Hens Do Crow! Dec. 18, 2020

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Rutland natives Dave & Pat (Anderson) Kulzer sent in a report on some interesting critters in their back yard. They live in the Swan River Valley, on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains, about halfway between Kalispell and Seelye Lake. Pat reports that they hit the jackpot of big animal pics from one of their trail cameras. “The buck pics are from Dec 5, 2020 about 1 pm, and the bear from Dec 6, 2020 about 2 am. We think the bear is a grizzly. What do you think?  Dave counts 5 pts each side on the heavy, wide rack of the buck. The animals were about 150 yards from our house on forest service land just west of the huge old, downed, hollowed-out tree trunk that we call “the bear’s den”. Maybe this griz will decide to hibernate there this winter. Hope not! Most of our snow is gone but today is cloudy and there is light snow in the forecast for several days of the next week. Staying bear aware in Swan Valley, Pat”

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Santa Claus Day had to be cancelled this year due to COVID restrictions on events but that did not stop Santa and his band of elves from visiting the Rutland children. Thanks to the Rutland Community Club and the Rutland-Cayuga Rural Fire Department, Santa Claus made his rounds on Sunday, December 13. The Fire Department chauffeured Santa to about 40 houses to visit approximately 88 Rutland area children, newborn to age 18. The elves helped Santa visit the excited children at each home and to present them with gifts which were enthusiastically received. Thanks to the Rutland Community Club and members of the Rutland-Cayuga Fire Department for taking the time to make so many kids’ Christmas wishes come true!

December 21st marks the winter solstice which is the longest night of the year. It is the point when daylight once again starts to gain ground on the dark of night. This year, that date will also mark the appearance of the Christmas Star. It has been nearly 800 years since the Star appeared in 1226. Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in the solar system, will align. It will seem from our view that they are nearly touching but they will still be hundreds of miles apart. This lousy year will provide a gleam of hope and wonder. Be sure to watch for the conjunction of the planets which will appear low in the western sky for roughly an hour after sunset.

That is it for this this week from Rutland. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Hens Do Crow! Dec. 11, 2020

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It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Rutland thanks to the elves who installed the new snowflake lights along First Street. Last week, Jake Erickson and Evan Huemiller hung the decorations while Nick McLaen actually read the instructions on how they were to be installed. (We know guys do not usually read the instructions first, right gals!). A huge thanks also goes to the Rutland Community Club which purchased the decorations earlier this year. The Christmas lights will light up the night for residents and visitors alike for several weeks.

The coronavirus has been cutting a swath through North Dakota for the past several weeks, and it has not passed Rutland by. Roger Pearson of this community has been in the hospital battling the effects of the virus, plus pneumonia, since Thursday, December 3. As of Monday, December 7, he was at Sanford Hospital on Broadway in Fargo. Roger said that the nurses had him sitting in a recliner, drinking Coca-Cola and watching TV, so it was almost like being home. Roger is a member of RHS Class of 1958.

Larry Christensen reports that his cousin, Rutland native Ed Christensen of Bismarck, was recently released from the hospital there, after being besieged by Covid-19 for several weeks. Ed is a 1961 graduate of RHS. 

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Hens Do Crow! Dec. 4, 2020

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The Sargent County 4-H Awards Program was held virtually over Zoom on November 22. The program is usually held in Forman with an audience of members, parents, and grandparents but things were changed this year. The Sargent County Extension Office staff did a wonderful job coordinating the event. The program began with the 4-H Club Leader Awards, the Friend of 4-H Award, and First Year Member Awards. Several 4-H Contest Awards were presented for Crops and Horse Judging, the Horse Quiz Bowl, and the Sargent County Communication Award. The Project Awards, Interview Awards and Membership Awards were presented to deserving youth who had entered the 4-H Achievement Days that were also held virtually in July. Congratulations to the Rutland Raiders 4-H Members who took home over twenty awards in the various categories.

On Saturday, December 5th, The Lariat Bar was going to celebrate owner Pete’s birthday by hosting an ugly sweater party and karaoke. However, with the limited capacity and early closing hours they have decided to change things up. They will still celebrate Pete’s birthday and have an Ugly Sweater Party and Karaoke just a bit earlier. Stop on by for a few drinks, sing a song or two and have a great meal all starting at 3 pm. And do not forget to wear your ugliest sweater and wish Pete a happy birthday! Hope to see you all there!

The Rutland City Council will hold its last meeting of 2020 on Monday, December 7, starting at 5 p.m. Council meetings are always open to the public. Social distancing is maintained.

