Unwanted Geese From Omaha Shipped To Saline Co.

In recent years, Canada Geese populations have exploded, so much so that many consider them pests (for their droppings, the bacteria in their droppings, noise and confrontational behavior). This problem is partially due to the removal of natural predators and an abundance of safe, man-made bodies of water -- as well as restrictive rules on hunting.

Now Omaha doesn't want the messy birds, so they are shipping here to Saline County.

WOWT-TV in Omaha reports that Nebraska State Game and Parks staffers recently rounded up gosling and female geese at Lake Candlewood in West Omaha. Game and Parks said about 30 gosling or young geese have been transplanted to a wildlife area in Saline County.

The Candlewood Homeowners Association requested the state remove the flock. In an e-mail to the neighborhood, the association representative said an adult goose could leave a pound of dropping each day which damages lawns and increases bacteria.

One overly sensitive Omaha resident was nearly in tears over the move. Joan Pistillo told the TV station: “It just makes me ill because I don’t know if they’re dead or where they took them. ... I couldn't tell my three grandkids what happened to the geese because they loved them as much as we did.”

Dorchester Street Dance Set For July 3

As noted by our readers, for the first time in several years, Dorchester's main street will be the stage for a top-notch street dance.

The Dorchester Volunteer Fire & Rescue Street Dance is set for Saturday, July 3. The event will start at 8 p.m. and last until midnight.

The street dance will feature live entertainment from The Shelia Greenwood Band, as well as beverages and plenty of food provided by local organizations.

If you are on Facebook, you can indicate whether you plan to attend by going by clicking here.

Dorchester Man Sentenced For Stealing Metal

The news wires are reporting the following:

"Two brothers have been given three years of probation, delayed sentences of six months in Lancaster County jail and told to make restitution of $5,850 each for stealing scrap metal."

Ricky Scdoris, 53, of Lincoln was sentenced on Monday. He and his brother, John, 52, of Dorchester, "were arrested in October and accused of stealing scrap metal from Ricky’s employer, Alter Scrap. ... Investigators say Ricky had been giving some of the metal to his brother, who would sell it at another scrap yard. ... John Scdoris was sentenced last week."

Dustin Nelson Is Area's Newest Master Angler

Dorchester resident Dustin Nelson, age 11, is our area's latest Master Angler.

Dustin recently reeled in a flathead catfish -- also called yellow cats. The catfish was caught at an area lake (Dustin isn't giving us his secret spot) and weighed in at 18 lbs., 6 oz. It measured 34".

The catch qualifies him for the prestigious sportsman award.

The Nebraska record for a flathead is 80 lbs. The Times has learned Dustin already has plans on how to land an 81 pounder.

Dustin's whopper was released after it was weighed and measured. Dustin said he hopes someone else can have the excitement of catching this granddaddy.

The Times congratulates Dustin on his catch and deserved accolades.

EDITORIAL: Fremont Voters Do The Job The Feds Won't

On Monday, the voters of Fremont overwhelmingly approved a new ordinance to crack down on illegal immigration. By nearly a 60%-40% margin, Fremont residents enacted new code to prohibit the hiring of illegal aliens and to make it a crime to rent housing to such individuals.

The mainstream media and some civil liberty groups see this move as highly controversial. They need to consult Webster's Dictionary and read the definition of "illegal."

The voters of Fremont sent a strong message by proving real change happens at the local level, not DC. Moreover, they showed they are willing to do the job that the federal government won't; that is, enforce existing immigration law. In short, Fremont demonstrated intestinal fortitude, especially considering the threat of costly, baseless lawsuits from left-leaning organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a group that has devolved into the country's most anti-American organization -- all in the name of finding more work for its liberal lawyers.

We have heard from at least one candidate for Dorchester village board that our community should consider a measure similar to that of Fremont's. We agree. Dorchester residents should have the opportunity to vote on such a proposal, especially considering the challenges now facing nearby Crete.

