NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester Receives Splash Pad Improvement Funds

(Photo: Sharon Axline) 

Dorchester Receives Splash Pad Improvement Funds: According to credible sources, the Village of Dorchester has received a grant from the Farmers' Cooperative Grant Program. A grant of $1,000, along with a matching grant from Land O' Lakes of $1,000, was provided to the village for improvements at the city park splash pad. Pictured with the village employees are members of Dorchester's Youth Action Committee (YAC),  who will be working with the village employees on park improvement projects. For those who don't recall, the Dorchester water park was completed seven years ago, in the summer of 2019, following a large fundraising drive by the Dorchester Community Foundation Fund.

Dorchester's Kathy Palky Passes: Rural Dorchester's Kathleen Ann Palky, age 83, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026, in Lincoln. Services will be held on Saturday, July 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Friday, July 10, from 5 - 7 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. A more detailed obituary will follow. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

Former DHS Standout Vern Johnson Passes: Dorchester alumnus and former Longhorn athlete Vern L. Johnson passed away June 8, 2026 in Geneva at the age of 85. Vern grew up in Dorchester and graduated from DHS in 1960. A gifted athlete, he excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning numerous all-conference honors and All-State recognition in football. Around 1956, while still a teenager, Vern was asked to help organize what became the SFS Baseball League. At just 16 years old, he began coaching alongside Mike Nerud and later coached on his own. Over the next 35 years, he coached baseball teams in Dorchester, Friend, Fairmont, and Geneva, impacting generations of young athletes. Read the full obituary.

Dorchester's Blake Hansen Featured in UNL Publication: DHS alum and recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate Blake Hansen has been spotlighted in UNL's "Nebraska Today" online magazine. Hansen, the third generation in his family to attend the university for ag economics, served as president of the Tractor Restoration Club and a teaching assistant in agronomy and horticulture. He received the Holling Family Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Assistant Award and was honored with the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award. Hansen graduated on May 9 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics and agronomy, both with high distinction, and minors in agricultural systems technology and agribusiness. He has also returned to his family farm.

Looking Back: Freidell Photos Captured Dorchester More Than A Century Ago

Every now and again, we come across old photos of the Dorchester area that will take all of our readers back to a time that no one alive today can remember. But we can all imagine what it was like thanks to the imagery.

Today we wanted to share a few such photos taken by Dorchester's early photographer Russell Freidell.

Russell Freidell was the son of William Freidell, the well-known dry goods store owner and retailer who ran his business in Dorchester for more than 50 years. The Freidells resided in a beautiful Victorian home on the corner of Washington Avenue and 10th St. (The historical home was renovated in the late 1990s and today it looks nothing as it once did.)

The Freidells' dry goods business also managed to survive an 1896 fire that destroyed a portion of Dorchester's business district, when most of the buildings were made of wood.

In 1890, William Freidell was a key decision-maker in the construction of the community's first dedicated high school, which cost $10,000. That same year, Russell was born.

Seventeen years later, Russell was a proud 1907 graduate of Dorchester High School. 

In addition to his Sunday School service and work with the Masons, he would also go on to become known for his photography.

Russell was drafted during World War I, and he was around Dorchester as late as the 1940s. 

Russell lived to age 97 and was buried in Houston, Texas in 1987. Nearly 120 years after his high school graduation, we're still talking about his photos. 

All of his images are worth a long look, whether it was the 1908 photo that Freidell took of the Big Blue River north of town or images of an area country road, with no road signs and certainly no wider than the width of a Model T or a horse-drawn carriage. (Click on any photo here for a better view.)

One of our favorite Freidell photos shows Dorchester's Independence Day in 1908 (pictured atop this story). It gives viewers a front-row seat at the village's celebrated Fourth of July parade, which continues to this day. The theme of Dorchester's 1908 Fourth of July Parade was "Comic Parade."

Another favorite photograph by Freidell illustrates a clear, crisp view of the 1909 Dorchester baseball team. Back then, games were often played south of town in the space now occupied by the Saline County Museum, or in a cow pasture northwest of town called Grant Horner's pasture. Yet another location was Bankson's pasture, just on the outskirts of Dorchester. Most games were played during free time on Sundays, according to old-timers quoted in the Dorchester Centennial history book.

