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.

Cool Dorchester-Themed Gifts Available Online

If you're still looking for Christmas gifts for family and friends, it's not too late to get your Dorchester-themed goodies.

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

Amazon.com offers Dorchester Christmas tree ornaments and coffee (or hot cocoa) mugs. 

All are under $20.

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

Hurry! Christmas is just days away.

Support Your Local Community This Holiday Season

As the Christmas shopping season continues -- and many of you are still searching for last-minute gifts -- readers are urged to consider buying locally to support their friends and neighbors.

Purchasing gift certificates or locally produced items instead of items made in China, which continues to prepare for war with the U.S. and its citizens by using the money it receives from the goods we import.

One e-mail that circulated throughout the country just a few years ago put it this way:

"Christmas shouldn't mean draining American pockets to help China build and retool its military arsenal or capture more land for its communist rulers. Christmas should be about caring, helping our neighbors, and encouraging America's small-business owners to keep following their dreams. When care about our communities, we invest in our shared future. The benefits come back to us in ways we cannot imagine."

Here are some suggestions on how you can be a part of the effort to help the local economy:

• Buy locally made products whenever possible. Local business provide local jobs.
  
  
• Give gift certificates for local restaurants and service providers. 

• In Dorchester, think about getting gift certificates for The Well spa and health products; Donna's Hair Creations; Farmers Cooperative service station; City Slickers Bar and Grill; Eastside Bar and Grill; Tyser Repair and Tyser Auto Sales; Barley's Specialties; Spring Creek Repair; and others. 

• To support nearby businesses, consider gifts from Blue River Meats in Crete; Frank's Smokehouse or Karpisek's Market in Wilber; or a number of service providers or retailers in Crete, Wilber, Friend or Milford.
  
  
• Consider gift certificates from Rico's Mexican Restaurant in Friend or Carniceria San Fernando Grocery, owned by Rico and Vanessa Perez of Dorchester. Or perhaps Pizza Hut, Burger King, or Casey's.

Leave us your ideas in the comments section of this post.

It's Ugly Sweater And Jingle Bell Bingo Time, Dec. 18

Having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit? We have an answer for that.

On Monday, Dec. 18, the Dorchester American Legion Bar and Grill will play host to Jingle Bell Bingo, as well as an ugly sweater contest, according to social media reports.

That's right. You can show off your bingo skills while letting the world know you're confident enough to sport a downright nasty ugly sweater.

Prizes will include turkey, ham, bacon, pies, and duck.

Doors open a 5 p.m. Food will be served at 6 p.m. 

Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. And ugly sweater judging starts at 7:30 p.m. 

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.

Looking Back: The Holidays In Dorchester -- 77 Years Ago

Christmas decorations on the third floor of the old school.

Seventy-seven years ago, World War II had recently concluded and America was experiencing the beginning of a new era of prosperity. And during the holidays in 1946, it was a busy time for several organizations in Dorchester.

The Dorchester Times examined Christmas-time issues of The Dorchester Star from December 1946. Here are some of the activities we found on the community calendar the week before Christmas:

• Dorchester Activities Club:  The Dorchester Activities Club, which met once a month, had 68 residents attend the December 1946 meeting to share a turkey dinner prepared by "the ladies" and then to hear from a guest speaker discuss the future of "atomic energy."

• American Legion: On Dec. 15, 1946, the Dorchester American Legion Post 264 held a trap shoot for the public at the J. Owen Potter farm. Pheasants were at "such a high premium" that year that it was decided shooting at clay pigeons made more sense than a hunt.  On Dec. 19, the Legion and Auxiliary held a Christmas covered dish supper for the community (just as they did this year).

• Dorchester Quilting Club:  The Quilting Club enjoyed a Christmas party at the home of Mrs. Lillie Arnold.

• Friendly Nabor Club:  The 20 members of the Friendly Nabor Project Club met at the home of Mrs. Sabina Potter on Dec. 11 for lunch and had a exchange of homemade gifts.  They announced the January meeting would be hosted by Mrs. Hans Weber and Mrs. Jay Younkin.

• Triple A Club:  Mrs. John Freeouf was hostess of the Triple A Club.  It was reported that "Miss Myrtle Briker was high at bridge."

• Dorchester Bridge Club:  The Bridge Club met Dec. 17, 1946, at the home of C.C. Whitcomb.

• Dorchester School:  Dorchester's fifth and sixth graders decorated their classrooms for Christmas with posters of Christmas scenes, as well as poinsettias and candles and a Christmas tree. Jack Bruha brought a new 1947 calendar for his classroom. In high school, the DHS Pep Club girls decorated the hallways and student assembly, and they "dressed a tree placed in the upper hall."

• Dorchester Library:  The Dorchester Public Library was open on Saturdays in December 1946 from 7-9 p.m. on Saturdays and from 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

• Methodist Church:  The Dorchester Methodist Church's young people went caroling around town on Dec. 21, 1946. The "Junior Department" of the UMC Sunday School held a pageant, titled "A Little Child," on Christmas Eve. The adult choir practiced on Dec. 19.

• L.M. Club:  The weekly L.M. Club (we don't know what L.M. stood for) met at the home of Mrs. William Sehnert, as Madames Earl Moser and Henry Andelt received traveling prizes.

• Women's Club:  The Dorchester Women's Club held their weekly meeting on the afternoon of Dec. 18 at the Community Hall.

These were just some of the holiday events we found taking place in Dorchester some 77 years ago.

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.)