HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Parking' in the park

‘Parking’ is an old-fashioned slang term for two lovebirds kissing in an automobile and it also is the word that best describes why Hillsboro police officers had to recently had to issue several curfew violations in Memorial Park. “It’s usually just kids ‘parking’ down by the sewer pond,” police chief Dan Kinning said. “I don’t know why they go there.”

Professor to discuss values, teaching

Tabor College professor David Loewen will be discuss the relationship between his values and how much his students learn as part of the Richard G. Kyle Faculty Lecture series. The lecture will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the lobby of the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Council approves new fire truck after special meeting

Hillsboro City Council had a special meeting March 26 and approved the purchase of a 2004 Pierce four-wheel drive truck for $198,100 by the fire advisory board. City Administrator Larry Paine said the council had the special meeting because the fire board had placed a hold on the truck and did not want to risk losing it.

Program helps businesses with financing, planning

When Marie Kessler wanted to relocate and expand her quilting store, Kessler Kreations, she went to Hillsboro Ventures Inc. for help, which she received through the city’s E-Community program — the “E” is for entrepreneurship. The program provided part of the financing for the move, as well as helping her prepare a viable business plan.

Peabody City Council agrees to water rate increases

Hillsboro City Administrator Larry Payne met with Peabody City Council members Monday evening to discuss an increase in the amount Peabody pays Hillsboro for its water. The original contract between the two communities was created in 1999 and Peabody was charged $1.40 per thousand gallons by Hillsboro to treat and transport water to Peabody. The contract also allowed for a review of the payment every two years, with an adjustment if necessary.

No surprises in Hillsboro city election

Incumbents Shelby Dirks and Byron McCarty won re-election in uncontested races Tuesday. Dirks received 20 votes in Ward 1, and McCarty received 24 votes in Ward 2.

Following a passion for creating music

Gregg Walker envisions creating a coffee house setting where different artists can display their talents — one could sing, another could dance, and another could show paintings. If he ever gets his way, it could all happen in his dairy barn.

More than Tabor students infected with mystery illness

Dr. Paige Hatcher of St. Luke Physicians Clinic said she has treated Marion residents infected with the same unidentified illness that has struck nearly 20 percent of Tabor College students. “I have seen some patients this week, not many with similar symptoms, but it’s hard to know if it’s the same virus or not at this point,” she said. “We did get a notice this week from the Kansas Health Department saying they’re concerned about a possible outbreak.”

Burn ban discussion continues

After changing a stipulation last week in the county’s burn ban policy, commissioners amended those changes Monday. At the previous meeting March 24, commissioners approved to change the policy from calling special meetings to make weeklong burn bans to banning fires for 24 hours whenever wind speeds exceeded 20 mph.

Marion County wind farm applies to for permit to expand

Windborne Energy has applied for a permit to expand the area for its planned wind farm between Aulne, Peabody, and Florence. Rex Savage said the requested expansion is to give more space around planned turbines to protect downwind turbines from wind vortexes caused by turbines upwind. The proposal is not to add to the planned number or size of turbines.

Insurance candidate speaks in Marion

Ken Selzer, a candidate in the Republican primary for state insurance commissioner, went around Marion on March 26 speaking to different groups about his candidacy. Selzer said insurance is a very technical topic, and he wants to help Kansans make better buying decisions. He has spent 32 years working in insurance and reinsurance.

MacGyver ways to get hair curled just right

Sarah Dye went above and beyond to make sure her daughter’s hair was just the way she wanted it for school photos. Dye’s daughter Sophia’s hair does not hold heat curls, so Dye browsed the Internet looking for ideas to help make it curly.

Documentary on the Civil War to premier in McPherson

A documentary telling the story of the Kansas-Missouri border during the Civil War will have its premier at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McPherson Opera House. “The Road to Valhalla” will feature photographs, interviews, and reenactment footage to illustrate events that describes everything from large battles to guerilla actions along the Kansas-Missouri border.

