Auburn Native Hopes to Inspire Others Through Movie, Book on Local Family

Written by Nemaha County Herald

Auburn Native Lori Gottula stands with Sissy Georges at the horse rider’s family farm near Barada. Gottula is working on an inspiration movie and book about Sissy and her family. Gottula calls Sissy the most inspirational person she has ever met.

Awe-Inspiring. That’s the word Auburn native Lori Kimball Gottula uses when describing Christina “Sissy” Georges and her mother Angel Ralph. Gottula, now a Falls City resident, is currently working on promoting a screenplay she has completed about the Barada family. She is in the progress of working on a book about the family.The story centers around the life of 27-year-old Sissy, a long-haired, soft-spoken blind woman. However, Gottula said, the story also focuses on the entire Georges family, including Angel, and the adversity they have overcome.Sissy has never used her blindness as a crutch. She is an accomplished barrel racer, who has won national titles. Her mother Angel said Sissy has been able to achieve success in life because she was raised as a person who can see. Sissy isn’t the only one in the family who has overcome adversity. Angel has lost two sons to suicide. Despite all of the heartache, the two women can laugh at the smallest things. Gottula describes their spirits as ones full of dignity and grace.“They’ve had a rough go of it, but yet they still have deep belly laugh,” Gottula said.Gottula has been working on the story for more than a year. After hearing about the story, she said she sought the family out, first with a phone interview and then she began meeting with the family on a regular basis at their family farm. After many visits, she came to realize their story had to be told. Since then, she has worked countless hours perfecting her screenplay, which has been approved by Sissy and Angel. Gottula said she intends to sell the screenplay to a major studio within two years. She said she is aiming for a major studio and director because she believes this story merits just that.“The story is worth a big budget, and worth two major actresses in the main parts,” she said. She said she decided to write the screenplay before finishing the book because she knew it would take some time to make the film a reality.As for the book, she has completed well over 200 pages and she expects to have it finished by the end of the year.Gottula has engrossed nearly all of her energy into a film and book because she full heartedly believes it needs to be shared with others. “The difficulty and tragedy of their lives is unparalleled by any family I have ever known,” Gottula said. “How many women Angel’s age (55) have lost two children, yet who not only manage to get out of bed, but who laugh with a full-on belly laugh?”She continued, “Regarding Sissy, I have never known a person with a disability like hers who literally blows it out of the water.”And, if Gottula is unable to get a major film production company to make the movie, she said she will make the film herself because someone has to tell this story.Gottula has formed her own production company, which she named Quilting Club Productions LLC for the purpose of making the film if it comes to that. She said if she has to make the film, she will seek partnering with other production companies and investors.So far, Gottula has sent numerous letters to recognizable directors. She has pitched the script to Howard Roseman, who directed the movie “Father of the Bride.” This is not the first feature film Gottula has worked on. She has written four other scripts, two of which she has taken to national film festivals for competition. In order to promote Sissy and Angel’s story, Gottula has posted a short trailer on YouTube, as well as created a Facebook page. To learn more about the inspiring story, visit YouTube.com and search sissy.avi and visit Facebook.com and search SISSY Christina Georges screenplay.

