Tag: COVID-19

The Rooster Crows – April 8, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

Spring has been behaving like a reluctant maiden for the past few weeks, first bestowing her warm and radiant smile on her ardent suitors, then chilling their enthusiasm with a dousing of rain, snow and slush. Well, maybe it’s all part of an elaborate April Fools prank. Sooner or later, Spring is bound to bestow the warmth of her embrace upon the land, but, until then, she is delivering the promise without the squeeze. The 3 inches of new snow that fell on Sunday, April 3, was a reminder that April showers do not only bring May flowers. Those showers may also bring snow, slush and hazardous driving conditions. On the bright side, Janelle Brakke drove from Rutland to Fargo on Sunday afternoon, and reports that the clean snow removed all of the exterior dirt & grime from her car, as nicely as if she had purchased the high-priced option at the car wash. Every cloud has its silver lining.

A large group of family and friends gathered at the Rutland Town Hall on the afternoon of Saturday, April 2, to honor Delores “PeeWee” Breker on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Delores is one of the daughters of the late Mr. & Mrs. Harold Evenson. The Evensons made their home in Rutland when Delores was born, but later moved to Cogswell where she grew up and went to school. When she married Ralph Breker, she again became part of the Rutland community, residing on the farm southeast of town where Shane & Carla Breker now make their home. Guests from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota were on hand to help Delores celebrate, and Stephen Ricksecker, a nephew who had made his home with Ralph & PeeWee during his high school years, flew all the way from California to attend the party. PeeWee’s many friends in this community extend an enthusiastic “Happy Birthday!” to her, and best wishes for many more to come.

Confirmation students at Nordland Lutheran Church: Greta Bladow; Kaycee Hamilton; Whitney Mahrer; and Charlize Willprecht; presented their Affirmation of Faith statements to the Congregation; and, 5th Grade students: Julia Mahrer; Loden Jochim; Lilith Pavek; and, Krosby Willprecht; had their First Communion; during worship service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 3.  The Confirmation service, also called Affirmation of Baptism, for Greta, Kaycee, Whitney, and Charlize is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, at Nordland Lutheran Church. This is an impressive group of young ladies: intelligent; articulate; and, confident; of whom their families and their community can be proud.

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The Rooster Crows – April 1, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

Geese by the millions … well, maybe by the hundreds of thousands, had congregated in the Rutland area on Monday & Tuesday, March 28 & 29, taking a pause in their northward migration. Some of the geese, primarily those of the Giant Canada variety, were busy selecting nesting sites in the local area, while the rest, the snows, blues, brant, speckle-bellies and lesser Canadians, were foraging in preparation for the next leg of their journey up to the Arctic Ocean. Predators such as American Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks, shadowed the huge flocks of geese, picking off the weak and the crippled. The number of human predators tracking the flocks seemed to be down this year, but maybe they’re just better camouflaged than normal. Well, good luck to the hunters, and good luck to the geese. We’ll see you again this fall.

It started out as rain on the evening of Tuesday, March 29, but changed to slushy, mushy, sloppy snow sometime during the night. The forecasters had predicted 1 to 3 inches of snow from the event, and they could have been right, about halfway through the night. Chuck Anderson measured 5 inches of snow in his Weber Township farmyard, and Chuck Sundlie said that there was a good 6 inches of slush on his front yard on the southeast corner of town on Wednesday morning. According to Denny Pherson, the precipitation is welcome, as we don’t have to go too far west, south or north of Sargent County to find areas that are already suffering from the effects of drought. Custom harvesters are expecting a short crop of winter wheat this year, due to drought conditions all the way from Texas to North Dakota, says Denny.

Sargent Central students participating in League Trap Shooting this spring were selling raffle tickets in town this week, raising money to help defray expenses for clay pigeons, ammunition and other necessities. Among those working for the cause were: Tucker Wiederholt; Lucy Mahrer; and, Brody Mahrer. According to Tucker, the drawing for a cash prize of $500 will be held on Friday, April 1, and that’s not an April Fool’s Day joke, either.

