The Rooster Crows – Apr. 28, 2023

On April 28, 2023April 27, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Fifty-one degrees above Zero on Tuesday, April25, and we’re not done, yet. The weather gurus are predicting highs of 59 for both Wednesday & Thursday, April 26 & 27, this week. It will only take a little push to get into the 60’s, where the reality of spring can finally sink in. The possibility of snow is still in the forecast, though, but maybe, just maybe, we are done with that nonsense until November.

Local farmers are beginning to get a little tense, as potential planting dates are crossed off the calendar without a wheel having turned anywhere in the County. If the cool damp weather persists, it has been suggested that ice plant may become 2023’s primary cash crop.

Speaking of cash crops, Chuck Anderson reports that he has been hauling corn from the Anderson Farm in Weber Township to the Cargill Company’s storage and loading facility at Fairmount this week. The corn was harvested last fall, and was contracted for delivery to Cargill this spring. Road conditions have required Chuck to take a roundabout route to Fairmount, though. He has had to drive west from the farm on a Township road, then north on the next Township road to County Road #5, and then west on County #5 over to ND Highway #32, then north on #32 up to ND #11 and then east to Fairmount. Chuck says that he’s just happy to have a route that enables him to get the corn to where it’s supposed to go by the time it’s supposed to get there.

Chuck Anderson also reported that word was received on Tuesday, April 25, that an old neighbor, Virgil Hoistad, had passed away that day. Virgil was residing at a nursing home in Moorhead MN at the time of his death. Obituary and funeral information was not available as of this writing.

The Lariat Bar is becoming an increasingly popular venue for meetings of all kinds: professional; personal; and, partying. On Wednesday, April 19, three old friends: Steve Wyum of Rutland; Dr. Jerry Waswick of Gwinner; and, Bill Anderson of Rutland; gathered at The Lariat Bar to enjoy the Noon Special, a hot roast beef combo, and to catch up on where life has been taking them. The three men had become friends while serving together on the Sargent County Commission from 2004 to 2020. On the evening of Wednesday, April 19, Ambulance crews, Fire Departments & members of the Sargent County Sheriff’s Department met to discuss the new Statewide Interactive Radio Network (SIRN) that will allow emergency responders to communicate with each other during emergency response situations, when clear and unambiguous communication is needed. On Tuesday, April 18, the Sargent County Chapter of Pheasants Forever held its meeting in the Lariat’s dining room. Among those attending the Pheasants Forever meeting was Sargent County’s rhubarb King, Terry Dusek of Milnor. On Saturday, April 15, descendants of Dianna Anderson and the late Larry Anderson met in the Lariat’s dining room. Earlier that week, on Wednesday, April 12, the Wild Rice Antique Tractor & Plowing Association met at The Lariat in the afternoon, and the Sargent County Farmers’ Union executive committee held its organizational meeting in the dining room of The Lariat that evening. On Tuesday, April 25, members of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of The American Legion met in The Lariat’s Dining Room to review the “Poppy Posters” created by members of the 1^st, 2nd & 3^rd Grade Classes at Sargent Central’s Elementary School. Twenty-five posters had been submitted, and all were well done. The Poppy Poster Contest is sponsored by the Rutland Unit of The American Legion Auxiliary, and was coordinated by Auxiliary member Diane Smith.

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The Rooster Crows – Apr. 21, 2023

On April 21, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

April, it seems, has become the new March up here on the northern plains, at least during 2023. Weather conditions have been swinging back & forth, like the pendulum on a Grandfather’s clock, between winter and spring. Mother Nature has become an exotic dancer, enticing observers by removing one layer of ice & snow at a time, turning up the heat and turning it down to serve her purpose, her preference, and her passion. The thermometer registered fifty-one degrees above Zero on Wednesday, April 12, while those with memories recalled that a week earlier Rutland was in the midst of a great blizzard that hammered the region with high winds, heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Spring will arrive in its own good time. Meanwhile, though, we might as well relax and enjoy the show. Mother Nature is bound to regain her usual modesty one of these days.

Rutland and vicinity were rocked by a wild thunderstorm at about 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19. The thunder wasn’t the first we have heard so far this spring, but it certainly was the most emphatic. Lightning, wind and heavy rain provided accompaniment for nature’s symphony of thunder. In what was most likely a “first” in broadcast history, WDAY News, which began broadcasting on the radio back in 1922, 101 years ago, reported the rainfall amounts from both Rutland and Brampton in the same report, .62 of an inch at Rutland and .5 of an inch at Brampton on Wednesday, April 19. Congratulations folks, we’ve finally made the big time!

The combined effects of thunder, lightning, wind and rain also knocked out the supply of electricity from Otter Tail Power Co. to homes and businesses in Rutland on Wednesday morning. The power went off right after the storm hit, but Otter Tail’s repair crews had the power restored shortly before 6:30 a.m., in time to make breakfast for the kids before sending them off to school. The Rutland community extends thanks to the Otter Tail service technicians who went out into the storm to make the needed repairs. There is an old saying that, “We don’t miss the water until the well runs dry,” and we could add that we don’t miss the electricity until the lights don’t work and the coffee maker quits.

