She was born Aug. 15, 1946.
A full obituary will soon be available here.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel in Milligan.
The family will be present for visitation from 5 p.m to 7 p.m.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. later that day at the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan.
Ever since the girls' state championship game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena last March, Dorchester has been abuzz with anticipation for the 2025-26 basketball season.
On Thursday, Dec. 4, both the DHS girls and boys teams will tip off what promises to be an electric season. Deshler comes will come to town for a 6 p.m. girls contest, while the boys' game will start at 7:30. Both games will be at the Dorchester gym.
Girls Seek to Build on Last Year's Success
The Lady Longhorns, still riding a wave of momentum from last season's historic run, have their eyes on the prize this season.
In 2024-25, DHS delivered a 24-3 record, storming through districts and the playoffs and reaching the Class D-2 state championship game. It was the best tournament run in school history -- for either girls or boys in any sport -- and a moment that put Dorchester girls basketball on the map.
Head coach Brandon Bruha, who was named Nebraska's high school girls basketball coach of the year earlier this year, returns alongside assistant coach Brent Zoubek. Their blend of strategic coaching and strong community support have helped the Lady Longhorns establish their own brand of basketball.
Despite the loss of three key players due to graduation, expectations are high once again this season, especially with the off-season development of younger players who saw significant playing time last winter.
Boys Ready to Re-Establish DHS' Winning Tradition
The 2024–25 season was a tough slog for the DHS boys, who sported a 1–21 record. But as deep talent begins to emerge, this season represents a pivotal reset.
One DHS fan in his 70s told the Times: "This year's team has a chance to turn what used to be losses into wins and rebuild pride in the DHS boys basketball brand."
Under the coaching leadership of Corey Bird, there’s optimism that a renewed focus on fundamentals, teamwork, and mental toughness will allow the program to leap forward. (And DHS' head coach knows something about leaping.)
See the girls basketball schedule.
Check out the boys basketball schedule.
Then go put on your best orange-and-black attire for yet another season of DHS basketball!
Demolition crews have removed most of the former former Ford dealership and garage at the corner of 8th Street and Washington Avenue (Main Street). Currently owned by LJ Barley of Barley Specialties, the building had been used for storage since business operations ceased in the mid-1970s following the retirement of Henry Sehnert.
The structure sustained major roof damage during last August's severe windstorm. According to credible reports emailed to the Times, Barley intends to build on the site.
Not all residents we have spoken with are optimistic. Some have raised concerns about what may replace the former Ford garage. Multiple residents noted that the last property Barley purchased and tore down — the lot just south of the city park — has since been used for storing scrap metal and inoperable vehicles, blighting the community. However, Barley's new building to the north of the current demolition project has added considerable value to Main Street by bringing two new businesses to town.
"This site is extremely important considering its prominence along Dorchester’s main business corridor," said one resident who emailed the Times.
Meanwhile, another landmark disappeared as Dorchester’s historic "Sears home," located at 201 Washington Ave. for the past century, was lifted from its foundation and transported out of town on Thursday, Nov. 26. Built around 1925 as a Sears and Roebuck mail order kit, was transported out of town Thursday, Nov. 26. The house, which was a Times' Home Improvement Award winner in 2023, was a rare surviving example of its kind in the area. It has reportedly been moved near the West Blue Church northeast of Dorchester, where it is expected to be preserved.
With these two departures, Dorchester loses both a significant piece of its Main Street commercial past and a bit of its residential architectural heritage. In a town where familiar landmarks help anchor community identity, residents will be watching closely to see what fills the newly open spaces — and how village leaders and property owners choose to balance preservation, progress, and property stewardship in the months ahead.
Te retired race car "hung from the rafters of Sehnert's Garage at 8th and Washington for many years." This particular Times reader, "History Buff," along with the visitor at the Saline County Museum wanted to know the rest of the story.
Where was the car raced?
Was it a winner?
Does anyone have a photo?
What became of the car?
It's a highlight of Dorchester's end-of-harvest season.
The Dorchester Community Foundation will host its Windsor loin and hamburger feed Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Dorchester American Legion Hall and Community Building.
