Dorchester's Janie Beranek Passes At 81

Dorchester's Janie Annetta Beranek, who had been residing for some time at Tabitha in Crete, passed away Thursday, Nov. 24, surrounded by her family.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church.

Janie was born on Feb. 26, 1941 in Omaha to Oren and Freda Fyrn (Todd) of DeWitt. As a young girl, Janie attended Milford Public Schools and was later united in marriage to Bob Burianek and to this union four children were born, Debra, Diane, Donna, and Dan. Together they lived in Lincoln and later bought a farm and lived near Pleasant Dale. 

Janie was a loving wife and mother and enjoyed raising her family and being a farm wife.  Janie was united in marriage to Roger Beranek on March 30, 1974, and had 41 years of marriage together. To this union two boys, Kevin and Kenny and a daughter Brenda were brought into this marriage. 

Janie enjoyed cleaning her house often, listening to country gospel music, doing word search games, watching her birds, and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Janie received her certification as a Nursing Assistant and work for many health care facilities.

Janie is survived by her children and their spouses Debra and Brad Sharp, Park Rapids, MN, Diane and Bill Velder, Dorchester, Brenda and Tim Fisher, Aurora, CO, Kevin and Tracy Beranek, Milford, Donna and Dave Parks, Dorchester, Dan and Kelley Burianek, Pleasant Dale, 19 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren. A sister and Brother-in-law Peggy and Monty French, Lincoln, a brother Jim DeWitt, Milford, several nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

Janie is preceded in death by her parents, husband Roger Beranek, son Kenneth Gene Beranek, grandson Charles David, sisters Alberta Jantze, Laura Harmon, Barbara Henkel, her twin sister Jeannie Maul, and brother Jerry DeWitt.

Condolences may be left here.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town On Dec. 10

Hey, kids. The word is out: The big guy -- Santa Claus -- is coming to town.

Dorchester's "Morning with Santa" is set for Saturday, December 10, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Dorchester Community Building and Legion Hall. 

Breakfast will be provided by Dorchester Community Foundation. (There is no charge for this special event. Free-will donations accepted.)

There will be several activities and crafts -- sponsored by the FBLA and EPAC -- for the kids before and after they meet with the jolly old elf himself. 

In years gone by -- when the event was sponsored by DACA (before a lawsuit brought an end to the organization) -- "Morning With Santa" featured activities organized by Dorchester's FBLA students, such as crafts, decorating of sugar cookies, making bead bracelets and bookmarks, making picture frames and more. Also, the Dorchester Legion was known to serve a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast.

Fifteen years ago, more than 65 area children attended this event. So let's try to match or exceed that turnout this year.

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NEWS ROUND-UP: Nativity Scenes At The Museum

(Photo: Julie Holly)

Nativity Scenes at the Saline County Museum: The Saline County Historical Society and county museum, located in south Dorchester, are making this an extra special Christmas season. During December -- from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays -- nativity scenes will be on display throughout the museum. At last report, there are at least 34 nativity sets, provided by Saline County citizens. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the historical society staff will host an "Old Fashion Christmas at the Museum" from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to connect with you fellow Saline County residents, while checking out the imagery of this special time of year.

DPS Elementary Christmas Program, Dec. 5: One of the most anticipated school events of the year will be next Monday, Dec. 5. That's when the mighty elementary school students of Dorchester will host their annual Christmas program at 7 p.m. at the school. Don't forget that the high school Christmas concert will be a week later on Dec. 12, also at 7 p.m.

Janie Beranek Celebration of Life is Dec. 3: Dorchester's Janie Beranek passed away last week. While Times staff has been unable to locate an obituary, a celebration of life will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1-4 p.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. 

Alyssa Cochnar Now Master Martial Arts Instructor: DHS graduate Alyssa Cochnar, co-owner of Gold Star Martial Arts in Seward, Crete and Lincoln, recently achieved one of her lifelong goals by becoming a master instructor of martial arts, according to The Crete News.

Nerud Reappointed to Corn Board: Gov. Pete Ricketts has reappointed Dorchester's Dan Nerud to the Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board.

Dorchester Youth Wrestling Sign-Up: Students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade can sign up for Dorchester's youth wrestling program. The sign-up process and an initial parents' meeting will be held at the school cafeteria on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. Questions? Call Matt at (402) 826-9303.

Can Small Towns Be Cool?

A posting on Small Biz Survival -- a blog dedicated to small and rural business interests -- once asked the $1 million question: "Can Small Towns Be Cool?" 

The answer: "You bet!"

According Dave Ivan of Michigan State University Extension, small towns can be cool if they are willing to follow some common success themes. Here they are:

1. Strong Engagement From Citizens, Community Organizations And Local Government. For example, in St. Joseph, Mich., approx. 8000 pop, city leaders hold neighborhood town hall gatherings in backyards all across town. They also produce a unified community calendar and hand-deliver it to residents. Coopersville, Mich., uses their town entry sign to salute a different nonprofit, business person, and teacher each quarter.

