Dusting off the Archives

News from Verndale's past

40 Years Ago, August 12, 1985

• The world champion halter mare was among the horses competing in the third of six area horse shoes at the Red River Trail Riders Arena northeast of Verndale last Wednesday. Lady’s Flower, out of Impressive Flower and Lady Belmond, is being held by her owner Lester Flanders, a farmer from Oskaloosa, IA, whose hobby is horses. He has been a participant in these shows the past 15 years. He has had five champion horses.

• Lutheran Brotherhood will set aside $300 toward the cost of rejuvenating the exterior of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Verndale-said structure now owned by the Verndale Historical Society as a museum. Said monies to be made available upon the condition that a minimum of 10 Lutheran Brotherhood insurance policy holders help in some manner with the project which must me completed no later than November 1, 1985.

• Sorehead Bob Schultz presented Barb Schenk, overall chairman for the Strawhat and Sunbonnet Days celebration a plaque in recognition for the planning work she and the committee had done to attract the hundreds of visitors to this year’s celebration.

• Verndale’s recently formed alumni band performed during the Sunday afternoon concert in the park. It consisted of present and former Verndaleites as well as several music enthusiasts from the Hewitt and Bertha area. Also entertaining were Karen Heller who accompanied herself on the guitar and a male quartet named “Who Knows”, which placed first in the Wadena County Fair Talent Contest.

15 Years Ago, August 19, 2010

• In the motocross sport you are eventually going to crash and get hurt. “It’s just part of racing,” said Kody Graba, who will be a senior this year at Verndale. Graba has sustained a few injuries over the years including: thirty stitches to the face, three broken bones in his foot, a broken arm, a broken collar bone with a plate and seven screws inserted in it, not to mention numerous other injuries. According to Graba, if he thinks too much about the race he get nervous and then performs poorly so he has adapted to not thinking about it. This philosophy seems to be working for him since he is currently in the top ten in District 23 in both the Open A class and the 250 A class.

• The Verndale Bison opened the 14C Region Baseball Tournament with at 15-5 loss to the Wadena Shockers. Things looked pretty good in the first inning for Verndale when first basemen Steve Schmitz hit a three-run homer giving the Bison a 3-1 lead. Verndale had nine hits in the game, a double by Shawn Moth, the Schmitz brothers Steve and Ryan each had two hits.

• The first annual Pig and Wing Fest was held on Saturday, August 7 at the Wadena Elks. There were 350-400 people in attendance this year. Ribs: third place Cary McGrane: Second place Pine Cove Inn; first place B&D Foods; People’s Choice TC’s Backyard BBQ. Wings: Third place B&D Foods; second place Pine Cove Inn, First place TC’s Backyard BBQ: People’s choice Dave Kleinke.

• Monica Johnson proved that it only takes one ticket to win. On August 9, the Staples resident’s single line quick pick ticket mated all five winning numbers to win a $49,269 Northstar Cash jackpot. Johnson purchased the winning ticket at Ernie’s Food Market in Staples.

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