Recap of February 1st Alumni Meeting :   Tuesday, February 9, 2010 10:28 AM CST  (From Burt County Plaindealer)
Decatur alumni met on Monday, Feb. 1, to discuss business and begin planning the 2010 alumni banquet set for May 30. This year's event will be held entirely (coffee hour and dinner) at Decatur Fire Hall. It was voted to have Betty's Cafe cater the meal.

Highlight of this year's banquet will be another performance of the "Country Playboys," a favorite hometown band, during the 3-5 p.m coffee hour. The Pickell family comprised the band that was a top hit throughout the area in the years ago, but raising families caused the band to later take a holiday. Earlier this year, band members Terry Pickell, Bob Pickell, Bill Pickell, and Dick Pickell came out of retirement and a newbie Cole (Pickell) Boden joined them and the group began to perform again.

This year there is no official 25-year class because that class' final year was at Lyons-Decatur Northeast. However, that class will have a table of honor. Since the class is now part of the Northeast alumni program, the Bulldog 50-year class and the alumni will be planning the banquet. Coffee hour will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the fire hall and the dinner will follow at 5 p.m., food served at 6 p.m. sharp.

The menu will be chicken and roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, pasta, coleslaw and fruit salads, green beans with bacon bits, roll and butter and choice of three drinks-iced tea, lemonade or coffee. Alumni members will provide a dessert bar.

Tickets can be purchased at most Decatur businesses or by mail from Pam Nelsen, 381 E. 12th St., or First Nebraska Bank. Programs with all the class information will be printed for banquet guests and all members of the 50-year class are asked to return their biography sheets to Nelsen as quickly as possible for preparation of the booklet.

During the business session, the group discussed the building of the composite picture holder it would like to have finished and in place at the city hall with the trophy cases by the first part of April. Preparation of the composite pictures to ready them for the holder will begin shortly, and it was voted to add the names of Laura Tippery and Dora McHenry to the deceased teachers' plaque.

The alumni is also searching for a place to store tables, chairs and other equipment since the John Hightree storage complex has been sold. If anyone has a storage area to offer, contact Peggy Haeffner at First Nebraska Bank or Nelsen at 349-5208.

Donations on behalf of the organization were made to the senior center, Northeast High for the prom party and Future of Decatur Foundation's general fund and endowment fund.

The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 22, 7 p.m., at the senior center.

UPDATE From President, Sarah: (11/09/09) The trophies finally found their new home.

Pictures of New Trophy cases

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 An Alumni meeting was held Aug. 15th at 9:00 A.M. at the City Hall.

Here are some highlights of that meeting:
Pam Nelson and I went to the City Council meeting on July 9th to get permission to place a Composite Display and another wall unit to display a quilt which was made by grade school students several years ago. We want to put both units it in the basement next to the cabinet that will house the Band Uniform, etc. Permission was granted. However, we cannot do anything until the water leak is fixed. The leak is caused from the rain and when the wind blows from the north, it leaks under or around a window and the basement floor gets wet.

This morning  (August 15) we discussed our situation with the water leak at the City Hall. We planned on moving trophies into the new cases today but last month we found out the basement had water on the floor from the rain and it was running down the wall and under the new trophy cases. Roger ( the man who built them) had to come over and move them out and away from the north wall. We are fortunate he put in a false bottom or the cases would probably show water damage.   A couple of councilmen wanted us to move them to the other side of the room. Our answer was NO and we would wait till the leak was fixed, we were in no hurry.   The cases were made for that particular spot, it would have
not been feasible to move them and besides it would cost us $1500.00 to do it. They are beautiful right where they are and would not have looked as good if they were moved. Right now it is going to cost the Alumni a total of $200.00 to have them moved away from the wall and back in place when the leak is fixed.

Right now, I would like to thank all of you who donated money and if you came to the banquet to those of you who dug deep in your pockets to fill those baskets.   It's times like this when we need the funds to help us through.  Thank-you so much!!!

The leak is coming through the mortar around the bricks outside. The city is working on that now, I guess there is a special caulking they are using. Some of the new sheetrock on the wall below the window in the basement needs to be replace. Alta Wolf, who is on the council ,was with us this morning and
said she would let us know when the work is finished so the trophies can be put in the cases.

The Council also told us we had to insure the cases on our own.  Peggy checked with the insurance company and Kay told her beings they were attached to the wall they would be under the City's policy.  It was suggested we have Kay write the City Council a letter stating so.

