The last weekend in August was like the August we used to know and love. Love to have behind us, that is. Hot dry winds out of the southwest sucked moisture out of the ground and, once again, reminded us of how fast nature can take away what it had previously provided. Fortunately, there is still an ample supply of moisture, but, for those who remember dry years and drought, the last couple of weeks in August has been an uncomfortable reminder of what has been, and of what can be. For now, though, soybean and corn fields are ripening, and growers are preparing for the harvest of what appears to be a very good crop, as September has arrived, behaving like September should, with cool nights and bright, warm days. Soybean plants in many fields around Rutland are dropping their leaves, and some producers expect that combining of those precious little beans may commence in another week to 10 days. Cornstalks are beginning to get that dry look, too, and the ears are leaning out from the stalk, indicating that corn harvest will be able to commence as soon as the stalks dry down enough to make it through the combine. It’s a little early, but a good frost in the next week or so would get the bean and corn harvests off to a running start. In another sign of changing times, sugar beets are being lifted in the Delamere area. We never thought that sugar beets would be a steady crop in Sargent County, but, 20 years ago who ever thought that North Dakota would be part of the corn belt, either?
Shawn Breker, son of Shane and Carla Breker of this community, has accepted employment with the engineering firm of Kadrmus, Lee & Jackson (KLJ) at the firm’s Devils Lake office. Shawn, a 2010 graduate of NDSU with a degree in Civil Engineering, commenced on his new duties on August 16, right after the Rutland Rib Fest. Following his graduation in May, Shawn had spent 6 weeks studying engineering in Australia.
Former Rutland resident Rita (Grammond) Trygstad of Redfield SD and her sister, Mary Ann (Grammond) Gadberry of Kentucky, were Rutland visitors on Saturday, August 28. Mary Ann reported that she has accepted a position as Editor of both The Sargent County Teller and the Ransom County Gazette, and that she will be moving back to North Dakota to take the helm at both publications in September. The Grammond girls are well known in Rutland, as their parents once farmed southeast of town, in Tewaukon Township. They lived in Forman during their school years, but have a host of friends in the Rutland community and spent a lot of time here in days past. Rita made her home in Rutland for most of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, before moving to Britton SD about 15 years ago. Mary Ann has been working in the publishing and newspaper business since she graduated from college, and she is well qualified for her new positions. Congratulations to Mary Ann Gadberry, the new Editor. We’ll just have to see if she can capture the title of curmudgeon-in-chief from the former Editor, R. Harrington Bradbury III, Millionaire, of Rutland.
Miss Katie Rust of Brampton and Mr. Nick McLaen of Rutland exchanged marriage vows in a ceremony at Nordland Lutheran Church on the afternoon of Saturday, August 28. Pastor Justin Fenger officiated. A reception and dance at the Rutland Town Hall followed the ceremony. Mr. & Mrs. McLaen will be making their home on the farm 4 miles north of town. The Rutland community extends congratulations to Nick and Katie on the occasion of their marriage, and best wishes for a long and happy life together.
Nordland Lutheran Church of Rutland and Trinity Lutheran Church of Havana bade farewell to Pastor & Mrs. Justin Fenger on Sunday, August 29, with a pot-luck barbecue and community reception at the Nordland Fellowship Hall. After serving the two congregations as intern Pastor for the past year, the Fengers are returning to St. Paul MN, where he will complete his training at Luther Seminary there. Mrs. Fenger, Katie, was employed at The Rutland General Store and Café this past Summer, and she will be missed by both the morning breakfast and coffee crowd and by the afternoon Round Table session of the Assembled Wise Men. Pastor Fenger also serves as a Chaplain with a Minnesota Army National Guard infantry unit, headquartered in Moorhead, that has been notified to prepare for possible deployment to Afghanistan in the coming year. A new intern, Pastor Katie Jerabek, was scheduled to assume the duties of Pastor to the Nordland and Trinity congregations on Wednesday, September 1. Welcome to Rutland and Havana, Pastor Jerabek! Hope you’re ready to roll lefse.
