Merry Christmas, Dorchester!

Here's our Christmas music for you and your family on this special day.

Christmas In Our Village

Our gift to you: 12 hours of Christmas music as you prepare for Santa's arrival.

Village Board Member Finds Century-Old Letters In Dr. Panter's Former House

The Friend Sentinel has published a great story about Dorchester resident and village board member Sarah Wenz and her home on main street. 

As the Sentinel explains, Wenz inherited the house from her father, the late Bill Wenz Jr., after he passed away in October 2017. The Wenz family is only the second family ever to own the home, after Bill purchased it from the Panter family. 

The home, which is thought to have been built in 1890s, was the former residence of Dorchester's well-known Dr. Robert C. Panter, the town's physician for much of the first half of the 1900s. Dr. Panter is buried in the Dorchester Cemetery.

Ironically, like Wenz, Robert Panter's father, Samuel G. Panter, was also on the Dorchester Village Board of Trustees -- and is one of the founders of our community.

The Sentinel reports that Bill Wenz spent years refurbishing the house in the 1980s and '90s. When Sarah Wenz was doing her own improvements and updates just last year, she found over 200 letters and some postcards from the Panter family.

According to the letters, which were often written on American Red Cross stationary, Panter was a doctor in the first World War, stamp marked from many European cities. Most of the documents are in good condition and are all addressed to a “Mrs. R.G. Panter” from 1914-1918. 

Wenz will donate the letters to the Saline County Historical Museum by January.

Read the Friend Sentinel's story.

SPORTS ROUND-UP: Girls Get Second Win; Football Districts Announced

DHS Girls Grab Season's Second Win; Boys Fall: Dorchester's girls basketball team now stands at 2-3 on the season after crushing Osceola on Thursday night 50-20 in a road contest. The boys team, however, stumbled later in the evening, losing to Osceola by a 52-33 tally. Both teams now prepare for the holiday tournament in Weeping Water.

Holiday Tournament Brackets Released: Both DHS basketball teams will do battle in Weeping Water next weekend. The Longhorn boys will play the first game against the hosting team on Friday, Dec. 27, at 4 p.m. in Weeping Water's west gym. (See the boys tourney bracket.) Meanwhile, the DHS girls will tip off their first contest Friday against Conestoga at 1 p.m. in the east gym. (See the girls bracket.)

Dorchester Wrestlers Continue to Collect Medals: Dorchester High School wrestlers Jose Real and Angel Del Toro continue to perform at a high level. Last week, at the Bob Oliver invite, Real took first place and Angel Del Toro brought home fourth.

2020 Football Districts Announced: The 2020 and 2021 district assignments for high school football teams was released by the Nebraska School Activities Association this week. In six-man's District D6-2, the teams will be Dorchester, Hampton, Heartland Lutheran, McCool Junction, and Lincoln Parkview Christian. Heartland Lutheran and McCool will continue to press DHS to master the six-man game.

DHS Hoops Teams Sweep Harvard

The Dorchester Lady Longhorns captured their first basketball victory of the young 2019-20 season last night (Tuesday), beating the visiting Harvard team 35-26.

Here is the girls' box score:

12/17	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Harvard	8	1	11	6	26
Dorchester	9	8	3	15	35

Later in the evening, the DHS boys basketball team advanced to 2-1 on the year, knocking off Harvard by a 45-36 tally, despite getting outscored in the second half. 

Here's the boys' box score:

12/17	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Harvard	4	9	13	10	36
Dorchester	12	12	7	14	45

Both the DHS girls and boys will travel to play at Osceola (0-4 girls, 2-2 boys) on Thursday night.

Splashpad Donors Are Our 'Citizens Of The Year'

The Dorchester Times proudly names the donors to the new Dorchester splash pad as the "Dorchester Citizens of 2019."

It takes a community working together to achieve great feats. Dorchester has done exactly that over the past few years to build the first major kids' recreation project added to Dorchester in more than two generations (outside of the school).

The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund -- which was responsible for raising the money necessary to make the project a reality -- announced its plans to build a  splash pad back in late 2016. 

