Fillmore County Historical Society Hosts Museum Day

Wanda Marget, left, and Bea Snodgrass, right, help Exeter-Milligan students get settled on their three legged stools to make butter.

Linda Bristol shows Exeter-Milligan students the history room at the Fillmore County Museum.

Mary Pribyl, left, and Lois Pribyl, right, tell Exeter-Milligan students about their time as one-room school teachers. Both women taught in the Exeter and Milligan schools before they were combined.

Everyone remembers their fourth grade Nebraska history lessons, right? Wouldn't you remember them better if you had a living history presentation in and about your own county?

The Fillmore County Historical Society did their part in trying to help Exeter-Milligan, Fillmore Central, and Shickley fourth graders learn about the history of their county on Tuesday afternoon.

The tour of the Fillmore County Museum included eight stations for the fourth graders to explore and experience during the day long event.

The event was started by then fourth grade teacher Janet Stephenson with museum curator Ruth Black, a former teacher and Exeter resident Shirley Trauger. According to Stephenson, "We wanted to get kids involved in history through the Fillmore County Museum. This was a way to get people to know about our museum. We invited all the fourth grade classes in the county because they study Nebraska history."

The group started hosting the event in 1994 with several of the schools coming, this year was the first year that Exeter-Milligan has attended the event.

Despite cooler than normal temperatures there were over 80 fourth graders in downtown Fairmont learning to make butter, make their own soap, make rope and make a quilt. There were eight stations during the event which included a tour of the store buildings from Doane College student and Fillmore Central graduate Caitlin Moore. FCHS board member Linda Bristol led the students through the Ashby Building, highlighting the history room where much of the paper history of the county is stored.

Stephenson gave the students a class on making lye soap, helped them make the soap and then showed them how to hand wash clothing. Each student was given a sample of the lye soap to take home. The students enjoyed their lesson in cow milking and butter making, challenged by sitting on the three-legged stools and shaking their baby food jars of cream to make butter. They got to sample some fresh made butter on a cracker and take their own jar of butter home.

Also, visiting from Wilber, was Les Vilda, well-known in the pioneer circles as the rope-making man. He taught the students the art of making rope, letting them participate in each aspect of the process of making the rope. The students enjoyed playing jump rope with their new rope.

Another outdoor station was the homestead station. Doug Rung, a member of the FCHS, dressed in military garb talked to the fourth graders about houses on the prairie, including, dugouts, sod homes and log homes. He showed how the pioneers would load their guns, trade good with Indians and samples of the foods they ate.

Georgia Schropfer helped the students "learn how math and geometry built quilts." They were shown many quilt patterns and created their own quilts with fabric glued onto a paper base. She also taught interested students how to hand-quilt a quilt top.

Inside the store buildings students made a stop at the "District 96" schoolhouse. Two former one-room schoolhouse teachers, Mary Pribyl and Lois Pribyl, explained how they had taught in at schools in Fillmore County. They gave the fourth graders a rundown of the typical one-room day schedule while they were seated at old-fashioned desks. They also explained how the county has gone from 95 districts to just three citing the "modernization of farming" as one of the primary factors in the shrinking of the number of homes in sections.

To end the day all of the students met at the Fairmont American Legion Hall and had a sing-a-long before heading back to their schools.

The Fillmore County Museum is open to the public by appointment by contacting Dave Moore, Wanda Marget or Bea Snodgrass or Wanda Marget.

Exeter Legion Auxiliary Holds Gold Star Tea

Gold Star Sisters Jane Kaiser, left, and Sharon Dyer, right.

Gold star tea was served.

Gold Star sisters Sharon Dyer, left, and Jane Kaiser, right, were honored for their families sacrifice with a lovely plant and a gift certificate.

The Exeter American Legion Auxiliary honored the families of fallen Exeter heroes on Monday evening. They held their annual Gold Star Tea with two Gold Star sisters present.

Auxiliary President Annette Gloystein shared several appropriate scriptures and thoughts with the group and Gold Star Tea Committee member Carol Bettger led the group in prayer. A beautiful tea was served and the sisters were presented with flowers and a gift certificate.

Jane Kaiser was a sister to Arthur Becker who was killed in World War II and Sharon Dyer was a sister to Kenneth McLeese who was killed during the Vietnam War. Each year the Auxiliary remembers those men who have lost their lives during conflicts and honors the family members who have sacrificed.