Lou Ann Lee of Abercrombie ND, representing the Quilts Of Valor Foundation, presented handmade quilts to 9 local veterans of the Vietnam War in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, in the Nordland Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. The quilts were made by a group of quilters from the Abercrombie area who are affiliated with the Quilts Of Valor Foundation. Each quilt had the veteran’s name and the date of presentation embroidered on it. Those presented with quilts were: Larry Christensen; Bill Anderson; Wallace Herman; John Hoflen; Andrew Hoflen; Boyd Jacobson, Jr.; Calvin Jacobson; Douglas Olstad; and, Douglas Spieker. The quilts were presented individually, and Ms. Lee read a brief summary of each veteran’s service as the quilt was draped over the veteran’s shoulders. Each veteran then had a chance to make a few remarks, and they all kept it short. Ms. Lee also presented emblems authorized by Congress to commemorate Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day, March 29, to all those veterans present who had served in the U. S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, from November of 1955 to May of 1975, regardless of where their service was. March 29, 1973, forty-nine years ago, was the date when the last U. S. combat unit left Vietnam. Following the ceremony the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary served coffee and bars for those in attendance.

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The Rooster Crows – Dec. 31, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Oh, say can you see, by the New Year’s first light, what so proudly we hailed at September’s last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through 3 months of perilous nights, O’er the old Franzen Building were so gallantly streaming; And the street lights’ bright glare, the stars shining in air, gave proof through the nights that our flag was still there; Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the little city that can, home of the free and the brave? Well, the Flag still flies over the Rutland Post Office, and the door is still locked. The Postal Service has provided no information to the Rutland community as to when, if ever, service may be expected to be restored. In the meantime, there has been no additional clean up or repair activity observed at the Rutland Post Office building. No information. No action. No service. No Post Office. It could be described as a heck of a way to run a railroad, except that, back when the railroads hauled the mail the Post Office was open, and the mail got delivered. So much for 50 years of progress! Benjamin Franklin, America’s first Postmaster General, would be appalled by the disrespectful and cavalier attitude of today’s U. S. Postal Service management.

Mother Nature and Old Man Winter teamed up to deliver the first blizzard of the season, commencing on the day after Christmas, Sunday, December 26, and continuing into the early evening of Monday, December 27. Depending on whose report you choose to listen to, the storm delivered either 1 to 3 inches of new snow or 6 to 8 inches of new snow, along with sustained wind speeds of 30 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, and temperatures falling from the mid-20’s above Zero to the sub-Zero regions by Monday night. Below Zero conditions are predicted to continue throughout this week and into the New Year. While there is no relief from cold, snow and wind foreseen in the near-term forecasts, most prognosticators are of the opinion that warmer conditions will return to the region before the next summer solstice.

The blizzard had both I-94 and I-29 closed to traffic on Sunday night and Monday morning, and a “No Travel” advisory posted for the entire eastern end of North Dakota. Roads were also closed in northeastern South Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. In Sargent County, the State & County snowplows were out opening roads by Monday afternoon, and in the City of Rutland Scott Haan was opening streets with the City’s snow removal equipment by mid-afternoon, with some assistance from Bernard Mahrer Construction’s big equipment, as well. There is now enough snow on the ground to provide employment opportunities for snow removal crews every time the wind shifts. As the old-timers used to say, “There’s nothing so bad that it doesn’t do someone some good.”

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The Rooster Crows – Nov. 12, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

The first weekend in November may have been the last weekend of “Indian Summer” for the year of 2021. Friday through Sunday had temperatures in the 60’s, topping out at 67 degrees (that’s above Zero) on Saturday, November 6. Monday and Tuesday, November 8 & 9, were both bright, sunny days with the mercury hitting the mid-50’s, but the TV weather experts are assuring us that the pleasant conditions will end by Wednesday, November 10. Those dreaded 4 letter words, rain, cold, wind and snow are in the forecast for the days ahead. Farmers with crops still in the field have been running their combines and trucks day and night, trying to reach the end of the harvest before Mother Nature puts an end to it for them. Well, it’s not as if we didn’t know it was coming, and it won’t be the first time, nor the last, that mud and snow have made life difficult for local farmers. Still, it’s always preferable to have the harvest all wrapped up before Old Man Winter arrives, rather than to have him riding in the combine cab with you.

The 2021 North Dakota rifle season for Whitetail deer opened at Noon on Friday, November 5, but local hunters are not reporting much success, so far. The weather has been too nice, and neither the deer nor the hunters have been in the mood for the chase. The situation is expected to improve this coming weekend, though, as more seasonal conditions move into the region.

