Friday, August 3, 2018

Troop 218 Purchases Flag with Donation


Boy Scout Troop 218 in Exeter recently purchased a troop flag with funds from recycled cans donated by John E’s.  Standing with the troop is John E’’s owner, John Graham.  Pictured back row from the left are Clint Oldehoeft, John Graham, Assistant Scoutmaster Laura Sysel, Scoutmaster Dean Bartu and Tyler Sysel.  Front row from the left are Mikey Bartu, Assistant Scoutmaster Leesa Bartu, and William Yokel.  Troop members not pictured are Braden Capek and Ben Bartu.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Village Board Holds Special Meeting to Discuss Librarian Position


The Exeter Village Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, July 24th for the sole purpose of processing the resignation letter of Exeter librarian, Jessica Votipka.
Chairman Alan Michl opened the meeting stating, “First, we need to discuss what is going to happen in two weeks (when the current librarian leaves her post) and second about getting applications out.”
Michl also welcomed the two library board members, Board Chair Rachel Vossler and Secretary Lynette Trauger.
Board member Justin Harre started the conversation indicating, “Jessica needs to put into place in the next two weeks kind of the standards of what she does.  A way to transfer all of this knowledge.”
“It isn’t like the new person couldn’t change things but this is a starting point,” added board member Kathy Erdkamp.
Erdkamp also confirmed that the new hire did not have to be someone within the Exeter community.
Trauger clarified that the library board members are the only ones that have to live within the village limits.
The board discussed the difficulty of hiring someone because of the Saturday hours the position requires.
Trauger noted, “We had her (Votipka) keeping a log of how many were coming in on Saturdays so that we could evaluate that.”
The village board was amiable to eliminating some Saturdays as long as evening hours were offered during the week.
Michl encouraged the board to discuss hours and decide any changes before starting interviews.
Trauger noted that they had a meeting on Monday and could discuss the issues.  She asked about pay rates and benefits. 
Michl advised that the wage would be dependent on the applicant’s qualifications.
The board discussed some of the certification and accreditation requirements.  The board encouraged the library board to make some phone calls to towns of similar size to verify their pay rates and their certification requirements.
Michl explained that the process by ordinance requires that the library board review the applications, interview candidates and choose an applicant and present them to the village board who approves hiring.
Michl explained the reason for the special meeting, “I felt we needed to meet and get this going as fast as we could.”
The board noted that Jessica’s resignation included the offer of help with transition training and the board planned to take her up on this offer and compensate her for her time.


Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Exeter Days Celebrated

 The Exeter Fun Days event began Friday night with a free hamburger and hot dog dinner sponsored by the Exeter Area Community Foundation.  Greg Yound (pictured below left) and his son Travis, did the cooking (along with their excellent kitchen staff).


Exeter Fun Days weekend opened Friday evening with dinner and a movie sponsored by the Exeter Area Community Foundation.  After enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers part of the crowd moved to the empty lot just south of Erdkmap Lumber to enjoy the movie "The Sandlot" which was projected onto the wall of Speece Chiropractic.  Others opted to take try their luck at the 5K glow run.
The glow run was organized by four Exeter-Milligan students, Cammie Harrison, Daisy Kanode, Blake Meyer and Clint Oldehoeft as a fundraiser for their Ambassdors of Music trip to Europe next summer.  Participants could choose a one mile run or a five mile run.  Mile run winners under 12 were Troy Kallhoff and Mallory Staskal.  Winners in the over 13 category were Clint Oldehoeft and Jozie Kanode.  The 5K race had three age categories.  Winners over age 41 were John Tauriella and Meridith Smith.  Winning the 19-40 age group were Nick Sudrla and Brook Betka and under 18 winners were Joel Klemm and Cammie Harrison.

Saturday activities started with a softball tournament at the ball field along with garage sales all over town.  A bake sale was held at the fire department in the morning.  The afternoon began with the car show followed by the parade.  In the evening a free will offering meal was held at the Legion where polka music began at 8:30 and a special celebrity baking auction was held at 6:30 p.m.




 The Woman's Club members were selling pie at the evening meal.  Much of the crowd moved from the picnic tables to the lot just south of Erdkmap Lumber to enjoy the movie "The Sandlot" which was projected onto the wall of Speece Chiropractic.  Others opted to head to Gilbert's park to take part in the 1 mile and 5 mile glow run.
 Above Saydee Kassik was all "glowy" for her one mile run.  Below (from the left) Chezney and Jozie Kanode along with Olivea Swanson showed their glowing spirit!

 Exeter-Milligan students (l-r) Daisy Kanode, Cammie Harrison, Clint Oldehoeft and Blake Meyer organized the glow run as a fundraiser for a music trip to Europe next summer.  Below - the one mile runners took off at a quick pace.

 Saturday activities included garage sales, a car show, parade, dinner and a polka band.

 Joe Michels of McCool Junction, Neb. was a double trophy winner at the Exeter Fun Days Car Show.  His 1971 Mach 1 Mustang picked up the Mayor's Choice trophy and the Mechanic's Choice Trophy.
 The Exeter Fun Days Parade was kicked off by the American Legion and Sons of the Legion Color Guards.  The group paused in front of the Legion while Caitlin Murphy sang "The Star Spangled Banner."  Below - One float honored America's every day heroes include military members, local clergy, fire and rescue department members and teachers.

 The Exeter-Milligan Volleyball Team, State Champions, rode through the float tossing out candy.
 Joe and Sharla Dinneen got in the fun spirit for Exeter Fun Days.
 Tom Weber of Friend shows off the trophy he won for his tractor in the car show.
The Legion was hopping Saturday night as the Sons of the Legion and the Fire Department members hosted an evening meal and polka music.