Over two and a half years, funding was raised through generous contributions. Donations came from area businesses, organizations, families, and individuals. By spring of 2019, enough had been raised to beging construction on what was called "phase one" of the project.

By July, the splash pad was up and running in Dorchester's city park. It was quite a sight to behold.

Also in 2019, the foundation was promised a matching grant to help complete "phase two" of the splash pad project at the Dorchester City Park.  According to insiders, phase two is "comprised entirely of water features" -- about $80,000 worth of larger splash pad features that will "wow" visitors in future years. 

If you would like to contribute to this effort to ensure the Foundation gets the $50,000 match grant, checks made payable to the Dorchester Foundation Community Fund can be mailed to: Dorchester Community Foundation Fund, c/o Peg Bergmeyer, 101 Washington Ave., Dorchester, NE 68343.

Previous winners of the Dorchster Times' Citizen of the Year award have been Brent Zoubek, Greg Tyser, Peg Bergmeyer, Penny Keller, Carol Olson, Dale Hayek, and Bill Velder. 

Honorable mentions submitted to the Times by staff members either this year or in previous years include (in no particular order): The members of the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue, Bob and Marva Kasl, Daryl Schrunk, Julie and Joe Holly, Deanna Bird, Amanda Cerny, Sarah Wenz, Tom Cerny, Larry Kaspar, Phil and Bernice Weber, Lyle Weber, Donna Parks, Shelly and Rose Bruha, Todd Axline, Jason and Kathy Duhrkop, Mike Pracheil, George Kasl, Ben Haufle, Marv Kohout, Matt Smith, Novak Auction Service, Don Eret, Steve Ottmann, Scott Pohl, Eric Stehlik, Joyce Karl, Adam Briggs, Rob Parks, John Bruha, Mark Bors, Joel Weber, LJ Barley, Allan Papik, Dan Nerud, Mike Nohavec, Brandon Zoubek, Lisa and Kevin Veprovsky, and Marv Kasl.

Congratulations to our Times' Citizens of 2019. You know who you are.

NEWS ROUND-UP: DHS Basketball Teams Fall To BDS

BDS Blanks DHS in Hoops: Both Dorchester's boys and girls varsity squads were defeated Friday night in a home contest against Bruning-Davenport-Shickley. The consolidated teams, which has become known locally as an athletic force, were pretty hard on the Longhorns. The Lady Longhorns, now 0-3 on the season, lost 51-33 with scoring from the following players: Creamer 6, A. Zoubek 3, Weber 2, J. Zoubek 14, Novak 8. The boys, now 1-1 on the season, lost 60-26 with scoring from the following players: Brummett 10, Tyser 5, Hansen 7, Hoffman 4. Both DHS boys and girls are back in action this Tuesday at home. The Harvard girls are 0-4, while the boys are 2-2.

Dorchester Wresters Bring Home Hardware: Congratulations to the DHS wrestlers Jose Real and Angel Del Toro for their performance at the Bob Oliver invite this week. Jose took first place and Angel took fourth. Also, congratulations to the Dorchester Junior High Wrestlers on a successful meet at Centennial. Marcos Borrego took first place, while getting fourth place metals were Jacob Hatfield, Ashton Jirsa, and Victor Lopez.

LaDona Ann Powers Passes: LaDona Ann Schaulis Powers, 87, of Lincoln, passed away on Dec. 10. Ann was married to Ronald Powers, a long time principal for Dorchester Public Schools. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 16, at 11 A.M. at Roper and Sons Chapel, 4300 O Street, Lincoln. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Condolences may be left online at roperandsons.com.

FLASHBACK: 12 Years Ago, DHS Students Earned $$$ By Picking Up Corn

A dozen years ago, when corn prices were a bit higher than today, the Times reported on Dorchester High School students who took to the local fields to pick up downed ears of corn. 

