By Bill Anderson
The four day Veterans Day weekend, from November 10th through the 13th, gave us rain, cold, ice, snow and slush, bringing down power lines, wrecking trees, damaging buildings and making traffic of any kind, pedestrian or vehicular, hazardous. The four day Thanksgiving weekend gave us sunshine, temperatures into the upper 40’s, and altogether pleasant conditions that raised spirits, melted snow, removed ice, and greatly improved conditions for travel and other activities. The Almighty giveth and the Almighty taketh away, in this case that turned out to be a mighty good deal. By Wednesday, November 30, conditions were back to winter, with a temperature of 9 above and a 25 mph northwest wind, but at least the ice and snow were gone, for a little while, anyway. Sometimes old guys wear their long woolies; Sometimes they wear the ones filled with down; sometimes they’re all in the laundry; then those old guys are the talk of the town.
A few years ago, the City of Rutland installed a speed limit sign with a flashing light on it along County Road #10/First Street, on the south side of town, in an attempt to slow down the traffic entering Rutland from the south. The sign is now missing, as is its flashing light. Anyone with information about the present location of the missing sign is asked to contact the City of Rutland at 724-3081. Traffic signs are expensive, and they are installed for the protection of the public. Some folks think that it is humorous to remove or deface traffic signs. Several years ago, someone thought that it would be fun to steal a STOP sign from the intersection of County Road #14 and ND Highway #11 at Geneseo. Shortly after the sign had been removed, a person unfamiliar with the area drove through Geneseo from the south and, as there was no sign, did not stop at the intersection. The driver’s vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in the center of the intersection. The driver was killed and her car was demolished. This was not humorous to any of the parties involved. If you have any information about Rutland’s missing speed limit sign, please see to it that the sign is returned so no one will have to carry a tragedy on their conscience for the rest of their life.
Paul Anderson travelled on Delta Airlines to Phoenix AZ on Tuesday, November 22, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his Mother-In-Law, Etha Quinlan of Sun City West, his daughter, Betsy, from Las Vegas NV, and his daughter, Katy, and her family from Seattle WA. Present at Etha’s home in Sun City for Thanksgiving Dinner were: Etha Quinlan; Paul Anderson; Betsy Anderson; Josh & Katy Elfering; Rhys Elfering; and, Arlo Elfering. Betsy, Josh, Katy and the kids all headed for home on Friday, November 25, and Paul arrived back in Fargo on the11:00 p.m. flight from Minneapolis on Sunday, November27.
Joanne Harris, accompanied by sons Mike & Andy, departed Rutland on Tuesday, November 22, bound for West Branch IA to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at the home of her son-in-law & daughter, Rich & Kathy Stout. Joanne reports that the weather in West Branch was very pleasant, with the temperature in the 50’s every day. On Friday, November 25, Joanne, mike, Kathy & Andy crossed the Mississippi River and drove to Carbondale IL to visit sister-in-law Mrs. Pat Harris. At Carbondale, Joanne’s son & daughter-in-law, Dan & Lori Harris of St. Charles MO joined the group for a 1 day family reunion. On Sunday, November 27, Joanne, Mike & Andy left West Branch, headed for home via Mike’s Alma Mater, Iowa State, at Ames IA, and the cemetery at Boone IA where Joanne’s brother, the late Richard Anderson, is buried. The 3 travelers arrived back in Rutland at about 1:00 a.m. on Monday, November 28.
Sargent County Public Health District Administrator Brenda Peterson reports that the department’s nurses, Briana Spellerberg and Kelsey Nelson, have been hard at work administering influenza and covid-19 vaccinations this fall. Ms. Peterson states that an extra supply of the “high dose” influenza vaccine was ordered, and has been used up. . A resupply has been received and is available. The number of covid-19 vaccinations and boosters is also up, states Ms. Peterson. For additional information about influenza and covid-19 vaccinations, call the Sargent County Public Health District at 724-3725, or stop in at the District’s office on Main Street in Forman. Don’t forget to give them a “Thank You!” for the work they do on behalf of the people of Sargent County.