The feed will take place from 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Most will choose to dine in, but take-out will be available by calling (402) 641-7050 or (402) 641-0564.
Those who have been to the Foundation dinners know these are some of the best small-town foodie events anywhere in the Midwest. Best of all, the goodies are served in a friendly, welcoming environment.
Diners can choose a healthy-sized Windsor loin or an Angus burger/cheeseburger. Sides include scalloped potatoes, pork and beans, coleslaw, roll and drink.
This is a free-will offering, so give what you can. Proceeds will go to improvement projects in Dorchester.
November is a busy month for Dorchester's American Legion Post 264. Here's a rundown of everything taking place. If we have forgotten something, let us know in the comments section of this article.
Veterans Day: This Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m., the Dorchester Legion and Dorchester Public School will host the community's Veterans Day program in the school gym. There will be breakfast and coffee available in the cafeteria. All veterans are welcome to stay for a free school lunch after the program. If you plan on staying for lunch, contact the school office (402-946-2781) so staff can ensure there is enough food. Then, beginning at 5 p.m., the Legion building will open. At 6 p.m., hamburgers and fries or chips will be served as part of a free-will donation dinner. Vets and active-duty service members eat for free. Those who wish to bring a side dish or dessert should know it would be appreciated, according to the Legion's social media account.
Nov. 22 Fundraiser Breakfast: On Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Legion will host a fundraiser breakfast with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and much more. Hosted by the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary -- with bacon and sausage donated by Smithfield -- this is sure to be a popular event. Funds will go towards a $2,500 sound system for Legion events, such as the Memorial Day services at the cemeteries.
Fundraising Campaign for New Sound System: As noted in this social media post, the Dorchester Legion is raising money for a better sound system -- and "instead of borrowing Troy Novak’s all the time." The new sound system will be used during Memorial Day ceremonies, activities at the Legion building, flag ceremonies, and other activities. Donations can be dropped off at the Legion. Staff says: Any help is appreciated. If you would like to donate, email Greg or Lori at legion264ne@yahoo.com.
Are Crete's economic development funds — which come directly from taxpayers — being misused for political purposes?
That's the question after The Crete News this week published a photo of political candidate Dan Osborn’s recent visit to Crete’s The 1206 banquet hall.
In case you’re not familiar, Osborn is the so-called “blue-collar guy” who gave U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) a run for her money in 2024.
Critics say Osborn, a former labor union leader who is running for U.S. Senate again, is a “Democrat in disguise.” Osborn has received huge amounts of money from national Democrat-aligned groups, including $3.8 million from Senate Democrats last year.
But forget partisan politics. Instead, focus on politics and the use of public funds.
Normally, Osborn’s Oct. 19 visit to The 1206, which has proclaimed its LGBTQ+ pride, would hardly be noteworthy. After all, the building and business are privately owned — and owners of private businesses and private property are free to conduct any legal event or activity they wish.
But what happens when a private business has been given a large sum of taxpayer funding?
Our research shows The 1206 LLC received significant LB 840 funding from the City of Crete in recent years.
Remember, Nebraska's LB 840 program allows municipalities to collect and appropriate local tax dollars — including sales and/or property tax revenues — and redistribute those dollars for economic development purposes.
While it’s unlikely any rules were broken by the owners of The 1206, our question is more about the ethics of using a building renovated with nearly $50,000 in taxpayer help — including from conservative taxpayers — to further Osborn's political ambitions.
LB 840 funding can probably be justified in communities the size of Crete, even if it looks bad when city leaders pick winners and losers among small businesses. But sending taxpayer money to private enterprises becomes harder to justify when projects are used to politically snub so many taxpayers.
More Street Paving Underway: For anyone who hasn't driving through Main Street Dorchester in recent weeks, the signs of street paving are everywhere -- or at least on 6th, 8th, 10th, and 11th Streets east of Washington Ave. The paving is part of the village's long-term street improvement plan and follows last year's resurfacing of main street -- marking the first resurfacing in three decades -- and paving of the streets surrounding the city park and water park. Stay tuned for more paving in the near future.
