DHS Sports Wrap-Up: First Wins For DHS Football, Volleyball Teams

Six-man players from DHS' 1949-58 teams, along with former DHS Football Coach Bill Story (front in blue shirt), at Dorchester's Aug. 24 halftime at Nerud Field.
Photo credit: Amanda Nohavec.

Here's the latest from the Times' sports ticker...

* Longhorns Beat St. Edward 48-26: For the first time since the fall of 1958, the Dorchester Longhorns have won a six-man football game.  Friday night's score from just east of Beaver Creek in Boone County was DHS 48, St. Edward 26.  The Dorchester squad, now 1-1 on the young season, appears to be learning a lot about the game in a very short amount of time, making huge strides after their season-opening loss to Walthill on August 24.  The Longhorns are back home next Friday, Sept. 7, against Hampton at 7 p.m. at Nerud Field's "Youth Night."

* DHS Volleyball Team Rolls Over Weeping Water:  In a Thursday night triangular at home, Dorchester's volleyball team picked up its first win of the new season, defeating Weeping Water, 19-25, 25-17, 25-23.  DHS fell, however, to Palmyra.  The team is now 1-2 on the season, but its two losses are to Class C2 schools.  (Dorchester is Class D2 this year.)  The coming week will be filled with solid Class D competition for the Lady Longhorns.  On Tuesday night, Sept. 4, DHS will be at Class D2 College View Academy (1-1).  On Thursday night, Sept. 6, DHS will travel to Giltner to take on the 2-0 Hornets and the Hampton Hawks (2-2). 

* Longhorn Express Carries Nearly Two Dozen To St. Edward:  We are told that a renovated bus, affectionately called the "Longhorn Express", carried roughly two dozen Dorchester football fans to St. Edward for Friday afternoon's six-man contest.  The bus is now owned by Dorchester businessman and DHS parent Greg Tyser.  We're certain St. Edward fans were envious of the dedication of the Longhorn fan base. 

* Dorchester Salutes DHS Players From 1950s -- And Their Coach:  During Dorchester football's home-opener on Aug. 24, there was a special tribute at halftime to honor DHS' six-man football players from the 1950s.  Nearly 500 fans saw the event.  Even the players' former coach -- Bill Story (now nearly 90 years old) -- was on hand.  While six-man may be new to the current generation of DHS football players, it's not new to the school.  Sixty-nine years ago this fall, Dorchester resumed its football program with only eleven players going out for the six-man version of the game.  From the fall of 1949 and throughout most of the 1950s, the Longhorns played six-man, getting better with every snap. (DHS transitioned to eight-man football in 1959, when DHS went undefeated. By 1969, Dorchester was playing 11-man football, a tradition that continued until 1991, when DHS reverted to eight-man ball and dropped to Class D.)

Huge Hay Fire Brings Out Best In DVFD, Businesses, Surrounding Towns

It is being called "the biggest fire Dorchester Volunteer Fire and Rescue has ever seen" and it's costing a Saline County farmer hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.  

On Wednesday afternoon, nearly 4,000 hay bales went up in flames in a field north and west of Dorchester.  

Lincoln TV station KLKN Channel 8 reports "the blaze was caused by spontaneous combustion."

The massive fire drew volunteer fire crews from Milford, Cordova, Beaver Crossing, Friend, and Wilber to assist Dorchester's volunteer fire squad with putting out the fire.  

The TV station reported that volunteer crews were at the scene for 10 and a half hours, and used between 600,000 and 700,000 gallons of water to douse the flames.  

Dorchester Fire Chief Brant Pracheil said out of the 60 firefighters combating the fire, none were injured.

Meanwhile, the story notes that "two local bars in Dorchester provided food for crews fighting the fire, and the Saline County Emergency Manager delivered water and Gatorade." 

The property owner's loss on those bales of hay is approximately $500,000 and the fire will continue to smolder well into next week, according to the TV story. 

See KLKN's report here.

DPS Backpack Program, Kathy Palky Get Recognized

The Friend newspaper recently profiled the Dorchester Public School backpack program.

The story starts out: "Kathy Palky knows what it is like to go hungry. Being born just after the Pearl Harbor attacks, Palky’s family often had little money or food.  That is a main reason why she helped start the Dorchester Public School Backpack Program in 2011. She also served food at the school until retiring this past year."

