Tag: Rutland Housing

Rutland Ramblings – Oct. 20, 2023

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More than 100 family & friends signed the Guest Book at the Celebration of Life honoring the memory of the late Kathleen A. (Bauman) Brakke Anderson on Saturday, October 14, at the Rutland Town Hall. Kathleen passed away on June 3, 2023, at Lilac Homes Memory Care, Moorhead MN. Among those from out of town who attended the event were: Stacey Biewer, Pelican Rapids MN; Marilyn Anderson, Wahpeton ND; Sonja Christensen, Wahpeton ND; Curt Stofferahn, Fargo ND; Marcie, Brendon & Jax West, Springfield IL; Sadie & Josh Church, Lidgerwood ND; Darby Brakke Sebree, Cincinnati OH; Robert Sebree, Cincinnati OH; John Bauman, Stevenson WA; Janelle Brakke, Fargo ND; Karen Christianson, Lake City SD; Joan Beyer, Breckenridge MN; Anita, Micah & Miles Moxness, Breckenridge MN; Thomas Banish, Lidgerwood ND; Carol Fridgen, Nevis MN; Terry W. Lee, West Fargo ND; Bev Schons, Fargo ND; Claire Brakke, Madison WI; Alex Markovic, Madison WI; Christine Tauer, Oak Grove MN; Laura Feltes, Anoka MN; Shirley Mahrer, Hankinson ND; Steve Thorfinnson, Fort Ransom ND; Randy & Jeane Koch, Fargo ND; Bonnie and Ronald “Red” Bauman, Fergus Falls MN; Kim & Mark Cramton, Fargo ND; Amy Martinsen, Minot ND; Mark Prindiville, Horace ND; Pat Prindiville, West Fargo ND; Mike Prindiville, Minneapolis MN; Judie Seavert, Wahpeton ND; Carol & Sid Harrison, Fargo ND; Doug & Nancy Glarum, Clitheral Lake MN; Dana & Wanda Rasmussen, Detroit Lakes MN; Dan Carlisle, Ottertail MN; Bill Spear, Wadena MN; James & Sydny Brakke, Somerset WI; Deb Gaukler, Lidgerwood ND; Bill Gaukler, Lidgerwood ND; Glen Larson, Watertown SD; Victoria Parker Christensen, Denver CO; Katheryn Parker Tagg, Anoka MN; Marcia Brakke, Delano MN; Dr. Gerald Parker, Casselton ND; Judy Isensee Anderson, Fargo ND; Don Isensee, Perham MN; and many more from Rutland and other Sargent County communities. The ladies of Nordland Lutheran Church served a Noon dinner of Kathleen’s favorites: scalloped potatoes with ham, ham sandwiches, rommegrot and Rice Krispy-peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting. At 1:00 p.m. a video produced by Kathleen’s son-in-law, Robert Sebree, was presented, followed by reminiscences from Kathleen’s friends and fellow music, painting, and quilting enthusiasts. All agreed that the video set the tone for a very pleasant afternoon. A granite grave marker bench prepared by the Fergus Falls Monument Co. had been placed in the Rutland Cemetery on Wednesday, October 12, and Kathleen’s cremains will be interred there later. Her husband, Bill Anderson; her children: Darby Brakke (Robert) Sebree; Jesse R. Brakke; and Janelle Brakke; her grandchildren: Kaia (Kyle) Mahrer; James (Sydny) Brakke; and Claire Brakke; and her Great-Grandchildren: Brody; Julia; Adalyn; and Kaitlyn Mahrer; express their thanks and appreciation to all those who joined them at the Celebration of Life last Saturday.

Former Rutland community residents Bill & Mary (Kulzer) Woytassek were visitors in their old hometown on Tuesday, October 17. The Woytasseks now make their home in Detroit Lakes MN, but like to stop in Rutland occasionally, just to keep up on what’s going on. Mary enjoyed dinner and visiting with friends at the Rutland Seniors’ Center on Tuesday, while Bill enjoyed a “play day” with son, Jerry, and grandson, Andrew, on the farm, getting caught up on the new technology used to deal with old problems encountered during the harvest season. Mary said that they intend to head for their Winter base at Green Valley AZ as soon as the coming winter makes its presence felt.

