Dusting Off The Archives
News from Verndale's Past 75 Years Ago, March 29, 1945 • T Sgt. Orris Aldrich of Verndale has flown 35 operational missions over enemy held territory. He i s an engineer-gunner with the 15th AAF B-24 Liberator Bomber group operating from an air base in Italy. His group has participated in the crippling aerial assaults against German industry and communications directly supporting the American Army in Italy and the advancing Russian armies on the Eastern front. Sgt. Aldrich holds the air medal with three oak cluster for meritorious achievement in sustained operational activities against the enemy. Mrs. Charles Burnett, who is teaching school in Hewitt, received the sad news last week that her husband Lt. Charles Burnett, was killed in action in the invasion of Luzon, Philippine Islands on February 7. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.N. Burnett, former Hewitt pioneers, who have resided in Seattle, Washington the past two years. • Wadena County road and bridge tax levies for the last ten years have been close to the state average, according to figures complied by the State Highway Department. Levies in this county averaged 6.23 mills from 1934-1943, while the state average was 6.6 mills. 40 Years Ago, March 27, 1980 • People are beginning to wonder if perhaps all Jaycees are a little”touched”. Especially after seeing them play softball in the snow last weekend. It was all intentional however, with the local chapter sponsoring a tournament in which seven teams participated. Jaycees from Menahga, Deer Creek, Sebeka, Nimrod, Wadena, Staples, Motley and Verndale competed for trophies. • Members comprising the Verndale High School Speech Team last week traveled to Park Rapids on March 15 where they participated in a contest, and this Saturday will compete in the Aitkin Invitational. The area contests prepare them for the competition in the State high School League contest scheduled for April 10. They are: Speech Director Kim Falk, Hazel Vasecka assistant coach, and students: Nancy Fisher, Mike Hokanson, Marsha Hines, Jim Davis, Kent Horsager, Tim Carpenter, Bill Hanlon, Ray Cooper, Marcie Ostrom and Christine Meister. • FHA members along with their advisor, Carol Derby, look at the certificates received by two member, Sandy Anderson and Shelia Stone for their demonstration entitled “Budget you Bucks” for which they received a superior rating at the State FHA convention last week. 15 Years Ago, March 24, 2005 • Community education offered an invention class at the Verndale School. The class was taught by Dick Johnson, Verndale resident and inventor. Mr. Johnson has been involved in the inventing process for several years beginning in high school. He has been a member of the Inventors Network, the Inventors Technology Transfer Society and the Inventors Club of Minnesota. The overall theme of the class was “Your Idea May Be A Winner.” • The Concert Band, under the director of Adam Halpaus, played five pieces, with a trumpet solo performed by Drew Hill and on alto saxophone by Nick Price. The Concert Choir performed six pieces under the direction of Mrs. Haraldson. Two solos were performed by Kayla Willis and Courtney Mancuso. • The Family Fun Night was a great success with about 140 people in attendance. Michael Paul Gallo gave a wonderful presentation of his “Imagination Theatre.” Once again, the meal prepared by Wadena Inn and Grill Embers, was delicious, serving Italian hot dish, garlic bread sticks, milk and ice cream for dessert.