Dusting Off The Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, May 24, 1945
• Sgt. Maurice Peery is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George S. Peery of Aldrich. He entered service in the Army April 17, 1942, taking his first training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas were he was put in the 33rd medical Corps. In July 1942 he was transferred to Stoneman Camp in California. On S
eptember 10, 1942 he landed in Australia and has been in the South Pacific ever since. Maurice has not had a furlough since entering service over three years ago.
• Raymond Peery S/2c went into the Navy March 14, 1944, and took basic training at Farragut, Idaho as a Gunners’ Mate. From there he was transferred to the Naval Receiving Barracks at Shoemaker, California and went overseas, September 30, 1944. He is now somewhere in the South Pacific.
• Capt. John M. Adams, Bird Island, Flying Fortress pilot shot down on his 23rd mission over Germany on October 1943, has been liberated from a prison camp and is now in France. Relatives have been notified. His wife, Gladys Hoversten, Verndale High School teacher in 1935-36, is a nurse in England.
40 Years Ago, May 22, 1980
• Tying a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree is Marge Carr, who says it will remain there until the last of the Iranian hostages are released. The idea is catching on in many cities of this nation and Marge is the first in Verndale to express her concern. Today marks the 201st day of their imprisonment.
• Seven students will be representing Verndale High School at the Regional Track meet Saturday in Alexandria. Donna Johnson, Laura Carlson, Kate Wutzke, Mary Line, Todd Pilgrim, Tim Seaton and Jody Derby. Todd will be competing in the pole vault, Tim in the 100 meter dash, Jody in the 100 meter dash, and Donna in the 100 meter hurdles. Girls making up the 400 relay team are Kate, Mary, Jody and Donna. Competing in the 800 meter relay will be Kate, Mary, Laura and Jody.
• Tim Seaton has been selected, along with 25 other Minnesota students to participate in the Lions Club All-Star Games to be played June 13 and 14 at St. Cloud Municipal Stadium. Tim will likely be playing first base.
15 Years Ago, May 26, 2005
• Prom is generally thought of as a traditional rite of high school passage. The tradition continues. The senior males were called to line up on stage. Maria Moenkedick crowned Dana Haberman king. The senior girls were called up and Mrs. Youngbauer crowned Rhonda Bell queen. That is where the tradition changed. Rhonda Bell relinquished her crown for her classmate and friend Kayla Christianson. Bell described the plot among friends. Prior to the prom, Chelsa Beaver, Courtney Mancuso and Bell had decided to give the crown to Kayla. When asked why, Bell replied, “Because she deserved it.”
• “We’re number one!” the BHV boys track team screamed as they claimed victory for the first time in eight years at the Park Region Conference. The Raiders realized that they had a good chance of winning the Conference if everyone did their best. It started out as planned with the 4x800 taking first and barely missing the record by eight-tenths of a second. Philipp Scharff took second in the 100 meter dash. Aaron Moenkedick won the 800 meter.
• Verndale softball hosted Pillager on Thursday with Nicki Bart pitching a five inning game with five strike outs, three hits and three runs scored by Pillager. Verndale scored 15 points in the first inning, with Sami Seaton, Stephanie Daily, and Hillary Kern all having two RBIs and Courtney Branstner with three. Verndale ended the game with a 24-3 score.