OUR VIEW: Times Endorses Schoenrock For Legislature

Political silly season is in full swing.

Politicians are promising lower taxes or more government handouts. Negative ads fill our TV screens and radio airwaves. And media cheerleaders are doing their best to skew the news in favor of their chosen candidates and political parties. 

The Times might as well join the pack.

Today, the Times staff is endorsing Mark Schoenrock for the District 32 seat in the Nebraska Legislature. 

The reason is simple: Schoenrock passes our three-way test.

1. Local Leadership: Schoenrock has served as a county commissioner for more than a decade, demonstrating that he understands how government works. While Nebraska's counties account for only around 15% of property taxes levied statewide, the services they provide are similar to those of state government. Schoenrock's experience is relevant at a time when state senators will need to intervene to place new spending restrictions on K-12 public school districts, which consume about 60% of property taxes in addition to billions in state aid.
    
2. Service Beyond Self: A Jefferson County native, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army for decades, and then worked as a civilian with Army combat forces. He was in uniform in the Pentagon on 9/11. His record of public service deserves respect.
   
   
3. Political Transparency: Schoenrock identifies as a "conservative Republican." He quotes Ronald Reagan on his website. No disguises, no masquerade balls. What you see is what you get. Voters can judge his positions knowing where he stands.

Schoenrock's opponent, Crete attorney Shay Smith, has no elected government experience that we know of.

Moreover, Smith presents herself as an "independent" -- a common practice in Nebraska among far-left candidates. As we reported earlier this year, The Crete News previously published photos of Smith attending an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vigil, leading many Saline County residents we spoke with to suspect she supports far-left causes. The Nebraska Democrat Party has announced its support for Smith. 

But the biggest red flags with Smith are those funding her campaign.

The Times examined campaign statements filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC). Among Smith's contributors were state Senator Danielle Conrad, a liberal activist attorney and a leader of the Unicameral’s far-left wing. The state teachers union gave Smith thousands of dollars last spring; you can bet thousands more will follow.

Smith also received $25,000 from Democracy Nebraska, a well-oiled progressive activist group that Google's Gemini says is comprised of "Lincoln/Omaha elites" and is "funded by out-of-state interests who want to 'California-ize' our election laws."  

Wyoming-based Way Back PAC, another dark-money group, gave Smith's campaign $10,000. Way Back PAC also funneled money to Dan Osborn in the 2024 Nebraska U.S. Senate race. 

Nebraskans deserve political transparency, especially at election time. It shouldn't require hours of research to discover who is actually bankrolling the people who want to write our laws.

This is why we will be voting for Mark Schoenrock on Election Day. Schoenrock’s experience, service, and clear statement of his political views have earned our endorsement.

Looking Back: Thompson Pony Farm And Rodeo

Today we look back at one of the most intriguing pieces of Dorchester's past: the Thompson Rodeo and Elmwood Pony Farm. 

If we turned the calendar back to the 1930s, chances are you'd be making plans right now to attend the Thompson Rodeo in late September.

Owned and operated by Colonel W.J. Thompson, the Elmwood Pony Farm was located in the northeast section of Dorchester. The farm sat on present-day 10th Street, between Lincoln and Fulton Avenues.

Dating back to the 1890s, the Elmwood Pony Farm was one of the largest pony farms west of the Mississippi River. By the 1920s, the pony farm was home to more than 300 ponies.  

Thompson's pony farm was a popular destination for children from miles around, according to accounts of longtime residents.  

 

Children who lived in the country were even permitted to take home a pony and ride it all summer, if they agreed to keep it fed well.

Each September, Colonel Thompson took as many as 35 Shetland ponies to the Nebraska State Fair for rides. He entered many more of the animals in the fair's show contests. 

All of the ponies were herded overland from Dorchester to Lincoln by Thompson farm employees.

In 1930, Colonel Thompson's son, Wallace, started the Thompson Rodeo. It was usually a three-day event held each fall, complete with fighting broncos, cowboys, clowns, trick riders, cowgirls, bull dodgers, concessions, rides, dancing and "whoopee." 

