Where Do You Stand On Bringing Back Dorchester Football?

UPDATE: When it comes to the possible return of high school football to Dorchester on Friday nights, it appears Times readers are solidly on board with the idea.  An online survey of Times readers, conducted from Sept. 23 through 3 p.m. today, shows that nearly three-quarters (73.53%) of respondents want football to return to Dorchester, even if only in the six-man form.  That's up from 68% in 2014.  Of the 68 readers who answered the survey, only 20% opposed bringing back DHS football.  Of those, only three explained their reasons for opposition, which were: 

• "Dorchester missed the boat when a single board member swayed the entire board away from cooping sports with Friend."

• "The team won't have the full support of the teachers!"

and

• "No, don't have any interest in watching 6 man teams. The scoring is completely different and it is not as exciting. It's only a matter of time before these small schools that do play 6 man will be forced to consolidate with other schools anyway. So I don't see the need for the unnecessary costs and wasted time."

When asked if they supported the expansion of six-man football in the state, nearly 8 in ten readers (79.41%) said yes.

Developing...

As we reported earlier this week, the Times has learned from reliable sources that Dorchester leaders are seriously exploring bringing back six-man football to Dorchester High School in time for the 2018 football season.

DPS Superintendent Daryl Schrunk has informed our readers that this Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the school library, there will be a parent meeting to discuss bringing football back to Dorchester. 

Dorchester has been without a football team of its own since 2013, as fewer enrolled boys in grades 9-12 and decreased participation rates raised questions whether a viable 8-man team could be fielded. 

Now it seems six-man football is gaining popular support in our corner of the state, and the revival of Longhorn football at Nerud Field is a real possibility next season.

Dorchester Area About To Get Gorgeous Autumn Weather

Tired of the hot, humid weather? Don't sweat it -- a change is coming in Dorchester's weather, ushering out summer temps that have dominated September.

According to AccuWeather -- the official forecasting service of the Times -- our area won't see temps get above 75 again until next week, as an early autumn cool front blankets our region.

Tomorrow (Monday, Sept. 25) will bring heavy rains and a high temperature of 68 degrees.  Gorgeous fall weather -- sunny and temps of upper 60s and low 70s -- with comprise the rest of the week.

See this week's forecast here. 

So what can we expect for October?

According to the Farmers Almanac, which has a good track record for its long-term weather predictions, our area will see the following for the month:

• Oct 1-9: A few showers, cool; 
• Oct 10-12: Sunny, cold; 
• Oct 13-18: Rain, then sunny, chilly; 
• Oct 19-22: Sunny, mild; 
• Oct 23-29: Rain, then sunny, cool; 
• Oct 30-31: Rain.

Want to look further ahead?

The Farmers Almanac says our winter will be milder than normal, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will be from late November into early December, from late December into early January, and in early February. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, early to mid- and late December, and early February.

REPORT: 6-Man Football May Be Returning To DHS Next Year

UPDATE: In the comments section of this post, DPS Superintendent Daryl Schrunk wrote: "On Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the school library, we will be having a parent meeting to discuss bringing football back to Dorchester. This Wednesday (9/20), I will be attending a NSAA meeting in Lincoln regarding football around the state. Also, I have visited with many superintendents around the area that are highly considering six-man football. The state could potentially have 40+ six-man teams for Fall 2018." Superintendent Shrunk notes that a decision will need to be made at or around the "October board meeting" since the DPS board will "need to approve the contract with Milford or commit to six-man football."  Superintendent Schrunk adds that he has "been in constant communication with the administration at Milford" regarding the situation, and that DHS has "been fortunate that Milford has allowed our students to play football. If we are unable to bring football back to Dorchester, we certainly would like to continue our football co-op with Milford so our students who wish to play football have that opportunity."

The Times has learned from reliable sources that Dorchester leaders are seriously exploring bringing back six-man football to Dorchester High School in time for the 2018 football season.

That's according to extremely reliable sources.

According to reports, school leaders are now gathering input from parents and students to gauge support for the idea.

