Exeter-Milligan Update: Fifth Grade Science

5^th Grade News by Sara Lincoln, Exeter-Milligan 5^th grade teacher

As the year is winding down, the Fifth Graders are getting a little anxious, so to keep them engaged and interested in science, we created a few science experiments relating to the rock cycle and weathering.  The first experiment was with water and M&M's.  The students stirred one cup to show how weathering affected the M&M. The second one the students did was showing the different types of rocks; Metamorphic, Igneous, and Sedimentary.  They cut Starbursts into pieces and molded them together to show Sedimentary rock.  After they molded those together they pressed the Sedimentary rock until it was flat, creating a Metamorphic rock.  We then put one of them in the microwave to create an Igneous rock. The students really enjoyed this hands-on activity and learned so much while doing it.   

Pictured Front: Jozie Kanode and Cade Kresak

Back: Devon Tankersley, Marcus Krupicka, Chase Vnoucek, Olivea Swanson and Sophia Gilliam

Cordova Scout Leaders Retire

Above, at the podium Steve Rhodes, left, and Lance Larsen, right, speak about Cordova Troop 359 Scoutmaster Warren Thomsen and his wife, Lois.

 

At a recent court of honor recognizing four young men who earned their Eagle Rank, Cordova area resident Warren Thomsen was toasted for his 41 years of service to Cordova’s Boy Scout Troop 359.

Twenty-seven young men earned the rank of Eagle Scout while Thomsen was Scoutmaster, but countless young men learned life lessons and skills while they were members of the troop.

A scout as a young man himself, he recalled with fondness his leader Darrol Larson,  “I only got to (the rank of) first class.  I turned 16 and started seeing some girls and that ended the scout program for me.  That hasn’t changed any for boys these days.”

Over 41 years, Thomsen took countless camping trip and claims that “Every time we went camping I learned something new.  The boys would always teach me something new.  There were only a couple of times in all those years it didn’t rain, snow or just be so cold.”

He continues to see the impact of scouting on the lives of young men who were once in the troop.  He sees how they are now a part of the community wherever they land, “All the boys that went through scouts will volunteer and don’t have to be asked.  It makes their community a better place to live.”

Some of Thomsen’s favorite memories involved a 50 mile hike with the troop in the late 1970’s.  The 18 boys along with their leaders and some dads that volunteered, started hiking from Cordova and spent the first night outside of Dorchester where they were featured on the evening television news.  He also remembered it raining that night and with the wind blowing, the scouts spent the night on their troop bus which was following them.

Family involvement is one of the benefits that Thomsen has seen with scouting, “On the 50 mile hike the dads took turns hiking and driving the bus and the moms made our Sunday lunch.  We got the whole family involved.”

Scout spirit is also another advantage of the troop dynamic.  “We had one very shy boy who couldn’t get over a wall at a camporee when we were timed.  All of our boys got in there to help, some lifted, some pushed and he made it to the top of the wall.  The boys got a trophy for that, they never left him behind.”

The boys have folded a lot of flags over the years but they have also learned some great life lessons.  “We have overhauled irrigation motors, lawnmowers, laid cement blocks and poured a lot of concrete.  The more projects you get their hands on all of the sudden the more they know how to do.”

Lance Larsen, who has served as an assistant scoutmaster for 28 years with Thomsen felt that he was lucky to have Thomsen as his leader his whole life.  “When I turned 18 and earned my eagle rank Warren told me I needed to help him as an assistant so I just left my uniform on.”

“Warren has a great way with kids.  He is a heck of a teacher and he really, really relates to kids.  They may think he is a little growly and grumpy and he can’t hear but he can get things across to kids that no one else can.”

“He is always looking for a new project to improve Cordova.  There’s always something cooking in his head , he’s always thinking about what Cordova needs.”

“He is so vested in scouts it is hard to see it not continue.  We couldn’t have written a better final chapter than to have him as the scoutmaster for our entire scouting careers.”

Steve Rhodes, the other assistant scoutmaster, agreed with Larsen, “He has been an inspiration to all of us and taught a lot of boys so many life skills and daily skills, things they will carry with them the rest of their life.  I learned more from him than I ever learned in school as far as mechanical skills and welding skills.”

“He was never afraid to tackle anything from wild ideas on floats and parades to Eagle scout projects.”

Rhodes also mentioned Lois Thomsen, Warren’s wife.  “Lois has been such a big part of it.  She used to help him with the paperwork before I took it over 28 years ago.  She has spent a lot of time behind the scenes.”

The community of Cordova have honored Thomsen renaming the park to Warren Thomsen Park, where so many Eagle Scouts built projects including the rest rooms, tennis courts, playground equipment, park shelter and brick entrance.

Exeter-Milligan Basketball Honors

Congratulations to these Exeter-Milligan Basketball players:

Marissa Howard - Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention, Lincoln Journal Star All-State Honorable Mention, York News Times All Area Team
Sydney Hall - Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention, Lincoln Journal Star All-State Honorable Mention, York News Times All Area Team
Kelsey Bigelow - Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention, Lincoln Journal Star All-State Honorable Mention, York News Times All Area Team Honorable Mention


Sam Zeleny - York News Times All Area Team, Second Team CRC All Conference, Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention
Patrick Murphy - York News Times All Area Team Honorable Mention
Eric Olsen - York News Times All Area Team Honorable Mention
Cameron White -  Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention
Trevor Luzum -  Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable Mention

Four Earn Eagle Scout Rank

The four Eagle Scouts – Kirby Soukup, Broc Mueller, Elliot Erdkamp and Jack Dinneen.

