Tag: Rutland Roosters

The Rooster Crows – Aug. 18, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

Congratulations to the Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball Team, 2023 North Dakota State Class Rec 3 Champions. The Roosters clinched the title by winning 5 consecutive games against tough opponents at the State Tournament in Grand Forks on Saturday & Sunday, August 12 & 13. The Roosters defeated the Tharaldson Team of Fargo in the Championship game on Sunday afternoon. Members of the Roosters’ 2023 State Championship Team are: Adam Bell, Outfield; Jon Christianson, Outfield; Kirk Fliehs, 3rd Base; Rylan Gutzmer, Outfield; Todd Hosford, 2nd Base; Travis Hosford, Outfield; Kris Kann, Pitcher; Nolen Peterson, 1st Base; Luke Patzlaff, Catcher; Rob Roney, Outfield/Team Captain/Manager; Josh Stenvold, Catcher; Brandon Wyum, Shortstop; and, Jason Phillips, Outfield. According to Rob Roney, a member of The Rutland team, the Roosters finished the regular season with a record of 20 wins and 5 losses. The Rutland community extends its thanks and congratulations to the 2023 Rutland Roosters, the heirs and standard bearers of a winning tradition on the ball diamond that extends back to the end of the 19th Century. Fans in the community are looking forward to a continuation of that tradition in 2024. Come on out to the ball game at Lou Sanderson Field to watch an outstanding team, and to enjoy some fine ballpark dining at the concessions stand.

The Rutland Roosters Men’s Slowpitch Softball team concluded its 2023 regular season play with two wins on the evening of Tuesday, August 15. After capturing the State Championship in the Rec 3 Class on Sunday, August 13, the Roosters took on the team from Milnor at Lou Sanderson Field on the 15th, taking game #1 in 5 innings by a score of 13 to 3, and putting an early end to game #2 in 3 innings with a 23 to 3 victory. The Milnor matchup was one that had been delayed back at the beginning of the season, and was rescheduled to Tuesday after the Roosters’ scheduled opponent, Gwinner, cancelled out late in the afternoon.  Well, regardless of what happened, the Roosters are still the State Champs who ended the regular season with 2 wins at home, and nothing is going to change that.

The following summary of the Roosters’ State Tournament games, and the photo of the State Tournament Championship team, was supplied by Rob Roney.

Saturday Games
Defeated Optimal Chiropractic (based out of Fargo) 10-9
Defeated Driftwood Lounge (based out of Wahpeton) 7-4
Defeated Lafrenier Construction (based out of Grafton) 12-8
Sunday Games
Defeated TC Custom Paint (based out of Grand Forks) 14-4
In the Championship game we defeated Tharaldsons (based out of Fargo) 22-17
Players from Left to Right:  
Rylan Gutzmer, Jason Phillips, Todd Hosford, Josh Stenvold, Adam Bell, Rob Roney, Luke Patzlaff, Brandon Wyum, Jon Christianson, Chris Kann, Kirk Fliehs, Nolen Peterson, and Travis Hosford
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The Rooster Crows – July 21, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

While the rest of the Country continues to swelter under record high temperatures, in the triple digits in many areas, Rutland and vicinity has been enjoying moderate, even unseasonably cool, weather conditions. A return to hot weather is in the forecast for the week beginning on Sunday, July 23, and for the rest of the month, however. The recent respite from excessive heat has saved the wheat, corn & soybean crops, so far, but some rain is going to be needed to bring the crop through to harvest. 