Auburn’s People First Organization Will Host a Coffee for Tony Fulton

Written by Nemaha County Herald

People First Auburn Chapter members (from left) Beth Schmidt, Dana Shaw and Holli Burgert, as well as the other organization’s members, will be hosting a meet and greet coffee for State Senator Tony Fulton, an Auburn native, from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, March 22, at the Senior Center. Fulton, a Republican, is running for State Treasurer.
Knowing how to dress, having self confidence, being able to interact with others and standing up for yourself may come naturally to most people, but for others it’s a learning process.
In People First-Auburn Chapter, SENDS clients learn how to be themselves, dress for work and other social skills. But, the most important thing they learn is how to speak up.To be in the organization, said Beth Schmidt, all a member has to do is “Speak up for yourself and be able to tell people what you want and don’t want.”Member Dana Shaw added, “You have to be responsible and help others speak up.”The Auburn chapter began in February of 1999. The organization has grown from a few members to its current 28. Members attend meetings across the state and country. Shaw has been to the national People First conventions in California, New York and Georgia. Through People First, the members also learn people skills. Member Beth Schmidt said she has learned how to stand up for herself through the organization. She said it has made her more responsible. Shaw said the group has taught her how to have a good attitude and how to respect others. Shaw is a founding member of the Auburn group. Shaw has had a lot of success through the organization. She has received the Self Advocate of the Year award. She is a nationally known speaker and has served on several panels to advocate the awareness of people with developmental disabilities. She gives presentations to school students to help them understand what it is like to live with a disability. And, she has represented the state at the National Convention.For member Holli Burgert, the organization has helped her in many ways, including being a productive citizen. Burgert is one of eight members who owns her own home.“I get a lot out of it,” she said. “We share information and give useful ideas to each other.”Shaw, who is employed with District #29 Schools, also said she has benefited a lot by being a member.“I would be able to go out of town to meet people,” she said. Burgert, Schmidt, who works at Pizza Hut, and Shaw all agreed the Auburn community is very accepting of people with disabilities. “(The people) treat us well,” Shaw said. “They show respect and are very supportive with jobs.”Burgert, who works at Sonic, added she would rather live in Auburn than in a large city because she feels more accepted. “The smaller the city, the more people you know and you can get along better,” she said.Auburn’s chapter meets on the first Monday of each month. Each meeting is different and often times public speakers will give presentations. The members are also active in the community, including raising and giving money to Nemaha County Gives Back, as well as serving as respectable employees among several local businesses. And, they are deeply involved in the political process. Eleven of the members are registered voters and several politicians have spoken to the group, including former State Senator Floyd Vrtiska, Auburn Mayor Bob Engles, former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel and former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns, who is currently a U.S. Senator. And, in honor of March being National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and as part of learning about politics, the group will be hosting a meet and greet coffee from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, March 22, at the Senior Center for State Senator Tony Fulton, who is running for State Treasurer. Fulton is a native of Auburn. Shaw grew up next to Fulton in Auburn. She said they are hosting the coffee for him, not only because he is a native, but because, “He’s a very hard worker and an honest man.”

City Employees/Council Members To Be Honored March 22nd

The City of Auburn will be honoring its employees and council members at their March 22nd meeting. Each year the city honors employees and council members for reaching a 5 year benchmark of service to the city. This years honorees include Margie Zimmerman - 20 years; Dan White - 15 years; Heather Koeneke - 10 years; and Glen Krueger - 10 years. Zimmerman and Koeneke have both served patrons at the Auburn Memorial Library while White has served with the Police Department and Krueger with the city council. If you would like to attend the city council meeting and help in honoring these dedicated employees, please be at Auburn City Hall at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2010.

Peru State President Hanson Presented Patriot Award

Written by Nemaha County Herald


Participating in the recognition activity were (from left): Walter Zink III, chair of the Nebraska Committee for the Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and SSG Jeffrey Meyers, who presented a Patriot Award to Dr. Dan Hanson, president of Peru State College. Meyers nominated Dr. Hanson for the honor.

Dr. Dan Hanson, president of Peru State College, was the recipient of a Patriot Award presented March 4 by Walter Zink III, chair of the Nebraska Committee for the Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense. The honor was in recognition of his extraordinary support of an employee who serves in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Meyers of Peru, a member of the Army National Guard 192nd Military Police Detachment unit in Nebraska City, nominated Dr. Hanson and his wife, Elaine, for their support of him and his family. “To others, this may seem insignificant, but it is my opinion that the world would be a better place if we had more Dr. Dan and Elaine Hansons,” said Meyers. “These two remarkable human beings are always asking me how myself and my family are doing or if there is anything they can do for us due to my upcoming deployment. They aren’t just mouthing the words, but truly mean what they say.” Dr. and Mrs. Hanson also showed their support by attending a town hall meeting for the 192nd Military Police Detachment and expressing their support of the Meyers and all Guardsmen.“It is our goal to support our employees,” said Dr. Hanson. “Specifically, we’re glad to support his service to the country,” Hansen said of Meyers.Meyers is among 52 members of the 192nd Military Police Detachment who are to report May 20 for a 12-month mobilization to Iraq. Meyers is a maintenance worker/water operator who has been employed by the college for over eight years. The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of the law, and resolves conflict through mediation
ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve personnel. Please contact Executive Director William Nelson at 402-309-7105 or email william.nelson1@us.army.mil for more information on ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities.Editor’s note: Background information was submitted by Tammy Pearson, Assistant PR Director with the Nebraska Committee for the Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Distinguished Reading Award

Written by Nemaha County Herald

Auburn Resident Shirley Snyder was recently presented the Distinguished Educator of Reading award by the Nebraska State Reading Association at the group’s annual conference in Kearney. Snyder teaches elementary Title 1 Reading in the Auburn Public School system and has been active on the local, state and international levels of the Association since 1983. Marla Jones, a fifth-grade teacher with the Nebraska City Public Schools, presented the award. Jones also resides in Auburn.