Pictured at the top of this story is an original banner from the Thompson Rodeo. The banner is now hanging in the Saline County Museum in Dorchester in the Weidner Building.

The Dorchester rodeo attracted many top riders from around the country, as well as local talent. An Oklahoma rider even came within 0.7 seconds of the world's record in calf roping at the Dorchester Rodeo.

At one time, more than 7,000 spectators were reported in attendance at the Dorchester Rodeo. 

Many people had high hopes that Dorchester would become a permanent rodeo on the famous circuit that included Cheyenne Frontier Days, as well as the Burwell and Sidney rodeos. 

But by 1940, the rodeo hit a spell of heavy rain and events were cancelled.

By 1942, the country was fighting WWII. The Thompson Rodeo closed its doors permanently, becoming another relic of our community's history.

(This is a reprint of a Times article that was published originally in August 2007.)

NEWS ROUND-UP: School, Village Boards Set To Vote On New Budgets

Village Board to Consider $7.15M Budget, Property Tax Increase: The Dorchester Village Board will hold public hearings Monday, Sept. 14, before considering the village’s proposed 2026-27 budget and property tax request. The proposed budget authorizes $7,150,069 in disbursements and transfers. That is 8% below the previous year’s operating budget of $7,744,406, although the village estimates actual 2025-26 disbursements and transfers at $2,908,359. The village is proposing a property tax request of $260,951 — an increase of $6,365, or approximately 3%, from the previous year. The proposed tax rate would rise about 2%, from $0.447216 to $0.455768 per $100 of taxable valuation. For property valued at $100,000 with no change in assessed value, that would increase the village portion of the tax bill by approximately $8.55. The budget and property tax hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Farmers Cooperative Meeting Room, 607 Franklin Ave., Entrance No. 2. The board’s regular meeting will begin immediately after the hearings. The meetings are open to the public.

DPS Board to Vote on $8.5M Budget, Property Tax Request Increase: The Dorchester Board of Education's budget hearing will begin at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, Sept. 16, in the Dorchester Public School library, 506 W. Ninth St. A special hearing to set the final property tax request will follow, along with the regular board meeting. The hearings are open to the public. At the Dorchester Board of Education's Aug. 31 budget retreat, the board unanimously approved transferring $150,000 from the General Fund to the Depreciation Fund, $20,000 to the Activity Fund, and $20,000 to the Nutrition Fund. All six board members were present. The school's 2026-2027 proposed budget authorizes $8,500,311 in disbursements and transfers across all district funds, compared with $5,752,900 in 2025-2026. For purposes of the special tax-request hearing, the district lists an operating budget of $7,607,666 — an increase of approximately 21% from $6,272,775. The district proposes collecting $3,760,757 in property taxes, an increase of $78,789, or approximately 2.1%, from the previous year’s request. Despite the higher total tax request, the district’s combined property tax rate would decline about 6%, from $0.778160 to $0.733234 per $100 of taxable valuation since the district’s total property valuation increased approximately 8%, from $473.2 million to $512.9 million. For property remaining at an assessed value of $100,000, the school district’s tax would decline approximately $44.93. The actual change for an individual property owner will depend on whether that property’s assessed value increased or decreased.

Public Hearing Monday on Proposed Telecommunications Tower: The Dorchester Village Board will hold a public hearing Monday, Sept. 14, concerning a proposed telecommunications tower and associated facilities approximately 1¼ miles west of Dorchester. The site is within the village’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The hearing will be held at the Farmers Cooperative Meeting Room, 607 Franklin Ave., Entrance No. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public may comment before the board reviews and considers the proposal.

DHS Gets First Win of 2026 Football Season: The DHS football team tagged 67 points on the Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer Titans on Sept. 11, beating the Titans 67-14 at Nerud Field. The Longhorns, now with a 1-2 record, get a bye next week, but will travel to Parkview Christian in Lincoln Friday, Sept. 25. The Patriots (1-2) are coming off a 46-38 loss to Meridian.