One town resident and DHS parent told us that he supported starting six-man football next fall.

"The contract with Milford [allowing DHS to co-op with MHS for two more seasons] will need to be renewed or declined soon," the parent wrote in an e-mail.  "While co-oping with Milford was a worthwhile experiment, and a few kids were able to see the playing field, busing our football kids 15 minutes away has hurt our school pride and our sense of community.  Average and young Dorchester boys aren't going out.  It has hurt Dorchester's football culture.  It's time to get that back.  I want that for my son. He wants it, too."

The idea of six-man football at Dorchester is not new.  Sixty-nine years ago this fall, Dorchester resumed its football program (following an hiatus in the program following the 1930s death of a DHS player) with only eleven players going out.

In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, the Longhorns played six-man ball for ten seasons, getting better with every snap.  In fact, Dorchester's six-man teams of the 1950s were quite successful.   DHS alum Vern Johnson once told us that "the best six-man player DHS ever had was Jack Bruha, a two-year all-state player in the early 1950s."

DHS transitioned to eight-man football in 1959, when DHS went undefeated.  (Back then, Nebraska did not have a state playoff system for football.)  By 1969, Dorchester was playing 11-man football, a tradition that continued until 1991, when DHS reverted to eight-man ball and dropped in size to a Class D school.  Due to fewer enrolled boys and decreased participation rates, DHS ceased to have its own football team in 2013, when it decided to co-op with Milford.

A Times poll in 2014 found that nearly 70% of Times readers wanted to see DHS football return to Nerud Field in the form of the six-man game.  

There would be challenges to starting a six-man team at DHS -- the biggest being there are only a handful of Nebraska schools currently playing the six-man game.  Currently, 26 Nebraska schools play six-man ball, up from just 18 three years ago.

The six-man game is no longer sanctioned by the Nebraska School Activities Association, although that may change in the near future considering the large number of eight-man schools that are struggling to field a team.

Currently, a separate group oversees the scheduling, playoffs and championship for Nebraska's six-man football. That group of individuals and the membership have not indicated that they want the NSAA to take administrative control.

The nearest school to Dorchester participating in the state's Six-Man Football Association's Hampton, Deshler and Harvard.  Most of the six-man schools are much further west, but the trend is definitely moving east. 

Developing...

DHS Seniors Bird, Jensen Are 2017 Homecoming Royalty

Courtesy photo

This past Thursday, Sept. 14, Dorchester High School celebrated its 2017 homecoming by hosting a volleyball contest against next-door rival Friend.  

DHS fell to the Class D1 Bulldogs in three sets, but the Orange and Black still put up a good fight.

With two losses yesterday, Sept. 16, the Lady Longhorns volleyball team slip to 3-7 on the season, but are projected as favorites in their contest this Tuesday at Osceola.

By popular vote of the student body, senior Longhorns Jason Jensen and Makenna Bird were crowned DHS homecoming king and queen for 2017.  

The crowning ceremony capped a festive spirit week at DHS, which included theme-driven dress-up days at school and an impressive homecoming parade and pep rally at the city park.

This year marked the fourth consecutive year since the late 1940s that the traditional homecoming ceremonies were not held in coordination with a Longhorn football game.

Meanwhile, the Milford-Dorchester Eagles football team lost 47-7 on Friday evening to Bishop Neumann (Wahoo).  

Only half a dozen DHS players contribute to the combined Milford-Dorchester squad.

Rural Dorchester Girl Missing; Sheriff's Dept. Asks For Help

The Saline County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding a missing teenage girl.

The sheriff's department said 14-year-old Isabelle Magana is missing from the Dorchester area.

Isabelle is described as being 5'6" tall, between 130-135 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes.

The above are accurate pictures of Isabelle, who is a student at Dorchester Public School.

She has been missing since Thursday, September 14.

She was last seen wearing black leggings with white arrows going down the side of the legs, a black tank top and grey "DC" hat with a red bill.