August in Rutland is going to be starting out with a bang, and with the aroma of barbecued ribs. The following information was recently obtained from Rutland Community Club President Katie McLaen: A Community-wide Junk Fest is on the schedule from 1:00 to 5:00 on Saturday, August 5, with Deb Banish, phone # 701-680-2458, in charge; Rutland’s American Legion Auxiliary will be serving a Pie & Ice Cream Social at the Rutland Senior Center, starting at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5; a Community Rummage Sale accompanied by a scalloped potato lunch will be held at the Rutland Town Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association; and, The Rutland Rib Fest, with ribs being served by various vendors, is scheduled to commence serving at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, from booths on Main Street. As in past years, Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from the intersection with Front Street on the North to the intersection with Arthur/Gay Streets on the South, to allow for the placement of picnic tables. Rib vendors will be assessed a $25.00 fee to compete for the “Best Ribs In Rutland” title, and prizes for 1st place, 2nd place,3rd place and “People’s Choice” will be awarded. All food vendors, not exclusive to ribs, are welcome, and will also be assessed a $25 .00 vendor’s fee. For additional information, and to sign up to participate as a vendor at Rib Fest, contact Shawna Bergh at 701-680-0780. As with most events in Rutland, there is no admission charge. You only pay if you buy something. The August 5 Rib Fest will conclude with a Street Dance featuring “Raw Sugar” from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. So, put on your rib bib and your dancing shoes, and plan to be in Rutland for Rib Fest on Saturday, August 5.

Bill Anderson, accompanied by Great-Grandson Brody Mahrer, departed Rutland in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 9, bound for Hector Airport in Fargo and a 5:30 a.m. airline flight that was the first leg of a trip that landed them in Branson MO at about 6:30 p.m. that same day. The flight from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Springfield/Branson International was delayed for several hours while a problem with the aircraft’s ventilation was repaired. The reason for the trip was the annual reunion of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the unit in which Bill had served as an infantry Platoon Commander when he first arrived in Vietnam back in January of 1970. Time and age are finally accomplishing what the VC and NVA could not accomplish more than half a century ago, bill reports, as this reunion had the smallest number of Marines in attendance of any that he has been at since his first in 2012. During their stay in Branson, Bill & Brody took in the Clay Cooper Show on the evening of Monday, July 10, and the Evening Dinner/Show Cruise on Table Rock Lake aboard The Branson Belle showboat on Tuesday evening, July 11. Additionally, Brody got to hone up his skill playing the “Back Alley” card game, a game that was popular among the Delta Co. Marines back in 1969-70, when they were in Vietnam. Bill & Brody returned home through American Airlines’ hub terminal at Dallas/Fort Worth, on Wednesday, July 12, so Brody could play baseball in the District playoffs with his Babe Ruth baseball team from Gwinner. The temperature at Dallas/Fort Worth was +105, and the temperature at Fargo was +71 on Wednesday afternoon. 

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The Rooster Crows – June 2, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

The weather started out hot and windy on Monday, May 22, and stayed that way throughout the Memorial Day weekend. The conditions allowed field work to proceed at a rapid pace, and some local producers are getting close to the Spring Planting Finish Line. Hot weather conditions usually drum up a thunderstorm, and Memorial Day on Monday, May 29, was no exception to that old and honorable tradition. There were several episodes of thunder, followed by what Norbert Kulzer described as, “a 5 inch rain,” that is, a rainfall in which the raindrops were at least 5 inches apart. Roger Pearson reported .1 of an inch in his rain gauge on the morning of Tuesday, May 30, and Norbert Kulzer reported that his gauge, only a few feet east of Roger’s, registered less than a tenth on Tuesday morning. There is hope, though. At least there is hope, the drug that gives every farmer, and every banker, a high with every drop of rain.

