Exeter-Milligan 5th- 8th graders participate in music contest

 Exeter-Milligan students traveled to Davenport, NE on Saturday morning to participate in the Bruining-Davenport music contest.  Front row from the left:  Becca Krupicka, Briana Capek, Katelyn Babula, Maddie Luzum, Olivea Swanson, Jasmine Turrubiates, Katie Warner, and Jozie Kanode.  Second row from the left Carter Milton, Aidan Vavar, Jayden Capek, Kierra Papik, Savana Krupicka, Taylor Pribyl and Devin Harrison.  Third row from the left:  Tyler Due, Mikey Bartu, Andrew Vavra, Draven Payne, Dravin Birkes,Troy Kallhoff, Malorie Staskal, and Ayla Kahler.  Back row from the left are Kole Svec, Ben Bartu and Braden Capek.

Playing their piece in front of the judge are (l-r)  Tyler Due, Dravin Birkes and Troy Kallhoff.

FCDC Holds 2018 Annual Meeting

Picture L to R:  Megan Williams, Don Bristol, Patt Lentfer, FCDC Director, Bart Brinkman, Eric Kamler, Charlie Trauger, Amie Underwood, Bryce Kassik, Marcus Ruhl, Brandy VanDeWalle, Derek Betka.  (Not picture-Nate Hughes, Jeff Spiehs, Cindy Myers

FCDC Holds 2018 Annual Meeting

The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Fillmore County Development was held at Charlie’s Pub in Milligan.  The evening started with FCDC hosting a social gathering and Brandy VanDeWalle, president of the Fillmore County Development Corporation, welcoming everyone to the 2018 annual meeting.

The FCDC then presented the first “Fillmore County Entrepreneur of the Year” to Jaime Lopez and his family who opened Molcajete Mexican Restaurant in October of 2016.  Jan Stoldorf who worked closely with Mr. Lopez throughout the project introduced Jaime and gave a short history of the business. 

The guidelines for deciding an “Entrepreneur of the Year” includes; having been in business for at least one year but not more than three, have at least one employee other than the owner(s), be open at least 5 days a week with regular hours, and provide a product or service that will be used throughout the county and beyond.

Brandy VanDeWalle, President of the FCDC, called the 2018 annual business meeting to order.  During the business meeting the minutes of the 2017 annual meeting were approved, the financial report was accepted and the proposed budget for 2018 was approved.  Cindy Myers of Ohiowa and Charlie Trauger of Exeter were elected as new Board of Directors of the FCDC to serve four year terms. 

VanDeWallle recognized and thanked the 2017 FCDC members for their investment and support. She also recognized the FCDC Board members:  Bart Brinkman, Don Bristol, Derek Betka, Nate Hughes, Bryce Kassik, Marcus Ruhl, Jeff Spiehs, Amie Underwood, and Brandy VanDeWalle and Megan Williams. Eric Kamler and Megan Williams were recognized and thanked for their contributions to the FCDC as they fulfilled their terms.

Patt Lentfer, Executive Director, also thanked the FCDC investors, Board members, committee members and the FCDC Administrative Assistant for all of their work in 2017.  There had been a lot of growth in 2017 with business expansions, business start-ups, business transfers and even a business merger.  Lentfer thinks of Fillmore County as her community and is proud of the way people band together to take advantages of opportunities that come to our way.

After the meeting adjourned, Jodi Pribyl, one of the owners of Charlie’s Pub, talked about how a group of four couples decided that Milligan needed a place like Charlie’s Pub. This group put in their time and money and opened the doors in December. The reviews have been great.

 

Exeter-Milligan Cheerleaders hold Lil T-Wolf Cheer Camp

The Exeter-Milligan Cheerleaders held their annual Lil T-wolf cheer camp after school on Friday, February 16.  The lil’ t-wolf cheerleaders learned a dance and cheers from the high school cheerleaders and also made a craft to use in their dance.  They all had supper together and then performed during halftime of the boys basketball game in front of a packed audience.

Below -Exeter-Milligan elementary students (l-r) Ensley Stahl, Kate Pribyl and Mackenzie Jaeger had a great time learning the cheers at the Lil’ T-wolf cheer camp.

Fillmore County Development Corporation Hosts Lunch and Learn

FCDC Hosts Lunch and Learn in January

A one-hour Lunch and Learn, “Spreading a Positive Attitude”, was held on January 25, 2018 at the Geneva Public Library in Geneva. Mike Henke, from Mike Henke, Inc. of Doniphan, NE was the speaker.

Henke, presented “Spreading a Positive Attitude,” to the 50 participants from across Fillmore County.  Henke has always been interested in people and he believes a positive workplace culture is a business’s best recruiting tool. It begins with having a positive mindset, a positive tone and pitch of your voice. Henke dispelled several “myths” that people believe hinders positive attitudes.  He offered ideas on how to get past the ideas that you can’t change people, employees are hard to find so we have to be lenient, people do not like change, you can’t just “Be Positive”, and workplace culture is overrated.

The Fillmore County Development’s Leadership Development Committee sponsored the Lunch and Learn.  A grant from the Shickley Community Foundation helped with the cost of the speaker.

Exeter-Milligan Boys Take Down the Longhorns

 It was just the Exeter-Milligan boys tonight at home but they definitely showed they were ready for sub-districts next week.  The dominated Dorchester 56-32.

FCDC Names Fillmore County Entrepreneur of the Year

Jaime Lopez, Owner of Molcajete Mexican Restaurant

Named Fillmore County Entrepreneur of the Year

The Fillmore County Development Corporation named Jaime Lopez, owner of the Molcajete Mexican Restaurant, “Fillmore County Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2017 at their annual meeting on February 8^th.  This is the first year for the award.

Jaime Lopez and his family first visited Geneva in December of 2015.  A former FCDC and Geneva Chamber member, Vern Kendall, made the contact with Lopez when he heard that he was interested in starting his own Mexican Restaurant.  Lopez had been managing a very successful restaurant in Phillipsburg, KS at the time.

The Lopez family liked Geneva and decided to work to establish a Mexican restaurant in the community.  A space was available on main street, Heartland Bank who owned the building was willing to work with him, Patt Lentfer, FCDC Director along with Griselda Rendon of REAP (Rural Enterprise Assistance Project) helped Jaime with the business plan, permits, etc. and he obtained a low interest through the City of Geneva’s LB 840 funds for economic development and the project got started.  After a lot of planning and hard work by Jaime Lopez the Molcajete Mexican Restaurant held their grand opening on October 21^st, 2016

Molcajete Mexican Restaurant is now a favorite restaurant in the area and offers an extensive menu, in a beautifully decorated space and is very family friendly.  The sit-down restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner except Mondays.