Friday, April 1, 2011

Fillmore County Senior Services Fundraiser Saturday Night

Death Notice: Virginia Louise Krasser

Fillmore County Hospital Update:


Saint Elizabeth Health Services

Supports Fillmore County Hospital Project

Geneva – Saint Elizabeth Health Services is supporting the residents of Geneva with their upcoming hospital project. Tad Hunt, Director of Rural Health Strategy presented a check for $5,000 on Thursday, March 31 to Paul Utemark, CEO of Fillmore County Hospital. Over the next three years, Saint Elizabeth Health Services will present a total of $15,000 to Fillmore County Hospital project.
The presentation is, in part, from the Saint Elizabeth Community Advisory Team and demonstrates their dedication to improving and strengthening access to healthcare for rural Nebraska. “Fillmore County Hospital has a long history with Saint Elizabeth Health Services through our health strategy and our joint venture relationship with Southeast Nebraska Mobile Diagnostic Services dating back more than 20 years,” said Tad Hunt. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Geneva as we move forward and develop strategies for meeting the healthcare needs of rural Nebraska.”

The Fillmore County Hospital project is nearing completion and scheduled to open on May 1, 2012. Mr. Utemark explained, “We appreciate the support that partners, such as Saint Elizabeth Health Services, have shown in assisting us with our hospital project. This project will allow us to ensure that the residents have access to some of the best possible healthcare in our rural area. We are excited by this new chapter in Fillmore health care, and we are honored by the willingness of Saint Elizabeth Health Services to be a part of making it happen.”

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Exeter Milligan Update: Elementary Third Quarter Perfect Attendance

Exeter-Milligan Public Schools 3rd-6th Grade
Third Quarter Perfect Attendance

First Row: Ty Underwood, Elijah Johnson, Anna Sluka, Caitlin
Murphy, Hunter Ostrand

Second Row: Kaitlyn Vavra, Johnny Babula, Spencer Pribyl

Third Row: Kelsey Bigelow, Derek Axline, Patrick Murphy,
Joey Bartu

Fourth Row: Tara Mueller, Ashley Benorden, Quinton Behrens,
Kyle Jindra

Missing from picture: Mitchell Manning

Exeter-Milligan Public Schools K-2nd Grade
Third Quarter Perfect Attendance

Front Row: Kole Svec, Chase Vnoucek, Olivea Swanson, Gabe
Jindra

Back Row: Briana Capek, Braden Capek, Rebecca Krupicka,
Casey Jindra, Johnathen Ostrand

 

Exeter Pack 218 Celebrates Crossover

Sunday afternoon Exeter Pack 218 crossed over three boys from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts at the Exeter American Legion.
Eric Olsen, Joey Bartu and Travis Gilliam all achieved the highest award in Cub Scouts, the arrow of light, and were ready to enter Boy Scouts.
The three Webelos Scouts had to meet many requirements to earn the arrow of light.  They all attended summer camp at Camp Cornhusker near Humboldt, Nebr., they had to memorize the Boy Scout Law and Oath along with completing multiple Webelos achievement pins.  In addition they had to visit two Boy Scout troops and participate in an outdoor activity with a troop.
With their family and friends in attendance the boys were ceremonially welcomed into the Boy Scout family by the Prairie Winds Chapter of the Golden Sun Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.
The guide (Aaron Jensen), the medicine man (Hayden Johansen) and Chief Akela (Evan Reeder) performed the ceremony to recognize the achievements of the three Cub Scouts and examined the arrows that the boys made, finding each worthy of crossing over into Boy Scouts.
After the ceremony the boys posed for photos with their parents and the members of the Order of the Arrow, and enjoyed a cake and punch reception.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Exeter Public Library New Book/Movie List

For Adults:
Sing You Home by Jody Picoult
Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
Heartwood by Belva Plain
The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok
Live Wire by Harlan Coben
Night Vision by Randy Wayne White
Silent Mercy by Linda Fairstein
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

For Teens:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

For Kids:
Megamind- DVD

Exeter-Milligan Athletes Chosen for All-State Basketball Honors

Senior Heather Pribyl was chosen as a First Team All State honoree in the Class D-1 Omaha World Herald selections.

Freshman Nolan White and Senior Zach Jensen were both chosen for honorable mentions in the Omaha World-Herald Class D-1 team.

Congratulations to all!

