Tag: Daylight Savings Time

The Rooster Crows – March 10, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

As of Friday, March 10, the arrival of Spring, the Vernal Equinox, on Monday, March 20, will be only 10 days into the future. So far, though, there is no sign of the imminent arrival of spring-like weather conditions on the horizon. The weather gurus just predict more snow on more snow, without any letup in sight. The old timers used to advise that Spring, in all her glory, would not arrive until after Easter, which is on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox. In 2023 Easter will be on Sunday, April 9, so don’t look for any nice weather until then, unless an exception to “The Old Timers’ Rule” is found, and then all bets are off.

The actual snowfall amount from the blizzard of Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday, March 1, was higher than the 5 to 9 inches that had been originally predicted. Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper was of the opinion that about 10 inches of new snow had fallen on Forman and vicinity by Thursday afternoon. Rutland’s City snow removal specialist, Scott Haan, was of the opinion that Rutland had been blessed with more than 12 inches of the stuff. The snowfall on Sunday, March 5 and the early morning of Monday, March 6, deposited about 2 inches of new snow on the Rutland area, according to City Maintenance worker Scott Haan, with the amount decreasing to the north and east, while Havana reported 7 inches of new snow, with the amount increasing to the south and west. Rutland folks don’t mind being on the short end of snowfall totals at this time of year.

The United States, at least most of it, switches to Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. this coming Sunday, March 12. At 2:00 in the morning on the appointed day we will all spring one hour into the future, resetting our clocks and watches to 3:00 a.m. We will continue to live an hour ahead of where we would have been without Daylight Savings Time until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, when we will all fal back into the past one hour, regaining the hour of sleep we lost on the morning of March 12. One of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, first proposed Daylight Savings Time in America in an effort to save on candles during the Revolutionary War. As there were no Standard Time Zones at the time, though, and every community set its clocks, if it had any, by the Sun, the idea did not catch on. American and Canadian railroads adopted the Standard Time Zones on November 19, 1883, in an effort to keep their trains from running into each other. In 1918, during World War I, the Congress made the railroad’s Standard Time Zones the law of the land, and imposed Daylight Savings Time on the entire nation, as part of the war effort to save on energy. The Day light Savings Time provisions of that measure were repealed in 1919. During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt imposed Daylight Savings Time on the entire nation again, in February of 1942, proclaiming it to be “War Time”, and it remained in effect until the War ended in September of 1945. After World War II, some States continued to use Daylight Savings Time during the Summer months, usually between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and some States just stayed with Standard Time. Minnesota adopted the summer use of Daylight Savings Time, and some of North Dakota’s larger cities on its eastern border, such as Fargo, also adopted it. Later on, North Dakotans approved an initiated measure that outlawed Daylight Savings Time and made Standard Time, or, as Rutland’s John Narum called it, “God’s Time,” the official time of the State. In 1973, during the Arab oil embargo, President Nixon imposed year-round Daylight Savings Time on the entire country as an emergency measure to conserve energy. A lot of people, including John Narum, did not like Daylight Savings Time during the Winter months, and Congress later put Nixon’s proclamation aside with the adoption of the current National Law on the subject. The law has been modified from time to time, but, so far, it has caused no insurrections or revolutions in the Lower 48. John Narum never did adopt Daylight Savings Time, and kept his watch set on Standard Time to the end of his days, and, presumably beyond.

All roads led to Rutland on the evening of Friday, March 3, as fish fry aficionados headed for the little city that can to enjoy the most recent incarnation of the Rutland Sportsmen’s Club’s Annual Great Northern Pike Fish Fry at the Rutland Town Hall. According to Club President, Shannon Hajek, 246 free will donors contributed $4,263.00 for Sargent County’s Food Pantry. Once again, there was fierce competition between the pan fryers and the deep fryers for the public’s favor, and at least one pretty girl, a Rutland native, preferred the deep fried version. The competition is expected to continue into 2024, however, and both groups are fine-tuning their spices and techniques in preparation for next year’s fish fry on Friday, March 1, 2024. Don’t miss it. It’s the best known, and the best tasting, fish fry in the Tri-State region.

