Exeter GFWC Woman's Club to Host Celebration

The Exeter GFWC Woman's Club will be hosting a special 10th birthday celebration for the State of Nebraska on Wednesday March 1st at 2 p.m. at the Exeter United Church of Christ. The community is invited to attend this celebration.

Obituary for Roger D. Johnson, Sr.

Obituary for Roger D. Johnson Sr.

A funeral service for Roger will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cordova, Nebraska. Pastor Michelle Kanzaki will officiate the services.

A graveside committal will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the funeral service.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 24, 2017 at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Memorials are directed to the family for future designation.

Roger Dean Johnson Sr. was born to Emory and Dagmar (Rasmussen) Johnson on May 17, 1939 on a farm in York County Nebraska. He passed away on February 20, 2017 at Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City, Arizona. He was the fourth of five children. The farm where Roger was born was near the farm where he lived most of his life. It was the home place where his father, Emory, was born. Roger later moved just a half mile away when he purchased the farm of Arden and Eyvonne Johnson.

Roger was baptized and confirmed in the Danish Lutheran Church in Cordova, NE.

Roger had a tractor accident when he was thirteen years old while he was driving it. The tractor ran over him causing back problems for the rest of his life.

He graduated from Exeter High School in 1956. He joined the Nebraska National Guard following graduation from high school. Roger took his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri.
In 1958 he married his high school sweetheart, Suzanne (Barkmeier). Three children were born to this union.

Roger was a farmer all of his life. He started feeding cattle with his dad when he was still in high school. They fed together many years and later with his son, Roger Jr. This was the only occupation that he ever considered doing. He was a member of the Exeter Feeders and Breeders Association for several years and served on the board of that organization. He won the tractor driving contest at the State Fair as a young man, and received a Young Farmer Award in his early years farming.

Roger drove a truck to Omaha and St. Joseph, MO for Ralph Kubicek at an early age and also for S & A Trucking while he was farming. Roger also served on the board of the Cordova elevator. He was a member of the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department for several years.

Roger enjoyed taking trips in his RV with family and friends. In recent years he enjoyed traveling to a warmer climate during the cold winter months in his fifth wheel RV.

Roger was preceded in death by his son, Roger Dean Johnson, Jr, parents Emory and Dagmar Johnson, sister Shirley Zimmer, brother Emory Allen Johnson, brothers-in-law Lee Zimmer, Dean Weber, and George (Milo) Springer.

Roger is survived by his wife, Suzanne, of fifty-eight years; his daughter, Shari (Bill) Miller of Clay Center, NE; Cynthia (Kent) Manning of Burress, NE; his daughter-in-law, Margaret Johnson of Exeter. He was also proud of his eight grandchildren: Derek (Danielle) Miller of Lincoln, NE; Shannon (Aaron) Tebo of Robinson, TX; Jessica (Joseph) Fehlhafer of Friend NE; Keegan (Kathleen) Johnson of Lincoln, NE; Elijah Johnson of Exeter, NE; Tyler, Brooke & Mitchell Manning of Burress, NE; and Two great-grandchildren, Miller Tebo and Kal Johnson and he was looking forward to a baby girl this coming June. He is also survived by two sisters, Sylvia Springer of Sun City, AZ, and Marilyn (Alvin) Vyhnalek of Crete, NE; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Barbara and Gale Heffelfinger of Exeter, NE; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A funeral service for Roger was held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cordova, Nebraska. Pastor Michelle Kanzaki officiated the service. Amy Emshoff accompanied Randy Kaliff in the singing of “How Great Thou Art,” and she also accompanied the congregation in the singing of “Amazing Grace.”

Pallbearers for the service included Derek Miller, Keegan Johnson, Tyler Manning, Mitchell Manning, Elijah Johnson, Joseph Fehlhafer, Aaron Tebo, and Garrett Pribyl. Honorary bearers included Jessica Fehlhafer, Shannon Tebo, Brooke Manning, Danielle D’Amore-Miller and Kathleen Johnson. Interment was held in the Exeter Cemetery following the funeral service. Memorials are directed to the family for future designation. Farmer Funeral Home of Exeter conducted the services.

Timberwolves Headed to State

Lincoln here we come!  The Lady Timberwolves who lost unexpectedly in sub-districts earned a wild card spot for the state tournament in Lincoln next week.  Updates soon on who their opponent will be and when they will play!  Go Timberwolves!

Death Notice: Roger D. Johnson

Roger D. Johnson Sr.

A funeral service for Roger will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cordova, Nebraska. Pastor Michelle Kanzaki will officiate the services.

A graveside committal will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the funeral service.

Tri County Job and College Fair

Exeter Village Board Approves One and Six Year Road Plan

by Leesa K. Bartu

 

After pointing out the open meeting act information Chairman Alan Michl directed the Exeter Village Board to the minutes and invoices during the Wednesday, February 8 2017 meeting.

The board moved on quickly to review the one and six year road plan which included the updates the board is considering.

Michl commented that “Main street is in good shape – we are just going to do the sidewalks.  There will probably be a little street repair because of the infrastructure.”

Exeter resident Ed Mark questioned the board on the timing of the construction and the issues on the truck route in front of his home “I hope you aren’t going to do this when the kids are in school.”

Michl responded, “It’s a timing issue but to be honest with you we aren’t going to wait.  We can’t, contractor’s can’t wait.”

Michl also reassured Mark that the road would be re-engineered.  And Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller noted that the substrate will be properly applied which will fix the issues that the road has.

