Category: Rooster Crows

The Rooster Crows – June 8, 2018

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

The 2018 crop is in the ground. Some local growers finished up planting operations this past week, while others have been done for a couple of weeks or more, but the crop is in, and most of it’s up. Being done planting isn’t necessarily all roses, though. Mike Walstead reports that he was going to put his planter into storage last week, but had to move his combine out of the shop in order to get the planter in. As he backed out with the combine, one of the extensions on the combine’s hopper caught the bottom panel of the overhead door on Mike’s shop, so now he has some door repair work to get done, too. A farmer’s work is never done! Weed control will be a primary activity for most producers during the month of June, and Jason Arth, manager of Northern Plains Ag at Cayuga reports that demand for chemicals and spraying services has been brisk. The old cultivators that used to take out a few rows of corn with the weeds once in a while are now rusting in the trees, replaced by huge sprayers that cover more acres in an hour than the old 4-row cultivator could get done in a week. For the next couple of months all eyes will be turned to the sky, wondering when that next rain will come. Well, .2 of an inch of rain, accompanied by thunder, lightning and wind, did arrive late on the evening of Friday, June 1. Readings were uniform throughout the Rutland area, with Paul Anderson and Norbert Kulzer in town, Randy Pearson to the north, Doug Spieker to the south and Mike Walstead to the west all reporting .2 of an inch in their rain gauges on Saturday morning. Roger Pearson reported that someone had turned his rain gauge upside down, so it registered 0, although the outside of the gauge was damp. The agreement among rain gauges ended on the morning of Wednesday, June 6, though, as the thunderstorm that roared through at about 2:00 o’clock that morning put .7 of an inch into Norbert Kulzer’s rain gauge, but only .62 of an inch into Roger Pearson’s gauge located only a few feet from Norbert’s. The Assembled Wise Men averaged out the various reports, though, and have awarded an even .65 of an inch to the entire area, except to Rick Bosse who only received .4 of an inch at his farm near Brampton. Rick plans to put more effort into rainfall production next time.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – June 8, 2018” →

The Rooster Crows – June 1, 2018

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

All of that worrying about the lack of rain finally paid off early on the morning of Sunday, May 27, when Mother Nature kicked up her heels with a rip-roaring thunder and lightning show that was accompanied by an inch of rain in Rutland and its immediate vicinity. As is usual with thunder-storms, though, the coverage was not uniform. Randy Pearson reported .7 of an inch at his farm in Shuman Township, and Rick Bosse reported “nary a drop” at his farm home near Brampton. Brad Wyum also reported an inch of rain on the Wyum farm north of Rutland, but no rain at all on the land he and brother Tom farm near Guelph, in Dickey County. The Brampton and Guelph areas had received a .6-inch rainfall a week ago, though, when Rutland only got between .1 and .15 of an inch, so, what goes around comes around. Well, this won’t be the last rain that comes just in the nick of time, but it was the first one of this season, and it was sure welcomed by all, even though there were a few hailstones thrown in just to keep folks from getting over confident.

Janet Bradbury reports from the Warren Ranch near Rapid City SD that rain has even been falling in that normally arid region of our sister State. Janet reported via e-mail on Tuesday, May 29: “…I’m optimistic because it is raining here now, really nice slow soaker so far. Had 1.36 inches in last two days…” Thanks to Janet for the report, and congratulations to the ranchers in southwestern South Dakota, whose cattle will be dining on lush green grass for a while.

CORRECTION: Last week it was reported here that Jacob Mehrer, son of Shannon & Hilary Mehrer, was the only student from Rutland who would be graduating as a member of SCHS Class of ’18 on Sunday, May 27. That report was in error. There is another 2018 SCHS graduate of whom this community is equally proud. Also graduating from Sargent Central High School on Sunday, May 27, 2018, was Johnny Munch, son of Joe & Tammy Munch of this community. The Munch family resides at 315 Gay Street, and they have been Rutland citizens for about a year. The Rutland community extends congratulations to Johnny Munch, and to his parents, on his commencement from Sargent Central High School, and wishes him good fortune in his new endeavors. Our apologies to new graduate Johnny Munch, and to his family, for the oversight.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – June 1, 2018” →