The Backpack Program at Dorchester Public Schools has helped anywhere from 20 to 30 children over the past seven years, according to the Sentinel.

“The families that want to apply have to show proof of low income and the parents have to approve of it,” said Palky, who continues to raise funds for the Backpack Program.  Since its beginning, the program at Dorchester has received 265 donations, from $5 to $1,000.

Anyone interested in getting involved may contact the local school system with questions or donations.

See the full story here.

OUR VIEW: School, Students Give Boost To Community Pride

Today, we want to give a loud shout-out to the leaders and students of Dorchester Public School.

Last Friday's season-opening football game -- the first in Dorchester since 2012 -- drew nearly 500 onlookers.  Despite the lopsided score, community pride was busting at the seams as parents, family and alumni rooted on the Longhorns at beautiful Nerud Field.  (We heard reports that fans were very patient with the football team, which is just learning the six-man game and are showing much potential to get better with every snap.)

The night before, orange-and-black clad fans packed the gymnasium to watch the DHS volleyball team in their initial contest of the season.  The volleyball squad has some great talent this year and, despite their youth, will end up raising eyebrows as they progress through the season.

Both the football team and volleyball team have strong participation numbers this year. That didn't happen by accident.

It seems something has changed.  More community involvement.  More community pride.  More support for the institutions in town.  Better attitudes.

Much of that is due to the efforts of the school's leaders -- from the administration, coaches, faculty and students.  Together, they are leading by example.  

In a small community, when you lead by example and with enthusiasm, others with hometown pride will naturally follow.  Enthusiasm and pride are contagious, especially in Dorchester.

So we say, "Way to go, Dorchester Public Schools!"  Give yourself one big, collective pat on the back.  You've earned the respect of a grateful community.

Dorchester Football Gets Lots Of Press, Tough Lesson In First Game

The Dorchester Longhorns football squad got off to to a tough start in its new era of six-man ball, falling big to powerhouse Walthill.  

But an estimated (correction: 450) DHS fans showed up for the contest to root on the Orange and Black Attack, including roughly 30 players from the 1950s and their former coach, legendary DHS Coach Bill Story, who led an undefeated Dorchester team in 1958.

Several media outlets were on hand to cover the game, including two Lincoln television stations.

Here's how 10/11 News covered the event:

Friday was a historical day for two reasons. Dorchester got back its football team and the district brought back six-man football. The last time Dorchester had a six-man team was in 1959. The district invited back the men who played on (the 1950s teams) and honored them during the game.  The district decided to bring back six-man football, in part, because it is a smaller district. 

Dorchester Superintendent Daryl Schrunk said ... his students can now represent Dorchester with their own official team. “Our entertainment is our school. Our school is a place where patrons can come together and support the kids,” said Schrunk.  He said the coach had hoped to get 12 players, instead he got 21 players.

The Longhorns will next be in action at St. Edward for a 3 p.m. this Friday, August 31.  

The DHS volleyball team, which fell to East Butler on Thursday evening, will be hosting both Palmyra and Weeping Water this coming Thursday, Aug. 30, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Longhorns Football Starts New Era Tonight At 7 PM

DHS 2018 football team.  Photo credit: BJ Fictim

Tonight, at 7 p.m., Dorchester football will kick off a new era under the lights at Nerud Field, just northwest of the school.  A burger bash will be held at the school beginning at 5:30 p.m. for those who want to check out the refurbished ball field and other pregame festivities.

The Lincoln Journal Star recently published its preseason analysis of the Dorchester High School 2018 football team, which kicks off its first contest Friday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at Nerud Field.

The Lincoln paper says this about DHS gridiron squad: 

For the first time since 2012, football returns to Dorchester. For the past four years, Dorchester co-oped with Milford to form a team, and now the Longhorns will give it a go in the six-man ranks. The Longhorns will look to build around a trio of seniors. Cole Johnson and Nathan Cochnar are tight ends and can play on the defensive line, while Jonathan Vielma is expected to be a running back and linebacker. With those players in place, Dorchester will aim to overcome its inexperience. "Six-man football will be new to our entire team, including the coaching staff," coach Brent Zoubek said. "It will be a work in progress."

