Dusting Off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, October 10, 1946
• The United Service Organization’s campaign to raise $400,000 in Minnesota is getting underway all over the state this week. Nationally, $19,000,000 is the goal. Wadena County, with Clayton Carver as chairman, has a goal of $1160.
• The annual harvest festival of the Balsamlund Lutheran Ladies Aid church located three miles south of Aldrich will be held next Tuesday evening, October 15. There will be a good program with the Reverend Paul Hawkenson of Clarissa as a guest speaker.
• Milt Chapin is having an auction sale of his personal property on his farm located six and a half miles east of Verndale on No. 10 and two miles north next Tuesday, October 15. Mr. Chapin’s farm has been sold so he has decided to quit farming and move to Staples.
40 Years Ago, October 15, 1981
• Sam, Verndale’s super police dog, proudly displayed the medallion and trophy he and his master, Police Chief Cedric Haugen, won at the National Dog Trials held last week at Anoka. The trophy was for second place overall. They competed against 67 other entries from throughout the nation, and Sam also received a medallion for fourth place in criminal apprehension. Sam competed with dogs entered by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Air Force and other law enforcement departments. Because he is not a German Shepherd, the most often used breed for this type of service, he became known as “that yellow dog” and “seeing-eye dog.”
• Kris Bounds and Bernadette Dolezal displayed the cap and stuffed animal they chose as prizes for having the most correct answers in a school bicycle safety test administrated after seeing a film on that subject, projected by three FFA members Mark Perish, Diane Murdock and Joneen Rousslang. Each child is in first grade.
• VHS seniors are busily preparing for their class production of Books and Crooks by Mitzman and Dalzell. The play is a three-act comedy set in a typical American high school. Principal Henley (Ken Brejcha) was a really good guy but you’d never guess it to hear him cracking down on a student (Ron Denny) for a minor breach of rules or yelling at his nervous secretary (Laura Carlson).
15 Years Ago, October 12, 2006
• Verndale’s homecoming coronation was held Monday evening, October 9 with a packed auditorium of spectators. Stephanie Dailey and Josh Kern were crowned Homecoming Queen and King. The royal court included: Becky Richter, MC; Clayton Cottrell, Curtis Barrett, Cole Beber, Brandon Cottrell, MC; Jamie Kern, Jodi Kenyon, Megan VanRoekel, crown bearer Katie Johnson, Shane Finck, Wayne Kopp, Spencer Moyer, Nick Price and Stacy Schoon, 2005 royalty; crown bearer Tristan Heller, Cayla Collison, Stacy Finck and Christy Schmitz.
• A brief swearing-in ceremony was held during the Verndale City Council meeting for four of the five police officers who serve the city of Verndale. Chief Bill Gilroy, full-time officer Cory Carr, and part-time officers Randy Athmann and Nick Grabe took the oath of office administered by Clerk Dawn Nelson. Part-time officer and former interim Police Chief Mike Helle was on duty in Hewitt and unable to attend the ceremony.
• The Wadena County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the Verndale Fire Department to burn down an abandoned home located on a tax-forfeited land parcel in Wing River Township. The county has already spent over $5000 to pay for the removal of tons of trash, discarded appliances and other debris from the property.