Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, April 14, 1949
• One of the most interesting of our county-wide rural school contests, the Minnesota Centennial Quiz, was held at the Public School in Wadena on Saturday afternoon, April 9. There were 19 champions who participated. Darlene Antillia of District 42-S, Mrs. Lester Lidtke, teacher, won first place; and Sandra Riley of District 31-N, Mrs. Lidvina Perkins, teacher, was a close second. These two girls won the right to represent Wadena County at the State Fair contest.
• At the Verndale American Legion Post meeting on Monday of this week, William Pilgrim was elected post commander; Pete Gaul, vice commander; Pete Polaschek, 2nd vice commander; Vivian Sather, adjutant; Dell Gibb, service officer; finance officer, Alan Pettit; Post Chaplain Bob Denniston; Sergeant-at-arms Harry Gibbs; and Child Welfare Officer E. W. Orr.
• Wadena has filed its application for the School for the Feeble-minded planned for Northern Minnesota. Bills authorizing construction of the school near Wadena, either in Wadena or Otter Tail County, were introduced in the Minnesota Senate by Senator E.P. Anderson and in the House of Representatives by Representative R.R. Ryti this past week.
40 Years Ago, April 11, 1984
• Carl Eller, a former Minnesota Viking All Pro-Lineman and now a certified chemical dependency practitioner, will meet with senior and junior high school students in Verndale from 2-3:20 p.m. on Monday, April 16, after conducting a similar session, “An Ounce of Prevention,” at Bertha-Hewitt and Eagle Bend for the students.
• After hearing comments from citizens and discussing among themselves, the Verndale City Council told Bill Beven to make arrangements with Verndale Custom Movers to place the recently acquired Burlington-Northern caboose on the site in McNair Park now occupied by the horseshoe pits and relocate the pits.
• Ericka Schnek expressed surprise and pleasure as she felt the Miss Verndale crown being placed on her head by last year’s queen, Cathy Colby, during the pageant held last Saturday night before a packed house in the high school auditorium. She will represent Verndale in the Miss Heartland Pageant in October.
15 Years Ago, April 23, 2009
• The Talent Show and game “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” was a successful and fun event. There were 20 talent acts which were very entertaining. The Verndale Scholarship Committee would like to thank the talented performers. The event raised $500 for the Verndale Scholarship Fund.
• The subsection, Vocal Large Group, solo and ensemble contest was held at the Sebeka School on Friday, April 3. The Verndale Concert Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Haraldson, performed “The Lone Wild Bird” and “Come to Me O My Love. The choir was accompanied by Jessica Sly. The Verndale Concert Choir earned a superior rating from each judge.
• The Verndale Pirates Baseball Team got the season rolling with a 14-8 win over New York Mills last Tuesday. The Pirates erupted for a 12 run 5th inning to take a 13-4 lead. Brady Sideschlaw led the hitting attack going 3-4 with 4 RBIs. Dan Weiher chipped in with two hits and a run scored.