Village of Exeter

#3 Seed Humphrey St. Francis too much for the Timberwolves.

2010-03-11T17:12:00.003-06:00

Humphrey St. Francis were on a mission of revenge on the State Tournament court Thursday afternoon. They have finished as runner ups in the State D-1 bracket the last two years. They were State Champions last in 2006. Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves held on for the first two periods but were outscored the last two periods, only scoring two points in the final period.

Exeter-Milligan high scorers were seniors Travis Yound with 11 points and Dillan White contributed 12 points for the team. The final score for the game was 57-32, ending the Timberwolves state play. The team had a 18 -7 record on the year.

Named to the boys All Conference Team were Travis Yound - first team, Dillan White and Mitch Horne - honorable mention. All Star team members were Travis Yound and Dillan White with Mitch Horne chosen as an alternate. Girls All Conference Team members were Heather Pribyl on the first team with Claire White given an honorable mention.

A little trivia, for you Exeter history buffs. Senior Dillan White's parents, Brad and Darcy White both played on State Championship teams. Brad, for McCool Junction in 1985 and Darcy for Exeter in 1986. Also, Jim Horne, father of Mitchell Horne, another senior, scored 36 points for Exeter back in 1980 at the District c-9 semi-final. Thanks to Bonnie Cudaback for sharing this information.

Timberwolves Headed to State

2010-03-11T14:14:00.004-06:00

The Exeter-Milligan Timberwolf Basketball Team pictured just before heading to Lincoln.

Escorted out of town by the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department.

The Kindergarten, First and Second Graders shared a song with the team at the pep rally.

The team comes out of the school.

The Band warms up to play the team on the bus.

Exeter-Milligan School Updage: Algebra III Class

2010-03-11T14:08:00.003-06:00

The Algebra III class just finished their unit on
probability with an activity comparing the number of a
certain color of m&m's to the percentages that Mars Company
claims is in each bag. We found the margin of error and
found most colors to be close to what the company claims.

Exeter-Milligan Boys Basketball Team Plays Thursday

2010-03-10T22:56:00.002-06:00

The Exeter-Milligan Boys Basketball Team will play their first ever State Basketball Tournament game on Thursday, March 11th at 3:45 p.m. The game will be at Lincoln Northeast High School against the #3 seeded Humphrey St. Francis. The Timberwolves are the #6 seed in the D-1 bracket. Go Timberwolves!!!!

Exeter-Milligan Elementary Spring Concert

2010-03-09T22:01:00.007-06:00

Exeter-Milligan third and fourth graders singing at the Spring Concert.

Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten, first and second graders rock out while singing about Minding their Manners.

Exeter-Milligan Sing Around Nebraska Participants sang Old Joe Clark.

The Fifth and Sixth grade band performed three tunes for the audience.

The entire group of Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten through sixth grade performing at the Spring Concert "From the Inside Out."

The Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten through sixth grade classes spent Tuesday evening entertaining family and friends with a program entitled "From the Inside Out."

Guests were welcomed to the Milligan gym by artwork created by the classes featuring the character pillars the program focused on: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Prior to the program, several piano students performed for the audience. The program began with the fifth and sixth grade band performing several numbers including the Overture 1812. The fourth graders followed, playing Ode to Joy on their recorders.

This year for the first time the third graders played Boomwhackers. They are tubes of different lengths, that when whacked, give off a different pitch. The third graders performed Whacky Chopstix.

Eight students, Ashley Benorden, Kaitlyn Clift, Janey Due, Lucy Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Joan Strate, Katie Skinner, and Bailey Stueben, participated in the Sing Around Nebraska program and they sang Old Joe Clark from their program.

All of the students, Kindergarten through sixth grade sang The Star Spangled Banner together and then rocked ut and sang a song entitled From the Inside Out by Teresa Jennings.

The Kindergarten, first and second graders sang three numbers about the character pillars, Mind Your Manners, I Promise and Respect.

Next up were the third and fourth graders who sang Fifty Nifty United States and My Personal Code.

The fifth and sixth grade classes continued the theme singing about being Responsible and Kindness. They finished their portion of the concert singing Stand By Me.

All the classes together sang It Starts With Me to close the Spring concert.

