This Saturday Night: DVFD 100th Anniversary Dinner & Dance

Dorchester's very own volunteer fire department is celebrating its 100th anniversary celebration. 

It's difficult to believe our community could survive without the DVFD for 32 years after the village's official incorporation.

To celebrate our town's brave first responders, a 100th anniversary celebration is planned for Saturday, June 28 at Tabor Hall. 

A tremendous dinner will be provided by Bodacious Butts and Bones, beginning at 6 p.m. 

The band Silas Creek will be playing from 8 p.m. until midnight. DHS alum Anne Kovar Tidblom is a member of the band, so be sure to catch them. Hottest act since Elvis, we are told.

Meal is a free-will donation. Cash bar. 

For those who cannot attend, but would like to mail a donation, just send it to:

DVFD 

P.O.Box 36

Dorchester, NE  68343 

All donations will go towards the purchase of new equipment.

Dorchester Fireworks Sales Begin Wednesday

Here's a reminder to area residents: Dorchester firework sales will begin Wednesday, June 25, just south of the Dorchester Fire Hall.  

All proceeds go to support the Dorchester community fireworks show on July 4.

Also, $1 Husker football raffle tickets will be sold at the fireworks stand.  The tickets have been donated by First State Bank - Dorchester Branch.  

Winner of the Husker tickets will be announced July 4 at 10 p.m. at Nerud Field.  Need not be present to win. 

Dorchester's 4th of July celebration depends on private support. Dorchester area residents and friends of Dorchester are encouraged to send their donations to: 

First State Bank

4th of July Celebration

P.O. Box 264

Dorchester, NE 68343

10/11 Story Captures More Farm Losses From June Hail Storm

Need more proof that the recent hail storms, which hit the Dorchester earlier this month, will have a significant economic toll on our area?

We missed this 10/11 News story that aired a couple days after the June 3 storm -- so we're sharing it with you today.

In the 10/11 story and video, Dorchester farmer and feed yard owner Joel Weber looks upon what was once a massive field of corn, and not a single stock stands.

The 10/11 reporter says: "His field is leveled and muddy, and there's little to no hope his crop will be saved."

Weber says, "I just have to move on to make smart decisions to get me through the next 15 months to make up for this."

The story goes on to report that if damage is bad enough many ranchers will have the option to re-plant, but crop specialists say most crops would only yield around 50 to 55% of its potential during harvest.

Moreover, experts note that stressed plants will be more susceptible to disease later in the growing season.

As we know all too well, in rural Nebraska communities, main street always mirrors the farm economy.  Let's hope the rest of the growing season is kind to our area farmers.

Riley Zahourek Scores A Dozen In All-Star Contest

More members of the DHS Class of 2014 continue to shine.

Recent Dorchester High School graduate Riley Zahourek scored a dozen points to help ensure a 75-71 victory for the West team in the Southeast Nebraska All-Star boy’s basketball game on Saturday night at the SCC Truman Center in Beatrice.

Zahourek was a standout player at DHS, graduating in May.

It's worth noting that Zahourek's 12 points were the second-highest point total for the West squad.

Beatrice graduate, Rylee Zimmerman, scored a game-high 23 points and was named the Most Valuable Player.  

Drew Tenopir of Wilber-Clatonia added ten for the West team.  

Kyla Brummett Recognized By U.S. Achievement Academy

Recent DHS graduate Kyla Brummett has been recognized by the United States Achievement Academy as a student of excellence in academics and named to the honor roll. 

According to a release we received, this is quite a high honor.

The Academy recognizes fewer than 10 percent of U.S. high school students.

Brummett was nominated by Diane Fisher, her teacher and guidance counselor. 

She is the daughter of Randy and Kelly Brummett of Dorchester.  

She is the granddaughter of John and Rita Brummett of Dorchester and Sam and Sharon Day of Crete.

Alternatives Do Exist For Street Paving

The little town of Bennet -- just southeast of Lincoln -- has fewer people than Dorchester.

The tiny village of Sprague, east of Crete, has only about a quarter of the residents that Dorchester claims.

Yet both these communities have paved streets. How did they afford it?

A couple of weeks ago, we took a trip to Bennet (see the picture with this article) and Sprague to study their street surfaces.  While some of the town streets were paved with good old-fashioned concrete, several streets were surfaced with a process in which a foundation of asphalt had been covered with small, crushed rock.

It's certainly more affordable than regular pavement.  And it holds up to the elements better.  Best of all, no pot holes, no dust, no washboards.  

