EMF Loses to Osceola-High Plains

 Final score 69-28 - Highlights for EMF:  Jackson Beethe had an interception.  Jack Baptista took a kickoff return down to the 7 and Max Zeleny took it in for six points. Baptista ran in for six points and Beethe caught the pass for the 2 point.  Jesse Duba ran one in for six and a bad snap for OHP gives Chase Svehla the opportunity to sack the punter in the end zone for a safety.

Exeter-Milligan Kindergarteners

Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten front row from the left Maizy Ogren, Avery Hankins, Edyn Adams,  Back row from the left James Hankel, Knox Becker, Layne Zelenka, Kenan Petersen, Easton Schlegelmilch, Reed Wince, Eli Adams.

Exeter-Milligan Update: FCCLA Attends Fall Leadership Workshop

Exeter-Milligan FCCLA Attends Fall Leadership Workshop

Kearney, Nebraska- Six students from Exeter-Milligan recently attended the Nebraska Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Fall Leadership Workshop. This annual event was held at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska and featured over 584 students from all corners of Nebraska. The theme for this year is Fuel Your Passion as Nebraska FCCLA works to provide members with opportunities to discover and find their passion for their future and career.

All students at this event heard from members of the Nebraska FCCLA State Officer Team, the State Peer Officer Team, and other chapter leaders about state and national programs, leadership development, and chapter management. Exeter-Milligan’s FCCLA member, Caitlin Murphy, who serves as Nebraska FCCLA Vice President of Competitive Events presented a session during the workshop. Madeline Wittstruck, FCCLA National Executive Council Vice-President of Finance from Milford led sessions focused on introducing new members to the organization. EMHS FCCLA Adviser and FCCLA Board of Directors member, Mrs. Mary Lou Vossler also helped facilitate a session for advisers about news from the Board of Directors and the 3 year Strategic Plan for Nebraska FCCLA.

This year keynote speaker, Dean Jacobs challenged members to live a life of wonder and humanity through generosity, gratitude, dignity, curiosity, humility, respect, kindness, family and community. Dean Jacobs, a native of Nebraska, left a secure job with corporate America to pursue a dream: a dream to travel around the world and to understand the world we share. The experience of exploring over 50 countries has exposed Dean tot he goodness of humanity and the magnificence of the natural beauty throughout the world. Dean brings hi s experiences to children and adults everywhere through school presentations and keynotes that focus on the goodness of humanity and the awe of nature. Dean left everyone inspired and empowered to make their world a better place in which to live.

Nebraska FCCLA works to prepare students for future careers in Human Services, Education and Training, Hospitality and Tourism, and Visual Arts and Design. The University of Nebraska at Kearney Family Studies Department helped students learn about Passion for the Future by considering a future degree program focused on helping others. Dr. Christine Chasek presented Brain Storms: 12 Mind Bending Careers in Behavioral Health from the Counseling and Psychology Department at UNK.

Exeter-Milligan FCCLA Officers/leaders who attended were: Caitlin Murphy- Nebraska State Vice President of Competitive Events & EMHS FCCLA President, Vice- President- Daisy Kanode, Secretary/Treasurer- Anna Sluka, PR & Historian- Kayla Geiger and FCCLA leaders: Emma Olsen and Cameran Jansky.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Teammates Program

Teammates Program at Exeter-Milligan

by Denice Kovanda

Author Bob Proctor is quoted as saying, “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”  This is definitely what mentors and mentees get from the TeamMates program.

The Exeter-Milligan chapter of TeamMates started second semester of the 2018-2019 school year.  We began with ten mentor/mentee matches.  This semester the number has grown to 23 matches.  It was exciting to start the year with all mentees being matched with a mentor.

The year began with a Back to School kickoff party.  Mentors, mentees, board members, and families were invited to a night of fun.  The evening was filled with food, games, and fun.  The EM TeamMates Board is planning to have something each quarter. 

We are not slowing down.  The search is already on for more mentors to join our team.  The prediction is that the EM team will need over 30 mentors in the next four years!  We are always ready to train people who want to become mentors and make a difference in the lives of our youth.  Contact Denice Kovanda if you are interested.  Everyone has the ability to be a mentor.  All you need to do is care.

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Exeter CIA Begins Year

 Briana Capek carefully pours water in the jug Maddie Luzum is holding on her head.

Christians in Action began their ministry year with a fun night of water activities. 

The group, which is sponsored by the United Methodist Church in Exeter, opens its doors to all the youth in the area.  It is a nondenominational group for Kindergarten through high school.

For their first meeting games were on the agenda. They split into two teams and raced to fill a water jug on someone else’s head, then they chased pool noodles before getting drenched by a bucket they held up with their feet.  They also had a watermelon eating contest.

Their goal this year is “to draw nearer to God in Spirit and truth,” according to Klemm. 

She also noted that they are planning pre-Christmas and pre-Easter services which will be on Wednesday nights for the communities.