According to the Journal Star, Dorchester's "spotlight player" to watch is Jonathan Vielma, who -- at 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds -- is "expected to be among the top skill-position players for the Longhorns."

"Dorchester last played on its own Oct. 19, 2012, against Hampton. The two schools will meet on the third week this year."

As the Times has reported before, DHS is re-entering six-man football as the version of the game is gaining popular support, with more than 30 Nebraska high schools playing six-man ball this season, including several nearby schools.  

History buffs will recall that it was 69 years ago this fall, in 1949, when Dorchester resumed its football program (following an hiatus in the program after the 1930s death of a DHS player).  Only 11 DHS players went out for the 1949 campaign, which consisted of only five games.  Here are the scores from the 1949 season:

Milford 50, DHS 0

Fairmont 64, DHS 8

Western 52, DHS 32

Exeter 59, DHS 44

Beaver Crossing 40, DHS 6

Throughout most of the 1950s, the Longhorns played six-man ball, getting better with every snap.  In fact, many of DHS' 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 and was likely the best eight-man team in the state.  (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 to Class D.  

Random Thoughts With Village Dweller

This is a new feature at the Dorchester Times. It's called "Random Thoughts."

These random thoughts are the collective observations of the Dorchester Times staff and posted by our own Village Dweller.

If you agree with us, let us know in the comments box. Disagree? Do the same. Have a random thought you want published, send it to dorchester.times@gmail.com.

Enjoy.

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* Nerud Field looks fantastic. From the perfect turf, to the newly painted bleachers, to the refurbished football scoreboard, to the new lights and sound system, the facilities have never looked better.  This is big-time high school football.  Congrats to all who had a helping hand in getting Nerud Field up to snuff.

* Black squirrels spotted in Dorchester?  Are the squirrels in Dorchester getting ready for the DHS football and volleyball season? Several residents have seen at least one black squirrel in town.  Definitely a head turner!

* What's with the grass growing on 9th Street? Paved 40 years ago, Dorchester's 9th Street is a main thoroughfare through town and is looking rough, with crumbling cement, raised portions, and grass coming through cracks that were once sealed with tar.  We've heard several folks say the village needs to take better care of what it has with more regular maintenance.  Water, sewer, streets -- that's the priority list, and in that order, for town officials.  

* Two new homes going up in Dorchester.  Two new homes are going up in Dorchester this late summer and fall.  That's a move in the right direction.  If the development on the town's north edge becomes a reality, Dorchester could potentially add another 20 rooftops within a few years.  That's a real plan for growth.

* Lock your car doors.  The Seward paper reports that a string of thefts has hit that community over the past three weeks, with the police department receiving 18 calls about thefts from vehicles.  Seward Police Chief Alan Baldwin the cases are still under investigation and that no arrests have been made. Items that have been stolen include a rifle and shells, a wallet, sunglasses, safety glasses, a phone charger, a backpack, CDs, an FM booster, cash, a GPS unit and a Swiss army knife.  Thieves love to roam from town to town, especially small towns where people typically have their guards down.  Be sure to lock your cars if they're outside overnight.  Better yet, invest a few dollars in a security camera.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Important Phone Numbers To Keep Handy

Important Phone Numbers to Remember: It's late and Village Hall is closed. Who do you call about after-hour concerns about Dorchester's water or streets? What about if the electricity goes out? Dorchester residents should write down these number. The after-hour emergency number for water, sewer and streets is 402-381-8442.  After-hour power outage dispatch is 402-826-4312.  Keep these numbers handy.  (And remember that you may not be able to access these numbers via the internet if the power is out.)

Pay Levels for Dorchester Village Officials: An August 8 public notice disclosed the compensation levels for employees of the Village of Dorchester.  We are passing those along, as this is public information.  The highest paid official is the Utilities Superintendent, making $18.36 per hour, followed by the Village Clerk/Treasurer making $15.80 per hour, followed by the Assistant Utilities Superintendent making $14.80 per hour.  The Office Assistant makes 10.56 per hour; the Dump Site Attendant makes $10 an hour, as does summer help.  Village Board Chair makes $90 per meeting, while the other four Village Trustees make $80 per meeting.

