Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, November 1, 1945
•Among the thousands of Americans enjoying their tour of occupation duty to liberate Korea is Staff Sgt. Carl E. Soderlund, 24, Modesto, California, section sergeant in the veteran 7th Infantry Division. He has been in the service for three years and served in the Aleutians, Marshall, Philippines, and Ryukyus before coming here. As a reward for outstanding service, he was recently promoted from corporal to his present grade. His father, August Soderlund, resides north of Verndale.
•Following is the list of chairmen and solicitors in the community for the Wadena County Victory Loan Drive which started Monday of this week. Verndale’s quota is $11,000 and the county quota is $248,000. Verndale village: Clarence Horn, chairman: Clayton Kopp, Rev. VanZutphen, Mrs. C.P. Pettit, Mrs. Cecil Seaton, Mrs. Clarence Anderson, Mrs. Robert L. Bradford.
•E.W. Orr reports that he sold Leonard Wyffel’s 160-acre farm last Friday to K.W. Geisler of Chicago. The Wyffel farm is located northeast of Verndale and is at present occupied by Vincent Smith and family. Mr. Geisler, we are informed, does not plan on moving on the place, as he has bought it as an investment.
40 Years Ago, October 30, 1980
•Approximately 200 thousand bottle caps and can tabs have been collected in the junior high math class quest of reaching a goal to see how many make a million. Jerry Weber, Eddie Sherbondy, Dan Dahlvang, and Ricky James are shown with recent contributions to the collection in Mr. Randall’s room.
• Conrad Van Batavia and Al Terveer, who volunteered to be assistant and Cub Master, respectively, at an organizational meeting held last Thursday evening in the school library, are pictured looking over papers requiring their signatures. George Geray, past Cub Master, will assume the responsibilities of the committee chairman. They will conduct pack meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Fifteen young men between the ages of eight and ten signed up as Scouts at the meeting.
•Telephone service was disrupted at several businesses and homes Wednesday night when a Peterbuilt truck, belonging to Homer Wannerstom and Sons of Hope, North Dakota, smashed into a pole just north of the G&L Service Station. The pole, still connected to the lines, was atop the trailer. David Ihry, driver, said he attempted to avoid hitting a pickup which was also traveling in an easterly direction on Highway 10, by turning north, across the opposite lane, narrowly missing the service station island at the gas station.
15 Years Ago, November 3, 2005
•On Saturday, October 15 the Staples Area Men’s Chorus hosted the Real Men Sing Concert at the Staples-Motley High School. The concert featured 200 singers from area schools and colleges. The Men’s Chorus and students rehearsed music throughout the day and then presented a concert in the evening. Verndale choir members that participated were Keifer Pesola, Joshua Lucius, Curtis Barrett, Jacob Seaton and Matt Fisher.
•The Pirates football team was left with mixed emotions this week. The team started out the week playing the second-seeded team, Nevis, on Tuesday for the first round of playoffs. This was a great game for the Pirates although Nevis scored the first touchdown. The Pirates came back with a push down the field and a nine-yard run by Jake Seaton for a touchdown of their own. The Pirates then traveled to Underwood for the Section 4 Nine-man Semi-finals. The Pirates did not win this game, but played very well and kept the score lower than the last time the two teams met with a score of 27-0.
•The Pirates volleyball team has had a busy and fruitful week. The Lady Pirates started their winning streak on Thursday against Menahga taking the Braves 3-1. Hillary Kern started for the Pirates and played well. She had 10 digs and one set assist. She was a force to be reckoned with at the net with seven kills and 13 blocks.
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