She is believed to be in the rural Dorchester and Crete area.

Anyone with information about Isabelle is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff's Office at 402-821-2111 or call 911.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Dorchester FBLA Members Win State Fair Awards

DHS FBLA Members Win State Fair Awards: Congratulations are due to Dorchester High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students and their achievements at the Nebraska State Fair.  According to media reports, Kyra Creamer took home two second place finishes in PowerPoint and Computer Graphics. She received a $50 scholarship for each event. Jaki Acosta and Haley Weber received a third place finish. They each received a $25 scholarship.  The community applauds the continued growth and achievements of Dorchester's FBLA chapter.

DHS Homecoming Parade Tonight: It's homecoming week at Dorchester. The 2017 DHS Homecoming Parade will take place tonight (Wednesday) around 6:15 p.m., with the parade beginning at the school and finishing at the park for a cook out.  Alumni, parents and all community members are encouraged to participate!

Dorchester Dump Site Open for Fall Yard Waste:  Fall is a time when most homeowners are doing a lot of yard work -- raking leaves, frequent lawn mowing, tree and shrub trimming, and clearing the garden.  To dispose of yard and tree waste, the Dorchester dump site will be open Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  No trash -- just yard and tree waste is accepted.

Award Winners For Dorchester's Recent Home Improvements: West Side

When it comes to Dorchester's housing stock, sometimes, this blog is rightly criticized for focusing on the negative.  As a collective group, the Times staff believes that shining the spotlight on the most critical areas -- especially vacant or neglected properties -- is the most effective way to achieve different results.

However, we also believe it's necessary to point out the positive.

Today, we are giving our "Home Improvement Awards" to three sets of homeowners on Dorchester's west side.  (Don't worry, east siders; we will soon do the same for that side of town, too.)

All three of these homes have seen dramatic improvements over the past couple of years or more recently.  We think these property owners need to be heralded and celebrated for investing in their homes and their community.

The West Side Home Improve Awards for 2017 go to:

702 Jefferson: This is one of the more impressive home improvements we've seen in some time.  The owners took an already solid home and turned it into an eye catcher, while adding a new garage.  Kudos to these proud Dorchester residents for owning and renovating a great place!

1103 Franklin: This historic home renovation deserves a standing applause.   Formerly the Fermin Rediger home, and located at the northwest corner of W. 11th and Franklin Ave., this remarkable home has been restored to its historic self.  A showcase house since it was built at the turn of last century, the house's new owners took on a major restoration by lifting the home and putting in a new foundation.  A cleaner appearing yard with underground sprinkler and a new garage sets this home apart.  What's old is amazingly new again!

1013 Jefferson:  This home was looking rather rough just a few months ago.  But new owners have invested in the home and completely turned it around, making a run-down house into a beautiful home and refurbished yard.  (We think it's a shame that the negligent property owner to the south of this house doesn't clean the property or sell it -- but we urge village officials and neighbors to continue to pursue a clean-up solution.)

Dorchester's Wayne Hansen Passes At Age 86; Services Monday

Wayne M. Hansen, 86, died September 8, 2017. Wayne was born November 20, 1930 to Ted and
Maude Hansen in rural Webster County. He was educated at Rural School District 62 near Red Cloud, Nebraska. During his youth, Wayne became active in 4-H and began raising turkeys. It was during this time he earned his nickname Turk. He attended high school at Red Cloud where he was active in F.F.A. He graduated as salutatorian in 1948. To pursue his love of farming Wayne attended college at the University of Nebraska. He was a fraternity member of Alpha Gamma Rho while he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in agriculture in 1952. It was while he was at UNL he met Velma Stehlik.

Wayne served in the Army from 1952-1954. Most of his duty was in Germany where he conducted various meteorology tests. He and his army buddies spent many weekends traveling through Europe. Following his time in service, Wayne returned to UNL and served as a graduate assistant.