Nine of the 12 surviving second generation descendants of Rutland area pioneers, the late Ole C. & Julia C. (Peterson) Anderson, enjoyed a reunion of first cousins on Thursday, May 25. The group included: Bill Anderson of Rutland; Paul Anderson of Rutland; Joanne (Anderson) Harris of Rutland; Andrew Harris of Rutland; Sonja (Anderson) Christensen of Wahpeton; Judie (Anderson-Seavert) Grohs of Rosholt SD; Jodie (Anderson) Bogenreif of Gilbert AZ; Beverly (Bartunek) Schons of Fargo; and Vicki (Bartunek) Renner of DesMoines IA. Also attending were Judie Grohs’ spouse, Steve Grohs of Rosholt SD; and Marilyn (Mrs. Arden) Anderson of Wahpeton. Unable to attend the reunion this year were: Marilyn (Bartunek) Sabe of DeFuniak Springs FL; Patricia (Anderson) Kulzer of Condon MT; and Jeffrey Anderson of Plymouth MN. First cousins who are deceased are: Richard M. Anderson; Harvey O. Anderson; Arden C. Anderson; and Nancy (Bartunek) Lee. Those attending gathered at the Rutland Cemetery in the morning to decorate the graves of parents, spouses, and grandparents for Memorial Day, and to discuss family history before having lunch at The Lariat Bar in Rutland. Main courses and beverages were ordered off the menu, and the group was treated with a rhubarb dessert made by Sonja Christensen from a recipe provided for one of the Rutland cookbooks by the late Helen (Hermanson) Anderson of this community. Terry Lee, surviving spouse of the Late Nancy Lee, also sent a generous supply of rosettes for all to enjoy. The cousins are descendants of the late Melvin & Ila Anderson; the late Rudolph & Edna Anderson; the late William & Norma (Anderson) Bartunek; and the late Earl & Irene Anderson. They were all impressed by the excellent cuisine furnished by The Lariat Bar, as well as with the prompt & efficient service provided by a member of the Lariat’s staff, Tyler Weatherby.

Larry Christensen, Commander of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of the American Legion; and, Roger Pearson, a member of the Post; installed new crosses on the graves of veterans in the Rutland and Nordland Cemeteries on the morning of Friday, May 26. The new crosses are made of steel and have a durable white powder coat finish. Post members extend their thanks to the RayMac Company of Gwinner & Forman for manufacturing and donating the crosses.

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The Rooster Crows – Apr. 28, 2023

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By Bill Anderson

Fifty-one degrees above Zero on Tuesday, April25, and we’re not done, yet. The weather gurus are predicting highs of 59 for both Wednesday & Thursday, April 26 & 27, this week. It will only take a little push to get into the 60’s, where the reality of spring can finally sink in. The possibility of snow is still in the forecast, though, but maybe, just maybe, we are done with that nonsense until November.

Local farmers are beginning to get a little tense, as potential planting dates are crossed off the calendar without a wheel having turned anywhere in the County. If the cool damp weather persists, it has been suggested that ice plant may become 2023’s primary cash crop.

Speaking of cash crops, Chuck Anderson reports that he has been hauling corn from the Anderson Farm in Weber Township to the Cargill Company’s storage and loading facility at Fairmount this week. The corn was harvested last fall, and was contracted for delivery to Cargill this spring. Road conditions have required Chuck to take a roundabout route to Fairmount, though. He has had to drive west from the farm on a Township road, then north on the next Township road to County Road #5, and then west on County #5 over to ND Highway #32, then north on #32 up to ND #11 and then east to Fairmount. Chuck says that he’s just happy to have a route that enables him to get the corn to where it’s supposed to go by the time it’s supposed to get there.

Chuck Anderson also reported that word was received on Tuesday, April 25, that an old neighbor, Virgil Hoistad, had passed away that day. Virgil was residing at a nursing home in Moorhead MN at the time of his death. Obituary and funeral information was not available as of this writing.