As far as we can tell, the process is called "chip sealing." Asphalt pavement deteriorates in time because of the vehicle loads, tire wear, sun and weather.  A chip seal helps seal the surface and provides an armor coat for skid and weather resistance.  

The best aspect of chip sealing is simple economics.  The cost is about $60,000 per mile.  At that cost, we could address many of Dorchester's most heavily traveled streets.

We hope that Dorchester leaders will keep exploring options to address our streets, including considering asphalt covered with crushed rock. 

Our town's corridors are more than just surfaces we drive on -- they also impact our town's housing and the amount of investment people are willing to spend on the property they own.

Deadlines Nearing To File For Village Board

It's an election year. That means if you are considering running for the Dorchester Village Board, or filing for re-election, now is your time.  It's time to get your campaign in order.

More importantly, it's time to file to ensure your name is on the November 4 ballot.

Three of the five village board seats are up for election this year.

If you want to run for the town board and you currently don't hold public office, you have until August 1 to file with the Saline County Clerk and Election Commissioner.

Incumbents must file no later than July 16 -- less than a month away.

Those seeking election or re-election must submit the proper paperwork to the Saline County Clerk and Elections Commissioner. 

Additional information can be obtained by calling (402) 821-2374 or e-mailing clerk@saline.nacone.org.

A Look At Dorchester In 1932

The Times has located another stellar photo providing a fantastic glimpse of our main street (Washington Avenue) as it appeared around 1932. 

The picture is featured on a postcard currently being offered on eBay.  Just click on the photo for a closer view.

The focal point of the photo is Dorchester's old Citizen State Bank building -- the present-day home of the village government -- on the west side of main street, between 7th and 8th Streets. At the time of the picture, the building also housed the Post Office (the far west end) and the Masonic and Good Fellows Hall (second floor).

Pay special attention to the beautiful architecture above the building's windows, as well as the gorgeous oak doors gracing the entryway of the bank. ("Wouldn't that be fantastic if we could get it looking that way again?" commented one Times staff member.)

Next door, just north of the bank, readers can clearly see that William Freidell's Grocery and Dry Goods Store is having a big "unloading sale." The glass store fronts that continue up the street show that Dorchester was a hub of business activity and free enterprise. However, it appears that the businesses were all closed when the picture was taken, since only a few piles of snow and a single horse and buggy occupy the street.

We are glad to see that Dorchester's main street once again has a strong pulse -- thanks to businesses like Donna's Hair Creations, City Slickers, Tyser Welding and Repair and Auto Sales, and others.

Let's support these businesses and keep the progress going.

Postal Survey: Is Dorchester's Post Office Worth Keeping?

Is Dorchester's Post Office worth keeping?

That's the question asked by a new U.S. Postal Service survey mailed to all Dorchester residents. It's all part of the USPS' POST plan that aims to close and consolidate rural post offices around the country.

According to the letter sent to Dorchester postal customers, the Dorchester Post Office is among the offices being evaluated, which is why community input is being sought.

The USPS notes that unless the community postal customers indicate a strong preference (over 60%) for conducting a discontinuance study for the Dorchester Post Office, the USPS plans to maintain the town's post office with six hours of window service each weekday.

The survey must be returned no later than July 8.  So if keeping the town's post office is important to you, you are encouraged to fill out the survey and indicate you want to see the post office kept open.  

Residents are also asked to provide additional comments on the survey.  Some residents have told us they urged the USPS to alter the Dorchester Post Office hours to better serve those individuals and couples who work outside of town.

In addition to the survey, the USPS will also hold a meeting at the Dorchester Community Building on July 22 at 3 p.m. to answer questions and provide additional information about the plan.  The survey results will be shared at this meeting, but a final decision regarding Dorchester's Post Office won't be announced until sometime after the July 22 meeting.

Dorchester In Severe Weather Watch For Saturday PM

Less than two weeks since Dorchester was rocked by two waves of golf ball size hail and 80 mph winds, our area is in another severe weather watch.

The Dorchester area has good chance of seeing strong t-storms, some very severe; these storms could bring downpours, large hail, damaging winds, and a tornado, according to forecasters.

Keep updated frequently by checking the Times and by clicking here.

An advisory has posted by the National Weather Service:

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDTFOR JOHNSON...GAGE...SALINE...SEWARD...WESTERN OTOE...JEFFERSON...LANCASTER...SOUTHWESTERN CASS AND PAWNEE COUNTIES...

