HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Council derides 'politics' of economic corporation

Peabody council members reacted strongly Monday to a perceived infusion of politics into the new county economic development corporation by withholding a $7,000 payment until the corporation board answers in person for bylaws changes. Bowing to demands from Hillsboro, Marion County Economic Development Corporation changed its bylaws Aug. 17 to allow government employees and elected officials to be appointed to its board.

Graffiti in Goessel, Hillsboro

Intermixed with vulgarity and the letters “KTP” were peace signs and flowers spray painted onto numerous buildings, schools, vehicles, and other property in Hillsboro, Goessel, and rural areas of the county last week. “Graffiti is always here to a point, but not to this level,” sheriff Robert Craft said.

Suspected shooter leaves Marion police

While an investigation into a June 20 officer-involved shooting in Lehigh is still weeks away from completion, the Marion officer believed to have fired the fatal shot has left the department. Local law enforcement officials and Kansas Bureau of Investigation have repeatedly refused to identify the officer who shot Robb Stewart, 50, who was reported by Sheriff Rob Craft to be drunk, armed with a pistol, and suicidal.

Merry Maids mix up leads to clean house, burglary report

A Hillsboro resident in the 200 block of S. Washington St. who thought her home was being burglarized got something better than a broken-in house. She got a freshly-cleaned one. The resident called Hillsboro Police to report a burglary that was in progress, and when officers arrived, they did not find a suspect, but rather a home-cleaning service that was accidentally cleaning the wrong house.

Students 'ride' the Walking School Bus

Hillsboro Elementary School’s healthiest school bus is not yellow, it has no seatbelts, it does not contribute to the traffic lines of both the buses and parents dropping students off at the school each morning, and it does not use gas. This bus is student powered.

Sprinkler damage leads to right-of-way debate

The county will pay the bill for a property owner whose lawn irrigation system that encroached on county property was damaged by a road maintainer. Road and bridge supervisor Jesse Hamm presented a bill to commissioners for a $38 sprinkler head from Gerald Jost.

Burn resolution proposal gets public airing

A proposed burn resolution backed by county fire chiefs will be touched up before county commissioners take it up for a vote. Landowners voiced concerns at a Friday night meeting at Marion County Lake Hall.

Fire chiefs want county reserves for radio

Now that word is out of a possible $16 million cash in county coffers, the first group asking for a piece of the pie — county fire districts — popped up at Monday’s commission meeting. Lincolnville fire chief Les Kaiser joined two other chiefs to ask for a portion of the reserves to pay for new 800 MHz radios.

Chamber needs volunteers

With Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair fast approaching, openings remain for people to staff the Chamber of Commerce food booth. Volunteers are needed for one-hour shifts between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sept. 16, Chamber office manager Verlenia Hall said.

Hope for a heifer: One month later, still on the loose

A 4-Her from Abilene is still hopeful her missing show heifer is going to show up alive and well thanks to the Marion County support she and her grandfather Ben Freeman have received. Lauren Freeman, 15, took her 4-H show heifer, Rosslend, to the Mike Ehrlich farm north of Marion for a hoof trimming July 28, but Rosslend spooked and ran away.

Kevin Gresham

A private family service will be held for greyhound trainer and breeder Kevin Joel Gresham, 62, Durham, who died Thursday at Hillsboro Community Hospital. He was born March 27, 1955, to Chester and Helen (Kennedy) Gresham in Emporia. He married Javonni Sparlin on May 31, 1974, at Maize. He owned and operated Gresham’s Greyhound Farm.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

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County jail bookings

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses granted

Offenses reported

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DELINQUENT TAXES:

Labor filled with love: A baker's edition

In the wee hours of the morning when most county residents are fast asleep, sisters Emma Lee and Catie Zurcher are baking away in FamLee Bakery in Marion. Zurcher arrives at midnight to begin the prep work and the baking continues as Lee’s alarm buzzes at 5 a.m. to arrive by 6 a.m.

Spencers named Labor Day grand marshals

Longtime Florence native Carolyn Spencer remembers watching the Florence Labor Day parade each year with family and friends, and she never once thought that maybe one day she, too, would be grand marshal. “No, no, no,” Spencer, 73, said. “I never expected it.”

Service to others a passion for Burdick grand marshals

After spending a lifetime in service to others, Burdick native Bill Peterson and his wife, Judy, of Herington have been selected as grand marshals for the Burdick Labor Day parade. Pastor Bill, as he was known by many, retired July 1 after serving Good Neighbor Parish for 10 years. The parish was formed in 2007 to include Hebron Lutheran Church at Burdick, where he was baptized and confirmed, and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Herington.

A delicate unveiling

A little over two months ago, Robb Stewart lost his life in an officer-involved shooting in Lehigh. Law enforcement officials haven’t officially identified the officer who fired the shot, and neither have we, even though we were confident from our sources that we knew who he was.

Chris-crossed

As the county’s economic development task force went about its work, eventually coming up with Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation, one of the more endearing aspects of the process was then-chairman Chris Hernandez’s unabashed idealism. The task force and corporation would be free from politics, he said, because everyone was represented at the table. Consensus would trump ages-old rivalries and self-interest. There would be no politics when people understood that development anywhere in the county benefited everyone in the county. Hernandez was a true believer.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Coop changes but employee remains steadfast

Lincolnville elevator manager Perry Gutsch has seen several changes in the cooperative’s associations, but he has remained steady at the helm for 32 years. Since taking over in 1985, he has kept the business flowing smoothly from one year to the next. Over the years, Gutsch has kept a steady hand as the elevator changed from being part of Tampa Cooperative Association to Agri Producers Coop in 1993, to Agri Trails Coop in 2016, and his career isn’t finished.

Senior center menu

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ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:

Board approves budget

Members of the USD 410 school board approved the 2017-18 district budget Tuesday. The budgets total mill levy of 61.790 was left unchanged from last year.

Children change, but Funk remains

For school secretary Pati Funk, no two days are ever the same, even after 29 years. While some duties may stay the same, such as preparing morning announcements or checking emails, Funk said there is almost always something different that comes up, which brings new activity behind the desk at Hillsboro Middle/High School.

SCHOOL MENUS:

Lifelong Learning begins Friday

Collecting, preserving, and interpreting museum treasures will be the first topic of Tabor College’s Lifelong Learning Sessions that begin Friday. Hillsboro museum director Steve Fast will lead the session at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church.

Masons sponsor free cancer screenings Sept. 16

Finding out early if someone has signs of cancer can make all the difference in beating the disease. Members of Centre Masonic Lodge #147 at Marion have arranged free cancer screenings Sept. 16 during Art in the Park.

Pschigoda reception Friday

Longtime State Farm Insurance employee Kris Pschigoda will be honored with a retirement reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at the State Farm office at 114 N. Main, Hillsboro.

Calendar of events

Other events: 5 p.m. — Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Association meeting, Hillsboro Chamber office.

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