Dick Kincaid

Using the Jeff Sessions defense---"I do not recall" because it worked better than the Bill Clinton version.

Danny Cavenee

Mick saved the stripper pole and it is in his office rumor has it ?

Danny Cavenee

Go Big Red !!!

Danny Cavenee

Great job HUSHERS!!!

Danny Cavenee

The team played great on both sides of the ball . I'm sure the wiener dog enjoyed the game !

Ron Smith

Dick G....

Jack Hurt was principal at Odessa?

He was one of my favorite teachers in H.S. along with Earl Jensen and Gary Stickney. I was looking back through my Dad's yearbook (Pleasanton) yesterday.Their basketball schedule included a lot of towns that don't even have high schools anymore.

West Kearney,Riverdale,Mason City,Miller,Odessa and Oconto.

Congrats on getting the 70 Danny.

You win a free bowl of chili that I made this weekend.If you choose to accept this award would you bring a bottle of tobasco sauce. I am out.

Dick Garrelts

Yes.

Odessa had High School when I started there. 

They went to State in Basketball. 

There is also Odessa connection to Mrs Webb. 

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Dick Garrelts

Veteran's Day and every day,   Thank you for your service, Veterans !!

Odessa High produced many distinguished servicemen during WWII .  Some names you may recognize are Schanou, Halliwell, Knapp, and the Marlatt and Turner brothers.  And more!  Reynolds, Geiger, and Hoffman chose to make Odessa home.  Most all have Gold Stars now.

Odessa had an undeserved reputation in our day, mainly due to Maria Tucker (real name - believe it or not)  Maria married a GI who was killed during the war.  She was a proud naturalized citizen and very patriotic.  She served me a free beer when I came home, as she did for every vet.  Her's was the only truly sincere "Thanks" I ever got.  It still means a lot.

Joe Mettenbrink

Thanks for the history about the Corall Cafe-hard to remember after all these years Vicki! Bob-yes Grandpa Albert worked (rented from the Dennison's I think) the Midway Liquor Store-in their old now torn down hotel-where Dad worked from the early '1960's to 1976 when he worked at KSC in janitor/maintenance before he retired-also fixed TV's before they became too computer run (old test tube type). By the way-still have your unicycle? May be worth some $ now-ha!

Happy Veterans Day to all-remember my Dad & his service in memory in the Korean War when I was born-also several of my cousins in WW2 & Vietnam. Good to have a Husker win again also-cold day to play for sure-that time of year though-later!

Ron Smith

Danny...

You made a wise decision in not coming over for chili.I must admit that no one makes as bad a batch of chili as me. Dick G, does weiner dog clean floors as well as dishes? I think I am going to be sick.

Years ago I made a batch of chili for my kids and me. One night I told them that I had good news and I had bad news for them and which did they want to hear first.They wanted the bad news first. I told them we were having chili again for the 8th night that week.Then they wanted the good news.I told them there wasn't enough to go around.

Dick Garrelts

Wiener Dog does like Chile.  I was all set for Banana Nut Bread for half-time.  I thought Illinois had a team.  So happens, Mimi fixed a batch of her famous Chile - the good stuff, not the cheap crap we serve at minis. 

I had Frito Pie.  Anybody ever heard of that ?  Schick

Turns out Chile makes Wiener Dog a little gassy.  We missed most of the game for being outside walking it off.  There was more action outside.   We got 4" of snow and Wiener Dog only has 1" of clearance.   Really funny to watch.  He's a cross between a squirrel and a weasel in deep snow.  And part rat.  A rat-weasel.

Kathi Geiser (Wright)

Kathi Geiser (Wright)

Barb Seerley and I just had a huge steak, and now a slumber party.  Lunch with Leanna tomorrow, then fly back to Colorado.  It's cold in Nebraska!

Holly Heacock (Reiter)

It’s been fun reminiscing the old Kearney establishments through you men. You all seem to have much better recall than I do! 

Ron - I do remember Dick Scown, we lived across the street from his family on 6th Ave.  Our parents became good friends and played a lot of golf together.  I think his dad was Bob and his mom, Marilyn.  His older sister Vicki and I were friends and I spent many hours at their home. I had a huge crush on Dick, as I remember he was tall and very cute but he was more interested in his sports than me!  He did write me a sweet note when they left town. 

Also, I spent a lot of evenings at the “Odessa Tavern”  (before Maria) with my aunts who loved beer.  I ate Hershey bars, drank Coke and ate peanuts. There was a nice old couple that ran the place and I think his name was Vern but I can’t remember her name.  

I do remember Jack Hurt being principal at Odessa and my favorite teacher of all my school days was Maxine Ryan.  Sometimes she would bring her son Max, who was our age, to school with her when Kearney didn’t have the same vacation days as we did.  

