HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Farm learning idea gaining ground

Members of the USD 410 staff explained Tuesday they would like to begin school-to-farm learning at Hillsboro Elementary School sooner rather than later. Principal Evan Yoder explained how the process and finished product might look. The elementary school also will collaborate with Tabor College.

Commission resets Florence motel price

After rescinding two proposals Monday, county commissioners voted again to auction a former Florence motel at $5,000. Commissioners agreed with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman’s sentiment preferring to keep the former Holiday Motel as a motel, but wanting to postpone the building’s sale no longer.

After 51 years, Riffels travel back to Greece

In 1960, H. Edwin Riffel, his wife Carol, and their son David left Marion for life on the island of Crete of the coast of Greece. Ed, a 1958 Herington High School graduate, was on active duty for the Air Force at the time, and the family spent two years overseas. Before their second child, daughter Chris, was born, the Riffels moved back to Kansas, keeping in contact with Greek friends through letters.

Mennonite Central Committee responds to typhoon

Several local Mennonite churches including First Mennonite Church and Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church are raising funds for Mennonite Central Committee to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Those wishing to donate can go to http://www.mcc.org/typhoon or contact the MCC Central States office in Newton at (316) 283-2720.

Engler shares love of horses

To enter the world of Engler Farms is to entire a world a plethora of animals call home. Guests to the farm will be greeted by ducks, kittens, goats, two farm dogs, and an overly fluffy Pomeranian named Alexander. To owner Belinda Engler, the horses and ponies that call the farm home are the true treasures. “I was one of those kids that live and breathed horses since I was born,” Engler said. “I had a wooden spring horse growing up and wore it out because it was my favorite toy.”

One-handed pianist to perform Sunday

Pianist Brian Arnold will return to share not only his music but also his story with patrons free of charge at 7 p.m. Sunday at the USD 408 Performing Arts Center, as part of the Marion Ministerial Alliance Community Thanksgiving Services. “He came at Chingawassa Days and did so well that we wanted to have him back,” Marion Christian Church pastor Carl Helm said Monday. “It was hard to believe anyone could play piano with one hand, but he was phenomenal.”

Sen. Moran to have 1,000th town hall meeting in Marion

Sen. Jerry Moran will return to Marion, the site of his first town hall meeting on July 18, 1997 for his 1,000th meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the Marion Community Center Ballroom. The meeting will kickoff Moran’s “Kansas Listening Tour,” and include a free pancake lunch where visitors can share their ideas and feedback with the senator.

Star-Journal to print early

Because of Thanksgiving, the Hillsboro Star-Journal will be published on Monday, Nov. 25. Deadlines advanced to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

Deer hunters' work starts well before Dec. 4

Firearms season for deer hunting is Dec. 4-15 this year in Kansas, but preparation for hunting started back in spring. Craig Dodd of Chisholm Trail Outfitters in Hillsboro said many hunters would have planted food plots near creeks in spring and summer.

Don't leave the leaves

The once pretty fall leaves are now brown and falling into yards and streets everywhere. Last month Marion City Council made a push to encourage people to keep leaves out of streets, but the wind has other plans. Short of chopping down all the trees to get rid of leaves, there are several options for residents looking to remove the pesky plant droppings from their yards and streets alike.

Winkler retires from EMS after 41 years

Marion ambulance volunteer Gene Winkler has retired from Marion County Emergency Medical Service as of Nov. 1 after 41 years of serving the community. “I got into to doing this in August of 1972,” Winkler said. “It’s just time to let some of the younger kids do it.”

Scams increase during holidays

Norma Kline thought it was unusual when a friend called asking for advice on whether to send money to a man saying her computer would blow up in 48 hours unless she sent him $140. “I don’t know what made her stop and call me, as she was convinced it was something she needed to do,” Kline said. “She is older and needs help navigating life, especially the financial stuff, so I suppose she thought she should ask me before driving to Vogt’s Supermarket in Hillsboro to send a $140 wire transfer to the scam artists.”

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds records

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Comedian to renovate Marion apartments

Things are looking up at 102 W. Santa Fe St. in Marion. Felicia Dye has purchased the Santa Fe Apartments and is having them renovated. Dye is a comedian living in Los Angeles, so the question comes to mind, how did she come to own property in Marion?

Not all home improvement projects are equal

Homeowners undertake all sorts of projects expecting to add to the value of their home when it is time to sell, but different projects can have dramatically different returns on investment, according to local real estate agents. At the most basic level, making sure a house is clean and in good condition will provide excellent returns on the time and money spent, Lori Heerey of Heerey Real Estate in Marion said.

Protect your home from break-ins

It is getting to be the holiday season, and not everyone is looking to spread holiday cheer. The holidays are a prime time for thieves to target houses to steal Christmas gifts and holiday cheer. Hillsboro Police Chief Daniel Kinning said the season presents an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of distracted homeowners and shoppers.

