NEWS ROUND-UP: Stand By For Fall Colors

Stand By for Fall Colors: Forget New England. The other "NE" -- Nebraska -- will have the most vibrant fall colors this year, according to AccuWeather's 2025 fall foliage forecast. Plan some of the best fall color viewing sites include Indian Cave and Ponca state parks, writes the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

DHS Volleyball Drops Below .500: Early October means high school sports are entering the final stretch before state tournament play. Dorchester High School volleyball lost three games to begin this month as the Lady Longhorns have dropped below .500 for the season at 9-10. The Orange and Black Attack have a good chance to earn back some wins with only five regular season games left, including a triangular at Twin River (Genoa and Silver Creek) this Thursday.

Longhorn Football Seeks Third Win: After a 47-0 victory over Harvard on Sept. 26 and a tough 12-66 loss to Silver Lake last Friday, DHS will travel to Diller-Odell (1-4) this Friday, Oct. 10. With some solid play and good health, Dorchester could finish the regular season at .500, according to computer projections   

City Slickers Still Closed With No Answers: City Slickers Bar and Grill -- loved by area residents for more than a dozen years -- has been closed for more than two weeks, since Aug. 1. For the sake of our community and area residents and future of main street, it's time for some clarity. If there are financial issues, we're betting the area community would pull through to support fund raisers. Whatever the case, Dorchester wants to see that spot utilized for the benefit of our community.

Whooping Cough Cases Spike: Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the United States and Nebraska, according to Saline County's Public Health Solutions. Community members are urged to take precautions against the disease, which can be severe and potentially life-threatening for infants and young children. Some health officials have linked the rise to waning immunity from vaccines and potentially decreased vaccination rates. Read more.

Saline County's Pro Baseball Scout: The Flatwater Free Press has published a piece on Friend's Thad Weber -- "a globetrotting professional baseball scout" who's now in his eighth year with the Chicago Cubs and fourth year "trekking to Asia" in his search for who has enough talent for the majors. Read the article.

Beware of Local Journalism's Political Bias: We are disturbed to see the Crete News' soft endorsement of a local progressive (i.e. "liberal") running for the state legislature in 2026. While there are likely personal relationships that are fueling the newspaper's coverage of this candidate, fair and balanced coverage is to be expected, especially at a time when government needs to shrink. (There is a conservative candidate in the race for the Legislative District 32 race.) We are hopeful this favoritism will be corrected by the publisher and that activist journalism won't win the day. 

Boiling Point Over Property Tax Hikes: The Tax Foundation's latest rankings has pegged Nebraska as fourth worst in the U.S. for property tax burden, behind only Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Property owners in Saline County recently received notices -- thanks to Nebraska’s Truth-in-Taxation law -- that their local governments (school districts and counties) are proposing significant property tax increases as much as 15% to 20% or more. It's a shame. Local governments are spending the property valuation increases instead of lowering levy rates to offset valuations. State government is forced to live within its means -- that is, the income and sales tax revenue. But local governments have a printing press called property taxes, whether its valuations or the levy imposed -- and this broken system has to end. Local elected officials (school board members and county commissioners) must realize they don't have to spend more every year, and that cutting spending is not only OK, but healthy.

October is Food Truck Season: Dorchester's main street (Washington Ave.) will be hopping in October, as cooler temps and farmers hauling grain will mean more food trucks. Here's a look at this month's food truck schedule, as published by Village government:

• Billie's Grilled Cheese: Monday, Oct. 6 (10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
• Daylight Donuts: Tuesday, Oct. 7 (7-10 a.m. or until sold out)
• Amigos: Monday, Oct. 13 (11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.)
• KennaBell's BBQ: Monday, Oct. 20 (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.)
• Amigos: Monday, Oct. 27 (11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.)
• Billie's Grilled Cheese: Monday, Nov. 3 (10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)

Gilbert’s Graveyard: Prairie History Lost To Criminal Vandalism

Nestled on a remote, windswept hill in Saline County -- between the communities of Dorchester and Friend -- sits Gilbert’s Graveyard, officially known as Gilbert-Hulse Cemetery. 

