Dusting off the Archives
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
News from Verndale's Past
40 Years Ago, June 12, 1985
• The Celebration Committee meeting last week on Wednesday at Robert Schultz’s home declared they felt this would be the most fun celebration ever after they completed a very successful planning meeting. The celebration will be based on the theme, “Sound of Music”. The entertainers have been hired, the band for the street dance has been confirmed, and many other fun activities are in the making. Because the city has agreed to finance rebuilding and redecorating the float, the committee will be hiring the band for the street dance for the first time. Tony and David Phillips will be returning with a new juggling and magic act that will be shown for the first time in Verndale. Also, a new Strawberry Shortcake and clown will be performing throughout the event. There are a few more things yet to be confirmed which will be announced later. All businessmen and organizations entering the parade this year are encouraged to use the name of a song as their theme and, if possible, find a tape to play as they go down the parade route.
• For 50 cents a vote you can help your favorite person acquire the dubious honor of becoming Verndale’s second Sorehead. The contest is underway with John Moyer and Rick Mason tied for the lead in votes. Ballots are available at the Municipal Liquor Store, First National Bank, Barb’s Cards and Gifts, the Verndale Sun, Fred’s Grocery, Earl’s Discount and Dorie’s Diner. You also get two free votes with each Verndale t-shirt purchased.
• Jennfer Ninneman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ninneman of Verndale, will be among the candidates competing for the title of Miss Teen of Minnesota at the eighth annual state pageant which will be held in St. Cloud, June 27-29. The winner of the pageant activities will receive a $2500 scholarship as well as a host of merchandise awards. She will also join titleholders of the remaining 49 states at the national pageant where Miss Teen of America will receive nearly $40,000 in awards and prizes include a $15,000 scholarship to the school or university of her choice.
• Lions Club members have been working on rainy days to pour the floor in the building which will soon become a center for community activities. The club purchased the building from Great Plains Supply after they closed their doors of the lumber business here, and have donated it to the city with the option to lease and control the sales of 3.2 beer and set-ups. Two-thirds of the floor was completed in the photo showing Dan Fisher, Bobbie Anderson, Marcellus Heithoff and Rich Brown hard at work pouring and leveling the cement floor. Laying forms were Bill Fisher, Grant Boe, Rich Brown and Dennis Johnson.
15 Years Ago, June 17, 2010
• Dr. Katherine “Kat” Hayes, with the University of Minnesota and professor of anthropology, was recently back in the area to give the results or findings of what she and eight graduate and undergraduate students produced from the dig site at Little Round Hill in June of 2009. The presentation was given during the Old Wadena Historical Society’s spring program which was held at T. Maxwell’s in Staples. The William Warren account would appear to have a big part in all of this and at times is a guide since it is the only written account of the battle at Little Round Hill. It was written almost 60 years after the fact. At the Little Round Hill site they have found musket balls, arrowheads and trade beads. It’s not conclusive yet, bit it would appear that Warren may have been correct in his account.
• Amos Schmidt had a great year in running for the Raiders Track Team. He advanced to the state meet at Hamline University for the second year in a row running the 300 meter hurdles. At two meters into the race he was leading. He was attacking the hurdles the best that he could. Amos knew he had to run and be very aggressive to be able to make it into one of the top nine spots to advance to the finals the next day. Unfortunately, Amos hit a hurdle and fell to the ground. He got up and proceeded to finished the race.
• This summer the Verndale School is offering a variety of programs for children. Available are the Breakfast Club, POP Recreation and Afternoon WRAP. Currently they have eight children enrolled in the Breakfast Club, 30 enrolled in the Exploration Club and 14 in the afternoon WRAP program.
• A small change of scenery is in store for Rich and Carol Taggart, the owners of Fleet Supply in Wadena. Moving their business was already on Rich Taggart’s mind for quite some time. The old Pamida building isn’t a far stretch from their current location, but the vacant establishment appears to be the perfect opportunity for a move for the Taggarts. The Pamida discount store was closed due to a weak economy and has been vacant since January 2009.