Songsters Honored at Exeter Feeders and Breeders Banquet


Alan Songster and his family were recognized for their contribution to the agriculture community at the Exeter Feeders and Breeders banquet.  Pictured from left to right are  Kevin and Leslie Songster, Alan and Noreen Songster, Craig and Katie Songster and Cara and Jeremy Stoll.
For the 69th year in a row the Exeter Feeders and Breeders held their annual banquet.  This year the event was held on Saturday evening at the Milligan Auditorium.
After a welcome by toastmaster Cal Sigfried and an invocation by Father Bourek guests were served a prime rib meal and door prize drawings were distributed.
President of the Exeter Feeders and Breeders, Brad Parr of Sutton, presented scholarship awards to area students.  Cassie Harre of Exeter, was awarded the Andy Bruntz Memorial Scholarship, Jessica Hansen of Dorchester was awarded the Farmers Cooperative Scholarship, Caroline Harre of Exeter was awarded the Geneva Milling/Advanced BioEnergy scholarship and Tyler Manning of Burress received the Farmers and Merchants Bank Scholarship.  None of the recipients were able to be present as Exeter-Milligan seniors were attending their senior trip and Dorchester was holding their prom that evening, however, all of them sent thank you notes.
Each year the Feeders and Breeders honors an individual who has made a significant contribution to the agriculture community.  This year Alan Songster of rural Exeter was honored.  Songster has been involved in agriculture and working cattle since his childhood and is now working with the next generation of his family in their farming operation.
During his acceptance speech Songster recognized the support of his wife Noreen, who shared the stage with him, along with that of his three children and their spouses and families.
The Exeter Feeders and Breeders support a number of agricultural events in the area including events at both county and state fairs.  In 2012 the Nebraska Cattlemen's Ball will be held in the McCool area which will be a special event for the Exeter group to support.
After the benediction, singing God Bless America, the crowd enjoyed entertainment by Hay Seed Cowboys.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Exeter-Milligan Spring Concert - "Get Goin' Green"

It was all about recycling on Tuesday evening as Exeter-Milligan elementary students educated their audience about going green.
 
Their "Get Goin' Green" program directed by Mrs. Angie Murphy shared about recycling and each person's responsibility in caring for the earth.
 
The evening began with the sixth grade band playing The Star Spangled Banner and then Gonna Fly Now and the Theme from Our Director.
 
The fifth grade band were lined up next to play Crater Lake Overture, William Tell Overture, and the ever popular theme at Exeter-Milligan, Let's Go Band.
 
The fourth graders played two numbers on their recorders, Salamander Step Dance  and Salamander Scamper while the third graders played Whacky Warm-Up on their boomwhackers.
 
For the choir portion of the evening the entire group of kindergarten through sixth graders performed It Starts With Me explaining how each individual is where recycling should start.
 
Next the kindergarten, first and second graders sang three tunes, It's Easy Bein' Green, Clean Up Our World and Nature Baby.
 
The third and fourth graders performed next using some of the instruments they had made with recycled materials.  They accompanied themselves on four tunes, What Do You Do With A Water Waster?, Earthlings Unite, Shut it Off and The Recyclops.
 
Fifth and sixth graders sang My Planet, Your Planet with many of the girls featured on solos during the song which was followed by She's Our Planet.  Their final number was Pop Bottle Hoedown and four of the sixth graders, Samantha Horne, Lucy Murphy, Haylee Sheffield and Joan Strate accompanied their group with tunes played blowing on old pop bottles filled with varying amounts of water.
 
The final number for the evening was performed by all of the elementary students encouraging their audience to become Agents of Change.

Exeter Care Center Sponsors Benefit for Lori Ruhl-Walford

Lori Ruhl-Walford visits with Michelle Stutzman at the benefit Saturday.

The Exeter-Milligan FCCLA held a bake sale at the benefit for Lori.
Janey Due applies a glitter tattoo for her mom, Kay Due.




