Exeter-Milligan Update: Math News

Math News

By Mary Kay Pribyl, Exeter-Milligan Math Instructor

The algebra class has just begun their unit on polynomials and are working with rules for exponents when multiplying and dividing.  Pictured below is Olivea Swanson practicing at the board.

The algebra 2 class is studying the graphs and end behavior of polynomial functions. Top picture is Clint Oldehoeft and Jackson Beethe showing the end behavior of an odd degree function.

 

Greg's Market Purchased by Exeter Investors Corporation

In early December the Exeter community was rocked with the news they learned on facebook, Greg’s Market planned to close their doors by the end of February.

Their online statement included an explanation for their closing after 20 years of service to the community, “The current climate of small business, e-commerce, super-fast shipping, etc. have made it very difficult to compete on price and selection in the grocery category. . .profit margins continue to be thinned by the constant battle for the ‘best’ price and rapidly increasing credit card processing fees.”

It didn’t take long for the community to respond.  Just before the end of the year a group of concerned citizens held an evening discussion and out of that was born the plan for community members to pool their resources and purchase the store from the Greg and Jackie Yound.

The group, calling themselves the Exeter Investors Corporation met in mid-February to purchase shares (minimum was $1000) and elect a board of directors.  Approximately 50 investors purchased 200 shares of stock in the corporation.

The meeting also informed shareholders how the corporation would work and detailed legal paperwork was passed out and signed.  The purchase agreement with the Yound’s and the Exeter Investors Corporation was signed on Monday, March 1. Greg’s Market will officially close on March 30^th  and the store will be closed on March 31^st for inventory.

The investors plan to tackle a few minor repairs on the fire marshal’s recommendation list on March 31^st with the rest completed within 90 days of the store reopening. The store will reopen under the new ownership on April 1^st.

Greg will be available to the board in an advisory capacity for the time being, but current employee Becky Bigelow will be the store manager with local resident Mitch Schlegelmilch serving as the president of the board of directors. Also elected to serve on the board by the shareholders are Justin Harre who will serve as vice president of the board of directors with Amy Emshoff as treasurer and Sharon Dyer as secretary. Kenny Harre will also elected to the board of directors.

The other employees were all given the option to keep their jobs and Schlegelmilch added, “we really hope they stay.” 

Under Schlegelmilch’s leadership the board hopes to keep things about the same.  Right now, the only schedule change will be closing at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights.  “Otherwise, we are going to try to keep it business as usual,” according to Schlegelmilch.

The store has been the only grocery store in Exeter since the storm in July of 1993 that took out Heffelfinger’s grocery store.   Norm and Carol Yound first purchased the grocery store in Exeter in 1970 and opened their bakery in 1982.

The store began as Norm’s IGA and then changed to Norm’s Shur Save before their son, Greg, and his wife Jackie, purchased the store from them in April of 1999.  Greg’s Affiliated foods has continued with groceries, meat department, deli, catering, baked goods and over the years have added a liquor department along with serving noon meals.  It became Greg’s Market several years ago.

Watching the communities around Exeter lose their grocery stores motivated residents to take action before they lost their store. Schegelmilch commented, “Once again the Exeter community has stepped up and has made this community one of the greatest ones to live in.”

Schlegelmilch sees a lot of potential in the store and asks “that you give us a chance.  Take advantage of the customer service, the one on one personable experience at Greg’s.”

“We are looking for opportunities to improve our business function, our service, our operation.  Personally and speaking for the board we want to figure out ways to keep what we have going but at the same time look for opportunities to improve the business.”

Greg added, "Jackie and I would like to thank the many customers that supported us and my parents over the last 50 years.  Many generations of local families were and are a huge part of our successes.  We ask that everyone support all our home town businesses and make Exeter a place that people want to shop, work, and live.  Thanks again and we'll see you around." 

