Friday, March 24, 2017

Exeter-Milligan Update: First Grade Happenings





Teacher Sara Lincoln helping Kalvin Lock, Addison Foutch and Kayden Hale make their root beer floats


Below: Kalvin Lock presents about his favorite president to the class at the Senior Center in Exeter

Exeter-Milligan First Grade Happenings
By Sara Lincoln, E-M 1st Grade Instructor

The First Graders have been hard at work this semester, from learning about the states of matter, solutions and mixtures to researching a President in honor of President's Day.  The first graders were able to learn about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.  They spent several days finding each state of matter around the classroom and school, along with separating them through an interactive game on the Smartboard.  To celebrate the end of the states of matter chapter along with the 100th day of school, the students were able to create a science experiment using root beer and ice cream. In order to eat the root beer float they had to list the three states of matter they saw.  Each student had worked so hard during this chapter they were all able to enjoy the treat.  To celebrate President's Day the students were able to pick a president and write a short biography on him.  They had to research, write a rough draft, edit, and write a final copy that went a long with a picture they colored.  They then were able to present this in front of the class.  Each one of them did an outstanding job on their biographies. The First Graders are currently learning about solutions and mixtures and will be creating an experiment next week.



Thursday, March 23, 2017

Exeter-Milligan Track Break PR's at Triangular

Many of the Exeter-Milligan track team members broke their own personal records at the track meet on Wednesday in McCool.  The Triangular, which included the McCool Junction Mustangs and the Hampton Hawks, went very well for the Timberwolves.
On the boy's side, Trevor Luzum broke the school record and his personal record for high jump at 6'3" while Eric Olsen (5'8") and Patrick Murphy (5'10) both broke their personal records. 
Trystan Brandt once again dominated the triple jump and the long jump, winning both and Peytan Brandt came in second in the Pole Vault.
Jos Cremers represented the Timberwolves in the throwing arena placing fourth in shotput and sixth in discus.
Hurdles were not a problem for the Timberwolf boys, either as Luzum took first with Murphy in third and Peytan Brandt in fourth.
Mitchell Manning took first in the 3200M race and second in the 1600M.  In the 100M dash Luzum was first with T. Brandt in third and Olsen in fourth.
On the girls side Hannah Beethe tied for first in the high jump and Caitlin Murphy came in at second.  Hailey Luzum took second in the long jump and Sydney Hall dominated the discus with a throw of 97'9".
Tara Mueller took the top spot in the shot for the Timberwolves and Anna Bettu took second.
Kate Jansky wrapped up first in both the 3200M run and the 1600M. Katherine White won the 300M hurdles and took second in the 100M high hurdles. Beethe was second in the 300M hurdles.
Josie Kresak was third in the 100M dash and White also won the 200M dash.






















New Trophy Cases at Exeter-Milligan

The trophy cases at Exeter-Milligan in the new hallway to the commons were recently finished and filled.  There are four cases in the breezeway and the state championship trophy cases is in the commons area (but is not pictured here).



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Exeter Cub Scouts Celebrate Blue and Gold



Mikey Bartu, middle, was surrounded by his parents Dean and Leesa Bartu, and members of the Order of the Arrow who conducted his crossover ceremony into Boy Scouts.  Far right is Akela (Joey Bartu) and Medicine Man (Ross Novotny).

The Exeter Cub Scout Pack 218 celebrated their Blue and Gold on Sunday, March 5 at the Exeter Legion.

The scouts had been busy in the last month making decorations to fit their Star Wars theme.  They had created floating Death stars, made lots of lightsabers out of perler beads and also made floating storm troopers.

Before the Blue and Gold banquet began Mikey Bartu was recognized in a crossover ceremony by the Order of the Arrow. The Medicine Man (Ross Novotny) and Akela (Joey Bartu) examined Mikey’s achievements and declared him worthy of joining Boy Scouts.  Mikey cross the bridge and was received into Troop 218.

To open the Blue and Gold banquet Mikey Bartu led the flag ceremony with Deacon Erdkamp and Richard Hickman carrying the flags. Cubmaster Leesa Bartu opened the ceremony and the scouts presented a short skit related Cub Scouting and Star Wars.

Next Leesa Bartu introduced the awarding of ranks.  Mikey Bartu received the arrow of light and also completed all 28 of the activity pins at the Webelos rank. Katie Babula awarded Johnny Babula the bear rank and Michelle Schauer and Becky Erdkamp awarded Deacon Erdkamp and Richard Hickman the ranks of Bobcat and Tiger.

The group shared a meal together with their guests and then heard a presentation on Friends of Scout from Georgia Schropfer of Fairmont.

The scouts were excited to get to the Pinewood Derby.  The track was brought by York Troop 173 Scoutmaster Chris Teitmeyer and his wife Angie and the judging and the race order were led by Lance Larsen of Cordova.

In the race Deacon Erdkamp won first in speed with Richard Hickman in second and Mikey Bartu in third.  For the show category Mikey Bartu won first in the modified show and Deacon Erdkamp was second.  In stock show Ronnie Babula won first and in Richard Hickman was second.

After the scouts raced they had invited any of the boys in the area who were interested in scouting to come and race a hot wheels car of their choice down the track at the end of the evening.

Deacon Erdkamp places his car in just the right spot on the Pinewood Derby track.
York Troop 173 Scoutmaster Chris Teitmeyer holds the starting line for the matchbox cars for Levi Jurgensen to race.