AT 120 AM CDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINEEXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF VALPARAISO TO NEAR LINCOLN TONEAR STERLING TO 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF BLUE SPRINGS TO NEAR OKETO...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

HAZARD...70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...EXPECT CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE. DAMAGE IS LIKELY TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND OUTBUILDINGS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...LINCOLN...BEATRICE...SEWARD...CRETE...FAIRBURY...WAVERLY...MILFORD...WILBER...TECUMSEH...HICKMAN...WYMORE...FRIEND...UTICA...BENNET...FIRTH...DORCHESTER...GREENWOOD...PALMYRA...DE WITT AND CORTLAND.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS... HIGHWAY 136 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 141 AND 211. HIGHWAY 2 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 466 AND 478. HIGHWAY 77 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILEMARKERS 1 AND 77. INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 366 AND 415.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF ABUILDING.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING WIDESPREADWIND DAMAGE IN THE WARNED AREA. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDYSTRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

Flag Retirement Ceremony Set For This Saturday Evening

The Dorchester American Legion, Post 264, will hold its annual Saline County flag retirement ceremony this Saturday evening, 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 bring your unserviceable U.S. flags.  

Hundreds of flags are expected to be retired.

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

Check Out This Available Home In Dorchester Today

Dorchester is a great small town. And we're getting noticed for all the right reasons. Just consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• A brand new K-12 school.
• A clean, peaceful and safe community.
• A new water system and new sewer system.
• The lowest school tax levy in the county.
• Affordable cost of living.
• One of the largest agri-businesses (Farmers Cooperative) in the state.
• Friendly, helpful neighbors.
• A 10-minute drive from many employers in Crete and Seward. And only 30 minutes to jobs in Lincoln. Located next to two highways and minutes from Interstate 80.

However, one challenge facing Dorchester is housing.  We've heard from many readers who've said they would like to move to Dorchester, if only homes were available.

Today, we showcase the latest Dorchester home available right now.  If you're ready to call Dorchester home, we encourage you to take a look.  Make Dorchester your home and grow with our community.

1013 Washington Ave.:  If you like small town living, this is the house for you. On a paved street.  This home will be up for auction on Wednesday,June 25, 2014, at 7 p.m.
Auction will be held at the property -- 1013 Washington Ave.  2013 Real Estate taxes —$813.60.  Built in 1901 with 1464 sq. ft., this house has 3 bedrooms and large kitchen. Roof is 3 years old, A/C is approx. 6 yrs. and  furnace is 10-12 yrs. Is located on corner lot with a 2 stall garage. Call for appointment to view and more details. Terms: 20% down the day of the auction. Balance due at closing, on or before July 28, 2014. Click here for more information.

Dorchester Property Owners See Property Tax Valuations Fall 6%

The Dorchester Times is one of the only sources of local media, online or otherwise, that frequently publicizes reports on property taxes.

We usually bring you the bad news.  Today, it's good news we share -- at least for homeowners.  And we want to give credit where credit is due.

Dorchester property owners should have by now received notice that within the village, property assessments have seen a 6% decrease in improvements and buildings.  That means that a homeowner that previously had a house with an assessed value of $125,000 will now see their assessed value drop to around $117,500 for tax year 2014. 

That will mean some sizeable savings when the property tax bill arrives.

Why the drop in assessed values in Dorchester? We can think of one main reason: the original Keystone oil pipeline that runs through our school district.  You can thank TransCanada for your drop in property taxes.

Meanwhile, the news isn't as good for farmers and farm land owners.  Saline County farm land owners saw very large increases in land valuations, since ag property was revised using prices from ag land sales from October 2010 through September 2013.

Also, in nearby Western, that village increased valuations on improvements and buildings by a whopping 8%.

Remember that in Nebraska, the property tax is levied only by local governments -- mostly school districts, counties, cities, and NRDs.  The tax on real estate is levied based on the actual or market value of the real estate.  Most is assessed at 100% of actual value, but ag land has been assessed at only 75% of actual value since 2007.

Recall our story from last summer that showed Crete and Friend school districts have significantly higher property tax levies than Dorchester.  

Omaha TV Station Covers Crop Damage Around Dorchester

When your rural community and the surrounding area make Omaha's TV news for weather,

that's not a good thing.

Yesterday, KETV Channel 7 came to Dorchester to report on damage caused by this week's hail storm, especially when it comes to crops. 

Channel 7 interviewed Dorchester area farmer Mike Nohavec, who is one of several producers across a good section of the state who are now playing the waiting game with insurance companies.

The story goes like this:  "Mike Nohavec raises corn on a 1,000-acre farm near Dorchester. 'Almost every acre got hit with hail,' he said. 'It was like someone hitting the side of the house with a sledge hammer.'