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The Rooster Crows – April 14, 2023

On April 14, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Spring has finally sprung! All of nature broke into a full throated version of creation’s Hallelujah Chorus on Easter weekend as the last vibrations, tremors and aftershocks of what is hoped to have been the last winter storm of the season died away, the Sun broke free of its winter imprisonment the temperature climbed into the 40’s and southerly breezes brought warm temperatures to the region. The 9 to 12 inches of new snow that had arrived on April 4 & 5, in addition to the several feet of old snow that had been petrified in place since the storms of November and December, began to melt, producing rivers of slush wherever drifting snow met warm pavement. Every kind of wild goose known to North America flew over Rutland, singing their joyous chorus of spring, and they were joined by chattering ducks of every description, the crowing of rooster pheasants, the plaintive cry of the mourning dove, the cheerful songs of robins, red-wing blackbirds & meadowlarks, and other songsters too numerous to mention. The receding mountains of snow revealed new sources of sustenance to the herds of whitetail deer that had been scrounging a meager existence from tree belts and cattail slough for the past several months. Easter, the affirmation of resurrected life, brought the restoration of the possibility of life to all of nature’s creatures, including the human kind. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Winter is dead! Long live spring!

The Rutland City Council met as the city’s Board of Tax Equalization at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 3, at the Rutland Town Hall, with Mayor Mike Mahrer; Auditor Debbie Banish; and, City Council Members Rodney Erickson; Bill Anderson; Delores Lysne; and, Lori McLaen; present. Also present was Sargent County Director of Tax Equalization, LaJuana Hayen. The Board approved two Homestead and three Veterans exemptions as provided for in State Law, and as presented by the County Director. The County Director noted that the State had increased the valuation of residential property, making an increase in the tax levied on property more likely. The Board approved the Assessment Books as presented. No members of the public had appeared before the Board to comment on, or object to, property valuations or taxes levied on property within the City. The Board of Equalization adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

The monthly City Council meeting was then convened at 5:15 p.m. by Mayor Mahrer. City Auditor Banish, Council President Erickson and Council Members Anderson, Lysne & McLaen were present. Council President Erickson reported that he recently met with Rutland native Tanner Hambeck concerning the replacement of the main entrance and kitchen entrance doors on the Rutland Town Hall, and that he is currently waiting for a cost estimate for the replacement of the two South doors.

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The Rooster Crows – April 6, 2023

On April 7, 2023April 5, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Well, we got shoveled out from last week’s snowstorm just in time to welcome this week’s blizzard. The snow started falling at the rate of about an inch per hour around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4, and kept up a steady pace all day. Most of us have been fed up with the snow, ice, cold, wind and the other accouterments of Winter for 3 or 4 months now, but dedicated snow removal experts like Rutland’s Jim & Shari Brown and Larry Christensen are made of sterner stuff and find the prospect of taking on the worst that Winter can offer armed only with a snow shovel to be an exhilarating challenge. They have kept their assigned territories free of ice and snow since early November, and they’re not about to give up now. About the only thing that could keep them from battling Winter would be a plane ticket to Aruba, Miami Beach, Puerto Vallarta or some other tropical paradise where the only ice is in the drinks, and a snow shovel is thought to be a long-handled pizza pan. Larry, Jim & Shari don’t have to worry about losing their jobs, though, as more snow is forecast for this coming December. According to the weather experts on TV & radio, there is no snow in the short term forecast after this weekend, though, and the temperatures are predicted to be up in the upper 30’s to mid-40’s. Not exactly Spring, but at least Spring-like. We do like Spring – we do, we do, we do! Please don’t take it away.

Paul Kiefer used his fish measuring ruler to try to figure out how much snow had been received in Cayuga by the morning of Wednesday, April 5, and came up with approximately 9 inches. Jesse Brakke estimated that 12 inches of snow had been dumped on his farmstead along ND Highway #11, between Rutland & Cayuga, and Kyle Mahrer estimated that 9 inches of new snow had been acquired by Rutland as of 9:30 a.m. on April 5. There’s more snow, and more wind, to come, though, and it may be necessary to revise these numbers prior to next week. It’s bound to end one of these days.

The Old Timers used to say that Spring would not arrive until Easter arrived, and that an early Easter meant an early Spring and a late Easter meant a late Spring. Those Old Timers weren’t always right, but they sure hit the nail on the head this year. Easter is on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox, and this year that Sunday is this weekend, April 9. Holy Week services in the Havana Trinity, Rutland Nordland & Forman Trinity (TNT) Parish are scheduled as follows: Maundy Thursday Pot-Luck Dinner Service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman; Good Friday Service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Havana; Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, April 9, at Nordland Lutheran Church in Rutland, followed by fellowship, coffee & rolls in the Nordland Fellowship Hall; Easter Sunday Service at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman; and, Easter Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Havana. Check the TNT Parish internet site for any changes which may be necessitated by drifting snow, soggy roads, or high water. Easter Sunday Worship Service is also scheduled to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church in Cayuga.

