NEWS ROUND-UP: Trick Or Trunk Set For Oct. 29

Trunk or Treat, Oct. 29: Get ready for Dorchester's annual Trunk or Treat, coming to the school parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For businesses and organizations that would like to take part in Trunk or Treat, arrive by 12:45 p.m. An awesome hayrack ride will be available for the kids in costume. Both events are sponsored by the Dorchester PTO.

DHS Sports Teams Wind Down Regular Season: Now at 15-8 on the year, the Dorchester High School volleyball team is nearing the conclusion of its regular season. The Lady Longhorns are preparing for the multi-day Crossroads Conference at the York Auditorium/York High School. Action gets underway Saturday, Oct. 14. Meanwhile, the DHS football team (1-5) will take on Parkview Christian (4-2) at Nerud Field tonight. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Dorchester Blood Drive, Oct. 25: On Oct. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., a blood drive will take place at Dorchester Public School. Donors should report to the school multi-purpose room. Call 800-RED-CROSS to schedule your appointment to be a contributor to this important cause. Your kindness counts.

DHS Grad Spotlighted in Imperial: Jason Jensen, a 2018 DHS grad, is beginning his teaching and coaching career as a faculty member at Chase County Schools. Jensen is featured in this article in the Imperial Republican.

Dorchester Students Shine in Language Arts: Two Dorchester students were recognized earlier this fall for their language arts ability. In a contest at the Nebraska State Fair, Annaleah Tellez took home the second-place award in penmanship, while Javier Cornejo earned honorable mention in poetry. Congrats to these young Longhorns!

OUR VIEW: NU Football Needs A Boost From High School Football

If you're like most readers in the Cornhusker State, you are hoping to see the University of Nebraska football program quickly restored to its former glory -- specifically to the level of dominance NU demonstrated from 1964-2000.

For the past two decades, Nebraska football has been only a shadow of its former self. There are several factors for the downward spiral, but a key ingredient has been the statewide decline in high school football participation.

Based on information from the Nebraska School Activities Association, Nebraska high school football has seen more than an 18% decline in player participation over the last 20 years. Over the past 30 years, it's likely closer to a 30% dip.

Here's the breakdown:

• In the autumn of 2002, there were 14,544 boys out for football at Nebraska high schools across all classes (including 11-man, eight-man, and six-man).
  
  
• Over the next five years, participation held steady with 14,452 out the fall of 2007. But by autumn 2012, participation dropped to 13,243.
  
  
• By 2017, the number fell to 11,995. 
  
  
• By 2022, it was 11,919.
  
  
• While the NSAA doesn't publish participation numbers from the years prior to 2002, we've been told the participation rates of the late 1980s and early 1990s were closer to 18,000. Of course, during those years, the University of Nebraska's football roster featured more players from Nebraska, including in its starting lineup. That's not a coincidence.

The University of Nebraska's football program is not only facing a talent deficit, it's also facing a culture problem. 

Football is still a game Nebraskans love to watch, but they want to watch others' kids take a hit on the gridiron, not their own. Never mind the teamwork and leadership lessons learned on the field, or the toughness the game instills in young men.

Fewer high school football players means less competition for starting positions. It means a decline in the quality of play between opposing teams. 

And fewer participants equals a smaller talent pool from which NU can recruit. (Passion for Big Red football spirals significantly once outside the state's borders, especially after 20 years of mediocre football.)

While other states have also seen a decline in high school football participation, Nebraska is a small population state -- the 11th least populated state in the nation. We simply can't maintain our tradition of college football excellence if it's not sufficiently rejuvenated by in-state talent.

Athletic Director Trev Alberts and other NU football leaders need to spend as much time connecting with the state's boys and their parents as they do with the mega-wealthy donors who will finance the makeover of Memorial Stadium over the next few years. 

Ironically, when Memorial Stadium's makeover is complete, its capacity will be reduced by 12% to 15% fans, from around 86,000 today to the low 70,000s, according to reports.

