5 years ago

Frazee-Vergas Forum

April 28, 2020

Lana Kaja wasn’t able to celebrate her mother’s 102nd birthday in person, but safety comes first for the woman who shaped her life and inspired her in many ways. Margaret Cushing celebrated her April 17th birthday at Vergas Assisted Living and her daughter, who lives in Pennsylvania, was able to chat with her with the help of the care center staff. “My husband has a phone with a camera on it, and a gal up there had a phone with a camera on it, so she took it into my mom’s room and I got to say hi,” Kaja said. “It was nice to suppose her and see her.”

Dairy farmers are struggling. With each school door shut to students and restaurant seeing reduced orders, the dairy supply is outpacing demand. Kristine Spadgenske of Spadgenske Dairy in Menahga said hardships are something those in the industry have faced time and time again. “I grew up on a dairy farm and the 1980s were a very difficult time,” Spadgenske said. “Interest rates were extremely high and that had huge impacts. Then, in 2009, there was a disruption in our export market that created a surplus, but its not nearly as bad as what we are seeing today. I have never seen anything as hard as what we are seeing in the industry with COVID-19.”

The Vergas Lions are keeping the good deed train rolling when the times are getting tough for some in the community. Vergas Lions President Diane Hanson reported the group donated $2,000 to the Bridge Food Pantry in Perham, which serves Vergas residents and beyond. “With what is happening we felt some may need extra help with food,” she said. “We decided to give them a check because every dollar goes four times further for them.”

25 years ago

Frazee Forum

April 27, 2000

A Kool-Aid stand is a sure sign of spring. Serving up the refreshments Monday in Frazee were Shawna King, 8, daughter of Wayne and Kim, and Stacie Moltzan, 8, daughter of Jerry and Bonnie, all Frazee. They were assisted by Kelly Vordert, 14. Temperatures in the 70s this past weekend and trees are beginning to bud out.

The legendary 1976 Vergas Bicentennial Review—now a collector’s item—will be updated for the 2003 Vergas Centennial. The Bicentennial Review is a history of Vergas, originally written to correspond with the national bicentennial. Vergas’ centennial as an incorporated village/city will took place in 2003, and members of the Historical Book Subcommittee say they hope the update is completed at least a year in advance.

“He was cool. His smile was genuine. When you talked to him, you felt he was listening. He was welcoming.” That’s the impression Russ Robinson gave to students when he started as principal at Frazee High School in 1978, according to a person who was a student back then. Robinson is retiring at the end of the current school year, after 22 years as principal. If Robinson has been a popular man with students, he stressed his goal as being more than merely achieving popularity.


50 years ago

Frazee Forum

May 1, 1975

“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” musical by Clark Gesner, and published by Tams-Witmark has been chosen as the All-School Musical by Mrs. Joyce Kelly, Vocal Music Director at Frazee. Directing the acting will be Mr. Dave Goebel, Drama Coach; and directing the instrumental combo will be Mr. Barry Reierson, Band Director.

Wednesday, April 23, was Career Awareness Day in the Frazee Elementary Schools. Students and teachers in grades 4, 5, and 6 dressed in the apparel of a favorite occupation. The day was capped off with a parade and awards presentation in th lower elementary building.