Scouts collect food to donate in Exeter and Milligan

Cordova Troop 359 and Cub Scout Pack 218 recently participated in the Scouting for Food event in conjunction with the Cornhusker Council.

Cub Scout Pack 218 distributed flyers all over Exeter and Milligan asking residents to leave donations on food out on Saturday morning.  The Pack and the Troop picked up the donations.  In total, 468 pounds of food were collected in the two villages.

The food was delivered to Blue Valley Community Action in Geneva for use in their food bank.

 Troop 359 Boy Scouts received a little help picking up the food Saturday morning.  Pictured from the left are Scout Jack Dinneen, Doug Thomsen and Scout Elliot Erdkamp.

 Boy Scouts from Troop 359, Jack Dinneen, right, and Elliot Erdkamp, left, are pictured next to part of the pile of food that was collected for the Scouting for Food event.

A pick-up load of food was collected by area Scouts and delivered to Blue Valley Community Action in Geneva.

St. John's Youth Participate in Gathering of Talents

Music solos were performed at the Gathering of Talents by St. John's youth pictured from the left, Trystan, Jordyn and Peytan Brandt, and Ella Wilkins.

On Saturday, April 2, 2011, several youth from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova, participated in a fine arts talent competition at Concordia University in Seward.  8th grader, Jordyn Brandt received a Superior rating for her flute and piano solos and a Superior rating for a pencil drawing. She also played piano accompaniment for the other soloists.  Sixth grader, Ella Wilkins, received a Superior rating for her flute and piano solos.  Sixth grader, Trystan Brandt, received a Superior rating for his trumpet solo and a Superior rating for a mixed media poster.  Fourth grader, Peytan Brandt, received a Superior rating for his piano solo and an Excellent rating for a wooden sculpture of a fort.  Fourth grader, Madalyn Woodburn, received a Superior rating for a 2D art entry.  Third grader, Sarah Casper, received a Superior rating for a 2D art entry, Third grader, Ryan Sharp, received an Excellent rating for a 2D art entry.  The sixth, seventh and eighth grade Sunday School class received a Superior rating for their performance of a Dramatic Skit.

The Gathering of the Talents is held annually for youth, up to 8th grade, attending Lutheran Churches and Schools.  Areas of competition include music, art, drama, dance, and creative writing.  Youth are judged by University students in their field.  The day concluded with an awards ceremony and concert.

Death Notice: Donald Kuska

 Donald E. Kuska, 97, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 
Trinity Bettendorf.

            A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 12, 2011
at Asbury United Methodist Church of Bettendorf where he was a longtime and faithful member.  
Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home
of Bettendorf where a Masonic service will be conducted at 7:00 P.M.  Additional visitation will
be held from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Farmer Funeral Home 
in Milligan, Nebraska.  
A graveside service will follow at 11:30 A.M. at the National Bohemian Cemetery, Milligan.  
Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, the Iowa Masonic Health Facility
of Bettendorf or the family for the great-grandchildren’s education.

            He was born June 12, 1915 in Fillmore County, Nebraska, the son of Emil Anton &
Katherine (Becwar) Kuska and was a graduate of the University of Nebraska.  On June 1, 1940,
he was united in marriage to Camille M. Conger in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She preceded him in death
on July 15, 2009.

            Don was employed as an engineer for the J.I. Case Company of Bettendorf from 1971 until
his retirement in 1983.  In earlier years, he was the Chief Engineer for the Oliver Corporation of South 
Bend, Indiana from 1950 to 1971.

            In addition to the church, he was a member of Hamilton Masonic Lodge, #664 of Bettendorf,
the Davenport Scottish Rite, the Hi-Twelve Club where he was past-president, the Society of Automotive
Engineers and the American Society of Agricultural engineers where he received an award for 75 years
of membership.

