HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Error axes 4 drug cases
A sheath of drug charges filed Aug. 16 against four defendants arrested at the same time have been dismissed for reasons the county attorney’s office refuses to disclose. Sheriff Jeff Soyez said Tuesday that the arresting officer, Joel Womochil, reported a syringe had been dropped on the ground, but in-car video showed the syringe had been thrown from the car before Womochil made contact with the driver.
"We're not in Kansas anymore?"
Parrots, pink flamingos and pirates, oh my! My mother, Virginia, and I are part of a contingency of 95 Tampa residents invited to enjoy Tampa, Florida, on that city’s and Southwest Airlines’s dime.
Wind-whipped fire consumes more than 1,000 acres
A fire that consumed more than 1,000 acres Thursday south of Florence and east of US-77 was so hot meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Wichita watched it via satellite. The fire was whipped by sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph.
Commissioners set to vote on administrator
Despite a non-binding 2017 referendum in which voters rejected the idea 1,192-962, Marion County commissioners are poised to vote Monday to create a county administrator position. At their meeting last week, commissioners heard from the public in support of the idea, reviewed a proposed resolution to create the position, and set the matter to be discussed Monday.
$3,700 in diesel stolen
At least 10 different credit cards have been used 22 times to steal $3,700 worth of diesel fuel from Epp’s Service pumps, Hillsboro police say. Assistant police chief Randy Brazil said the thefts began Aug. 1, with the most recent Nov. 15.
Turnpike alert nets drug bust
Tipped off by turnpike authorities, sheriff’s deputies stopped a stolen pickup and uncovered a large cache of drugs Nov. 20. Turnpike authorities told the county a pickup stolen from Wichita had gone through a toll booth west of El Dorado and headed north on US-77.
County playing musical ambulances
An ambulance that hit a deer, another with a blown engine, and a third getting maintenance and inspection after more than two years in mothballs have emergency medical services playing musical ambulances to cover the county. The ambulance with engine failure ordinarily was used as a back-up ambulance based in Hillsboro.

OTHER NEWS

Flaked-out audio can't stop flurry of tune
The show must go on. That’s exactly what Marion third through fifth graders did when the sound system for Monday’s concert at the Performing Arts Center failed as the show began.
County underserved by lawyers
With nine licensed lawyers in the county, several of them not actually practicing, and only two offices where a customer could hire a lawyer, Marion County is among the least-served counties for legal services. The Rural Justice Initiative, a committee to examine unmet legal needs in rural Kansas, will study the issue for 18 months and submit recommendations to the state Supreme Court.
Hospital gets partial remodel through COVID grant
Office and work areas at the main entrance of St. Luke Hospital in Marion are being remodeled to create better work and storage areas. The work also will make the main lobby less likely to be a place where COVID-19 could be spread, chief executive Jeremy Ensey said.
Toy run proceeds given to organizations
Six groups that help provide Christmas gifts for needy children received checks Saturday from the 29th annual Marion County Toy Run. This year’s recipients included Marion County Food Bank, Families and Communities Together, Marion Community Christmas, Hillsboro Ministerial Alliance, Peabody Association of Churches, and Goessel Ministerial Alliance.
Foundation seeks grant applications
Peabody Community Foundation’s next grant cycle is open for applications through Jan. 4. Up for grabs is $9,500.
Ag Service helps fund Food 4 Kids
Ag Service Inc. and Land O’ Lakes Foundation have donated $5,000 to Kansas Food Bank. The food bank will use the money for its Food 4 Kids program to provide food to chronically hungry children in communities where Ag Service has a presence.Ag Service has locations in Hillsboro, Whitewater and Assaria.

