Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman's Club Celebrates Arbor Day, Welcomes Babies

For 28 years the Exeter G.F.W.C. has welcomed new babies born to families in the old Exeter school district with trees, books, flowers and certificates.  As always, they tie the celebration to the Nebraska born holiday, Arbor Day which is 149 years old this year.

Attendees were welcomed by the Exeter Club President, Elaine Oldehoeft followed by a welcome from the Exeter Mayor, Alan Michl.  Michl read an Arbor Day Observation Proclamation which encouraged “all citizens to support Arbor Day and protect the trees in our community.”

Exeter-Milligan superintendent Paul Sheffield also welcomed the new babies to the “Exeter-Milligan Pack.  The school is ready, willing and able to assist you in any way.”

Sheffield also presented the babies with a welcome gift from the school district.

 Jill Schmidt of Fillmore County Good Beginnings shared about the WHALE project which places vital identification information on children's car seats to help rescue workers in the case of an accident. She also let parents know about the Car Seat Learning Center which is held the last Friday night of the month and gives parents the opportunity to ask any questions about installing and using car seats and also gives away free car seats.

G.F.W.C. Arbor Day committee members shared next, with Bethine Leif explaining how the program began. Committee Member Suzanne Johnson shared about the history of Arbor Day and then Bethine explained that the group will be planting an ornamental flowering tree at Gilbert’s Park with the names of the babies born this year sealed in bottle to be placed in with the tree. The committee also let the community know that this will be the last year they will be doing the event unless someone can take their place within the woman’s club.

The Exeter-Milligan second grade class presented a short play on the origin of Arbor Day through the “eyes” of a statue of J. Sterling Morton.  The students reenacted scenes from Morton’s life which were instrumental in making Arbor Day a national holiday.

At the end of the program the Exeter G.F.W.C. presented books, certificates, a copy of the Mayor's proclamation, seedling trees with planting instructions, flowers for the moms and "our best wishes" to the new parents.

This year the Exeter G.F.W.C. welcomed these eight babies: Issac Kenneth Ring, son Dillon Ring and Chloe Breitbach, Gracelyn Lenae Becker, daughter of Zach and J.J. Becker, Liam Michael Whitford, son of Shane and Deena Whitford, Thomas Wilfrid Kallhoff, son of Dan and Liz Kallhoff, Braxton Alan Harre, son of Justin and Sharlene Harre, Brooklyn Kay Lawson, daughter of Scott Lawson and Dawn Dowhy, and Archer Keith Engert, son of Cory Engert and Brandy Nichols.

Exeter G.F.W.C. Woman's Club

EXETER WOMEN ATTEND G

 Bonnie Cudaback (left) and Elaine Oldehoeft (right) pose with the Nebraska GFWC State President, Pat Gage of Aurora.

Elaine Oldehoeft, right, poses with the speaker at the GFWC State Convention, Sharon Randall

GFWC STATE CONVENTION

    The GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs 117th annual Convention was held April 18 - 20, 2013, at the Quality Inn in Grand Island.  GFWC Exeter delegates were Elaine Oldehoeft and Bonnie Cudaback.  NFWC Pat Gage of Aurora presided at the three-day convention. 

    On Thursday night, Sharon Randall, popular columnist in several newspapers in Nebraska, and throughout the country, gave a dynamic address.  In a packed room of women, she described herself as a "college dropout" and "professional liar".  She was humorous, and also delivered an inspirational address, telling the crowd of the five choices we have in life.  She got a standing ovation when ending her presentation. 

    Speakers on Friday were J. T. Elbracht, originally from Howells NE,  who talked about the WaterisLife program. WaterisLife's mission is to provide both short-term temporary and long-term sustainable water solutions in developing countries.  GFWC Woman's Clubs endorses this program by donating money toward buying filtered straws for $10 each for people in these countries. The straws last for approximately one year and provide a short-term solution for the water crisis. J. T. has been on many mission trips as a volunteer and photographer with the organization.   

