 To say the Fuchtman family is good at shooting sports is right on target. After all, the four children took home ribbon after ribbon at the Knox County Fair, winning in bb, shot gun and air rifle divisions. “You may go to competition and not get a good ribbon, but at least you had fun,” said Eric Fuchtman, who is a shooting sports superintendent. Eric is certified in teaching rifle for 4H and also leads bb and air rifle shooting. Ethan, Johanna, Jorgia and Jenna Fuchtman — children of Eric and Janelle Fuchtman of Creighton and members of the Lucky Lads and Lassies 4-H Club — all excel at shooting. “It’s a great way to introduce the kids to shooting and to teach them gun safety,” Janelle said. “Kids learn to respect the gun and what it does, but they can still have fun while learning their rights.” Ethan was the first to try shooting sports in 4-H after his grandfather gave him a bb gun. After shooting sparrows, someone suggested he try competitive shooting with 4-H. Not only did it stick for him, but it carried on with his siblings. “He kind of had a natural talent,” Janelle said about Ethan. “It’s something the family really enjoys.” Johanna said she started shooting after learning from Ethan,and since she’s younger, “it’s something if I beat him.” He added, “She did that one year.” The duo were in the same division again this year. Early results showed Johanna as the winner, but Ethan rescored the target and discovered he actually won by a mere one point. “I was the winner for a day,” she said with a laugh. Younger siblings Jorgia and Jenna are following in their footsteps. They both placed in the top five in the novice division. “They know what scores they need to beat their brother and sister,” their mom said with a laugh. “We’re just starting to see the competitiveness between them because the girls want to beat the scores their siblings had when they were their age. They remember the scores.”  It took less than 10 minutes for Creighton Community Schools to evacuate all students and staff after a bomb threat was called in Wednesday afternoon. Superintendent Robby Thompson said the school’s protocol was followed after the school received a call stating there was a bomb in school. He said the procedure consisted of calling authorities and evacuating to an alternative site. “Students, staff and parents did a great job of following protocol throughout the entire situation,” Thompson said. “After this event, the Crisis Team met and critiqued what had transpired.” As part of their action plan, students walked with teachers and staff to the nearby Faith, Hope, and Love Church. The school sent out two calls via their communication system: one at 2:10 p.m. notifying parents of the evacuation and the next at 2:28 p.m. informing them that they may pick up their children from the church. He said the school’s protocol is practiced and evaluated for any necessary improvements. Creighton Police Chief Mark Duncan said these actions likely led to Wednesday’s “very quick and smooth” evacuation process. “We do practice similar events,” Principal Ryon Nilson said. “We have been through practice and had some preparation for that.” After Wednesday’s evacuation, parents lined up outside Faith, Hope, and Love Church and were gradually allowed inside to fill out identification forms before the children were released to them. The Creighton School announced that all students were reunited with their parents by 4:15 p.m. St. Ludger’s Catholic School also evacuated their students and staff to the Creighton Fire Department due to the generic nature of the bomb threat. Even Bloomfield’s school district went into a lock-out situation on Wednesday. According to Bloomfield Supt. Shane Alexander, no one was allowed in or out of the school buildings; however, classes continued on a normal schedule. Jesse Pollock’s daycare, located across the street from the Creighton School, was also evacuated on Wednesday, as were a few nearby residents. Pollock transported four children to a different location, per her evacuation plan, and parents were notified for pick up. The Creighton Fire Department advised the daycare of the threat and also assisted by blocking off traffic for a one-block radius surrounding the Creighton School. Fireman Phil Ebel, who was monitoring traffic southeast of the school, said his instructions were: “Nobody in or nobody out.” After initial building sweeps by local law enforcement, a Nebraska State Patrol bomb-detecting K9 was used to clear Creighton Public School and St. Ludger’s. Once the school was given the “all-clear,” Creighton students were allowed to retrieve personal belongings and vehicles that night. Just after midnight, a suspect was interviewed and confessed to making the threat. Christi Johnson, 34, of Yankton, So.Dak. has since been charged with false reporting. Students at Creighton Public School and St. Ludger Elementary returned to school on Thursday at the regular time — some without backpacks, as they were left in the building the previous day. The police chief was stationed outside the elementary entrance as students arrived. “Thank you to the Creighton Fire Department and all of the law enforcement officers for their immediate response,” administration at the Creighton School said.  