I just contacted Roger and told him to go ahead with the Composite Display drawing, we are getting closer now and that will take awhile.  He will have to go to the bank basement, where the composites are stored and do some measuring. The display is going to have an oak base, with flip pages and a light above.  I only have a guess-timate starting at $1,000.00 plus???

We also discussed our next banquet. Holding it at the Fire Hall again next year, I think we were all in favor of that and having an Open House at the City Hall memorial week-end so all of you can see the trophies, composites, etc.

Music and the Caterer was also discussed, Jim and the guys are no longer a group, Bob Kellogg is going to check with a local group to see if they would play for coffee hour and what the charge would be. Nothing was finalized, we will do that at a later date. The desert bar was a hit, that is in our plans for next year.
You can let me know what your thoughts are, I'd love to hear from you, good or bad, I can take it! :) sarahshook@hotmail.com

Our next meeting depends on when the city hall is ready for us to fill up those beautiful cabinets with trophies.

I will try to keep you informed and up to date on what is going on with the Alumni Association.  In a few months we will be planning the Banquet of 2010.  I would love to see all of you there, the Fire Hall holds a lot of people, more than the school or the city hall.

Those attending the meeting were, Lance Anderson & his daughter Ivy, Pam Nelson, Peggy Haeffner, Bob Kellogg,
Cathy Sears, Alta Wolf, Jim Shook (my husband) and
Yours Truly,
Sarah

 

Alumni plans for 2010 banquet

Decatur Alumni members met Saturday morning, Aug. 15, at the city auditorium to discuss a number of items, including some preliminary plans for the 2010 banquet.

Due to the recent water leak in the hall basement, the new trophy cabinets have been pulled away from the walls. Plans to clean the trophies and put materials away for display was tabled. When the leaks have been fixed, builder Roger Hansen will reattach the cases and alumni will complete the display setup.

The group decided to have president Sarah Shook contact Hansen and have him draw up plans for the composite holder and give them a price on the construction.

Hansen has tentatively been asked to build a lighted case to match the rest of the cabinets that will make it possible for people to leaf through the composite pictures.

Fund-raising is already under way for that new cabinet plus Hansen built one tall case to match. He has offered that case to the association for $50, the price of the glass doors. Anyone wishing to donate to the project may send a check to First Nebraska Bank in Decatur made out to Decatur Alumni Association. Money may also be sent to president Shook or Pam Nelsen.

Other expenses facing the alumni committee are a charge of $200 from Hansen for moving the cabinets out and resetting them, having Cheryl Piere make photocopies of all school class composites, and purchasing scrapbooks and scrapbooking materials to be used to organize all the school pictures (people, events and reunions) that people are turning over to the alumni for preservation.

 

Also discussed were the place for the 2010 banquet, possible caterers and menu items. Nothing was decided on those topics.

There are usually no fall or winter alumni meetings and the planning of the banquet begins with a January meeting. However, because of the trophy project under way and fund-raising events, Shook may call meetings during the next few months as needed. As of this date, there is no pending meeting before January.

Taken from Burt Count Plaindealer

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009 11:34 AM CDT
Last Decatur graduates host alumni banquet --Taken from Burt Count Plaindealer

The class of 1984, the last 25-year class to graduate from Decatur High School, served as host for the 53rd alumni gathering on Sunday evening. Due to the renovation at city hall, the banquet was held at the fire hall. During coffee hour, music was provided by "Jimmie and the Giants," a group from Onawa, Iowa.

Paul Novak, member of the class of '84, was master of ceremonies and gave the official welcome and introduced the class of '84. Denny Peterson introduced the 50-year class.

Program festivities followed as always until an unusual clatter filled the hall. Guests looked around, and taking over the room was the amazing Frannie Frickenfeckler, the same Frannie Frickenfeckler who brought the 2008 Decatur Idol crowd to its feet. With her red skirt swirling and her white boots flying and her mouth going a mile a minute, she swooped in and began greeting the gathering. Then she paused and she kicked up her heels and shook her many starched crinolines and began to sing her song, "Everything Is Lookin' Up In Ol' Decatur."

Her surprise appearance and performance brought peals of delighted laughter from the crowd, and Frannie (urged on by their noisy approval) strutted her stuff and entertained them. When she finished, she departed as quickly as she had appeared and the banquet program resumed. But the evening definitely belonged to Judy Connealy's Frannie Frickenfeckler and her song, composed by the joint effort of Frannie and Norma Farrens.

