Category: Rooster Crows

The Rooster Crows – Mar. 17, 2023

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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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The Rooster Crows – March 10, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

As of Friday, March 10, the arrival of Spring, the Vernal Equinox, on Monday, March 20, will be only 10 days into the future. So far, though, there is no sign of the imminent arrival of spring-like weather conditions on the horizon. The weather gurus just predict more snow on more snow, without any letup in sight. The old timers used to advise that Spring, in all her glory, would not arrive until after Easter, which is on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox. In 2023 Easter will be on Sunday, April 9, so don’t look for any nice weather until then, unless an exception to “The Old Timers’ Rule” is found, and then all bets are off.

The actual snowfall amount from the blizzard of Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday, March 1, was higher than the 5 to 9 inches that had been originally predicted. Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper was of the opinion that about 10 inches of new snow had fallen on Forman and vicinity by Thursday afternoon. Rutland’s City snow removal specialist, Scott Haan, was of the opinion that Rutland had been blessed with more than 12 inches of the stuff. The snowfall on Sunday, March 5 and the early morning of Monday, March 6, deposited about 2 inches of new snow on the Rutland area, according to City Maintenance worker Scott Haan, with the amount decreasing to the north and east, while Havana reported 7 inches of new snow, with the amount increasing to the south and west. Rutland folks don’t mind being on the short end of snowfall totals at this time of year.

The United States, at least most of it, switches to Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. this coming Sunday, March 12. At 2:00 in the morning on the appointed day we will all spring one hour into the future, resetting our clocks and watches to 3:00 a.m. We will continue to live an hour ahead of where we would have been without Daylight Savings Time until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, when we will all fal back into the past one hour, regaining the hour of sleep we lost on the morning of March 12. One of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, first proposed Daylight Savings Time in America in an effort to save on candles during the Revolutionary War. As there were no Standard Time Zones at the time, though, and every community set its clocks, if it had any, by the Sun, the idea did not catch on. American and Canadian railroads adopted the Standard Time Zones on November 19, 1883, in an effort to keep their trains from running into each other. In 1918, during World War I, the Congress made the railroad’s Standard Time Zones the law of the land, and imposed Daylight Savings Time on the entire nation, as part of the war effort to save on energy. The Day light Savings Time provisions of that measure were repealed in 1919. During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt imposed Daylight Savings Time on the entire nation again, in February of 1942, proclaiming it to be “War Time”, and it remained in effect until the War ended in September of 1945. After World War II, some States continued to use Daylight Savings Time during the Summer months, usually between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and some States just stayed with Standard Time. Minnesota adopted the summer use of Daylight Savings Time, and some of North Dakota’s larger cities on its eastern border, such as Fargo, also adopted it. Later on, North Dakotans approved an initiated measure that outlawed Daylight Savings Time and made Standard Time, or, as Rutland’s John Narum called it, “God’s Time,” the official time of the State. In 1973, during the Arab oil embargo, President Nixon imposed year-round Daylight Savings Time on the entire country as an emergency measure to conserve energy. A lot of people, including John Narum, did not like Daylight Savings Time during the Winter months, and Congress later put Nixon’s proclamation aside with the adoption of the current National Law on the subject. The law has been modified from time to time, but, so far, it has caused no insurrections or revolutions in the Lower 48. John Narum never did adopt Daylight Savings Time, and kept his watch set on Standard Time to the end of his days, and, presumably beyond.

All roads led to Rutland on the evening of Friday, March 3, as fish fry aficionados headed for the little city that can to enjoy the most recent incarnation of the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Annual Great Northern Pike Fish Fry at the Rutland Town Hall. According to Club President, Shannon Hajek, 246 free will donors contributed $4,263.00 for Sargent County’s Food Pantry. Once again, there was fierce competition between the pan fryers and the deep fryers for the public’s favor, and at least one pretty girl, a Rutland native, preferred the deep fried version. The competition is expected to continue into 2024, however, and both groups are fine-tuning their spices and techniques in preparation for next year’s fish fry on Friday, March 1, 2024. Don’t miss it. It’s the best known, and the best tasting, fish fry in the Tri-State region.