DEATHS

Dena Bowman
Services for Dena Lynn Bowman, 59, of Lincolnville, who died Thursday at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, were Monday. She was born May 17, 1963, in Goessel to Lester and Sandra (Hammer) Tajchman.
Bill Faunce
Services for former Burns resident Bill C. Faunce, 94, El Dorado, who died Nov. 27 at Lakepoint Nursing Home in El Dorado, were Friday. He was born March 1, 1928, in Anthony, to Ira and Flossie (Hogoboam) Faunce.
Neoma Flaming
Services for Neoma Fern Flaming, 82, who died Saturday at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler, were Tuesday at the retirement community’s chapel. Burial was in French Creek Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.
Joan Haines
Services for Joan E. Haines, 90, Salina, who died Nov. 28, were Saturday. She was born April 14, 1932, in Chanute to Fred and Clara (Bouray) Crowl.
Keith Knaak
Services for Hillsboro High School graduate Keith Lynn Knaak, 72, of Craig, Missouri, who died Nov. 28 at Mosaic Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, were Saturday in Mound City, Missouri. Private inurnment with military rites was planned at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Carol Leppke
Services for Carol Leppke, 66, rural Hillsboro, who died Dec. 1 at Newton Medical Center, will be this spring. Born Aug. 11, 1956, in Marion to Vernon and Henrietta (Stika) Waner, she married Craig Leppke on Dec. 8, 1973, in Marion.

DOCKET

FARM

Fewer hours, better pay for farm workers
Farm workers in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota worked less and made more money than last year during October, according to the Department of Agriculture. A farm labor report indicates there were 45,000 workers, unchanged from a year earlier.
Student attends national conventions
Peabody-Burns senior Alex Young has been a bit of a jetsetter of late. In October, he traveled to Indianapolis to play his trombone in Future Farmers of America’s national band.

OPINION

When sympathy isn't enough
Profound tragedies like last week’s death of 16-year-old Seth Mader demand not just polite compassion but also boundless, if not always popular, passion — courage to face facts, however unpleasant they might be, and commitment, even amid grieving, to seeking actions that might ensure that no other family must suffer. Like investigators of airline crashes, our community must focus on saving lives, not just feelings. And the first step is to recognize that ATVs are dangerous — perhaps too dangerous to be allowed unchecked on roadways.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Getting in the spirit
LETTER:
Too graphic

PEOPLE

Nativity collection knows no season
Celebration of the birth of Jesus isn’t just a holiday event for Edith Regier of Marion. She keeps it alive all year long through nativity scenes on permanent display throughout her home. Regier, 87, isn’t sure the exact number she owns but has between 80 and 90 of them.
Author's proceeds to go to nonprofit groups
Retired from teaching special education, Thane Schwartz spends his time writing. Schwartz, a Marion resident, has self-published three books.
Senior center menus
MEMORIES:
15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 105, 135 years ago

SCHOOL

Hillsboro elementary wins national award
Hillsboro Elementary School is one of two schools in the state to be named an Elementary and Secondary Education Act distinguished school in 2022. The award is based on academic achievement over the last couple of years and academic growth, principal Nathan Hiebert said.
Tabor meets challenge ahead of schedule
Tabor College has met a $1.5 million challenge grant from Tulsa’s J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation for a residence hall scheduled to open next year. Tabor raised $2,236,229 five months earlier than it had planned.

SPORTS

Blackout mars opener; Trojans upset twice
Power went out with 24 seconds left in the first quarter of the men’s varsity basketball game Friday between Marion and Goessel. Goessel had a slight lead over Marion 14-11, but the game was postponed until 3 p.m. Dec. 17 in Goessel.
Warriors, Trojans hit the mats
Hillsboro and Marion kicked off their wrestling seasons Thursday and Friday on the road. The Warriors placed sixth out of 10 teams at Thursday’s dual tournament in Burlington.

MORE…

HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT

Kids had a ball -- or a bawl -- Saturday visiting Santa at Peabody's Come Home for Christmas. Being snuggled by Mrs. Claus made 13-month-old Hazel Goodwin decide she was ready to go back to mama.

Marion third through fifth graders throw snow as the finale to the song "Let It Snow" during Monday's concert.

Nearly all of the residents of Tampa, Kansas, took up an offer from Tampa, Florida, for free flights, lodging, and entertainment there this week.

Burning grass spreads across a pasture Thursday south of Florence. A wind-whipped fire burned more than 1,000 acres and was fought by departments from four counties.

