It’s Spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of – what else but corn planting!? Fields that were covered with snow only three weeks ago are now bare, and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s early this week have reduced the snow supply to a few dirt stained snow banks way back in the trees. The frost is out in most places, and the tillers, as well as the no-tillers, of the soil are getting antsy. On Tuesday, Boyd Brummond estimated that he could be working in some of his fields in the hills along the State line by Easter weekend, barring a rain. “April Fool!” says Mother Nature, though, as rain is in the forecast for the first 2 or 3 days of April.
Any driver who could make it across Sargent County on the first try this past week deserved a piece of cheese when they arrived at their destination. Flood waters had blocked roads at many locations, making the Township, County, and even the State road systems a maze of water hazards, wash outs and dead ends requiring persistence, daring and imaginative navigation to make a successful traverse on the first try. At least 5 five farm homes in Rutland Township, including Paul Shasky’s, had become inaccessible and isolated due to the high water. Around Rutland, County #3 was under water west of the Quentin & Doris Hoistad farm, County #10 was under water at the Wild Rice crossing south of town, County #12 was under water north of Cayuga at the Wild Rice crossing and south of Cayuga at the Wild Rice crossing and at the Tewaukon Refuge Headquarters. North Dakota Highway #11 had been under water just east of the Ron Bergh farm and was undergoing an emergency road raising late last week and early this week. The stretch of ND Highway #11 from the intersection with County #10, 1½ mile north of Rutland, to the intersection with ND Highway #32, 2 miles south of Forman, has been significantly raised in 3 areas since 1997. When the dry years come again, and they will, folks will wonder why those old-timers back in 2010 made their grades so high. Well, we’re building them that way so future generations can keep their feet dry when the wet years come again, and they will.
Disaster was averted and a life was saved early on the morning of Thursday, March 25, when Martin “Whitey” Bommersbach, a Sargent County Road Department employee on his way to work, spotted a light flashing in a field on the south side of Highway #11, about 3 miles northwest of Rutland. When Whitey investigated, he found Mr. John Utecht of Victoria MN, soaking wet and nearly frozen, stuck in a slough where he had fallen through the ice while preparing to hunt snow geese. Whitey got Mr. Utecht out of the water and into the cab of his pickup, where he put the heater on full blast and got some dry clothing for him. The temperature that morning was 19 degrees, and a 30 mph wind had the wind chill near zero. Mr. Utecht’s eyelids were frozen shut, he was suffering from hypothermia and his clothing was so stiff with ice that he could scarcely move when Whitey pulled him from the slough. If he had not had his flashlight with him, and if Whitey had not stopped to investigate, he surely would have perished. Mr. Bommersbach called for assistance and an ambulance transported Mr. Utecht to the hospital at Oakes, where he was treated for hypothermia and released. What could have been a tragedy, is now a story about a close call that he can tell to his grandchildren, thanks to the curiosity and fortitude of Whitey Bommersbach.
Sheila Wyum, Pam Gulleson, Paul Anderson & Bill Anderson of this community were in Fargo last Friday and Saturday, attending the Democratic-NPL State Convention. Also attending the convention from this area were: James Brakke of Havana; Claire Brakke of Havana; and Taylor Wyum of Rutland. James Brakke, a Senior at Sargent Central, was a delegate, while Claire and Taylor served as Pages. The convention endorsed candidates for the U. S. Senate, U. S. Congress and several State offices, and also honored retiring Senator Byron L. Dorgan for his 41 years of public service on Saturday afternoon. The GOP convention had been held in Grand Forks on the previous weekend. All Parties now have their lineups and are ready to do battle this Fall, except for the Tea Party, which can’t decide between crumpets or cakes. The State’s Primary Election is set for Tuesday, June 13, and the General Election will be on Tuesday, November 2, a date which is also known as Sadie Hawkins’ Day. Whether that has any subliminal meaning for the upcoming election remains to be seen.
The Passover Seder meal served at the Rutland General Store on the evening of Monday, March 29, was attended by 36 participants, according to store owner Gretchen Vann. The Seder is the traditional Jewish Passover meal which symbolizes God’s liberation of the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt 4,000 years ago. Each item served during the meal has a symbolic meaning. Noel Liermark of Rutland led the observance, assisted by Pastors Justin Senger of Rutland, Chris Gaule of Forman and Curt Larson of Milnor. Mr. Liermark is of Jewish heritage, and was thanked for sharing his insights into the Seder ceremony. All food was prepared and served in the kosher manner, as required by Jewish religious tradition.