All the signs tell Nebraska football fans: You're going the wrong way.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Crete Rotary Gifts Dictionaries To Dorchester Students

Village Board Meeting Is Oct. 9: Dorchester's monthly village board meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 9 at the Dorchester Community Hall.  The Times has been sent an anonymous email said that a change could be coming to the village board, but no details were given. (As a reminder, the village board recently voted to move its monthly meeting to the second Monday of the month.) Board agendas and meeting minutes are located here.

DHS Grad Named to Homecoming Court at Morningside: Dorchester High School alumnus Ridge Hoffman has been selected to the homecoming court at Morningside University (Sioux City, Iowa). Ridge is a double major in special education and elementary education. He is set to graduate in May 2024 hopes to land a teaching job in or near Dorchester. 

Register for 3-on-3 Volleyball League by Oct. 9: Those wanting to play in Dorchester's 3-on-3 volleyball league have until Monday, Oct. 9 to turn in their team roster. Turn in this completed form to the village office along with the $30 fee.

Food Trucks Coming to Main Street: Downtown Dorchester will play host to several food trucks over the coming days. On Oct. 8 (from noon to 5:30 p.m) and on Oct. 9 (3:30 to 7:30 p.m), catch Chi Style Kitchen. Amigos will be available Oct. 10 (11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.). Catch Dar's Kitchen on Oct. 16 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). And visit Pork's Done on Oct. 23 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Menus will be posted at the bank, post office, at Village Hall.

Crete Organization Provides Dictionaries to Longhorns: In an act of kindness and generosity from our next-door neighbor, the Crete Rotary recently donated new dictionaries to every Dorchester third grader, according to DPS social media.

Former Dorchester Resident Dinah Cannon Passes: Diana Cannon, a former resident of Dorchester who was married to longtime Dorchester maintenance supervisor LeRoy Vyhnalek, passed away Sept. 25. After moving away in 1988, Dinah returned to Nebraska to be near friends and family. She loved volunteering at the Dorchester Public Library. Her obituary can be read here.

October Fun at State Parks: Nebraska Game and Parks wants Times readers to know that many state parks will be hosting family-friendly festivities throughout October. Check out the schedule of events and plan your opportunity for fun, whether that's carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, or a haunted hayrack ride.

DHS Volleyball Goes To 13-4; Conducting Fundraiser

The DHS volleyball team has continued its winning ways in recent days, defeating High Plains Community, Omaha Christian Academy, and Sterling in recent days. 

But the team also lost two contests to inferior opponents in Shelby/Rising City and Nebraska Lutheran. 

Based on records alone, Dorchester, now 13-4, is a top 10 team in Nebraska's Class D-1 at this point in the season. 

The final quarter of the 2023 season begins tonight, Sept. 28, and the quality of opponents will be enhanced. 

On Thursday evening, DHS is on the road to take on Diller-Odell (12-7) and Meridian (11-2) in a triangular. 

Next week, on Oct. 5, the Lady 'Horns face Class C2 Cross County (13-5).

Meanwhile, the volleyball team is conducting a fundraiser. Get a bright orange longhorn design painted on your driveway to show your Dorchester pride. Cost is $25 per longhorn. Orders may be place through Friday, Sept. 29. See details here. Or call (402) 946-2781.

Forecast: First Frost Won't Hit Until Oct. 19

For those of you excited for the season's first frost, you have a long wait.

According to the Dorchester Times forecasting formula and research, the first frost won't hit Saline County until Oct. 19. 

That's still a month away.

If our prediction holds true, it will only be a few days later than the average first frost date for our area, which is Oct. 12.

The first "killing frost" won't hit until late October, according to forecast models. This is especially relevant to farmers. In both corn and beans, a killing frost occurs at 28 degrees. Once a killing frost hits, plants can no longer move carbohydrates from the leaves, where photosynthesis occurs, to the grain. 

Of course, that also means we will be mowing for several more weeks.

The current record for the latest first frost in our area is Nov. 7, 1956, as some of our readers might recall. (Note: The first frost record for Omaha is even later, occurring on Nov. 13, 1915.)

