Happy Fourth of July!

Stay safe and don't forget to be courteous with your fireworks display!

Exeter Aquatic Center offers Swimming Lessons

The Exeter Aquatic Center will once again offer Red Cross swimming lessons to community members for the cost of $25.00 They start July 7th through July 18th.  Each class is about 45 minutes and they start at 8 a.m. (starting with level 6).  This year's teacher is Sara Lincoln.  Contact the pool at 402-266-3001 to make a reservation as soon as possible.  Baby aquatics are for 1 - 4 year olds.  They will be held July 7 - 11 from 6- 6:30 p.m. for $15.00.  They are a great way to start your kids off in swimming lessons.

Exeter Hosts Successful Bloodmobile

The American Red Cross held a bloodmobile in Exeter on Friday, June 27th.  Co-coordinators Barb Jansen and Peg Becker called for appointments for the event beforehand and were thrilled with the outcome.


"This time of the year blood supply is very low and we were very very happy to have exceeded our goal," said Jansen.  "With a goal of 42 pints we were elated to surpass that by 15 pints."

First time donors were Stefanie Sudrla, Chloe Breitenbach and Christina Pitzer.  Also several donors received gallon pins including Irene Brekke (3 gallon pin), Anita Mueller (3 gallon pin) and Adam Erdkamp (2 gallon pin).

The United Church of Christ women served the lunch and the UCC men unloaded the equipment with a few other volunteers.

Helping usher donors were Carol Shafer, Kathy Erdkamp and Bonnie Cudaback.

Jansen emphasized, "It was a great day.  Everyone that said they would come did and we had hardly any no shows."

Local Cub Scouts Enjoy Campout

Cub Scouts in the Prairie Winds District enjoyed a weekend campout with their families at Willard Meyer Recreation Area near Milligan May 30 and 31^st.  

The event attracted over 150 participants and was hosted by Pack 180 out of Utica.  Cub Scouts in Pack 218 out of Exeter participated in the weekend event.

The Cub Scouts participated in a campfire on Friday evening and each pack took turns performing skits or a song.  After the entertainment was over everyone enjoyed cooking smores over the fire.

The next morning started with an early flag ceremony before the scouts were divided by rank to participate in a variety of activities.  The Webelos scouts started the morning off with bb guns, archery and the tomahawk throw hosted by the Prairie Winds Chapter of the Order of the Arrow.

The Tigers, Wolves and Bears also had the opportunity to shoot bb guns and use a bow and arrow.  All of the scouts did a wood project from a popsicle stick frame to a bookshelf and a wood game.

The Bear scouts learned to safely use a pocket knife and they carved a hui stick with their pocketknives.

The scouts all had the opportunity to visit the Nebraska Game and Parks fishing trailer and try out their poles and bait during the day.

Above - Pack 218 performs one of the classic skits “Invisible Bench” Utica Pack 180 Cubmaster Rick Backhus watches.  The scouts pictured from the left are Mikey Bartu, Devin Harrison, Braden Capek,  Chris Kelch, Ben Bartu and Tyler Due. Below -
Braden Capek, a Webelo in Pack 218 uses a jig to hold his board to make the perfect cut for his triangle golf tee game.

This was the third annual Family Campout in the Cornhusker Council Prairie Winds District.

Exeter Public Library Hosts Story Hour

The Exeter Public Library hosted two story hour’s for local children Tuesday, June 17^th.  The preschool – Kindergarten group met in the afternoon and read the Eric Carle book, “Pancakes, Pancakes.”  So, of course, they had to make pancakes.  The participants took turns shaking up the pancake mix and then created a picture of their favorite breakfast while they waited for their special snack.  Above, Zoey Papke got busy shaking up the pancake mix while her grandma, Annette Gloystein watched. Below,

Cohen Harre had to hold his tongue just right to get the pancake mix shook up to the right consistency.

 The kids drew their favorite breakfast on the paper and colored it in.  Lots of pancakes, french toast, sausage on eggs on these papers.

Above - Librarian Jessica Votipka had some very patient pancake making helpers in (l-r) Cohen Harre, Brett Kallhoff and Will Kallhoff.  Below, Brett and Will enjoy their pancakes.