Nice Dorchester Home At 806 Fulton Set For Sept. 16 Auction

Dorchester's real estate market is hot!  As we've reported recently, with demand for small-town life growing, this village of around 600 cannot keep quality homes on the market for 24 hours. 

This comes as no big surprise since Dorchester has a lot going for it, if you prefer living in a safe, friendly and affordable community that has much potential for the future. Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A new K-12 school with some of the state's best educators. The lowest school tax levy in the county and one of the lower property rates in southeast Nebraska.

• SAFE COMMUNITY:  With a new water system and sewer system.

• LOWER COSTS: Affordable cost of living.

• KEY BUSINESS: Headquarters for one of the state's largest agri-businesses (Farmers' Cooperative) and is situated on the thriving Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line and along two major highways.

• GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE: A quick drive to many employers in Crete, Milford, Friend and Seward, and just 30 minutes to Lincoln and 10 minutes to Interstate 80.  Yet all the advantages of a rural small town.

However, one challenge facing Dorchester is available housing.  We often hear from many readers who say they would like to move to Dorchester, if only good homes were available.

Today, we are showcasing the latest Dorchester homes available right now.

If you're ready to call Dorchester home, we encourage you to take a look and make a timely offer (again, things are moving fast in this market).  Make Dorchester your home and enjoy a great small-town way of life.

806 Fulton Ave.:  This nice ranch style home, which is being offered at auction, consists of a living room/ dinning area, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, full bath, 3/4 bath, and a utility room on the main floor. The home is also sitting on an unfinished basement with lots of potential. Accompanying the home is a nice 2 stall attached garage and a utility shed.  The property consists of approximately three lots.  ALSO SELLING AT AUCTION IS 2-1/2 LOTS OF PROPERTY LOCATED BEHIND THE HOME.  Listed with Novak Auction Service, which will conduct the Sept. 16 auction to sell this property.  See the Novak Auction Service website for details.

2017 DHS Volleyball Season Now Underway

The Dorchester High School volleyball team's 2017 campaign is now underway.

Last Thursday, the Lady Longhorns kicked off the season with a very competitive match at Class D-1 East Butler, as DHS lost a squeaker in five sets by scores of: 26-24, 21-25, 25-19, 13-25, 15-12.

This year, there are high expectations, with key returning sophomores and seniors, along with talented freshmen, donning the orange and black -- representing their school.  

Bottom line: It appears the mighty DHS will field a very competitive volleyball team in 2017.

This week, Dorchester will play in a triangular at Weeping on Thursday, Aug. 31, as the Lady Longhorns take on Class C-2 Palmyra and Class D-1 Weeping Water.

The Lady Longhorns are looking to continue a culture of winning traditions under fifth-year head coach Ty Peteranetz and very capable assistant coaches.  

Coach Peteranetz is a self-described "transplanted, Colorado-born Husker fan" who moved to Nebraska in 2011 after 30 years in Colorado to be a volleyball coach.  He teaches Dorchester's fourth grade.

Here's a look at this year's DHS volleyball schedule:

2017 DHS Volleyball Schedule

08/24/17 @ East Butler -- Lost
08/31/17 Palmyra -- Triangular (host: Weeping Water)
08/31/17 Weeping Water -- Triangular (host: Weeping Water)
09/05/17 Parkview Christian -- Triangular (host: Parkview Christian)
09/05/17 College View Academy -- Triangular (host: Parkview Christian)
09/07/17 Hampton -- Triangular (host: Hampton)
09/07/17 Giltner -- Triangular (host: Hampton)
09/14/17 Friend
09/16-09/16 -- BDS Tourney (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Shickley
09/19/17 @ Osceola 
09/21/17 High Plains Community -- Triangular (host: Shelby/Rising City)
09/21/17 Shelby/Rising City -- Triangular (host: Shelby/Rising City)
09/23/17 -- Nebraska Lutheran Tourney (4-Team Round Robin) Waco
09/26/17 Sterling
09/28/17 Diller-Odell -- Triangular (host: Diller-Odell)
09/28/17 Meridian -- Triangular (host: Diller-Odell)
10/05/17 Cross County -- Triangular (host: Dorchester)
10/05/17 Exeter-Milligan -- Triangular (host: Dorchester)
10/10/17 McCool Junction -- Triangular (host: Dorchester)
10/10/17 BDS -- Triangular (host: Dorchester)
10/14-10/17 -- Crossroads Conference Tournament (2/3-Day Tournament) York
10/24/17 @ Tri County  
10/26/17 Nebraska Lutheran

