HILLSBORO Star-Journal

US-56 intersection to get safety upgrades

The busy intersection of US-56 and N. Adams St. will receive a significant upgrade to improve safety, with both a left and right turn lane added to the highway for easier access to N. Adams St. The Kansas Department of Transportation is expected to complete the project this summer, City Administrator Larry Paine said.

County ultimatum leads to shake-up at Tampa EMS

Jesse Brunner is out, and Ron Mueller is in as Tampa EMS crew chief in the wake of a demand by county commissioners Friday for new leadership. Commission Chairman Dan Holub issued the edict for change after a 35-minute executive session with County EMS Director Brandi McCarty, EMS Board Chairman Gene Winkler, and Commissioners Randy Dallke and Lori Lalouette.

Newspapers win 23 state awards

Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, has won 23 awards in the Kansas Press Association 2014 Awards of Excellence. “I’m particularly pleased to win first place for news and writing excellence,” news editor David Colburn said. “In addition to weekly newspapers, we were up against ‘daily’ papers from much larger towns that now publish four times a week or less, such as Atchison, El Dorado, Augusta, and Junction City. This is a team award, and it’s good to know we’re on the right track in giving our readers high-quality coverage of our county.”

Palette of Dreams goes mobile

While many local area activities were canceled Saturday due to weather, about 30 women from Marion County and beyond made their way over snow-covered roads to attend a Palette of Dreams painting party at the senior center in Tampa. For two hours, they visited, laughed, and ate snacks as they painted decorative crosses on furnished palettes or on items they brought, such as cream cans, windows, and boards.

'Prom-posals' packed with creativity

Jacob Baldwin borrowed an old ring box from his mother, placed a plastic ring inside, and during the Marion Winter Formal Dance, he cleared the dance floor and asked the DJ to stop the music. Then he got down on one knee, presented the gift to his date, Bailey Robson, and asked her to be his date to prom. “People call them ‘prom-posals,’” Baldwin said. “I kind of took that literally.”

Luella Bartel

Luella (Schmidt) Bartel, 93, of McPherson, died Feb. 25, 2015, at Bethesda Home, Goessel. She was a homemaker. Luella was born Dec. 3, 1921, to Herman and Susie (Unruh) Schmidt in Hillsboro. She graduated from Hillsboro High School. She married Harrison F. Bartel on Sept. 13, 1946, in Hillsboro.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

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County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses

Offenses reported

Police reports

Prom finances depend on choice of accessories

With prom around the corner, students and families figure the special event will cost anywhere from $150-$600, or more. It’s no surprise the cost is substantially less for guys. Marion senior Brad Stone rented a tuxedo for the first time last year to attend Future Business Leaders of America awards ceremony, and he knows the tux plus flowers will cost about $150.

Rent-to-own housing is tricky trend, experts say

Tenants looking for rent-to-own agreements are creating a growing trend in the rental market, but experts caution that such contracts contain pitfalls that can surprise both the landowner and renter. “I’ve been at this 37 years and I have not seen many ever work,” said Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke, a longtime real estate broker.

Solo speaker to perform Thursday

Northwestern College theater professor Robert Hubbard is coming to Tabor College to perform his new fringe show “How Helicopters Figure in my Dreams” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the chapel in the school’s H.W. Lohrenz building. The event is free and open to the public.

County Democrats assemble

Marion County Democratic Women met Feb. 20 at Marion Senior Center during which Ann Zimmerman’s performance was well received and Janet Bryant shared “Hillary: The Coloring Book.” Following a meal, President Sue Clough conducted a business meeting and Connie Fisher gave closing devotions from the book “God’s Heart for You.”

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Hutch CC announces fall honor roll

Hutchinson Community College recently recognized 20 Marion County students for academic honors for the fall semester. Erin Brubaker and Aaron Woelk of Goessel, Melissa Combs of Lincolnville, and Elizabeth Huntley of Marion were named to the president’s honor roll, which recognizes students with a 4.0 GPA.

Black Bears topple Trojans 64-48

The Hesston substate bracket couldn’t have been less kind to the Hillsboro girls, sending them to Sterling to face the state-ranked Black Bears, a team that beat the Trojans by 40 points just last week. The Trojans didn’t have the firepower to pull off an upset Monday, but rebounded from a slow start to acquit themselves well in a 64-48 season-ending loss.

Hillsboro comes up short against Hutch Trinity

The Hillsboro boys’ basketball team battled Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson to the wire Tuesday but ended its season with a 48-42 loss in the first round of substate play. The Trojans got the fast start they wanted, racing to a 14-5 lead on the Celtics’ home court.

Trojans set stage for future at state

Four Hillsboro Trojans wrestlers competed in the 3-2-1A state wrestling championships in Hays on Friday and Saturday, and the experience will benefit two who will return next year. Travis King wrestled in the 126-pound division, losing by fall in his first match and by points in his second. Nathan Simhiser lost both matches he wrestled in the 195-pound class by decision. Both are sophomores, with two more seasons to pursue state crowns.

Goessel boys end season at substate

The Goessel boys’ basketball team came up short on the road against Flinthills High School by a final score of 38-35. Both teams came into the 1A Division I substate tournament with similar records. The Bluebirds trailed at the end of the first quarter 15-10. Despite making numerous mistakes, Goessel trailed just 23-17 at halftime.

Goessel girls play Thursday

The Goessel girls earned a first-round bye and will play Flinthills at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Rosalia. The winner will play in the finals at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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