Category: Rooster Crows

Hens Do Crow! July 19, 2019

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By Deborah Banish

Rutland is not a dying town but a town that tie-dyes as evidenced by over 80 people who attended the Rutland Community Club Groovy Art in the Park event on Thursday, July 11th. Rutland residents were joined by families from Havana, Forman, and other towns for a fun night. Kids and adults alike tie-dyed T-shirts, socks, and bags with many outstanding designs and lots of color. Even the adults got some color, especially Bryce Carlson who had some beautifully colored legs thanks to his playful kids. The grass in the Veteran’s Memorial Park provided some color and many a child had colorful feet before they left. The Community Club provided refreshments and beautiful t-shirt cookies and multicolored cupcakes. Thanks to the Community Club and to everyone who attended to make this a successful event. Photos of the event and some of the completed items can be viewed on the Rutland Facebook page and the blog.

The Rutland City Council reconvened on July 11 to award the bid for the Emergency Lagoon Repair 2019 Project. Two firms bid on the project and City Engineer Tracy Eslinger, from Moore Engineering, summarized the bids for the Council. The Council voted to award the contract to D.L. Barkie Construction of West Fargo for a Total Base Bid of $174,599 plus Alternate 1 (Crossover Pipe and Gate Valve Bid) of $22,488 for a total project estimated cost of $197,087.00. Acceptance of the bid is contingent upon approval of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Community Development Block Grant for the additional funds to cover the increased costs. The City Council will hold its next meeting on Monday, August 5 when the 2020 preliminary budget will be approved, as required by State Law; the final budget is required to be adopted after a public hearing no later than October 10.

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Hens Do Crow! July 12, 2019

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By Deborah Banish

Rutland was the place to over the weekend of July 5-6 when over 100 former Rutland School students gathered for the all-school reunion.  Rutland High School closed in 1963 but anyone who ever went to school in Rutland was invited to the reunion.  Steve Wyum, Earl Fust, Eugene Breker and Bill Anderson, the Rutland Brothers – not to be confused with the Statler Brothers – performed at the banquet on Saturday evening. Everyone had a great time and all look forward to the next all-school reunion.

The Rutland Brothers!
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Hens Do Crow! June 28, 2019

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By Deborah Banish and Bill Anderson

The huge cottonwood tree that stood in front of the house at 217 First Street for 117 years came crashing down at about 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, felled by the chain saw wielded by Jerry Schumacher of Oakes, with the assistance of the track-hoe operated by Calvin Jacobson. Water poured out of the tree as if it was running out of a hose reported Denny Pherson of Rutland, one of the many witnesses who gathered to watch the giant tree come down. Cottonwoods are hydrophytes, water pumps, and Mr. Schumacher stated that a cottonwood of this size would take in a couple hundred gallons of water a day. After it was downed, an examination of the base of the tree showed that about two feet of the center of the 7′ diameter trunk was hollow, rotted away over many years. According to Mr. Schumacher, the huge hollow tree was a disaster waiting to happen, and the lightning strike that split the tree, requiring its removal, actually averted a more devastating occurrence later on, when a northwest wind might have toppled the tree onto the house it had stood near since 1902. Saving a section of the trunk for a chain-saw sculpture project had been considered, but the chain saw sculptors contacted did not recommend it, as cottonwood tends to fall apart once it dries out. On the morning of Wednesday, June 26, water was still running out of the large sections of the trunk remaining on the yard. Mr. Schumacher had begun the removal project last Saturday, June 22, but a problem with the large bucket lift used to reach the branches at the top of the tree delayed completion of the felling process until Tuesday. So passes into history a landmark of the prairie.

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Hens Do Crow! – June 14, 2019

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By Deborah Banish

The Rutland Community Club (RCC) has been keeping the town hopping this past week – and plans to continue holding events and activities throughout the summer. The Summer kick-off – Family Fun Night – was held last Thursday, June 6 at the Veterans Memorial Park. Over 150 area residents came to participate in the fun. Michael Mahrer was the grill chef preparing the burgers and hot dogs for the meal. The Community Club provided salad, chips, beverages and dessert. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Katie McLaen, RCC President, emceed the event that started with the announcement and crowning of Miss Rutland Jordan Peplinski and the crowning of Miss Lefse Lucy Mahrer and Mr. Lefse Brody Mahrer (cousins!). Following the royalty crowning, three teams were challenged with the Rutland trivia game covering several events from Rutland history and recent items of interest. The team of Norbert Kulzer, Pam Maloney and Lori McLean won the challenge and were awarded gift certificates to The Lariat Bar and Grill. The full list of the trivia questions – and photos of the three teams – can be found on the Rutland blog along with other pictures from Fun Night.

The KVRR Town of the Year competition continues as Rutland made it to Round 2. Thank you to everyone who voted in the first round – Rutland won by only 28 votes over Hatton, ND. This week Rutland is facing off against Sheyenne. Votes have already surpassed the total from Round 1, but it is another close race. Be sure to get out and vote daily on every device you have. Voting ends Monday, June 17, at 3 p.m. Please get out the vote to help Rutland win this round by going to the KVRR website and click on the Town of the Year link  https://www.kvrr.com/weather/town-of-the-week/. If you have more than one device, be sure to get your vote done on each one!

