HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Downtown gun threat leads to arrest

A Hillsboro man was arrested Thursday after a he allegedly threatened to shoot his roommate, a coworker, in a dispute reported involving rent money. At 4:11 p.m., officer John Huebert and sheriff’s deputy Derek Fetrow responded to a criminal threat complaint at 119 S. Main St. in an apartment above El Lorito Mexican Restaurant in Hillsboro, Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said.

German polka band lives up to playful moniker

Glenn Goertz of Hillsboro was looking for lively music for the “tame German community of Hillsboro” when he came across some German polka music in Wichita 67 years ago. He thought Hillsboro needed something like Marion’s Rube Band to liven its parades. He got an instrumental group together, and they marched in a 1949 parade wearing entertaining costumes.

Man charged with aggravated battery and assault in melee with women

Two women are nursing injuries and a man faces multiple criminal charges after a confrontation allegedly erupted May 1 inside of Ampride and Subway in Hillsboro. Jerrod P. Rogers, 24, Hillsboro, allegedly sought out his wife, an Ampride clerk, Jennifer L. Rogers, 36, at 7:33 p.m. to talk about a separation she requested earlier that day, Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said.

Area high schools schedule commencement exercises

Commencement for Marion High School’s class of 2016 starts at 4 p.m. May 21 at USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center. Class of 2016 valedictorians Elizabeth Meyer, McKenzee Remmers, and Bailey Robson will speak. Hillsboro High School commencement is at 4 p.m. Saturday at Joel Wiens Stadium. Speakers will be USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble and Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke.

Moran and Loewen leave legacies of creativity

Hillsboro Elementary School art and music teacher Rita Loewen and counselor Mike Moran are retiring, and the school will celebrate their careers with a day named in their honor. While their jobs are different, it seems fitting they will be feted together, as their careers have shared a common central theme — creativity, right down to shaping what their jobs entailed.

Ratzlaff thrice blessed

Glenn Ratzlaff of Hillsboro is a recipient of a $5,000 gift from the M.B. Foundation’s “Giving Challenge,” which was launched earlier this year to reward generosity by providing people with resources to pass on to others. Ratzlaff gave away a used Buick he had purchased for long trips and special occasions.

Commissioners discuss transfer station possibilities

A new transfer station building could be on the way for Marion County, but not before deliberate planning considering multiple options is completed. Director of Household Hazardous Waste Bud Druse told commissioners Monday that Bruce Boettcher and Tom Arpin with BG Consultants would be at next week’s meeting to discuss building plans.

MB Foundation to sell house

Mennonite Brethren Foundation has a two-bedroom house to sell in Hillsboro — but there’s a catch: The buyer has to dismantle or move it. The idea is to clear property where the foundation plans to build a new 8,800-square-feet headquarters.

Ruth Neufeld

Ruth E. Neufeld, 93, died Thursday at Newton Medical Center. Funeral service was Monday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church with interment at Ebenfeld Cemetery.

Galen Peterson

Galen Douglas Peterson, 72, died May 4 at St. Luke Hospital. Funeral service was Monday at Hebron Lutheran Church, Burdick, with a burial following at Hebron Lutheran Cemetery.

Eldon Smith

Eldon H. Smith, 88, McPherson, died May 3 at Pleasant View Home, Inman. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church, McPherson. Burial will be at McPherson Cemetery with military honors.

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Retail beef prices slowly decrease as cattle prices drop

The decline in feeder cattle prices that began last fall has picked up the pace, according to those involved in the industry. Bill Mathias, manager of Herington Livestock Auction, reported an 800- to 850-pound steer brought $1.37 to $1.45 per pound last week, depending on its condition. That compares with $1.80 to $1.86 for the same size animal the first week of November.

Spring is peak season for crop spraying

Area farmers often make use of aerial crop spraying, particularly when fields are too wet or pastures too uneven to use ground rigs. Jim Enns, who has about 2,000 acres of farmland with wheat, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and grass, in the northwest portion of the county, said his operation has called upon an aerial sprayer at times.

Rain revives wheat crops

Recent rains and cool weather may have put Marion County wheat crops back on track for harvest this year. Dick Tippin, grain coordinator with Cooperative Grain and Supply in Hillsboro, expects an average harvest.

Loomises to celebrate 50th anniversary

Larry and Randee (Suggett) Loomis will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday. They were married May 14, 1966, in Marysville.

Toews to direct brass concert

McPherson Community Brass Choir, under the direction of Jerry Toews of Goessel, will present a Sousa-style concert at 5 p.m. Sunday at Church of the Brethren, McPherson. The free concert will feature professional jazz trombonist Denny Brunk, virtuoso trumpet Kyle Unruh, and tuba-euphonium duet with Ty Kaufman and Greg Nickel.

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36-hole tourney is challenging

When the Marion County 36-hole high school golf tournament was created in 2003, the organizers wanted to give golfers something new. “Back when Doug Dick was still coaching in Marion, we wanted to do something different,” Hillsboro golf coach Scott O’Hare said. “We wanted to add a challenge for golfers late in the season.”

Thrower Shaw leads Trojans at Hesston

Freshman Wesley Shaw is rounding into form at the right time in his transition to high school competition, snaring a first-place finish in shot put at Hesston on Thursday. Shaw added to that with a second-place showing, and took seventh in javelin.

Goessel girls win Tescott meet

The Goessel Bluebirds girls’ track team accumulated enough points to win the 15-team Tescott Invitational meet on a beautiful day May 3. Freshman Stephany Meyer won the triple jump with a leap of 33 feet, 6.5 inches, placed second in long jump at 15-2, took third in 400 meters with a time of 65.90 seconds, and joined teammates Olivia Duerksen, Julia Nightengale, and Brittney Hiebert in winning the 4x400 relay.

Goessel golfers medal

The Bluebird golf team finished in third place May 3 at Marion as three golfers earned medals. Rhett Makovec finished fourth with a score of 97, and teammate Braden Roby was right behind in fifth with a round of 98. Luke Unruh earned 12th with a 108.

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Calendar of Events

Employers asked to attend listening tour

Marion County employers are invited to participate in an employer listening tour at 11:30 a.m. May 18 at Marion Community Center. Employers are asked to come and express their employee needs at the meeting, sponsored by Marion County Economic Development, City of Marion Economic Development, and Hillsboro Development Corp.

County seniors to meet

Mill levy requests top the agenda for a Senior Citizens of Marion County meeting at 9:30 a.m. May 20 at Marion Senior Center. Lunch will be served at Marion Senior Center.

Quilter to speak at show

Nationally known quilter Mayleen Thiesen Vinson will speak at a quilt trunk show at 3 p.m. May 21 at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. Vinson will speak about and display some of her award- winning quilts at the show. A merchant mini-mall will run from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Feeding Kansas dinner is Tuesday

“Feeding Kansas Dinner and Dialogue” will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Dillon Hall at Kansas State Fair grounds, Hutchinson. Organized by Kansas Rural Center, the forum aims to provide information on state and local food systems and opportunities and tools for civically engaging with community and policy-makers.

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