Thursday, April 1, was the date for returning the U. S. Census questionnaires that had been mailed or delivered to every residence in America. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States requires that the census be taken every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning Representatives in the U. S. Congress. The census has been conducted by the Federal Government each decade since 1790, two years after the Constitution had been ratified by the people of the 13 original States. As many programs of both the Federal and State governments allocate funds on a per capita basis, it is important for every person in the community to be counted. Last year, the Federal Government allocated about $420 billion in this fashion, so it is a Big Biden Deal for everyone to be included. Earl Cramton, Rene Cramton and Larry Christensen of this community have been employed by the Census Bureau during this process, although none of them has been assigned to work in the Rutland area. So, stand up and be counted!
An Easter sunrise service will be held at Nordland Lutheran Church here at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 4, with Pastor Justin Senger officiating. The Grace Revealed In Truth (GRIT) Band will perform special music during the service, according to congregation secretary Pam Maloney, and the Nordland Luther League will serve an Easter breakfast in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Summer hours for Rutland City Council meetings will start this coming Monday, April 5, when the Council is scheduled to meet at 8:00 p.m. in the Rutland Town Hall, says City Auditor Doris Hoistad. Consideration of a Home Rule Charter for Rutland will be one of the items on the agenda.
The Rutland Community Club is scheduled to meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, in the Rutland Town Hall. Memorial Day observances, Summer events and Uff-Da Day are expected to be discussed, as well as anything else the members want to bring up.
Well, that’s it for this week. The news is kind of short this week, but we were expecting Armageddon after the healthcare bill was signed and were caught by surprise when it did not occur. So, since the world did not end, Rutland’s Rooster will continue to crow, at least for a while. For more information about what’s going on in The Pride Of The Prairie, check out the community’s web site at www.rutlandnd.com. Later.
The Rooster Crows – April 2, 2010
It’s Spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of – what else but corn planting!? Fields that were covered with snow only three weeks ago are now bare, and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s early this week have reduced the snow supply to a few dirt stained snow banks way back in the trees. The frost is out in most places, and the tillers, as well as the no-tillers, of the soil are getting antsy. On Tuesday, Boyd Brummond estimated that he could be working in some of his fields in the hills along the State line by Easter weekend, barring a rain. “April Fool!” says Mother Nature, though, as rain is in the forecast for the first 2 or 3 days of April.
Any driver who could make it across Sargent County on the first try this past week deserved a piece of cheese when they arrived at their destination. Flood waters had blocked roads at many locations, making the Township, County, and even the State road systems a maze of water hazards, wash outs and dead ends requiring persistence, daring and imaginative navigation to make a successful traverse on the first try. At least 5 five farm homes in Rutland Township, including Paul Shasky’s, had become inaccessible and isolated due to the high water. Around Rutland, County #3 was under water west of the Quentin & Doris Hoistad farm, County #10 was under water at the Wild Rice crossing south of town, County #12 was under water north of Cayuga at the Wild Rice crossing and south of Cayuga at the Wild Rice crossing and at the Tewaukon Refuge Headquarters. North Dakota Highway #11 had been under water just east of the Ron Bergh farm and was undergoing an emergency road raising late last week and early this week. The stretch of ND Highway #11 from the intersection with County #10, 1½ mile north of Rutland, to the intersection with ND Highway #32, 2 miles south of Forman, has been significantly raised in 3 areas since 1997. When the dry years come again, and they will, folks will wonder why those old-timers back in 2010 made their grades so high. Well, we’re building them that way so future generations can keep their feet dry when the wet years come again, and they will.
