Friend's Pour House Listed For Sale

The Dorchester Times has learned that the Pour House -- a popular eatery and winery in Friend -- has been listed for sale.  

According to well-placed sources, the business is under contract with The Firm Business Brokerage in Omaha and will remain open for business,  providing food, drinks and service through the end on December.  

Unfortunately, if the current owners do not find a buyer by Dec. 31, the Pour House will close permanently.  But until that time it's business as usual. The current owner has confirmed via e-mail that she will be entering another line of business in 2015. 

More than four years ago, the Dorchester Times ran a story on the Pour House, one of of Saline County's most unique businesses.  Opened by Carey Potter, who has strong ties to Dorchester, the Pour House is under the historic Warren Opera House. Potter's family farm is near Dorchester. 

MHS-DHS Falls In First-Round Of Class C-1 Playoffs

On a cold Halloween night, the Milford-Dorchester football team fell in the first round of

the Class C-1 Playoffs to No. 1 ranked Boone Central/Newman Grove by a final score of 48-7.  The game was played in Albion, often referred to as the "gateway to the Sandhills."  

The combined MHS-DHS team came out ready to play, but just couldn't compete with the speed and power of the Boone Central squad, which held a commanding 35-0 lead at halftime.  

MHS-DHS wouldn't score until the fourth quarter.  Boone Central/Newman Grove was lead by the arm of quarterback Wyatt Mazour, who threw three touchdown passes in the first half and rushed for another.

Milford-Dorchester finished 6-4 in its first season of merged varsity competition. The players and coaches should be proud that they qualified for the playoffs in Class C-1, which offers a high level of competition in Nebraska high school football.  

Our Picks For Tuesday's Local Elections

Only three more days until Election Day. For most of us, that can't come too soon -- unless you enjoy the political advertising, campaign promises, yard signs and bumper stickers. 

In the Dorchester area, we have a few races of our own that will be decided on Tuesday, including important races for Dorchester School Board and the Village Board.

While we have promised not to make a practice of getting into the endorsement business, we  believe there is a need for some public discourse when it comes to who is on the ballot, who will best represent us, and who will most wisely spend our tax dollars. 

Here is who the Dorchester Times is recommending for our local representative bodies:

Dorchester School Board
Matthew W. Hansen 
Steve Vyhnalek
Carol Schnell 

Dorchester Village Board
Dean Prachiel
Todd Jensen
LJ Barley

The individuals who have filed for Dorchester School Board seats are all incumbents.  We feel these representatives have done a good job balancing the needs of the Dorchester school district, while looking out for the pocketbooks of the district's taxpayers.  We also believe all three are committed to ensuring Dorchester academics remain top notch.

In the village board race, Prachiel and Jensen are incumbents seeking re-election, while Barley is a challenger seeking to fill a vacancy left by retiring board member Joyce Karl.  We feel the mix of board experience, knowledge of current issues and Barley's role as a small business owner on Dorchester's main street will serve the voters of Dorchester well.

In the race for Legislature, we have endorsed Laura Ebke based on her conservative approach to state government.

Be sure to vote on Tuesday! Every vote counts.

Tonight's Scary Show -- Twilight Zone: 'Mr. Garitty & The Graves'

All this Halloween week, the Dorchester Times is airing the scariest five episodes of the classic TV show, "The Twilight Zone."  

We won't be sharing these with our Facebook followers!

We've selected these five episodes of "The Twilight Zone" because, thanks to one of our more senior staff members -- who actually remembers when CBS aired this series -- we've found these 30-minute programs to be wildly creative, spine-tingling tense and still family friendly.  Imagination and solid story lines carry these shows, whose quality far surpass any of the "scary shows" produced today.

Tonight's episode is called "Mr. Garrity and the Graves."  

It's 1890 and the tiny desert town of Happiness, Arizona, has seen more than its share of murder and death.  Townsfolk are joyous and hopeful to see their dearly departed loved ones again after a stranger named Jared Garrity resurrects a dead dog and promises the same for the town cemetery -- for a small payment, of course.  Long before zombies were cool, "The Twilight Zone" used the living dead to provide a glimpse into the true hearts of the plain old living.

Enjoy tonight's episode.  But be sure to leave an extra light on... 

For Part I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J07KixOcYac

For Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS6NxOPczgc

DHS Volleyball Team Plays Final Home Contests Of 2014 Season

The DHS volleyball team played its final home contests Tuesday evening at a Dorchester triangular. 

