Happy 2024 From The Times!

The Dorchester Times wishes all our readers a Happy New Year! 

Let's use the new year to focus on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  

We challenge everyone to work with their neighbors to ensure a brighter tomorrow for Dorchester, Saline County, and this corner of the world.  

Thank you for another year online and for allowing us to be a part of your community life.

As you get ready for 2024 and all it will bring, we leave you with this quote:

"Here's to the new year ... (M)ay she be a damn sight better than the old one." 

-Colonel Sherman T. Potter, M*A*S*H*

Greg Tyser, Lori Sip Cerny Are 'Citizens Of The Year'

The Dorchester Times proudly names Greg Tyser and Lori Sip Cerny as the Citizens of 2023 for their efforts to implement a new community institution: the Dorchester Legion Bar and Grill. 

These two individuals have been instrumental in creating, operating, and marketing this new venue, which has given area residents a great place to catch up and network on Saturday mornings and Monday evenings, when other main street establishments aren't open. The effort has also pumped new momentum into the Dorchester Legion and Sons of the American Legion memberships.

By the way, the Dorchester Legion Bar and Grill will be open Monday, New Year's Day, at 11 a.m.

It takes a community working together to achieve a great quality of life. Endeavors like the one to establish and sustain the Legion Bar and Grill not only make life in Dorchester and the surrounding area more enjoyable, they are often the centerpiece of our small-town activities.

Previous winners of the Dorchester Times' Citizen of the Year Award have been the members of the Saline County Historical Society board, Dorchester's small business owners, splash pad donors, Brent Zoubek, Greg Tyser (solo), 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 Department, Dorchester Public School staff, Bret Cerny, Roger Miller, Judy Schweitzer, Tammie Lang, Bob and Marva Kasl, Daryl Schrunk, Andrea Pracheil, Julie and Joe Holly, Deanna Bird, Craig Bergmeyer, Amanda Cerny, Sarah Wenz, Tom Cerny, Nancy Tellez, 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, Sarah Wenz, 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, Mark Bartek, Allan Papik, Dan Nerud, Mike Nohavec, Brandon Bruha, Lisa and Kevin Veprovsky, Kelly Vyhnalek, Matt Shaw, and Sandy Rains.

Congratulations to our Times' Citizens of 2023.

This Morning: Tom And Jerry's At Dorchester Fire Hall

For years, members of the Dorchester Volunteer Fire (and Rescue) Department have hosted a Tom and Jerry gathering on New Year's weekend. 

This special event will be held again this Sunday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Dorchester Community Hall. This will be a free event (donations will be accepted).

Snacks will also be served.

For those wondering, the Tom and Jerry -- a traditional Christmas time cocktail -- was devised by sportswriter Pierce Egan in the 1820s. The eggnog-brandy-rum drink is a reference in Egan's book "Life in London." 

To publicize the book, Egan introduced a variation of eggnog by adding ½ fl. oz. of brandy, calling it a "Tom and Jerry." The additional fortification helped popularize the drink. To try Tom and Jerry's at your home, here is our recipe:

TOM AND JERRY INGREDIENTS

Boiling water
1 tbsp Tom And Jerry Batter
1 oz Cognac
1 oz Dark rum
Whole milk, hot

Garnish: Nutmeg, clove and allspice
Glass: Coffee mug or Tom and Jerry cup

-----------

Tom And Jerry Batter

INGREDIENTS:
12 Eggs, separated
1 tsp Cream of tartar
2 lb Sugar
2 oz Dark Jamaican-style rum
1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)

PREPARATION:
In a bowl, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they form stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar, rum and vanilla (if using). When the mixture is completely liquid, fold it into the whites.

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

How to make the Tom and Jerry Cocktail

Rinse a small coffee mug (or, indeed, a white ceramic Tom and Jerry cup) with boiling water to warm it and discard the water. Add the batter, cognac and rum to the cup and fill with hot milk. Garnish with a mixture of two parts freshly grated nutmeg to one part each ground clove and ground all spice.

Merry Christmas, Dorchester!

 

Is there anything better than Christmas in a small town?

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

Merry Christmas to all. 

And please be safe -- we want you reading the Times in 2024.

Home For Sale: 507 Fulton Ave.

Dorchester's real estate market remains strong despite the days of easy, cheap money -- following nearly years of money printing necessitated by massive government spending -- are coming to a close. 

Many homes in large cities, as well as most acreages, have become unaffordable for the average buyer. Dorchester looks even more appealing now to most folks in the market for a home. (That's fine, we say. Let someone else pay those massive property tax bills.)

Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A newer K-12 school with smaller class sizes and some of the state's best educators. This means individualized attention for your child.

• 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 BUSINESSES 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.