Their work paid off, as you'll read in this post from Dec. 10, 2007:

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

We at the Times continue to be impressed by the generosity of those in the Dorchester area community. Last month, Tony and Judy Schweitzer allowed Dorchester High School students to pick up corn that had been toppled by wind and adverse weather. DHS alumni and parents Donna Parks and John Bruha initiated the project as a way to earn money for the DHS juniors and senior classes.

On Nov. 3, the group gathered corn for more than four hours. When all was said and picked, three grain wagons had been filled by the nine seniors and seven juniors who participated.

Following the Nov. 3 corn picking event, DHS senior Andrea Hansen convinced her father, Matt, to donate downed corn in a field west of town. So the group put their corn picking skills to work again on Nov. 9, filling two trailors that day -- and yet one more on the Nov. 10.

Parents and other supporters that helped the juniors and seniors in the effort include: John and Rochelle Bruha, Donna Parks, Judy Bors (along with Clarrisa Bors), Brenda Inderlied, Marvin Kasl, Lisa Wells, Janet Alphabeck, Pam and Larry Burrows. Brad Kasl provided use of his combine so the group could husk the corn.

Nearly $550 was raised by the corn pickers. The profits will be split by the junior and senior classes, based on the number of class members who participated. Photos are courtesy of Donna Parks.

Co-Ed Volleyball League Starts Play Jan. 5

For those interested in participating in Dorchester's co-ed 6-on-6 volleyball league, the deadline to register your team is quickly approaching.
Sign-up is open until Friday, Dec. 27, according to a public notice on the Village of Dorchester website.

You can get your sign-up form by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom right corner.

Again, the registration forms must be into Village Hall no later than Dec. 27. 

League play begins Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Dorchester gym. Participants cannot be currently enrolled in high school. 

Fee is $30 per team.

For more information, contact Andrea Pracheil at abpracheil@hotmail.com.

Where Are They Now?: Brandon Vyhnalek

Years ago -- when the Dorchester Times was just getting its legs -- the Times staff tried to start a regular series to update readers on the whereabouts of DHS alumni who left our area to pursue their dreams.

We weren't very persistent. The "Where Are They Now?" series was comprised of just one story -- that of Matt Burkey in 2007.

So we're trying it again today, more than 12 years later.

Today we feature 2007 DHS graduate Brandon Vyhnalek, who was hired at New Orleans' Tulane University in November of 2015. Since joining the Tulane staff in Louisiana, he has been elevated to football video coordinator and, most recently, into his associate director role in September 2019.

His job responsibilities include collaborating with the football team's video efforts, as well as assisting with streaming at Green Wave athletics events.

Prior to his time at Tulane, Vyhnalek worked with the National Football League as a still-shot technician in 2014, while he was also a video assistant for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and 2014. From 2011-12, he was an assistant video director with the Omaha Nighthawks.

After graduating from DHS, Vyhnalek earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2011. He is a member of the Collegiate Sports Video Association and has been an extra in two motion pictures: "Beverly Hills Ninja" and "Transformers 3."

If you know of other deserving DHS graduates who should be recognized in our "Where Are They Now?" series, send updates to Dorchester.Times@gmail.com.

DHS Boys Get 51-29 Win In Season's First Basketball Contest

Dorchester's boys basketball team is off to a solid start as the 2019-20 basketball season tipped off Friday night.

The Longhorns notched a convincing first-game win at Meridian, beating the Mustangs 51-29. 

The DHS boys will be tested again by the consolidated team of Bruning-Davenport-Shickley next Friday in a game at Dorchester.

Coached by Miles Ray, Nick Ginapp and Cory Bird, and led by 6'4" junior Kohl Tyser -- along with veterans Ridge Hoffman, Josh Thompson, Collyn Brummett and Blake Hansen -- the Longhorns are looking to make a statement this year in Class D-2.