The Exeter Cub Scout Pack 218 members show off their cars and their medals.  From the left are Ronnie Babula, Richard Hickman, Deacon Erdkamp and Mikey Bartu.



Tiger Cubs Deacon Erdkamp (left) and Richard Hickman are all ready to race their cars at Pack 218’s Pinewood Derby.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Dr. Sharon Kuska to lead UNL Architecture Program

Dr. Sharon Kuska of Exeter will take over as the interim program director of Architecture at UNL

Click here to read the article

Monday, March 20, 2017

Exeter Post 218 Honors Roy Stubbendick

Roy Stubbendick
Above and Below - Roy Stubbendick receives his 70 year member pin from Exeter American Legion Commander Alan Songster.



The Exeter American Legion held their annual Legion Birthday party on Monday, March 13.  The Exeter Legion Post was originally chartered in 1926 and the current legion building was purchased in 1954.

During the party, former Exeter resident Roy Stubbendick was honored with his 70 year membership pin with the Legion.  Stubbendick was a C-47 pilot during World War II.

“The C-47 was a flying truck.  It held everything for the ground troops.  There were many places we delivered the necessities of life,” explained Stubbendick.

Stubbendick flew supplies on the India-Burma-China route for a little over a year before the war was over.  Often there were no landing strips or airports, “You must missed the trees and pushed things out the door.”

“Sometimes it was a little more than exciting because you never knew who was out there.”

Stubbendick, who will turn 96 next month recalled flying over Egypt and seeing the pyramids and also flying over the Amazon river “which seems like we flew over for half a day.”

In India, the men in his unit stayed four to a tent.  Stubbendick recalled waking up in the night and hearing something moving in the tent.  As he pulled his .45 out from under his pillow to be ready to shoot the intruder he realized it was a cow.  Thankfully, he didn’t pull the trigger as cows are sacred in India.

After spending so many hours flying, he was instructed to park his plane on a mountain in Calcutta at the end of the war, “and as far as I know they are still there.”

Riding on a boat home was a long trip to a pilot and Stubbendick remembers vividly their arrival home indicated by passing under the Golden Gate bridge, “That was a thrill.”

Stubbendick worked and resided in Exeter nearly 50 years before his retirement.












Sunday, March 19, 2017

Exeter Village Board Discusses Water Rates



The Exeter Village Board approved minutes and invoices to begin their meeting on Wednesday, March 8.  

Up first on the agenda was a review of the library report which was satisfactory to the village board members.

Next, the board continued their discussion on water and sewer rates in the village.  Board member Mitch Schlegelmilch reviewed the rates in towns roughly the same population as Exeter and found that Exeter rates are well below other towns.

“The monthly fees for water service range from $7 to $36 and the average is $21.  At $17 we are $5 below average comparing 55 towns in Nebraska,” reported Schlegelmilch.

Michl noted that, “Some, with the lowest monthly fee have the highest per gallon rate.  They are trying to get their people to conserve water.”

Michl asked clerk Becky Erdkamp, ”What has our shortfall on the water side been lately?”

She noted that the village is consistently about $6500 short per year and the sewer usually breaks even.  In a previous meeting she reminded the board that state statute requires that the sewer and water programs pay for themselves.

Schlegelmilch suggested that the village increase the rates, but not as much as the Rural Water Board recommended.

Clerk Erdkamp noted the last increase, in December of 2012 was an 11% increase.

Schlegelmilch continued, “If we took my suggestions we would still be $3.38 less than average (on water fees) of all 55 towns .This gets us closer to the average but still less. It would gain us to within 3000.00 on our shortfall if we maintain our costs the way we are.”

Wilbeck agreed, “I think it looks good, too, but we will always have the same people who will complain.”

“We are losing money, we have to at least break even,” Michl commented.

Schlegelmilch added, ”I have a sprinkler system at home and like to have a green yard but I don’t want to go broke on water rates.  I figured if I water three times a week in a month it will cost me $9 more with the increase we have suggested.”

Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller reminded the board that there is a strong possibility that they will have to install new water meters in the next ten years.

The board also discussed setting a rate for bulk water as there have been several construction companies inquiring about the cost as they prepare for local road construction.
The board made no firm decision on water rates.

The board voted to pass Ordinance 585 which repealed Ordinance 522.  This will reopen part of Cheyenne street which is the block adjacent to the football field.  The board accepted the property deeds last month and with the approval of the ordinance the street can be reopened.

The board set the Exeter clean up dumpster date for April 22 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. or until full
Mueller gave his report noting that a street light by the former trailer park was shot out by a high powered rifle.  “I talked to Perennial and we are not going to put a light back up since it’s been shot out four times and the cost to replace it would be very high.”

Mueller noted that the diving board stands at the pool will either need to be replaced or powder coated because they have rusted.  He is also going to check on a price for replacing them with stainless steel. 

Several other minor maintenance issues were discussed including rock for the ball field parking lot and a street sign which needs to be replaced by the school.

Clerk Erdkamp shared with the board that the December sales tax was $13,641.47 and January Keno was $523.57.

Michl observed that one of the neglected homes in Exeter just a block off of main street is being taken care of now and asked the board members to bring a list of five more that need cleaned up to the next meeting.  The board set the next meeting for April 4 at 7 p.m.