Category: Rooster Crows

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.

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The Rooster Crows – December 7, 2018

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By Bill Anderson

The cold weather of the past several weeks has thickened the ice on local lakes to 7 inches or more, enough to support the weight of ice fishermen and ice fishing houses. Norbert Kulzer reported that there were three ice fishing houses on Buffalo Lake on Tuesday, December 4, and one on Consolidated Lake, along with a couple of fishermen out on the ice in cold weather fishing gear. Several houses were on the ice at Silver Lake last week, but they had picked up and moved to some other location by Tuesday afternoon. No reports of fishing success have been received, and when fishermen aren’t talking it usually means that they are catching fish and don’t want anyone else to find out about it. Of course, it could mean that there just aren’t many fish being caught, but that’s not as interesting.

Rutland native Dan Narum, Presiding Judge of North Dakota’s Southeast Judicial District for the past several years, was preparing to deliver jury instructions at the conclusion of a trial in the Dickey County Courthouse in Ellendale last Tuesday, November 27, when he stood up from his desk and discovered that his right leg was numb. A terrible pain in his back put him to the floor. Ever the professional, the Judge got himself back to his desk, called the 2 attorneys in the case into his office, explained the situation to them, then delivered the jury instructions to the waiting jurors in written form, and had himself taken to the hospital. He was first taken to Aberdeen, the closest hospital, where a serious back problem was diagnosed. Immediate surgery was necessary, but a surgeon capable of performing it was not available, so Dan made a trip to Sanford Hospital in Fargo where the surgery was performed on Tuesday night. Tests indicated that the surgery had been successful, and, “…when I moved my toes about ¼ of an inch, they really got excited,” Dan reported. On Friday, November 30, he moved to Sanford’s Physical Therapy Unit on South University Drive for what was expected to be 2 weeks of intensive physical therapy, but his recovery and progress was so rapid that he was scheduled to be released from the hospital to return to his home in Lamoure on Wednesday, December 5. Dan states that he has an elk hunt booked in northeastern New Mexico beginning on January 1, and is still planning, and hoping, to be able to make it happen. Well, Dan is a tough and determined guy. If he can’t make it to New Mexico, maybe he can issue a judicial order, and have the elk brought to him. In the meantime, he is recuperating at home, in the care of his wife, Caroline, and their 2 children. Dan’s many friends in Rutland wish him a speedy and complete recovery, and a good hunt, too.

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The Rooster Crows – November 30, 2018

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By Bill Anderson

It is the consensus of The Assembled Wise Men that the chances of an Indian Summer this Fall are getting pretty slim. The long-range forecasters are predicting that El Nino will produce a warm up by February. Wow! Is that good news, or what?!

A number of local farmers have completed the harvest of their 2018 soybean and corn crops, but due to wet conditions in some areas and other vagaries of fortune, there are still quite a few acres remaining to be harvested. Mark Wyum states that he does not mind an extended harvest season, though. “As long as the combines are working, there is still the potential for more income.” So, keep those big wheels turning.

The Rutland Community Club met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 19, in the Rutland Town Hall with President Bonnie Anderson presiding. Secretary Andrea Erickson presented the Minutes of the October meeting, and Treasurer Hal Nelson reported that the Club currently has more than $20,000 on hand for community projects. Club members discussed the follow up to Uff-Da Day, and a few clean up issues that need to be dealt with prior to Uff-Da Day XXXV on the first Sunday in October of 2019. Katie McLaen reported that the 2 “Freezer Meals” sessions that were held in the Town Hall kitchen on October 10 & 17 were very successful, and that more will be planned. She also reported that another “Kids In The Kitchen” program will be held in January. Members discussed the community play and decided to look into contracting with the Missoula Summer Theater program for Children’s Summer Theater in 2019, if grant funding is available. Members voted to authorize Bonnie Anderson to purchase replacement electric roasters for the Town Hall, along with replacement roaster liners for those that are missing, and authorized the expenditure of up to $500.00 for that purpose. Members also voted to contribute $1,000 to support the 5 local students who are participating in the International Ambassadors of Music tour of Europe in the Summer of 2019, and also approved a donation of $1,000 to the City of Rutland for the acquisition and installation of a radar speed limit sign to be installed at the north edge of the City. That donation was in response to a request from the Rutland City Council. The Council explained that the problem of speeding through Main Street has gotten much worse this year, with many drivers, both local and those from out of the area, showing no respect for the posted Speed Limit and little or no concern for children, bike riders and pedestrians on the street. In one instance local law enforcement stopped and ticketed 8 speeders in less than half an hour, and, according to the letter, at least 10 more vehicles tore through the street at a high rate of speed within a few minutes after the officer had departed the scene. The estimated cost of the new Radar Speed Limit sign is $4,200, which the Council plans to fund with a combination of taxpayer’s money and grants from civic groups. One fellow who doesn’t have to be concerned about ground speed limits is Santa Claus, who travels at super-sonic speeds in a sleigh pulled by 8 reindeer, a method of transportation that should be checked out by some metropolitan transit authorities. Katie McLaen reported that Santa Claus is planning to make his 73rd pre-Christmas visit to Rutland since the end of WW II amid festivities that are scheduled to commence at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, in the Rutland Town Hall. Santa has promised to consult with kids on their Christmas lists, distribute gift bags of candy , and hand out the Christmas hams donated by local businesses. A soup & sandwich supper, BINGO and crafts for the kids are also on the agenda for Santa Claus Day. Cher Spieker reported that a Community Christmas tree will be provided by the Coteau des Prairies Lodge, the family of Joe & Patty Breker and the family of Doug & Cher Spieker. The tree is expected to be in town before the end of November and will be put up and decorated at the corner of First & Arthur Streets by Santa’s helpers as soon as possible after that. The next meeting of the Rutland Community Club is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 10, in the Rutland Town Hall.

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