The Rooster Crows – June 18, 2021

By Bill Anderson

Just when it seemed that the old refrain, “It ain’t gonna rain no more, no more…” was accurately predicting the future, Mother Nature said “That just ain’t so!” and sent a thunderstorm to slake the thirst of the Promised Land at about 3:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, June 11. Roger Pearson’s rain gauge showed. 65 of an inch after the storm moved on and the weather cleared, while the gauge of his next door neighbor, Norbert Kulzer, indicated .75 of an inch from the same event. Mike Mahrer reported that the gauge out at Mahrer Construction’s shop, on the north side of town, also showed .75 of an inch on Friday morning, while Mark Wyum reported that .6 of an inch was measured at the Rob Wyum farm 3 miles north and 1 mile east of town; at the Steve Wyum farm 1 mile east and 1½ mile north of town; and, at the Mike Wyum farm, 1 mile east and 1 mile north of Rutland. The storm also pushed the oppressive heat and humidity that had afflicted this area since the end of May on to the east, replacing high humidity and temperatures in the upper 90’s and lower 100’s with drier air and temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s. It has been clear skies and beautiful weather since then. “There is naught so rare as a day in June, “the late Earl Anderson used to say, and the past week, up to Tuesday, June 15, has been a series of perfect examples of just what he meant. Lyle Erickson reports that the corn and soybean crops had been doing OK with existing soil moisture prior to Friday’s thunderstorm, but appeared to have been expending most of their energy sending roots down rather than stalks up. The rain has given them a boost, and they are now growing in the right direction, reaching for the sky. Lyle said that the extended period of heat did have an adverse effect on his wheat fields, though, as that crop now appears to be in the “boot” stage. That is, it is as tall as his 8” work boots and is heading out. An electric shaver may be needed for the wheat harvest this year.

A ceremonial detail from Rutland’s Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of The American Legion was at Calvary Cemetery in Fairmount ND at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4, to render honors at the interment of their late comrade, Richard Lysne of Rutland. Members from the Rutland Post included: Larry Christensen; Douglas Olstad; Roger Pearson; Ted Lee; and, Calvin Jacobson. A color Guard and Bugler from the Fairmount Legion Post and 2 members of the Army National Guard from Fargo completed the detail.

Rutland’s Roosters have hit a tough spot in their schedule recently. On Tuesday, June 8, the Roosters took on a tough team from Wyndmere at Lou Sanderson Field, and dropped 2 games to the visitors in front of the home town crowd. The Roosters have been playing well, but their opponents were playing better. Roger Pearson, an All-Star player with both the baseball & softball versions of the Rutland Roosters, is of the opinion that the new rules changing the strike zone and requiring less arch on the pitched ball have allowed hitters to get more power into their swings, resulting in more multi-base hits and home runs. Even though the final scores weren’t to the Roosters’ liking, the bratwursts, hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches at the Rutland Park Board’s concession stand were big winners with the fans at the ballpark. The Roosters’ next home games are scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, when they will take on the team from Havana at Lou Sanderson Field. Come on out to the ballpark to Root! Root! Root! for the home team, and have a good time doing it.

Continue reading “The Rooster Crows – June 18, 2021”

Hens Do Crow! Nov. 8, 2019

The first Zumba session was held in the Rutland Community Center on Sunday, November 3rd. About twenty area residents – both young and old – came out for the exercise session and to have some fun. Zumba is a total-body exercise that is good for core strengthening and flexibility, so every participant gets a good workout. If you missed the first session be sure to join the group on the first Sunday of the month. Where else can you have a fun workout for only $1.00 per person?

The Rutland City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 4, with all members present. The City Engineer discussed the recent Emergency Lagoon project that has been completed. The Council approved payment to DL Barkie Construction to cover the work done to date. A final payment will be made in the spring to ensure that all work meets project specifications, and that the seeded grass emerges. There is a soft spot in the area; the contractor will make any necessary repairs or corrections needed in the spring. The City received the Community Development Block (CDBG) grant of $116,400 to cover the contractor expense. The first request for payment of $82,527.00 under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) was approved and received in October from the Bank of North Dakota to cover other project expenses. The Council approved the payment of bills and adopted the 2020 meeting calendar continuing with meetings on the first Monday of each month at 5 p.m. except for September due to the Labor Day Holiday. The next Council meeting will be Monday, December 2.