Auburn Optimists Salute Boy Scout Troop #321

Written by Nemaha County Herald

National Boy Scout Week was celebrated during February and the Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 100th Year this year
......so what better time to honor our local Boy Scout Troop #321 who celebrate 50 years of continuous service to the Auburn area. That was the atmosphere at the local Optimist meeting held this past Saturday morning, at Darling’s Cafe, where scouting and all it does for the community and youth of our area was saluted by Optimist members who know a lot about volunteering. The early morning event began with a buffet styled breakfast.

After the meal, the program commenced with (above photo) Optimist President Dennis Wittmann presenting a $250 check to Troop #321 Scout Master Doug Billesbach.

Auburn’s Boy Scout Troop #321 members who are working on or have achieved their “Eagle Scout Rank” are: Ben Billesbach, Wyatt Gauchat, Levi Haynes, Greg Florence, Eagle Scout Tyler Westerfield, Eagle Scout Jason Teten and Eagle Scout Kevin Volkmer.

The funds will be used to defray costs for the scout’s summer camping program. Scouts who are working on their Eagle Scout status then shared their community service projects with the group. Projects currently underway or finished include: a new gazebo in Legion Park, updating the handicap parking at a local church, refurbishing the Legion Park benches, modifying church pews so that they are handicap accessible at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, construction of a Ten Commandment Monument at the Catholic Church and a landscaping project at the New Life Church. Twenty-one ––individual merit badges and a Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project must be completed for an individual to reach the goal of Eagle Scout. This isn’t an easy accomplishment and has been bestowed upon just over two million young men since it was first awarded 1912. Auburn’s Troop #321 has 14 active scouts in its program.

City Administrator

The idea of hiring a City Administrator has been discussed at council planning sessions for more than a decade but nothing came of it. The idea always failed to leave the council sessions because it was not feasible for the city to support a City Administrator alone

Mayor Engles noted that many of the progressive towns our size and larger utilized City Administrators. An investigative team was formed to determine if this would be a viable option for Auburn. The towns of Aurora, Central City, Beatrice, Fairbury, Nebraska City and Wayne were contacted. A matrix (obtainable at City Hall) was made which includes the answers for all towns that engaged in the questionnaire. All towns were positive about the increase in efficiencies and communications that they received to the benefit of the community as a result of having a City Administrator. The cities contacted believed that the position was especially efficient when the City Administrator was responsible for the local Board of Public Works also.

The City investigative team determined that what Auburn needs is:

Efficiencies- Board of Public Works, street and services department, office personnel and police department knowing what each other is doing for the better use of time, sharing responsibilities/equipment, is a benefit to the local tax payer and receiver of city services. One person, reporting directly to the mayor and president of the BPW board who understand how the inner workings of all departments can best be utilized for the betterment of all.

Communication-One person who can best keep all departments of the city organized and structured. That person would also be responsible for giving the proper and accurate information to the mayor and president of the BPW. One person who is responsible for the accurate and correct information given to civic groups, clubs, and the media to help defray the reliance on hearsay or uninformed gossip that disrupts the harmony of the community.

Accountability - The City Administrator will be held accountable for Board of Public Works and city expenditures and to provide for the most cost efficient manner of providing those services. The City Administrator will be responsible for the administration of tax dollars, grants, inter-local agreements, and other sources of revenue.

Short and Long Range Planning- Development of an organized plan, both short and long range, that involves the Board of Public Works and all city departments for the future growth and development of industry, housing, public amenities; and for the preservation and improvement of those already in existence. An organized plan will enable the city to best use the fiscal resources available.

The investigative team inclusive of members from the City Council and the BPW has agreed that a City Administrator would be advantageous for Auburn if that person is responsible for both the city and BPW. The investigative team also believes that the city and the BPW should share the cost of the administrator. It is the recommendation of the investigative team that the best choice for the position of city administrator for the city of Auburn is Mr. Dave Hunter.