Exeter Native Memorialized in Wisconsin

Do you know the story of Captain Dale Rasmussen of Exeter who died in a B-47 in 1961 in Wisconsin? To read the story in the Lincoln Journal Star click here

Crop Dusters Out

It seems you can't look up in the skies on some of these days without seeing a crop duster buzz by.  It's that time of the year.  Although, last Thursday, July 17th, the skies over Exeter were also full of military jets.  For a while the clouds were thick and the planes hadn't been sighted but the sonic booms were a bit ominous.

Throwback Thursday - Exeter Preschool Class of 1980

Exeter Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department Street Dance

Come and join the Exeter Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department in celebrating Exeter Days! Gate opens at 5:00pm and its FREE to get in and enjoy a BBQ dinner of pork or chicken and Country music by the Southern Cross Band until 1:00am!
Friday night softball tournament starts 
Saturday:
9 a.m. Bullhead Fishing Tournament (check in at the Fire Hall) 
11:00 - 1:30 p.m. Boy Scout Food Stand at Ball Shack
5:00 p.m. Rusty Nichol at the Beer Garden

Swimming Lessons in the Books

Once again the Exeter Aquatic Center offered two weeks of swimming lessons to area youth.  The swimmers braved temperatures that were a bit chilly for summer each morning for the lessons.  One the last day of lessons, with testing over, the swimmers enjoyed some pool games and some diving. 

Savannah Horne jumps in off the diving board.

 Shelby Steyer of Friend isn’t sure she likes where she is headed off the diving board.

Mikey Bartu gets ready to make a big splash off the diving board.

Selah Petersen jumps into the pool for her lesson.  Brookyln Oldehoeft watches her from the pool.

From the left Mikey Bartu, Tyler Due and Devin Harrison race to the edge of the pool riding on pool noodles.

Exeter-Milligan School Board Approves New School Policies

The Exeter-Milligan School Board met on Wednesday, July 16^th at the Exeter site.  The agenda for the meeting was light and included very little new business.

Before the meeting was opened the board held a hearing on student fees with Superintendent Paul Sheffield explaining the need for the annual hearing, “We are required to hold a meeting but we technically don’t charge any student fees.  Any time we buy t-shirts or books we run those funds through the student fees account.  If a student makes a project in a technical skills class then they pay for the project.  If they can’t afford to pay for the project that we provide a project.”

After the hearing on student fees was closed a hearing was held on parental involvement.  Sheffield explained that the Exeter-Milligan district has a general policy and also one for Title 1 students.

After closing that hearing, breezing through the bills and approving minutes, Haylee Sheffield gave a presentation on her silver award winning National FCCLA project.  She shared the importance of recycling and displayed the entertainment center that she had recycled into a play kitchen.  Haylee also gave a report on her time in San Antonio, Tex. at the National FCCLA conference with her family and advisor Mary Lou Vossler.

A building and grounds project update was shared.  Sheffield reported that the Fillmore County Emergency Manager Jim Dunker had shared some emergency information with him and they are working on the idea of incorporating a safe room in the district.  He noted, “This could be eligible for funding from FEMA.”

School Board President Dr. Sharon Kuska encouraged this project, “It is important that the community know that we are talking about providing this (a safe room).”

Sheffield also reported that the cement work at the track renovation is completed and the overlay will come in early September.  He also informed the board that the TYKE preschool playground was installed and is just awaiting the rubber surface.

Continuing with the building and grounds subject Sheffield shared some of the results of the July 2^nd visit of the insurance adjuster inspecting the storm damage.  He reported that the school car was totaled but the district opted to keep it to use it for driving back and forth to Milligan.  Also, the red mini van was damaged but a tree that fell.  The elementary windows were replaced and he expected the carpet to be laid soon. 

Sheffield had investigated the tree damage at the Exeter campus and found that several trees had ash borer and after contacting the Extension office found that the trees could not be saved.  He also noted a tree that had grown too close to the building foundation that would have to be removed.  Tree removal has been scheduled and will be completed before August 1^st. 

Sheffield noted that the pine trees on the east side of the elementary school had been severally damaged by the hail storm and when they were  inspected pine wilt was found and they will have to be removed.

The board moved on to a discussion on the invitation they extended for the Friend junior high boys to join the Exeter-Milligan junior high football team.  Sheffield reported that there was a verbal acceptance from Friend, but the Exeter-Milligan Board felt there should be a written acceptance or a motion from the Friend School Board.  Board Member Brent Moore expressed concerns about liability issues.

Last month the Exeter-Milligan board reviewed changes to the policies.  This month, the board approved policy changes which addressed tobacco vapor products and the post-concussion return to school policy among others.

New business was introduced with the first item being budget.  Sheffield reported they are just getting started but “our levy may go down to .60 since valuations are projected to increase $1000 per acre for farm ground.”

The 2014-15 student handbook was reviewed by the school lawyers.  “The changes have been highlighted and will go out to our students are parents this way.”

The census report was also presented to the board and was approved.  It will now be forwarded to the state.

The board approved Conley Straight as a local substitute.

Sheffield reminded the board that there will be an open house at both sites on August 12^th from 5 – 7 p.m. and the next school board meeting was set for August 13^th in Milligan at 8 p.m.

