Volume 3, Issue 7 JULY 2007
VILLAGE OF MEAD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Village Board: Tuesday, July 10, 7:00 p.m.
Planning Commission: Monday, July 23, 7:30 p.m.
Library Board: Wednesday, June 27, 4:30 p.m.
Fire & Rescue: Monday, July 16, 8:00 p.m.
The Village Board and Planning Commission meet at the Village Office, Library Board at the Library and the Fire Department at the Fire Hall.
WATER AND SEWER PAYMENTS
Water and sewer payments may be made at the Village Office, drop box located by the outside door of the office, mail to Box 46, Mead, NE 68041-0046, drop off at the Bank of Mead or have your payment withdrawn automatically from your account at the Bank of Mead. If you with to sign up for automatic withdrawal, please contact the Village Office. The payment is withdrawn on the 15th day of the month.
Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
MEL’S DINER
(downtown Mead)
Now Open Under New Management
Hours:
Monday through Friday
6 am – 2 pm
Saturday
8 am – 2 pm
Sunday (breakfast only)
8 am – 12 pm
Full Menu
Daily Specials
Telephone 624-6145
The Village Office will be closed Wednesday, July 4.
The Village Office will also be closed July 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 & 19. A Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for July 23. Therefore, please have all applications and your name on the agenda for the meeting by Tuesday, July 10. If you plan a project after this day, please have your application into the office on Friday, July 20. I will place your application for a Building Permit on the agenda at that time.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Where is the world’s largest open-air aviary with exotic birds from all over the world?
Where is the world’s largest porch swing located and how many adults can sit in it at one time?
Where is the world’s largest hand-planted forest located? (answers on page 4)
MEAD PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS – JUNE, 2007
By Vera Kuhr, Librarian
Thanks to all who helped get ready for the parade on Mead Days. We also owe thanks to Leonard Bouc for allowing us to “borrow” his convertible. Other than being hot, we had a great time.
Summer reading is slowly getting started. Children should turn in their time sheets as soon as they are filled out. Once handed in, they will get a treat. The summer reading program will end July 19th and all time sheets will be due that morning to get credit for time read.
All of the alumnae booklets were sold. If you are interested in purchasing one, please let us know, as we will print some additional copies to sale next spring.
A big thank you to June and Virgil Frahm and Janet Behrens for taking care of the Landscaping in front and back of the library. It was a big job and has been a big improvement.
Thanks Justin, for taking care of the island by the drive-in bank. It really is an attractive entry to the town of Mead.
NEW MATERIALS:
Adult: On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock, Blaze by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman, Heartstopper by Joy Fielding, Laced by Carol Higgins Clark, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaded Hosseini, Whitehorn Woods by Maeve Binchy, The Unexpected Family by Joan Medlicott, and Too Late to Say Goodbye by Ann Rule (a true crime story).
Juvenile: Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares, Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes, Abner & Me by Dan Gutman, The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt, and Birth of a Dynasty (about the Yankees) by Joel Sherman; Hall of Fame Players Cooperstown.
CHURCH SERVICES
MEAD COVENANT 1540 Co Rd 10
8:30 a.m. Fellowship
8:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
ST. JAMES CATHOLIC 213 E. Eighth St.
5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass
9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass (check bulletin for daily mass, generally 7:00 a.m.)
ALMA LUTHERAN 219 W Fifth St.
8:30 a.m. Horizon Worship Service with Communion
9:30 a.m. Faith Formation Studies for all ages
10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
MARGARET MC CARVER WAS APPOINTED ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE MEAD PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE MAY 8 BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING. WELCOME!
VILLAGE OF MEAD
312 S. Vine St., P.O. Box 46
Mead, NE 68041-0046
Phone: (402) 624-2495
Fax: (402) 624-2024
E-mail: meadclerk1@hotmail.com
Web: www.meadnebraska.org
Nate Mongan, Chairperson
Bobbie Feldhaus, Trustee
Brad Howell, Trustee
Ailene Raver, Trustee
Dick Swanson, Trustee
June Moline, Clerk/Treas. 624-2495
Terral Brabec, Utilities Supt. 480-2596
Jerry Carlson, Police Chief 624-2056
Vera Kuhr, Librarian 624-6605
Mike Coyle, Fire Chief 443-7164
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH SHARING OPTION
The Mead and Cedar Bluffs School Boards of Education held public meetings together on May 17, 2007 and May 18, 2007. The boards met at the Mead Jr.-Sr. High School commons in Mead on May 17, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. Present from the Mead Board of Education were Bob Bice, Tim Johnson, June Moline, Nate Mongan, and Lisa Moravec. Absent was Larry Rasmussen. Present from the Cedar Bluffs Board of Education were Dennis Bittner, Garlyn Grosse, Deb Kirchmann, Deb Radenslaben and Nate Williams. Absent was Tom Kruse. Several patrons representing both districts were present.
