Flood waters at Buffalo Lake and along Crooked Creek continued to be a hot topic this past week. The Sargent County Water Resource Board discussed the issue at a meeting on Thursday evening, April 15, at the Courthouse in Forman. The Water Board’s Attorney from the Ohnstad-Twichell Law Firm in West Fargo, and the Board’s Engineer from Moore Engineering of Fargo were on hand to explain the procedure for setting up a legal drain in the Crooked Creek-Buffalo Lake drainage basin. After much discussion, most of it calm, some less so, the Board agreed to cost share 1/3 in the purchase of 4 additional culverts to be installed in Shuman Township roads downstream from Buffalo Lake, to allow water to remain in the creek channel, rather than spreading out on adjacent land or washing out the roads as it heads toward the Wild Rice River. It was understood that the additional culverts would provide some emergency relief but are not a long term solution to the problems in the drainage area. On Tuesday, April 20, the Shuman Township Board and a number of interested landowners met with the County Commission and another lengthy discussion of the issue ensued. The Sargent County Commission encouraged landowners to establish a legal drain to provide themselves with the resources to address the long term problems in the drainage basin. The County Commission also agreed to cost share for 1/3 of the cost of the four new culverts to be installed in Shuman Townships roads downstream from Buffalo Lake. Shuman Township Board member Colin Stockstad, one of the homeowners whose lakeside dwelling had been threatened by the rising water level, reported that the level of the Lake had gone down about 12” since the construction of the emergency channel, the so-called “Panama Canal” option. According to Mr. Stockstad, the emergency channel could not work as well as it should, due to the danger of washing out the Township’s roads downstream from the Lake. Edwin Erickson, whose farmstead had been threatened by the water in Crooked Creek, announced that a meeting of interested landowners would be held in his farm shop on Wednesday evening, April 21, to discuss the formation of a legal drain in the Crooked Creek-Buffalo Lake drainage basin. More next week.
Seven quilting enthusiasts: Sue Anderson of Rutland; Rosalie Dallman of Lidgerwood; Ruth Novotny of Lidgerwood; Kathy Wyum of Rutland; Marlys Harris of Oakes; Gloria Bock of Cogswell; and, Kathy Brakke of Rutland; devoted 2½ days, from 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 16, to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, to the practice of their favorite pastime during a “Quilters’ Retreat” at the Rutland General Store. The quilters occupied the Store’s back room, where they had quick access to the excellent stock of fabric and sewing supplies maintained by owner, Gretchen Vann. All of the participants report a very productive and enjoyable weekend.
The next in a series of “reservations only” evening dinners will be held at the Rutland General Store on Friday, April 30, according to store owner Gretchen Vann. The dinners generally feature a specialized menu, such as French, Greek or Italian cuisine. The April 30 dinner will have a menu from the Phillipine Islands, says owner Vann. Call the Rutland General Store at 724-3784 for reservations.
Paul Anderson drove up to Buffalo ND on Saturday, April 17, to attend a grape vine pruning clinic sponsored by the North Dakota Grape Growers Association and NDSU. Paul has established the first intentionally created vineyard in the Rutland area and is active in promoting grape growing and wine production by vineyards and wineries in North Dakota. He currently serves as vice-president of the North Dakota Grape Growers Association.
Bill & Mary Woytassek returned home from their late winter-early spring vacation trip on the evening of Sunday, April 11. The Woytasseks had departed Rutland on March 20, bound for Arizona. Their youngest son, Rob, and his wife, of Redondo Beach CA drove over to Phoenix to spend the Easter weekend with Bill and Mary. Bill states that he expects to be planting corn sometime this week, provided that the soil temperature warms up a little.
Mike Kulzer of Kulzer Feed and Seed in Rutland reports that most producers have been picking up 95 and 92 day corn varieties so far this Spring, in contrast to the 365 day varieties that many apparently planted in 2009. A number of local corn growers, including Wyum Brothers, wrapped up the 2009 corn harvest this past week, just in time to begin planting the 2010 crop.
