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Murdock Newsletter

April 11, 2007

Inspiration
Lessons in life I have learned: It is those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular, that money doesn't buy class, that love, not time, heals all wounds, and that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

Calendar
April 11- Booster Club Meeting at Murdock 7:00 pm
April 11-Safety Committee meeting at Murdock 7:30 a.m.
April 12-Elementary School Spring Concert
April 13 – Kindergarten Registration – Informational Packets will be mailed during the week of March 12.
April 14-ACT Test at Murdock 8:00 am
April 14-Prom-6:30-11:00 at Round the Bend. Post-Prom to follow at High School 12:00/12:30-4:00 am
April 13 – NO SCHOOL FOR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS DUE TO KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR THE 2007-08 KINDERGARTEN CLASS.
April 20 – S.O.S Spring Carnival – 5:30-8:00 p.m.

UNL LANGUAGE FAIR 2007

The 31st Annual modern Language Fair was sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, March 29, 2007 at the UNL campus in Lincoln. There were more than 1000 students who attended the opening ceremony at the Centennial Room in the UNL Student Union. Language, culture, and folk dance mini lessons were presented throughout the day. Elmwood-Murdock Spanish 1 and 2 students competed in drama, music, poetry and poster competitions. Results of the competition are as follows:

Awards: Trophy 1st place in category; Blue ribbon-Superior; Red ribbon-Very Good; White ribbon-Good.

1st Place Drama Winners at the UNL Language Fair 2007
Front:Tamara Rorie, Samantha Colbert, Taylor Moreau
Back: Nathan Stander, Calvin Althouse, Matt Novak

1st Place Drama Cast: Front row: Samantha Colbert, Taylor Moreau, Tamara Rorie
Back Row: Matt Novak, Calvin Althouse, Nathan Stander, Kirstie Harvey

Red Ribbon Poster, Carnaval, created by Cari Laughlin and Piper Jungren

Red Ribbon Poster Mexico D.F. created by David Neels, Nick Beebee, Tyler Schmale, David Todd, Julie Worley

Drama
1st place trophy & Blue Ribbon: Las Vidas Detalladas, Una telenovela written by Samantha Colbert, Cast: Calvin Althouse, Samantha Colbert, Kirstie Harvey, Taylor Moreau, Matt Novak, Tamara Rorie, Nathan Stander

Poetry
Blue Ribbon – Calvin Althouse, Samantha Colbert, Tyler Schmale
Red Ribbon – Amy Archer, Nicolas Beebee, Allison BlochTaylor Cornelius, David Neels, Lacey Reed, Miles Wagoner, Dora Worley, David Davis, Kylie Drake, Kirstie Harvey, Nathan Hromanik, Kelsey Jones, Piper Jungren, Cari Laughlin, Taylor Moreau, Matt Novak, Tamara Rorie, Nathan Stander, Aaron Stewart, David Todd, Kelsie Scholting
White Ribbon – Ashley Demars, Nathan Fries, Nicole Jones, Natalie Stander,

Poster
Red ribbon – Carnaval – Cari Laughlin, Piper Jungren; Mexico D.F. – Nicholas Beebee, David Neels, Tyler Schmale, David Todd, Julie Worley

Music
Red Ribbon– Bidi, Bidi, Bom, Bom – Ashley DeMars
White Ribbon – La Bamba - Kylie Drake, Kelsie Scholting, David Davis, Nathan Hromanik, Kelsey Jones, Nicole Jones, Aaron Stewart; Tengo Una Familia Grande – Amy Archer, Allison Bloch, Taylor Cornelius, Nathan Fries, Lacey Reed, Natalie Stander, Miles Wagoner

ELMWOOD-MURDOCK DRIVERS EDUCATION SUMMER 2007
It is time to sign up for Drivers Education classes. If we have more than 24 students we may be offering two classes. Space is held when payment is received. Students must turn 14 by October 15 in the year the course is offered to attend the class. Cost will be $225.00 for students who are district residents and $275.00 for students who are non-district residents. Registration is not complete until payment is received in the Murdock office. You may call the school with any questions-867-2341

HATS ON FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER
On Friday, April 20th, the Elementary Student Council will be sponsoring a “Hats On Day”. “Hats On Day” is something we are doing to help raise money for The Foundation for Children With Cancer. Students are asked to bring fifty cents to wear a hat all day long as long as it is school appropriate. There will also be prizes awarded for things such as, the funniest hat, prettiest hat, most original, biggest, fuzziest, and many more. We are also trying to challenge the classrooms to see which class can raise the most money toward this Foundation from now until April 20th. Whichever class raises the most money will earn a movie party. So, don’t forget to bring money and your best hat on April 20th. This is a great event and it is for a wonderful cause.

