HILLSBORO Star-Journal

78 votes disqualified in election

Voters in Marion County cast 187 provisional ballots in the Nov. 6 general election, but 78 of those votes were disqualified Monday at the election canvass. There were five reasons votes were disqualified: 34 voters moved to Marion County from elsewhere and hadn’t re-registered; 29 voters simply were not registered; two voters weren’t registered before the deadline for the general election; and one voter went to the wrong polling place.

Pancakes help pay for 4-H trip

A fourth-place finish at the state 4-H livestock judging contest in August was something to be proud of for several Marion County 4-H club members. However, with only the top three teams slated for national competition they thought that was the end of this year’s judging season. A recent development changed that, and Nick Meyer, Lauren Geis, Bryce Roberts, and Karl Riffel found themselves frying and flipping pancakes Saturday morning to raise money to help pay their expenses to judge in the national 4-H livestock-judging contest in January in Fort Worth, Texas.

Collision shuts down K-15

An early morning collision resulted in critical injuries for a Wichita man and shut down K-15 highway Nov. 7. A Goessel High School student, Kevin Moon, was on his way to an honor math contest when he pulled his 1988 Chevy pickup onto the highway from the east after stopping at the stop sign. He proceeded into the path of an oncoming truck driven by Robert Earnst, 56, of Wichita. Earnst swerved to miss the youth and lost control of his 2005 F150 pickup. The vehicle flipped several times before coming to rest on its side in the middle of the highway just south of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Alberto Morales-Ceniceros, 61, also of Wichita, was a passenger in Earnst’s vehicle.

Goerzen donates cash from scrap to charity

Not too many people plan to make a career out of cleaning up others’ junk and then giving away the profits, but then not too many people are as good-hearted as Willis Goerzen of rural Goessel. Goerzen, a licensed heating and air-conditioning mechanic, and part-time van-driver for Bethesda Home, collects and takes apart air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or anything not in working order that might have aluminum, copper, or other metals of value inside.

Harla R. Cheek

Harla R. Cheek of Hamilton died Nov. 6 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born Sept. 9, 1956 to Harlan A. and Evelyn O. (Logan) Zager in Council Grove.

Donna Merwin Cook

Donna Merwin Cook, 78, of Parker, Colo., formerly of Marion, died Oct. 28. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Juanita Merwin of Emporia, one sister, and one son. She is survived by her husband, Bob G. Cook, two sons, two daughters, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ellen E. Darrow

MARION — Ellen E. Darrow, 93, passed away Nov. 12, 2012, at her residence. She was born near Marion, Dec. 15, 1918, the daughter of John and Rena Conyers Hett. On Jan. 1, 1942, she was united in marriage to Lloyd L. Darrow. She was co-owner and bookkeeper of Aulne Grain.

John D. Hett

MARION — John D. Hett was born April 4, 1930 to John and Rena (Conyers) Hett of rural Marion, Kan. He passed away Nov. 10, 2012, in Marion, after a prolonged illness. John lived in rural Marion, near the town of Aulne, his entire life. As the youngest of nine children in a happy and loving family, there were many large and interesting gatherings involving relatives and friends. Stories about these events and the happenings spawned by lives filled with the joy of strong family relationships and a certain creative humor abound in the lives of those who had the privilege to experience and participate in this family.

Cleda L. Meyer

Cleda Louise Meyer, 71, of Alma died Nov. 7 at her home. She was born Feb. 3, 1941, in Fayette County, Ill., to Oscar A. and Fern (Harrison) Copple. She graduated from Council Grove High School in 1959. She married John F. Meyer on Aug. 26, 1962, at Church of Christ Christian in Council Grove.

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Tampa council commits to PRIDE

Clark Davis, a representative of Tampa PRIDE, asked the city council Nov. 5 for a commitment to the program for another year. After a brief discussion, Mayor Tim Svoboda signed a resolution giving the city’s support to the program. David Rziha was sworn in to complete the unexpired term of Don Zaideman, who resigned.

