Rutland, ND

Members of the Horizon Steering Committee and some of the Action Plan Committee Chairs met in November to discuss how to allocate the $8500.00 remaining that was received through the Horizons Program.  The group reviewed the community suggestions received (see earlier post for list) and determined that several of them met the goals and vision established at the beginning of the Horizons process. The group allocated $2,000 to Emergency Services to cover a portion of the cost for the new pump for the fire truck; $1,500 toward the City Hall renovation/remodeling (primarily for the furnace); $1,000 for the Recreation Program; and $1,500 to the Advertising Committee to fund a “welcome sign” at the two-mile corner.  The group kept $2,500 in reserve to be utilized for future needs that are identified and that meet the vision and goals. 

The new and improved Rutland ND website has been launched for your viewing pleasure.  Please remember that much of this is still a work in progress and we will be making additions and changes over the next few months.  There are many old Rooster Crows columns to be added (we were unable to transfer the data from the prior host site as they would not permit it; however, we’re cutting and pasting!). 

The new site will be as active as everyone makes it.  We hope to keep an active, updated community calendar posted — as the information gets to the webmaster — Deborah Banish.  There is room for comments and memories so feel free to submit items.  Share your pictures, thoughts, comments and suggestions to make this site what you want it to be!

It’s that time of year again when the Rutland Community Club (RCC) starts its weekly Bingo game at the Senior Center.  The games will commence on Sunday, November 30, December 7, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.   Carolyn Christensen and Diane Smith will be the organizers of the weekly sessions — they could use some help with the chores of calling the games, baking and serving the goodies for sale during the game, and probably a bit of help setting up and cleaning up too.

Hot off the press is the November 21, 2008 issue of The Rooster Crows.  Bill Anderson’s ‘columns’ will be posted here until the Rutland ND website is unveiled — which is getting closer.  Rooster writings will be intermittent but they have resurfaced which I am sure will delight many a resident, former resident or web surfer who may come our way.  You can find the full entry on The Rooster Crows page (link at right). 

I attended the Bergman/Evenson Post 215 Flag Retirement Ceremony on Veteran’s Day afternoon behind the Legion Hall in Rutland.  Approximately 50 faded, tattered flags that have flown over the graves of veterans, or flown by homeowners or businesses were retired with dignity and honor.  A prayer was given by Post Chaplain Milton McLaen, and Post Commander Larry Christensen presided over the retirement ceremony as each flag was placed on a fire in accordance with proper flag disposal.  I was moved as I watched each flag being consumed by the flames, and as I remembered all the men and women who have so courageously served under our nation’s flag.

After the ceremony, the veterans were served a soup and sandwich supper by the Legion Auxiliary.  The Nordland Lutheran Church parish hall was festively decorated with lace-draped tables, flags and thank you cards for our veterans and their guests.  Six kinds of soup, three kinds of sandwiches and a variety of bars ensured that no one left hungry.  Sonja Christensen, Auxiliary President, gave a reading on the birth of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892 and the changes that have been made to it through the years.  I don’t know that I had ever given much thought as to how the Pledge of Allegiance came to be.  Sonja did a good job of enlightening us all.

Earlier Tuesday morning my husband had participated in a county-wide Veterans Day Program in Forman with two other members of the Rutland Post.  The Auxiliary in Forman served them a nice lunch of hot chile.

That evening, my husband and I agreed that it had been a good day.  We had spent Veteran’s Day remembering veterans and what they have sacrificed for our country.  That’s what the day is all about.

There will be a meeting of the Screening Committee/Action Plan Chairpersons on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Nordland Parish Hall.  The Steering Committee will be discussing the suggestions for the use of the $8,500 we received for successful completion of the Horizon Project.  Rutland residents have provided input through the suggestion boxes at the General Store and Cafe.  Suggestions included: 

The Rutland ND website is getting closer to its new launch.  If you checked in the last few days, you will have noticed that the domain rutlandnd.com is down.  The domain is being transferred to a new server and host site this week.  A new and improved rutlandnd.com should be unveiled soon.  A link from this blog will be added when the new site is up.  Check back for further updates on this long overdue project!

Last week I took it upon myself to get some free promotion of Rutland.  Today I received word that our town is included in the Roadside America website.  If you are not familiar with the site, Roadside America offers maps, directions and tourist attraction details as a convenience to its users.  The website authors knew about the Rutland grill sign but it was not on their site.  It is now!  Click here to check out Rutland’s entry at Roadside America.

As many of you have already heard, Hal Nelson of Rutland was seriously injured Saturday, October 18, when his house exploded.  If you missed the broadcast you can view it at WDAY-TV which shows what little is left of his home. You can link to Hal’s CaringBridge site to keep updated on his steps to recovery or to post your words and thoughts for Hal and his family.

A benefit fund has been established for Hal to help him with the costs that will be incurred on his road to recovery.  Donations can be sent to any Sargent County Bank (link for address) with a memo area notation “Hal Nelson Benefit.”  Cash donations are being accepted in a donation jar at the Rutland General Store as well for the Fund. 

At the Rutland Community Club meeting earlier this week one of the items discussed was the bathroom renovation which had been in the planning stages for several months - or is it years?  The discussion brought up the issue of all the needs in the Town Hall including a new heating unit and insulation in addition to handicap accessible bathrooms.  We were told that if some maintenance is not done on the building soon we could lose it.  It is estimated that the cost to update the building would be close to $100,000.

The City of Rutland does not have the funds to do what needs to be done.  Residents are writing grants and planning fundraisers but that will not be enough.  Letters have been sent to current and former Rutland residents informing them of these needs and to ask for donations for a maintenance and rehabilitation fund for Rutland Town Hall.  As seen above, the building looks good from the outside and appears clean and white but as we know looks can be deceiving.

Donations are asked to be sent to the Rutland Community Club, PO Box 65, Rutland ND 58067.  If anyone knows a potential source of large funding for a city building renovation, please let us know.  During these tough economic times we need to identify and approach any and every available source.