 

BASEBALL FIELD CLEAN UP DAY IN MURDOCK AND ELMWOOD, SATURDAY, APRIL 14 at 9:00 am till completion at each ball field.
Please show up to help get the fields ready. Even if you can only help for an hour, make an effort to support your teams. Bring rakes, wheelbarrows, shovels, brooms, and cleaning materials if available. If you are not sure which field to help at, please contact your coach or else show up at one of the fields. Your help is greatly appreciated

Website of the week! Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? This was great fun! Just click this link. You’ll have a RIOT :)

Here is a ‘letter to the editor’ that I thought would be fun to share with you all. Janice replied to me after reading my article about “What Murdock Was Like 50 Years Ago”. I so enjoyed her comments and clarification that I wanted to share it. Enjoy!
“Dear Mrs. Bowman;
I was just reading in your latest newsletter of your perception of what Murdock was like 50 years ago. Since I was born and raised there during that time period, I thought it would be a nice look back at my childhood years in Murdock. But I soon got the chuckles. No disrespect to you, but I wonder if you have been watching too much “Little House On The Prairie”? I had to go back and see if the title was really 150 years ago in Murdock!
No, we didn’t have microwaves and DVD players. Not every family member owned a fancy new car. And kids didn’t wear designer label clothing. But the women did not wear long skirts and bonnets either. They certainly had more than one pair of shoes. And they weren’t high tops .
Our home had wall to wall carpeting in the living room. All other rooms were linoleum covered. In the early 50’s we had a cob burning furnace in the basement that warmed the whole downstairs. With vents in the ceiling that warmed the 3 upstairs bedrooms. No lofts there. But real bedrooms! Later this furnace was changed to oil burning. No air conditioning in the summer. Just large fans we sat in the window. We did have an outhouse, but no one used it. We had an indoor bathroom by the early 1950’s.
We had plenty of furniture, closets for our clothes, and way too many toys, just like kids do today. I had numerous dolls to play with. Barbie’s and others just like the little girls have today.
My Dad was a farmer, and yes he worked from sun up to sun down. I remember on occasion he would even be out there at 2 or 3 am. Farmers work when the weather is right. No matter the time, or day of week. Winter was the slower time. But he still had to feed the livestock. Mom and I were always happy on days it rained all day, as it meant Dad couldn’t get into the field, so he would take us to Lincoln or Omaha for a day of shopping. Saturday nights we usually took a case of eggs to Ashland and got credit towards groceries.
We always had a large garden that my Dad mostly attended to. But Mom always had a lot of canning or freezing to do. She also dressed 100 chickens every spring and put them in our big deep freeze, which was always full of good food. And when we needed some beef or pork, we had a calf or pig butchered and the meat filled that freezer as well. By the way, I knew of no one who churned their own butter! We bought margarine from the store, just like we do today.
We raised cattle, pigs, and chickens, and also kept horses for some of the town kids. So there were always lots of chores to do even when the field work was done. My Dad put up 3-4 cuttings of alfalfa each year and always hired some of the town and neighbor boys to help. Mom and I cooked and served them noon meal and afternoon lunch. He also hired other kids to “walk the beans”. Do they still do that there?
Yes, times were a little different in the 1950’s in Murdock. Lots of hard work. But in some ways I think we were better off. We always ate most every meal together. We had only one car so went everywhere as a family. Social activities revolved around school, church, and visiting the neighbors on Sunday evenings.
We didn’t have a T.V. in every room like we do now days. But we had the one B&W one. Maybe 3 channels to choose from. And of course no remote control!
As for the washing and mending part, my Mom had a wringer washing machine. I don’t remember the brand. But it had an electric motor and washed the clothes. Then you hand fed each item through the wringer and into a big metal tub for hand rinsing. Then back through the wringer and into a basket to be carried to the line outside for hanging. I sure would not want to go back to that again! Later, we got the automatic washer and dryer and life sure got a lot easier! Mom and I always did a lot of sewing. I was in 4-H and later Home Ec in high school, so always liked making my own dresses. Mom had a Singer sewing machine.
As for Murdock itself. It was a tight knit community. I’m sure it still is. Everyone knew each other. The big events were summer time parades and events to raise money for new Christmas lights for the town. And, like Reuben Luetchens said, the Junior and Senior plays when every class member took part. High school basket balls games and girls volleyball were a big part of Murdock’s social life. There were banquets, weddings, and pancake suppers at the Evangelical United Brethren church where most area residents attended.
Thank you for the opportunity to reminisce and hopefully give you a more realistic idea on what life was really like in 1950’s Murdock. I enjoy your newsletter from “back home” and look forward to future articles.
Janice Klemme
Murdock resident 1951-1969”

I WELCOME your comments and concerns and information!
Please don’t hesitate about sending me your thoughts.

News to the Editor
- Please send all your Murdock area news to me. Birthdays, anniversaries, announcements, events or news are welcome and will be added to the upcoming newsletter. Thanks in advance for all your help!

Teri Bowman
Editor@murdocknebraska.com