Moran deputy to meet with county residents

A member of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s staff will have office hours beginning at 4 p.m. Monday in the Marion County Commission meeting room at the county courthouse, 200 S. Third St., Marion. Mike Zamrzla, deputy state director for Moran, will meet with residents who are having problems with Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Affairs, or other concerns related to the federal government.

Holiday care packages for soldiers

At an American Legion Auxiliary meeting this past week the topic of holiday care packages to soldiers on active duty came up. The official report was that we wouldn’t be sending any this year because the only active duty soldier we had listed would be home shortly. But then someone said, “Wait, weren’t there a couple listed in the paper two or three weeks ago?” And another said, “Yeah, you’re right and what about so-and-so?” It seems that while we had one soldier on the official list, we had an idea there might be others who had been overlooked. Not good.

BALANCING ACT:

Lifelong lecture to address technology

Retired Illinois State University professor Emerson Wiens will address the positives and negatives of technology during Tabor College’s Lifelong Learning series at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. Wiens attended Tabor College for a semester before transferring to Bethel College and earning a degree in industrial arts education. He taught for 23 years at Bethel and earned a doctorate in vocational and technical education at the University of Illinois. He taught technology in society courses for 12 years at Illinois State University.

Alexanderwohl invites public to Thanksgiving service

Leaders of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church invite the public to attend a Thanksgiving service on Nov. 22., at the church, one mile north of Goessel on K-15. Marcia Brubaker will play organ prelude music at 9:45 a.m., and Kyle Unruh will provide special music. Pastor Linda Ewert will bring the message, “The Grateful One Sees God.”

Watch out for CO buildup

With the arrival of colder weather, there is an increase of fuel-burning appliances being used in the home. These appliances include furnaces, ovens, space heaters, generators, indoor grills, and fireplaces, and they can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in the home. According to a study from 2004 to 2006, children younger than 5 years old have the highest estimated rate of CO-related visits to the emergency room each year among all age group in the United. Nationally more than 25 children die from CO poisoning every year. In Kansas, over 500 people have been hospitalized and four people have died from CO poisoning over the past 10 years.

Police recover stolen items from Peabody HUB

Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke has announced the recovery of three of the laptop computers stolen Oct. 9 from the HUB in Peabody. “Information in the case has continued to be forthcoming,” Burke said. “Diligently following up on leads received in the case led to the recovery of the laptop computers.

CDDO to meet Monday

The Board of Directors of Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization will meet 4 p.m. Monday at 500 N. Main St., Suite 204, Newton. There will be opportunity for public forum.

Open gym starts Wednesday

Hillsboro Recreation Commission will have open gym from 7 to 9 p.m. today and Nov. 21 and 28 and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 25 at the Hillsboro High School gymnasium. Open gym is for youth and adult basketball players to play in pickup games or practice shooting. The recreation commission asks players to bring a separate set of clean basketball shoes to wear on the gym floor.

Cowboy songs illustrate man's life

Jack Griffith’s recent days have started to mirror the melancholy cowboy songs he sings any chance he gets. Unlike the drovers in many of those tunes, Griffith is not dying, but he is gradually hanging up his spurs. Griffith and his wife Leona used to host Roundup Suppers at their ranch north of Walton. He would take people out in a coach, pulled by two Belgian horses he raised, to a place in his pasture. During the trek, he would tell cowboy stories. In the pasture, Griffith had fashioned a wooden stage and picnic tables. As his guests ate their meal of barbecue brisket, he would strum his guitar and belt out songs like “Cowboy Jack” and “Streets of Laredo.”

Tampa native chosen for cancer research project

Matthew Klenda of Tampa was chosen to conduct a cancer research project by the Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University. Klenda is a senior majoring in biochemistry at Kansas State.

Kliewer wins singing competition

Nine Tabor College vocalists competed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing student auditions Nov. 1 through 3 at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Freshman Olivia Kliewer won the freshman women’s classical division. Senior Jessica Coldwell advanced to the semifinal round of her division.