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The Rooster Crows – March 3, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Thus spoke Hamlet in Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s tragedy of that name. Poor Hamlet, he couldn’t make up his mind. Almighty God, however, does not hesitate to make a decision when one is desired or required. For instance, after creating man in his own image, without clothing, God pronounced his entire creation, including unclothed men and women, to be “good.” Now, however, in 2023, the Republican dominated North Dakota State Legislature is in the process of adopting legislation declaring that depictions of human nudity in library books is “bad.” The legislature, for the first time in the history of the State, is on the verge of: banning books containing depictions of unclothed humans; censoring the content of books to make sure that they don’t include any pictures that the legislators, in their wisdom, might find offensive; and, imprisoning any librarians who fail to remove offending books from their library shelves. Just imagine, Marian, the Librarian, locked up behind bars, a desperate, corrupting criminal, in the opinions of North Dakota’s Legislators. So, Almighty God, omniscient and omnipotent, has declared that the naked human body is good. The North Dakota State Legislature thinks that the naked human body is bad. It will be interesting to see who wins this argument. At 24 degrees below Zero, though, even the Almighty would most likely agree that some clothing might be a good thing.

Once again, Mother Nature and Old Man Winter have teamed up to give us another winter storm, this one on the evening of Tuesday, February 28, and the morning and some of the afternoon of Wednesday, March 1. As of 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the snowfall amount, at a little over 1 inch, was considerably less than the 5 to 9 inches that the weather gurus had been predicting on Tuesday. The wind had most of the snow up in the air, though, so the total snowfall reading might be considerably higher when it all settles down. The experts were right on when it came to their wind prediction, though. As of Wednesday morning, there was more than enough wind to run multiple windmills that could be pumping water, generating electricity or just providing targets for near-sighted birds to run into. So, are the winter wind, cold and snow good or bad? What about windmills? We’ll probably have to follow Hamlet’s advice, and think about it.

A moving crew consisting of Janelle Brakke of Fargo; Wanda (Brakke) Rasmussen of Fargo; Andy Harris of Rutland; and, Bill Anderson of Rutland; coordinated their efforts to move Rutland native Kathleen Brakke to a new residence east of The Red River on Friday, February 24. Since October of 2019 Kathy had been a resident at Mapleview Memory Care in south Fargo. Her new home is at Lilac Homes Memory Care, 2615 Parkview Drive South, Moorhead MN 56560. Kathy enjoys receiving cards and postcards from friends and family. She also enjoys music, particularly visits from her cousin, Cayuga native Emily (Banish) Wangen, who works with Music Therapy In Motion of Fargo.

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The Rooster Crows – Feb. 24, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

Once again, a major winter storm has hammered the region, beginning with some rain, some snow and a lot of wind on Monday, February 20, and continuing with more ice, more snow, more cold and more wind on Tuesday, February 21 through Thursday, February 23. The wind let up for a while on Tuesday morning, but more was promised for the next several days. The temperature took a nose dive from +31 at midday on Monday to -14 at 6:00 on Tuesday morning. State highways were not closed on Monday or Tuesday, but due to ice, blowing snow and high winds, no travel was advised. The mercury registered a cozy -8 on Wednesday morning, February 22, George Washington’s birthday. As George could not tell a lie, we can have confidence that the temperature reading was accurate. The weather gurus are predicting that Wednesday will be the worst day of the storm, with several inches of snow, high winds and a misery index that is through the roof. Thursday is predicted to be a better day, not because it will be nice, but because the beating it inflicts on us is not expected to be as bad as Wednesday’s.