For years, dating back to our first year in 2007, the Times has featured Gilbert's Graveyard on its list of "spookiest places." But we know that our annual October list of area haunts doesn't convey the real story behind this pioneer cemetery. Worse yet, the ghost stories perpetuated by sites like ours may have only encouraged the low-IQ vandals who have damaged the cemetery beyond repair over the decades.

Today, we tell the real story behind Gilbert's Graveyard -- the final resting place for Saline County’s earliest pioneers.

A Piece of Pioneer History 

In 1865 Jonas Gilbert, his wife Louisa, and their six children left Darke County, Ohio, traveling by wagon train to settle in Nebraska. After a journey lasting 52 days, the wagon train reached its destination on Turkey Creek, in what later became Saline County. 

Jonas became one of the county's first commissioners, and his son John became the county's first assessor. 

Established in 1872, Gilbert-Hulse Cemetery was founded when Jonas and Louisa Wyans Gilbert sold a half-acre plot to the Hulse family for use as a community burial ground. It became the resting place for many of the area’s first settlers, including some Union and Confederate veterans of America's Civil War. 

For decades, this plot of land preserved the history of those who first turned the soil in the mid- to late-1800s. The cemetery holds the remains of families who endured the brutal conditions of the Plains in those early years.

A majority of the graves belong to babies, toddlers, teens, and young mothers who died while giving birth or shortly after. 

Outspoken Agnosticism 

The cemetery’s notoriety stems largely from Jonas and John Gilbert's outspoken agnosticism, although it appears today that atheism would be a better description of their beliefs. 

Jonas passed away in 1882. His headstone features a highly provocative, anti-establishment epitaph, famously stating that the Gilbert died unafraid of "gods or ghosts or Heaven or Hell and all their hosts."

The controversy surrounding his beliefs -- and particularly the inscription on his tombstone -- is a foundational to the cemetery's lore.

Meanwhile, his son John "never belonged to a church ... and called himself an agnostic," according to the Dorchester Centennial history book. In the late 1800s, Dr. Frank Hamilton of Friend once asked John to embrace Christianity. That is when John Gilbert allegedly "went into a seizure for about two minutes, his muscles jerked, his eyes became bloodshot, his face became congested and red, his mouth became dry, and he kept wiping his lips with his tongue. During the attack, he venomously cursed God." 

Gilbert later donated money to build a library in Friend, on the condition that his anti-God books would be on the shelves.

Vandalism and Ghostly Tales

The inscription on Jonas' headstone made the Gilbert name famous. But that notoriety is what has led to the state of the graveyard today.

While it has been more than 140 years since Jonas died, rumors of non-Christian rituals and strange happenings in the graveyard -- over many decades -- cemented its status as an unusual and often unsettling location.

Among the strange events reported there:

- Visitors have long claimed to hear unexplained noises and witness the apparent shifting of burial markers.

- Eyewitness accounts include visitors describing seeing a "black fog" rising from graves, or being followed by unexplained flashing lights that appeared to emerge from the cemetery grounds. 

- Some visitors have even claimed they saw the figures of the Gilbert family and other pioneers roaming the grounds.

The sad reality of Gilbert's Graveyard is the significant vandalism it has faced over several decades. The acts of disrespect have led to the destruction of roughly 80 percent of the cemetery's headstones.

Jonas' controversial gravestone itself was broken by vandals and now lies in pieces. (This photo shows how it once looked whole.) Many of the pioneer graves, including those of Civil War veterans, are no longer marked, erasing a significant portion of the county’s history.

Today, those who visit this remote prairie cemetery are asked to remember the significant loss of our area history and to show respect. Recognize that a place meant for eternal rest has been tragically turned into a frequent target of criminal desecration.

Looking Back: Dorchester Lawmaker, Crete Woman Gave Us State Flag

Florence Hazen Miller of Crete, right. 

Nebraska's flag should always fly a little bit higher in Dorchester and Crete.

That's because the person most responsible for convincing the Nebraska Legislature to approve of our state flag (or banner, as it was called in 1925) was State Sen. Charles Meacham Jr. of Dorchester.

Sen. Meacham was steadfast in his legislative efforts primarily because of the consistent urging of constituent Mrs. Florence Hazen Miller of Crete, a staunch advocate to establish an official Nebraska flag. 

In fact, Crete was where the Nebraska's state flag flew following its official designation in the mid-1920s. 

