If you want to see the results of this poll - the address is below.
Poll: Young Americans No Longer Prioritize Patriotism and Religion
https://www.westernjournal.com/poll-young-americans-no-longer-prioritize-patriotism-religion
I make these statements about our community based on the various events I document and capture over the years, such as when Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny come to town...
The Boy Scout activities, the recent FFA convention that is linked down below.
The school plays/musicals that are amazing
if you think about how great they are for students to put in time and hard work, learn to work together, and then perform in front of the public.
The way our school is free of graffiti, and the high school which is 50 years old now and the grade
school going on 60 years still look like new buildings.
All of the volunteer groups/individuals that spend countless hours/dollars keeping our town/school in a manner that everyone
can/should be very proud of.
Manning still has 5 church congregations so that is a good sign.
BUT the Internet, cell phones, social media - while they have their good aspects are also much of the cause of such a quick and drastic change, most of which is not beneficial to our society.
When I visit with older folks about our history, both community and family, I ask them if they have their children/grandchildren/nephews/nieces etc. sit down with them to talk about their experiences
growing up in this community.
This is one huge aspect that sadly has mostly disappeared in our society today, but still does occur here in Manning and I assume other small/rural towns.
I know I get to rambling and these are just my opinions/thoughts but having worked on our area history for 50+ years, with hundreds of "old timers,"
most of whom are gone now, I learned a lot from them about the priorities/values they had that made this community and I believe country into what it is today...We just have to
fight now to keep it that way...slow down the deterioration and harm to our young people and start to reverse those harmful trends.
Don't be a proverbial lemming that just jumps off the cliff with the rest of them, or a seal that barks and claps its flippers with everyone else, or worse yet put your head in the sand like an Ostrich.
Dave Kusel
Well, I have lots of pictures of tornado outbreaks in this area during times of the year that we humans would say NORMALLY don't occur such as the "Omaha tornado" system that
came through this area and flattened the "sister" building of the Trinity Church down south in Lincoln Township - now the other "sister" sits at the Heritage Park.
They had the tornado and the next day there was snow on the ground...
One thing they didn't do back then was to stand around and talk about the weather, but got busy and by
the fall of that year, they had their new church built.
That same system devastated farms north/northwest of Manning...I have lots of pictures of this damage too but won't show them now.
There was an outbreak in 1920,
a tornado blew down the M&M golf course club house in 1938, and I could go on and on...
Then today (March 26) I heard people talking about how unusual/unexpected this snow was where we had 5 or more inches, and I just roll my eyes.
EVERY year, people get excited in the Spring during a warm spell in March/April and
yet they forget that EVERY year we get snow in April and sometimes in early May.
I tell them about the last spring snowfall that I'm aware of in
Manning - as far as recorded history goes...it was during my mom & dad's anniversary when they had several
inches of snow on the ground in the area - May 28, 1947.
My dad was cultivating in the field east of our house in shirt sleeves the day before
and the next morning the corn leaves were peeking out through the snow...and of course I have the pictures to show this snow event.
So the next time you hear an old timer say that they've NEVER seen a specific weather event before, remember that their perspective is just a speck in time and means nothing.
Yes
they probably never saw a similar event in their short life-span, but when someone says it has NEVER happened before - NEVER say NEVER!
We really only have around 100 years of good consistent and broad-range recorded weather events so who knows what happened 200, 500, 1000, 5000 years ago...
Veterans of Carroll County are inviting the public to share
their appreciation for those who fought in the Vietnam War.
The six Carroll County American Legions, as well as the Manning and Carroll
VFWs, will host a ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam
War next Wednesday. The event was created to share appreciation for the U.S.
veterans who fought in the Vietnam War.
A list of Carroll County veterans who did not return from the Vietnam War, can
be found on the A7 Aircraft Monument. The honored men include Thomas John
Eischeid of Halbur, Gerald Lee Feltner of Carroll, Wayne William Gross of
Carroll, Lawrence Raymond Hagedorn of Carroll and
Steven Thurlow Jewell of Coon Rapids, who were all killed in action. At the
bottom reads Donald Lee Sparks of Glidden, who is considered missing in action.
“This is a special day because it marks the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal
of troops from Vietnam and the return of 591 prisoners of war,” R.T. Schreck, a
member of the Carroll American Legion, said. “It gives our community the
opportunity to say thank you to the Vietnam veterans and the chance for us to
show our continued appreciation and support for their service to us and our
country, in addition to showing they are not forgotten after 50 years.”