Riley Brothers Construction of Morris MN was moving heavy equipment through town on Monday, August 30, in preparation for the installation of new, concrete box culverts through County #10 at the Wild Rice River crossing, 2 miles south of town. Weather permitting, it is expected that the work will be completed in about 2 weeks. Travelers between Rutland and Havana should consider alternate routes while construction is in progress. The County road at this site was washed away during the Spring flooding in 2009. Emergency repairs were made last Summer, but the permanent fix had to wait for engineering, design, archeological studies and the availability of Federal funding. The permanent repair, which engineers have planned to withstand a 500 year flood event, will also raise the roadbed by 2 feet, to keep the river from overtopping the road. Cost of the project is 80% Federal and 20% local, with the local share being split between the Sargent County Road Department and the Sargent County Water Resource Board. Another “Pork Barrel Project,” according to the tea partiers, but “Bringing Home The Bacon,” for the people of Sargent County.
Gretchen Vann of this community, accompanied by her mother, Toos Vanderwolf of Forman, made a 3 day trip to the city of Pella, Iowa, from Monday through Wednesday of this week. The Pella community was founded by pioneer homesteaders from Holland in the mid 19th century, reports Gretchen. Mrs. Vanderwolf emigrated from Holland to the United States in 1956. Gretchen reports that the trip was interesting, but that the community of Pella was not as Dutch as Toos would have liked. Well, the communities of Sargent County are not as Norwegian, Swedish, German, Polish, Bohemian, Dutch or Irish as they used to be, either. We’re all Americans, now.
Sargent County Park Board member Quentin Hoistad of Rutland reports that progress is being made in the Silver Lake Pavillion fund-raising effort. A generous donation of $5,000.00 from Harlan Klefstad of Forman, and a substantial contribution from the First National Bank of Milnor have pushed the fund closer to its goal, but there’s still a long way to go, says Quentin. The Pavillion is being constructed on the north side of the County Park at Silver Lake. The Park Board has elected to construct the pavilion in stages, as funds are available. The first stage, pouring the concrete floor and installing the base posts, has been completed, so far. Park Manager, Dennis Goltz, reports that the number of visitors using the Park’s facilities has increased significantly, again, this year. The County Park at Silver Lake is certainly a gem for the people of Sargent County.
Fishing reports from local anglers are that the fishing has been great on the local lakes, but the catching has been lousy. Greg Donaldson reports that fishing success continued to be good throughout the month of August up in the Glacial Lake chain in the Coteau Hills just south of the border, though. And, while some folks have a tough time catching even small panfish or bullheads, even while equipped with $20,000.00 fishing boats and more electronic equipment than the U. S. Navy used to win World War II, at least one fisherman needed neither hook, line nor sinker to land a lunker. Rob Wyum reports that his wife’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Claude Severson, recently purchased a lot on the shores of Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, that was the scene of the unusual catch. Rob and a few others had just helped Mr. Severson get his boat into the water on Saturday, August 7, when they noticed some fins sticking out of the water, a la Jaws. They thought that the big fins must belong to a carp, but finally took the boat over to investigate, figuring that the big fish would dive and disappear as they approached. But the fish remained near the surface and, as they approached, Mr. Severson exclaimed, “It’s a walleye!” They had nothing in the boat with which to catch a fish, not even a minnow-bucket dip net. After maneuvering the boat close to the walleye, several unsuccessful attempts were made to grab it, but to no avail. The big fish swam under the boat several times, but always stayed close, states Rob. Finally, Mr. Severson was able to reach down and grab the monster, flipping it into the boat. A scale was handy, and the fish weighed in at 6 pounds 5 ounces. The tail of the lunker walleye was all chewed up, and part of it was missing, reports Rob, so we’re wondering how large the fish was that tried to swallow this one. Congratulations to Claude on a “once in a lifetime” catch.