While night-time lows will drop into the 30s before then, our long-range predictions (using AccuWeather and a few other forecasting services) show that the Dorchester area is going to be much warmer than average this early autumn.

Enjoy the warmth before winter!

NEWS ROUND-UP: Homecoming Week At Dorchester

DHS Homecoming Week Is Here: This is homecoming week in Dorchester. Students are celebrating with their spirit week themes, while DHS' football and volleyball teams are preparing to win for the generations of Orange and Black pride. The homecoming football contest will feature a match-up between DHS (1-2) and Meridan (0-3) on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Ironically, none of this week's volleyball contests are at home. Check out Dorchester Public School's spirit week schedule

Hailey Schweitzer Records 1,000 Assists at DHS: Dorchester's Hailey Schweitzer has recorded 1,000 career assists as a Dorchester volleyball player. Schweitzer reached this astounding benchmark Friday, Sept. 15, in DHS' contest against Harvard. The Lady Longhorns went on to win, bringing the squad to 9-2 on the season.

DHS Volleyball Cruises to 9-2: The DHS volleyball team continues to add to its win column, knocking off Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska Lutheran, and Harvard in recent days. Based on records alone, Dorchester (9-2) is a top 5 team in Nebraska's Class D-1 at this point in the season. The week, DHS will travel to Osceola (6-4), then to Shelby to face Shelby/Rising City (7-4) and High Plains Community (6-5), then to Waco to face Omaha Christian Academy (4-4) and Nebraska Lutheran (2-9).

Saline County Museum Fall Festival This Weekend:  Living History Day is set for this Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Saline County Historical Museum in south Dorchester. The fun and learning will begin at 11 a.m. and last through 3 p.m. This is a free family event with interactive demonstrations of historical skills going on during the day on the grounds. Food and drinks will be sold on museum grounds. Learn more. 

Church Lunch, Fundraiser, Oct. 1: The Dorchester United Methodist Church is getting ready to host a community lunch and fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 1. The fundraiser will support the church's after-school program, which is utilized by numerous families in our community. See this flyer below for more details.

Community Clean-Up Set for Oct. 9-16: Dorchester's Community Fall Clean-Up will be from Monday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 16. That week, the village dump site will be open Monday thru Friday 3-7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. No excuses to get your place looking like the pride of all Dorchester.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester's Biar Applying To Be State Treasurer

DHS Alum Applies for State Treasurer Position: Rachel (Rezabek) Biar of rural Dorchester has applied to become the state's next treasurer. Biar, a 1990 graduate of DHS, is one of 10 Nebraskans seeking the treasurer position. The treasurer slot is one of just a handful of prominent statewide elected positions. Biar is currently an assistant treasurer for Nebraska. Gov. Jim Pillan will appoint the next treasurer since current State Treasurer John Murante is resigning Sept. 18. Read this story.

DHS Volleyball Continues Winning Ways: With about a quarter of the season completed, the DHS volleyball team now sits at 6-2. The Lady Longhorns have won four consecutive contests after dropping two against Class C opponents. Despite the two losses, Dorchester has established itself as one of the top tier teams in Class D-1. Next up for DHS is another Class C opponent, Cedar Bluffs, and well as Nebraska Lutheran at a Tuesday, Sept. 12 triangular in Waco, and a Sept. 15 contest at Harvard. All three opponents have losing records so far this season.

Longhorn Football Loses at Red Cloud: The Longhorns lost their first football game Sept. 8, falling to Red Cloud 66-14. The Warriors controlled the contest from the beginning, maintaining a 38-0 lead at halftime. Next up for DHS is a contest at Harvard (2-0) this Friday, Sept. 15.

Homecoming Is Sept. 22: Dorchester High School's homecoming will be Sept. 22. Here's a look at the themes for Spirit Week.

Living History Day Set for Sept. 24: Living History Day at the Saline County Historical Museum is set for Sunday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There's no charge to attend this amazing event, which will feature interactive demonstrations of historical skills throughout the day on the museum grounds. Food will be available for purchase. This will be a big event that you won't want to miss.