2. Local Entrepreneurial Investment. Ivan said this is often initiated by a local entrepreneur and then served as a tipping point to get others to invest. In New Carlisle, Indiana, Bill Owens expanded a floral shop into gifts, a furniture store, and transformed the community into a regional destination. This can also be a community initiative, such as economic gardening to grow entrepreneurs, where you may have village staff used to make things work for business. In Ord, Neb., they developed a wealth transfer plan to strategically fund their community economic development initiatives. By asking people to give 5% of their estate back to the community, they now have $8.5 million in hand or in pledges.

3. Willingness To Change. This may be the hardest part for many towns.These new opportunities may require changes in all sorts of local laws, including zoning. Suttons

4. Actively Pursues Cultural Elements To Economic Development. The most common cultural elements include the arts. In Three Oaks, Mich., the creatives are working to integrate with the existing parades and local celebrations. So it can work.

5. Cultural Efforts Reach Out To Community Youth. New York Mills, Minn., established a cultural center that capitalizes on the natural amenities.

6. A Deliberate Effort To Engage Youth. There is a continuum of efforts to involve youth. You can do things to youth, or do for youth, or do with youth, Ivan said. It can be tough to get a town moved along the continuum. One idea was to provide disposable cameras to young leaders. Ask them to take pictures of what they like and dislike about the town, and have them present it at a future meeting. Can you imagine the impact this could have?

7. Retaining Youth And Attracting Families. Create economic choices that are appealing to youth. Ord, Neb., for example, has a youth entrepreneurship program starting in grade schools. Brookfield gave kids a mailbox with their name on it. "Brookfield is always going to be your hometown. Go out, explore, learn, but come home."

8. Conviction That, In The Long Run, You Must Do It Yourself. Cool small towns are not waiting for an outside savior. Argonia, Kan., lost their grocery store. But they built a community convenience and grocery store. They are now doing spec houses to sell at cost to new families. And if you enroll kids in the school, Argonia will even cover your closing costs.
 

The real keys to small town success? Ivan says those keys are strong leadership and standing up to the CAVE people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything).
 

NEWS ROUND-UP: Kathy Palky Celebrates 80 Years

Kathy Palky Celebrates No. 80: Dorchester's very own Kathy Palky will celebrate her 80th birthday this week. She was born Nov. 21, 1942. Greetings may be sent to her at 631 State Hwy 15, Dorchester, NE 68343.

Shaw Is Top Vote-Getter for Village Board: The Dorchester Village Board's new member is also its leading vote recipient. Matt Shaw received 118 votes on Election Day, although he won't officially join the board until the January meeting. Incumbents Roger Miller and Sarah Wenz both received 93 votes a piece and both will return to the board. Current board member Kelly Vyhnalek did not file for re-election.

Hansen, Schnell, Vhynalek Re-elected to School Board: The Dorchester Public School board's three incumbents, who were unchallenged on Election Day, all received more than 230 votes in their runs for re-election. Matt Hansen received 242 votes, Carol Schnell received 237, and Steve Vyhnalek received 248. There were 10 write-ins.

DHS' Jirsa Selected for All-State Chorus -- Again: Ashton Jirsa, a DHS junior, has been selected to Nebraska's all-state high school chorus. He is one of just 54 tenors statewide. This year marks the third consecutive year Jirsa has been chosen to represent Dorchester and his school as part of the distinguished group.

Gov.-Elect Pillen Gets Look at NioCorp Project: Earlier this year, the Dorchester Times spotlighted the rare-earths mining effort in southeast Nebraska. Now Nebraska's incoming governor is learning more about the project near Elk Creek. "It’s important we don’t have to rely on China," Pillen told News Channel Nebraska. "This project is bigger than this community. It’s a big deal for our country." 

NEWS ROUND-UP: Three Dorchester Vets Honored

Dorchester Vets Honored: Three area veterans -- Kenny Nohavec, Jeff Novak, and Raymond Rezabek -- received quilts of valor during the Nov. 11 Veteran's Day program at Dorchester Public School. In case you missed it, check out our post on the Dorchester Legion and its 100-plus years as an important part our community.

DHS Basketball Practice Begins This Week: DHS basketball teams begin practice this week. There is much excitement surrounding both teams, which are expected to be quite competitive in the Crossroads Conference. Fans can get a look at the DHS boys' basketball schedule here. The girls' schedule has not yet been posted online.

Farmers Cooperative in the Spotlight: Farmers Cooperative, headquartered in Dorchester, was recently spotlighted by 10/11 News for cooperatives' impact on local communities. Farmers' CEO Allan Zumpfe told 10/11 that since 2002, the business has spent "about $400 million of capital expenditures in our communities." Much of that has been dedicated to improve the business' Dorchester facilities, including expanding and modernizing its office building twice over the past decade -- and paving Depot Ave. near the grain elevators, significantly reducing dust in our community. We thank Farmers for their commitment to Dorchester.

Drought Worsens in Nebraska: Some of the nation's worst drought conditions are in Nebraska, specifically the northwest and southwest sections of the Cornhusker State. As of Nov. 10, all of Saline County had been placed in the "severe drought" category.