Here's a Dorchester home that just hit the market:

507 Fulton Ave.: Affordable three bedroom home in the small community of Dorchester, just minutes to Lincoln. Has one bedroom and full bath on main floor, along with a separate dining room and laundry. The second level has the other two bedrooms. Located on a large lot with an easy commute to either north or south Lincoln. Appliances are included and has a NEW FURNACE. See the full listing.

Dec. 11 Funeral Services For Belva Johnson

Dorchester native and DHS graduate Belva Jean (Arnold) Johnson has passed at
88.

Belva was born Dec. 25, 1934, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Ross G. and Helen J. (Stephen) Arnold, the youngest of three children and passed away Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at the York General Hearthstone in York.

Belva graduated from Dorchester Public Schools. She was united in marriage to Charley Gilbert Johnson on May 27, 1951, in Beatrice, and to this union five children were born, Nicky Bryan, Dwayne Stephen, Kim, Brad, and Holly. Belva was a cook at Warren Memorial Hospital for three years, worked at the Crete Mills for nine years, Hughes Brothers for three years, and a cook and waitress for many years. She was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Dorchester for 75 years.

Belva had many hobbies; she loved to decorate and sell cakes, listen to Elvis, paint art, work on puzzles, needle point in the Crete Nursing Home, play cards, and most especially spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Belva is survived by her sons, Kim (Tereasa) Johnson, York, and Brad Johnson, Dorchester; Daughter Holly (Dennis) Baber, Wilber; 9 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 13 step great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Helen Arnold; her husband, Charley Johnson; two sons Nicky Bryan, and Dwayne Stephen; brother, Dale Arnold; and sister, Lois Eret and brother-in-law, Don Eret.

Funeral Service will be held Monday Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. A livestream for the service will be available. To access the livestream, see this page.

Burial will be at the Dorchester Cemetery. Memorials will designated to the United Methodist Church in Dorchester.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services, Friend.

DHS Basketball Teams Drop Season Openers

(Photo: Sharon Axline)

It wasn't the start Longhorn fans were hoping for. 

Both Dorchester High School varsity basketball teams have dropped their opening two contests of the 2023-24 season.

In the season opener on Nov. 30, both the DHS boys and girls hosted Deshler. The Lady Longhorns fell to the Lady Dragons, 26-41, despite three steals from Dorchester's Gabrielle Theis. The DHS boys lost to the Dragons by an even larger margin, 15-42. Sophomore Chase Tachovsky led DHS in scoring with 6 points.

On Friday, Dec. 1, both Longhorn teams traveled west to take on Meridian. The girls lost 34-49, despite outscoring the Mustangs the final two periods. The boys fell 22-45, despite senior Andy Drake's team-leading 16 points.

Both Dorchester teams play again Tuesday, Dec. 5, in home games at DHS' "Corrale." Both teams will host the High Plains Storm. 

On Friday, Dec. 8, both BDS boys and girls teams will visit Dorchester.

Looking Back: Dorchester Business' Christmas Ads, 1938

Eighty-five years ago, in 1938, Dorchester's bustling business community was wishing village residents "seasons greetings" via ads in the local newspapers. 

One of those newspapers was The Dorchester Leader, printed from 1933 to 1941, and one of three newspapers that have been published in our community since the village's founding. (The Dorchester Star and The Booster were the others. Actually, there have been four if you count the short-lived Saline County Express, published in Dorchester for a few months in 1893.)

Today, the Times is publishing a few of those 1938 Christmas ads. 

So let's step back in time for the Christmas ads that Dorchester residents were reading 85 years ago. (Click on each ad for a better view.)

NEWS ROUND-UP: Morning With Santa, Dec. 9

Morning With Santa in Dorchester, Dec. 9: In just a couple of weeks, the big man himself will be visiting the village. Santa will be at the Dorchester Community Building and Legion Hall on Saturday, Dec. 9. Breakfast will be served by the Dorchester Community Foundation from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Santa will be in the house from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids' games, crafts, and other activities will hosted by Dorchester's Partent Teacher Organization and the Dorchester FBLA.

Kids' Wrestling Sign-Up, Nov. 28: An informational meeting and participant sign-up for Dorchester's Youth Wrestling will be held at 6 p.m., Nov. 28 in the school cafeteria. According to a social media posting, there are no fees or dues to join for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Renew Dorchester, Julie Holly Add to Main Street Beautification: Sources tell us that Renew Dorchester, the startup community development group, provided funding for the flower pots added some time ago to Dorchester's main street. The Times was unaware of this donation until now. Julie Holly has been purchasing and caring for the flowers in the containers.