FLASHBACK: Results From Our 2014 Community Survey

In August 2014, we asked Dorchester area residents to take our community survey.

The was idea was to help community members get a better pulse of our village and its future needs.  

Nearly 100 respondents took the survey (96 to be exact).

Today, three years later, we look back on our survey and see what, if any, progress has been made.

2014 DORCHESTER TIMES COMMUNITY SURVEY

SUMMARY:

• A strong majority (75%) thinks it is "very important" for Dorchester to grow its population.
• To encourage population growth, most respondents said new housing and new businesses were key.
• Dorchester's close proximity to larger towns and its school are top selling points, most respondents said.
• Unpaved streets are a key factor in keeping Dorchester from reaching its full potential, most respondents said.

Here is a look at each question we asked, followed by the answers chosen:

How important is it for Dorchester to grow its population? (One answer)

"Very important" -- 75.0%

"Somewhat important" -- 18.8%

"Not important" -- 6.3%

How would you encourage new population growth in Dorchester? (Multiple choice)

"Work with young people to plan Dorchester's future" -- 30.9%

"Bring in new housing" -- 48.9%

"Start recruiting new businesses" -- 50%

"Recruit DHS grads back to the area" -- 13.8%

"Offer incentives for people to relocate, such as free lots on which to build" -- 26.6%

What is Dorchester best selling point? (Multiple choice)

"It's clean, quiet and safe" -- 28.1%

"Affordable cost of living" -- 30.2%

"Character of those who live here" -- 22.9%

"Proximity to larger towns and cities" -- 53.1%

"Its small, quality school and programs for kids" -- 37.5%

Which factor is keep Dorchester from reaching its full potential? (One answer)

"Lack of new housing options" -- 12.5%

"Unpaved streets" -- 41.7%

"Too few employers in town or near by" -- 15.5%

"The loss of young people after high school" -- 18.8%

Main Street Improvement Of The Month: Dorchester Fire Hall

The Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department's building gets our award for main street improvement project of the month.

An out-of-town painting crew worked hard this past weekend to paint the fire hall.  And the difference is turning heads. 

The new paint job is the first noticeable exterior improvement to the fire hall since 2008, when a stone and brick marker was erected by Klein Construction. That marker recognizes the year in which the DVFD was established (1914), and was built using the Ed Smith Memorial Fund.

The volunteers of the Dorchester Fire and Rescue Department make a big sacrifice to serve and protect the residents of our area, and the department is vital to our community.  

If you'd like to show your appreciation and donate to the DVFD, you may do so by sending a contribution to:

Dorchester Volunteer Fire Dept. 
P.O. Box 36
Dorchester, NE  68343 

UPDATE: Dorchester One Of Best Places In U.S. To See Today's Eclipse

Today, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, parts of this country will see day turn to twilight as the sun disappears behind the moon, causing the temperature drop rapidly and revealing massive streamers of light streaking through the sky around the silhouette of the moon.

Today, a relatively select swath of America will fall under the path of a total solar eclipse.  And Dorchester, Nebraska will be right in the heart of this unforgettable (and extremely rare) occurrence.

