NEWS ROUND-UP: Steak Feed Attendance Up; DHS' Crow's Nest Coming Down

Huge Turnout for Dorchester Community Foundation Fund Feed: An estimated 425 individuals turned out Saturday night for the Dorchester Community Foundation Fund's annual steak and hamburger feed. The successful event moves the organization closer to raising the capital needed for the Nerud Field shaded bleachers that will make watching summertime baseball and softball more bearable.

DHS Crow's Nest to Be Torn Down: It appears some more changes are coming to Dorchester High School's football field at Nerud Field. At this month's DPS school board meeting, discussion was held about the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department being utilized to burn the longtime crow's nest that has overlooked the gridiron for decades (despite a few changes in appearance). The Nebraska Department of Transportation has agreed to remove the concrete, according to the school board minutes. The Times has been told by inside sources that a new crow's nest could be erected by the start of the 2023 football season. Also planned is a fence on the south side of the field.

'Little Shop of Horrors' Coming to DHS Stage: The DHS music and drama departments are planning performances of the famous musical "Little Shop of Horrors" on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, 31. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Wind Power Takes Some Blows: It seems Saline County residents aren't the only ones being driven crazy by the constant flashing red lights from hundreds of wind turbines on the horizon. In Kansas, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would require technology to dampen red lights atop those wind turbines starting later this year. Also, it looks like next-door Jefferson County may soon adopt tighter restrictions on commercial wind energy development after more than a year crafting regulations. We have said for years that for those who want renewable energy, solar makes more sense in more populated sections of the state -- and we were right.

Antiques Roadshow-Type Event Comes To Dorchester, April 30

Do you enjoy "Antiques Roadshow" -- the TV program on PBS?

Then you'll love the event planned for late April at the Saline County Historical Museum. And you'll be able to get your favorite antique's value appraised for free.

The Saline County Museum, located in south Dorchester just off Hwy. 33, will host its Antique Appraisal Fair on Sunday, April 30, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The appraisal fair will be conducted by Tom Bassett of Lincoln. 

This event will be like "Antiques Roadshow" in our own community, according to information the Times has received from readers. Attendees can bring up to three items to be appraised. There will be no charge for the event.  

April 30 will also be the annual museum open house. Admission to the Saline County Museum is always free; donations are accepted and help with repairs and new displays.

110 Years After His Death, Henry Burden Continues To Captivate

More than 110 years after his death, Henry Burden's legacy lives on in Saline County. Burden, after all, was the first African American to settle in our county, making his home in the Pleasant Hill area in 1868.

We last reported on the Burden family's impact in 2015, when students from Arlington (Neb.) High School spent hours at the Saline County Museum to research the Burdens' story.

At that time, the Arlington Citizen reported that AHS students explored the Burden house (now located on the museum grounds), which sheltered Henry Burden, his wife, Mary, and their seven children. The students even made their way up to the attic, which is where the Burden children slept. (Click here for an Omaha World-Herald story on the Arlington students' research efforts.)

Burden, a former slave, served in the Union Army during the Civil War after escaping from the South. He went to Wisconsin, enlisted in the 17th U.S. Colored Troop Regiment and served a year before being honorably discharged. He made his way to Lincoln and then to the Dorchester area.

The Arlington students hoped to prove that Burden was an escaped slave to be able to include his house and burial site in Pleasant Hill Cemetery on the National Park Service’s "Network to Freedom," a national registry for sites associated with the Underground Railroad. (The Times has been unable to confirm if the students were successful, although to our knowledge, the Burden home is not yet listed on the registry.)

According to the reports from 2015, Judy Rada, then-president of the museum board, said: “I think it’s fantastic that we have young people that are as interested and enthused as these kids are, and a teacher who is willing to go to these steps to keep the kids involved in history.” 

Rada helped the students photocopy document after document. Rada also told them different stories about Henry. He and his family were the only black family in the county, she said, but they were treated like any other family.  “The reason he was so well accepted,” Rada said, “was because he knew all of his neighbors were Czech. He learned to speak Czech.”

The Burden children attended school in Pleasant Hill. Documents the students found noted that the school was integrated in the late 1800s. Today, Rada said, not many people know the story about Henry Burden and his house. “Not as much as they used to,” she said. “We definitely point it out to anyone who comes. We make sure they see it and they are aware of the history that is involved with it.”