Dorchester Native, DHS Alumna Karen Parks Passes: Karen A. (Kenney) Parks, 89, of Beatrice passed away peacefully at her home Nov. 15, 2023. Karen graduated from Dorchester High School in 1952. Celebration of Life Services will be held Dec. 20 at the United Methodist Church in Dorchester. Read the full obituary.

Our Thoughts on NU Staff Reductions: The University of Nebraska is eliminating staff and degree programs due to huge budget deficits. Want to bet that the university will hire lobbyists to try to recoup its losses by grabbing more taxpayer dollars at the State Capitol? That would be a shame because the hard times facing NU and other institutions of "higher learning" are a direct result of the outrageous costs imposed by Big Education for decades, as well as the radical left-wing ideas being instilled into young minds of mush, as a famous radio host used to say. Parents with kids in high school would be wise to insist on community college or a technical career center from which young people can graduate with real-world, useful skills for in-demand careers, versus graduating with a bunch of debt, far-left political views, and a chip on their shoulder for life.

Happy Thanksgiving From The Times

Several years ago, the Times received an e-mail that we felt compelled to share with all of our readers. Today, it is reprinted here with the permission of the author. 

From the staff of the Dorchester Times, a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

*****

Sweet home Dorchester! Oh sweet Nebraska! On this Thanksgiving we have so many things to be grateful for.

You never really know how amazing something or someplace or someone is until you no longer have it or them in your daily life.  I lived away from here for several years and during that time I reminded myself almost daily of the things and the people I missed.

On this Thanksgiving, I will once again take time to give thanks for those things that make life worth living. They are:

1.) The bountiful fall harvest.

2.) My small town and the feeling of community that we're all in this together.

3.) A peaceful main street I can walk with no fear of violence.

4.) Mom-and-pop businesses and no big box stores.

5.) Our Dorchester school and the wonderful students and teachers.

6.) Small town chatter, even the gossip.

7.) Farmers, hunters, people of commerce, and our community elders (the producers and providers).

8.) Not being honked at in your car or truck when you're at the one and only red light.

9.) The smells of home, including a wood burning stove or fireplace and the crisp Midwest air this time of year.

10.) Pumpkin pie, homemade jelly and all the great local baking.

This is a good start. Oh yes, I am also thankful for my great-grandparents who came to Dorchester to start their families. It is because of them that Dorchester is my home.

Sincerely,

Name Withheld

Mother, Wife and Farmer

A Warmer Saline County? USDA Says Yes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its updated planting zone map this week -- and it shows a warmer U.S., including Saline County.

The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which helps determine what plants are most likely to survive harsh temperatures, divides the country into 13 zones, each representing a band of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The map also includes half-zone bands (like Zones 6a and 6b) representing differences of 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Saline County has moved into a warmer zone -- Zone 6a -- on the 2023 map compared to being in Zone 5b under the USDA's previous map, created in 2012.

The map reflects the average lowest winter temperature in any given location over a 30-year period, according to the USDA. 

Climate specialists are warning gardeners and farmers to understand that despite the changes on the USDA map, the new zone designations represent very modest warming and very little change. While most experts say that the world is getting slightly warmer, they advise against buying into media sensationalism.

Moreover, the map doesn't reflect the extreme temperatures that can be deadly to plants, experts say.

Saluting Dorchester's American Legion Post No. 264

Saturday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. The Times wants to salute every veteran who has served our nation, in times of war and peace.

We also want to pay tribute to Dorchester's August-Vanek American Legion Post #264, the Sons of the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary.

Many in our community may not realize that Dorchester's Legion Post is in its 103rd year.

Following World War I, the veterans of Dorchester wanted to join the American Legion, a national organization for U.S. veterans. State Department Adjutant Frank B. O'Connell of Lincoln presided at the May 24, 1920 meeting to organize an American Legion post in Dorchester. 

The following Dorchester men signed an application for a charter: Claude Kennedy, Frank Mares, William Sanburn, Joe Mateja, Casper Schuerhoff, Frank Grant, Tony Wolfe, Fred Littlefield. Russell Freidell, Frank Kozak, Russell Bruning, Vincent Rogers, Clark West, Cecil Ward, John Cerny, William Johnson, Nels Hansen,Walter Hartly, Albert Peterson, and Ray Ward. 

The charter was presented on Aug. 1, 1920 and filed August 10. 1920. Dr. N.P. Hansen was the first Commander of the Post of the American Legion #264. 

The name August was selected for the Post in honor of Ernest R. August who was killed in World War I. 

In those early years, the Dorchester Legion was housed in a few different locations. In 1954, the Post bought a building -- the present Legion Hall -- from W.O. Howlett. This building was remodeled for the use of the Legion, the Auxiliary, and club facilities.  It was dedicated on March 23. 1956. 