Mr. Francis Karst of Hoven, South Dakota, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, stopped in Rutland on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 31, to visit a comrade he hadn’t seen for 40 years. Back in 1970, Sgt. Karst, known to the Marines of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, Fifth Marines, as “Blue” because he was as strong as Paul Bunyan’s fabled blue ox, was an infantry squad leader in the same Company in which Bill Anderson of this community was serving as an infantry platoon commander. Since 1971, Mr. Karst has been at Hoven, where he was the manager of the local CENEX co-op for the past 35 years, and, since 1972, Bill has been in Rutland, but neither knew the other’s location until 2 weeks ago, when one of the other veterans of Delta Company, Judge William Downes of Casper WY, got in contact with Bill. Hoven is about 80 miles west of Aberdeen. During his service in Vietnam, Blue was twice seriously wounded. On the first occasion, he was moving from one fighting hole to another, directing the fire of the Marines in his squad, when an NVA mortar round impacted nearby. The force of the explosion threw Blue into the air, out in front of the Marines’ position, and drove shards of shrapnel into his legs. He managed to scramble back into the perimeter, was medevaced for treatment, and returned to his squad a week later. Forty years later, some of the shrapnel from that NVA mortar round is still imbedded in his legs. The second time Blue was wounded was during a firefight with NVA troops in an area of Quang Nam province known to the Marines as “The Arizona Territory.” On that occasion, a bullet struck Blue just below his flak vest and passed through his abdomen, miraculously missing all vital organs. Blue was airlifted to the hospital ship Hope, then anchored off Danang, where he spent 2 weeks recuperating before returning to duty, and to combat, once again. Those who served in Vietnam back in the 60’s and 70’s remember that the entire country had an odor that assailed the nostrils like a combination of putre fish and an open sewer on a hot day. Blue states that the only fresh air he smelled during his tour of duty in Vietnam was during the 2 weeks he spent on the Hope, out on the South China Sea. Bill remembers Blue as an outstanding Marine NCO who led by example and performed his duties with courage, skill and discipline, qualities that have served him well through life. Blue also has the distinction of having been an official guest of the City of Sydney, Australia, where, while on a 5 day R & R in April of 1970, he attended a ceremony commemorating the discovery of Australia by Capt. Cook back in 1770, and greeted Queen Elizabeth II, who was speaking at the ceremony. While in Rutland, Blue participated in a world problem solving session at the Rutland General Store’s Round Table, and also enjoyed a steak supper at the Lariat Bar. The 1969-1970 veterans of Delta Company, 5th Marines, one of whom is current U. S. Senator James Webb of Virginia, have held several reunions in the past couple of decades, with the next one scheduled to be held at the home of the 5th Marines, Camp Pendleton CA, in 2012. Both Blue and Bill intend to be there.
Preparations are speeding up for the Jesse Brakke Benefit scheduled to be held in the Rutland Town Hall on Saturday, September 11. A Bean Bag Tourney is set to begin at 1 p.m. Kettle Corn, bars and beverages will be available during the day including a Beer Wagon to quench the thirst. A great variety of auction articles have been donated, including: famous celebrity original photos and memorabilia; Sports memorabilia, clothes and baseball cards; Wildlife pictures; Gift certificates; guns; Gift baskets with tools; sports clothes; sewing articles; a collection of classic aprons; Christmas gifts & decorations; and, many more. A LCD flat screen TV is grand prize of one of the raffles that will be conducted. The schedule is: 1:00 p.m., Bean Bag Tourney, lunch and refreshments; 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., supper and silent auction; 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Live Auction; 9:00 p.m. til the cows come home, Karaoke at the Lariat Bar, following the auction.
Uffda Day lefse production is also making good progress under the direction of Lefse Lena, also known as Mavis Marquette. More than 1,800 lefse rounds had been produced by the morning of Tuesday, August 31. Uffda Day 2010, Rutland’s 26th annual Fall Festival with a Scandinavian flavor, will be on Sunday, October 3. Parade entries are welcome. Contact Parade committee coordinator Bill Anderson for more information. Lori McLaen is Uffda Day chairperson for 2010. If you want to get involved and share in the fun, give Lori a call.
Well, that’s it for this week. For more information about what’s going on in Rutland, the little city that can, check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and stop by the Rutland blog and Facebook pages, too.
