Rutland, ND

As many of you may know, our little town had two Relay for Life teams this year. The Rutland Community Club Rockets and the Rutland General Store each sponsored a team. The Rockets had a 50’s themed dinner and a movie, the General Store had a gourmet barbecue. The Rockets sold chances on baskets and the general store donated a percentage of their doughnut sales. Both teams had good ideas, hard workers and a desire to help defeat the devastation that cancer causes. Next year will see some changes.
Next year, we will not only share a common goal but will be combining our teams. We will take a page from our Horizons leadership training and partner with each other thus expanding our resources, manpower, talent, and enthusiasm. Look to next years Rutland team to be even bigger and better.

I participated in my very first Relay for Life event on Friday night.  I was not prepared for the feelings I experienced during the night of staying awake, walking, listening and seeing all the luminaries lit.

My dad died of lung cancer in 1991 & I still miss him every single day.  My mom is a survivor of cancer of the vocal chord 2 years ago & in March had her cancerous bladder removed.  My dad’s mother & grandmother and all 3 of his sisters and 3 of his 5 brothers also died of cancer.  Seeing all the luminaries lit in memory of Dad & in honor of Mom, as well as the luminaries for the many other family members gave me a lump in my throat.  When I saw Mom doing the survivor lap with all of the other cancer survivors, I couldn’t help but get a little teary thinking about what she’s been through these last 2 years with radiation therapy & surgeries & how thankful I am that she’s doing o.k.

The person who gave their survivor story during the opening ceremony is a young, single mother who last year finished her treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Melissa is also a relative of mine.  Her story was so moving; especially how she told her young daughter about her cancer.  She urged everyone to get to know their bodies so that we know when something isn’t quite right  & to educate ourselves on symptoms of cancer so that we can advocate for ourselves the medical care that we need.

But, it was a festive atmosphere with every booth lit up, all kinds of goodies & other items being sold & people milling around visiting & laughing.  There was also a talent contest where each team had someone imitate a famous person.  Our talent was one of our male team members dressed as, & doing an imitation of Aretha Franklin singing  “Chain, Chain, Chain”.  It was evident on the faces of the people watching that they didn’t expect such an excellent portrayal of that talented singer.  The Rutland General Store had 2 women portraying Elvis.  They had the audience rolling the aisles.  At 1:00 a.m., it was a good pick-me-up.

Our booth sold a variety of popcorn as well as hamburgers, hot dogs & floats.  The Rutland General Store booth sold smoothies, candy and t-shirts.  I think there were 13 or 14 booths & every booth was selling something just a little different.  We all wanted to raise as much money for cancer research as possible. 

Staying up all night was difficult; I need my sleep.  Walking was also difficult towards the end; I was so tired.  That’s the purpose of staying up all night & walking all night… to get some sense of what a person with cancer goes through. 

Yes, it was a tough night.  But, it was only one night.  Those who have been struck with cancer put in many nights  & days worse than what we went through on Friday night.  We just lost some sleep for one night & in a couple of days, we’ll be back to normal.  We won’t lose our hair, throw up or die from the effect of one night of lost sleep.  People with cancer struggle with the effects of their disease every day for weeks and months and even years & too many lose that struggle. 

The goal of Relay for Life is to raise enough money for research so better, more effective, treatments can be found & cancer can be eradicated.  The Sargent County Relay for Life teams raised a total of $34,000 toward that end.  I was so proud to be a part of it.

Last weeks Rutland News disappeared from my computer and went ???? It went some where because my computer was never told it was undelivered…I still have a copy of the Anderson Reunion, and will summit it this week instead.

Silver Lake continues to be a very busy hub of activity…

The street dance, put on by the Lariat Bar, was a huge success on Saturday night.  They held karaoke for all those wishing to be a star for one night.  Not much dancing went on, but the stage held a singer or duet most all night. A fun time was had by all.

Thanks to Kylee and Sami Hambeck, Rutland has a T-Ball team again this year and we have more than 10 kids playing!  The two sisters are coaching the little kids with some help from Mom, Diane Pherson.  Rutland has a full roster with 15 kids ages 3 to 8 participating.  They got a slow start with one practice several weeks ago before the rain spell we had.  However, this past week the kids were busy.  On Monday, the team participated in a tournament in Lidgerwood.  Three games is quite a bit for the little guys but most of them held through to the end and were happy to get their ribbons.  On Tuesday, they played in Forman and Wednesday evening were two games in Gwinner.  Next week is not as busy.  Due to the rainouts, additional games are scheduled into early July — so there is plenty of time to watch the kids play.  Come on out and show your support for the kids.  They are fun to watch.  (The schedule is on the Rutland Happenings page).

The election results were announced last week and Rutland has some newly elected officials.  There was a contested race for City Council with four residents vying for two seats — something that had not occurred for years!  Lary Arneson was re-elected and Bertha Siemieniewski was newly elected to the Council.  Mayor Narum ran unopposed.  The Park Board race resulted in one new member, Jeff Olson, and Diane Pherson was re-elected.  I am looking forward to hearing what the new members, and re-elected officials, have planned for the future of Rutland!

Rails to Trails out of Washington, D.C. is recruiting 20,000 people to pledge to walk and bike more this year and use their vehicle less this year. Horizons communities around the state have identified actions to address poverty in their community. Many have identified our cultural reliance upon personal vehicles as an impediment to thriving communities. There is little public transport in rural areas and safe-bike ways are forgotten. Rails-to-Trails is an organization that has addressed this concern positively around the country, including in some of the Horizons communities. Take the pledge to support the effort to reduce our reliance upon oil and to build healthier communities where people are at the center. Visit their website to take the pledge.