In January 1955 the Post added another name -- Vanek -- to their Post name honoring Emil Vanek, killed in action in the Pacific theater of World War II.

Legion activities throughout the years have been a key part of community life in Dorchester. Back in 1922, there was a Model-T Ford raffle drawing. In the 1930s and '40s, the Legion held home talent plays.  

Legion members built a cabin for the Boy Scouts on the Kenney farm in the 1930s. In 1933, lights and light poles were purchased and erected north of the elevator for all types of softball league games and tournaments.  

By the 1950s and '60s, the Dorchester Legion was sponsoring representatives to attend Boys State -- and later on, Girls State. 

Many community activities have been and are sponsored by the Legion and its Auxiliary to serve veterans in need and in final rites for the deceased. 

One hundred and three years have proven that the stronger our local American Legion post, the stronger our community.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Veterans Will Be Honored Friday at DPS

Veterans Will Be Honored Friday at School: On Friday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m., a Veterans' Day program will be held at the Dorchester Public School. The DHS FBLA and the school cafeteria staff will serve coffee and cinnamon rolls to all veterans beginning at 9 a.m. Also, check out this Times' story recognizing Dorchester's August-Vanek American Legion Post #264, which is in its 103rd year.

Three Residents Apply for Vacant Village Board Seat: According to sources, at least three Dorchester residents have applied to fill a vacant seat on the Dorchester Board of Trustees. The vacancy comes after Andrea Pracheil, who had been serving as board chair, last month announced her resignation. The term will only be for the remainder of Pracheil's four-year term, which ends Dec. 9, 2024. The deadline to apply is tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 9). The position will be discussed at the upcoming village board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at the Community Building.

Dorchester Jr. High Play Is Thursday, Nov. 9: Get ready for some great entertainment as the Dorchester Jr. High presents its one-act play, "The Curse of Wolvesmede." Loaded with humor, oddball characters, and questionable motives, we can only wonder what happened to the maid and why a Schwan’s ice cream man was making rounds on a miserable night. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 in the school's multi-purpose room. $3 admission for kindergarten students through adults.

DVFD to Visit DPS Nov. 15: Members of the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department will be visiting Dorchester students Wednesday, Nov. 15 to recognize Fire Prevention Week. Students in pre-kindergarten through the fourth grade will receive fire safety briefings so they can share the knowledge with family members.

Eastside Set to Host Polka Party, Nov. 19: Dorchester's Eastside Bar and Grill is about to get nuts again. On Sunday, Nov. 19, Kevin Koopmann will be playing polka from 3-7 p.m. As always, a good crowd is expected, so get there early. Specials include: Pork, kraut, dumplings, dressing, gravy, vegetables, and rye bread.

Plan on Turkey Bingo at the Legion, Nov. 20: On Monday, Nov. 20, the Dorchester Legion Bar and Grill will host turkey bingo. Participants can win a turkey, ham, duck, or pie (and then tell their family at Thanksgiving that they splurged just for them). Doors open at 5 p.m., food is served at 6 p.m., and bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome.  

Here They Are: 10 Great Ideas For Dorchester

Earlier this year, the Dorchester Times asked readers to send us their ideas to improve Dorchester. 

Under the banner of our "Great Ideas for Dorchester" project, we asked readers to send ideas (via our email, Facebook, or blog comments) to enhance and grow Dorchester and secure its future.

As 2023 begins to close its curtains, we are rerunning the 10 best ideas for Dorchester submitted by Times' readers. In no particular order, they are as follows:

• Establish an "adopt a building" program to work with the owners of main street buildings. Focus for one or two years to improve a particular building. Raise funds. Volunteer labor and/or supplies. Hold open houses to show off progress. Get everyone involved.
  
  
• Have Dorchester's FBLA run student-run businesses from a main street building. Maybe a current owner could donate use of one of the vacant buildings.
  
  
• Create a matching fund, that is funded by donations, to offer matching grants to individuals wanting to start in-demand businesses, like a convenience store, grocery, new car wash, or workout facility.
  
  
• Paint a huge mural on the east Farmers Cooperative elevator where the emblem is completely worn down. The mural would be of a longhorn breaking through the cement, with the words “We ❤️ our Longhorns."
  
  
• The paving of the streets, a gym, a grocery store, new paint on buildings to give color and life to our small town.
  
  
• Do more to spotlight local businesses, business owners, and employees.
  
  
• An annual food truck festival with live music on main street.
  
  
• Work with the school to start an online weekly newspaper.
  
  
• Flower pots full of flowers on main street, possibly with benches with sponsors' names on the backrests. 

• Create a new housing development with a real developer. Model it after the Oliva project in west Wilber, but make it even more desirable than that, with trees and ponds and walking trails.

