Winter Wonderland Arrives Jan. 31

It took a while for Mother Nature to remember that this is winter, not spring or fall, in Nebraska.  (UPDATE: See winter storm advisory due to blowing snow in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday by clicking here.  Travel is not advised.)

After nearly two weeks with high temperatures paying visits to the 50s or 60s, the Dorchester area has been graced with a slushy winter wonderland on the last day of January.

The forecast is calling for a total of 2-4 inches.  

But at 9 p.m., the Times estimates there was already close to 4 inches on the ground.  Totals were slightly less on the concrete, which had still retained some of the heat from the week's warmth.

With 48 days left until spring's arrival, it appears winter is going to be sticking around for a while.  

Sunday's forecast calls for high of 25 degrees, with the snow tapering off.  But careful Sunday night and Monday morning, since clear and frigid conditions will bring extreme cold and dangerous temperatures.  Look for a low of -7 Sunday night and Monday morning.

More snow is predicted Wednesday.  We won't see temperatures above 40 until Friday or Saturday.

City Slickers Hosting Super Bowl Watch Party

This Sunday, February 1, brings the 49th edition of the Super Bowl.  

This year's football classic features the Seattle Seahawks (14-4) versus the New England Patriots (14-4).

Even if we were living in a cave, we'd know this due to all the e-mails we've received in our inbox this week promoting Superbowl watching parties and Patriots sportswear.  

(We're shocked to learn some people still don't realize that we reside in and cover the events of Dorchester, Nebraska -- not the suburb of Boston from where some guy named Mark Wahlberg hails.)

Well, we are happy to announce that Boston and Seattle aren't the only places where Super Bowl watching parties will be sprouting.  Dorchester -- the one in Nebraska -- will be hopping, too.

City Slickers on Dorchester's main street will be hosting a watching party this Sunday.  The Super Bowl kicks off at 5:30 p.m. (CST), so you'll want to arrive at least 45 minutes early. Some of the specials at City Slickers for the big game day event include:

$5.00 super nachos
$0.60 wings
$2.00 domestics

May the better team win.  

DHS Can't Handle E-M At CRC

The York News-Times provides coverage of the Dorchester High School boys basketball team's loss to Exeter-Milligan last night in the CRC Tournament.

It wasn't pretty.  

In fact, DHS, now 7-8 on the season, didn’t hit their first field goal of the game until the 7:18 mark of the second quarter.

DHS would go on to lose to the No. 3 seed Timberwolves  -- the No. 6 team in Class D-2 -- by a tally of 59-26 at the York City Auditorium.

In scoring, Dorchester was led by Augustine Perez with six, and Corey Bird with five.  

The rebounding numbers were staggering, as the T-Wolves were charted with a 40-18 advantage on the glass.

See the story by clicking here.

For pictures from the tourney, click here.

DHS Boys Advance At CRC, Ladies Bow Out Early

The Dorchester boys basketball team (7-7) won in the first round of the Crossroads Conference Tournament last night, but it was took overtime to do so.

The Longhorns prevailed 56-53 over 11th-seed Meridian after the extra period of play.  The DHS boys relinquished a 33-19 lead at halftime, managing to score only 17 point in the second half.  

The Longhorns were lead by Corey Bird, who tossed in 20.  Other scorers in double figures were Anthony Cordona with 16 and Leo Conte with 10.  Tim Havlat had 8 points and Nixon Nerud scored 2.

The Longhorns will need to take their game up a notch Tuesday night in round No. 2 of the CRC, since they will face Exeter-Milligan, the No. 3 seed and the state's No. 4 rated team in Class D-2.

Meanwhile, the DHS Lady Lonhorns (1-14) bowed out early from CRC play, with a 53-33 loss to Osceola.  Scoring for Dorchester were the following players:  Plonkey 2, Weber 8, Velder 4, Bird 14, Wells 5.

Columnist Doesn't See DHS Teams Going Far In CRC

Tonight, the Dorchester High School boys basketball (5-7) and girls basketball (1-12) teams will go on the road to take on Class C-2 Shelby (7-7).

Then things get really serious.