The Kindergarten through fourth graders meet at 5:30 p.m. with Jill Oldehoeft and Terry Barta teaching them.  The fifth through 12^th graders come at 6:30 p.m. and they together the groups share a meal provided by parents.  From 7 – 8:00 p.m. the fifth through 12^th graders are led by Pastor Vicki Klemm and Terry Barta.

The finishing touches were put on the basement meeting area of the church this fall.  Last year a mural was designed by Exeter-Milligan art teacher Lisa Kanode and the group members painted it.  Also a game room with an air hockey and a ping pong table were added.

Each year the group plans several outings to serve the community.  They usually go caroling at a local nursing home before Christmas and then spend a day in the spring helping clean up yards for those unable to do the work.

Above - From the left Devin Harrison looks on while Mikey Bartu, Mallory Staskal and Daysan Staskal play catch the pool noodle.
Below –Clockwise from the left Jozie Kanode, Daysan Staskal, Devin Harrison, Maddie Luzum, Mikey Bartu and Briana Capek all try to catch the pool noodle the person next to them just dropped.

Above – Carver Kanode (left) keeps an eye on Pastor Vicki Klemm as she pours water in a tub on top of the feet of the older group.  The next step in this game was to each remove one foot to see how long it was before they got soaked.

 (courtesy photo) – Exeter-Milligan art teacher Lisa Kanode stands next to the mural that she helped the CIA youth group design and paint in the basement of the Exeter United Methodist Church.

Exeter Village Board Passes Budget and Tax Request

The Exeter Village Board met on Tuesday, September 10 starting off with the budget and one and six year plan hearings.

The board began the discussion with four options for the next fiscal year’s budget.  Option one was for everything to remain the same with the levy and property valuations.

Village board chairman Alan Michl explained that “option two, three and four lets us put in what we can (allowed by the state) and will generate an increase in valuations and our current levy.”

More specifically he outlined that option four allows the village to use the new valuation increase toward bond indebtedness.  This would allow an additional $22,539.53 for the general fund that the village had been pulling from the general fund to pay toward bonds.

Michl expressed his opinion that option four was the best way for the village to go.  “Our total bond issue askings is $196,000 and we can take our valuation increase to offset some of the bond increase.  When you increase your valuations you are allowed only so much growth because the state limits you.”

He added, “I don’t want to lose that valuation increase for the future.  We want to keep that base.”

Board member Justin Harre commented, “Down the road we can adjust our levy if we need to.”

Michl emphasized that this option was important because in the past budgets the village was taking money out of the general fund to pay for the bond askings. With option three or four the amount of additional funds would go back into the bond.

The board passed Resolution1906, option four, which also included an additional one percent to the tax request.

According to Michl, “Raising the levy to the state allowed limit and the additional funds that are brought in will help pay the downtown improvement and street bonds.”

Michl also explained that the state now requires the village to review their one and six year road plan to the beginning of the fiscal year while the budget is reviewed.

Michl noted that the one and six year plan had not changed since the board approved it in March and once again the board approved the plans.

The board adjourned the hearings at 7:20 p.m. and opened their regular meeting.

The minutes were quickly approved along with the invoices before Fillmore County Zoning Administrator Jennifer Slezak presented a land split for the board’s approval.  The property in question is an alpha field along Maplewood Avenue between the Exeter Aquatic Center and Terri Volkmer’s property.

The board approved the lot split in the new Brock subdivision.

The board signed an agreement  with JEO for professional services for fire hall parking lot.  They are supervising the engineering to make sure that ADA requirements are met.

The board entered executive session to discuss annual employee reviews.  While board members pay remains the same the village maintenance supervisor, clerk and librarian received a three percent raise.  They also announced that the summer help will be receiving a $100 summer bonus.

Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller gave his report.  He had the pool slide bid reviewed by JEO who confirmed that the bid was more than fair.  

Board member Justin Harre added his support for the project, “I guess we need to do it to keep up with the pool.”

The board approved the bid noting that they hope to wait until March to get the work done.

Mueller also reported that he believes there is a leak at the pool and they will be using a camera to look in the main drain to see if the leak is there.  A valve out at the lagoon is also not working and they will be working on a fix for that.

Mueller noted that last year there were 10 million gallons of fluid in the sewer system for the entire year and this year to September first there have already been 24 million gallons.  Mueller emphasized that sump pumps must be vacated outdoors, not into the sewer system.

Mueller reported that there were some issues with the paint on the street and as soon as there is a dry spell the painter will fix them.

The  Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy was in Exeter recently and inspected the tree and grass pile.  Michl reported they found some railroad ties, garbage bags and plastic flower pots.  He reported “We were given a warning. They can shut it down.”

Board members asked about the concrete crushing machine parked out near the grass pile.  Michl reported that it is being stored there now, “They aren’t charging us and it is out of the way.”

Clerk Becky Erdkamp gave her report starting with computer issues.  She  explained that her computer is still running Windows 7 which is no longer supported and she also needs a larger monitor.  The board tasked her with finding a replacement computer. 

Erdkamp reported that sales tax for June was $11374 and July keno was $726.90.

The board set their next meeting for Tuesday, October 8.