’s Payment In Lieu of Taxes property tax exemption; consideration of a special event liquor license application for Uff-Da Day; discussion of public works: water pipes; streets; and, sewer lines; and, the City’s proposed Budget and mill levy for 2023. All meetings of the Rutland City Council are open to the public, and Rutland citizens are always invited, and welcome, to sit in on meetings of the City Council. 

Uff-Da Day XXXVII will be held in Rutland on Sunday, October 2, all day long. Once again, there will be a Parade that will commence at 1:00 p.m. The Uff-Da Day Parade will line up on Dakota Street, on the east side of town, and the route will go west on Gay Street to Ross Street, then north on Ross to Front Street, then west to First Street, south to Cooper Street, then east on Cooper Street to the starting point on Dakota. Everyone is invited to participate in the Uff-Da Day Parade. If there are any questions, give Lyle or Ann Erickson a call at 701.724.6319.

Harvey Bergstrom has been working on his recently acquired 1924 Model T Ford and hopes to have it ready in time to participate in the Uff-Da Day Parade and Antique Auto Show. Harvey’s Model T has been an Uff-Da Day participant on several occasions. Back in 2019, Orvis Pearson of Rutland, born in 1925, and the late Orville Nelson of Forman, born in 1926, rode through the parade in the car that was older than they were. Previous owners of the old Ford include: the late Larry “Doc” Nelson of Forman; and the late Keith Stalter of Forman. Rudy Rathert told Harvey that he and Keith had brought the car to Forman back in 1970, after Keith had purchased it from an individual at Mobridge SD. It took Keith several years to restore the Model T to original condition, and many in Sargent County will remember that Keith enjoyed showing off his prize automobile in parades and car shows throughout the region. Harvey states that the current repairs are taking a little longer than anticipated because the original 1924 warranty expired several years ago.

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.