Friday, November 19, 2010

Exeter Police Department Notice

Press Release

To: Local News Agencies
From: Officer R. Brian McFarland
CC:
Date: November 19, 2010
Re: Click It or Ticket
With the holiday season fast approaching, the Exeter Police Department is announcing that we will be participating in the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety “Click It Or Ticket” enforcement that will be occurring from November 22nd to November 28th. Exeter Officers are currently scheduled for an additional 40 hours of patrol time during this period for which all wages will be paid for by the program’s grant. The program, as well as the associated enforcement, will focus on child restraint and safety belt law compliance. For more information you may visit www.nhtsa.gov/CIOT.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Exeter United Sunday School collected money for UNICEF during the 
month of October.  They collected change during their church service 
and participated in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF initiative.  They 
raised $119.31 that has been sent to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. The 
Exeter United Sunday School is sponsored by the Exeter United Church 
of Christ and the Exeter United Methodist Church.  Students 
participating were:  front row (l-r) Olivia Poppert, Brooke Poppert, 
Caitlin Murphy and Patrick Murphy; back row (L-R) Katarina Mounce, 
Haylee Sheffield,  Clarissa Mounce and Trevor Swartz.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cordova Boy Scouts teach Exeter Cub Scouts

Eagle Scout Landon Rhodes (left) shows Webelos Cub Scout Joey Bartu the art of making a fire.
 

From the left Cub Scout Jackson Beethe watches as Boy Scout Blake Papik shows him and Webelos Scout Johnny Babula another way to build a fire.

 
Tiger Cub Alec Schlueter, left, learns how to build a teepee fire from Boy Scout Elliot Erdkamp.
 

From the left Cub Scout Jackson Beethe watches as Boy Scout Blake Papik shows him and Webelos Scout Johnny Babula another way to build a fire.


As part of the flag retirement ceremony the Exeter Cub Scouts lowered the flags into the fire. Holding the flag on the left is Eric Olsen with Joey Bartu on the right.
 

 
"It isn't a flag burning time, it's a flag retirement ceremony and the boys need to understand that," said Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster Warren Thomsen.
 
It was a night for Scouts to learn about respect. Respect for older scouts teaching younger scouts, respect for fire and most of all, respect for the flag.
 
Scouts wear a flag on their uniform, practice the pledge at most of their meetings and often conduct flag ceremonies. Each level of scouting requires learning about the flag, how to properly respect the flag, how to raise the flag indoors and out and how the flag should be treated.  This week, Exeter Cub Scouts Pack 218 learned from the Cordova Boy Scout Troop 359 how to retire the flag.
 
The boys met in Exeter at home of Ken and Lyn Strate and first learned about fire.  The boy scout troop members took one or two of the cub scouts and demonstrated fire building with several different methods. They then gave the cub scouts the opportunity to build their own fires. While the fires were not lit that night, the cub scouts learned about many different methods of building a fire.
 
Along with learning how to construct a good fire, the boys learned a lot about campfire safety.  Scoutmaster Thomsen shared many helpful camping tips and food preparation tips with the scouts.
 
After cooking hot dogs and smores over the fire the boys had the opportunity to fold flags in preparation for the flag retirement ceremony. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts paired up and practiced their flag folding skills.
 
After the flags were readied for the ceremony, the Cub Scouts, in pairs, opened the flags, folded them to fit the fire and then solemnly lowered them.  After the flags were retired, Boy Scout Troop 359 Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Rhodes read a poem to help the boys understand the meaning of the flag and Boy Scout Blake Papik played Taps and Taps Echo. 
 
As part of earning their Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouts, the Webelos Scouts must attend an outdoor activity held by a Boy Scout troop. Five Webelos Scouts in Pack 218 completed this requirement during the evening.
 
BELOW: Webelos Cub Scout Johnny Babula, left, and Wolf Cub Scout Jackson Beethe, right, solemnly lower the flag into the fire.
 
 

Exeter-Milligan Elementary Prepare for Concert

Exeter-Milligan music students in grades K-6, under the
direction of Angie Murphy, are currently preparing for their
Christmas program to be performed on Tuesday, December 7,
in the Exeter Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.  The program will
include singing by the students in grades K-2, a performance
of "Fum, Fum, Fum" by the 4th grade recorder class, and
three selections by the 5th and 6th grade band. 

