Like condemned men waiting for a reprieve from the Governor, local farmers welcomed the ¼ inch of rain and 20 degree drop in temperature on Tuesday morning, July 17, as if it was deliverance from a death sentence.  It may have been only a brief stay of execution, but, as the old saying goes, “Where there’s life, there’s hope,” and Tuesday’s rain was enough to sustain life, and hope, for a little while longer.  For the past week, hopes of a bountiful corn and soybean crop have been shriveling under the impact of southwest winds and scorching temperatures, but another brief thunderstorm on the morning of Wednesday, July 18, dropped from .3 to .5 of an inch of precipitation on Rutland and vicinity, further lifting spirits and bolstering hopes that all is not yet lost.  While hot and dry conditions have not favored corn and soybeans, the weather has been ideal for harvesting wheat, with combines rolling throughout the night, threshing out a crop that is reported to be pretty good, in both quantity and quality.    Like much of the hot air emanating from Bismarck and Washington these days, the southwest wind can blow both good and bad at the same time.

Norbert & Bev Kulzer took a trip out to Medora ND on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, July 6-8, to tour the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and take in the Medora Musical.  They report that the scenery is still magnificent and that the entertainment was very good.  Norbert states that the impact of western North Dakota’s  oil boom was evident, with motel accommodations being very scarce, and high priced, too.

Cayuga native Chuck Kiefer  and his wife, Caroline, were Rutland visitors on Friday, July 6, in the company of Chuck’s sister and brother-in-law, Mary & Jim Breker.  Chuck was in the area to attend the 50^th year reunion of Sargent Central High School’s Class of ’62.  He stated that there had been 52 members in the Class, 9 of whom have already passed away.

Rutland native Mary Ann (Gulleson) Peterson & her husband, Jerry, of Fergus Falls MN were visiting friends and family in Rutland on Saturday, July 7.  Mary Ann was a member of the SCHS Class of ’62, and was back for the 50^th reunion.  The Petersons stayed at the home of Mary Ann’s brother and sister-in-law, Bill & Pam Gulleson, during their stay here.

Roger Brekke was combining winter wheat in Shuman Township on Wednesday, July 11, and it is reported that although both the yield and quality of the crop were satisfactory, Roger was unhappy because there was no room on the combine for his saddle horse.

County Commissioners from Sargent, Richland, Ransom, Dickey and Lamoure Counties gathered at the corner of  First and Cooper Streets, also known as the intersection of County Roads #3 and #10, at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, and headed off to Tewaukon Township and a tour of the Coteau des Prairies Lodge construction site.  The tour was held as part of the Southeast County Commissioners Association meeting that concluded later that afternoon at the Silver Lake Park Pavilion.  At the Association’s business meeting, Commissioners discussed issues of common concern to the 5 southeastern counties, such as: implementation of the soils based valuation system for agricultural property; drawbacks and shortcomings of the current plan for the Red River Flood Diversion plan for Counties in the Red River basin; highway and bridge funding in the recently passed Federal Transportation Bill; encroachments creating hazards on road rights of way; and enforcing weight and speed limits to lessen damage to County & Township roads.  A working supper was catered by the staff of The Rutland General Store.

Work continues on the Coteau des Prairies Lodge, with less than 3 months to go until the owners of the enterprise intend that it will be open for business.  A wedding and several other events have been booked for October, states Olivia Stenvold, manager of the facility.  To check out progress on the Lodge, go to its internet web site at www.cdplodge.com for background information, photos, videos and updates.

In last week’s The Rooster Crows, it was reported that the City Council had discussed the delinquent water bill pertaining to the Hildebrandt property at 210 Front Street West.  It should be noted that the delinquent water bill has nothing to do with former Rutland resident Roy Hildebrandt, who now resides in Weber Township, on the farmstead formerly owned by Leo & Susanne Malstrom.  The property to which the delinquent water bill pertains is, in fact, owned by another former Rutland resident, Mr. Chris Hildebrandt, who now lives in central California.  The delinquent water bill has little to do with him, either, though, but was run up by a former tenant who ran out on the rent owed to Mr. Hildebrandt as well as the water bill owed to the City.  So, neither Mr. Hildebrand ran up the delinquent water bill, but one of them does own the property at which the irresponsible behavior occurred.

Preparations for Rutland’s Uffda Day 2012 are underway.  Letters have gone out to craft vendors, reminding them that Uffda Day will be on Sunday, October 7, this year, and letters have also gone out to local businesses, soliciting ads for the 2012 issue of  The Rutland Leader.  Uffda Day chairperson Lori McLaen reports that a bagpipe band from Aberdeen, South Dakota, not Scotland, is planning to be in this year’s Uffda Day Parade and perform throughout the day.  The Rutland Community Club, sponsor of Uffda Day, also reminds all interested persons of the program commemorating the 30^th anniversary of Rutland’s Centennial Celebration and the creation of  The World’s Largest Hamburger scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, July 25, at the Rutland Town Hall.