            Those left to honor his memory include his daughter, Cindy Buchman of Bettendorf; his grandchildren,
Dominick Marcott, Danielle (Brian) Temple, Aaron (Heather) Buchman and Jennifer Buchman; his 
great-grandchildren, Adelynn & Avery Temple, Charlie Camille Buchman and Kira & Maximus 
Marcott; along with other relatives and many wonderful friends.

            In addition to his wife, Don was preceded in death by his daughter, Sherry Potenzo
in 1990 and his brothers, Melvin and William.

---

Fillmore County Hospital Exterior Walls Nearing Completion

The Fillmore County Hospital Replacement project reached a milestone this week, placing the final exterior wall piece in place.  The project is an estimated two months ahead of schedule expecting to open much earlier than the June 2012 schedule

Scouts to Pick Up Food Saturday Morning

Tiger Cub Alec is pictured here as he placed a scouting for food flyer on a door this week.  The Boy Scouts from Troop 359 will be picking up donated food marked and left on your porch or curb on Saturday morning to be donated to Blue Valley in Geneva. In Milligan, the Cub Scouts will be picking up food also to be donated to Blue Valley in Geneva.

Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt

Flowers are starting to bloom, snowshowers are changing to rainshowers which presents that Easter time of year. On Saturday, for the first time in several years the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt was held outside at the Exeter school building.

 

Over 50 kids fourth grade and under arrived and registered, eager to start hunting for over 1000 candy filled eggs on the school grounds.

 

The eggs were filled and hidden by members of the Exeter-Milligan FCCLA and Cheerleaders. They led the kids to their hunting areas and let them loose.

 

After all the eggs were found names were drawn for the door prizes. Caitlin Murphy and Hunter Ostrand were winners in the third and fourth grade division, Emma Olsen and Johnathen Ostrand won in the first and second grade category.  Savannah Horne and Troy Kallhoff won the prize in the preschool and kindergarten division and Layla Whitford and Brett Kallhoff were the three and under winners.

 

Exeter-Milligan Students named to York News Times All-Area Basketball Teams

Congratulations to the following Exeter-Milligan students were named to the York News Times All-Area basketball teams:

9th grader Nolan White - named a Co-captain (The YNT states "It's rare for a freshman to be named co-captain on the News Times All-Area Team but the numbers put up by Exeter-Milligan's Nolan White are just too impressive to overlook.")

Seniors Zach Jensen and Brady Bristol were both on the Honorable Mention List.

Senior Heather Pribyl was named a co-captain for the girls team and Kelsey Moore was named to the team as well.

Sophomore Jennifer Pribyl was named on the Honorable Mention List.

Congratulations to these athletes.

Just a few of the Exeter-Milligan faculty and staff members who are participating in the Live Healthy Nebraska challenge are picture front row from the left Kara Myers, Angie Murphy, Susan Wait, Rhonda Korbelik, Sharon Lott, Marla Weber, John Tauriella.  Back row from the left Casey Pohl, Anita Mueller, Chris Harre, Karen Kahler, Beth Vavra, Laura Kroll.

 

 

Looking for a way to keep herself motivated to exercise Laura Kroll, elementary reading specialist at Exeter-Milligan, approached Superintendent Paul Sheffield inquiring about a starting a wellness program within the district.

Sheffield noted that the faculty and staff, "had talked amongst ourselves about starting some type of wellness program.  In many of the classes, we teach about physical fitness and nutrition and thought we should provide a positive influence for our students.  Also, if you feel good that radiates in whatever you do.  With the Live Healthy Nebraska program, this was a great way to kick start our own wellness plan."

The program is open to teams of two to ten people. The school offered to pay the entry to the program and offer a few small incentives for the participants. Thirty of the 48 Exeter-Milligan faculty and staff members chosen to participate this year starting in January.