Exeter-Milligan School Update: Teachers Contribute for Jeans

2010-03-09T21:07:00.001-06:00

JEAN DONATIONS: Some of the Exeter-Milligan teachers/staff donated a
set amount of money to be able to wear jeans every Friday during the
2009-2010 school year. $ 77. 50 was donated to Lee National Denim Day
which is held the first Friday in October. Another $77.50 was given
to Blue Valley Community Impact in Geneva during December and an
additional $157.50 was kept by the school for an end of the year staff
activity.

Exeter-Milligan School Update: Turning Fiction into Reality

2010-03-09T21:05:00.002-06:00

Looking Through the Glass – by Rhoda Wahl, Exeter-Milligan Language Arts Teacher

Lewis Carroll’s timeless story, of a young girl who steps through a mirror into another
world, is considered classical fiction. At Exeter-Milligan School, however, students are
turning fiction into reality as they mentally step through the glass screen of their laptops
into the classroom of the world. Last fall, Exeter-Milligan was given the opportunity to
work with Apple Computers in a 1-to-1 Laptop Initiative. Since then, both teachers and
students have been exploring the world through the glass of a computer screen.
As an English teacher, I feel as out-of-place as Alice in the Looking Glass house. How
can computers improve my students’ reading and writing? To answer that and a myriad
of other questions, I find myself stepping through the glass myself. With each tentative
step, my students and I learn something new. Here’s what we have learned so far:
 Creative writing is much more fun in color. Colorful fonts and formatting options
personalize a “Teacher-made-me-write-it” essay into a meaningful creation.
 Research just got easier – and harder. Internet access and electronic libraries make
information easy to locate. The drawback is that having too many choices can look
daunting to a novice researcher.
 Keyboarding skills make the writing process go faster. Spelling and grammar checks
are now accompanied by a proofreader that identifies overused or vague terms (and
other writing faux pas that can make a teacher cross-eyed. Another useful feature of
our word processing package is a speech function that reads selected text back to the
writer. This helps identify awkward sentences and word errors.
 Editing and Revising is less painful for both teacher and student. Teachers and peer
editors can locate errors and insert comments or suggestions without bleeding red ink
all over a page. Revisions and corrections can be made quickly without having to
start all over on a blank page.
 Publishing a finished piece of writing is neat, attractive, and eco-friendly. Through
the use of digital drop boxes, students and teachers can pass a document back and
forth until it is polished and ready to print. This eliminates two or three printed drafts
per student, which is both economical and ecologically sound.
 Student time on task has improved. Reticent writers are spending more time creating,
revising, and publishing digitally than they do with paper and pen. They love to read
each others writing, and take pride in getting “published”.
Looking at the world through the glass can be confusing and seem backward, but I’ve
stepped through the portal. English class will never be the same again.

Obituary Carol Yound

2010-03-09T09:36:00.001-06:00

Carol Elaine Johnson Yound was born to Harold Johnson and Mildred Barker Johnson on January 14, 1937, on a farm near Greenleaf, KS, and passed away on March 5, 2010, in Exeter, NE, at the age of 73 years, 1 month and 18 days. She was one of two children in the family.
Carol attended country school until they moved to Washington, KS, where she attended and graduated from Washington High School in 1954. On April 3, 1955, Carol married Norman Leo Yound, and to this union, six children were born. Carol was active in the church playing organ, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school.
In 1970, Carol and Norm moved to Exeter, NE, from Washington, KS, and opened Norm’s IGA. She worked beside Norm until he retired, and then continued working for their son, Greg, until her retirement in 2002.
They enjoyed their retirement years together traveling the United States by bus and car. Carol was an avid reader and a member of the library board for several years. She also enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together and loved music.
Due to declining health, Carol moved to the Exeter Care Center in July 2009 and passed away late in the evening of March 5, 2010.
She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Norm, of Exeter. Children Sandy and husband Myron Zoubek of Milligan, NE, Cindy Yound of David City, NE, Greg and wife Jackie Yound of Exeter, NE, Scott and wife Jeanette Yound of Lincoln, NE, Sara and husband Darrell Oltman of Lincoln, NE, and Shari Yound of Roeland Park, KS, sister-in-law Karel Johnson, sister- and brother-in-law Verda and Larry Lindsley, three nieces and a nephew.
Honorary pallbearers are grandchildren Matt and fiancé Jocelyn Davis, Jeremy and Brandon Zoubek (Sandy), Lara Yound (Cindy), Anthony, Travis and Erica Yound (Greg), Jennifer and Nathan Yound (Scott), Ashley and Adam Oltman (Sara), great granddaughter Presley Jolene Zoubek (Matt).
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, father- and mother-in-law, Emmett and Myrtle Yound of Washington, KS, and brother, Delvin Johnson of Tonganoxie, KS, sister- and brother-in-law Eunice and Charles Griffiths of Washington, KS.
Private burial service with public memorial service on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in Exeter, NE. Memorials in lieu of flowers to the United Church of Christ or Exeter Public Library.

