Mumm Set to Become Next DPS Superintendent

Dorchester Public School has announced that Dr. Nick Mumm will become the next superintendent of the school district. 

This follows the approval of his contract this week by the Dorchester School Board. 

He will begin his duties at the start of the 2025-26 school year. 

Mumm will take over for the retiring Curtis Cogswell, has spent the last five years at Giltner Public School as superintendent. He is a native of south central Nebraska, growing up on a farm between Alexandria and Belvidere. 

Mumm graduated from Bruning-Davenport before attending UNK, where he earned his undergrad and masters. He earned his PhD from UNL. 

According to media reports, Mumm has worked at Elkhorn-St. Patrick’s School, where he was the director of academic services for seven years, and at Sandhills in Dunning as well as Superior. His first school administrator job came at Santee.

One interesting twist with this new hire is Mumm's staunch opposition to allowing Exeter-Milligan to add Friend to its cooperative as a member of the Crossroads Conference, which includes DPS. 

Mumm was quoted as saying: "Is it good for EMF (Exeter-Milligan-Friend) kids? Maybe. Why is that good for Giltner kids? Why (should we) have a school that’s very comparable in size to us now grow astronomically, because Friend is almost twice the size of Exeter-Milligan."

A Little Help From Our AI Friends

Artificial intelligence is rapidly dominating our everyday lives -- from our communications and entertainment, to our jobs, to our commerce. 

Instead of fighting the trend, we asked two popular AI platforms to help us come up with ideas to enhance Dorchester's quality of life.

Spoiler alert: Our AI friends didn't suggest anything earth shattering. However, for the benefit of our readers, we are sharing today the top 10 ideas generated by Open AI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

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10 Steps Dorchester Can Take to Improve Quality of Life

By ChatGPT and Gemini, Dorchester Times Contributors

Dorchester, Nebraska — a small town with big heart and endless potential. Small communities thrive when residents come together to make positive changes. 

Here are 10 practical steps Dorchester residents can take to enhance our collective quality of life:

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1. Support Local Businesses

• Shop at local stores, dine at local eateries, and use local services.
• Create a “buy local” day to encourage community members to keep dollars circulating within the town.

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2. Enhance Public Spaces

• Organize community clean-up days for parks, sidewalks, and other shared spaces.
• Add benches, picnic tables, and flowerbeds to make areas more welcoming.

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3. Promote Community Events

• Host regular events like farmers' markets, outdoor movie nights, or seasonal festivals.
• Use social media and bulletin boards to spread the word about upcoming activities.

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4. Volunteer Your Time

• Join local organizations, such as the fire department, school committees, or church groups.
• Mentor young people or assist elderly neighbors with errands and chores.

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5. Foster Healthy Lifestyles

• Establish walking or biking groups to encourage regular physical activity.
• Partner with local gyms or fitness instructors to offer free or low-cost classes.

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6. Encourage Civic Engagement

• Attend town hall meetings and participate in local decision-making.
• Advocate for improvements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

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7. Support Local Schools

• Volunteer as a tutor, coach, or helper at school events.
• Fundraise for classroom resources, field trips, or extracurricular programs.

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8. Strengthen Neighborhood Connections

• Create a community Facebook group or email list to share news and updates.
• Start a neighborhood watch program to enhance safety and security.

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9. Focus on Sustainability

• Start a community garden or composting initiative.
• Promote recycling programs and educate residents on reducing waste.

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10. Celebrate Local History and Culture

• Host storytelling nights where longtime residents share the town’s history.
• Partner with local historians or artists to preserve and promote Dorchester’s unique heritage.

Here's How To Get Your Street Paved

Over the many years the Times has been online, we've consistently heard from Dorchester residents who support paving more of the town's streets.

Over the last several months, Dorchester's main street (Washington Ave.) has been resurfaced for the first time in three decades -- and the streets surrounding the city park and water park have been paved for the first time ever. Progress is being made.

We can confirm that the Dorchester village board is exploring bonding options for the paving of additional streets, working through Olsson, the village engineer. (It should be noted that Roger Miller, the chairman of the village board, is also the street officer.)

Today, we are running a refresher course on how Nebraska communities can get their streets paved -- so that the residents of our community better understand the process. It works like this:

• Section 17-510 of Nebraska law says a petition can be started by those who have property next to an unimproved street (meaning gravel or dirt). Note the key word: landowners -- not just residents. If the petition is signed by enough landowners -- representing at least 61% of the front footage of the property directly abutting the street proposed to be paved -- the governing body (the village board) by ordinance would be forced to create a paving district or districts, barring some loophole, such as no sewer or water hook-up on that street.
  