Exeter-Milligan Update: Makerspace

MakerSpace at Exeter-Milligan

By Marla Weber, 2^nd Grade Instructor and MakerSpace co-sponsor

At Exeter-Milligan K-6 students have an opportunity to participate in a monthly after-school program called MakerSpace. This 90-minute program has been designed to provide hands-on ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build, and problem-solve. Students generally choose from three to four suggested activities for that session. They may join efforts with a partner or work independently. Teachers act as facilitators, rather than share demonstrations or give instructions. Some projects include STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities, building with wood, doing beadwork or sewing. A popular activity includes the deconstruction station where outdated electronics may be taken apart and incorporated into a new project. Many of the items used in the MakerSpace program have been received from generous donors from our district. 

While at MakerSpace, students engage in critical thinking, creative thinking, and collaborate with peers. They learn the importance of revising a project and persevering when a task becomes difficult. At MakerSpace students have the opportunity to explore their own interests, learn to use a variety of tools and materials, and develop innovative projects. Each month students are provided new opportunities to attempt and learn that failure is an important part of learning. The goal at MakerSpace is for students to work together to learn, collaborate and share. 

Exeter-Milligan Update: First Grade News

Saydee Kassik and Brooklyn Lawson

First Grade News at Exeter-Milligan Public Schools

By Sara Pella, E-M First Grade Instructor

The First Graders have been hard at work this semester, from learning about the states of matter, solutions and mixtures to researching a President in honor of President's Day.  The first graders were able to learn about the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.  They spent several days finding each state of matter around the classroom and school, along with separating them through an interactive game on the smartboard.  To celebrate the end of the states of matter chapter along with the 100th day of school, the students were able to create a science experiment using snow.  Each of the students built a snowman.  They placed it in a container and watched as their snowman went through all of the states of matter.  They created a book about it, using pictures they took of their snowman.  Then they wrote about what happened during each phase.  They really enjoyed bringing their snowmen into the classroom and watching it go through each phase.  The First Graders are currently learning about solutions and mixtures and will be creating an experiment next week.

Kaidence Kohler, Dahlia Zeher-Lewis, Kyson Holtzen-Mitchell and Archer Engert

Medicare Presentation April 22

Exeter Village Board Meets

Exeter Village board met on Tuesday, March 3 in the Village offices.  All members were present with just two guests and a short agenda.

The board reviewed the invoices and minutes and approved both before reviewing a Kidwell bid for surveillance cameras.  The board discussed the issues of the current system and the quote which was $18,300 for replacing all of the cameras and the equipment.

Board member Justin Harre commented, “The old cameras will still work.”

Chairman Alan Michl explained, “A lot of the main costs are taken care of. . .a lot of the infrastructure they could still use.”

The discussion focused on replacing the cameras on main street and adding one at the lift station. The board decided to get a quote for new monitoring equipment along with new main street cameras and one at the lift station.

Moving on, the board hired Josie Kresak and Kate Jansky as the pool managers and set the wages for all of the pool and maintenance summer employees.

Next on the agenda was a discussion of the penalty charge for late water payments.   Currently the charge is $2.50 but according to Clerk Becky Erdkamp it is ”becoming more of an issue. I had $1500 worth that hadn’t paid last month.”

The board will have an ordinance written up to increase the late penalty to $10 and review it next month.

The board hired a property inspector to examine some nuisance homes in the village and set the spring dumpster clean up date for April 25.

The board held a brief discussion on the possibility of providing employee health insurance and the current village insurance policy but no action was taken.

Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller gave a brief report on the progress of clean-up in the shop and the revamping of the fire hall.

Clerk Becky Erdkamp presented a request for a donation toward a scholarship at Exeter-Milligan and the village approved a contribution.  There was a brief discussion on recycling and the removal of the village recycling trailer as there is no longer an outlet which will accept the recycling.

Clerk Erdkamp reported she had a call from a concerned citizen regarding shooting at the rock pile east of the village.  Michl acknowledged the issue but noted since it was not within city limits there is nothing the board can do.

With interest rates lowering Clerk Erdkamp discussed looking into pool bond refinancing.  She reported that sales tax for December was at an all-time high of $39,237.92 and  keno for January was $332.27.

The board set the next meeting for April 7^th at 7 p.m. at the village office.