Exeter-Milligan Graduates Competing in National Indoor Track and Field Championships

2010-03-04T18:39:00.004-06:00

Carly Stokebrand and Marcus Ruhl, both Exeter-Milligan graduates and now students at Concordia University in Seward, qualified to compete at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

They are currently in Johnson City, Tenn. at the competition.

Marcus Ruhl is participating in the heptathlon and Carly Stokebrand is competing in the weight throw.

On Thursday, Marcus competed in the 60 Meter Dash and placed 5th in his heat and 13th in the finals with a time of 7.55 seconds in both rounds.

To follow their progress visit the Concordia University website which also contains links to the latest scores and a complete schedule of events.

Congratulations to these Exeter-Milligan Alumni!!

UPDATE:

Carly finished 12th overall nationally in the weight throw with a throw of 15.98 meters.
Upon finishing his events for the heptathlon Marcus, a sophomore, finished in 15th place.

Exeter-Milligan Boys Basketball Team headed for State

2010-03-02T22:11:00.003-06:00

The Exeter-Milligan boys defeated Palmer at Cross County tonight by a convincing 19 points picking up their first entry to the State Tournament in Exeter-Milligan history!! See you in Lincoln!!

Exeter Senior Center Hosts Programs

2010-03-02T17:42:00.004-06:00

Heather Pribyl gives her humorous prose on Tuesday afternoon at the senior center.

Linsey Klemm gives her speech on Eating Disorders.

Leesa Bartu shows a digital scrapbook page at the Senior Center.

The Exeter Senior Center has hosted several programs after their lunch bunch on Tuesdays. On February 23rd Leesa Bartu spoke to the group on scrapbooking. The emphasis of her talk was on preserving family photographs and ways to keep photos safe. She also share some simple scrapbook tools and ideas with the group.

On March 2nd, two Exeter-Milligan Juniors, Heather Pribyl and Linsey Klemm, shared their speech entries with the group. Heather Pribyl presented a humorous prose piece about "The Ticket" while Linsey Klemm presented a serious prose on eating disorders.

Cub Scout Pack 218 holds Blue and Gold and Pinewood Derby

2010-03-02T17:31:00.006-06:00

Exeter Scouts pose with their Pinewood derby cars and their awards

Trystan Brandt with his symbolic arrow of light, his parents, Roger and Diane Brandt and Akela, the medicine man and the drummer.

Exeter Cub Scout Pack 218 held their annual Blue and Gold Banquet, Sunday, February 28th. A very special ceremony was held at 5 p.m. conducted by the Golden Sun Lodge of the Order of the Arrow. Trystan Brandt of rural Milligan was presented with his Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting.

Trystan, the son of Roger and Diane Brandt, was also recognized for completing all 20 of the Webelos Activity pins. A reception, hosted by his parents was held immediately following the ceremony.

The flags were presented by the pack at 6:00 p.m. with a prayer led by Peytan Brandt prior to sharing in a potluck meal. District Representative Phil Hallisey presented a brief program on the Friends of Scouting program. After some clean up the scouts presented a skit honoring the 100th birthday of scouting in the United States.