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Hens Do Crow! June 7, 2019

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By Deborah Banish

Mother Nature decided to skip Spring it appears as the temperatures have jumped into the 80s this past week. That has provided farmers a chance to try to get the fields planted but the rains and heavy winter snow melt make many fields impossible to reach or to even plant. The predicted rain for the coming weekend will be putting an end to the planting season. There will be many a disgruntled farmer this year so best not to mention this again!

Globe-trotting, or cycling, Cayuga native Randy Kiefer, also known as Singapore Slim, recently informed friends here about his progress on his most recent adventure, a bicycle ride from his Winter roost in Anchorage, Alaska, to his ancestral homeland in North Dakota. Here is Randy’s report, dated June 1, 2019:

“Greetings From Cold Lake, Alberta. Not much news since my last transmission. A few bears, foxes, moose, bison, mountain goats, deer, an elk, and even a badger. The latter was just 10 feet in front of me, then stopped in my lane, and gave me a look. YIKES!!! I didn’t know what to do. Wanted to grab the camera, but didn’t want to take my eyes off him (or her). At any rate, before I knew it, Mr., or Ms., Badger was off to the other side of the road, and into a pasture. That was a treat. So a brief by the numbers update: 1) How I got to Cold Lake, Alberta. 2) I rode the AlCan Highway from Tok, Alaska, to Fort St John, British Columbia. There I exited east on Cecil Lake Road, (British Columbia), Highway 64 (Alberta), to Grimshaw, then highways 2 and 55. 3) Some events: a) The winds north of Haines Junction, Yukon, were horrendous. They said up to 60 mph (100 kilometers per hour). Dust across the road was the least of my problems. At times I was riding at 65 degrees(?). Then I didn’t want to become an OCW Gloria. A rider from OC who went down and broke her hip in strong winds. So I walked, more than once. And at times it was all I could do to just stand upright. There is no winning on a bike in the wind. b) Fast forward to the highest pass on the AlCan, Summit Lake. Camped the night of the 19th. The lake was frozen over, a sunny frosty PM/AM in the tent. c) Next is the smoke deviation. Some of you noticed I planned a major loop to Yellowknife, Northwest Territory (NWT). After checking a map more closely, I had scaled my plan to Fort Providence, and maybe hitching in and out of Yellowknife. But the fires near High Level, Alberta, killed all of that. d) I rode north on Highway 7 to within 12 miles (20ks) of Fort Liard, but with all the smoke I hitched back to the AlCan, to Fort Nelson. The Alberta fires had forced the evacuation of High Level, and some roads were closed. The ups were killing my lungs, so I gave the loop a miss. Not likely to have another go at this area, but really had no choice – RATS!!! 4) The only news for me in riding in northern Alberta is the agricultural land. Enormous fields of tilled land. Large equipment, some even red. Also seeing the cow/calf operations was fun for me. 5) Tomorrow (June 2, 2019) I start across Saskatchewan toward Manitoba to meet fellow Apple Dumpling Gang members, Dick Reis and Don Isensee on 19 June. They will escort me to Fargo. That will be the end of my journey. This adventure started last April from Santa Barbara. Then I had a most enjoyable 7 month lay-over in Anchorage. And now will soon end my journey in Fargo. Thank you for travelling along. r/randy”.

Thanks to Randy for the report, and for allowing his more sedentary friends to enjoy the tour with him.

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Hens Do Crow! May 31, 2019

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By Deborah Banish

Sunday, May 26, was a day of celebration for two Rutland youths – Tyler Banish and Thomas Mehrer – and their classmates. The Sargent Central High School Graduation Ceremony was held in Forman with a class of ten graduating students. The program included a special music performance of “With a Little Help from my Friends” by The Beatles. Thomas learned bass for the song, Tyler played drums for the first time, and Eric Bergeman kept them all together on the keyboard with the rest of class playing percussion instruments. A video of the performance is available for viewing on the Sargent Central Sports Pictures Facebook Page. Congratulations to all the graduates on your future endeavors.

A large group of family and friends made it to Rutland for the Memorial Day Program on Monday, May 27th. The American Legion Bergman Evenson Post #215 held events at both the Nordland Lutheran Church Cemetery, which was still accessible by land, but the ground was still inundated from all the rains after the heavy snow, and at the Rutland Cemetery. Following the cemetery visits, around 100 people proceed to City Hall for a short program. American Legion Member Doug Olstad received his five-year service award. American Legion Auxiliary Members also received their member service awards: New Member – Delores Lysne; Ten-Year Members – Wendy Jacobson, Mathea Jablonsky, Donna Kubitz, Diane Smith; Twenty-five Year Member – Sonja Christensen; and Sixty-Year Member award – Lois Breker. Musical entertainment included songs sung by local talent accompanied by Miss Cora Millette. Following the program, a wonderful meal of scalloped potatoes and ham and a variety of salads and desserts were served.

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