Here's this year's full DHS boys basketball schedule:

12/06/19 @ Meridian  
12/13/19 BDS
12/17/19 Harvard 
12/19/19 @ Osceola
12/27-12/28  (To Be Determined)  Weeping Water Holiday Tournament
01/04/20 Cedar Bluffs
01/07/20 @ College View Academy
01/09/20 @ Sterling
01/14/20 Friend
01/16/20 East Butler
01/17/20 High Plains Community
01/21/20 @ Cross County  
01/23/20 Shelby-Rising City
01/25-01/31  (To Be Determined)  Crossroads Conference in York 
02/04/20 @ Parkview Christian  
02/06/20 Nebraska Lutheran  
02/07/20 @ Giltner  
02/11/20 Hampton
02/14/20 McCool Junction 
02/21/20 @ Exeter-Milligan

Community Christmas Movie Set For Friday, Dec. 13

The Dorchester Public Library is going to host a Christmas movie on Friday the 13th.

The movie? Why "Nightmare Before Christmas" -- of course.

The movie will show in the Community Building. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the movie will start at 6 p.m. Make sure the kids are there early to get in their seats.

Admission is $5, which includes hot dogs and other goodies. Parents should come, too, if they'd like.

The movie is billed for all ages, but the animated movie might be a little scary for those under 7.

According to our online research, "Nightmare Before Christmas" is a Tim Burton film. Despite having recently presided over a very successful Halloween, Jack Skellington, aka the Pumpkin King, is bored with his job and feels that life in Halloweenland lacks meaning. Then he stumbles upon Christmastown and promptly decides to make the Yuletide his own.

Get the kids together for this fun community activity!

Dorchester Christmas Items Will Be A Big Hit With Loved Ones

This year, consider giving family and friends Dorchester-themed Christmas gifts. Or personalize your tree with your own Dorchester ornament. 

Thanks to online shopping, it's possible to have these items shipped right to your door.

Amazon.com currently offers three Dorchester red-truck Christmas items. They are (click the item names to go to their Amazon page):

 

       Dorchester Mug       Dorchester Ornament 1     Dorchester Ornament 2

All three are under $20.

This is just a small sample of the online Dorchester-themed items that your loved ones and best friends will appreciate. 

Hurry! Christmas is just three weeks away.

Dorchester Legion Christmas Dinner, Santa Visit Tonight At 5:30

It's the first of December.

The passing of Thanksgiving and the change of the calendar bring the onslaught of Christmas gatherings and events.

The first Christmas gathering is a good one in Dorchester. Tonight (Sunday, Dec. 1) at 5:30 p.m., the Dorchester American Legion family will hold its Christmas party at the Legion Hall on main street.

A covered dish supper will start promptly at 5:30.  A program and Santa's visit will follow.

All Legion, Sons of American Legion, Auxiliary and Jr. Auxiliary members should plan to attend. Also, guests are welcome.

This gathering will also celebrate the 100th birthday of the Dorchester American Legion.

Now You Can Pay Your Dorchester Utilities Bill Online

Ever wish you could pay your Dorchester utilities bill online? 

That option is now here.

The Village of Dorchester has partnered with the State of Nebraska so that Dorchester residents can make online payments using credit/debit cards, as well as electronic checks.

You will need to provide your Dorchester utilities account number, as well as your address.

Click here for the online payment option.

Questions? Visit Village Hall, or email dorchester@diode.net, or call 402-946-3201. 

Dorchester Students Shine In Recent Extracurricular Competitions, Activities

We have always known Dorchester Public School provides a well-rounded, individualized educational experience for its students. But it's great to see this fact confirmed as Dorchester students continue to shine in their extracurricular activities and competitions.

Today, we spotlight some of the recent notable accomplishments of Dorchester's hard-working students. 

Some of these achievements from the past couple of weeks include:

• DHS' one-act theater team captured first place for its performance at the Crossroads Conference competition.

• Dorchester's Addision Lehr and Jaki Acosta had their art work displayed at the Nebraska Association of School Boards Conference in Omaha. 

• DHS art students helped make turkeys to go on shut-in cookie plates delivered by the American Legion Auxiliary.

• Dorcheter Junior High wrestlers finished at Dorchester's recent wrestling meet, with Marcos Borrego and William Paiz capturing first place metals, Jacob Hatfield and Ashton Jirsa getting second place, and Victor Lopez coming in fourth place.