Fall Sports Season Officially Begins This Week: The DHS Longhorns' fall sports season officially begins this week.  The volleyball team hosts East Butler at the DHS gymnasium at 6 p.m. for the JV game and 7 p.m. for the varsity contest.  The football team kicks off its new six-man era on Friday at 7 p.m. at Nerud Field, with a "burger bash" for all fans at 5:30 p.m. at the school.  Former six-man players from the 1950s will be honored at halftime.  Dozens of former players are expected to be present.  (The Lincoln Journal Star has designated the DHS vs. Walthill game this Friday as a "key match up.")

Dorchester School Yearbooks Online: We recently received an e-mail from a reader who asked us where we were getting our "old pictures" that we post on the Dorchester Times Facebook page.  Our stash of old photos are all on the internet. We take them from the online library of DHS yearbooks.  Click here for access to the online Dorchester yearbooks.

Saline County Gets Examined by Sports News Website: Sports-centric SBNation.com has profiled Saline County in its look at all 93 Nebraska counties.  The site notes that Saline County was established in 1855 and was given the name Saline ... signifying salt ... under the false supposition that it contained great salt deposits."  Nobody ever thought, “Maybe we should change the name?," the website quips.  "County seat is Wilber. However at one point it was Swan City and then it was moved to Pleasant Hill. It moved to Wilber after a group of 300 people went to Pleasant Hill as a show of force to carry away the county records."  Also, General Victor Vifquain "was the county’s first settler and was alone as the first settler for over a year. That was probably a lonely time. He was a veteran of the Civil and Spanish war." 

Our View: Enforce Property Clean-Up Equally

For rules of a town to work well, they must be enforced equally among all.  That simple theory is the premise of today's post.

First of all, the staff of the Dorchester Times says "thank you" to the Dorchester Village Board for its willingness to hire a contract employee in charge of tracking and contacting negligent (or just plain sloppy) property owners.  The code enforcement has made a noticeable difference in our community and it is a model that more small towns in Nebraska should follow.  All Times staff members think the board and contract employee have done a great job in showing real initiative and resolve.

Here are our suggestions to the board to improve town appearance further and help ensure compliance with the property code:

1.) Seriously consider imposing a monthly fine on vacant residential and commercial properties, as authorized by the State of Nebraska under LB256.  In many cases, owners of vacant, run-down properties in Dorchester are paying as little as $100 a year in property taxes.  They have no incentive to do anything with an empty building or home -- to improve it, rent it or sell it.  Thus, those negligent owners drag down the town with their dilapidated building.  But if they are charged a $100-per-month unoccupied-property fee from the Village of Dorchester, their wallets would dictate their actions.

2.)  The Village of Dorchester should equally and rigidly enforce its threats of legal action against negligent property owners.

That second point is important.  

Recently, we learned of a Dorchester property owner who was forced to take immediate action to either repair or remove an old garage next to the school.  Last month, that garage was completely torn down and cleared from the site, which improved the appearance of a very prominent area on a well-travel street. However, there are far worse structures around town.

We don't know the particulars of the process or the wording from the village.  But the same process should be used for other problem properties in town, including the two pictured on this post, which are much worse than the former garage on 9th Street.  (One of the garages pictured is at the corner of 9th St. and Lincoln Ave. -- which is very visible from main street.  The other garage is located on 8th St. and happens to face another dilapidated garage on the opposite side of the street.)

For a municipality's code to have teeth, it must be enforced strictly and in a timely manner on all parties.

Fall Sports Season Begins With City Park Preview, Team Scrimmages

The upcoming 2018 autumn sports season promises to be big in Dorchester.

DHS students paint the football scoreboard.

In fact, as the president might say, it's gonna be huuuuuge.

Preparations are currently underway to prepare Longhorn students and fans for football and volleyball outings.

The high school band is tuning up.

The football field and volleyball court are being groomed.

Last week, DHS students Collyn Brummett, Kohl Tyser and Karter Tyser even painted the Nerud Field scoreboard to get it ready for the 2018 season, under the supervision of Dorchester coaches Brent Zoubek and Brandon Bruha.

DHS marching band prepares in early August.

The refurbished scoreboard will complement Nerud Field's new lights and several other improvements -- just in time for the return of Dorchester Football later this month.