DHS Volleyball Concludes Regular Season: The Dorchester Lady Longhorns have wrapped up the regular season, finishing 12-16 as post-season play begins. The Orange and Black Attack faced stiff competition in the home stretch of their season, taking on teams like Osceola (21-8), BDS (19-10), and Cross County (23-8). DHS lost nine of their last 12 contests, including three of four at the CRC Tournament in York. The Lady Longhorns now prepare for sub-districts at Shickley where they take on Nebraska Lutheran (10-18) on Monday, Oct. 27, at 4:30 p.m. Winner goes on, while the season ends for the loser.
DHS Football Ends Season At 2-6: The Dorchester High School football team has wrapped up another year on the gridiron. The Longhorns fell to Meridian 21-47 on a cool, raining Friday evening, Oct. 24, at Nerud Field. With a 2-6 record, DHS can look to the future with a talent crop of young players coming up through the ranks. This year's Dorchester Junior High football team went undefeated.
Dorchester's World Series Connection: Dorchester has strong family ties to this year's World Series. One of the star pitchers for the Toronto Bluejays, Kevin Gausman, traces his family roots back to Dorchester. His grandfather, Clarence, and father, Clair, were both athletes at Dorchester. Kevin Gausman has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round (fourth overall) in 2012 after playing for Louisiana State University. He has pitched in the majors for more than a dozen years. See our 2014 story on Kevin's Dorchester connection.
"The first trip we had made (to Gilbert's Graveyard) I ended up in tears; just the feeling of being there was enough to make you sick. We started to drive through the graveyard, and someone pointed at a tree that was knocked down over a grave, and when I looked over there I saw a black fog coming up from the grave, we decided to leave. As we left the graveyard, we looked over to the graveyard and about nine-plus flashing lights came up from the graveyard and seemed to follow us. I was the driver and I looked in my rear view mirror to be horrified to see a older lady staring at me in the mirror, then scream and then I began to cry uncontrollably. I stepped on that gas and swore I would never return. But consequently we did, and the second time it was more calmer then the first, not much happened except for hearing footsteps in the distant, and the feeling of you being followed closely."
Specter of Highway 33: For years, we've heard reports of a "man" who supposedly walks on Highway 33 as you near the west edge of Crete. People have reported seeing him on the road, or just off to the side, and swerve to miss him. When they look back, he is gone. The Times has investigated the story further. Some say the apparition is that of a Dorchester lad who died decades ago in a very bad accident a mile west of Crete. Others say it is the ghost of an Oregon Trail pioneer who lost his way and died on the journey. 
Emil Anton Veprovsky was born Sept. 1, 1930, to John and Rose (Kasal), on a farm east of Dorchester, known as the Luzum farm.There were times for enjoyment as well; he took his family on summer vacations. He was a member of the Dorchester American Legion. He received a quilt of Valor in May 2022 and was Veteran of the Month in May 2025. He also was a long-time member of the WFLA Lodge Tabor Hall, where he spent many nights with other members remodeling and repairing the hall so Tabor could be re-opened to the public. Emil held the office of president at Tabor for many years and spent many weekends working the events at the hall.
The love for farming continued, and he put many long hours on the tractor even into his elderly age. At 94 years old, he was still driving tractors, cutting hay, feeding cattle, and driving grain trucks. He was always willing to try new things, even if he was skeptical. He used to say that he started by planting with a team of horses. He ended by using GPS. (Although he wasn’t really fond of it. He was certain he planted straighter rows without it.) However, over time, his body started wearing out, and he became ill. Despite battling illness for over a year, one of his last goals was to go out to cut hay one more time. His last farm duty was cutting 78 acres of alfalfa in the 2025 season. When he felt well enough, he continued to enjoy rides out to the field. Eventually, on Oct. 18, 2025, his fight ended when he passed away at Bryan East in Lincoln.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Gary (Penny) Veprovsky, his daughter, Karen Chadwick, his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin & Lisa Veprovsky, all from Dorchester. Sister-in-law, Bonnie Eret, brothers & sisters in law: Frank & Judy Eret, Richard and Vicki Kuzelka. Grandchildren: Joshua (Amber) Mackeprang, Melanie, and Shelby. 4 step grandchildren, many great grandchildren, nieces & nephews.
