Category: Life In General

The Rooster Crows – June 4, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Thursday, May 27, was a cold and somber day, with a high temperature of 49 degrees and intermittent rain showers, probably better described as a steady, misty drizzle accompanied by occasional bouts of real rain,  throughout the day. Rainfall varied from .5 of an inch in Roger Pearson’s rain gauge to .6 of an inch in everybody elses’s gauges, from Rick Bosse at Brampton to Roger McLaen at Forman to Jesse Brakke at rural Rutland and Kurt Breker at Cayuga. It was a good rain, that came slow enough to soak in and do some good where it fell.  Since then, the temperature has been on the rise, and the forecast for the coming weekend is for temperatures at or near 100 above, accompanied by wind that will put some stress on the newly emerging corn and soybean crops.  Well, if they’re going to live in North Dakota, they had better be tough. 

The Rutland-Cayuga Fire Department was called out on the morning of Monday, May 24, to assist the Forman-Havana Fire Department with a fire at the Aberle farmstead in Dunbar Township, northeast of Forman.  According to reports, a shift in the wind direction, accompanied by an increase in velocity, had blown embers from a burn pit into the dry grass in the farm’s tree belt. The firefighters were successful in extinguishing the flames before any structures on the farm were damaged. Way to go firemen!

Congregate dining at the Rutland Seniors’ Center resumed on Tuesday, May 25, after a 14 month hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic. Special guest for the first dinner of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and home-grown asparagus was Ransom-Sargent Seniors’ Services Director Morgan Biss from the Lisbon office.  Ten seniors were present for dinner, and several Meals On Wheels were also delivered. Head chef Janny Kiefer said that it was good to be getting back to normal.

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Seize the Day!

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For more information contact:   Cindy Klapperich, cindy.klapperich@ndsu.edu

                                         

SEIZE THE DAY!  (Published in The Sargent County Teller,  04.23.21/2021 issue.)

Nothing Says Spring Like this Veggie

What veggie can be eaten raw, grilled, steamed or roasted, is fairly hardy and can grow wild among grass, and when eaten raw has a taste similar to fresh garden peas?  If you guessed asparagus, you’re right!  It is a vegetable that just seems to shout “spring,” right?

The NDSU Extension Family and Community Wellness agent in Cavalier county, Katie Henry, is a friend and colleague who tells the story of an asparagus “farm” that grew along a shelter belt that was just down the road from where she lived as a child.  As she tells it, people could go pick all of the asparagus they wanted and leave their money in a little cash box under the tree at the end by the road, on the honor system.  She considered it to be a fun adventure to go asparagus hunting among the grass when she was a youngster. 

Asparagus may be harvested from about mid-May until the third week in June, beginning in its third or fourth season of growth, not earlier.  The shoots are best cut when 6-10 inches tall.  If they get taller than that, they tend to be “woody.”  New shoots may be cut as often as every other day if temperatures and moisture conditions are favorable.

Asparagus should not be harvested any later than the third week of June so that the plant can rejuvenate itself for the next year.  Asparagus plants, once established, can produce for up to 20 years.

To harvest asparagus, push a knife into the soil close to the shoot, cutting it slightly below the soil surface, or simply snap the shoot off with your fingers.  As with all fresh fruits and vegetables, be sure to rinse with clear running water and a slight amount of friction before eating it or preparing it for a recipe.

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Caring for Others and Taking Care of Ourselves

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NDSU › NDSU Extension – Sargent County › Seize the Day Blog 

Do you know someone who calls or checks in on a family member or neighbor several times a week or every day just to make sure they are OK?

Do you know someone who helps a family member or neighbor by doing errands or in-home tasks for them, or by preparing meals for them? Or someone who is parent and caregiver for their child who has special needs?

Do you know someone who helps a family member or neighbor by setting up their medications for them, or by taking them to appointments, or by assisting them with finances or personal cares?

If so, you know a caregiver.

