New Stepping Stones at the Library

 

What's New on the Library Shelves? | Historical Fiction

 The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

Colette Marceau has been stealing jewels for nearly as long as she can remember, following the centuries-old code of honor instilled in her by her mother, Annabel: take only from the cruel and unkind, and give to those in need. Never was their family tradition more important than seven decades earlier, during the Second World War, when Annabel and Colette worked side by side in Paris to fund the French Resistance. But one night in 1942, it all went wrong. Annabel was arrested by the Germans, and Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, disappeared in the chaos of the raid, along with an exquisite diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping. Soon after, Annabel was executed, and Liliane’s body was found floating in the Seine—but the bracelet was nowhere to be found. Seventy years later, Colette—who has “redistributed” $30 million in jewels over the decades to fund many worthy organizations—has done her best to put her tragic past behind her, but her life begins to unravel when the long-missing bracelet suddenly turns up in a museum exhibit in Boston. If Colette can discover where it has been all this time—and who owns it now—she may finally learn the truth about what happened to her sister. But she isn’t the only one for whom the bracelet holds answers, and when someone from her childhood lays claim to the diamonds, she’s forced to confront the ghosts of her past as never before. Against all odds, there may still be a chance to bring a murderer to justice—but first, Colette will have to summon the courage to open her own battered heart.

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

On her wedding day in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1968, Rafaela Acuña y Daubón has mild misgivings, but she marries Peter Brennan Jr. anyway, in a blaze of romantic optimism. She has no way of knowing how dramatically her life will change when she uproots her young family to start over in the American Midwest, unleashing a fleet of disappointments. Against the backdrop of her mother’s isolation in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1980s, Rafaela’s daughter, Ruth Brennan, longs only to belong. Eager to fit in, Ruth lets go of her language, habits, and childhood memories of Puerto Rico. It's not until decades later, when Ruth’s own daughter, Daisy, returns to Puerto Rico that her mother and grandmother begin to truly reflect on the choices that have come to define their lives. When a hurricane ravages the island in 2023, leaving Daisy critically injured, Rafaela and Ruth return to the city where it all began. As they gather at Daisy’s bedside, they’re confronted by the pasts that brought them to this point. We follow them as they come of age, fall in love, take risks, and contend with all the heartbreaks, triumphs, and reversals of fortune — both good and bad — that make up a meaningful life. As old memories come to light, so do buried secrets, leaving everyone in the family wondering exactly where it is that they belong. A striking, resonant examination of marriage, family, and identity, Speak to Me of Home is ultimately a story of mothers and daughters that asks: how can three women who share geography and genetics have such wildly different ideas of where it is they come from? And more importantly, can they discover the common language to find their way home?

EMF Trapshooting Grows in Size, Skill, and Support

Juniors Team
Courtesy Photo: Leesa Bartu

The EMF Trapshooting team wrapped up an outstanding season this year, marking their biggest team yet and celebrating some incredible accomplishments on the range. Head coach, Justin Harre reflected on the season’s highlights and what makes this team, and the community behind it, so special.

One of the biggest changes this year was the team’s size, “We went from 52 kids last season to 70 kids this year,” Harre said. “The interest in the sport and our team has grown over the years, and that is very exciting. It’s a lot of work, but we have great coaches working with the kids, and the families have been great to work with.” Harre also credited the communities involved for supporting the team through fundraisers to help cover the costs of the season.

Above all trophies and titles, Harre said the team’s proudest accomplishments always starts with safety. “We taught a lot of new shooters how to properly handle a gun and enjoy the sport of trapshooting.” Returning shooters also saw great improvement, earning multiple weekly and team awards during conference shoots. By the end of the conference season, EMF had 12 team members named to the all-conference teams.

Senior Team

At the Cornhusker State High School Shoot in Doniphan, EMF shooters made their mark on the state stage. Braxton Harre took home the High Overall Junior Award, while Rylee Rohren earned High Overall Female Junior Award. The Friend Junior Team, made up of Rylee Rohren, Blake Bruntz, Brock Bruntz, Grady Arp, and Brenson Brandt, placed 2nd overall. Senior shooter Carver Kanode placed 13th out of over 1,500 competitors in the singles event, an incredible individual achievement.

For Harre, one of the most rewarding parts of the season is watching the kids grow from their first year and their second. “Second-year shooters always look so much more confident than their first year. You’d be surprised how some of these kids, who aren’t very big, can handle a shotgun so well,” he said. Beyond scores, the friendships made along the way are what really make the team special. “We have kids from eight different schools shooting on our team, so there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people. They support each other on and off the range, and even cheer on their friends from other teams.”

Of course, no Nebraska spring sport is complete without weather challenges. “The wind will always blow if there’s a shoot - guaranteed,” laughed Harre. The team always works through the unpredictable spring conditions and will still perform at their best.

