Exeter High School Class of 1952

 Exeter High School Class of 1952 from the left are Cene Becker Sackschewsky, Bud Wiszmann  and LaVonne Ruhl Guthrie.

Throwback Thursday 06/10/2012

 

6/10/2012

Exeter Closer to Permanent Cell Tower

 

A permanent Verizon tower is still awaiting final approval next month but rezoning approval brought the tower project one step closer to reality.

 

According to a representative from Verizon who was present at the hearing, the temporary tower that is now in place at the Exeter football field will be moved to Milligan once the new tower is completed and working.  It was estimated the construction would be complete mid-July.

 

The Exeter Village board reviewed the recommendations made by the Fillmore County Zoning Commission and had the option to approve or deny the recommendations by the zoning commission.  The zoning change to a conditional use only was approved but no resolution was made.  The second part of the hearing was to approve the application for the conditional use permit to construct a 105’ cell tower.  The board will vote on the resolution next month.

Willard Meyer Recreation Area near Tobias was crawling with Cub Scouts and their families as the Prairie Winds District of the Cornhusker Council held their first annual Cub Scout Camporee last weekend.

 

Over 150 Cub Scouts and their family members descended on Swan Lake for the overnight camping at the LBNRD area.  Almost all of the scouts from Pack 218 in Exeter attended. Friday evening the scouts and families gathered at a community campfire to sing songs, perform skits and have s’mores.

 

Scouts from Seward, York, Geneva, Utica, Friend, Exeter, Milligan, and Fairbury attended the event.

 

The Exeter Aquatic Center got a new green and gold sign recently.  It is mounted on the north wall of the poolhouse.

Exeter-Milligan Teachers Retire

Dean Filipi checks Marcus Krupicka out of his class on the last day of his 39 year teaching career at Milligan and Exeter-Milligan.

 

Marla Weber reads a play about pioneer days with her second graders on the last day of her 40 year teacher career at Exeter and Exeter-Milligan.

 

Marla Weber starting teaching in Exeter in 1981 and actually ended her career where it started. She taught second, third and fourth grade for the Exeter and continued on for Exeter-Milligan.

Weber even did her student teaching in Exeter in the second grade.  She taught fourth for one year and taught third grade for most of her career returning to second grade the last third of her tenure.

She didn’t have any illusions about what teaching would be like when she started and felt that “teaching keeps you young. You’re working with all of this excitement coming through all of the time. . .One of the things I’ll miss the most is seeing the kids coming around the corner in the morning all ready to start the day, faces beaming all ready to tell you a story.”

When asked what the most important thing she taught in second grade was, "learning never stops" and she tried to "instill the love or passion for learning for all students. I always tell students there are SO many ways to learn too (classes, of course but also traveling, reading books, making observations, asking questions, working with others, etc.). Another important lesson to learn is when we think we ‘failed,’ it actually is an opportunity to learn because of that mistake.”

She didn’t anticipate the changes that she has seen in education both in the cycles of learning and how material is presented but most of all the changes in technology.  Weber has embraced technology in the classroom.  “Just for them to be able to access it at a young age and know how to do it. . .they are not afraid of technology at all.”

But it wasn’t all about technology in her classroom. She always scheduled the annual Outdoor Education day at the beginning of the year.  The class spent the day at the park learning about nature and their senses with the help of one of the high school science classes. The end of the year brought pioneer school day when the class traveled to the Saline County Museum in Dorchester and experienced a day like the way their great-great –great grandparents might have learned.

“At the beginning of the year I wanted to capture their attention and love of learning and at toward the end we wanted to finish strong,” explained Weber.

Exeter-Milligan superintendent Paul Sheffield described Weber, “When one thinks of a master teacher, a picture of Marla Weber should come to mind.  Over her 40 years of teaching, she has made an impact on each and every student and teacher.  She was always willing to do what was needed to meet the needs of all students, even if that meant more time and effort on her part.  She will be missed by all of us. My only wish was that my own kids could have had Marla as a teacher. ” 

Weber plans to spend lots of time with her grandson and travel during her retirement.

Also retiring from Exeter-Milligan is Industrial Arts teacher, Athletic Director and Coach Dean Filipi.  Filipi has also taught in the Milligan and Exeter-Milligan district for the past 39 years. 