Freidell's postcards are occasionally available for purchase online and make a fine gift for any Dorchester native or resident who enjoys studying our area's history.

NEWS ROUND-UP: County Hearing On Solar Standards, June 16

 

Saline County Hearing on Solar Standards, June 16: At 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, a public hearing will be held on Saline County's proposed zoning regulations. The meeting will be held at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber in the Assembly Room. Comments can also be sen to the Saline County zoning administrator at 402-821-3326 or lweber@salinecountyne.gov. Norris Public Power District, which is a monopoly, government utility, is currently building a distributed network of solar sites in the region, including a facility planned in Saline County with more than 2,000 solar panels. Nebraska is not currently short of electricity supply, and its power grid is ranked among the most reliable in the U.S. However, the state is experiencing an unprecedented "energy crunch" as utilities struggle to build out new infrastructure quickly enough to match exploding demand from AI and other newer uses.

Village Splash Pad Is Open: Dorchester's water park is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday, it's open 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Dorchester Football Camp, June 22-23: Dorchester will again hold its Youth Football Camp on June 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The camp is especially for youth in grades 3-8. Forms are available at the Village office, which is open weekdays 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Village Imposes Watering Restrictions: Water restrictions are in effect for watering lawns and gardens, according to the Village newsletter. Even-numbered houses are allowed to water on even-numbered days, while odd-numbered homes can water on odd-numbered days.

Village Board Meeting, June 8: The next Dorchester Village Board meeting is set for Monday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmers Cooperative headquarters building. Attendees should use Door No. 2. The meeting is open to the public.

State Democratic Party Officially Claims Smith: Recently, we shared our concerns regarding "dark money" from leftist organizations sent to the campaign of Shay Smith, a Crete-based lawyer who is running for State Legislature as an "independent." One reader accused us of "falsely flying our red flags." Yet days later, the Nebraska Democratic Party issued this news release celebrating Smith's candidacy, in what is an obvious endorsement. The state Democrats are clearly aligned with Smith. As we wrote back in mid-April, because the Nebraska Legislature is non-partisan, voters are at a distinct disadvantage when candidates refuse to publicly identify their true beliefs.

Antiques Roadshow-Type Event Comes To Dorchester, June 7

Do you enjoy "Antiques Roadshow" -- the TV program on PBS? 

Then you'll love the event planned at the Saline County Historical Museum. 

And you'll be able to get your favorite antique's value appraised for free.

The Saline County Museum, located in south Dorchester just off Highway 33, will host expert antiques appraiser Tom Bassett on Sunday, June 7, starting a 2 p.m., according to social media notices. 

Get there early and check out some of the new and refurbished displays at the museum's 13-building campus. 

The June 7 event will be like "Antiques Roadshow" in our own community, according to information the Times has received from readers. 

Attendees can bring an item to be appraised. There will be no charge for the event. 

Admission to the Saline County Museum is always free. Donations are accepted and will help with repairs and new displays.

Community Garage Sale Weekend: June 5-6

It's garage sale season! 

Dorchester is once again planning its Community Garage Sale Weekend this Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6. 

If you're hosting a garage sale, contact the village office at 402-946-3201 to be put on the official listing of sales in and around town.

 

According to organizers, maps will be available the week of June 1 at Village Hall.

 

A generic ad will be placed in the Crete News. Those who want to advertise their specific garage sale will need to do so on their own. 

Event organizers say the garage sale weekend is the perfect opportunity for residents who want to save some money on kids' clothes and other items. Friend, Exeter, and Fairmont are also holding their garage sale weekend at the same time.

Be sure to get a bright and early start. Shoppers will be out in full force.

 

Stay up-to-date on the weather forecast. 

Some Gave All: Remembering Dorchester's F.C. Green

On this Memorial Day, we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by DHS alum F.C. Green.

Like most Dorchester residents, our staff members recalled the general details -- that Green died in a military training accident in the early 1970s as a Navy pilot. 

When we scanned the Dorchester School yearbooks, we found no recorded history of the incident -- just a memorial in Green's honor (pictured).

So we asked our hundreds of Facebook followers what they remembered. Several readers were helpful, particularly reader JR Wolfe. 

We're passing along the information they provided so that Lt. F.C. Green -- a Dorchester hero -- and his ultimate sacrifice can be recalled by future generations.

