HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Hillsboro hopes development leads to more rental space

There is a growing need for more rental property in Hillsboro, and that could change if things go a certain way. Economic director Clint Seibel said he owns three rental properties, and he receives calls almost weekly inquiring about open spaces.

Tampa woman finds purpose in managing the store

Connie McMahan manages the Tampa Trail Store in downtown Tampa. McMahan and her husband were living in a Chicago suburb when they decided to retire and move closer to family in the Wichita area. They searched online and found a country home north of Tampa, which they bought sight unseen.

Corps, county extend contract for lake patrol

County commissioners took minimal action Tuesday on a day Commissioner Dan Holub was not in attendance. Sheriff Rob Craft informed commissioners that he hoped to have a contract with the Corps of Engineers finalized next month to patrol the reservoir. Dallke said the contract has been around for at least 20 years.

Economist to speak about experience with Russian farmers

The 68th annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District is Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Josh Roe, an economist with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, will be the speaker.

Medicare Part D changes hurt local pharmacies

Jean Pierce of Marion isn’t interested in going out of town to get her Medicare Part D prescriptions filled no matter how much insurance companies want to steer business to big chain pharmacies— and neither do her friends. “I’ll just stick with my local Marion pharmacy,” she said. “We have to keep something local going.”

Council edges closer to audit contract extension

After some deliberation, Hillsboro City Council members met in the middle in discussing an extension for the city’s audit contract with Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball. Council members split on the two options presented to them. The first was a three-year extension that would cost between $14,000 and $15,000. The second option was a single-year contract costing $16,500.

Foundation awards grants

The Hillsboro Community Foundation presented 12 grants from the Community Impact Fund during halftime of the boys’ basketball game Friday. The grants totaled $13,450. The Kansas Health Foundation also gave a $2,500 grant to Hillsboro Recreation Commission and Tabor College for a new timing system. Impact fund Grant recipients

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County, $1,000 for Bigs in Schools mentoring program.

Circles of Marion County, $2,000.

City of Hillsboro, $1,000 for a youth and bowling center.

Families and Communities Together, $1,000 to provide utility, rent, or medical assistance to families in the school district.

Hillsboro Chess Guild, $250 for entry fees in the State Championship Chess Tournament.

Hillsboro Elementary School, $1,000 for the after school program.

Hillsboro Elementary School and Tabor College, $2,000 for the school-to-farm program.

Hillsboro Museums, $1,200 for third- and fourth-graders to spend a day studying in a one-room schoolhouse.

Hillsboro Police Department, $500 for the canine unit.

Hillsboro Senior Center, $2,500 to replace countertops in the kitchen.

Marion County 4-H Council, $500 for a youth leadership workshop.

Marion County 4-H Endowment Fund, $500 to assist families in sending children to 4-H camp.

Sherilyn Kadel

Sherilyn Kadel, 64, of Randall died Sunday. She was the daughter of Paul and Arlene Pankratz and a graduate of Durham High School. She was a music teacher. She is survived by her husband, David; two daughters, Jennifer Price of Denver and Holly Foster of Oklahoma City; her mother, Arlene Pankratz of Hillsboro; a brother; a sister; four grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Ted McIrvin

Ted McIrvin, 89, of Lehigh died Thursday at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. He was a farmer. He was born Nov. 24, 1924, to Rex and Anna (Prohaska) McIrvin at Cope, Colo. He married Darlene Vawter on Aug. 11, 1946, at Cope. She preceded him in death.

Rubena Wiebe

Rubena Wiebe, 90, died Thursday at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born Nov. 3, 1923, to Bernhard and Margaret (Jantzen) Wiens in Hooker, Okla. She married Vernon Wiebe on May 30, 1947, in Hillsboro.

IN MEMORIAM:

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Creepy lurker update

I am often surprised by the opinion columns that generate a response from the I personally found the fox and his behavior amusing, but never thought the column would even be read to the end; much less generate such a response from readers. It was one of those “are you kidding me?” columns. Sometimes months go by with no one mentioning this space and what has been printed here. And then something will strike a nerve with the reading public and everyone and his grandmother has a comment.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

Wiens family celebrates birthday, baby shower

The family of MaryAnn Wiens gathered over the weekend for the annual birthday dinner and bingo at Hilltop community room in Marion. After dinner, the family had a baby shower for Erica Richmond. Those present were MaryAnn Wiens, Gerald and Jan Wiens, Jennifer Schneider, Jim and Joni Crofoot, Don and Janice Hodson, Jeff, Erica, and Noah Richmond, Brian Grosse, Lindsey Richmond and Braylee, Loreen and Eli Hett, and guest Frankie Turner, all of Marion; Herb Bartel of Hillsboro; Marvin and Diann Cline of Smolan; and Stan and Denise Hett of Wichita.

Chair massages available at senior center

Jason Jones from Hesston Wellness Center will come to Hillsboro Senior Center March 5 to speak about home exercises and nutrition. Chair massages also will be available, but an appointment must be made in advance. Dr. Brett Nedich from Newton Medical Center will speak to patrons after lunch March 4.

City offers new recreation programs

Hillsboro Recreation Commission recently added two new activities to its list of community events and programs. The first activity is a fieldtrip for first through sixth grade students to the Museum of World Treasures on Feb. 28 in Wichita, followed by an afternoon of bowling at Blue Jay Lanes.

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Former band instructor helps student achieve fifth chair in all-state band

Hillsboro High School sophomore Allison Gray recently took fifth chair position in the French horn section of the Kansas Music Educators Association all-state band and will be performing with the ensemble March 1. In addition to regularly scheduled school band practice with band teacher Bruce Major, Allison also has been taking private lessons from former band instructor Shana Stepanek for about two years to help develop her musicianship.