Filipi didn’t want to go on record about teaching but wanted to slip under the radar with no one noticing his departure.  At the last home game for the boy’s basketball team he was honored with a Timberwolf jersey and with multiple former players gathering to thank him for the way he shaped their lives and their careers. 

During the Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet Filipi was presented a plaque by the Exeter-Milligan Booster Club and given a lengthy standing ovation. 

Sheffield commented, “Dean may not be the warm and fuzzy type of teacher and coach, but he truly has the best interests in mind of his students and athletes.  Over his 39 years of teaching and coaching, he has helped mold his student/athletes into responsible young adults.  His impact on the students and staff will be felt for generations to come.”

“Both of these retirees exemplify what is right with education.  Each has made their impact on the world but in their own unique ways.  I wish them the best of luck in their new endeavors and hope they will always have fond memories of their time at Exeter, Milligan and Exeter-Milligan. Fun fact: NEITHER has taught anywhere else!”

Exeter-Milligan Principal Laura Kroll commented, “It’s a real rarity to hear of teachers retiring after being in education for 39 or 40 years, buts it’s even more rare when all those teaching years have been in the same school district. I think that alone is a true testament of Marla and Dean’s devotion not only to our school but also our communities. It’s been quite apparent based on the student, parent, and player reactions, upon the announcement of Mr. Filipi  and Mrs. Weber’s retirement, how much these two individuals have touched the lives of so many. We have hired teachers in their absence, but Dean and Marla can never be replaced. You just don’t replace family!”

 

 

Exeter Class of 1957

 

The Exeter class of 1957 pictured prior to the Exeter/Exeter-Milligan Alumni Banquet in the back row from the left are Agnes Becker Loukota, Jayne Erdkamp Petersen, Larry Cudaback, Suzanne Barkmeier Johnson, Judy McCabe Dinneen, John Miller, Janice Engle Miller.  Front is Vern Thomsen.

Exeter High School Class of 1947

 

75 Year Class

 

Exeter High School Class of 1947 lone attendee to the Exeter/Exeter-Milligan alumni banquet was Lee Ann Morgan Votipka.

Death Notice Alan L. Miller

 

Obituary for Alan L. Miller

A Funeral Service for Alan will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter, Nebraska. Pastor Murry Johnston will preside over the Funeral Service.

A Graveside Service will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the Funeral Service.

Public visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to:
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network®
1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Alan had a deep love for the Cornhuskers and Alan's family encourages attendees to wear their favorite husker attire to the funeral.

Alan's Funeral Service will be live-streamed to Farmer & Son Funeral Home's Facebook page. You do not need a Facebook account to view the live-stream, and you can find our page by searching on 'Farmer & Son Facebook' or searching '@friendlyfuneraldirectors'

Throwback Thrusday 06/03/2012

 

6/3/2012

The Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman’s club members gathered to plant the flower boxes on main street in Exeter as they do each year.  The planting and watering were Elaine Oldehoeft, Karen Chapman, Judy Dinneen and Agnes Loukota.  The club members will water the flowers and help keep Exeter beautiful all summer long.

Death Milo Springer

George Milo Springer was born on August 23, 1933, the 3rd of 4 children on a farm in Nebraska. He went to Heaven on June 2, 2012 in Peoria, AZ. He served in the Army from 1954 until honorably discharged in 1956. Milo married the love of his life Sylvia Johnson Weber on December 27, 1962. He was a loving husband and father; and raised 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Milo was a savvy businessman and owned several companies during his life including trucking businesses and a motel. Milo & Sylvia lived in Exeter, Grand Island, and McCook, Nebraska, Palm Desert and Niland, CA Tucson, Wickenburg, and Peoria, AZ.

Tornado Sirens Sound in Exeter

After heavy rains "Lake Exeter" forms just a mile west of town.

 

 

Exeter was under a sever thunderstorm watch on Tuesday, June 7th.  Around 8:45 the siren sounded and residents were to head to shelter.  The sirens sounded for about 20 minutes with no tornadoes visible in town.  Funnel clouds/rotation were reported to be seen between Exeter and Cordova.  Northeast of Exeter there was lots of hail on the ground along with damage to crops and structures.  Rain that hit the gauge was about 2 inches to add to the inch we got on Sunday

Exeter-Milligan-Friend Trap Team Season

 

Back row from the left:  Head Coach Justin Harre, Coach Shane Bristol, Laura Casper, Tucker Simms,  Kynli Combs, Andrew Lunt, Cori Combs, Andrew Vavra, Dayton Kremer, Draven Payne, Kierra Papik, Lily Jeffries, Savana Krupicka, Aiden Vavra, Tyler Due, Devin Harrison and Coach Doug Motis.

