Dusting Off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, November 13, 1985

• Two items which received unanimous approval by all school board members at a meeting on Thursday, November 7, were a program for talented and gifted students and the teacher salary proposal. Faith Rudnitski, administrative assistant, presented plans for class offerings for talented and gifted students. She told the board they would begin in the winter trimester and be held after school hours. “These are the kids who become behavior problems if nothing is provided to hold their interest. They are not necessarily the best students in a class. It becomes such a waste of talent if these children aren’t reached,” she said. The state increased funding for these programs from $17 per student to $40.

• Many children accompanied their parents to the annual open house of the elementary department sponsored recently by the local chapter of the PTSA. Pictured, Emily Uselman showed her father, Greg, her desk, while her brother, Matthew, and sister, Tracy, looked on. Shari Dahlen, holding Erika, looked at the art work in her daughter Patty’s room.

• At the Halloween party in Mrs. Dyer’s fourth grade room after the parade, each student was given the opportunity to learn to use a microwave oven by making their own Smores treat (graham crackers, chocolate and a marshmallow covered with another cracker square). Pictured, Mrs. Dyer directed Craig Madsen to put the cracker on the marshmallow he had semi-melted in the oven to make his treat.

• Every year there are two mysterious adults that roam the halls of school on Halloween and join students in their parade through the classrooms, in addition to mothers who assist with the younger students. The parade begins with the kindergarten class, which proceeds through the first grade, picking up other classes as they go. They march through all the high school classrooms as well, then back through the elementary rooms so that those in the front of the parade can view those who were behind them.

15 Years Ago, November 11, 2010

• The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has named Kent and Linda Solberg of Verndale as one of eight area finalists in the 2010 Outstanding Conservationists Award Program. Kent and Linda will be recognized at a December 7 luncheon at the 74th annual convention in St. Paul. Of the eight finalists, one will be announced as Outstanding Conservationists of the Year at the luncheon.

• The Nifty Fifties is a musical comedy tribute to the 1950s. Gracie Stanley has gotten herself in hot water by promising to deliver her distant cousin, rock star Ziggy Springer, to the high school Hippity Hop at Louise’s Luncheonette. Ziggy’s manager, Lennie King, doesn’t want his client performing anywhere without pay, so Gracie and her friend have to produce a double—and fast! They use singing soda jerk Donald and plan to have him perform in the dark. Also, Gracie and snooty Muffin (Ariana Sandberg) fight for the affections of handsome transfer student and basketball star, George Bullock (Kyle Booth). It’s going to be a comical tribute!

• Members of the East Otter Tail 4-H program came to Wadena County to present a check for $1520.79 to the Wadena 4-H members to help replace items that were lost in June to the tornado. The 4-hers donated a percentage of their blue ribbon auction winnings from the county fair. Pictured were Wadena 4-H members Jessica Palonsky and Missy Collins; and East Otter Tail 4-H members: Caleb Monson, Jenna White, Allison Monson, Emily White, Trent Jahnke and Kayla Jahnke.

• Members of the Clarence Horsager family who grew up on the farm think their own kids have been cheated by not having the real farm experience. As a result there was a two session corn lesson. The final exercise was playing in a 10,000 bushel pile of corn. They loved it, but sometime later, Lisa, mother of four and David’s wife, noticed her wedding ring was missing. The next day the building was full of deer hunters cutting up their deer. Someone had seen Mark Gades, head custodian at the Verndale School, work his high quality metal detector. He was called and came out on Sunday. In less than half an hour his screen showed the ring buried in the corn. You should have heard the excited screams from the deer hunters and tears of joy from Lisa!

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