HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Muddy roads strand ambulance

Crew slides into ditch responding to call, rescued by tow truck By ALEXANDER SIMONE Staff writer

Marine pilot takes detour over county

Marion native and Marine Corps helicopter pilot Louis Holt has made cross-country flights before, but last week’s trip gave him the opportunity to view his hometown from above as he flew over Marion and Hillsboro. “It was nice to see Marion,” he said. “There are a lot of people who helped me throughout the years, from school teachers to family friends.”

Despite rumors, 3rd wind farm not looking at county

Rumors of a potential third wind farm in Marion County turn out to be untrue. County commissioners have clearly heard the rumor. Commissioner Dianne Novak, speaking at a recent commission meeting, said she’s heard talk that a wind farm is signing lease agreements in the Goessel area.

County sees spike in sneezes, coughs, misery

Plethora of illnesses cutting swath through homes, hospitals By PHYLLIS ZORN Staff writer Vomiting, diarrhea, coughs, congested sinuses, allergies that won’t give up, pneumonia, influenza — illnesses of all kinds have spiked in the county over the last two weeks.

Progress steady on flood damage repairs at Marion Reservoir

Waters in some coves are coated with ice, but repair work on damage from record flooding at Marion Reservoir this past summer continues steadily as staff race to get ready for spring. “Our target is to have 60 percent of campsites open by April 1,” said assistant lake manager Kevin McCoy. “That’s not set in stone — that’s a target.”

County OKs $1.76m deal to build new transfer station

After more than three years’ discussion, construction of a new $1.875 million solid waste transfer station is finally in sight. County commissioners voted Monday to enter a lease purchase agreement with Central National Bank for $1.755 million, with the remaining $120,000 to come from county funds.

Lang Diesel announces scholarship

A scholarship through Lang Diesel Inc. is available for students interested in becoming diesel mechanics, which will pay up to 100% of tuition for semesters two through four depending on grade point average. LDI’s TechUp ToolUp Scholarship & Tool Allowance Program will also purchase standard toolbox and tools listed on the program’s recommended tool list, up to $10,000.

Senior Citizens to meet in Hillsboro

The monthly meeting of Senior Citizens of Marion County will be 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at Hillsboro Senior Center. Lunch reservations are due Jan. 15 and can be made by calling (620) 947-2304 or (620) 382-3580. Transportation requests are due Jan. 16. Board members for 2020 were installed at the Dec. 20 meeting. Flo Rahn of Hillsboro is serving her first term, and Mary Rogers of Marion her second term.

Hillsboro schools get $85,050 from Diamond Vista

Hillsboro school district received its first annual PILOT payment from Diamond Vista at Monday’s school board meeting. The money was placed in the district’s gifts and grants fund, which will allow the funds to be further allocated in the future, superintendent Max Heinrichs said.

Mother Nature pulls a punch

Despite a foreboding weather forecast Friday that led to canceled classes and sports events for area students, the weekend weather was not as bad as predicted. High winds, ice, and three to six inches of snow were projected Friday and Saturday, resulting in a press release from the state discouraging travel in Marion County.

Allen Hiebert

Services for Allen Hiebert, who died Jan. 9 at age 84, will be 10 a.m. Jan. 18 at Bethesda Home. He was born Nov. 14, 1935, to Ruben and Lena Hiebert.

Dale Suderman

Services for Hillsboro resident Dale Suderman, 75, who died Jan. 5 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, rural Hillsboro. Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Ebenfeld Church cemetery. He was born April 24, 1944, in Hillsboro, to Dan and Edna (Harder) Suderman in Hillsboro.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds reported

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Police activity reports

Recliners a comfortable addition to treatment room

During her 15-year battle with leukemia, Joan Winter has wished for many things. St. Luke Auxiliary president Mary Ann Conyers was quick to grant one of those wishes when she became aware of it. Winter reached out to Conyers to ask if recliners in the treatment room where Winter spends hours getting infusion treatments could be replaced with chairs that were easier to use.

Hospital adds 2 therapists

St. Luke Hospital has two new faces in the physical therapy department. Occupational therapist Mikaelyn Dick grew up in Henderson, Nebraska.

Trolls create anti-social media

Remember when you didn’t have to thank people for being willing to answer their phones? Daily attempts by robots to sell us things we never wanted and by scammers pretending to be our credit card providers or Social Security, Medicare, or IRS agents now make everyone think twice before picking up a phone, even if the illegally faked caller ID — which government won’t enforce — seems to be from a neighbor. Remember when you actually looked forward to finding things in the mail dropped off at your front door? The postal service’s overly aggressive solicitation of junk mail and largely irrational fear of scofflaws who illegally allow dogs to run free ended that.

Welcome, Shemp and Curley Joe

Those viewing county commission meetings for entertainment will be happy to see that the cast has been expanded from three to five and that the weekly performance has been extended from a half-day to an almost full-day extravaganza. Those looking for the county commission to accomplish anything of value now that it has expanded to include more than just Curley, Larry, and Moe will be disappointed.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CORRECTIONS:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Hillsboro Chamber elects board members

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce elected a pair of members to new positions last week. Salem Home marketing director Lisa Donahue was elected president. Diamond in the Rough owner Carolyn Brazil was tabbed for vice president.

Ag Services makes food bank donation

Ag Services, Inc. and Land O’ Lakes Foundation announced a combined gift of $5,000 for Kansas Food Bank Friday in Hillsboro. Funds will go toward the food bank’s Food 4 Kids program, providing food packets to chronically hungry children in communities where Ag Service has a presence.

Goessel town hall meeting set

A town hall meeting will be held 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Goessel City Building, where a volunteer team from another community of similar size will share impressions of the community after spending a day as secret shoppers in Goessel. Project areas will be identified and planning time will be allotted to learn about strengths and weaknesses through visitors’ eyes.

SENIOR CENTER:

College degree and honors

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