Dusting off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

75 Years Ago, May 3, 1945 • The sad news was received last week that another one of Verndale’s native sons, Cpl. Edgar Dickinson had made the supreme sacrifice for his country. The only news of his untimely death was that he had been wounded and died on April 8 in the battlefield somewhere in Europe. Edgar had been overseas one year and seven months, during which time he has been with the third division of the Seventh Army. With his dangerous work in reconnaissance in the Third Infantry Division he has been in four major campaigns, the battles for Africa, Sicily, Italy and France.

40 Years Ago, May 1, 1980 • Three more candidates have joined the two incumbents in seeking positions on the school board of District 818 as the filing period ended on Tuesday. They were David Trosen, David Bessler and Donna (Mrs. Lee) Denny. Incumbents who had previously filed were William Fisher and William Jacobson, whose terms expire on June 30. • Verndale’s School Board was forced to accept its first choice among candidates for secondary principal when two others rejected the contracts offered to them. The field of 16 applicants had been narrowed to three. James Madsen had been the first choice, but because he asked for a salary of $22,000, board members studied the resumes of the other two and after much discussion and taking a vote, agreed on one who was offered the position at $20,000. When this was rejected, a second offer was made to the other applicant and this too was rejected. Rather than re-advertise the position, the board voted to offer Madsen the contract for the $22,000 he requested. • The boy’s track team won its first meet on the home field during competition against Bertha-Hewitt and Motley. They amassed 86 and a half points for the first place berth while Bertha and Motley earned 37 and a half and 19 respectively.

15 Years Ago, May 5, 2005 • On April 26, the Verndale Pirates hosted the Pillager Huskies. The weather was cool and blankets covered people in the stands. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ethan Kern started the team off with a hard hit to center field scoring three runs for the first inning. The second inning had Andy Bramer taking a pitch to the leg. With two players on base, Isaac Johnson hit a home run and three runs were scored.