With documents in hand, the students followed Rada to the Burden House, which sits just to the west of the museum's main building, along with an old schoolhouse, log cabin and train depot. The group then met Larry Kaspar, the sexton of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, where Henry Burden, his wife, and two sons are buried. 

Burden, who passed away in October 1913 at age 76, is buried on the south side of the Pleasant Hill cemetery, as a large ornate headstone designates his resting place. His funeral was attended by the entire Pleasant Hill community. 

A Step Back In Time: Dorchester Photos From 1900-1920

As this blog has done regularly over its nearly 16 years, today we're sharing images of Dorchester's early years. 

These photos of the community and surrounding countryside have been gathered by our six staff members.

With this collection, we're paying tribute to Dorchester's hard-working citizens of the early 1900s, who helped establish the foundation for our community. (By the way, thanks to all of you who continue to build and improve upon that foundation today.)

Some of the photographs were taken by Russell Freidell, Dorchester's famous photographer who excelled in early camera technology.

Enjoy! Click the photos for a closer view.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Longhorn Art At The State Capitol

DPS Students' Artwork at Capitol: The artwork of four Dorchester students, under the instruction of Mrs. Lutjemeyer, was showcased at the State Capitol this week in celebration of Nebraska Statehood Day. The DPS artists are Hailey Schweitzer, Baylor Behrens, Malikhi Gooding, and Daniel Garcia Bernabe, according to the school's social media.

Softball and Baseball Registration Still Open: For Dorchester area kids who want to play baseball or softball this summer, time is running short to sign up. Registration closes Monday, March 6 -- so be sure to get your forms turned in asap. Contact a committee member for a printed form or more information. For baseball, call Julie Behrens at 402-826-7260. For softball, call Chelsea Smith at 402-418-0424.

Steak and Hamburger Feed, March 18: The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund's Annual Steak and Hamburger Feed has been set for Saturday evening, March 18. It will be held in conjunction with the Dorchester High School Alumni Basketball Tourney. More information is available here.

Get Your DHS Track Apparel Now: Longhorn fans have until 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 6, to order DHS track and field apparel. Purchase a great t-shirt, jogging pants, sweatshirt or other wearables by visiting this site.

Dorchester Kindergarten Roundup Is April 4: Dorchester's kindergarten registration for next school year will be held April 4 from 5-7 p.m. Then the annual DPS Kindergarten Roundup will be April 6, starting at 12:20 p.m., giving the students a chance to meet one another. Call Mrs. Schindler for questions at 402-946-2781.

Don't Burn This Weekend: With low humidity levels, our area is in the high to very high category for fire danger through Monday. Fires will be harder to control due to high winds. The simple advice: Do not burn. Then get ready for a blast of arctic air that will endure through mid-March.

Thirty-Six Years Ago: Best DHS Basketball Team Ever

It's high school basketball tournament time. With no Dorchester teams in action, we're recounting the powerhouse days of Dorchester boys basketball.

Thirty-six years this month -- March 12, 1987 to be exact -- was the start of the Nebraska Boys High School State Basketball Tournament.  

To this day, many fans say the 1986-87 Longhorns should have been there; of those, many say DHS would have won the state title that season.

By a 5-1 vote, the Times' staff believes that 1986-87 DHS team is the best boys basketball team to play for Dorchester to date.

The Longhorns' starting lineup that season featured Bob Zoubek (Sr., 6'3), Steve Conner (Sr., 6'0), Cory Roth (So., 6'8), Matt Bolton (So., 6'5) and Doug Frahm (Jr., 6'3). Frahm was considered the Larry Bird of Dorchester basketball. Moreover, DHS had a deep bench with able players such as John Weber, Lenny Gish, Greg Kotas, and Ken Uher ready to step in as needed.  

Playing in Class C-2 under Coach Scott Pohl, the Longhorns were ranked near the top of the standings by both major newspapers -- from the pre-season to the sub-district finals.

DHS routinely crushed larger schools most of the season, beating teams like Friend (88-53), Henderson (65-51), Milford (62-45), Wilber-Clatonia (70-46), McCool (86-53), and Wymore (85-53).

The only team to trip up the Longhorns during the regular season was a mediocre Odell squad, which caught DHS on an off night and sent them packing early from the MUDECAS tournament in Beatrice. It was Dorchester's only loss of the regular season.

During the mid- to late-1980s, no team was a bigger foe of the Longhorns than Lincoln Christian. Known for their recruited talent -- and sometimes dirty play -- Christian was an emerging Class C power. In the '86-'87 season, DHS faced Christian twice, beating them 79-65 early in the season and then again in the first round of sub-districts.

