Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Heat Advisory Issued For Dorchester


The Dorchester Times urges our readers to take extra care this afternoon and evening, since our region is in a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The peak temperature is expected to reach 104 degrees at 4 p.m., with a heat index of 105 degrees.  The temperature will remain above 100 degrees until about 7 p.m.

See the hourly forecast by clicking here.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Dorchester Baseball Clubs Prepare For League Tourneys


The Dorchester baseball clubs are entering the final stretch of their 2012 campaigns, as both teams are sporting winning records this season, we are told.

Toni Ladely reports that the Dorchester PeeWee and American League teams will finish their regular season play on the road in Wilber on Tuesday and Thursday.

The PeeWee team will also squeeze in a makeup game on Wednesday this coming week and move right into league tournament action beginning Friday, June 29, and lasting through July 1 in McCool Junction.

The Dorchester American Team, following the conclusion of their regular season play this week, will begin their tournament action on July 2, 6, 8 and 10 at Friend.


We are told that the Dorchester National League team didn't have enough players to participate this year. Just two seasons ago, in 2010, Dorchester captured the SFS National League championship.

According to our records, Dorchester was a founding member of the Seward-Fillmore-Saline Baseball League in the mid-1950s, and the town has been part of the organization ever since. 

Our research also found that the first night game ever played under the lights in Dorchester occurred on July 9, 1938, just north of the co-op elevator. There were three ball fields in Dorchester at that time.

For baseball fans wanting to catch Dorchester versus Wilber this week, the PeeWee game will start at 5:50 p.m. and the American League contest follows immediately after.

Photos are courtesy of Toni Ladely. We thank her for sharing them with readers of the Dorchester Times. (Click on the pictures for an enlarged view.)

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Rain Totals From June 20

Last night's storms brought significant moisture to southern Saline County, but not to our direct area as most of the Dorchester area saw less than 0.30" of rain. 

Here are the official rainfall totals from our region:

NeRAIN Rainfall Totals
Saline County
for 6/20/2012 to 6/21/2012
Total PrecipDaily Precip
Station
ID
LocationPrecip Totals
(inches)
Precip Totals
(inches)

sali004DeWitt 0.3 WNW1.871.87
sali003Western 1.2 SE1.621.62
sali011Tobias 4.7 SSW1.451.45
sali005Tobias 1.8 E0.620.62
sali001Wilber 7.0 WSW0.420.42
sali027Friend 3.4 E0.300.30
sali016Dorchester 2.1 NW0.280.28


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Dorchester Area Braces For Big Storms


The Dorchester area is receiving heavy rainfall as of this post's printing, with more predicted to soak Saline County through about 9:15 p.m.

UPDATE (5:40 PM) -- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JEFFERSON AND SALINE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...
AT 534 PM CDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WESTERN TO WEST OF REYNOLDS... OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 26 MILES WEST OF BEATRICE TO 34 MILES NORTH OF CONCORDIA... AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.  HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS... AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

One forecaster says Dorchester should see over an inch in town.  Areas south of Dorchester could easily see over two inches of rain, according to radar.

See the latest radar from 10/11 News in Lincoln by clicking http://www.1011now.com/weather/home.

See the hourly forecast by clicking here.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Victorian Lady Luncheon Set For June 30 At Dorchester UMC


On Saturday, June 30, you are invited to a Victorian high tea ladies' luncheon. 

The 10:30 a.m. event will be held at the Dorchester UMC, Fellowship Hall.

The luncheon will spotlight a program called "A Century of Fashion: The Victorian Lady."

The show will be presented by Sue McLain, owner of Yesterday's Lady located in Beatrice.

There will be a free-will offering at the event, which will be hosted by the Dorchester UMW.

For tickets or more information, please call (402) 947-3481 or (402) 946-4191. 

Friday, June 15, 2012

Rainfall Totals After June 14 Storm


Severe thunderstorms dropped much-needed rain across eastern and south-central Nebraska on Thursday. Thunderstorms again are likely Friday night into Saturday.

