Exeter United Sunday School Christmas Porgram

The Exeter United Sunday School performed their Christmas program, "The Perfect Fit," at the United Church of Christ on Sunday, December 12.  The program taught the students that giving and receiving are both important.  Bibles were presented to Katie Mounce, Clarissa Mounce, Caitlin Murphy, and Brooke Poppert following the program.  The Sunday School is made up of children from the Exeter United Church of Christ and the Exeter United Methodist Church. The group collected 90 lbs. of food for the Blue Valley Food Bank at their program.   Students pictured from left to right with some of the donated food items are:  Brooke Poppert, Katie Mounce, Caitlin Murphy, Haylee Sheffield,  Olivia Poppert, Clarissa Mounce, Trevor Swartz, and Patrick Murphy.

Exeter- Milligan Update - Skating Rink

Exeter Skating Rink opens!

With the recent freezing rain, the elementary students at
Exeter-Milligan practice their skating skills.

Exeter Holiday Lights

 Looks like Santa is here!

Exeter Hosts Giant Reindeer

There is a new resident in Exeter. Norm Bristol built this giant reindeer out of 3/4 inch plywood.  The reindeer, which stands on the south side of Bristol's house on North Burlington Avenue in Exeter stands 15 foot tall. According to Bristol he saw the pattern on the front of a catalog he receives and decided to make it. The reindeer withstood the heavy winds this last weekend pulling one stake loose until Bristol was able to restake the line. While the reindeer doesn't have a name, Bristol runs a red spotlight on the figure at night.

County Supervisors Discuss Paving of Road Between Exeter and Milligan

With hopes high for a special Christmas gift the residents of Exeter and Milligan will be disappointed as they will have to wait until 2011 to see if a road between the two villages will be paved sometime in the future.

The Fillmore County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, December 14th in Geneva with the road plan on the agenda.  While working through the road portion of the agenda Supervisor Robert Mueller made a motion to pave Road 21 from Highway 6 to Highway 41.

Supervisor Albert Simacek seconded the motion and Supervisor Chair Ray Capek opened the floor for discussion.  The Supervisors asked questions of County Road Superintendent Elmer Hessheimer first.  Several asked if the project was put on the plans would it actually ever have to be done.  Heisheimer responded that it "if did take place, it would be down the road."

Mueller asked Hessheimer what the costs associated with preliminary engineering would be.  A representative of Speece Lewis Engineers present at the meeting estimated that the costs would be around $60,000.

Capek asked guests if they had any comments and Exeter-Milligan School Board member Tim Pribyl commented that he would like to see Road 24 paved.  "I have spoken with the Milligan Fire and Rescue members and they would like to see Road 24 paved.  Road 24 sits right in the middle of Highway 15 and 81. This would give them easier access to the Friend hospital," said Pribyl.

Pribyl also noted the student traffic on the road, "We have at least one vehicle roll over a year on the road."

Several other residents spoke in support of paving one of the roads.  Chairman Capek called for a vote. Supervisors Jerry Galusha, Larry Cerny and Albert Simacek  all voted against placing the paving of Road 21 on the road plan while Supervisors Capek, Mueller and Steve Yates voted yes, Dennis Kimbrough abstained leaving the vote tied three to three and failing.

The board plans to look at the road plan and have it complete in February.

Exeter-Milligan School Update

Reading Tidbits by Jeretta Tauriella

Alicia  Bigelow and Taylor Erdkamp read one of their
favorite children's books, You Read to Me. I'll Read to
You by Mary Hoberman.  The book has short rhymed stories for
two.  It is written for beginning readers and those who like
to experiment with voices. This book would be a nice gift
because it requires two people.  It can be mom and child,
grandfather and child, or babysitter and child. It makes for
an enjoyable event. If you are purchasing for a teen the
following website may be helpful:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bbyahome.cfm

Exeter Sign Featured in Rural Electric Magazine

Don't toss that copy of Rural Electric Nebraskan before taking a closer look on page 6.  The Exeter neon sign was featured in three photos published in the magazine.  The magazine will be archived and be available for viewing online hopefully soon.

Click here to get to the page for the archived magazine (you want the December issue)

Exeter-Milligan Elementary Program - "Shape Up Santa"

Santa got stuck. There was no two ways about it. The Exeter-Milligan Elementary students told the story of his unfortunate incident but the aftermath of the event was even more unfortunate.

 

After that fateful evening, Mrs. Claus and the elves had begun to chart Santa's weight. As Christmas approached, Mrs. Claus checked the chart only to find that Santa had gained weight, not lost it.

 

Sharing in part of the blame were some of Santa's elves who revealed some of his hiding spots for his favorite goodies, in the toys, and even under his hat.

 

Mrs. Claus decided that something had to be done and decided to enlist the assistance of Betty Body's Health Haven.  Santa enrolled himself in Betty's program but was still supplied with his favorite junk food by his head elf Hughie.

 

Once discovered Santa is kicked out of the health haven but when he returns home he, with the help of the pizza delivery person discovers that the odds of him getting stuck again are slim to none, and he really likes all the junk food too much to ever be slim.