----------------

U.S. Navy Lt. (j.g.) Francis Clair Green II was born Nov. 8, 1945. He passed away March 9, 1970 in the South Atlantic Ocean when a wing fell off his aircraft during training. 

He served aboard the USS Sangra La, which was stationed out of San Diego. He was the son of Francis Clair Green and Anna Sehnert of Dorchester, the former being Dorchester's long-time postmaster.

Green was a very popular student at Dorchester -- a star athlete, a top scholar, and editor of the school yearbook. He was a member of DHS' Class of 1963.

According to a Lincoln Star story from March 12, 1970, he went on to study and graduate from UNL, where he continued to forge his successful path. 

He was a honor student, yell king, president of his fraternity, a representative of the UNL campus at national events, and a member of Navy ROTC. 

Green was named outstanding senior midshipman while in the ROTC program. He was even named "most eligible bachelor" by the NU yearbook, and was an a national finalist for the Outstanding Collegiate Man Award.

A memorial service was held a few days later without Lt. Green's body, which was lost at sea.

This past March marked the 56th anniversary of Lt. Green's death. Take time to remember this hero. Think about the life that was; the life that could have been; and the sacrifice Lt. Green made to serve his country.

Memorial Day Services Set For Monday

It's Memorial Day weekend. Let's not forget the reason behind the holiday, especially as further military action appears imminent in the Middle East to prevent a radical regime in Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

We should all take time this Memorial Day -- Monday, May 25 -- to pay homage to the true meaning of this special day of remembrance.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, between 1775 and 1991, the U.S. military recorded 651,031 battle deaths and 539,054 non-combat deaths, totaling 1.2 million fatalities. From 1980 to 2022 alone, there were more than 10,000 recorded deaths related to military activities.

Dorchester's Memorial Day program is a tradition in our area that we are proud to honor. It is a heartfelt tribute to our fallen military heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom. The Dorchester American Legion will host two Memorial Day services:

• 10 a.m. at the Dorchester Cemetery; and
• 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery

State legislative candidate for District 32 Mark Schoenrock, an Army veteran, will be the featured speaker. A potluck luncheon follows services at Dorchester American Legion Hall on Dorchester's Washington Ave., expected to start around noon.

In case of rain, please meet at the Dorchester Legion at 10 a.m.

 

The Dorchester Legion Bar and Grill will be open most of the day, from noon to 8 p.m., if this year follows patterns of the past.

NEWS ROUND-UP: State-Bound Longhorns; State Gets Much-Needed Rain

Over 3" of Rain Cover Dorchester Area: Some relief from the ongoing drought as much-needed precipitation fell on the Dorchester area over the past three storm-filled nights, May 16-18. Dorchester itself received around three inches in total, with most of that rain coming Saturday evening. Despite pea- and bubble-gum-sized hail and high winds, Dorchester emerged without significant damage. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for other parts of the state as tornadoes struck populated areas in central and southeast Nebraska. 

DHS Sending Four Girls to State Track and Field: Four Lady Longhorns are headed to Omaha this week to represent DHS at the 2026 Nebraska Track and Field State Championships at Burke Stadium. Bailey Theis will compete in both the shot put and discus; Kaitlyn Bolton in discus; Micaela Loarca in the 3200 meter run; and Brennaly Vazquez in the 200 meter dash. See the schedule for the May 20-23 events here. These are some serious athletes as DHS girls continue to shine in athletics. The track and field state championships will be live-streamed, including all track events May 20-23 live from Omaha.

DHS Excels at State Journalism Contest: Congratulations to the DHS journalism students who placed fifth as a team in Class C out of 27 schools competing at the NSAA State Journalism Competition held in Norfolk on Monday, April 27. Dorchester also had one individual state champion, Max Novak in the Yearbook Sports Feature Writing contest. Other top-four finishers included Lyberty Bartlett (4th in Yearbook Feature Writing), Briana Tellez (4th in Newspaper Feature Writing), and the team comprised of Emilia Perez, Briana Tellez, and Lyberty Bartlett (2nd in Yearbook Theme Development). The students are advised by Mrs. Severance. 

 

Annual DHS Alumni Banquet Set For Saturday

It's alumni time in the Big D.

