Dusting off the Archives
News from Verndale's Past
75 Years Ago, September 19, 1946
• The Verndale Public School opened with a record enrollment of 290 on Monday, the first day of the 1946-47 term. Superintendent Peterson reported that all available space and seats in the school are being used at the present time to take care of the increased enrollment. More students are expected within the next few weeks.
• The Verndale high school will have its first representation in football since 1941 when they meet New York Mills in a non-conference game under the lights on the Wadena field Friday night of this week. The following Friday they will meet Browerville at Verndale in their first conference game. Coach Earl Seaton has 28 boys out for practice, the majority of whom have never seen action in football.
• Hugo Webber bought a lot from Mr. and Mrs. Vern Lepper on Monday of this week, and within the next few weeks expects to have a building he has bought moved there which will be his home.
40 Years Ago, September 14, 1981
• Principals at the Christian school which recently moved from New York Mills to Verndale are Rev. Chuck Borden from Staples, Rev. Gary Van Gorp, vice-principal of Verndale, and Rev. Bill Juoni of New York Mills, principal. Classes are held in the basement of the local Assemblies of God Church which is rented from the congregation.
• Taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather, Bazil Derby and Kent Miller were busy constructing an 18’ x 18’ additional storage area on the rear of the municipal liquor store. It should also provide additional energy savings and provide easier access to the basement for suppliers.
• Proudly displaying individual trophies they received as division champions and the third-place playoff trophy in Class A competition for league horseshoe pitching were Ernie Mallow and Virgil Seaton. They could be seen driving to Bertha every Tuesday night to compete on the inside courts. Both 66 years young, Ernie and Shorty say they feel like teenagers.
15 Years Ago, September 21, 2006
• Meet Verndale’s new foreign exchange students: Kwang Bum Jeon is from Seoul, South Korea and is staying with Dan and Diane Schmitz in Verndale; Kyoko is from Nagoya, Japan and is staying with Roger and Mary Jo Bahls; Ringa “Rory” Paalanen is from Finland and is also staying with Dan and Diane Schmitz; and Christian is from Cologne, Germany and is also staying with Roger and Mary Jo.
• Verndale placed fourth overall in the New York Mills Tournament held on Saturday, September 9. Verndale lost to Upsala 12-25, 12-25 and tied with Norman County East 25-17, 18-25. Verndale defeated Isle 25-10, 25-20, and lost to Nevis 22-25,23-25.
• The Wadena County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 12 to set the preliminary county budget and levy for 2006. The overall preliminary budget was set at $17,550,956. Of this amount, the state will provide $10,780,986 and the county will have to raise 6,769,970.