HTRS Homecoming, Sept 24, 2021

King Nic Knudson & Queen Ellie Schaardt.

Freshman Attendants: Hunter Bohling, Laramie Glathar

Sophomore Attendants: JJ McQueen, Avery Dierberger

Junior Attendants: Brandt Leech, Gabby Siegel

Queen Candidates: Brooke Hain, Allie Howe, Saydee Hardesty, Mikkayla Flynn, Ellie Schaardt

King Candidates: Niccolo La Rosa, Isaac Bittner, Lennox Pechmann-Sadlo, Nicolas Knudson, Andrew Stalder

FROM FACEBOOK PAGE

The 4th grade students from South School are on a field trip today in Lincoln. They are visiting our State Capital. In 4th grade the students learn about Nebraska history. Here are a few pictures of them enjoying their day.

Each month Falls City Middle School students and staff nominate students for engaging in acts of kindness throughout the school day.  Students and staff nominate other students during the month.  One student from each grade is then selected at the end of the month who has continually demonstrated kindness throughout the school day.  The school buys lunch for the winners from the restaurant of their choice. 

Our September 2021 winners are pictured from left to right:

6th Grade:  Gabe Runge

7th Grade:  Kaytlin Nelson

8th Grade:  Beata Clark

Congratulations to our winners and thank you for being excellent examples of kindness for our students and community!

Hiawatha High School is gearing up for Homecoming Friday, October 1 with a 2 p.m. parade downtown, 6:30 p.m. coronation at Memorial Stadium - prior to the Red Hawks football game.

Congratulations to candidates Carson Gilbert and Lakyn Leupold, Joel Bryan and Bailey Pierce, Tyler Davis and Clara Lindstrom.

On Tuesday, September 15th, the Falls City FFA Chapter attended Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, NE. The Chapter arrived around 10:00 am and met back at the bus at 2:00 pm. The chapter paid the way for students who brought in cans of food for a local donation. In total, the chapter brought in 160+ cans to donate. We will be donating the cans to the local “Little Free Pantry” on Stone Street. Members learned about agriculture and participated in agriculture-related activities. Some members participated in a grain bin rescue simulator where they had to help another student escape the bin. Students can learn a lot about career opportunities in the agricultural industry. Students were allowed to speak to representatives from nearly 600 companies and learn about what the companies did or plan to do in the future. These companies included: Massey Ferguson, Polaris, Fontanelle, Case IH, John Deere, Hoegemeyer, Chevy, Ford, and hundreds more. Booths at this event often showcase new technology and their products of the highest quality. Students can see how agricultural innovations have changed in the last few years. Everyone came home with plenty of new items they picked up on their adventures such as bags, pens, hats, and many more items.

Reporter Eliza Kuker

BULLYING T-SHIRT DESIGN WINNER

Rob Alderson

SEP 23, 2021

Audrey Scrivens a 5th grade student won the Bullying T-Shirt design this year. October is National Bullying Prevention Month. North and South Schools will be doing some activities to raise awareness of bullying. Mrs. Bennett assigned an art project to 5th grade students to design a t-shirt that would represent bullying prevention. Students and staff voted on the winning design. Mr. Nelson is teaching the students some strategies on how to handle bullying. In October, Mr. Nelson will be doing some activities in his guidance classes, that will raise awareness of bullying. 

TOPEKA — Five Kansas schools have been designated 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced Tuesday, Sept. 21.

The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

There were 325 schools across the country designated as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools, including the five in Kansas.

Kansas schools that received the designation are Grandview Elementary School, El Dorado Unified School District 490; Ellsworth Elementary School, Ellsworth USD 327; Roosevelt Elementary School, Hays USD 489; Mahaffie Elementary School, Olathe USD 233; Sabetha Elementary School, Prairie Hills USD 113.

The Blue Ribbon program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools in one of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.

Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students.

In the high-performing category, schools are recognized for being among the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Atchison High School Homecoming is Friday, September 24th, and King and Queen will be crowned at halftime of the football game. Game time is at 7 pm. The AHS Cross Country team is also running the ball from Harmon High School to the 50-yard line to start the game!

GIRLS: Left to Right: Maddison Bowen, Ja'myah Booker, Katherine Harris, Joi Hayes, Rayne Berkhalter  BOYS: Left to right: Jacob Rebant, Jeremiah Kelley, Gregory Booker, Maxwell Gardner, William Lacey. 

