By Bill Anderson

According to SIRI, the little know-it-all who lives in cellular telephones of the Apple variety, the temperature at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, was at +89 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was at 90. Meteorologists will tell you that when the temperature and the dew point are at the same number the amount of moisture in the atmosphere is at 100%, and it can’t hold any more. Well, it did feel as if a person might be under water when out on the front porch this past Tuesday evening. Theoretically, it is not possible for the relative humidity to be more than 100%, but, if SIRI’s report of the dew point and the temperature were correct on Tuesday evening, the relative humidity was at 101.2%. Well, theoretically it is impossible for a bumble bee to fly, too, but no one has informed the bumble bee of that scientific fact. The recent switch in weather conditions from high, dry and mild to hot, wet and steamy is uncomfortable, at best, but fear not, October is on its way. After that…well, let’s just think about October.

Good news for Rutland! Rodney Erickson reports that the U.S. Postal Service has executed a lease agreement to secure space in his building at the corner of First and Arthur Streets for use as a Post Office. As of the end of July, it will be 22 months since the Postal Service closed the former Post Office back on September 30, 2021, for “a few days” due to health and safety concerns. The wheels of progress turn slowly, but at least there is some evidence that they do still turn.

Speaking of progress, Rodney Erickson also reports that, as of Monday, July 24, he had his new spray plane in operation applying fungicide to corn fields down in Nebraska. The late Spring, followed by the early Summer drought in most of North Dakota, derailed most of Rodney’s 2023 business plan for operations in North Dakota, but his new plane allows him to go farther, work faster and cover more acres in less time, so there is still hope for a good season. The corn crop in Nebraska is looking good, he says, especially after he has applied the chemicals needed to protect it from the “fungus amongus”.

Cliff & Janet Kiefer took their grandsons: Drew, John, and Ryan Kiefer; to Medora from Thursday, July 13 to Sunday, July 16. They toured the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and took in the Medora Musical in the Burning Hills Amphitheater, among other highlights. Drew, John & Ryan are the sons of Andy & Karen Kiefer, and make their home near Dallas, Texas. Diane Smith was in charge of the kitchen at the Rutland Seniors’ Center during Janet’s absence.

Cayuga native Randy Kiefer and Geneseo area farmer/rancher Kevin Oland got together with Bill Anderson of Rutland at The Lariat Bar on the evening of Saturday, July 15. The 3 enjoyed reminiscing about “the good old days,” commenting on current events, and dining on the Lariat’s Torsk special. Bill is a 1963 graduate of Rutland High School; Randy is a 1967 graduate of Sargent Central High School; and, Kevin, the kid of the trio, is a 1968 graduate of Lidgerwood High School. They all report that their memories have improved with age, and they can now clearly remember events that never occurred, but should have.

David & Patty (Anderson) Kulzer of Condon MT, accompanied by their dog, a handsome Standard Poodle named Buster, arrived in Rutland on the evening of Thursday, July 20, after a three-day drive from northwestern Montana to southeastern North Dakota. They were only in Rutland long enough to get their travel trailer parked before they took off on Friday, July 21, bound for a family reunion at Watertown SD, on the shores of Lake Kampeska. They returned to Rutland on the afternoon of Sunday, July 23, and planned to stick around the old home town until Friday, July 28.

Norbert & Beverly Kulzer also headed for Watertown SD on Friday, July 21, bound for the same family reunion that drew David & Patty Kulzer from Montana. The reunion included the descendants of the late Roman Kulzer and the late Myrtle (Aus) Kulzer, both natives of the Rutland community. Norbert & Beverly returned to their home in Rutland on Sunday, July 23.

