EMF picks up first win in Nebraska City

A full moon on Friday the 13^th seemed to be the good luck charm for the Exeter-Milligan-Friend Bobcats.

Although the game started out with Nebraska City Lourdes intercepting the Bobcats on the third down and scoring quickly, the Bobcats held their ground and denied the two point conversion.

After the kick off EMF benefited from several Knights penalties including a face mask and a helmet to head penalty.  Max Zeleny broke free and ran the ball into the end zone with 8:03 left in the quarter.  EMF didn’t make the two point either and the score was 6-6.

The penalities stacked up as EMF was called for pass interference and the Knights were penalized for an illegal substitution on 2^nd down and 20.  They came roaring back for a first down and on the third down fumbled the ball.  It was recovered by Keegan Newsome.

The Bobcats had their turn to fumble and it was recovered by the Knights at the Bobcat 35 yard line.  Before things could go too far Jackson Beethe intercepted a Lourdes pass but a block in the back penalty after the interception took the ball to the Bobcat four yard line.

Zeleny broke through the line and made it all the way to the end zone with a score of 12-6 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.

Lordes got loose from mid-field and slipped multiple tackles with 2:15 in the first quarter the score was tied 12-12.

EMF turned the ball over on downs and on the first down Aidan Aldana snuck through the Bobcats defense and tacked on six for the Knights.  PAT failed and the score was 12-18 with 7:44 left in the half.

The Bobcats had another pass intercepted but the interception was nullified by a roughing the passer call and with the penalty tacked on the Bobcats were at the forty yard line.  A targeting call on Lourdes tacked on 15 yards to the Bobcat progress leaving them at 1^st and 10 on the Lourdes 16. 

On fourth and just two to the end zone the Bobcats went for it and pushed into the end zone.  

Christian Weber’s pass to Casey Jindra was good for the two points with just 3:22 left in the half 20-18.

Second half Lourdes fumble was recovered by Nick Hayek on the 29 yard line.  Weber passed to Beethe and Beethe shrugged off tackles and into the end zone.  Now the Bobcats were up 26-18 with the two point attempt denied.  1:23 left in the quarter.

Lourdes fumbled and Dylan Bonds snatched it up. 

With 4:23 left in the third quarter the Knights found the end zone and tacked on six plus the two point. 26-26

The Bobcats jumped out on top with a Weber pass to Beethe and Zeleny ran in for the extra two. 34-26 with 11:49 in the fourth.

Lourdes tried to convert a fourth and one possession but fumbled and Jindra recovered.  The Bobcats marched down the field and tacked on 8 more with just 6:14 left in the game.  42-26

Lourdes got loose with 4:38 left in the game and tacked on six 42-32.  An onsite kick by Lourdes backfired when Zeleny picked it up on a hop.  The Bobcats had a few nervous moments as Damon Honeysuckle snatched an EMF fumbled and tacked on six for the Knights.  Lordes got the two points and were sitting 42-40 with 3:33 left in the game.  The Bobcats held on and ran the clock down to pick up their first win of the season. 

The Bobcats will meet Thayer Central in Milligan Friday night.  Homecoming court will be introduced on the field after the game and the Exeter-Milligan Booster club will have their Tailgate feed starting at 6 p.m. until halftime.

Exeter-Milligan Splits at McCool

Exeter-Milligan met Meridian to start their evening off in McCool Junction.  The Timberwolves lost two straight sets to Meridian and turned around to win two straight sets against McCool Junction

Obituary for Richard L. "Dick" Arbuck

Richard Lee Arbuck, lovingly known as “Dick” was born on the farm near Fairmont, Nebraska on May 24, 1941 and he continued to live there his whole life. He was the youngest of two children born to Lillian (Zeleny) and Carl H. Arbuck. He passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota at the age of 78 years, 3 months, and 10 days.

Dick went to country school and later to Fairmont Public School. As a very young boy, Dick discovered his lifelong love of farming - farming alongside his father. He continued farming actively until the 1990’s. As a boy, Dick was always fixing up and working on or tinkering with things on the farm and continued to do so – even inventing useful things to use on the farm. He was always experimenting with and taking things apart to see how they worked. He became a “jack-of-all trades” doing most of his own mechanics, electrical, plumbing, and building work.

