Walter Oehlerking of Elmwood and Alicia Van Westen of Plattsmouth were crowned as the 2009-2010 Kass Kounty King Korn Karnival king and queen Thursday evening at St. John the Baptist School.

The 2008-09 Karnival king and queen Neil Lancaster and Kyle Parshall passed the sceptres to the new royalty following the annual Karnival Royalty Banquet.

Oehlerkling was born on a farm near Elmwood and attended rural school. After graduating from Elmwood High School, he served two years in the U.S. Army.

In 1955, he returned to the farm and went into partnership with his father in the dairy and grain operation.

Walter married Caroly Stock in 1957 and, together, they established their home on the same farm where he was born.

The family has and continues to be Walter's greatest joy in life. They enjoy traveling all over the country and to several foreign countries.

The family has also hosted several foreign exchanged students and helped stretch the boundaries of their thinking.

Oehlerking is a strong advocate of ag cooperatives, and with that interest, has served on various boards and committeees to promote the cooperative system. He also is an avid believer that a farmer is the steward of the land. Conservation practices are used whenever possible.

In the Elmwood community, he has been an active promoter of the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation and served as its treasurer for many years. He is a life-long member of Elmwood United Methodist church and has held many leadership positions in the church.

He and Carolyn have served as mission volunteers in other countries as well as spending February working in Louisiana for the past eight years.

Recent years have brought great joy as he works along side his son John, who has taken over management of the farm.

It has meant being able to enjoy visiting the Mueller family in Wisconsin — daughter Mary, husband Kurt Mueller and granddaughters, Hanna and Erika.

The new king has the pleasure of being close to John and his family: wife Carae and grandchildren, Tucker and Marissa.

The new king has the pleasure of being close to John and his family: wife Carae and grandchildren, Tucker and Marissa.

The daughter of Glenn and Tallie VanWesten, Alicia VanWesten is a 2007 Plattsmouth High School graduate.

Alicia graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. In high school she was involved in softball, power lifting, bowling, marching band, drumline, indoor drumline, choir, drama, Destination Imagination, National Honor Society and Renaissance Board.

"In the community I was involved in my church youth group as well as active in Job’s Daughters Bethel 24 in Plattsmouth. Through these activities I was able to help families in need during the holidays by putting together food baskets as well as helping out at the Masonic home and handing out seasonal gifts.

 And is now attending Peru State College pursuing a degree in elementary education.

She plans to also earn an endorsement in library media.

At PSC, she is involved in Council for Exceptional Children in which she participated in Games on the Green, an activity for special needs children.

"I am looking forward to finishing my degree and settling into a job in the Plattsmouth/Cass County area," she said.

A native of Plattsmouth since she was three years old, Alicia is the granddaughter of Charles and Ella Mary Kerns of Plattsmouth and the late Don and Ann VanWesten of Alexandria, Neb.

As a longtime Plattsmouth resident, Alicia has participated in many Korn Karnival events since she was three.

"I participated in the talent show each year I was eligible by dancing with Janice’s Dance Studio," Alicia said. "I also marched in all of the parades with the school band since I was nine years old starting out as the banner carrier and moving on to being a bass drum player in the high school band."

Alica has many happy memorials of the Karnival.

 "I even remember loving the big wheel races early Saturday morning, getting lined up and competing with my friends and cousins. Those races were the highlight of my Saturday morning each year."

She also served as a page and the queen’s robe bearer.

"I have always loved Karnival time and look forward to it each and every year," she said.

Alicia is sponsored by Hugh Kerns American Legion Unit 56.