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The Rooster Crows – December 16, 2011

By Bill | Published: December 16, 2011

David-1, Goliath-0, so far, anyway. The Rutland Post Office, and other post offices in rural communities, have been saved, at least temporarily.  Word was received here on Tuesday, December 13, that the U. S. Postal Service has imposed a moratorium on Post Office closings until May 15, 2012.  The moratorium was imposed in response to a request from a substantial number of United States Senators, including those from Montana and South Dakota.  Neither John Hoeven (R-ND) nor Kent Conrad (D-ND) were among the Senators requesting the moratorium, an omission that has not gone unnoticed by those engaged in the struggle to maintain services in rural North Dakota.  The notice sent out by the Postal Service stated that the review process would continue during the moratorium period, so rural Post Office patrons will still have to pay attention lest they lose their appeal rights during the moratorium period.  The hard work and diligent effort of Rutland postal patrons who wrote letters and sent in their comments on the Postal Service’s proposal to close the Post Office here has paid off, at least temporarily, with a moratorium that may lead to a permanent rescue of the local Post Office.  Congratulations to the Rutland Community Club for leading the fight.  The fight is not over yet, though, as this moratorium is only temporary, so rural postal patrons will have to stay awake and pay attention to make sure that a permanent fix for the Postal Service’s woes is found.

Chuck Sundlie of this community headed off to Palm Springs CA on Sunday Nov. 27, to visit at the home of his parents, Leif & Phyllis (Donaldson) Sundlie.  Chuck Traveled via Allegiant Air to Los Angeles, then accompanied his brother, Stan, to Palm Springs.  He reports that the weather was very nice, and a few rounds of golf were played.  Chuck returned to Rutland on Sunday, December 4, and found the weather here to be pretty nice, too, at least for December. 

John Harris & Andy Harris departed Rutland, bound for San Diego CA on Friday, December 2.  The father-son team drove Andy’s pickup towing a trailer filled with household goods belonging to Andy and his wife, Sheila.  John reports some treacherous driving conditions through the mountains of Colorado, and one instance in which a gust of wind caught the pickup and trailer broadside as they crossed an ice covered overpass, blowing the entire unit from the right side of the road to the left before John regained control.  He reports that the traffic from Las Vegas NV to San Diego is fierce, being bumper to bumper much of the way, and the traffic from San Diego going north to Los Angeles is even worse.  John returned to Fargo via the Allegiant Air direct flight from Los Angeles on Thursday, December 8, and reports that he is glad to be home. Read More »

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The Rooster Crows – December 9, 2011

By Bill | Published: December 9, 2011

Santa Claus is coming to town! Jolly Old St. Nick has accepted the invitation of the Rutland Community Club to make his 66th annual pre-Christmas visit with folks here on Saturday, December 10.  Santa Claus Day 2011 activities are scheduled to start at 3:00 o’clock on Saturday afternoon at the Rutland Seniors Center with the sign-up for drawings, lunch, a bake sale, games and a free movie for kids.  The movie will be shown in the Community Room of the Sargent County Bank’s Rutland Station.  At 4:00, Santa is scheduled to be on hand to visit and have his picture taken with youngsters of all ages.  At about 5:00, Santa will award Christmas turkeys and other prizes donated by Rutland businesses, and he will then depart to continue preparations for his return on Christmas Eve.  Santa has indicated that he is looking forward to visiting with Sugar Ray Erickson and Jason “Schwank” Smykowski while he is in town, just to find out what kind of vitamins they are taking.  Everyone is invited to be in Rutland on Saturday afternoon for an Old-fashioned Christmas Party.

The Rutland Community Christmas tree went up at the corner of First and Arthur Streets on the morning of Wednesday, November 30, through the efforts of Norbert Kulzer and Paul Anderson.  The tree, a Douglas fir, donated by Joe & Patty Breker and Doug & Cher Spieker, stands about 15 feet tall and will be lighted at the conclusion of Santa Claus Day activities on Saturday, December 10.  A permanently installed tree stand, devised by Doug Spieker, holds the tree upright, and will be left in place to hold Christmas trees for future Christmases, as well.  This year’s tree is a beauty, but Doug says that he already has an even better one picked out for 2012. 

While Rodney Erickson has been working on the interior of his building at 202 First Street, his mother, Ann Erickson, has been creating a beautiful Christmas display in the structure’s newly installed storefront windows.  Congratulations and thanks to Rodney and Ann for this attractive addition to the community. Read More »

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The Rooster Crows – December 2, 2011

By Bill | Published: December 2, 2011

The month of November, 2011, has come and gone, leaving nothing behind but a pleasant memory of mid-autumn turning to late autumn.  Thanksgiving Day, in addition to turkey with all of the trimmings, also came with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-50’s, giving local residents even more to be thankful for.  For one local resident, Jason “Schwank” Smykowski, November 2011 also marked a milestone, as he observed his 40th birthday with a week long series of social events, described as “The Schwank-fest,” that included visits at his home with friends, social gatherings at the Lariat Bar and even a demonstration of new and creative uses for the normally mundane jumper cables that most of us carry around in our vehicles all winter.  Schwank is employed by Pherson Custom Combining here, and he has also been a talented performer in several Rutland Community Club theatrical productions.  The Schwank-fest is likely to create its own community legend for another memorable Rutland personality.  Schwank’s many friends here have reminded him that, while 40 may be the old age of youth, 50 is the youth of old age, so he hasn’t hit the end of the road just yet.  Happy Birthday, Schwank, and many more!

