Dusting Off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, February 12, 1986

• And then it came true! For one boy and girl, king and queen—Randy Denny and Brenda Richter—while the other candidates looked on in this photo. The others were: Patty Fisher and Jenny Loucks, Dan Carlson and Rich Murdock, and last year’s king and queen, Jim Shereck and Shelia Notch who were present to do the honors of crowning the new royalty.

• First graders David Johnson and Jennifer Masog, presented a rollicking vocal number, “Walking In The Sunshine”, accompanied by their music teacher, Jan Heins. Other music was another selection sung by Debbie Trosen entitled “Secret Love”, and a piano processional, Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire and Separate Lives played by Angie Boyd and Paula Bounds. Heidi Van Batavia and Tammy Swanson were mistresses of ceremonies and also announced the winners of each of the days of the Snow Daze week-long event. A dance followed the coronation with DJ Brad Hahn, a former VHS graduate.

• Because Mayor Dale Carr was hospitalized after an accident enroute to last month’s meeting, naming of the committee members was deferred until this month. Roger Anderson was again named acting mayor. The 1986 Council Committees: Police, Roger Anderson and Bob Reul; Fire, Anderson and Reul; Water and Sewer, Mark Gades and Fred Miller; Streets, Parks and Cemetery, Gades and Reul; Weeds and Pests, Carr and Anderson; Senior Citizens, Health, Youth, Gades and Fred Miller; Liquor Store, all council members.

• The Pirates played a very close game against the Trojans, losing only by two points. The final score was 34-36. High scorers for the Pirates were Jennifer Ninneman with 13 points and Peg Hokanson with eight.

15 Years Ago, February 10, 2011

• The Verndale City Council is moving forward with plans for an estimated $419,000 sanitary improvement project on the south side of Verndale including two alleys between First and Third Avenue and the stretch of Fifth Avenue South between Brown and Farwell Street.

• The Snow Daze Coronation was held on Monday, February 7, with Kody Graba and Elizabeth Youngbauer being crowned the new king and queen. The 9th grade attendant was Brooke Howleg, 10th grade attendant Sienna Sandberg, 11th grade attendant Marissa Willis, Princess Allison Rousslang, Prince Hunter Umland, queen candidates, Shani Bain, Jessica Sibert, Louise Nolte, former queen Darian Nadgwick, Emcee Emily Kurger, 9th grade attendant Jacob Booth, 10th grade attendant Kasy Heinzen, 11th grade attendant Colton Moyer, and king candidates Ryan Mills, Michael Hejahl, Nathan Bart, former King Justin Kern and Emcee Derek Hamman.

• Eighth grader Chad Anderson was the winner of the spelling bee competition held on Wednesday, February 2. Twenty-five students in grades 4-6 competed for 10 rounds before Chad won with the correct spelling of ‘espionage’. Chad will now go on to the Regional Spelling Bee in Brainerd on February 18.

• The University of Minnesota, Crookston recently hosted some 1200 area students from 50 high schools on campus for its annual Ag and Natural Resources Activities Day on December 3. Students participated in more than 20 contests. Louise Nolte of Verndale High School took home third place individual in the forestry contest at UMC, winning a $450 scholarship.

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