Getting the convertible ready for spring

The weather is finally getting warmer, and that may have some car enthusiasts ready to get their more “summery” vehicles ready for a cruise after being stored during the winter months. County lake resident Peggi Wilson said she loves her red convertible Mazda Miata she calls “Mia” because it is not just cute, but it’s also fun to drive.

Corvettes a joy to drive, help fan relax after a tough day

It was supposed to be a straightforward “car guy” profile when I met with Jim Hefley on Friday. He has always been a good tipster for me to find other car enthusiasts to profile, and I wanted to take him up on an offer he’d made to go for a ride in his Corvette. He enjoyed taking people on their first ride in a Corvette, he said, and I’d never been in one. Friday morning before work, Hefley called me. He wanted to change the arrangement for the story. He wanted me to drive his Corvette.

Mary Baltzer

Mary Baltzer, 87, died March 26 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born Aug. 1, 1926, to Dietrich and Grace (Crist) Eitzen in Hillsboro. She married Jona Baltzer on Oct. 30, 1947, in rural Hillsboro.

Lena Haynes

Lena Maghe Haynes, 90, died Monday at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born Dec. 16, 1923, to Emile and Julia (Brissart) Maghe in Franklin. She is survived by two sons, James Haynes Jr. of Hillsboro and Dennis Haynes of Salina; three daughters, Linda Klewicki of Rapid City, S.D., Denise Lopez of Wichita, and Connie Guhr of Hillsboro; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Betty Norman

Betty Norman, 83, of Hillsboro died Friday at Parkside Homes. She was born Sept. 21, 1930, to Harry and Edna (Foth) Gossen in Hillsboro. She married Walter Norman on April 15, 1966, in Wichita.

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Fish and Game division cases

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Peabody municipal court

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Is there a safe place for retirement money?

Warren Buffett once said, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” Unlike the stock market, with its ups and downs, there is a way to invest hard-earned savings in an investment plan that guarantees the safety and security of that money.

Governor declares April as Financial Literacy Month

Gov. Sam Brownback signed a proclamation Monday declaring April as Financial Literacy Month, urging Kansans to understand how to manage their money, credit, investments, and debt. “Personal financial literacy among today’s youth will contribute to the financial stability of tomorrow’s workforce and to the growth, success, and prosperity of the Kansas economy,” Brownback said.

Goal-setting, planning are crucial pieces of personal finances

Marion High School family and consumer sciences teacher Myrta Billings teaches students to practice saving money the minute they get a job, so that when they want to purchase an expensive item they will already have developed healthy financial habits. “When we talk about money, we think about values and needs from a consumers point of view,” Billings said Tuesday. “First students have to figure out what their finical goal is and then they can aim for it.”

Stop the perpetual campaigning

City elections are over, the votes are counted, and all that is left is for the county to count provisional ballots and certify the results. Very quickly, city government will roll along like usual. It would be nice to take a break before the next political campaign season begins. Unfortunately, it’s too late for that. Politicians are already out campaigning for the August primary. In particular, the Republican primary campaign for state insurance commissioner seems to be in full swing. At a legislative coffee to start March, candidate Clark Shultz garnered state Rep. John Barker’s endorsement for the primary. And a week ago, Ken Selzer made rounds at least in Marion, stumping for votes and visiting the newspaper.

You can be a track star

One of the grants awarded by the Peabody Community Foundation at its pancake breakfast in February was to Brian Lightner, who is planning a Peabody community track meet to encourage healthy activity and community sports. Lightner is the Peabody-Burns track coach — a guy who probably runs, jumps, leaps, and soars on a daily basis. He just looks like someone who has never met a high jump bar he didn’t like and couldn’t conquer. I attended that pancake breakfast and listened to the list of grant recipients as they were named. I confess to inwardly groaning when the words “community track meet” were spoken. I looked at the table full of older folks like myself sitting around plates swimming in sausage, pancakes, and syrup and I wondered if he meant us. Several of those in my vicinity had that deer in the headlights look — would we be required to move quickly and sweat?