See You at the Pole is an annual event on September 22nd with many schools across the country. Students are encouraged to gather around the flag pole at their respective schools and pray for their teachers, fellow students, community, state, and country.

Matthew Baumgartner Awarded Droge Agricultural Scholarship Matthew Baumgartner, son of Jay and Heidi Baumgartner, has spent the past two years in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University. After graduating from Nemaha Central High School, Matthew attended Kansas State University in Manhattan. “I am an Agriculture student living at the Farmhouse Fraternity,” Baumgartner shared in his scholarship application. “Farmhouse has a great relationship with the college of Agriculture and provides many opportunities for me to serve.” Baumgartner is majoring in Agricultural Economics.

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is proud to award Baumgartner the $500 scholarship established in 2008 by Lola Droge and her family which is called the Leslie Albert and Lola Fern Droge Scholarship for Agricultural Studies.

The scholarship honors Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Droge who lived and farmed most of their married life in Nemaha County. Leslie and Lola purchased and moved to the Droge family farm after Leslie returned from serving his country in World War II.

The couple was progressive and looked for new and modern ways of farming. They became leaders in terracing and other land conservation methods. Managing a cow and calf herd along with grasslands, wheat, and row crops, they provided a living for their family while producing plants and animals to help feed the world.

Not only did they work hard in agriculture, but they also served in other areas as well. Lola was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was actively involved in her political party. Leslie served in the State Senate and was chairperson of the Senate Agricultural committee. Leslie and Lola, as well as their five children, all attended Kansas State University.

The Leslie Albert and Lola Fern Droge Scholarship for Agricultural Studies is awarded to a Nemaha County high school graduate who is a junior or above and enrolled in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University.

Thank you to Hiawatha High School senior, Grady Bacon. He completed this new outdoor educational space to the ag building as part of his Eagle Scout Project.

Homecoming Queen Ashtyn Jolly and King Kieran Courter ( Credit: Steve Caplinger)

Atchison County Community Junior Senior High School congratulates the 2021 Homecoming Royalty, who were crowned prior to the football game against McLouth on Friday, September 17, 2021. Kieran Courter was crowned Homecoming King and Ashtyn Jolly was crowned Homecoming Queen. Rounding out the royal court were candidates Maci Behrnes, Landon Brown, Lauren Hall, and Caleb Miller. Assisting with the coronation were Meagan Pitts and Gunnar Koontz, the 2020ACCHS Queen and King, crown bearers Rilynn Barnett and Hank Hughes, and the ACCHS cheerleaders and Student Council.

The Royal Valley Community would like to welcome yet another foreign exchange student. 

Coming from the second biggest city from North Italy, we would like the welcome Erica  Pacchia!

"So far I really like this school and the people here. It was kinda awkward at first, but I made some friends really quick. Also I really like the pancakes here."

The staff and administration of Falls City High School have announced the selections for August High School Students of the Month. The honors go to the following students:

Upperclassmen- Thomas Fields, a senior, is the son of Odis Fields and Brenda Fields, Abigail Boatright, a senior, is the daughter of Tim and Karen Boatright.

Underclassmen- Blake Rolfe, a sophomore, is the son of Ron and Brenda Timothy. Mylie Crawford, a freshman, is the daughter of Clay and Chris Crawford.

The students were nominated by high school staff and are being recognized for being innovative, responsible, resilient, and resourceful. Each of the students was praised in nomination comments for “academic excellence, going above and beyond what was asked of them, their helpfulness, and their leadership, and serving as excellent role models for their peers,” according to high school principal Gale Dunkhas.

Pictured L to R : Thomas Fields, Abigail Boatright, Mylie Crawford, Blake Rolfe

The Hiawatha 1978 & 79 Girls Basket Ball and the1980 boys Football State Championship sign committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their donations for the new signs that are placed at the corner of 1st and Longfellow Streets.