On Saturday, May 23, Dorchester alumni -- young and old and in-between -- will gather to recall the good times and celebrate the school that gave them their start.

The 2026 Dorchester Alumni Banquet will be held at the DHS gym.  

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the banquet will start at 6 p.m.

To register or for more information, call the school at 402-946-2781. Cost to attend is $20 per person.

Classes ending in "6" will be honored, with the DHS Class of 2006 hosting the event. 

May 13 was the RSVP deadline, but spaces are still be available we are told. Dinner will be beef tri-tip or smothered chicken.

Guest speaker will be longtime DPS educator and principal Mr. Terry Gautreaux.

For those who'd like to carry on their conversations beyond the banquet, the Dorchester American Legion has traditionally been open after the banquet. East Side is another option.

For those who cannot attend but would like to contribute to the Dorchester Alumni Association, send donations to: 

Dorchester Alumni Association

P.O. Box 7

Dorchester, NE  68343

May 15 Deadline To Register For DHS Alumni Golf

Proud Dorchester alumni will hit the links at the end of May for the annual DHS Alumni Golf Tournament. 

Some will be great golfers. 

Some will be OK duffers. 

Others will be just trying to survive on the course.

The tourney is set for Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Friend Country Club.

Four-person teams are asked to register by this Friday, May 15.

Captains of each four-man team should contact Dorchester Schools Athletic Director Brent Zoubek at brent.zoubek@dorchesterschool.org or 402-946-2781.  

For more information, see page 7 of the most recent school newsletter.

Cost is $70 for 18 holes (includes cart and meal), $20 for a t-shirt, and $280 per foursome.  

Check-ins will start at 8 a.m. 

 Shotgun starts at 9 a.m. T

And, yes, there will be pin prizes.

Players must be DHS alumni. (Sorry, Tiger.)  

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester Junior High Boys Track Keeps Setting Records

Dorchester Junior High Track Just Keeps Winning (and Setting Records): Dorchester's junior high tracksters are raising some eyebrows as more DPS junior high records fall. Last month, we reported on a new junior high record in the 4X400 meter relay set by teammates Brenden Bergmeyer, Harrison Vyhnalek, Payton Zoubek, and Hunter Sherwood. The fab four broke their own record this month with a time of 4:04:02. In the 800 meter relay, Bergmeyer and Sherwood joined Mason Vyhnalek and Legend Smith to break the 1985 record with a time of 1:50:84. Then in the 3200 meter relay, Sherwood, Bergmeyer, Boone Smith, and David Loarca broke the record set in 2003. The stars are shining bright at DPS this spring.

Theis Will Represent DHS at All-Star Volleyball Game: DHS senior Bailey Theis Centennial Classic volleyball all-star game. The event, which features recent graduates, has quickly become a premier summer showcase for Nebraska high school volleyball athletes. 

Skeeter Howlett Passes at Age 70: Dorchester native William “Skeeter” Wesley Howlett, a 1970 DHS alum and a lifelong music buff, master tinkerer, proud grass-mowing enthusiast, and unofficial encyclopedia of songs, passed on May 1. His obituary may be read here.

Dorchester School Season Winding Down: With graduation over, the Dorchester Public School season is coming to a close quickly.  Monday, May 18, is the final day of the school year for DPS preschool, while Tuesday, May 19, will be the last day for K-11 students. May 23 is the annual Dorchester alumni banquet. May 30 is the annual DHS alumni golf outing.

Tire Recycling Collection at Saline Center: Need to dispose of your old/used tires Saline Center will be collecting them June 5, 6, and 7. 

Historic Drought Gets Worse: Nebraska's historic drought -- which, in many areas of our state, is the worst drought in modern history -- keeps bringing bad news. Little to no rain has fallen this spring. Here's the latest Drought Monitor map. Meanwhile, this interesting comment was left on our recent story on the drought: "(B)ack in the day, they planted trees every mile to the half-mile lines on farm ground; that's what stopped the wind from blowing away the top soil. Well, in this day and age, they have taken out every windbreak for as far as the eye can see. So its a pretty easy fix, but convincing people that might fix it is harder today. Actually I'm betting if you had a tree line every mile, you probably wouldn't see many wind generators lining the countryside."

DHS Class Of 2026 Graduates May 9

 

 

The caps, tassles, gowns, and Kleenex were in full effect Saturday, May 9, at the Dorchester High School gymnasium. 