The Rooster Crows – September 3, 2010
The last weekend in August was like the August we used to know and love. Love to have behind us, that is. Hot dry winds out of the southwest sucked moisture out of the ground and, once again, reminded us of how fast nature can take away what it had previously provided. Fortunately, there is still an ample supply of moisture, but, for those who remember dry years and drought, the last couple of weeks in August has been an uncomfortable reminder of what has been, and of what can be. For now, though, soybean and corn fields are ripening, and growers are preparing for the harvest of what appears to be a very good crop, as September has arrived, behaving like September should, with cool nights and bright, warm days. Soybean plants in many fields around Rutland are dropping their leaves, and some producers expect that combining of those precious little beans may commence in another week to 10 days. Cornstalks are beginning to get that dry look, too, and the ears are leaning out from the stalk, indicating that corn harvest will be able to commence as soon as the stalks dry down enough to make it through the combine. It’s a little early, but a good frost in the next week or so would get the bean and corn harvests off to a running start. In another sign of changing times, sugar beets are being lifted in the Delamere area. We never thought that sugar beets would be a steady crop in Sargent County, but, 20 years ago who ever thought that North Dakota would be part of the corn belt, either?
Shawn Breker, son of Shane and Carla Breker of this community, has accepted employment with the engineering firm of Kadrmus, Lee & Jackson (KLJ) at the firm’s Devils Lake office. Shawn, a 2010 graduate of NDSU with a degree in Civil Engineering, commenced on his new duties on August 16, right after the Rutland Rib Fest. Following his graduation in May, Shawn had spent 6 weeks studying engineering in Australia.
Former Rutland resident Rita (Grammond) Trygstad of Redfield SD and her sister, Mary Ann (Grammond) Gadberry of Kentucky, were Rutland visitors on Saturday, August 28. Mary Ann reported that she has accepted a position as Editor of both The Sargent County Teller and the Ransom County Gazette, and that she will be moving back to North Dakota to take the helm at both publications in September. The Grammond girls are well known in Rutland, as their parents once farmed southeast of town, in Tewaukon Township. They lived in Forman during their school years, but have a host of friends in the Rutland community and spent a lot of time here in days past. Rita made her home in Rutland for most of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, before moving to Britton SD about 15 years ago. Mary Ann has been working in the publishing and newspaper business since she graduated from college, and she is well qualified for her new positions. Congratulations to Mary Ann Gadberry, the new Editor. We’ll just have to see if she can capture the title of curmudgeon-in-chief from the former Editor, R. Harrington Bradbury III, Millionaire, of Rutland.
Miss Katie Rust of Brampton and Mr. Nick McLaen of Rutland exchanged marriage vows in a ceremony at Nordland Lutheran Church on the afternoon of Saturday, August 28. Pastor Justin Fenger officiated. A reception and dance at the Rutland Town Hall followed the ceremony. Mr. & Mrs. McLaen will be making their home on the farm 4 miles north of town. The Rutland community extends congratulations to Nick and Katie on the occasion of their marriage, and best wishes for a long and happy life together.
Nordland Lutheran Church of Rutland and Trinity Lutheran Church of Havana bade farewell to Pastor & Mrs. Justin Fenger on Sunday, August 29, with a pot-luck barbecue and community reception at the Nordland Fellowship Hall. After serving the two congregations as intern Pastor for the past year, the Fengers are returning to St. Paul MN, where he will complete his training at Luther Seminary there. Mrs. Fenger, Katie, was employed at The Rutland General Store and Café this past Summer, and she will be missed by both the morning breakfast and coffee crowd and by the afternoon Round Table session of the Assembled Wise Men. Pastor Fenger also serves as a Chaplain with a Minnesota Army National Guard infantry unit, headquartered in Moorhead, that has been notified to prepare for possible deployment to Afghanistan in the coming year. A new intern, Pastor Katie Jerabek, was scheduled to assume the duties of Pastor to the Nordland and Trinity congregations on Wednesday, September 1. Welcome to Rutland and Havana, Pastor Jerabek! Hope you’re ready to roll lefse.