Congrats to all the Dorchester students for their strong efforts.

Blizzard Watch For Tuesday

Just in time for Thanksgiving week -- a blizzard on the plains.

AccuWeather, the preferred weather forecaster of the Times, says there's an 80% chance of snow beginning Tuesday morning, Nov. 26 -- with blizzard conditions developing thanks to strong winds.

Travel will be dangerous, according to AccuWeather's experts.

A bit of evening snow will follow, with the storm expected to bring a total maximum of 6 inches. untreated roads will be snow packed and slippery.

West and north of Dorchester, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch starting Tuesday 9 a.m., expiring Wednesday 6 a.m. The main weather threats for the storm include snow accumulations of 4-8" and wind gusts up to 45 mph.

Thanksgiving Day won't be a beauty either. Cold; periods of snow in the morning followed by a bit of snow and rain at times in the afternoon.

See the full forecast for the Dorchester area here.

FLASHBACK: Korean Student Experiences Holiday In Dorchester

With Thanksgiving nearly here, we thought we'd share this flashback from five years ago. Enjoy!

--------

A Korean college student was able to experience Thanksgiving in Dorchester last month. And now she's sharing her experience with the student body at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Jihyun Kim, an English major at UNK, hails from South Korea. In the UNK student paper, The Antelope, Kim writes: "It was my first Thanksgiving Day in America, and it was my first Thanksgiving break in Dorchester, a small Nebraska town of about 600 people."

According to Kim's report, her roommate Jordan Sherman, a psychology major from Dorchester, invited her to visit Dorchester and experience a traditional American Thanksgiving day.

Kim writes: "There is a similar holiday like Thanksgiving Day in South Korea; it is called Chuseok. All the family members gather together at their grandparents’ house or the oldest uncle’s house on the day. Also, they prepare lots of Korean foods and share them."

Kim writes that, "This year I learned people in America eat pie, especially pumpkin pie, steamed turkey, ham, various cheeses, mashed potatoes and corn on Thanksgiving Day. ... Thanks to Jordan, I could have my friend feel like family in Dorchester. I could relieve my homesickness thanks to Jordan and her family. If I did not meet my really great roommate, I could not experience such a good day."

This Sunday: Dorchester FBLA's Christmas Shopping Extravaganza

Want to get your Christmas shopping done early? Or maybe you want to sell to local customers?

Here's your chance.

Dorchester's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter will host its fourth annual Holiday Vendor Extravaganza at the Dorchester High School gymnasium (506 W. 9th St.) this Sunday, Nov. 24, from noon to 4 p.m.  

That's four hours of buy-local, bargain shopping!

The event is intended to raise money for Longhorn students who attend the National FBLA Conference.

Many vendors are expected at this huge event, making it the perfect venue to find high quality and unique Christmas gifts.

More information is available for sellers and buyers by emailing kyra.creamer@dorchesterschool.org.

For those who are unfamiliar, FBLA is a nationwide career and technical student organization, giving teens exposure to business basics. Established in 1940, FBLA is the largest student-run organization in the U.S.  

Dorchester's FBLA charter has been active for 28 years.  Dorchester's FBLA membership today claims dozens of students, which is impressive for a Class D school. (Dorchester FBLA was just featured last year on page 12 of this regional publication.)

Over the years, Dorchester has become a force to be reckoned within the FBLA universe and in statewide competitions, as some Dorchester students have even served as state FBLA officers. This gives Dorchester alumni a real head start as they enter the business world.

The Dorchester community can be proud of its FBLA chapter and should support its FBLA members by attending this year's Holiday Vendor Extravaganza at the Dorchester School.

Dorchester's Northview Estates: Lots For Sale And Ready For Your New Home

Earlier this year, the Times reported on the effort to establish a new residential area in a north addition of Dorchester.

Now the lots have been listed on the market -- ready to be purchased and built on.

