NEWS ROUND-UP: Memorial Day Program Details

Memorial Day Program Details: The Dorchester American Legion's Memorial Day program is set. The Dorchester Cemetery program will begin at 10 a.m. and last roughly 30 minutes. The Pleasant Hill Cemetery program will start at 11 a.m. Following the Pleasant Hill ceremony, there the traditional covered dish luncheon will take place at the Dorchester Legion Hall.

Dorchester Foundation Receives Park Improvement Grant: The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund recently announced that it was awarded a $7,500 matching grant for new investment or improvements to the village's park facilities. According to the Foundation's social media, it will deposit $15,000 in the village government's park account shortly. We specifically addressed park benches and shade structures, picnic tables for the small shelter, and a shade structure for the playground equipment. Local youth will be involved in the design, the Foundation says.

Preparing for Next School Year: Now that school's out for the summer, it's time to start preparing for Dorchester's 2022-23 school year. If your child needs transportation to school beginning in August, call Superintendent Daryl Schrunk at 402.946.2781 or email daryl.schrunk@dorchesterschool.org. Also, there will be back-to-school immunization clinics every Tuesday and Thursday in July from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 830 E. 1st St., Suite 300 in Crete. (Call 402.826.3880 to make an appointment.)

Alumni Golf Tourney Is Almost Here: The ninth annual DHS Alumni Golf Tournament is almost here, set for Saturday, June 4, at the Friend Country Club. If you still have interest in participating, contact Dorchester Schools Athletic Director Brent Zoubek at bzoubek@dorchesterschool.org or (402) 946-2781. 

Texas School Shooting Serves as Tragic Reminder: Today's school massacre in Texas -- committed by another teenage nut job -- is a reminder that every school in America needs to have a single point of entry, as well as armed faculty. (If that requires more male presence in our schools, so be it.) Evil is spreading throughout the world. It cannot be eliminated, only countered. In addition to bringing back state-run mental institutions and renewing a very broken culture, the country must ensure all schools are taking proactive steps to guard against sicko copycats.

OUR VIEW: Dorchester Needs Goals To Secure A Brighter Future

Ask any self-help expert or "life coach" and they will tell you to set goals if you want improvement.

The same holds true for communities, big and small.

Our village is full of helpful, caring residents who donate their time and resources. From our volunteers, to our businesses, to our school employees, to our elected leaders -- we have it pretty good.

But are we on the same page about our future? 

Our main street needs TLC and a vision. Our housing situation hasn't improved in recent memory, especially with an aging population. Some neglected properties are only getting worse.  Our streets -- well, we won't go there in this post.

The bottom line: Dorchester needs some public goal-setting. If that is occurring somewhere -- maybe the town board or the school board or both -- it isn't being shared publicly. 

That said, it is not the job of our town board, county, state, or federal government to create a vision of what Dorchester should look like 5, 10, or 20 years from now. That job belongs to you -- the residents of Dorchester and its surrounding area. 

Dorchester has all the right building blocks in place: The community foundation and various other volunteer organizations and clubs. But these strengths must be aligned with a plan that will start moving Dorchester toward a brighter future.  

As a community, let's set a handful of goals with firm deadlines.

For example, community groups could ask area households to submit their improvement ideas for future projects, then select the most feasible ideas, then set a finish date so that funding and operations could be initiated. These goals would provide focus; allow us to measure progress; and give motivation.

Without a doubt, Dorchester could benefit from a healthy dose of goal-setting. But this will only work if the goals are those of the community at-large.

Home For Sale: 502 W 11th St.

Dorchester's real estate market is booming -- even as the days of easy, cheap money following two years of money printing and government handouts are coming to a close. 

More and more people -- especially young families -- want the safety, sanity, common sense, affordability, and quality of life offered in our close-knit village. On the rare occasion a Dorchester home is listed, most are sold within a week to 10 days. 

Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A new K-12 school with smaller class sizes and some of the state's best educators. 

• A SAFE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY: With an upgraded water and sewer system, and a surplus of funding at Village Hall.

• LOWER COSTS: Affordable living costs with lower property taxes compared to surrounding school districts.

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

• GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE: A quick drive to employers in Crete, Milford, Friend, and Seward. Just 30 minutes to Lincoln and 12 minutes to I-80. Yet all the advantages of a small, close-knit community.

Today we showcase the latest Dorchester home available.

502 W 11th St.: Take a look at the square footage in this nice ranch style home! Main floor offers 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, large living room, dining area, kitchen, laundry and a lovely sun room. The full basement has two more non-conforming bedrooms, 3/4 bath, family room and lots of storage space. This is located on the NW side of Dorchester and is all vinyl sided and has a two-stall attached garage. See the listing.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Longtime DPS Educator Announces Retirement

DHS Alum Elected to Statewide Leadership Spot: DHS graduate Mike Feeken (Class of 1996) was recently installed as the 2022-2023 president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association. Feeken has worked in the economic development field for many years and is currently an executive with First Five Nebraska, an advocacy organization that urges support for early care and learning opportunities for Nebraska’s youngest children. 

DPS Educator Theresa Johnson Is Retiring: At the end of this school year, longtime Dorchester Public School educator Theresa Johnson is retiring after 36 years of teaching. Her friends and family are throwing a retirement party at the Dorchester Legion Hall on Saturday, June 4 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Everyone who has been impacted by Mrs. Johnson is invited to stop by and say "congratulations!" This is not a surprise party, we are told. Food and drinks will be provided. No gifts requested.