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The Rooster Crows – Mar. 31, 2023

On March 31, 2023March 30, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Oh, it’s Springtime in North Dakota, and there’s still three feet of snow; Yes, it’s Springtime in North Dakota, and the wind chill’s at 29 below; It will soon be Summer in North Dakota, but it’s warming up so slow; When it’s Summer in North Dakota, will it still be 29 below?

The month of March, 2023, is on course to be one of the coldest since records have been kept. According to the official records of the U. S. Weather Bureau, the highest temperature recorded, so far, this March has been 37 above. There have been no 40 degree days since early November. In Rutland, the mercury registered 9 degrees below Zero at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29, and the “wind chill index” was at -29. Well, it has been said that March is the month that God put on the calendar so that people who don’t drink can know what a hangover feels like. His point has emphatically been made in 2023. We are ready to swear off sub-zero temperatures indefinitely.

As usual, the Rutland Community Club (RCC) has been maintaining an active schedule of events for adults and children, alike, undeterred by snow, cold, wind and other obstacles created by inclement weather and the perversity of nature. Community Club President Katie McLaen has provided the following report on the Community Club’s annual Fun Night, held this past Sunday, March 26, and on other events coming up in the near future: “By my best calculations we had 170 people at the Rutland Town Hall for Fun Night… a larger crowd than expected so we ran out of pizza! There were 50 door prizes and at least that many cakes for the cakewalk. There were 9 carnival games as well as a Photo Booth and coloring table and a popcorn/cotton candy stand. There was BINGO, with Norbert Kulzer hitting the jackpot, winning once at regular Bingo and also winning the final bingo game of the night, which was blackout! Norbert credits his success to his BINGO skill and know-how. The Rutland Volunteer Fireman served pizza and cookies for supper. Our next community club meeting will be at a date & time to be determined, taking into account religious observances, family events and community activities during the Easter holiday. The Annual Rutland Community Easter egg hunt will be held at the Rutland Town Hall on Saturday, April 8^th, at 10am, with Easter egg prizes furnished by the RCC and bikes donated by the Rutland fire departments fundraising efforts as the Grand Prizes. The Rutland American Legion Auxiliary ladies will be serving breakfast treats to kids and adults in attendance.” Thanks to Katie McLaen for the information in her report.

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The Rooster Crows – Mar. 17, 2023

On March 17, 2023March 16, 2023 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Winter’s winds can blow and blow, bringing in mountains of ice and snow. Winter’s wild, wooly, and rough as a saw, but it can’t beat Rutland – We’re hanging on til the thaw! Winter storms during the last week of February and the first 2 weeks of March have been the worst 3 weeks of the winter for delays, postponements and cancellations, so far. Since Ash Wednesday on February 22, half of Nordland Lutheran Church’s Lenten and Sunday services in Rutland have had to be cancelled because of impassable roads and impossible driving conditions. In Rutland, the continuous process of removing several inches of new snow, along with newly formed snowdrifts, from the City’s streets each day has left each City block looking like a snow fortress, with parapet walls of packed snow several feet high lining the sides of the streets, and huge piles of snow, resembling the towers and turrets of ancient castles, at each street corner. Caution is advised when crossing any intersection in Rutland these days. Well, this coming Monday, March 20, brings with it the First Day of Spring, and the possibility that Winter’s mighty fortresses may soon be vanquished by a fresh supply of high-powered sunshine. Time (especially Daylight Savings Time) is on our side, and victory in this battle is all but assured.

Saint Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, in Rutland will be observed with the traditional Irish dinner of boiled potatoes, corned beef & cabbage being served at The Lariat Bar. True sons & daughters of Ireland will want their traditional Irish banquet to be served with a traditional Irish beverage, a pint of Guinness, a dark, stout beer that is made from Irish barley, hops, water and a specific strain of ale yeast that has been used since Arthur Guinness first made the beverage in his brewery at St. James’ Gate, Dublin, back in 1759. Dublin was also the original home of Jameson Irish Whiskey, a beverage that is also frequently consumed on St. Patrick’s Day in toasts to St. Patrick; to the Irish people; to their history as poets, dreamers, schemers and fierce fighters; and, to their fondness for strong drink and lost causes. So, if you’re feeling lonesome for the Auld Sod of the Emerald Isle this Friday, whether your last name is O’Brien, O’Johnson or O’Kaczinski, stop in at The Lariat Bar in Rutland for a traditional dinner of corned beef & cabbage and the beverages that go with it. You will be entitled to “The Luck Of The Irish,” for the remainder of the year.

City Auditor Deb Banish reports that it was Rutland’s Mayor, Mike Mahrer, who made the temporary repairs to the Rutland Town Hall’s kitchen entrance door. A permanent fix is still being sought, but, for now, Mayor Mike has saved the day.

Birthday cake was on the menu during the morning coffee session at the Rutland Senior’s Center on Monday, March 13. The cake, this month made by Joanne Harris, was in honor of those morning round table regulars with March birthdays, including: Debbie Banish; Kurt Breker; and, Jim Lunneborg. The honorees were treated to a large slice of cake, a hot cup of coffee and a virtuoso performance of “The Happy Birthday Song,” emphatically sung by those present.

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