Wayne and Velma were married July 25, 1954 and resided in Lincoln where Wayne was a graduate assistant in the agronomy college at UNL. Soon the couple moved to Dorchester where Wayne began his farming operation and raised cattle. Wayne and Velma raised four children. The young couple was named as the Grange Farm Family of the Year in 1958. Wayne truly loved farming but always made time for travel. At the end of each summer a family vacation was taken. He and Velma also enjoyed countless trips in their retirement. Highlights of their travels were an Alaskan cruise and a trip to Europe.

Christian faith was important to Wayne so he was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Dorchester where he served on many levels. Wayne was also active in his community serving with many organizations: Grange, Farm Bureau (local, county and state levels), Exeter Feeders and Breeders, and the American Legion. His love of education continued throughout his life. He pursued additional education by taking classes at Milford Tech. Wayne also served on the Dorchester School Board for 12 years. He was on the board of directors for Production Credit Association and for Southeast Community College at Beatrice. Wayne was a member and served as president for the Upper Big Blue NRD. Hansen also served on the Saline County Zoning board. Wayne was bestowed the honor of being Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska; Nebraska's highest honorary title by approval of former Governor James Exon.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, Velma, three daughters Amy of Dorchester, Brenda (Jeff) Raymond of Seward and Marla (Mike) Weber of Friend and son Matt (Donna) Hansen of Dorchester, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, sister Mae Koch of Spencer, Iowa, brother Phil (Marlene) Hansen of Red Cloud and sister Phyllis (Rocky) Vasquez of Seward, nieces, nephews, and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Elton and brother-in-law Richard Koch.

Special thanks go to the devoted, caring staff at Tabitha in Crete.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 on Monday, September 11,2017 at the Dorchester United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Paixao Baptista officiating. Visitation with family greeting friends on Sunday from 5-7 PM at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Interment will be at Dorchester Cemetery. Memorial gifts in his memory can be made to the United Methodist Church or the Dorchester Community Foundation. Condolences may be left at kunclfh.com.

This Saturday Brings 'Massive Gun Auction' To Downtown Dorchester

Autumn is auction time in Nebraska.  

And a big one is coming to Dorchester this Saturday, Sept. 9.

According to social media accounts, the Dorchester American Legion will hold a 'massive gun auction' and sportsman/outdoorsman auction beginning at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9 as a fundraiser for the Legion.

The Legion's sale bill reports there will be rifles, shotguns, military items, decoys, silver coins, and much more.

According to the Legion's social media posts, there is still time to place an item on this auction.  

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

Buyers are encourage to click here to keep an eye on items.

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

Eyesore On 9th & Jefferson Sold To Local Investors

Courtesy Photo

This blog has made no secret about our staff's opinions regarding vacant and abandoned houses.

While there are about two dozen truly neglected properties in Dorchester -- all of which are in need of immediate repair or removal -- perhaps no site has commanded more community attention that the long-abandoned home at the intersection of Jefferson and 9th streets.  This is due primarily to the house's proximity from Dorchester Public School on a well-traveled street.

Earlier this year, we reported that this home at 813 Jefferson posed a real threat to human health due to its condition and the critters that currently call it home.  (We also made this property the butt of our April Fools joke.)

Recently, an e-mail sent to the Times reported that the property had been sold to investors who are considering their options to build new family housing.  According to the e-mail, "this only happened because the investors" -- a Dorchester family -- "had the initiative" to approach the property owner.

At this point, those are all the details we have.  But we thought the development was worth reporting considering the property's history.  (According to sources, the village government tried to demolish the structure a few years ago, but a judge intervened saying that "improvements were being made."  Now, years later, the house's chimney has collapsed and the roof is caving in.)

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for communities looking to reinvent themselves. Dorchester residents and those with deep Dorchester ties know what is best for the community.  It's good to see fellow residents step up to the plate and make change happen instead of waiting for government or others to solve the problem.

If this development is true, and the home has indeed been sold to investors in our community who plan to redevelop this property, this action could likely be a catalyst, causing other negligent property owners to finally sell their properties that are prime for redevelopment.