Thanks to our readers for their engagement.

We encourage community members to get involved with Dorchester activities and volunteer organizations, and work to make these great ideas a reality.

Former Resident, Village Board Chair Bill August Passes

Bill August, 79, of Lincoln, formerly Dorchester, passed away Oct. 23, 2023.  

August was a former village board member, including board chair during Dorchester's 1981 centennial year. He is a 1962 graduate of DHS.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held Friday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. 

No visitation. Memorials are in care of the family for future designation to the Dorchester Community.  

A more detailed obituary will be posted here.  

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Village Board Chair Resigns; Seat Must Be Filled

Pracheil Resigns From Village Board: For the second time in just a few months, another member of the Dorchester Board of Trustees has stepped down. Andrea Pracheil, who had been serving as board chair, announced her resignation, which took effect on Oct. 10. Now the village is in need of a qualified registered voter, who lives in the village limits, to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the four year term, which ends Dec. 9, 2024. If you are interested in being nominated to fill the vacancy, drop off or mail a letter of interest and resume to the Village Clerk, 701 Washington Ave., PO Box 287, Dorchester, NE 68343. Letters and resumes must be received by 4 p.m. on Nov. 9, 2023.

Volleyball Team Concludes Regular Season, Prepares for Sub-Districts: The DHS Volleyball team hit a rough patch at the end of the regular season, dropping six of the final nine contests and going one for three in the CRC tournament. The Lady Longhorns can be proud, however, compiling a 16-10 regular season. Now the Orange and Black Attack must focus on staying alive in the post-season at the Class D1-1 Sub-District Tourney at Johnson-Brock High School. The third-seeded DHS will face No. 2 Diller-Odell (18-9) at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23. The winner will most likely face No. 1 Johnson-Brock (21-6) on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.

DHS Football Plays Final Game of 2023: Dorchester High School football finished the season just 1-7, falling to Pawnee City 25-52 Friday, Oct. 20. This isn't the first time Dorchester's football program has endured a period of tough luck. In the early 1970s, the DHS football team endured three straight seasons without winning a single game. When the boys finally broke their losing streak in 1975, the Longhorns were presented an autographed football from the University of Nebraska football team, hand delivered by NU fullback Tony Davis. (Keep in mind that the losing streak came immediately after Dorchester had fielded an undefeated team in 1971 under Coach Jack Guggenmos. That squad was considered the best in Class C by many experts.)

Jirsa Named to All-State Chorus Again: Congratulations are in order for Ashton Jirsa, a DHS senior who has been selected to the Nebraska Music Education Association All-State Chorus for the fourth consecutive year. The NMEA all-state event will take place Nov. 16-18 in Lincoln.

Bob Duchek Celebration of Life, Oct. 21: There will be a celebration of life event held Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Dorchester American Legion from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please feel free to wear Husker attire; Bob was a big fan of the Big Red -- and the game will be on.

John Howlett Passes: DHS alumnus John Michael Howlett, 77, Martell, passed away Sept. 15. He was the son of Fred L. and Beulah (Formanek) Howlett and grew up in Dorchester. He graduated in 1964 from DHS, where he lettered in three sports, played the baritone sax in the band, and attended Boys State. Growing up, John followed the footsteps of his brothers and delivered the Lincoln newspaper in Dorchester. He also worked with his father at Dorchester's Howlett Produce Station (south of the city park), delivering feed and picking up eggs. Read Howlett's obituary.

Looking Back: Pleasant Hill One Of Nebraska's Most Notable Ghost Towns

In 2019, the Lincoln Journal Star published a list of 15 well-known Nebraska ghost towns. Saline County's Pleasant Hill made the list. 

This was a big deal considering Nebraska once had more than 1,100 towns -- many more than today's roughly 530 cities and villages. So the Cornhusker State has its share of ghost towns.

Sometimes referred to as Dorchester's sister community, Pleasant Hill replaced Swan City as the county seat following an 1871 countywide vote. (Dorchester had also been in the running to become the county seat.)

"Already the county's biggest and most prosperous town after its platting in 1867, with a state-of-the-art mill and at least one store, its offer of land and cash for a courthouse no doubt encouraged voters," the Journal Star reported.

The newspaper continued with its report: 

"Within a couple years, though, Crete and Wilber had grown and sought to claim the courthouse as their own. State law required them to wait five years before bring the matter to a vote. Like its successor, Pleasant Hill finished last in a tight election won by Wilber, where the courthouse remains to this day.

"Getting the county records from Pleasant Hill, however, wasn't a given. It took 160 wagon teams and 300 people projecting force from Wilber before the papers were handed over.