A “Vision Statement and Strategic Plan” was developed for Rutland using the collated input from the Study Circles, Community forums and other Horizon work during the year. The Vision Statement is shown below and future blog segments will address where we are in working on each of the goals and strategies. (The Vision Statement can also be viewed on the “Rutland’s Vision” page link at right.)

GOAL 1: Volunteers will be the driving force in providing services and activities that would otherwise not be available in a community the size of Rutland. Those currently active in the community will invite and encourage individuals of all ages not currently active, to engage in leadership roles and will be open to the new ideas these new volunteers bring to the table.

GOAL 2: Rutland will be a clean and inviting community in which to live and work.

GOAL 3: Rutland’s economy will expand and diversify providing a thriving Main Street, while retaining existing business and services. Tourism will be a significant area for economic growth.

GOAL 4: Rutland will have appropriate housing and services for disabled and elderly with the goal of keeping that population in the community.

GOAL 5: Rutland will provide a recreational program addressing the social, educational and cultural needs of all age groups.

 I       It was green and gold everywhere when I stepped into the Rutland City Hall about 11:00 on Tuesday.  A team was preparing for the NDSU Bus Tour which was going to arrive a little before noon.  I had been asked to be one of the hosts and Stan and Betty Melroe, another pair of hosts, were already there.  Steve and Sheila Wyum, also hosting, arrived a few minutes after I did.  We tried to make ourselves useful putting finishing touches on the decorations.  Deb Banish made sure the projector worked for the Horizon presentation we were going to be giving.  The projector presented some challenges, but Deb with the help of Peder Gulleson, got it figured out. 

Four of NDSU’s coaches arrived (Tod Brown, head baseball; Don Larson, head men’s track; Darren Mueller, head softball and Saul Phillips (head men’s basketball) and we had the opportunity to visit with them before the big bus arrived.  The bus arrived on time and we were kept busy meetin’ and greetin’.  The decibal level in the room increased dramatically as people visited with each other. 

Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal that was provided by the Rutland General Store and the Rutland Cafe.  Even though I was hungry and the food tasted good, I was a little nervous about my presentation and wasn’t able to finish my food.

DC Coston emceed the short program.  Pam Gulleson, our local legislator in the House of Representatives, introduced President Joe Chapman.  He had all the NDSU staff introduce themselves and he talked about NDSU’s progress and future goals.  Saul Phillips spoke about being in Division I and how excited he is to be a part of a progressive university such as NDSU.  Then DC introduced Deb and me.  The presentation was all a blur to me, but we were told that we did well.  Deb developed the power point that we used and it was super.  If we were good, it was thanks to her skill with the computer.

After a short stop to check out the Rutland General Store and some picture taking, the bus  left on time for a tour of Dakota Micro near Geneseo and then on to the Bagg Farm for pie.

A lot was packed into the time frame of 11:40 to 1:40, but I am confident that everyone who was here with the NDSU entourage felt welcome and left with a positive image of Rutland.

Memorial Day was cold and blustery, but that didn’t prevent the Bergman-Evenson Post 215 and it Legion Auxiliary from marching at the Nordland Lutheran Cemetery and the Rutland Cemeteryto honor our veterans and auxiliary members laid at rest there.  Everyone was shivering and teeth were chattering and it was miserable being out in such weather, but it was only for about 15 minutes in each cemetery.  I couldn’t help but think of the conditions our veterans endured and still endure.  Whether it’s freezing cold, horrendous heat, lack of food or sleeping fitfully in a foxhole, in a tree or the hard ground, the veterans have and continue to do whatever it is that needs to be done to help keep our country free.  So, a total half hour of discomfort is the least we can do to honor them. 

The Memorial Day program at the town hall was very moving.  One of our World War II veterans, Milton McLaen, went on the WDAY Honor Flight and he and his daughter, Karen Hornseth, gave a power point presentation on his trip.  I can only imagine what it was like for him to be among so many men and women who had gone through similar situations as he did and to be able to see the memorial that was finally erected for them.

The Legion presented several service pins.  Earl (Bill) Anderson, Larry Christensen, Andy Hoflen, Calvin Jacobson, Ted Lee, and Roger Nelson received 35 year pins.  Forty year pins went to John Hoflen, Roger Pearson and Norman Preble.  Clayton McLaen received a 55 year pin and Donald Donaldson and Milton McLaen received 60 year pins.  Three members of the Legion Auxiliary received pins as well.  Bonnie Anderson received a 25 year pin while Helen Sapa and Gwen Young received 60 year pins.

As usual the Community Club served a delicious dinner following the program.  Many former residents come back to Rutland for Memorial Day and this is a wonderful time of visiting and reminiscing.

I went to the Friendly Garden Club’s annual plant auction at the Nordland Lutheran Church parish hall on May 19 and had a blast.  Some people may think that a plant auction would be kind of boring, but the Friendly Garden Club members are not boring.  First of all, they had a fabulous meal which, in itself, was worth the effort of getting ready to go someplace.  And the plants…  Every kind, every color, some fragrant, some not, some in creative and beautiful containers, some in cardboard boxes.  But, they all were sold amid some heavy duty bidding wars.  Ann Erickson and Susan Fust were very entertaining auctioneers and had the bidders laughing and having a great time.  We have the Friendly Garden Club members to thank for the beautiful flowers that adorn the various areas of the City of Rutland.  They use the money raised from their plant auction to purchase the flowers they place around town.  They also make sure the flowers are weeded and watered, so they have work cut out for them all summer.