By Bill Anderson

While the rest of the Country continues to swelter under record high temperatures, in the triple digits in many areas, Rutland and vicinity has been enjoying moderate, even unseasonably cool, weather conditions. A return to hot weather is in the forecast for the week beginning on Sunday, July 23, and for the rest of the month, however. The recent respite from excessive heat has saved the wheat, corn & soybean crops, so far, but some rain is going to be needed to bring the crop through to harvest. 

August in Rutland is going to be starting out with a bang, and with the aroma of barbecued ribs. The following information was recently obtained from Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen: A Community-wide Junk Fest is on the schedule from 1:00 to 5:00 on Saturday, August 5, with Deb Banish, phone # 701-680-2458, in charge; Rutland’s American Legion Auxiliary will be serving a Pie & Ice Cream Social at the Rutland Senior Center, starting at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5; a Community Rummage Sale accompanied by a scalloped potato lunch will be held at the Rutland Town Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association; and, The Rutland Rib Fest, with ribs being served by various vendors, is scheduled to commence serving at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, from booths on Main Street. As in past years, Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from the intersection with Front Street on the North to the intersection with Arthur/Gay Streets on the South, to allow for the placement of picnic tables. Rib vendors will be assessed a $25.00 fee to compete for the “Best Ribs In Rutland” title, and prizes for 1^st place, 2^nd place,3rd place and “People’s Choice” will be awarded. All food vendors, not exclusive to ribs, are welcome, and will also be assessed a $25 .00 vendor’s fee. For additional information, and to sign up to participate as a vendor at Rib Fest, contact Shawna Bergh at 701-680-0780. As with most events in Rutland, there is no admission charge. You only pay if you buy something. The August 5 Rib Fest will conclude with a Street Dance featuring “Raw Sugar” from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. So, put on your rib bib and your dancing shoes, and plan to be in Rutland for Rib Fest on Saturday, August 5.

Bill Anderson, accompanied by Great-Grandson Brody Mahrer, departed Rutland in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 9, bound for Hector Airport in Fargo and a 5:30 a.m. airline flight that was the first leg of a trip that landed them in Branson MO at about 6:30 p.m. that same day. The flight from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Springfield/Branson International was delayed for several hours while a problem with the aircraft’s ventilation was repaired. The reason for the trip was the annual reunion of Delta Company, 1^st Battalion, 5^th Marine Regiment, the unit in which Bill had served as an infantry Platoon Commander when he first arrived in Vietnam back in January of 1970. Time and age are finally accomplishing what the VC and NVA could not accomplish more than half a century ago, bill reports, as this reunion had the smallest number of Marines in attendance of any that he has been at since his first in 2012. During their stay in Branson, Bill & Brody took in the Clay Cooper Show on the evening of Monday, July 10, and the Evening Dinner/Show Cruise on Table Rock Lake aboard The Branson Belle showboat on Tuesday evening, July 11. Additionally, Brody got to hone up his skill playing the “Back Alley” card game, a game that was popular among the Delta Co. Marines back in 1969-70, when they were in Vietnam. Bill & Brody returned home through American Airlines’ hub terminal at Dallas/Fort Worth, on Wednesday, July 12, so Brody could play baseball in the District playoffs with his Babe Ruth baseball team from Gwinner. The temperature at Dallas/Fort Worth was +105, and the temperature at Fargo was +71 on Wednesday afternoon. 

Bids were opened for the sale of The Rutland General Store building and the attached Rutland Café building on Thursday, July 13, at the Even Law Office in Cogswell. According to Margie Johnson of Gwinner, Personal Representative (PR) of the estate of the former owner, the late Gretchen Vann, an acceptable offer was submitted by the high bidder and was accepted by the estate. PR Johnson said that it is expected that the transaction will be closed and title transferred to the buyer before the end of August. Ms. Johnson also stated that neither the estate’s PR, nor the estate’s attorney, Ms. LeeAnn Even, Attorney At Law, had been authorized to release additional information at this time. 