State Senator Jim Dotzenrod of Wyndmere stopped in at the Rutland General Store on the afternoon of Sunday, April 18, to visit with friends here. Jim was on his way home from the dinner in Havana that had been served by Trinity Lutheran Church earlier that day. Jim states that he expects the 2011 legislative session will require a full court press from townships, cities and counties in rural North Dakota to secure adequate funding for road repair, maintenance and improvement. He urges that these entities be prepared to document where they need the funding, why they need the funding and how much funding they need to get the job done right. Jim also reported that the April 11-12 storm that dumped up to 4½” of rain in the Wyndmere area last week missed some of his land, so he expected to be planting corn on Monday morning. Areas which were hit by the heavy rain, though, are not likely to see much farming action for at least 2 to 3 weeks, he said.
Jake Erickson was home in Rutland last week after recently completing Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio TX. Jake states that he is now awaiting orders to report for advanced training as a construction specialist, and will be serving with his North Dakota Air National Guard unit in Fargo, and hopefully attending college, until the orders come through.
Meanwhile, Rutland’s own Shelly Pherson, who completed Air Force Basic Training several weeks ago, is at Lackland AFB, undergoing training as a cargo specialist. Shelly, too, is a member of the North Dakota Air National Guard unit in Fargo, and will be reporting for duty there upon completion of her advanced training.
The Rutland Home Rule Charter Committee completed work on a final draft of the document and will present it at a public hearing that is scheduled for Tuesday evening, May 11, at the Rutland Town Hall. Prior to the public hearing, copies of the Proposed Charter will be distributed to Rutland residents for review and comment. The Charter Committee may revise the Proposed Charter following the hearing, and then present it to the City Council. The Council is expected to schedule a vote on the Home Rule Charter in conjunction with the General Election in November.
Janet (Breker) Kiefer, chef at the Rutland Senior’s Center, reports that she and husband Cliff became grandparents for the first time when Drew Clarence Kiefer was born to Andy and Karen Kiefer at Lufkin TX. True to his birthplace, Drew is a big, tall Texan, weighing at 8 pounds 2 ounces. He was born at 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, reports Janet. She and Cliff are planning a visit with their new grandson in early May.
Chuck Sundlie and son, Aden, called on friends around town on Wednesday evening. Aden, 3 years old, has been out of town for a while and wanted to make sure that everyone is still here. Chuck reports that his parents, Leif & Phyllis Sundlie of Palm Springs CA, and his uncle, Donald Donaldson of San Francisco CA, will be visiting in Rutland over the Memorial Day weekend, and hope to greet a lot of old friends while they are in town. Don and Leif are both veterans of World War II, and charter members of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of the American Legion in Rutland. Don, and fellow World War II veteran Milton McLaen, both have 65 years of continuous membership in the Rutland Post.
Local fishing enthusiasts have been taking advantage of the high water to enjoy their sport in more locations than ever before. Northern pike and crappies have been reported to be biting at Silver Lake, but there are so many bodies of water with fish in them that it is impossible to try them all. Melody Pherson reports that she recently caught a 23 inch walleye in one of the local water holes, but being a devoted and disciplined angler, she is keeping quiet about the location.
Earl Fust has returned from Winter quarters in Milnor, and is taking up residence at the Fust farm north of Rutland for the Spring and Summer seasons. Earl’s wife, Susan, is a teacher in the Milnor school system, and the couple purchased the former Marvin Mund home in that community a year ago. Earl states that he likes the Milnor community and really enjoys his new home there, but it feels good to get back to his old stomping grounds at Rutland, too.
Well, everyone in Rutland is feeling pretty good about the weather this past week. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s have already provided more Spring and Summer weather than we were blessed with during all of last year. Power lawn mowers, diesel engines, motorcycles, honking geese, cooing doves, quacking ducks and crowing rooster pheasants all mingle their voices in the chorus of Summer, a chorus that has also now been joined by the buzz of North Dakota’s State Bird, the mosquito. It’s Springtime, folks. Enjoy it!
Well, that’s it for this week. For more information on what’s going on in “the little city that can,” check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com. Later.