According to the State Historical Society, "At one second after midnight on July 1, 1925 -- the day the banner law took effect -- a small Nebraska flag with a fifteen-inch-diameter state seal embroidered in gold and silver was hoisted on a pole in Crete, probably by Mrs. Miller, and it remained flying until 8 a.m."

This adoption of a state flag was a big deal, mostly because Nebraska was the last state at that time to get its own banner. As of 1920, each of the other 47 states had already adopted a flag -- so Nebraska was only five years behind the curve. (Maybe we will soon return to a two-chamber legislature to return to the wiser system America's founders established.) 

Read more about our state flag at the Nebraska History Museum's website. Then go fly your Nebraska flag high.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Saline Co. Summer Swampland

How Wet Was Our Summer?: Fall arrives Monday at 1:19 p.m. CT. That will bring an end to summer 2025, which will go down as one of the wettest in recent memory. As of Sept. 16, the year-to-date rainfall total for the Dorchester area is roughly 30 inches, significantly more than the 23.97-inch year-to-date average. Most of this rainfall came after mid-May. Fortunately, the drought is over. But that came with a cost. The heavy rains brought destructive wind and hail to property and crops -- and turned our area into a swampland. We have the massive mosquitos to prove it. Those flying insects aren't going away anytime soon; the long-range forecast shows no freezing temperatures until Oct. 30.

DHS Football Team Picks Up First Win: The Dorchester Longhorns picked up their first victory of 2025 on Sept. 12, even though it came by way of Heartland Lutheran (Grand Island) forfeiting on homecoming night. DHS is off this week but will resume play on Sept. 26 at Harvard (0-3) followed by an Oct. 3 home game against Silver Lake (2-1). See DHS' online schedule.     

Longhorn Volleyball Begins Season 5-3: The Lady Longhorns volleyball team has started their season with a 5-3 record, dropping a couple contests in which the Orange and Black Attack was favored to win. On Sept. 11, DHS lost to Class D-2 rival Giltner (5-1). Two days later, on Sept. 13, Dorchester topped Class C-2 Southern ( 4-10) but fell to Falls City Sacred Heart (5-7) and Pawnee City (5-5). Tonight, DHS is on the road against Nebraska Lutheran, and will travel to Osceola on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to take on the Lady Bulldogs. See DHS' online schedule.

Axline, Theis Crowned Homecoming Royalty: During DHS homecoming ceremony held Sept. 12, Caden Axline was crowned king, while Bailey Theis was crowned queen. Our congratulations to this fine representatives of Dorchester High School.

Home for Sale: A three-bedroom, one-bath home at 905 Franklin Ave. has been listed for sale since early September. The home, built 125 years ago, has a price tag of $168,000. View it here. 

'Pure Nebraska' Features County Museum Again: 10/11 News' 'Pure Nebraska' program is highlighting the Saline County Museum once again, this time with a spotlight on the museums' communications and business display in the Weidner Building. It features an impressive display of vintage typewriters, as well as newspaper printing presses used in Dorchester and Friend. Also on display are the movie projectors that were used at the Dorchester community theater, once housed in the Dorchester Community Building. This is a critical piece of Saline County history, and we salute the museum staff and volunteers for bringing it to life. Watch 10/11's feature story.

Power Outage Planned For Saturday Morning

The Village of Dorchester is planning a village-wide electrical power outage this Saturday, Sept. 13, beginning at 8 a.m. 

According to pamphlets let at residences, the power outage could last as long as six hours. 

"Please be patient and plan accordingly," the pamphlet say.

The outage is necessary due to repair work being conducted on the Norris Power substation south of Dorchester.

The facility was heavily damaged from the storms in late August.

At least one Dorchester business, the Farmers Cooperative fueling station and garage, will be closed on Saturday due to this event. 

Questions should be directed to Village Hall at 402-946-3201.  

Looking Back: Dorchester's Secret Organizations Of The Past

Some time ago, the Dorchester Times received a scathing e-mail from a critic who had issues with our blog's anonymous nature.

"I don't like the secretness [sic] of your publication," the writer said. "If your [sic] so proud of your blog and you have so much to say, come out and let us know who is behind the Dorchester Times."

