Bobcat VB Team Win Sub-Districts 3-2

The EMF volleyball team played a great sub-district game against Tri County on Tuesday, October 28 where they won 3-2. The Bobcats will play in the district championship on Saturday, November 1. 

 

Bobcats Lose First Round of Playoffs 60-14

 Photos courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

EMF Girl's Golf Team Represents at State

Abby Klooz with her medal.

The EMF Girl's Golf team attended state in North Platte, Nebraska. Head Coach, Lori Klooz mentioned, "I am so proud of this team.  We only returned 3 of last years state qualifying team.  Two freshmen completed the roster and yet we came back in the second day of state to shoot a 393, our best team score of the season. I am especially proud of Abby. It is hard to repeat as a medalist and this year the scores were lower than last year.  She played really solid both days, fighting back after an injury."

Great job Bobcats! 

EMF VB Wins Conference

 Photos courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

Obituary: Janice J. Miller

Janice Joy Miller was born on November 16, 1939, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Eugene "Snooks" and Lola (Ganow) Engle, the second of six children. She passed away peacefully at her home in Exeter on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, after a courageous battle with breast. cancer, at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 28 days.

As a young girl, Janice loved going to the library, movies, swimming, and attending parades. When she was 10, the family moved from Grand Island to Exeter. Janice attended Exeter Public Schools and graduated in 1957. While in high school, she enjoyed countless movies and school dances with close friends June, Judy, Susan, and Donna. They became lifelong friends. Janice met John C. Miller when he joined Exeter Public Schools as a freshman. They dated throughout high school and were united in marriage on April 11th, 1959. John & Janice were blessed with 4 children: Pam, John R., Janet, and Cathie. 

John and Janice made their home in rural Exeter. Janice embraced life as a farm wife, always ensuring a hot meal was ready and provided transportation from field to field. She found joy in gardening, canning, freezing, sewing, baking, and welcoming family and friend into their home. Later, she worked as a substitute cook at Exeter Public Schools, where she would sneak her grandkids extra cookies. Speaking of cookies, she was known far and wide for her decorated sugar cookies and delicious chocolate chip cookies! Every wanted a "Grandma Cookie!" She was very proud to teach her grandkids and great-grandkids her special recipe that included 12 shakes of salt, with the extra special hip shakes.

Janice enjoyed playing bridge, tending to her flowers, family campouts, sewing masks during COVID, and creating personalized birthday and anniversary cards for her family. Her greatest pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved reading and singing special songs with the little ones. As all the kids got older, she could always be found cheering them on at every activity, sometimes attending three to four events in a single day. Later, when she could not attend in person, she watched online. Janice was also an avid Husker fan; if the Huskers were playing, she was listening or watching, no matter the sport.

Janice was a member of the Exeter Methodist Community Church for more than 50 years. She served in numerous leadership and fundraising positions at church for many years.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John C. Miller, Exeter, NE; her children, Pam Northup (Tom), Grand Island, NE; John R Miller (Sheila), Exeter, NE; Janet Riepe (Doug), Spring Hill, KS; and Cathie Boyle (Bob), Crete, NE; 14 grandchildren: Janelle Williams (Clint), Dana Myers (Matt), Nick Nothrup (Amber), John D. Miller (Kilee), Chris Northup (Allyson), Jennifer Riepe, Jake Miller (Macy), Chelsea Thiem (Takota), MiKayla Jansen (Ben), Kirk Riepe (Kaylee), Riley Nichols (Amanda), Bridgette Nichols, Caitlynn Boyle, and Jayden Boyle; 22 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Sandy Bock (Larry), David City, NE and Glenda Cole (Dick), Columbus, NE; sisters-in-law, Cecilia Miller, Lealand, KS and Denise Engle, Victoria, TX; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Lola Engle; grandson, Evan Riepe; parents-in-law, John O. and Melba Miller; sister, Donna Repenn; brothers Jim and Fred Engle; brothers/sisters-in-law, Alan Miller, Don Bock, Sharon & Ken Harre, and Iola Engle; and a great friend/cousin Darlene Harders.

What's New on the Library Shelves? | Classic/Non-Fiction

 Check out these new novels at the Exeter Public Library.

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 

Before he was Mark Twain, he was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Born in 1835, the man who would become America’s first, and most influential, literary celebrity spent his childhood dreaming of piloting steamboats on the Mississippi. But when the Civil War interrupted his career on the river, the young Twain went west to the Nevada Territory and accepted a job at a local newspaper, writing dispatches that attracted attention for their brashness and humor. It wasn’t long before the former steamboat pilot from Missouri was recognized across the country for his literary brilliance, writing under a pen name that he would immortalize.