Heading into the 1987 sub-districts, DHS was 17-1 and ranked No. 4 in the state, but Lincoln Christian was peaking. 

We recently found an article by The Lincoln Star's Ryly Jane Hambleton who covered the March 5, 1987 DHS-Christian sub-district contest. She wrote: "Doug Frahm got the green light and you could almost hear the tires squeal. The 6-foot-3 junior was perfect from the field and the free throw line in the second half as Dorchester rallied to earn a 68-61 victory over Lincoln Christian at Southeast Community College in Milford." 

The lead in that game changed hands eight times and the score was tied four times. A Lincoln Christian player fouled out with a minute left and the score 59-55, and then proceeded to get two technical fouls. (Another reason Lincoln Christian had a reputation in the 1980s.) Frahm made all four technical foul shots, sealing Christian's fate.

That big victory sent DHS to the district tourney, where the Longhorns would face a much weaker opponent in Nemaha Valley. Fans we spoke with for this story recalled looking ahead to the state tournament. Many knew that DHS would have a good chance of reaching the state championship once the boys dusted up Nemaha Valley.

But that's where the story ends. 

Nemaha Valley would use a half-court stall game -- now prohibited under the rules of the Nebraska School Activities Association -- to hold the Longhorns to just 41 points, roughly 25 points below DHS' season average. The upset shocked DHS fans and everyone else in Nebraska who followed Class C basketball.

The loss stung -- so much that the 1987 DHS yearbook doesn't even have a story recap of the season, just the season's scores, a few photos, and a quote from Coach Pohl.  

Some in the community blamed coaching, as is typical in high school sports. Others blamed DHS' younger players. But it was a learning moment, one that prepared those Longhorns for a much bigger stage known as real life. Even the great ones occasionally fall. 

Looking back more than a third of a century, we can be proud that Dorchester -- with caring coaches, loyal Dorchester supporters, and involved parents -- was producing incredibly good talent and strong participation in that era. That can be, and should be, the standard today.

Meanwhile, we have no state tourney trophy by which to remember that 1986-87 team -- just some great memories.

Looking Back: Dorchester's Old Gym

It's hard to believe, but it has been nearly 15 years now since Dorchester's "old gym" last stood.

Friday, April 18, 2008 marked the very last high school dance held in Dorchester School's original gymnasium -- also known to later generations as the multi-purpose room.

Despite the razing of the 1927 school building in May 2008, good memories of the old gym still linger in the hearts and minds of Dorchester alumni.

Looking back, the tiny arena was put into use immediately upon the building’s completion in December 1927, according to the Dorchester Centennial History Book. For the next 40 years, it showcased all the school's indoor sports, drama, music, speech, prom, and homecoming activities.

Throughout the years, the gymnasium housed some tremendous talent, including the 1937-38 DHS boys basketball team, which made it to the Class B semi-finals of the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament.

With its tile floors and cramped corners, the old gym had a seating capacity of only 200 people, all of whom would watch the games from the rafters.

Basketball was no longer played in the old gym after the 1964 season following the completion of the school's new addition and current gymnasium -- both of which were approved by the district’s voters for a total of $296,000 in May 1963.

But for an additional 43 years, the old gym continued to serve as the venue for junior high and high school plays, as well as speech activities. 

The old gym was often the site of the DHS prom, and it housed the DHS homecoming dance for at least 70 consecutive years, going back to the mid-1930s.

When the 1927 school building was reduced to rubble in May 2008, many good memories were relived in the minds of former DPS students. "If only those walls could talk one last time," said one observer who watched the school come down.

It is very likely that no other area of the 1927 school building will ever be remembered quite as fondly as Dorchester's "old gym."

If you are old enough to remember it, share your favorite memories in the comments section below.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Saline County Leads Nebraska In Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Slow down, Saline County: According to a new ranking, Saline County leads Nebraska in fatalities from motor vehicle crashes, based on 2020 data (the most recent year available). That year, Saline County saw seven motor vehicle crash fatalities, equally a rate of 48.6 per 100,000 people. Three involved drunk drivers.

March 5 Soup Luncheon: The ladies at the Methodist Church are planning an event that's sure to tantalize the taste buds. The UWF soup luncheon will be held Sunday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dorchester Methodist Church. Whether you fancy chili, clam chowder, chicken noodle, or liver dumpling, you'll savor every spoon full. There is no charge for the event, just a free-will offering. 

