Lawsuits, Conflicts of Interest: Proposed Wind Farm Faces Setback

In September, we told you about a citizen request to the Saline County Board asking for a six-month moratorium for a proposed wind farm project in west-central Saline County. (For the record, it's not just Saline County residents who are putting up a stink.)

Now it appears the wind farm's opponents, which includes Gary Veprovsky of rural Dorchester, are taking court action against both the county and the wind farm developers.

The Friend Sentinel reports that the lawsuit -- which is actual the second against the proposed wind farm -- has been filed against EDF Renewables, Milligan One Wind LLC, Aksamit Energy Development, Aksamit Resources Management, Golden Rock Wind LLC, US Development LLC, York Nebraska Wind Partners LLC and Saline County.

Along with Veprosky, Alan and Debbie Brunkow, Dennis and Deborah Pallas, and Chuck and Rebecca McKay filed the complaint in Saline County Court Oct. 29.

The Sentinel story says the "plaintiffs allege public record documents were not provided as requested, conditional use permits were not filed in a timely manner, and zoning regulations for the county are being violated by the companies."

But wait -- the story has yet another twist.

"A hearing set Oct. 3 was not heard in court because the district judge, Vicky Johnson, has a conflict of interest as her staff’s family owns real estate which is involved in the wind farm project. The case has been reassigned to the Hon. Rick Schreiner, who has yet to schedule a hearing."

Interesting times down on the farm. (In the meantime, can anyone tell us if a falling windtower makes any noise if nobody is around to hear it?)

News Briefs: Wind Farm In Saline County's Future?

• DHS Alum Matt Carroll To Start For Peru State: According to the Nebraska City News Press, former DHS Longhorn is slated to start for Peru State College this year on the football team's offensive line. Peru State is coming off last year’s 6-5 team. According to the preview released as part of the school’s media guide, the key to the success of the Peru State offensive team will come down to the line. Carroll, a sophomore, will play at the right tackle position.

• Area Accident Claims Life Of Milford Teen: An auto accident on a gravel-road intersection near Dorchester took the life of one Milford teen and seriously injured another. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, killed in the crash was Zach Blowers, 15, of Milford. Two others, 15-year-old Richland Walker of Milford and 47-year-old Robert Haufle of Crete were hospitalized with serious injuries. The crash involving Blowers and Walker, sophomore members of Milford’s football squad, happened just before 5 p.m. Walker’s 1989 Chevrolet pickup collided with a 2002 Dodge pickup at an intersection two miles northwest of Dorchester. Haufle was driving the Dodge that also held his wife, Arlene, and two children. Friday evening in Milford, more than 100 students attended an impromptu prayer service for Blowers and Walker on the school’s football field. Blowers’ funeral will be Tuesday.

• Wind Energy Pitch Presented To Saline County Residents: Last Thursday evening at Saline Center, a representative from the nation’s largest wind energy development company pitched the creation of a wind farm in central Saline County to a group of about 50 landowners, according to the Lincoln Journal Star. A development manager for Denver-based Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc., explained to his audience that his company has been looking at the development of wind energy resources in six Saline County townships for the past year. The Journal Star article reports that it would be feasible, company representatives said, to build an 80-turbine wind farm in central Saline County, altering the appearance and economy of the county and generating up to $12,000 per year per a wind turbine for landowners. Thursday night's pitch from RES, which also developed Nebraska's largest wind farm, near Ainsworth, was the second such proposal the county has heard in the past month, said Randy Pryor, a University Of Nebraska extension educator in Saline County, and also a local land owner. District 32 Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber said landowners need to make sure they know what they're getting into before they sign any contracts. A bill (LB629) passed in 2007 by the Nebraska Legislature, makes it easier for private companies to work with the Nebraska Public Power District to develop wind energy. Pryor doesn't deny the prospect of the wind farm is exciting."It would totally change the way the middle of Saline County would look," he said. "That would be the largest project in the state."

Does Saline County Really Want To Become A Giant Wind Farm?

Does Saline County really want to become one big wind farm? Especially when little if any of the electricity generated from the turbines would be used by Nebraskans?

Those questions haven't been put before the people of the county, but it seems efforts to put up hundreds of turbines are moving ahead quickly before federal wind subsidies approved in the Obama years run dry.

