Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, August 29, 1946
•Jack Conley of Verndale, playing ball with Detroit Lakes this season, did his part to help Detroit Lakes at the Region 10 championship last Saturday and Sunday by hitting a homer each day.
•Pvt. Warren Dalen, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Dalen, arrived home a week ago Tuesday from Camp Lejune, N.C., with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines. Warren has been in service since December of 1944.
•Mr. A.V. Taylor of Little Falls, divisional manager for the Minnesota Power and Light Co., was in Verndale Monday of this week overseeing and checking up on the installation of a new 33,000 voltage regulator which is being put in the Verndale sub-station at its new location. The moving of the Verndale substation from its old location was prompted by the proposed widening of Highway 10 which is to get underway next year.
40 Years Ago, August 27, 1981
•Six new faculty members were introduced and met other school employees at a breakfast held Tuesday morning at the school. They were Steve Aeling, art; Robin Weberg, industrial arts, sixth-grade phy ed and assistant boys basketball coach; Bret Sergent, split third and fourth-grade classes and assistant football coach; Laura Evens, Title 1 math teacher; Christine Bengtaon, Title 1 reading and assistant volleyball coach; and Teresa Solinger, speech therapist.
•The sun was shining Friday when the Verndale Scouts shoved off for their 24-mile trek downriver in eight 17-foot canoes for a weekend endurance test, which proved to be just that when torrential rains and lightning forced them onto land three times that day. The lads survived their weekend outing without injuries or colds. “It was a great opportunity for me to become closer to my son,” said Scoutmaster Con VanBatavia.
•With eight senior lettermen returning to the gridiron for the Pirates, prospects for this year appear promising, said Coach Mike Mahlen. There are also seven lettered juniors working out this season. They will be the backbone for the Pirates' attack. The seniors are co-captains Todd Pilgrim and Jay Weiher, Ron Denny, Jeff Paulsen, Mike Hokenson, Bruce Beaver, Mark Wutzke, Ray Bimberg, Leon Dahlving and Mike Anderson.
15 Years Ago, August 31, 2006
• Art Schanz is a Verndale man with quite a life story to share, as any man that is almost 90 should. Now Art has another story to tell as this month he sailed off for a hot air balloon ride on the morning of August 22. One of Art’s daughters, Margaret, and her husband, Dean Carrington, own a hot air balloon and the couple wanted to take Art up for a ride while they were here visiting from Missouri.
•Most people have probably taken note of the new building going up on the corner next to the Pirate’s Den along Main Street. The lot has been empty for a year. It was previously the location of Desrocher Cafe. Randy Stave Insurance is putting up the new structure and Agent Rhonda Kern says that she is excited to move into her new office soon.
•The Assemblies of God Church had a fun week of Vacation Bible School last week. Fifty-two students took part in the week of learning and growing in God’s love. All of the students were given a certificate of attendance by Pastor Jill Holm and program Coordinator Mrs. Fearing at the closing program on Friday night.