Golf Team Has New Coach

Front row from the left:  Liz Murphy, Brittni Kotas, Toni Bossaller.  Back row from the left Colleen Colson, Becca Vossler, Jordyn Brandt and Coach Matt Nicholas.

Exeter-Milligan Golf team will be coached by Matt Nicholas this year.  They are looking forward to a growing season.  Even though they have three seniors on their team only Becca Vossler has played on the team all four years of her career.

Exeter-Milligan Starts Season Tonight

 

Front row from the left: Devin Sheffield, Jarett Maxson, Dusty Axline, Zach Kroll, Brady Bristol, Nolan Beatham, Dalton Zelenka, James Sluka and Student Manager Trever Zelenka.  Middle row from the left: Student Manager Felix Ochsenfeld, Brody Kresak, Kyle Jensen, Blake Papik, Greg Pribyl, Robbie Androyna, Nate Bigelow and Assistant Coach Brent Zoubek.  Back row from the left: Assistant Coach Jackson Krejci, Blake Mark, Jesse Hall, Nolan White, Derek Luzum, Broc Mueller, Alex Benorden, Jalen Maxson and Coach Dean Filipi. Not pictured is Nate Oliva, student manager Sam Zeleny, films Kirby Soukup and stats Connor Becker.

Exeter-Milligan starts their season with a home game versus Lawrence Nelson at 7:00 p.m. in Milligan.

End of Summer Exeter Aquatic Center Hours

Exeter Aquatic Center will be open this week for their regular hours including weekend hours.

During the week of August 22 through September 2nd their WEEKDAY hours will be

3:30 (after school) until 8:30 p.m. with NO Supper break

Regular hours for weekends. The pool will close for the season on Sunday, September 4th.

Obituary: Francis Stride

Francis Edward Stride was born to Francis Edward Stride on April 27, 1968, at Watertown, South Dakota, and he passed away August 8, 2011, at home in Exeter, Nebraska at the age of 43 years, 3 months, and 11 days. He was one of 4 children in the family. 

Francis graduated from Lincoln High School in 1987 and then he attended Central Community College in Hastings for Truck Driving School. He recently had been driving a truck for several years for Friend Freightways.

On September 30, 1989 he married Lorianna M. Francisco, and together they raised 4 children.
Francis was a hard working man, always joking and easy to make laugh. He was an amazing brother, husband, and father. He adored and loved his family very much. The relationships that were most important to him were his wife, kids, and granddaughter. Those were the people that most influenced his life. When he was young he liked to fish, play football and swim at Bowling Lake.

When he had free time he still enjoyed fishing, relaxing outdoors, working or fixing up random things, spending time with family and his dogs. He was interested in cars and semis. He collected toy semis and cars and anything that a John Deere logo on it. A lot of people remember him by his camouflage hat, yellow tank t-shirt, driving semis and fixing everything with duct tape and zip ties. He was always about smiles and laughing. Every morning when he was home you’d wake up to the smell of coffee brewing because Lorianna would always have fresh coffee ready for his John Deere coffee mug. Francis thoroughly enjoyed life and accomplished everything he could, and he was proud of everything he accomplished in his life.

Francis was preceded in death by his grandparents Herald Edward and Edna Mae Stride; and by his brothers Christian Edward Stride and Buddy Edward Stride.

He is survived by his wife Lorianna Marie Stride; daughters Whitney Marie McDonald, Jordin Due and husband Anthony, Hunter KayLn Lea Stride; son Austin Francis Stride; sister Kacy Wanek; father Francis Edward Stride; and granddaughter Tyler Marie Due.

Funeral services for Francis were held on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Friend Christian Assembly in Friend, Nebraska with Pastor Jerry Gill officiating the services. Pallbearers for the service included Austin Stride, Mark White, Troy Moses, Anthony Due, Phil Woodmancy, and Mike Woodmancy. Honorary bearers included Jad Dorsey and Bo Mattox. Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery with Farmer & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials are directed to the family.

Exeter-Milligan Open House

Don't forget that the public is invited to the Exeter-Milligan School Open House on Friday, August 12th from 6 - 7 p.m.  Both attendance sites will be open to the public and teacher's will be on hand in their rooms to answer questions.

Death Notice: Francis Stride

Garment Gadget Giveaway Store Continues to Give

When the five weeks of the Exeter Garment, Gadget Giveaway store were done, they did what they always do, gave everything away.  Brenda Stutzman who owns Country Neighbors in Beaver Crossing came to pick up the items that she could use in her store.