One of the most exciting developments for the EMF Trapshooting Club this year was the addition of a new building. “We’ve been wanting a larger facility for years because of the growth of our club and the kids,” Harre explained. Thanks to generous donations from community members and surrounding towns, and the many hours of volunteer time and resources, the dream became a reality. Harre says the new facility opens the door for even more opportunities. “Having a larger facility will allow us to possibly do more events at the gun club and hopefully continue to grow.”

It’s clear that the EMF Trapshooting Team is more than just a team, it’s a community built on safety, hard work, and the support of families and friends who believe in the sport and in each other.

What's New on the Library Shelves? | Mystery/Thriller Edition

Each week new books will be featured by genre from the Exeter Public Library. Be sure to check out your next book.

The First Gentleman: A Thriller by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

A political–crime thriller set in an alternative present where the U.S. has elected its first female president. Her husband, a former NFL star, finds himself accused of a murder that took place 17 years ago—just as she embarks on a re‑election campaign. A pair of investigative journalists dig into his past, uncovering alarming evidence tied to a missing cheerleader and buried secrets, all while the White House braces for the scandal. Full of political sabotage, courtroom intrigue, and insider perspective drawn from Clinton, it’s a “[twisty] thriller…with plenty of inside jobs, political sabotage and many, many deaths,” according to USA Today pecheyponderings.wordpress.com+3

Badlands: A Nora Kelly Thriller by Preston & Child

Archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI agent Corrie Swanson are plunged into a supernatural mystery in New Mexico’s remote badlands. The skeletal remains of a woman are discovered clutching rare “lightning stones” once used by the Chaco people to summon gods. When an eerily similar second death is uncovered, they suspect that ancient rituals might have unleashed a terrifying power. What begins as a puzzling case soon crosses into the realm of ancient curses, ritual sacrifice, and dark forces awakened from slumber.

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Detective Stilwell, a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department veteran, has been relegated to policing Catalina Island—a place meant to be low-key, but which quickly turns sinister. A body is found in the harbor, wrapped in plastic and weighed down, the only clue a purple dye streak in the victim’s hair. As Stilwell doggedly pursues the case—navigating local politics, departmental friction, and the isolation of island life—he begins to uncover a dark secret behind this seemingly idyllic tourist spot. A gripping launch to Connelly’s 40th novel and a promising new series.

Exeter Days Information

Exeter Days FLYERS

Happy 4th of July!

 

Local Students Attend Trip to Europe

Kiley Oldehoeft and Liberty Johnson in front
of the Matterhorn in Switzerland.

Breathtaking. Historical. Unique. These are words that describe the bi-annual Nebraska Ambassador of Music Trip. Two Exeter-Milligan students, Liberty Johnson and Kiley Oldehoeft, embarked on a journey to Europe in June. This trip allows musicians from across the state of Nebraska to visit five countries: Austria, England, France, Germany, and Switzerland. Before taking the flight overseas, students participated in a camp to rehearse music with over 245 other individuals. Some of the more notable instrumental pieces included “New York, New York” which was made famous by Frank Sinatra, “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller, and “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa. 

“I wanted to attend the Nebraska Ambassador of Music trip because it involved my passion in music and it has given me the opportunity to see a lot of places I’ve dreamed of seeing,” stated Liberty Johnson, a recent 2025 graduate. Liberty Johnson was a second chair clarinet and remarked her favorite performing experience was in Rothenburg, Germany where they were in the town center and approximately 1,000 people came to watch their performance in every direction. Kiley Oldehoeft, an upcoming senior at EMF, stated her reasoning for attending the trip was largely influenced by her older brother, Clint. “Ever since he attended this trip I thought it would be cool to play my instrument in other countries and share our stories over there.” Kiley, a 2nd chair trumpet, enjoyed performing in Switzerland, “Their atmosphere was amazing. People cheered so loud after each song and were very excited for us to be there.”

An average day on this trip included waking up around 7:00am, eating breakfast, then heading out on their first excursion. These experiences include seeing Mozart’s birthplace in Austria; Big Ben and the Tower Bridge in London, England; the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame in France; Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Germany; and the Alps and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Just after lunch, musicians would perform for an audience, then they ate dinner and started the day over again. 

One of the most recent newsworthy experiences in England was seeing Trooping the Colour in London. Musicians were able to see King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Kate, and their children. “We weren’t sure if we were going to see the King and Queen,” mentioned Kiley, “it was really cool seeing the guards play their instruments while on their horses.” 

Experiencing the culture, food, and architecture of each country was what made this trip unique. Liberty and Kiley both agreed that being part of a music program influenced this trip greatly. “Band is another form of art that I was able to continue doing and learning more of. It’s fun seeing people enjoy what you get to create and perform for others,” expressed Liberty. Kiley added, “I really enjoy participating in band because it’s something that is different. You get to share a story through something aside from using your words.” Both students would wholeheartedly recommend this trip to future students and are grateful for the support they received from surrounding communities.

