Ten-And-Under Softball Team Captures Third Place

Congratulations are in order to the 10-and-under Dorchester softball team.

The 10-and-under girls squad defeated Exeter on their home turf on Sunday at the season-ending tournament.

The win ensured that the Dorchester 10-and-under girls took third place, ending a season of hard work on a high note. 

"The Dorchester girls beat some impressive teams in a very talented league," one parent told the Times in an e-mail.  

"Participation was good, which signals the girls program is on the rebound.  We are so proud of the girls for their strong effort."

Congratulations, Dorchester girls.  

You represented your town well.

Dorchester Softball Tourney, July 3-4

What goes better with Independence Day than a little ball on the diamond?

The Dorchester Times has learned of a Dorchester co-ed softball tournament that will be held July 3 and 4.

The entry fee is $125 dollars a team.  Each team must be composed of at least five girls and five guys.  For all you math wizards out there, that means a minimum of 10 players per team.

Half of the proceeds will go to Dorchester's baseball/softball programs, while the other half will go to the winner of the tournament. 

To register your team or for more information, call Jared Jensen at (402) 641-1154.

City Slickers Takes Over For Joe's

The Crete News has published a story about the transition of Dorchester's west side tavern as the new owners look to establish their own traditions to keep customers coming back for more.  

About a month ago, Joe's Place -- located at 703 Washington Ave. -- became City Slickers Bar & Grill.  The new owners, Jason and Kathy Duhrkop, purchased the establishment from Rob Parks, who had owned Joe's since 2009.

The Crete News article details the history of the bar.  In 1952, Joe Ladman bought the building and started Joe's Place, which operated until 2004 when Ladman's son-in-law, Dewayne Schmale, sold the bar to Verna Lewis.  From 2004-2006, the bar was known as the Blue Moose.  When the bar changed hands again in 2007, under Sheryl Olson, it was known as the West Side Saloon until 2009, when it again became Joe's Place.

City Slickers owners say "their goal is for customers to come in hungry and leave satisfied."  The Duhrkops want the establishment to remain a staple in the community for many years to come.

Area Could Get Hit With Big Storms Tonight, This Weekend

Southeastern and eastern Nebraska are in the bulls-eye of a unstable weather system settling in for the next 48-72 hours.

A 3 p.m. Friday, radar showed a rotation of precipitation over Saunders County, producing strong thunderstorms in northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa.  Meanwhile, thunderstorms have developed in southwestern Nebraska, moving towards Dorchester and Lincoln as they gain intensity.

Here is the Dorchester forecast for Friday night through Sunday:

Tonight ...Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Saturday ... Partly sunny. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning...Then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.

Saturday Night ... Chance of thunderstorms 40 percent.

Sunday ... Partly sunny. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning...Then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of thunderstorms 30 percent.

Sunday Night ... A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Break-Ins Reported Around Town

The Dorchester Times has learned of at least three break-ins and burglaries this week, occurring at three separate residences in town.

According to several reports e-mailed to the Times, the break-ins took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.  Damage to personal property was reported, along with the theft of money, alcoholic beverages, food and other goods.

One e-mail sent to the Times speculated on possible suspects, including their names.  The individual with that information has been encouraged to contact the Saline County Sheriff's Department at (402) 821-2111.

The Times has also learned of a drug-related arrest made in Dorchester in recent days.  No other information has been released and the Times will not publish information that has not been confirmed by law enforcement.

We urge all area residents to stay vigilant while those who committed this week's break-ins are still at large.  Please report any suspicious activity to the sheriff's department or call 911 if a crime is occurring.

Jerri Nelsen Passes At 82

Geraldene "Jerri" Nelsen, 82, of Friend, passed away Sunday, June 9, 2013 in Crete. She was born February 9, 1931, on the family farm near Dorchester to Frank and Ina (Jack) Parks. Jerri attended country school and graduated in 1948 from Dorchester High School. She married Dwayne Nelsen March 26, 1949 at the Dorchester Methodist Church. They were blessed with two children, Sandra and Douglas. In 1980, they moved into Dorchester and in 2009 they settled in Friend. Jerri worked at Penney's in Crete and Lincoln and sold Avon. She drove the Dorchester Public School van for special needs children. Jerri had an outgoing personality and enjoyed playing cards including bridge and 500, socializing and dancing. She loved to crochet and was a wonderful cook. Jerri enjoyed taking care of and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is a former member of the Dorchester United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School, Bible School and sang in the choir. She currently was a member of the Friend United Church of Christ and Women's Fellowship.

