Villisca

VHS Football

Congratulations to the VHS football team, Coach Quick and his assistant coaches for their win over the Sidney Cowboys!! This advances them to the first round of the playoffs on Wed. night at Adair. They will play Adair-Casey with kick off at 7 p.m. There will be no passes accepted. The cost for admission is $6 for all.

 

Per the boys’ athletic union - 27. No banners or noisemakers (cowbells, air horns, thunder sticks, etc.) Will be permitted ... at any time, whether it is a sub state, first-round, quarterfinal, semifinal, or championship game. No one other than football players and coaches can be on the field.

 

There will be a football supper for the coaches and football players @ 5 p.m. on Tuesday. There will be a pep rally on Wed. at 3 p.m. in the gym. Go big blue!!!

Searching for VHS Class Composites

A project of VAFA is the collection of all the class composite pictures that can be located so they can be preserved on DVD. They will also eventually be displayed in a public place in Villisca.

The class composites that are still missing are

1921 to 1934, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1972 

We need your help!!!  We are wanting to have this entire project completed by the 2009 All-Class Reunion. If you know the location of either one of the small composites that were given to graduates or the large composite for your class, please send a letter to VAFA, PO Box 45, Villisca, IA  50864 or email  alumni@villisca.com   Perhaps you have some of the papers and memory books of your parents or grandparents that may have their class pictures.We would appreciate it if you will take some time to look.

The quality of life thing

The phrase "quality of life" is used so much these days referring to why people choose to live in rural Iowa that I fear we forget what it means - it has become just another sound byte I fear. And yet, there is so much evidence of it in our everyday lives. In the upcoming issue of the Villisca Review, Peggy has an article about the donors to the recent blood bank drive here in Villisca. I've asked Peggy if I could post it here. It tells all those who donated - and all those who volunteered their time to see that it happened. And look at the teens who either give and/or volunteer their time. It does have to do with our quality of life. It is a real thing. I'm so thankful I have the opportunity to live in Villisca.

from Roberta Dickey

40 prospective donors signed in for the Bloodmobile held at the Villisca Community Center, Monday Sept. 29, 2008.

40 productive pints were collected. Double red blood cell donors were: Larry Gaunt, Dale Sturm,Vince Dolch, Steve Williams and Mike Lowe.

Those reaching gallon marks were: Dorothy Pond-10 gallon, Gordon Scott-9 gallon, Beverly Palmquist-9 gallon, Ralph Palmquist-5 gallon, Donna Robinson-5 gallon, Fred Graf- 5 gallon, Martha Herzberg-5 gallon and Larry Gaunt- 2 gallon. JoEllen Fengel was a first time donor.

Other donors were: Elinor Brown, Carol Greenfield, Jerold Greenfield, Richard Kline, Mark Focht, Monique Cook, CandiceDavis, Tom Shipley, Dalton Morrison, Steven Fitzwater, Nick Berggren, Crystal Kinser, David L. Williams, Corrine Williams, Helen Lowe, Judy Barker, Lee Haidsiak, Donna Williams, Robert L. Marsh, Meri Kernen, Diane Freshour, Diane Jacobs, Charles McKee, Ramon Dick, Susan L. Clayton, Lisa Sorensen and Tara McCormick.

Our thanks go to our loyal volunteers: Villisca Review, Channel 18, KMA, KOAK, Aileen Schafer, Janice Lewis, Catholic Church canteen volunteers: Donna Shum, Joyce Skahill, Anabel Fryer, Elizabeth Gray and Becky Poen. Other volunteers were students: Jordan Wyatt, Julie Gray, Jared Dolch, Joel Herzberg, Nichole Fisher, Nick Berggren, Jacob Yearington and Jadon Ayres. Other volunteers were: Sandra Beard, Joan Boggess, Joyce Skahill, Donna Clark, Grace Baumbaugh, Charlotte Baker, Jean Motsinger, Virginia Haley, Janis Sue Enarson, Nell Franson, Judy Schroeder, Janet Crouse and Carol Greenfield. Lions Club and others helping were: Lee Haidsiak, Darwin Williams, Paul Barker and Bob Beard.

VHS Hall of Fame

There are going to be several pieces of news coming out of VAFA in the next couple months - the first follows:

The Villisca Alumni and Friends Association is sponsoring a Blue Jay Hall of Fame program. We will induct our first class to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held during this summer’s all-class reunion and subsequent classes will be inducted every four years in conjunction with the all-class reunion (2009, 2013, 2017 …).

Family and friends are invited to submit/nominate individuals with a written explanation of the outstanding achievements justifying the candidate’s possible induction. To be eligible a nominee must have graduated from VHS or served VHS prior to 1989. The achievements can be in (but not limited to) the field of sports, music, academics, or achievements following graduation. An emphasis will be placed on alumni but former teachers, coaches, and supportive citizens of the Villisca School system will be considered. Listing specific awards & honors in your nomination, along with dates will benefit the selection committee. Please make your nomination as soon as possible to allow time for review. The nomination deadline is April 1, 2009.

Nominations should be mailed to: Villisca Alumni and Friends Association, Attn: Blue Jay Hall of Fame Committee, P.O. Box 45, Villisca, IA 50864

Track Renovation

I thought I had posted the follow up information of the work done on the track but find I have not so here it is. Thanks to Peggy Vermillion for letting us use her article from the Villisca Review.

Sunday morning residents and business owners in the Villisca School District gathered at the football field to break-up, remove and haul off the debris of the old cinder track around the field. According to Principal Johnson, the next step is to complete tile work so the inside curb can be poured. The track will then be covered with 2’ of ag lime for the base. The immediate goal is to have the track ready for practices this spring.

       Thanks to all who donated their time Sunday, September 22, in a.m. to assist with the removal of the old track at the Villisca football field. Those offering their time were: John Beem, Dennis Sunderman, Stan Schaaf, Lee Haidsiak, Jim Obermeier, Dave Lindburg, Tyler Fisher, BreeAnn Fisher, Nicole Fisher, Carolyn and Jerry Fisher, Brian and Brenda Herzberg, Steve Wood, Jason Poston, Chris Schaaf, Brad Sunderman, Damon Sunderman, Craig Johannes, Dave Riggle, Doug Cooper, Steve Haer, Gayle Heard, Morganne Haer, Ron Means, Bruce Williams and David Williams. Also thanks to the following for the use of their equipment: Todd Drake, John Beem, United Famers Coop, Jerry Fisher, Oakview Construction, Dirk Dunn, City of Villisca, Gayle Heard. Drinks were provided by Carolyn and Jerry Fisher.

Small Community Compassion

Peggy Vermillion’s column in this week’s Villisca Review Stanton Viking regarding Skylar Dickey’s death.

            And I reiterate - sometimes it just plain stinks. On many occasions I have wished to be something other than newspaper owner, but the feeling is never more prominent than relaying tragedy.

            Monday morning, the knot in my stomach would not let me trek to the accident scene; I knew it was someone I knew. My heart sank as word of Skyler’s death circulated - the City of Villisca went into an eerie still.    

            Small communities recently had their “moment of fame” in the political venue and the small town values were praised. Looking beyond the values, the level of compassion shared is remarkable. For those who have never experienced life of a smaller sect, in a small community, if a family is suffering, the entire community bleeds, an experience shared by countless families in Stanton and Villisca.

            As Skyler’s family and friends heal, they will be in everyone’s thoughts and prayers and the community will be by their side, as they will be by Taryn’s.

            The greatest benefit can only be experienced, that of heartfelt compassion and care.