The average citizen has been kept in the dark.  For now, the questions will be answered by the Saline County Commissioners and the county's planning and zoning board, which is administered by Dorchester's own Lyle Weber.

The Friend Sentinel reports that Apex Clean Energy out of Virginia is working on a wind farm split between Saline and Fillmore counties with an expected completion date in early 2019.

This news comes after last month's report that two Saline County wind farms were planned by a big company out of Texas.

Here is the Sentinel's March 1 report:

Dylan Ikkala, the project developer, said the Conhusker Harvest Wind project is still in the early stages of development.

“We are actively leasing land within the project boundary,” he said in an e-mail, “and are beginning to coordinate the necessary studies and permitting that will be needed before the project can be constructed.”

So far the company has installed two meteorological towers, one in each county, to gather information on the area’s wind resources.

Apex is currently still leasing the land it needs for the project. The project, Ikkala said, will require 25,000 to 30,000 acres of land. So far, the company has leased about a quarter of the land needed.

Despite the fact that each wind turbine takes up relatively little room, Ikkala said it’s important for the company to have plenty of room to place the turbines.

“The footprint of each turbine occupies less than half an acre,” he said, “but the large project area allows us to design a more productive turbine layout.”

The wind farm itself, Ikkala said, will have 130 turbines producing 300 megawatts, providing enough power for 110,000 homes. It’s also expected to create temporary construction jobs as the turbines go up and 10 permanent local jobs after construction is completed.

Ikkala said that, historically, wind farms have been mostly located on the coasts. In recent years, more companies have tried to tap the wind resources in the center of the country. Apex itself mostly operates in Texas and Oklahoma and is looking to expand into relatively undeveloped wind energy opportunities in the Midwest.

“Nebraska currently is ranked fourth in the nation for overall wind power potential,” he said, “but only 20th for installed wind capacity.”

Saline and Fillmore counties, he said, have unusually strong winds for eastern Nebraska.

“It’s not as strong as out west,” he said, “but for the southeast part of the state, it’s very strong. “This is the new frontier for wind development.”

How Much Do You Know About The Saline County Wind Farm?

The Friend newspaper reports that a six-month moratorium for a proposed wind farm project in west-central Saline County was discussed at a recent county commissioners meeting. 

According to the story, the request was brought forward by Sandra Koll of Wilber and Gary Veprovsky of Dorchester, who would like additional regulations established before construction continues. Some of those desired regulations include FAA approved lights on top of the turbines and sound level restrictions.

No action was taken on the request because of litigation filed against Saline County last month. According to court documents, Marilyn Capek of Massachusetts sued both the county and EDF Renewables -- the project developer -- in late July for approving a right-of-way approved on property she owns within the county. 

The story notes that county attorney Tad Eickman advised the board to not take any action until legal matters can be resolved. 

Wind projects have always been controversial. This one in Saline County appears to be reaching a boiling point.

The map aboved, published by EDF Renewables, shows the wind farm would be well south of Dorchester and Friend, but it would certainly be visible from Milligan and Pleasant Hill. 

The proposed wind project, known as "Milligan 1 Wind," would be a $350 million investment in Saline County. The 300 MW wind farm would supposedly generate clean energy for more than 100,000 homes, boost the local economy with millions in new spending, produce $45 million in total tax revenue, and create more than 200 jobs -- all while sustaining 150 small family farmers and landowners with stable lease payments of more than $50 million over the life of the project. 

The project is planned to begin operation in late 2020.

While it's true Nebraska is a windy state and landowners could use extra revenue, legitimate questions have been raised about this project, such as:

• Would anyone ever build a residence near a wind farm?

• What happens if wind becomes unviable and the turbines are abandoned?

• Wouldn't solar be a better option since solar farms make no noise, aren't visible for miles, and require more land (meaning bigger payments for landowners)?

What are your opinions on the project? Leave your thoughts in the "comments" section.

Big Wind Farm Appears Imminent For Western Saline County

We read recently in the Friend Sentinel that after years of talk, it appears a large wind farm is now most certainly coming to Saline County.

EDF Renewables of San Diego, California, purchased the Milligan 1 wind project on Jan. 17, the story notes.

EDF reached an agreement with York Nebraska Wind Partners LLC to buy the 300 megawatt wind farm to be built in Saline County.

York Nebraska Wind Partners is comprised of Aksamit Resource Management LLC and York Capital Management.