DHS Freshman Qualifies for State Track Meet: Baylor Behrens this week finished second in the 300M hurdles at district, finishing with a time of 51.74. Her impressive time means she qualified for the 2022 State Track and Field Championship next Friday and Saturday late next week at Omaha Burke. See the schedule of events.

DHS Students Keep Bringing Home Journalism Awards: Several DHS students recently placed in the Nebraska Press Women High School Communications Contest. Those bringing home awards included Madison Sherwood; Jacob Cerny; Ashton Rasplicka; Mitzu Real; Hailey Schweitzer; and Danni McKnight (who graduated last year).  

DPS Looking for Paraeducator: Dorchester Public School is looking for a paraeducator for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here for more information and how to apply.

Home For Sale: 703 Jefferson

Dorchester's real estate market is booming -- especially as the days of easy, cheap money following two years of money printing and government handouts are coming to a close. 

More and more people -- especially young families -- want the safety, sanity, common sense, affordability, and quality of life offered in our close-knit village. On the rare occasion a Dorchester home is listed, most are sold within a week to 10 days. 

Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A new K-12 school with smaller class sizes and some of the state's best educators. 

• A SAFE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY: With an upgraded water and sewer system, and a surplus of funding at Village Hall.

• LOWER COSTS: Affordable living costs with lower property taxes compared to surrounding school districts.

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

• GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE: A quick drive to employers in Crete, Milford, Friend, and Seward. Just 30 minutes to Lincoln and 12 minutes to I-80. Yet all the advantages of a small, close-knit community.

Today we showcase the latest Dorchester home available.

703 Jefferson Ave.: For sale by owner. Two-story house with basement. Three bedrooms plus one non-conforming bedroom in basement. One bathroom on main floor and one bathroom in basement. Over-sized two-stall garage. New roof on house and garage in 2020. See the listing.

DHS Alumni Banquet Set For May 28

It's that special time of year when Dorchester alumni -- young, old, and in-between -- will gather to catch up with classmates and recall the good ol' days.

The 2022 Dorchester Alumni Banquet is set for Saturday, May 28. 

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the banquet will start at 6 p.m.

Classes ending in "2" will be honored.

On the menu for this year's banquet is roast beef. 

A special tribute will be paid to the class of 2002. Longtime DHS educator Terry Gautreaux will be the guest speaker.

Tickets are $20 per person. You should reserve your spot by May 20.

For questions on the banquet, contact Linda (Kahle) Woolsey at linda.woolsey@dorchesterschool.org or call Ross Havlat at 821-7702.

Click here for DPS' social media post and the reservation form.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Cruise Night Is Monday, May 2

Cruise Night This Monday: There will be a cruise night on Dorchester's main street (Washington Ave.) this Monday, May 2. Cruising begins at 5 p.m., according to organizers and continue through the evening until sundown. The Dorchester American Legion bar and grill will be serving drink specials. (Be sure to have designated drivers!)

Dorchester Baseball Schedule Released: The crack (or ding) of the bats will soon be heard once again at Nerud Field! Here is the 2022 Dorchester PeeWee and American League baseball schedule. The first game of the season will be in Friend on May 10.

Junior High Quiz Bowl Team Scores 4th Place Finish: Dorchester's Quiz Bowl Team A (Bailey Theis, Eva Elkins, Mishaela Church, and Thomas Ziemann) took home a fourth place trophy from the AMI Middle School Quiz Bowl April 27 at Seward Civic Center. The team missed third place by only five points.

DHS Journalists Shine at State Competition: The Nebraska School Activities Association State Journalism was held in Norfolk April 25. Several DHS students took home state journalism medalists, continuing Dorchester's longstanding tradition of being a bastion for developing journalism talent. DHS placed fifth overall in Class C. Longhorns who placed in this year's state journalism contest were: Gabby Theis (freshman): 1st in news/feature photography; Ashton Rasplicka (senior), 7th in photo illustration; Madison Sherwood (senior), 3rd in news/feature photography, 5th in yearbook theme copy writing; Tyler Sysel (senior), 7th in yearbook feature writing, 4th in yearbook theme copy writing; Jacob Cerny (junior), 6th in yearbook sports feature writing; Mitzu Real (sophomore): 8th in advertising, 4th in sports/action photography; Hailey Schweitzer (sophomore): 6th in photo illustration, 5th in yearbook layout, 3rd in yearbook sports feature writing, 3rd in yearbook theme copy writing;  Andrea Pavlish (freshman): 4th in newspaper feature writing. The team of Madison Sherwood, Tyler Sysel, and Hailey Schweitzer took 8th in Yearbook Theme Development. The DHS team is advised by Mrs. Sandy Severance.

DPS School Bus Drivers Wanted: Dorchester Public School is looking for bus drivers for the 2022-2023 school year. Contact the school for more details if you're interested in this part-time job.

Herbster Earns Times' Support: With former President Donald Trump visiting Nebraska today, five of the six Dorchester Times staff members are supporting Charles Herbster for governor. (The other staff member supports Jim Pillen.) Trump will speak in Greenwood today (Sunday, May 1) at 5 p.m.