Charter Oak will be featured in the "Our Hometown" segment of the KTIV

Charter Oak will be featured in the "Our Hometown" segment of the KTIV evening news broadcast at 10 p.m. on June 14th and again on the morning show between 5-7 a.m.on June 15th. Citizens taking part were Don and Nadine Friedrichs, Ernie Poggensee, Janice Throckmorton, Nancy Rosburg, Chris Dale and Allen Staley.

If you miss it, next week (after June 14th) you can check out www.KTIV.com

and click on Hometown tab for a replay of the presentation regarding Charter Oak. It will be short, but always interesting to see what the TV people choose to use or edit out. The promo segments have been great - the arboritum was at the top of its glory.

Ricketts Vets prominent at Charter Oak Memorial Day observation

Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post #66 Homer Hall) 2nd Vice Commander B.H. Meyer plays Taps at the post's Memorial Day observances held at Charter Oak-Ute High School this morning, Monday May 25, 2009.

Ricketts resident Lt. Dan Coder, USN retired, gave the keynote address, speaking about the sacrifices made by members of the military and their families for the sake of our freedoms.

Sgt. Derek Meyer, B.H.'s son, read the roll call.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Contributed by Doris Schreiber
Author unkonwn

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...

Send this to someone who you think is an awesome Mom.

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life

Ricketts' egg hunt growing since last year

Ricketts had 19 kids and two babies attend their Easter egg hunt this year, Saturday, April 11. Last year, only eleven children had attended, so the Ricketts Community Club was very encouraged by the turn out. Each child was able to hunt for three bags of candy filled plastic easter eggs hidden around the playground and under the water tower. Then, they were treated to cookies inside the Ricketts Community Center.

Send me your news tips!

It's that time of year again. I'm talking with Brad Swenson, the Publisher of the Mapleton PRESS about how I can help as a community correspondent for the Charter Oak and Ricketts areas. You can help. Have you got any ideas for feature stories or personality interviews? Have you got an even on your calendar that you'd like me to cover or at least get some pictures of? Please send me an email and let me know ted.mallory-at-gmail.com

Remember that Charter Oak Achievement Days are coming up July 12-15. The PRESS is planning on runing their annual special edition July 23. Why not show your support by advertising in the Achievement Days Edition? Give me a call, or call the PRESS office and reserve your space today!

Brad tells me that they've got Joleen Schultz signed on to help cover our area too- especially once I go back to school next Fall. When in doubt, call Michelle Kane at the office in Mapleton :

Phone 712-881-1101
Fax 712 881 1330
mpress@longlines.com

While you're at it- you might have noticed that there hasn't been much new on this blog for a while. Some of that has had to do with how busy I've been- but a lot of it is because no one has sent me any news, stories, memories or pictures to post. This blog is Ricketts' very own news source. Please take advantage of it by sending me your ideas. Make it YOUR community website.

4-H Cookbook

Were you a Charter Oak Achiever? How about a 'Merry Maiden?' Maybe you were in the 'Wee Oaks?' Maybe you just like to cook. Then YOU definitely want a copy of this 60th anniversary cookbook that my daughter Grace is selling for just $10.

This cookbook is dedicated to all the children and adults who know the true meaning of 4-H and live by the 4-H motto: "Making the Best Better."

Interested? Let me know.

Not the same Ricketts #23

Dr. Matthew Oliver Ricketts was the generally acknowledged political leader of Omaha’s African Americans at the turn of the 20th century. Ricketts was born to an enslaved couple near New Castle, Kentucky in 1858. He later received a degree from Lincoln Institute at Jefferson City, Missouri, and three years later moved to Omaha. When he arrived in Omaha in 1880, despite scarce resources, he was admitted to Omaha Medical College, where he worked as a janitor to pay his tuition. Elected to the state legislature for the sessions of 1892 and 1894, he became the first Nebraskan of African descent to sit in that body.

You're right, even though Omaha is just an hour and a half away from here, Doc Ricketts has pretty much nothing whatsoever to do with the TOWN of Ricketts, but MOST of the rest of this website does!

If you grew up in Ricketts, be sure to plan on coming to our annual reunion, the third Saturday in July.

If you have memories or pictures of Ricketts to share, email them to our webmaster: ted.mallory -at- gmail.comIf you have other funny, kitsch, or corny "Not the same Ricketts" ideas, send them too. Help put Ricketts on the map!

Miss me? Read my re-runs

I may not be writing a weekly column for the Mapleton PRESS anymore, but I have tried to clean-up and organize six years of columns and made them easier to find on my main blog. Why not peruse through the humor, history and humus. It's full of "Sex, Politics, and Religion- not necessarily in that order." Or at least, liberal politics, the my misadventures parenting three little girls, and the joys of living in small town Iowa and good old fashioned Midwestern, down to earth common sense Lutheranism.

At least take a look at a couple of columns and give it a chance.

BEST OF TED

• Arizona Statehood Day (Feb 14)
• Book Reports
• Christmas interviews with Santa
• Economic Crisis
• Embarassed by Steve King
• Fourth of July
• History Buffs, read this
• I ♥ Iowa
• Kids say the darnedest things
• Meaningful Quotations
• Support our Vets
• Talking about Religion
• Ted's Kitchen
• Thanksgiving Treats
• The snow blower lesson
• The time I locked my keys in the car
• The war in Iraq
• Yes, I coach Cheerleading

Anyone able to identify these kids?

From: FREDRIC R. MOELLER

To: ED & DORIS SCHREIBER

Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:31 PM

Subject: RICKETTS KIDS

Hi from Calif.,

Here is the photo & who I think they are, correct me if I am wrong.