Tomorrow (Saturday), both the DHS boys and girls teams will begin in action in York at the Crossroads Conference Tournament, an annual event DHS has participated in since joining the CRC back in the 1991-92 school year, according to our records.

Our good friend Ken Kush, the sports reporter for the York News-Times, is out with his CRC Tournament predictions, which he issues every year.

Kush does not give the Longhorns very good odds for going far in the 2015 edition of the tourney.

Regarding the girls' action that begins tomorrow night, Kush writes:  "The opening game of the tournament can always be the toughest since it’s a No. 8 vs. No.9 seed. Cross County (No. 9) has been inconsistent this season and it’s tough to go with a team who still seems to be searching for an identity. Shelby-RC to win over CC by about 7-10 points. High Plains will knock out McCool Junction in a No. 6 vs. No. 11 matchup and Osceola at No. 7 (a darkhorse) will take down No. 10 Dorchester."

The York columnist says the Hampton Hawks will win the CRC Tourney in the girls division.

Kush gives the DHS boys a little better odds.  He expects the No. 6 seeded Longhorns to defeat No. 11 Meridian on Saturday.  

But he writes that come Tuesday, the DHS boys will fall to the No. 3-seeded Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves.

Kush predicts High Plains (formerly Polk-Hordville) High Schol will take the CRC crown in the boys division.

If you travel to York to watch the action, be sure to cheer loudly for DHS.

Dorchester Moving Sale Features Lots Of Free Furniture

Do you want a good deal on house furniture and appliances?

The Times staff has spotted on Craigslist a moving sale in Dorchester that begins at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 24.

There's a push mower listed for $100.  Dining room table and chairs advertised for $25.

But what really caught our eye is the large number of free items.  That's right -- we said "free."  

Among the items listed as free are:

• couch
• chair and ottoman
• rocker 
• foot stool
• futon
• microwave
• toaster oven 
• kitchen utensils

The Times cannot claim any responsibility regarding the veracity of this ad.  We're simply passing the information along to our readers.

See the ad at this link: http://lincoln.craigslist.org/gms/4855357352.html

'Bigfoot-Like' Prints Spotted In Curtis, Neb.

Over the years, the Times has devoted a small amount of space on this blog to the bizarre news from across our state -- including the occasional UFO and Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) story.

We now have another one to add to the mix.

According to a report in the McCook newspaper, a walker on the snow-covered Arrowhead Meadows golf course in Curtis, Neb., last week discovered large barefoot tracks that could be a "Bigfoot-like" creature.

Sharon Jorgensen of Curtis told the Frontier County Enterprise newspaper that she and her dog, Babe, were walking the golf course about 8 a.m., Jan. 15, when they came across the large tracks in the snow between the third fairway and the fourth tee box. The Enterprise reports that the stride of the tracks appears to be about six feet, much larger than any bipedal animal in the area would make. 

The tracks emerged from the heavily-wooded area to the east of the golf course's cart path, traveled up the path, then disappeared into the brush on the east side of the path. 

Golf course superintendent Eric Senff found even more prints in pristine snow, near the area that Jorgensen found the first set of tracks. Senff said he's never seen tracks this big. 

The Enterprise reports that sightings of a "Bigfoot"-type creature are not unheard of in Nebraska, the latest being of a 7-foot-tall hairy creature, upright on two legs, spotted in March 2014 near Linwood, in Butler County.

NBC pulled "Unsolved Mysteries" from the air years ago.  The Dorchester Times will stay on the beat and gladly fill the void.

Will The State Force Our Hand In School Consolidation?

Could forced school consolidation be coming our way? Perhaps.

Below this post, we've published a list of reasons why small schools are superior to larger institutions.  Not everyone agrees -- and in Lincoln at the State Capitol, we know some lawmakers would love nothing more than to way a wand and have many small schools disappear.

The Times has been informed that Norfolk State Senator Jim Scheer has introduced legislation (Legislative Bill 49) to create what he calls "allied school systems."  (UPDATE:  The Times has been told that this bill will get a hearing by the Legislature's Education Committee on Tuesday January 27, in Room 1525 of the State Capitol at 1:30 p.m.  Any one from the public can testify.  Readers can see the bill language for themselves by clicking here.  The underlined language would become new law if the bill is approved, according to a source.)

