HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Newell pleads guilty to 2 counts

Kenneth Newell, a former emergency dispatcher accused of raping and fondling a child under 14 years of age and intimidating a witness, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for the guilty plea, 11 charges, including the rape charge, the witness intimidation charge, and nine charges of lewd fondling or touching, were dismissed with prejudice.

New budget threat looms for USD 410

Superintendent Steve Noble’s frustration with the latest wrinkle in the legislature’s attempts to curb school expenses showed in the title of his presentation to the board of education Monday: “Changing the rules in the middle of the game.” A Republican legislative proposal last week would give school districts their 2014-15 state funding in one large sum, a block grant, and give them the same amount for the next two years while the legislature works on a new funding formula.

City awarded sidewalk grant

Sidewalks on A Street from Hillsboro Elementary School west to Adams will get summer upgrades, courtesy of a $245,500 award from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program. “It’s going to take quite a bit of sidewalk where kids are walking from 5 feet to 8 feet wide,” City Administrator Larry Paine said. “Bikers and walkers can coexist on the same path.

Serene questions FACT funding

County Health Department Administrator Diedre Serene had a simple question for commissioners Monday: How was the $6,000 county allotment for Families and Communities Together to be paid? Commissioners voiced support for the funds at an August meeting with four FACT representatives, but FACT Director Ashlee Gann said Tuesday they’re still waiting on a check.

Ambitious teen mentored by veterinarian

Hillsboro High School senior Valerie Klassen wants to be a veterinarian. Since she was young, it’s something she has always known and has always wanted to do. When Jessica Winter took ownership of Hillsboro Animal Clinic and was seeking new personnel last year, Valerie was dead set on working there.

Commissioners defend tax rebate: 'We're not the IRS'

In speaking with the appraiser’s office at their Monday meeting, County Commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub defended their granting tax rebates that directly violated the parameters outlined in the application for said rebates. Specifically, commissioner Randy Dallke referenced a Marion County Record editorial that criticized the decision last week.

Youth soccer returns to county thanks to Tabor women's team

Marion County had a problem, and Ian Thompson had the know-how — and a roster full of women with free time in the spring — to fix it. The Tabor women’s soccer team, through the Hillsboro Recreation Commission, will bring youth soccer back to Marion County in the form of a six-week academy-style program that will begin in late March and last into early May.

Lucille Base

Lucille Base, 79, died March 4 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born March 28, 1935, to Dan and Esther (Frantz) Thiesen at Goessel. She married Palmer Base on March 25, 1956.

Weldon "Leo" Blackman

Weldon “Leo” Blackman, 75, died March 2 at Newton Medical Center in Newton. He was born Dec. 26, 1939, to Charles and Claudia (Rayburn) Blackman in Riverside, Texas.

Alma Meyer

Alma H. Meyer, 102, of Tampa, died Saturday March 7. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tampa. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at noon at the church. Burial will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Frank Willems

Rev. Frank J. Willems, 95, died Friday at Kansas Christian Home in Newton. He was born March 30, 1919, to Jacob and Lena (Boldt) Willems at Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

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Farmers swap stories at ag meeting

Talk to farmers about past experiences, and one receives a variety of responses. The farmers who reminisced Saturday at the Agri Producers, Inc. annual meeting in Tampa talked about weather, the economy, and old times.

Local wheat goes global

Marion County wheat could soon find its way into bakeries in Havana, Cuba, if recent efforts to lift the 53-year-old trade embargo with the island nation are successful. Paul Penner of Hillsboro hopes they are. Penner has grown wheat since the late 1970s, and for more than a decade, he’s worked with state and national organizations to promote wheat and open new markets. Penner just completed a term as president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, which has advocated opening the Cuban market.

It's time to set the Flint Hills on fire

Marion County ranchers are not to be confused with hillbilly pyromaniacs. From March into May, land owners will be setting their pastures ablaze. Some do it to clear brush, others to clear pasture.

Farmers like fluidized lime for no-till fields

Dry lime is a product that is spread on farm fields to neutralize the soil and make it more productive. It is broadcast and needs to be incorporated into the soil to begin working. Chuck Seifert of Marion uses “fluidized lime” on his 2,300 no-till acres. The lime is purchased through and applied by Ag Services, Inc. of Hillsboro.

Acts of commission

Our papers made impressions on at least two readers last week — county commissioners Dan Holub and Randy Dallke. The pair took time during Monday’s meeting to protest our commentary last week about their decision to ignore the rules of the neighborhood revitalization program to approve an application for property tax rebates that was more than 240 days late and submitted after construction, not before.

Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser is Friday

Those looking for a little family fun and a chance to support the Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program in Marion County should consider signing up for the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraising event at Sher Bowl Lanes in Marion. Balls roll at 9 p.m. Friday.

Goessel museum plan 'wild' event

Professional nature photographer Jim Griggs will present his “Wild Tanzania” program at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum’s annual Heritage Dinner March 21 at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. The meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. Griggs’ presentation following the dinner will include stories, photos, artifacts, and videos of Tanzania.

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USD 411 to take LOB resolution to voters in May

Goessel board of education approved a recommendation to take the district’s 33-percent Local Option Budget (LOB) resolution to voters in May after a discussion at their monthly meeting Monday. “Even though our state aid is being reduced, if we don’t go to 33 percent, we’re leaving state aid dollars on the table,” Superintendent John Fast said.

Tabor choir prepares for annual tour

Tabor College Concerto Bella Voce Women’s Choir is beginning its third annual tour over spring break. It will perform nine concerts in high schools and churches. The theme of their performances is “Illumination.”

Goessel girls fall in substate final

A poor shooting night for the Goessel girls basketball team against Centre resulted in a 37-21 loss in the finals of the substate tournament Saturday at Rosalia, ending the Bluebirds’ season. Although Goessel led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter, the Bluebirds appeared to be struggling on offense. The Bluebirds hit no field goals in the second period. Scoring only one point, and with Centre controlling the boards, Goessel trailed 19-11 at halftime.

Area students qualify for state chess

Hillsboro had a number of students qualify for the state chess tournament, which is Saturday at Wichita North High School. Hillsboro chess players going to state are Matthew Denholm, Jordan Fryhover, Franklin Jost, and Kalen Moss, Jacob Denholm, Abby Fryhover, Kayla Gunn, and Zachary Denholm.

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