Polka Night at Eastside, Sept. 17: The Leo Lonnie Trio will be playing Sunday, Sept. 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Eastside Bar and Grille in downtown Dorchester. A Czech dinner will be the special which will include pork, kraut, dumpling, dressing, gravy, veggies, and rye bread. Get ready to polka!

The Truth Is Out There: Our Area's UFO Sightings

Lately, there has been a lot of talk in the news about UFOs. 

This reminds us of the time when the Dorchester Times staff received an e-mail and photo from a reader ("Cathy") who lives a couple of miles outside of Dorchester.  

At the time, Cathy told us just before capturing a photo with her cell phone, she "saw a very bright, reflective object in the afternoon sky" and that the object "was just floating in the same spot for about 60 seconds and then suddenly vanished. 

Cathy told the Times she was "positive" she saw a UFO that was "not of this world."

Over the decades, Nebraska has its share of "out of this world" stories, perhaps because of its lack of artificial light pollution. 

Among the most interesting stories is one that took place on Highway 6 near Ashland. According to a site called UFOevidence.com, it is one of the "best-documented close encounters" ever noted.

On Dec. 3, 1967, Ashland police officer Herbert Schirmer was on his routine late-night and early morning patrol. Around 2:30 a.m., he noticed a group of lights near the ground and thought he could make out a semi-trailer off the road. 

When Schirmer approached to investigate, he watch the object take off and disappear in the night sky. When he returned to the police station at 3 a.m., he wrote in his log: "Saw a flying saucer at the junction of Highways 6 and 63. Believe it or not!"

According to the account, Schirmer went home that morning with a splitting headache and an inexplicable red welt on the side of his neck. Though only 22 years old at the time, Schirmer was so respected in Ashland that he was named chief of police a short time later. Two months later, he resigned from the force. He said he couldn't get the UFO encounter out of his mind. 

Investigators learned of Schirmer and found that 20 minutes seemed to be unaccounted for in his log of Dec. 3, 1967.

After Schirmer agreed to undergo hypnotic regression to see if he could remember more details of the incident, Schirmer told investigators that several "humanoid beings" got out and approached him and he was taken aboard the craft. 

Schirmer described the beings as 4.5' to 5' tall, with heads somewhat narrower and longer than an average human. He was told these beings had been watching the human race for a very long time and were engaged in what he called a "breeding analysis program."

Schirmer was ridiculed by some of the townspeople, his car was dynamited, and his wife left him. You can hear audio accounts of his "abduction" in Schirmer's own words by visiting this YouTube site.

The truth is out there.

Home Improvement Award Winners For 2023

Readers may remember the Dorchester Times in the past has named properties throughout town as recipients of our Home Improvement Awards.

We last did this in 2018, when we bestowed our Home Improvement Awards to properties on Dorchester's east side. So it has been a while.

Earlier this week, members of the Dorchester Times staff took a long walk through our village and added to our list of improved homes that stand out -- homes owned by property owners who deserve to be recognized for their investment in our community. 

Here are the Times' Home Improvement Award winners for 2023:

Large House Category - 600 W 9th St.: Over the past year, this has become one of Dorchester's most notable homes. The owners continue their mission to improve our community one house at a time. Simply said, this isn't their first rodeo. Their eye for detail is complemented by impeccable taste. As this stately property continues to undergo its impressive transformation, we say kudos to the hard-working owners who are renovating this standout home. At this time, we are not certain whether this house will be occupied by the owners or if it will soon be listed.

Smaller House Category - 203 Washington Ave.: This renovation deserves recognition because the owners have established a model for how to make the most of a smaller property and grow its value to the maximum. Not only has the home been improved and the living space been expanded, but this property boasts one of the best gardens in Saline County. The home is a Sears and Roebuck house, according to our records, built in the early 1900s -- so it has an interesting history as well. A big Times thumbs-up for these owners.

