HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Hillsboro and Bank of Hays ask court to expand hospital receiver's power

If a company managing the operation of Hillsboro Community Hospital is not appointed to manage its parent company as well, the hospital is in imminent danger of being closed by the state. That’s the position taken by the city of Hillsboro and mortgage holder Bank of Hays in an emergency motion filed Thursday in district court asking that the receiver, Cohesive Healthcare Management and Consulting, be put in charge of the hospital’s parent company, CAH Acquisition Co #5, HMC/CAH Consolidated Inc.

Peabody man killed in train wreck

A Peabody man died early Tuesday when his 2012 Jeep Liberty was hit by an Amtrak train northeast of Peabody. Sheriff Rob Craft said train crew members reported the Jeep was stopped on the tracks without its lights on when the accident occurred.

Inmate care more costly in January

A $4,368.45 bill to the county from a medical billing company contracted by the jail was higher than usual in January. “Normally we’re not that high,” sheriff Rob Craft said of last month’s bill.

Soil contamination found at transfer station

Contaminated soil was discovered last week during excavation work at the county’s transfer station project. Refuse director Bud Druse alerted county commissioners to the contamination during Monday’s county commission meeting.

Director of aging leads in mileage claimed

Among county employees who claim monthly mileage reimbursement for use of their personal cars, Department of Aging director Gayla Ratzlaff’s reimbursements regularly come in at the top of the list. Over the last four months, Ratzlaff has been reimbursed $695.24 for use of her personal car.

Tabor guest professor tells about life in Ukraine

For four generations, Michael Cherenkov and his Ukrainian forebears have been pushing back against the godlessness of the former Soviet Union. The presenter at Friday’s Lifelong Learning session at Tabor College, Cherenkov has a two-year teaching assignment at Tabor and travels throughout the country to promote support for oppressed Christians in Asia.

One of a kind

Each week we’ll be featuring a Marion County business in our Business Bio section. Learn about products, services and people here in your own county. By ALEXANDER SIMONE Staff writer Nestled in what otherwise would seem to be a residential area of S. Coble St. is a global leader in manufacturing.

EMS expenses average $676 per run

Marion County Emergency Medical Service is one of the county’s largest departments and budget activity reports reflect that, but determining how much each run costs can be difficult. For 2018, there were 1,419 ambulance runs, and 76 first response runs. The department generated $598,603.67 in revenue from these, usually from charging insurance companies when responding to a call.

Scouts kickoff cookie season with fun

Eastmoor United Methodist Church was a social hub for girl scouts Friday, as 35 scouts from Marion County and beyond gathered for the sixth annual Cookie Kickoff. The girls came from Marion, Peabody, Hillsboro, Moundridge, Hesston, and Herington to enjoy the event, which had an under the sea theme.

Icy weather puts damper on student sickness

For some area schools, two snow days last week reduced the number of students out sick. Hillsboro superintendent Max Heinrichs said the district has been tracking absences since a wave of cold- and flu-like illness began circulating in the county about a month ago.

Southern wind farm could launch next year

A wind farm nearly 15 years in the discussion and planning stages looks to begin spinning rotors, instead of wheels, by the middle of next year. The Expedition Wind Farm project being developed by National Renewable Solutions, based in Wayzata, Minnesota, was originally the brainchild of Florence resident Rex Savage. Under Savage’s hand, the idea notched forward but didn’t reach construction.

County Democrats to meet

Marion County Democrats will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in the basement conference room of Marion Community Center. All precinct people, as well as county Democrats, are encouraged to attend to continue plans for the 2019 political year.

Sawyer wins musical chair event

Drew Hill, Stacey Sawyer, Dean Reida, Suzanne Meier, and Jason Gibson competed Feb. 1 in a musical chair event during half-time of the Goessel High School boys basketball game. Winner Stacey Sawyer took home a $100 gift certificate donated by Keith Foods.

Olympics planned for little ones

Students enrolled in Parents as Teachers and Head Start preschools in the county can enjoy a morning of come-and-go games and swimming at Marion Aquatic Center and Sports Complex from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 2. The event will include games to improve gross motor skills, swimming, snacks, and home activity ideas.

Brennan Fine

A private family graveside service for Brennan Michael Fine was Sunday at the Marion Cemetery. Brennan was born Feb. 3 at Wesley Medical Center.

Marilyn Hageberg

Marilyn Hageberg, 81, Burdick, died Feb. 5 at Legacy of Herington. Services were Monday at Burdick United Methodist Church. She was born Oct. 20, 1937, at Marion, the daughter of Ernest and Dola Blankley Meierhoff.