  
• The petition must be worded precisely to specify that paving of a certain street or streets is desired. A paving district -- or street improvement district -- could take one of many forms. The street improvement district could consist of one street on one block, or comprise the entire town, or anything in between. The smaller the paving district, the better chances of paving occurring.
  
  
• The process is simple, yet there are many moving parts, according to experts. For example, the village board would need to levy special assessments on the lots and parcels of land abutting on or adjacent to the paved street to finance the work. Special assessments for such projects could be paid over a 15-year period.

To see the section of state law that allows this petition process, click here.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Rib Eye Steak Sandwiches, Jan. 25

Rib Eye Steak Sandwiches, Jan. 25: Get ready for the Dorchester Sons of the American Legion rib eye steak sandwich meal. This event will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Legion Hall. Cost is $20 per person; it includes the rib eye sandwich, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, chips and pickle. Cash bar and pickle cards will also be available. Get there early.

Scheffert Celebration of Life is This Saturday: Tom Scheffert's celebration of life ceremony will be Saturday, Jan. 18, from noon until 3 p.m. Lunch will be served. Scheffert ("Big Tom") passed on Nov. 30 at age 70 following a 24-year battle with congestive heart failure.

DHS Girls Basketball Hits 9-0 Mark: They just keep winning. The Class D-2 No. 5-ranked Dorchester girls varsity basketball team is off to the program's best start since the 1976-77 season, when the Lady Longhorns went 12-4 and finished in the Class D top-10 rankings. On Jan. 6 and 9, Dorchester decimated Heartland Lutheran by a 37-18 tally, and Sterling by a score of 48-7. Next up is a road contest this Monday, Jan. 13, at Class C-2 Cedar Bluffs (5-7) followed by a home contest Jan. 16 against East Butler (4-7) and a Jan. 17 road game against Giltner (1-8). A big challenge awaits DHS on Jan. 21 when Class C-2 Cross County (11-1) visits Dorchester's big corral.

OUR VIEW: Clues To Community Survival

Community survival is on the minds of many small-town residents nowadays.

Several years ago in an editorial, we mentioned that Dorchester has been able to escape school consolidation and loss of population, both of which are crippling many small Plains' communities. But our community is not immune to the struggles facing small town America.

However, all six staff members of the Dorchester Times wholeheartedly believe there is an escape from the major urban areas, as Americans -- young and old alike -- look towards rural communities for safety, sanity, affordability, and the need to connect with neighbors who share their values.

This time in history presents a perfect opportunity for Dorchester residents to decide what they want their community to look like five, 10, or 20 years from now -- and beyond. 

VISIONS magazine -- published by the non-profit Heartland Center for Leadership Development -- several years ago ran a list of "20 clues to community survival." The list wasn't a recipe, nor did it represent the checklist for a perfect small town, according to the authors of the study from which the list was derived. However, we think the list serves as a useful tool for goal-setting in Dorchester.

CLUES TO COMMUNITY SURVIVAL

1.) Evidence of Community Pride. "Successful communities are often showplaces of care, attention, history and heritage," the study says. (This also includes loyalty among residents and school alumni.)

2.) Emphasis on Quality in Business & Community Life. 

3.) Willingness to Invest in the Future. "In addition to the brick-and-mortar investments, all decisions are made with an outlook on the future."

4.) Participatory Approach to Community Decision Making. ("Even the most powerful opinion leaders seem to work toward building consensus.")

5.) Cooperative Community Spirit. This speaks for itself.

6.) Realistic Appraisal of Future Opportunities. "Successful communities have learned how to build on strengths and minimize weaknesses."

7.) Awareness of Competitive Positioning. "Local loyalty is emphasized in successful small towns, but thriving communities know who their local competitors are and position themselves accordingly."

8.) Active Economic Development Program. "There is an organized, public/private approach to economic development."

9.) Knowledge of the Physical Environment. "Relative location and available natural resources underscore decision-making."

10.) Deliberate Transition of Power to a Younger Generation of Leaders. "People under 40 regularly hold key positions in civic and business affairs in strong communities."

11.) Celebration of Diversity in Leadership. "Young people and newcomers are elected officials, business leaders, and entrepreneurial developers."

