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by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale School Board held their regular meeting on July 6. Playground Construction Update School Board Member Chris Youngbauer gave an update on the new playground. The old playground equipment and mulch have been removed, leaving only the anchor points for the previous basketball hoops, which will be removed using an excavator. Clean sand has been brought in to form the subgrade, with plans to place fabric over it and then add

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 7. Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau was absent. ADA Entrance Project The county board approved a modified design for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)–compliant entrance on the north side of the courthouse, choosing to keep an existing pine tree and drop a previously discussed connection to the annex. The project will add the new entrance ramp on the north

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale Area Christian Academy (VACA) has begun a major expansion that will create more classrooms, which will include kindergarten through seventh grade. The approximate 14,000 square foot addition to the existing facility will create additional storage and maintenance areas. As VACA grew, they began planning the building project in 2023, with the assistance of the Verndale Family Life Church. The initial ceremonial groundbre

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9. Bent Paddle Solar Project Tim Clement of Invenergy explained that the Verndale solar project remains at 110 megawatts of solar generation, with the possibility of adding battery storage in the future. One of the major changes since the company’s last visit is how the project will connect to the electric grid. Originally, Invenergy planned to connect by ta

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale School Board held their regular meeting on Monday, June 1. Board Member Chuck Dick was absent. Playground Removed Superintendent Jeannie Mayer gave an update on the playground project. She explained that the existing playground equipment was removed over the weekend. Mayer explained the current financial picture for the new playground. Community donations to date total $51,701.67. The school has contributed $92,001.88 f

We want to share an important reminder that Hwy. 10 is currently closed to through traffic between Co. Rd. 4 and Oink Joint Rd./140th St. through early July while crews replace the Whiskey Creek box culvert and complete critical underground work. Weather permitting, we’re on track to reopen before the Fourth of July weekend. Many motorists have been driving past the “Road Closed Ahead” signs in Verndale and continuing on Hwy. 10 instead of using the marked detour. When they

May 26 to early July Hwy 10 remains closed between Co. Rd. 4 and Harry Rich Dr. Next week, after the Memorial Day holiday, crews will continue working east. Hwy. 10 will then be closed from Co. Rd. 4 to Oink Joint Rd./140th St. for about five weeks to replace the Whiskey Creek box culvert and complete other underground work. Assuming Mother Nature cooperates, this will allow us to reopen the road in time for the Fourth of July weekend. What to expect Hwy. 10 will be closed f

CSAH 11 (SP 077-611-036) from the South County Line to TH 27 Work was scheduled to start here on April 22 for pavement surface milling operations and culvert lining repair work. The road remains open to traffic throughout construction with signage and flaggers present as needed during specific operations. Upon completion of milling, there will be segments of the highway that will be reclaimed (exist. pavement ground-up with base material below). Paving is anticipated for

by Debra Meyer-Myrum news@inhnews.com A proposed utility-scale solar project in Todd County was once again the focus of the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on April 2 as representatives from US Solar and Westwood Professional Services returned with updated studies addressing concerns about farmland impacts, drainage, screening, and decommissioning costs. The meeting featured extensive discussion on revised project details, including a decommissioning plan ou

MnDOT hosted an open house on Tuesday, April 7, to inform the public about the upcoming construction scheduled for 2026 in Wadena. Crews plan to resume work on the east end of Highway 10 starting the week of Monday, April 13, weather permitting. As in the previous year, significant changes are expected throughout Wadena. Generally, each work zone will have one lane open in each direction, except during detours. Residents and travelers should be prepared for narrow lanes, la