Dusting Off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, July 2, 1986

• Individuals are being invited to invest in stock in a newly formed Verndale Development Corporation which has been formed to bring new business into town. A pillow factory will be located in the southern half of the former Mr. Harry’s. A board of directors and officers named at a recent meeting of present stockholders were: Chairman Bill Fisher, Vice Chairman George Hackler, Treasurer Larry Hahn, Secretary Bill Jacobson and Director Earl Flores.

• There were only six residents of the Verndale area in attendance June 23 for the public meeting called to seek input on the new jail proposal. Don Blaha, and Dale Paulsen were present to answer questions as members of the Jail Study Committee and County Commissioners. County Attorney Doug Johnson and Sheriff Mike Carr gave a history of the present jail facility.

• Most of the damage to the school, as a result of a fire started by a lightning strike a week ago Saturday, was to the third floor restrooms and the roof above. Adjacent classrooms were also damaged while water damaged areas were on the second and first floors. The school board met Tuesday night to accept quotes to repair the damages estimated to amount to a minimum of $80,000.

• Beginning a flag routine, these new members of the Verndale Drill Team in its second year, begin a routine while leading the group marching down the parade route at Wadena. Younger members were doing hand exercises. Their costumes were made by some of the mothers. Jackets for the flag bearers are still to be completed.

15 Years Ago, June 30, 2011

• Longtime Verndale City Maintenance Supervisor Jim Bergquist has accepted a job with the city of Moorhead. His resignation was accepted by the Verndale City Council during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, June 21, which was called for the purpose of considering his resignation. Bergquist thanked the city for his 18 years of employment.

• The book about the tornado that struck Wadena, “Twisted Together,” was recently released on June 17, exactly one year after the tornado devastated the city of Wadena. College Student Jessica Sly wrote the prologue for the book. The epilogue was titled, “Looking Back,” and focused on the aftermath of the tornado and how the Wadena volleyball team won state, despite the destruction of their school and city. The first person who bought the book was Sandi Pratt at the Wadena County Historical Society.

• The Wadena and Verndale Assembly of God Churches opened a fireworks stand in the Wadena Wal-Mart parking lot on June 24 and it will remain open until July 4. The stand is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day, except the last couple of nights that it’s open, then it will run until midnight. The churches are fundraising in order to send some students to camp and to raise money for a new playground on the north side of Verndale. The fireworks being sold are all legal in Minnesota. This is the fourth year that the churches have held this fundraiser.

• During the weekly construction meeting on Tuesday, several area residents showed up to see what could be done to limit the flooding damage caused by the ongoing sewer project in Verndale. Water is begin drained to the north side of the city, which residents say is causing flood damage to their homes and property.

Subscribe to get more of your current news!