Alumni Association BH & Lucille Pennel

John Wright Rahe Welding

Boeckman, LLC Finley Miller Title Services

Janet Eubanks Hoskins Trucking

Annette Hoskins Max Oltjen

Maximum Insurance Bob Bowen

Barb and Jim Rupe Mary Tritch-Dudzik

Simmons Fabrication Rick Duncan

Nancy Rockey Josh Chandler

Red Hawk Booster Club Ken & Cheryl Riley

Brett Loyd Milton Long

Cindi Scarbrough Jeffery & Sandra Oltjen-Heline

David and Debbie Wilson Joyce & Lonnie Carter

Gary Misenhiemer KNZA Hiawatha

Hiawatha World USD 415

Pam & Terry Smith Terry & Leann Jimeson

Dave & Linda Grimm

Riverside Homecoming is Friday, September 17th. There will be a parade starting at 2:00 pm and a Pep rally at 2:30 pm on main-street. The coronation will being at 6:30 pm

(Photo credit Mrs Benitz) 

King candidates: Nehemiah Byrd, Kobe Davis, Broc Studer, Braedyn Rupe. Queen candidates: Lillian Juhl, Megan O’Grady, Zoey Hayes, Tynigha Ewing. The football game will being at 7 pm against Hiawatha.

Harvest of Generosity

John 12:24

“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.”

The Sacred Heart High School Endowment would like to announce a recent donation to our endowment from the Gary Hunker estate.

Gary Hunker was the only child of Fred and Helen (Watton) Hunker and was raised on a farm northwest of Rulo, Nebraska. Gary attended Sacred Heart School until 1954.

While on the farm he enjoyed farming and raising livestock. The seed of faith was planted very early on by his parents. Gary and his parents were members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rulo where Gary was member of the Men’s Club and worked various fundraisers over the years. He was an excellent carpenter and built the altars at St. Ann’s Church in Shubert, St. Mary’s Church in Arago, and Immaculate Conception Church in Rulo. As a parishioner, Gary understood that part of the Sunday collections were for the operational budget of Sacred Heart School and he gladly tithed. Gary’s father passed away in 1986 and upon moving to town, Gary continued to give to the school through his tithing at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Gary was a quiet man of amazing faith who in later years took exceptional care of his mother. Gary had lunch and dinner with his mother every day at a local nursing facility. Gary’s generosity to the school grew stronger every year and he continued to be a contributor to the school through the Annual Fund. Gary’s final harvest was a monetary gift in addition to farm ground to Sacred Heart High School Endowment.

Gary would be embarrassed by the recognition of his donations; he would instead want us to pray for his soul and its happy repose. He did what he believed would be a long-standing gift to touch the largest number of people by helping with the formation of our students and their spiritual life. As with any endowment gift, only the interest from Gary’s gift will be used for operational expenses for the school; the principal will remain in perpetuity for Sacred Heart School to continue its mission: “A Family Educating Heart, Mind, Body, and Sprit for this Life and the Next”.

This is an invitation to consider supporting your local church or Catholic school through donations of stocks, bonds, IRA’s, cash, grain, property, land, and insurance policies.

These Humboldt-Table Rock – Steinauer 4th grade students had a perfect score on their state symbols quiz. Way to Go Titans!!!

Pictured are the candidates: Cooper Clark, Jaiden Taylor, Annaka Haynes, Michael Lackey, Sydney Smith, and Creighton Johnson. Credit for photo Marla Taylor.

September 12, 2021

It is homecoming week for the DWHS Mustangs and it is packed with activities. The overall theme for homecoming is Dancing Through the Decades, and each day of the week has a certain dress up day and decade-related lunchtime game.

On Wednesday evening, the girls get to play powder puff flag football, and then a bonfire is scheduled for Thursday night.

On Friday, the high school students compete in class competitions and decorate floats for the parade and pep rally that begins at 2 p.m.

The homecoming king and queen will be crowned during half time of the football game against Johnson-Brock.

The festivities end with a dance on Saturday night from 8-11 p.m.
#MustangPride

Atchison County Community Junior Senior High School is pleased to announce the candidates for 2021 Homecoming Royalty. Queen candidates are Maci Behrnes, daughter of Chris and Karin Behrnes; Lauren Hall, daughter of Josh and Jenna Hall; and Ashtyn Jolly, daughter of Brian Jolly and Linda Meyer. King candidates are Landon Brown, son of Chris & Amy Brown, and Brian & Elisa Peters; Kieran Courter, son of Paul and Mauri Courter; and Caleb Miller, son of Dean and Daisha Miller. The crowning ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m., Friday, September 17, 2021, at Tiger Stadium, prior to the homecoming football game between ACCHS and McLouth.

Photo information: (left to right)  Photo credit: Steve Caplinger

Back row: Caleb Miller, Kieran Courter, Landon Brown

Front row: Ashtyn Jolly, Maci Behrnes, Lauren Hall

Hiawatha Elementary School is pleased to announce this year's Horizon Award Nominee. Mrs. Jackie Meyer (4th Grade )will represent USD 415 for this year’s Horizon Award. The mission of the award is to recognize exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.