Middle Row from the Left - 1st is Gordon Moeller, 2nd is Gloria Sherman (the silly look on her face is because Gordy is pinching her, hard to believe he would do that), 3rd is Rick Moeller, 4th, could be James Schwartz, 5th is I think is Bill Harbaugh, 6th is Dean Grell, 7th is Charles Moeller: Front Row - 1st & 2nd ??, 3rd is Jolene Moeller, 4th is Dick Knop, 5th ??, 6th is Georgene Moeller, 7th & 8th ??, 9th is Lyle Grell, 10th ???: In the Back Row there are 4 girls, - 1st, Florence Jacobs, 2nd, ?? 3rd, Kathryn Schwartz, 4th I think she is Gertrude Hagemann!?!?!?

Volunteers Spruce up Community Center, Depot

Pictures by Nancy Landon

The scale model of the old depot has been repainted and lots of volunteers got together Saturday the 4th and gave the Community Center a new paint job and the inside a good cleaning.

Good food was served for lunch and the new color looks real nice..

Thanks to all who help get the job done..

the people that were there to help paint, clean and serve food were:

Laura Langholdt
Jerry Jors
Irene Jors
Diane Riessen
Steve, Cindy & Mac Kenzie Smith
Irma Wessel
Alvi & Ruth Lill
Bud & Connie Gloede
Lloyd & Elaine Carlson
Susan Hargens
Ed & Doris Schreiber
Nancy Landon

Following traditions of Family, Faith, and Fun

Grace, Francis, Eunice, Mava, Eva McCutcheon, and their brother Glenn all grew up in East Boyer Township in Crawford County. Long after they've all passed away, their grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren gather every year for the "McCutcheon Cousin Campout."

Doris and Ed Schreiber or Ricketts. Doris started the McCutcheon Cousin Campout in 1973 with a letter to her cousins which included Grace (McCutcheon) Samuelson's daughters, Gladys, Erma, Maryland, and Janet. Gladys's son Allan Neddermeyer and his wife Margorie (Langhold) now to the campout with their children and grandchildren. Ed Schreiber has performed a comedy routine at the campout for the last several years.

Back 1973 Doris (Johnson) Schreiber of Ricketts wrote a letter to you cousins inviting them to a campout at Ledges State Park near Boone in August. Thirty-five years later, "the McCutcheon Cousin Campout" is still an annual event. Today families travel from as far away as Georgia, Maine, and Oklahoma to attend the three-day event every Labor Day weekend. Nine states and all corners of Iowa were represented this year. Maryland, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Nebraska and Kansas were all included this year. Well over a hundred people attended.

Grace, Francis, Eunice, Mava, Eva McCutcheon, and their brother Glenn all grew up in East Boyer Township in Crawford County. Generations of their decedents of these siblings carry on a tradition initiated by their cousin Doris back in '73.

Originally the campout was in tents and trailers. Those who stayed in nearby motels were ribbed by receiving an annual "marshmallow award."

The cousins have kept a memory book of comments and snapshots that spans four decades.
"The church service was so inspiring," wrote Grace Samuelson (one of the original McCutcheon siblings) in the memory book, already in 1974, about how much her family enjoyed the campout, especially the Sunday morning worship gathering.

The culmination of the weekend is an ecumenical worship time followed by the annual business meeting (including humorous awards and door prizes), an Abbott and Costello style comedy routine by Doris' husband Ed and their cousin Dick Larson and, of course a huge pot-luck. For thirty-five years the cousins have sung Grace and her husband Art's favorite hymns; "Amazing Grace," and "How Great thou Art."

The direction of such a big event is shared by each of the six different families, but each new "President" is guided by the Dean of the campout, Gerald and Joann Beckett of Des Moines. By far the most cousins come from the clan of Mike and Marylin Schiltz of Bancroft, Iowa. In a given year, they're represented by anywhere from twenty to thirty members. Donnie Larson, 81 was the eldest cousin to attend this year.

For some, the McCutcheon Campout has always been a part of their lives. In 1969 Verle and Linda McCutcheon of Dow City had triplets, the girls now bring their children and husbands to the campout.

In 1975 the campout was featured in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The article explained that the reunion was a way to compensate for the challenges of living in such a mobile society.
For the last several years, the campout has been held at the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Youth Camp near Guthrie Center. Cousins enjoyed softball, scavenger hunts, cards, games, and of course campfires.

Because of logistical considerations, the Cousin Campout may need to pick either a new weekend or a new location. But the challenges of the twenty-first century will be well met. The torch is being passed. Gerald and Joann's grand daughter Jessica, a recent Buena Vista University graduate living in New Haven, Connecticut made the bold move of actually volunteering to serve as next year's President.

New playground equipment

Doris Schrieber got a nice grant to pay for the equipment. Bud Gloede volunteered his own time to get it put in in time for kids day, which is the 6th of September, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

The adults in the pictures are Mayor Connie Gloede, Bud Gloede and Doris Schrieber and some of the town kids.

One Saturday morning during our coffee, Francis and Ruth Baker, who are in their late 80's,decided to try out the new teeter totter.. I guess the equipment is even for the young at heart.

Post Card

"Ricketts, Iowa; A Community Working Together
A scene taken from the Ricketts Annnual Steam and Antique Show. Each year thousands of people to observe the many fine exhibits and to watch as the mighty steam engines are put to work powering the threshing machines of many years gone by"

Ricketts Kids' Reunion pictures from Eva Ruth Lill