The Rutland Housing Association, Inc., met at the Rutland Town Hall 4:45 p.m. on October 12, 2023. Present were President Delores Lysne, Manager Bert Siemieniewski, Secretary Carolyn Christensen, and Board Member Bill Anderson. The Secretary’s Report was read and approved. The checking account has a balance of $12,439.49 and approved the payment of bills. A new stove was purchased for a tenant in Building 2. Tree branches have been trimmed at Building 3 but trees at Building 2 still need trimming. Gutters have been ordered for Building 2 at a cost of $5,190 for gutters and installation. Gutters on Building 3 need to be cleaned out. The exterior light on Building 3 has been fixed. All the buildings are full with one person on the waiting list and the possibility of a second person being interested. Apartments in Building 1 need work done in kitchens and bathrooms. The Manager will print the ESA Policy to distribute to Board members.  The problem of snow removal was discussed, and a possible resolution identified. Tenants would like sidewalks cleared early in the day and they would like notification to move their cars when parking lots are to be cleared. The Manager would like tenants to notify her whenever there is a problem with their apartment or the building so the problem can be rectified as soon as possible. Work is being done on the proposed budget.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m. Next meeting will be during the week of October 23rd.

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The Rooster Crows – Sept. 2, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

Even though the cell phone had predicted sunshine, another welcome rain fell on Rutland and vicinity on the afternoon of Friday, August 26. Bradley Wyum reported .3 of an inch in his gauge 1½ block east of Main Street, but there were several bugs in the gauge so he checked the neighbor’s rain gauge, too, and found that it registered .25 of an inch and was free of bugs. Two blocks to the east Roger Pearson & Norbert Kulzer both had .25 of an inch in their gauges. As their gauges agree so seldom as to make agreement notable, the assumption is that at least one of the gauges, maybe both of them, must be wrong. Kurt Breker reported .35 of an inch at his farm south of Cayuga. The long-range forecast is now for sunny weather for the next several weeks, so stand by for a flood. Weather forecasters and politicians have two skills in common: first, they can predict with absolute certainty what’s going to happen; and second, they can explain, with equal certainty, why it didn’t. Well, we can’t do much about the weather, but we do have it within our power to replace the current crowd of politicians with a new bunch. Throw the old rascals out and give our new rascals a chance!

Mike & Debbie Banish departed Rutland on the morning of Monday, August 29, bound for Medora ND on a shakedown cruise with their recently acquired motor home. The Banishes were planning to do some touring in Theodore Roosevelt National Park on their Polaris side by side RV, which they towed behind the motor home. They plan to be back home when they get back home, sometime in the next week or two.

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The Rooster Crows – May 6, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

The year of 2022 is one-third gone and we are now enjoying the merry month of May, when a young man’s fancy blithely turns to thoughts of a new fishing boat with which he can pursue those lunker walleyes. Sometimes romance enters into the equation, but neither a boat nor a walleye are capable of returning much in the way of affection. Well, at any rate, at least we are now getting some sunny days and some temperatures in the low 60’s that are in the “normal” range for this time of the year. Of course, we had all of those “below normal” days in April that must be made up in the coming weeks. Cam Gulleson reports that he had recently heard a weather expert explaining that the month of April 2022 was the coldest, wettest, and windiest April since the year of 1886. 1886 was the year that James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railway constructed its tracks and brought its trains to Rutland, and the year that Prindiville’s Saloon was built. None of Rutland’s residents who were residing here in 1886 are disputing Cameron’s report, so it must be true. Rutland’s current residents are just hoping for “normal” in 2022. That’s not asking for too much, is it? Just once, once in 136 years, can the month of May, and maybe June, be normal? Well, we do live in North Dakota, where “normal” is a point on the weather spectrum that we pass on our way from too cold to too hot, too wet to too dry and back again.

Another report from Cam Gulleson is that the Gulleson Ranch is nearly done with Spring calving. As of Monday, May 2, the Gullesons had delivered more than 600 calves, and had about 70 to go. They didn’t think that they would have to be battling Winter in April, but this is North Dakota, after all.

Four young ladies of this community: Greta Bladow, daughter of Brian & Trish Bladow and the late Wendy Bladow; Kaycee Hamilton, daughter of Kenny & Tanya Hamilton; Whitney Mahrer, daughter of Mike & Kayla Mahrer; and Charlize Willprecht, daughter of Kevin Willprecht and Wendy Willprecht; affirmed their baptism and became confirmed members of Nordland Lutheran Church here on Sunday, May 1. These young women impress all who meet them. Their families, their church and their community are justifiably proud of them all.