The six staff members (one has passed away) of the Dorchester Times have been anonymous since the blog's founding in April 2007, although not all the original staff members are with us -- and as of summer 2023, we are in talks with two more individuals who may take over blog operations going forward. The Dorchester Times has done just fine, thank you, despite being cloaked in secrecy. 

Dorchester's history is rich with groups whose members remained anonymous while staying focused on the community's greater good.

One such group were the Dorchester Freemasons, who were active during the early 1900s. The Dorchester Freemasons met on the second floor of the building that now houses City Hall and Donna's Hair Creations. (It's rumored that second floor is haunted, but we will let someone else investigate that charge.)

According to the Masons' website, "the Freemasonry is the oldest and largest worldwide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being."  

When the old Dorchester school building was razed in 2008, Dorchester's residents received a history lesson on the Freemasons, who laid the cornerstone of the 1927 building. Click here for our story on the opening of the 1927 cornerstone.

Another organization with ties to Dorchester's early past is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), which was concerned with local civic and political matters. Dorchester's I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 74 was founded May 13, 1879. While not as secretive as the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows didn't exactly publicize their membership.

The purpose of Dorchester Odd Fellows' lodge was to "care for the sick, bury the dead, and care for the widows and orphans." Dorchester's I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 74 was active until 1973.

The staff of the Dorchester Times is not to be confused with the fine members of the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows, or any of the world's elite secret organizations. But in our own way, this blog continues to serve a purpose and do some good. We will stick with the formula that is working.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Who'll Stop The Rain?

Flooding Follows Labor Day Weekend Rain: Labor Day weekend brought tremendous amounts of rain to the Dorchester area, with 6.32" falling in town over a 24-hour period from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. According to reports, Garland received similar amounts, while Friend saw 5.19" and Milford received nearly 4". Crete received nearly 3". Watch KETV's report on area flooding. One resident told us he saw water over roads where it had never crossed before. Several water removal trucks were in town Monday to take care of residents with wet basements. This follows a very wet August in the Dorchester area. The drought appears to be over for most of Saline County.

Saline County Museum Featured on Pure Nebraska: "Pure Nebraska" -- produced by 10/11 News -- is airing a new segment featuring the Kaspar Memorial Building at the Saline County Museum in Dorchester. The segment focuses on the antique farm equipment housed in and outside the building. Watch the episode. Keep in mind that the museum's "Living History Day" is set for Saturday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and lunch will be served. Homemade ice cream, games, and crafts will also be available.

DHS Volleyball Opens Season With Win; Football Team 0-1: The Dorchester volleyball team officially opened their season Thursday, Aug. 28, beating East Butler in three sets. DHS will play at Weeping Water on Thursday, Sept. 4, and at Pawnee City on Friday, Sept. 5. Meanwhile, the DHS football team lost their season opener 44-25 at Nerud Field on Friday, Aug. 29. Dorchester will travel to Pawnee City this Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

DHS Football Kicks Off Friday Night In Dorchester

 

Longhorn football is back! 

Dorchester High School's 2025 football season kicks off Friday night, Aug. 29 at Dorchester's own Nerud Field. 

The mighty Longhorns will do battle with the Sterling Jets at 7 p.m.

This is the eighth year of six-man football at Dorchester in the modern era. In recent years, DPS revamped Nerud Field with a new lighting system. Two years ago, a new field box was added to the friendly confines.

After two consecutive seasons of going 1-7, insiders say this year's DHS team seeks to begin a new chapter of Longhorn football as numbers begin to return. This year's squad as 17 players on the roster, and seven student managers -- an indication that football fever has returned to the village. 

 

Sources say DHS' experience in coaching and game planning will start to pay dividends in 2025.

Here is the 2025 schedule:

 

 

Since starting six-man football again in 2018, DHS has seen ups and downs. Dorchester went 3-5 in 2018, 4-4 in 2019, and 6-3 in 2020 (with a state playoffs appearance). In 2021, the Longhorns went 1-7, 2-6 in 2022, 1-7 in 2023, and 1-7 in 2024.

DHS is coached by 14-year head coach Brent Zoubek, who has dedicated 22 years to the program, plus another four years as a former player. Assistant coach is Spencer Kotas. 