The Lady Longhorn, now 8-19 on the season, faced two very different teams on the DHS volleyball court last night.  Parkview Christian is struggling in Class D-2 (1-21), while Nebraska Christian (25-4) is shining in Class C-2.

In the first contest of the night, Dorchester handily defeated Parkview 25-10, 25-10.

Nebraska Christian then decisively knocked out Parkview, 25-12, 25-5.

While DHS showed it could be competitive, the young Lady Longhorns couldn't quite keep up with the strength and talent of the Nebraska Christian squad, which won 25-13, 25-18.

Dorchester has one final contest remaining this season.  On Friday evening, Oct. 31, DHS will travel to Waco to take on Nebraska Lutheran (14-9).

Tonight's Scary Show -- Twilight Zone: 'The Grave'

It's Halloween week. For those of you who are still up, we once again have a special treat.

All this week, the Dorchester Times is airing the scariest five episodes of the classic TV show, "The Twilight Zone." 

We've selected these five episodes of "The Twilight Zone" because, thanks to one of our more senior staff members -- who actually remembers when CBS aired this groundbreaking series -- we've found these 30-minute programs to be wildly creative, spine-tingling tense.  Imagination and solid story lines carry these shows, whose quality far surpass any of the "scary shows" produced today.

Tonight's episode is called "The Grave."  

Lee Marvin plays Conny Miller -- a hired gun who misses killing his target, the evil Pinto Sykes, who is instead gun downed by the local townsfolk.  At a bar, several of the townspeople tell him that Sykes vowed to reach up and grab Conny if he ever dared to visit his grave.  After a drunken wager, Conny decides to prove his courage by doing just that, leading to one of the creepiest moments of the program's history. 

Enjoy tonight's episode.  But be sure to leave an extra light on... 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/440808

Dorchester Elementary On 'Underachievement List'; Friend, Crete Schools Face Big Penalties

The Omaha newspaper is reporting that nearly 25% of Nebraska's public schools face penalties for underachievement in the classroom.  Unfortunately, Dorchester Elementary is one of 265 Title I Nebraska schools on the underachievement list.

But Dorchester Elementary isn't in nearly as bad of shape as schools in neighboring communities, which have been on the underachievement list for consecutive years -- and face much stiffer penalties.

Under the federal "No Child Left Behind" law, the Nebraska Department of Education must identify schools as in need of improvement when they miss the state’s goals for adequate yearly progress on state tests in the same subject and grade span for two or more consecutive years.  Schools that receive federal dollars for educating students in poverty — Title I schools — face consequences under the law.  Each year a school stays on the list, additional consequences are imposed.  

Dorchester's elementary school is one of 136 Nebraska schools that has been placed on the "Year 1" underachievement penalty list.  Schools on this list must notify parents in writing of the school’s status and give parents the opportunity to move their child to another school not on the needs-improvement list. The district must pay for transportation.  The school must also develop a two-year improvement plan and pay for extra teacher training.  Several area schools are on this "year 1" list, including Exeter-Milligan Public Schools, Meridian Public Schools and Shelby-Rising City Public Schools.

Meanwhile, 50 more Nebraska schools have been on the "underachievement list" for two consecutive years.  In addition to the year 1 requirements, year 2 schools must offer free tutoring to children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.  You read that correctly -- free tutoring!  Among the area school districts on this list is Friend Public Schools.

More than 40 Nebraska schools have been on the underachievement list for three consecutive years.  In addition to the year 1 and year 2 requirements, schools in year 3 must develop a corrective action plan and take at least one of the following actions:

-- Replace staff who were responsible for failing to make adequate yearly progress;

-- Implement a new curriculum and train teachers in ways to help low-achieving students;

-- Significantly decrease management authority at the school level;

-- Appoint an outside expert to advise the school;

-- Extend the school year or day;

-- Restructure the internal organizational structure of the school.

Among area schools, Crete Public Middle Schools has been placed on this particular list.

And more than 30 Nebraska schools have been on the underachievement list for four consecutive years.  In addition to the year 1-3 requirements, school districts in year 4 must begin to develop a restructuring plan with input from parents and teachers. The plan must include one of the following options:

-- Replacing all or most of the school staff, including the principal, who were responsible for the failure to make adequate yearly progress;

-- Entering into a contract with an entity, such as a proven, private management company to operate the school;

-- Making major changes to the school’s governance structure, such as significant staffing changes.