All seven boys in the pack achieved their rank this year. The only Tiger Cub, Jackson Beethe, received his Bobcat and Tiger badge, Peytan Brandt and Johnny Babula both received their Bear Badge, Eric Olsen, Travis Gilliam and Joey Bartu all received the rank of Webelos. Joey also received the Joyful Servant religious award. Trystan Brandt received his arrow of light patch (which is the only rank badge that Cub Scouts can wear on a Boy Scout uniform), along with the all 20 activity badge.

Next the group moved on to the pinewood derby. Each year Stanley Rhodes generously brings his track and his crew. This year Robert Rhodes and Lance Larsen were his crew. These men also judge the cars for the show portion of the evening.

Each boy races each other twice with the boys switching lanes on the second race. This year's race was a tight one with Exeter-Milligan fourth grade teacher, Susan Wait as the end judge. In a run off Peytan Brandt narrowly defeated Eric Olsen to take first, Eric took second and Trystan Brandt won third place int he race. Cars are divided into two categories for the show division - stock and modified. Joey Bartu earned first place in the stock show category with Eric Olsen in second and Johnny Babula in third. In the modified division Peytan Brandt took first and Trystan Brandt took second. Cubmaster's awards for best first cars went to Jackson Beethe in first and Travis Gilliam in second.

The boys posed for pictures with their medals and cars and then led the closing flag ceremony.

Obituary Erma Jean Rouch

2010-03-02T17:17:00.001-06:00

Erma Jean (Meradith) Rouch, Plattsmouth, Neb., died Friday (2/26/10). Born November 22, 1918.

Preceded in death by husband, Frank Duain Rouch; parents, Earl and Mamie (Schenck) Meradith; brothers Jay and Max Meradith ; sister Merna Bailey. Survived by sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Marvin Stahr, York, Neb.; son and daughter-in-law, James and Donna Rouch, Beaver Lake, Neb.; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Don Wright, Lincoln, Nebraska; daughter, Kathryn Rouch, Beaver Lake, Neb.; son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Helen Rouch, Lincoln, Neb.; former daughter-in-law, Susan Rouch, Lincoln, Nebraska; eight grandchildren, Ben and Robert Rouch, Omaha, Neb., Kristin Reiter, Nathan Rouch and Joanna Rouch, Lincoln, Neb.; Elizabeth Dworak, Gretna Neb.; David Wright, Boston, Mass. and Aaron Rouch, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; eleven great-grandchildren.

Visitation 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday (3/2/10), Farmer Funeral Home, Exeter, Neb. Funeral service 11 a.m., Wednesday (3/3/10) First United Methodist Church, 701 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE. Visitation with family at 9:30 a.m. at church prior to service. Interment 4 p.m., (3/3/10) Greenwood Cemetery, York, Neb. Memorials to First United Methodist Church, Plattsmouth, Neb. or Exeter, Neb. Farmer Funeral Home, Exeter, Neb. in charge of arrangements.

Village of Exeter Board Meeting Changed

2010-03-01T22:19:00.002-06:00

The Exeter Village Board has postponed their monthly meeting to Wednesday, March 3rd at 7 p.m. at the village office.

Exeter-Milligan School Updates

2010-02-27T16:38:00.002-06:00

The Exeter-Milligan 5th grade poses above while jamming on
their air guitars. The K-6 classes have had a great time jamming to
the song "From the Inside Out." Pictured above are row 1: Joan
Strate, Haylee Sheffield, Ashley Benorden, Kaityln Clift; Row 2:
Lucy Murphy, Bailey Steuben, Samantha Horne, Hailey Luzum; Row 3: Trevor
Luzum, Trystan Brandt; Row 4: Kyle Jindra, Evan Harre, and Cameron White.

The Exeter-Milligan 3rd grade class is practicing "Whacky
Chopstix" for the upcoming concert on March 9. They will be playing
the song on the boomwhackers. Pictured above are Theron Odvody, Colton
Bossaller, Kate Jansky, Peytan Brandt, and Katherine White.

"From the Inside Out"

The Exeter-Milligan K-6 program will be held at the Milligan
gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9. The students will be
performing a character-based program called "From the Inside Out."
Classes will be singing several up-beat songs based on the six pillars of
Character Counts. These pillars are respect, responsibility, trustworthiness,
caring, fairness, and citizenship.

