Celebrate Arbor Day Today!

On May 2, 2025May 1, 2025 By rutlandramblingsIn NatureLeave a comment

Today, Friday, May 2, 2025, is Arbor Day in the State of North Dakota. Rutland is one of about 50 communities in North Dakota registered as a Tree City USA. Five of these communities also received a Growth Award in 2024, which recognizes major milestones and annual activities that build sustainable community forestry programs over the long term. Rutland is one of those Tree City communities that received a Growth Award.

To be a Tree City USA, Rutland had to meet four standards including having a tree board, a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. These efforts impact the health, safety, and economy of our community, and enhance the quality of life and make our town a more beautiful place to live, work and play.

There are benefits to being a Tree City:

Recognizing and rewarding communities for urban forestry management
Providing education on relevant tree care and management practices
Greater community pride by showing the community and its decision-makers care about the environment
Increased public awareness of urban forestry practices
Some North Dakota Forest Service grants provide extra points in their scoring for Tree City USA communities
Community Family Forest grant awards increase by $500 for Tree City USA communities

The City of Rutland has been a recognized Tree City USA since 2018 and has achieved the Growth Award for several of those years. Projects have included the removal of nearly 25 trees and planting new trees in those and other locations. The City also maintains, trims and prunes trees as needed to help the City trees thrive.

Celebrate the day by planting a tree in your yard. For every street tree, there are said to be as many as 10 trees on private property. This makes an enormous contribution to the community’s air and water quality – and more yard trees would mean an even healthier environment. In many case, trees can also replace grass and save on water bills and time spent on lawn maintenance. Trees can also help reduce exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight.

Cleaner air, wildlife habitat, cooler temperatures, better moods and a happier planet – when it comes to sharing all their benefits, trees don’t hold back. Discover everything trees can do and the value they hold for our planet by checking the tree resources available through the Arbor Day Foundation at https://www.arborday.org/tree-resources

If you do plant a tree, send a photo to the City at rutlandnd@drtel.net to share it on our website!

The Rooster Crows – May 6, 2022

On May 6, 2022May 5, 2022 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

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 – April 8, 2022

On April 8, 2022 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

By Bill Anderson

Spring has been behaving like a reluctant maiden for the past few weeks, first bestowing her warm and radiant smile on her ardent suitors, then chilling their enthusiasm with a dousing of rain, snow and slush. Well, maybe it’s all part of an elaborate April Fools prank. Sooner or later, Spring is bound to bestow the warmth of her embrace upon the land, but, until then, she is delivering the promise without the squeeze. The 3 inches of new snow that fell on Sunday, April 3, was a reminder that April showers do not only bring May flowers. Those showers may also bring snow, slush and hazardous driving conditions. On the bright side, Janelle Brakke drove from Rutland to Fargo on Sunday afternoon, and reports that the clean snow removed all of the exterior dirt & grime from her car, as nicely as if she had purchased the high-priced option at the car wash. Every cloud has its silver lining.

A large group of family and friends gathered at the Rutland Town Hall on the afternoon of Saturday, April 2, to honor Delores “PeeWee” Breker on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Delores is one of the daughters of the late Mr. & Mrs. Harold Evenson. The Evensons made their home in Rutland when Delores was born, but later moved to Cogswell where she grew up and went to school. When she married Ralph Breker, she again became part of the Rutland community, residing on the farm southeast of town where Shane & Carla Breker now make their home. Guests from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota were on hand to help Delores celebrate, and Stephen Ricksecker, a nephew who had made his home with Ralph & PeeWee during his high school years, flew all the way from California to attend the party. PeeWee’s many friends in this community extend an enthusiastic “Happy Birthday!” to her, and best wishes for many more to come.

Confirmation students at Nordland Lutheran Church: Greta Bladow; Kaycee Hamilton; Whitney Mahrer; and Charlize Willprecht; presented their Affirmation of Faith statements to the Congregation; and, 5^th Grade students: Julia Mahrer; Loden Jochim; Lilith Pavek; and, Krosby Willprecht; had their First Communion; during worship service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 3. The Confirmation service, also called Affirmation of Baptism, for Greta, Kaycee, Whitney, and Charlize is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, at Nordland Lutheran Church. This is an impressive group of young ladies: intelligent; articulate; and, confident; of whom their families and their community can be proud.

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Hens Do Crow! Nov. 20, 2020

On November 20, 2020December 3, 2020 By rutlandramblingsIn Rooster CrowsLeave a comment

Rutland held a tree pruning clinic/workshop earlier this month as part of its Tree City USA efforts. Mary O’Neill, from the Lisbon Office of the ND Forest Service, gave tips and demonstrated how to correctly prune trees. It was an opportunity to get some of the City trees trimmed by volunteer labor! The City has had nearly 30 trees removed in the past two years and will continue to remove diseased and dying/dead trees. Next year’s Tree City USA grant applications will include tree planting so if you have suggestions for City tree placement next year, let us know. Suggestions can be dropped off at the Hall or sent via email to rutlandnd@drtel.net. The City of Rutland was recognized as a North Dakota 2019 Arbor Day Foundation Award Winner for its efforts and accomplishments as a Tree City USA community.

Today is the last day to participate in the Community Vibrancy Survey for Sargent County. The County is partnering with Growing Small Towns, a new 501 (c)(3) located in Oakes, to create programs, education, and events to help residents and businesses in Sargent County grow. The link for the survey has been on the Rutland blog and on the Rutland Facebook page. Forman, Gwinner and Milnor have also posted the link for the survey. If you have not had a chance to respond to the survey, please do so today! The survey asks questions about what Rutland and Sargent County look like today and what changes you would like to see in the future. You can find the survey online at the rutlandramblings.blog “Growing Small Towns” or on the rutlandnd.com website in the “Recent News” on the Sargent County Survey. Do not delay!

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