The old home town was jumping when the Johnson-Jacobson family reunion gathered here from Friday, July 13 to Sunday, July 15.  The Lariat Bar reports 119 suppers, not counting snacks and short orders, served on Friday evening, alone.  Those attending the reunion were the descendants of pioneer Ransom Township homesteaders Ole & Anna Johnson and Jacob & Bertina Jacobson, who emigrated from the province of Nordland, Norway, to settle in Dakota Territory back in the 1880’s.  Among the descendants of Ole & Anna Johnson who were here last weekend was Rutland native Marvin Evenson of Sioux Falls SD.  Marvin, now 99, will be observing his 100^th birthday this coming September.  He reports that he still plays 2 or 3 rounds of golf each week, but his other activities keep him too busy to get real serious about his golf game.

Curtis Bradbury of Bismarck was a Rutland visitor last weekend, partnering up with his Dad, Richard Bradbury, to play in the annual Computerland GOLF Tournament on the Grand Rapids, Oakes, Lisbon and Forman golf courses.  Curtis was among those who enjoyed the Frayed Knots concert from 7:30 to 9:00 on Saturday evening at the Forman Golf Course Clubhouse.  The Frayed Knots Band is composed of Peder Gulleson and Ben Durbin of Rutland and Tansey Hosford of Forman.  They make great music, and have been performing at the Lariat Bar in Rutland on most Thursday evenings throughout the Summer.

A Welcome Home party was held for Shelly Pherson at the Silver Lake Pavilion on Saturday, July 14, which is also Bastille Day in France.  Shelly, and several of her North Dakota Air National Guard comrades, recently completed a 6 month tour of duty in Afghanistan, where, in addition to heat, Shelly also enjoyed sand, bad food, stale water, sand fleas and the relaxing atmosphere of a combat zone.

Rutland’s Poet Laureate, Raymond Erickson, took an ambulance ride up to the Lisbon Hospital early on the morning of Sunday, July 15, after taking a fall at his Ransom Township farm home.  Ray was later transferred to Essentia Hospital in Fargo where he underwent a series of diagnostic tests that resulted in surgery to remove his gall bladder and treat a liver ailment on Tuesday, July 17.  It is expected that Ray will be recuperating in the hospital for several days.  “Get Well, Ray,” poems may be posted in the Guest Book on Rutland’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com.  Ray is now 88 years old, but will be 90 next year.  If you don’t believe it, just ask him.

Meanwhile, one of Ray Erickson’s grandsons, Rodney Erickson, has begun work on a 16 X 24 addition to the west end of his building at 202 First Street.  The new addition will house the plumbing, heating and air conditioning equipment for the structure.  Rodney has also contracted with Falk Brothers of Hankinson to drill the wells needed for the building’s geo-thermal heating and cooling system.  The up-front cost of a geo-thermal system is higher than a conventional system, Rodney explains, but the operating cost is so much lower that it can be justified, especially at today’s high fuel prices.  In its previous incarnations, the Erickson Building has been: the Lariat Bar; Bohn’s Bar; Ink’s Place; Skoglund’s Café; Schweiden’s Pool Hall; and, Prindiville’s Saloon, among other things.  Rodney’s efforts have made the renovated structure a very attractive addition to Rutland’s Main Street.

A television crew was at work in Rutland on the morning of Wednesday, July 18, shooting footage for Pam Gulleson’s Congressional campaign.  Among those who may be appearing on TV in the near future are local Avon Lady Mary Breker and her husband, Jim, who were interviewed on the front porch of the Paul & Sue Anderson home at 309 Gay Street.  Jim states that a reality TV show may be in his future, but Mary is pretty sure that Jim’s expectation has no basis in reality.  Well, we’ll just have to see what develops.  In the meantime, be looking for Jim, Mary and other local citizens in future campaign ads.  For those who don’t have access to local TV channels, Pam’s ads are usually made available on her campaign web site at www.pamgulleson.com.

Well, that’s the news from Rutland for this week.  For more 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 North Dakota’s Congressional delegation to adopt some meaningful reform legislation for the U. S. Postal Service.  Postmaster General Donahoe is still hell-bent on destroying the business he administers for us, so it is incumbent on us to save him from himself and to save the Postal Service from him.  Contact the Congressional Delegation this week, and tell them to SAVE OUR POST OFFICE!  Later.