Seniors Chase Tachovsky, Carter Cerny, Caden Axline, and Hunter Wake will lead this year's Orange and Black Attack. 

DHS Sets Sights On 2025 Volleyball Campaign

Bump. Set. Spike. 

The Dorchester High School volleyball team has high hopes as the Orange and Black Attack sets course on its 2025 campaign. 

Led by first-year coaches Bethany Theis, Mike Theis, and Kelli (Eret) Kohout, this year's DHS squad is expected to be a strong contender in Class D-2. 

The Lady Longhorns have become accustomed to winning. They finished at 18-12 in 2024, 16-11 in 2023, and 15-13 in 2022. This season, they hope to continue the winning thanks to the return of some key starters.

One insider who follows high school volleyball closely told the Times that this year's team will again be a forced to be reckoned with. "This is a team that deserves to be taken seriously and not underestimated," our source told us. "I can see them winning 20-plus games."

With 15 players on the team, including seniors Bailey Theis, Savannah June, and Micaela Loarca, DHS has strong support from five juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen.

The Lady Longhorns are off to a solid start already, beating Class C-1 Wilber-Clatonia High School in a scrimmage contest on Tuesday evening, Aug. 26, at Wilber. DHS captured two of three sets.

DHS fans will know in short order how the 2025 team stacks up. Dorchester will play five contests by Sept. 11, when the first home contests will be held.

Here is the 2025 DHS volleyball schedule:

Student managers for DHS are Baila Brandt, Embry Brandt, Lennon Kohout, Annie Smith, and Bethany Vazquez.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Enough With The Storms!

Another Storm Brings More Severe Damage: Late afternoon Friday, Aug. 22, another severe storm targeted Dorchester and the immediate countryside, leaving the village with significant property and tree damage. The village had no electricity for a 24-hour stretch for the second time in three weekends. This storm was particularly destructive because of the havoc it wreaked on downtown buildings, while also snapping numerous power poles, including those supporting a major transmission line. Some suspect it may have been an F1 tornado that struck town, but that is yet unconfirmed. "It seems our little village is being picked on kind of unfairly," said one longtime resident. "But we will endure." Watch KLKN Channel 8's on-the-ground report from Saturday, Aug. 23, featuring interviews with Dorchester residents.

Dorchester's New Coffee and Specialty Drink Shop Gets Rave Reviews: For those who haven't yet tried it, Dorchester Nutrition has now been operating at 102 East 8th Street on Main Street (Washington Avenue) for the past several months. Serving specialty drinks -- like teas, blended coffees, shakes, and more --  this impressive family-owned business is open from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. Stop in or order ahead by texting 402-418-2453. Visit Dorchester Nutrition's Facebook page. 

Dorchester's Food Truck Schedule: With autumn temperatures approaching, Dorchester will be seeing more food truck activity on Main Street (Washington Avenue) in the coming weeks. Here's a look at who's scheduled to be serving:

- Daylight Donuts: Thursday, Aug. 28 (7 - 10 a.m. or until sold out)

- What's the Scoop Ice Cream: Thursday, Aug. 28 (5 - 8 p.m.)

- Billie's Grilled Cheese: Monday, Sept. 1 (10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. AND 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)

- Billie's Grilled Cheese: Monday, Oct. 6 (10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. AND 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.)

- KennaBell's BBQ: Monday, Oct. 20 (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. AND 4 - 7 p.m.)

Big Events Coming To Saline County Museum

Official sources have provided the Times with details on the upcoming Living History Day festival, which will be held at the Saline County Museum in Dorchester, right along Highway 33 on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This free, family-oriented outing has become a favorite in southeast Nebraska -- much like a fall festival but with a historical twist. It features roughly 20 historical demonstrations and showcases old-timer practices -- like blacksmithing, quilting, pioneer cooking, and embossing -- as well as fun and games like horseshoes. Food will be available, including homemade ice cream. 

Special presentations this year will include:

• 11 a.m. - Presentation by President Ulysses S. Grant
• Noon - Saline County Color Guard ceremony
• 12:30 p.m. - Studio C Cloggers
• All day - Art show

Attendees are encouraged to bring their family members, friends, and lawn chairs. Donations will be accepted. Don't miss the end-of-summer highlight. 

