Exeter Class of 1948

1948 –  The Exeter Class of 1948 from the left are: Henry Schneider, Marion Kelly Geiger, Melva Loukota Green, John Wilson, Emma Jean Springer Dickey, and Cliff Peterson.

American Pickers are Coming to Nebraska

American Pickers’ will film in Nebraska EARLY SUMMER! The hosts are looking for people in your area with unique antique collections and interesting stories behind them. They are looking for large unique collections, interesting multi-generational family properties, or anywhere the guys can spend the better part of a day picking good stuff, get in touch with us ASAP! Sorry, no retail shops or single items. Please make sure people who have one of a kind items to sell reach out to us on our phone number 1-855-OLD-RUST (653-7878), or our email, which is AmericanPickers@cineflix.com. Mike and Frank only pick private collections so no stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses or anything open to the public. If you have additional questions, please contact Victoria Weinberg, Casting Associate, American Pickers on History, Email: vweinberg@cineflix.com, Phone: 646-561-8374

Fillmore County Development Corp attends conference

FCDC Staff Attends Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference

Patt Lentfer, Executive Director, and Mary Johnson, Administrative Assistant, of the Fillmore County Development Corporation attended the Connecting Entrepreneurial Community conference in Hastings on April 4^th and 5^th.

The keynote speaker was Josh Berry, of Econic, Inc.  Through examples of entrepreneurial communities, businesses and individuals, Berry shared the building blocks for getting started or re-energized for the entrepreneurial journey.  During his talk Berry discussed ways to cultivate the WHY (conviction + courage) and HOW (curiosity + action) of entrepreneurial success. 

Twenty-nine break-out sessions were held in various downtown Hastings businesses during the two days.  Topics were varied and covered everything from creating a vibrant downtown, transfer of leadership in rural communities, navigating cycles in communities and businesses, breaking down the retail apocalypse and understanding the emergences of bricks and clicks, and identifying business resources to address challenges to name a few.

Jessi Hoeft, Co-Founder of First Street Brewery and Ensign Beverage Co. ended the conference by telling her story of returning to Nebraska and her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. 

Obituary J.J. Dinneen

John Jerome (J.J.) Dinneen was born at home on the family farm south of Exeter on January 13, 1938, to John W. & Ferne L. (Brown) Dinneen. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on May 27, 2018, at Heritage Crossings Nursing Home in Geneva, Nebraska at the age of 80 years, 4 months, and 14 days.

As a young boy, J.J. attended Rural School District 25 through the 5th grade. He attended St. Stephen’s Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Exeter Public School with the class of 1955. After graduation, he worked for Fillmore County, driving a motor grader in the Exeter area. On November 14, 1959, J.J. and Judy McCabe, daughter of Elmer & Carolyn (Link) McCabe, were married. They were blessed with five children, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

J.J. and Judy started farming in 1962, and in 1978, they received the Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer Farm Award for continued family farm ownership for over 100 years. J.J. also sold Farmer’s Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa, from an agency that his grandfather, John James Dinneen, started in 1934. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church where he proudly served for seventeen years as a Trustee. J.J. also enjoyed being a 4-H leader for the Handy Hands 4-H Club for numerous years and was a member of the Turtle Club.

J.J. and Judy took great pride in traveling to every town, incorporated and un- incorporated, in the state of Nebraska. They created a scrapbook of their travels and even presented information about their travels to various clubs. J.J. was an avid collector of many different things. His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
J.J. was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by wife, Judy; children John T. (Pam) of Lincoln, Nebraska, Lisa (Jody) Rhodes of Paxton, Nebraska, Joe (Sharla) Dinneen of Exeter, Nebraska, Darrell (Beth) Dinneen of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Michael (Chris) Dinneen of Lincoln, Nebraska; 13 grandchildren, John R. (Victoria) Dinneen, Kristen (Andrew) Sievert, Matthew Dinneen, Ryan (Blair) Rhodes, Erica (Tyler) Turner, Brandon, Amanda, Jack, Lizzie, Tony, Luke, Colton, and Addy Dinneen; three great-grandchildren, Annelise Dinneen, and Rhett and Callie Turner; sister Mary Cashin of Lincoln, Nebraska; and many cherished friends.

A Funeral Mass for J.J. was held on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska. Father Steve Thomlison was the Celebrant. Agnes Anderson was the organist accompanying Cantor Greg Rehm in “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” “One Bread, One Body,” and “Alleluia! Alleluia! Let The Holy Anthem Rise.” Lizzie Dinneen also sang “Ave Maria” a cappella.

Pallbearers for the service included John R. Dinneen, Ryan Rhodes, Brandon Dinneen, Tony Dinneen, Matthew Dinneen, Jack Dinneen, Colton Dinneen, and Luke Dinneen. Honorary Pall Bearers included Vern Kittinger, Mark Haley, and Dick Drommond. Interment was held in the Exeter Cemetery following the Funeral Mass. Farmer Funeral Home of Exeter conducted the services and online condolences may be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are suggested to the St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Exeter Fire & Rescue, or York Adopt-A-Pet.

Exeter-Milligan Students Recognized by Lincoln Journal Star

2017-2018 Lincoln Journal Star Academic All State Honorees:

Joey Bartu - Football, Boys Track and Field
Kelsey Bigelow - Softball, Girls Basketball
Macy Due - Girls Golf
Hannah Horne - Softball, Girls Track and Field
Kate Jansky - Volleyball, Girls Basketball and Girls Track and Field
Joel Klemm - Boys Golf
Josie Kresak - Softball, Girls Track and Field
Mitchell Manning - Football, Boys Basketball and Boys Track and Field
Tara Mueller - Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Girls Track and Field
Patrick Murphy -Boys Basketball, Boys Track and Field
Spencer Pribyl - Football, Boys Basketball, Boys Track and Field
Katherine White - Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Girls Track and Field
Trever Zelenka - Football, Boys Basketball, Boys Golf

Exeter honors Memorial Day

The Exeter American Legion and Sons of the American Legion members form the color guard at the Memorial Day program in Exeter.