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Parrots, pink flamingos and pirates, oh my! My mother, Virginia, and I are part of a contingency of 95 Tampa residents invited to enjoy Tampa, Florida, on that city’s and Southwest Airlines’s dime.

A fire that consumed more than 1,000 acres Thursday south of Florence and east of US-77 was so hot meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Wichita watched it via satellite. The fire was whipped by sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph.

At least 10 different credit cards have been used 22 times to steal $3,700 worth of diesel fuel from Epp’s Service pumps, Hillsboro police say. Assistant police chief Randy Brazil said the thefts began Aug. 1, with the most recent Nov. 15.

Tipped off by turnpike authorities, sheriff’s deputies stopped a stolen pickup and uncovered a large cache of drugs Nov. 20. Turnpike authorities told the county a pickup stolen from Wichita had gone through a toll booth west of El Dorado and headed north on US-77.

The show must go on. That’s exactly what Marion third through fifth graders did when the sound system for Monday’s concert at the Performing Arts Center failed as the show began.

Office and work areas at the main entrance of St. Luke Hospital in Marion are being remodeled to create better work and storage areas. The work also will make the main lobby less likely to be a place where COVID-19 could be spread, chief executive Jeremy Ensey said.

Peabody Community Foundation’s next grant cycle is open for applications through Jan. 4. Up for grabs is $9,500.

Services for Dena Lynn Bowman, 59, of Lincolnville, who died Thursday at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, were Monday. She was born May 17, 1963, in Goessel to Lester and Sandra (Hammer) Tajchman.

Services for former Burns resident Bill C. Faunce, 94, El Dorado, who died Nov. 27 at Lakepoint Nursing Home in El Dorado, were Friday. He was born March 1, 1928, in Anthony, to Ira and Flossie (Hogoboam) Faunce.

Services for Neoma Fern Flaming, 82, who died Saturday at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler, were Tuesday at the retirement community’s chapel. Burial was in French Creek Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.

Services for Joan E. Haines, 90, Salina, who died Nov. 28, were Saturday. She was born April 14, 1932, in Chanute to Fred and Clara (Bouray) Crowl.

Services for Hillsboro High School graduate Keith Lynn Knaak, 72, of Craig, Missouri, who died Nov. 28 at Mosaic Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, were Saturday in Mound City, Missouri. Private inurnment with military rites was planned at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Services for Carol Leppke, 66, rural Hillsboro, who died Dec. 1 at Newton Medical Center, will be this spring. Born Aug. 11, 1956, in Marion to Vernon and Henrietta (Stika) Waner, she married Craig Leppke on Dec. 8, 1973, in Marion.

Farm workers in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota worked less and made more money than last year during October, according to the Department of Agriculture. A farm labor report indicates there were 45,000 workers, unchanged from a year earlier.

Peabody-Burns senior Alex Young has been a bit of a jetsetter of late. In October, he traveled to Indianapolis to play his trombone in Future Farmers of America’s national band.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTER:

Celebration of the birth of Jesus isn’t just a holiday event for Edith Regier of Marion. She keeps it alive all year long through nativity scenes on permanent display throughout her home. Regier, 87, isn’t sure the exact number she owns but has between 80 and 90 of them.

Retired from teaching special education, Thane Schwartz spends his time writing. Schwartz, a Marion resident, has self-published three books.

MEMORIES:

Hillsboro Elementary School is one of two schools in the state to be named an Elementary and Secondary Education Act distinguished school in 2022. The award is based on academic achievement over the last couple of years and academic growth, principal Nathan Hiebert said.

Tabor College has met a $1.5 million challenge grant from Tulsa’s J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation for a residence hall scheduled to open next year. Tabor raised $2,236,229 five months earlier than it had planned.

Power went out with 24 seconds left in the first quarter of the men’s varsity basketball game Friday between Marion and Goessel. Goessel had a slight lead over Marion 14-11, but the game was postponed until 3 p.m. Dec. 17 in Goessel.

Hillsboro and Marion kicked off their wrestling seasons Thursday and Friday on the road. The Warriors placed sixth out of 10 teams at Thursday’s dual tournament in Burlington.