 

That's when graduation ceremonies were held for 10 Longhorn seniors and their friends and families.

 

Here are the members of DHS' Class of 2026 and their post-graduation plans as detailed by DPS social media. (We're noticing more graduates statewide choosing to enter the skilled trades as AI promises to replace basic white-collar office skills in the near future. This year's DHS graduating class presents a clear example of that.)

• Hunter Wake: Hunters' guardians are Hannah and Jake Railsback. He will attend SCC, studying to become a Physical Therapy Assistant.
   
• Chase Tachovsky: The son of Dawn Zoubek and Scott Tachovsky, Chase will attend Concordia, majoring in Exercise Science while competing for the Bulldogs in football. 
   
• Bailey Theis: Bailey is the daughter of Beth and Mike Theis. She plans on majoring in Exercise Science at Concordia in Seward and competing for the Bulldogs in track and field.
  
  
• Moises Alexander Lopez Tercero: The son of Mario Lopez Lucas and Maria Concepcion Tercero Lopez, Moises will attend SCC, studying Automotive Technology.
  
  
• Micaela Loarca: Micaela is the daughter of Dominga Lopez & Miguel Loarca. She will attend SCC, majoring in Criminal Justice and Business, with the goal of becoming a paralegal. 
  
  
• Savannah June: Savannah is the daughter of Spencer and BJ June. Savannah will attend SCC to major in Nursing.
  
  
• Justin Dixon: Justin is the son of Jesse and Sabrina Dixon. He plans to attend SCC, studying Agriculture - Livestock Management and Production.
  
  
• Carter Cerny: The son of Amanda and Bret Cerny, Carter will attend SCC to study Auto Body/Electrical Technology.
  
  
• Caden Axline: Caden is the son of James and Tina Axline. He plans to attend SCC to major in Welding.
  
  
• Adrian Alcaide Rodriguez: The son of Juan Alcaide and Reina Rodriguez, Adrian plans to attend SCC, majoring in Electrical Technology. He also wants to serve his country by joining the Army.

Our heartiest of congratulations to the accomplished Longhorns in the Class of 2026. The sky is the limit for all of you. Remember your roots and your Dorchester foundation.

 

Saline County Museum Is Open For 2026 Season

It's that time of year again. The Saline County Museum will be open for the summer season beginning Sunday, May 3, according to social media posts.

 

The museum (located in south Dorchester) will be open every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. 

 

Admission to the museum and its numerous buildings is free, although donations are welcome. 

For those who don't know, the museum's roots can be traced back to the 1950s, when Dorchester's own Rosa Dusanek had a dream of building a Saline County museum to house the history of our area's people. 

Here's how it went down:

In 1957, the Saline County Historical Society was established. In 1960, the Saline County commissioners gave the society a one-tenth mill levy. The museum's first building -- the teal colored structure you see from Hwy. 33 -- was built in 1964.

Today there are more than a dozen buildings.

1. The Kaspar Memorial Building (white and blue building near Washington Ave.) features antiques automobiles and farm equipment.
   
   
2. The Research Building (gray and red building near Hwy 33) now features a old-fashioned General Mercantile Store as it would have appeared in the early 1900-1920s.
   
   
3. The Weidner Building contains turn-of-the century horse equipment, wagons, and old-time printing presses.
   
   
4.  The Chapel was refurbished in 2025 and contains “In Loving Memory” funeral displays, an altar and wedding dresses and suits. A nearby memorial pays tribute to Dorchester's Charlie Havlat, the last American killed in the European Theater at the end of WWII. 
   
   
5. The Memorial Building has an 1800s bedroom, a 1950s living room, a parlor and an old-fashioned kitchen. There is a textile room, dentist office, doctor’s office and a beauty shop. It was recently upgraded to include air conditioning, we're told.
    
6. The Machinery Building has implements from the past centuries. In recent years, it has been re-organized with items labeled to explain how old-timer equipment was used.
   
   
7. The Voting Building is original. This building was only used for voting.
   
   
8. The Buckingham School is a one-room country school from 1871. It is a building where present day children can go to school to see how their great grandparents were educated. 
   
