Category: Rooster Crows

The Rooster Crows – March 14, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

Sunday, March 9, brought in Daylight Savings Time and, with it, the first real Spring-like weather of the season. Daylight Savings Time is now in effect from early March to early November, so we now have 4 months of Standard Time and 8 months of Daylight Savings Time, the result being that Daylight Savings Time is now Standard and Standard time is now not. As it seems that, despite all of the saving of daylight we now do from March to November, we still don’t have any more daylight in December and January than we did before the current time regime went into effect, we should consider changing the name of Standard Time to Daylight Deficit Time, thereby prompting government studies and a Federal program to remedy the situation. Perhaps a Daylight Stimulus Plan, in which the government would borrow daylight from foreign countries and issue 300 lumen Daylight Stimulus checks, redeemable at Walmart for sunshine produced in China, to each taxpayer would help to increase the amount of available daylight in the good, old U.S.A. Well, it does seem to have been a long Winter. Sunshine and a southerly breeze brought the mercury up to the mid-40’s on Monday, March 10, and into the mid-50’s on Tuesday, March 11, lifting spirits and brightening attitudes. Pairs of Canada geese have also been observed, seeking good nesting sites near likely looking prospective soybean fields. This week’s Spring weather was preceded by Ten degrees below zero on the morning of Friday, March 7, and the weatherman is predicting another relapse into Winter by this coming weekend, just to keep us on our toes.

Six young men of this community passed the “First Responders” test which was given at the Rutland Fire Hall on the evening of Tuesday, March 4. The six, also members of the Rutland-Cayuga Volunteer Fire Department are: Doug Askerooth; Alan Murack; Cameron Gulleson; Jim Fust; Zach Temple; and, Rob Wyum. The Rutland community extends its congratulations to these community volunteers and thanks them for their service to their fellow citizens.

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The Rooster Crows – March 7, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, but 2008 will be recorded as the year that March entered like a kangaroo, jumping from cold to warm and back again during the first few days of the month. On Tuesday, March 4, the day started out at 16 degrees, then climbed up to 43 and sunny, before sliding back below freezing as a snow front moved in that evening. Forecasts call for below zero before week’s end, and not much hope for relief from Winter’s icy grip before the Ides of March. That’s O.K., though, as there will be some hot times in the old town this month to keep everyone warmed up.

Denny Pherson and Jason Smykowski were in Wichita Falls TX last week to attend a national convention of custom combine operators. Chad Haugen of Dazy ND accompanied Denny and Jason on the trip. They returned to Rutland on Sunday, March 2. Denny reports that the winter wheat crop from northern Texas through Kansas appears to have been severely damaged by the ongoing drought in that region.

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The Rooster Crows – February 29, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

Well, we’re not at the end of Winter, yet, but we might be at the beginning of the end. Last Wednesday’s 25 to 30 below was succeeded by a weekend that saw the mercury hit 40 above on Saturday and 41 on Sunday. This week more moderate temperatures, in the upper 20’s have prevailed, with the forecast being milder temperatures coming up in the first weekend of March. And, if the weather isn’t enough to make you feel good, wheat was selling for more than $21.00 per bushel in local elevators on Tuesday, February 26, $21.28 in Forman and $21.33 at Lidgerwood. The price at Minneapolis was $24.25 on Monday. What would Percy Pherson, Oscar Hoflen and Art Brown think about that? Soybeans and corn are also paying up, at more than $13.00 and $5.00 per bushel, respectively. A flock of new pickups has been appearing on local streets, with the 4 wheel drive, ¾ ton, 4 door, diesel powered behemoth being the weapon of choice for use on local roads. The high price of gasoline and diesel fuel arouses comment, but doesn’t seem to have slowed many down, at least not yet. Meanwhile, the new farm bill is stalled in Washington, with the Congress and the President disagreeing over how, or whether, it should be paid for. The Congress wants to use a phony credit card, while the President favors rubber checks. At least the weather doesn’t require government regulation or taxpayer support, not yet, anyway.

Members of the Rutland City Council, Renaissance Zone Board, Zoning Board, Community Club, Horizons Program Committee and Community Development Corporation Met at the Rutland General Store at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, to review proposed changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance with Mr. Irv Rustad of the Lake Agassiz Regional Council. The group is scheduled to meet again, this time at the Nordland Fellowship Hall, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, to approve the final draft of the revised Comprehensive Plan. The various groups will then develop their own programs to implement the plan. The plan aims to guide future commercial and residential development in the community.