Other planned events at the museum this year include:

• Sunday, Aug. 31 - Presentation by John Palky on prehistoric tools, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 18 - "Lady Warriors: Women Soldiers of the Civil War" with Rayma Volkmer, 1 p.m. 
• December, dates TBA - "Festival of Trees" display

In the meantime, the museum is open every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to set aside some time to check out the dozen buildings on the Saline County Historical Museum campus. As always, it's free to attend.

Dorchester's Jan Henning Passes At 78

Janice Lynne Henning, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt,
and friend, passed away peacefully on Aug. 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Fairbury, Nebraska on Sept. 27, 1946 to Dolores and Charles Rodwell.

Jan, as she was affectionately known, dedicated 39 years of her career as an executive secretary to the General Manager at Alpo Pet Foods, where her professionalism, loyalty, and warmth left a lasting impact. It was at Alpo where she met Bruce Henning, who held multiple management positions over his 32-year career. Their connection blossomed into a loving partnership, and they were married on October 5, 1985, sharing nearly 40 wonderful years together.

Jan and Bruce shared a love of travel, exploring new places and creating cherished memories. Jan had a vibrant and joyful spirit, finding happiness in shopping, garage saling, and collecting unique treasures. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her grandchildren, whom she adored and loved to spoil.

Janice is survived by her devoted husband, Bruce Henning; her children, Michelle (David Brummer) and Todd Slama; and her stepchildren, Jennifer (Todd Zimmerman), Scott (Crystal Henning), and Jessica (Jason Sherwood). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Blake and Harper, Michael (Brian) and Rebecca, Madison, Sierra, and Hunter; her great-grandchildren, Elliott and Alexander; her sister, Kathleen Blobaum; nephews Scott, Greg (Julie), and Jesse; and her beloved pet, Teddy.

She is further survived by her sister- and brothers-in-law: Ron & Carolyn Henning, Donna & Daryl Michl, Donna Henning, Judy Henning, Marge & Noyle Kramer, Chuck & Rosalie Henning and Lynn Henning.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents and numerous brother and sisters-in-law. 

Jan will be remembered for her kindness, her sense of fun, and the deep love she gave to her family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation on Tuesday from 5 - 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department or to Blue River Pet Rescue in Seward, in honor of Jan’s generous and adventurous spirit. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

Gerald Sehnert Passes At Age 91

Gerald H Sehnert, 91, of Dorchester, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Aug. 10, 2025.

Born on Feb. 18, 1934, Gerald lived a life defined by hard work, service, and deep devotion to his family and community. He married Geraldine Rezac on September 24, 1960, and together they shared 65 years of marriage filled with love and partnership.

Gerald served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He had a long and distinguished career with Judds Bros Construction, where he served as General Superintendent. With more than 60 years in the industry, he earned the respect of his colleagues through his strong leadership, experience, and integrity.  

In addition to his professional life, Gerald was deeply committed to serving his community. He volunteered with the Dorchester Fire Department for more than 25 years, always ready to help his neighbors in times of need. He also held a private pilot’s license and took great joy in flying.

Gerald was a proud and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine; sons Craig (Lori) and Todd (Jan), and his daughter Barbara (Brian); grandchildren Zach, Andrea, Nick, and Brian. He was preceded in death by his parents, four siblings, and his beloved granddaughter, Stacie.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. A Rosary will begin at 9:30 prior to the mass. Memorials to the family for designation at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

Marva Kasl Passes At Age 87

Marva Lee (Hayek) Kasl was born January 28, 1938 to Lumir and Evelyn (Vlasak) Hayek. Marva passed away peacefully on Friday, August 8 with her family by her side. Marva was well known and will be missed by many. 

Marva grew up on the farm west of Wilber and attended District 51 rural school through the eighth grade. She then attended Wilber High School. 

During her sophomore year, her parents moved to Wilber and operated the Fox Hole tavern, then they moved her senior year to the Halfway Station west of Wilber. The Halfway Station was a convenience store before its time. They sold gas, groceries, seed, meals, repaired tires, fixed cars, and operated the bar. They hosted a variety of activities from movies, card games, and more. Marva spent much of her time working at the station. 

