Tag: Santa Day

Rutland Ramblings – Nov. 10, 2023

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Harvey and Judy Preble of Eagan, MN, were visitors in Rutland on Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29. They were in town to help Harvey’s younger sister, Dianna (Preble) Anderson celebrate her birthday. Harvey and Diana share the same birthday November 7, although Harvey was on the scene two years prior to Dianna’s arrival. According to gamblers’ superstition, number 7 is a lucky number, and this birthday should be double lucky for Dianna.

The Rutland City Council met on Monday, November 6, and approved the Engineer contract for services for the sidewalk improvement project, renewed the water sampling contract with SE Water Users, and adopted the 2024 meeting schedule. Water rates were also discussed as SE Water will be raising the City’s cost of water in January. Rates were last increased in 2017 for water. The Council voted to raise water rates by 5%. The current rate for water is $23.00 for the first 3,000 gallons; the increase will result in a new rate of $24.15 for the first 3,000 gallons and $5.25 for overage use per 1,000 gallons. An update was provided on the Post Office reopening and it may be at least another four months before it happens; stay tuned as time (and mail) moves slowly – but surely. The next Council meeting will be Monday, December 4.

The Sargent County Extension Office is seeking individuals willing to become a NDSU Extension Master Gardener in the county. The application deadline is November 15. If you love gardening and are community-minded, now is your chance to apply. Complete weekly online classes from January 19 – March 22, 2024 on vegetable and fruit production, soil health, flowering plants and more! Application and more information is available at this link: ndsu.ag/mgcourse. Contact the Extension Office at (701) 724-3355 if you have any questions!

The Sargent County Commission passed a preliminary resolution that would redesignate the elected positions of County Auditor and County Treasurer/Recorder Clerk of Court as appointive positions. Before a final resolution can be passed, public hearings are requested. The Commission will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, November 15, at 6 p.m. at the Milnor Senior Center. The commission would like to receive public input on whether or not to proceed with the change. The meeting can also be joined via GoToMeeting at https://global/gotomeeting.com/join/504808517. A copy of the preliminary resolution can be obtained from the Sargent County Auditor or online at http://sargentnd.com.

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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 – Dec. 2, 2022

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By Bill Anderson

The four day Veterans Day weekend, from November 10th through the 13th, gave us rain, cold, ice, snow and slush, bringing down power lines, wrecking trees, damaging buildings and making traffic of any kind, pedestrian or vehicular, hazardous. The four day Thanksgiving weekend gave us sunshine, temperatures into the upper 40’s, and altogether pleasant conditions that raised spirits, melted snow, removed ice, and greatly improved conditions for travel and other activities. The Almighty giveth and the Almighty taketh away, in this case that turned out to be a mighty good deal. By Wednesday, November 30, conditions were back to winter, with a temperature of 9 above and a 25 mph northwest wind, but at least the ice and snow were gone, for a little while, anyway. Sometimes old guys wear their long woolies; Sometimes they wear the ones filled with down; sometimes they’re all in the laundry; then those old guys are the talk of the town.

A few years ago, the City of Rutland installed a speed limit sign with a flashing light on it along County Road #10/First Street, on the south side of town, in an attempt to slow down the traffic entering Rutland from the south. The sign is now missing, as is its flashing light. Anyone with information about the present location of the missing sign is asked to contact the City of Rutland at 724-3081. Traffic signs are expensive, and they are installed for the protection of the public. Some folks think that it is humorous to remove or deface traffic signs. Several years ago, someone thought that it would be fun to steal a STOP sign from the intersection of County Road #14 and ND Highway #11 at Geneseo. Shortly after the sign had been removed, a person unfamiliar with the area drove through Geneseo from the south and, as there was no sign, did not stop at the intersection. The driver’s vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in the center of the intersection. The driver was killed and her car was demolished. This was not humorous to any of the parties involved. If you have any information about Rutland’s missing speed limit sign, please see to it that the sign is returned so no one will have to carry a tragedy on their conscience for the rest of their life.

Paul Anderson travelled on Delta Airlines to Phoenix AZ on Tuesday, November 22, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his Mother-In-Law, Etha Quinlan of Sun City West, his daughter, Betsy, from Las Vegas NV, and his daughter, Katy, and her family from Seattle WA. Present at Etha’s home in Sun City for Thanksgiving Dinner were: Etha Quinlan; Paul Anderson; Betsy Anderson; Josh & Katy Elfering; Rhys Elfering; and, Arlo Elfering. Betsy, Josh, Katy and the kids all headed for home on Friday, November 25, and Paul arrived back in Fargo on the11:00 p.m. flight from Minneapolis on Sunday, November27.

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The Rooster Crows – Dec. 10, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Santa Claus is comin’ to town! He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. Jolly Old St. Nick will be making his 76th annual pre-Christmas visit to Rutland on Santa Claus Day, Saturday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m., at the Rutland Town Hall. He will be handing out bags of candy, consulting with kids of all ages about their Christmas wish lists and awarding Christmas hams donated by local businesses to the lucky winners of the annual drawing. Other Santa Claus Day activities will include: crafts & games for the kids; BINGO for all; and, a spaghetti supper. This is your chance to see Santa Claus in the flesh and to have a personal, face-to-face visit with him before he swings through town to make deliveries on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget: Santa Claus Day in Rutland from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, in the Rutland Town Hall.

