Pinochle Tourney

On February 8, 2011April 2, 2011 By rutlandramblingsIn Events, Rutland Community ClubLeave a comment

Last Saturday, February 5, Rutland hosted the 16th Annual Anderson Family Pinochle Tournament. Sixty teams made it into town and spent the day in the Rutland Town Hall playing in the Partners Pinochle Tourney. Players came from far and wide for this annual event — Rutland, Gwinner, Forman, Wahpeton, Sioux Falls and even Texas. First deal started at 9 a.m. and the first 8 rounds were finished by noon.

Players and workers alike enjoyed the scalloped potatoes and ham, beans, ham sandwiches, and a wide selection of homemade bars. The Rutland Community Club once again met the challenge of providing the food for the nearly 150 individuals. It was a close call but there was just enough scalloped potatoes to go around — the cold weather and invigorating games brought out the hunger in everyone. Next year we will tweak the menu – keep the scalloped potatoes (and make more roasters!) and maybe provide a salad of some type. It’s always a learning event each year. Hands resumed about 1 p.m. and the next 8 rounds lasted until about 4 p.m.

As the scores were checked and tallied the Anderson Family awarded several prizes. Gift certificates for The Lariat and Rutland General Store were handed out as were prizes from Four Seasons, the Fargo Force and other donors. When the scores were tallied, the women took top honors as the winning team was from Wahpeton — Becki Beach and Kay Christenson. Teams placing in the top 18 (and the last place team) all received prizes.

Thanks to everyone who helped out in the kitchen and a special thanks to the children of Rudy and Edna Anderson who continue with this event in their memory.

The Rooster Crows – February 12, 2010

On May 12, 2010May 4, 2019 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Well, it has been an active week in Rutland, North Dakota, out here on the prairie. Snow started falling like a gentle lullaby on Thursday, February 4, building to a Wagnerian crescendo with a full-fledged winter storm by Monday, February 8. Much to the disappointment of the eager students attending the the local school system, Sargent Central cancelled classes on Monday due to the heavy snow. Mayor Narum had the City’s snowplow opening Rutland’s streets by 4:30 each morning, but travel outside the City was difficult in many places, impossible in others and not advised throughout the area. Throughout the storm, the mercury went up and down like a yo-yo, from 25 above on Sunday to 18 below by Tuesday evening. Well, this is North Dakota after all, and we certainly can’t complain about the flies and mosquitoes so far this year.

Saturday, February 6, was a big day in the Little City That Can, with the 15^th Annual Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament taking center stage. Sixty-six teams of pinochle players had preregistered for the contest, and nearly all braved the elements to be on hand in the Rutland Town Hall when the first cards were dealt at 8:00 a.m. Steve Lies & Barb Diedrich of Wahpeton took home the first prize of $300.00 at the end of the day, accumulating more than 1,700 points in their winning effort. Local folks were relieved when the team of Roger McLaen and Jack Brummond won second prize, also a substantial sum of cash, as Jack is now recouping some of the entry fees he paid in during the 10 years, or more, that he has not finished in the money. Jack is not deterred by success, however, and commenting on the sign proclaiming that a $5.00 fine could be imposed for whining, stated that he was going to go for the $10.00 package, figuring he could get a volume discount. The pinochle tournament has been sponsored by the children and grandchildren of the late Rudy & Edna Anderson since 1996, the year after Rudy’s death. Both Rudy and Edna were avid card players, and passed their enthusiasm for card games, particularly pinochle, on to their descendants. Proceeds of the tournament not paid out in prizes have been donated to the Rutland Community Club for the improvement and maintenance of the Rutland Town Hall. Tournament participants and kibitzers enjoyed a dinner, featuring the famed Rutland scalloped potatoes with ham, made with real cream and served by members of the Rutland Community Club. The 16^th Annual Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament is scheduled for the first Saturday in February, 2011, in the Rutland Town Hall, says the reigning family matriarch, Sonja (Anderson) Christensen.

The new Lariat Bar also saw plenty of action last Saturday, February 6, as a local snowmobile club made two stops there during the day, the first at 10:00 a.m. at the beginning of their run, and concluding their day with dining and refreshments at the Lariat late in the afternoon. Also enjoying the new dining room facilities at the Lariat were the employees of the Sargent County FSA Office, who held their delayed Christmas Party there on Saturday evening. Approximately 30 employees, spouses and guests attended the event.

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The Rooster Crows – January 25, 2008

On January 25, 2008March 8, 2021 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

The stock market was about all that was dropping faster than the temperature this past week. The mercury bottomed out at 20 below on the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, January 19 & 20, but the stock market is still in free-fall with no bottom in sight. When it finally does hit bottom, the impact is likely to send shock waves around the world. The only thing colder than the weather this past week was the reception given to the President’s so-called economic stimulus program, seen as too little, too late and off target, unless you happen to be a major corporation or one of the super-rich, in which case it’s only seen as too little and too late.

Janice Christensen timed it just right this year, as she departed Rutland on Thursday, January 17, bound for Honolulu and a cruise in the Hawaiian Islands just in time to miss the coldest weather of the Winter, so far. Janice was accompanied on the trip by her niece, Janelle Brakke of Fargo. They are scheduled to return to reality on Sunday, January 27. Brad Christensen has been running the shop at the Lariat Bar during Janice’s vacation holiday.

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