     Andrea Riley of Lincoln spoke on the Shot@Life program.  This program provides shots to developing countries.  She stated pneumonia is the largest killer of five-year old children, and every twenty seconds a child dies of a vaccine-preventable disease.  The Nebraska woman's clubs also endorse this program.

    Reports on the many projects and programs that the clubs do, were presented throughout the convention.  Our club was recognized in the Home Life category for the pumpkin painting at the Exeter Care Center and our participation in "Relay for Life".  Also in the International Outreach program held jointly with the Fairmont club, for the Heifer International program; and the Advocates for Children projects which included contributing to the Backpack Program, Heart Goodie Bags for the Children's Hospital in Omaha, and YRTC in Geneva.

    CeCe Murphy, a second grader at E-M Public School was announced as a "Postcard from Nebraska" winner.

    In the Youth Division of the Creative Writing program, Clint Oldehoeft, fourth grader at Exeter-Milligan Public School, was a First Place winner with his Short Story entitled "Tom and Erick".

    Arts, crafts and scrapbooks were judged and displayed.  Exeter-Milligan School art results were:  Peyton Brandt, Best of Show for the tractor he built of nuts, bolts, nails, etc.; Blue ribbons: Becka Krupicka, Trystan Brandt, and Jordyn Brandt; and Red ribbon, Toni Bossaller.  Agnes Loukota received a blue ribbon and a red on her quilts.   The Exeter scrapbook received a blue ribbon.

    The Exeter club took 36 pounds of poptabs, which is the equivalent of 54,000.  They go to the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha.  The Nebraska Woman's Clubs have donated 10 million poptabs since the induction of this program.  These pay for the electric bill of the house for one year.  Our club appreciates everyone  who have contributed to this.

    The 2014 State Convention will be held in Omaha on April 10 - 12.

   

Bonnie Cudaback

News Reporter

   

Exeter-Milligan Presents "Bed Bugs"

 The Bed Bugs pictured from the left Zoop (Brittany Beatham), Boggle (Brittany Colson), Leddo (Brianna Beatham) and Doodle (Madeline Ensrud) show their concern for the injured bed bug Squish (Meredith Emshoff).

Pictured from the left are Mayor Snickles (Liz Murphy), Peter (Hunter Stride) and Patsy (Alicia Bigelow) discussing ways they can keep their bed bug community safe from the terrorizing and earthquake causing little girl, Marie.

The Exeter-Milligan cast of the play "Bed Bugs" are pictured with director Jeretta Tauriella.  This is Mrs. Tauriella's last year to direct as she will be retiring at the end of the school year.  Front row from the left they are pictured:  Mrs. Tauriella, Brittany Beatham, Brittany Colson, Jennifer Pribyl, Taylor Erdkamp, Meredith Emshoff, Maitlyn Thomsen, Brianna Beatham.  Back row from the left are Madison Horne, Janey Due, Hunter Stride, Deidre Stevens, Megan Waldron, Alicia Bigelow, Madeline Ensrud, and Liz Murphy.

Exeter-Milligan students presented their play, "Bed Bugs," on Thursday, April 25th.
Cast:
Squish - Meredith Emshoff
Mother - Deidre Stevens
Marie - Megan Waldron
Doodle -Madeline Ensrud
Leddo - Brianna Beatham
Zoop - Brittany Beatham
 Boggle - Brittany Colson
Mayor Snickles - Liz Murphy
Sue - Amber Pribyl
Patsy- Alicia Bigelow
Peter - Hunter Stride
R - Maitlyn Thomsen
X - Taylor Erdkamp
Penelope - Janey Due
Whoops - Madison Horne
Crew:
Ashley Miller
Meghan Miller
Megan Zwickl
Erica Yound
Kimberlin Ruhl

Exeter Resident Turns 100

 

Floyd “Herb” Mason has lived in Fillmore County for most of his 100 years.

The Exeter resident was born April 25, 1913 on a farm near Geneva and has been in the county for the majority of his life.