"Like many other towns, its demise was sealed when the railroad by passed the former county seat. That first courthouse, used first as a poor house and then as a community hall, burned down prior to World War I. The final straw, though, was the fire that destroyed the mill in 1930."

Read the Times' 2008 article on Pleasant Hill's history here.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Trick Or Trunk Set For Oct. 29

Trunk or Treat, Oct. 29: Get ready for Dorchester's annual Trunk or Treat, coming to the school parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For businesses and organizations that would like to take part in Trunk or Treat, arrive by 12:45 p.m. An awesome hayrack ride will be available for the kids in costume. Both events are sponsored by the Dorchester PTO.

DHS Sports Teams Wind Down Regular Season: Now at 15-8 on the year, the Dorchester High School volleyball team is nearing the conclusion of its regular season. The Lady Longhorns are preparing for the multi-day Crossroads Conference at the York Auditorium/York High School. Action gets underway Saturday, Oct. 14. Meanwhile, the DHS football team (1-5) will take on Parkview Christian (4-2) at Nerud Field tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Dorchester Blood Drive, Oct. 25: On Oct. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., a blood drive will take place at Dorchester Public School. Donors should report to the school multi-purpose room. Call 800-RED-CROSS to schedule your appointment to be a contributor to this important cause. Your kindness counts.

DHS Grad Spotlighted in Imperial: Jason Jensen, a 2018 DHS grad, is beginning his teaching and coaching career as a faculty member at Chase County Schools. Jensen is featured in this article in the Imperial Republican.

Dorchester Students Shine in Language Arts: Two Dorchester students were recognized earlier this fall for their language arts ability. In a contest at the Nebraska State Fair, Annaleah Tellez took home the second-place award in penmanship, while Javier Cornejo earned honorable mention in poetry. Congrats to these young Longhorns!

OUR VIEW: NU Football Needs A Boost From High School Football

If you're like most readers in the Cornhusker State, you are hoping to see the University of Nebraska football program quickly restored to its former glory -- specifically to the level of dominance NU demonstrated from 1964-2000.

For the past two decades, Nebraska football has been only a shadow of its former self. There are several factors for the downward spiral, but a key ingredient has been the statewide decline in high school football participation.

Based on information from the Nebraska School Activities Association, Nebraska high school football has seen more than an 18% decline in player participation over the last 20 years. Over the past 30 years, it's likely closer to a 30% dip.

Here's the breakdown:

• In the autumn of 2002, there were 14,544 boys out for football at Nebraska high schools across all classes (including 11-man, eight-man, and six-man).
  
  
• Over the next five years, participation held steady with 14,452 out the fall of 2007. But by autumn 2012, participation dropped to 13,243.
  
  
• By 2017, the number fell to 11,995. 
  
  
• By 2022, it was 11,919.
  
  
• While the NSAA doesn't publish participation numbers from the years prior to 2002, we've been told the participation rates of the late 1980s and early 1990s were closer to 18,000. Of course, during those years, the University of Nebraska's football roster featured more players from Nebraska, including in its starting lineup. That's not a coincidence.

The University of Nebraska's football program is not only facing a talent deficit, it's also facing a culture problem. 

Football is still a game Nebraskans love to watch, but they want to watch others' kids take a hit on the gridiron, not their own. Never mind the teamwork and leadership lessons learned on the field, or the toughness the game instills in young men.

Fewer high school football players means less competition for starting positions. It means a decline in the quality of play between opposing teams. 

And fewer participants equals a smaller talent pool from which NU can recruit. (Passion for Big Red football spirals significantly once outside the state's borders, especially after 20 years of mediocre football.)

While other states have also seen a decline in high school football participation, Nebraska is a small population state -- the 11th least populated state in the nation. We simply can't maintain our tradition of college football excellence if it's not sufficiently rejuvenated by in-state talent.

Athletic Director Trev Alberts and other NU football leaders need to spend as much time connecting with the state's boys and their parents as they do with the mega-wealthy donors who will finance the makeover of Memorial Stadium over the next few years. 

Ironically, when Memorial Stadium's makeover is complete, its capacity will be reduced by 12% to 15% fans, from around 86,000 today to the low 70,000s, according to reports.

All the signs tell Nebraska football fans: You're going the wrong way.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Crete Rotary Gifts Dictionaries To Dorchester Students

Village Board Meeting Is Oct. 9: Dorchester's monthly village board meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 9 at the Dorchester Community Hall.  The Times has been sent an anonymous email said that a change could be coming to the village board, but no details were given. (As a reminder, the village board recently voted to move its monthly meeting to the second Monday of the month.) Board agendas and meeting minutes are located here.