The Lariat Bar is becoming an increasingly popular venue for meetings of all kinds: professional; personal; and, partying. On Wednesday, April 19, three old friends: Steve Wyum of Rutland; Dr. Jerry Waswick of Gwinner; and, Bill Anderson of Rutland; gathered at The Lariat Bar to enjoy the Noon Special, a hot roast beef combo, and to catch up on where life has been taking them. The three men had become friends while serving together on the Sargent County Commission from 2004 to 2020. On the evening of Wednesday, April 19, Ambulance crews, Fire Departments & members of the Sargent County Sheriff’s Department met to discuss the new Statewide Interactive Radio Network (SIRN) that will allow emergency responders to communicate with each other during emergency response situations, when clear and unambiguous communication is needed. On Tuesday, April 18, the Sargent County Chapter of Pheasants Forever held its meeting in the Lariat’s dining room. Among those attending the Pheasants Forever meeting was Sargent County’s rhubarb King, Terry Dusek of Milnor. On Saturday, April 15, descendants of Dianna Anderson and the late Larry Anderson met in the Lariat’s dining room. Earlier that week, on Wednesday, April 12, the Wild Rice Antique Tractor & Plowing Association met at The Lariat in the afternoon, and the Sargent County Farmers’ Union executive committee held its organizational meeting in the dining room of The Lariat that evening. On Tuesday, April 25, members of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of The American Legion met in The Lariat’s Dining Room to review the “Poppy Posters” created by members of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grade Classes at Sargent Central’s Elementary School. Twenty-five posters had been submitted, and all were well done. The Poppy Poster Contest is sponsored by the Rutland Unit of The American Legion Auxiliary, and was coordinated by Auxiliary member Diane Smith.

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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 – July 8, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

What would the 4th of July be without fireworks? There was quite a display of fireworks from every corner of Rutland commencing about 10:30 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, July 3, but Mother Nature topped off the evening an hour or so later with a Thunder & Lightning sound and light show of her own. She even added half an inch of rain for effect. 

The heat and humidity of recent weeks, coupled with plenty of soil moisture and a few timely rains, have had crops in this area literally jumping out of the ground. Despite having been planted only a little over a month ago, local cornfields had all surpassed the traditional “knee high by the 4th of July” indicator of a good crop coming. Well, a lot can happen between now and harvest time, and we don’t want to be counting our chickens before they’re hatched, or our corncobs before they’re picked.

Rutland’s City Election was held back on Tuesday, June 14, in conjunction with the North Dakota State Primary Election. The City had two 4-year terms on the Council up for election, and one 2-year term to fill out, Bert Siemieniewski’s unexpired term. Incumbents Rodney Erickson and Lori McLaen had filed petitions to be put on the ballot for the 4-year terms, and both were elected. No one had filed for the 2-year term, though, and some voters wrote in their choice for the position. The result was a tie, with Kathy Wyum and Bill Anderson each receiving four write-in votes. At the Council’s Reorganization meeting on Tuesday, June 28, the two names were put on slips of paper and placed in a bucket. The Council selected the winner by drawing out one name. Bill Anderson was declared to be the victor as the result of his name being drawn. No claims of election fraud, stolen election or shenanigans at the polling place have been made by either Kathy or Bill, and no riotous crowds have assaulted the Rutland Town Hall as the result of the election’s outcome. Bill had previously served on the Council from 1978 to 1985. He says that he intends to work with Mayor Mahrer; City Auditor Banish; and the other Council members: Rodney Erickson; Delores Lysne; and Lori McLaen; to maintain & improve Rutland’s services and infrastructure. In other business at the Reorganization meeting the Council set the first Monday of each month, with the exception of those months in which the first Monday is a legal holiday, as the Council’s regular meeting date; re-appointed Debbie Banish as City Auditor; re-appointed Mike Basingthwaite of Interstate Engineering as City Engineer; and, reappointed Attorney LeeAnn Even as City Attorney. The next meeting of the Rutland City Council is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 11, at the Rutland City Hall.

Rutland native Harold Young, now a resident of Mesa AZ, arrived in Rutland on the evening of Thursday, June 23, intending to vacation in his old hometown for a couple of weeks. Harold brought Arizona’s heat and North Dakota’s humidity together for a tropical experience. This is Harold’s first visit in Rutland since the Summer of 2019, pre-pandemic. This time, he was here for the interment ceremony for his mother, Gwendolyn (Prindiville) Young, on July 2, and said that he planned to start working his way back to Arizona on July 6.

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