Exeter Village Board Discusses Pool Leak

Exeter Village board met on Tuesday, November 5 with board member Mitchell Schlegelmilch absent.

They quickly approved the minutes and invoices and noted there are a just a few more payments on the tag factory removal loan (the loan for $170,000 was taken in July of 2016 with a 10 year note).

 

The fiscal year revenue and expense report was reviewed and the board had the opportunity to ask questions about it before Clerk Becky Erdkamp forwards the report to the auditors.

The board reviewed the quote from the pool leak investigators. The quote, for $3820 will include cutting out the joint filler and replacing this where they suspect the leak is occurring.  Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller did not have a timeline for the repair.  

Chairman Alan Michl commented, “I don’t know if they will be able to tell why it leaked.”

Before approving the bid for the repair several board members commented on the high water table this year possibly contributing to the issue.

Mueller gave a short maintenance report including the location of several small concrete repairs in town.  Michl added that concrete safe salt has been ordered and will be available to downtown businesses for sidewalks.

Mueller asked if the board wanted to use salt downtown and Michl advised to “Sand the intersections like we have in the past.”

Mueller reported he picked up a load of new culverts to be installed around town.  He also noted he had been asked if the village will be placing an additional streetlight on E. Cheyenne where a new house has been built and the street now connects with Lincoln Avenue.

The board requested Mueller get a quote from Perennial to put a pole and a light at the end of the block.

Clerk Becky Erdkamp reported that sales tax for August was $12,426.41 and Keno for September was $506.80. Erdkamp has also been working with the keno company on the paperwork for paying a $25,000 winner who has remained anonymous.

The board set the next meeting for Wednesday, December 4.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week at Exeter-Milligan

By Kara Myers, SLP

Exeter-Milligan School kicked off Red Ribbon Week with ESU 5 speaker, Cole Stark.  He presented information to 3rd through 6th grade students about the dangers of vaping and tobacco use and how it affects your lungs as well as your brain development.  The 7th through 12th grade students and staff learned about how the big tobacco companies are using different ways to target youth to get them started on their products, which in turn benefits their bank accounts.  Other fun activities planned for the week included fun centers provided by the local FCCLA students and different "super heroes" flying in to visit.

Exeter-Milligan Veteran's Day Program

Air Force Veteran Chuck Warner salutes and stands with the assistance of his wife when the Air Force anthem is played by the Exeter-Milligan band at the Veteran’s Day program in Exeter.

Exeter-Milligan honored area veteran’s on Monday, November 11 with rolls and coffee hosted by the National Honor Society members prior to a very special program.

The audience was welcomed to the program by Student Council president Kayla Geiger.

Deacon Erdkamp, a member of Cub Scout Pack 218 led the flag ceremony and the pledge of allegiance with other pack members providing the color guard.

The Junior High/Senior High band played the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the Junior High choir sang “We Honor You.”

Together the Junior/Senior High choir sang “Pie Jesu” and the Senior High choir sang “Brother, My Brother.”

Mrs. Denice Kovanda introduced the speaker, Mr. Jeff Johnson.

Johnson gave a brief history of Veteran’s day.  He noted that it began as Armistice Day honoring the 11^th day of the 11^th month at the 11^th hour when the armistice was signed, but in order to honor all war veterans the name was changed.

As a college student at a land grant college in Arizona, Johnson was required to be a part of the military and joined the Navy reserves.  In 1966 he was called to active duty and stationed in Coronado, Calif.  He headed to the western Pacific theatre where he served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

His duty was on a ship providing air support off the coast of Vietnam.

He commented, “This was no ‘tour’ so I don't know where the word came from. The casualties were brought back to the ship. I saw first-hand what sacrifice looked like.”

When he returned stateside in 1969 he came back to “a conflicted world, some with anger.  To quote Forrest Gump, ‘That’s all I’m going to say about that.’”

He ended his speech by expressing his appreciation for celebrations like the Exeter-Milligan program and reminded students, “Don’t forget the soldiers who fought to give you freedom.  Carry on, and that’s an order.”

The Exeter-Milligan band played “Nathan Hale Triology” before recognizing each branch of service during the playing of “America’s Finest.”  Veterans in the audience were asked to stand as their anthem played and the audience recognized them with applause.

The program was closed by Student Council Vice President Anna Sluka.

Above– Veteran’s  Chuck Warner (left) and Larry Cudaback (right) enjoy rolls and coffee hosted by the National Honor Society at Exeter-Milligan.

Below – Veteran’s and their wives gathered at the Exeter-Milligan cafeteria to enjoy rolls and coffee hosted by the National Honor Society at Exeter-Milligan.

Above- Cub Scout Axel Erdkamp, left, serves as the honor guard as Levi Jurgensen prepares to post the colors at the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program.

Below – Exeter-Milligan junior high choir performed “We Honor You” at the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program.

Above – Exeter-Milligan choir performed “Brother, My Brother” at the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program.  Pictured from the left are Morgan White, Caitlin Murphy, Jozie Kanode, Briana Capek and Blake Meyer.

Below - Exeter-Milligan jr high and high school choir perform together.

Above – Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program guest speaker Jeff Johnson.

Below – Army veteran’s stand and are applauded while the Exeter-Milligan band plays “The Army Goes Marching Along.”

Sons of the Legion host flag retirement and meal for Veteran's Day

Boy Scout Ben Bartu (left) and Cub Scout Richard Hickman pick up flags folded and ready to be retired during the ceremony on Saturday evening in Exeter.

Saturday evening the Exeter Post 218 Sons of the Legion honored Veteran’s with an evening which included flag retirement, a meal and a band.

The program began at 5 p.m. with Boy Scout Troop 218 conducting a flag retirement.  After retiring 40 flags the audience returned to the Legion for the meal and band.

Boy Scouts Mikey Bartu and Ben Bartu were assisted by Webelos Scout Richard Hickman of Pack 218.  The scouts continued to retire the cotton flags (over 100) and monitored the fire until it went out.  The grommets were sorted out of the ashes and will be buried.

Flag retirement information:

The US Flag Code states “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” (Section 176 k).

The flag code gives no specific guidance for new fabrics such as nylon, which when burned, give off toxic fumes.  One organization began to accept damaged nylon flags so that they could be recycled into new nylon material, but that program is not available right now.  Two current options for retiring nylon flags include cutting up the flag in a respectful manner or burying the flag.

From the left, Boy Scouts Ben Bartu and Mikey Bartu and Webelos Scout Richard Hickman salute as the flags are respectfully retired during the ceremony in Exeter on Saturday evening.