Living History: Verndale pilot seriously injured in Alaskan crash

20 years ago

Excerpts from the Jan. 11, 1996 Pioneer Journal

• Verndale gets federal grant to add another officer to force

Small towns have different law enforcement problems than larger communities.

They may not be staggering under the effects of a rising wave of violent crime; they are more likely to be stretching to staff all the shifts with little or no support staff.

Verndale has had one full-time police officer and four part-timers. Dispatching and back-up is handled by the Wadena County Sheriff's Department. The police chief has an answering machine, but it doesn't always work.

But thanks to federal government grant money awarded through the Justice Department, small towns have a chance to boost their police forces. The program to add new police officers was established through the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, or the Crime Bill.

Steve Jepson is the Verndale police chief and has been the only full-time employee. He's had to let some basic things slide, like the bicycle rodeo and teaching elderly people how to avoid becoming targets of con artists and thieves.

That's about to change.

Minnesota will be able to add 42 new officers with the $23 million in grants the state received this year. Verndale will add one with the $52,351 it received.

Jepson is excited about the possibilities. He'll be able to get out in the community more and do some public education programs. Without an extra officer, that wasn't possible since it would have meant no one was taking care of the regular patrol duties.

40 years ago

Excerpts from the Jan. 15, 1976 Pioneer Journal

• Discrimination hearing slated here Feb. 10

A public hearing on allegations that the Wadena County Board discriminated against a Verndale woman in selection of a county treasurer is scheduled Feb. 10 at the Wadena County courthouse.

The hearing was ordered by State Human Rights Commissioner William L. Wilson. Designated as hearing examiner was Harriet Lanseng, whose duty will be to hear and decide the matter in accordance with state statutes.

Elaine Schmitz, Verndale, filed the discrimination charges with the State Human Rights department in April, 1974, alleging the Wadena County commissioners discriminated against her in the appointment of a county treasurer. R.C. Lindberg was appointed in December, 1973 following the resignation of Pauline Hess.

In requesting the hearing, the Human Rights department said an investigation of the matter was conducted and that the Human Rights commissioner found probable cause to believe the commissioners had committed an unfair discriminatory practice.

The department now alleges it has been unable to obtain relief, through education or conciliation, for Schmitz. It asks the hearing examiner to issue an order requiring Wadena County, the county board and the involved commissioners to pay Schmitz $9,800 plus interest for its discrimination and an additional $500 as punitive damages.

Commissioners at the time the proceeding were instituted were Thorval Johnson, Edward Raddohl, Bernard Walz, Arthur Miller and Richard Fossen.

65 years ago

Excerpts from the Jan. 11, 1951 Pioneer Journal

• Verndale Pilot seriously injured in Alaskan crash

Word was received here last Wednesday that Harry Jenkins, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jenkins, was seriously injured when his private plane crashed in Seward, Alaska, which is 100 miles south of Anchorage. He received a fractured skull with brain injury, fracture of the third lumbar vertebrae with cord injury and both legs were fractured.

A brother, Willard, flew to Anchorage Friday evening from Minneapolis and has reported that Harry is conscious and apparently slowly recovering from his multiple injuries.

• Hedstrom second high scorer for Mac

Macalester News Service reports that Robert Hedstrom, son of Mrs. Vollie Hedstrom, Wadena, is the second highest scorer on the Macalester basketball team. In the seven games that have been played to date, Hedstrom has amassed a total of 86 points on 32 field goals and 22 free throws for an average of 12.3 per game.

The Scots have averaged 63 points per game to their opponents 57, a six-point margin.

Hedstrom graduated from the Wadena high school in 1950 and is now a freshman at Macalester College.