The Rooster Crows – April 23, 2010
Flood waters at Buffalo Lake and along Crooked Creek continued to be a hot topic this past week. The Sargent County Water Resource Board discussed the issue at a meeting on Thursday evening, April 15, at the Courthouse in Forman. The Water Board’s Attorney from the Ohnstad-Twichell Law Firm in West Fargo, and the Board’s Engineer from Moore Engineering of Fargo were on hand to explain the procedure for setting up a legal drain in the Crooked Creek-Buffalo Lake drainage basin. After much discussion, most of it calm, some less so, the Board agreed to cost share 1/3 in the purchase of 4 additional culverts to be installed in Shuman Township roads downstream from Buffalo Lake, to allow water to remain in the creek channel, rather than spreading out on adjacent land or washing out the roads as it heads toward the Wild Rice River. It was understood that the additional culverts would provide some emergency relief but are not a long term solution to the problems in the drainage area. On Tuesday, April 20, the Shuman Township Board and a number of interested landowners met with the County Commission and another lengthy discussion of the issue ensued. The Sargent County Commission encouraged landowners to establish a legal drain to provide themselves with the resources to address the long term problems in the drainage basin. The County Commission also agreed to cost share for 1/3 of the cost of the four new culverts to be installed in Shuman Townships roads downstream from Buffalo Lake. Shuman Township Board member Colin Stockstad, one of the homeowners whose lakeside dwelling had been threatened by the rising water level, reported that the level of the Lake had gone down about 12” since the construction of the emergency channel, the so-called “Panama Canal” option. According to Mr. Stockstad, the emergency channel could not work as well as it should, due to the danger of washing out the Township’s roads downstream from the Lake. Edwin Erickson, whose farmstead had been threatened by the water in Crooked Creek, announced that a meeting of interested landowners would be held in his farm shop on Wednesday evening, April 21, to discuss the formation of a legal drain in the Crooked Creek-Buffalo Lake drainage basin. More next week.
Seven quilting enthusiasts: Sue Anderson of Rutland; Rosalie Dallman of Lidgerwood; Ruth Novotny of Lidgerwood; Kathy Wyum of Rutland; Marlys Harris of Oakes; Gloria Bock of Cogswell; and, Kathy Brakke of Rutland; devoted 2½ days, from 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 16, to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, to the practice of their favorite pastime during a “Quilters’ Retreat” at the Rutland General Store. The quilters occupied the Store’s back room, where they had quick access to the excellent stock of fabric and sewing supplies maintained by owner, Gretchen Vann. All of the participants report a very productive and enjoyable weekend.
The next in a series of “reservations only” evening dinners will be held at the Rutland General Store on Friday, April 30, according to store owner Gretchen Vann. The dinners generally feature a specialized menu, such as French, Greek or Italian cuisine. The April 30 dinner will have a menu from the Phillipine Islands, says owner Vann. Call the Rutland General Store at 724-3784 for reservations.
Paul Anderson drove up to Buffalo ND on Saturday, April 17, to attend a grape vine pruning clinic sponsored by the North Dakota Grape Growers Association and NDSU. Paul has established the first intentionally created vineyard in the Rutland area and is active in promoting grape growing and wine production by vineyards and wineries in North Dakota. He currently serves as vice-president of the North Dakota Grape Growers Association.
Bill & Mary Woytassek returned home from their late winter-early spring vacation trip on the evening of Sunday, April 11. The Woytasseks had departed Rutland on March 20, bound for Arizona. Their youngest son, Rob, and his wife, of Redondo Beach CA drove over to Phoenix to spend the Easter weekend with Bill and Mary. Bill states that he expects to be planting corn sometime this week, provided that the soil temperature warms up a little.
Mike Kulzer of Kulzer Feed and Seed in Rutland reports that most producers have been picking up 95 and 92 day corn varieties so far this Spring, in contrast to the 365 day varieties that many apparently planted in 2009. A number of local corn growers, including Wyum Brothers, wrapped up the 2009 corn harvest this past week, just in time to begin planting the 2010 crop.