It can be safely said that the 2018 fall sports season will be special for Dorchester, both the students and the entire community.

Here's a look at what else will soon be taking place in Dorchester in preparation for the fall sports season:

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW - THURSDAY NIGHT

The school newsletter says that Dorchester's Fall Sports Preview will be held Thursday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dorchester city park. There will be free hot dogs and drinks for the preview, along with other goodies.  The entire public is invited to attend to get an early glimpse of the DHS volleyball and football teams, as well as to hear perspectives from the Longhorn Coaches.  The event is sponsored by the Dorchester Booster Club.

FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE - FRIDAY NIGHT

Dorchester's new six-man football team will be unveiled to the public on Friday, August 17 during a 7:30 p.m. black vs. white scrimmage contest at Nerud Field.  Admission is a sports drink. (Bring a sports drink for the players.)

VOLLEYBALL EXHIBITION GAME - FRIDAY NIGHT

The DHS volleyball team will conduct an exhibition game on August 17 against Milford.  JV teams will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity teams.  Proceeds will go to the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame.

BURGER BASH PRIOR TO FIRST FOOTBALL GAME - AUG. 24

We're told through an anonymous source there will be a "burger bash" beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Dorchester School on August 24, the night of the season opener for the DHS football season.  Superintendent Daryl Schrunk will be doing the grilling honors.

TRIBUTE TO FORMER SIX-MAN FOOTBALLERS - AUG. 24

During Dorchester football's home-opener on August 24, we are told there will be a special tribute at halftime to honor DHS' former six-man football players.  While six-man may be new to the current generation of DHS football players, it's not new to the school.  Seventy years ago this fall, Dorchester resumed its football program with only eleven players going out for the six-man version of the game.  From the late 1940s and throughout most of the 1950s, the Longhorns played six-man, getting better with every snap. (DHS transitioned to eight-man football in 1959, when DHS went undefeated -- and would have likely been declared the best team in the state had there been state championships.)

GAME NIGHT SPECIALS ON MAIN STREET - FRIDAY NIGHTS

We've learned that City Slickers Bar and Grill (formerly Joe's Place) will be hosting a "Friday Night Lights" special after every Dorchester Longhorn home football game with $7 half-pound burgers and fries and $2 root beer floats from 9-11 p.m. 

DHS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES

Here are the DHS team sport schedules for autumn 2018:

Lincoln Newspaper Hypes The Return Of DHS Football

Photo by Lincoln Journal Star

In its Saturday edition, the Lincoln Journal Star profiles Dorchester football and its return to Nerud Field.

It's an article worth reading for any fan of the Big D.

The article begins: "After five seasons of darkness, the lights at Nerud Field in Dorchester will shine again on Friday nights this fall. ... And the team, the school and the community couldn’t be more excited."

The story quotes DHS senior Nathan Cochnar, who has a strong family connection to Dorchester football and its history.  Nathan told the Journal Star: "It’s fun.  We get to finally show our school spirit. Finally back in our hometown. It’s been a long time."

The article also feature comments from DHS Coach Brent Zoubek, who acknowledged that restarting a football program has presented some challenges.  According to the newspaper, "transitioning to six-man has required a lot of film study and scheming, plus only a handful of players on this year’s team have played high school football before."

Zoubek expects 20 players on DHS' roster this year, the story says. "Even if the experience isn’t there, the enthusiasm is."

The article also covers all the excitement in Dorchester (and within the alumni community spread across the nation) about the return of DHS football.  

"Over the summer, Vern Johnson, who played six-man football for Dorchester in the 1950s, reached out to Zoubek. He mailed him a playbook from his playing days, and a letter about the teams he was on.  Zoubek called Johnson and asked him to round up some of his old teammates to be honored at halftime of the first game. There are 25 who plan to show up, with one coming from California."

Zoubek said: "The community’s buzzing about it. We’ll have people drive by (practice) I’m sure."

See the full Journal Star story by clicking here.

This Sunday, Ice Cream & Sandwich Social At Dorchester Park

Just like the good old days, this Sunday, Aug. 12, there will be a community ice cream and sandwich social at Dorchester's City Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

According to a social media post, the event will be hosted by Dorchester Community Foundation Fund as a fundraiser for its splash pad project.