If you feel we should consider other properties for the Times' Home Improvement Award, email us at Dorchester.Times@gmail.com.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester's Construction Boom Continues

Construction Boom Continues: Dorchester's construction boom of 2023 continues as more improvements are occurring on Dorchester's main street. This week, major renovations were completed to the former Sehnert's Ford Garage on the corner of Washington Ave. and East 8th St. The large windows were replaced and a second overhead door was added. The last time the building was used in active commercial activity was 1975, according to our records. Current owner L.J. Barley, owner of Barley's Specialties, is reportedly planning to use the building as part of his operations.

DHS Football Kicks Off With 59-26 Win: The Dorchester football team opened its 2023 campaign with an emphatic statement, posting a 59-26 victory over St. Edward at Nerud Field on Aug. 25. DHS opened the floodgates with 32 points in the third quarter, demonstrating that they know the six-man game. The Longhorns get a week off before heading to Red Cloud on Sept. 8.

Lady Longhorns Open Season With Two Victories: The DHS volleyball team has earned its first two wins of the season, defeating St. Edward and East Butler this week. The Orange and Black Attack beat St. Edward in three straight sets, while beating East Butler 3-1. On Thursday, Aug. 31, Dorchester travels to Weeping Water for a triangular that includes the host and Palmyra, both of which are Class C teams.

Big Rain Hits Saline County: There are reports of some area rain gauges overflowing as northern portions of Saline County and southern Seward County received between 3 inches to six inches in the past 24 hours. See these precipitation maps. There are reports from Dorchester with rainfall exceeding five inches since Friday night. This latest round of rain is likely to make a big dent in the next drought monitor report.

Longhorn Journalism Students Take Broadcasting Honors: DHS' Jacob Cerny and Ariana Tellez received gold honors for best public service announcement video in the high school division of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association’s Pinnacle Awards held Aug. 9 in in LaVista. Watch the video here.

Dorchester Times Nears 50,000 Visits in 30 Days: Over the past 30 days, this modest little blog has attracted 47,595 visits. Thank you readers.

BBQ Food Truck Coming Monday: The Pork's Done BBQ food truck will be downtown to serve Dorchester on Monday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here's the menu.

DHS Football Season Kicks Off This Friday

It's time to don your orange and black! 

Dorchester High School's 2023 football season kicks off this Friday night, Aug. 25 at beautiful Nerud Field. 

The mighty Longhorns will do battle with the Beavers beginning at 7 p.m.

This is the sixth year of six-man football at Dorchester in the modern era. Just a few season ago, DPS revamped Nerud Field with a new lighting system. This year, a new field box will greet Longhorn fans.

Insiders say this year's DHS team is short on numbers but strong on experience. Expect a smart game plan for every contest, our sources say.

Here is the 2023 schedule:

Dorchester's football program has shown signs of strength after returning to Nerud Field six years ago and going to six-man. In 2020, DHS finished the year at 6-3, making the state playoffs. But in 2021, the Longhorns stumbled, going 1-7 due to injuries and low participation numbers. Last year was another tough sled with a 2-6 record. (DHS was 4-4 in its 2019 campaign and 3-5 in 2018.)

To be competitive, DHS will need to stay healthy. Stand by for season six of Longhorn six-man ball.

Dorchester's Missing Yearbooks

For alumni and former students of Dorchester Public School, the online collection of DPS yearbooks -- available at dorchesterschool.org -- is a great resource.

At the school's website, visitors will find nearly 75 years of school annuals, each filled with the names, faces, and memories of yesteryear. 

Unfortunately, since the creation of the online yearbook section in 2013, there has always been a missing era, with no sign of the 1940-46 editions.

Of course, from 1941-45, the nation was largely focused on World War II, but we are confident that some type of publications were produced to recognize the senior classes of those years. 

The fact that many alumni from these missing years served in WWII would make the addition of materials from 1940-46 a noteworthy tribute.

When the Dorchester Public School and the DHS Alumni Association teamed up to put all the DPS yearbooks on the school website, they had assistance from older alumni. It was a huge undertaking -- and expensive, costing around $4,000, according to our research. Also online is the 1981 Dorchester Centennial history book.

We're certain that every effort was made to find yearbooks or other publications from the 1940-46 yearbooks. But perhaps with the help of the Dorchester Times readership, the alumni association and school staff can put something online to recognize the DHS graduates from these years.