The return to arctic weather has local cattlemen out checking on their cows and heifers, braving cold, snow and wind to assist those expectant mothers that need a little help, and making sure that newborn calves get up, get dried off and get introduced to their self-propelled milk dispensers. Cam Gulleson reports that Gulleson Farm & Ranch has approximately 280 pregnant heifers at the home farm east of Rutland, and 500 cows at their cattle handling facilities on Pickel Hill, between Cogswell & Oakes. As of the morning of Tuesday, February 21, they had 10 new calves on the ground, and only 770 to go. According to Cameron, “We have to be out there with the cattle, anyway, and it doesn’t do any good to complain about the weather, so we might as well like it.”

This community was shocked and saddened on the morning of Monday, February 20, when word was received here that lifelong community member Curtis Silseth had passed away that morning. The memorial mass for Curtis Silseth will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Forman. Rev. Fr. Timothy Schroeder will celebrate the mass. The Price Funeral Chapel of Forman has been entrusted with Curt’s arrangements. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Curt passed away Monday, February 20, 2023 at his farm home in Weber Township, surrounded by his family, at the age of 73. Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Judy Silseth, 9750 134th Ave SE, Havana, ND 58043. There will be more about Curt’s life among us in next week’s edition of The Rooster Crows.

Since the early 1980’s, The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club Great Northern Pike Fish Fry has been held on the first Friday in March. This year is no exception. The 2023 Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Great Northern Pike Fish Fry will be held on Friday, March 3, at the Rutland Town Hall. This year, for the first time in the history of the event, there will be no advance ticket sales. Those attending the fish fry are asked to make a generous free will contribution, and the net proceeds will be donated to the Sargent County Food Pantry. Serving is scheduled to commence at 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, and to continue until: 9:00 p.m.; all the pike filets are gone; or, all the hungry are fed; whichever comes first.

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The Rooster Crows – February 10 and 17, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

On Saturday, February 4, after more than a week in the deep freeze, winter finally relented and allowed the temperature to soar all the way up to 37 degrees above Zero in Rutland, that’s 5 degrees above freezing. Snowdrifts that had been the consistency of granite since November were turned to mush by the combination of sunshine and higher temperatures that brightened spirits, warmed aching joints and removed some ice from streets and sidewalks. The local groundhog, Rutland Roscoe, would have seen his shadow had he been out on Thursday, February 2, predicting 6 more weeks of winter, but the temperature barely got above Zero on Ground Hog’s Day, and Roscoe stayed snug and warm, curled up in his burrow. Daily high temperatures in the mid-30’s continued from Saturday, February 4, through Wednesday, February 8, and then dropped back down to single digits before rallying back up to the 30’s for Super Bowl weekend, and even up to 42 on Monday, February 13. Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, started out nice, with no wind and the temp getting up to 34, but the bottom fell out at about 5:00 p.m. and the mercury plummeted as fast as the wind speed rose. A blizzard warning was posted, and the Weather Service meant business this time. There wasn’t a lot of snow, but what there was got piled up in front of doors and in driveways by the 50 mph winds, creating obstacles to foot and vehicle traffic alike. The spell of mild weather at the beginning of February did not mean that winter was over, but it did restore hope that this winter will end, one of these days.

