Benning Printing & Publishing

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will host a project open house on Tuesday, April 7, from 4-6 p.m., to learn about 2026 construction on Highways 10, 29 and 71. The drop-in-style event will be held at the Maslowski Wellness and Research Center, 17 Fifth St. SW, Wadena. A formal presentation will not be given; guests stop by at their convenience. The MnDOT project team, along with the prime contractor, Mathiowetz Construction, will be available to answer questions a

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by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com Ruby’s Pantry has informed communities it served that they will cease operations effective immediately. In a statement, they shared the decision comes after several months of working on alignment efforts aimed at better meeting community needs while focusing on operational effectiveness. Ruby’s Pantry, which has served communities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin for over 20 years, has been a cornerstone for food assis

Please take a moment to review the expiration date printed on your newspaper label. If the date falls between February and April of 2026, it’s time to renew your subscription. If you’ve already renewed and your account is current, your label should reflect a 2026 date or later and no further action is required. If your subscription has not yet been renewed, we encourage you to do so now to ensure uninterrupted delivery of your weekly news. We look forward to bringing you a

by Coach Kenny Miller The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale girls’ track and field team returned to Bemidji State University on Tuesday, March 31, for their second indoor meet of the season, finishing seventh out of 23 teams. The Raiders were led by several strong individual performances. Danika Wilhelmi earned a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:32.53. Kendra Miller made an impressive season debut in the 1600-meter run, placing second overall with an indoor pe

by Coach Greg Johnson The Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale Raider boys track and field team returned to Bemidji State University on Thursday, March 31, to compete in the Lions’ Invite. Facing a larger field of 19 teams, the Raiders finished 11th overall with 19 points. Bemidji claimed the team title with 120 points. Leading the way for the Raiders was Gunnar Barthel, who captured a first-place finish in the 800-meter run. Dylan Day added a strong performance in the sprints, placing f

This month’s Book Club book was “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The story takes place in a changing Afghanistan and explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the journey to find redemption. It looks at decades of conflict before, during, and after the Russian invasion and the rise of the Taliban, talking about the experiences of the Afghan people. The main characters, Amir and Hassan, share a complicated friendship. They start as loyal friends in childhood, but the

News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, April 16, 1986 • Kim Trosen, daughter of Dave and Rita Trosen, was named Miss Verndale in the 1986 pageant held last Saturday evening. Pauline Colby was first runner-up and Jennifer Ninneman, second runner-up and also Miss Congeniality. Pauline is the daughter of Dan and Beth Colby and Jennifer is the daughter of Sylvia Ninneman. Held in conjunction with the Miss Verndale pageant was the competition for Little Miss Petite. Lori Johnso

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on March 17 at the Menahga Senior Center. The commissioners gave the go-ahead for Friendly Rider to start looking for bids on a new transit building. This is a big step in a project that has been talked about for a long time. Transit Director Randy Jahnke updated the commissioners on the project’s progress. The planning and designing stage is almost done, and a detailed plan

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com Since its inception in 2017, the Verndale Prom Closet has transformed the prom experience for numerous students in the Verndale area, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder anyone’s ability to attend this special event. The initiative began when a local mother and teacher reached out for help after the mother’s son’s prom date expressed her inability to afford a dress. “I emailed all of my female colleagues asking whether