EDF plans to sell the energy it makes mostly outside of the state to the Southwest Power pool, according to a press release. The 300 megawatt project will be able to power an average of 115,00 homes.

The project, expected to break ground in late 2020, is the first in Nebraska to be completed by EDF Renewables.

Another story by the Beatrice newspaper, published last fall, is available here.

Wind Farm Faces Strong Gusts Of Opposition In Saline County

Heavily subsidized wind-powered electric generation -- specifically large wind farms -- seems to be getting a lot of negative press lately. 

For example, Bloomberg reports that wind turbine blades are filling up landfills since they can't be recycled. So much for "green energy."

But here in Saline County, wind energy is facing an exceptionally large volume of negative press, most of it published at a Facebook page by an anti-wind group called "Concerned Citizens of Saline County."

The page has more than 500 followers at last check. According to its "about" section, "citizens of Saline County, Neb. should be concerned that elected/appointed officials are performing their duties with a conflict of interest, without the safety and health of the citizens as their number one priority, and are not following regulations."

Concerned Citizens of Saline County's wind opposition is being fueled the Milligan 1 Wind project currently underway south and west of Dorchester. The project represents a $350 million investment in Saline County by EDF Renewables North America, which paid an undisclosed amount to acquire the 300MW wind farm last year. (Here's our September 2019 story.)

The social media activity is just the latest opposition to wind turbins in our neck of the woods. Legal action has also been taken against both the county and the wind energy investors.

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NEWS ROUND-UP: Football In July, Fourth Photos, Wind Farm Fury

Here's what's hopping in and around our village...

Great Turnout for Dorchester Youth Football Camp: It appears there was good participation for the Dorchester Youth Football Camp held earlier this week. Just as encouraging, several high school players helped out. 

Craig Bergmeyer to Assist DHS Football Team: We are told that DHS alum Craig Bergmeyer has been hired as the 2019 assistant coach for the high school football team. Bergmeyer was a standout player in the early 2000s for the Longhorns.

Sunday Night BBQ Social at the Park: We're told that a Splash Pad Open House with pork BBQ will be held tomorrow evening (Sunday), July 14, at 5 p.m. in the City Park. The event is a free-will offering, similar to the ice cream socials that have been held the last couple of summers.

July 4th Scenes from Dorchester: The Friend Sentinel has published a few pictures from Dorchester's Independence Day celebration. See them here.

Wind Farm Blows Up Controversy: The Crete News reports on the permitting process for a controversial wind energy project in western Saline County known as the Milligan One.  The project, a proposed wind farm previously owned by Askamit Resource Management, has officially been run by EDF Renewables since January. The current maps are of the construction site including County Roads J through S and 100-1600, within county lines. The article quotes Gary Veprovsky, who lives south of Dorchester, as saying: “To be frank, I am totally against the project. ... I don’t want it here.” Construction for the project, which consists of 99 wind turbines, is set to take place later this year. 

Huge Wind Farm Appears Destined For Saline County

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

If you live near Milligan, on the Saline County side, that's a sound you may need to get used to.

According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Aksamit Resource Management (a wind energy corporation) won its bid Tuesday for a special use permit to build 37 wind turbines in Saline County, the first of three wind farms it plans for the state.

The county board voted 3-0 to approve it, despite concerns. Commissioners Marvin Kohout and Stephanie Krivohlavek abstained from voting, Kohout because he owns land contiguous to the project and Krivohlavek because she has family that could benefit from it.

The Lincoln paper's story goes as follows: "Following more than two hours of public comment that pitted neighbor against neighbor, Saline County Commissioners granted the permit requested by Aksamit Resource Management for a 74 megawatt wind farm the company plans to built northeast of Milligan."

According to the Journal Star, Aksamit plans to spend $110 million to build 37 turbines, each 440 feet tall when blades are at their highest point, said Michael Matheson, the company’s vice president of retail and municipal sales.

The story notes that wind turbines have been a contentious issue for Nebraskans in recent years.

"Christine McClain and her husband, Gary, bought land five months ago and spent their savings building a new home that will now be flanked by turbines. She said her dreams of a peaceful life in the country have been ruined. She fears the whoosh-thump of the turbines will cause her headaches and other ailments.