School Seeks a New Secretary: Due to retirement, Dorchester Public School is conducting a search for a school secretary. According to the DPS job ad, applications should be submitted no later than March 6. The anticipated start date is early April. See the advertisement here.

DHS Boys Basketball Ends Season: The Longhorn boys basketball season ended Monday, Feb. 20 following a first-round loss in the Class D2-1 subdistrict tournament. The team endured a tough 2022-23 season, dropping 19 of 20 games. DHS is counting on improvement during the off-season, as well as upcoming talent, to turn things around next year.

Happy Birthday, Sharon Axline: Dorchester photographer, hair stylist, and all-around volunteer Sharon Axline celebrated her 79th birthday on Feb. 20. We often use Sharon's photographs on this blog. She always seems to be where the action is. We hope our readers wish her a happy belated birthday!

Wolfes Celebrate 67th Anniversary: On Feb. 19, longtime Dorchester residents Roger and Marilyn celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. Their family includes, their children JR, Diane, Julie and Christian; sons-in-laws and daughter-in-law; sister Corrine; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

CHECK-UP REPORT: Dorchester's 'To Do' List

Over the years, this blog has encouraged Dorchester leaders -- primarily those serving on the Village Board, but also those who oversee local organizations, businesses, and school -- to develop a formal, collaborative long-term plan to grow our community. 

This blog has encouraged housing plans; main street plans; business development plans; industry expansion plans; and street improvement plans.

Five years ago, we developed our own plan for Dorchester -- a "to do" list to address the community's most pressing priorities.

And now in February 2023, we are republishing the list to let residents of Dorchester evaluate the community's progress. What on this list has been accomplished? What still needs work? You be the judge.

Dorchester's 2018 'To Do' List

Housing

- Fill vacant homes. We count at least 20 homes that are currently empty, but currently aren't for sale or rent.

- Rehabilitate run-down houses.

- Develop plan to bring new housing.

Main Street and Business

- Fill all vacant main street and other commercial buildings by 2020.

- Recruit a convenience store to town.

- Work with existing businesses to grow their business and services, while encouraging Dorchester students (like those in FBLA) to develop their own plans to establish a business in town.

Education

- Boost school enrollment by 2020. Promote the quality education that a first-class school like Dorchester provides.

- Increase Dorchester youth and student involvement in activities. Start with the youngest of students by making it part of the culture to participate.

- Increase number of students on the DPS honor roll.

Infrastructure

- Make plans for targeted street paving where it makes sense. Like finishing 10th Street, for example.

- Resurface existing paved streets.

- Fix rough and uneven intersections along main street (Washington Ave.).

Community

- Work with current Dorchester students, K-12, to get their input on improving Dorchester.

- Encourage Dorchester's youth (regardless of grade) to consider making Dorchester their home someday after graduation.

- Encourage young families residing elsewhere to consider moving to Dorchester to be part of this exciting time of renewal and involvement.

Reader comments from our original post in 2018 have been preserved in the comments section.

Saline County Sees 45% Jump In Sex Offenders Since 2017

The well-being of our youth is a top priority of the Dorchester Times. 

To help parents, grandparents and caregivers take appropriate steps to ensure their children's safety, we are publishing this post.

Nebraska law recognizes that sex offenders present a high risk as repeat offenders. For that reason, sex offenders must register as provided by the state's Sex Offender Registration Act.

Under state law, there are three levels of registered sex offenders -- those who must register for 15 years, 25 years, and life. The duration is based on the seriousness of the crime. 

This information is used to provide public notices and information so Nebraska communities can develop reasonable plans to safeguard children and teens. You have a right to know.

There are currently 32 registered offenders in Saline County, according to the Nebraska government site. That's an increase of 10 offenders since 2017.

The registry's map shows one offender in Dorchester.

There are 13 in Crete (up two since 2017); seven in Wilber (up three since 2017); three in Friend (up two since 2017); one near Tobias; two in Western; one in Swanton; one near Pleasant Hill; two in DeWitt; and one near Tobias.

In other nearby communities, Milford has two offenders (with three more in the nearby countryside); Seward has 10; Lincoln has hundreds.

Know your neighbors. Click here to see if there are any registered offenders in your area.