Demolition of the house on the southwest corner of Second & Arthur Streets was completed this week. The house, and the lots upon which it was situated, was purchased from the City of Rutland by Andrew Woytassek earlier this year. Future plans for the location have not yet been made public. Some previous owners and residents of the house include George Hoflen; Charles & Martha Weller; Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Weller; Andrew & Esther Sundlie and family; Jeff & Katie Kulzer; and, Bradley & Rebecca Christensen. The house had stood vacant for the past several years and had fallen into disrepair. Beverly (Sundlie) Kulzer had resided there with her parents and her two brothers: Dennis; and John; and she recalls that it was the first house they lived in that had running water and indoor plumbing, a real luxury back in the day. 

Mark & Kathy Wyum, accompanied by 3 of their grandsons: Colton Wyum; Clay Wyum; and, Braylon Wyum; drove their recently acquired motor home up to Icelandic State Park near Cavalier ND on Friday, July 14, and returned home on Sunday, July 16. The Wyums were joined on their expedition by Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson, who drove up with their pickup truck and 5^th wheel travel trailer, and by the Anderson’s daughter, son-in-law & grandchildren. Two Rutland area natives who now make their homes in Cavalier, Mary (Olstad) Indridason and Carol (Herman) Shepard; also got together with the Wyums and Andersons for some reminiscing. Mark, Chuck, Mary Beth, Mary and Carol were all Elementary School classmates at the old Rutland School and were members of Sargent Central High School Class of ’71.

Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS) began at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland on the morning of Tuesday, July 18, with 38 students, Grades Kindergarten through 6^th, in attendance. Rutland native Val Pherson, now of Sioux Falls SD, a seminary student, and 2 assistants, Ms. Ava Brown & Ms. Ella Leiseth, both of the Sioux Falls area, were the instructors. The theme of this year’s course of instruction is “Jesus Did What?” A program will be presented for parents and the public at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland. Members of the Nordland Education Committee include Pastor Julie Johnson; Kathy Wyum; Dawn Mahrer; and, Sarah Pavek.

The Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch softball team manhandled the Lisbon Riverside team at Lou Sanderson Field at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, outscoring their rivals with a total of 42 runs to 8 runs in the evening double-header. Game #1 ended after 5 innings under the “10 Run Rule) with the Roosters holding a 13 to 3 advantage. Game # 2 ended after 3 innings when the Roosters jumped off to a 29 to 5 lead. The Riverside players were sportsmen through and through and congratulated the victors with handshakes all around before packing up their gear and heading for home. The Roosters will be at home, again, next week when they meet up with the team from Sheldon at Lou Sanderson Field. Game time is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. The Rutland Park Board Concession Stand will be open, too. So, come on out to the ballpark for a good game; a good lunch; and a good time. See you there!

Rutland native Larry Colby drove up to Sargent County from his current home at Sierra Vista, Arizona, last week. He and his wife were touring the old hometown on the evening of Monday, July 17, and Larry noted that there had been a lot of changes since the 1950’s. Larry’s parents were the late Ted & Winnie Colby, and the Colby family made their home on a farm on the north side of Silver Lake before moving to Rutland where he became a member of RHS Class of ’57. They later moved to Forman, where Larry graduated from High School. Following high school, he joined the Army and made his career in that branch of the U. S. military service. He said that this Summer’s intense heat in Arizona did not prepare him for the more moderate temperatures here in North Dakota, and if he hadn’t been a tough native North Dakotan the cool breeze coming across Silver Lake on Sunday evening might have forced him to put on a jacket. Larry and his family are in the area, headquartering in Forman at the home of his niece, Sherry (Stenvold) Hosford, to attend the Colby Family Reunion on the weekend of July 22 & 23. His name is carved into the steel of the Rutland Veterans’ Memorial, as are the names of several of his brothers. Welcome home, Larry, and many thanks to you from your hometown for your service to our country.

A message was recently received from Rutland City Auditor Deb Banish with the information that the Rutland 2022 water quality report, also called the Consumer Confidence Report or CCR, is available on the City website at https://rutlandnd.com/ccr1/. You can download and view your annual water quality report and learn more about the source and quality of your drinking water. It is also posted at the Rutland Stock Growers Bank, City Hall and at the Senior Center. For a translation of the water quality report, or to speak with someone about the report, call 701-724-3081. If you would like a paper copy of the 2022 CCR mailed to your home, send an email to the City or call 701-724-3081. The report concluded that there were no threats to the wellheads in the sandhills near Mantador ND, and the distribution/delivery system was not contaminated with harmful chemicals or organisms. So, here’s to your health! Drink up! Water…it’s not just for bath time anymore!

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.