Antiques Make a Great Christmas Gift: Tired of giving family and friends junk made in China? Dorchester's antiques store, Hedgehog & Hubbys, is urging Times readers to shop locally for their gifts. Owner Evelyn Thalmann reports that she has a full inventory of antiques, especially soup bowls and cookie jars, both of which make great gifts. Just knock on her home door to be let into the shop, which is located on Highway Spur 76E on the west edge of Dorchester.

Voters Under 30 Overwhelming Support Far-Left Candidates: Voters under the age of 30 voted for Democrats 28 times more often than the voted for Republicans, according to 2022 post-election data. This is far above the historical norm and proof that public education's politicalization and indoctrination has worked. Meanwhile, the number of students able to pass math, science, and reading tests has plummeted to modern-day lows. Two-thirds of your property tax dollars go to directly to your local school district. Those who pay the bills should be more involved with local K-12 leadership and curriculum.

LOOKING BACK: Dorchester's Main Street 112 Years Ago This Month

Meacham's Hardware store on the east side of Dorchester's main street in 1910.

It's duck hunting season in the late fall of 1910. What do you do? 

You walk -- or drive the Model T or take the horse -- to Dorchester's bustling business district on main street (Washington Ave.) and stop in at Meacham's Hardware to get hunting supplies. After all, in 1910, Meacham's Hardware billed itself at "The Winchester Store." 

Remember, this wasn't long after electric lights appeared in Dorchester, powered by electricity generated from a Pleasant Hill mill water wheel on Turkey Creek -- although electricity outages were common until around 1916, when an electric power was provided by the Blue River Power Company.

We found this amazing photograph, preserving for all of us proof of what Dorchester's main street storefronts looked like a century ago. (We had our photo editor enhance the picture so we could capture more detail for our readers. Click on the photo for a better view.)

Meacham's Hardware was in operation from 1903 until 1931, operated by Charles H. Meacham, Sr., and his son, Charles H. Meacham, Jr. (Charles Meacham, Jr. and his wife Mary's daughter Elizabeth Ann -- born in Dorchester in 1936 -- passed away in October 2015 in Overland Park, Kan.)

Of course, the building that housed Meacham's Hardware no longer exists. It was in the "Longanecker Building" -- destroyed by fire in 1973. The Longanecker Building stood where Tyser's Welding and Repair Is today.  

Meacham's Hardware occupied the northern most ground-level portion of the Longanecker Building, while Dr. Panter occupied the second story directly above.  C.W. Crain Insurance and Colson's Cafe were next door. Also in the building were Joy and Edward's Grocery, the telephone office, and a dentist's office.

A Trip Back In Time: 1938's Dorchester

Nineteen hundred and thirty-eight was nearly 85 years ago -- and it was a big year.

That year marked the first appearance of comic book superhero Superman, as well as Bugs Bunny.

Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Winston Churchill, in a broadcast address to the United States, condemned the Munich Agreement as a defeat and called upon America and western Europe to prepare for armed resistance against Adolf Hitler.

The minimum wage was established by law in the United States.

Orson Welles's radio adaptation of "The War of the Worlds" was broadcast, causing panic in various parts of the country.

And Dorchester's business community was bustling.  

How do we know? A few years ago, the Times received an e-mail from a reader who sent us several photos of advertisements from a 1938 edition of The Dorchester Leader, one of two newspapers in town at that time. (The other paper was The Dorchester Star.)

See if you recognize any of the business names in these ads:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Incumbents Seeking Re-Election For Dorchester Offices

Incumbents Seek Re-Election: Dorchester voters will see mostly familiar names on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 8. All but one of the candidates on this year's ballot are current board members who are running for re-election. For the Dorchester Board of Education, the 2022 candidates are incumbents Carol Schnell and Matt Hansen. For the Dorchester Village Board, the candidates are Matt Shaw, who isn't currently on the board, and incumbent Sarah Wenz. We are hearing reports that more residents are interested in running in 2024, but more on that later.

Nov. 10 Is DPS Junior High Play: A 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, the Dorchester Junior High will present "Folk Tales" -- a whimsical children’s play featuring a creative collection of six different animal stories. There’s something for everyone in these delightful stories. The play will be in the school's multi-purpose room. $3 admission for kindergarten students through adults.

Investment Property for Sale: Looking for an investment property or starter home in Dorchester, one of southeast Nebraska's best small towns? Check out this house at 712 Stephens Ave., in the southwest quadrant of the village. It's a two-bedroom, one bath residence with 864 sq. ft. of living space. 

DeWitt Manufacturing Plant Closing Again?: The future of the former Vise-Grip plant in DeWitt appears up in the air again just a few years after it reopened. That's the report from the Beatrice Daily Sun, which says Malco Products, which bought the plant in 2016 and reopened it in 2019 to make Eagle Grip locking pliers, a product similar to Vise-Grip, announced this week that it plans to exit that business early next year after fulfilling all current customer orders.