For six weeks this summer the Exeter United Methodist Women's group opened the Garment, Gadget Giveaway store on Friday and Saturday mornings and gave everything away. Donations of clothes and household goods were also accepted and were graciously received.

Roma Rhodes who spearheaded the group's efforts was overwhelmed with the outpouring of generosity of the community, "The tables were piled high, over a foot deep with clothing for all sizes."

Last year, their minister, Jeff Adams, challenged the ladies group to have a mission.  They took on not one, but two projects in the community.  The group began supporting the Backpack program at the Exeter-Milligan school that sends home a weekend's worth of food with schoolchildren for families who are in need. Hoping to meet another need in the community, the group began the Garment Gadget Giveaway store for everyone in town and the surrounding communities.

"We gave everything away for free.  People could leave a [monetary] donation if they wanted to, but we felt it was a good service to the community," according to Rhodes.

The use of the storefront was generously donated to the group by Doug Anderson who owns the space and all the UMW had to do was pay the electric bill.  Many members of their group came and worked at the store from those of retirement age to elementary students.  "We have had so many who worked so hard here and volunteered their time including Janet Miller, Janice Miller, Evelyn Michl, LaVonne Guthrie, Erma Adamson, Sherry Mounce, Ashley Benordan, Torie Glenn, Clarissa and Katie Mounce," said Rhodes.

It was only fitting when they decided to close the store for the year that the group continue their mission and give away what was left.  One of the first to come and collect items was Brenda Stutzman who owns the store Country Neighbors in Beaver Crossing.  Stutzman sells new, used and unique items in her store in Beaver Crossing, with all of the profits from donated items going toward breast cancer projects in Nebraska.

"Myself and all three of my sisters have fought breast cancer and I have one sister who is fighting for her life right now so cancer projects are my priority.  We also give away winter coats and clothes to those who need them and share with the Matt Talbot and City Mission in Lincoln as well as the mission in York.  All of the items are used somewhere, nothing goes to waste. I can always find someone who can use something," explained Stutzman.

Stutzman was eyeing winter coats, boots and blankets "for our crisis pantry at church."  Janice Miller and Rhodes were sorting through the leftover clothes, setting aside some of the boys clothes to be taken to Epworth Village in York and planned to approach Blue Valley in Geneva with the household and clothing items that remained.

The members of the United Methodist Women in Exeter were thrilled with the results of their store this year and when asked if they plan to continue the service next year Rhodes answered, "God willing!"

Exeter Scouts Participate in Saltdogs Day Camp

Six Exeter Cub Scouts recently participated in the Cornhusker Council Saltdogs Cub Scout Daycamp. 

 

The boys and the parents and leaders spent the afternoon at Haymarket Park learning about baseball and participated in lots of fun activities.  Some of the planned activities were curtailed due to the heat but with plenty of water and some shade the boys were able to do some activities toward their physical achievements.

 

The boys spent part of the afternoon earning belt loops in map and compass, marbles, good manners and one of their favorites, video games.  After rotating through five different activity stations they boys were presented a program by the Saltdogs and then enjoyed an autograph session with the players. 

 

After taking a short supper break, the Exeter scouts paraded around the Saltdogs field with their pack flag before watching several ceremonial first pitches, including some by scouts in the council. Scouts also served as watchdogs for the players as they were introduced.  Joey Bartu of Troop 270 carried the American flag onto the field for the performance of the Star Spangled Banner to open the game.

 

During the game the Exeter scouts played baseball bingo, and enjoyed themed prizes. The boys all earned multiple achievements and awards and all received a day camp patch.

 

Exeter Scouts Attend Webelos Camp

Story by Peytan Brandt

 

Webelos II Scouts Peytan Brandt and Johnny Babula of Cub Scout Pack 218 of Exeter, went to Camp Cornhusker July 10-13. Ther activities included:  Swimming, boating, hiking, archery, BB guns, and leathercrafts. They learned more about the Boy Scout program and were taught lessons in fire building, outdoor cooking, first aid, tying knots, and they learned how to make an aluminum bowl. On the last night they performed in a campfire skit.

Amtrack Train Tangles with Pivot near Exeter

A loaded Amtrak train encountered a pivot tower across the tracks early Monday morning.  The pivot stop had malfunctioned causing the pivot to continue to move ending up on the track.  No one was injured in the accident but passengers were delayed for several hours waiting for a new engine to be brought to the site to replace the damaged engine.