There has been one report of deer hunter success so far this week. Jim Huckell, who has been successfully hunting deer in the coulees of the Coteau des Prairies Hills south of Rutland since the days of John C. Fremont and Joseph Nicollette, well, maybe not quite that long, bagged a good sized 4 X 5 buck just before sunset on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 9. Jim has farmed and ranched in the hills since his childhood days, and knows every draw and coulee like the back of his hand. When you know the land you’re hunting on; the habits of the animal you’re hunting; and, the characteristics of the weapon you’re hunting with; you’re halfway to deer sausage on the grill.

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The Rooster Crows – Sept. 17, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Ahhhhh, September! Cool nights, warm days, clear blue skies, and just enough rain to keep the lawn mower from seizing up. If only…if only…but, no, it can’t last. Time marches on! The rain that visited Rutland and vicinity on the afternoon of Monday, September 13, was about as nice as a rain could be. The rain came straight down and soaked right in. No run off to speak of. Roger Pearson reported that his gauge at 409 Gay Street held .6 of an inch when the rain stopped, and Jesse Brakke’s electronic gauge at his farm between Rutland and Cayuga registered .63 of an inch. Janet Kiefer reported that Cayuga was blessed with .8 of an inch. When the days are so beautiful, and the weather is so nice, it’s difficult to envision that harsher, less pleasant conditions await. “There are two seasons in North Dakota,” the late Clayton McLaen used to say, “winter, and getting ready for winter.” This is the time to be getting ready for tougher times ahead. But, what the heck? You can’t work all the time, can you? This week, this month, take some time to enjoy all of the roses you will encounter along your path. Just remember, winter’s a’comin’!

Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson departed here on Tuesday, August 31, bound for Green Bay WI and a tour of picturesque Door County. They returned home on Thursday, September 9. During their trip they took in a real Wisconsin “fish boil,” where they enjoyed a chance meeting with Chuck’s cousin and her husband, Chad & Karla (Kleingarn) Stencel of Minneapolis. Karla is the daughter of Harvey & Sue (McLaen) Kleingarn of Forman. They also took a boat ride on Lake Michigan where they happened to meet Mike & Lisa Markovic, parents of frequent Rutland visitor Alex Markovic, who plan to be visiting at the Jesse Brakke home near Rutland for the 2021 North Dakota Pheasant Season opener in October. The Markovics make their home in Chicago IL. Every silver lining has a cloud, though, and the Andersons’ trip lost some of its luster on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 8, as they were driving west on Wisconsin Highway #29 near Wausau WI. A pallet had apparently fallen off a truck as it crossed the bridge at the Wisconsin River, chuck said, scattering debris across the highway. Two law enforcement vehicles, with lights flashing, were parked on either side of the highway, narrowing the traffic lanes and forcing traffic to slow. Ahead of the Anderson’s 2017 GMC ¾ ton 4X4 pickup and 5th wheel travel trailer was a small Jeep utility vehicle. The driver of the Jeep slammed on his brakes, as did Chuck, but the Andersons’ big rig couldn’t stop as quickly as could the smaller vehicle. Ka-Boom! The Andersons’ pickup slammed into the rear of the Jeep, shattering that vehicles rear window and scattering glass all over the highway. The front end of the Andersons’ pickup was smashed, but, fortunately, no damage was done to the headlights, radiator or engine. The Andersons were able to drive their vehicle home, after a wrecker arrived on the scene and used its winch to pull the right front fender off the tire so the wheel could turn, Chuck said. No one was hurt, and no citations were issued. Well, the best part of any trip is getting home, and even more so this time around. Weber Township might not be as picturesque as Door County, but it’s home sweet home for Chuck & Mary Beth.

Joel Susag was up in Fort Ransom on Saturday & Sunday, September 11 & 12, to take in the second “Sod Busters’” horse farming exhibition of the 2021 season. The event is held in Fort Ransom State Park, and, according to Joel, whether or not it would happen at all this September had been a close thing, due to the State Health Department’s concerns about the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.  Participants observed the protocols, said Joel, and everything went off without a hitch. Joel returned to Rutland with several bags of red potatoes that had been harvested the old-fashioned way, by hand, and presented them to the Rutland Seniors’ Center. Joel reports that the crowd at the event was quite large. He and Hal Nelson took Joel’s pickup and a trailer up to Fort Ransom on Tuesday, September 14, to retrieve Joel’s WD-45 Allis-Chalmers tractor that had been driven in a tractorcade from Lisbon to the Fort the previous week. Joel plans to have his vintage tractor in the Uff-Da Day Parade on Sunday, October 3.