A Yankton woman confessed to calling in a bomb threat at the Creighton Public School last week and later turned herself in. Christi Johnson, 34, admitted to making Wednesday’s threat, which forced the entire student body and staff to evacuate the facility. Creighton Police Chief Mark Duncan said school administration notified police of the bomb threat at approximately 1:20 p.m. Although the threat was deemed “fairly generic” it warranted action, he said. The Creighton Public School ordered a complete evacuation, which included all students and staff being relocated to the nearby Faith, Hope, and Love Church. The church was used as a reunification site for students and parents. St. Ludger’s Catholic School was also notified of the potential threat, Duncan said. “Due to the fact that the call was received at the public school, but a specific school wasn’t stated, St. Ludger’s evacuated their staff and students to the Creighton Fire Department,” he said. Both schools were cleared — first with an initial sweep by local law enforcement personnel — and then by the Nebraska State Patrol’s bomb detection K9 for extra precautionary measures. The Creighton Fire Department blocked roads and helped students reunify with their parents after the evacuation. Just hours after students were allowed back into the school to retrieve their belongings, police had a potential suspect. Johnson was interviewed by the Creighton Police Department at approximately 12:15 a.m. Thursday and confessed to authorities, Duncan said. She was not immediately arrested as other investigations were being conducted in relation to the case. The police chief said Johnson was cooperating with law enforcement at that time. On Saturday night, the Creighton Police Department announced that the suspect had turned herself in at the Knox County Jail. Johnson has been charged with false reporting, a Class I misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Knox County Court on Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.  Creighton lower elementary students have a new space for hands-on learning. The K.I.D (Knowledge, Imagination, Discovery) Zone is an extension of the Kindergarten classroom, providing more space for learning for the large incoming Kindergarten class. The Zone has many areas which are available for all students in the lower elementary. At the Maker Space, students can pick ideas from the monthly calendar or from the task cards and blue prints to organize and begin creating projects such as a shelter to provide shade, a bridge, or a transportation vehicle. Younger students can use this as an exploration station. The dramatic play area will change throughout the year and allows children to explore different career-related activities. Older students may work as employees, taking orders, making change, completing tasks and orders for the Sweet Sweet Ice Cream Shop that is currently set up. The Math Center includes numbered blocks that can be used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, patterning, fact families and measurement. A photo can be used by students to place geometric shapes together to create letters. A large foam state puzzle, globe puzzle and continent puzzle make up the geography center for exploring the states and continents. Three computers and iPads are available for learning how to code. A bumble bee can be programed to do various things. LEGO sets are also available for coding. Students can also use the LEGO station to complete challenge cards, such as ‘build something you use everyday’, and ‘build a wagon that can carry a toy’. The construction area will also allow for the creation and manipulation of three-dimensional objects. A writing and language arts area, as well as an art and sensory area are available. Teachers of lower elementary classes will select a time to visit the zone. A pair of solid french doors can be closed to separate the Kindergarten room from the K.I.D. Zone. “A child’s learning foundation is built through the experiences and activities in which they engage. At Creighton Elementary, we are taking learning one step further, providing an area which allows students to grow and learn and expand upon their knowledge,” said Creighton Elementary Kindergarten teacher, LaDonna Hazen. An open house is scheduled on Aug. 14 from 3 to 4 p.m. Parents and family members are encouraged to stop and tour the K.I.D. Zone.  