Celebrating tradition and heritage in farming, the Kansas Farm Bureau, each year, recognizes farms that have been continuously owned and farmed within the same family for a period of 100 years or greater. The history of these farms and ranches is rich with many stories to tell. Since the year 2000, farms and ranches in Jackson County have been recognized 46 times; some farms have received both the Century Farm and the Sesquicentennial Farm recognition.  

This year, Jackson County Farm Bureau Association, along with the Kansas Farm Bureau, recognizes a quarter farmed by Henry & Tracy Hill. This quarter is only part and parcel of their farming operation and the Hills have been a presence for farm advocacy for most of their adult lives. Just within the past couple months, Henry Hill hosted Governor Kelly on his farm to discuss and celebrate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarding $750,000 to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as part of its Farmer-to-Farmer grant program for water protection. The Hills employ conservation and regenerative farming practices with an eye toward leaving the soil, water, and air in even better condition for future generations to carry on the heritage of farming and ranching.

The quarter section celebrated and recognized by Kansas Farm Bureau is located in Straight Creek Township in Jackson County -- the Northwest quarter of the Section 30, Township 6, Range 16.

William Hill, the original Hill to purchase this property bought the celebrated 160-acre farm in 1892 from George and Martha Drake for $4,000. William Hill was born in Andrew County, Missouri in 1851. He passed away in 1915. When Mr. Hill was but three years old, his parents moved the family to Doniphan County, Kansas in 1855. He moved from the family home to Soldier in 1879 and later he moved to the farm recognized in this award. William never married. His sister Elizabeth lived with him on this farm. Below is a photo of William Hill and his sister Elizabeth Hill, who lived in the house now nurtured by Henry and Tracy Hill.

An interesting story was published about William Hill in the Holton Signal in 1897. A convincing fellow approached Mr. Hill asking for employment with a bit of a sad story about a neighbor who failed to follow through on promised employment. Because of the fellow’s seemingly anxious desire to work, Mr. Hill, out of kindness, allowed the man to stay on the farm and help out until other gainful employment could be found. Mr. Hill, having occasion to go away from home on business left the young man in charge. Upon Mr. Hill’s return to the home, he discovered his house had been broken into and a new pair of shoes, a coat, a hat and a vest had been taken. At least the young man left his old shoes for Mr. Hill.

Upon William Hill’s death, the land passed to his sister, Elizabeth Hill and then to William’s nephew, John C. Hill. John was the son of Joseph Hill, who served as a soldier in the Civil War and a county commissioner for Jackson County, Kansas. Little other information about John Hill was available in old Jackson County newspapers. John Hill was married to Harriett Hill and, he, like many farmers and ranchers, was not afraid of hard labor. One newspaper article noted he dug a well for Chester Lukens in 1913. Another indicated that he and an in-law drove cattle to the Reservation. John Hill, like his father, was also willing to serve as a leader: John Hill was a township treasurer for Straight Creek Township.

From John Hill, thence passed the land one-half share to his wife, Harriett, and one half to Doris Hill and Joe Hill, his children. In 1958, William Frank Hill and his wife, Sophie purchased the quarter from William Frank’s cousins, Doris Hill and Joe Hill.

A farmer and stockman, William Frank also served on the board of directors for Jackson County Farm Bureau. Invested in his farming heritage, he was a member of other farming and ranching organizations, such as the Jackson County Livestock Association, Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service, RC & D, and Delaware River WRAPS. Additionally, William Frank served as a leader on the Holton Cemetery Board, was a member of the Holton AF&AM #42 Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows.

Upon his passing, his son Henry Hill and wife Tracy carry on the farming and ranching legacy of the Hills before them on this 160 acres and more. Not only are the Hills carrying on the tradition of providing food and fiber on these 160 acres passed from generation to generation in the Hill family, they, too, are leaders in their farming and ranching community. Both Henry and Tracy have served on the Jackson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors (two decades ago) as well as numerous other services and organizations supporting the agriculture community. Henry and Tracy have instilled the need for leadership in their children to help maintain the culture of growing food for their community and their world. Their adult children, too, are involved the family ag operation and carrying on the heritage of leadership, over 100 years strong! Congratulations to this Century Farm and Henry & Tracy Hill.