Mason grew up on a farm outside of Geneva.  He recalled some of the special events in his life with one of the highlights watching his Dad raise Hampshire hogs and winning the grand champion four years in a row at the State Fair.  He recalled how they had to load the hogs up in a freight car on the train to haul them to the fairgrounds in Lincoln.  He also recalls the huge silver cup that held a special place in his family’s home.

Mason always worked hard, “I did anything I could get.  When I was twelve years old I was plowing with two mules and three horses three miles west of Geneva.”

He also worked at the Economy Paint Mills in Geneva and even “mowed lawns.  I did everything I could to make a buck.”

Another special memory was of a little boy he encountered after a day at the paint mill.  He asked his mom who the little boy was in the back yard and she told him “a little boy I took to raise.”  

Dale Saum was the young man, he grew up to be a special person in the family and still keeps in contact and visits the Mason’s regularly.  Donnie also recalled how his own parents took in a foster son to raise in the early 1980’s named Warren Abbot.  Warren also keeps in contact with the Mason’s.

Mason spent some time in California after completing the ninth grade in Geneva.  He drove his brother in law and sister to the west coast when he was 16 years old and ended up working there, making home brew during Prohibition.  He worked  for Sully Salvador, a champion middle weight prize fighter, “We started with four 20-gallon crocks and got up to six crocks. I learned to make beer from Dobinspeck, he was the brew master for Buffalo Brew.”

Eventually he bought a Dodge car for $30 and headed back to Nebraska where the car quit just outside of Hastings.  He pulled it home “and in thirty minutes in the yard I had it running again.”  

Mason worked here and there until 1942 when he enlisted in the service.  He worked at the Mead Ordinance plant before heading overseas. He served in Iran working on trucks for the supply line to fight against the Germans who were in Russia.  When he returned he became a Sergeant, and was stationed at Fort Warren, Wyoming as a truck driving instructor.

When he returned from the war “I was walking down the street carrying my duffel bag and had a job before I even got back home.”

He married his wife Annabel in 1946 in Washington, KS.  They were headed for Marysville, KS but had a flat tire in Washington.  They had a brand new courthouse there so they got a license and were married by the judge before heading to Lincoln for a honeymoon on Capitol Beach.

They moved to Exeter in 1949 and raised their family in town. In the 1950’s he worked for Foreman, Inc.  Hauling bulk oil and managing the fuel station for the Foreman’s.  He also was one of the first mechanics for B & B Chevrolet in Friend.  He was a Corvair mechanic there recalling that “you pretty near had to pull the motor out of them to get anything fixed.”  

If you ask Mason what the secret to his 100 years was, “I always worked hard and Annabelle’s cooking.”

The community of Exeter knew Annabelle’s cooking well as she and Herb opened a café and gas station on the west edge of town in 1966.  In the early days they stayed open until midnight, often finishing up at 2 a.m. and reopening with coffee ready at 6 a.m.

Son Donnie recalls how he often went to bed on a rollaway in the back of the café before his parents carried him across the parking lot to the house, “I don’t know how they did it.”

“The café seated about 40 and we would fill it up twice on Sunday.  People were always waiting.  Reverend Clements (Exeter’s United Methodist Minister) was always coming in to do the dishes on Sunday,” Herb recalled.  They kept the café open for 24 years.

When Mason turned 62 he turned the filing station over to his son Dale and went to work for a local farmer, “He said I was the best hired man he ever had.”

Over the years he worked for many local farmers and various trucking companies.  Threaded through his conversation were memories of cars and powerful engines.  Engines and trucking were the core of his life.  If he couldn’t be out working the land then he wanted some grease on his hands.  Son Donnie still relies on his Dad to help solve some of his mechanical dilemmas, “Don’t let his age fool you, he can still tell you how to fix almost every vehicle he worked on.”

These days Mason lives in his home with son Donnie.  Daughter Trudy visits often along with lots of his grandkids and great-grandkids.