Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, April 7, 1949
• Bob Broker completed a deal with Mr. and Mrs. Vern Lepper this week for the purchase of their 40 acres of land about one mile west of Verndale.
• What might have been a serious accident, resulted in a once in a lifetime incident Saturday, while Bert Anderson of Central was hauling hay. He had two loads of hay behind his tractor and as he was going up the hill by the old Andrew Holman place a spark ignited and started a load of hay on fire. Mr. Anderson didn’t notice it immediately and felt the heat on his back. He unhooked the tractor and drove a safe distance away and he also unhooked the back load when Mr. Ferlman came to his assistance and got the back load clear of the burning hay. The hay, rack and trailer and tires were burned.
• Contestants from each of the rural schools of Wadena County will take part in a county Minnesota Centennial Quiz contest next Saturday, April 9. It will be held in the public school in Wadena at 2 p.m. Each of the rural schools will send its school champion. The contest will be a written one. The two contestants placing highest in the county will earn the right to represent Wadena County at the State Fair contest next fall.
40 Years Ago, April 4, 1984
• ‘Tis the season—for grass fires that is. With very little snow left, and no rain, the grass and weeds of last year are tinder dry, offering little resistance to fire. Verndale firemen responded to their first grass fire call on Monday at 12:45 p.m. when a fire, which had been started in a garbage pit at the Leo Bautch farm on the Wadena-Todd county line south of Verndale, spread onto land owned by the Albert Hollisters, being driven by a northeast wind. Snowbanks stopped its progress after it had burned four-five acres of brush. Firemen kept it from spreading in other directions, some by shoveling snow onto the creeping flames.
• “An ounce of prevention” will be presented to junior and senior high students in the Eagle Bend, Bertha-Hewitt and Verndale schools on Monday, April 16, along with a presentation by Carl Eller, former Minnesota Vikings All-Pro lineman, who is now a certified chemical dependency practitioner. He will speak about “someone to count one” which deals with facing life and life’s challenges by building mechanisms against peer pressure. That evening, a program open to the public will be held in the Verndale auditorium, all courtesy of the Lions Clubs in these area towns. This program is endorsed by the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center.
• At the helm of “Olsonville”, a simulated town run by the sixth grade students at Verndale school are: Mayor Jim Carlson, City Clerk Karl Bounds and City Treasurer Angie Koons. City council members are: Rita Schluttner, Michelle Hieb, Scott Seaton and Jason Bartle. Other officials important to the city operations are Ryan Bessler, city engineer; Dustin Kern, deputy; Scott Seaton, parks and recreation director; Glenn Baker, water works manager; Jennifer Miller, postmistress; Mike Tarrell, customs officer; Kevin Wiese, bailiff; Ben Heller, light and power; Eric Moyer, city attorney; Roxanne Adams, sheriff; Peggy Fisher, judge; and librarian Barb Wellnitz.
15 Years Ago, April 16, 2009
• The Verndale Lions and the Boy Scouts Troop 326 of Verndale held their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. Kids were armed with baskets, eyed the candy before them and got into a perfect run stance to be the first one out of the gate. At the word “GO!” they were off. Over 50 kids were at the McNair Park looking for the candy left by the Easter Bunny that morning.
• Come to the Verndale School on Sunday, April 19, for an afternoon of family fun! This event is sponsored by the Verndale Scholarship Committee, Verndale School Community Education and the National Honor Society. The talent show will start at 2 p.m. in the Ted Masog Auditorium. We are excited that the following community people have signed up to perform: Jessica Sly, Harley Cluney, Palani Sheldon, Doc Pryor, Rosealie Fearing, Jim Ackerson, Dick Johnson, Ray South, Denise Rousling, Jamie Peterson, Dahlia Sandberg, Courtney Norton, Andrea Westberg, Nicole Heldman, Shelby Carlson and Jeff Youngbauer. There will also be a portion played out of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” The contestants are Verndale Teachers Kelly Youngbauer, Paul Schumacher and Karen Schumacher.
• Wonder Weavers Story Tellers were a hit with lots of student participation and great stories. Colleen Shaskin and Tina Rhode from Eden Prairie entertained all with their “Earth Day” inspired performance. The PEP Club, Drama and Dance Club also performed. The performance was led by Cami Dick and directed by Harley Anderson.