Emil is preceded in death by his parents, sisters & brother in laws, Rosie (Orin) Duchek and Jarmila (Arnest) Dvorak.
Services will be held Oct. 23, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Memorials have been designated to the Dorchester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.
In 2019, the Lincoln Journal Star published a list of 15 famous Nebraska ghost towns. Saline County's Pleasant Hill made the list.
Everyone is invited to join the family for lunch following the Graveside Services at the
American Legion building in Dorchester.
The online obituary is available here.
Gold is currently fetching around $4,000 an once -- up from $2,350 in summer 2024 and $1,850 at the beginning of last year. Some critics of the federal government's fiscal policy say gold could soon go for $5,000 an ounce as the U.S. debt, and the debts of most other nations, soars and fiat currencies become worth less.
Is it time to start panning Nebraska rivers and creeks for the yellow metal?
There are folks who believe you should try. Watch this video by a guy who touts a successful prospecting trip near the Niobrara River.
Gold has been found in western in rivers that flow from Colorado and Wyoming. Gold in the eastern part of Nebraska has been found in the glacial gold sources around the Nebraska-Missouri border, where it has been trapped, sliding and settling in the flatland.
Nebraska isn't exactly California 1849, but experts say there's still gold to be found here, even in areas like Saline County. In the 1890s, there was a short-lived gold rush in the Dorchester area, believe it or not.
Stand By for Fall Colors: Forget New England. The other "NE" -- Nebraska -- will have the most vibrant fall colors this year, according to AccuWeather's 2025 fall foliage forecast. Plan some of the best fall color viewing sites include Indian Cave and Ponca state parks, writes the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
DHS Volleyball Drops Below .500: Early October means high school sports are entering the final stretch before state tournament play. Dorchester High School volleyball lost three games to begin this month as the Lady Longhorns have dropped below .500 for the season at 9-10. The Orange and Black Attack have a good chance to earn back some wins with only five regular season games left, including a triangular at Twin River (Genoa and Silver Creek) this Thursday.
Longhorn Football Seeks Third Win: After a 47-0 victory over Harvard on Sept. 26 and a tough 12-66 loss to Silver Lake last Friday, DHS will travel to Diller-Odell (1-4) this Friday, Oct. 10. With some solid play and good health, Dorchester could finish the regular season at .500, according to computer projections
City Slickers Still Closed With No Answers: City Slickers Bar and Grill -- loved by area residents for more than a dozen years -- has been closed for more than two weeks, since Aug. 1. For the sake of our community and area residents and future of main street, it's time for some clarity. If there are financial issues, we're betting the area community would pull through to support fund raisers. Whatever the case, Dorchester wants to see that spot utilized for the benefit of our community.
Whooping Cough Cases Spike: Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the United States and Nebraska, according to Saline County's Public Health Solutions. Community members are urged to take precautions against the disease, which can be severe and potentially life-threatening for infants and young children. Some health officials have linked the rise to waning immunity from vaccines and potentially decreased vaccination rates. Read more.
Saline County's Pro Baseball Scout: The Flatwater Free Press has published a piece on Friend's Thad Weber -- "a globetrotting professional baseball scout" who's now in his eighth year with the Chicago Cubs and fourth year "trekking to Asia" in his search for who has enough talent for the majors. Read the article.
Beware of Local Journalism's Political Bias: We are disturbed to see the Crete News' soft endorsement of a local progressive (i.e. "liberal") running for the state legislature in 2026. While there are likely personal relationships that are fueling the newspaper's coverage of this candidate, fair and balanced coverage is to be expected, especially at a time when government needs to shrink. (There is a conservative candidate in the race for the Legislative District 32 race.) We are hopeful this favoritism will be corrected by the publisher and that activist journalism won't win the day.
Boiling Point Over Property Tax Hikes: The Tax Foundation's latest rankings has pegged Nebraska as fourth worst in the U.S. for property tax burden, behind only Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Property owners in Saline County recently received notices -- thanks to Nebraska’s Truth-in-Taxation law -- that their local governments (school districts and counties) are proposing significant property tax increases as much as 15% to 20% or more. It's a shame. Local governments are spending the property valuation increases instead of lowering levy rates to offset valuations. State government is forced to live within its means -- that is, the income and sales tax revenue. But local governments have a printing press called property taxes, whether its valuations or the levy imposed -- and this broken system has to end. Local elected officials (school board members and county commissioners) must realize they don't have to spend more every year, and that cutting spending is not only OK, but healthy.