In 1958 he started dating his partner for life, Deanna (Schallenberg) Arbuck. They were married June 30, 1963 and began their adventures of life together. In 1965, Dick joined the Army Reserves. His unit was called to active duty in 1968 and deployed to Vietnam. There he became very good buddies with many of them and continued to visit them and their families throughout his life They recently had their 50th reunion. Dick returned home from Vietnam in July 1969 and returned to farming. In addition to crop farming, he also raised hogs and feeder cattle with Carl and later operated a cow-calf herd.

Besides farming, Dick started working at Styskal Irrigation in the 1980’s. In 1995, he became a partner in ownership of Styskal Irrigation alongside 3 partners, retiring in 2012. In the late 1990’s, Dick began to crop share the farm to Don Bristol, however, he stayed active in decisions with their endeavor.

Dick and Deanna loved to travel throughout their early married years and traveled extensively in the later years of their married life. They traveled to all 50 states and 6 continents and have countless photos and memories. Many of the trips were made with great friends. While traveling to Antarctica, Dick met Roksana Majewska who became another very special person to Dick. They were fortunate to have been able to travel together. Dick’s favorite place to travel was Alaska, which they were fortunate to have visited several times.

Dick was a wonderful man; he was loving, understanding and a patient husband and friend. He had a sense of humor and contagious laugh that was unmistakable, and he typically had a joke or story to tell. He had many interests, including a profound love of all animals, fishing, hunting, playing cards with friends and square dancing. He found interests in everything and everyone around him. He was blessed with many life-long and special friends whom he always enjoyed surprise visits from to have a cup of coffee or a beer and conversation. He took great pride being able to help them in any way if they needed.

Despite some health hurdles, Dick lived his life well and never knew a stranger. He embraced life as a gift and an adventure with his own style of humor, humility, and with no regrets.

He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Lill; grandparents; father and mother-in-law Lewis and Margaret; brothers-in-law Jerry Schallenberg and Bill Jacobsen; nephew Lewis Lee Schallenberg, and many other relatives and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Deanna; sister Jean Jacobsen; special niece Cindy (Jack) Slocum and family, niece Susan (Randy) Jensen and family; God Daughter Tammy Styskal and her husband Jeremy; God Daughter Donell “Nelly” King-Smith and wife Heather and their son Jakob Guerra. Tammy and Donell were the children he and Deanna never had. He is also survived by Chris McAllister and his family; Chris was also like a son to Dick. Also surviving are lifelong friends Duane and Donna Smith; special friends Mark, Julie, and Susan Manning, Jim, Forrest, and Jennifer Bergin; and a host of other special friends and their families. He will be missed by many but will remain in all our hearts.

We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Bryan East and Mayo Clinic for the extraordinary care they provided. Also, a special thanks to the crew of South Central EMS for their compassionate care for Dick during his transport to Bryan East.

A Funeral Service for Dick was held on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairmont Community Church in Fairmont, Nebraska. Pastor Seungli You was the officiant for the service. Shirley Milton provided the prelude and postlude music and also accompanied the congregation in the singing of “In The Garden.” The recorded selections “What A Wonderful World,” “Thank You Lord,” “September Song,” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” were played during the service.

Pallbearers for the service include Matt Slocum, Dan Slocum, Jeremy Styskal, Jason Arbuck, Shane Bristol, and Don Bristol. Honorary Pallbearers included Roger Smith, Duane Smith, Jerry Frazier, Jerry Chapman, Stuart Luttich, Bernard Arbuck, Larry Rhoades, Larry Schepers, Elton Flodman, Robert Fuelberth, and Robert Milton.

Military Interment was held in the Fairmont Cemetery following the Funeral Service. Military Rites were performed by the Fairmont American Legion Lt. Forbes Post 21 and the Nebraska Military Honor Guard.

Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com.

Memorials are suggested to the Fairmont American Legion, Fairmont Rescue Squad, and the Mayo Clinic-Nephrology Research in c/o Richard Arbuck, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

9-11 Remembrance

EMF loses close one at Palmyra

Exeter-Milligan Friend found themselves in the hole when Palmyra fumbled twice on an option but recovered their own fumbles and kicked a field goal with 7:54 left in the first quarter 0 - 3
EMF fumbled on their next wet of downs and turned over to Palmyra.  EMF made a big stop on the Palymra fourth down and converted that turnover into six points when Baptista broke loose for a long run.  A Weber pass to Beethe tacked on two more points with 1:38 left in the first quarter 8-3

Palmyra found success in the air putting up six points and a kick 9:23 in the half. 8-10

EMF showed they had wheels when Jindra took the ball all the way in for six with 5:49 left in the half.  Weber ran in the two point conversion. 16-10

Palmyra intercepted a pass and took it for six with a good kick made the score 16-17 with 5:10 in the half.

