Thank you to all the area veterans!
The Elmwood Murdock schools honored the area veterans today in two different programs. The high school program in the morning included music by the band and the choir. There was a flag folding demonstration by Kara Zimmerman, Carlie Kuhlman, and Callie Zeorian, a reading of proper flag etiquette by Brenna Backemeyer, and readings of an essay written by Kate Zakaras and poem read by Ashtyn Cooper. Owen Kunz read a list of names of area veterans some of whom were in attendance at the program.
Major Kevin Hynes, better known as Patrick, Thomas, Michael, and Erin's dad, introduced retired Col. Thomas Brewer, the guest speaker for the event. Col. Brewer talked about his experiences growing up and how he came to be in the military. He was greatly influenced by his father, a Ranger. Tom became a Ranger too which was the beginning of his adventures. He has led missions to train Afghanistan natives to be soldiers and also was responsible for trying to stop the drug trafficking in Afghanistan. For two years he and his team would raid drug labs, confiscate hundreds of pounds of drugs, burn them, and start all over again. During his presentation Tom showed pictures of his time in the military and commented that it was a comfort that his nephews also were rangers and were serving with him in Afghanistan. In 2003 Tom was ambushed and shot 6 times. While it may have slowed him down for a bit but that did not stop him.
When Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005 Tom was tapped to take Nebraska LAV and personnel to New Orleans to save people. He was also given a super secret assignment of cleaning out the Federal Reserve before looters did.
In December 2011 he was shot by an RPG while changing a tire. The injuries from this attack caused Tom to retire from the military. He made an unsuccessful bid to run for Congress in the Third Congressional District but was slowed down somewhat when he was diagnosed with leukemia at the same time he announced his candidacy. After many rounds of chemo Tom appears to be cancer free and looking for a new mission.
Tom now spends his time working with youth at the Pine Ridge Reservation and also working with the Horses for Heroes program in Montana. This program provides hope and acceptance for wounded veterans. The vets are taught about horses and are given the experience of a life time by riding and taking care of the horses. Tom plans to go on a 2,000 mile trail ride next year along the expanse of the Continental Divide. He recently had the final surgery to repair his body after the RPG attack in 2011 so he has hopes that he will make the trail ride. Life after the military has become as rewarding as his military career. We look forward to hearing about more adventures from Col. Brewer.
Mr. Allemang welcoming everyone to the Veteran's Day program.
Kara Zimmerman and Carlie Kuhlman folded the flag as Callie Zeorian read the instructions.
Completion of the flag folding.
Brenna Backemeyer reading proper flag etiquette.
Major Kevin Hynes...Patrick, Thomas, Michael, and Erin's dad.
Kevin introducing Tom.
Retired Col. Tom Brewer begins his presentation.
From Tom's presentation this is a picture of Tom and his dad.
Tom with his nephews in Afghanistan.
Kate Zakaras reads her essay called, "Not All Super Heroes Wear Capes. Some Wear Camo."
Ashtyn Cooper reads a poem about soldiers sacrifice for people they don't even know.
Glenn Miller, a WWII veteran, was escorted by Owen Kunz. Mr. Miller was the only WWII vet at the program.
Pat Wray expressing her thanks to Mr. Miller.
After the presentation Justin Drake waited until everyone left and came up to Tom and thanked him for his service and shook his hand. That is the affect that Tom has on people. He brings out the best in everyone. Justin is a great kid!
A big thanks to Mike Hanson for leading the Elmwood Murdock High School Concert band in playing the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Banners on Parade." Mr. Hanson concluded the Veteran's Day program by playing "Taps." It was chilling. And a big thank you to Betty Colbert for directing the High School choir in singing "America the Beautiful."
The Elmwood Murdock High School choir
Heroes and Horses Click for more information
Tom especially wanted everyone to know that there are many who will not come home and that is the ultimate sacrifice and we owe them everything.
Click here to see a report of the Veteran's Day program at the Elementary School.
Thanks to Beth Philson for pictures of the Veteran's Day Program!
================================
Congratulations to Elmwood Murdock Students Named All State Musicians!!
Five Elmwood Murdock students were named All State Musicians by the Nebraska Music Educators Association. Eight other Cass County students were also named as All State Musicians. The NMEA sponsored auditions for the Nebraska All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra earlier this month. Musicians provided audition tapes to judges through an online process during the week of Oct. 5-11. Audition results were released to the public Oct. 22.
All-State activities will take place in Lincoln Nov. 19-21. Musicians will practice Nov. 19-20 at various sites around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. The All-State Jazz Band and Chorus will perform a public concert in the Lied Center for Performing Arts at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 21. The All-State Orchestra and Band will perform in the same venue at 7:30 p.m.
Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University, will conduct the All-State Chorus. John Nardolillo, music director and conductor of the University of Kentucky’s Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the All-State Orchestra. Colleen Richardson, coordinator of bands at Western University in London, Ontario, will direct the All-State Band. - details from Fremont Tribune
Elmwood-Murdock
Grace Althouse – All-State Chorus – Alto II
Callie Zeorian – All-State Chorus – Alto II
Josiah Philson – All-State Chorus – Bass II
Cale Arent – All-State Chorus (Alternate) – Bass I
Nicholaus Barkhurst – All-State Chorus (Alternate) – Bass II
============================
GOOD LUCK, LADY KNIGHTS!!! TAKE STATE!!!
The Elmwood-Murdock Volleyball Team has qualified for 2014 State Volleyball Tournament to be held in Lincoln next week. The Tournament is scheduled to start on Thursday, November 13 and will run through Saturday, November 15, 2014. Brackets for the tournament can be found at the Nebraska School Activities Association website at http://www.nsaahome.org/ The Elmwood Murdock Volleyball girls will play on Thursday, at 7:30 pm, at Lincoln Southwest High School.
Click here to see the bracket.
============================
Note from Dan Novak - Superintendent - Elmwood Murdock Public Schools.
As you may know, Elmwood-Murdock qualified for the 2014 State Volleyball Tournament to be held in Lincoln starting on Thursday, November 13, 2014. Elmwood-Murdock will open first round play against Hastings St. Cecelia at Lincoln Southwest High School at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Due to the late start time of the game, we will have a regularly scheduled school day on Thursday. If Elmwood-Murdock were to win they would play at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2014, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. In order for our students and faculty to get to the game, school would be dismissed at the elementary at 11:50 a.m. and at the junior-senior high at 12 noon. Lunch would not be served on Friday if we dismiss early. If Elmwood-Murdock does not win their first round game on Thursday we will have a regularly scheduled school day on Friday, November 14, 2014. Please contact the school if you have questions regarding any of the information contained in this notice. Thanks - Dan Novak-Superintendent-Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools.
=========================
Please join us at the Murdock High School at 4:45 pm on Thursday, November 13th to give our EM Lady Knights Volleyball Team a BIG and LOUD! sendoff as they head off to Lincoln for the first round of the State Tournament!
The first round game will be played at 7:30 pm at Lincoln Southwest High School against Hastings St. Cecelia.
GO LADY KNIGHTS!!!
A pep rally will be held in the old gym at 3:00-3:30 pm on Thursday. Parents and community members are welcome to attend.
=====================
A special good luck to the Senior girls. They are a great group of girls but I could just be a bit partial since I watched these girls grow up.
Sheridan Spohr, Brenna Backemeyer, Adana Merriweather, Laura Fortney, Jessie Spaulding, and Hanna Justesen
====================
=============================
On Nov. 4 Murdock Lions Club welcomed Murdock voters to the polls with coffee and cookies. Located at the Murdock fire house there was plenty of room for both the voting booths, and the treats under the Lion banner. Serving the cookies and coffee are Lions Randy Marlatt, Wayne Kupke, Liz Murdoch, Dan Murdoch and Ron Peters. - Photo and story from the Fremont Tribune
=============================
A BIG THANK YOU!
I would like to say thank you to all for my recent benefits, both the pancake feed and the Eagles fundraiser. I truly appreciate those individuals, groups and businesses who generously donated items for the meal, silent and live auctions, door prizes, bake sale goodies and the music. I'm grateful, too, for those who spent their time planning and working at these events. I enjoyed them both so much and from the bottom of my heart, I can't thank you enough for all you've done. You mean the world to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Rosie Redden
=======================
ELVIS (Joseph Hall) AT THE LOFTE!
Elvis is in the building! Joseph Hall is America's premier Elvis Presley tribute artist and he will be performing a show at the Lofte Community Theatre in Manley on Sunday, November 16 at 3pm.
Making the top 10 on NBC's "America's Got Talent" in 2008, his career has since taken off. Performing in Branson, Las Vegas and as far away as Great Britain, Hall has won many awards for his stirring presentation. Joseph returns to the Lofte for the fourth year in a row to treat his Nebraska fans to an afternoon with The King of Rock and Roll!
Please note, this is a special engagement and tickets are NOT on sale through the Lofte. For advance purchase, please visit www.JosephHallElvis.com or call (402) 617-4477.
Tickets will also be on sale at the door on the day of the show.
=======================
ECNC Choir Performance - The EM kids
Please note: Nick Barkhurst strikes a pose in the back row.
ECNC Choir Photobomb! Kate Zakaras was taking a selfie with Valerie Miller when Abraham Vidaurre decided to photobomb them.
Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to listen to me and the other Elmwood-Murdock kids at ECNC honor choir. I hope you enjoyed listening to us sing. --Kate Zakaras
=================================
Early Imaginations Academy is hiring! Interested in working in a fun, friendly, full of smiles environment? This may be a fit for you. Early Imaginations is looking for nurturing, inspiring, delightful workers that desire to make every moment a teachable one. A passion for creating lifelong learners. A willingness to treat parents as partners in their child's growth and learning. Early Imaginations is looking for full time and part time job opportunities. If interested and would like to know more, contact us at 402.994.2050. We are excited to welcome new members to the team!
