Mary Berner wants the KKK out of Cass County. The Plattsmouth woman said the county’s annual Kass Kounty King Korn Karnival, which some shorten to simply King Korn Karnival, has abbreviations too closely resembling that of the notorious white supremacist group.

“The carnival is the county’s wonderful harvest festival — parades, games, food,” Berner said. “But why use Ks that can potentially offend someone when you can just as well use Cs?”

That’s why on Tuesday Berner posted about 20 petitions up and down Plattsmouth’s Main Street requesting an official name change.

Berner hasn’t checked how many signatures are on those petitions and said she’ll keep them posted at least a few more days.

Born and raised near Plattsmouth, Berner said she’s kept her opinions mum for about 15 years and only recently protested the name because she’s “fed up with it.”

“You know, growing up around Plattsmouth I was never offended by the name like I am now,” she said. “But times have changed and having a name that shares the same initials as the Ku Klux Klan is insensitive to the max.”

Berner doesn’t have any illusions about her chances of getting the name changed. She said the petitions are more of an opinion poll and symbolic gestures protesting the name.

“I’m not sure how far I’ll pursue this,” she admitted. “Business owners and city council members, while they said they agree with me, don’t want to make a big fuss. I’m not a rebel, but I think it’s sad people won’t stand up for what they believe.”

Korn Klub President Esther Kahler DeRosia believes the name should stay, if only because of tradition.

The Karnival traces its roots back to 1932, DeRosia said.

In its first year, the event was known as the Corn Festival. A new name was needed, but Cass County Carnival was out of the question after President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. Even then initials were a hot topic.

Thus, the Kass Kounty King Korn Karnival Klub emerged, though Klub was later dropped from the celebration’s official name.

DeRosia said Berner isn’t the first to question the name’s appropriateness.

About 12 to 14 years ago, DeRosia said two men were also offended by the name’s similarity to the Ku Klux Klan. But after sitting in on a Korn Klub meeting and talking with members, the men dropped the issue and even volunteered at the Karnival later.

“I was in five different businesses this morning,” DeRosia said Friday. “Everyone said we should just leave the name alone.”

If Berner can collect somewhere around 4,500 signatures, DeRosia said the Klub would consider changing the name. Berner said the number wasn’t feasible and knows the name won’t be changed any time soon.

“I’m 100 percent for keeping the name,” DeRosia said. “It’s unique. There’s not another one like it in the world.”

DeRosia said she promotes using the entire name, Kass Kounty King Korn Karnival, because using just King Korn Karnival gets people in the habit of acknowledging only three Ks, instead of five, which can get messy if people abbreviate to KKK.

But people shouldn’t get hung up on a little slip-up, DeRosia said, because the intention was not to offend anyone. Instead, remember the celebration’s home-grown roots, she said.

“Tradition means a lot to me and to a lot of other people,” she said. “There’s so much going on in the world today we need to remember to keep up the traditions and morals and such.”

DeRosia said people with concerns similar to Berner’s can voice them at the Klub’s next meeting if there’s time. The meeting is Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at Plattsmouth City Hall. The celebration runs Sept. 8 through 10.

Berner said a card table will be set up in front of Just Nails, 614 Main St., during the celebration to gather opinions from festival-goers.

“People don’t think about what they’re saying when they say KKK in reference to the carnival,” Berner said. “I’m embarrassed. And spelling the festival with Ks is grammatically incorrect, too.

“There’s just no reason Cass County has to be snickered at,” she said. “It’s not cute. It’s poor taste.”

Reach Jonnie Taté Finn at 473-7395 or tfinn@journalstar.com.

Karnival schedule

Carnival rides open at noon in the Plattsmouth city parking lot (Sept. 8 through Sept. 10).

Sept. 8

9 a.m. to noon: enter quilts, Methodist Church, Seventh and Main streets

Noon: Plattsmouth band parents, Alltel Parking Lot

Noon: korn judging, Korn Palace

5:30 p.m. royalty dinner, VFW Club

7:15 p.m.: welcome

7:30 p.m.: Kornation, reception following for Royal Court with live entertainment, community center

Sept. 9

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: flower show, community center

9 a.m.: Korn Palace opens

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Cass County Museum used book sale and quilt show, Methodist Church

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: art show, St. Paul’s Church, Fifth Street and Avenue A

Noon: root beer tent, Methodist Church

Noon to 6 p.m.: Beautiful Baby Contest, 426 Main St.

1:15 p.m.: welcome

1:30 p.m.: parade begins

4.00 p.m.: Korn Eating Contest

4:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.: polka band

4:30 p.m. 6 p.m.: slow tractor race, Main Street

6:15 p.m.: Kiwanis Farmer of the Year and Military Family of the Year

7 p.m.: Farmer’s and Merchant’s Parade

Sept. 10

8 a.m.: Fun Run, Rhylander Park

10 a.m.: Little Miss & Masters Pageant begins

11 a.m.: Home Run Derby, Rhylander Park

11 a.m.: Little Tuggers Tractor Pull, Main Street by stage

Noon: Kar Show, Main Street

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Bingo Community Center

2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.: Bed Races, stage

4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.: Terry and Jonathan Little, stage

5 p.m.: Cow Chip Bingo, behind stage

7:15 p.m.: welcome and presentation of awards

7:30 p.m.: Grand Parade

Sept. 11

8 a.m.: Flying In, Plattsmouth Airport

9 a.m.: tractor pull, Rhylander Park

10 a.m.: Horse Shoe Pitching Contest, Rhylander Park

1 to 5 p.m.: trap shoot, Plattsmouth Gun Club

A full schedule is available at www.plattsmouthchamber.com/pdf/2005KingKornSchedule.pdf.