CORRESPONDENTS:

USD 410 approves bid solicitations

The USD 410 Board of Education approved soliciting bids for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system for the Hillsboro High School and Middle School gymnasiums on Monday. Tom Stone of Don’s Heating and Air Inc., brought in preliminary projections for a heat pump system for the HHS gym, about $70,000, and a roof unit for the middle school gym, about $55,000. Stone was consulting for the district because Don’s Heating and Air Inc had worked on all of the HVAC systems previously.

Goessel school board reconfigures plans

USD 411 Board of Education members took a walking tour of proposed building change areas Monday at the Goessel High School. “Our last plan for building improvements included bumping out our high school gymnasium area to the north to include a larger storage area for maintenance and a possible expanded weight and fitness room,” Superintendent John Fast said. “Because of a significant difference in cost, we are now looking from a different perspective of moving some things around.”

Tabor concert will benefit needy

The Tabor College Concert Choir and Concerto Bella Voce will present their annual Praise and Thanksgiving Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The concert is free and open to the public. An offering will be taken for Hillsboro Area Ministerial Alliance’s work assisting needy families, and canned goods will be collected for Main Street Ministries.

Tabor student to present trombone recital

Cody Schroeder of Goddard will perform his senior trombone recital at 7 p.m. Monday in the Tabor College Chapel. He will play four solos, “Blue Bells of Scotland” by Arthur Pryor, “Visions of Light Movement II” by Eric Ewazen, “Nocturno” by Franz Strauss, and “Concertino” by Ferdinand David. He will be accompanied on the pieces by Zach Neumann. Schroeder will also be joined by Daniel Baldwin, Emery Schroeder, and Brian Postier to perform his own arrangement of “Pachelbel’s Canon.”

Area schools participate in math competition

On Nov. 7, the seventh annual MC2: McPherson College Math Competition invited 265 high school students from 18 area schools to put their math skills to the test. Goessel, Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody-Burns high schools all participated in the competition.

Veteran leads on, always tries to do his duty

When Graeme Glaser of rural Peabody gets up each morning, he goes out to take care of his livestock. It is something he has done all his life as a career farmer and agriculturist - take care of things. Since 1978 Glaser and his wife, Diane, have farmed in Marion County, raising crops and livestock. Since Oct. 1 this year, he has been hauling water to his 25 cows every other day, stretching resources to combat drought conditions in central Kansas.

Seniors help shut-ins, deliver meals

At 11 a.m. every Thursday and Friday, Dorothy Conyers loads up her car at Marion Senior Center and begins her circuit around Marion, delivering Meals on Wheels to shut-ins. “I love it,” she said Thursday. “I love the people.”

Board approves volleyball trip

The USD 410 Board of Education approved coach Sandy Arnold and two HHS volleyball players to attend the National Volleyball Coaches Association Convention Dec. 14, 15, and 16 in Louisville, Ky. Senior Tena Loewen and junior Danae Bina were invited to attend the skills competitions and clinics during the convention. Loewen is also in the running with 340 other players to be selected to the all-star game among the top 24 players in the country. If she is selected it would cause a school conflict because she would have to travel to Louisville by Dec. 12 for a practice.

Players named to Wheat State League football team

Several county athletes were named to the Wheat State League football team. Senior Justin Deines and junior Kyle Methvin were named to the first team from Centre High School. Seniors Trey Schmidt, Nicolas Buller, and Shane Goerzen were named from Goessel High School. Seniors Hunter Pickens, Tommy Morris, and Lucas Larsen were named from Peabody-Burns High School.

Tabor hitter named KCAC player of the year

Tabor College volleyball senior outside hitter Katie Vogts of Moundridge was named Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the year. Four other Tabor volleyball players were named to KCAC all-league teams.

Loewen wins consecutive top high school player awards

For the second consecutive year, Hillsboro High School outside hitter Tena Loewen was named the 3A player of the year by the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association. Head coach Sandy Arnold was named coach of the year.

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