EM Update: One Last View from the Front Office

 

VIEW FROM THE FRONT OFFICE

            The view from the front office is quickly coming to an end. The reality of my pending retirement is starting to feel real. I’ve thought about this last article for a few months, but I find it hard to believe it’s time. Time sure does fly by when you are having fun.

            It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure! This adage from the US Navy says it all. Over the last 33 years (17 at E-M), I have worked alongside some wonderful people and watched students grow into mature, quality young adults. I could say that some of my students are now “older” adults. No matter what, I have never looked at it as just a job. It truly has been an adventure - an adventure that I never anticipated.

            Career day/career exploration in the “old” days was not like it is now. My early career thoughts included truck driver, chemical engineer, nuclear engineer, electrical engineer, mathematician, and computer network analyst.  I was three years into college before I switched to education, which added another three years to my undergraduate career. Once I was finally in my own classroom, I realized working with kids was my calling. It took some time (and challenges) for me to find my passion. I was all in, which sometimes put my family on the back burner, but they supported me and joined me in this passion. We have always stressed to our own - follow your passion! If you enjoy what you do, then everything else falls into place.

            As I reminisce over the last 17 years, I hope to have positively influenced the students who have graced the halls of Exeter-Milligan Public School. As we go through life, in the end, we will not be judged on what we have, but on what we have done with what we have.  I know that some of the decisions I have made have not pleased everyone.  But, in every instance, the prevailing thought influencing every decision has been, “Is this what’s best for the students?”  My ultimate goal has always been to provide a positive, safe learning environment for students and staff.  This is one goal that I can mark as accomplished!

I am not a conventional administrator who looks to bark (or bite) before anything else.  If students are treated with respect, one will receive that respect in return. We like to have fun, but we all know when it’s time to get down to business.  Not once in my 33 years in education did I wake up in the morning and not want to go to school. Being with the teachers and kids was not a job to me. It was a chance to spend time with my extended family and learn as the day went. I hope that everyone who has passed through these hallowed halls has learned from me as much as I learned from them!

            This is a bittersweet article. As I put on our graduation cards, “What in life appears to be an end is a new beginning.”  This is my last article for the Timbertracks and I have not always finished them on time (this is where I tell students to do as I say and not as I do). Twenty-seven years ago when I started my administrative career, I was this bright-eyed new principal (with more hair, too) who had big ideas of how I would save the world.  As time passed, I realized that some of my ideas and thoughts were a bit unorthodox, but overall, I wanted to make sure that students had a great time as we went along on our knowledge journey. That’s how I looked at it - this was a journey that all of us were going on, and we might as well make the most of it. As teachers and administrators, we are only the guides along the way.

            As we look to the future, let this little phrase help guide our decisions: “Is this what’s best for the students?” If the answer is yes, then do it—get ‘r done. If not, then find a way to make it beneficial for the students. I will wrap this last article up with a few morsels that I have shared over time and a quote I take true to heart. Thanks for the memories!

…

Let's be careful out there!

 

Build it and he will come

 

Fair is what you take your animals to in the summer

 

Ease his pain

 

If I was any better, I'd be twins

 

Finer than a frog hair

 

Just another day in paradise

 

Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and lawn darts

 

 I have truly lived a dream!

 

“One hundred years from now, it won't matter what car I drove, what kind of house I lived in,
how much I had in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like,
but, the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child.”

 

 

EM Updates: Math Marvels

 

E-M Math Marvels

By Sandi Snyder, Exeter-Milligan Math Instructor

 

What’s the official animal of Pi Day?  The Pi-thon!!!!  March is always a great month in the world of Mathematics, with Pi Day celebrations on the 14th.  This year was no different, except that E-M students had to celebrate early with some pie treats.  

 

The Algebra I students have moved away from lines and linear functions to quadratics.  The students have been practicing the different ways to factor and using this knowledge to solve quadratic equations.  They will soon be graphing quadratics.

 

Pre-Calculus will finish their trigonometry study soon.  To finish out the year, they will look at polynomial functions, their behaviors and graphs. It has been and interesting and exciting year with this class!

 

The Calculus I students spent much time applying derivatives.  In fact, they found the best shape of a 12 ounce soda can if surface area was to be minimized.  They made models of the can, found why that can isn’t the most popular shape and discussed the importance of optimization.  The class is finishing the year with integration.

(pictured L-R: Aidan Vavra, Jayden Capek, and Kmlia Benitez)

 

This year’s group of E-M students has been a joy with whom to work!  It has been a pleasure to teach them.

EMF Players chosen for Sertoma 8-Man All Star Game

 EMF's Jacob Klooz (left) and Mikey Bartu were both chosen to play in the Sertoma 8-Man All Star Game on Saturday in Hastings.  The recent graduates spent a week at Central Community College practicing for the game.  They were members of the East Team and won the game 14-8 (for the first time in three years the East team won).