Four young men received their Boy Scout Eagle Scout rank on Sunday, March 20^th in a ceremony in Cordova.

After years of hard work, lots of camping and outdoor activities, Kirby Soukup, Elliot Erdkamp, Jack Dinneen and Broc Mueller completed the Eagle Scout rank and all of the required projects, paperwork and a board of review.

Soukup, Erdkamp and Dinneen are members of Troop 359 sponsored by the American Legion in Cordova.  Mueller was a member of Troop 270 sponsored by the American Legion in Friend.  Mueller graduated from Exeter-Milligan in 2015 and the others will graduate from Exeter-Milligan in 2016.

To receive the rank of Eagle Scout the young men must complete 21 merit badges and achieve seven different ranks, along with their requirements.  Their final tasks is to complete an Eagle project which provides a platform for them to learn leadership skills and put them into practice.

For his Eagle project, Mueller, along with community members and troop members landscaped an area around Trinity Lutheran Church in Cordova. Soukup, along with many hours from his troop members and leaders, made metal flower hangers to put in every yard in the village of Cordova.  Dinneen directed a crew of helpers as they re-roofed the shed at the Exeter ball shack along with the picnic shelter in Gilbert’s Park in Exeter. 

Erdkamp also focused on Gilbert’s Park in Exeter.  His project involved creating a cement sidewalk area around the brick sign that was erected for the Q125 celebration.

The Court of Honor to award their ranks was held at the Cordova Community Center with Troop 359 Assistant Scoutmaster Lance Larson serving as the Master of Ceremonies.  After an opening flag ceremony led by the scouts, Troop Committee Chairman Robert Rhodes gave an invocation.

Steve Rhodes, also an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 359 welcomed the many family, friends and fellow scouts.

The scouts presented the twelve points of the scout law lighting candles as the laws were explained.

Matt Doloch, an Eagle Scout, originally from Iowa shared not only the story of the patches on his scout shirt, but advice and encouragement for the Eagle candidates.

Al Kimminau, a Prairie Winds District Board of Review Committee Member gave the Eagle Scout Charge before Scoutmaster Warren Thomsen and Board of Review Chairman Larry Bechtel congratulated the young men on achieving the rank of Eagle Scouts.

The scouts were presented their Eagle rank awards by their mothers who pinned the rank pin on their uniform pocket.  The scouts presented their mother’s with an Eagle mother’s pin and their fathers with an Eagle tie tack.

Former assistant Scoutmaster Bernie Stych read about the Eagle Scout pin before the members of Troop 359 signed the troop book of honor surrounded by Troop Committee Members.

Members of the York Elks along with the Sons of the American Revolution presented the scouts with special certificates and flags in recognition of their rank.

The scouts each spoke telling about their project and their experiences in scouting.  They thanked their families and their leaders.  The young men had all been members of Cub Scout Pack 218 as youth.

Before the program closed, Scoutmaster Warren Thomsen was honored for his 41 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 359 as he had notified the troop that he would be retiring when the scouts completed their Eagle rank.  Assistant Scoutmasters Rhodes and Larsen also tendered their resignation.  There were congratulations read from Cordova Mayor Travis Due, BSA Prairie Winds District Executive Tina Rockenbaugh, Robert Rhodes along with Larsen and Rhodes.

It was announced that the Cordova park and playground area would be renamed in Thomsen’s honor.

The crowd sang “God Bless America” before the scouts retired the flags.

Guests were invited to a celebratory supper with the scouts and their families.

Above - The new Eagle Scouts with their parents.  From the left are Lisa Soukup, Kirby Soukup, Kenny Soukup, Anita Mueller, Broc Mueller, John Mueller, Becky Erdkamp, Elliot Erdakmp, Paul Erdkamp, Sharla Dinneen, Jack Dinneen and Joe Dinneen.

Below – Becky Erdkamp pins the Eagle Rank pin on her son Elliot Erdkamp during Troop 359’s court of honor ceremony. Troop 270 Eagle scout Broc Mueller is in the background.

Exeter-Milligan hosts Family Art Night

Above – Daisy Kanode paints Axel Erdkamp’s face at the Exeter-Milligan Family Art Night.

Below – Haylee Sheffield helps Liberty Johnson and Troy Kallhoff at the fingerprint painting station.

Exeter-Milligan held their second annual Family Art Night in the Exeter-Milligan gym on Tuesday, March 22.  Parents, guests and students were treated to an art exhibit in the entryway and on various display locations throughout the gym.

In addition, to a display of the artwork, there were multiple stations were everyone was invited to do hands on artwork.  From painting to freeform sculpture with pipe cleaners, there was something for everyone.

Manning the stations were sixth through twelfth graders in the art department at Exeter-Milligan.  Art teacher, Mrs. Lisa Kanode, created the successful event last year and expanded it this year.

This year the students created a giant chandelier with water bottles that they dripped paint in, let dry and then cut in a spiral.  Also added this year was a drone flying station.

The face painting station was very popular along with the crayon rubbing station.  The participants also enjoyed fingerprint painting and putting their faces in the carnival cutouts made from classic paintings.

Above– Around the paper weaving table at Family Art Night (left to right) are Liberty Johnson, Karoline Knudsen, Rachel Vossler, Jolene Vossler and Mary Lou Vossler.

Below – Elementary Principal Laura Kroll and parent Brittanie Schlueter watch as Samantha Horne helps Brooklyn Oldehoeft make some marbled paper.