To see the list of registered sex offenders in Saline County, click here.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Girls' Basketball Season Ends; Big Snow Coming

(Photo Credit: Sharon Axline)

Girls Basketball Season Ends With Subdistrict Loss: After an 11-9 regular season, the DHS girls basketball team won their first contest of the D1-1 Subdistrict Tournament by knocking off Pawnee City 42-17 on Monday, Feb. 13. But the Lady Longhorns ran into some heart breakers on Valentine's Day, losing to the host school, Johnson Brock, 59-33. The girls season ends with a 12-10 record. Fortunately, the team will return all its starters for the 2023-24 season, which promises an even more competitive squad.

Another Reminder It's Still Winter: Saline County and the surrounding areas is in a winter weather watch beginning Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. AccuWeather, the Times' official weather alert service, is forecasting 6 to 10 inches of wet and heavy snow. Winds could gust up to 35 miles per hour, bringing whiteout conditions. Times readers are encouraged to keep up with the latest details here.

All-State and Conference Music Recognition: Dorchester High School has announced that Jacob Cerny, Ashton Jirsa, and Owen Vyhnalek have been selected for the 2023 Class D All-State Honor Band. Moreover, Cerny and Jirsa were selected for the 2023 Crossroads Conference Honor Band. Meanwhile, Jirsa, Cerny, Vyhnalek, Bryer Shaw, Amber Kotas, Andrea Pavlish, Victoria Leavitt, Kayli Carey, and Mitzu Real were selected for the 2023 CRC Honor Choir. Congrats to these talented Longhorns.

Legion Hall Improvements: The Dorchester Legion Bar and Grill recently posted this video showing off the Legion Hall's reconditioned wood floor. (DHS alumnus Hector with Oax Remodeling did the work.) The bar and grill volunteers thanked its customers and says more renovations are coming soon. The Legion will be open this Sunday, Feb. 19, from noon until 5 p.m. for those who want to check out the refinished floor. 

FLASHBACK: Nebraska Towns Aim To Keep Their Young People

Back when this blog was just getting started, we spotlighted central Nebraska communities and their efforts to retain their young people, while also recruiting young families back to their hometowns.

The article, published in The Grand Island Independent, profiled small-town economic development proponents who were aggressively seeking new ways stabilize their population and grow their economy. 

The story quotes Nancy Glaubke, the business development coordinator for Valley County Economic Development in Ord, who said decades ago, returning home usually meant you had failed someplace else. But after realizing the potential consequences of losing too many young people, she had seen her community begin to champion efforts to reverse that trend.

Valley County Economic Development launched a young professionals group last winter to nudge its younger residents toward making valuable social connections. The group was formed after a community survey revealed a resounding message from its young people: It's hard to get to know people my own age, and it's even tougher to get involved when it seems like everyone has known one another for most of their lives.

"We just kept hearing that over and over," said Bethanne Kunz, Valley County Economic Development's executive director. 

So the group started simply, with a Husker game. Soon, they had steadily added names to a countywide database that alerted to social events geared toward singles, couples, and young families. Their database had grown to 170 adults under age 40. 

Ord was one of four central Nebraska communities that had kicked off networking groups for young professionals in the past year, joining Grand Island, Hastings, and Aurora.

To recruit natives back to their hometown, several communities started targeting high school graduates with mailings and a website. For example, Burwell planned to launch its program, aimed at alumni ages 27 to 35, within the next month. The high school is developed a website touting the town's assets to alumni. 

Burwell Economic Development sent mailings to about 200 alumni. The organization hoped to attract at least one or two new families back to the area each year by emphasizing Burwell's low cost-of-living and the area's opportunities in start-up businesses and working from home.

More than 15 years later, it would be interesting to follow up on the experiences of these communities. Moreover, it would great to implement any best practices learned.

NEWS ROUND-UP: China's Spy Balloon Flew Over Saline County

China's Spy Balloon Flew Over Saline County: China's surveillance balloon that gathered intelligence from the continental U.S. likely flew over Dorchester and Saline County area, according to public information collected by open-source intelligence accounts. Before the craft was downed in the Atlantic, it appears China was able to found out how (and how fast) the U.S. can detect intrusions into its airspace and what its reaction to it is. Other experts say the balloon, which is nearly impossible to detect by radar, was monitoring U.S. military assets and/or strategic energy resources. Whatever the case, it's looking more likely our nation may soon need to reinstate the military draft for the first time in 50 years. China is preparing.