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The Rooster Crows – February 22, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

Well, the weather roller coaster ride continues. Thirty-five above on Saturday, February 16 was only a teaser, as the mercury then commenced a slide that hit 25 below zero by Wednesday morning. On the bright side, a brisk breeze accompanied the falling temperatures, bringing in a continuous supply of crisp, fresh air. The record cold temperature for February 20 of 30 below zero was set back in 1889, the year of North Dakota’s Statehood.

Was it romance, or was it just the aroma of delicious food, that was in the air in Rutland on the evening of February 14, St. Valentines Day? According to Gretchen Vann, 53 diners enjoyed a special St. Valentines Day 5 course steak and lobster dinner at the Rutland General Store, and more than 100 enjoyed steak and torsk at the Lariat Bar. The dinner at the General Store featured a crab cake appetizer; potato Parmesan soup; Caesar salad; the entrée of grilled steak, lobster tail and baked potato; and, lemon dessert. The Store’s regular once-a-month Sunday brunch will be served this Sunday, February 24, at the Store. A special Easter Sunday Brunch will be served by the Rutland General Store and the Rutland-Cayuga Volunteer Firemen on Sunday, March 23, in the Rutland Town Hall, and advance tickets for that event are available from local firemen and at the Store. Ms. Vann also states that another special gourmet dinner with an “April In Paris” theme is being planned for the month of April.

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The Rooster Crows – February 15, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

Brother, it’s cold outside. Twenty below zero on Sunday, February 10, and the weatherman says we ain’t seen nothing yet. Despite the frigid temps, signs of Spring can be seen, however. Hope springs eternal, so they say, and there are none more optimistic than those who sell seed when it’s 20 below in preparation for the golden harvest to come next Summer and Fall. Wenzman Seed has been making deliveries of corn and soybean seed to Sargent County’s foremost seed dealer, Kulzer Feed & Seed of Rutland. Mike Kulzer reports that most local farmers have ordered their seed for the 2008 crop, but some seed, particularly wheat seed, is a hard to get item this season. Call Mike at 724-3345 for top quality seed for a top quality crop. On the livestock side of the ledger, Jordan Wyum has been busy with calving duties for his herd of 150 black angus heifers. So far the calving season is progressing well, despite the cold weather. The next time you purchase a roast beef at the local grocery store, or order a prime steak at a local cafe, pause for a moment to remember the labor of the cattlemen who worked all night in below zero cold to make sure that prime beef made it to your plate.

Dennis Prindiville, Pat Prindiville and Michael Prindiville were in Rutland on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week, in residence at the Prindiville family farmhouse on the south side of town. They had been in Bismarck on Monday, where they attended the funeral of their brother and uncle, Roger Prindiville. Although retired, Pat is still employed, part-time, measuring grain in storage for the auditors at grain elevators. At 72, Pat still climbs up the grain bins to check things out, although he says that he leaves some of the taller bins to his business partner, a much younger man, only 71 years of age. Pat’s son, Michael, assists them on some of the bigger jobs. On Wednesday Pat was measuring up the grain in storage at the Fullerton Elevator.

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The Rooster Crows – February 8, 2008

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By Bill Anderson

Irv Rustad of Lake Agassiz Regional Council met with a group composed of the Rutland Renaissance Zone Board, Zoning Board, City Council, Housing Authority and other interested citizens, in the Nordland Fellowship Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, to discuss revisions and updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Participants went through the Comprehensive Plan and updated goals based on the findings of the community forums held by the Horizons Program during the past year. The next step in the process will be to propose changes in the City’s Zoning Ordinance to make it consistent with the goals set out in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Rustad is the Executive Director of the Fargo based Lake Agassiz Regional Council.

The Horizons Steering Committee met on Thursday, January 30, to allocate the $1,500 grant recently approved by the Northwest Area Foundation. The grant was distributed $500.00 to the advertising committee, $500 to the community recreation center committee and $500 to the housing committee to help them meet the goals set last year. If the Horizons Program stays on schedule, the committee will be eligible for another $8,500 from the NWAF next Summer, says Horizons Program coordinator Carolyn Christensen.

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