Marva graduated from Wilber High School in 1955. Following graduation, she attended Doane College summer school and taught for a few years at a country school. Marva met her husband Bob while she was working at Halfway. They were united in marriage on December 30, 1955 during Christmas break. They rented their first home south of Dorchester, where they lived for a few years. They moved closer to Dorchester and rented a farmhouse for several years. In 1967, they were excited to purchase the farm where they built a new home and resided for several years raising their family until they moved into town in 1998. 

Bob and Marva had five children, Robert Wayne (Bobby), Sandra Lyn (Sandy), Jeanine Joyce, (Jean), Judith Faye (Judy), and Bradley Alan (Brad). While their family was growing up, Marva took part in many of their activities including Sunday School and Bible School, 4-H, Boy Scouts and of course Junior Legion Auxiliary. Marva was the Junior Auxiliary leader in Dorchester for more than 55 years. She had a passion to teach the Juniors about respect for the Veterans and our country, which brought her much joy. She was proud of all the Juniors and had several Juniors hold offices at the District, Department and National level. Marva was also highly active in the Dorchester Legion Auxiliary Post 264, holding many offices in the Unit, Department and Nationally. 

Giving and caring for others with gifts, food or volunteering was Marva. Being a member of the Dorchester United Methodist Church for over 50 years was important to Marva. She served on many committees and was also a member of the United Methodist Women. Marva was also a member of ZCBJ Tabor Lodge and was honored to receive her 50-year pin recently from the lodge. Marva also enjoyed being a member of the Wannanoit Extension club. The family had jokingly called Marva “Marvelous Marva” way before she found out there was a “Marvelous Marva” group, which of course she had to join. Bob and her had fun traveling to conventions across the states meeting many Marva’s. In our hearts she will always be our “Marvelous Marva”. 

Marva loved to plant everything! She had a huge garden that grew in size each year. She loved sharing her harvest with care packages for all. She raised chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and milked cows. Marva was an amazing baker and thoroughly enjoyed baking for her family and friends. She made numerous kolaches over the years and several Houska at Christmas time. Bob and the boys kept her busy delivering meals out to the fields during planting and harvest. Bob and Marva loved farming and still continued to be active in their farming operation. 

Marva enjoyed teaching and helping her children and grandchildren and great children with their 4-H projects. Several family members felt she enjoyed it more than the kids! Unfortunately, Bob and Marva were faced with the loss of three children, Bobby, Jean and Brad.  Their loss made them focus on what was important in life, their family. They attended many of the family's activities, which they thoroughly enjoyed watching each of them. 

Bob and Marva also enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to travel to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Arizona, Colorado and more. They also enjoyed going gambling on occasion. Marva was always lucky and won often, which several times she was unaware of! 

Marva is survived by her husband Bob of 69 years. Daughters Sandy (Chuck) Rains and Judy (Mark) Bors. Son-in-law: Paul Essman. Daughter-in-law: Sheri (Kevin) Schuetze. Grandchildren: Cory (Amy) Rains, Megan (Justin) Pekarek, Cassie (Tyson) Vogt, Taylor Bors, Lucas (Chelsea) Apfelbeck, Clarissa Bors, Andrew (Natalie) Essman and Samantha (Chris) Hobelman. Great Grand Children: Carly, Brody, Chloe, Jeplin, Eastyn, Judge, Madden, Burke, Callan, Grace, Chandler, Stassi, Nazaria, Snoh, Sullivan, Grey, Sunny, Lucy, Stevie, Peyton and Hudson. Great, great Grandchild: Cairo and many friends and family. 

Marva was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-laws, and her younger brother of six years, Myron “Peanuts” Hayek, three of her children, and many family members and dear friends. 

Services will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Sokol Hall in Wilber. Visitation will be on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. 

NEWS ROUND-UP: August Storms, New Street Paving

Dorchester Gets Hammered by Summer Storms: During the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 9, the Dorchester area was hit with a storm that packed wind gusts between 80 and 90 mph, sustained for nearly an hour. Extensive tree and structural damage was apparent throughout the community and surrounding countryside. Dorchester was without electricity for about 12 hours on Saturday as temperatures soared near 95 degrees with high humidity. Early Sunday morning, around 1:30 a.m., another round of heavy storms brought around 3.5" of rain, which brought the weekend total to nearly 4.5". In other areas of southeast Nebraska, the Saturday storm left tens of thousands without power, including nearly 70% of Seward County. One person was killed at a state park near Omaha. Read more.