The Rutland City Council met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2, at the Rutland Town Hall, with Mayor Mike Mahrer; City Auditor Deb Banish; and Council Members Rodney Erickson; Delores Lysne; and Lori McLaen present. City Council member Colton Corry was absent. Sargent County Water Resource Board Member Mike Wyum and Water Resource Board Engineer Nathan Trosen of Moore Engineering, Fargo, were present to discuss Drain 8 with the City Council. Mr. Wyum said that the Water Resource Board had discussed what it can legally do with the Drain, and what the city would be legally able to do with the drain. The State of North Dakota requires a cost-benefit analysis for all County Water Resource Board water projects. Engineer Trosen discussed the slope and pipe requirements of the project that would have to meet State criteria. An economic analysis is required by the State to determine the cost and benefits of any future project. Mr. Wyum said that safety is a big concern but that is not a factor in the State’s analysis. Another option is for the Water Resource Board to abandon the drain to the City and the adjoining property owners. The Water Resource Board currently has about $103,000 in the Drain #8 fund that is available for a project; and, that an engineer’s analysis of a proposed project would cost about $20,000. Mr. Trosen said that a storm water model analysis could be done comparing the cost and effectiveness of 8”, 10” and 12” pipes. a full summary had been done in 2015 and that data could be used. The Council discussed the cost of an analysis and the different size pipes. The Council agreed that a 12” pipe would be the minimum needed. Moore Engineering will use the existing data and studies and develop an analysis based on those figures using a 12” pipe. There are also minimum standards and safety issues that must be complied with in any project. The Drain #8 matter will continue to be discussed at future meetings.

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The Rooster Crows – Apr. 29, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

The thunderstorm that moved through the Rutland community late on Friday night and early Saturday morning, April 22 & 23, was a real rip-roaring, rumbling, rattling, rocking & rolling sound and light show, combined with a downpour that dumped .84 of an inch of rain at the Mike & Debbie Banish farm south of town; 1 inch at the Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson farm in Weber Township; .85 of an inch at the Mark & Kathy Wyum home in Rutland; 1½ inch of rain at Jesse Brakke’s Ransom Township farmstead between Rutland & Cayuga; and, more than 2 inches at Rick Bosse’s farm near Brampton. A 4.6” gully-washer near Crete, in the northwestern corner of Sargent County, washed out a substantial section of County Road #2 near Kraft Lake, according to Sargent County Commissioner Lyle Bopp. The temperature shot up to 72 above by Noon on Saturday, and then began a rapid decline to 24 degrees by 6:00 on Sunday morning, as the weather front moved through. The forecast for the week calls for more rain and more cold, with freezing temperatures most nights until the first week of May is behind us. Well, at least there was half a day of nice weather on Saturday, April 23. There was some consternation on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 26, when a bright object appeared in the sky to the south southwest of Rutland. Concerns were relieved, though, when it was confirmed that the object was actually the Sun, making its first appearance in quite some time. It was a welcome sight, and it is hoped that it will show up a little more often in the future. There is general agreement that a week or two without freezing temperatures sometime between now and Labor Day would be nice.

Rodney Erickson reports that the paperwork he submitted to the U.S. Postal Service concerning a new Post Office location in Rutland has been received by the office in Colorado in charge of the project and is under consideration. Rodney was informed that it might take a month or two for the Postal Service to get someone up to Rutland to look things over and make a recommendation about the floor plan for a new facility. It takes a lot of planning to figure out how to put a lobby for the public up front; office space, work area & storage in the rear; and a screen line with customers’ Post Office boxes and a service window in between. Speed does not appear to be of the essence. The Post Office boxes, service window and other USPS equipment were removed from the old Post Office last week and taken to the Gwinner Post Office to be stored until they can be installed at the new location. Let’s hope that the Postal Service can remember where it put this stuff when the time comes to use it again. As of the end of April, it will have been 7 months since the door on the old Post Office was locked “for a few days.” Since then, several local volunteers have been making daily trips to Forman to pick up mail at the Post Office there and deliver it to the intended recipients in Rutland. A few years ago, before the gang that now runs the Postal Service from its lair in Washington DC was appointed, the aim of the operation was to be faster, more efficient, and less expensive. The current Postmaster General has a new goal: slower; less efficient; and, more expensive. It is time for the Congress of the United States, the body that has the statutory and Constitutional responsibility to oversee the operations of the Postal Service, to fire the Postmaster General and the entire Board of Governors of the USPS. They can then be replaced with competent individuals of good character who have the best interests of the American people in mind. So, come on John, Kevin and Kelly, step up and do your job!