DHS Volleyball Drops Two, Wins Two to Go to 4-2: Dorchester’s volleyball team suffered its first two losses of the season this week but also picked up two important victories. The Longhorns fell 3-1 at College View Academy on Tuesday, Sept. 8, before splitting two matches at the Sept. 10 triangular in Giltner. DHS defeated Harvard 2-1 but lost a close 2-1 contest to host Giltner. DHS bounced back Saturday with a straight-set victory over Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer at the HTRS Invite. The Longhorns edged the Titans 26-24 in the opening set before completing the 2-0 win with a 25-21 victory in the second set. The Longhorns, 4-2 on the season, will host Nebraska Lutheran at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Rural Dorchester's Shirley Kasl Passes

Rural Dorchester's Shirley Ann Kasl, age 91, passed away on September 7, 2026, at the Seward Hospital. 

Services will be held on Friday, September 18 at 10:30 a,m. at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. 

Visitation will be Thursday, September 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. 

A more detailed obituary will follow. 

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

NEWS ROUND-UP: DHS Volleyball No. 3 In Class D-2 Point Standings

DHS Volleyball No. 3 In Class D-2: Dorchester’s volleyball team is off to a strong start, improving to 2-0 with a 3-1 victory over Weeping Water on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Longhorns won a pair of tight sets on their way to the victory, taking the match 29-27, 25-16, 19-25 and 26-24. The win was Dorchester’s second straight to open the 2026 season. The Longhorns are also getting some early statewide recognition, sitting No. 3 in the Nebraska School Activities Association’s Class D-2 wildcard point standings as of Sunday night. The wildcard standings remain fluid this early in the season as teams continue to add matches to their schedules. Dorchester will take its unbeaten record on the road Tuesday, Sept. 8, when it faces College View Academy. See DHS' full schedule.

DHS Football Loses Home Opener: Dorchester fell to 0-2 on the season Friday, Sept. 4, with a 53-6 loss to Lewiston. The defeat marked the Longhorns’ fourth straight home loss dating back to last season. Quarterback Landon Shaw threw for 111 yards and a touchdown, with Payton Zoubek leading Dorchester receivers with 51 yards. Mason June added 47 yards on the ground. Dorchester will look for its first win of the season this Friday, Sept. 11, when the Longhorns host Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer at 7 p.m. at Nerud Field. See the full schedule.

Mark Wixson Celebration of Life, Sept. 12: Rural Dorchester's Lt. (Ret.) Mark Allen Wixson, 67, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 25. He was born, July 27, 1959, in Geneva, Wisconsin to David Allen Wixson and Theresa Marguerite O’Grady. Mark spent his life serving in the U.S. Navy, where he retired February 1st, 1999. He earned many medals, ribbons, and designations. Mark enjoyed traveling, kayaking, and spending time with many friends. His favorite place to travel was to the beach. Mark is survived by his wife Robin Kay Wixson; two daughters, Danielle Ketchum and Kelly Moore; two sons-in-law, John Ketchum and John Moore; three sisters. A celebration of life open house will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Dorchester Legion Hall in Dorchester. Read the full obituary.

Living History Day Is This Sunday, Sept. 13: The fifth annual Living History Day at the Saline County Historical Museum is set for Sunday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There's no charge to attend this family-friendly event, which will feature interactive demonstrations of historical skills throughout the day on the museum grounds. Food will be available for purchase. The event has become one of the museum’s largest annual programs, and a good turnout is expected this year, especially with the new improvements at the museum. See more on Facebook. 

Wetter Fall Predicted Due to El Niño: A strengthening El Niño could bring improved chances for fall moisture across Nebraska, including southeast Nebraska later in the season. According to the Midwest Messenger, the Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlook favors above-average precipitation across the western two-thirds of the state from September through November, while the entire state could see increased precipitation from October through December. For Saline County and surrounding areas, that means the strongest signal for wetter weather may come later this fall rather than in September. University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural meteorologist Eric Hunt said increased fall precipitation could help improve drought conditions in much of the state. The added moisture would also help replenish soil moisture heading into the 2027 growing season. Nebraska is expected to experience above-average temperatures statewide this fall.