=========================
Needed: Substitute kitchen workers! If anyone is interested in occasionally working in the kitchen at either the Elmwood or Murdock school sites please contact Lisa Hynes at the Elmwood Murdock High School. (402)867-2341
============================
Combine Fire Sparks Blaze Near Avoca
Avoca Firemen along with fantastic help from Weeping Water, Manley, Elmwood and Emergency Management worked to extinguish a combine and subsequent field fire northwest of Avoca. The field fire was quickly contained within a two acre area of corn. The combine which was the initial source of the fire was engulfed upon arrival. Crews worked feverishly to knockdown the fire which burned though the fuel tank and force fed the fire. The operator was able to jump clear as the cab became engulfed. Although very shaken he stated that he was very grateful and impressed with all of the work. From this Chiefs standpoint: "I am thankful, grateful, and sincerely proud of all of you who worked so hard to ensure that everyone returned home tonight safe. Your diligence and hard work did not go unnoticed." From the Avoca Volunteer Fire Department.
============================
===========================
VISUAL FAITH MINISTRY
Visual Faith Ministry will be performing at the Nehawka Methodist Church this Sunday, November 16, 2014. The church service starts at 9:15.
Read more about Visual Faith and what they do at
https://www.facebook.com/VisualFaith
Election of the 2014-15 officers for Murray's 4th of July Planning Committee was held November 6, 2014 and the unanimous results are:
We are excitedly gathering more ideas to keep moving onward and upward in our annual tradition!
Mark your calendars for the next meeting which will be held on
THURSDAY, December 11, 2014,
6:30 p.m.
Murray Town Hall.
Everyone's welcome! We'd be very interested in hearing your ideas!
====================================
SELFIE TIME!!!
I've looked forward to this selfie with Beth Philson and Dawn Romine for a while. Finally happened!
Selfie with Tych Stander!! I'm honored.
Selfie with art teacher, Rebecca Campbell. (She needs to be full time...School Board...Listen up!!!) :)
An anonymous student gave Mrs. Campbell a bag of red Skittles...her very favorite.
========================
Elmwood-Murdock Booster Club 2014-2015 School Year
The E-M Booster Club is moving forward once again this year to improve the student experience for ALL of our students in ALL activities. In the past we have had tremendous monetary support and volunteering from parents, businesses and district patrons. Without this support we would be unable to fulfill our primary goal of assisting the district with purchasing items it would not otherwise be able to afford. Some examples of items we have purchased and/or paid for in the past are:
- Sponsorship of FBLA/FCCLA students to attend national conferences
- Summer speech enrichment program
- Purchasing football playoff and scholar athlete medals
- Piano for the music department
- Football jerseys, Jr. & Sr. High track uniforms and warm-ups, boys basketball warm-ups & girls basketball uniforms
- Wall of Excellence plaques
- 9th Grade trip to Romeo & Juliet
- Assist with the purchase of new band uniforms
- 'Nitro' Mascot
- Perfect attendance incentives
Some of our fundraising events include our annual pork tailgate BBQ, volleyball tournament, picture buttons, calendar ads, soup supper and our annual membership drive.
The Booster Club needs your help in continuing its tradition of helping out our athletic, academic, music, band, speech and drama programs. Membership in the Booster Club is open to anyone who shares our passion in continuing this tradition of support, enthusiasm and excellence for ALL of our students. We particularly would like to invite the parents of all 7th through 12th grade students to join us. The Booster Club is a great way to be involved in the events in which your student participates in. In addition, if you would like to volunteer to help with our Booster Club events, provide us with your e-mail address below. The Booster Club uses your e-mail address strictly for Club purposes and will not share it with other organizations.
Join us for the benefit of the entire Elmwood-Murdock Knights school team! Contributions are being accepted at the following levels: (Please select one and make check payable to 'E-M Booster Club')
- SUPER KNIGHT LEVEL -- LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP -- $300 (Receive 2 free passes (annually) to the Booster Club Volleyball Tourney
- KNIGHT LEVEL -- $100
- BLACK LEVEL -- $75
- SILVER LEVEL -- $50
- WHITE LEVEL--$25
PLEASE LIST THE NAMES AND ADDRESS OF PEOPLE MAKING THE CONTRIBUTION:
NAME: _________________________________________
ADDRESS: _______________________________________
ADDRESS:_______________________________________
Yes, I want to help out. Please contact me at the following e-mail or phone number: ___________________________
Thank you for your support and welcome to the Elmwood- Murdock Booster Club!
If you have any questions, please contact our principal, Mr. Tim Allemang at (402) 867-2341 or
Community Sustaining Sponsors 2014
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2014 Community Sustaining Sponsor