Continue reading “Hens Do Crow! Nov. 8, 2019”

Hens Do Crow! Nov. 1, 2019

The Rutland Community Club (RCC) Freezer Meals program concluded with another ten women in the kitchen on Wednesday, October 23. Organized by RCC President Katie McLaen, this program has been done annually and is always a fun – and often needed – event for those who are lucky to register early enough. Katie is planning a similar event in January – Kids in the Kitchen – to get the youth started early in making good, nutritious meals and to get them involved early in what Rutland has to offer. Thanks to Katie and the Community Club for sponsoring these programs!

On Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m.,  the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary members went around town to “Trick or Treat”. The group included Carolyn Christensen, Joanne Harris, Pam Maloney and Taryn Jenson accompanied by Taryn’s children, Beckette and Cohen Jensen. The Rutland community provided a generous donation of blankets, warm coats, gloves, scarves, stocking caps, and bags of men’s and women’s clothing and $285.00 in cash donations. Now the group will box up all the items and deliver them to the Gladys Ray Shelter for Homeless Veterans. It will take a couple trips to transfer all the items so if anyone still wants to donate there is time – just contact Carolyn Christensen.

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Hens Do Crow! Oct. 25, 2019

By Deborah Banish – and Bill Anderson

The Rutland Center Hall kitchen was a busy place on Wednesday, October 16, when ten women gathered to prepare freezer meals. This was the first of two Wednesday-night sessions under the guidance of Katie McLaen, President of the Rutland Community Club (RCC). The RCC has been sponsoring this event for several years. The final session was held Wednesday, October 23. If you missed it this year, be sure to watch for information next year right after Uffda Day.

Workers from Buskohl Construction of Milnor and from Dakota Design Landscaping of Wahpeton took advantage of pleasant weather to work at straightening, reinforcing and improving the appearance of the front porch at 217 First Street on Friday, October 18. The men from Buskohl Construction straightened a sag in the porch floor and installed bracing to keep it straight, while the Dakota landscaping crew placed landscape fabric beneath the porch to deter the growth of weeds and enhanced the appearance of the front of the house by installing lattice work around the base of the porch. The house, built in 1902 by pioneer Rutland businessman C. E. Johnson, is once again a showpiece on Rutland’s Main Street. It is currently owned by Bill Anderson and Kathy Brakke of this community.

The Rutland American Legion served up another fantastic pancake breakfast on Sunday, October 20. Fresh pancakes, eggs, sausage and orange juice was provided for a free-will donation. The Rutland American Legion Auxiliary members helped cook the pancakes and eggs and also held a free-will bake sale. A big thank you is extended to everyone who attended the event this year.

Nine members of the Rutland Raiders 4-H Club went door-knocking in Rutland on Sunday, October 20, to collect for the Sargent County Food Pantry. The Club extends a big thank-you to everyone who contributed food and cash donations for the Food Pantry.

The Rutland City Auditor will be contacting area residents to serve on the Census Committee known as the Sargent County Complete Count Committee. Members will be required to attend training on November 6th (Wednesday) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Gwinner Community Center. From January- April 2020 members will get the word out, plan local events, and meet every two weeks to a month until May 2020. Recruitment will begin soon as there has been no response to the “call” for volunteers. Please say “yes” when you get the call. It is important to get every resident of Rutland counted on the next census!

North Dakota’s Governor declared a Statewide Flood Disaster Emergency on Monday, October 21, as a steady rain dumped another 1.5 inch of precipitation on Rutland and vicinity. Water levels in the Wild Rice River and in many of the large sloughs in the area are as high, or higher, than they were during the flood disaster years of 2009, ’10 and ’11, and several Township and County roads are once again under water. It was noted that those formerly annual problem areas that were improved with the help of an 80% funding grant from the Federal Highway Administration back in 2013 are high and dry during the current flooding but would all be under water if the improvements had not been made 6 years ago. Sometimes spending money saves money, and those road improvements are an example of the truth of that axiom. The western portion of Sargent County is currently dealing with more water problems than is the east, but the excess water is adversely impacting the entire County, according to County Emergency Manager Wendy Willprecht. The Sargent County Emergency Manager’s Office; the Sargent County NDSU Extension Service Office; and, the Sargent County Public Health District; are currently assisting local units of government, farmers & ranchers and homeowners deal with the consequences of the high water. For the County Emergency Manager call 724-6241, Extension 113; for the Extension Service call 724-3355; and, for the County Health District call 724-3725. Reports are that Lenny Runyan, who resides on the old Maly farm at the top of the hills south of Rutland, has placed an order for a shipment of gopher wood, and will commence construction of an ark as soon as it arrives.

On Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m., the Rutland American Legion Auxiliary will “Trick or Treat” for gently used clothing (male or female), toiletries and personal care items and cash donations. Items will be donated to the Gladys Ray Shelter in Fargo.

Upcoming Rutland events: Sunday, October 27, 2 p.m. the Sargent County Farmers Union Annual Meeting in the Rutland Senior Center; Sunday, November 3, 5 p.m. the first session of Zumba will be held in Rutland City Hall sponsored by the RCC (held the first Sunday of each month); Monday, November 4, 5 p.m. Rutland City Council meeting; Monday, November 11, 5 p.m., Rutland Community Club; Saturday, December 14, Santa Day sponsored by the Rutland Community Club. Be sure to check the Rutland website for upcoming events.

That’s it from Rutland this week. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and on the Rutland blog. Keep up with events and announcements on the rutlandnd.com website and share your events by sending an email to rutlandnd@drtel.net. Later.

Hens Do Crow! Oct. 18, 2019

By Deborah Banish

Mother Nature is not playing nice as everyone knows. September began with heavy rains during the first ten days of the month and October 10th brought the first blast of winter weather that led to several school closings. While the kids enjoyed the snowfall, which was ideal for making snowmen, farmers see it as just another challenge to get the soybeans and corn harvest completed or, for many, to even get started.  While most of the snow melted over the weekend, it just saturated the ground even more and blocked some roads with water making getting to the fields another headache to be dealt with. The forecast may provide a glimpse of hope before the next anticipated rainfall.

The Rutland Community Club met on Monday, October 14, at City Hall. Members present discussed Uffda Day – what worked, what didn’t and what needs to be changed for 2020. Katie McLaen and Lori McLaen agreed to head up the 2020 Uffda Day planning and organization; one additional person is needed to help as the three key persons. The lefse could be made further ahead of time to have more to sell; there were complaints about lefse selling out quickly. Santa Day will be held December 14 with Santa expected to arrive around 5:30 p.m. There will be kid crafts, bingo and a free-will meal. The two freezer meal sessions in October are filled. Zumba will begin the first Sunday in November, November 3, and will be held monthly; it is open to anyone. Planning is underway for the Kids in the Kitchen sessions on January 5 and 12, 2020. The next meeting will be November 12 at 5 p.m.

Continue reading “Hens Do Crow! Oct. 18, 2019”

Hens Do Crow! Sept. 27, 2019

By Deborah Banish

Travis Tischer and a crew of workmen from Dakota Designs of Wahpeton were in Rutland on the afternoon of Thursday, September 19, performing some touch-up work on the landscaping at 217 First Street, also known as The Old Parsonage. The crew sowed some additional grass seed on a few bare spots in the lawn and added some mulch to the base of the trees that had been planted two weeks earlier, back on September 5. Before arriving in Rutland, Mr. Tischer’s crew had planted 15 trees at a farmstead west of Delamere and had done some landscaping work on the school playground at North Sargent in Gwinner. After completing their project at The Old Parsonage their next stop was at the Steve & Sheila Wyum farmstead northeast of Rutland where they had 2 new trees to plant. The company’s e-mail address is dakotadesignsnd@gmail.com.

The cool Summer has lengthened out the number of days needed to get the 2019 corn crop to maturity, and is reportedly causing some concerns in the commodity markets. According to Lyle Erickson, grain traders are worried that the 2019 crop will be short because of all the farmers who are pulling cobs off the stalks to check the maturity of the kernels. Lyle made this report just before church on Sunday morning, so it must be true, although it’s not so true that the price has improved any.

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