All of the participants can log into the Live Healthy Nebraska to record their goals and progress. Each week they enter any weight loss and their exercise minute totals in the LHN website on a private site. The site then combines the teams total weight loss and exercise time so that the teams can compare their progress.
So far the three Exeter-Milligan teams have recorded, “152 lbs lost and have charted 591 hours and 55 minutes of activity which equates to 2,367 miles,” according to Kroll.

Participants have another month to log their information on the LHN site as the contest ends April 29^th, The information can be used for teams to compete against each other but at Exeter-Milligan, “ We have chosen to motivate all members of each team instead of competing against one another,” said Kroll.

So far the two campuses, North and South, have exchanged motivational poems, purchased healthy snacks for each other and encouraged each other to log exercise minutes.

Kroll sees more than just health benefits in the project, “I thought this would get teachers not only exercising together but sharing ideas and successes. When you have high school on one end of the building and elementary on the other end, plus the fact that we have two buildings, you don't always make the time to share and build on each other's strengths.”

What you think is healthy and what is healthy posters have been one of the most eye opening projects during the LNH, according to Kroll. Participants have been cutting out nutritional labels to increase the awareness of the true healthiness of the foods they have eaten. As part of the LHN program they received a T-shirt, some healthy food coupons and a magazine subscription of their choosing to a periodical that encourages healthy living.

This year over 7500 Nebraskans have participated in the LHN program.

Obituary: Virginia Louise Krasser

Virginia Louise (Hain) Krasser died Thursday, March 31, 2011 at her home.  Virginia was born on a farm on January 29, 1926 to Carl and Louise (Kading) Hain in Guthrie County, Iowa.   In April of 1926, at 3 months old, Virginia lost her father and moved to Casey, Iowa, along with her 4 older brothers, where they lived with her Grandmother Kading.  In 1932 they moved to Cordova, Nebraska with a new stepfather who was called to be a pastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.   Virginia could recall her stepfather showing them the big windmill landmark in the middle of town.   The parsonage next to the church was to be their new home for the next few years.  Before long they were making new friends in the neighborhood and in school.  Virginia started taking music lessons and her teacher, Elna Hansen, charged 25 cents for each weekly lesson.    Her stepfather put her to work playing the old pump organ.  Times were difficult but one Christmas 75 pennies were collected to compensate for her services.  With braces on her teeth, her stepfather would take Virginia to see Dr. Wallace in Friend, and she bought a deck of cards called Rook with the 75 pennies.  They played Rook and ate lots of popcorn, especially in the winter. 

Very few teenagers had their own cars during that time.  So, her parents took turns escorting their children to out-of-town school games.

Her mother baked twice a week and Virginia could still remember the aroma of her mother’s home baked bread and rolls.  Virginia’s first jobs were to clean the upstairs bedrooms and frost the rolls each Saturday.  Since there was no TV, her mother would turn on the radio and they would listen to Fibber McGee & Molly, Jack Benny, and Minnie Pearle.

Virginia remembered her folks had a cow (ha, ha) and her mother would make tapioca pudding, and cottage cheese.   She peddled her mother’s cheese for 10 cents a pint.

Some summers her dad would let her spend a month or so with Grandma Hain on the farm in Iowa and visit cousins, uncles and aunts.  Virginia loved that, and Grandma Hain became a strong Christian influence and example in her life, along with her dear Christian aunts and uncles, which Virginia treasured.

The depression years forced her stepfather to resign his ministry.  With a younger sister plus two brothers to support besides her four brothers, he started a trucking and later combine business and they all moved to a different house in Cordova.  Eventually they all finished school in Cordova and her four brothers joined the Army and three of them were in the World War II conflict.  After graduating from high school, Virginia took some stenographic classes in Lincoln and worked for American Lightning Rod Company.

In March, 1946, she married her high school sweetheart and classmate and settled on a farm two miles north of Cordova, where she remained throughout her life.    They became parents of twelve children.  In the 1960’s unfortunately her husband developed kidney disease, and had three kidney transplants at Colorado General Hospital, but succumbed and died in 1972.