Ross & Miranda Kulzer, accompanied by their two children, Lilah and Cohn, visited family in Rutland on Sunday & Monday, July 23 & 24. Ross is the youngest son of David & Patty Kulzer. He has three uncles, Norbert Kulzer, Bill Anderson, and Paul Anderson, who make their homes in Rutland. Ross & Miranda had flown from their home in Whitefish MT to Minneapolis/St. Paul on Friday, July 21, rented a car and drove to Watertown SD for the Kulzer clan’s reunion and then drove up to Rutland to touch base at the heartland. They enjoyed morning coffee at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on Monday morning, July 24, and got a ride in “Henry T”, the 1924 Ford Model T automobile owned by Harvey & Judy Bergstrom. They drove back to the Twin Cities, in a BMW, not a Model T, on Monday afternoon and paid a visit to The Mall of The Americas that evening. They flew back to Whitefish on Tuesday, July 25. A trip that would have taken their ancestors a month, was accomplished by them in a weekend. Both Ross & Miranda are Electrical Engineers and executives employed by a major computer chip and computer panel equipment manufacturing company that is headquartered in Whitefish.

JuliAnn Becker of Oakes was a Rutland caller on the afternoon of Monday, July 24. She was in Rutland to visit cousins: Bill Anderson of Rutland; Paul Anderson of Rutland/Nevis MN/Sun City West AZ; and, Patty (Anderson) Kulzer of Condon MT. JuliAnn had spent two weeks this past May visiting in the homeland of her ancestors, Norway, in the company of her son and daughter-in-law, Bob & Donna Becker of Powell WY. JuliAnn said that they spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful countryside of Norway, looking for the farms on which ancestors had resided prior to emigrating from their native land to the USA back in the 1800’s. JuliAnn is now 85, and said that she handled the walking pretty well, except for those areas in which the road went straight up and down the mountainsides.

Bryce Carlson & Bill Anderson of Rutland, members of the Sargent County Job Development Authority (SC JDA) were among the JDA Board members who met with the Sargent County Commission to discuss JDA programs and the Authority’s proposed 2024 Budget at the Sargent County Courthouse on the morning of Tuesday, July 18. The JDA currently is financing economic development in Sargent County through several programs, including: interest buy-downs on loans utilizing the Bank of North Dakota’s PACE program; financing the development of a skilled workers’ development program in cooperation with the State of North Dakota and private employers through the “Career Builders” program; encouraging private developers to construct new, single-family housing in Sargent County by providing “gap” financing to developers willing to invest in housing in Sargent County; and, other economic development opportunities. Currently, the SC JDA has 12 major development projects on the books, some providing interest buy-down breaks to new or expanding businesses; and, providing more conventional financing in cooperation with local banks and the Bank of North Dakota. In general, the JDA’s program has met with approval from County residents, but there are still a few who choose not to understand the program. Unfortunately, at least one of them is a member of the County Commission who has offered only negative opposition, but no positive criticism or reasonable alternatives. The Sargent County JDA was created approximately 20 years ago, in accordance with the provisions of the North Dakota Century Code. Cities, too, are authorized to create their own JDA’s, but Sargent County’s cities have opted to work together, combining their efforts to work for jobs/economic development on a County-wide basis. The JDA is authorized to levy up to 4 mills on taxable property in the County to build an investment fund to support its programs. Each mill raises approximately $40,000 in tax revenue. For 2024, the Sargent County JDA is requesting a levy of 3 mills to support its development efforts in Sargent County. Bryce Carlson of Rutland succeeded Terry Dusek of Milnor as Chairman of the Sargent County JDA earlier this year. Sandy Hanson of Forman is Secretary/Treasurer of the JDA. Representation on the JDA board is drawn from throughout the County, both city & rural, including 2 members of the County Commission. Board members are appointed by the County Commission for terms of 4 years, with the terms staggered to provide continuity on the board. The current lending programs and policies of the Sargent County JDA were adopted by unanimous votes of the JDA board members after considerable discussion and debate.

Shawna Bergh, Manager of The Lariat Bar in Rutland, and Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen are extending an invitation to visit Rutland on Saturday, August 5. Members of the community are hosting a day-long series of events, including: A Community-wide Junk Fest 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 Seniors 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 vendors’ booths and picnic tables for rib enthusiasts. 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.

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.