If you know of any publication -- yearbook or otherwise -- that recognizes the DHS senior classes 1940-1946, please contact the school at (402) 946-2781 or touch base with DHS Alumni Association leaders (Brad and Donna Havlat). 

Honoring the classes of 1940-46 would be a nice touch to a great online collection of DHS history.

DHS Volleyball Set To Launch 2023 Campaign

The Dorchester High School volleyball team is ready to begin a new season. 

And there's talk that this year's Lady Longhorns could be a serious contender for the state volleyball tournament in Class D1.

Following a 15-13 finish last year, Dorchester volleyball is returning all of its 2022 starters. The team is loaded with upperclassmen talent, as well as strong talent from the sophomore class. 

One insider who follows high school volleyball closely told the Times: "This Dorchester team has the talent, the experience, the heart, and the depth to go far this year. On paper, they should win 70 percent of their games. Frankly, I'd be shocked if this group isn't among the best teams in Class D. The sky is the limit."

DHS fans will know in short order how this Longhorn team stacks up. The team is scheduled to play four contests before Sept. 1, with the first match taking place at East Butler next Thursday, Aug. 24.

Here is the 2023 DHS volleyball schedule (home games in bold):

08/24/23 @ East Butler (Class D1)

08/25/23 St. Edward (D2) 

08/31/23 Palmyra (C1)                 Triangular (host: Weeping Water)

08/31/23 Weeping Water (C2)     Triangular (host: Weeping Water)

09/05/23 College View Academy (D2) 

09/07/23 Hampton (D2)                 Triangular (host: Giltner)

09/07/23 Giltner (D2)                 Triangular (host: Giltner)

09/07/23 Giltner (D2)                     Triangular (host: Giltner)

09/08/23 @ Red Cloud (D1) 

09/12/23 Cedar Bluffs (C2)            Triangular (host: Nebraska Lutheran)

09/12/23 Nebraska Lutheran (D2) Triangular (host: Nebraska Lutheran)

09/15/23 @ Harvard (D2)

09/19/23 @ Osceola (D1)

09/21/23 Shelby/Rising City (D1)    Triangular (host: Shelby/Rising City)

09/21/23 High Plains Community (D2)     Triangular (host: Shelby/Rising City)

09/23/23 Omaha Christian Academy (D2)     Triangular (host: Nebraska Lutheran)

09/23/23 Nebraska Lutheran (D2)     Triangular (host: Nebraska Lutheran)

09/23 (To Be Determined) Nebraska Lutheran Tournament (4-Team Round Robin)

09/26/23 Sterling (D2) 

09/28/23 Diller-Odell (D1)            Triangular (host: Diller-Odell)

09/28/23 Meridian (D2)                Triangular (host: Diller-Odell)

10/05/23 Cross County (C2)

10/09/23 @ Parkview Christian (D2)

10/10/23 McCool Junction (D1)    Triangular (host: Dorchester)

10/10/23 BDS (D1)                         Triangular (host: Dorchester)

10/14-10/17  To Be Determined - Crossroads Conference Tournament in York

NEWS ROUND-UP: Foundation Pork Feed This Sunday, Aug. 13

Community Foundation Pork Feed, Aug. 13: Readers should note that there's been a change in venue for the Dorchester Community Foundation Fund's annual pork feed this Sunday, Aug. 13 with serving beginning at 4:30 p.m. The feed will be held at the Dorchester American Legion Hall and Community Hall, not the city park, due to a strong chance of storms. Get ready for pork ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, pork and beans, coleslaw, and more! It's a free-will offering meal. Read more at News Channel Nebraska.

Tellez Appointed to Dorchester Village Board: Nancy Tellez has been appointed to the Dorchester Village Board. She was sworn in Monday, Aug. 7, filling the seat of Eric Bird, who resigned from his term last month. Tellez brings good experience when it comes to municipality operations; she is the acting city clerk for the City of Crete and the former director of community assistance.