The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club held its regular monthly meeting for the month of February and its 2023 Annual meeting to elect officers and chart the course for the coming year on the evening of Thursday, February 2, in the back room of The Lariat Bar in Rutland. Before and during the meeting members enjoyed a supper of soft-shelled tacos, tater tots & chips prepared by The Lariat, as well as beverages served by the staff of The Lariat. Club President Shannon Hajek was re-elected for another 3 year term. Vice-President Kyle Mahrer and Secretary-Treasurer Mark Wyckoff had been re-elected to their respective offices in 2022. The Treasurer’s report indicated that the club currently has approximately $27,000 in its operating fund, and approximately $33,000 in its gaming fund. Several events and activities have been scheduled for the coming year, including: Coyote Hunt on Saturday, February 11; Annual Great Northern Pike Fish Fry on Friday, March 3, at the Rutland Town Hall; Second Annual Gopher Classic on Saturday, May 6; Annual Youth Day on the Sunday before school starts in August at the John Narum Memorial Trap & Rifle Range 3 miles west and 1½ mile south of Rutland; and, a 50th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 9, at the John Narum Memorial Trap & Rifle Range 3 miles west and 1½ mile south of Rutland. Additionally the High School Trap League will be shooting on the Sportsmen’s Club’s range this spring, and the regular Trap league will be shooting at the range this coming summer. The Rutland Sportsmen’s Club was organized around a table at The Lariat Bar back in February of 1973, after Darwin Brakke had posted a notice on the wall asking anyone interested in getting a club organized to write their name on the signup sheet. The response was good, and in short order Attorney Bob Case had filed the paperwork to organize the club as a North Dakota not for profit corporation, and John Narum had volunteered to sell his farmstead north of Silver Lake to the club for use as a trap shooting range and rifle range. Club members volunteered to clear the old buildings from the farmstead, except for an old boxcar granary and attached lean-to shed that became the clubhouse for several years. A used manual clay pigeon thrower was purchased from the Cogswell Gun Club to get the club’s first trap shooting range going. Volunteers also leveled the south side of the property and constructed a dirt berm backstop for the rifle range. Tree belts were planted on the north and east sides of the property, and other trees were planted to mark the edges of the rifle range. Over the years there have been many improvements constructed on the club’s grounds. Some have come and gone, and some remain. Back in 1973, some of the powers that be at the time thought that no club organized in a bar by a bunch of guys who enjoyed a good time could long endure. Now, half a century later, in 2023, however, the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club is still going strong, bigger, better and more active than ever, with the club members still doing good things, and still enjoying a good time. Most of the original members are now gone to their reward, but their spirit remains, evident on the faces of the young sportsmen and sportswomen who now utilize the club’s facilities. Sometimes you can do a good thing and have a good time at the same time.

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The Rooster Crows – Feb. 3, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

Button up that overcoat! Baby, it’s cold outside. Saturday, Sunday & Monday, January 28 through the 30th, showed North Dakota what winter could be like if it wasn’t for global warming. Sub-zero temperatures for daily highs, and sub-sub-zero double digit low temperatures for each morning. Monday morning, January 30, had the lowest thermometer reading at -24. It might have been colder, but the thermometer didn’t go any lower than that. Starting with Tuesday, January 31, the daily high peaked above the Zero mark, even though the morning low stood at 10 below. It’s still going to be cold on Ground Hog’s Day, Thursday, February 2, but by this weekend the weather gurus are predicting a warmup, all the way into the mid-30’s by Saturday, February 4. 

January’s cold didn’t stop local residents from enjoying some arctic fun. More than fifty snowmobiles and approximately 100 riders, passengers and 4-WD pickup drivers stopped at The Lariat Bar in Rutland on the evening of Saturday, January 21. The event was a Poker Run, and Rutland was the last stop. The trip had begun in Wyndmere, then went west, through Delamere, Milnor and Gwinner, then south to Forman, and then east to Rutland. Just for fun, some riders continued east to Cayuga, Geneseo and Lidgerwood, before arriving back at Wyndmere. They had the staff at the Lariat hustling for drinks & food, and a good time was enjoyed by all.

Hal Nelson, a die-hard Minnesota Twins baseball fan, drove to Minneapolis on Friday, January 27, with the intention of attending the Twins’ mid-winter “Meet The Team” event on Saturday, January 28. Unfortunately for Hal, his brother-in-law, Alan Wilke, who had planned to accompany him, fell ill on Saturday morning, and Hal decided to forego exposing the Twins 2023 lineup to whatever illness had felled Alan. Hal must have been immune to the bug that ailed Alan because he didn’t get it.  Despite not getting to meet the Twins’ lineup, Hal said that he still had a good weekend visiting with his sisters, Becky Wilke & Tammy Tipton, and their families. Hal said that the Twins apparently did not miss him, as he did not receive any calls or text messages from the Twin’s Front Office inquiring about his absence. Hal usually purchases an autographed team baseball at the mid-winter event, but so far at least, the spot reserved for the 2023 ball on his display shelf is still vacant.

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