The bill, according to information we were e-mailed, aims "to increase educational opportunities and equity for students statewide."  

If the bill were passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Ricketts, all Nebraska school districts with under 650 students in K-12 (that includes Dorchester, Friend, Milford, Exeter-Milligan, Wilber-Clatonia, Meridian and many other surrounding schools) would be forced to create "allied school systems" no later than July of next year.  

These systems would be, in essence, forced mergers consisting of at least three small school districts.  (To rub salt in the wound, one of the school districts in the system would need to have more than 150 students in K-6.)

If school districts did not voluntarily join an "allied school system," the Nebraska Commissioner of Education could force schools into a system of his choosing. 

We have no idea if this bill has a chance of getting through the Legislature, but apparently some in the Legislature believe small school districts cannot do an adequate job of educating our kids. 

This bill would be a major step in forcing small schools across the state to eventually consolidate, regardless of what contrived name a state senator calls the process.

We wonder if Senator Scheer has compared dropout rates in Omaha Public Schools and Lincoln Public Schools with those of Nebraska's small school districts.  

We wonder if he realizes that small, farm-based school districts (through the loss of state aid dollars, despite the heavy property tax burden) are helping subsidize Class A and B schools in Omaha and Lincoln -- and even those in smaller cities like Norfolk and Crete.

With rare exception, most small school districts in Nebraska are funded mainly by local tax dollars.  If the state wants to shoulder that financial burden, then maybe we can talk about consolidation.  

But until that occurs, what is it about "local control" that these politicians don't understand?

Bill Could Boost Athletic Participation In Small Schools

The past decade has seen declining student participation in athletics, especially at smaller schools.  Dorchester High has fallen victim to this trend, losing its own Orange and Black football and wrestling teams two years ago.

Today, we learned of one state lawmaker's proposal to help address the issue.

The news wires are reporting that a bill (LB103) in the Nebraska Legislature would allow home schooled and other students in Nebraska could be on public schools’ sports teams.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Bill Kintner of Omaha, is essentially an extension of an existing law, which allows students in private, denominational or parochial schools to be part-time students in public schools within their district. Under LB103, those students could also take part in the public schools’ extracurricular activities, like sports teams.

The bill received a hearing earlier this week.  While there were many supporters of the bill, two people testified in opposition to the bill, Rhonda Blanford-Green, executive director of Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA), and Brian Maher, the Kearney- based District IV NSAA director. 

Ideas To Pay For Dorchester's Street Paving

Dorchester has a lot going on right now, but there's still a large number of Dorchester residents who want village leaders to act on a plan to pave Dorchester's streets -- even if it's only a limited paving strategy.

Critics of such a plan will resort to their traditional response: How do you propose we pay for such an undertaking?  After all, Dorchester is trying to pay for water improvements, drainage projects and other endeavors.

But we still believe that with newly paved streets (in certain areas -- not every street) will come new home construction, more home improvements, increased property value, less damage to vehicles, better air quality, less money spent on gravel and labor, a renewal of community pride, and a better quality of life in general. 

So we decided to explore the methods of revenue collection used by other communities currently paying for new paving projects. We found a variety of approaches.

• IMPACT FEES ON BLIGHTED PROPERTIES: The City of Lincoln, for example, relies heavily upon "impact fees" that are applied to new homes built in the city's outer limits. One member of the Times staff suggested "impact fees" on condemned properties (commercial and residential), abandoned homes, blighted buildings, and properties whose owners won't obey the village's clean-up orders.  Not a bad idea, we think.

• NEW FEES ON SEWER/WATER HOOK-UPS: Smaller communities with populations more similar to Dorchester also impose impact fees. Ceresco has a water and sewer development fee of $2,250 per lot. Malcolm has a tap fee for sewer and water of $250 per lot, plus a sewer and water fee of $2,250 per lot. These fees are used, at least in part, for road improvements.