As President Obama often says, make no mistake: immigrants continue to add great value to the fabric of our nation. Any low brow can repeat the line that we are a nation of immigrants. The questions that must be asked to critics of the Fremont ordinance and Arizona law are: What is your agenda? Why do you want our government officials to ignore our laws and borders?

Common sense says the United States can neither afford nor accommodate all of the third world's impoverished and unskilled. Over the past decade, illegal immigrants have drained our taxpayer resources, taken American jobs, added to the welfare rolls, stressed our education system, sent most their wages back to their homelands, and reversed America's melting pot by refusing to assimilate.

Fremont voters did the right thing yesterday. Bring on the lawsuits.

OPEN FORUM: June 2010

The Times' Open Forum gives our readers their chance to say something, report breaking news, fire off a complaint, praise a fellow area resident, or simply ask a question. Any topic is fair game, although the Times' comment policy still applies. Keep it clean; keep it civil. (Please see the bottom of the left-hand column.)

The Times is the perfect forum to air your thoughts, news tips, announcements, complaints and concerns. With hundreds visiting this site each day, your comment will get noticed.

The Open Forum is also a great place to find out what old friends are up to, get advice, share and find information, and let the Times' staff know what you'd like to see on this community Web site.

Go ahead and sound off. We are listening. And so are hundreds of others.

Facebook Users Are Fans Of Dorchester

The Times has learned from several of our loyal readers that Dorchester is on Facebook. Members of the social networking website can become fans of our community.

The Dorchester Facebook page contains plenty of information on the village and its residents. According to the Facebook page, there were 248 households in Dorchester's village limits in the 2000 census. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.

Dorchester's population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years.

You can become a fan of Dorchester on Facebook by clicking here.

Charity Bike Ride Coming Through Dorchester

Dorchester will serve as a stop for a large benefit bike ride for the world hunger projects of the Nebraska United Methodist Church, the Times has learned.

NUMB stands for Nebraska United Methodist Bike Ride for Hunger. All told, the project has contributed more than $410,000 to alleviate hunger all around the world since the first ride in 1996. NUMB benefits the hungry in Nebraska and around the world and is sponsored by the Nebraska Annual Conference Board of Mission Outreach Hunger Committee.

This year, the riders will cover about 300 miles. Dorchester United Methodist Church will host what is called a SAG (service and gear) stop on Tuesday, June 29, in front of the American Legion building. This stop provides the 140 riders with some water and food to help sustain them on their ride.

All area residents are invited to help cheer the riders into town. For more information, contact Rhonda Schlick at (402) 946-2143.

Dorchester's Public Image, Part II

In 2007, shortly after this blog first started publishing, the Associated Press ran a story on the increase in the construction of large grain silos due to the formerly booming ethanol industry. AP stories appear across the state and country, in newspapers that reach millions of Americans. Set in Dorchester, the 2007 silo story opened with the following:

"DORCHESTER, Neb. -- Outside of two bars and a bank there’s little activity on Washington Street here, where more windows are covered by boards than 'Open' signs. But at the end of the street, semi-trailers stir the dust near a concrete symbol of economic activity. It towers over the signs of small-town decay ...

Back then, the Times wrote that we believe the story served as a good reminder why Dorchester must make improvements to enhance our public image. As we wrote, public image does matter. After all, it is what attracts growth or expedites decline in a community.

We ask readers to consider all the positive developments in Dorchester over the past few years: a new school, new businesses, repairs along Main Street, a beautified city park, a new concession stand and football field entrance, and many home improvements throughout town.

Dorchester has a lot going for it. So is it fair to the majority of Dorchester residents that some homeowners and property owners around town are allowed to keep their real estate in disorder and disrepair?

Our town seems to have more than its fair share of negligent property owners. From the feedback we have received from fellow residents, it seems that taxpayer unrest is reaching a boiling point.

