HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Record wins 30 statewide awards
The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t the only area team to capture top honors this week. The team that produces this newspaper learned Tuesday that it won a near-record 30 statewide awards — three more than last year — in Kansas Press Association’s 2020 statewide competition for midsize non-dailies.
Student thrilled with opportunity to train weanling quarter horse
When Charlie Peters received his buckskin filly through American Quarter Horse Foundation, he embraced the responsibility of training the weanling. “I’ll be the first person to ever ride this horse,” he said. “I have to be prepared for that, as well as talk to people who have done it before and get knowledge from them on what not to do.”
Council signs broadband agreement
High speed Internet is coming to Hillsboro after city council members Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with TC Wireless that establishes terms for constructing fiber to the city. Under the agreement, TC Wireless, a subsidiary of Tri-County Telephone, will build the fiber and the city will consider issuing economic development revenue bonds, if needed, to pay the cost of the project.
City pays final bankruptcy bill
A yearlong legal battle to prevent Hillsboro Community Hospital from closing down because of bankruptcy has cost the city of Hillsboro $89,833. That amount includes an $8,368.40 invoice paid Tuesday to the city’s lawyers, Triplett Woolf Garretson.
Transfer station set to begin next month
Work on a new transfer station could begin as early as March 2. County commissioners on Monday signed a $1,761,021 contract with Marion construction company Nelson-Fowles to begin work on an 80-by-76-foot building that will replace the existing transfer station on Santa Fe St.
County considers plan to start recycling again
The county may soon be back in the business of recycling. County commissioners on Friday heard a suggestion from Dale Dalke, Hillsboro street superintendent, that recyclable materials could be taken to McPherson County Solid Waste Utility.

OTHER NEWS

Council holds 1st meeting with consultants
Hillsboro city council members met Tuesday with a consultant who will help the city find an administrator to take over when Larry Paine retires at the end of June. The city’s $10,000 contract with Osenbaugh Consulting, run by Don Osenbaugh, calls for the position to be advertised four to five weeks before resumes are reviewed.
Pastors give boost to young love by offering counseling
Many church pastors make an extra effort to help young couples get their marriage off to a good start. Pastor Lori Schwilling of Hillsboro United Methodist Church said she talks to couples about what constitutes a Christian marriage and the role Christ plays in it.
Car washes find good use for all that leftover mud
Finding a way to dispose of accumulated mud was a problem Bruce Skiles to solve before he signed on to operate Marion’s Rhino Car and Truck Wash. “Before I bought the car wash I was concerned about whether it was considered hazardous waste or if we had to take it to a special place,” he said.
Book of beloved rancher's stories helps fund heritage center
A book about the life of a well-known Cedar Point rancher who died in December, co-authored with Kansas State University associate professor of history and director of the Chapman Center Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, is now for sale as a fundraiser for a Flint Hills ranching heritage education center. “Sauble: Stories from the Flint Hills,” chronicles the life of natural-born storyteller Pat Sauble.
Christian rock band to play Tabor
Christian rock band Sidewalk Prophets will be coming Feb. 14 to Hillsboro, kicking off its 24-city tour at Tabor College. Tickets, which start at $14.99, are available through the band’s website.
Lehigh student's photo wins historical society contest
Jamasen Nichols, a high school senior from Lehigh, was a first place winners in this year’s Happy Birthday Kansas! photography contest. Jamasen is a senior at Canton-Galva High School.
Marion woman hopes new ID law won't force a legal change
Marion resident Loretta Keazer hopes she won’t need to go to the extreme of having her name legally changed in order to get her Real ID driver’s license. Keazer wants to fly to Alaska sometime later this year to visit her son, but can’t board an airplane without a Real ID driver’s license.

DEATHS

Laura Nickel
Services for Laura Lily Klaassen Wiebe Nickel, 99, who died Dec. 20 in Reedley, California, were Jan. 2 in Reedley. She was born Sept. 23, 1920, to Nicholas and Alwina Klaassen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.
Stephen Davis
Funeral services for Stephen Davis, 72, of Kearney, Nebraska, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. He died Jan. 11 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Stephen was born and raised in Marion County.

DOCKET

FINANCE

Recognizing fraud important for census takers
With 2020’s census approaching, being able to spot real census workers will be key to avoid being ripped off, Marion police chief Clinton Jeffrey said. “It’s probably just scammers looking for whatever scam is popular at this point,” he said. “The census seems like it would be a good one to exploit for financial gain.”
New federal law changes IRA rule
A change in federal law regarding required minimum distributions from individual retirement accounts means some people will not have to start taking distributions in 2020. Marion lawyer Bob Brookens said under old law, IRA owners were required to start taking minimum distributions the year they turn 70½. The new law, which went into effect Jan. 1, changes the age to 72.
Accountant values business on local scale
Korie Hatton grew up in a small town, so starting her business in a community where she can get to know clients is important to her as a budding accountant. “In a smaller community it’s more of a personal service,” she said. “It’s getting to know your clients’ personal and financial situations to where you can tailor their needs to the services you offer.”

OPINION

Talking trash about recycling
Blasphemy! Given the madrassa-like fervor with which most of us are indoctrinated into environmentalism, that surely will be many people’s reaction to any editorial raising questions about recycling. So before we go there, let’s establish some credentials.