In another Main Street development, The Stock Growers Bank, formerly The Sargent County Bank, has listed the Lariat Bar and its contents with the Steffes Auction Company in Fargo, to be sold sometime in mid-June. According to Casey Bopp of Stock Growers Bank, it is the Bank’s intention to sell the property as a “turnkey operation,” ready for a new buyer to get up and running in short order. The Lariat Bar has been closed since March 5, when former operators Pete & Michelle Denault, decided to terminate their lease. The Denaults had a good business going but decided to leave the business due to personal concerns. Anyone wishing to obtain additional information about the Lariat Bar in Rutland can contact Casey Bopp at Stock Growers Bank in Forman, 701-724-3216, or check out Steffes Auction’s web site at steffesgroup.com. The Lariat Bar is a great business opportunity for anyone who is willing to put forth some effort. It’s better than having a license to print your own money.

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The Rooster Crows – May 21, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

It was a million-dollar rain that fell on the evening of Thursday, May13 & the morning of Friday, May 14, less adjustments for interest, inflation, carrying costs and additional charges. The grumble of thunder and the angry flashes of lightning that preceded the rain belied its gentle nature. Greg Donaldson reported .6” of precipitation in his rain gauge on the east side of town, while Andrew & Katie Woytassek gauge situated a quarter of a mile further east showed .5” on Friday morning. Other readings included: .75” in Mahrer Construction’s gauge on the north side of town; .6 at Jesse Brakke’s farmstead between Rutland & Cayuga; .6” at the Joe & Patty Breker farm in Tewaukon Township; and 1 full inch at Rick Bosse’s farm near Brampton. The rain was enthusiastically welcomed by local farmers in the process of getting the 2021 crop planted. “We had about 3 days of planting left to do,” said Jerry Woytassek on Friday evening, “but I’ll take the rain when it comes, and be happy about it, too!” Obviously, this rain will not make the 2021 crop, but it will help give it a good start. There are many travails to endure and worries to bear before the grain is in the bin, the cash is in the sock and the checks are in the bank. Until then, let it rain!

Rutland native Dan Narum stopped in at The Lariat Bar on the evening of Wednesday, May 12 for a meeting with his cousin, Trent Nelson, and to get together with old friends for some visiting in the old hometown. Dan currently serves as the Presiding Judge of North Dakota’s Southeast Judicial District. Dan said that the covid-19 pandemic made it difficult to maintain court schedules during the past year, but with remote hearings made possible by electronic technology, court services were able to be kept up throughout the North Dakota Judicial System. Dan also reports that he has once again been sharpening a skill he learned from his Dad, the Late Dennis Narum, back when he was growing up in Rutland. He has acquired 3 registered quarter-horse colts and has been training them on the acreage at his home in Lamoure ND. The colts are registered descendants of the famous Doc Bar bloodline, Dan said, and the American Quarter Horse Association exhibited its sense of humor by assigning the name “Hanging Judge Bar” to one of his colts, the one that Dan calls “Little Tex.” Dan said that he, Caroline and their 2 children, Asher, and Ellery, are all doing well, and he extended greetings to all of his old friends from Rutland.

May birthdays honored at the Rutland Seniors Center on Monday, May 10, included: Janice Christensen; Roger Pearson; Rick Bosse; and Mike Kulzer. All are over 21 years of age. Those present were treated to a big slice of birthday cake baked and decorated by Ione Pherson, and to a rousing chorus of “the Happy Birthday,” song. So, Happy Birthday to all, and many more!

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Hens Do Crow! July 24, 2020

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Monday, July 20, brought another round of rain to the area with various amounts of moisture reported. Shawn Klein reported that her rain gauge measured .40 inches at her home in Havana while Kenny Hamilton boasted .97 inches. Two-miles south of Rutland the rain was measured at .23 inches and north of Rutland at the Kyle and Kathy Marquette farm about two-inches of rain had fallen and the same storm left 1.2 inches north of Cayuga on the Rick Banish farmstead. The last few rainstorms have left varying amounts in the rain gauges.

The Rutland Housing, Inc., Board met on Monday, July 20, followed by the annual Housing meeting. Some Housing tenants attended the meeting to discuss the need for repairs at the buildings and some minor safety improvements such as exterior rails on the steps to help residents enter and exit the buildings in the winter. The Housing Board has not been able to hire a handyman to make repairs and changes as quickly as desired. There is also the ongoing issue of funding and expenditures as the units are not at full capacity to provide sufficient income.

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