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The Rooster Crows – Mar. 18, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

Well, if Spring hasn’t sprung, it’s sure getting froggy. From below zero temperatures a week ago to highs in the 40’s and 50’s above Zero this week, the weather turnabout has improved outlooks and lifted spirits throughout the community. Cameron Gulleson says that it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Gulleson Ranch has about 100 new Black Angus calves on the ground, with another 600 soon to arrive, and new calves do a lot better at 50 degrees above zero than they do at 10 or 20 below. The Vernal Equinox occurs this Sunday, March 20, and that is the First Day of Spring, according to the Sun. History tells us that there will still be plenty of opportunities for blizzards and freezing weather between now and the First of June, but at least the end of Winter is near. Although weather historians tell us that we have endured tougher winters than the one just ending, this one, with its biting cold and fierce winds, seemed to be about as tough as we would want to have it. We North Dakotans will hang on to bragging rights for enduring Winter’s icy blasts, but there’s no sense in overdoing it. Enough is enough!

Twenty-one volunteer firemen, 16 from the Rutland-Cayuga Fire Protection District and 5 from the Forman-Havana Fire Protection District, gathered at the Rutland Fire Hall on Friday and Saturday, March 11 & 12, for vehicle extraction training. The Rutland-Cayuga Department had recently acquired the tools, including: the Jaws of Life; hydraulic powered cutting tools; a hydraulic ram; and a hydraulic power unit; and Rutland Fire Chief Jesse Maly had arranged for Rick Jorgenson from Lidgerwood, a North Dakota Certified Trainer, to lead the training exercises. During the course of the 2-day training session, the firemen cut apart 4 wrecked automobiles while learning how to handle the new tools. The new equipment was obtained from a dealer in central Minnesota who spends a lot of time hunting in the Rutland area each Fall, according to Cam Gulleson, a member of the Rutland Fire Department. All 21 of those who attended the training sessions are now certified to operate the Jaws of Life equipment, when and if necessary. The Rutland-Cayuga Fire Protection District will be holding its annual meeting this Thursday, March 17, at the Rutland Fire Hall. Bryce Carlson & Chris Jochim currently serve as the District’s board chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, and Kaia Mahrer serves as the District’s Clerk. Jesse Maly is Fire Chief and Travis Peterson is Assistant Fire Chief of the Rutland Department. Kurt Breker is Fire Chief of the Cayuga Department. Sargent County Emergency Manager Wendy Willprecht has commended those firefighters who completed the Jaws of Life training, increasing their ability to provide potentially life-saving services to the people of the community.

A large group of friends and family members gathered at the Jesse Brakke home in Ransom Township on Saturday, March 12, to present Jesse with a surprise 60th birthday party. Among those who came from a distance were: James & Sydney Brakke of Somerset WI; Claire Brakke & Alex Markovic of Madison WI; and Doug & Nancy Glarum from Detroit Lakes MN. Those in attendance report that a rollicking good time was enjoyed by all. Jesse’s birthday was actually on Sunday, the 13th, but, as long as everyone was there on Saturday, might as well party on.

Speaking of rollicking good times, Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen reports that one was enjoyed by those attending Fun Night in Rutland on Sunday, March 13. More than 180 were present and having a good time in the Rutland Town Hall, according to Community Club board member Morgan Peterson. Twenty community volunteers manned the 12 game booths, the cakewalk, the BINGO game, and the lunch counter. Pizza & hot dogs were on the menu, as well as popcorn, cotton candy and Shirley Temples. You can’t beat that for a balanced diet! Sixty door prizes were awarded, and so many cakes had been donated for the cakewalk that, despite 2 hours of continuous action, there were still 15 cakes left at the end of the evening that also were awarded as door prizes. Congratulations to the Rutland Community Club and its officers on another great event in Rutland. The next Community Club event coming up in Rutland is the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, at the Rutland Town Hall.