Preceeded in death by her husband, Rex, parents, four brothers, a grandchild, a great grandchild, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Iowa. 

Virginia is survived by her children; Arnold of Friend, Dianne and husband Richard Plock of Lincoln, Kenneth and wife Peggy of Beaver Crossing, Paul and wife Patty of Crete, Deb Petersen of Lincoln, Marcia and husband Dick Erdkamp of York, Leonard of Friend, Larry of Exeter, Mary Krasser of Lincoln, Doug of Lincoln, Lee and wife Lisa of Crete and Lois and husband Jim Petersen of York, 19 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, two brothers, one sister and numerous cousins, nieces & nephews. 

Virginia tried to overcome her fears by the power of faith, seeking strength for each day.

Funeral services were conducted from the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova with Pastor Brian Tuma officiating.  Wilma Gard accompanied Jayne Petersen who sang “The Lord’s Prayer” and  “How Great Thou Art” and the congregation who sang “Beautiful Savior”,  “Abide With Me”,  “Heaven Is Our Home” and “Amazing Grace.”  Casket bearers were Corey Erdkamp, Brian Erdkamp, Adam Krasser, Robbie Petersen, Lance Roach, Race Krasser, Lane Krasser, Louis Krasser and Shane Krasser.  Honorary bearers were Stanley Rhoades, Don Petersen, Wayne Olson, Rex Jurgensen, Hank Jasinski, Robert Vleck and All Sunday Bible Study Meembers.  Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery with Farmer Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.  Memorials are directed to the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pilots for Christ, Local Food Pantries or donors choice.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Exeter-Milligan Music Department On The Go

Stan Johnson, of Shickley NE, conducts the CRC Conference Honor Band at the York
Auditorium on March 15th, 2011.

By Shane Whitford, 7-12 Music Education, Exeter-Milligan
Public Schools

Spring is one of the busiest times for a director. Just take
a look at the school calendar for any given March or April
and you would agree. At Exeter-Milligan we've already been
to two contests, three honor bands, and we have three more
events coming soon. If you are interested in keeping up with
us, please visit our website (www.emwolves.org) and click on
my name (Shane Whitford) to visit the music website. At our
site you will find photos, our calendar, a blog, and much
more. Check it out!

For those of you who haven't been to the website in a
while here is a recap of what we've been up to. First, we
had CRC Honor Band & Choir on March 15, 2011. There were 5
students from Choir & 7 students from Band that took part in
the event. Second, we had the Bruning-Davenport Junior High
Music Contest which took place on March 19, 2011. There were
22 student in grades 5-8 that took part in the contest and
we had a total of 18 superior (1's) ratings given to the
students of Exeter-Milligan. Congratulations to all students
who participated. Third, we had the MUDECAS Music Contest on
March 22, 2011. Kelsey Moore, Mariah Ruhl, & Meredith
Emshoff all received Superior rankings on their solos.
Fourth, we had 6 students take part in the Class D All-State
Band. Class D All-State consists of students only from Class
D size schools. Congratulations to Jennifer Pribyl and
Kelsey Moore for their acceptance into the Jazz Band, Becca
Vossler for her acceptance into the Wind Ensemble, and Jalen
Maxson, Devin Sheffield, and Linsey Klemm for their
acceptance into the Symphonic Band. Fifth and finally,
please congratulate Jordyn Brandt for being accepted into
the Meridian Junior High Honor Band. Jordyn is the only
student from Exeter-Milligan to have been accepted.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the
contests and honor bands!

As I mentioned before there are several upcoming events to
be aware of. First, the Exeter-Milligan 7-12 Spring Concert
will be Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the HS Gym.
Second, District Music Contest will be held April 14 & 15,
2011 at Shickley HS. Lastly, the Exeter-Milligan Band will
be performing on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 at the Exeter
Cemetery. We look forward to seeing you at one of our
upcoming events.