Winter has definitely arrived, making its presence known with a thermometer reading of 2 degrees below Zero on the morning of Monday, December 6 and a 60-mph wind that battered the area the night before. Less than a week earlier, on Wednesday, December 1, the mercury had topped out at 58 degrees above Zero. Preceding the wind on Sunday, Mother Nature, or maybe it was Old Man Winter, had deposited about 2 inches of snow on Rutland and vicinity in a series of snow flurries that began on the afternoon of Saturday, December 4 and ended on Sunday, December 5. After sidewalks and driveways had been cleared of snow on Monday, another half an inch of the white, powdery stuff was delivered to the community on Tuesday morning, just to show us who’s the boss.

CORRECTION: Last week’s column contained a few errors that need to be corrected. It was reported that, as of Tuesday, November 30, there had been no activity at the Rutland Post Office building. In fact, workers were observed doing some cleanup work around the exterior of the building, and removing materials from the interior on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, November 29, 30 & December 1. No explanation of what is planned for the building has been received, however. Apologies for the error. We’ll try harder in the future.

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The Rooster Crows – Nov. 19, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Mother Nature gave Rutland a shot of rain on Wednesday, November 10, that coated streets and sidewalks with a sheet of ice, and then followed up with some big, fluffy snowflakes to create a slushy, mushy, slippery mess. The rainfall measured .25 of an inch of rain according to the electronic gauges at the Chuck & Mary Beth Anderson farm 6½ miles southwest of Rutland and the Mike & Debbie Banish farm 2 miles south of town. According to The Assembled Wise Men, there was about 2 inches of snow from the flurries on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Fierce winds, gusting up to 60 mph, on the night of Thursday, November 11, raised concerns, but everything seemed to be intact when the big blow subsided on Friday. A sunny day on Monday, the 15th, and a temperature in the mid-40’s on Tuesday, the 16th, cleared out most of last week’s ice & snow, making room for the next blast that’s sure to come. A new blast of wind was tearing at the countryside on the morning of Wednesday, November 17, and Chuck Anderson said that the anemometer on his electronic weather station indicated gusts up to 37 mph by 9:00 a.m. The wind was out of the west, so, if it doesn’t relocate us to Minnesota, we’ll report further next week.

Rutland native Janelle Brakke reports that she has moved from the South Fargo apartment which has been her home for the past 9 years to a townhouse on 39th Avenue South in Fargo, a few blocks west of 45th Street. According to Janelle, the townhouse complex in which her new home is situated was originally constructed in the 1970’s, but it has been well maintained and was recently thoroughly renovated. The townhouse is considerably larger than her old apartment and, best of all, it has an attached garage. Janelle is an RN, and is employed by Clay County Public Health in Moorhead.

Rodney Erickson reports that harvest activity in the Rutland area wrapped up last week, and that the final loads of corn from the 2021 crop were hauled in to the Rutland Elevator on the evening of Tuesday, November 9, just before the rain started. The best that can be said for the 2021 corn and soybean crops in this area is that neither was as bad as anticipated, and that both were better than expected. As the late Dave Hoflen of this community often observed, “There have been 2 good years in North Dakota, 1914 and next year.” Hope springs eternal, and there’s better times a’comin’!

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Hens Do Crow! Dec. 20, 2019

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Rutland’s Santa Day celebration was held on Saturday, December 14th at the Rutland Hall. The Rutland Community Club hosted the event with crafts for the kids, bingo for all ages and a free-will taco bar. Santa Claus made his appearance to the delight of young and old and nearly all the children has a chance to visit with Santa to remind him of their Christmas wish and to get a box of treats from the jolly old soul. Rutland area businesses sponsored the Christmas hams that were given out.  Forty hams were awarded to Celia Olson, Delores Breker, Brayden Siemieniewski, Bryce Carlson, Avery Woytassek, Jerry Woytassek, Carter Breker, Debra Liermark, Bill Anderson, Landrie Jensen, Diane Anderson, Ruth McLaen, Brady Anderson, Ann Erickson, Dennis McLaen, Shaw Jackson, Ted Lee, Megan Poitra, Reece Halmrast, Tanya Hamilton, Gavin Gallons, Mark Breker, Roger Pearson, Willprecht Family, Briella Wyum, Joanne Harris, Janice Christensen, Cory Pavek, Penny Lock, Kaylee Stiegelmeier, Jameson Corry, Gavin Christianson, Larry Christensen, Lincoln Mahrer, Kylee Mahrer, Brian Pherson, Norbert Kulzer, Launa Peterson, Diane Smith, Karla Breker (apologies to those whose names are spelled incorrectly or wrong; the news correspondent of the day provided the names and spellings – that correspondent shall remain anonymous!). The free-will meal at Santa Day, and at other RCC events, helps the Club sponsor events like the Kids in the Kitchen, Winter Fun Night Carnival, the Pinochle Tournament, Community Play, Easter Egg Hunt, Memorial Day Meal, the Summer Block Party, Art in the Park, Uffda Day, Freezer Meal Frenzy, Santa Day, Zumba, as well as improvements to City Hall – most recently the new kitchen flooring and tables.

Santa Claus and the Rutland kids
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