   
9. The Burden Home belonged to the first black homesteader in Saline County. Seven children were born and raised in this tiny two-room home, built just after the Civil War.
   
   
10. The Cizek log cabin, which dates back to 1866, is in the white building north of the Burden home, along with a large, fascinating collection of barbed wire and other items.
    
    
11. The Dorchester Railroad Depot houses fascinating train and railroad-related memorabilia, giving visitors a look at how Americans traveled to distant locations before planes and modern reliable automobiles.
    
    
12. The Main Building contains a wide variety of items, from John Palky's pre-historic tool collection, to military displays, to items showcasing Pleasant Hill's history.
    
    
13. And the Plato Post Office building is a traveling post office, a tiny building that moved from farm to farm.

The Saline County Museum is operated strictly by volunteers. The Saline County Historical Society Board consists of several individuals who meet quarterly. And the museum volunteers say they are working on new displays. 

'Reminds Me Of Those Dust-Bowl Days'

It's not your imagination. Nebraska is in a severe drought and it's only April. 

In fact, much of Nebraska is drier in April 2026 than during any other April in our recorded history.

Over half of the state, 56%, is now experiencing extreme drought, according to the newest measurements, according to Nebraska Public Media.

One area old-timer, who just turned 96, told us: "This reminds me of those Dust-Bowl days."

NPM reports that the National Weather Service confirmed in early March that Nebraska recorded its third-warmest winter since the Dust Bowl years in the 1930s. 

But when looking at both temperature and moisture, the 2025-26 winter is worse than the "Dirty Thirties."

And even the Dust Bowl days didn't feature the level of destruction seen this year from prairie fires that have burned around 1 million acres in western and central Nebraska. This has destroyed pastureland needed to feed cattle this summer and uprooted entire cattle operations in the midst of a beef supply shortage.

The Times talked to three Dorchester-area farmers, all three of who said the drought is among their biggest concerns.

These producers also said that businesses serving agriculture -- those that traditionally benefit from farmer dollars, including lenders and cooperatives -- must share in the pain as drought and depressed crop prices continue to impact the sector.

"It can't be status quo," one of the producers said.

Area producers are going to have to alter some of their practices, another farmer told us. He said some producers were running pivot irrigation as early as April 20 or before, and that such practices would lead to "crackdowns" and "water restrictions" by the state or local NRD. (Note: NRDs in recent years have restricted the drilling of new irrigation wells.)

The only good news is the weather models used by the Times shows between a 50% and 88% chance of rain Saturday, April 25, and 80% to 96% on Sunday. Even Monday brings a 25% to 50% chance of precipitation, while Tuesday offers up to a 60% chance.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Junior High Boys Set New Track Record

New Dorchester Junior High Track Record: It appears Dorchester is building a lot of talent for its future boys athletics. Recently, junior high speedsters (pictured left to right) Brenden Bergmeyer, Harrison Vyhnalek, Payton Zoubek, and Hunter Sherwood broke Dorchester Junior High's 4x400 record. The foursome ran a 4:07.9 at the Osceola Invite beating the previous record of 4:12. Congrats to these rising Longhorn stars.

Village Board Addresses Key Issues in Early 2026: As street paving continues in Dorchester this spring, the Dorchester Village Board of Trustees has been active early in 2026, addressing critical staffing transitions, infrastructure maintenance, and public safety. In January, the board promoted Brent Kasl to Utility Superintendent. By March, Gavin Hobson was introduced as the new Assistant Utilities Superintendent. The board continues to evaluate critical infrastructure, specifically the design for a new well and the acquisition of a generator for Well #5. Discussions regarding future projects at the quonset site and potential re-zoning of residential lots are ongoing as the board awaits formal proposals. The board also recently approved the purchase of six flashing stop signs funded by keno funds. And the board approved the use of the village's federal ID to assist Tabor Hall in applying for the Farmers Cooperative Community Grant program. You can always read the Village Board meeting minutes here.

DPS Board Completes Busy First Quarter: The Dorchester Public School Board has focused its early 2026 sessions on strategic growth and safety, punctuated by the high-profile approval to purchase 605 W. 9th St. and 710 W. Depot St. properties from Ziemann & Sons Construction. During the Feb. 9 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Nick Mumm emphasized that these land acquisitions are central to a broader safety initiative aimed at protecting students and staff during the increasingly busy school drop-off and pick-up hours. In March, the board voted to approve an extension of the Superintendent's contract, as well as a healthy "classified staff wage increase of 4%" for the upcoming school year. You can read DPS Board minutes here. 