“Had I known this was going to happen, I would not have purchased my property. I’m furious,” she said.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Fast Home Sale Demonstrates Need For Newer Housing

Good Housing Sells Fast In Dorchester: More proof of that came this week. As we reported Tuesday, a nice home located just a half-block west of the school, went up for sale.  On Wednesday night, the home's current owner, Stephanni Olson-Renn, reported that less than 24 hours later, the house was sold. A similar situation occurred last summer when a newer home went up for sale in south Dorchester. "Looks like Dorchester is in serious need of housing," Renn said. "If you build it they will come!" 

DHS Students Win BBB Video Contest: Congrats are in order to four Longhorn students for taking first place -- and a $500 award -- in the Better Business Bureau's video contest for the Lincoln Metro and Greater Nebraska area.  As we reported earlier this year, the DHS sports marketing class submitted its commercial for the contest.  The commercial created by the Dorchester students is entitled: “Finding Trust: The Lonely Sow.”  It features a pig -- specifically a sow -- in search of a “hot date.”  She turns to online dating.  To win, their commercial needed online views.  The class’ goal was 1,500 views.  At last check, the commercial had compiled over 1,700 views.  The competition was aimed at giving students the chance to express their creativity while learning the values of BBB: being trustworthy, ethical, reliable and objective. 

DHS Boys Conclude Basketball Season: The Dorchester boys basketball team wrapped up a tough season on Monday night, falling in subdistrict play.  The young DHS squad lost to Lewiston by a count of 59-41. Scorers for the Longhorns were Havlat 8, Cervantes 2, Nelson 22, Hoffman 9.

For Better Or Worse, More Wind Farms Coming To Saline County: Saline County is the focus of two more wind farm projects by Aksamit Resource Management.  According to the Friend newspaper, the company is working on two wind farm projects in western Saline County: Milligan 1 and Milligan 3.  The story notes that Milligan 3 will have 37 turbines with, each tower standing roughly 260 feet tall to the hub with blades 180 feet long. According to ARM’s website, the project is expected to be done near the end of this year.  The larger project, Milligan 1, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, and will have 87 turbines over 30,000 acres. Each tower will be 384 feet tall with 207 foot blades.  "According to county assessor Brandi Kelly, the turbines will not affect property values," but there is local speculation that the development could devastate the property values of homes in that area.  While some call this economic development, critics note that solar energy is becoming much more attractive, is more reliable, and cause less visual and noise polution than wind farms.  Moreover, critics have noted that if subsidies for wind go dry, the county or landowners could be left with the deconstruction costs since the developers would almost certainly be bankrupt by that time.

Another Saline County Bridge Closing: The Friend newspaper reports that the bridge on County Road S between Highway 15 and County Road 1200 will be vacated.  County commissioners voted 4-1 to close the bridge earlier this month.  The bridge over Spring Creek, located about three miles northeast of Western, washed out in the May 7, 2015, storm.

Wind Turbines Coming To Saline County?

A June 2 story in the Lincoln Journal Star reports that a grassroots group called the Saline County Wind Association is now up to 240 members. Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman even stopped by Saline Center Hall south of town to address the organization.

"I want to see us accelerate wind energy development in the state," Gov. Dave Heineman told more than 125. "It's all about jobs."

Nebraska ranks 22nd in wind energy development nationally. Heineman said he wants it in the top five or top 10 by 2020.

The Journal Star writes that Roger Belohlavy, a member of the association's board, said Saline County has good wind resources, two major power transmission lines and few center pivot irrigation systems to hamper placement and construction of wind turbines, and it is close to Lincoln and Omaha, the state's biggest electrical users. Nearly 100 landowners in Saline County have signed easement option agreements for more than 22,000 acres.

Wind energy developers are targeting six townships in the county that appear to have the greatest potential: Atlanta, Brush Creek, Monroe, North Fork, Pleasant Hill and Turkey Creek. Bob Mariska, 91, an association member from Pleasant Hill, said he visited a wind farm near Concordia, Kan., as part of a tour and liked what he saw. "They're thicker than a hair on a dog," he said. Harold Krivohlavek, 88, a landowner who has signed an easement option agreement, believes a wind project will be built in Saline County, but said: "I don't think I will live that long to see it."

Jan. 19 Public Hearing Will Address County's Wind Power Regulations

We've done extensive reporting on the new wind farm in the west-central portions of Saline County. 