This year's musical, performed by students in grades 3-6,
is called "Shapin' Up Santa."  In the musical, Santa Claus
(Trystan Brandt) has gained too much weight in the past year
, thanks to the help of his trusty elf Hughie, played by
Trevor Luzum. Mrs. Claus (Samantha Horne) decides to call
Betty Body (Joan Strate) and send Santa off to "Betty Body's
Health Haven" to lose the extra weight.  Please come to the
show and find out if Santa is able to lose the extra weight,
or if everyone decides to love him just the way he is.  The
sixth grade class will have all of the character parts in
the musical.  Betty Body's secretary is Kaitlyn Clift.  Her
assistants are Lucy Murphy, Ella Wilkins, and Ashley
Benorden. Haylee Sheffield is Toni, the pizza delivery
person.  Elves include Quinton Behrens, Kaitlyn Clift, Evan
Harre, Kyle Jindra, Hailey Luzum, Bailey Steuben, Haylee
Sheffield, Katie Skinner, Cameron White, and the third and
fourth grade classes.   Students at the Health Haven are
Hailey Luzum, Bailey Steube n, Haylee Sheffield, Katie
Skinner, and the fifth grade class.  Pictured are Trystan
Brandt as Santa Claus and Samantha Horne as Mrs. Claus.

Obituary: Elsie Krupicka

Elsie June Krupicka was born to Steve Luzum and Mildred Rohla Luzum on June 1, 1925, at Friend, Nebraska, and passed away November 11, 2010, at Henderson Hospital in Henderson, Nebraska at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 10 days.  She was one of 4 children in the family. 

Elsie graduated from Dorchester High School in 1943.  She helped on the family farm near Dorchester.  She also worked in the bakery in Lincoln and lived in an apartment with her best friend Willa Mae.  She met her lifelong partner, Louis Krupicka, at Sunset Dance Hall in Lincoln.  They were united in marriage in Wilber at the courthouse on November 2, 1944 and a reception followed the ceremony at Tabor Hall with a dance by U-Neta Orchestra.   This marriage was blessed with 2 children. Elsie and Louis resided on a farm near rural Milligan for the first 6 years of marriage.  They then purchased their farm near McCool Junction and remained there until 1991 when they purchased a house in the town of McCool Junction.  

Elsie was always helping on the family farm.  She had to help tend with the cattle and hog chores.  She raised chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.  Her chicken eggs were sold to area businesses and residents.  She loved gardening, canning, cooking, and made wonderful Kolaches.  She also enjoyed being with her family and making Sunday dinners.  She had a love for polka music, and she and Louis attended many polka dances.  Elsie was also a good seamstress and enjoyed embroidering.  She enjoyed going to garage sales and finding new collections, and shopping and visiting with friends were also joys that Elsie shared.  

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents Steve & Mildred Luzum of Dorchester; brother Stanley Luzum of Dorchester; and sister Elaine Fink of Lincoln.  

She is survived by her husband Louis Krupicka of McCool Junction; son Laverne Krupicka of McCool Junction; daughter & son-in-law Kathy & Gary Vodicka of Fairmont, Nebraska; grandchildren Shelley (Vodicka) Timmermans and husband Mike of Hampton, Randy Vodicka of Fairmont; great grandchildren  Zachary & Mikaela Timmermans of Hampton; and brother Robert Luzum of Dorchester. 

Monday, November 15, 2010

Exeter Care Center Honors Veterans


Veterans recognized at the Exeter Care Center on Veteran's Day were front row from the left Bill Groenke, Merrit Otoupaul, Mervin Kenrickson and Bob Vlcek.  Back row from the left were Julie Dillman (a 10 year Air Force Veteran) and Ron Kubicek

Exeter Veteran's Day Program


 Amanda Dinneen thanks the crowd for attending.


 Exeter-Milligan Jr. High Band performed at the Veteran's Day Program.

 During the Marine anthem Anthony Due a Marine who served in Iraq stood.

 Army Veterans Sterling Dyer, Larry Cudaback and Alan Songster stood during their anthem.

 Although his branch of service was not part of the song, Bob Dumpert was recognized for his service.

The Exeter-Milligan band performed several numbers during the program.