Simple steps can cut heating bills dramatically

With the first arctic blast of cold, homeowners begin thinking, “How do I keep the cold out and the heat in?” The most common solutions are caulk around windows, insulate more, and turn the thermostat up. Those fixes do the job, but they can be expensive. Other cost-reducing things can be done around the home to decrease heating bills and cost pennies on the dollar.

How history sneaks up on you

This past weekend I was happy to celebrate my 67th birthday. I know that seems older than dirt to many of you youngsters who receive the newspaper every week in your home or classroom. I usually don’t feel that old. I know I am, but most days it just doesn’t seem like it. A couple of events besides my birthday brought it home to me during the weekend, however. There were specials on television and a review in the Sunday

Hamms married in 1953

Clayton and Wanda Hamm will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Friday. They married on Nov. 22, 1953, in Claflin. They have lived in Marion for the majority of their life. They have two children, Shirley Riffel and her husband, John, of Newton and Dennis and his wife, Grace, of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Bank coordinates gifts for elderly

Emprise Bank in Hillsboro will have a Silver Angel Tree this Christmas season to recognize elderly residents. The project will arrange gift-givers with elderly residents in need of Christmas cheer. Nomination forms are available from the bank and are due Dec. 2. Beginning Dec. 6, angels will be posted on the tree with anonymous gift suggestions.

Tabor Christmas concert is Sunday

The Tabor College Chamber Strings and Symphonic Band will present their annual Christmas instrumental performance at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. This year’s theme is “Snapshots of Christmas.” The Chamber Strings will begin the concert with “Rhythmic Snapshots of Christmas,” and all the selections will provide musical snapshots of the Christmas message.

Baker pleased with bierock variation

Rachel Schmidt of Norel Farms Bakery in Hillsboro recently received a special order for bierocks made with sausage instead of ground beef, to be served at Marion’s Christmas Celebration on Dec. 1. In 15 years of making bierocks, she had never tried them with sausage, but she is always interested in trying new flavor combinations. So on Friday she set to filling the special order, as well as making others for regular customers.

Donation dinner will honor former co-owner

After hosting a free-will donation holiday dinner last Christmas, Cindy Taylor and her brother, the late Loren Goddard, decided to make the event annual, hosting another dinner Nov. 28 at Cindy’s Cafe on Thanksgiving. Taylor said she decided to host for the dinner because there had been no public dinner in town last year.

HILLSBORO SENIOR CENTER:

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

ROUND THE TOWN:

Bluejays secure playoff berth win at Ottawa

The Tabor College football team finished its regular season 9-2, winning a game it needed to have a chance at an at-large playoff bid. The Bluejays defeated No. 8 Ottawa University 23-20, tying the Braves and Friends University for second-place in the conference behind Sterling College. Upcoming

9 Bluejays awarded all-conference soccer honors

The Tabor College Bluejays men’s soccer team placed third in the conference regular season, placing seven players on the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference’s all-conference list. Senior defender Adam Morley received Defensive Player of the Year honors, and forward Bransyn Felty was named
Freshman of the Year. Midfielder Marian Saar joined Morley and Felty on the KCAC first-team.

3 Trojans on all-state selections

Hillsboro High School had three volleyball players on the Kansas Volleyball Association 2A all-state team, which was announced Monday. Libero Danae Bina and outside hitters Addie Lackey and Alex Ratzlaff were all named to the all-state first team.

Hillsboro players named to all-league teams

Central Kansas League football and volleyball all-league selections were announced Monday. Football Evan Ollenburger was selected both as a wide receiver and a defensive back. He was a unanimous selection at wide receiver.

Open gym, youth baskeball set

Hillsboro Recreation Commission is sponsoring open gym from 7 to 9 p.m. today and Nov. 27 and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Hillsboro High School gym. Open gym is for youth and adult basketball players to play in pickup games or practice shooting. HRC requests players have dedicated basketball shoes to wear on the gym floor. Players should provide their own basketballs.

Sign-up open for youth basketball

Sign-up open for youth basketball Sign-up is open for JAM Basketball to introduce children to basketball. HHS boys’ and girls’ basketball coaches Darrell Knoll and Nathan Hiebert will lead the program, which stresses fundamentals and game situations in practice for the first half of the season and games for the second half.

Hillsboro High School selects students of the month

Hillsboro High School has selected Kennedy Klein, Jesse Meier, Kalen Moss, and Morganne Hamm as students of the month for November. Kennedy is the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Klein. She is a member of youth group, participated in the fall musical “Cinderella,” and is a member of the volleyball, track, and cheerleading teams. She is also a member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters and plays in the pep band.

Return to current issue