PEOPLE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Calendar of events
SENIOR CENTER:
Hillsboro menu

SPORTS AND SCHOOL

Spat erupts over rock for county's roads
A proposal from county commissioner Dianne Novak, discussed a week ago in a commission meeting and referred to county engineer Brice Goebel, sparked disagreement Monday when Goebel said that Novak’s information was flawed. Novak said she’d researched rock quarries and trucking companies and learned that harder rock can be purchased from Nelson Quarries at Toronto for $6.60 per ton, or $8.79 less per ton than the county is now paying, and hauled to Marion County for $4 a loaded mile, saving transportation costs.
Goessel girls win 3rd game of season
For the first time this season, three Goessel players hit double digit scoring Friday at last week’s Fairfield tournament. After ending the first quarter 13-13, Goessel edged ahead at halftime 26-20, but Fairfield scored 21 points in the third quarter to grab a 41-38 lead.
Natural medicine headlines Lifelong Learning
Inman natural health professional Connie Newcome will present a Lifelong Learning program about natural medicine 9:45 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Heritage Lobby within the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. When her husband’s health worsened 38 years ago, Newcome was introduced to traditional medicine.
Tabor College sets business symposium
A symposium focusing on entrepreneurship is scheduled for business professionals from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Tabor College’s Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. Wichita psychologist and author Paul White, one of the inaugural event’s keynote speakers, will discuss effective workplace coaching.
Cheerleading clinic slated Feb. 17 to 20
Hillsboro High School Cheerleaders will be leading a clinic sponsored by Hillsboro Recreation Commission Feb. 17 through 20 for kindergarteners through sixth graders at Hillsboro Elementary Gymnasium. Participants will perform at halftime of Hillsboro Boys’ basketball game Feb. 21 against Lyons.
College degrees and honors
Driver safety course scheduled
Driver safety courses will be available to all licensed drivers 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Marion Senior Center through the American Association of Retired Persons. Courses, which cost $20 or $15 for AARP members, are split into four one-hour classes and can be registered for at the senior center.

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

A yearlong legal battle to prevent Hillsboro Community Hospital from closing down because of bankruptcy has cost the city of Hillsboro $89,833. That amount includes an $8,368.40 invoice paid Tuesday to the city’s lawyers, Triplett Woolf Garretson.

Work on a new transfer station could begin as early as March 2. County commissioners on Monday signed a $1,761,021 contract with Marion construction company Nelson-Fowles to begin work on an 80-by-76-foot building that will replace the existing transfer station on Santa Fe St.

The county may soon be back in the business of recycling. County commissioners on Friday heard a suggestion from Dale Dalke, Hillsboro street superintendent, that recyclable materials could be taken to McPherson County Solid Waste Utility.

Many church pastors make an extra effort to help young couples get their marriage off to a good start. Pastor Lori Schwilling of Hillsboro United Methodist Church said she talks to couples about what constitutes a Christian marriage and the role Christ plays in it.

Finding a way to dispose of accumulated mud was a problem Bruce Skiles to solve before he signed on to operate Marion’s Rhino Car and Truck Wash. “Before I bought the car wash I was concerned about whether it was considered hazardous waste or if we had to take it to a special place,” he said.

Christian rock band Sidewalk Prophets will be coming Feb. 14 to Hillsboro, kicking off its 24-city tour at Tabor College. Tickets, which start at $14.99, are available through the band’s website.

Jamasen Nichols, a high school senior from Lehigh, was a first place winners in this year’s Happy Birthday Kansas! photography contest. Jamasen is a senior at Canton-Galva High School.

Marion resident Loretta Keazer hopes she won’t need to go to the extreme of having her name legally changed in order to get her Real ID driver’s license. Keazer wants to fly to Alaska sometime later this year to visit her son, but can’t board an airplane without a Real ID driver’s license.

Services for Laura Lily Klaassen Wiebe Nickel, 99, who died Dec. 20 in Reedley, California, were Jan. 2 in Reedley. She was born Sept. 23, 1920, to Nicholas and Alwina Klaassen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

Funeral services for Stephen Davis, 72, of Kearney, Nebraska, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. He died Jan. 11 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Stephen was born and raised in Marion County.

Blasphemy! Given the madrassa-like fervor with which most of us are indoctrinated into environmentalism, that surely will be many people’s reaction to any editorial raising questions about recycling. So before we go there, let’s establish some credentials.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

SENIOR CENTER:

For the first time this season, three Goessel players hit double digit scoring Friday at last week’s Fairfield tournament. After ending the first quarter 13-13, Goessel edged ahead at halftime 26-20, but Fairfield scored 21 points in the third quarter to grab a 41-38 lead.

Inman natural health professional Connie Newcome will present a Lifelong Learning program about natural medicine 9:45 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Heritage Lobby within the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. When her husband’s health worsened 38 years ago, Newcome was introduced to traditional medicine.

Hillsboro High School Cheerleaders will be leading a clinic sponsored by Hillsboro Recreation Commission Feb. 17 through 20 for kindergarteners through sixth graders at Hillsboro Elementary Gymnasium. Participants will perform at halftime of Hillsboro Boys’ basketball game Feb. 21 against Lyons.

Driver safety courses will be available to all licensed drivers 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Marion Senior Center through the American Association of Retired Persons. Courses, which cost $20 or $15 for AARP members, are split into four one-hour classes and can be registered for at the senior center.