Finally, the other shoe has dropped.  The longest Autumn in memory finally came to an end on the night of Monday, January 16, as the mercury settled down to the normal January range.  For many North Dakotans, the warm weather throughout December and the first half of January was cause for gloom and depression, as they knew that conditions that good couldn’t last and could only get worse.  Now, the bitter cold has lifted spirits on the prairie, as folks know that it can’t get much worse, and that there are better times ahead.  There’s no denying the perversity of the situation, but that’s just the way it is, up here on the prairie.

The Tail-gating Party held at the Lariat Bar on Saturday, January 7, proved to be a popular social and culinary event, and an auspicious beginning for community activities in the New Year.  The party started at 10:00 a.m., with free burgers and brats until game time for the NCAA Division 1-A football championship at Noon.  The tail-gating party turned into attentive game watching, and then a rip-roaring victory party, after the NDSU Bison posted a 17-6 come from behind win over the Bearcats of Sam Houston State University of Huntsville TX.  For North Dakotans the most difficult part of the football season remains, however.  Having bested the Texans on the football field and having earned bragging rights for the coming year, it remains for North Dakotans to prove that they are also better braggarts than are Texans, and it is very doubtful that anyone can ever top Texas in that department.

The fire siren rang out just before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, calling the Rutland-Cayuga Volunteer Firemen to duty with a few seconds more than 4 minutes remaining in the Division 1-A Football championship game.  A fire had gotten started in CRP just south of Silver Lake, near the farmstead which, depending on which generation you belong to, is known as the Spande place, the Penfield place, the Silseth place or the Roth place, and the dry conditions coupled with a brisk wind gave reason to be concerned that the blaze could turn into a real wildfire.  Three units from the Rutland-Cayuga Department, and a unit from the Forman-Havana Department responded to the call.  Some weeds had been burned in a road ditch earlier in the day, and it is suspected that the wind may have carried a burning ember across the Township road, igniting the dry grass on the east side.  No buildings were damaged.  This was the first real test for some of the new fire fighting equipment recently acquired by the Rutland-Cayuga Fire District, and both the equipment and the volunteer firemen performed their functions admirably.

Dick & Bonnie Anderson, accompanied by Bonnie’s mother, Betty Nelson, were in Brookings SD from Friday, January 6 to Sunday, January 8.  The Andersons and Mrs. Nelson attended the wedding of Dick & Bonnie’s daughter, Nicole, to Mr. Randy Myer on Saturday, January 7.  Nicole is employed as a dental hygienist in Brookings, and Mr. Myer is employed by the 3M company in that city.  The Rutland community extends congratulations to the newlyweds, and best wishes for many happy years together.

Steve & Sheila Wyum headed off to Hawaii with a tour sponsored by the North Dakota Farmers Union on Monday, January 9.  The itinerary included planned visits to several of the islands, as well as tours showcasing Hawaii’s agricultural abundance.  Steve reported by phone on Monday, January 16, that he & Sheila had visited a number of tourist attractions including the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor and the island of Kauai, reputed to be the “wettest place on earth.”  The Wyums schedule provides for their return home on Monday, January 23, although reports of sub-zero temperatures here may encourage them to re-think their strategy.

Arden & Marilyn Anderson, accompanied by Arden’s sister, Sonja Christensen,  drove over from Wahpeton to visit friends here on Thursday, January 12.  It was Arden’s first visit to the old home town since he underwent surgery to repair several ruptured disks in his neck last Fall.  The Andersons report that 58 teams have pre-registered for the 2012 Rudy Anderson Memorial Pinochle Tournament that will be held on Saturday, February 4, in the Rutland Town Hall.  Four more teams are needed to fill out the tournament, says Arden, and they would like to get a few more teams from the Rutland area.  Arden, Marilyn & Sonja toured the Town Hall, and inspected the improvement project there, with Mayor Narum prior to their return to Wahpeton.  They also got in on an afternoon session with The Assembled Wise Men at the Round Table in The Rutland General Store.  With 14 around the table, there was so much wisdom flying back and forth that it was difficult to absorb it all, Arden stated.  Arden also reports that intensive physical therapy is helping him regain his strength and dexterity following last Fall’s surgery.