• BONDING:  Since Dorchester doesn't have a boom in new home building -- not yet, anyway -- the village would likely need to utilize a bonding program.  Many communities that take on new paving projects have residents vote on a bond issue, typically paid for by an increase in property tax -- which is never too popular.

• LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX:  Dorchester could impose up to a 2-cent sales tax on goods sold in the confines of the village, with the revenue being dedicated to paving. Such a tax would need to get voter approval first under the state's LB840 program.

• GET CREATIVE:  There are some more creative and affordable ways of accomplishing the paving mission. Some communities hold special fundraising drives to offset the overall cost. One community even found "sponsors" who donated substantial sums and renamed streets after the largest donors.  In Washington state, one small community recently paved all of its streets thanks to a donated labor and machinery from a heavy equipment operation school.

DHS Yearbooks From 1963-1972 Available

The Times has learned that Dorchester High School alum Tom Scheffert -- the longtime president of the DHS Alumni Association -- is willing to part with his extra yearbooks from 1963 through 1972.

If you're looking for a yearbook from that particular 10-year span, it looks like you are in luck.  

But there's a catch.

Tom is willing to let you have a copy of your choice, but to get it, you'll need to donate to a worthy cause -- the Dorchester Alumni Association.

This is a generous gesture on Tom's part, since we know the Alumni Association could use the extra funding to continue its mission.

According to Tom, the condition of each yearbook varies -- so he's willing to work with interested parties on the donation amount based on the book's condition.

If you're interested, call Tom at (402) 641-1148.  

You can also find the annuals on the Seward and Saline County swap markets on Facebook.

We hope each yearbook goes to a good home!

Dorchester Boys B-Ball Team Transforms As Season Advances

Don't look now, but the Dorchester High School boys basketball team is taking this season into its own hands and turning around its fortunes.

At the start of the season, many skeptics were writing off the Longhorns, saying they lacked the depth and experience to be much of a factor in Class D-2.  

But at mid-season, the boys team stands at 5 wins and 6 losses.  There are at least 9 games left, including two road games next week and the all-important Crossroads Conference Tournament beginning next Saturday.

The record of 5-6 may not sound impressive to those looking in from the outside, but one of those losses came in a double overtime defeat to a strong Osceola team; another loss came on a half-court buzzer beater by Sterling.  The DHS boys could very easily be over .500 right now.

On Friday night, the Longhorns were roughed up by an undefeated High Plains Community team -- one of the best squads in Class D-1.  But looking ahead at the nine games (or more) remaining in the 2014-15 campaign, each contest is very winnable for DHS.  

Longhorns' Head Coach Adrian Allen and his staff are credited for keeping the team's nose to the grindstone.  From here on, the Longhorns will need steady leadership and maximum effort from players such as Corey Bird, Nixon Nerud, Leo Conte, Anthony Cordona and Tim Havlat.

You heard it here first:  With the right focus, determination and grit, the DHS boys could very well be 14-7 or 13-8 by the third week of February.

Go Longhorns!

Loretta Janda Of Rural Dorchester Passes At 76

Loretta G. Janda, 76, formerly of rural Dorchester, passed away at the Utica Community Care Center on Sunday, January 11, 2015.  She had been a patient at Crete Tabitha for a short time before going to live in Utica. 

Loretta was born December 18, 1938 to Ada (Hill) and Carl Glaser and attended country school in Duncan, Neb. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, IA in 1956, where she enjoyed Glee Club, the music program, and journalism. She met her future husband, Elvin, at a dance in Council Bluffs, where he played in the Unita Dance Band. They had been pen pals through the Nebraska Farmer Magazine. 