DHS Basketball Wraps Up Regular Season: Dorchester's high school basketball teams are winding down their regular seasons as subdistricts draw near. The Lady Longhorns (10-8) have struggled in recent weeks, dropping their last four of six contests. The girls can finish strong this week as they travel to Hampton (7-12) this Tuesday and McCool Junction (18-2) on Friday. The DHS boys (1-16) will conclude their regular season with contests against Hampton, McCool, and on Feb. 17, Exeter-Milligan. 

DPS Preschool Now Taking Applications: The Dorchester Public School Preschool is now taking applications for the next school year. The no-cost preschool is open to children who've reached their third birthday by July 31 or their fourth birthday by July 31. For more information or to register your child, call the school at (402) 946-2781.

Alumni Basketball Tourney Set for March 17-18: DHS' annual alumni basketball tourney will be held March 17-18. Players and teams can register by contacting DHS Athletic Director Zoubek at (402) 946-2781 or (402) 418-1019 or brent.zoubek@dorchesterschool.org. Cost is $30 per player. Use the form on Page 6 of the most recent school newsletter.

Experts: Valley Fever Could Target Nebraska

Valley Fever is a disease caused by a soil-based fungus that gets into your body through your lungs. It can make you feel like you have a cold or the flu and may cause a rash. It can be deadly. 

And new cases have been diagnosed in Nebraska. In fact, one study predicts that the disease will become endemic in Nebraska, southeastern Montana, southern Idaho and South Dakota by 2065, Fox News reports.

The fungi spores enter the air when the soil is disturbed by strong winds or activities like farming, construction, and biking or ATV traffic over dry soil. Once in the air, the fungus spores can infect the lungs, causing respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath, as well as fatigue, fever, headache, night sweats, muscle or joint aches, and a rash on the upper body or legs, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of Valley Fever tend to mimic those seen in patients with COVID-19, experts say. Valley Fever primarily affects the lungs but, especially in dogs, can spread to other areas of the body, such as the bones, eyes or nervous system.

While Valley Fever occurs mainly in dry desert areas of the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico, experts say warmer winters could trigger an expansion of Valley fever into northern states, including Nebraska -- especially with the increase of dust storms. 

About 60% of people who get infected have no symptoms or only very mild flu-like symptoms and do not see a doctor, the CDC says. In more serious cases, however, symptoms may take months or even over a year to resolve. The CDC estimates between 5 and 10% of cases turn into serious or long-term problems. 

In California, cases of Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis infection) have increased almost five-fold over the past 20 years.

Read this news article and this public health flyer for more information.

Limestone Houses Still Stand Near Dorchester

Take a winter drive in the countryside south of Dorchester and you will likely spot an old stone house or two. 

These structures played a vital role in the permanent settlement of southeast Nebraska.

Fortunately for us, more than 130 or 140 years after their construction, some of these homes still stand, allowing the residents of the 21st century to take a step back in time.

When the first European settlers came to Saline County in the 1850s and 1860s, quality lumber had to be brought via the Missouri River and by wagon from Nebraska City. That trip could take several weeks. As an alternative, most homes were either dugouts or made from sod or -- better yet -- limestone. (By the 1880s, lumber was more readily available and homes like this were appearing in Saline County.)

Luckily for our Saline County pioneer ancestors, a vein of limestone runs near Pleasant Hill and Turkey Creek. Quarries and lime kilns could be found throughout the Pleasant Hill precinct, according to the Dorchester Centennial history book. 

Some of these quarries operated until the mid-twentieth century, when they ceased to be financially viable.

The Sukraw house, Brown house, Pisar house and barn, Freude house, and See house were prime examples of this early architecture. They were as practical as they were sturdy.

A map of the stone home locations can be found on page 198 of the Dorchester Centennial history book. (Note: The centennial book can be found here.)

We encourage Times readers to explore the architectural history and heritage of the Saline County area. But respect the rights of the owners and don't set foot on these properties without first getting permission.

Storm Spotter Training Is Feb. 28

The calendar says February -- but severe storm season isn't far off.

Gage, Jefferson, and Saline County Emergency Management invites you to Storm Spotter Training to be held at the Homestead National Monument Educational Center, 8523 West Hwy 4, Beatrice on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

The event will be held from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Training will be provided by the National Weather Service, Omaha/Valley office. No RSVP is required.

Whether you're a storm spotter for an official agency or a serious storm chaser, this event is open to the public. Come and learn what to look for.

This training is free. See this Facebook page for more information.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, sign up for free text alerts from Jefferson and Saline County Emergency Management. These alerts could save your life or those of your loved ones.