Author: rutlandramblings

This is a blog for Rutland, North Dakota, area news and events. This blog is supported and paid for by the Rutland Community Club. For official information from the City, please see the City website at rutlandnd.com

The Rooster Crows – January 11, 2019

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by Bill Anderson

We are now in the post-holiday season, when all of the fun and frivolity of the past 6 weeks is weighing heavily on our waistlines, if not on our consciences. Well, there’s a cure for that! The Board of Directors of the Rutland Fitness Center recently sent out notices that it’s time to pay annual dues, and to start working off all of those Thanksgiving and Christmas calories. Membership renewals are now due for the Rutland Fitness Center, the Directors have reminded us. Membership fees are $150.00 per year for an individual and $235.00 per year for a family membership. Membership fees may be sent to: RFC, PO Box 24, Rutland ND 58067. Members are asked to include their cell phone # so the new entry code can be sent to them. The code will change on January 12. Due to insurance requirements, minor children utilizing the Fitness Center must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. The Rutland Fitness Center is located in the American Legion Hall at 123 Gay Street in Rutland. It is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to members. At that price, the cost is about 3 cents an hour for a Family membership. A small price to pay for individual, family and community fitness and good health. Directors of the Rutland Fitness Center are: Ione Pherson; Lori McLaen; and Jennifer Christianson.

Sonja Christensen reports that, as of Monday, January 7, 41 teams of pinochle players had preregistered for the 24th Annual Rudy Anderson Pinochle Tournament that will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019, in the Rutland Town Hall. One team that will be new to the tournament is a father-daughter combination from Grand Forks who read about the tournament on Rutland’s internet web site and then contacted Sonja to sign up. Sonja anticipates that another 21 to 25 teams will have registered before play begins on Ground Hog’s Day. The tournament, which is co-chaired by Sonja Christensen and Bryce Carlson, is sponsored by the Rutland Community Club. Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – January 11, 2019” →

The Rooster Crows – January 4, 2019

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The first real blizzard of the season hit the Rutland area in the late afternoon of Wednesday, December 26, with about 8 inches of powdery snow and sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts up to 60. The County Courthouse in Forman and many area businesses were closed from Thursday morning until Noon on Friday, December 28, due to the storm and associated “No Travel” advisories. Rutland’s Mayor, Ron Narum had the City’s snowplow in action by 4:30 a.m. on both Thursday and Friday, keeping the City’s streets open throughout the storm. County Road Supervisor Sparky Engquist reported that the wind blew most County roads clear of snow, depositing drifts only in those areas where trees or buildings are close to the right of way. Milder temperatures followed on Saturday & Sunday, December 29 & 30, only to be followed by another drop into sub-zero territory and another episode of blizzard conditions on Monday, December 31. Students at local schools were the hardest hit by these 2 storms, as they were already enjoying their annual Christmas Vacation, and obtained no extra days off from school due to the inclement weather. Bummer! The thermometer registered 17 degrees below zero at dawn on New Year’s Day, but the wind had gone down so the day was a bright and shiny example of what a North Dakota January day can be. Once again, Mayor Narum had the streets opened by early morning, and even those with no place to go got out and went anyway, just because they could. Cranky, crooked old 2018, bedraggled, beaten and bloodied, has now dragged itself off the world stage, replaced by that fresh-faced optimist, 2019, as yet unmarked by failure, disaster or shame. “There’s a better year a’comin’!” the old timers used to say, and maybe this one, 2019, is it.

Rutland natives Pat & Dave Kulzer reported from the Swan River Valley of northwestern Montana that winter snows held off until early on the morning of Monday, December 24, when about 6 inches of powdery white snow was deposited on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains. It was a perfect snowfall for the day before Christmas, making the mountains look like the picture on a Hallmark Christmas card. Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – January 4, 2019” →

The Rooster Crows – December 28, 2018

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By Bill Anderson

Tis the season to be jolly, and local businesses have been encouraging that attitude by showing their appreciation to their patrons during the past few weeks. On Friday, December 14, the Sargent County Bank served coffee, cider and cookies to clients at its facilities in Forman, Gwinner, Milnor, Lisbon and Rutland. Shawn Klein, Manager of the Bank’s Rutland Station, furnished the following report on the event here, “Throughout the morning I had around 50 Bank patrons come through, some just picked up a cookie and cider and then left, but others stayed and visited. At one time I had a lobby full of the local men sitting around visiting and telling stories, and then, later on, I had a lobby full of the local ladies visiting and enjoying the treats from Rosie’s Bakery that we shared. It was such a nice day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Door prize winners were: Mike Pyle, Janet Kiefer, Glenda Haring, Mac Pherson, Phyllis Erickson, Norbert Kulzer, Kathy Wyum, Hal Nelson, and Bill Anderson. I want to thank everyone who made my lobby very fun that day and let you know how much I appreciate your business and the friendship and kindness everyone shows me here.” Thanks to Shawn for the report, and for the friendly, efficient service she provides throughout the year. The Rutland community also extends its thanks to the Sargent County Bank’s management for staffing its facility here with outstanding employees since it opened its doors here back on November 1, 1976.