Santa Claus is making alternative travel and visitation plans during this year of COVID-19. With the change in his plans, the Rutland Community Club will not be hosting a visit to the Rutland Hall this December. Like the Elf on the Shelf this year that has to be quarantined for 14 days before making his rounds, Santa can not squeeze in all the time for the visits with quarantine rules. Santa is making a plan for his safe visits to homes this winter, so you better be good!

That is all the news from Rutland this week. Stay warm and be safe.

Hens Do Crow! Nov. 20, 2020

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Rutland held a tree pruning clinic/workshop earlier this month as part of its Tree City USA efforts. Mary O’Neill, from the Lisbon Office of the ND Forest Service, gave tips and demonstrated how to correctly prune trees. It was an opportunity to get some of the City trees trimmed by volunteer labor! The City has had nearly 30 trees removed in the past two years and will continue to remove diseased and dying/dead trees. Next year’s Tree City USA grant applications will include tree planting so if you have suggestions for City tree placement next year, let us know. Suggestions can be dropped off at the Hall or sent via email to rutlandnd@drtel.net. The City of Rutland was recognized as a North Dakota 2019 Arbor Day Foundation Award Winner for its efforts and accomplishments as a Tree City USA community.

Pruning Trees

Today is the last day to participate in the Community Vibrancy Survey for Sargent County. The County is partnering with Growing Small Towns, a new 501 (c)(3) located in Oakes, to create programs, education, and events to help residents and businesses in Sargent County grow. The link for the survey has been on the Rutland blog and on the Rutland Facebook page. Forman, Gwinner and Milnor have also posted the link for the survey. If you have not had a chance to respond to the survey, please do so today! The survey asks questions about what Rutland and Sargent County look like today and what changes you would like to see in the future. You can find the survey online at the rutlandramblings.blog “Growing Small Towns” or on the rutlandnd.com website in the “Recent News” on the Sargent County Survey. Do not delay!

Continue reading “Hens Do Crow! Nov. 20, 2020” →

The Rooster Crows – November 6, 2020

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By Bill Anderson

Well, here we are at Election Day 2020, finally.  As this column is being written, Americans are already heading to the polls on the East Coast, and by this time next week the votes will have been counted and canvassed, so who the voters chose, and who they rejected, will be known for sure, we think, maybe. Mother Nature chased Old Man Winter out of the house for the week, providing a beautiful series of Indian Summer days for the voters to cast their ballots and either celebrate their victories or mourn their losses. Voter turnout is expected to be at a record level, as more than 97 million Americans had already voted by mail, or in early voting, prior to Election Day. Some States had already exceeded their 2016 totals by Election Day 2020. What does it all mean? Well, don’t worry, we will have self-styled political experts, commentators and historians explaining it to us for the next century, and we will be able to take our pick of the opinions offered.  The one thing that most Americans are thankful for, though, is that it is over, for a few days at least. The 2024 campaign begins when the polls close on Election Day! The next election, like this one, will be the most important in our lifetime.

Like the 2020 political campaign, the 2020 harvest campaign is winding down in the Rutland area. There are still a few corn fields standing, and even a field or 2 of soybeans, but, for the most part, the 2020 harvest is in the bin and the proceeds are in the sock. Yields of 180 bushels per acre for corn and 40 bushels per acre for soybeans are considered to be “OK” these days, and reports are that yields for 2020 are in the “OK” to “way too good to talk about” category. As usual, there’s always something to take the glow off the occasion, though, and this year, again as usual, the price is too low.  Well, farmers are nothing if they’re not optimists, and there is another year coming. As the late Dave Hoflen of this community often noted, “There have been two good years in North Dakota, 1914 and next year.” So, we have a chance at the best year ever coming up in 2021, but you have to play the game if you want to be a winner.

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Growing Small Towns

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Hey, Rutland residents!

We want to hear from YOU!

What do you want for the future of Rutland and Sargent County?

We are excited to be partnering with Growing Small Towns, a new 501(c)(3) located in Oakes to create programs, education, and events to help you and businesses in Sargent County grow.

Will you help us out?

Click this link: Sargent County Survey and tell us what you think!

After you submit your answers—they’re totally anonymous, by the way—share this post on your social media and encourage others to participate!

No matter your age, vocation, or experience, your voice matters.

Thank you for helping us create a brighter future for Rutland and Sargent County.

We are collecting responses through Friday, November 20.