 

Exeter-Milligan Elementary students presented the musical to family and friends Tuesday evening in their annual performance. Santa was played by Trystan Brandt with Samantha Horne as Mrs. Claus. Hughie, the head elf was played by Trevor Luzum with Joan Strate playing Betty Body. The rest of the sixth grade class played elves and other assorted rolls.

 

To start the evening, the Exeter-Milligan fifth and sixth grade band played three classical Christmas tunes, followed by the fourth graders on their recorders.  The kindergarten, first and second graders all had their chance to perform individually and as a group.  The third, fourth and fifth graders participated in the musical provided back up music and full cast numbers.

 

After the evenings entertainment the attendees were welcomed to a Christmas tea in the cafeteria.

 

 Exeter-Milligan Kindergarten, First and Second grade classes.

 Exeter-Milligan sixth grade girls and Mrs. Santa.

 Exeter-Milligan third and fourth graders performing "Fit as a Fiddle."

 

 Mrs. Santa discovers that Santa has not broken his bad eating habits.

 Exeter-Milligan fifth graders Shape up with Santa.

Exeter Scouts attend National Treasure Event

 Exeter Webelos Scout Eric Olsen and his dad, Kent, wait in line for pizza at the National Treasure Event at the Nebraska History Museum.

 Friend Boy Scout Liam Noel (left) and Webelos Scout Seth Noel listen to Friend Webelos Den Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster Cynthia Cassel describe about hides and furs at the Nebraska History Museum.

 Webelos Scouts Joey Bartu (left) and Travis Gilliam look for clues while Tiger Cub Ben Bartu points the way.

Carol Capek, far left, watches her children, Tiger Cub Braden Capek and his sister Briana Capek mold clay into pots at the Nebraska Treasure event.

One night in two museums clues and crafts were plentiful in Lincoln.  With close to 600 cub scouts attending the Nebraska History Museum and the Lincoln Children's Museum were overrun Friday evening.

The Cornhusker Council of the Boy Scouts of America planned and sponsored the two museum event billed as the Nebraska Treasure.  The scouts were given a guidebook at the door depending on their age. Siblings and parents also attended to help search for the clues hidden throughout the two museums.

It was all about decoding during the evening.  The scouts had to break the codes found in the clues they were given by finding the museum displays where the clues were hidden.  Each floor of the museum had a different type of code to break. Along with the codes there were crafts and activities for the scouts and siblings to complete.

After the scouts "broke" the codes and discovered the password they progressed to receive a sticker that held part of the final clue. As the scouts headed to the Children's Museum they learned about Braille, cryptography and secret messages hidden in disappearing ink.

Once the scouts had all four stickers they discovered the final clues: Nebraska History Museum, Seek the Arrow, Chief Akela and First Floor.  They were able to attend a brief presentation by the Golden Sun Lodge of the Order of the Arrow and learn more about Boy Scouts.

Seven Exeter scouts attended the event with their parents and leaders.

Exeter Scout Pack 218 tours Fire Hall

 Exeter Fire and Rescue Department member Mark Beethe gave the Exeter Pack 218 Cub Scouts a tour of the Exeter Fire Hall Monday night.Pictured left to right are Tiger Cubs Ben Bartu, Braden Capek, Alec Schlueter, Wolf Cub Jackson Beethe, Mark Beethe, Trystan Brandt, Webelos Peytan Brandt and Joey Bartu.

 Beethe showed the scouts all of the gear the firemen wear in a fire.

 Beethe explained to the scouts that if they are ever in a fire and see someone wearing all of the equipment that they won't be able to understand the fireman but they should do what he says.

 Webelos Scout Peytan Brandt tests the weight of an air tank while Fireman Mark Beethe looks on.

 Tiger Cub Alec Schlueter proudly stands in front of his dad, Lin Schlueter's, locker at the Fire Hall.

The Exeter Cub Scouts got an indepth look at all of the fire equipment as well as lots of safety tips during the tour of the Exeter Fire Hall.

Exeter Cub Scouts got a tour of all of the fire and rescue equipment from Fire and Rescue Department member Mark Beethe on Monday evening.

The scouts started the evening asking Beethe a few questions about his training and his experience in the fire department. Beethe explained the many hours he spent training and testing to receive his EMT certification.

The scouts wanted to know about the worst fire he had experienced and if he had ever been frightened. After answering their questions Beethe led the scouts to the rescue unit. The boys were able to get inside the unit as Beethe explained how the calls are answered and how the patients are transported. 

From there the group toured the attack truck. Beethe donned his fire garb and then brought out a tank and a mask for the boys to see.  He modeled the equipment and showed how the mask garbled his words encouraging the boys to make sure they follow the direction of a fireman if they are ever in a fire - "he's not an alien," said Beethe.  In other words they shouldn't be afraid of the strange voice and the scary mask if they are in a fire.

Beethe showed the boys the jaws of life and some of the other equipment the department uses on their calls.  Next the boys moved on to the two large fire trucks.  Beethe showed them the trucks inside and out, noting the water canon on the large truck and he also showed the boys how the side tank comes out on the tanker truck to provide extra water capacity onsite.

After taking a group photo, the boys thanked Beethe for the informative night.