In this richly nuanced portrait of Mark Twain, acclaimed biographer Ron Chernow brings his considerable powers to bear on a man who shamelessly sought fame and fortune, and crafted his persona with meticulous care. After establishing himself as a journalist, satirist, and lecturer, he eventually settled in Hartford with his wife and three daughters, where he went on to write The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He threw himself into the hurly-burly of American culture, and emerged as the nation’s most notable political pundit. At the same time, his madcap business ventures eventually bankrupted him; to economize, Twain and his family spent nine eventful years in exile in Europe. He suffered the death of his wife and two daughters, and the last stage of his life was marked by heartache, political crusades, and eccentric behavior that sometimes obscured darker forces at play.

Drawing on Twain’s bountiful archives, including thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow masterfully captures the man whose career reflected the country’s westward expansion, industrialization, and foreign wars, and who was the most important white author of his generation to grapple so fully with the legacy of slavery. Today, more than one hundred years after his death, Twain’s writing continues to be read, debated, and quoted. In this brilliant work of scholarship, a moving tribute to the writer’s talent and humanity, Chernow reveals the magnificent and often maddening life of one of the most original characters in American history.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Follow the young and mischievous Tom Sawyer as he joins forces with Huckleberry Finn, an adventurous vagabond boy, and together they set off on a thrilling escapade down the majestic Mississippi River. With his exceptional storytelling, Mark Twain captures the essence of boyhood, friendship, and the complexities of society in the Antebellum South era. These iconic tales continue to captivate readers of all ages with their humor, wit, and enduring charm.

Running For My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games by Lopez Lomong

Running for My Life is not a story about Africa or track-and-field athletics. It is about outrunning the devil and achieving the impossible; it is about faith, diligence, and the desire to give back. It is the American dream come true and a stark reminder that saving one can help save thousands more.

In this heart-wrenching story, you’ll learn about: Lopez Lomong’s harrowing kidnapping at the age of six, becoming one of the Lost Boys of Sudan; His survival in a prison refugee camp and his miraculous escape; How he arrived in the U.S. through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program; Lomong’s journey from high-school track star to U.S. Olympic team captain

Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike-sponsored athlete on the U.S. Olympic Team. Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong's incredible life, every reader will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might appear hopeless.

Death Notice: Janice J. Miller

A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 10:00am at Exeter Methodist Community Church. A graveside service will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the funeral service. Public visitation will be Sunday from 1:00-8:00pm with family present from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter, NE.

Obituary: James R. Horne

James R. Horne, 81, of Exeter, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2025.

James was born on January 1, 1944 in Friend, Nebraska, to Richard H. and Doris (Hetherington) Horne. He was later blessed with a loving stepfather, Don Ehrisman. On September 17, 1961, James married Sandra Hall, and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

James was a lifelong farmer and cattle feeder who took great pride in working the land and caring for his animals. His deep connection to his family's heritage was evident in his dedication to the Horne homestead, which has been in the family for over 150 years. He took great pride in knowing that the farm continues to be operated by the sixth and seventh generations of Horne farmers.

James enjoyed all sports, with a special passion for trapshooting. He also enjoyed playing cards with his family and friends. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra Horne; his children, James T. (Kristi) Horne, Richard R. (Sandy) Horne, and Benjamin J. (Connie) Horne; his sister, Frances (Gary) Rasmussen; grandchildren Jennifer (Dan) Wittnebel, James P. Horne, Mitchel (Kelsey) Horne, Madison (Derek) Luzum, Samantha Horne, Hannah Horne, Caleb (Brooklyn) Horne, and Savannah Horne; and great-grandchildren Wyatt, Jaedyn, Mason, Charlotte, Leighton, Camryn, and Kaia. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Don Ehrisman; brother, John C. Horne; grandsons, John R. Horne and Trenton Horne; and parents-in-law, Ray and Bernice Hall.

James will be remembered for his hard work, quiet strength, and unwavering love for his family and the land he so proudly farmed.

Bobcat XC Update

Written by Lisa Kanode | The Bobcat XC team a great day at Camp Kateri last week.  We treated this meet as our Pink Out and wear something provided by our EMF Boosters. This year we chose people to run for in memory and in honor of and wore pink headbands to recognize people who have battled breast cancer.  We also put a blue ribbon in our shoe to remember that all cancer is harsh and we want to remember Coach Pella, who recently lost her battle to Colon Cancer.  McCool has a 1779M fun run that they invite all elementary kids to join in the fun and run with the JH.  This year the Bobcats represented with 4 extra runners!  Our youngest participant was 1st grader, Wynn Weber!  Also competing was 6th graders Teddy Weber, Kenan Petersen and Knox Becker.  They ran amazing races!  8th grader, Sergio Alarcon finished 11th place and 8th grader Axel Erdkamp ran in their last JH Cross Country race.  They both made huge growth throughout the season and we are looking forward to coaching them in HS. Emily Bartels medaled 10th for the Bobcats with a time of 24:51.9. She has continued to push herself to be her best and just run.  I'm sure hearing, "just relax and run" at the start of a 3.1 mile race is amusing to the kids, but they put up with me and smile and do everything I ask.  I couldn't ask for a better group of athletes to coach.  Naomi keeps improving her times from last year and gives everything she has in the last few hundred meters of her race.  