Caregivers do those sorts of things, and more, whether it be in-house, locally, or from a distance of miles away. The person on the receiving end of their care may be a parent, a spouse, a child with special needs, another relative or a neighbor.

Being a caregiver can be very rewarding. It can also be very stressful. It can take a physical and emotional toll, and “burnout” can happen. 

For those reasons, it’s important for the caregiver to also be caring for himself or herself while caring for and helping others. That’s exactly what they learn to do when they participate in “Powerful Tools for Caregivers.”

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is a free online class that two of my colleagues and I are offering to address those needs. The afternoon online class starts May 11. Class participants will learn valuable self-care skills such as how to reduce stress, increase self-confidence, communicate feelings, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate reliable helpful resources.

Interested persons are encouraged to register as soon as possible or by April 30 so that preparations can be made. To register online for the class, go to https://ndc3.org/Classes/Register/126. If you need or want more information or have questions about the class, contact Cindy at cindy.klapperich@ndsu.edu or by calling 701-724-3355.

Growing Small Towns

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Hey, Rutland residents!

We want to hear from YOU!

What do you want for the future of Rutland and Sargent County?

We are excited to be partnering with Growing Small Towns, a new 501(c)(3) located in Oakes to create programs, education, and events to help you and businesses in Sargent County grow.

Will you help us out?

Click this link: Sargent County Survey and tell us what you think!

After you submit your answers—they’re totally anonymous, by the way—share this post on your social media and encourage others to participate!

No matter your age, vocation, or experience, your voice matters.

Thank you for helping us create a brighter future for Rutland and Sargent County.

We are collecting responses through Friday, November 20.

The Rooster Crows 5/29/2020

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By Bill Anderson

Although field conditions in the Rutland area are still plenty wet and muddy, there hasn’t been much rain lately. That situation changed, a little, on the morning of Sunday, May 24, when a two-hour .16 of an inch drizzle gave the area a clean-up shower just before Memorial Day. There are no predictions about when the next rainfall might be scheduled, but the old-timers used to say that “Every day that it doesn’t rain is one day closer to the day that it will.” Can’t argue with that.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, dawned gray and overcast with a light wind out of the northwest. The air was humid, and the grass was covered with a heavy dew, a reminder of the light rain of the previous day. Despite the fact that the traditional Memorial Day program and pot-luck dinner had been cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic, a substantial number of current and former Rutland community residents were at both the Nordland and the Rutland cemeteries to witness the members of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of the American Legion perform military rites honoring the memory of those honored dead who had served in the nation’s military services. Members of the ceremonial detail for 2020 included: Andy Hoflen; Rob Wyum; Ted Lee; Andy Harris; Larry Christensen; Doug Olstad; Roger Pearson; Calvin Jacobson; Doug Spieker; and Bill Anderson. Those who were at the cemeteries commented on the precision of the detail’s performance. Following the military rites at the cemeteries, Post Commander Larry Christensen called a brief meeting in Calvin Jacobson’s driveway at which the members approved a gift to Logan Wyum, SCHS Class of ’20, in appreciation for his services as Post Bugler over the past several years; elected Rob Wyum as Vice-Commander to replace former Vice-Commander and Past 10th District Commander Tom Manley who has moved to New Mexico; and, awarded 50-year membership pins to Vietnam veterans Larry Christensen and Andy Hoflen. With the meeting concluded, those present commemorated the occasion with appropriate beverages served by the host, Sergeant At Arms Calvin Jacobson. A good time was had by all, and justifiably so.

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2020 Census

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The 2020 Census forms have been mailed out to households in Rutland. Please complete your census form as soon as possible. If you need assistance in completing and submitting the form, please contact the Rutland City Auditor at 701-724-3081 and leave a message. It is important for everyone to be counted!

11.7% of Rutland residents have reported as of 11 a.m. today. Let’s get that number higher.

You can check our progress here – select North Dakota and then link on Cities and find Rutland.