Dusting off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, July 17, 1985

• Pictured is a flag that looks as big to Tiffany Dockham as this country will be to her as she grows up to realize its size. It’s the flag she received on June 17, the day she became a naturalized citizen of the United States in ceremonies held at the VFW in Detroit Lakes. She was one of 29 foreign youngsters who found homes with people in this nation. Tiffany arrived in the United States from Korea when she was but two and a half months old to become a member of the Martin Dockham family of rural Verndale. She will be three in August, and her brothers, Terry and Troy, can’t imagine what life would be like without her. Her mother, Carrol, says she’s easy to get along with and is still a very shy girl, and they wouldn’t trade her for the world.

• The Bell Telephone crew was busy in Verndale last week laying new long distance lines underground which will provide for greater service, according to one of the workmen. They were not for the proposed cable television which was a rumor circulating. The spokesperson said the new fiberglass lines which were inserted inside of plastic pipe would be replacing copper lines now in use.

• Pictured is Jennifer Ninneman as she appeared for the Miss Minnesota Teen contest held Saturday, June 29, at St. Cloud. She was one of 204 Minnesota girls vying for the title. Jennifer received a certificate and plaque in recognition of her efforts in raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis. She said it was a great experience and she enjoyed it very much, especially the opportunity to meet so many girls.

• Verndale’s royalty was on hand Saturday for the Pig-in-a-Poke auction to deliver the merchandise to successful bidders, and to just add a touch of class to the otherwise hayseed-type occasion. They were: Miss Verndale Lynette Hahn, Princess JoNeen Rousslang and Jamie Henderson. Each sported one of this year’s T-Shirts. A portion of the crowd listened to Maurie Finck explain what a Pig-in-a-Poke auction is. Over $800 was taken in at the celebration fundraiser with everyone appearing to have a good time.

15 Years Ago, July 8, 2010

• Pastor Amos Self, and wife Melodee, grew up in the nearby town of Staples just four blocks from each other and were “high school sweethearts.” The new Ernie’s building located in Staples is where Amos’ home used to be while growing up and his wife lived just on the other side of the SA gas station. On May 2, Pastor Amos held his first service as the new pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Verndale. Since taking this position, he has seen a growth in the church congregation from an average of 15 a week to currently not under 50.

• Doug Carlstrom is the city mechanic for the city of Wadena. As part of his duties he also manages the citywide auction held annually or semi-annually depending on the need for it. The auction typically includes things left over such as equipment, and bikes found and never claimed. The auction doesn’t normally contain lost and found jewelry and the like from the police department, but this year it did. When he saw a class ring he was intrigued. The school was in Amery, Wisconsin with the initials J.A.A. He contacted the school which sparked a series of events. They discovered the initials belonged to Jean Annette Ander. Research turned up a local name and phone number of Jean Shaw. After the two made contact, Carlstrom had the ring shined at Brink’s Jewelry. When Carlstrom presented the ring to Shaw her face lit up and she thanked him for investing the time to find her.

• Ernie’s Food Market in Staples has relocated to a newly built facility on Highway 10. Al and Barb Erbe have owned and operated the store for 25 years this October and this was definitely a welcome move. In the fall of 2006, Highway 10 wad redirected to First Avenue in Staples. Homes and businesses were torn down on the south side of the highway, opening up new lots. When the corner lot became available on the south side of Highway 10, the Erbes decided it was the perfect spot to construct a new food market.

• Tri-County Health Care employees and their family members coordinated early Tuesday morning, June 22, to start efforts to clean up after the tornado hit Wadena last week. Volunteers put in full days on Tuesday and Wednesday. Efforts focused on debris in the cemetery to trees and neighboring structures with the goal being to clean the area well enough for the monuments to be reset (many were blown over).

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