Dorchster Area Could See 2" of Rain This Week: Forecasting models used by the Channel 10/11 weather team in Lincoln show the next six days could bring our area as much as two inches of much-needed rain. In a social media post, meteorologist Brad Anderson wrote: "I know what some of you are thinking ...You'll believe it when you see it. I get it." Nearly all of Saline County is in severe drought, while about 40% of Nebraska is in extreme drought, according to the Drought Monitor map.

Editorial: Legislative Candidate's Cash Haul Raises Red Flags

It's an election year. Campaign mailers are flooding mailboxes, including flyers from the candidates seeking the District 32 seat in the Nebraska Legislature.

Fortunately, Senator Tom Brandt is term limited. A big land owner, Brandt has for years intentionally muddied the waters between state and local taxes. Even during serious state budget crunches, he brags about state government spending $1.6 billion annually to subsidize local property tax bills. Yet property taxes are imposed by K-12 schools, counties, cities, and NRDs — not the state. Brandt is comfortable using Nebraskans' sales and income tax dollars to let the Unicameral play "sugar daddy," allowing big spenders at the local level to avoid accountability.

Vying to replace Brandt this November are two candidates who will appear on the May primary ballot:

• Mark Schoenrock, a "conservative Republican," Army veteran, and career officer who has served as a Jefferson County Commissioner.
  
  
• Shay Smith, a Crete-based lawyer and tax professional who presents herself as an "independent problem-solver." However, the Crete News previously published photos of Smith attending an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vigil, leading many to suspect she supports liberal causes. Because the Nebraska Legislature is non-partisan, voters are at a distinct disadvantage; there is no "R" or "D" after names on the ballot to provide clarity.

This week, The Plains-Sentinel, an online Nebraska publication, wrote: "In a potential surprise from a usually right-leaning rural district, Shaylene Smith, an independent progressive candidate for District 32, out-raised the Republican candidate Mark Schoenrock $57,000 to $30,000 and had nearly $85,000 cash on hand compared to Schoenrock’s $36,000."

No wonder Smith is sending us so many glossy campaign flyers.

The Times investigated Shoenrock's and Smith's campaign statements filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC). Three red flags stood out regarding Smith’s funding:

1. State Senator Danielle Conrad, a liberal activist attorney and a leader of the Unicameral’s far-left wing, is a donor to Smith’s campaign.
   
   
2. Smith's campaign received $25,000 from Democracy Nebraska. This group is a well-oiled progressive activist group that Google's Gemini says is comprised of "Lincoln/Omaha elites" and is "funded by out-of-state interests who want to 'California-ize' our election laws." The AI tool also called Democracy Nebraska "the primary recruitment and training ground for the next generation of liberal organizers" and "a 'who’s who' of Democratic and progressive operatives in Nebraska."
   
   
3. Wyoming-based Way Back PAC, another "dark money" group, gave Smith's campaign $10,000. Gemini said this about Way Back: "They are systematically funding the infrastructure ... designed to crack the 'red wall' in the West. Their funding of liberal stalwarts in North Dakota and Kansas proves that 'Way Back' isn't about going back to old-school civility; it's about providing a back-door for liberal policy wins in states where the Democratic brand is underwater." Gemini notes that the most significant move by Way Back PAC in recent cycles was their heavy backing of Dan Osborn in the 2024 Nebraska U.S. Senate race. "While Osborn ran as an independent, the PAC’s involvement — alongside traditional Democratic donors — signals their role as a bridge for liberal interests to support non-traditional candidates in deep-red states where a 'Democrat' label is a death sentence."

Only about $12,850 of Smith's reported campaign contributions since Jan. 1 were from individuals from Lincoln, Crete or other nearby communities. That compares to about $10,500 for Schoenrock.

The Times will not endorse a candidate for the Primary Election. However, we will take a stand against "dark money" and suspicious donations fueling candidates who are allowed to hide behind non-partisan labels to avoid public scrutiny.

Nebraskans deserve transparency. It shouldn't require hours of investigative research to discover who is actually bankrolling the people who want to write our laws.