Tag: Nordland Lutheran Church

The Rooster Crows – June 8, 2018

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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.

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The Rooster Crows – May 4, 2018

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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.

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The Rooster Crows – March 30, 2018

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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.

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The Rooster Crows – April 6, 2012

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April 6, 2012:  Spring weather continues to hold the prairie in its warm embrace, and even provided a gift of Rain on Thursday, March 29, depositing .4 of an inch in Rutland, and more to the east.  Saturday was a beautiful day, with little wind and the temperature in the low 70’s.  Mother Nature provided a change of air on Sunday and Monday, April 1 and 2, as high winds swept across the region, but Tuesday, April 3, resumed this gentle Spring’s aspect.

Greg Donaldson reports that the walleyes were biting along the Wild Rice River earlier this Spring, and he had been having some good luck until the water flow slowed down.  Greg is close-mouthed about the hot spots on the River, though, only admitting that the best place to fish on the Wild Rice is somewhere between Straubville, in southwestern Sargent County, and south Fargo, where the Wild Rice flows into the Red River of the North.  Gordy Phillips has been spending some time fishing at the spot where the Wild Rice enters Silver Lake, and reports that the fishing success was pretty good there back in the middle of March, but the bite has slowed as the water level in the River has dropped.  For those who have the patience to keep at it, the local lakes: Tewaukon; Sprague; Silver; and, Buffalo; have been producing some nice fish, not a lot of them but enough to keep the fishermen coming.  Chris Dennison reports some nice walleyes and northerns, but never in the same place twice, and usually only 1 or 2 a day.

Peder & Connie Gulleson and girls; Steve Wyum; and, Bill Anderson; were among those from Rutland who drove over to Cogswell on Friday afternoon to take in the retirement party for County Extension Agent Julie Hassebroeck.  Julie had served as County Extension Agent in Sargent County since March of 1986, her 26 years of service being the longest that anyone has served the County in that capacity.  As the County’s Extension Agent, Julie has been very proactive and helpful in arranging programs on economic development; transition of farms & businesses from one generation to the next; livestock and crop production; and, 4-H Youth activities.  A lunch was served by the staff of the Sargent County Extension Service office, assisted by some of Julie’s friends.  A number of co-workers and friends also spoke of Julie’s contributions to the job and to the community during the reception.  Mrs. Hassebroeck now intends to devote her energies to assisting her husband, David, tend to horses, cattle and crops on the Hassebroeck farm in southwestern Sargent County. Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – April 6, 2012” →

Palm Sunday Dinner

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Yesterday I took a break from cooking and stopped in for dinner at the Rutland Hall.  The meal, put on by the Nordland Lutheran Church parishioners, was another success.  Between 250 and 300 individuals stopped in for Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and a great variety of salads and yummy desserts.  It was great to have the opportunity for a homemade meal without having to cook it myself.  Congratulations to the parishioners and workers at the Hall who contributed to fundraising event!

NLC 125th

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Nordland Lutheran Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary on the weekend of July 10 and July 11 beginning with a pie and ice cream social in the church parish hall on Saturday and a hymn sing and outdoor games for all during this time.

Sunday, July 11, began with a celebratory worship service followed by a free will dinner at City Hall.   Check out these photos courtesy of Annette Malheim Kisser!

Afternoon Fellowship

Noon Meal at the Town Hall