Sadly, Crete Elementary School is on this list.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  While we hate seeing Dorchester Elementary and other area schools on this list, and it's easy to point the finger of blame at school faculty, we know the challenges that teachers today face.  Teachers, in addition to educating, must also play the role of social worker, financial instructor, and even parent.  Let's not forget who is mostly to blame for underachieving youth today -- that is, their parents.

Halloween Special: Dorchester's Spookiest Haunts

For years, beginning back in 2007, the Times has showcased reports claiming that Dorchester is home to haunted places.  We have always been skeptical, but since Halloween is this week, here is an update on the latest reports about Dorchester's spooky spots:

Gilbert's Graveyard:  The most famous of the Dorchester areas "haunted places," Gilbert's Graveyard continues to draw attention from inside and outside Saline County.  One of the latest reports on the old cemetery comes from a website called  "Hauntings," which features a "pre-haunt interview with the locals" in Dorchester.  The site recounts some of the history behind Gilbert's Graveyard and its namesake, using historical accounts published by the Dorchester Times and the 1981 Dorchester Centennial book.  As Hauntings reports, "a number of strange events have been reported here. Among them, strange noises and the movement of tombstones. ... Sadly, this location has been host to vandalism and disrespect for the dead. If you plan to visit this location, think on how you would want your remains and the stone markers of your final resting place treated."

The Hauntings website also features firsthand accounts from those who have visited the cemetery.  One visitor, named Chris, wrote: "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 9-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."

Former "Squeaky Bridge":  According to GhostsOfAmerica.com, the site of the former ''squeaky bridge'' over Turkey Creek, south of Dorchester, is "extremely haunted" (County Rd. 1500 between county roads G and H). "According to legend several men were hanged on the bridge, which was closed and removed in the around 1994. However the ghosts still appear on a routine basis. They are transparent figures hanging by a noose right where the bridge once stood. Some have said the hanged men will occasionally look up and stare at observers."

Second Floor Above the Village Office:  According to GhostsOfAmerica.com, "there have been many reports of figures or shapes moving around in the second floor of the village office building."  The website claims to have a picture of the ghostly figure taken with a cell phone in 2009.

Dorchester School Boiler Room:  Without a doubt, we can confirm that the boiler room of the 1927 Dorchester School building is no longer haunted, if it ever was.  The old school building was razed in mid-2008 to make room for the current DPS campus.  But when it existed, there were reports that in the late 1920s, a child "locked himself in the boiler room and died." According to the old stories, school janitors in the modern era sometimes heard yells coming from the boiler room during the night -- and "when they went down into the boiler room, they didn't find anyone."

Longtime DHS Educator Lois Williams Dead At 86

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. this Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at the Milford United Methodist Church with Rev. Jeff Kelley officiating.  Private interment, prior to service at Blue Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 1-8:00 p.m. at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford. Family will not be present. There will be no viewing at church on Tuesday. Memorials have been established to Alzheimer’s Association.

Lois Ann (Gillett) Williams, was born January 4, 1928 in Lincoln Nebraska to Harold and Lettie Gillett, the third of five children. She went to be with the Lord on Friday, October 24, 2014, in Seward at the age of 86 years.

Lois graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1945. She attended the University of Nebraska, majoring in business education. She graduated in 1949 and took her first teaching position in Milford, Nebraska in the fall of 1949.

As a young girl she enjoyed roller skating, listening to radio shows, going to the library, playing softball, twirling her baton in the band, and going to Sunday School. She belonged to the first Girl Scouts Troop in Lincoln.

She met Don Williams on a blind date in Milford and was married July 29, 1951. They were married for 60 years. To this union three children, Barb, Dave and Beth, were born.

Lois was a member of the Milford United Methodist Church for 74 years. She enjoyed volunteering on church committees and taught Sunday School in her younger years. She was one of the first Tupperware sales reps in the Seward County area. She taught high school business in Milford for five years and was at Dorchester High School for 22 years. She retired in 1990.

After her retirement, she continued to be active by being a substitute teacher at SCC and she volunteered to help senior citizens prepare their tax forms. She enjoyed taking care of her many plants and flowers and she enjoyed mowing their acreage.

Lois is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Barb and Brent Adams, Lincoln, Beth and Dennis Green, Ivins, UT; son and daughter-in-law, Dave and Tammy Williams, Milford; six grandchildren and spouses, Mitch and Janna Olson, Kristin and Mike Sukraw, Megan and Nate Whitney, Lindsey Adams, Amanda and Heath Hansen, Abby and Toby Pickerill; 7 great- grandchildren, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Vida Roll, Friend, Julie Gillett, Bremerton, WA, Oris Williams, Friend, Calvin and Pat Williams, Visalia, CA, Ronald Williams, Henderson, NV, many nieces, nephews and host of other relatives and friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don, two sisters, Doris Carothers and Carol Groebe, two brothers, Warren and Bob Gillett.