State Senator Jim Dotzenrod of Wyndmere stopped in at the Rutland General Store on the afternoon of Sunday, April 18, to visit with friends here. Jim was on his way home from the dinner in Havana that had been served by Trinity Lutheran Church earlier that day. Jim states that he expects the 2011 legislative session will require a full court press from townships, cities and counties in rural North Dakota to secure adequate funding for road repair, maintenance and improvement. He urges that these entities be prepared to document where they need the funding, why they need the funding and how much funding they need to get the job done right. Jim also reported that the April 11-12 storm that dumped up to 4½” of rain in the Wyndmere area last week missed some of his land, so he expected to be planting corn on Monday morning. Areas which were hit by the heavy rain, though, are not likely to see much farming action for at least 2 to 3 weeks, he said.
Jake Erickson was home in Rutland last week after recently completing Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio TX. Jake states that he is now awaiting orders to report for advanced training as a construction specialist, and will be serving with his North Dakota Air National Guard unit in Fargo, and hopefully attending college, until the orders come through.
Meanwhile, Rutland’s own Shelly Pherson, who completed Air Force Basic Training several weeks ago, is at Lackland AFB, undergoing training as a cargo specialist. Shelly, too, is a member of the North Dakota Air National Guard unit in Fargo, and will be reporting for duty there upon completion of her advanced training.
The Rutland Home Rule Charter Committee completed work on a final draft of the document and will present it at a public hearing that is scheduled for Tuesday evening, May 11, at the Rutland Town Hall. Prior to the public hearing, copies of the Proposed Charter will be distributed to Rutland residents for review and comment. The Charter Committee may revise the Proposed Charter following the hearing, and then present it to the City Council. The Council is expected to schedule a vote on the Home Rule Charter in conjunction with the General Election in November.
Janet (Breker) Kiefer, chef at the Rutland Senior’s Center, reports that she and husband Cliff became grandparents for the first time when Drew Clarence Kiefer was born to Andy and Karen Kiefer at Lufkin TX. True to his birthplace, Drew is a big, tall Texan, weighing at 8 pounds 2 ounces. He was born at 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, reports Janet. She and Cliff are planning a visit with their new grandson in early May.
Chuck Sundlie and son, Aden, called on friends around town on Wednesday evening. Aden, 3 years old, has been out of town for a while and wanted to make sure that everyone is still here. Chuck reports that his parents, Leif & Phyllis Sundlie of Palm Springs CA, and his uncle, Donald Donaldson of San Francisco CA, will be visiting in Rutland over the Memorial Day weekend, and hope to greet a lot of old friends while they are in town. Don and Leif are both veterans of World War II, and charter members of Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of the American Legion in Rutland. Don, and fellow World War II veteran Milton McLaen, both have 65 years of continuous membership in the Rutland Post.
Local fishing enthusiasts have been taking advantage of the high water to enjoy their sport in more locations than ever before. Northern pike and crappies have been reported to be biting at Silver Lake, but there are so many bodies of water with fish in them that it is impossible to try them all. Melody Pherson reports that she recently caught a 23 inch walleye in one of the local water holes, but being a devoted and disciplined angler, she is keeping quiet about the location.
Earl Fust has returned from Winter quarters in Milnor, and is taking up residence at the Fust farm north of Rutland for the Spring and Summer seasons. Earl’s wife, Susan, is a teacher in the Milnor school system, and the couple purchased the former Marvin Mund home in that community a year ago. Earl states that he likes the Milnor community and really enjoys his new home there, but it feels good to get back to his old stomping grounds at Rutland, too.
Well, everyone in Rutland is feeling pretty good about the weather this past week. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s have already provided more Spring and Summer weather than we were blessed with during all of last year. Power lawn mowers, diesel engines, motorcycles, honking geese, cooing doves, quacking ducks and crowing rooster pheasants all mingle their voices in the chorus of Summer, a chorus that has also now been joined by the buzz of North Dakota’s State Bird, the mosquito. It’s Springtime, folks. Enjoy it!
Well, that’s it for this week. For more information on what’s going on in “the little city that can,” check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com. Later.