Riley Brothers Construction of Morris MN was moving heavy equipment through town on Monday, August 30, in preparation for the installation of new, concrete box culverts through County #10 at the Wild Rice River crossing, 2 miles south of town. Weather permitting, it is expected that the work will be completed in about 2 weeks. Travelers between Rutland and Havana should consider alternate routes while construction is in progress. The County road at this site was washed away during the Spring flooding in 2009. Emergency repairs were made last Summer, but the permanent fix had to wait for engineering, design, archeological studies and the availability of Federal funding. The permanent repair, which engineers have planned to withstand a 500 year flood event, will also raise the roadbed by 2 feet, to keep the river from overtopping the road. Cost of the project is 80% Federal and 20% local, with the local share being split between the Sargent County Road Department and the Sargent County Water Resource Board. Another “Pork Barrel Project,” according to the tea partiers, but “Bringing Home The Bacon,” for the people of Sargent County.
Gretchen Vann of this community, accompanied by her mother, Toos Vanderwolf of Forman, made a 3 day trip to the city of Pella, Iowa, from Monday through Wednesday of this week. The Pella community was founded by pioneer homesteaders from Holland in the mid 19th century, reports Gretchen. Mrs. Vanderwolf emigrated from Holland to the United States in 1956. Gretchen reports that the trip was interesting, but that the community of Pella was not as Dutch as Toos would have liked. Well, the communities of Sargent County are not as Norwegian, Swedish, German, Polish, Bohemian, Dutch or Irish as they used to be, either. We’re all Americans, now.
Sargent County Park Board member Quentin Hoistad of Rutland reports that progress is being made in the Silver Lake Pavillion fund-raising effort. A generous donation of $5,000.00 from Harlan Klefstad of Forman, and a substantial contribution from the First National Bank of Milnor have pushed the fund closer to its goal, but there’s still a long way to go, says Quentin. The Pavillion is being constructed on the north side of the County Park at Silver Lake. The Park Board has elected to construct the pavilion in stages, as funds are available. The first stage, pouring the concrete floor and installing the base posts, has been completed, so far. Park Manager, Dennis Goltz, reports that the number of visitors using the Park’s facilities has increased significantly, again, this year. The County Park at Silver Lake is certainly a gem for the people of Sargent County.
Fishing reports from local anglers are that the fishing has been great on the local lakes, but the catching has been lousy. Greg Donaldson reports that fishing success continued to be good throughout the month of August up in the Glacial Lake chain in the Coteau Hills just south of the border, though. And, while some folks have a tough time catching even small panfish or bullheads, even while equipped with $20,000.00 fishing boats and more electronic equipment than the U. S. Navy used to win World War II, at least one fisherman needed neither hook, line nor sinker to land a lunker. Rob Wyum reports that his wife’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Claude Severson, recently purchased a lot on the shores of Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, that was the scene of the unusual catch. Rob and a few others had just helped Mr. Severson get his boat into the water on Saturday, August 7, when they noticed some fins sticking out of the water, a la Jaws. They thought that the big fins must belong to a carp, but finally took the boat over to investigate, figuring that the big fish would dive and disappear as they approached. But the fish remained near the surface and, as they approached, Mr. Severson exclaimed, “It’s a walleye!” They had nothing in the boat with which to catch a fish, not even a minnow-bucket dip net. After maneuvering the boat close to the walleye, several unsuccessful attempts were made to grab it, but to no avail. The big fish swam under the boat several times, but always stayed close, states Rob. Finally, Mr. Severson was able to reach down and grab the monster, flipping it into the boat. A scale was handy, and the fish weighed in at 6 pounds 5 ounces. The tail of the lunker walleye was all chewed up, and part of it was missing, reports Rob, so we’re wondering how large the fish was that tried to swallow this one. Congratulations to Claude on a “once in a lifetime” catch.