With nearly 100 wind turbines (or planned wind turbines) scattered through the countryside and visible from almost all the county's communities, the project has its share of vocal opponents -- including those who have taken legal action against both the county and the developers. (Critics were especially harsh after a turbine blade broke in autumn 2020.)

The Crete News reports that on Jan. 19, the Saline County Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing to address proposed updates to its wind power regulations. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the assembly room of the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber. The public is welcome to attend.

Among the rules include setback distances from both occupied and non-occupied structures, transfer of ownership between renewable energy companies (which have made profits from government subsidies), and the addition of a noise level limits. None of these were previously included in Saline County's regulations, according to the Crete paper.

If any of these additional regulations are added or adjusted, they will not apply to any project applications that came before the adoption of the new rules.

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NEWS BRIEFS: At Least Five Challengers Applying For Village Board

• Happy Easter From The Times: The Times wishes our readers a happy Easter. May you and your families enjoy the holiday together, as you remember the many the blessings bestowed upon Dorchester and our country. “He has risen!”

• At Least Five Challengers Filing For Village Board Seats: According to various reports, at least five challengers will seek one of the three town board seats up for election this fall. Sources tell the Times four of the five challengers support at least partially paving Dorchester streets. The fall elections could mean big changes to the Village Board. Currently, two of the five board members staunchly oppose paving, while only one publicly supports it. The other two board members appear to be undecided. Those who want to run for the village board have until Aug. 1 to file at the county election clerk's office in Wilber -- unless they already hold another elected office, in which case they have until July 15.

• Wind Energy Legislation Appears Likely To Pass At Legislature: Remember all that talk about a wind farm being located in Saline County? Some supported the idea; others said it was plain goofy. Whatever the case, the proponents of that plan will likely have more ammunition in a couple of weeks. It appears the state Legislature is about to pass a wind energy bill that would allow private development within a public power state to develop wind for export. The bill is LB 1048. The Lincoln Journal Star has a story about it in their April 3 edition.

Election Results From Dorchester Area Races

If you want to take a break from the post-election drama that is taking place at the federal level, here's a summary of the local results of the Nov. 3 election.

Saline County Commissioner - Dist. 3

In a race that featured two Dorchester High School alumni of the same era, incumbent Marvin Kohout defeated Gary Veprovsky, 760 to 585. This was a competitive race fueled largely by Veprovsky's disapproval of the wind farm being built in central Saline County.

Dorchester Village Board

Incumbents Matt Scholtz and Andrea Pracheil were uncontested in their efforts to keep their seats on the village board. Scholtz received 193 votes; Pracheil 166.

Dorchester School Board

Incumbents Kelli Schweitzer and Mike Hatfield had no challengers, winning re-election with 411 and 380 votes respectively. Newcomer Shelly Lehr captured a seat on the school board with 341 votes.

For those wondering, President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President (and now President-Elect) Joe Biden in Saline County by receiving more than 80% the number of Biden votes, 3,618 to 1,976. Third District U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith was the county's top vote recipient, capturing 3,750 votes versus U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse's 3,666.

See all Saline County's vote totals here.

Rains Delay Pipeline Work

This month's unusually wet weather has delayed work on the Keystone petroleum pipeline project, which will run just east of Dorchester. The Times has been told that work in the Dorchester area could now begin around the mid- to late-July time frame. (The accompanying photo shows water standing on a project site near Dorchester.)

According to the Sioux City Journal, work on the 130-mile section from the Platte River to the Kansas border, which began in late May, has reached the point where the welders from a crew of about 350 are connecting 80-foot sections in the David City-Schuyler area. But officials say it may be another week before crews resume lowering the pipe 4 feet into the ground -- "and it may be longer if the wet weather continues." Yesterday, workers west of Seward were trying to pump away standing water.

The $5.2 billion Keystone pipeline will connect the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, with Illinois refineries. As many as 900 construction workers will soon make their way to the Dorchester area, burying the sections of the 30-inch line that will make its way through the eastern portion of the state, including about 1.5 miles east of Dorchester. Dorchester also serves as a storage site for hundreds of section of pipe.