12.) Strong Belief in and Support for Education.

13.) Problem-Solving Approach to Providing Health Care and Housing Older Residents.

14.) Strong Multi-Generational Family Orientation. "The definition of family is broad, and activities include younger as well as older generations."

15.) Strong Presence of Traditional Institutions are Integral to Community Life. "Churches, schools and service clubs are strong influences on community development and the social network."

16.) Sound and Well-Maintained Infrastructure. "Leaders work to maintain streets, Main Street buildings, water systems and sewage facilities."

17.) Careful Use of Fiscal Resources.

18.) Sophisticated Use of Technology Resources.

19.) Willingness to Seek Help from the Outside. "People seek outside help for community needs, and many compete for government grants and contracts for projects and services."

20.) Conviction That, in the Long Run, You Must Do It Yourself. "Thriving rural communities believe their destiny is in their own hands. Making their communities good places is a pro-active assignment, and they are willing to accept it."

NEWS ROUND-UP: Phil Weber Turns 90

Phil Weber Turns 90: The year 1935 was a memorable one. Amelia Earhart became
the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California, the first canned beer was sold, and the first parking meter was installed. Just as important, Dorchester's Phil Weber made his debut in this world. Phil turned 90 today, Jan. 4. Be sure to wish him happy 90th! 

DHS Girls Basketball Goes to 7-0: The Dorchester varsity girls basketball team has moved to 7-0 on the season after defeating Lewiston 56-15 at DHS on Jan. 2. The boys fell to Lewiston 41-74 the same evening. Due to winter weather, the basketball games scheduled for Saturday afternoon (Jan. 4) at Cedar Bluffs have been rescheduled to Monday, Jan. 13. On Monday, Jan. 6, both teams take on Heartland Lutheran at The Corral at DHS. 

Next Village Board Meeting is Jan. 13: The Village of Dorchester Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan, 13, at the Farmers Cooperative headquarters building. Use entrance door No. 2 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

Nebraska's Income Tax Burden Drops: Nebraska's tax climate is becoming more competitive in one key category. With the new year comes a lower top income tax rate of 5.20% for tax year 2025 -- down from 6.84% just two years earlier. This change is due to the passage of LB 754 in 2023, signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen. This rate impacts earnings exceeding $29,000 for single filers and $58,000 for married filers. Under the law, Nebraska's top income tax rate will fall to 3.99% by tax year 2027, meaning those making an income will get to keep more of the money they earn.

Looking Back: Threats of Violence Met Those Who Moved Methodist Church

Most of us from Saline County know about the messy conflict that occurred when Wilber residents traveled to Pleasant Hill in the mid-1870s to physically retrieve the courthouse following a countywide vote that made Wilber the new county seat. 

According to the story -- which has been told often over the generations -- it took roughly 160 wagon teams and 300 Wilber residents using force, including the threat of firearms, before the task could be completed.

But many are unaware of the conflict and threats of violence that occurred when the Methodist Church was moved to Dorchester from Pleasant Hill in 1880. 

According to "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska," after Pleasant Hill was no longer the county seat, the Methodist Church Society dropped in numbers so rapidly that only a few dozen remained a short time after Wilber became the county seat. 

The pastor of the church organization, who resided in Dorchester, conceived the idea of securing the church building for his own community. 

Pleasant Hill, however, would not give it up.

An attorney was consulted. He told the Dorchester Methodists to go to Pleasant Hill, tear down the church, and bring it back to Dorchester. So a party was organized and traveled to Pleasant Hill with wagons to haul the lumber away. The Dorchester residents were met with threats of violence, but they kept on until the roof was torn off and nearly all of one side, as well. The floors were also torn up and some of the lumber loaded on the wagons. 

That's when an officer arrived and served an injunction on the Dorchester residents, who were ordered to leave Pleasant Hill at once. As the Dorchester wagons traveled north,the citizens of Pleasant Hill started to rebuild the church. 

Meanwhile, the district court was in session, but it sat hours away in Falls City. The attorney for the Dorchester parishioners hurried there -- by horse, of course. After securing a hearing, the injunction was dissolved and the court ruled in favor of the Dorchester Methodists. 

The attorney telegraphed the decision to Dorchester -- and the group immediately returned to Pleasant Hill, again tore down the church, moved it to Dorchester, and rebuilt it with an addition. 

The rest, as they say, is history.