Survey Finds More Young People Want Small-Town Life:  A new survey of rural Nebraska young people reveals that a sizable majority (64%) say they want to live in small towns. At the same time, many (76%) say they also feel like they don’t play a role in the communities they live in. The survey’s positive feedback shows that participants desire the aspects of what Nebraska already offers: small towns that provide safety, good schools, and proximity to family. Read more in the Omaha World-Herald.

Dorchester's Construction Boom Of 2023

In 2007, Dorchester experienced a construction boom.

Then just seven years later, in 2014, the village experienced another one.

Now, in 2023, it's happening yet again.

The lesson here: Never give up on Dorchester. Never.

The construction boom of 2023 is a sound combination of public and private projects. (We always raise our collective eyebrows when elected officials call taxpayer-funded public projects "economic development.") 

Moreover, the projects are aimed at enhancing Dorchester's main street, athletics program, and first-responders' capabilities.

Fire Department Expansion

After decades of no exterior changes or additions to the Dorchester Fire Hall, the fire and rescue department will be nearly doubling their facility space as a new addition is going in as we write this report.

Village taxpayers are funding the construction, which should not only boost the capabilities of the volunteers, but will also enhance the appearance of south main street (Washington Ave.). 

The site of the new project has been vacant since the early 1990s when a residence that once stood there was torn down.

Nerud Field

A fresh new look will greet those who attend Dorchester Longhorn football games and other activities at beautiful Nerud Field this fall. Dorchester Public School has replaced the old "crow's nest" with a very large field box on the west side of the field. 

Dorchester-based BZ Construction is erecting the new project, which comes after other improvements in recent years such as new lights and a new scoreboard. The large structure will not only house announcers and media during games, it will also provide an ample amount of storage for the football program and grounds crew.

In addition to the new field box is new fencing on the south end of the field, just beyond the long jump strip. This welcome addition will not only help parents ensure kids don't escape the confines of Nerud Field, the fencing will also keep trespassers out of neighbor's property. A common-sense and long overdue project. 

Main Street Building

As reported by this blog, the old Dorchester Telephone Building was torn down last fall to make room for a new building -- one that could potentially house up to four businesses, according to inside sources. 

However, progress on the building was delayed for nearly 8 months for unknown reasons, and passers-by saw only a framed structure on the site.

This week, progress on the new building has resumed with a flurry of activity. At this pace, the new building should be finished in no time, adding a place for new commerce and jobs on the village's major thoroughfare. 

This blog does not have any details to offer about what business may be inhabiting the new space.

Readers with updates on any of these projects should feel free to leave comments below.

Developing...

NEWS ROUND-UP: DHS Fall Sports Preview, Aug. 17

Fall Sports Preview, Scrimmages are Aug. 17: Dorchester Public School kicks off a new school year on Wednesday, Aug. 16. And that means Longhorn fans are already flashing their Hook 'em Horns hand signs and breaking out the orange and black attire. On Thursday, Aug. 17, DHS will host its annual Fall Sports Preview, with a free-will donation meal at 5:30 p.m. and an introduction to the football and volleyball team members at 6 p.m. The DHS volleyball scrimmage will take place at 6:15 p.m., with the football scrimmage following at 7:30 p.m. (Fans are encouraged to bring sports drinks or water to donate for the kids' seasons.)

Information Packet for New School Year: If you haven't already, parents need to read this 46-page information packet to prepare for the new school year. It includes school supply lists, information on school lunches, key dates for the school year, and more.

16 Acres for Sale South of Dorchester: Looking for some country land to build your dream home? South of Dorchester and west of Pleasant Hill, 16 acres are for sale for $150,000 at the intersection of County Roads 1300 and I. See the listing.

Foundation Pork Feed, Aug. 13: The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund will hose its annual pork feed on Sunday, Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Dorchester City Park. Get ready for pork ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, pork and beans, coleslaw, and more! It's a free-will offering meal. 

Wednesdays are Cards Night at Eastside: Ready to cut the cards? Five-point pitch games take place every Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. Be sure to brush up on your game and get ready for good times with Dorchester-area friends.