The Exeter-Milligan school held the Veteran's Day Program on Wednesday, November 10th this year.  All veterans and their spouses were welcomed to a coffee at 9 a.m. hosted by the National Honor Society.
 
 
Veteran's, community members and faculty, students and staff were welcomed by Exeter-Milligan senior Cody Soukup who led the attendees in the pledge of allegiance.  Soukup asked all veteran's in the crowd to stand and they were recognized with a round of applause.
 
The Exeter-Milligan High School Choir led the crowd in the Star Spangled Banner and the performed the haunting Civil War ballad, Brother, My Brother by Jack Murphy and Frank Wildhorn.
 
This year's speech by Vietnam veteran Tim Wilbeck was pre-recorded.  Wilbeck recalled the prominence of reality television stars but reminded the crowd "it is important to remember who the real stars are."
 
Wilbeck also spoke of the importance of Veteran's Day and how it is "to honor not just heroes but those who have served."
 
Remembering was a great deal of Wilbeck's theme as he quoted President Calvin Coolidge who said, "A nation who forgets it's defenders will itself be forgotten."
 
In remembering Wilbeck encouraged the crowd to be there for the families of soldiers who are currently serving or who have lost their lives, "Don't underestimate the power of saying thank you to a Veteran. Showing our appreciation is the least we can do," said Wilbeck.
 
The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Band performed Armed Forces on Parade asking Veteran's to stand when the anthem from their branch was played. After the song, Band Director Shane Whitford asked those servicemembers whose anthem wasn't played to stand and be recognized.
 
The Exeter-Milligan High School Band performed  Americana  and Valley Forge March  before Amanda Dinneen closed the program.
 





Leo Ekeler Obituary

 Leo Henry Ekeler was born to Frank Ekeler and Anna Barkmeier Ekeler on April 11, 1918 at Exeter and passed away Nov. 11, 2010 at Bryan LGH West Hospital in Lincoln at the ago of 92 years and seven months. He was one of ten boys in the family.
    Growing up on the family farm outside Exeter, Leo attended school and graduated from Exeter High in 1936. He continued on the family farm until 1947 when he fell in love with and married Dorothy Ann Harre, also of Exeter.
    After marriage, Leo and Dorothy moved to their own farmstead and combined the raising of crops and livestock with the raising of four children. Leo was a proud father to his four kids: Marie (Tim) Nicholas of Central City; Sylvia (Rocky) Ruhl of Wayne; Paul (Jill) Ekeler of Hastings and Glen (Jan) Ekeler of Creston, Iowa. Eight grandchildren came along to join the family: Matt and Angie Nicholas; Regan and Reggie Ruhl; Jason and Danielle Ekeler and Courtney and Chelsea Ekeler. One great-grandchild, Alizay Grazvitt, was the most recent addition.
    Leo retired from farming in 1984 and he and Dorothy moved into Exeter where they lived in the same house across the street from the post office until his death. During his time on the farm, Leo sold Funk's seed corn and also worked for ten years for the ASCS office in Geneva.
    Leo was a lifelong member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church of Exeter, and never lost his love of farming. Up until the weekend before his death, Leo was still seen on the gravel roads around town, checking on the progress of the harvest and making sure everything was where it needed to be.
    Leo enjoyed sports of all sorts, but held special loyalty to the Exeter high school sports teams, the University of Nebraska football team and his beloved New York Yankees. He also was a frequent visitor for morning coffee at the local round table at Sweetewater and had been known to play a game of cards or two, provided there wasn't a Nebraska football game or a Yankee game on television.
    Leo was preceded in death by his parents and nine brothers: Frank, John, Henry, Joe, August, twin brothers Lewis (Doc) and William (Bunk), Fred and Alfred.
    He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Dorothy, who currently resides at the Exeter Care Center and his children and grandchildren.

    Funeral services were held Saturday morning at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Exeter, with the Rev. Tom Kuffel officiating.
    Pallbearers were Tom Ekeler, Dan Ekeler, Jerome Ekeler, Jason Ekeler, Matthew Nicholas and Reggie Ruhl. Acolyte for the service was Rusty Ruhl and music was provided by Agnes Anderson, organist and Jessica Ruhl, vocalist.
    Interment in the Exeter Cemetery followed the service, with Farmer's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials are directed to the family.