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Elmwood – A Village Portrait
In Commemoration of Nebraska’s Centennial, 1867-1967
by Elmwood Centennial Committee

Chapter 1

Early Elmwood

The name of Elmwood came into being in 1868 when a post office was established in a log cabin located in a grove of large elm trees not too far from the present site of the town.  The area was still a wandering haunt of the Omaha, Pawnee and Otoe Indians.  It was dotted with buffalo wallows, and trails of the kinds so familiar to Lewis and Clark, the Mormons, who helped open the great western frontier.  Danger and challenge were everywhere, but so was opportunity in the Homestead Act passed by Congress in 1862.  For facing the rigors of frontier life, the head of a family could obtain 160 acres of good blackland,--if he could survive for five years and make some improvements.  A testimonial to the tenacity and permanence of early and hardy survivors is reflected in names still seen on rural mailboxes in the community today--Johns, Stege, James, Hall, Clap, and on and on.

Indians were protected in their rights by the government, and no one was allowed to stay in the territory without a special permit from the Secretary of War.  Samuel Martin is believe to be the first white man to have lived in Cass County by a treaty made with the Omaha Indians on March 15 and with the Otoe's on March 16, 1854.

Martin's success in establishing a foothold in Cass County, and the Homestead Act itself worked together to begin the long and steady process of winning the soil and turning it into some of the richest in this new world of bright sun and deep snows, drought and rain, good years and bad.  But the thrust was always onward whatever the challenge of the moment or season.

AMAZING KIDS

By Cara Furgerson

Amazing kids defiantly describes the students at Elmwood Murdock Elementary. In the last three weeks these kids have been collecting money for Pennies for Patients. This is a program involved with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Our elementary student council and their teacher Mrs. Paulsen challenged the students to raise $1000. With the support of the teachers agreeing to do some pretty cool stuff to encourage the kids to donate money we all raised the bar high and ended up raising over $2000. Below is the list of teachers and what they each did at an assembly held on Wednesday Feb. 20. Mr. Novak our superintendent let each child know that they made a difference. Then Mrs. Paulsen announced the teachers one by one so they could entertain the students.

Mrs. Kuhlman stood on her head, Ms Cara dyed her hair purple, Ms Novak wore a tutu, Mrs. Backemeyer sang the National Anthem, Mr. Backemeyer kissed his dog who he is at odds with, Ms Vice petted a snake, Mrs. Bacon did the chicken dance, Mrs. Cook brought cookies for all the kids, Mrs. Drueke and Ms Oekley duct taped Mrs. Roth and Mrs. Oehlerking to a brick wall, Mr Johnson dyed his hair blond, Mrs. Schroll and Mrs. Griffin danced the tooty ta, Kim Rust will cut her hair short, Mr. Frerichs shaved his head, Mrs. Justus had five students throw pies in her face, Mrs. Paulsen dyed her hair pink and our Principal Mr. Friedrich shaved his mustache off.

Needless to say the kids were excited to see the teachers do all this for the cause. I can personally say these kids are inspiring by giving to those in need. We are hoping you will share this with your readers to inspire and encourage others to go out and make a difference.

(A big THANK YOU to Cara Furgerson for her story and for the pictures!)

Note from Mrs. Paulsen:

I have finalized all of the money and am about to send over the final report. Our school was able to send $2,025 to this awesome company. The average school last year raised $1330. So, we should be extremely proud of our efforts. I didn't mention it before but the class that raised the most money could get a pizza party sponsored by the LLS. Monte has decided to donate that money back to the organization. Also, because we raised over $2000 our school got at $150 gift card-I have decided to donate that money back to LLS as well. I am not sure if that money counts towards our total, but if it does, then we have donated $2,225!! Another thing the company does is recognize individual classes for raising money. The following classes will get these pennants to hang in their rooms.

Bronze Pennant Awards-(100-199)

Mrs. Schroll

Mrs. Cook

Mrs. Oehlerking

Mrs. Backemeyer

Mrs. Justus

Mr. Johnston

Mrs. Kuhlman

Silver Pennants- (200-299)

Mrs. Bacon

Gold Pennants (300 or more)

Mrs. Paulsen **Last minute donation put us over:)

Mr. Frerichs **I included the class party donation

Thanks again for all that you did to support this cause!

Click here for a copy of the Village Clerk Job Description.

If you like that...click here for a copy of the Application for the Village Clerk Position!

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Community Sustaining Sponsors 2013

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

2013 Community Sustaining Sponsor

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