The pipeline will bring "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in property tax revenue to Saline County, according to one local energy expert we interviewed. "Ten times more revenue than any wind farm while doing a lot more to help the nation's energy crunch," the source added.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester Junior High Boys Track Keeps Setting Records

Dorchester Junior High Track Just Keeps Winning (and Setting Records): Dorchester's junior high tracksters are raising some eyebrows as more DPS junior high records fall. Last month, we reported on a new junior high record in the 4X400 meter relay set by teammates Brenden Bergmeyer, Harrison Vyhnalek, Payton Zoubek, and Hunter Sherwood. The fab four broke their own record this month with a time of 4:04:02. In the 800 meter relay, Bergmeyer and Sherwood joined Mason Vyhnalek and Legend Smith to break the 1985 record with a time of 1:50:84. Then in the 3200 meter relay, Sherwood, Bergmeyer, Boone Smith, and David Loarca broke the record set in 2003. The stars are shining bright at DPS this spring.

Theis Will Represent DHS at All-Star Volleyball Game: DHS senior Bailey Theis Centennial Classic volleyball all-star game. The event, which features recent graduates, has quickly become a premier summer showcase for Nebraska high school volleyball athletes. 

Skeeter Howlett Passes at Age 70: Dorchester native William “Skeeter” Wesley Howlett, a 1970 DHS alum and a lifelong music buff, master tinkerer, proud grass-mowing enthusiast, and unofficial encyclopedia of songs, passed on May 1. His obituary may be read here.

Dorchester School Season Winding Down: With graduation over, the Dorchester Public School season is coming to a close quickly.  Monday, May 18, is the final day of the school year for DPS preschool, while Tuesday, May 19, will be the last day for K-11 students. May 23 is the annual Dorchester alumni banquet. May 30 is the annual DHS alumni golf outing.

Tire Recycling Collection at Saline Center: Need to dispose of your old/used tires Saline Center will be collecting them June 5, 6, and 7. 

Historic Drought Gets Worse: Nebraska's historic drought -- which, in many areas of our state, is the worst drought in modern history -- keeps bringing bad news. Little to no rain has fallen this spring. Here's the latest Drought Monitor map. Meanwhile, this interesting comment was left on our recent story on the drought: "(B)ack in the day, they planted trees every mile to the half-mile lines on farm ground; that's what stopped the wind from blowing away the top soil. Well, in this day and age, they have taken out every windbreak for as far as the eye can see. So its a pretty easy fix, but convincing people that might fix it is harder today. Actually I'm betting if you had a tree line every mile, you probably wouldn't see many wind generators lining the countryside."

NEWS ROUNDUP: Blizzard Watch, Buffalo Feed Attendance

Here is some of the latest news from Dorchester and the surrounding area:

URGENT -- Tuesday's Blizzard Watch:  Dorchester and the surrounding area are under a blizzard watch, which is in effect from Monday, 6 p.m. until  midnight Wednesday.  The National Weather Service is saying a mix of rain and snow will begin Monday afternoon before tuning to all snow by Monday evening.  Winds will be blow from the northeast up to 30 mph, with gusts of 40 mph, before dying down Tuesday night.  Visibility could be less than a quarter of a mile.  Snow accumulations: 8 inches or more.  See the latest forecast and radar images here. (UPDATE: The NWS has issued a winter storm warning for our area.  It now appears 6-10 inches will mix with 35 mph wind gusts from late tonight through early Wednesday morning.)

Nearly 400 Attend Dorchester Legion's Buffalo Feed:  Anyone passing through on Dorchester's main street Sunday would have been hard pressed to find a parking spot.  We are told via e-mail that around 400 people showed up at the Dorchester Legion's annual buffalo. Undoubtedly, this is one of the biggest and best winter events in Saline County -- made even better when the thermometer hits 50 degrees on a Sunday in late January. The Dorchester Legion, Auxiliary, Sons of American Legion and their volunteers make us proud to be from Dorchester.

Weber Feed Yards Spotlighted In AP Story: A story running on the Associated Press news wire, which covers the state and nation, talks about farmers increasingly driving heavy, large newer equipment on Nebraska's highways.  The AP reports that a bill at the Legislature has been introduced to exempt several types of farm equipment from the weight and load restrictions. County governments oppose the bill and blame the heavy machines for damaging their roads, especially "around feedlots."  The article quotes cattle producers and feedlot owners, including Dorchester's own Joel Weber, who gives the feeders' side of the story.