The official name of the development is Northview Estates. It will contain a new 13th St. and 14th St., as well as a continuation of Colfax Ave. Also, a short span called Code Ave. will connect 13th and 14th streets.

You can see the list of lots that are currently for sale here. 

Prices range from $15,000 to $17,000 per lot. (This compares to an average of $70,000 to $100,000 for lots throughout much of Lincoln.)

As we noted last March, landowner and resident W.J. Plouzek worked with the Dorchester Village Board and Dorchester Planning Commission to establish new residential lots for our village. 

As annexed by the village, the new development is in the northwest corner of Dorchester, just north of 12th Street.

The new development will eventually offer 52 lots on which to build, if all goes to plan. 

Of course, some home builders may decide to purchase two or three lots to give residents plenty of room and yard.

Dorchester water, sewer and electricity will be provided to the lots in this area.

Those wanting more information about lots on which to build in the new housing division should call W.J. Plouzek at 402-587-1803, or simply contact the listing realtor.

Jerry Betts Passes At 79

Jerry Lee Betts, 79, of rural Dorchester, passed away Nov. 16 in Lincoln. He was born on Sept. 13, 1940 in Nebraska City to Merlin, Sr. and Dora Betts. He attended Nebraska City Public School, where he especially enjoyed shop class. 

Jerry served his country and was a member of the Army National Guard. He began working at the Morton House in Nebraska City and later worked for Alpo Pet Foods in Crete, from which he retired. Jerry married Mary Janssen and they had two children: Terry and Tammy. He was very mechanically talented and he enjoyed working on cars, going to car shows, his pets, especially his dogs. 

The one thing that would always light up his face with a smile was seeing his grandkids; he loved them so much. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister in law: Joyce Betts. Jerry is survived by his brother and sister in law: Merlin, Jr. and Maureen Betts, son and daughter in law: Terry and Cheryl Betts, daughter: Tammy (Betts) Scusa, grandchildren: Brandon, Michaella, and Dakota, great grandson: Lane, life-long companion: Deb Goff and her children: Melissa and John and her grandchildren: Kaylee, Connor and Courtney, all of which he considered as his own. 

In honor of Jerry’s wishes, no services will be held. Please sign the online guest book or feel free to share online condolences with the family.  Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete is in charge of arrangements.

SPORTS ROUND-UP: Basketball Season Less Than Three Weeks From Tip-Off

Here Comes Basketball Season: Don't look now but the start of high school basketball season is just around the corner. The Dorchester Longhorns' high school teams tip off for the first time on Friday, Dec. 6, at Meridian. See the DHS boys' schedule (and those of all Class D2 teams) here. See the Dorchester girls' schedule here.

Abby Plouzek to Play for UNO Volleyball: At 6'3", Dorchester's Abby Plouzek will be playing Division I volleyball next fall. She has signed her letter of intent, committing to play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Plouzek played her freshman through junior seasons at DHS before option-enrolling at Class B Waverly this past fall for her senior year. UNO head volleyball coach Matt Buttermore said: "Abby really started to develop in the last year, and we’re excited about her future in the middle." According to our research, Plouzek is the first DHS volleyball player to make it to Division I since Janet Uher, a 1991 graduate who played her final season at Wilber-Clatonia.

DHS' Jaycee Zoubek Gets All-Conference Honors: DHS' Jacee Zoubek was recognized by the Crossroads Conference with an all-conference honorable mention for her 2019 volleyball efforts. Congrats to Jacee.

Nebraska Six-Man Championship Game is This Friday: This Friday, Nov. 22, will bring the state's six-man football championship contest featuring No. 1 Harvard against No. 2 McCool Junction. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. See how the state playoffs evolved this month by clicking here. (We think Dorchester could have beaten some of these first-round teams had the Longhorns avoided key injuries and kept all the young men on the field.)

Don't Forget Volleyball: The high school volleyball state tournament has long since concluded, but we'd be remiss if we didn't share the results with our readers. Here they are for all classes.

Random Thoughts: July 4 Memorial Fund, Jobs, and Husker Victories (or Lack Thereof)

This feature is called "Random Thoughts." They belong solely to the staff of the Dorchester Times.