"Nohavec has to wait five days after the storm for insurance companies to determine if a field is a total loss or if enough plants can survive to salvage a crop. ... In Saline County, University of Nebraska at Lincoln extension specialist Randy Pryor is helping another farmer take a preliminary count of how one of his fields stands.  'The magnitude of this storm is what makes it unique, with the extent of the hail damage throughout the area,' Pryor said.

"If the entire field is totaled, then farmers would have to decide if it's too late to get a new crop planted, one that would not be insured. 'We're basically looking at harvest on that corn in late November to early December for maturity reasons,' Nohavec said."

Times readers can see the video by going to this link: http://www.ketv.com/news/farmers-await-word-on-crop-damage-from-storm/26352316#ixzz33sBXokm2

Damage In Saline County Estimated Over $1 Million

More from all the damage in Dorchester, Wilber and other parts of Saline County caused by Tuesday's hail and wind storms.

The Journal Star reports that in Saline County, Wilber, Dorchester and Crete saw the worst hail damage, said B.J. Fictum, the county's emergency management director. Tobias and Western also suffered minor storm damage.

Fictum estimated the hail damage at "hundreds of thousands of dollars," and that does not include any agricultural damage.

"Basically, anything on the north side of a house or business is gone," Fictum said.

See the story here.

June 3 Storms Do Considerable Damage In Saline County

Dorchester and the surrounding area suffered considerable damage in Tuesday night's hail and wind storms, which came in two separate waves.

Pictures published with this posting are from the Dorchester and Wilber areas, as posted on social media. (Readers can click on the images for a better view.)

Still, all things considered, Dorchester fared much better than some other areas of Nebraska, including Blair, where at least one dozen were injured by baseball sized hail, and parts of Omaha, where residents were being evacuated by boats, according to the news wires and the Lincoln Journal Star.

In north-central Nebraska, where the severe storms first fired up around noon Tuesday, hail chased scouts off a river and wind tipped a truck along a highway.

In northeast Nebraska, pictures of hail the size of tennis balls emerged from Norfolk, and later, we saw hail-damaged homes in Plainview and car after car minus windows on an auto dealer's lot in Blair. 

There were water rescues and evacuations in Omaha, as some parts of town were drenched with 4 inches of rain in less than three hours, the weather service said.

There were tornado warnings in the Nebraska Panhandle and across parts of central Nebraska. Radar indicated a tornado on the ground west of Beatrice beginning about 10 p.m., but it lifted before reaching the city and hadn't caused any reported damage.

The story of the day was the extensive hail damage and the flooding in Omaha.

Blair was among the areas pounded by hail, with the Woodhouse Auto Family of dealerships tweeting that 4,500 vehicles in their $152 million inventory were damaged.

Blair City Manager Rod Storm said hail “broke most of the windows out of everything.”

Electrical power has been restored to all but a few hundred customers in eastern Nebraska who lost electricity when powerful thunderstorms rolled through.

Omaha Public Power District says that, as of 8:25 a.m. Wednesday, 859 customers still had no power. Spokesman Mike Jones says the number rose Wednesday morning because power was cut to more than 730 customers in one area so a tree could be removed from some wires. The outages peaked at more than 5,100 around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Nebraska Public Power District said 122 customers in Craig and 747 customers Tekamah have no power. Both cities are in northeastern Nebraska.

Norris Public Power District said about 100 customers in DeWitt, Lewiston and other areas don't have power, down from around 3,500 who lost electricity during the storms.

Developing...

Weather Warning: Tornado Watch Through 1 A.M. Wednesday

The Dorchester area is included in a tornado watch extending through 1 a.m. Wednesday.

** UPDATE, 8:53 p.m. -- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SALINE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA... SAUNDERS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA... SEWARD COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA... LANCASTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA... BUTLER COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

* UNTIL 930 PM CDT

* AT 844 PM CDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR DAVID CITY TO NEAR BEE TO NEAR EXETER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OUTDOORS WILL BE INJURED. EXPECT HAIL DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXPECT CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE. WIND DAMAGE IS ALSO LIKELY TO MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND OUTBUILDINGS.


* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LINCOLN...SEWARD...CRETE...WAHOO...WAVERLY...DAVID CITY... MILFORD...WILBER...HICKMAN...FRIEND...UTICA...BENNET...FIRTH... DORCHESTER...VALPARAISO...MEAD...DE WITT...BELLWOOD...BEAVER CROSSING AND RISING CITY.

Check the Times' weather service and this radar for the latest weather updates!

See the Journal Star's live weather updates as they happen -- including predictions of the storm movement and images of baseball size hail that has already fallen in northeast Nebraska.)

