HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Sex offender allegedly rapes girl days after plea bargain

Less than a month after receiving probation in a previous underage sex case, registered sex offender Cory Brunzell allegedly raped and sodomized a middle-school-age girl at his Hillsboro apartment, according to court documents obtained Tuesday. Brunzell, 22, who moved to Clay Center after the incident, was in Marion County Jail Tuesday night.

Wal-Mart not so neighborly after all, closing Jan. 28

Although the suddenness of Wal-Mart’s decision to close its Hillsboro Neighborhood Market took many area residents by surprise, that won’t sour area economic development folks on encouraging outside-owned businesses to come to Marion County. On Friday, Wal-Mart announced the closure of 154 stores in the nation, including the store at Hillsboro.

Storm lands sucker punch on county

Hillsboro police worked with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on two unrelated arrests last week. Police arrested Agustin I. Ariza, 26, of Miami, Florida, at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 at a house in the 700 block of S. Washington St. after ICE officers reported they were searching for him.

Water tower nearing final fix

Senior water treatment technician Morgan Marler discussed the final touches of the water tower with Hillsboro City Council members on Monday, saying that it is almost finished, aside from one setback. “We went to turn the water on to fill it up and there was a leak in the pit,” Marler said.

record world breaks graduate Hillsboro

Hillsboro High School graduate Aaron Yoder recently made the record books for running a mile — however, Yoder took a unique approach to it. Yoder, who is now head track and cross country coach at Bethany College in Lindsborg, broke a world record on Nov. 23 for the fastest backward one-mile run. He completed it with a time of 5:54.25.

Conflict resolved: Lalouette named vice-chair

Absent last week, commissioner Lori Lalouette was present Monday as commissioners cleared the way for her to become vice-chair. Chairman Randy Dallke blocked Lalouette’s appointment last week, citing unresolved concerns about her ability to sign county budgets.

'4,000 little pieces of happiness' at Tabor library

Students at Tabor College are rebuilding the world one piece at a time. Actually, they’re piecing together a massive 4,000-piece world map puzzle that is about 4 ½ feet wide by 3 feet tall and nearly covers the entire desk it rests upon in Tabor’s library.

Public invited to superintendent forum

The public is invited to provide input for the search for a new USD 410 superintendent at a meeting from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Hillsboro Middle and High School lecture room. Gary Sechrist from the Kansas Association of School Boards will facilitate a discussion focused on what strengths and characteristics a superintendent should possess.

Beards to be shorn for scholarship fundraiser

No-Shave November has turned into Shave February thanks to a student-led fundraiser for the Jenessa J. Hlad Memorial Scholarship at Tabor College. Tabor Student Senate will be selling raffle tickets for a chance to shave off beards of 10 Tabor men, including AFCA NAIA All-American football player Dylan Delk of Peabody, at the Feb. 13 Tabor basketball game.

Marion Straub's should benefit from Larned store closure

Straub International recently announced the closure of its Larned location, a move officials say should strengthen the company, including Marion’s Straub outlet. “With the downturn in the industry, we thought we just needed to cut some expense,” president Ron Straub said, “and the 17 miles apart that we are between stores in Larned and Great Bend didn’t make the best economic sense.”

Hunting and fishing license prices change

Five-year hunting, fishing, and hunt/fish combination licenses are now available from the Kansas Department of Wildife. A five-year hunting or fishing license is $102.50, $35 cheaper than buying an annual license for five years.

Arene Entz

Former Peabody resident Arene Mae Entz, 91,died Monday at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Emmaus Mennonite Church, Whitewater, and a funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, also at the church.

Willis Penner

Retired dairy farmer Willis D. Penner, 84, Hillsboro, died Sunday on the family farm. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Hillsboro First Mennonite Church. A graveside service will be Friday at Haven of Rest Cemetery.

John Rupp

John W. Rupp, 77, died Jan. 10 at St. Luke Living Center, Marion. A service was Friday at Marion Christian Church. Interment was in Marion Cemetery.

