Hello and goodby
Air Force Cadet David Ailes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garry Ailes, Nebraska City, will return to Colorado Springs Sunday after spending the Thanksgiving holiday with his parents, grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Ailes and his friends.
The cadet complimented our family the other evening when he sat in the kitchen of our home and visited with us about academy life. He returned a second time to visit with the younger set. They had a lot of questions.
We've known David for most of his 19 years so it was with a bit of selfish pleasure we enjoyed when he knocked on our door to say hello.
We'll never have any concern about military leadership as long as the AF attracts young men of the caliber of this NCHS graduate.
Congrats seniors
Peru State College named seven seniors at NC Lourdes as qualifiers for Board of Trustees scholarships. They were named m the paper the other day. Congrats!
They are Tim Causgrove, Denise Davis, Chris Kreifels, Mary Harney, Chris Heng, Susan Roddy and Joe Wenzl. The Rev. Tom Ozanne, guidance director, said he was especially pleased with the ACT scoring by Lourdes students. The ranking "bears out the quality of our educational system," he said.
The handicapped
Bruce Eppenbaugh, program coordinator at the Arbor Training Center, told about the beginning of the educational and training programs for the mentally retarded the other day.
Seems hard to believe Nebraska City's program is only 19 years old.
Today, the program is an organized structure of government operating with contributions, county, state and federal taxes, with living quarters for clients, and educational and training staffs and facilities.
But it wasn't always so easy.
We don't remember the names of all of those fine people who started the program on a shoestring in the parish hall at St. Mary's Catholic church.
Those volunteers included Mrs. Ervin Rogers and Mrs. Al Schmitz. There was the "teacher," Faye Morton, who lived at Union and drove to Nebraska City.
Don't know where she is now, but I imagine Valda, Bill Whipple or Mrs. Lechner will tell me when they read this item.
Faye Morton was about the kindest and yet aggressive person we've ever met in the educational systems for the mentally handicapped.
We worked closely with her because just like the former Lourdes Principal, Sister Victoria, she was always calling for a picture and story.
Only at the Arbor Training Center, the faces of the youngsters were never to be photographed. Faye pressed for identification and over the years the program became successful and is today what was accomplished then by local drive, energy and backing.
It took a lot of courage and dedication, not only on the part of the teacher and the host of volunteers, but especially on the part of parents who really had to give from their hearts.
You are the greatest and you can be justly proud of Bruce, Jesse Stein, the Arbor Training Center director, and the staff and program in this area. They care.
The fair board
Congratulations to Orville Koch, Syracuse, on being reelected as president of the Otoe County Fair board. The success guided by that group of volunteers will be exhibited at the fairgrounds in Syracuse August 21-22-23.
The new school
We like the name selected for the new consolidated Murray-Nehawka school district — Conestoga Public Schools.
Conestoga was a covered wagon, the type that crossed Nebraska carrying people and goods into the new frontier and on west.
The name is old but a new and fresh idea of something historic. It's a good choice.
Mr. Steinhart
Morton Steinhart accepted the Chamber's Recognition award graciously but not without the usual quip of the 88 years young gentleman.
Former Mayor Dr. A. O. Gigstad offered the plaque with a hitch, that it was a traveling trophy and as such had to be returned. Mr. Steinhart's responses to the compliments given to him by Dr. Gigstad were quick and humorous. They were a trademark of his life work, getting a job done in good time and in good cheer.
Congratulations also go to Mrs. Marjorie Moyer who was awarded the Ethel Gaskill Award from the Women's Division. She was noted especially for her volunteer work on the lengthy job of the Bicentennial Committee and followed that up with the River Country Nature Center and that included chipping and painting.
It's good that people who do the work are recognized by so many others.