The ceremony will take place at the Arthur N. Neu Airport, located at 21177 Quail Ave., beginning at 6 p.m.
At the beginning, Vietnam veterans Steve Hoogestraat, Bill Stork, Bob
Vonnahme and Gary Borkowski will post the colors, including the United States
flag, the State of Iowa flag, the POW/MIA flag and the VFW flag.
Hoogestraat, Stork, and Vonnahme were drafted together on April 1, 1969, with
Borkowski being drafted 30 days earlier.
After the opening prayer, Ryan Ahrenholtz, who is actively serving in the Iowa
Army National Guard, will sing the national anthem.
Greg Siemann, who is an active member of the Carroll
Airport Commission and served in the U.S. Marine Corps, will speak at the
ceremony. Siemann was instrumental in bringing the A7 Aircraft Monument to the airport.
The monument was created in dedication of the veterans of Carroll County who
did not return from the Vietnam War. On the side of the monument reads the
names of the veterans, including Thomas John Eischeid of Halbur, Gerald Lee
Feltner of Carroll, Wayne William Gross of Carroll, Lawrence Raymond Hagedorn
of Carroll and Steven Thurlow Jewell of Coon Rapids,
who were all killed in action. At the bottom of the plaque reads Donald Lee
Sparks of Glidden, who is missing in action.
Later in the ceremony, veterans Ron Roe, Larry Heithoff, Don Bernholtz, and Larry Feltner will place a wreath at the
monument. Afterwards, a 21-gun salute will be performed by various members of
the local American Legions with Jane Cunningham performing taps.
Following the ceremony, members of the VFW will present a plaque to the staff
of the Carroll Veterans Affairs clinic.
The event is expected to last 30 to 40 minutes.
In case of rainy weather, the program will be held in the airport hangar.
Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs.
Derner and Eich were once fairly-common family names in this area. Over the decades some of the old family branches die out, and others simply
moved away so there are Derner/Eich Manning descendants out there somewhere.
Most people probably feel I spend/waste
too much time in the past but I enjoy it and think it gives me insight into the world-at-large over those who know basically
nothing about our past and/or don't care about and feel it is a waste of time.
In this next tribute you'll see pictures from the Derner/Eich/Lage collections and like usual it is
a challenge to figure out how they are connected, whether blood or common connections.
That is part of the appeal to me - playing Sherlock Holmes and then if I figure out some
connection it almost always leads me to a dozen or more other old Manning family names. The further back I go the more connections I run into...and many times a connection to my
family names.
So I keep plugging
away and currently have 2 volunteers who have been searching the Internet for obituaries and military information of Manning connected Veterans.
Now back to Russ Frank...below is
a Great Lakes portrait of him I just scanned.
Now most people won't realize how far back his family military history goes and I'll show a brief background, because I have
to keep scanning the tubs of pix.
Constant deterioration with old pictures and why they need to be digitized NOW!
Back: Martha (Richards), Charley, Julia
Middle: Deed, Rhoda
Front: Joseph, Maud, Brick
Joseph Moore
Gilbert Moore
I captured this image of Gilbert from a military web page.
Below is what that image looks like and above
is after I did some digital restoration.
Gilbert Moore - original captured image.
So if you want to be included with the over 1000 Manning Connected Veterans that will be featured in the Manning Veterans book - contact me ASAP.
Besides Russ, these Manning people are also Moore descendants: Dean Fara's 2 daughters, their grandmother was Joy (Moore) Doyle, Harvey Dales, Chuck Moore, Dorothy (Moore) Strosahl.
For those of you not familiar with FFA, please take the time to go through the various links and listen to the audio clips.
You might be amazed at how involved
these conventions are, at how hard the students work, and the great lessons of life they'll learn...
1957 - actual cow on the Homecoming float
Guess who was the very first FFA Sweetheart - answer is posted in the feature linked above.
I know most people won't go through all of the information in the District Convention feature or the Manning FFA history but I want to make sure this article is highlighted...
October 1, 1953 Spotlite - Manning Monitor
AMERICANISM
It is not the sound of a man's name that makes him an
American, nor the accent of his speech, nor the color of his skin. What makes a
man an American is his loyalty to certain ideals and principles in which he
believes. To be an American means to believe in fair play. Our most popular
sports are those in which evenly matched teams play by fixed and fair rules. We
do not like crooked players. There is no American, with any spirit in him, who
wants anything but a fair chance for himself and for the other person, too.