Mr. Francis Karst of Hoven, South Dakota, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, stopped in Rutland on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 31, to visit a comrade he hadn’t seen for 40 years. Back in 1970, Sgt. Karst, known to the Marines of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, Fifth Marines, as “Blue” because he was as strong as Paul Bunyan’s fabled blue ox, was an infantry squad leader in the same Company in which Bill Anderson of this community was serving as an infantry platoon commander. Since 1971, Mr. Karst has been at Hoven, where he was the manager of the local CENEX co-op for the past 35 years, and, since 1972, Bill has been in Rutland, but neither knew the other’s location until 2 weeks ago, when one of the other veterans of Delta Company, Judge William Downes of Casper WY, got in contact with Bill. Hoven is about 80 miles west of Aberdeen. During his service in Vietnam, Blue was twice seriously wounded. On the first occasion, he was moving from one fighting hole to another, directing the fire of the Marines in his squad, when an NVA mortar round impacted nearby. The force of the explosion threw Blue into the air, out in front of the Marines’ position, and drove shards of shrapnel into his legs. He managed to scramble back into the perimeter, was medevaced for treatment, and returned to his squad a week later. Forty years later, some of the shrapnel from that NVA mortar round is still imbedded in his legs. The second time Blue was wounded was during a firefight with NVA troops in an area of Quang Nam province known to the Marines as “The Arizona Territory.” On that occasion, a bullet struck Blue just below his flak vest and passed through his abdomen, miraculously missing all vital organs. Blue was airlifted to the hospital ship Hope, then anchored off Danang, where he spent 2 weeks recuperating before returning to duty, and to combat, once again. Those who served in Vietnam back in the 60’s and 70’s remember that the entire country had an odor that assailed the nostrils like a combination of putre fish and an open sewer on a hot day. Blue states that the only fresh air he smelled during his tour of duty in Vietnam was during the 2 weeks he spent on the Hope, out on the South China Sea. Bill remembers Blue as an outstanding Marine NCO who led by example and performed his duties with courage, skill and discipline, qualities that have served him well through life. Blue also has the distinction of having been an official guest of the City of Sydney, Australia, where, while on a 5 day R & R in April of 1970, he attended a ceremony commemorating the discovery of Australia by Capt. Cook back in 1770, and greeted Queen Elizabeth II, who was speaking at the ceremony. While in Rutland, Blue participated in a world problem solving session at the Rutland General Store’s Round Table, and also enjoyed a steak supper at the Lariat Bar. The 1969-1970 veterans of Delta Company, 5th Marines, one of whom is current U. S. Senator James Webb of Virginia, have held several reunions in the past couple of decades, with the next one scheduled to be held at the home of the 5th Marines, Camp Pendleton CA, in 2012. Both Blue and Bill intend to be there.
Preparations are speeding up for the Jesse Brakke Benefit scheduled to be held in the Rutland Town Hall on Saturday, September 11. A Bean Bag Tourney is set to begin at 1 p.m. Kettle Corn, bars and beverages will be available during the day including a Beer Wagon to quench the thirst. A great variety of auction articles have been donated, including: famous celebrity original photos and memorabilia; Sports memorabilia, clothes and baseball cards; Wildlife pictures; Gift certificates; guns; Gift baskets with tools; sports clothes; sewing articles; a collection of classic aprons; Christmas gifts & decorations; and, many more. A LCD flat screen TV is grand prize of one of the raffles that will be conducted. The schedule is: 1:00 p.m., Bean Bag Tourney, lunch and refreshments; 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., supper and silent auction; 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Live Auction; 9:00 p.m. til the cows come home, Karaoke at the Lariat Bar, following the auction.
Uffda Day lefse production is also making good progress under the direction of Lefse Lena, also known as Mavis Marquette. More than 1,800 lefse rounds had been produced by the morning of Tuesday, August 31. Uffda Day 2010, Rutland’s 26th annual Fall Festival with a Scandinavian flavor, will be on Sunday, October 3. Parade entries are welcome. Contact Parade committee coordinator Bill Anderson for more information. Lori McLaen is Uffda Day chairperson for 2010. If you want to get involved and share in the fun, give Lori a call.
Well, that’s it for this week. For more information about what’s going on in Rutland, the little city that can, check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and stop by the Rutland blog and Facebook pages, too.