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News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, May 14, 1986 • New FFA chapter officers for the 1986-87 year are: Mike Willis, president; Loren Horsager, vice president; Peter Schmitz, treasurer; Ken Moyer, sentinel; Bridget Perish, secretary; and Brenda Line, reporter. Alternates named were Mary Tiede, Synette Plautz, and Damon Butler. A movie entitled “Be All You Can Dream” was shown during the program. Advisor Russ Schauer commended the students for their performance. • Honored

News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, May 7, 1986 • Eleven board and staff members took part in the groundbreaking ceremony signifying the beginning of a new addition project for Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. One of the shovels used was also instrumental in the groundbreaking for Wesley Hospital (now Tri-County Hospital) on August 2, 1972. Pictured are Robert Zosel, Dr. Druan Ness, Jack Browne, Roger Folkestad, Don Bottemiller, and Luther Nerving; and Doctors Tom Van Brug

by Jessica Borash This article is from the winter 2026 Verndale Historical Society Newsletter. Looking at a plat book from 1906, Section 18, SE 1/4 in Aldrich Township had the name A.A Houer neatly written over the 80-acre plot of land. In 1910, the name Johnson replaced it and has remained firmly and proudly stamped on plat books ever since. Fifteen years ago, the Johnson family’s farm became one of Minnesota’s 11,000 Century Farms, an honor given by the Minnesota Farm

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by Matt Uselman The Staples-Motley-Verndale girls’ golf team kicked off the season on April 13th at Crosswoods Golf Course. The team finished in 5th place with a score of 409. Mara Uselman, an 8th grader from Verndale, finished in 13th place with a score of 95. Mara also carded her first-ever eagle (2 under par for the hole) on a 385-yard par 5. Mara said, “I hit my driver off the tee and then hit a 6 iron, and the ball ended up about 6 inches from the hole for a tap-in eagl

News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, April 30, 1986 • Two bids were received from local contractors for the repair of a section of the school roof over the home ec and band rooms. D.J. Construction of Wadena bid $3114 for materials and labor, and Mason Construction of Verndale submitted a bid for $2760 according to the specs and an alternate bid of $2510 for a variance. The board policy is to table the bids on the night opened until the next meeting. • Four interested pe

News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, April 23, 1986 • Receiving trophies for having the fastest cars on the track at the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby held recently in the school cafeteria were Wayne Koons and Craig Madsen. All boys competing in the derby built their own cars from a block of balsa wood which was presented to them in a kit at the annual Blue and Gold birthday banquet held in February. The cars cannot weigh more than five ounces or be more than seven inch

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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

News from Verndale's Past 40 Years Ago, April 9, 1986 • Marylu McClure, president of the Verndale Historical Society, is the first to place her name on the roster of local volunteer names being collected for the Regional Volunteer Fair to be held at Wadena on April 23. John Tulk, county coordinator for Volunteers Working Together, was looking on in the photo. Pictured is but one portion of a backdrop puzzle to be used at the fair. All volunteers are asked to stop at the bank