To be an American means to believe in work. The typical American expects to
work for a living and expects everyone else to do this also. He believes in honest work for honest regard.
To be an American means to believe in peace. We are not a nation that unjustly attacks others for our own advantage.
To be an American means to believe in God and religion - not some particular
kind but the religion of our own choosing. In our life the place and dignity of
our religion is taken for granted. Americans believe in religious liberty,
which means not only freedom to differ, but also freedom to agree.
To be an American means to believe in democratic forms of government. In
America every man has a right to his own opinion and judgment. We want to be
better American citizens and better human beings. We have an abiding faith in democracy.
Diane Rix.
FFA Holding Its Annual Scrap Drive
The Manning chapter is holding its annual scrap iron drive this week with
all members participating. Special efforts will be made by the freshmen because
if they bring in 1000 or more pounds of iron they are excused from some of the Greenhand initiation activities.
Last spring the Pfister and Carlson corn people gave members free samples of
corn to plant with the understanding the chapter would take part in the corn
shows this fall. Members are busy selecting their samples to enter in the corn
contests and have high hopes of bringing home some of the prizes and ribbons.
Bill Richards, chapter reporter.
Previous vote in 2020
Voters in the IKM-Manning School District went to the polls Tuesday, September 8, 2020, and failed to approve a $19.2 million bond referendum that would have
paid for an addition and upgrade, to create a K-12 center in Manning. Total votes from the combined counties amounted to 1,049-yes.
There were 859 No votes (55% in favor to 45% opposed). The bond measure required 60% approval plus 1, in order to pass.
1936 gym construction
What if the Manning community had NOT voted for the 1970 school bond issue?
Of course this is all speculation.
If you are interested in the history of the Manning School District then click on this link below from 2020.
You WILL NOT see graffiti!!! and if it does show up, our amazing janitors will clean it up immediately.
Respect for property and each other, and Pride in our community and country are probably the most important
lessons kids need to learn while growing up and receiving their education...
I was able to resolve the problem by converting the mp3 files from the recorder, with a converter program I downloaded - I just converted the mp3 file
from the recorder to the same mp3 version format and that fixed the problem.
Always amazing at how people can design technology and create programs that aren't more universally compatible.
I used my 2 "voice" mics to record the close-up singers and the other voice mic to pick up the general sound of the group.
Later on when I started video taping more community events I started purchasing better mics that would pick up sound/songs/singing in the distance.
The voice mics were more designed for close-up speaking.
I had one mic set for the individual vocalists to sing into and another mic
to pick up the group.
Oh if I only had the digital recorders back then that I have now!!!
BUT even with lower quality by today's standards - it is
really fun to listen to the performers, several who are no longer living.
The Swish used kazoos, washboards, kettles & pots for drums, and homemade instruments to make the music.
Ruth Hiatt is a RIOT when she sings Good ole Mountain Dew - if you knew her she was a character the way it is and loved to act in community plays, so she
was NEVER afraid to get up in front of the public!!!
Beer Barrel Polka
Roll Out the Barrell
Apple Peaches Pumkin Pie - Esther Williams
Wooden Heart - Darlene (Genzen) Vollstedt
Blue Skirt Waltz
Du Du liegst mir im Herzen - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt
Out Behind the Barn - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Oh Lord, It's hard to be humble - Esther Williams
Lucille - Maureen (Williams) Halbur
Ei Ei Ei O Polka - Esther Williams
Mountain Dew - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt
Barbara Polka
Just Because - Darlene (Genzen) Vollstedt - duet with Esther Williams
In Heaven there is no beer - Beverly (Dalgety) Irlbeck
Hokey Pokey - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Wabash Cannon Ball - Ruth (Brady) Hiatt with Arlo Pfannkuch on his "vacuum cleaner" whistle. Arlo sold vacuum cleaners and converted one to make whistle sounds.
Baby Face - Susan (Grundmeier) Schilling
Street Fair Polka
So Long
Harmony
Build a Mountain
After Dark, A Roving
Wait till the sun shines Nellie - Melvin Renze, Larry Genzen, ?3rd vocalist?
Good ole summertime
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Liederkranz: Claus Bunz, Nulle, Larry Schultes, Mike Ferneding, Tom Henderson, Gordell Lamp, Keith Kelderman, Richard Crandall, Lester Joens, Leroy Schultes, Kenneth Puck, Duane Monson, Arthur Rix, Ron Halbur, Raymond Pratt, Wesley Nulle, Warren Puck
If my mother was still living I'd probably try to set up anniversary reunions but without her life's experiences and knowledge of the area and the family, it would
be very difficult for me to set up.