Tracie Witkop

Tracie Alyn (Abbott) Witkop, 33, died Jan. 12 in Effingham, Georgia. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion, and burial will follow in Lincolnville.

Accidents reported

Civil division

Criminal division

County jail

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Traffic division

Teachers start their own after school program

After spending the day helping kids reach their potential, some faculty members at Marion Elementary School gather to help each other do the same. Around Thanksgiving, physical education teacher Nicki Case recruited some faculty members to come try a new workout program, called “Cize.” The program features follow-the-leader style videos of dance routines, and participants get a workout by learning new dances.

Expert speaks on managing diabetes

It’s natural that Jeanne Rziha, the in-house diabetes expert at Greenhaw Pharmacy in Hillsboro, took an interest in the subject. The disease runs in her family.

Rare deadly disease strikes Peabody woman

In November, Megan Galucci of Peabody felt what she thought was a cyst near her waist. A single mom with a new business and no health insurance, she decided to keep an eye on it rather than have it removed.

Health insurance enrollment help available

Health Ministries Clinic of Newton will be at Hillsboro Public Library from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 to assist those who need to enroll in health insurance. Enrollees need to bring for every member of the household birthdates, social security numbers, income information such as W-2 tax return, or paycheck stubs, immigration documents, information about employer-covered insurance. They also should provide an active email address.

Outside-in business

Britain to celebrate 90th birthday

John Britain will be celebrating his 90th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 30 at the VFW Post 6958, 420 W. Santa Fe St., Marion. Friends and family are welcome to attend. The family asks for no gifts.

McPheeters married for 70 years

Irvin and Pauline McPheeters of Peabody announce to friends and acquaintances that Jan. 20 will mark their 70th wedding anniversary. The couple will take family members out for dinner and a family gathering on Sunday to celebrate.

Senior Center menu

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

'ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HHS singers to provide singing valentines

Hillsboro High School Spirit ‘n’ Celebration deliver singing valentines 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 12 for Valentine’s Day. Valentines will be $15 with a rose included, or $10 without.

Area school menus

Trojans head opposite ways in Classic openers

Hillsboro boys’ and girls’ basketball took different paths to victory lane as they picked up wins over Halstead, on Friday, but had mixed results in their Trojans Classic openers Tuesday. It was a game of ups and downs against Halstead for the boys. After falling behind 10-3, the Trojans exploded for a 23 consecutive points to lead 26-10.

Goessel girls trample Wakefield, while boys fall in two games

The Goessel girls are 9-0 approaching the middle of the season, picking up a convincing win Friday over Wakefield 62-33. The Bluebirds took control early, grabbing a 23-10 lead. After an evenly-matched second quarter, Goessel dominated the third and coasted the rest of the way.

Wrestlers place 9th at Halstead

The Trojans came in ninth of 22 teams vying for mat supremacy Saturday at Halstead. Coach Scott O’Hare said Trojans wrestlers are starting to compete with more grit and intensity.

Calendar of events

Parkview to have hymn sing

Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, Hillsboro, invites the public to attend a hymn sing at 7 p.m. Jan. 24. The audience will be asked to choose favorite hymns to sing together.

KDA to host agribusiness development workshop

Kansas Department of Agriculture will host a regional agribusiness development workshop March 24 in Marion. Featured speakers at the event will include representatives of Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, USDA Rural Development, Network Kansas, and others.

Corps to host contracts meeting in Wichita

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District will host an informational meeting to educate contractors and small businesses about government contract opportunities in Kansas from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3 at Wichita State University. The meeting will be

Parenting class offered at high school

A free 6-hour parenting class for parents, grandparents, foster parents, child-care providers, and teachers titled “Managing Emotional Mayhem: 5 Steps for Self-Regulation” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at Peabody-Burns High School. Participants will learn various skills, including ways to achieve better self-regulation skills for themselves and their children, how to identify emotional triggers and accurately name the feelings involved, and hands-on activities to promote self-regulation.

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