The Rooster Crows – May 18, 2018

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Well, did you enjoy Spring this year? It commenced during the last week of April, and turned the corner into Summer on Monday, the 14th of May. The birds, the bees, the grass and the trees are loving it. The Mayfly hatch has been in progress for the past week, and these insects that look like giant mosquitoes, without the deadly stinger, have been smearing windshields and providing nourishment for all kinds of wildlife, including fish. The fisherman who can make his bait look like a may fly when the walleyes are gorging on these bugs can usually count on some filets for the frying pan. Of course, luck may have some bearing on an angler’s success, too. Roger Pearson, an expert practitioner of the piscatorial arts, reports that he was fishing from the bank of one of our local lakes last week, with only a bullhead to show for his efforts, when a friend from Fargo who is a frequent Rutland visitor came down to the lake and began fishing some distance to the east of Roger’s position. As Roger watched, this fellow proceeded to cast his lure out into the water, and within 45 minutes he had caught his limit of 5 walleyes and was on his way home. Roger moved down the bank to the spot from which his friend had enjoyed such success, and, reports that his luck did not change. Still no fish. In his youth, Roger was an excellent baseball player, but occasionally he had to endure a slump when he couldn’t buy a hit. The only way to break out of a hitting slump is to keep going up to the plate and swinging at the pitch, and the only way to break out of a fishing slump is to keep going to the lake and tossing a hook into the water. A good hitter will eventually break out of a slump, as will a good fisherman. Of course, just because Roger says he’s not catching any fish doesn’t necessarily mean that he isn’t catching any fish. He is a fisherman, after all. Besides, as Roger has often said, “The worst day spent fishing is still better than the best day spent working.” A philosophy for the ages.

A pair of Rutland girls, Sonja (Anderson) Christensen of Wahpeton and Judie (Anderson-Seavert) Grohs of Rosholt SD were Rutland visitors on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 9. The two sisters joined friends for lunch at the Rutland Seniors Center and then stopped in for the season opener at The Old Parsonage where each found some items they could not live without. They plan to be back in the old home town on Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – May 18, 2018” →

The Rooster Crows – May 4, 2018

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

The roar of diesel engines mingled with the calls of geese, ducks and pheasants as 2018’s Spring field work commenced in this area. Shane Breker, Mike Anderson, Kurt Breker and the Banish Brothers, Mike & Rick, were all planting wheat by Thursday, April 26, while Lyle Erickson, Harvey Bergstrom and Joe Breker, among others, were planning to have planters at work on some of their fields by Monday, April 30, and Tuesday, May 1. There have been a few reports of corn being planted, but most operators in this area are of the consensus that the ground is still too cold for corn or soybean seed to be sown. The frost is just beginning to come out in some fields, and the side hills that were covered by snowbanks only 2 weeks ago are still soggy traps waiting to ensnare an unsuspecting farmer and his tractor. Despite Spring’s perils, however, there is new energy in the air with the onset of Spring planting. The seed is in the ground, and all things are possible. It’s great to be alive! A good rain would be helpful.

The Rutland City Board of Equalization reconvened at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, in the Rutland Town Hall, with Council President Mike Mahrer; City Auditor Deb Banish; and, Aldermen Rodney Erickson; Delores Lysne; and, Bert Siemieniewski; present. Mayor Ron Narum was absent. Also present for the reconvened meeting was City Assessor/County Director of Tax Equalization Denise Ferderer. Ms. Ferderer discussed how the State Board of Equalization had arrived at the current recommended valuations for residential property in Rutland last October and showed comparisons with residential properties in other jurisdictions within Sargent County. The Council approved valuations in the City, with a 20% across the board reduction from the level directed by the State Board of Equalization last Fall. The City’s valuations will next be reviewed at the County Board of Equalization meeting in June, and, finally, at the State Board of Equalization meeting in Bismarck this coming August. Due to requirements imposed by the State Legislature, all units of local government will have to have their 2019 budget work completed a month earlier this year. The 2017 session of the North Dakota State Legislature also ended the 12% property tax buy down and structured funding for elementary and secondary education in such a way that many, if not most, school districts in the State were required to increase their property tax levies in order to fund operations. As school funding accounts for approximately 60% of the local property tax bill, most owners of real property would have experienced significant increases in property tax, even without an increase in valuation. While forcing property tax increases on local taxpayers, the State Legislature has reduced State revenues by giving massive tax cuts to out-of-State corporations, such as oil companies, that have significantly impacted local and State infrastructure throughout North Dakota. Well, it all starts with the local city and township Board of Equalization, where your friends and neighbors try to work with a tax policy and funding formula drafted in the Board room of an Oklahoma oil company.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – May 4, 2018” →