Contractor Dave Martinsen reports that the Rutland Town Hall improvement project is making good progress.  Flooring was being installed last week, leaving the installation of plumbing fixtures and partitions as the major items to be completed.  Barring unforeseen circumstances, the project is moving toward completion prior to the end of January, says Dave.

Paul Anderson, Cameron Gulleson and Bill Anderson of Rutland drove up to Gwinner on Saturday, January 14, to attend the reorganization meeting of the 26^th District Democratic-NPL Party held at 10:30 a.m. at The Springs Golf Course Clubhouse.  The reorganization meeting was required following the legislative redistricting that was approved by the State Legislature last November.  As a result of the redistricting, some new areas in Richland and Ransom Counties, including the cities of Lisbon and Colfax, were added to the 26^th District, and the portion of Lamoure County, including the City of Lamoure, that had been part of the 26^th District became part of the 29^th.  The 26^th District now includes all of Sargent County, and substantial portions of Dickey, Ransom and Richland Counties.  Paul Anderson of Rutland was re-elected to the position of District Chairman.  Other district officers include: Carol Braaten of Lisbon, 2^nd Representative on the State Policy Committee; Jody Bruns of Guelph, 1^st vice-chairperson; Cameron Gulleson of Rutland, 2^nd vice-chairperson; Paul Ptacek of Wyndmere, secretary; and, Sheila Wyum of Rutland, treasurer.  The 26^th District Dem-NPL Convention was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, at the Gwinner Community Center.  Delegates to the District Convention will endorse candidates for the State Legislature and select 22 delegates and 22 alternates for the State Democratic-NPL Convention that will be held on March 16-18 in Grand Forks.  Chairman Anderson called on all in the 26^th District to support former 26^th District State Representative Pam Gulleson in her campaign for election to the U. S. House of Representatives in 2012.

With the weather a little colder, the ice is getting a little thicker, and more anglers are heading out onto solid water to practice their avocation.  Doug Spieker caught a 15½ inch, 2 pound 1 oz. perch at a fishing hole northeast of Rutland on Saturday, January 14.  Doug was using a minnow on a “Swedish Pimple” lure, and was fishing in 32 feet of water when he caught the lunker perch.  An even larger perch, 17 inches long and weighing just under 3 pounds was reported caught in the same waters earlier in the week, but the name of the angler who pulled that perch through the ice has not yet been disclosed by those in the know.  Catching his big perch was not the only excitement of the day for Doug and his 2 fishing companions: Mark Breker; and, Jeff Olson; though.  The three Rutland men had been fishing in Mark’s Snowbear self-propelled mobile ice fishing house when Doug hauled in his big catch of the day.  They had tested the thickness of the ice on their way out, and had found it to be a consistent 10 to 11 inches thick all the way out to their fishing spot.  On their return trip, though, they took a slightly different route and, near some frozen in driftwood, the Snowbear broke through the ice.  The vehicle is built to float, but the fishermen had neglected to secure the hatches over the fishing holes through the floor, and icy water poured in as the Snowbear settled down.  Fortunately, they were only a few feet from shore, and the vehicle settled on the bottom before the fishermen got wet.  Doug’s primary concern was making sure that his prize perch did not get away.  Jeff exited the Snowbear through the rear hatch, and Mark & Doug, along with the perch, went out through the roof.  Doug reports that his artificial foot got wet, but that didn’t bother him.  The Snowbear was extricated from the water with the assistance of Denny Pherson and Paul Kiefer, using their 4 wheel drive pickups to pull it up on shore.  All in all, an exciting day for Doug, Mark and Jeff.  Doug intends to have the perch mounted for display.