In Dorchester, the moon will be in the sun's path starting at 11:36 a.m. and continue for 2 hours, 52 minutes. The total eclipse will start at 1:01 p.m. and continue for 2 minutes, 34 seconds

To give Dorchester residents a great view and experience, there are three great options to view the eclipse in Dorchester:

* DHS Football Field: Students and community will gather at the Dorchester School football field (Nerud Field) for the event. Bring a blanket and view the eclipse from the field in your hometown. The concession stand will be open with "eclipse food" such as Starburst, Moon Pies, Sunkist, Bomb Pop Rockets, Sun Chips, and more! Hot dogs and walking tacos, as well as soda, Gatorade, and popcorn will also be served over lunch. The stand will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the proceeds going to the school library. 

* Tyser Auto Sales lot on main street.  This will be a community potluck lunch, with Greg Tyser providing pulled pork, brisket and stuffed cabbage.  Everyone is invited, and encouraged to bring goods to share will fellow eclipse watchers.  Come on out beginning just before 11:30 a.m.

* Saline County Museum: The Saline County Museum in Dorchester, just off Highway 33, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.  The museum will offer wide open space to see the eclipse.

The so-called Great American Total Solar Eclipse will darken skies all the way from Oregon to South Carolina, along a stretch of land about 70 miles (113 kilometers) wide. People who descend upon this "path of totality" for the big event are in for quite an experience.

We are fortunate that Dorchester will be one of the best places in the nation to view the Aug. 21 eclipse.

Here are the facts on the total solar eclipse in Dorchester:

• The eclipse event will begin at 11:36 a.m. on Aug. 21.
• The total eclipse (sun being fully blocked by the moon) will start at 1:01 p.m.
• The total eclipse will last roughly 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

You will need ISO- or NASA-approved eye protection to view most phases of the eclipse.  

The Times staffers are not astronomers, astrophysicists, or experts regrading the cosmos, but we know that the basics of a total eclipse are that the moon goes in between the sun and the earth -- and as the moon "moves" across the face of the sun. 

You will need to be in that path in order to see the "total" eclipse.  Dorchester is nearly in the heart of the total eclipse path.  Click here for the 2017 solar eclipse map.

Here is what one solar eclipse expert wrote:

"We cannot stress this enough -- if you're in the path, you see what is perhaps one of the most phenomenal sights that human eyes can convey to a brain! If you're not in the path, even by only a mile or so (!!!!!), you will come away wondering what in the heck we even bothered to make this site for! And you will have completely missed the whole show. People fly to the remotest deserts, jungles, islands -- frozen, desolate, and mosquito-infested places -- just to be in the path of a total eclipse. So please, please, please: walk, run, fly, drive, hike, roll, thumb, or cycle yourself into the path on eclipse day, and you will not regret it! Miss it, and you'll have to wait till the next one in the USA (not till 2024). Take it from us -- do not think that you're "close enough" to the path to see something cool. Look at the maps ... please, please get yourself there by whatever means are necessary! Even if it's 1,000 miles or more! People will come from all over the world to see this grand spectacle."

The experts encourage people to look at the eclipse videos to prepare yourself for what you'll experience.  But they warn that these videos are NOTHING compared to what you will see with your own eyes during totality.

One experienced eclipse viewer wrote this:

"I've kissed the Blarney Stone, and seen the Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, Ayers Rock, the Berlin Wall, the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, the West Edmonton Mall, the Pyramids in Egypt, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Stonehenge, the giant Sequoia Trees, Victoria Falls, Death Valley, the Panama Canal, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Meteor Crater, Yellowstone, the North Pole, the Midnight Sun over the Arctic Ocean, Shakespeare's grave, the Alps in Switzerland, the Grand Mosque in Istanbul, the geysers in Iceland, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel tower, the CN tower, Sydney Tower, Shanghai Tower, Auckland Tower, Berlin tower, the Ring at Bayreuth and the Met, the Berlin Philharmonic playing Mahler, and my kids being born -- and I'm not kidding: A total eclipse is a spectacle to rival them all."

Dorchester Receives 2.40", Major Winds During Overnight Storm

This image comes from Friend. Saline County experienced
wind gusts around 60 mph overnight, as well as torrential rain.

The wee morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 20, brought major precipitation, wind and hail to southeast Nebraska.

