Rutland, ND

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.

The weather was absolutely beautiful.  Why would anyone want to be inside on such a lovely afternoon?  Lots of people, if you consider the crowd that attended Rutland’s annual Fun Nite.  The Town Hall was packed with people playing Bingo or trying their luck for prizes at the variety of games available.  The competition at the Cake Walk was pretty intense and some people went home with 3, 4 and 5 cakes.  I worked in the kitchen serving pop, lemonade, coffee, hot dogs, nachos, walking tacos, bars, ice cream sundaes & root beer floats.  My co-worker and I were sure kept hopping.  Kids went home with full sacks of loot, maybe a bit of a sugar high and a big smile on their faces.  The adults were also smiling after spending a nice afternoon visiting with friends and participating in the games with their children.  Thanks to Diane Smith and Hilary Mehrer for putting together another great community activity.

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!

The Rutland Community received $8,500 for successfully completing the Horizons Project.  This money is available to help us work on the goals chosen at the Community Forum regarding advertising, recreation, housing and a hiking/biking trail.  The goals - and vision - were formulated and are shown on the Rutland’s Vision page.

We are soliciting community input on how to use the funds.  Suggestion boxes are in the Rutland Cafe and the Rutland General Store.  Comments can also be left here and they will be posted for more of a forum for input and community discussion.  Suggestions are being accepted until October 30.  The Horizon Steering Committee plans to meet and make a final decision based on these suggestions.  The meeting date has not yet been determined.

It’s not too late to get your voice heard.  Maybe there are other ideas that are not on the vision or goals list.  Get your comments, ideas and suggestions in.  Many other things fall under the categories of recreation - like a library which we don’t have in Rutland — or a regular ‘gym night’ in the Hall or whatever!  The Steering Committee will review and consider all suggestions.  Start now!

Everyone in this community is saying “Uffda” and are most likely thankful that the 24th Uffda Day event is behind us.  Oh, I think that the people who work the event have fun doing some of the chores - especially in the preparation that started two months before.  The work making the goodies — lefse, sandbakkels, krumkake, etc. — brings people together and some come to Rutland from neighboring towns to visit and help during those marathon efforts.   Even after doing this for so many years, we learn new things and brainstorm about what to change for the next celebration.  There is always the weather factor that is out of our control.  However, it is amazing that this community can draw so many for the one day.  Our biggest draw continues to be the lefse.  The dinner and other food and crafts also contribute to get people from far and wide to Rutland.  Despite the weather, we had a lot of visitors to town.  Kudos to everyone who pulled together another successful Uffda Day event.  Next year will be the 25th year and I’m sure that there will be something special planned.  Rutland residents be on alert that we’ll need everyone’s help to get that event going.  It’s not too early to volunteer — get your name on a list with the Community Club or simply leave a comment here and we’ll make sure that you get a call next Fall (or sooner) when the planning starts rolling again!!

No, “The Burger Grill” is not a new eatery in the area.  The Rutland “World’s Largest Hamburger” grill sign is finally back on its support.  The sign received a long overdue paint job this past summer when Tim Anderson worked intensely on the project.  He got started in August but during our September heatwave (remember the heat?) he was getting fried like a burger lying there painting the sign.   However, he was able to get it finished before Uffda Day.  It’s great to see our shiny new ‘welcome sign’ to greet visitors to Rutland!

This is the last chance to help with the lefse rolling for Uff-Da Day.  Four more sessions will be held this week (Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.).   This year we may just make the 4000.  As of last week, 3002 have already been made.  With four more sessions, 4000 is definitely within reach.  Once the lefse is ready, then the krumkake and sandbagel making crews will be hard at work. The next three weeks there will be a lot of harder working residents preparing for the big celebration!

The lefse crew is working steadily to produce an abundant supply for the upcoming Uff-Da Day sales and meal.  As of last Thursday, the gang has produced just over 1700 lefse.  There will be additional lefse rolling sessions this month every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  There will be a late night session on Wednesday, September 10, at 8:00 p.m.  Anyone who wants to help out is welcome to come and join the workers at City Hall any of those dates and times. (The photo is courtesy of Wikipedia; the crew here makes perfectly round lefse!)

A “Run Around Bag” (sewing) class will be held Wednesday, September 24, starting at 10:00 a.m.  Arlene Stilley will teach the session held at the Rutland General Store.  Cost is $10.00 plus supplies.  A minimum of five students will be needed otherwise the class will be cancelled (class size will be limited).

Quilting classes may be held again this year.  A quilt class information sign-up sheet is at the material cutting counter in the Rutland General Store.  Sign up if you are interested!