Dusting Off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, September 19, 1985

• Verndale’s first Oktoberfest is shaping up nicely and promises to provide an evening of entertainment for young and old alike. The Celebration Committee, which is sponsoring the event to raise funds for its activities, will be splitting the proceeds with the Verndale Lions for their community center fund. It will be held from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, October 5 in the new Lions community center. Bird Blanchard Band will be providing the music for dancing or just plain enjoyment.

• Pictured is Pauline Colby who is filled with emotion the moment she realizes the homecoming queen crown is being placed on her head at Monday night’s coronation ceremony.

• The Verndale Pirates played host to the New York Mills Eagles and lost a hard-fought five-game match Tuesday evening. Game one belonged to the Eagles as they routed the Pirates 15-3. Leading the Pirates in game two was Paula Schill with some excellent serving that resulted in 10 of the team’s points. Sarah “Too Short” Schanz was the big Pirate gun with eight service points and fine setting and floor play.

• Over 30 tons of USDA surplus commodities will be distributed to eligible households in Otter Tail and Wadena counties September 26. In Verndale, the distribution at the fire hall begins at 9 a.m. Processed cheese, dried milk, butter and honey will be distributed. Anyone needing to apply for the program should contact the Community Action Council.

15 Years Ago, September 16, 2010

• A local visitor to the Verndale City Council voiced concerns over taxpayer dollars going toward helping keep Highway 10 Liquor running after net losses. He said he can’t see “keeping a dead horse alive” and folks are struggling enough during these difficult economic times without having to pay additional taxes to the city to keep the doors of this deficit-ridden off-sale liquor store open. According to the auditor the two stores combined have seen overall net losses over the past two years exceeding $125,000.

• Each year enrollment is a concern for area school districts. This year is no exception. When the area districts opened their doors for classes on September 7, the numbers in most cases, as expected, had decreased. Verndale was the only district surveyed that had a slight increase in enrollment. In 2008, enrollment was at 465; 2009 was 483, and 2010 is at 487.

• The Verndale volleyball team participated in the Wadena Relay for Life last month. They raised funds for the American Cancer Society and participated in the ceremony throughout the night. The event was held in the old Pamida building due to the weather. Pictured: Amanda Dailey, Megan Dougherty, Kaitlyn Richter, Ashley Richter, Jordanna Schluttner, Megan Richter, Teresa Moenkedick, Miranda Dougherty and Krista Dailey.

• Dr. Thomas Grams, 51, of Colorado and a native of Park Rapids, retired from his Colorado dental practice to begin a lifelong dream. Grams became a member of a Denver based group called Global Dental Relief in 2001. Grams’ grandparents were Ed and Emma Grams and great-grandparents were Ludwig and Brenda Kassube of Bertha. Grams began volunteering in third world counties, most recently in Afghanistan. On Thursday, August 5, while volunteering with a group of nine others from the International Assistance Mission, Grams and his team were tragically ambushed and killed in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan Province. The group was returning from a two week mission when they ran into a Taliban gunman. The gunmen forced Gram and the others to sit on the ground while they looted the group’s vehicles. Each was shot where they sat. The Taliban claimed credit for the attack, saying the workers were trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.

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