Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, December 16, 1948
• Next Tuesday, December 21, is the date of the annual Santa Claus Day in Verndale which is sponsored by the Verndale Commercial Club. There will be two free shows in the afternoon at the Verndale Theatre. The first will begin at 1 p.m., and after the first show and before the beginning of the second showing, Santa Claus and his helpers will be on hand to give out free treats to the children as they leave from the first showing and to those coming through the front door for the second showing.
• Supt. Gordon Bluhm and his school band, which he started from almost scratch last September, made its first appearance at the Deer Creek-Verndale basketball game Tuesday of last week. The band appeared as a “pep band” and included the majority of the band members. This band was the “beginners band” that Supt. Bluhm started at the beginning of the school term.
• All Verndale sports fans will get their chance to see their favorites of years past on December 23 when the alumni meets the Verndale High School. This should be an action packed game, and the old grads will try to show the Pirates how they used to play the game. Pictured are a few former stars you will see in action: Willie Seaton, Don Beaver, Wally Bergman, Wayne Conley, Willie Desrocher, Dick Anderson, Hugo Weber, Chuck Pettit and more.
• The Arvig Electric store in Verndale is having their grand opening on Friday of this week. Along with serving a free lunch from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on this day, the store will be giving away prizes such as a vacuum cleaner, electric toaster, lamp, etc. And, also, the store has many discounted savings to offer on articles.
40 Years Ago, December 14, 1983
• Representative Jerry Graba of Sebeka pledged his support for small cities when attending this month’s council meeting on Monday, December 7. He had been invited to attend to discuss the local government aids program and was queried about the possibility of Verndale losing out because the council held the line on next year’s levy. Graba said the bill takes into consideration the local effort and that he couldn’t see where leaving the levy at its present level would be affected, however, he added, he was not an expert on it.
• “This is what our bow will look like,” said Bob Schultz to Gene Finck, winner in the Blind Bogie contest sponsored by Schultz Archery. Schultz presented Finck a PSE (Precision Shooting Equipment) bow kit for his entry closest. Schultz shot a buck last year that weighed in at 167 pounds. Finck’s 11-point-buck, shot October 29, weighed 184 pounds.
• Wadena County Deputy Sheriff Greg Schmitz paused by the squad car Friday on his last day at work as a deputy. Schmitz will officially retire at the end of the working day December 31. He has been in law enforcement for 21 years; 16 as deputy sheriff.
• Elmer Johnson’s 1980 Bonneville was totaled out about 9:45 p.m. Monday when it was hit in the rear by a tan truck driven by a Bagley man. Elmer was reported to be taking Lou Anderson home from work and turning north onto County Road 11 from Highway 10, about a half mile west of town. Mrs. Anderson received a bump on her forehead and both were shook up from the impact which knocked the front seats loose from their mooring. The heavy snowfall occurring at the time may have contributed to the incident.
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