Disaster was averted and a life was saved early on the morning of Thursday, March 25, when Martin “Whitey” Bommersbach, a Sargent County Road Department employee on his way to work, spotted a light flashing in a field on the south side of Highway #11, about 3 miles northwest of Rutland. When Whitey investigated, he found Mr. John Utecht of Victoria MN, soaking wet and nearly frozen, stuck in a slough where he had fallen through the ice while preparing to hunt snow geese. Whitey got Mr. Utecht out of the water and into the cab of his pickup, where he put the heater on full blast and got some dry clothing for him. The temperature that morning was 19 degrees, and a 30 mph wind had the wind chill near zero. Mr. Utecht’s eyelids were frozen shut, he was suffering from hypothermia and his clothing was so stiff with ice that he could scarcely move when Whitey pulled him from the slough. If he had not had his flashlight with him, and if Whitey had not stopped to investigate, he surely would have perished. Mr. Bommersbach called for assistance and an ambulance transported Mr. Utecht to the hospital at Oakes, where he was treated for hypothermia and released. What could have been a tragedy, is now a story about a close call that he can tell to his grandchildren, thanks to the curiosity and fortitude of Whitey Bommersbach.
Sheila Wyum, Pam Gulleson, Paul Anderson & Bill Anderson of this community were in Fargo last Friday and Saturday, attending the Democratic-NPL State Convention. Also attending the convention from this area were: James Brakke of Havana; Claire Brakke of Havana; and Taylor Wyum of Rutland. James Brakke, a Senior at Sargent Central, was a delegate, while Claire and Taylor served as Pages. The convention endorsed candidates for the U. S. Senate, U. S. Congress and several State offices, and also honored retiring Senator Byron L. Dorgan for his 41 years of public service on Saturday afternoon. The GOP convention had been held in Grand Forks on the previous weekend. All Parties now have their lineups and are ready to do battle this Fall, except for the Tea Party, which can’t decide between crumpets or cakes. The State’s Primary Election is set for Tuesday, June 13, and the General Election will be on Tuesday, November 2, a date which is also known as Sadie Hawkins’ Day. Whether that has any subliminal meaning for the upcoming election remains to be seen.
The Passover Seder meal served at the Rutland General Store on the evening of Monday, March 29, was attended by 36 participants, according to store owner Gretchen Vann. The Seder is the traditional Jewish Passover meal which symbolizes God’s liberation of the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt 4,000 years ago. Each item served during the meal has a symbolic meaning. Noel Liermark of Rutland led the observance, assisted by Pastors Justin Senger of Rutland, Chris Gaule of Forman and Curt Larson of Milnor. Mr. Liermark is of Jewish heritage, and was thanked for sharing his insights into the Seder ceremony. All food was prepared and served in the kosher manner, as required by Jewish religious tradition.
Thursday, April 1, was the date for returning the U. S. Census questionnaires that had been mailed or delivered to every residence in America. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States requires that the census be taken every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning Representatives in the U. S. Congress. The census has been conducted by the Federal Government each decade since 1790, two years after the Constitution had been ratified by the people of the 13 original States. As many programs of both the Federal and State governments allocate funds on a per capita basis, it is important for every person in the community to be counted. Last year, the Federal Government allocated about $420 billion in this fashion, so it is a Big Biden Deal for everyone to be included. Earl Cramton, Rene Cramton and Larry Christensen of this community have been employed by the Census Bureau during this process, although none of them has been assigned to work in the Rutland area. So, stand up and be counted!
An Easter sunrise service will be held at Nordland Lutheran Church here at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 4, with Pastor Justin Senger officiating. The Grace Revealed In Truth (GRIT) Band will perform special music during the service, according to congregation secretary Pam Maloney, and the Nordland Luther League will serve an Easter breakfast in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Summer hours for Rutland City Council meetings will start this coming Monday, April 5, when the Council is scheduled to meet at 8:00 p.m. in the Rutland Town Hall, says City Auditor Doris Hoistad. Consideration of a Home Rule Charter for Rutland will be one of the items on the agenda.
The Rutland Community Club is scheduled to meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, in the Rutland Town Hall. Memorial Day observances, Summer events and Uff-Da Day are expected to be discussed, as well as anything else the members want to bring up.
Well, that’s it for this week. The news is kind of short this week, but we were expecting Armageddon after the healthcare bill was signed and were caught by surprise when it did not occur. So, since the world did not end, Rutland’s Rooster will continue to crow, at least for a while. For more information about what’s going on in The Pride Of The Prairie, check out the community’s web site at www.rutlandnd.com. Later.