The concert will also feature the students who participated in Sing
Around Nebraska, the 3rd graders playing boomwhackers, the 4th
graders playing recorders, and the 5-6 grade band. Several piano
solos will be played prior to the concert. The piano solos will begin
at around 6:35 p.m.

Exeter-Milligan School Update

2010-02-25T11:05:00.002-06:00

Eight Exeter-Milligan students participated in the Sing
Around Nebraska festival in Beatrice on Saturday, February
20. The students worked hard to learn their music before
attending and then rehearsed with Dr. Therees Hibbard,
from UNL during the festival. They presented a 4:00 p.m.
concert. Those attending were: Row 1 - Lucy Murphy, Joan
Strate, Patrick Murphy; Row 2 - Katie Skinner, Bailey
Steuben, Janey Due; and Row 3 - Kaitlyn Clift and Ashley
Benorden.

G.F.W.C. Woman's Club Art Show at Exeter Public Library

2010-02-25T09:21:00.003-06:00

The Exeter G.F.W.C. Women's Club held their Annual Fine Arts show this last week and the ribboned entries are currently on display at the Exeter Public Library. The Exeter G.F.W.C. first place entries will now be taken to the District IV competition in March in Seward.

There were a total 87 art entries from the Exeter-Milligan Public Schools and the Holy Famikly Academy. Willing blue ribbons in grades K-* were 2nd grade Fuastina Ruhl, HFA, 3rd grade Spencer Pribyl, E/M, 4th grade Janey Erdkamp E/M, 5th grade Stephen Ruhl, HFA,6th grade Elliot Erdkamp, 7th grade Jordyn Brandt. Best of Show K-4 Spencer Pribyl, 5-6 Elliot Erdkamp and 7-8 Jordyn Brandt. Red ribbon awards went to 2nd grade Caitlyn Murphy, 3rd grade Johnny Babula, 4th grade Katrina Mounce and Tara Mueller, 5th grade Trystan Brandt, 7th grade Lucy Ruhl, HFA. Receiving white ribbons were 2nd grade Caityln Murphy, 3rd grade Kate Jansky, Katherine White, Johnny Babula and Joel Klemm, 4th grade Hannah Beethe and Alexis Uldrich, and 5th grade Stephen Ruhl HFA.

Receiving blue ribbons from the high school division were Jerry Kelch, mixed media, Cassie Ruhl, HFA, colored pencil, Mariah Ruhl, pencil, Chloe Brietback, print making, and Trevvor Olsen tempra. Trevvor Olson also received the best of show in the high school division. REceiving red ribbons were Spencer Bures, Mariah Ruhl, Jake Wilkins, Cassie Ruhl HFA, John Ruhl HFA, Jake Kroll and Coleen Colson. White ribbons went to Joseph Ruhl, HFA, Colleen Colson, Chloe Brietback,MiKayla Ruhl, Spencer Bures and James Strate.

In the clubWoman photography division there were four entries. Winning blue ribbons were Bonnie Cudaback, and Judy Dinneen. Judy Dinneen also had a red ribbon. Best of show went to Bonnie Cudaback. The three blue ribbons will be judged at District Fine Arts Day. In the crafts division Wilma Murphy had 5 blue ribbons for her afghan, knitted slippers, baby afghan, embroidered tea towel and knit wash cloth. Best of show was the lovely blue afghan. Wilma Cox had a nice display representing the Exeter Care Center.

Exeter-Milligan School Update

2010-02-25T09:17:00.003-06:00

Senior High Quiz Bowl: the 2010 CRC Quiz Bowl meet was
February 17, 2010 in Shickley. There were twelve teams in this year's
competition. Exeter-Milligan started in round 2 against Dorchester
with a win (55-30), followed by round 4 against Shickley and
a loss (30-45). This was a double elimination tournament, and in
round 5 E - M had a win against Osceola (35-25), round 6 a
win against Giltner (35-30) and, round 7 a win against Shelby (55-35). We were
finally playing for first or second place. Then in round 8 there was
a rematch against Shickley and a win (65-5). Then with one loss each
there was another rematch, and our second loss to Shickley (30-40).
The day brought some very good competition this year.
Shickley was first, Exeter-Milligan brought home second place honors, and
Shelby was third.