Here are the official rainfall totals for Saline County:
  • Just north of Dorchester: 2.78"
  • Three miles east of Friend:  2.69"
  • Five miles southeast of Friend:  2.65"
  • Near Wilber:  2.45"
  • In DeWitt: 2.40"
  • One mile east of Tobias:  2.25"
  • One mile southeast of Western: 2.10"
  • Five miles southwest of Tobias:  1.72" 
Fortunately, the Dorchester area dodged hail the size of tennis balls that was reported near Glenvil in Clay County, where more than 3 inches of rain fell from slow-moving thunderstorms.  Quarter-sized hail and damaging winds of up to 60 mph hit a line from Valparaiso to Seward.

Stay on top of the weather by clicking the forecast icon on the Dorchester Times' homepage.  Or see the Dorchester radar by clicking here.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Friend's Pour House Competing For National Grant To Complete Restoration


Almost two years ago, we ran a short story on the Pour House Tasting Room in Friend, one of of Saline County's most unique businesses.

Opened by Carey Potter, who has strong ties to Dorchester, the Pour House is under the historic Warren Opera House, which is currently being restored by the Friend Historical Society. Potter's family farm is near Dorchester.

The tasting room features wine from the Potter vineyard. "It just made sense to open a tasting room at the same time," Potter said in July 2010.

Now Potter is applying for a $250,000 grant from Chase Bank. 


The Times has learned that last night, the Pour House qualified to become eligible for the grant, since it received more than 250 votes on the Chase small business website. 

Eligible small business applicants will be judged by a panel of business experts.

The grant would help with restoration of the opera house, as well as allow more improvements to the Pour House, according to Potter.

Vote for the Pour House simply by clicking here, or visit the Chase small business grant website and the search for the Pour House by going to the bottom of the page and looking under Friend, Nebraska.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Small Town Success Course Being Offered In Neb. City


Are you anxious to see Dorchester make improvements? Want to work for a better community to leave to your kids and grandkids? Are you willing to help?

Consider participating in the Heartland Center's small-town improvement course called, "Pathways to Community Vitality: Helping Small Towns Succeed." The event will be October 23-25, 2012, at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City.

The cost is $150 per Nebraska rural community team member for this three-day hands-on training program in community and economic development. Early registration slots are being held now for Nebraska rural community teams.   Registration will open after July 1 for participants from other states or Nebraskans who attend on their own.  To guarantee your space at this institute, Nebraska rural community teams are encouraged to register now, before the general public announcement. Click on these links to get more information about the institute and register. 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Saline County Enters Drought Stage


Dorchester and the Saline County area have now been categorized as "abnormally dry" on the national drought monitor, administered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Extreme southeast Nebraska has entered what is considered a moderate drought.

For the year, Dorchester has received 9.3" of rain, according to official records.  That is about 2" short of the average for this time of year.

Meanwhile, topsoil moisture shortages across the Corn Belt remains a concern with respect to pastures and summer crops in many states.

Earlier this week, at least 40% of the topsoil moisture was categorized as very short to short in Missouri (82%), Indiana (56%), Illinois (54%), Nebraska (50%), Iowa (46%), and Ohio (45%).

There is a chance of precipitation this evening, as a cold front is expected to arrive in Dorchester around 3 p.m. today.  That brings a 30% to 50% chance of thunderstorms beginning at 5 p.m., according to several forecasters.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Details On Dorchester's Independence Day Parade


Independence Day is less than a month away.  That means Dorchester's Fourth of July parade is right around the corner.

This year, Dorchester's July 4 celebration will feature a combination of the Kids Parade and the regular parade.  

Coordinators are encouraging all area kids to decorate their bikes, wagons and pets.  Youth may walk the parade as a group or by themselves -- but all are encouraged to dress in red, white and blue. 

Parade coordinators will make sure all children 18 and under are at the front of the parade and will have time to get back to ride on any other floats in the main parade.

The Dorchester Foruth of July parade always draws a large crowd.  But coordinators tell the Times that they would like to make this year's parade the best yet. 


"We are hoping for a big parade this year and are challenging all area businesses, organizations, and community members to enter," said one event organizer.

Those with questions should contact Peg Bergmeyer (pegbergmeyer@yahoo.com) or Judy Schweitzer for more information.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Kids: Improve Your Athletic, Teamwork Skills At A YMCA Camp

Kids, are you wondering what you'll do this summer?

Parents, is reality starting to settle in that your little ones won't be going back to school for another three months?

Let's keep our kids active and prepare them for future success by taking them to a sports camp.  If Dorchester is to be competitive in this era of school consolidation, many in the community say our kids need to learn skills and teamwork at an earlier age.

