Park honorees

The Fremont Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Appreciation Night on Tuesday at Christensen Field. Honorees included:

Volunteer boards

* Parks and Recreation Board: Charly Smith, 2006 chairman; Dian Christensen Hillis, 2006 vice chairman; Caralee Johnson; Bob Brown; Garry Mclntosh; Edie Ronhovde.

* Ridge Cemetery Association Inc.: Marianne Simmons, president; Claire Mares, vice president; Graydon Wilson, secretary/treasurer; Nonna Jeanne Keisler-McGillick; Jack Sutton; Joel Jelkin; Mary Schiermeyer-Marsh; Caralee Johnson; Jim Clarke, sexton; Ken Walter; Kevin Bloemker, ex-officio; John Carlstrom (a charter member of the board who resigned after 15 of service).

* Friends of Fremont Area Parks Inc.: Linda Chapman, president; Dian Christensen Hillis, vice president; Mary Reynolds, secretary/treasurer; David Christensen; Sid Dillon, Jr.; Jeff Miller; Judy Ekeler; Gary Bolton; Ken Walter; Carole Darling (who resigned after eight years of service.)

Ridge Cemetery Association

* Financial donors: Marianne Simmons, mayor and city council, Board of Public Works, city hall employees, J. Graydon Wilson, Norma Jeanne Keisler-McGillick, Carol Fosbinder, Jack and Pat Sutton, John and Cynthia Dobson.

* Historic tour: Judy Ekeler organized a committee which planned and held a historic tour of Ridge Cemetery last summer. Several local actors and historians dressed in period clothing, portraying many of Fremont’s founders which are buried at Ridge Cemetery. Persons involved in this program were: Claire Mares, Kay Klevemann, Betty Reandeau, Iris Doksansky, Deb Spicka, Mica Spicka, Tricia Kruse, Terry and Dixie Boeck, Kim Beam, Bill and Jane Dugan, Vern Gibson, Mary Hendricksen, Dan Rosenbaum, Dr. Thomas McKnight, Bill and Lorna Wehrmann, Ann Stephens, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (the Rev. Tim Gierke), Taylor and Martin (Paul Wachter), Cherrie Beam Clarke, Jim Clarke, May Museum (Patty Manhart), REACT (JeffHansen), Thelma Bartling, Judy Ekeler.

Friends of Fremont Area Parks

* Financial contributions for a memorial for Randy Reyzlik: Blake and Tanya Dillon, Anabel Williams, Houston and Associated, Keep Fremont Beautiful Committee, Rob George and Nan Pollack, Kim Koski, Ken and Cheryl Walter, Tom and Vicki Brown, Robert Hilgenkamp, Don Hinds, Paul and Mary Wachter. These funds along with other memorial money from Sue Reyzlik and city hall were used to create two landscaped areas, one at city hall and one at North Drive.

* Donations for Larry Koski’s outdoor movies: Christensen Field Senior Adult Center, Fremont Tribune, Kiel’s Barber Shop, Diers Ford, Sears-Fremont, Don Peterson and Associates, Fas-Break Auto Glass, KHUB/KFMT Radio Station, Walker’s True Value, Arbor Manor, Hy-Vee Food Store, Trade ’N’ Post, American Family Insurance, Fremont Thrifty Lube, The Pet Stop, First State Bank, The Copy Shop, Plaza Lanes.

* Special project donors: The Fremont Area Community Foundation Lester A. Walker Fund contributed funds for the Senior Center Computer Lab. The Nebraska Coursing Association held an event this fall at Christensen Field Soccer Complex and a contribution was received for usage. First State Bank and Trust continues to contribute and support the general Scholarship Fund. Dan Rosenbaum organized contributions for a weeping mulberry tree to be planted in Bamard Park, in memory of Leo Beranek. Ila Jean Price donated funds to plant a blue spruce tree in VanAnda Park, in memory of her husband, Kenneth Price. The Platte Valley Outlaws, an independent baseball team, made another financial contribution toward baseball equipment. The Wal-Mart Foundation continues to financially support the Keep Fremont Beautiful efforts. The Pathfinder Carvers continue to utilize Ronin Arts and Craft Center and made a contribution for improvements there.