Danniel King

Private family services for Danniel King, 65, who died Feb. 5, will be at a later date. He was born Dec. 12, 1953, to Karl and Cecil Fluke Davidson in Clarinda, Iowa.

Bob Matz

Funeral services for Bob Matz, 84, who died Feb. 9 at Newton Medical Center, will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marion. Burial will be in Marion Cemetery. A prayer service will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion. Visitation will follow.

Valera Morgan

The funeral service for Valera (Graham) Morgan, 94, who died Monday at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, will be 10 a.m. Monday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds reported

Domestic division cases

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic Division cases

Breed called 'cattle of kings'

If Goessel resident Vernon Base lived in Africa, where his cattle came from, he’d be considered extremely wealthy. There a man’s worth is measured by how many live animals he has. Base and his wife, Angela, have raised Watusi for 24 years and the herd is up to 40 animals.

Cattle needs increase in cold

Extreme weather conditions, such as recently seen in Marion County, mean cattle have greater needs. Nolan Brunner, co-owner of Cow Camp Ranch at Ramona, a feedstock, cow/calf operation and commercial feed yard, said cattlemen need to be especially attentive to their animals’ needs in extreme weather.

Symphony 2019 looks to the stars

The state’s motto, Ad Astra per Aspera, “To the stars through difficulties,” will be the theme of this year’s Symphony in the Flint Hills on June 15. The event will be at a location its owners call Irma’s Pasture, south of Cottonwood Falls at Bazaar. Bazaar is an unincorporated dot in the prairie with 81 rural residents and a United Methodist church.

Grain prices edging up

Despite a slowing ag economy, grain prices are higher than a year ago. Tuesday prices at Cooperative Grain and Supply in Marion were $4.58 for wheat; $8.08 for soybeans; $3.12 for milo; and $3.40 for corn.

The latest four-letter word: M-A-T-H

Among many great lines, Mark Twain popularized the concept that there are three types of deception: lies, damned lies, and statistics. Some statistical lies are just fancy ways people who are handy with numbers try to deceive the rest of us.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Woman's passion for painting flows again

After retiring a few years ago from a 43-year career in nursing, Peabody resident Carol Smith now has lots of time — and paint — on her hands. “I love art,” Smith said. “I decided early on that I was going into art.”

Commodities arrive Feb. 20

Government surplus commodities will be at distribution sites in Marion County Feb. 20. Marion Senior Center will have pickup from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20. Lehigh residents will pick up commodities at Main St. Ministries in Hillsboro.

Hillsboro Senior Center menu

CALENDAR:

New coach, new goals for Tabor softball

While softball coach Bryan Howard had to wait an extra five days to make his Tabor debut, the added practice time before Tuesday’s game was appreciated. “We haven’t been able to get outside, so we’re looking at it as a positive that we get an extra week to prepare,” he said. “Let’s take advantage of that time.”

Goessel scholars capture 4th place at state

In the premier contest of the season, Goessel’s Scholars Bowl team placed fourth at the 2A Scholars Bowl state contest. With a total of six teams eliminated and six teams advancing, Goessel started the championship round with a 70-30 win over Heritage Christian.

Schools celebrate National FFA Week

Hillsboro and Goessel High Schools will celebrate National FFA Week next week. Hillsboro FFA students will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday in the middle school gym.

Hillsboro school board extends contracts

Hillsboro school board had contract fever Monday, extending the contracts of six administrators. Elementary principal Evan Yoder, middle/high school principal Clint Corby, and middle/high school assistant principal and activities director Robert Rempel all received extensions through June 2021.

HHS February students of the month

Hunter Hein is a junior. He participates in youth group, 4-H, football, basketball, and baseball. He has a part-time job. In his spare time, he enjoys crafting, baseball, listening to music, exercising, and driving. He plans to attend college and major in sports science.

Hillsboro swept by Indians

Hillsboro basketball is in dire need of confidence and momentum. Time is running out for both teams, with two games left in the regular season.

Goessel boys net seventh win

The Goessel boys won a lopsided basketball affair Friday at Herington, 57-21. Goessel jumped out to 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 25 points by halftime.

Goessel girls struggle at Herington

Only three girls scored at Herington in Goessel’s final league game of the season. The Bluebirds fell behind 20-14 after the first quarter and trailed 34-25 by halftime.

Norstrom takes fifth at state meet

Competing at the girls’ state wrestling meet is nothing new for Canton-Galva-Hillsboro wrestler Taryn Norstrom. The junior has finished in the top five two straight years, taking third as a sophomore a year ago.

College degrees and honors

Goessel and Hillsboro school menus

Classifieds

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