Fourteen ice fishing houses were out on the Crappie Crossing Slough along ND Highway #11 between Rutland and Forman on Sunday, January 15.  All of the houses were of the lightweight portable type, and no one had driven a vehicle onto the ice.  Better safe than sorry is still the rule to follow for ice fishermen.  As of Tuesday, January 17, large areas of open water were still providing safe harbor for flocks of mallards still feeding in the area.  While open water on local lakes is fine habitat for ducks, it is not recommended for humans.

The Sargent County Relay For Life organization held its 2012 kickoff in Gwinner on Sunday, January 15,  with a Pancake and sausage breakfast that netted $1,700.00 in start up funds for this year’s campaign.  The 2012 Relay For Life rally will be held from Noon to midnight on Friday, June 15, in Gwinner.  Ione Lunneborg reports that the Sargent County Relay For Life event held at Rutland in June of 2011 was the 4^th largest fund-raiser in the multi-state region that includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.  Funds raised by Relay For Life are used to fund research into treatments and cures for cancer.  The 2012 event will be the 5^th held in Sargent County.

Janice, Brad & Rebecca Christensen hosted their annual Appreciation Day for patrons of the Lariat Bar from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15.  Guests enjoyed free beer, brats, burgers, chili, chips and salads.  Many came early and stayed late.  Says Janice, We want to thank our loyal customers for their support throughout the year.”  The Lariat Bar is noted for its fine beverages, excellent food and friendly hospitality.  Not only that, it’s the best bar in town!

The 2012 annual meeting for shareholders of the Rutland Community Development Corporation is set to commence at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23, in The Rutland General Store with a wine tasting featuring North Dakota wines hosted by Prairiewood Winery of Elliot ND, followed by a supper served by the staff of the General Store.  Shareholders attending the meeting will receive the corporation’s annual financial report and will also elect 3 directors to 3 year terms on the corporation’s board of directors.  The terms of directors Lori McLaen, Cam Gulleson and Rob Wyum are expiring, and all 3 are candidates for re-election.  Following the business meeting a short program on local economic development will be presented.  Current officers and directors of the RCDC are: Bill Anderson, president; Mike Kulzer, vice-president; Lori McLaen, secretary; Rob Hoflen, treasurer; Rodney Erickson, director; Cam Gulleson, director; and, Rob Wyum, director.

Meanwhile, The Assembled Wise Men have been discussing proposals to construct a new stadium near the Twin Cities for the hapless Minnesota Vikings, and have come up with a creative solution.  Since Minnesota is broke, and North Dakota has a couple of billion dollars in its savings account, Mark Wyum has proposed that North Dakota build a new state of the art stadium in Bismarck as the new home for the team.  Additionally, Mark proposes another innovative solution to a North Dakota problem.  As the Vikings’ lackluster play  has made their team name a laughingstock around the NFL, and as the University of North Dakota has an excellent athletic program in search of a nickname, he suggests that the Viking nickname be traded to UND in exchange for the “Fighting Sioux” monicker that the NCAA now forbids to be used by the University.  The Fighting Sioux name is attached to a century long winning tradition that might breathe some fire into the NFL franchise, and the swap would also satisfy those Fighting Sioux die-hards who don’t want to give up the name.  At present the Kindred High School and the State University of North Dakota-Valley City athletic programs use the Viking name for their teams, but neither has disgraced it as has the Minnesota NFL franchise, so it still has good currency here.  One other advantage of Mark’s proposal is that building a new stadium for the NFL team would primarily benefit an absentee billionaire franchise owner, and several dozen millionaire players, so it would have a good chance of being approved by North Dakota’s GOP controlled State Legislature.  The consensus of The Assembled Wise Men is that this proposal has definite possibilities, maybe.  And some people think that nothing productive happens at the Round Table.

Well, that’s the news from Rutland for this week.  For additional information about what’s going on in 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 while you’re at it, too.  Don’t forget to keep the pressure on the North Dakota Congressional delegation to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE!  Later.