Dusting Off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, February 5, 1986

• Over 40 business people, council members, clergy and citizens met last week on Thursday to discuss the possible organization of a commercial club, and other ways to improve business relations and atmosphere within the business community. Ron Gensler and Paul Ritzenauer of KNSP Radio, Staples, gave a presentation entitled “Marketing Bridge” which dealt with business, price/value, merchandising, personal selling and advertising.

• Members of the Verndale City Council passed five resolutions in a special meeting held on Monday, January 27, to finalize the grant application for the extension of water services to the outlying regions of the city. The resolutions were: 1-Adopt a fair housing ordinance, 2-resolution to determine a water rate system, 3-to finance $60,000 and assessments of $1000, and issue bonds to finance its share of the water extension project, 4-to charge $150, hookup fee after the initial construction period is completed, and 5-to sponsor the entire grant application.

• Because many believe that the 1986 farm bill sets up producers of major commodities and small businesses for continued economic chaos, a town-county agri-meeting has been called for Saturday, February 8, at the Wadena Memorial Auditorium. It’s designed to educate and preserve rural America and the farm family by increasing the farm income, an idea now shared by producers and city people alike. The loan rate reduction of 63 cents for corn and 90 cents for wheat, which are designed to cut prices and expand exports, assuming other exporting nations are going to roll over and play dead, is a doubtful happening.

• Winners in the spelling bee for fourth through sixth graders were presented books as prizes last week by Roger Olson, project organizer, and Arvilla Dyer, one of the fourth grade teachers, whose students won. Becky Reis was given two Trixie Beldon books while Jason Steinkopf, runner up, received a Hardy Boys book.

15 Years Ago, February 3, 2011

• On November 22, Verndale welcomed a new business to town, Trinity Strength and Conditioning, owned and operated by Greg Johnson. The fitness club is located in the old Neureburg Electric building next to the Tarrell Insurance Agency and Verndale Sun office on Main Street. According to Johnson, his new business provides group fitness classes with a wide variety of exercises for almost all fitness levels. He also offers an option of personal training services as well.

• Sue Boehland, past Freshwater Education Area Learning Center director, Central Lakes Perkins coordinator, has received three awards this last year that recognized her at the state, regional and national level for outstanding work with Career and Technical Education (CTE).

• The week started off with the Raiders taking on the Alexandria Cardinals and Bemidji Lumberjacks on Tuesday night in Bertha. The Raiders took on the Lumberjacks and fought and scraped in every match. Even with big wins by Justin Gordon, Kasey Horn, Nick Bennett, Dillon Card, Dalton Baker, Dylan Koppendrayer and Colin Turchin, the Raiders found themselves a little short, losing 41-35.

• The Verndale Girls Basketball team bounced back after a tough week and picked up two wins this week. The first win came against the Ashby Arrows on Tuesday with a final score of 44-42. The Pirates fell behind early, but fought back to trail by only two points at the half. The Pirates were sparked on in the second half by Teresa Moenkedick who scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half, Megan Richter added 9, Elizabeth Johnson 6, Lizzy Youngbauer 5, Kaitlyn Richter 3, and Ashley Richter and Jenny Swenson with 2 each.

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