During a brief business meeting, president Sarah Shook reported that the alumni association is still in the money-raising mode to help pay for an apparatus to hold composite pictures in the Community Hall, where the trophy cases will go as soon as the hall contractor gives the go ahead. The cases, constructed by an Onawa carpenter, are finished and on display in his business window on the main street of Onawa. She ended the Bulldog Class Challenge-set up to raise money for the trophy case project-by awarding the new trophy that will sit on top the cases to members of the class of 1959 who contributed $2,042. Denny Peterson accepted the trophy on behalf of the class.

Shook stressed that all who attended Decatur High are alumni and welcome to attend all meetings. With the last 25-year class being this year, there will be a banquet next year, but all the alumni will plan it. She closed the meeting by thanking all who worked to make the banquet possible and all who attended. On behalf of the alumni, she presented Mary Ann Hightree a bouquet of flowers and thanked her for serving many years as president.

Luella Beck received a bouquet from alumni vice president Lance Anderson for being the oldest class represented. She is from the class of 1929 and this was her 80th reunion.

Alumni set in Decatur (taken from the Alta Wolf's column in the Plaindealer on May 20, 2009)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
It's time once again for Decatur alumni to gather and share old times with classmates at what may turn out to be the most important alumni gathering to date.

The 53rd banquet, set for 6:30 p.m. May 24 at the Decatur fire hall, is the last one that will have a 25-year class. And that class, as tradition has had it, is the one that organizes the evening program. The class of 1984 was the last class to graduate at the local school. Then came the move to Lyons for the fall secondary term.

This year's banquet will have Paul Novak, a member of the 25-year class, as master of ceremonies.

Alumni president Sarah Shook will handle the business meeting and Denny Petersen will introduce the honored 50-year class.

New this year will be the introduction of all the class members attending the event. As part of Novak's duties, he will read a list of class members attending that will be taken from the guest book. Secretary Pam Nelsen is asking everybody to make sure they sign in and write their names legibly so they can be easily read. To make sure everybody signs the guest book, attendees are asked to come through the north door of the fire hall. It goes directly into the meeting room and Judy Anderson and Sylvia Kellogg will be sitting there with the guest book in tow.

Greeting guests this year are Anita Swanson, Margaret Tolby and Norma Farrens.

Debbie Dye and Ethelyn Brewer will be at the ticket desk. Programs were put together by Pam Nelsen and Clara Woten.

Background entertainment will be Jimmy and the Giants, an Onawa group of which Decatur's Charlie Davis is a member.

Program highlights include the awarding of the Class Challenge trophy that will be awarded to the class whose members gave the most cash donations to the trophy case fund drive. The trophy will remain with the trophy display being installed in the basement of the community hall.

Latest donors to the trophy case and composite holder fund are Pat Malloy, Class of 1992 (correction: Class of 1962), Jean McAllister, '50; Pat (Ferguson) Connealy '46; Denny Peterson, '59; John Sears, '63; James L. Smith, '46; Margaret (White) Russell, '50; Gary Warren, '60; Larry True, '63; Anita (Sweet) Willis, '46; and Bill and Ray Clark, '56.

Judy Connealy, on behalf of the Future of Decatur Foundation, will be awarding the organization's cash grants for the year and Lynna (Helms) Reed will share with the group information about the Bulldog website she has created.  (Correction:  The new Decatur Alumni website was created and is maintained by Sherry Rogers Carlson.  Lynna has been of great assistance and will speak on its behalf in Sherry's absence).

Special honorees will be Luella Beck, who will be celebrating as a member of the 80th class, and Rita (Williams) Lipps, the 50-year class' honored teacher.

The banquet menu will be broasted chicken, roast beef, broasted potatoes, corn, fruit fluff and pasta salad. Treats are homemade rolls and ice cream. If all goes as planned, the officers and at-large members will be adding a dessert surprise. Attendees will be greeted with hors d'oeuvres and favors on the tables.

Tickets for the banquet are still available locally at First Nebraska Bank, Barneys, Farrens Market, Decatur Express, Tooly's Bottle Shop and Betty's Cafe. Tickets also are available at the Lyons Mini Mart and First National Northeast and Washington County banks in Tekamah. Tickets are the same price whether purchased early or at the door. Reservations also can be made by phone by calling Pam Nelson at 349-5208 or First Nebraska Bank, 349-5353.
 

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