* Christensen Field overhead door donors: Platte Valley Equipment Co., Victor’s Inc., Dodge County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

* Family Fun Pool fund-raising committee: Committee raised funds for additional features not in the original plan.These features include a water walk, a larger and enhanced train engine and a splash pad for smaller children. Committee members are: Chuck Johannsen, Allan Hale, Gary Schmidt, Jeff Christensen, Wade Frink, Carole and Stan Darling, Derril Marshall, Caralee Johnson, Kim Koski, Jon Rohlfs, Jim Ebers, Dale Olson, Dian Christensen Hillis, Paul Johnson, Mayor Donald Edwards, Charly Smith, Bob Brown, Ken Walter.

* Family Fun Pool donors: Fremont Area Community Foundation, Taylor and Martin Inc., Don Peterson and Associates, Valmont Donor Advised Fund, Lester A. Walker Foundation, American National Bank, Fremont Rotary Club. First State Bank and Trust, TierOne Charitable Foundation, Fremont National Bank and Trust, Monke’s Advisory Fund, Christensen Family. Hormel Foods.

* Family Fun Pool scholarship fund: Carole Darling organized a pledge drive through the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce. Donors include: Nye Senior Services, Lloyd and Betty Brooks, Ron and Cindy Weaklend, Leo and Joanne Thietje, Mo and Ginny Dritley, Jon Wilson, Linda Chapman, Troy and Dawn Anderson, Shane Sullivan, Dale Olson, Jim Ebers, Don Peterson-Cathy Casey, US Bank, Shaw, Hull and Navarrette, Pediatric Partners LLC, D and D Investment Company, First National Bank Northeast.

* Unspecified dononations: Darlene Saeger, First State Bank and Trust, Dave and Cynthia Christensen.

Fremont Parks and Recreation Department

* Milliken Park and school playground: A group of individuals planned and raised funds for a new playground. Volunteers were: Peggy Mackey, Milliken Park principal; Stacy Shenefield, PTA president; Michelle Wiese; Ronna Friedrich. Funding came from: Milliken Park PTA, Fremont Area Community Foundation, KENO Community Match.

* Barnard Park: Members of the Barnard Park Historic District purchased and installed new park benches and funded the construction of new flowerbeds. Representatives include: Gail and Nancy Nielsen, Bev Rosenbaum, Julie O’Hanlon.

* Community projects: Fremont Middle School’s “Take-A-Hike” Club and an Outdoor Study program do litter clean up at Johnson Lake. Middle School students, along with science teacher Alisa Smits, cleaned up park and lake. The St. Patrick’s confirmation class, under the direction of Pat Kassmeier, spent two hours cleaning the Fremont City Auditorium balcony during November. The Fremont Tennis Association, Justin Bigsby, president, and the Fremont YMCA, represented by Diana Myers, have provided funding and assistance in conducting a city wide Youth tennis development summer program in 2006. Vince Smith, Brad and Chris Johannesen, Steve Johannesen, Donna Anderson, Dave Strong and Ed Baustian are volunteer instructors in the City Youth Archery Program.

Twenty-three youth from the Church of the Nazarene’s Youth Ministries and their leader, Darren Richardson, painted the outdoor horse arena fence at Christensen Field.

* Donations: Jennifer Gay donated toys and ReAnn Forsberg donated a penny container ($68.27) to the Tiny Tot Preschool program. Joyce and Larry Sparks were Adopt-A-Plot partners with Keep Fremont Beautiful. They gave a donation to adopt the Liberty Tree Garden in John C. Fremont City Park where they planted and maintained the garden.

* Hormel Park trail: Members of Midland College Blue Key Fraternity have adopted and created a walking trail. Each year they have a work day to maintain the trail and clean up the park. Members include: Chris Witthuhn, Lee Moser, Brandon Jacobson, Blake Fuchtman, Caleb Wentz.