The purpose of the meetings was to inform the patrons of the districts the sharing options available to both school districts. There is no intent of merger between the schools. Both boards feel that we are caught in an enrollment crunch at the present time. We feel that growth is coming but with current loss of state aid, we need to share resources with one another until enrollment numbers increase.
Both schools are proud of their past traditions and want to keep their own identity. In order for this to happen we feel that sharing of resources is the best possible way to make sure this is accomplished.
For the 2007-08 school year the districts will share a Spanish teacher. The Spanish teacher will be in both buildings each day, mornings in one and the afternoon spent in the other. We are investigating to see if the Distance Learning Lab is open which would allow students that might have scheduling conflicts to use the offering at other times. We will study future needs regarding what other classes may be offered to both schools through distance learning. While some parents might feel apprehensive about their child learning through a distance learning situation, this will be offered in some cases but probably not mandatory. This is a great learning tool as anyone who is in the business world knows that a lot of meetings are being conducted this way. We feel not offering this to students is holding them back as this seems to be the way of the future.
We also plan to co-op Jr. High football for the 2007-08 school year. The schools will hold two practices per week in a joint venture and two at their separate facilities. There are four Jr. High football games scheduled. One home game will be played at Cedar Bluffs and the other at Mead. There are two road games scheduled. Each school will provide a coach for the team. This is being done due to the low number of boys at this level.
One suggestion from the patrons that attended the meeting was the possibility of continuing to share classes after enrollment numbers increase. There is a strong possibility if things are working the way we expect, that we would consider to continue to share programs as this would provide us the possibility of offering more classes than what we could on our own.
We have looked at the possibility of sharing one superintendent between both schools. This is an option that several districts are doing throughout the state. Most of the districts have reported great success in sharing this position. Three school districts are currently sharing one Superintendent and reports that it is working quite well. Three board representatives from each school have discussed this at a previous meeting and a proposal was put together showing a savings of $30,000 to $40,000 to each district annually.
We welcome your input on these matters and the more involved we all are the better school system we will become. This joint venture is a way to offer additional classes to both districts.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
The meeting held at Cedar Bluffs on May 18 did not have a quorum from the Mead Board of Education, therefore no minutes were recorded.
Thank you from the Board of Education of Mead Public Schools.
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Answers to questions from page 2: 1) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo 2) Hebron, 25 adults 3) Halsey National Forest near Halsey, NE
MEAD DAYS RESULTS . . .
Raffle Winner: 1st place ($200) – Denise Patocka, 2nd place ($100) – Sam Boatman, 3rd place ($50) – Robert Williamson –Crackers
Sand Volleyball Winner: Keshia Selko, Sara Keene, Matt Miller, Katie Parsons, Shawn Havelka
Mud Volleyball Winner: Brad Schutt, Brian Nelson, Tracy Vish, Jenny Burson
Chinese Horseshoe Winner: Clint Paulson and Courtney Barrett
Horseshoe Winner: Doug Novak and Ron Novak
Medal Idol Winner: Youth – Danielle Schuskis, Adult – Todd Fick
Tractor Pull Winners:
Age 4 Will Kavan Age 5 Gunnar Vanek Age 6 Brian Kems
Age 7 Cole Zima Age 8 Evan Halbmaier Age 9 Macayla Luetkenhaus
Age 10 Haley Konecky Age 11 Javen ? Age 12 Luke Janecek
13+ Women Angie Siske Age 13+ Men Ed Ruhe
Fun Run Winners: We had 43 participants.
Texas Hold-em Tournament had over ten participants. Four places were awarded. Winners were 1st place – Mike Coyle, 2nd place – Doug Patocka, 3rd place – Jerry Kussman.
The weekend started off with great polka music provided by Dean Hansen, karaoke and our own Mead Idol contest, Chinese horseshoes and fireworks. Saturday began with the Fun Run with 43 participants. Continued activities were sand volleyball, horseshoes, parade, kid games, Elvis impersonator, youth and adult tractor pulls, magician and a great street dance by Mystic Haze, sponsored by the Mead Volunteer Fire Department. When Sunday rolled around we continued activities with mud volleyball, Texas Hold’em poker tournament and 92 entries in the antique tractor pull.
Overall the weekend was a huge success for everyone. The Mead Days Committee, Mead Ball Association, Mead Athletic Boosters, Mead High School Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors and Mead Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank everyone for participating. A special thanks to all of the volunteers who made this weekend a success. Without your dedication and donations, Mead Days would not be possible. A special thanks to Dale and Marilyn Benal for allowing us to use their property for our Antique Tractor Pull, Roberta and Dan Havelka for use of their tents and electricity, and Pat Frahm and Dennis Berry for use of electricity.
Thanks again and mark your calendars NOW for next year’s Mead Days scheduled for JUNE 20, 21 and 22, 2008!
Dalene Selko, Co-Chair
Thank you! Your tireless effort is very much appreciated!