Dusting off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, May 29, 1985

• Memorial Day 1985 is a day the Herman Wiese family will long remember because of a barn fire of unknown origin. The family was relaxing on Monday evening when their dog’s barking caught their attention. They saw an unfamiliar car in their driveway and at the same time saw smoke coming from behind the barn. The passerby reported they had seen the flames at the bask side of the barn. By the time Mrs. Wiese returned from a neighbor’s to summon firemen, flames were shooting skyward. The Bertha Fire Department was called and in turn, summoned the Hewitt and Verndale units for water in order to save the silos and adjoining buildings. There was no livestock in the building.

• Pictured pinning corsages on the three students whose essays about grandparents and friends were picked as winners was Margaret Miller, nutrition site manager for the Verndale Senior Citizens. They are sixth graders: Heather Vanbatavia, third place; Bridget Campbell, second place; and Dixie VanRoekel, first place. The girls read their essays to the gathering at the nutrition site just prior to their meal, also honoring those about whom the girls had written.

• We in this country have a choice in who we want to govern us, said Sandy Umland in her report as candidate for Girl’s State last year which included learning about the government. Listening intently as she spoke were Herman Wiese, Verndale Legion Commander, who emceed the program; Avis Paulsen, auxiliary song leader; Bob Larson, Sebeka, past state VFW commander who delivered the Memorial Day address and the Rev. Robert Mundahl, who gave the invocation and benediction. The high school band, in new uniforms, played Battle Hymn of the republic.

• “The use of newspapers in the classroom has made students more aware of what’s going on around them,” said Betty Wood, fifth grade teacher at the Verndale School. “They have learned that everything in the newspapers is not fact, some is opinion.” They are also finding that items in their Weekly Readers correspond with news happenings around the world reported in the daily newspapers. Response from several of her students was very favorable.

15 Years Ago, June 3, 2010

• On May 31, a Memorial day service was held at the Ted Masog Auditorium at 10 a.m. The Presentation of Colors by the Verndale Boy Scouts was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation and memorial address were given by Dave Seaton. Avis Paulson and Betty Wiese placed the wreath. Commander Florian Schmidt read an article about the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima and Arica Gades sang a solo.

• Mel Wiens was on hand at the first Farmers Market which was held in the Verndale Park on May 19. According to Wiens, people came in groups to see what was on hand and to purchase some of the items. Wiens estimated about 25-30 people had been browsing at the time of this photo.

• The BHV Lady Raiders traveled to Wadena for the Subsection track and field meet. The Raiders needed to excel at this meet in order to advance to the Section meet. With a younger team, the Raiders only veteran, Hannah Barrett, needed to lead by example, yet was facing her own challenges as her seeds showed she would need a top day in order to advance in the hurdles. Barrett ran one of her best races of her career and had her personal best in the 100 hurdles to place third.

• Congratulations to the Verndale Raiders boys track team for their participation in the 2010 season. Subsection 6A competition was held in Wadena on Thursday, May 27. Those advancing to the Section competition on June 3 in Moorhead: Amos Schmidt (100 and 300 M hurdles, 4x100 relay), Dylan Templin (4x100 relay), Ray Demaars (100 M dash, 4x100 relay), and Jake Perius (4x200 relay). Good luck Raiders track team!

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