Pictured is the The Exeter-Milligan team: Back row L to R:
Jameson Trauger,Blake Papik, Brady Bristol Quinten Loontjer and Mrs. Votipka
Front row L to R: Mariah Bigelow, Taylor Erdkamp, Kelsey Moore, Becca Vossler, and Amanda Dinneen.

The remaining meets are:
Mudecas Quiz Bowl @ SCC Beatrice on March 25th, ESU 6
Academic Quiz Bowl@ Seward on April 7th (this is the district meet - hopefully qualify for state
again this year)
ESU State Quiz Bowl @ Holdrege on April 28th

Team members are: Taylor Erdkamp, Mariah Bigelow, Amanda Dinneen, Alicia Bigelow, Shauna Meyer, Becca Vossler, Quinten Loontjer, Nate Bigelow, Blake Papik, Brady Bristol, Nolan Beatham, Jameson Trauger, Mrs. J. Votipka, Kelsey Moore, and Ms. D. Fette, (and not
pictured Claire White)

Exeter-Milligan School Update

2010-02-22T11:28:00.002-06:00

WE DID IT!!
Mrs. Myers' reading group is proud to announce their
graduation from Signatures 1. They started their journey
long ago in August and worked hard to get this far. They
toiled day after day learning new words and reading 185
words per minute in less than 2 minutes! It has been a long
road, but they have enjoyed every minute of it. They have
now started the next series, Signatures 2. They are very
excited and are becoming more independent. They each have
their own textbooks (complete with questions), workbooks,
and notebooks. Each day they work hard to complete one
lesson in 90 minutes, which is usually pretty easy for this
crew. They have also learned how to be the "teacher"
and check their own papers. Each day is packed full of
learning new words and reading longer stories that are
filled with information including such subjects as Math,
Science, and Social Studies.

Exeter Native Interning at David Letterman Show

2010-02-18T21:54:00.002-06:00

Carson Stokebrand, an Exeter native, Exeter-Milligan graduate and Concordia University graduate has recently taken an intern position at the David Letterman Show in New York City. For more information visit:

Carson Stokebrand Internship

Exeter-Milligan Elementary Students at the 2010 Fillmore County Spelling Bee

2010-02-18T16:19:00.002-06:00

Four Exeter-Milligan Elementary students were chosen to represent Exeter-Milligan at the county spelling bee on February 11. They are pictured from the left Ashley Benorden, Elliot Erdkamp (holding his fourth place trophy), Janey Due and Hailey Luzum.

FCDC Annual Meeting

2010-02-18T15:54:00.002-06:00

The Annual Meeting of the Fillmore County Development Corporation was held Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Log Cabin, Geneva, Nebraska. “Deal Me In” was the theme of the open house that was held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. Thirty people attended.

Don Jividen, President of the Fillmore County Development Corporation, presided over the business meeting. The minutes of the 2009 annual meeting were approved and the proposed 2010 budget was accepted. Jim Donovan-Geneva, Pat Hilty-Fairmont, Pat Rasmussen-Geneva, Mel Taylor-Milligan and Christin Lovegrove-Geneva were elected to serve on the FCDC Board of Directors. The Fillmore County Supervisors had appointed Dennis Kimbrough, to the FCDC Board as an ex-officio member. The guidelines were reviewed and Kimbrough will how serve as a full member of the Board

Don Jividen recognized and thanked investors. He also recognized the current board members. Patt Lentfer, FCDC Executive Director, told briefly about some of the activities and projects of the FCDC during 2009.

The late Cam Wilkins was honored for his leadership and contributions to the Fillmore County Development Corporation. Gary Dick and Pat Hilty presented a plaque to his father, Hugh Wilkins. Cam was a founding member of the Corporation, served as President, and was on the Housing and Recruitment Committees as well as other sub-committees.

The Fillmore County Development Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation that was formed in 1989 and is governed by a Board of Directors. The mission of the corporation is to enhance the quality of life for Fillmore county citizens by improving the economic health of Fillmore County and strengthening its communities. Membership is open to individuals, businesses, and government entities.