The boys team finished in 5th place just behind Deshler and ahead of Silver Lake, Twin River and Blue Hill.  Leading the way for the Bobcats was Titus Petersen with a 13th place medal and a time of 19:50.5.  Just behind him was Beau Becker and Gehrig Weber with times of 20:48 and 20:55.  Rounding out the team was Keisyn Kirchhoff finishing with a 23:13.  If you've never been to a cross country meet, it would be pretty hard to imagine, but the amount of grit, determination, resilience and adversity one goes through from the start to the finish of a race is definitely incredible and probably what makes this sport so unique.  It has been a memorable season and we will soak in all the memories and lessons learned as we head into districts next Thursday at District-1 Race at Cass County Fairgrounds, hosted by Weeping Water.

What's New on the Library Shelves? | Fantasy Edition

Check out these new novels at the Exeter Public Library.

Unsouled by Will Wight

Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.

Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.

When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.

 

Soulsmith by Will Wight

Outside Sacred Valley, ancient ruins rise from the earth, drawing sacred artists from miles around to fight for the treasures within.

Factions rise and fall as warriors bicker over rare resources, but time is limited. A powerful family from the Blackflame Empire is coming to claim the ruins, and when they arrive, no one else will have a chance at the prize.

Lindon has reached Copper, taking the first step on the road to power, but the warriors of the outside world are still far beyond him.

To advance, he turns to the arcane skills of the Soulsmiths, who craft weapons from the stuff of souls. With new powers come new enemies, and Lindon soon finds himself facing an entire sect of Golds.

Blackflame by Will Wight

Lindon has a year left.

When his time runs out, he’ll have to fight an opponent that no one believes he can beat. Unless he learns sacred arts the right way, from scratch, he won’t have a chance to win...and even then, the odds are against him.

In the course of their training, he and Yerin travel to the Blackflame Empire, where they fight to master an ancient power left behind by a fallen clan. This is Lindon’s chance to learn a true Path, but there are those who do not wish to see these lost techniques revived.

Success means a chance at life, but failure means death.

In the sacred arts, those who risk the most travel the farthest.

Death Notice: James R. Horne

A Funeral Service for James will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Exeter Methodist Community Church in Exeter, Nebraska, with Pastor Murry Johnston presiding.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter, Nebraska.

Graveside Services will be conducted following the Funeral Service at the Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, Nebraska.

Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

Full obituary to follow...

Lady Bobcats get 3rd at JCC Tournament

 Photos courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

Bobcats Beat Tri-County Trojans 60-22

 Photo courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

What's New on the Library Shelves? | Mystery Edition

 Check out the new novels at the Exeter Public Library.

The Hamptons Lawyer by James Patterson and Mike Lupica

The Hamptons on Long Island is known for its beautiful beaches, its luxury lifestyle—and its exclusive legal advice.

When Jane Smith takes on a famous celebrity client, she’s armed and ready: with brilliant arguments, hard evidence—and two Glocks.

Yet she’s chased down, shot at, and risks contempt of court. That’s when mounting a legal defense turns into self-defense.

Knowing every day in court could be her last, she’s a survivor. For now.

The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

When former spy Maggie Bird retired to the seaside hamlet of Purity, Maine, she settled in for a quiet life with breathtaking views. But enemies from her past soon threatened to destroy everything.

Maggie survived, thanks to her wits and the collective intelligence of the Martini Club, the circle of ex-CIA friends in her cocktail-sipping book club. Their handiwork, however, caught the attention of young police chief Jo Thibodeau. Now Jo and her neighborhood ex-spies have an uneasy alliance.

After a teenager vanishes—and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect—she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. But the girl’s wealthy family pushes for an arrest. And when authorities discover a long-dead corpse in a nearby pond, the case becomes doubly complicated, with unthinkable ties to long-buried secrets.

As Jo grapples with two unexplained mysteries, the Martini Club races to uncover the truth behind shadowy secrets…before more lives are lost.