Congratulations to two local UNL students

Our congratulations to Exeter-Milligan graduate Kelsey Moore, (right) daughter of Brent and Lori Moore, who was recently inducted into the Mortar Board Society along with Friend graduate Chelsea Kubicek, (left) daughter of Richard and Mary Kubicek.
 Students, faculty and alumni will be honored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at its annual Ivy Day ceremonies on April 19.
            The event, co-sponsored by Mortar Board and the Innocents Society, recognizes the outstanding contribution of students selected to serve in the two organizations, as well as the achievements of current members and notable underclassmen and seniors.
            Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. at the Nebraska Champions Club, 707 Stadium Drive, and conclude with the traditional planting of the ivy by the 2014-15 presidents of the societies, Andrew "AJ" Blazek for Mortar Board and Joe Farley for the Innocents Society. Both are from Omaha.
            Mary B. Marcy, president of Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif., will give the keynote address. A UNL graduate and a native of Sheridan County, Marcy is a former president of the Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board.
            Honorary memberships in the Innocents Society will be presented to Donde Plowman, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business Administration; Susan Voss, student development and events director for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; and Andre Fortune, director of the Office of Academic Success and International Services, and the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.
            Honorary Mortar Board memberships will be presented to Bill Avery, Nebraska state senator; Tim Clare, Lincoln attorney and University of Nebraska regent; and Scott Winter, assistant professor of news-editorial in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
            The Innocents Society inducts 13 new members each spring, with selection based on leadership, scholarship and service to the university and greater community. The Innocents Society was founded in 1903 to promote the spirit of the university and is the chancellor's senior honorary. It is not affiliated with any national organization.
            New members of Mortar Board are tapped into the Black Masque Chapter each spring by Mortar Boarders wearing black masks and robes. The 28 new members were selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship, leadership and service to the university and community.

Obituary: Melvin Motis

Melvin Dean Motis was born to Frank Motis and Helen Kovanda Motis on June 17, 1939, at Exeter, and passed away on Tuesday, July 15, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend, at the age of 75 years.

Mel grew up in Exeter and graduated from Exeter Public High School in 1957. He married Carol Jean Hughes on April 23, 1966, and to them three sons were born; Mike, Doug and Jim.

Following graduation, Mel served in the US Army and competed on the Army Rifle team, before going to work for Burlington Northern Railroad. After a few years he came back to the family farm and continued to farm with his father, raising crops, hogs and cattle until 1984 when the farm economy began to struggle.

During this time Mel served for 8 years on the Exeter School board. With three growing boys to feed, Mel was forced to work off the farm at various jobs, including Volkmer Construction, Horizontal Boring and Jacques Seed. In 1988 Mel took a job with Boeing Aviation in Wichita, KS, and worked there until the death of his wife, Carol, in 1993. Mel moved back to the family farm and started M and M Tree Service, which he continued to operate until his health began to fail in 2004. Despite his failing physical strength, Melvin continued to help many neighbors and friends with field work in the spring, and with harvest in the fall. He came to love swathing hay for Jason Oldehoeft, and would never turn down an opportunity to mow hay, a beloved activity he continued until May of this year.

Throughout much of his life, Mel was known for his trap shooting skills, and spent many weekends and weeknights shooting with some of his closest friends. Family vacations often included the State Trap Shoot in Doniphan. Over the years, the mass of trophies, guns and other winnings were enough to fill a whole room. He spent many nights reloading shells after working all day, and would always make it to a shoot the next day, wherever it may be.

Mel was an avid hunter and wildlife lover. Many a time he could be found near his canary grass plot watching the pheasants fly in. Growing up he never missed a hunting season, and he passed that passion on to his three boys. Many winter days he could be found cruising the countryside with all three boys in the truck, looking for pheasant, rabbit or quail. For a little sporting fun, he would even take the boys on an occasional coyote hunt on Sundays, despite missing church services.

Mel was also a devoted sports fan, many Saturdays were spent watching college football with his grandsons, but he was especially proud to watch his grand kids in all their sporting events never missing a chance to attend a football, softball, basketball game or wrestling match.

You could always find Mel at an auction, coin sale, having coffee, or just putting around in the “silver bullet” he refused to quit driving. He spent a lot of time at his grandkids’ trap shoots, all of which followed in their granddad’s footsteps, taking up an interest in the sport.

He loved the Fillmore County Fair hog show, and you could find him sitting somewhere in the stands. He enjoyed watching his grandkids show their pigs, and he would never miss one of their shows, regardless of what else needed to be done. He had the best seat in the house this year having passed on the day of the Fillmore County Fair hog show. He was watching from above as they drove several pigs to champion honors.

In his retirement, Mel found a love of cooking and canning, specializing in pickles, pork and beans, and jaternice, which he was proud to share with family and friends. He spent many hours playing pitch, poker, or any game of chance, and enjoyed riding along on any road trip with the boys, whatever the activity or destination.

Over the years Mel met many people that he was blessed to know, a source of great pride for him. Wherever he went someone knew him.

Mel will be remembered for being just a little bit stubborn and stuck in his ways, maybe a little too quick to complain. But he always said, “If you don’t tell someone what they are doing wrong, they won’t get better.”

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen; wife, Carol; sister, Marlene VanPatten; and brother-in-law William “Blackie” VanPatten.

He is survived by sons, Mike and Brenda, Geneva; Doug and Lori, Exeter; and Jim and Natalie, Geneva; grandsons, Thane, Preston, Colton, Wyatt, Trevian, and Gatlin; granddaughters, Caroline and Toni; brother, Ernest; sister-in-law, Betty Motis; aunt, Clarabelle Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

Throwback Thursday: 1956 Undefeated Football Team

Death Notice: Melvin Motis

Mel D. Motis
(June 17, 1939 - July 15, 2014)

Funeral services for Mel will be held on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Exeter. Pastor Kenn Leischner will officiate the services.

Following the funeral services, Mel will be cremated and interred at a later date in the Exeter Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva.
Memorials are directed to the family to be designated at a later date.