The Dorchester Times' official rain gauge shows 2.40" in town -- most of which was received from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

According to Saline Weather Services, storm total reports from trained spotters/observers in Saline County (as of 7 a.m. this morning) showed the following precipitation amounts:

• Dorchester: 2.23 inches
• Wilber: 2.95 inches of rain
• 4 W Wilber: 1.96 inches
• Friend: 1.60 inches
• Tobias: 0.21 inch
• Swanton: 1.70 inches
• Western: 1.17 inches

Most damaging in our area was the wind, with gusts reaching 60 miles per hour.  Several reports of downed large trees and tree limbs are flooding social media. 

While Dorchester's electricity stayed on throughout the storm, in Lincoln, Lincoln Electric System reports 16,000 customers lost power as storms rolled through the city overnight.

Chances for another severe storm are good both this afternoon and tonight.  Keep up-to-date on the weather by checking in with AccuWeather -- the official weather services of the Times.

Family Donates Governor's Proclamation Honoring PFC Havlat To Museum

Photo by Friend Sentinel

Dorchester native Charley Havlat was the last confirmed American casualty in the European Theater of World War II.

Now, a 2015 proclamation by Governor Ricketts honoring Private Havlat has been donated to the Saline County Museum in Dorchester, which is home to the historical roadside marker telling Havlat's story.  (See the Dorchester Times story from 2015 here.)

The Friend Sentinel reports, "In 2015, on the 70th anniversary of Havlat’s death, Gov. Pete Ricketts visited Havlat’s state historical marker in Dorchester to proclaim May 7 as PFC Charley Havlat Day."

Now, "Havlat’s family has donated the family’s copy of the proclamation to the Saline County Museum."

Sharon Toovey, Havlat’s niece, said they decided to make the donation after her mother’s death, along with $200 from her mother’s memorials.

“They did this proclamation to honor him,” she said. “[Ricketts] presented it to my mom and we decided to give it to the museum for his booth there.”

REMINDER: Dorchester Foundation's Golf Fundraiser For Splash Pad Is This Weekend

The Dorchester Community Foundation will soon host another fundraiser as it focuses its efforts on building a small water park in Dorchester's city park.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, the foundation will hold its second annual Dorchester Community Foundation Golf Tournament.

The golf outing will be held at the College Heights Country Club in Crete, with lunch at noon and a shotgun start at 1 p.m.  

The golf tournament is open is open to anyone who would like to support Dorchester and the foundation's water park effort.

The tournament will be a two-person scramble.  Cost is $50 per golfer or $100 per two-person team.

Price includes nine holes of golf, a cart, meal and pin prizes.

For more information, contact Linda Easley at 402-641-0564 or geasley5@windstream.net.

Make checks payable to: Dorchester Community Foundation Fund.  Mail them to Linda Easley, 294 County Road 1200, Dorchester, NE 68343.

Dorchester School To Host Open House Tonight, 6:30 to 7:30

The school bells will soon be ringing once again!

The first day of school for Dorchester, students K-12, is tomorrow (Wednesday), August 16, from 8:10 a.m. until 1:20 p.m.  (Preschool begins Monday, August 21.)

To help the kids prepare -- mentally and physically -- the school is hosting an open house this evening, August 15, from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

This open house will give students and parents a chance to meet their teachers and see their classrooms.

Also, students can bring their supplies to the open house tonight, meaning that is one less thing to worry about.

The Times wishes all Dorchester students and teachers a happy, successful 2017-18 school year.

Will Your Business Or Group Be Part Of Dorchester School's Greeting Program?

To continue community involvement at Dorchester Public School, school officials are continuing the "Monday Morning Adopt-A-Door" program to get businesses and organizations into our school.  

Here's how the program works, according to DPS Superintendent Daryl Schrunk:

• Once a month -- on a Monday morning between 7:45-8:15 a.m. -- two to four representatives (employees/volunteers) from local businesses/organizations will take turns greeting students in the entrance of the school as students are walking into the school building.  