Lariat Bar Manager Sue Kaehler reports that steady progress is being made on preparations to have the old watering hole back in operation, soon. As of Tuesday, November 29, the target date for having The Lariat open to the public is still December 8, subject to the completion of some essential tasks, and receipt of approval from some State offices. Sue reported that, as of November 29, “The Hood Guys” from Davenport ND had cleaned and reconditioned the hood above the kitchen range; the Brenco Co. had completed power washing the floor and was in the process of installing the new commercial dishwasher; Paul’s Electric of Wyndmere was servicing the commercial cooler in the kitchen; and Trent Nelson was finishing up on the installation of a new serving window between the main barroom and the back room. The Board of Directors was scheduled to meet at The Lariat on the morning of Thursday, December 1, to review progress.
Rodney Erickson reports that he was contacted by a U.S. Postal Official, Janet, from Washington DC shortly after Noon on Wednesday, November 30. The complete file on the Rutland Post Office, including documentation that had originally been submitted to the Postal Service’s Denver office several months ago, had finally landed on Janet’s desk this afternoon. She assured Rodney that the process will be moving along at a rapid pace, now that she has the complete file. No guarantee on “when” yet, but at least the “if” question seems to have been answered. The Rutland community extends its thanks to Rodney for keeping his shoulder to the wheel and not giving up. According to Janet from the USPS, the next step in the process will be for a site assessment team to come out, inspect the building and develop a plan for the interior of the building that will meet the Postal Service’s needs. Hang on folks, there’s better days a’comin’!
Christmas is on the horizon, and is expected to arrive in Rutland before the U. S. Mail gets here. On Sunday, November 27, the First Sunday in the Christian Church’s Season of Advent, members of Nordland Lutheran Church lit the Advent Candle of Hope during the service and followed up by decorating the interior of the church for the Christmas season. Nordland’s Sunday School students are scheduled to present their Christmas program during the 9:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, December 4, in the Church Sanctuary. The Christmas Eve service at Nordland is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 24, also in the Church Sanctuary. Church services at Nordland will be at their regular time on Sunday, December 11 & Sunday, December 18.
Two Rutland stalwarts were under the weather this week. Mark Wyum, usually robust and active, was on a chicken soup and Nyquil diet, nursing a bad cold at home, and Doug Spieker was residing at Sanford Hospital in Fargo after a slip and a slide that resulted in a fractured hip. Their many friends in Rutland wish both Mark and Doug a speedy recovery and a quick return to their usual activities.
Rodney Erickson plans to be doing some travelling this coming week. Rodney & Travis McPherson of Oakes, plan to leave Rutland on Friday, December 2, to deliver an airplane engine that belongs to Mr. McPherson to a repair facility in St. Louis MO. From there, they will drive to Calhoun GA to pick up a diesel engine for use in one of Rodney’s grain hauling trucks. The two aerial applicators will then proceed to Knoxville TN to attend the National Aerial Applicators Convention, where they will get updated on the latest developments, products, rules and regulations affecting the aerial application of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to farm fields. In 2022, Rodney applied chemicals on crops from Canada to Nebraska and Minnesota to Montana. Due to the weight of the engines they were transporting, Rodney & Travis are driving Rodney’s heavy duty flatbed pickup on this trip. FAA regulations prohibit tying heavyweight aircraft and truck engines to the underside of a spray plane.
Upcoming events in Rutland include: Nordland Lutheran Church Sunday School Christmas program at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 4, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland; Rutland City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, at the Rutland Town Hall; Rutland Community Club meeting at a time to be announced on Monday, December 12, at the Rutland Town Hall; Rutland’s 77th annual Santa Claus Day commencing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, at the Rutland Town Hall; and, Christmas Eve Service at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 24, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland. Keep your eyes & ears open for information about The Lariat Bar’s opening day.
Meanwhile, on the international scene, a bright spot for Americans was the victory of the American soccer team over the Iranian team in the World Cup preliminary round, advancing the Americans to the 16 team championship round of play. What made the occasion even brighter was the calm, quiet response of the U.S. team’s Captain, Tyler Adams, to a smug and snotty question from an Iranian reporter. Whether they win or lose on the playing field, we can be proud of young men who represent our country in the fashion employed by Mr. Adams. USA! USA! USA!
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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