Survived by husband, Dwayne, Friend; daughter, son-in-law, Sandi and Eugene Witkowicz, Lincoln; son, daughter-in-law, Douglas and Shari (Beckler) Nelsen, Dorchester; nine grandchildren and spouses, Paul Dwayne Muff, Lincoln, William Douglas and Stacey Muff, Springfield, Scott James and Kristin Muff, Omaha, Christopher Michael and Melinda Witkowicz, Fremont, Calif., Shawny and Tommy Hicks, Dorchester, Dusty and Laura Nelsen, Pilot Point, Texas, Lacey and Matthew Rinlee, Mansfield, Texas, Caley Nelsen, Columbus, Tana Nelsen and Bart Miller, Kearney; 11 great grandchildren, Jacob and Tate Muff, Scotty and Paul Muff, Gracyn and Cort Hicks, Emmersen and Dempsy Nelsen, Cutter and Lucchese Rinlee, Trigg Miller; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Virgil Nelsen, Friend, R.D. Flannigan, Tremont, Ill., Marion Nelsen, Houston, Texas; nieces, nephews. Preceded in death by parents; sister, brother-in-law, Donna and Robert Schweitzer; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, Bonnie Nelsen, Fern Flannigan, LuElma and Earl Ferguson, Melvin Nelsen, Ardis and Lloyd Noeller, Jim Nelsen.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at United Church of Christ, Friend, Rev. Ken Leischner. Visitation: Wednesday, noon-8 pm, with the family greeting relatives and friends, 6-8 pm, Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend and one-hour prior to service at church. Memorials designated, directed to family. Full obituary, condolences at www.laubermoore.com.

Countywide Flag Retirement Set For Friday Evening

The Dorchester American Legion, Post 264, will hold its  annual Saline County flag retirement ceremony Friday night, June 14.

The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., with a covered dish dinner following the services. 

All area residents, color guards, Legion Auxiliary units and Sons of American Legion members are welcome and urged to attend this very patriotic event.

Plan on coming early and bringing your unserviceable U.S. flags.  

More than 700 flags are expected to be retired.

For more information, call Larry Kaspar at (402) 946-6711 or Rich Kasl (402) 946-7651.

Dorchester Man Wins $1 Million Powerball Prize

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Darold Kempston of Dorchester recently won $1

million playing Nebraska Powerball.  See the Nebraska Lottery's release here.

According to the Journal Star article, Darold purchased his winning ticket at Casey’s General Store, 301 W. 13th St. in Crete. The five-play ticket contained one play with all five white ball numbers (2, 11, 22, 26, 32) from the June 8 drawing.  He wasted no time claiming his prize, arriving at Nebraska Lottery headquarters on Monday morning after the drawing.  Darold told lottery officials that he purchases the same Powerball numbers each week.

“First thing Sunday morning I checked the website, and there were my numbers,” Kempston said. “Then I got my tickets out of the car to make sure I’d bought one with those numbers. It was quite a surprise.” He plans to pay bills, purchase a new truck and save what's left.

The odds of winning $1 million playing Powerball are 1 in 5,153,633. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 31.8.

UPDATE: New Village Logo Now On Water Tower

Crews have finished painting the village's logo on Dorchester's new water tower.  

Those driving west on Highway 33, as well as those in town on on south on Highway 6, have a clear view of the logo and lettering.

"This will be a great first step in re-branding Dorchester's public image for the new century," said one community leader earlier this spring.

The new village water tower is located in the southeastern corner of town near the rail line. 

The new tower offers a much more modern appearance compared to the older structure.

Records show that Dorchester's old water tower has been in its current location since the late 1880's. 

The old tower's appearance has changed little since the turn of last century, according to research by the Times staff.

When the old tower is removed, it will certainly mark the end of an era.  

Dorchester's modern-day water system was established in 1914 after citizen's approved a $15,000 water works bond.  It is surmised that the old tower was erected prior to that time, although the structure has undergone several upgrades and renovations.