The Rooster Crows – March 30, 2018

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Snow or no snow, Winter or no Winter, Spring or no Spring, hundreds of thousands of snow geese filled the air over Rutland on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 27, hurling their ancient cries into the wind as they have for thousands of years, singing, “Here we come, ready or not!” The Weatherman keeps saying, “No, no, we’re not ready, yet.” But the geese know when it’s time to move, and they’re moving. Despite the chronological and solar arrival of Spring last week, Winter just does not seem to want to let go. This area received 2 to 3 inches of new snow on Saturday, March 24, and another 1 to 2 inches of snow on Monday, March 26. Mayor Narum and the City Council are to be commended for getting the City’s snowplow out early and often to keep the streets open and free of ice and compacted snow. The manufacturer of the City’s snowplow provides no warranty, though, and both the weatherman and the Mayor warn that more snow may be on the menu for the coming week. Back on February 2 the local Ground Hog, Rutland Rasputin, predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Well, Bub, your 6 weeks are up!

Diane Smith was moving into her newly renovated apartment in Rutland Housing’s 6-plex at 204 Dakota Street this week, and hoped to have the move completed by Saturday, March 31. The apartment received a make-over of the bathroom and kitchen, new floor coverings and a fresh coat of paint. Contractors working on the project included: Jerry Sapa Construction; Jacobson Plumbing, Heating & Excavating; and Lori McLaen Decorating. Another apartment in the building is also getting an upgrade, and all of Rutland Housing’s apartments are on the list for renovation work as funds are available in the future. Rutland Housing’s Manager, Bert Siemieniewski, states that, “…it hasn’t been easy, but it’s nice to get Diane’s apartment done so we can keep moving on the rest of them.” Rutland Housing’s 3 apartment houses were built between 1971 and 1974 and have all received extensive upgrades, both exterior and interior, in the past 2 years. Current officers and Directors of Rutland Housing, Inc. are: Delores Lysne, President; Bill Anderson, Vice-President; Carolyn Christensen, Secretary; and, Bertha Siemieniewski, Treasurer/Manager. To inquire about apartments for rent, contact Bert at 724-3553.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – March 30, 2018” →

The Rooster Crows – May 16, 2014

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

The spring of 2014 continues to give the cold shoulder to the northern plains. The temperature did get up to 60 on Tuesday, May 6, and up to 62 on Wednesday, May 7, but only registered a high of 46 on Thursday, May 8, the 69th anniversary of VE Day, and 44 on Monday, May 12. In addition to cool temperatures, Mother Nature has also been providing an ample supply of wind, along with more rain. An inch of rain on Thursday evening, another ½-inch on the evening of Mothers’ Day, Sunday, May 11, and another ½-inch on Monday evening brought the total for the week to over 2 inches. Wheat fields are growing and looking good, right now, but the 2014 corn and soybean crops are still in the seed bin, waiting to be planted. The TV weather forecasters are predicting some warmer, drier weather ahead, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel, providing some hope that planting will be able to commence in earnest by the end of the week. With the southern plains from Kansas south already suffering from extreme heat and drought, though, all here are hoping that the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t turn out to be an oncoming freight train. Although, with grain terminals from Montana through North Dakota and into Minnesota unable to move the 2013 crop due to oil traffic from western North Dakota oil fields tying up the tracks, even an oncoming freight train might be welcome, as long as it was pulling in some empty grain cars.

Maverick James Holtman, better known as M. J. to his friends, accompanied his grandpa, Harvey Bergstrom to the Rutland General Store for pancakes and a session with the Assembled Wise Men on the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday, May 7 & 8. M. J. is the younger son of Wade & Kayla (Bergstrom) Holtman. He lives in East Grand Forks MN, where his Dad is an independent over the road truck driver and his Mom is employed by a bank. M. J., age 2½, also has an older brother, William, age 7, who will get his turn to have fun at Grandpa  & Grandma’s farm in the near future.

The father-son team of Denny and Brian Pherson, new owners of the residence at 311 Ross Street, has commenced the task of cleaning up the premises and getting it ready for renovation work. The appearance of the premises has been greatly improved by the removal of several dead trees, some of which had been blown over or broken off by recent high winds.  The residence was originally built by Otto & Mildred Meyers to serve as their family home and as a maternity hospital back in the early 1950’s. The Pherson team purchased the property from the City of Rutland back in April. In addition to the Meyers family, other owners/occupants of the property include Victor & Hjalmer Strand; Mr.  & Mrs. Robert Rokke; Norbert & Beverly Kulzer; Myron & Jackie Kluge; Cecil & Dorothy Philips; Mitch & Dawn Mahrer; and, Brent & Mary Lee. Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – May 16, 2014” →