October is Food Truck Season: Dorchester's main street (Washington Ave.) will be hopping in October, as cooler temps and farmers hauling grain will mean more food trucks. Here's a look at this month's food truck schedule, as published by Village government:
Nestled on a remote, windswept hill in Saline County -- between the communities of Dorchester and Friend -- sits Gilbert’s Graveyard, officially known as Gilbert-Hulse Cemetery.
For years, dating back to our first year in 2007, the Times has featured Gilbert's Graveyard on its list of "spookiest places." But we know that our annual October list of area haunts doesn't convey the real story behind this pioneer cemetery. Worse yet, the ghost stories perpetuated by sites like ours may have only encouraged the low-IQ vandals who have damaged the cemetery beyond repair over the decades.
Today, we tell the real story behind Gilbert's Graveyard -- the final resting place for Saline County’s earliest pioneers.
A Piece of Pioneer History
In 1865 Jonas Gilbert, his wife Louisa, and their six children left Darke County, Ohio, traveling by wagon train to settle in Nebraska. After a journey lasting 52 days, the wagon train reached its destination on Turkey Creek, in what later became Saline County.
Jonas became one of the county's first commissioners, and his son John became the county's first assessor.
Established in 1872, Gilbert-Hulse Cemetery was founded when Jonas and Louisa Wyans Gilbert sold a half-acre plot to the Hulse family for use as a community burial ground. It became the resting place for many of the area’s first settlers, including some Union and Confederate veterans of America's Civil War.
A majority of the graves belong to babies, toddlers, teens, and young mothers who died while giving birth or shortly after.
Outspoken Agnosticism
The cemetery’s notoriety stems largely from Jonas and John Gilbert's outspoken agnosticism, although it appears today that atheism would be a better description of their beliefs.
Jonas passed away in 1882. His headstone features a highly provocative, anti-establishment epitaph, famously stating that the Gilbert died unafraid of "gods or ghosts or Heaven or Hell and all their hosts."
The controversy surrounding his beliefs -- and particularly the inscription on his tombstone -- is a foundational to the cemetery's lore.
Meanwhile, his son John "never belonged to a church ... and called himself an agnostic," according to the Dorchester Centennial history book. In the late 1800s, Dr. Frank Hamilton of Friend once asked John to embrace Christianity. That is when John Gilbert allegedly "went into a seizure for about two minutes, his muscles jerked, his eyes became bloodshot, his face became congested and red, his mouth became dry, and he kept wiping his lips with his tongue. During the attack, he venomously cursed God."
Gilbert later donated money to build a library in Friend, on the condition that his anti-God books would be on the shelves.
Vandalism and Ghostly Tales
While it has been more than 140 years since Jonas died, rumors of non-Christian rituals and strange happenings in the graveyard -- over many decades -- cemented its status as an unusual and often unsettling location.
Among the strange events reported there:
- Visitors have long claimed to hear unexplained noises and witness the apparent shifting of burial markers.
- Eyewitness accounts include visitors describing seeing a "black fog" rising from graves, or being followed by unexplained flashing lights that appeared to emerge from the cemetery grounds.
- Some visitors have even claimed they saw the figures of the Gilbert family and other pioneers roaming the grounds.
The sad reality of Gilbert's Graveyard is the significant vandalism it has faced over several decades. The acts of disrespect have led to the destruction of roughly 80 percent of the cemetery's headstones.
Jonas' controversial gravestone itself
was broken by vandals and now lies in pieces. (This photo shows how it once looked whole.) Many of the pioneer graves, including those of Civil War
veterans, are no longer marked, erasing a significant portion of the
county’s history.
Today, those who visit this remote prairie cemetery are asked to remember
the significant loss of our area history and to show respect. Recognize that a place
meant for eternal rest has been tragically turned into a frequent target
of criminal desecration.