The first Jacobs Bakery was opened in Deadwood S.D. in the 1800’s. A fire which spread and destroyed many nearby buildings, forced Oliver Jacobs to flee the city to avoid a possible hanging or shooting, which were prominent forms of punishment in that time. He fled across the Missouri River into Nebraska. He landed in Creighton in 1985 and the Jacobs Bakery saga began. One grocery store was moved across the street to the east half of the Grand Central building, it was later discontinued. On Dec. 6, 1905, a fire broke out in the Manfouls Harness shop, west of the bakery, destroying several businesses including Jacobs Bakery. One year later, Oliver Jacobs put up another building next door, on the east side of the former home of Fuchtman Tax Service. Oliver was wed to Anna and had three children, Ernest, Adolph and Helen. All three worked with their parents in the bakery. The hotel which was on the second floor, consisted of nine rooms. The three rooms facing Main Street were occupied by Ernest and Adolph when they worked in the bakery. Helen lived with the parents. As an adult, Adolph opened a bakery in Hebron. Ernest enlisted in the Navy at the beginning of World War I. In 1915 a cafe was added to the bakery with Anna at the reins of the kitchen. She continued working in the bakery and became well known for her pecan pies. The Cafe was closed in the late 40’s when Anna passed away in 1947. The hotel was closed at the end of World War I. The bakery’s name was changed to The Snow White Bakery, but a letter from Walt Disney Productions informed the Jacobs family they were infringing on the copyright of the name Snow White. Business continued as Jacobs Bakery. The third generation of Jacobs arrived, Gordon, Ernest Jr, and Robert, each one taking turns working in the bakery. Carmen and Robert Jacobs took over the business when Helen, Robert’s mother passed in 1982. In 1984 the bakery was sold outside the Jacobs family due to the change of the economy, thus ending the Jacobs Bakery saga. The bakery building was purchased by Marlene Stevens and she operated The Hometown Coffee Shop from April 1985 to April 1992. Stevens and sold the property to Ellen Opkis in August 1992.  Cowboy Electric will celebrate it’s one year anniversary next month.
As a teen exploring career options, Jacob Bertschinger knew he wanted to own his own company. He was drawn to the field. “It looked fun, something I could do for a long-term career,” he said. After graduating from Creighton High School in 2009, he continued his education at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. He attributes his success to Bruce Kristensen and Curt Vanness of K/V Electric who mentored him as he entered the field. “Having happy customers” is the most rewarding part of his job. Recently he did work for two Bloomfield businesses, Blooms and Bling, a new business, and Broadway Billy’s, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Bertschinger is a licensed contractor specializing in commercial, residential and farm electricity installation and repair. He is based out of rural Creighton and can be reached at 402-841-0652 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  July 11, was an exciting day for several of volunteers at the Creighton Historical Society. Mert Crockett, Virginia Buermann and Larry and Bev Schwindt headed out to Jim Wagner’s farm to dismantle and bring back to Creighton a special gift to the Center. Jim Wagner had gifted a Single Seat Buggy, called a “Dr. Buggy” for display in the building. The single horse hitch, which was part of the original buggy, was also included. Jim believed that the cost was “somewhere between $300. and $800. Jim had already begun the process of taking the buggy apart and then directed the group of how to prepare it for the travel to Creighton. The buggy was further dismantled on the street in front of the Historical Museum and the seat removed which allowed it to be carried inside. Jim then directed the larger group of volunteers, Jace Hoferer, Jared Prohosca, Dennis Fuchtman and Lyle Larson to reassemble it. Jim then had the pleasure of adding his original whip to the whip holder. Jim’s History lesson for the day included the following: Matthias Wagner, Jim’s Grandfather, settled west of Creighton, NE in 1871. These were already hard times and then the depression followed in 1897. Still, in 1910, the family was able to buy a Single Seat Buggy, for use to drive to town for necessities. Over the years it was more important to shed newer machinery and the buggy sat out in the elements. It was later restored with all the iron on the buggy being original and the wheels were new wood and seat made over; the buggy was then always “shedded” to preserve it. Matthias’s son Ed, one of 10 children, who farmed 2 west and 1 north of Creighton was in line to possess the buggy and then it was passed down to Jim Wagner. Jim said “It’s tough to let it go” and “I hate to part with it “ but I believe in educating our future generations and this is another way I can do this”. Jim has been involved with “telling his true life stories” during class time at school and several local care centers’ for many years. Jim remarked that he always wanted to ride in the buggy for parades but “everything had to fall in place” for that to happen and there was always a problem with weather, a horse, or the time involved to get it done. The Historical Society will host a Grand Opening on Friday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mark your calendars and stop in for refreshments and guided tours from the Historical Society Members.  The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus comes to Creighton next weekend. Skeeter the clown visited the Creighton Public Library and the swimming pool on Wednesday in anticipation for the big top’s visit.