Second row from the back pictured from the left:  Coach Travis Combs, Kain Combs, Coach Jeff Combs, Trenton Naber, Noah Schilz, Mikey Bartu, Daysan Staskal, Preston Knollenberg, Ben Bartu, Cade Kresak, Will Vyhnalek, Josiah Oceguera, Jake Opfer, Casper Mertz, Cohen Harre, Chase Paulsen, Coach Cory Engert.

Second row from the front from the left:  Grady Bresson, Will Kallhoff, Vincent Cox, Deacon Erdkamp, Ty Svehla, Jaxson Brandt, Charlie Hoarty, Carver Kanode, Brett Kallhoff, Gavin Jensen, Zach Spohn.

Front row from the left: Rylan Bartels, Conner Uffelman, Hudson Linabery, Wyatt Hoffman, Jacob Behrends, Levi Jurgensen, Kynnedy Bristol, Sydney Engert, Cheyenne Krupicka, Carly Uffelman and Jacob Spohn.

Not pictured: JA Soukup

 End of season conference winners from the left:  Andrew Vavra, Trenton Naber, Kynli Combs, Kain Combs, Cori Combs, Cohen Harre, Jaxson Brandt, Rylan Bartels and Carver Kanode.

 

The Exeter-Milligan-Friend Trap team had another successful year as a part of the Central Nebraska Trapshooting Conference.

The team had 51 students participating this year. The team is divided into Juniors (age 12 through 8^th grade) and Seniors (9 – 12^th grade).  They competed with around 160 other shooters every Saturday morning at Crooked Creek club near Aurora. 

This year the team included 26 juniors and 25 seniors.  Each Saturday the seniors would shoot 50 clays to start the day at the 16 yard line followed by the juniors who shot 50. 

In the afternoon, each senior would shoot handicaps, shooting at the line which was half the distance of their score in the first round (i.e. if they shot a 46 out of 50 in the first round they would be at the 23 yard line for handicap).

Harre, along with additional coaches Travis Combs, Shane Bristol, Corey Engert, Doug Motis and Jeff Combs keep busy observing the team and monitoring their shooting during practices and at the meets.  They spend the entire day outside no matter what the weather and this year there were gale force winds on many of those Saturday mornings.

At the end of the conference season, awards were passed out with Cori Combs as team captain of the all-conference first female team and Kynli Combs also on the first team female. Cade Kresak was on the all-conference first male team and Andrew Vavra along with Trenton Naber were on the second male team.

Receiving Junior team honors were first male team members Kain Combs, and Cohen Harre. Jaxson Brandt was on the second team and Carver Kanode and Rylan Bartles were on the third junior team.

The conference also sells raffle tickets for a gun and part of that fundraiser goes to fund scholarships. This year EMF team member Cori Combs received a $500 scholarship from the Central Nebraska Trapshooting Conference.  The Rainwater Basin Pheasants Forever Chapter made a generous $1500 contribution towards scholarships for this years seniors competing in the Central Nebraska Trapshooting Conference.

The EMF team members pay no registration fees because each team member raised funds selling raffle tickets for a gun. Harre was encouraged to see more team members this year. The team has students from seven area schools this year.

This makes the Cornhusker State Trap competition more challenging for the coaches as the team members at the state shoot must all be from the same school.  This was the 52^nd year for the event sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks.

The lone EMF Trap member to bring home hardware from the Cornhusker national shoot was Cori Combs who finished out her final year in fourth place in the ladies division breaking 72 out of 75 rocks.

Combs and Ben Bartu are the only two seniors that will leave the team as they graduated this year.  Harre is encouraging his team members to participate in shooting sports all year long to make next year’s team even better.

We owe a big thank you to all of the surrounding communities that helped the kids raise money for their entry fees and practices,” said Harre, “We had another fun year with a great group of kids and parents. We had so many great coaches and parents that it really showed with the kids and how much they improved throughout the year. Trap shooting is an individual sport as well as a team sport so the participants learn that their team is dependent on them to be there.”