Village Board Sets Stage to OK More Paved Streets: In recent years, Dorchester has seen a significant amount of newly paved streets, primarily the sections around the village park, near the Farmers Cooperative headquarters and grain elevator, and the resurfacing of main street (Washington Ave.). Now it appears the stage is set to pave more of the village's residential section. On July 9, the Village of Dorchester Board of Trustees voted to approve ordinances (2025-02 and 2025-03) to establish street improvement districts. In Nebraska, a street improvement district (or SID) is a special taxing district formed by a city or village. It's a mechanism used to finance public infrastructure projects, primarily the paving or improving of streets, curbs, and gutters within a specific area. According to a public notice -- which was published only on the subscription-based Crete News site, but not the village site -- the new SIDs in Dorchester would ensure the paving of 11 St. from Jefferson to Lincoln Aves., as well as from the state spur to just east of Sumner Ave. The paving will still need to be OK'd by property owners within the SID boundaries, and the village will have the authority to issue bonds to pay for the improvements. The financial burden of the improvements falls on the property owners within the district, not the general public.

New School Year Begins at DPS: Another school year kicks off this Thursday, Aug. 15 at Dorchester Public School. See the school calendar here. Parents and other taxpayers of the district can find information on the school board and administrative staff on the school website. Please note the newsletters have not been updated on the site for some time. 

What's Going On With City Slickers?: City Slickers Bar and Grill -- loved by area residents for more than a dozen years -- has been closed for approximately two weeks, since Aug. 1. And the establishment hasn't been operating on weekends since mid-July. Little information is available regarding the reason. Even employees of the restaurant seem to be out of the loop. City Slickers started in June 2013 under owners, Jason and Kathy Duhrkop, who purchased the establishment from Rob Parks, who had owned and operated Joe's Place since 2009. The bar and restaurant traces its modern-era roots back to 1952, when Joe Ladman bought the building and started Joe's Place, which operated until 2004 when Ladman's son-in-law, Dewayne Schmale, sold the bar to Verna Lewis. From 2004-2006, the bar was known as the Blue Moose. When the bar changed hands again in 2007, under Sheryl Olson, it was known as the West Side Saloon until 2009, when it again became Joe's Place under Parks. It was the Duhrkops who truly transformed the pub into a more traditional sit-down restaurant, which has attracted patrons from a four-county area and brought a tremendous amount of commerce to Dorchester. We at the Times are hopeful that the establishment gets back up and running for the sake of our community and area residents.

Looking Back: Saline County's Earliest Settlers Arrived 167 Years Ago

This cabin was the home of settler J.S. Hunt and his family.

Before Nebraska was a state, pioneers were already establishing communities in the territory -- and not all of them were along the Missouri River.

So who were some of Saline County's earliest settlers? 

According to Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska, the first European Americans to lay down roots in Saline County arrived here in 1858.  

Among those first pioneers were E. Frink, who located on Turkey Creek, near the present site of Pleasant Hill, and Victor Vifquain, who located in the northeast part of the county, not far from where Crete now stands.  

Records show Vifquain was most likely the first permanent settler in the county.

Soon after, Tobias Castor arrived and established a post office at Blue Island, which was approximately mile to the south of present day Wilber.

The photo accompanying this story is of a painting that many readers will recognize from the Saline County courthouse. It hangs outside the county treasurer's office. Entitled "The Hunt Cabin, Blue Island, Saline County, Nebr." and completed in 1861 by Jack Tobias, the Hunt cabin was the home of early settler J.S. Hunt and his family.

Others immediately following Vifquain, Frink, Hunt and Castor were: William Stanton, James Johnston, Jonas Gilbert, John Tucker, J.C. Bickle, William Remington, William Wall, among others.

By January 1863, the number of families settled in the county was 15, according to Andreas' historical account. The population of Saline County grew from 39 in 1860 to 3,106 in 1870, three years after Nebraska's statehood.

Ten years later, in 1880, the county population stood at 14,943 -- about 700 more than resided here in 2010. The Dorchester precinct was home to more than 950. The Pleasant Hill precinct claimed 1,013.