The ice cream and sandwich social will be a free-will offering event.

According to a fundraising thermometer on Dorchester's main street median, the Foundation has already raised around $130,000 for the splash pad.  As reported earlier, generous donations have come from area residents and businesses, as well as sizable donations made by the Dorchester United Methodist Church, the Village of Dorchester and the Robert Havlat family memorial. 

Dorchester's splash pad is expected to be a larger-scale splash pad, we are told, with the ability to expand it further in future years.  The project will be located in Dorcheter's City Park and is expected to be under construction by early next spring, if fundraising is adequate.  

The Foundation's Fourth of July float during the town's parade announced that the splash pad would be "coming in summer 2019."

If you would like to help expedite the project, donations are encouraged now.  Send donations to: Dorchester Community Foundation Fund, c/o Peg Bergmeyer,101 Washington Ave., Dorchester, NE  68343.

The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund is a non-profit subsidiary of the Nebraska Community Foundation, so all donations are 100% tax deductible.  

For questions about the Foundation Fund, e-mail Dale Hayek, president of the Foundation, at dhayek@farmersco-operative.com.

NEWS ROUNDUP: School Open House, DHS Football T-Shirts, Blog Clicks & Jan Stehlik

School Open House Is Monday, 5:30-7:00.  Dorchester Public School will host an open house this Monday evening, Aug. 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  The school will provide a light meal of a hotdog, chips, a cookie and drink.  All district patrons are welcom to eat and visit the classrooms.  Elementary students can drop off their supplies since school begins Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Dorchester's 2018 Football T-Shirts Available.  Want to support the return of Dorchester Football? Get your t-shirt by calling Brent Zoubek at the school at 402-946-2781.  Cost is $10 for a short sleeve tee, $15 for a long sleeve tee, $19 for a sweatshirt, and $23 for a hooded sweatshirt.  Add $2 for sizes 2XL and larger.

Dorchester Times Gets 1.15 Million Visits Since Mid-2010.  According to a Google analysis, the Dorchester Times blog has received 1,154,167 visits since July 2010.  This does not include the first three years of the blog's operation, which started in April 2007.  When including estimates from the first three years' worth of visits, the Dorchester Times has accumulated approximately 1.7 million visits.  Not bad for a small town blog operated by volunteers.

Jan Stehlik Inducted Into Nebraska Quilt Hall Of Fame. Jan Stehlik of Dorchester was recently inducted into the Nebraska State Quilt Guild Hall of Fame.  In addition to being the longtime art instructor at Dorchester Public School, Stehlik has been involved in quilt making for over 50 years.  She even has written books on quilting and wrote a regular column in The Crete News on the subject.  Congrats to Jan on this honor.

Renew Dorchester Begins Accepting Members

According to a news release, a new non-profit organization has been formed in Dorchester.

It's called Renew Dorchester.  (The Times reported on this organization's early development a year ago.)

The group is a "membership-based charitable organization with a mission to enhance Dorchester’s quality of life, while helping to grow its population and opportunities for the future."

Renew Dorchester is currently seeking members.  Membership is open to anyone, no matter where they live.  The only requirement is an interest in improving Dorchester for present and future generations. 

As specified by the news release, some of the organization’s long-term and immediate goals include:

• Boosting community pride, involvement and interaction.
• Helping spur the remediation of deteriorating buildings and vacant houses.
• Beautification of Dorchester’s main street.
• Encouraging business growth in Dorchester.
• Helping find solutions to ensure more housing.
• Clean-up of conditions that are detrimental to health and safety.
• Enhancement of public areas.  

Renew Dorchester has been designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt entity, meaning all donations to the organization are tax deductible.

The organization will soon be surveying members for ideas on how best to improve Dorchester’s quality of life, the release said.

Renew Dorchester is overseen by a board of directors, comprised of the following individuals: Deanna Bird, Brett Boller, Shelly Bruha, Tiernan Creamer, Julie Holly, Jamie Karl, Chris Kirkpatrick, Marvin Kohout, Kyle Lehr, Amanda Nohavec, Cory Schlueter, Daryl Schrunk and Diane Velder.                

To join Renew Dorchester for 2018-2019, send membership dues to: RENEW DORCHESTER, Box 64, Dorchester, NE 68343.