Anyway, this is to let the relatives know of this amazing historical milestone.
Remember that Manning, Aspinwall, Templeton, Manilla, Gray, etc. weren't here at this point...they started popping up when the 3 railroads came through the
area (Manning) starting with the Northwestern in 1880, then the Milwaukee in 1881, followed by the Great Western in 1903.
So there has been a "lot of water under the bridge" since then.
Just think about it - no roads other than an occasional "Indian path" generally made by the roaming Bison here and there, no bridges, no trees for firewood or sawing for
construction, predator wolves, Prairie rattlesnakes, wetlands to get your Prairie schooners stuck in,
and Prairie grasses up to 6 feet tall as far as the eye could see - along with occasional Prairie fires - the nearest neighbor probably
miles away, and the only railroad was the Northwestern 15 miles north that traversed through what are now the towns of Arcadia, Vail, & Westside.
And a lot of people think they have it tough today!!!
Korean War Veterans continues
For those of you who are occasional visitors to the Manning Exchange - please make sure to click on the "archived articles" section where previous featured stories are kept.
"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and
shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."
George Washington, August 7, 1782
Just as a reminder: the Manning History book committee continues to work on a Manning area Veterans' history book
project.
For those of you who are Veterans or have/had Veterans in your family - will you come forward?
The history book committee will do their best to get as many pictures and information about the 1000+ Manning Veterans
but we can't do it all by ourselves.
How many small communities do you know have published 5 history books? The first one was the History of Manning 1898, then the 1981 Manning Centennial book, next the 2006 Manning Quasqui book, and most recently the 2009 Manning School history book. Probably the last book to be published will be the upcoming Manning Veterans' book - unless someone comes forward in the next generation to take over these projects after I'm gone. Will you help with the Veterans' history book project? If you are a Manning connected Veteran or are presently serving and do not submit your military connected pictures and infomation you probably won't be in this once-in-a-life-time Manning Veterans' history book. With a limited number of volunteers we can only do so much on our own but will try to get pictures of as many Veterans as we can. There are over 1000 Manning Veterans so we have a long ways to go before the book can be published.
Manning Veterans are slowly coming forward and below is another example. We hope to eventually get more pictures and information for Mike to put in the book but for now this is what I have to show to you.
One thing that many Veterans and people who are submitting information have not fully understood is that this next
Manning history book is specifically a Veterans' only book. It won't be like the Centennial or Quasqui history books were,
where there is a Veterans' section along with other community aspects. We are aiming for a 2-volume book (around 1090 total pages) which will really be unique!!!
This book will be ALL Veterans' information (and the post auxiliaries) - hence it
won't be a "Name, Rank, and Serial Number" only history but we want a complete history for each Veteran.
For instance - below is Louis Boell's picture and the information
that was published in the Veteran section of the 1982 Aspinwall Centennial history book. It has the basic
information but we are looking for more and I spoke to Louie by phone and he sent more pictures
and information - also for his brothers.
To see what Louis submitted click on the link underneath "Are you a Manning Veteran" shown below.
Note: we also want some family background such as parents and grandparents. All too often you will only see just the Veteran's name with their basic military information but without the family connections it will be difficult for future historians and genealogists to know for sure who this person belongs to.
Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com
1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
104 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
5 served in the Spanish American War
350+ served during WWI
650+ served during WWII
87+ served in the Korean war era
65+ (more names need to be found) served in the Vietnam era
55+ (many more names need to be found) served from 1975 to present
29 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag
We are starting the Manning Veterans' history book project
Don't wait until you see "Deadline" or it WILL be too late!!!
Click to read promos for the Veteran book
If you simply don't want those old family pictures you inherited please don't throw them - send them my way.
A lot of times I can recognize a face or location in those old pix.
One thing to keep in mind while you are looking for pictures - if they are glued in old scrap books please do NOT try to pull them out or cut them out. I can scan the whole page of the scrapbook and crop out the pictures you want to use in the book. If you attempt to forcibly remove the pictures you will probably damage them and when I scan them that damage will probably show up. This means I'll either have to use my graphics program to touch up the damage which can take a lot of time, or if they are badly damaged I just may not even take the time to scan them.