Exeter-Milligan Update

2010-02-09T19:41:00.001-06:00

Second graders at Exeter-Milligan Public School have been
learning about friendly letters. To practice their letter
writing skills each student has been assigned a student in
the second grade at Friend Public School. As pen pals,
students will learn about each other via letters. They
anxiously wait for a response to each letter written. The
pen pals look forward to meeting each other this spring.
(pictured in back row: Wyatt Motis, Hunter Ostrand, Jacy
Schlueter, Ryan Sharp, Eli Johnson, Caleb Horne, Brooke
Poppert, Mrs. Marla Weber; front row: Max Zeleny, Anna
Sluka, Kayla Geiger, Caitlin Murphy, Ty Underwood, Cayden
Hartmann, Doc Jindra).

Exeter-Milligan Update

2010-02-09T19:38:00.001-06:00

In the Exeter-Milligan Physical Science class, we currently are working on the properties of elements, compounds and mixtures. It's important to be able to distinguish the difference between the three compositions of matter. One way to do this is through experimentation. Conservation of Mass was the topic for this lab; students were asked to determine whether mass is conserved in a chemical reaction. Students in the following picture are observing their final step of the lab. Conservation of Mass states that there is no loss or gain of mass during any chemical change.

Obituary: James Sluka

2010-02-08T14:25:00.000-06:00

James Robert Sluka was born to Gust J. Sluka and Mayme (Hromadka) Sluka on July 5, 1934 on the family farm south of Exeter. He passed away on February 3, 2010 at the Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva, NE at the age of 75 years, 6 months and 29 days. He was the youngest of three children.

Jim attended grade school at District 2. Here he made lifelong friends Jim & Dwayne Luzum. As a youngster, he was involved in 4H. He graduated from Exeter High School in 1952. Here he had participated in football, basketball and track. In 1957 he joined the Army with his friend, Bob Zeleny. He was honorably discharged in October 1958 and returned home to work on the family farm. He also assisted his father and brother Don in auctioneering.

In 1959 Jim was introduced by Bob Zeleny to his future wife, Annabelle Nemecek from Lincoln. They were married on September 24, 1960. They began their life together on the farm where they resided until his death. To this union, six children were born, Chris, Tom, Maryann, Diane, Sandy and Amy. Jim spent his entire life farming. He served on the school boards of District 2 and the Milligan School District. In April 1990, he began working at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska as a groundskeeper. Here he enjoyed working with his good friend, Earl McCullough and the students on campus. His dedication to the job was proven by the many early morning trips taken to remove snow. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Due to illness, he retired in 2003.

Jim loved music. He started at the early age of four, playing the accordion by ear. Later he played the saxophone in a band. Jim spent many hours entertaining his kids and grandchildren playing the accordion. He also enjoyed collecting many musical instruments.

Jim also enjoyed following his children and grandchildren in all their school activities. He will be remembered by his family for his patience and will be missed as the loving husband, father and grandfather he was.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Doris. He is survived by his loving wife, Annabelle, sons and daughter-in-laws, Chris and Renee Sluka, Tom and Karen Sluka, daughters and son-in-laws Maryann and Rob Henrichs, Diane and Jay Geiger, Sandy and Mike Folda and Amy and Craig Fey, 18 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, brother and sister-in-law Don and Lorene Sluka and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral mass was held at St. Wenceslaus Church in Milligan on February 8, 2010 with Father David Bourek officiating. Organist Karen Filipi accompanied the congregation in Amazing Graze, Peace Prayer of St Francis and Blest are They. Randy Korbelik played his favorite polka, Little Goose Polka. Server was Sam Zeleny. Pallbearers were his 18 grandchildren – Ryan Sluka, Ashley, Alicia, Josh, James and Anna Sluka, Nick Henrichs, Corey, Kacee, Kayla and Jonah Geiger, Rachel, Rebecca and Reagan Folda, Ashley, Jessica, Gracie and Colton Fey. Honorary pallbearers were Richard Rischling, Robert Rischling, Les Svec, Dwayne Luzum and Earl McCullough. Interment was in the Bohemian National Cemetery at Milligan with Farmer and Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel in charge of arrangements. Memorials are directed to Milligan Rescue Unit and Fillmore County Hospital Nursing Staff.