Membership levels are:

• BASIC MEMBERSHIP .............................. $25 a year
• SILVER LEVEL MEMBERSHIP.................... $50 a year
• GOLD LEVEL MEMBERSHIP ..................... $100 a year
• PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP......................... $150 or higher a year

For more information on Renew Dorchester, contact Jamie Karl at (402) 418-1021, Chris Kirkpatrick at (402) 366-7901 or Deanna Bird at (402) 826-9275, or any board member.

Developing...

New Business Alert: East Side Bar & Grill Now Open

In early June, the Dorchester Times reported that Big T's BBQ Pit Stop, the restaurant and bar on Dorchester main street's east side, would soon undergo a change of ownership.

That change has now become a reality.

This past weekend, Dorchester's new East Side Bar and Grill opened. 

The owners are 1988 DHS graduate Lisa Veprovsky and Kathy Vossler, both local residents with strong local ties.

The establishment is evolving quickly as it gets up and running. 

According to insiders, East Side will offer a wide range of traditional American fare, as well as a wide selection of Nebraska wines and beers.

Our staffers noticed one very cool feature already: Specials for the weekend are posted outside East Side under a new, very professional banner.  Obviously the owners have put a lot of thought into the process.

East Side will be open every day of the week beginning at 11 a.m. except for Mondays, when it is closed.

The phone number for East Side is 402-946-2007.

Developing...

NEWS ROUND-UP: New School Year Brings New Teachers, New Blood Drive

Dorchester School Starts Aug. 15: The start of the new school year at Dorchester is just around the corner -- Wednesday, Aug. 15.  Students will be in class from 8:10 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.  Preschool starts Monday, Aug. 20.  According to the school newsletter, more cameras have been installed in and around the school, and visitors to the school will now need to use an "Access Control System" complete with a "buzz in."  Visitors will need to use the front doors to check in during school hours.

New Teachers Starting at DPS: Dorchester Public Schools will welcome new teachers this school year, including 1994 DHS graduate Steve Jirsa, who will be the K-12 music educator.  JeNae Kort will be the 9-12 math instructor; Robin Musil the new EL teacher; and Audrey Schutte the new 9-12 English teacher.  Janet Cerny has been hired to help with kitchen duties, while Bethany Theis and Melva Vazquez are new para's.

DHS Blood Drive Is Aug. 14 At School: Kyra Creamer with Dorchester's Future Business Leaders of America reports that she is helping host a blood drive on Tuesday, Aug. 14.  All area readers are encouraged to donate much-needed blood supplies.  The event will be coordinated with the American Red Cross.  Donations can be made at Dorchester High School from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 14.  For questions or to make an appointment, contact Kyra at 402-381-7209 or email kyra.creamer@dorchesterschool.org. Or go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=dorchester

DHS Grad Clarice Jean Frahm Passes:  Clarice Jean Frahm, 94, of Crete, passed away on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Tabitha in Crete.  She was born on June 29, 1924 in Crete to Hobart and Clara (White) Brick. She graduated from Dorchester High School in 1942.

New Welcome Sign Now Graces Northern Edge Of Dorchester

You are always welcome in Dorchester.  

And now we have two welcome signs to prove it.

The latest improvement to our community -- spearheaded by the Dorchester Community Foundation Fund -- is the town's northern welcome sign, which is pictured and was e-mailed to us last night. The sign has had its finishing touches applied in recent days.

The first sign, which sits just off Highway 33 on the south side of town, on the west edge of the Saline County Museum, was completed in 2014.   

The latest sign sits on the west side of Highways 6/15 near the access spur.

Both welcome signs utilize the Village of Dorchester's official logo, which also appears on the new water tower.  

And both welcome signs are substantial in size, measuring about 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide.  

The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund secured financial resources for the signs through donations.  We are told that approximately $16,000 was raised to complete this important project, which reflects tremendous community pride. 

The Times has learned that the Dorchester Community Foundation's Welcome Sign Committee was comprised of the following Foundation members:  Mike Pracheil, Eric Stehlik, Carol Olson, Linda Easley and Dale Hayek.  

Dorchester residents send our gratitude and appreciation to these community leaders.  The Times appreciates these big-time efforts to enhance Dorchester.