Dusting Off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, July 26, 1945
• Pvt. Wilfred (Manny) Webber, a gunner on the U.S.S. Topeka cruiser, is seeing action off the coast of Japan. The Topeka is part of the Third Fleet under the direction of Adm. Halsey that has been pounding the Japan Coast line the past two weeks. Other light cruisers in the recent fighting along with the Topeka were; Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and Dayton. These cruisers were firing six inch shells into the coastal installations.
• Mr. L. J. Knuth, who has been associated with the Minnesota State Highway Department for the past few years with headquarters in Brainerd, entered upon his new duties on Monday, July 16, as county highway engineer for Wadena County. Mr. Knuth was engaged to temporarily succeed Mr. James P. Faherty, who was granted a six month leave of absence due to poor health. Mr. Faherty will relax and take a needed rest in the hope that he will again be able to look after his duties.
• Memorial services will be held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church at Verndale, Sunday, July 29, in honor of Harold Rach S1c. Harold was inducted into the Navy on May 29, 1944 at the age of 18. After finishing his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, he received a 14 day leave which he spent with his folks at home. He was then sent to the west coast where he was assigned to the Destroyer Lucc. He was reported missing in action on May 4 in a telegram sent on the 15th of July. Later on, another telegram was received stating there was no more hope of Harold’s return. He lost his life at the age of 19 when the Destroyer Lucc was sunk off the coast of Okinawa by Jap suicide planes and a torpedo.
40 Years Ago, July 24, 1980
• The roof came tumbling down from high, twisting winds (as evidenced in the Marine Bart’s sweetcorn patch) which is believed to have been a small cyclone about 1:30 Friday morning. The roof of the 30’ x 60’ hayshed was lifted and carried about 60 feet northwest and thrown against a steel machine shed, doing considerable damage. Lambert Bart said he felt the barn, adjacent to the shed, would probably have gone too except that it had recently been straighted and braced.
• Button contest winner Caroline Terveer was pictured receiving Button No. 1, plus a $10 check for her winning entry in the Verndale celebration drawing contest from Chairman Jarvis Hieb. Five judges had a difficult time determining the winner from the nine entries.
• Be it guilty conscience or merely a prank, the Miller’s Cafe sign stolen last week, was returned Sunday morning. It was left leaning against the building near the back door of the cafe. Jan Miller, owner of the cafe, had it raised to its place of honor early Monday morning before it could disappear again.
15 Years Ago, July 28, 2005
• The American Legion baseball ends its season. Verndale started with two homeruns in the first inning scored by Andy Bramer over the left field and Ryan Greenwood over the centerfield fence, measuring 360 feet and bouncing on the road. Bertha came back with a three run inning. Verndale scored again in the third inning to tie the score 3-3. The score remained 3-3 until the tenth inning when Michael Riewer was walked by Greenwood and Nathan Runyan came in to pitch. Matt Hartung up to bat hit the centerfield fence bringing in Riewer but was held at second by Verndale. The ending score of the game was 5-4. Coach Runyan stated the boys played well and he considered this a successful season.
• A volleyball camp was held at the Verndale School from July 18-21. Coach for the event was Beth Schiller. Participants in the camp included Kaitlin Dunrud, Stephanie Dailey, Jessica Weaver, Ashley Goddard, Kristin Goddard, Kelsey Booth, Janessa Weaver, Trista Finck, Madison Aeling, Stacy Finck and Nicole Bart.
• County Engineer Russ Larson appeared before the board and read a letter requesting a $16,000 salary increase. He indicated that he believed that during a meeting in Duluth held three years ago, two commissioners had agreed that he deserved a wage increase that would make his pay equal to the pay of the Wadena County Social Services director and that they would make sure he got it. Commissioner Dave Mattila recalled the conversation differently. He also said that the county does not have the money for a salary increase of that size, and that other department heads, besides Larson, are not paid as much as they should be. Board Chair Mary Harrison said that no action would be taken at the meeting, but thanked Larson for appearing before the board.