Nina Papik, 90, Passes; Celebration Of Life Wednesday

Longtime area resident Nina May Papik passed away October 23, 2014, at Tabitha Care Center in Crete Nebraska at the age of 90.  Nina was born June 26, 1924 to Joseph and Clara Kohel in Wilber, the youngest of two daughters. Nina graduated Wilber High School in 1941 and taught in country schools south of Wilber before her marriage to Frank Papik on January 30, 1946. They moved to the Papik family farm south of Dorchester to farm with Frank’s father and moved their home to Crete in 1977 when Frank retired from the farm. Frank and Nina raised their two children, Allen and Janice, on that family farm.

In 1958, Nina began her career in the Saline County Courthouse working as a typist in the Abstract Office. For most of her working years, she was a social services/case worker in the Saline County office of the Nebraska Department of Social Services and at one time served as Vice President of the Southeast Nebraska Welfare Association. By 1985, Nina decided to spend more time traveling, crocheting, antiquing, farm toy shows, and enjoying her grandchildren so she chose to retire that summer.

Sports was always a big part of Nina and Frank’s life, so following their grandchildren’s sports activities became their passion and seldom missed a game. Also close to their hearts was Husker athletics. Nina and Frank spent many years attending Nebraska football games, as well as Husker men and women’s basketball games. They shared this love for Husker athletics with their children and grandchildren over the years. Travel also became treasured times that Frank and Nina spent together. They traveled to many Husker regular season and bowl games always making new friends, followed the Women’s basketball team to many tournaments, and also took trips to Czechoslovakia and Hawaii. Once the grandchildren started Little League baseball and T-Ball (softball), Nina and Frank were at almost every sporting competition that they could attend. Nina loved spending time her grandchildren, and in her later years was so excited to see her growing number of great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Allen and Twila Papik of Dorchester, and Janice and Lee Eret of Lincoln. Grandchildren: Baxter and Magdalena Papik of Edmond, Oklahoma; Michelle and Mitch McCarthy of Lincoln; Lindsey Eret of Lincoln, Kelli and Brian Kohout of Crete. Great-Grandchildren: Baila Papik, Xander Papik, and Julia McCarthy.

Nina was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, her sister Evelyna Burianek and brother-in-law Ed Burianek.

Celebration of Nina’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Pastor Rayl Robbins will officiate. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Cremation. Private family burial.

Memorials to the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department.

Milford-DHS Football Is Playoff Bound

This past Friday evening, the Milford-Dorchester football team fell to top-10 ranked Wilber-Clatonia by a final score of 14-0.  

But the MHS-DHS team, now in its first season of merged varsity competition, has still managed to qualify for the State Class C-1 Playoffs.

At 6-3 following regular season play, Milford-DHS will play this Friday night in Albion, home of the No. 2-seed, undefeated Boone Central squad (9-0). 

Several other area teams are also headed to the state playoffs in their respective classes.  Also in Class C-1, No. 8 Wilber-Clatonia (9-0) will take on  No. 9 Grand Island Central Catholic in Wilber.

In Class B, No. 11 Blair will travel to No. 6 Crete (7-2).

In Class D-1 (eight-man), No. 16 Cross County will face No. 1 Friend (8-0) at Friend.  And in Class D-2, No. 16 Red Cloud will be at No. 1 Exeter-Milligan (8-0), while No. 14 Meridian (4-4) will travel to No. 3 Kenesaw.

Dorchester's Farmers Cooperative One Of Nation's Largest Co-Ops

Dorchester's Farmers Cooperative is one of the nation's largest cooperatives.  In fact, it's the 74th largest.

Nine Nebraska cooperatives have been ranked among the top 100 in the country based on revenue.

That's according to a report by National Cooperative Bank, as noted by the Lincoln Journal Star.

Ag Processing Inc. of Omaha was the largest co-op domiciled in Nebraska, and the seventh largest in the country, with 2013 revenue of $5.67 billion, up from $4.92 billion in 2012.

Affiliated Foods Midwest, a grocery co-op based in Norfolk, came in No. 34, one spot lower than in 2012. 