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The Rooster Crows – July 9, 2021

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by Bill Anderson

“All day we’ve faced the barren waste without a taste of water. Cool, clear water.” Sang The Sons Of The Pioneers years ago, and their words were about to become the 2021 theme song for Rutland and vicinity, until the morning of Tuesday, July 6, when the hot, dry barren waste was replaced by cool, clear water in the form of a 60 degree temperature reading and a misty, drizzly rain that was not a desert mirage but the real thing. It wasn’t a big rain, but, as The Assembled Wise Men observed, “It was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.”  Roger Pearson reported .3 of an inch in his rain gauge on the east end of Gay Street, Mark Wyum reported .6 of an inch at his farmstead about 2 miles northeast of town, Jesse Brakke’s electronic gauge between Rutland & Cayuga recorded .46 of an inch of rainfall; DuWayne Baldwin reported .47 of an inch of precipitation south of Geneseo; and, Chuck Anderson’s gauge at the Anderson’s Weber Township farm 5½ miles southwest of town held .58 of an inch of blessings from Heaven; when the rain stopped. The relatively cool weather that is predicted for the rest of the week will allow the rain to soak in and do some good for the growing corn and soybean crops. According to Mr. Baldwin, the corn plants have perked up their ears and the beans are smiling.

Former Rutland community members Bill & Mary Woytassek paid a visit to their old friends in the old home town on Wednesday, June 30. The Woytasseks had been on a vacation trip to Granite Falls MN on the previous weekend, and decided to pay a visit to Rutland on their way back to their home at Detroit Lakes MN. They pulled in on the evening of Tuesday, June 29, parked their travel trailer in the Rutland RV Park, and then stopped in at the Rutland Seniors Center on Wednesday morning to catch up on the news and have coffee with the home folks.

Dave Kulzer, who has been visiting in Rutland since Monday, June 28, went out for lunch with the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) group at Noon on Thursday, July 1. Regulars included: Dale McLaen; Mark Wyum; Bruce Peterson; and, Bill Anderson.  Guests were: Jackie Peterson; Kathy Wyum; and, Dave Kulzer. This was the first outing for the ROMEO group since March of 2020, and they chose to check out the fare at the Geneseo Bar, which they found to be excellent. Charter members of the ROMEO group were: the late Earl Cramton; the late Richard Bradbury; Mark Wyum; and, Dale McLaen. The resumption of their weekly meeting is one more sign that life is returning to normal since the covid-19 pandemic has loosened its grip.

Speaking of covid-19, the pandemic may havelessened its ferocity since vaccines became available, but it is still a threat to public health. Statistics released last week indicate that 99.2% of those who have died of covid-19 during the month of June had not been vaccinated, while only 0.8% of those who died of the disease during the same period had received a vaccination. Sargent County Public Health District Administrator Brenda Peterson reports  that this County has not had an active covid-19 case since June 24, and her team is working to keep it that way. Sargent County has not quite reached the goal of having 70% of adults vaccinated by the 4th of July, but is continuing to work toward that goal, too.  To make an appointment to schedule a covid-19 vaccination, call: Sargent County Public Health at 724-3725; Forman Drug at 724-6222; or, Sanford Clinic at 742-3267.Paul Anderson reports from Spider Lake, near Nevis MN, that his grandson, Rhys Elfering, and granddaughter, Arlo Elfering, ages 2 and 4 months, respectively, were his guests at the lake on Friday, July 2. Rhys enjoyed piloting Grandpa’s pontoon, the SS Swamp Rat, around the lake, according to Paul.  Rhys & Arlo were accompanied by Paul’s daughter & son-in-law, Katie and Josh Elfering. The Elferings make their home in Seattle WA, and had flown back to the Midwest to visit family and friends over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Paul also reports that the Nevis area received 2½ inches of rain on the morning of Tuesday, July 6.  The rain was very welcome, as that area has missed out on even the small showers that have been keeping crops in Sargent County green and growing.

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