There was never any doubt that the community of Exeter would reach out to help one of it's own and it was very evident Saturday morning at the Exeter gym.
Lori Ruhl-Walford was diagnosed with bile duct cancer just last year at the age of 49. Ruhl-Walford, a 1979 graduate of Exeter High School, has lived in the area all of her life, but returned to Exeter in the last few years and stayed as her youngest daughter graduated from high school and her oldest daughter and family, moved to Exeter.
When Ruhl-Walford returned to Exeter she began working at the Exeter Care Center as the director of nursing.  She worked there for several years and then returned to work in a hospital atmosphere.  When Exeter Care Center Administrator Melanie Ruhl heard about Ruhl-Walford's diagnosis she immediately wanted to do something to help. She enlisted volunteers from the Care Center and community along with Ruhl-Walford's extended family, Exeter businesses and the corporation that owns the Care Center, Deseret Health Group.
At the end of the event on Saturday afternoon, Ruhl was overwhelmed with the generosity of the community, "I would like to thank each and everyone that assisted in any way to make the day such a success.  The generous donations for the Silent Auction and Raffle, the volunteers for their time, Mark Due for providing, cooking and serving the meat and everyone that attended. On behalf of Lori and her family, saying thank you does not seem to be enough, our hearts have been touched."
Ruhl-Walford comes from a very large family and her siblings and mother thanked Ruhl for her efforts with flowers and a gift. Her daughters were overwhelmed with the outpouring from the community,"It was amazing how the community has come together in our time of need. Even though it might not affect the outcome at the end it will relieve a lot of the financial burden for our family. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts," said her daughter, Christina Hall-Hartmann
There were in excess of 150 silent auction items donated, everything from Easter gift baskets, Husker memorabilia to full sets of tires with mounting included.  Raffles items were also donated and the Exeter-Milligan FCCLA conducted a bake sale that was four tables long and sold out well before the benefit ended.  Several vendors donated their profits, the food for the meal was all donated and there was no cost to the organizers when it had to be moved from the Care Center to the school due to the weather.
In addition to the many donations of the community and Ruhl-Walford's family were the four huge inflatables that's use were donated by More Than Games, LLC. They are owned by Dan Papik, also a member of the Exeter class of 1979, and his wife Valerie and they donated the use of all four of the inflatables along with a glitter tattoo station.
Unfortunately Ruhl-Walford was not able to enjoy the entire event due to her declining health. She was able to visit the event briefly escorted by her husband, Jerry, and her three daughters. After several months of ineffective treatment, Ruhl-Walford is trying to enjoy her family and stay comfortable.
Just before the raffle winners were announced Ruhl gathered Ruhl-Walford's daughters, Hall-Hartmann, Sheena Hall and J.J. Becker. Also welcomed to the event were Clayton South, Regional Vice President for Deseret Health Group, and Scott Stringham, Chief Operating Officer for Desert Health Group.  Stringham spoke on behalf of Desert Health Group complimenting both Ruhl, her staff and the community.  He presented the family with a check from Desert Health Group for $1000. South expressed that they "were honored to be a part of the event.  We are really proud and please with what the facility has done here.  We felt our donation was the least we could do.  We are so happy to be a part of the community of Exeter."
The benefit also received matching donations up to $1000 from Thrivent Lutheran of Nebraska.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Exeter-Milligan Update: Music Contest

EXETER-MILLIGAN MUSIC STUDENTS ATTEND BRUNING-DAVENPORT BAND
CONTEST
by Angie Murphy, E-M K-6 Music Instructor

Twelve 5th & 6th grade band students participated in the
Bruning-Davenport band contest on Saturday, March 19.
Students receiving "1" ratings (superior) were Ashley
Benorden, clarinet solo; Trystan Brandt, trumpet solo;
Hannah Horne, piano solo; Samantha Horne, French horn solo &
piano solo; Lucy Murphy, alto sax solo; Patrick Murphy,
trombone solo & piano solo; Haylee Sheffield, French horn
solo & piano solo and Ella Wilkins, flute solo. Students
receiving "1-" ratings were Vicki Androyna, alto sax solo
and Tara Mueller, flute solo. Students receiving "2+"
(excellent) ratings were Hannah Horne, alto sax solo and the
clarinet duet made up of Janey Erdkamp and Kaitlyn Vavra.
Ella WIlkins received a "2" rating on her piano solo.
Congratulations to all of these young musicians for doing
such a great job!

Row 1(L-R) Janey Erdkamp, Hannah Horne, Samantha Horne,
Haylee Sheffield, Ella Wilkins
Row 2 (L-R) Vicki Androyna, Lucy Murphy, Ashley Benorden,
Tara Mueller, Trystan Brandt, Patrick Murphy, Kaitlyn Vavra