Perhaps it is time for a thorough scrubbing of the village ordinances. Also, community members should be asking themselves:

• Why isn't some type of action being taken against owners who have junk vehicles on their property?
• Does Dorchester need a committee on blighted property?
• Is there enough interest that current residents and former residents or school alumni might contribute to a clean-up fund to remedy neglected properties?

$2,500 Grant Available From Monsanto

The Monsanto Fund wants to make a contribution to local communities as part of the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Project. One non-profit community organization in Saline county will receive $2,500. Area farmers are being asked to submit their nominations.

The nomination process is simple. Just click here and sign up. Then click on the “Apply Now” button and the nomination should take no longer than a few minutes. It is a simple form, and the nomination process is finished by July 31; the sooner applications are completed, the better the odds that a Dorchester area non-profit might benefit. One winner in each county will be selected by a third party in September.

See more information at www.GrowCommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332. Remember, the deadline for nominations is July 31.

It's Summertime: Share Your Photos With Times' Readers

Summer is here and the Times hopes will area residents will share your pictures or videos with our readers. All you need is a digital camera or mobile phone.

If you find yourself with a front-row view of some major event, community gathering, sporting contest, severe weather, a beautiful sunset, or you are just strolling down Dorchester's streets, take a picture or video and share the experience with fellow Times' readers. We will select the best and use them in a future post.

Here's all you have to do:

1. Take the photograph or video with any picture-enabled mobile phone or digital camera.

2. Send it to dorchester.times@gmail.com.

3. Include your name and a brief description in the message field.

Please remember that by submitting your video(s) or photograph(s) you confirm that you agree to grant the Dorchester Times a perpetual, royalty-free right to use your images and make them available to the public. You grant to the Times the right to edit and/or modify your material in any manner necessary in order to have the material comply with our formatting or publication needs. You further agree to indemnify and release the Times of any and all liabilities for any claims, charges, injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by, resulting from or arising out of your submission or the Times' use of the image(s).

Now, with the legal terms out of the way, please submit your material. Fellow readers anxiously await to see your work.

Help Plan Dorchester's 4th Of July Celebration

Dorchester is widely recognized for having one of southeast Nebraska's best Fourth of July celebrations. Now you can play a part in planning for the big day.

The Dorchester Fourth of July Planning Committee will meet again tonight, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Dorchester Community Building.

Your input is wanted. All area residents are invited and encouraged to take part in this important planning session. Plan on attending tonight's meeting and help our community host its best Independence Day celebration yet! (UPDATE: According to several e-mails sent to the Times, street dances may be returning to Dorchester's Main Street. A large street dance is tentatively planned for Saturday, July 3, according the communications.)

Wind Turbines Coming To Saline County?

A June 2 story in the Lincoln Journal Star reports that a grassroots group called the Saline County Wind Association is now up to 240 members. Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman even stopped by Saline Center Hall south of town to address the organization.

"I want to see us accelerate wind energy development in the state," Gov. Dave Heineman told more than 125. "It's all about jobs."

Nebraska ranks 22nd in wind energy development nationally. Heineman said he wants it in the top five or top 10 by 2020.

The Journal Star writes that Roger Belohlavy, a member of the association's board, said Saline County has good wind resources, two major power transmission lines and few center pivot irrigation systems to hamper placement and construction of wind turbines, and it is close to Lincoln and Omaha, the state's biggest electrical users. Nearly 100 landowners in Saline County have signed easement option agreements for more than 22,000 acres.

Wind energy developers are targeting six townships in the county that appear to have the greatest potential: Atlanta, Brush Creek, Monroe, North Fork, Pleasant Hill and Turkey Creek. Bob Mariska, 91, an association member from Pleasant Hill, said he visited a wind farm near Concordia, Kan., as part of a tour and liked what he saw. "They're thicker than a hair on a dog," he said. Harold Krivohlavek, 88, a landowner who has signed an easement option agreement, believes a wind project will be built in Saline County, but said: "I don't think I will live that long to see it."