DeWitt's 'Operation BridgeSit' A Success:  Did you hear about the DeWitt residents who, on behalf of the DeWitt Area Recovery Team -- DART, for short -- sat in chairs above a Turkey Creek bridge to raise awareness and money for unmet needs in DeWitt following last spring's flood damage? Their bold tactics worked.  The two men raised about $6,000 over the weekend, with more money likely from a PayPal account.  Why tell you about this? Because this is the essence of small-town spirit and civic mindedness. To donate, send checks to Blue Valley Community Action, 620 Fifth St., Fairbury, NE 68352 (refer to DART in subject line).

NEWS ROUNDUP: Water Park Rumors Confirmed; City Slickers Grill Opens Monday

Water Park Rumor Seems To Have Legs: Earlier this month, the Times reported that our staff had caught wind of a possible water park soon coming to Dorchester.  We have confirmation now that there are discussions and plans to pursue such a project.  This would certainly be an entertainment boon for area children and families, if the project becomes reality.  We don't have any further details right now, other than that the Village Board has not yet officially signed off on the project and that a large private fundraising effort would be necessary.

City Slickers' New Grill Opens Monday:  The wait is finally over. City Slickers' new grill and completely refurbished dinning quarters will be open starting Monday. City Slickers' Facebook account announced the news.  In other breaking news, we've learned Tyser Auto Sales will be hosting the "First Grand Re-Opening Wings Night" at City Slicker's this coming Thursday, March 3.  The City Slickers' grill has been closed since mid-November when a minor fire caused smoke damage and shut down the establishment for several weeks.  Earlier this month, City Slickers unveiled the outdoor portion of their renovation, revealing three new and attractive windows on the north section of the establishment. The new-and-improved City Slickers' features: a new kitchen; much larger dining area, with many tables separate from the bar area for a pleasant dining experience; deluxe salad bar; a pool area; and a dance floor with a band/DJ area.  

Job Opportunities Available At City Slickers:  Early work experiences play a critical role in youth development.  All of us over a certain age remember working summer jobs or after school or on the farm. (Most of us had no choice, thanks to dad.)  These jobs allowed us to explore career options, discover personal interests and strengths, learn about work culture, develop skills and earn a paycheck. Yet fewer high school kids today -- even in rural communities -- work to earn a part-time paycheck.  We thought we'd share the news that the refurbished City Slickers Bar and Grill in downtown Dorchester is currently seeking cooks and wait staff to work a variety of shifts. Apply within or call (402) 946-2171.

Design A Flag For Saline County:  The Saline County Identity and Marking Committee is working to engage local schools and the community at large to create a flag design and a seal that will be symbolic and meaningful in its description of the county and its people. The contest will run until May 26 at 5 p.m.  Entries can be in various forms; chalk, pencil, water colors, paint, and digital files submitted in PDF, JPG or PNG format. Eligible submissions for all designs will be accepted if participants are current residents or full-time students in Saline County. Complete contest criteria and submission forms can be found on the Saline County website at www.co.saline.ne.us/ or by visiting the County Clerk at the courthouse in Wilber.

Insanity Disguised As Political Correctness In Oklahoma:  The University of Oklahoma’s College of Engineering made news by celebrating its “year of diversity” -- and in doing so, attempting to shame white students by telling them to own up to their “white privilege.”  The college placed red “footprints” in the college hallways, with each footprint inscribed with sayings like, “It’s not your fault if you experience privilege; it’s your fault if you deny it."  Another said that only a small percentage of all engineering Ph.D.s went to African Americans last year. (Note: African American's comprise only 12.5% of the overall U.S. population.)  Dividing young people by having them focus on their differences via a dumbed-down, race-based campaign achieved only one thing -- it made the holier-than-thou organizers feel better about themselves. To the bleeding hearts at OU (and NU, in case this story gives Chancellor Harvey Perlman any ideas): If you really want to cleanse your mortal souls for the sins of your white privilege, get your engineering degree and your teaching certificate. Then take a job at the worst inner-city and poor rural school you can find.  You'll find privilege has more to do with economics, family structure, morality, work ethic and discipline than skin color.  We could all play victim for one reason or another.

Crete Solar Project Part Of $30M Government Giveaway

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just announced the agency is sending nearly $30 million in taxpayer money to a Nebraska company, which is planning a solar energy project in Crete as well as seven other Nebraska communities.