Death Notice: Wayne Moore

Death Notice
Wayne L. Moore
Age 81 of York, Nebraska formerly of Exeter
died in Lincoln on
Sunday May 9, 2010
Born to
Frank & Fay ( Stenson ) Moore
May 9,1928 in Republic County, Kansas
Survivors:
Wife:
Loryne Moore-York, NE
Son:
Brent & Lori Moore-Exeter, NE
Daughters:
Patrice & John Lovegrove-Fairmont, NE
Vicki & Bob Lovegrove-Grafton, NE
Sister-In-Law & Brother-In-Law:
Heral Jean & Keith Schultz-Superior, NE
11 Grandchildren
9 Great Grandchildren
Services 10:30 a.m., Wednesday
United Methodist Church
Exeter, NE
Beginning Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. Until 8:00 p.m.
Family to greet friend from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Farmer Funeral Home - Exeter, Nebraska
Visitation
Memorials to Exeter United Methodist Church
Legion Post 218, Exeter Fire & Rescue
Memorials
Exeter Cemetery - Military Services
Exeter, Nebraska
Officiating is Pastor Jeff Adams

Exeter Senoir Center Hosts 9th Annual Senior to Senior Breakfast

After breakfast the graduating seniors enjoyed visiting with their grandparents.

The Exeter Senior Center was full of graduating seniors and their grandparents.


It's a little early but these seniors are ready to dig into some breakfast.


The Exeter Senior Center once again hosted their Senior to Senior breakfast. This gives the graduating seniors an opportunity to celebrate their graduation with their grandparents and great-grandparents.

Nine years ago the Exeter Senior Center started the program based on the idea of then advisory board member Elva McBride. McBride recalled a similar program in her hometown of Mc Cook. At the program, Fillmore County Senior Services Advisor Brenda Motis stated, "This has become something the grandparents look forward to, a special time for them to spend with their grandkids."

The center had rolls, muffins and donuts on the table for the guests and served everyone a breakfast casserole. Coffee and juice was poured by Senior Center volunteers. The color themes were purple and black as chosen by the graduating class of 19, all of whom were present.

After the meal was served Motis took the opportunity to talk to the group. She reminded the seniors that "No matter what, always remember you'll always have a link to the Exeter and Milligan communities and family and friends and neighbors like us who are thinking of you and supporting you all the way. From all of us at the Exeter Senior Center, the best of luck to each of you."

When they finished their meal, the graduating seniors were asked to introduce themselves, tell the group about their future plans and introduce their grandparents.

In addition to serving the breakfast the Senior Center also held a drawing for Casey's gift certificates. The female gift went to Ana Androyna and the male gift went to James Strate. They also drew names for all of the balloon bouquets that were used as decorations.

The volunteers who made the event possible were Elva McBride, Evelyn Elznic, Evelyn Michl, Doris Hall, Roma Rhodes, Shirley Janes, Elaine Krejci, Marion Geiger, Tess Moor and Darlene Becker.

Exeter-Milligan Alumni Breaks School Record at Concordia

Concordia University Senior Carly Stokebrand, an Exeter-Milligan alum, recently broke the Concordia school record in the hammer at Conference competition in Hastings last Saturday.

Overall Carly placed second in the conference in hammer throw and first in discus. Click here to go to the Concordia University website for a wrap-up of the event.

Olympic Gold Medalist Speaks at Exeter-Milligan

Mr. Schlueter admires Curt Tomasevic's medal.

Mr. Gabel, left, introduces his fellow Shelby native, Olympic Gold Medalist Curt Tomasevic.

The "show" helmet was signed by Tomasevic's teammates from the 2010 USA Bobsled team.

Tomasevic patiently signed papers, notebooks and t-shirts for Exeter-Milligan students and community members.

He definitely has a story to tell. A story of Olympic gold, but the story has a strange twist. How do you fit bobsledding onto the plains of Nebraska?

Curt Tomasevic didn't even think of bobsledding while he fought his way onto the Cornhusker football team. Growing up in Shelby, Neb. the closest he ever came to a bobsled was "riding on a saucer sled behind a four-wheeler."

Now, he has won an Olympic gold medal in bobsledding, a World Cup gold medal and a World Title all in bobsledding.