Larry Anderson was released from Sanford Hospital in Fargo and returned to his home, here, on Thursday, November 17.  Larry has stopped in at the Rutland Café to visit with The Assembled Wise Men on a couple of occasions since he has been home, and reports that he is feeling better as he regains his strength, and his appetite.  Larry’s many friends in this community extend him a hearty “Welcome Home!”

Kelly Hawkinson and daughter, Shannon, of Whitefish, Montana, arrived in Rutland on the morning of  Thursday, November 24, and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with Kelly’s grandmother, Irene Anderson, at the Four Seasons Healthcare Center in Forman.  Accompanying Kelly and Shannon were 2 friends, Sam Middleton and Carl Christianson, also of Whitefish.  Also joining  Irene for dinner on Thanksgiving Day were: Paul & Sue Anderson of Rutland; Katy and Josh Elfring of Minneapolis; and, Bill Anderson of Rutland.  The Montanans reported that early snows in the mountains have melted, and driving conditions were good all the way from Whitefish to Rutland.  Kelly, who had been employed as Assistant Administrator at the Whitefish Hospital for several years, has recently taken a new job as office manager for a 12 physician clinic in Whitefish, and she has also recently purchased a new home in Columbia Falls, a few miles east of Whitefish.  Shannon is a Junior at Gonzaga University in Spokane WA, where she is pursuing a degree in psychology.  Mr. Middleton is an independent over the road trucker who has traveled through this part of North Dakota on several occasions, but this was his first opportunity to stop in Rutland.  Mr. Christianson is employed as a Technician at the General Motors dealership in Whitefish.  During their stay here, the 4 Montanans also toured the Coteau des Prairies Lodge now under construction in the hills southeast of Rutland, and enjoyed the hospitality of the staff of the Rutland General Store. Read More »

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The Rooster Crows – November 25, 2011

By Bill | Published: November 25, 2011

Old Man Winter took 3 shots at Rutland and vicinity last week, and missed the mark with all of them.  The snowstorm predicted for  Tuesday & Wednesday, November 15 & 16, simply did not materialize; the snowstorm predicted for Friday, the 18th, went north of us; and, the storm predicted for Saturday, the 19th, cut to the south, wreaking havoc on a track from Sioux Falls to the Twin Cities, instead.  We were not spared the cold and wind, however, as nighttime temperatures flirted with the zero mark, and barely reached 30 during the day.  Sunday, the 20th, dawned sunny, bright, and still, however, the weatherman is forecasting a return to the 40’s, and even the 50’s for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 

Cody Gulleson, Jennie Gillespie and Cameron Gulleson of this community attended the North Dakota Farmers Union’s 2011 State Convention in Bismarck from Friday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Nov. 20.  Others from Sargent County attending the convention included: Colin & Colleen Sundquist of Forman; and Roger Zetocha of Stirum.  Cameron reports that long-time Farmers Union President Robert Carlson retired this year and was replaced by west river rancher Wood Barth in that office.

Bill Anderson and Jesse Brakke were in Fargo on business on the afternoon of Friday, November 18, and witnessed some of the vehicular mayhem a couple of inches of new snow can bring on when a few drivers have their car in gear but their brain in neutral.  They spotted several multi-vehicle fender-benders and a number of vehicles whose drivers were just going to fast for conditions, lost control and slid off the road.  In addition to conducting their business, they also picked up Jesse’s good friend from California days, John Welch.  John is now a resident of Charleston SC, and is still employed by the Boeing Aircraft Co., engaged in the manufacture of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  John reports that the carbon fiber technology used in the manufacture of the airframe, bodies and wings of the new planes proved difficult to master, but is now working well, making the craft both lighter and less expensive than all metal construction.  The first of the new plane that came off the assembly line were delivered to All Nippon Airlines (ANA), a commercial carrier with its home base in Japan.  John will be visiting at Jesse’s home near Havana through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Read More »

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The Rooster Crows – November 18, 2011

By Bill | Published: November 18, 2011

The mild Autumn weather that pushed temperatures up into the mid-50’s on Saturday, November 12, retreated to parts unknown by Tuesday, November 15 as a cold front featuring wind, cold and some snow flurries dropped daytime highs into the 30’s.  Mayor Narum reports that the City’s snowplow is loaded up and ready to go when the first snowstorm hits.  Local farmers are informing friends that, for the first time in several years, Fall field work has been completed and the ground is ready for a new crop to be planted next Spring.  As that concern is now off the table, the new worry is: “What did we forget?”

Kaia Mahrer of this community was among the more than 400 runners who competed in the Veterans’ Day 5 Kilometer Run on the evening of Thursday, November 10, in Fargo.  Kaia had 2 goals: to run the entire distance; and, to finish the race.  She accomplished both of them, finishing in 482nd place with a time of 34 minutes.  Kaia is the music teacher and band director at Sargent Central High School.  Others from this area who participated in the Fargo event include: Alex Askerooth of Cayuga; and Ms. Indiana “Indy” Husted, also a teacher at Sargent Central.  Congratulations to all who had the grit and determination to enter, and finish, the race.

Pam Gulleson has taken her congressional campaign to the internet, launching a new web site, www.pamgulleson.com, last week.  The new site contains information about Pam’s campaign, including videos describing the qualifications and experience that make her the best choice on the 2012 ballot to represent North Dakota in the next session of the U. S. House of Representatives. Read More »

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