Hillsboro student wins spelling bee

It took 98 words, but after several back-and-forth rounds for first and second place, Jessy Dalke spelled “supplement” correctly to become the Marion County spelling bee champion. Jessy is a fifth grader from Hillsboro Middle School. Her parents are Dale and Jana Dalke. Runner up was six-grader Surinda Bell also of Hillsboro Elementary School. She is the daughter of Creigh and Keri Bell.

FFA saying thanks with pancakes

Hillsboro FFA will have a community pancake feed from 6 a.m. to noon. Saturday at Hillsboro Senior Center. Guests will eat pancakes and sausage as a thank you for the communities support for the FFA program this year.

Goessel students place third in state scholars bowl

After taking first place in pool play as well as logging three wins and two losses in the championship round, Goessel scholars bowl team took third in state on Saturday. In pool play, team members Mark Schmidt, Heath Goertzen, Ben Wiens, Gentry Theisen, Erin Brubaker, and Zach Wiens went 4-1 and beat Pike Valley 50-20, Satanta 55-35, Macksville 35-25, and Centre 75-20, and lost to Stockton 40-25.

Stability balls help maintain focus

After a little test of his own, Peabody-Burns Elementary School Principal Ken Parry decided to find a grant that would allow the school to purchase stability balls for all elementary classrooms. “The school psychologists brought in three or four to try in classes,” Parry said. “We noticed students were more focused and decided at that point it was worth it to us to try and get more for all of the elementary school.”

Blood drive to be held

Hillsboro FFA will have a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Hillsboro Middle School gym.

Goessel to have a 'safari'

Students of Goessel Elementary School will be taking their guests on a musical safari at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the elementary school gym. The program will feature an entire school performance of “It’s a Jungle Out There,” as well as songs “Never Smile at a Crocodile,” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Hillsboro FFA competes in poultry contest

Hillsboro FFA members participated in the South Central District poultry and food science contests Thursday in Marion. Vance Klassen, Mesa Merrell, and Austin Welcher were the greenhand team. Vance placed second individually in greenhand poultry.

Centers help when Meals on Wheels closed for snow

When senior centers in the county were closed because of a snowstorm earlier this month, Meals on Wheels were also suspended. Wilma Gilmer of Marion receives Meals on Wheels regularly because she has difficulty getting out of her home. However, she was well prepared for the storm.

Walk Kansas starts March 16

The county extension service will sponsor Walk Kansas from March 16 to May 10. The eight-week program will focus on helping participants be more active, make better nutrition choices, and learn ways to deal with stress. It is a team event that challenges participants to meet increasing levels of exercise. Participants will log and report their exercise each week. There will be weekly newsletters with exercise and nutrition tips, a recipe, and stress management ideas.

Senior board gives scholarship

In a report to the board of directors meeting for the Senior Citizens of Marion County, Gayla Ratzlaff told those in attendance that a commodity shipment would be delivered to Marion County in March instead of to Council Grove. She also shared information about the Marion County Health Fair to be March 29. A $500 scholarship was approved.

Exension to have class series on memory

The county extension service will offer a Master of Memory class series in March in Hillsboro. The classes will cover how memory works, strategies to improve memory, the effects of medications and medical conditions on memory, nutrition, memory function, and exercise for body and mind.

Goessel boys snap 6-game losing streak

The Goessel Bluebirds went 1-2 in Wheat State League play last week, all at home. On Feb. 11, the Bluebirds played one of the top teams in the league as they fell to Rural Vista 53-44. Goessel fell behind quickly as the first quarter ended with the Heat up 20-9. The Bluebird defense held Rural Vista to five points in the second period with all of those coming in the first half of the period. Baskets by Brian Hiebert and Zach Wiens helped the Bluebirds close the gap to 25-18 at halftime.

Goessel girls go 2-1 for the week

Two Goessel girls ended last week with double-doubles as Alicen Meysing got hers against Rural Vista on Feb. 11 and Page Hiebert used Friday’s game to capture her stat. Goessel managed to play the bigger Rural Vista girls close in the first quarter for three minutes. With the score tied at 6, the Heat scored eight points to Goessel’s two to take a six-point lead. Free throws from Hiebert and a basket from Anna Wiens cut the Rural Vista lead to 14-12.

Tabor men drop two in a row

After winning Thursday against Ottawa University, the Tabor men’s basketball team lost two consecutive games and fell out of top-three consideration in the final KCAC standings. The Bluejays defeated the Braves 90-89 at home, and then lost 76-67 on the road to Southwestern.

Trojans top Dragons after nearly upsetting Hesston

The Hillsboro High School boys’ basketball team went on the road Tuesday and defeated the Halstead Dragons 49-37. Christian Ratzlaff led all scorers with 25 points. Micah Allen scored 13 in the game.

Girls bounce back with road win

It’s a good thing the playoffs are on the road. The Hillsboro High School girls went on the road Tuesday and defeated the Halstead Dragons 57-35 to remain undefeated away from home. The Trojans defense was stout, and the offense spread the ball around well. Six girls scored in the game, led by Addie Lackey with 24 points, Danae Bina with 12, and Alex Ratzlaff with 10.

Tough league tournament prepares students for regionals

Hillsboro wrestlers fought hard over the weekend at the Central Kansas League tournament in Nickerson, coach Scott O’Hare said. The team placed fifth out of nine teams with 82 team points.

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