SE Municipal Solar LLC, based in Omaha, is receiving the money through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, which is part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The program is essentially a grant in the form of "forgivable loans" if used for renewable energy projects powered by wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass, as well as for renewable energy storage projects.

The company plans to build eight solar photovoltaic generation facilities totaling 18.72 megawatts, about enough electricity to power 1,700 homes. Projects will be located in Alliance, Gering, Sidney, Imperial, Ansley, Pender, Crete, and Stuart.

Last summer, the Crete City Council voted to authorize citing the eight-acre solar farm near the intersection of highways 33 and 103, south of the former Schwan's facility.

Keep in mind that China owns the vast majority of the world’s solar panel supply chain, controlling at least 75 percent of every single key stage of solar photovoltaic panel manufacturing and processing. That makes the United States over 3 times as dependent on China for solar power than the United States was ever dependent on the Middle East for oil, according to experts.

NEWS ROUND-UP: The Winter Storm From Hell

Video Shows Whiteout Conditions in Dorchester: Sub-zero air temps and extreme wind chills. Snow. Blowing snow. The winter storms of January 2024 will be long remembered. This week, the ongoing winter from hell presented us with sudden whiteout conditions, which caused vehicular chaos across much of central and eastern Nebraska, thanks to a snow squall that brought intense snow and winds. This video shot near Dorchester is making the rounds on the internet. And this video shows what downtown Dorchester looked like during the squall.

Village Dump Closed: Dorchester's dump site is closed for the winter, in case you needed the update. It will be open again this spring.

City Slickers Looking for Part-Time Help: Dorchester's City Slickers Bar and Grill is looking for help on its Burger Fridays. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (402) 946-2171.

DHS Girls Improve to 9-4: Dorchester's varsity girls basketball team has improved to 9-4 as the team heads to the Crossroads Conference Tournament, which begins today in York. Only five games remain in the 2023/24 regular season following the CRC tournament. Check out these action photos of the girls' most recent game from Sharon Axline. (Update: On Saturday, Jan. 20, the Dorchester girls basketball team won their CRC tournament game against Hampton, 67-28.)

Gov. Pillen Gets Real: It's good to see Gov. Jim Pillen appears to have abandoned his proposed two-cent increase in state sales taxes, which would give Nebraska the highest state sales tax rate in the nation at 7.5 cents. Such a move would kill Nebraska's retail sector, as well as car and farm implement dealers. Pillen is right, however, to spotlight the insane property tax increases imposed by school boards, county boards, and city councils, all of which are unnecessarily taking advantage of soaring valuations. It's time to put hard caps on total tax increases allowed by these entities. State senators can do so by threatening their state aid.

Dorchester Was Pioneer in Nebraska Eight-Man Football: Eight-man football made it’s Nebraska debut in 1954, making room for schools outgrowing the six-man man game. As noted in this column, there were 16 teams competing in this initial campaign, a southern division known as the Trailways Conference and a northern group deemed the Corntassel Conference. The Trailways Conference included Milford, Exeter, Beaver Crossing, Dorchester, Utica, Fairmont, and Western. We think it would be great to see DHS playing eight-man football again.

BREAKING: Sources Say Paving Begins Tomorrow

A well-respected, trusted source has informed the Times that paving equipment will roll into town tomorrow morning to begin paving more than a dozen of Dorchester's gravel streets.

The source spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity. According to details provided, a Lincoln-based company will be conducting the paving work. "We're going forward," the source said.

When asked if the village board had the authority to pave streets without a direct vote of Dorchester residents, the Times was told that "gap paving" is allowed under Chapter 19 of the State Statutes. Paving will occur on streets connected to existing paving, for up to 1325 feet from existing pavement, according to the source.

Reportedly, former village board members who served during the 1979 paving debate will be on hand to watch the process. The former board members "may even break ground on one of the gravel roads," the source said.

The Times has learned that several paving opponents have caught wind of the plan and will be picketing on Main Street to greet the pavers.

The picketers are said to be considering resurrecting a key argument used by opponents in the 1979 dispute.

The slogan picketers will use? "We lived on a farm and walked in both dirt and manure and it didn’t hurt us."

(UPDATE, 11:20 a.m.: Happy April Fools Day. We wanted to lighten the mood and hope our readers can share a chuckle with us.)