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Tabor couple to wed in June

Preston and Deb Goering of Newton and Nathan and Rosette Loewen of Huron, S.D. announce the engagement of their children, Rachel Goering and Ryan Loewen. The bride-elect is a 2008 graduate Newton High School. She graduated from Tabor College in 2013 and is currently employed at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton.

Leadership group meets

Leadership Marion County members Dainne Cyr, Ashley Friesen, Roger Schroeder, and Karen Williams discussed the importance of servant leadership and effective communities March 6 in Lincolnville. Teresa Huffman taught the class, and on March 20 met with the group and member Kerry Maag at the courthouse for Government Day.

Lifelong Learning session features stories from 1920s and 30s

Phyllis Martens will give a presentation entitled “Stories from an Old Town” at 9:45 a.m. April 4 at Wohlgemuth Music Education Center at Tabor College. Martens will share stories from her grandmother, Helena Jungas, life growing up in rural Mountain Lake, Minn., during the 1920s and 1930s, and a book she wrote.

Democratic Women meet for lunch

Marion County Democratic Women met at the Marion Senior Center for lunch Friday. Sue Clough conducted the business meeting. Neysa Eberhard reported on Washington Days in Topeka.

Documentary on the Civil War to premier in McPherson

A documentary telling the story of the Kansas-Missouri border during the Civil War will have its premier at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McPherson Opera House. “The Road to Valhalla” will feature photographs, interviews, and reenactment footage to illustrate events that describes everything from large battles to guerilla actions along the Kansas-Missouri border.

ROUND THE TOWN:

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HILLSBORO SENIOR CENTER:

Tabor launches new graduate program

Tabor College in Wichita is launching a new master of arts program in entrepreneurial ministry leadership to begin this fall. The program will be held in a one-course-at-a-time format , will consist of 39 credit hours, and can be completed in 21 months. Courses will be offered in a blended learning format. Students will be able to select a specific focus every eight credit hours. A entrepreneurial project must also be completed.

Tabor to present 'The Glass Menagerie'

Tabor College students will present a production of “The Glass Menagerie” at 7:30 p.m. April 10 through 12, and 2 p.m. April 13 in the Lab Theater in the H.W. Lohrenz Building.

Students compete at regional music festival

Spring book fair begins next week

Hillsboro High School’s spring Scholastic Book Fair will run from April 10 to April 17 in the Wiebe Media Center library. Fair hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, but will end at 1 p.m. the final day. The fair will stay open until 6 p.m. April 16.

Butler offers ways for students to save

High school students who enroll in Butler Community College classes after graduation and have taken classes while in high school may find their tuition costs to be cheaper. Butler is offering a Start Smart program that reimburses tuition students paid for classes taken while in high school if they enroll full time at Butler within a year of graduating. Any classes taken during any fall, spring, or summer semesters prior to graduation are eligible.

Seniors offering scholarship

Senior Citizens of Marion County Inc. is offering a $500 scholarship to one 2014 high school senior. Seniors pursuing a degree in an aging related field, including medicine, nursing, social work, therapies, or gerontology are eligible.

Tabor track athletes make noise

At the Emporia State University Spring Open Saturday, numerous Tabor College athletes set personal records, track and field coach Dave Kroeker said. Garrett Daugherty highlighted the meet with a national qualifying mark in the 800-meter race of 1 minute, 53.93 seconds. He placed second overall.

Several players named to basketball all-state team

Several Marion County basketball players were named to all-state teams. Ty Simons of Centre was named to the 1A third team. Christian Ratzlaff of Hillsboro was named to the 2A first team and Brett Weinbrenner was named to the second team 2A.

Women's choir to perform Sunday

The Tabor College Concerto Bella Voce women’s choir will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church. The group has recently returned home after performing eight concerts in four states during spring break March 16 to 23.

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