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The Rooster Crows – December 21, 2018

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By Bill Anderson

Winter arrives on Friday, December 21, but the December Thaw has loosened Winter’s icy grasp for the past week and a half, pushing daytime highs into the mid-40’s while clearing streets of ice and snow. The mild temperatures have allowed harvest activities to move at a rapid pace, and some local producers, including the Pherson Farm which harvests its own crops as well as doing custom harvest work for others, finished up the corn harvest at the first of the week. Due to the drawn-out pace of the harvest this year the transportation system has been able to keep up, and, even though the 2018 corn and soybean crops have been among the largest in history, there has been no need to pile corn or beans in giant, golden mountains on the ground as in the past several harvests. With the 2018 crop records now in the history books, preparations for 2019 have already begun. There is some conjecture that buckwheat and spelts may make a comeback, but seed orders for those crops are light, so far.

The members of Rutland’s Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of The American Legion met at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, in the dining room of the Lariat Bar. The Adjutant’s report showed $3,868.00 available for the Post’s activities in the community. Members decided to make a $250.00 contribution to the Sargent Central students raising money to participate in the International Ambassadors of Music tour of Europe in the Summer of 2019. The members also discussed the Super Bowl Sunday breakfast/brunch on February 3, 2019, and decided to serve eggs, biscuits & gravy for the event. The Legion Auxiliary is also expected to have a sale of baked goods that same morning. Raffle tickets were distributed for a raffle in which an 8: power ice auger will be the prize. The price of the tickets is $1.00 apiece or 6 for $5.00. The drawing will be held on Sunday, February 3, in the Rutland Town Hall. The next meeting of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 will be during the month of January, at the call of the Commander. Officers of the Post are: Commander, Larry Christensen; Vice-Commander, Tom Manley; Adjutant, Doug Olstad; Chaplain, Ted Lee; and, Sergeant At Arms, Calvin Jacobson.

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The Rooster Crows – December 14, 2018

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By Bill Anderson

Santa Claus is coming to town! Jolly old St. Nick is scheduled to arrive in Rutland shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, making his 73rd pre-Christmas visit to the community since flight restrictions were eased after the end of World War II. He might have some tough sledding, though, as a warm-up has been scheduled for the weekend, and the daytime high in Rutland on Friday & Saturday is predicted to be in the upper 30’s. Well, Santa is a clever fellow, and he’ll figure out how to cope with any adversity. The Rutland Community Club will host Santa in the Rutland Town Hall with a reception featuring a soup & sandwich supper, BINGO, crafts and games for the kids, and a chance for the jolly old elf to visit with local children and have his picture taken with them. Christmas hams donated for the event by local Rutland businesses will also be awarded to the lucky winners. Everyone in the community is invited to participate in Santa Claus Day activities in Rutland on Saturday, December 15.

A large and enthusiastic crowd of family and friends gathered in the dining room of The Lariat Bar in Rutland on the evening of Friday, November 30, to celebrate the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Jim & Ione Lunneborg of this community. Those in attendance enjoyed a delicious supper of pulled pork, baked potatoes and salads catered by the staff at the bar, as well as reminiscing with good friends about good times throughout the evening. The following report was furnished by Ione: “We were married November 30, 1968, at the Lutheran Church in Cogswell. We lived and worked in Fargo until Jim was drafted, and we then spent a year in Germany where he was stationed at a U. S. Army Base. We returned to the states and moved to the Rutland area in the Fall and started farming in 1971. We moved to our current home place in Shuman Township in October of 1976. Our kids, Eric and Sherry Lunneborg and Marne and Aaron Franklin hosted our celebration at the Lariat. Friends and family joined us to share memories and wish us well. The kids along with our grandson, Noah Ward, were guests at our home for a few days over the weekend. We enjoyed every minute of it!” Thanks to Ione for the report, and congratulations to Jim & Ione for 50 years on the path of life together.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – December 14, 2018” →