DHS Grad Named to Homecoming Court at Morningside: Dorchester High School alumnus Ridge Hoffman has been selected to the homecoming court at Morningside University (Sioux City, Iowa). Ridge is a double major in special education and elementary education. He is set to graduate in May 2024 hopes to land a teaching job in or near Dorchester. 

Register for 3-on-3 Volleyball League by Oct. 9: Those wanting to play in Dorchester's 3-on-3 volleyball league have until Monday, Oct. 9 to turn in their team roster. Turn in this completed form to the village office along with the $30 fee.

Food Trucks Coming to Main Street: Downtown Dorchester will play host to several food trucks over the coming days. On Oct. 8 (from noon to 5:30 p.m) and on Oct. 9 (3:30 to 7:30 p.m), catch Chi Style Kitchen. Amigos will be available Oct. 10 (11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). Catch Dar's Kitchen on Oct. 16 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). And visit Pork's Done on Oct. 23 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Menus will be posted at the bank, post office, at Village Hall.

Crete Organization Provides Dictionaries to Longhorns: In an act of kindness and generosity from our next-door neighbor, the Crete Rotary recently donated new dictionaries to every Dorchester third grader, according to DPS social media.

Former Dorchester Resident Dinah Cannon Passes: Diana Cannon, a former resident of Dorchester who was married to longtime Dorchester maintenance supervisor LeRoy Vyhnalek, passed away Sept. 25. After moving away in 1988, Dinah returned to Nebraska to be near friends and family. She loved volunteering at the Dorchester Public Library. Her obituary can be read here.

October Fun at State Parks: Nebraska Game and Parks wants Times readers to know that many state parks will be hosting family-friendly festivities throughout October. Check out the schedule of events and plan your opportunity for fun, whether that's carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, or a haunted hayrack ride.

DHS Volleyball Goes To 13-4; Conducting Fundraiser

The DHS volleyball team has continued its winning ways in recent days, defeating High Plains Community, Omaha Christian Academy, and Sterling in recent days. 

But the team also lost two contests to inferior opponents in Shelby/Rising City and Nebraska Lutheran. 

Based on records alone, Dorchester, now 13-4, is a top 10 team in Nebraska's Class D-1 at this point in the season. 

The final quarter of the 2023 season begins tonight, Sept. 28, and the quality of opponents will be enhanced. 

On Thursday evening, DHS is on the road to take on Diller-Odell (12-7) and Meridian (11-2) in a triangular. 

Next week, on Oct. 5, the Lady 'Horns face Class C2 Cross County (13-5).

Meanwhile, the volleyball team is conducting a fundraiser. Get a bright orange longhorn design painted on your driveway to show your Dorchester pride. Cost is $25 per longhorn. Orders may be place through Friday, Sept. 29. See details here. Or call (402) 946-2781.

Forecast: First Frost Won't Hit Until Oct. 19

For those of you excited for the season's first frost, you have a long wait.

According to the Dorchester Times forecasting formula and research, the first frost won't hit Saline County until Oct. 19. 

That's still a month away.

If our prediction holds true, it will only be a few days later than the average first frost date for our area, which is Oct. 12.

The first "killing frost" won't hit until late October, according to forecast models. This is especially relevant to farmers. In both corn and beans, a killing frost occurs at 28 degrees. Once a killing frost hits, plants can no longer move carbohydrates from the leaves, where photosynthesis occurs, to the grain. 

Of course, that also means we will be mowing for several more weeks.

The current record for the latest first frost in our area is Nov. 7, 1956, as some of our readers might recall. (Note: The first frost record for Omaha is even later, occurring on Nov. 13, 1915.)

While night-time lows will drop into the 30s before then, our long-range predictions (using AccuWeather and a few other forecasting services) show that the Dorchester area is going to be much warmer than average this early autumn.

Enjoy the warmth before winter!

NEWS ROUND-UP: Homecoming Week At Dorchester

DHS Homecoming Week Is Here: This is homecoming week in Dorchester. Students are celebrating with their spirit week themes, while DHS' football and volleyball teams are preparing to win for the generations of Orange and Black pride. The homecoming football contest will feature a match-up between DHS (1-2) and Meridan (0-3) on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Ironically, none of this week's volleyball contests are at home. Check out Dorchester Public School's spirit week schedule

Hailey Schweitzer Records 1,000 Assists at DHS: Dorchester's Hailey Schweitzer has recorded 1,000 career assists as a Dorchester volleyball player. Schweitzer reached this astounding benchmark Friday, Sept. 15, in DHS' contest against Harvard. The Lady Longhorns went on to win, bringing the squad to 9-2 on the season.