• Each business/organization would be signed up to greet at least once during the school year and multiple times, if willing.  Volunteers are encouraged to wear their work uniform/attire to represent their business/organization.

• At approximately 8:15 a.m., a school representative will give them a tour of the school.  Please consider having personnel from your business/organization to greet students on a Monday morning.  School officials hope this is a joint effort in promoting a business/organization while also showing off the wonderful education afforded at Dorchester Public School.

Please sign up if interested in participating in this program, which will start in September. Return the form below to the school office or send to the address listed.

For questions, call (402) 946-2781.

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

We are interested in the Adopt-A-Door program at Dorchester Public School.  Please assign us to once this year / multiple times this year (circle one).

_______________________________            ___________________________

Name of Business/Organization                       Contact Name & Phone #

Please return to Dorchester Public School

           506 W. 9th Street, Box 7

           Dorchester, NE 68343

Adopt-A-Door

7:45-8:15 a.m. on the following Mondays

* Business/Organization listed below with contact(s)

Date	Business/Organization

Superintendent Plans To Grow DPS Student Enrollment; Asks For Community Help

Today, we feature another editorial from Daryl Schrunk, who gives his thoughts on Dorchester and its school after a year on the job.  Mr. Schrunk took over as superintendent of Dorchester's K-12 school at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

****

I feel honored and blessed to be in my second year serving Dorchester Public School as superintendent.  I want to thank all the students, parents, staff, board and patrons for all your support.  I look forward to another year committed to offering a quality education with many opportunities for our students in grades PK-12.

The district hired Spencer Kotas as 7th and 8th grade math/science teacher; Alison Nickel as preschool teacher; Leanne Josoff as preschool para; and Kim Petrzilka as head cook.  I would encourage everyone to take some time to introduce yourself and welcome them to the district.

K-12 enrollment for 2017-18 is projected to mirror 2016-17 (approximately 170 students).  It is good to at least maintain similar numbers as last year.  However, we are still down quite a few students from just a few years ago (185-190 students).  Although, I am encouraged by the projected future enrollment from our Census report, I believe we must continue to seek ways to increase enrollment.   

One of my goals last year was to start a school-based preschool.  As you know, we were fortunate to get a three-year grant from Nebraska Department of Education.  I am very excited for this opportunity for our community.  However, it is just a piece of the puzzle to increase and maintain enrollment.

Like I have stated before (in previous articles), my goal is to average 15-16 students per grade level, which would give us a K-12 enrollment of 195-208 students.   One of my superintendent goals that I have presented to the board of education is to increase enrollment with these plans: 

• Seek option enrollment students (explore marketing opportunities).
• Not losing students opting into other districts.
• Students who have opted out return to district.
• Lots of conversations have been taking place around the community.  I sense movement in housing development taking place, which is good for the school and community.   

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and recognize the Dorchester Board of Education.  They are very committed to providing Dorchester children with a quality education, yet being mindful and prudent with taxpayer’s money.  

A huge goal of their's is to "maintain clean, safe, attractive facilities that foster a positive learning environment."  We are fortunate to have such a beautiful facility, but we must continue to replace and repair things in a timely manner.  The board has also recently approved the purchase of more technology for the students using various grant funds. 
  
This year's DPS Board of Education is comprised of the following individuals: Matt Hansen, Carol Schnell, Mike Hatfield, Kelli Schweitzer, Neal Pavlish and Steve Vyhnalek.


Here’s to a successful, safe school year for our students and staff!

Daryl Schrunk

Superintendent
(402) 946-2781

dschrunk@dorchesterschool.org

Dorchester offers a quality education, supportive staff, new facilities, advanced technology and many opportunities for students in grades pre-Kindergarten through grade 12.  At Dorchester, every student truly matters.

Deadline Nears To List Items For Sale At Dorchester Legion's Sept. 9 Auction

Autumn is auction time in Nebraska.  And a big one is coming to Dorchester on Sept. 9.

