Dusting off the Archives

News from Verndale's Past

40 Years Ago, April 10, 1985

• Jim Neuerburg, representing the Verndale Lions Club, formally announced the purchase of the community center to the Verndale City Council when it met in regular session on Monday, April 1. He showed several floor plans and told the council that a decision on which to use would be decided Thursday when that organization would be meeting. They would be supplying the city with a deed, then in turn, lease the building from the city and take over complete operation of it. The council learned that its loss in taxes from the property transfer to non-taxable would amount to $82.

• Pictured finding specially marked eggs in the Easter Egg Hunt last Saturday morning, which was sponsored by the Verndale Boosters, were Robert Wilhelmi, Verndale (8-9 age group), Kelly Schmitz, Verndale (4-5) and Jeremy Whitehead, Fairmont (6-7). Each received a large chocolate bunny from Dick Tangeman, Booster chairman for the event.

• Wrestling in the tournament with 453 others at New York Mills last Saturday were 28 Verndale elementary students. Each wrestled youngsters in their own grade and approximate weight class. Placing first were: Carl Kinney, Wylie Clews, Dan Johnson, Chip Forcier, Eric Runyan and Jim Carlson. Second place: Jacob Colby, Robert Ortiz, Chris Chapman, Chris Bounds and Paul Notch.

• Third grade students listen intently as Larry Lehner, accountant and part owner of Verndale Custom Homes, talked about starting a business. The students have been studying about “Starting Your Own Business” in Social Studies and were interested in learning about loans, interest, supplies, advertising, transportation, assembly lines, employees, etc. Lehner told them that his business was started here in Verndale nine years ago. He told the students, “To start a business, you need an idea.” From there the problem is getting going. “You need lots of money.” He added that there are two ways to get it: by saving or borrowing.

15 Years Ago, April 15, 2010

• The “Need for Speed” is more than a movie catch phrase for local 14-year-old Verndale resident Lauren Turner who likes to travel an eighth of a mile in under eight seconds in her junior dragster which reaches speeds of over 85 mph. This story began in July of 2007 when Turner traveled to Jamestown, North Dakota, where her father, Mark, went to help one of his friends with his funny looking car. This was the first time she had a real opportunity to get a close up look at the junior dragsters and how they operated. Turner was given the opportunity to take a trial run in the junior dragster at age 11.

• The Verndale Theatre and Drama Department is inviting you to attend this year’s Spring Play Production of “Hard Luck”, a western comedy in two acts. This production will feature around 40 students who cannot wait to showcase their talents to the entire community. When heiress Loweena Nordstrom starts smothering boyfriend Norman Crankfield, the young salesman hops a train headed west for a breath of fresh air. It’s 1925 and master bank robber/bootlegger Ma James and her daughters are on the train when suddenly Norman finds himself the sole witness to a mobster “murder”.

• The 2010 Pirates award winners were: Teresa Moenkedick, letter winner, highest free throw percentage; Heather Hejal, letter winner; Lizzy Yungbauer, letter winner, highest free throw percentage; Jenny Swenson, letter winner, team hustle award; Amber Wendt, letter winner, team rebounding leader; Trista Finck, letter winner, team steals leader; Elizabeth Johnson, letter winner, all-conference honorable mention, team offense player; Chaltra Collison, letter winner; Ashley Richter, letter winner, coaches award winner; Jordy Schluttner, letter winner; Jamie Kern, coaches association academic award.

• The Verndale Fireman’s Auction will be held Saturday, April 17 for the 18th consecutive year. The first auction was held in 1959. On average there are approximately 1100-1200 bidding numbers handed out and an estimated 2500 in attendance for this annual fundraiser. The population is tripled in town for the day. The money raised from the auction goes toward several different funds within the department such as the new truck fund, new building fund, equipment, training and etc.

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