Dick G and Jerry H - my favorite memories of Odessa school were the Christmas programs and all the times we did our homework down on the bleachers while practicing for the plays. The one I remember best was “A Christmas Carol”  and Gloria Wingert sang “Star of the East”  I thought she was a superstar, had never known anyone with a voice like hers.  Also loved Mrs. Halliwell’s great cooking, especially the homemade rolls.  Do you remember during our Nebraska history unit we made drums out of coffee cans?  Mrs. Ryan read us Tom Sawyer, first book I really loved. I miss those days!

Dick Garrelts

Holly,   I remember making those drums - a coffee can and an innertube.  Burlap sacks for our buckskins.  We put on a little program for the parents.  Carol D. sent me a picture you will want to see of the 69ers in their outfits;  Gary R, Gary H, Sherry S, Patsy K (I think).

Those Christmas programs were the highlight of the year.  Always a major production.  I had to sing a solo one year.  Be glad you weren't there to hear it.

Max R was Class of 68. Last time I saw him, he was just back after being wounded. If you look closely at the original Rowdy photo, you'll see Max.

There are a lot of fond memories from Odessa we need to catch up on. Something for the next mini.

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Dick Garrelts

Kathi, Barb, and Leanna - Watch out, Omaha!  The Rowdy gals are in town!   I can't imagine trying to keep up with that gang.  Let me know if you need bail money.

Dick Kincaid

Now that we have touched on a surrounding school  that classmates came from can we come up with a list of rural schools that fed the Kearney system.   I can think of a short list that includes the following;  Alfalfa Center, Pleasant Hill, Stone, Center,Green Hill, Riverdale, Odessa.  Things changed later allowing rural taxpayers/landowners to petition out to a Scool District of their choice.   It helps explain the morning traffic jam in Riverdale involving school buses from Kearney, Pleasanton and Amherst.  I assume Stubbs and Reiter claim Pleasant Hill while Brady might have been a Center alumni along with Hendrickson.

Dick Garrelts

BLANTON

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Dick Garrelts

Don't forget Kearney Catholic and Zion Lutheran.  They were in our league - more or less.

Most of those one room country schools had a name, but some were merely called by their District number.  A few are still standing.  The patrons of one school north of Amherst bought the building and hold local gatherings there.  Star gazing, sweet corn festivals, music, and an annual Thanksgiving leftovers feast.  If you ever get invited, you'll want to go.

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Dick Garrelts

Kathi,  I trust you arrived home safely and have a hangover. 

So did you find out what a glass of wine costs on Rodeo Drive?

Kathi and Holly got 130 hits.   Dick K got 181.  24 for mine.   Go figure.

Dick Kincaid

I was at a loss on the Blanton post.  Did you have a nightmare  with your afternoon  nap and Dan was somehow involved.   I think the northeast Amherst country school was Liberty Hill.  It was a two story structure located needless to say in either section 16 or 36 of whatever township (territoy/State law).  The Gloria Wingert that Holly mentioned at Odeea school was she Ester and Cecil's daughter?  If so she is tied to many of the Syrian/Lebanese families in Buffalo and Dawson counties.  Ester and I became friends and she often would  threaten people on the first meeting by telling then she was a violent and crazy middle eastener.  She was still taking care of her own garden (1/2 acre) in her mid-nineties.  She enjoyed going to the County Board meetings to straighten them out for the fun of it

Dick Garrelts

It was Blanton's birthday.  You need to keep up with the birthdays, Dick. Blanton has never posted, so he only gets a one word acknowledgement. I can think of a few other choice words that apply ...

Liberty Hill is correct.

Wingert is a topic for a mini.

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Kathi Geiser (Wright)

No alcohol involved, hard to believe, right.  We did eat well...great breakfast at the Keno place by Barbs.  Pizza Ranch buffet ice cream was another thing we hit hard.  King Kong, where we should have shared.  Barb and I saw movie A Star is Born.  And lots and lots and lots more visiting.   Superior did not win state volleyball like last year...my niece said I cannot come anymore.  🤡

Dick Kincaid

Birthdays are not nearly as exciting as they used to be to most of us.   The joy of turning legal was a milestone for many of us.  Didn't we have the distinction of turning legal twice in Nebraska if my memory serves me right?  The best way to get Dan and West Coast Garrelts to post might be  to give them a 'Roast' to honor them with our tributes.  They may want to set the records straight to protect themselves.  I would venture a guess they are at least following the posts.  We probably need to set up a date and time for the coffee/wine Mini before we have too much material to cover and people start their Holiday obligations.

Anna Sobotka (Schroeder)

 I remember celebrating my 20th at the ELKS with my folks(Otto gave me a free drink)  I got married on 21st birthday !?!?