The Dorchester American Legion will hold its third annual Outdoor Sportsman consignment auction beginning at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, as a fundraiser for the organization.

Consignments should be submitted by tomorrow (Friday), Aug. 11, if you want to have the item(s) you're selling listed on the auction's sale bill and other advertising.  The advertising is free to those selling items on this unique auction.

Sellers: If you have any item you'd like to sell on an auction, you're encouraged to call Tom Cerny (402.381.8049) as soon as possible. 

The auction will be held on Dorchester's main street.

The e-mail we received said there will be "guns, hunting and fishing equipment, campers, boats, jet skis, ATVs, motorcycles and much, much more."

An e-mail sent to the Times informs us that many more items will be added to the auction list, and that the lineup of offering will go far beyond "outdoor items," including antiques, electronics and even shop tools and equipment.  

Because this is a fundraising event, the Dorchester Legion will keep small percentage of the final sale price, we are told.  

Auction services are being donated by Novak Auction for the Legion free of charge.

This is your chance to free up some space and earn some cash, too.
 

Readers Ask: Where Can We Purchase Dorchester Road Sign Shirt?

When you have Dorchester on your chest, you're plain cool.  

Everyone knows it.

And whether Dorchester is your hometown or you are just a fan, you'll enjoy this City Limit road sign shirt.

The Times has been hit with requests from readers asking where they can purchase the Dorchester shirt shown here.  

The picture was originally posted on our Vil Dweller Facebook account.

So today we're letting folks know how they can get their own shirt.

It should be noted that the Times and its staffers are in no way affiliated with Zazzle -- the company selling this shirt -- nor can we be held liable for any transaction with the business.  We are simply letting readers know how they can buy this shirt for themselves.

Cost is $18.95 per shirt, according to the website, although it appears that customers can get 15% off by using a code.

See the website by clicking here.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Dorchester Renews Law Enforcement Agreement

Dorchester Will Pay Saline County $11,720 For Law Enforcement:  The Friend newspaper reports the Saline County commissioners recently approved new law enforcement contracts with the villages of Dorchester, Western and Swanton.  The contracts had been left unaltered either by the county or the villages since the 1980s and had been re-ratified each year without review.  Under the new contract, the county will charge each village $20 per person, using the 2010 census data, in exchange for law enforcement duties by the sheriff’s department. The contract requires the county to enforce all state statutes and village ordinances, with the exception of “such Village ordinances that pertain to maintenance or supervising of trash removal and disposal of domestic animals unless the same are proven unsafe.”  Under the agreement, the county will charge Dorchester $11,720, Western $4,700, and Swanton $1,880 annually until the 2020 Census. 

'Renew Dorchester' Announced: An organization called "Renew Dorchester" has been announced in the Crete News public notices.  According to the notice, Renew Dorchester is being formed by Jamie Karl, Chris Kirkpatrick and Deanna Bird.  We don't have any other information about this group other than that Renew Dorchester is being formed under the Nebraska Non-Profit Corporation Act, the notice says.   

Dorchester Village Board Meeting Is Monday Night:  The Dorchester Village Board will hold their regular August meeting on Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Dorchester Fire Hall.  The meeting is open to the public.

DHS Booster Club To Hold Meeting Thursday, Aug. 10

The Times has learned there will be Dorchester Booster Club meeting this coming Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

The DHS Boosters will be discussing the fall preview set for Aug. 17 and this fall's homecoming pep rally to be held on Sept. 13.

Everyone is welcome to attend the DHS Booster Club meeting, and those who attend are encouraged to bring a friend.

The DHS Booster Club is comprised of supporters of all DHS sports teams who work to raise money for much-needed supplies, equipment, uniforms, and/or capital items beyond what the school budget can provide.  Through such financial support, the Booster Club enriches DHS' extra curricular activities for both students and community members.

If you are a DHS parent, alum, or a friend of Dorchester School, you may send your contribution to the DHS Booster Club at:

DHS Booster Club
506 W 9th St., Box 7
Dorchester, NE 68343