It was the only non-agriculture related Nebraska co-op on the list.

Other Nebraska co-ops on the NCB Top 100 list were: Aurora Cooperative Elevator Co., 54th; Cooperative Producers Inc. of Hastings, 57th; FCS of America of Omaha, 71st; Farmers Cooperative of Dorchester, 74th; United Farmers Cooperative of York, 87th; Frenchman Valley Farmers Co-op of Imperial, 93rd; and Central Valley Ag Cooperative of Oakland, 94th.

Clarissa Bors Featured For Jr. Auxiliary Leadership

Clarissa Bors of Dorchester is the focal point in a feature story just published by the Friend Sentinel.

The DHS junior is profiled because on top of her busy schedule balancing school, student council and Longhorn athletics, she is also extremely active in the American Legion Junior Auxiliary.

“I feel it is important to be active in school and your community,” Bors told the Friend paper.  “I enjoy helping others and showing my pride for our country.” 

As a life-long member of the Junior Auxiliary, she has participated in many activities in support of the U.S., those in service and veterans -- including making favors for veterans, Poppy Day events, Flag Burning ceremonies, Memorial Day services and holiday programs.  Bors has held unit, district and state offices, and this past year she was the 2013-14 Nebraska Department President. 

Bors got involved with the Auxiliary with help of her grandparents, Robert and Marva Kasl. The duo have been actively involved in the Dorchester Post 264 Legion and Auxiliary for several years. 

This past August, Bors attended the Junior Auxiliary Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she held the office of Northwest Division Vice-President and was elected as National Historian. 

“I’m excited to continue supporting our country and the ability to share my knowledge about the American Legion Auxiliary organization,” she said.

Girls who are in school, grades K-12, and would like to be involved with the Junior Auxiliary should contact Clarissa for information on how to join. 

For those wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, granddaughters and descendants of veterans who served our great country during times of war, check out this website: https://www.alaforveterans.org.

Dorchester Baseball Players Earn New Equipment

Last month, we reported that the Dorchester Little League Baseball program had raised $655 for new equipment in just one week as baseball players in grades 5 through 8 sold raffle tickets to the Nebraska vs. Illinois football game.  

The tickets were donated to the Dorchester baseball program by Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Lincoln.

This week, the Times received an e-mail detailing the equipment purchases that were made due to the fund raising efforts of the players.  The program has acquired:

• A dozen "gently used" bats from Play-It-Again Sports for all three Dorchester baseball leagues (Pee-Wee, American, National);
• Two dozen new game balls;
• Three dozen practice balls;
• A dozen new balls for the pitching machine;
• A "bounce-back" for pitching practice;
• Four new batting helmets;
• Replacement headgear for catchers; and
• New tape for the handles on some of the older bats.

We are also informed that the boys held fall baseball practices on Saturdays for five weeks in September and early October.

The information sent to the Times indicates that the baseball program is looking for new coaches for all three leagues for 2015.  Any interested candidates should contact the Dorchester Baseball/Softball Parents Committee by contacting committee members Tricia Novak, Toni Ladely, Megan Weber or Lisa Wells.

Funeral Services For Nathan Casteel Will Be Friday, 11 A.M.

Former Dorchester High School student Nathan J. Casteel, 26, Crete, died early Sunday, October 19, 2014. 

Funeral services will be tomorrow, Friday, at 11 a.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.  

Per the Casteel family, there will be no visitation.

As reported by the Lincoln Journal Star, Casteel was killed early Sunday morning after an ATV accident northwest of Crete, authorities said.

Casteel was the only person on the ATV when it hit a utility pole just before midnight.

That information was released by Saline County Sheriff Alan Moore in a news release.

Emergency crews took Casteel to Crete Area Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

A Simple Reflection From Yesterday -- For Today

No breaking news.  No special feature.  Today's post is just a simple reflection from a member of a prominent Dorchester family who resided in our village quite some time ago.

We recently found this quote from former Dorchester resident George Kenney, who told the authors of the 1981 Centennial book this: 

"Growing up in the small town of Dorchester (in the 1930s) was a pleasant experience. We learned to have fun with what we had available and had respect of the rights of others. There was a strong tradition, especially in sports, of fair play and doing the best we could, win or lose. 

"It would be interesting to know if the tradition of doing one's best is still alive in Dorchester. To those of you that lived in Dorchester in the 1930s and early 1940s, thanks for establishing customs and mores that allowed my family and me to grow up and mature in a healthy environment."

Thank you, George, for reminding us what is really important.