The second half started with a defensive showdown.  It was 7:27 into the third quarter before Jindra struck gold with a run from 15 yards out but the two point conversion was no good.  22-17.

Palmyra got the ball down to 1 and had four attempts to get in the end zone -even calling in the "heavy" squad, but the Bobcats held them.  Unfortunately a fumble by the Bobcats in Palmyra territory set them up for six points.  Panthers added six and with 8:05 left in the fourth they completed a two point conversion making it 22-25

Baptista took a few snaps for the Bobcats on offense as did Zeleny.  On defense with just a few minutes left Weber tipped a Panther pass and Zeleny caught the ball and ran it downfield.  Unfortunately on a subsequent play the ball was fumbled and Palmyra recovered it.  

Final score 22-25 Palmyra wins.

The Bobcats travel to Nebraska City on Friday to meet Nebraska City Lourdes.

Exeter-Milligan Update: View From the Front Office

VIEW FROM THE FRONT OFFICE

          An ark – I need plans for an ark!  That was the first thought I had after the weather this past week.  When we built our house the construction process was delayed due to not getting the tiling under the foundation completed before the snow fell.  I remember many people telling us we shouldn’t have to worry about high water issues, but we waited just the same.  Our patience is paying off as this year has seen some record moisture levels and our sump pumps have been very busy.  I just hope this wet weather system dries up as harvest is just around the corner.

          One phrase I would use to describe the school year thus far is “Wind of Change.”  I will admit this inspiration came courtesy of SiriusXM Channel 39 (Hair Nation) and the Scorpions’ song “Wind of Change.”  This song was released back in 1991, shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union (some of us are old enough to remember this dynamic historical event). Granted, the season of change referred to in the song pales in comparison to the changes we will experience this year, but it is fitting as we go through some changes and have high hopes for the future.

          As I wrote last month, the Sheffield household is officially a re-member of the empty nester’s club.  We said goodbye to our foreign exchange student Luis last May, but Haylee came home for the summer.  She has now returned to college, but Karla’s mom spent a few weeks with us.  It is now back to just the two of us and I am ready to see how this adventure transpires.

          A little breeze of change that will be seen on the volleyball court this year is there will be three new faces on the side court – Lisa Kanode, Quinten Loontjer (a 2012 E-M graduate) and Madalynn Fousek.  First and foremost, I would like to thank Darcy White and Laura Kroll for their dedication and devotion over the years to not only building a top-notch volleyball program but also creating an atmosphere and environment that stressed being a quality person.  Their guidance and leadership helped mold and guide our volleyball players to become exactly what our school mission states, “Empowering students to be knowledgeable, responsible patriotic citizens.”  With this change in coaching, we all need to be patient as the coaches and players adjust to the new surroundings. 

          Other “changes” people will notice are the new office entrance in Exeter, the new (yet old) entrance for home volleyball games at the Milligan site, and the new seating arrangements for home volleyball matches at the Milligan site.  I wouldn’t classify these as “world-class” changes, but they are changes all the same and not everyone deals with change in the same manner.  We all have a routine and when that routine feels an adjustment our first reaction is to push back and be negative. Taking a cue from our coaches, changing the attack and making those adjustments is that fine line between being successful or experiencing failure.  Let’s all make that concerted effort and embrace the changes we experience in order to make this a success!

          A “world-class” change I would like to point out is welcoming our two foreign exchange students – Joana Melchert from Germany and Karl-Erik Martinsen from Norway.  These two young adults left their families and friends to gain new experiences in America.  Let’s all make sure we do what we can to make this a joyful experience for these two and welcome them as members of the Timberwolves family.

          Change is not always easy.  There’s solace in knowing what is going to happen and in our daily routines.  However, when we get too complacent or too stuck in our ways and resistant to any change then we must take a step outside of our comfort. Some may refer to this as the Danger Zone (thanks Kenny Loggins), but once we get into the zone, this helps create some of our best ideas and connections. Sometimes, we just have to shake it up a bit.  Hmmm…this reminds me of another song, courtesy of Classic Rewind Channel 26, from The Cars – “Just shake it up with all you’ve got. WOO!”

Thought for the month:

          Change, nothing stays the same

                   Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running

                   No, I don’t ask for permission

                   This is my chance to fly,

                   Maybe enough ain’t enough for you

                   But it’s my turn to try

                             by Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, David Roth, Michael Anthony