Exeter honored those who have fallen in service to their country with a Memorial Day Program at the Exeter Cemetery on Monday morning.

After the flag ceremony Legion Commander Alan Songster welcomed the audience and reminded them of their purpose there, “to honor those we remember.”

The Exeter-Milligan band played “The Star Spangled Banner” before Pastor Kim Dunker led the invocation.

Patrick Murphy read “The Gettysburg Address” before the band performed a “Salute to Freedom” which included “America the Beautiful,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “America.”

Kelsey Bigelow read “In Flander’s Field” before the band played “God Bless America.”

Songster introduced Tim Wilbeck the speaker for the service.  Wilbeck noted that this year America is honoring the 150^th Memorial Day formerly known as Decoration Day.

“Any American would feel honored to speak about America’s sons and daughters. . .to pay special tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to those who returned home and since passed on,” explained Wilbeck, “Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.”

Wilbeck shared the story of the heroics of aviator Frank Luke during World War I.  Pursued by eight enemy planes, Luke shot down three enemy ammunition balloons before he was shot down in France.  After crashing, he pulled his automatic pistol and defended to the death.  He was the first pilot to receive the medal of honor.

He also shared the story of very quiet heroism, that of Vietnam nurse Sharon Lane, a 26 year old volunteer from Ohio.  “She received no medals or fame… she wrote in a letter home that hardly anyone is sacred.  It’s just part of the job.”

An enemy rocket took her life and that of a 12 year old Vietnamese girl.  Lane was the only female nurse killed by enemy fire in Vietnam.

Wilbeck noted that these and so many others were “wedded to the principle that America is worth dying for.”

He closed with the story of four young Marines who recently lost their lives in California.  Some had already done foreign tours and never expected to lose their life in a training exercise.

Wilbeck reminded the crowd that “we need to give our gratitude and support to a group no one wants to join – the Gold Star family.  Let us not stop with this ceremony. . .visit those family members, look them in the eye and thank them.”

The Legion and Sons of the Legion honored those lost with a 21 gun salute.  “Taps” was played by Trever Zelenka while Mitchell Manning played “Taps Echo.”

The audience was invited to the Legion for rolls and coffee.

Mark Crawford posts the colors at the Memorial Day Program in Exeter.

 John Tauriella posts the Legion flag at the Memorial Day Program in Exeter.

 Mrs. Angie Murphy directs the Exeter-Milligan Band at the Memorial Day Program in Exeter.

 The trombone section at the Memorial Day Program.

 Trever Zelenka is on the end of the row of trumpets in the Exeter-Milligan band.

 Brian Moor (far left) gives the orders to the American Legion members as they salute the dead.

Trever Zelenka plays Taps to close the Exeter American Legion Memorial Day Program at the Exeter Cemetery.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Give Back Day

 Katie Mounce, Valerie Barnhart and Katie Moody paint the E-M sign by the Milligan site school

L-R: Wesley Ronne, Casey Underwood, Peyton Brandt, Braden Capek, Kole Svec, Ben Bartu, Hannah Beethe, Max Zeleny, Spencer Pribyl, Blake Steuben, Johnny Babula, Eric Olsen, Joey Bartu, Kaitlyn Vavra, Kiah Songster, Janey Erdkamp, Briana Capek, Kelsey Bigelow

E-M Wolves Give Back

by Paul Sheffield, Exeter-Milligan Superintendent

Thursday, April 26^th was the 1^st annual EMWolvesGiveBack day! Students in grades 7-12 as well as the teachers spent the afternoon, giving back to their communities.   Each teacher was assigned a group of students who were then responsible for some daunting community based service projects! 

Some of the areas/projects in Exeter included:

            Prepping the softball field for the upcoming summer season

            Displaying/attaching the outfield signs at the softball field

            Mulching around the Moor Field sign

            Roadside cleanup on Highway 6 (2 miles east and west of Exeter)

            Roadside cleanup on Road 21 (2 miles north and south of Exeter)

            Swimming pool park cleanup

Some of the areas/projects in Milligan included:

            Shingling the ball field concessions shack

            Prepping the baseball field for the upcoming summer season

            Repair Milligan Park fall-safe border

            Paint Welcome to Milligan sign by the school

            General park cleanup

Close to 100 students and teachers participated in the project, amassing over 200 community service hours.  By working together, the group accomplished more in one afternoon than it would take an individual to do in over a month! Plans are already being made for next years’ EMWolvesGiveBack day.

Other information/point to ponder about the day include:

            39 bags (55 gallon sized bags) of trash were collected

            Almost 20 acres of park/play ground was cleaned

            Almost 10 miles of roadside was cleaned

A big thank you goes to the students and teachers at Exeter-Milligan for their hard work, giving back to the communities of Exeter and Milligan.  Action shots and other pictures are available on the school website at www.emwolves.org or via twitter – just follow #EMWolvesGiveBack.

Death Notice: J.J. Dinneen

Obituary for J.J. Dinneen

A Funeral Mass for J.J. will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska. Father Steve Thomlison will be the Celebrant.

Graveside Services will be held at the Exeter Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.

Public visitation will be held at the Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. and will continue at the St. Stephen's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to Rosary.

A Rosary will be prayed on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Father Steve Thomlison will lead the Rosary.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Exeter Fire & Rescue, and York Adopt-A-Pet.

Memorial Day