25 Alive by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer knows her way around a crime scene.

But nothing can prepare her for the shock of recognition: the victim is Warren Jacobi, Lindsay’s onetime partner who rose to chief of police.

A top investigator until the end, Jacobi managed to leave Lindsay a clue.

Following a trail of evidence along the west coast, the Women’s Murder Club pledges to avenge Jacobi’s death before the killer can take another one of their own.

The Vipers Nest by Peter Lerangis

The hunt for 39 hidden Clues that lead to an unimaginable power have taken a heavy toll on fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan. They've just seen a woman die. They're wanted by the Indonesian police. They're trapped on an island with a man who knows too much about the death of their parents. And a tropical storm is rolling in. Just when they think it can't get any worse, it does. Because the Cahills have one more rattling skeleton for Amy and Dan to discover . . . the terrible truth about their family branch.

2025 Homecoming Royalty

 

The 2025 Homecoming Court were Babe Weber, Brett Kallhoff, Queen Taylin Schluter, King Hunter Svehla, Selah Petersen, and Christian Conley.

EMF FB Lose Homecoming Game Against Sutton

 The Bobcat football team lost their homecoming game 26-34.

Photos courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

What's New on the Library Shelves | Romance Edition

 Check out some new novels at the Exeter Public Library.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

Home Again by Kristin Hannah

At the center of Home Again is Madelaine - a brilliant cardiologist, a loving mother, a tender friend, and a woman full of self-doubt. It is also the story of her confused and angry daughter, Lina, and of the two very different men Madelaine loves: Francis, a priest searching for his faith, and Angel, a talented but cynical man with a broken heart. When tragedy suddenly brings them all together, they must learn to forgive the betrayals of the past and find the courage to love again.

Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah

This richly nuanced novel tells of an ordinary man faced with an incredible dilemma - to save his wife's life he must risk losing her forever.

Michaela, beloved wife and mother of two, lies in a coma. Doctors have told her husband Liam not to expect a recovery, but he maintains hope that love can accomplish what medicine cannot. Day after day, he sits by her bedside, holding her hand, sharing the stories of their life together.

Then he discovers the evidence of his wife's secret past - a long hidden first marriage to international movie star Julian True. When he sees photos of her glowing happiness with Julian, he knows the actor was more than simply Michaela's first husband. He was the love of her life. Liam senses that Julian is the one person who can bring her back to life, but at what cost? Can Liam love his wife enough to risk losing her to a man no woman could resist?

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah

On the day her daughter leaves for college, Anne Colwater's husband of 20 years announces he wants a divorce. Her roles of wife and mother suddenly gone, Annie retreats to her childhood home of Mystic, Washington, to heal. There she finds her old friend Nick, suddenly widowed and unable to cope with his emotionally scarred young daughter, Izzie.

Annie agrees to look after Izzie, and soon finds herself caring for both father and daughter with a joy and passion she never expected - and she finds her love returned with a fervor she had never even hoped for. But love is never simple, and it is not until Annie learns a hard lesson from her own grown daughter that she finds the strength to claim the happiness she has earned.

MUDECAS Volleyball

 Pictures courtesy of Leesa Bartu.

New Faces at EMF

 EMF Public Schools welcomed 10 new staff members this year.

Front Row L-R: Morgan Jess, Jennifer Katuls, Megan Weber, Simone Marget, and Cortney Novak. Back Row L-R: Hannah Merrick, Kirsten Fike, Mallory Gregory, Josiee Sobotka, and Katherine White.

Kitchen Staff

Jennifer Katuls - Dishwasher

Morgan Jess - Head Cook, Exeter 

Elementary

Megan Weber - Paraprofessional

Josiee Sobotka - 3rd Grade Teacher

Hannah Merrick - Preschool Paraprofessional

Cortney Novak - Preschool Teacher, Friend

Simone Marget - Preschool Teacher, Exeter

Junior High/High School

Katherine White - Math

Mallory Gregory - FCS

Kirsten Fike - Social Studies

Bobcat XC Races at Ravenna

25 schools were represented at the meet on hilly Ravenna Golf course on Thursday, September 18! Medaling for the Bobcats was sophomore, Emily Bartels, finishing 20th place out of 81 varsity runners.  

The boys race had 130 runners and the Bobcats finished 11th out of 20 teams. Making the biggest impression was Beau Becker, running a 20:57.1 on the toughest course he has ran so far this year. Titus Petersen finished 29th and improved his time on this course by 50 seconds with a 20:06.7.

Photo credits go to Hope Bartels who runs 4+ miles every meet to capture the amazing photos!

Bobcats Win Against Southern

 The Bobcat football team had a rainy win against Southern, 64-18. Photo courtesy of Leesa Bartu.