He spoke to the Exeter-Milligan students and community members on Wednesday afternoon in Exeter and gave them a peak into what he believes are the roots of his success.

Shelby. It's the small town of Shelby "690 people raised $25,000 for me. No one Shelby had ever seen a bobsled. They did it on faith, believed in me. They didn't know I would make it to the Olympics," said Tomasevic.

He shared both his story with the group and things that have made a difference. He emphasized how small towns work and support each other recalling an incidence when he was young where their football coach took the boys to help a farmer when they were supposed to be practicing football "because that's what small towns do. They do for each other."

He named some of the many things he has done because he had that backing, visited the White House, watched the shuttle launch, joined Pearl Jam on stage, rode in a F-16, been on The Late Show with David Letterman, pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, will be throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game.

And while he shared with the crowd the outfit and shoes of a bobsledder and showed the clip of the run where they won the gold medal he wanted them to see the root of his success. He explained that they have to first of all "remember where you have been, then, where you are and finally where you are going. If you can do these things you will be successful. Remember your roots."

Tomasevic kept the gold medal securely around his neck while he took photos with students and community members and also signed autographs. Tomasevic was introduced by Exeter-Milligan science teacher Grant Gabel who is also from Shelby and thanked by Principal Lindley Schlueter whose wife Melanie is from Shelby.

Exeter-Milligan Students Learn How to Save from First National Bank in Exeter

Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten class with Tammy Sladek (back row, left) and Sharla Dineen (back row, right) from First National Bank in Exeter.

Free money? That is what Exeter-Milligan elementary students are smiling about.

As part of a nationwide program to teach children to save, First National Bank in Exeter employee's Sharla Dinneen and Tammy Sladek visited all of the Exeter-Milligan elementary students.

Each child was given a $1 coin to encourage them not only to save money, but also to introduce the concept of the $1 coin and the impact that the U.S. Mint hopes it has on the nation.

During the program the children reviewed the concept of "going green" and the three R's of recycling. Currently the U.S. Mint has been promoting the "green" benefits of the new $1 coin. Dinneen shared during the program how the new coin is 100% recyclable and in circulation, outlasts the paper dollar bill by over 28 years. "The U.S. Mint has even been making personal phone calls to banks to encourage the use of the coins," according to Alan Emshoff, President of First National Bank in Exeter.

The Exeter bank, which has participated in the National Teach Children to Save Day program for 13 years did so because they "wanted to promote to the kids the difference between wants and needs, savings and interest and to be good stewards," said Emshoff.

Dinneen enjoys seeing "how excited the children are. . . they have such a positive reaction. They truly want to save."

In addition to giving each elementary student a $1 coin, they received a pencil, a snack and a drink from the bank. Although the bank participates in the national event, it is entirely funded by the First National Bank in Exeter.

Over 75 banks in Nebraska participate in the National Teach Children to Save Day with 80,000 bankers and volunteers reaching approximately 3.4 million school children.

Time to Sign up For Summer Reading Program!!

The Exeter Public Library Summer Reading Program is about to start. Are you ready to get wet this summer? This June come 'Make a Splash @ Your Library'. Discover sea life, pirates, treasure and 'oceans' of books. There will be stories, crafts, activities and FUN!
The free weekly programs, for kids pre-school through 3rd grade, start June 4.
Stop in the library or call 266-3031 to register and for program days and time.
Come join the fun and dive into a good Book!

New Items at the Library

New Books List:
For Adults:
9th Judgement by James Patterson
Reckless by Andrew Gross
Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods
Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson
Solar by Ian McEwan
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark
Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
Reluctant Gourmet Cooks For Kids Too-Donated by the author and past Exeter resident Lois Long Noble.
A Baker's Dozen-Donated by the Nebraska State Quilt Guild.

For Kids:
Lots of new books for Summer Reading Program in June.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel -DVD

Exeter Marshal's Office Update

With the first holiday of the summer soon to kick off, the Exeter Police Department is announcing that we will be participating in the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety “Click It Or Ticket” enforcement that will be occurring from May 24^th to June 6^th. Exeter Officers are currently scheduled for an additional 40 hours of patrol time during this period for which all wages will be paid for by the program’s grant. The program, as well as the associated enforcement, will focus on child restraint and safety belt law compliance. For more information you may visit www.nhtsa.gov/CIOT.