Rutland, ND

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!

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). 

Rutland should be proud to learn that our Mayor was honored at the North Dakota League of Cities Annual Conference as the “Outstanding City Official for 2008.”  Ron Narum has served as our Mayor for 36 years.  During his tenure, the city streets have been resurfaced, additions were made to City Hall, and the sewer system was renovated and the lagoons were rebuilt.   Ron was one of the founders of the Rutland Museum and serves as the caretaker of the museum, pioneer house and country school exhibits for 20 years.

Ron has been chief of the volunteer fire department and served on the board of the fire protection district. He is chairman of the county jobs development authority, a member of the county weed control board and president of the county historical society.  He has served on the boards of the Rutland Community Club, the Rutland Community Development Corporation, Rutland Community Housing, the Lake Agassiz Water Authority and the North Dakota League of Cities. Prior to becoming mayor, Ron served as a city council member.   

After receiving this award, Ron Narum said, “Well, this is a surprise. But, it isn’t just all my work…it isn’t just me…the community makes everything happen. And the community really appreciates when you can do even small things for them.”

Congratulations to Ron!

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: 

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.

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.

The Rutland ND new and improved website is set to be launched hopefully within the next month.  Our Community Club President was finally able - after nearly a year - to reach the right person to release the domain name for rutlandnd.com so we can keep the same web address.  The new Rutland ND website will include past favorites and will have new features and updated photos.  Rooster Crows columns, that are on the current site will be included and we hope to expand to include past print columns.  The new site will include current and historial photos and features such as a calendar to keep residents and others informed about community happenings.   In addition, Bill Anderson has agreed to periodically provide his insights and continue with the Rooster Crows column when he sets his mind to it.  Bill promises to provide a column soon.  Until the new site is launched, there will be separate page within this blog allocated for just Rooster Crows news.  I know many will look forward to finally seeing this new and improved web presence for Rutland.  It’s a good way to advertise what this community has to offer to residents and visitors!

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!!