The watch area defined by the Storm Prediction Center includes almost all of central and eastern Nebraska. The Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk and Grand Island areas are at moderate risk for severe weather.

Much of the same area was under a moderate risk on Mother's Day, when a tornado blew through Beaver Crossing.

Thunderstorms will begin to develop in central Nebraska and move eastward this afternoon, said Barbara Mayes, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Valley.

Isolated supercell thunderstorms will develop first, bringing with them the potential for hail up to 2 inches in diameter and long-track tornadoes. The greatest risk for tornadoes is over central and eastern Nebraska and includes the Lincoln area.

Later, the thunderstorm clusters are expected to develop into a line. At that point, straight-line winds will be the primary concern -- potentially over hundreds of miles. The area of most concern for widespread wind damage is north of Interstate 80 in Nebraska and across Iowa.

Widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected, but some areas could see 3 to 4 inches, according to the weather service. The storm system should move out of the area by early morning Wednesday.

Dorchester Sees Construction Boom -- Again!

The summer of 2014 will be one to remember.

It appears our community of Dorchester is experiencing another construction boom, generating lots of economic activity for our village.

Dorchester's Farmers Cooperative -- one of Nebraska's largest agribusinesses -- is preparing for an massive expansion of its office headquarters, as well as another new giant silo, according to information we've received.  

Some estimates put the co-op's new construction at nearly $2 million.

This as the Nebraska Department of Roads is improving and substantially expanding its Dorchester facility just west of the grain elevators.  The expansion will at least double the size of the DOR operation here in town.

And a new agribusiness is going up right now on the south end of Dorchester.

We have also noticed several homeowners improving their homes and other residential buildings.

Not bad for a town of 615.

Local officials note that not since 2008, when the new school was built, has Dorchester seen such a fury of new construction.

Take a drive around town this week if you haven't done so recently.  You'll be impressed.

NEWS BRIEFS: Alumni Golf Outing Draws Nearly 100 Golfers

Alumni Golf Outing Raises More Than $2,500:  Those who attended last weekend's DHS alumni golf gathering enjoyed a hot but enjoyable day catching up with old schoolmates and childhood friends.  Several alumni from out of state attended, as nearly 100 DHS alumni took part in the event.  Early estimates show that more than $2,500 was raised for DHS athletics, while a similar amount went to the Friend Country Club.  Several former Longhorns also caught up in downtown Dorchester later Saturday evening.

Home Break-In Reported Friday Evening:  At least one Dorchester home was broken into and burglarized the evening of Friday, May 30.  According to reports, the break-in occurred on the far east end of town on Fulton Street.  Details are still being gathered.  Neighbors are encouraged to report all suspicious activity to the Saline County Sheriff's Department at (402) 821-2111.

Bulldozer Coming To Town?: The Times has received word that at least one neglected property -- apparently on 9th Street -- is likely to be razed soon.  According to our sources, following multiple clean-up notices from the village, the owners have failed to make the necessary repairs, and the property has now become a safety hazard.  It appears that as soon the courts give the OK, the property will come down with the help of a third party -- and their heavy equipment.  Stay tuned.

Longtime DPS Superintendent Galen Johnson Passes At 80

Longtime Dorchester Public School Superintendent Galen L. Johnson, 80, of Lincoln, died Saturday, May 31, 2014, the Times has learned. 

Born June 25, 1933 in Marysville, Kan. to John and Alice Johnson, Galen was the fourth of six children.  A career educator, Galen graduated from Axtell, Kan. High School in 1951 and the University of Nebraska in 1956. 

Galen started his career in Bradshaw, Neb. as a teacher and coach 1956-57.  After serving active duty in the National Guard as a second Lieutenant from 1957-58 his career continued in St. Edward, Neb. as a teacher, coach, school principal and superintendent from 1958-69, then as superintendant for the Dorchester Public Schools from 1969 until his retirement in 1995.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather Galen loved being with his family and friends. Also a lifelong sports fan, Galen had a real passion for golf.  Member of the Mason's and Sesostris Shrine Chanters.  He enjoyed nature and travel. He was a truly gentle and loving man who will be deeply missed.

Family includes wife, Maurine; sons, Don, John (Margaret) and Greg (Karen); grandchildren, Christopher, Jason, Alex and Gabrielle: nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Galen's life will include a time of greeting with his family Tue., June 3, 5-7 p.m. and a memorial service, Wed., June 4, 11 a.m., both at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A St., Lincoln, 68510. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Christ United Methodist Church, Dorchester Methodist Church, or Great Plains Alzheimer's Assoc., 1500 S. 70th St., STE 201, Lincoln, NE 68506.