We were contacted by the Lincoln YMCA regarding several sports camps they offer to area youth.  One expert told us:  "These camps are a terrific way to develop skills, learn rules and strategies, and understand team concepts. It is also a positive way for students to improve their individual physical fitness level while building their social skills."

Why not call a fellow Dorchester parent or two and carpool the kids 30 minutes to Lincoln to attend one of these excellent events? Below is a sample of the YMCA's offerings:
  • Baseball Camp:  June 11-14 (Grades 2-8)
  • Softball Camp:  June 11-14 (Grades 2-8)
  • Cheerleading Camp:  June 18-21 (Grades 2-8)
  • Football Camp:  June 18-20 (Grades 2-8)
  • Speed & Explosive Power Camp: July 9-12 (Grades 3-8)
  • Boys Basketball Camp:  July 25-28 (Grade 2 and Grades 3-8)
  • Girls Basketball Camp:  July 9-12 (Grades 2-3 and Grades 4-8)
  • Volleyball Camp:  July 23-26 (Grades 2-8)
For more information, please contact YMCA Youth Sports at 402-434-9217 or tjohnson@ymcalincoln.org.

On-line registration is available by clicking here.  Or click here to download a registration form.


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Wilber Bakery For Sale: Report


Are you retired and looking for part-time income? Would you like to own your own small business? Are you looking for an opportunity to come back to the Saline County area?

The perfect opportunity may exist in nearby Wilber, where Elaine and Jim Korinek have been trying to sell the Wilber Bakery for nearly a year now.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the Korinks, who are good friends of some of our staff members, have owned the Wilber Bakery for more than a decade. 

During the Czech Days festival, they make more than 1,000 dozen a day with the help of family and part-time employee Donna Lankford.

Best of all, "there's no shortage of customers.  People have been known to detour 30 miles from Interstate 80 to pick up a dozen poppyseed, prune, cherry, apricot, raspberry and cream cheese kolaches. And the Korineks have shipped kolaches and rye bread as far as California and Florida."

If you do buy the Wilber Bakery, we have only one request: Please open a satellite store in downtown Dorchester!

Deadline Approaching To Register For Community Garage Sale Day


Crete, Dorchester and Friend are joining to hold a Community Garage sale day on Saturday, June 16.  The sales will be held from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  If you want to register your sale to be recognized and advertized, time is running out.  All garage sales must be registered by Friday.

Residents of Dorchester interested in having a garage sale, they may want to to consider June 16.  Carol Olson is helping to organize the event. 

(*UPDATE*) If interested in participating, e-mail Olson at cjolson@farmersco-operative.com or call (402) 946-3531 or call Gloria at the Dorchester Village Office. Garage sale registration forms can be picked up and turned in at the village office.  Deadline to register your garage sale is June 8.

A generic ad will run in the Crete, Friend, Lincoln, Milford and York newspapers, along with radio ads for this one-day event. A map of Dorchester’s sales with brief descriptions will be available at all the Dorchester sales. Attached is a form to be filled out to get a sale on the Dorchester map.

Also on June 16, the Dorchester United Methodist Church is having a bake sale. The church is offering its lawn to an individual(s) to host a sale. The hosts of course would be responsible for set up & clean up. There would be a few tables available in the church for garage sale use (first come, first serve).

If the softball/baseball committee is looking for a fund raiser, a garage sale might be an idea, according to Olson.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Old Methodist Church Fades Away


A reader sent us this picture, taken June 1, of the old Dorchester Methodist Church building.

As some of our readers know, the first Dorchester Methodist Church building was moved into town during the 1880s from Pleasant Hill. 

But by 1904, a more modern and larger house of worship was constructed on the same site in east Dorchester.   That was the big white church that stood at the corner of Seventh and Lincoln Ave. for more than 90 years -- and now rests in a corn field southwest of Crete near the Farmland Foods plant.

A bit of trivia: The 1904 church was built without a basement.  But in 1928, a basement was added to the church at the thanks to donated labor and about $2500 in donations.

In the late 1990s, after the Dorchester UMC congregation decided to construct a new building, the 1904 church was taken to its current location -- likely its final resting place -- to make room for the the new brick church. 

At the time, it was rumored that the 1904 church would be part of a new museum featuring several buildings from the early 1900s, but the museum's organizer ran out of funding, according to reports.