* Special thanks: Larry Koski for showing the summer drive-in movies at Christensen Field. Pathfinder Woodcarvers for exhibitions and demonstrations. Keene Memorial Library for managing the department’s Web site. Fremont Tribune, KHUB/KFTM and Time Warner Cable for their support and public service announcements.

* Arbor Day: Siffring Landscaping donated trees. Sally Ganem, Nebraska’s first lady, was the speaker. Katie McShane and the Fremont Middle School “Fremont Fiddlers” performed at the Arbor Day ceremony.

* Senior Center volunteers: Shirley Andrews, Arlene Bouslaugh, Ann Flesher, Janet Funk, MaryAnn Hetrick, Joanne Holtman, Howard Jeppesen, Claire Leifert, Millie Melcher, Donna Mueller, Marge Snyder, Helen Stuehmer, Deloris Weltikol, Frank Wilson, Mabel Bobbitt, Louis Bradway, ReAnn Forsberg, Janet Gillen, Beth Holland, Coralee Holtz, Larry Koski, Zelma Marsoun, Opal Miller, Verla Reed, Marilyn Spenner, Virginia Suhr, Carma Whitmore, WallyWoIfe, Rudy Borck, Esther Cline, Alberta Franke, Lavon Hansen, Richard Holtman, Lola Hood, Al Kuper, Ruth McLaughlin, Clayton Millie, Arnold Rix, Marvin Stauffer, Lottie Thompson, Mel Willnerd.

* Senior Center donations: Wal-Mart, Senior Council, Plaza Lanes, Nye Senior Services, Ludvigsen’s, Home Instead, Burger King, Arbor Manor, Fremont Tribune, Senior Board, Odyssey Hospice, McDonald’s, KHUB/KFMT, Fremont National Bank, Birchwood Manor, Chris Veskema.

* Keep Fremont Beautiful committee: Mike Aerni, the Rev. Leland Foreman, Mary Hendrickson, Jim Manhart, Nancy Pollack, Ron Schultz, Eileen Thomburg, Sue Reyzlik, Anne Baumhover, Chad Fuchs, Jeff Kuhr, Linda Martinez, Molly Rainey, Steve Tellatin, Mark Vyhlidal, Sarah Browning, Marilyn Gordon, Mark Luther, Bruce Nelsen, Jan Rise, Karol Theophilus, Ken Walter.

* Team sponsors: Alex Legge Plumbing Inc., All Metals Market, All Systems Htg/AC and Plumbing, Amoco Fuel Express, B and K Body Shop, BCTGM Local 178G, Beach Chiropractic, Charlie Diers Ford, Christensen Lumber Inc., Dick’s Zesto, Dodge County Title and Escrow, Don Peterson and Associates, Erickson and Brooks, First State Bank and Trust Co., Fremont Area UNL Alumni Association, Fremont Electric, Fremont Eye Associates, Fremont Lock and Key, Fremont Noon Optimist Club, Fremont Softball Umpire Association, Fremont Senior/Adult Center, Fremont Volunteer Fire Department, Fremont York Rite, Gene Steffy Chrysler, Getzschman Heating, Glass House, Gohlmann Plumbing and Htg/AC, Kid Care, Knights of Columbus Council No. 1497, Kiwanis Club, Lou’s Sporting Goods, Mains Sodding, McDonald’s, Nebraska Sports, Northstar Telecom, OrthoCare, Phelps Company, Ron and Sons Auto Repair, Sid Dillon Chevrolet, Steamatic, USA Steak Buffet, UFCW Local 22, VFW Post 854, Vic Rader Photography and Video, Wal-Mart SuperCenter, W.O.W. Lodge 32.

* Summer brochure sponsors: Lou’s Sporting Goods, Nebraska Sports, New Beginnings, D and T Shirtified, Main Street Bead Studio, Pizza Hut, Platte River Airboat, Dairy Queen, Jerry’s Hometown Meat, Heartland Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, Heartland Photography, Fremont Family YMCA, The Computer Guy, Christensen Lumber, Coldwell Banker, Pediatric Partners, Phelps Company, Plaza Lanes, Heartland Chiropractic Clinic, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Don Peterson and Associates, All Systems, First State Bank and Trust.