The show will feature a brother-sister pair of Siberian golden tabby tigers and a Black Mane African Lion weighing in at two pounds shy of 500 pounds, as well as a team of American Eskimo dogs. An unlikely pair of friends, a bresian shire mixed breed stallion and an under 26-inch miniature horse will complete a routine with only voice commands from the trainer. Comedy, acrobatic and balancing acts are part of the 90 minute show. “What makes this circus different, is we are families performing for families,” said Skeeter. “We are very proud of what we do and we want to give a good performance every place we go.” Eleventh, ninth and third generation circus performing families make up the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus. The group is based out of Hugo, OK, also known as Circus City USA. “It’s something we are bringing to town for the kids. Adults are going to enjoy it also,” said Creighton Area Chamber of Commerce president Cory Frisch. Guests are invited to watch the big top be raised at 9:30 a.m. and stay for a free tour. A meet-and-greet with the performers will be held during the tour as they prepare for the day. The public can meet the animals up-close and learn about their routine and care. Showtimes on Saturday, July 27, are at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Gragert’s Grocery Store, C-Mart, 59 Express, or by contacting chamber secretary Jennifer Ebel.  Recent Creighton High School graduate, Brienne Fanta was chosen as the 2019 Inspiring Alumnus for Children Scholarship Fund of Omaha. CSF helps provide partial-tuition scholarships so children from low-income families can access the private or parochial K-8 education of their choice.
Fanta was chosen for this newly renamed Tal and Mary Joy Anderson family inspiring alumnus award for reflecting strong characteristics of leadership and perseverance. She attended St Ludger Elementary on a CSF scholarship and has always been tenacious in her academic excellence. Fanta has shown her leadership skills and determination to succeed in every challenge she has taken on. During CSF’s annual CHANCE luncheon, Fanta was honored for all of the things she has accomplished. She gave a short speech to close out the luncheon and shared how beneficial the strong foundation she has established through her education was. “I stay true to myself no matter what the situation, and I carry with me strong, unbreakable values. As well as guiding me in being a genuine person, the education they provided was incredible,” Fanta said. A heated discussion concluded the meeting of the Creighton Public School Board of Education meeting on Monday night.
The discussion lasted more than 35 minutes in regard to the school vans being used to transport students for summer leagues and camps during the summer months. Robby Thompson, superintendent, spoke in favor of allowing coaches to use the means of transportation, while school board president Kay Morrill did not agree. “At what point is it no longer the taxpayer’s responsibility?” Morrill asked. She questioned the NSAA rules about summer activities. “It’s very hard to break NSAA rules,” said Principal Ryon Nilson. “Why are the school vans being used for things that are not school activities?” asked Morrill. “Summer league in my mind is kids getting together to play. I could see how a camp or a league, even though its in the summer, would be considered a school activity,” said board member Dixie Hanefeldt. “There are some kids who would not have the opportunity to get better because they can’t get to and from these camps or leagues they want to attend. We are spending maybe $2,000 to give these kids an opportunity.” Board members Greg Kuhlman and Matt Fritz also spoke in favor. Amy Borgmann questioned Thompson on the insurance policy and how an accident would be covered. The school’s liability would be in place in case of an accident. “I am not able to take my kids to everything, but I am more than happy to let them ride with a coach,” said Duane Fanta. “Is the money what this is really about? Is it safety?” “There’s kids driving up and down the street every day. When does it stop pulling at the heart strings?” said Morrill. The agenda item was tabled until the next meeting. Thompson updated the board on the roof leak issues. A roofing company took a core of the roof and found matted wet insulation and materials. New insulation will need to be installed. He will continue to work with the architect for solutions. The sprinkler system on the football field has been installed. Fifteen stations containing a total of 88 sprinkler heads are on the field and awaiting electricity to be ran for the system. A pressure tank may be required to operate the system once a filter is installed. Thompson presented three location options. It would cost $6,000 to install a pressure tank below ground, $3,500 to install above ground and $3,000 if it is placed inside the garage on the football field. According to Thompson, winterizing the lines would be simpler if the pressure tank was located inside the garage. No decision was made. The co-op between Plainview and Creighton for sharing a cross country coach has dissolved. The Plainview school board was under the impression that Creighton needed a girls golf coach, and they would share coaches. Since that wasn’t the case, they chose not to enter into the agreement. |
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