Dusting Off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, June 28, 1945
• News received by Verndale residents the past week tells of how more Verndale boys got together in Hawaii. This time there were six of them: Cecil Seaton F1c, Lt. Quinn Rundell, Lt. Earl Seaton, Lt. Hack Conley, Cpl. Leonard Ryder and Harry Jenkins. A coincidence of this meeting was that it was the first time Cecil and Earl Seaton had seen each other in two years. They have missed each other on their leave while at home as one or the other would always be away.
• Two men are being held, one in Stearns County and other in Todd on charges of stealing tires and other articles. They are Bernard Shanley and Robert Padden, both of Sauk Centre. Apprehension of the pair is reported to have cleared up a number of prowls in both counties. Harry Black of Osakis lost four wheels and tires in April; Mr. Gallagher, an Osakis school teacher, lost one wheel and tire and a set of golf clubs. Later, an oil station was entered and three new tires were stolen and there were several other items taken. The tires were removed from the wheels and the latter were thrown into lakes in the vicinity. Nine of the stolen tires were sold in the Hewitt community. All of the stolen property has now been restored to the rightful owners.
• Richard Doyle, who recently advanced to Machinist’s Mate, second class, aboard an escort carrier on the Pacific, arrived home last week on a 20 day leave to visit his folks, Mr. and Mrs. George Doyle and other relatives. Richard has served aboard the same ship for his entire time at sea. He has taken part in numerous engagements.
40 Years Ago, June 26, 1980
• The topper and contents of a pickup were strewn for a quarter of a block last Thursday after a two-vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of Highway 10 and County Road 22 within the confines of the city of Verndale. The driver of the 1975 Ford pickup was Gregory Raymond Seils of Inver Grove Heights, who was accompanied by his wife, Charlene, their 2 1/2 month old son Thomas, and Charlene’s sister, Shelly Manning, 14, of Perham. They were enroute to the Brainerd area on vacation. The driver of the 1969 Pontiac was Dale Carr of Verndale. According to Highway Patrolman Arnie Grabow, who investigated the accident, both vehicles were totaled.
• Lions Club members began going through the lunch line after serving almost 300 people at their annual chicken barbecue held in McNair Park on Sunday afternoon.
• Great things will be expected of three Verndale High School students next basketball season or their money will have been wasted. They accompanied the school patrol to the Twin Cities on Saturday in order to attend the Michael Thompson Basketball Clinic at McAllister College this week. They are Todd Pilgrim, Ron Denny and Chip Paulsen.
15 Years Ago, June 30, 2005
• Heavy winds and rain were the hallmarks of the storm that passed through Verndale on Monday, June 20. In Verndale, there was property damage caused by what were believed to be straight line winds. Wind speeds were estimated to be between fifty and eighty miles per hour. Minnesota Power managed to have electrical power restored within several hours. Crews will be returning over the next few weeks to straighten poles and repair wire. Parts of Verndale were closed to traffic due to the debris blocking the roads.
• Gail Johnson has started the remodeling process at the Verndale Senior Citizen’s Center. He has enlarged the wall opening between the kitchen and service area. The high counter is now gone. Verndale Custom Homes has generously donated a new counter top.
• Kristin Goddard, daughter of Chuck and Michelle Goddard, Verndale, left on Sunday, June 26 for Las Vegas. She is part of the dance team, The Rubies, who earned the honor of attending the Hall of Fame National Dance Competition. The group will return on July 2. Kristin attended the General Dance Studio twice per week in Brainerd. She is a teaching assistant at the Staples Studio.