Some of the musings will be provoking or enlightening; others will have less depth than the kiddie pool.

In any case, if you read something you agree with, 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.

xxxxxxxxxxx

The Passing of Steve Ottmann: Steve Ottmann's passing should spur our community to establish a Fourth of July Memorial Fund in honor of this longtime Dorchester volunteer. Let's make July 4, 2020 extra special in honor of Steve.

Bartender/Server Jobs in Dorchester: We hear Eastside Bar and Grill is looking for a bartender and servers. Must be 19 and willing to work nights and weekends. Call 402.946.2007 and ask for Lisa or stop by and fill out an application. We see lots of "help wanted" ads, so there's no reason to complain about money if you can work.

Wishing for Six Husker Football Wins: Remember when most the state snickered at University of Nebraska AD Bill Moos' comment this summer that six NU football wins would make for a successful season? Now, half a year later, we concur. Lowering expectations is a tough aspect in life.

'Equality' or Patting Yourself on the Back at Kids' Expense?: The Nebraska State Board of Education recently approved new social studies standards requiring educatators to "look at history from multiple perspectives, including those of religious, racial and ethnic groups, women, LGBTQ people and Native American nations." OK, fine. But meanwhile, the Chinese are running laps around our socially conscious kids in math, science and technology.

Dorchester's Steve Ottmann Passes; Funeral Is Friday

Steven Brown Ottmann was born on March 7, 1946, in Hamburg, Iowa to Floyd John and L. Ruth (Brown) Ottmann. He passed away Nov. 11, 2019, in Crete, Nebraska at the age of 73 years, 8 months and 4 days. 

See the News Channel Nebraska story on Steve's passing here.

Steve grew up in Rockport, Mo. and graduated from Omaha North High School with the Class of 1964. On Aug. 28, 1966, Steve was united in marriage to Judith Ann Hall in Coleridge, Neb. and to this union three children were born. Steve taught mathematics at Southeast Community College in Lincoln for 39 1/2 years. 

In 2013, he retired from teaching and was elected to the SCC Board of Governors as the member at large. He continued to serve on the board until his passing. Steve was a longtime donor at the Nebraska Community Blood Bank. Family and friends could often find Steve bidding on a good deal at a Ficke & Ficke auction, assisting with the Sons of the American Legion in Dorchester, and raising money for the Dorchester community Fourth of July activities. He also loved spending time with his family.

Survivors cherishing his memory include his wife of 53 years, Judith Ann Hall Ottmann; three children, Mariah and husband Bruce DeFord, Stefanie Ottmann, and Steven and wife Amy Ottmann; five grandchildren, Olivia, John, Christina, Gwendolyn and Stefanie; and a host of friends. Steven will be truly missed in the Dorchester community and in all of our lives.

Visitation is Thursday, Nov. 14, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be  Friday, Nov. 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends donate blood at the nearest blood bank or make a financial donation to a future SCC scholarship for a local student. Please help us to remember Steve with a gift of future joy.

DPS Superintendent Schrunk Recognized By Nebraska American Legion

Photo: Sharon Axline

Dorchester Public School Superintendent Daryl Schrunk on Monday was awarded the 2019 District 2 American Citizenship Award by the Nebraska American Legion.

The award was presented during today's Veterans Day ceremony held at the DHS gymnasium, which featured students greeting area veterans, as well as a solemn performance by both the Longhorn choir and band.

Schrunk was nominated by Dorchester American Legion personnel. As a veteran himself, he is an active in Legion activities. 

Among the reasons Schrunk was nominated are:

* Active member in the Dorchester Legion, serving in the color guard, firing squad, and as finance officer.

* Active in several community volunteer groups, including Renew Dorchester.

* Coordinates activities of school with town board and other community leaders.

* Keeps older veterans involved with school activities.

* Has made several public speeches on the importance of service to country.

Our congratulations to Superintendent Schrunk for this impressive honor and recognition by fellow Nebraskans.