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The Rooster Crows – Nov. 5, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

The rain that moved through the Rutland area on Wednesday, October 27, left more than an inch of precipitation in its wake.  Roger Pearson’s rain gauge at 409 Gay Street held 1.2” when the rain stopped on Wednesday evening, and Camron Gulleson reports That his gauge recorded 1.3” at the Gulleson Farm 1½ mile east of town.  Last Wednesday’s reading was the last one from Roger’s gauge for the 2021 season, as he has now removed the gauge from its post in the back yard and taken it inside for the winter. Cameron said that the cumulative amount of rainfall at the Gulleson Farm since August 20 is 13.86”. Prior to August 20, the rainfall amount during the entire 2021 growing season was 3.49”, according to Cameron’s records. Well, there won’t be much growing going on for the next several months. From now til then we are likely to be measuring precipitation amounts with a yard stick, rather than with a rain gauge.

Cameron Gulleson also reports that he and Jenny have been making some improvements to their Ransom Township farm home. A new entryway/mud room has been added to the east side of the house, and the entire house is being re-sided with “Smart Siding” a laminated wood product. Cameron says that he, Jenny and his Dad, Bill, have been doing the work. The house will also be receiving new roofing in the near future. The house was originally built on the NE¼ of Section 13 in Rutland Township by Dale McLaen, and was moved to the Gulleson farm in the NE¼ of Section 29 in Ransom Township by Cameron & Jenny several years ago. Congratulations to the Gullesons on the improvements to their home.

John Lloyd, Mark Charnowski (He says that he’s Irish) and Moose Rose of Fond du Lac WI were Rutland residents from Monday, October 25, to Monday, November 1, headquartering at Lori McLaen’s rental, The Bunkhous, on Rutland’s Main Street. The trio were hunting ducks and pheasants during their stay here. They also spent a few evenings at The Lariat, getting acquainted and making new friends. They enjoyed success on all fronts.

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The Rooster Crows — October 30, 2020

On By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Last week’s weather report in this column was way too optimistic. Old Man Winter not only sent his calling card, he sent a load of furniture and started moving in for the season. Anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of new snow on Wednesday, October 21, was added to the two to four inches that had blanketed the area on Monday, October 19, giving Rutland and vicinity the appearance of full-blown Winter. Additionally, the temperature has not ventured above the freezing mark since last Wednesday, either, adding the feel of Winter to the appearance. The forecast is calling for the mercury to climb back up into the 40’s for Halloween on Saturday, October 31, and the return of Central Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, November 1. The end of Daylight Saving Time brings up another matter that needs discussing: if Daylight Saving Time is in effect for nearly eight months, and Standard Time is in effect for only about four months, why isn’t Daylight Saving Time called Standard Time, and the period of Standard Time called something else, Daylight Spending Time, perhaps? Back during the first OPEC Oil Embargo in 1973, then President Nixon imposed year-round Daylight Saving Time on the nation, an unpopular move that neither saved nor spent even one lumen of daylight. As we recall, Nixon liked to work in the dark, though, and that may have been a factor that contributed to the early end of his Presidency in August of 1974, about 2½ years before the end of his second term in the White House. Well, he said that he wasn’t a crook, and he did manage to prove that he wasn’t a very good one. So, let’s see now, where were we?  Oh yes, Winter! Well, it’s here, and it’s not welcome, and that’s all we’re going to say about that!

Peter and Michelle Denault, and their staff at the Lariat Bar, have made a very good impression on the community since they first reopened the establishment on Friday, October 16. In addition to a fine selection of beverages, the Denaults have also been providing some outstanding dining from the grill. For information about hours and menu items call the Lariat Bar at 724-6239. Everybody is welcome at The Lariat!

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