Mark responded,  It’s an issue.  We get hit with trucks going in and out since you changed the truck route,  things will shake off the counter.”

After further discussion the board approved Resolution 1702 to adopt the one and six year road plan.

Deeds were presented from Brian Murphy and Exeter-Milligan school which were part of Cheyenne street that was vacated. The board accepted the deeds in a formal motion which passed. They were needed in order to open the road.

Patt Lentfer gave an update on the Fillmore County Development Coorporation.  She invited the board members to come to the annual meeting on February 23 in Grafton.  She also presented the board with copies of the Southeast Nebraska travel guide and gave a brief report in the expansion of the ethanol plant and the construction of the anhydrous plant in Geneva.  

Lentfer noted that housing has been at a premium because of the influx of temporary employees for the recent construction projects.

The board reviewed the pool manager and lifeguard applications but noted that don’t have any applications for the maintanence position yet.

The board hired Jackie Luzum as the manager,  Sara Lincoln on a limited basis as assistant manager and for swimming lessons.  The also hired Ashley Benorden and Bailey Stueben as lifeguards and after completing the coursework as assistant managers.

Additional returning lifeguards hired were Sydney Hall, Tara Mueller and Katie Mounce.  New lifeguards hired dependent on them passing the certification were Josie Kresak, Hannah Beethe, Kalisha Gergen and Katherine White.

Kathy Erdkamp confirmed the hiring policy, “I think we should do what we have always done, the ones that have been there the longest get the most hours.”

The board moved on to the next agenda item, reviewing the water rates of similar sized communities.  After comparing the rates to what Exeter charges, Michl determined, “We are cheap, we need to consider an adjustment of our rates.”   

Exeter Village Clerk Becky Erdkamp noted that, ”State statute requires that your water and sewer programs have to pay for themselves.”

“On average we are losing $6500 a year on our water,” noted Michl, “We are $1.05 less per thousand gallons than the average looking at the towns around us.”

Michl also quoted the report noting the average household in Exeter uses 79,000 gallons of water per year.

Clerk Erdkamp reported that the board had last raised rates in Dec 2012.  The board discussed several options but decided to wait until the next meeting when they have more information and then consider an ordinance in April with updated rates.

Exeter Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller reported that all of the sewer and water line mapping was finished.  Mueller met with JEO engineer Dave Henke who will be working on the planning of the infrastructure project the village is considering.  

Mueller reported that the new backhoe was delivered and it has already been used.

Clerk Erdkamp reported that sales tax for November was $11,212.13 and she expects December to be higher.  The Keno for December was $665.82.   The board set the next meeting for March 8.

Exeter-Milligan Band

Bottom row from the left:  Madison Luzum, Cameron Jansky, Brianna Capek, Haylee Sheffield, Katelyn Babula, Cammie Harrison, Katie Mounce, Kaitlyn Vavra, Anna Sluka, Kayla Geiger, Georgia Meyer, Jaiden Papik, Second row from the left:  Becca Krupicka, Jaycee Schlueter, Emma Olsen, Anna Bettu, Daisy Kanode, Samantha Horne, Caitlin Murphy, Alec SChlueter, Casey Jindra, Katie Skinner, Destiny Fairbank, Braden Capek, Ben Bartu and Kole Svec.  Third row from the left:  Kate Jansky, Janey Erdkamp, Hannah Beethe, Ashley Benorden, Alexis Uldrich, Ella WIlkins, Quinten Behrends, Trever Zelenka, Brock Stueben, Theron Odvody, Josie Kresak, Kiah Songster, Peyton Pribyl.  Top row from the left: Bailey Stueben, K.K. White, Blake Steuben, Mitchell Manning, Clint Oldehoeft, Spencer Pribyl, Trystan Brandt, Peytan Brandt, Patrick Murphy, Joel Klemm, Joey Bartu, Eli Johnson, Nick Hayek, Hannah Horne and Macy Due.

Exeter-Milligan Music Department Update

Trystan Brandt, a senior at Exeter-Milligan, performed in the UNK Honor Band under the direction of Dr. Duane Bierman on Monday, January 23, after a a day of rehearsals.

Two Exeter-Milligan students, Trystan Brandt and Jacy Schlueter, were selected as members of the Wayne State College Honor Band.  They rehearsed and performed in a concert on Saturday, January 28 on the Wayne State College campus.

The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Choir participated in the CRC Junior High Vocal Clinic on Monday, January 30, in Hampton.  They rehearsed all afternoon with over 200 conference students under the direction of Mrs. Erinn Machacek.  The Exeter-Milligan students also performed "The Journey" by themselves during the concert.  Row 1 (l-r) Ben Bartu, Kole Svec, Rebecca Krupicka, Cameran Jansky, Maddie Luzum, Cammie Harrison, Daisy Kanode; Row 2 (l-r) Braden Capek, Dylan Bonds, Chris Kelch, Kiah Songster, Jaiden Papik, Natalie Staskal, Georgia Meyer, Emma Olsen; Row 3 (l-r) Clint Oldehoeft, Wes Ronne, Alec Schlueter, Peyton Pribyl, Casey Underwood, Casey Jindra, Brock Steuben, Jackson Beethe, Sean Gibson, Briana Capek, Katelyn Babula

Katherine Skinner, an Exeter-Milligan senior, participated in the Doane Vocal Festival on January 8-9.   She sang under the direction of Doane's choir director, Dr. Kurt Runestad, as well as the composer of their literature, Jake Runestad.