Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, October 21, 1948
• Customers of Minnesota Power and Light Company are being asked to immediately cut their use of electricity, for all purposes, by at least 20% for the period of the drought emergency, according to a statement by M.L. Hibbard, president and general manager. “Our water storage reserves are seriously depleted due to the unprecedented dry spell. September was the driest for that month since the Duluth Weather Bureau was established in 1871 and it will take a lot of rain to restore the reservoir to useful capacity.
• At the recent Junior Livestock Show at South St. Paul, Renks Aristocrat, J.B. Conley and Sons ram, sired the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Thirteenth weather lamb. These lambs average $2 per pound. As you know their ram also sired the champion ram at the 1946 International Livestock Show at Chicago.
• At the meeting of the Verndale Commercial Club Monday evening, the club went on record to sponsor the Halloween party in Verndale again this year. Alan Pettit, Sup’t Bluhm, Dr. Schuft, Earl Seaton, Mayor Marquardt and Dell Gibbs were named on the committee to select prizes and make other necessary plans. The skating rink problem was also brought up at the meeting with Marquardt, Clarence Anderson, Carl Dahlquist and Harry Gibbs named to work on this project.
40 Years Ago,October 19, 1983
• Long time Legion members were honored at the regular October meeting on the 10th, and each awarded a certificate in recognition of their service. Elmer Lidnor displayed his diamond certificate for 60 or more (62 actual) years of continuous membership in the Legion, while Walter Kellem held his golden certificate for 50 years or more (52 actual) years of membership. Also receiving a golden certificate was Bob Foltz. Making the presentation were Herman Wiese, post adjutant, and Andrew Schmith, post commander.
• Pictured were visitors just beginning to arrive for the open house held last week Monday for the new fire hall addition, which consisted of their 18x34 meeting room. The entire steel addition measured 34x64. Larry (Cork) Anderson and Roger Peterson served refreshments to three of their younger guests in the old meeting room, which will someday be transformed into a kitchen area.
• Verndale’s Fire Department sponsored a Fire Safety Poster Contest among students in the K-6 grades in observance of Fire Prevention Week October 9-15. Winners received cash prizes of $1.75 and 25 cents. Blue Ribbon winners from kindergarten through sixth grade were: Melissa Alfson, Phillip Boyd, Jessica Yule, Zephra Pluth, Seth Jackson, Tracy Derby, Heather Van Batavia and Mike Tarrell.
15 Years Ago, October 23, 2008
• The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District has named the Runyan Family of Verndale as one of eight area finalists in the 2008 Outstanding Conservationist Award Program. Marvin and Mary and Jim and Betty Runyan will be recognized at a December 9 luncheon at the 72nd annual convention in St. Paul. The awards program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices.
• Bertha-Hewitt defeated Verndale 3-0. Overall, they played pretty well—they set the ball up well and dug well but Bertha-Hewitt was very good at mixing it up and tipping to the open spots. They blocked them very well and forced them to hit quite a few out of bounds. Trista Finck and Taryn Fuller had a great hitting night that kept them scrambling.
• On Monday, October 13, the Verndale Police Department received a report from the Verndale School that a 54-year-old man had exposed himself to a group of Junior High students at the Friday night football game. Police were able to identify the man. He was questioned at his residence south of Motley and was cooperative. Based on his statements and those involved, he will be charged with several counts involving persons under the age of 16.
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