Loretta Glaser and Elvin Janda were married on June 2, 1959, in Council Bluffs, IA. They lived on the farm near Dorchester, where Elvin was born. Five children were born to this union. She became the typical farm wife, raising a large garden, poultry, milking cows, and doing a lot of canning. She enjoyed the farm cats. They played board games with the children. She enjoyed country music. Loretta would drive to visit the children when they had homes of their own until her health began to fail. When the children were older, she worked at Doane College in Crete, the Dorchester School, and the Crete Manor. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and parents in-law, husband: Elvin, brothers: Bill and Vince, sister: Genevieve, and son in law: Jay Gilmore. She is survived by her sons: Emil and Pam Janda of Omaha, Leo Janda of Dorchester, Roy Janda of Lincoln. Daughters: Jamie and Dale Hollibaugh of Milford, Diane Berman of Norfolk. Grandchildren: Lori of Omaha, Kalyn of Kansas, Victoria of York. Step grandsons: Ryan and Ricky Gilmore. 

Services were today, Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete with Rev. Roger Wolfe officiating. Interment is at the Dorchester Cemetery. Memorials are in care of the family.  Leave a note of sympathy by clicking here.

Stunning Fly-Over Video Shows Off Dorchester

Dorchester is not the little, sleepy, "nothing-is-going-on-here" community some say it is. 

Never has been.  Never will be.

But now we have video footage taken from hundreds of feet in the air to give a bird's eye perspective on just how bustling and hard-working Dorchester is.

This fly-over video captures the essence of daily life in Dorchester -- from the train cars moving parallel to Highway 6, to the shiny new water tower, to the vehicles driving main street, to the activity at the Co-op fueling station, to the new construction at the Farmers Cooperative headquarters.

We aren't sure who filmed the video and set it to inspiring music.  It's currently posted on Farmers Cooperative's Facebook page.  And that is fitting since Farmers Cooperative is responsible for much of our community's commercial activity and growth.

Perhaps the Co-op's board will use this video at the next investors meeting.  Maybe the DHS Class of 2015 will show it at their graduation ceremony.  

Whatever its use, this video makes all of us here in Dorchester quite proud of our town.

See the video by clicking here. (Be sure to click on the "HD" or high definition symbol at the bottom of the video.)

DHS Grad Dr. Richard Kahle Passes At 89

Richard (Doc) William Kahle, a retired optometrist, 89 of Lincoln, passed away Monday, January 5, 2015. Born February 16, 1925 in Crete to William and Martha (Plessman) Kahle. After Richards mother passed away he lived with his older married sister Martha and her husband Byron Panter. Richard graduated from Dorchester High School in 1943, then attended Doane College through the V-12 Program until Oct. 1944, then Midshipman School, Naval Officers School and Mine Warfare School. He served overseas in the South Pacific during WWII until 1946. He returned to Doane from 1946-1948 and graduated with a degree in Mathematics. He then attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. He opened his professional office of Optometry Jan. 1951 in Crete. 

There will be a private Celebration of Life Service for friends and family on February 22, 2015.  See the full obituary here.

Ten Reasons To Put Paving On The Ballot

Since we published a top 10 list yesterday, we thought we would add one more for the weekend.

More than 35 years ago, the Dorchester Village Board decided to abandon its attempt to not pave all of the community's streets.  

Much has changed since 1979 -- and so have many of the people.  The residents of Dorchester 2015 deserve to have their voices heard on the issue of street paving.

The Times supports paving some of Dorchester's streets, those that are most traveled or hold potential for new housing development.  But since this blog was create in 2007, the Dorchester Village Board has not permitted the town's resident from voting on the street paving issue.

Once again we urge the village board to let the residents of Dorchester decide on paving. Now is the time.

Ten Reasons to Let the Voters Decide on Paving

1. Isn't 35 years of wondering where the people stand enough?
2. Paved streets would greatly improve Dorchester's overall quality of life.
3. Paved streets would likely bring new and improved housing to town -- and increased property tax revenue for city hall and the school district.
4. Paving would appeal to out-of-towners and rural residents considering a move to Dorchester.
5. Paving would save money in the long term. Since 1979, the Village of Dorchester has spent roughly $2.2 million on upkeep of gravel streets (not including pay of village employees to do the work).
6. Paved streets would help encourage more baby boomers to spend their retirement years here -- and encourage more young people to stay.
7. Paved streets mean less damage to vehicles.
8. Paved streets allow for healthier air quality.
9. Paved streets will spark a renewal of community pride.
10. A vote would finally put the paving matter to rest, one way or the other.