DHS Volleyball Cruises to 9-2: The DHS volleyball team continues to add to its win column, knocking off Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska Lutheran, and Harvard in recent days. Based on records alone, Dorchester (9-2) is a top 5 team in Nebraska's Class D-1 at this point in the season. The week, DHS will travel to Osceola (6-4), then to Shelby to face Shelby/Rising City (7-4) and High Plains Community (6-5), then to Waco to face Omaha Christian Academy (4-4) and Nebraska Lutheran (2-9).

Saline County Museum Fall Festival This Weekend:  Living History Day is set for this Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Saline County Historical Museum in south Dorchester. The fun and learning will begin at 11 a.m. and last through 3 p.m. This is a free family event with interactive demonstrations of historical skills going on during the day on the grounds. Food and drinks will be sold on museum grounds. Learn more. 

Church Lunch, Fundraiser, Oct. 1: The Dorchester United Methodist Church is getting ready to host a community lunch and fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 1. The fundraiser will support the church's after-school program, which is utilized by numerous families in our community. See this flyer below for more details.

Community Clean-Up Set for Oct. 9-16: Dorchester's Community Fall Clean-Up will be from Monday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 16. That week, the village dump site will be open Monday thru Friday 3-7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. No excuses to get your place looking like the pride of all Dorchester.

Dorchester's Best Football Teams Of All Time

A while back, the Dorchester Times ranked the best high school football teams our school has ever produced. What made our effort credible is we relied on the expertise, input, and collective memories of former athletes and long-time DHS sports fans.

To be sure, this was no easy task. There have been some very solid teams produced by DHS over the past 70 years or so.  

Also complicating our effort is the fact that DHS football has come in three different formats over six decades. In the early 1960s, Dorchester went from six-man football to eight-man. In 1969, DHS converted to the 11-man game, which it played for 22 seasons; in 1991, the school reverted to eight-man; and in 2018, after several seasons without a DHS football team, the school revived the six-man game.

Let's not forget that in the fall of 1949 DHS' football program was restarted after years of not playing the game -- idled by the death of a player in the 1930s.

Despite the challenges, we did our best to fairly rank the Longhorn football teams of the past by paying special attention to the the talent of opponents they faced and the class of ball in which they played. Below is our top 10 list. (NOTE: The years we cite are the autumns of that school year. For example, 1961 represents school year 1961-62, not the graduating Class of '61.)

Beginning with the best two DHS football teams of all time, here's our list:

1.)  (tie) 1961: Undefeated and perhaps the most talented bunch at every position.  Names like Tesar, Guggenmos, Axline, Sysel and August dominated the opposition with stellar offense and defense.

1.)  (tie) 1979: Also undefeated, this team was touted as one the best Class C-2 teams in Nebraska by many, including Lincoln and Omaha sportswriters. The group certainly claimed the best skill-position players DHS has ever seen on one team. The DHS scoring explosion!

3.)  1971: This DHS team was also undefeated. Many in the area still claim this was the best Class D team in all of Nebraska that particular year. (As a side note, former DHS coach Jack Guggenmos' four years at the helm produced a 29-5-2 record.)

4.)  1977: Ranked No. 7 in Class C-2 by the Lincoln Journal and No. 5 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end, this group claimed the Pioneer Conference champion trophy. "The hardest hitting team ever to wear the DHS uniform," one local expert said.

5.)  1986: This team was ranked No. 8 in Class C-2 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. State qualifier. Also, the only DHS team we know of who had a member, Bob Zoubek, shatter a helmet on an opponent. Led by the classes of 1987 and 1988, both blessed with skill and size.

6.)  1987: The group was ranked No. 9 in Class C-2 by the Lincoln Journal and No. 5 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. State qualifier. Led by the classes of 1988 and 1989, two classes with deep talent.

7.)  1978: Ranked No. 5 in Class D by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end, the group was champions of the Pioneer Conference. This group gave fans a preview of the successful 1979 team.

8.)  1958: This was one of DHS' first great football teams according to every Longhorn fan who saw them play. The squad finished the season ranked No. 2 in six-man by the Omaha World-Herald. Older fans say DHS never looked better than in the fall of '58.

9.)  1976: Ranked No. 5 in Class D by the Lincoln Journal and No. 7 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end, this group was in the midst of the mid-to-late 1970 glory days for DHS football. Pioneer Conference champs.

10.)  1999: This team had a 7-1 regular season record, with the state's second-leading rusher in Jed Burkey, and was ranked much of the season. A late season injury at QB likely prevented this team from reaching at least the quarter-finals in the Class D-1 playoffs.

***** Honorable Mention *****

• 1959 -- Ranked No. 8 in six-man by the World-Herald.
• 1994 -- State qualifier. Only team to lead No. 1 Falls City Sacred Heart that season.
• 2006 -- State qualifier in eight-man.