HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Council raises Peabody's water rates

Hillsboro supplies water to Peabody, and on Tuesday the Hillsboro city council approved a rate increase for Peabody, effective for 2015. The cost per thousand gallons of water will rise from $1.48 to $1.85.

No discount: County pays appraised rate for clinic

Commissioners asked for a hometown discount, did not receive one, and settled for the going rate on a deal with St. Luke Hospital to use clinic space for the relocation of the county Health Department. Offering a $15,000 a year lease, which equates to $6.35 per square foot for the space desired, commissioners were told by St. Luke CEO Jeremy Ensey on Monday that the proposal was too far under the appraised rate of $8 per square foot to be profitable — especially given that the deal included utilities, insurance, and maintenance paid by the hospital.

Hillsboro P.D. to Tabor students: Return junky wheelbarrow

Hillsboro Police advised two Tabor College students to return a “junky wheelbarrow” they allegedly plucked from a scrap metal pile on the corner of Ash and Grand Sts. Dec. 10 while on their way to do laundry. Assistant Chief Jessey Hiebert responded to the call, because the location was not a spot trash is regularly collected and disposed.

'Tis the season ... for weird deer stories

Deer encounters are a regular experience this time of year, including strange tales. When Brian Becker arrived at his Roosevelt Street home after work recently, he found that his son had left the back door open. Becker looked inside his garage and discovered a deer standing atop his pool table.

Newspapers to combine for holidays

For the next two weeks, the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin will publish special joint holiday editions on Mondays. The Christmas-themed “Dear Santa” edition will be published Monday, featuring letters to Santa written by children from county schools.

Hillsboro chamber moves to Main St.

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce is currently transplanting its office from 111 W. Grand St. about a half a block west and a half a block north to its new location at 120 N. Main St. “We had an opportunity to move to a newer, recently remodeled building, so we took it,” chamber president Cynthia Fleming said. “It’s a really nice office space. I think it will be a good home for the chamber.”

Budget muddies plight to fix county roads

Waterlogged gravel roads in Marion County soaked up more rain over the weekend, ensuring at least several more days of sloppy road conditions. County road and bridge supervisor Randy Crawford is as frustrated as anyone else, as the extra rain is another delay as he tries to keep up with 745 miles of soft and muddy roads.

Holt commissioned as Marine Corps officer

In a special ceremony Saturday at Marion Community Center, Louis Holt, son of Terry and Ann Holt of Marion, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Dick Schwartz of Marion, a retired Marine Corps colonel, administered the oath of office. Holt said he chose Marion for his commissioning because of all the people in Marion — teachers, veterans, and law enforcement officers — who helped him get where he is.

Whole-farm revenue insurance available

New farm revenue insurance that covers multiple crops and livestock is now available for 2015. Whole-farm revenue protection allows producers to insure between 50 to 85 percent of their whole farm revenue, and allows growers to insure a variety of crops at once instead of one commodity at a time. That gives them the option of embracing more crop diversity and helps support the production of a wider variety of foods.

Frostbite fun run will be New Year's Day

The 10th annual Frostbite four-mile fun run will be at 2 p.m. on Jan. 1 starting at the Hillsboro Scout House in Memorial Park. Runners and walkers can weave their way through the city on the certified course.

State legislator hears from local officials

A myriad of community figures expressed a myriad of concerns to Republican Don Schroeder (R-74) on Thursday, and were met with mostly sympathy from the legislator. “He was receptive, but what you’re gonna need is somebody to get up on his desk, start his hair on fire and start screaming,” Holub said. “These guys are not listening.”

Key Convenience to close Dec. 31

According to owners Bennie and Cheryl Key, Key Convenience store in Lincolnville will close its doors Dec. 31. Key gave no explanation for the impending closure.

Clifford Entz

Farmer and rancher Clifford Entz, 68, died Monday at his residence. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Swiss Life Center, Whitewater. Services are at 11 a.m. Friday at Swiss Church, Whitewater, with interment preceding the service at 10 a.m. in Swiss Cemetery.

Stephen McCombs

Stephen Dale McCombs, 34, died Monday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born May 24, 1980 in Wichita.

Lee Rempel

Retired Peabody farmer Lee E. Rempel, 87, died Sunday. He was born May 16, 1927, to Ernest and Emma (Ewert) Rempel in Denver.

IN MEMORIAM:

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Traffic division

Mud or mortar?

County commissioners canceled a planned road inspection tour Monday because the roads are in such bad shape right now. Instead, they looked at another building on Main St. in Marion as an option for some unspecified future use. Next week, they’ll talk with an architect to begin planning a new building for the courthouse square.

Rural Marion couple builds dream home

Ken Stuchlik of rural Marion grew up farming with his father and brothers west of Lost Springs. He went on to become an engineer for a large company, but farming remained in his blood.

County seniors board to install new officers

Senior Citizens of Marion County board of directors will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Marion Senior Center. New board members to be installed are Twilla Baker, Barbara Smith, and Betty Ireland. Retiring board members are Shirley Bowers and Judy Mellott.

Hagen receives KU degree

Taylor Hagen of Hillsboro is among nearly 1,250 University of Kansas students who are candidates for degrees to be awarded in January. Hagen graduated from Hillsboro High School in 2010. He will receive a bachelor of arts in human biology.

Opal Craney to turn 100

Family and friends of Opal Craney, longtime Peabody resident, will celebrate her 100th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at Peabody United Methodist Church. She and her family also plan to attend church there that morning. There will be another reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 27 at Homestead Assisted Living in Manhattan.

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Open gym, weight room hours to change for the holidays

Hillsboro Recreation Commission Open Gym and Weight Room will be open during the holiday season, but the hours have changed. open gym Open Gym will occur from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 21, 28, and Jan. 4, and will be open today 7 to 9 p.m. However, there will be no Open Gym Dec. 24 or 31 because of the holidays. weight room

Trojans boys win Moundridge tournament

A frantic dash and last-second jumper by Micah Allen propelled the Hillsboro boys’ basketball team to the Moundridge Tournament title with a 45-43 win over the Wildcats. The Trojans led by as many as 9 points in the second half, and were ahead 43-38 with 1 minute, 31 seconds to play after two Austin Cross free throws.

Hillsboro girls finish 0-3 at Moundridge

The Hillsboro girls’ basketball team didn’t win in three tries during the Moundridge tournament this past week, but played tough in Friday’s 41-36 loss to Moundridge. After a blowout 57-37 loss to Lyons in the opener and a 35-30 loss to Inman, the Trojans got off to a good start against the Wildcats, taking a 4-2 lead when Alex Ratzlaff scored on an 8-foot pull-up jumper. Hillsboro faltered when Moundridge stepped up its defensive pressure, committing numerous turnovers that the Wildcats turned into a 9-5 lead.

Trojans wrestlers nab second at Hesston

A Hillsboro wrestling team short on experience and long on youth got a boost of confidence Saturday when it took second among 16 teams at the Hesston Invitational. “This was definitely a team effort as all but one wrestler scored team points,” head coach Scott O’Hare said. “To make the achievement even more satisfying is that we were also missing two wrestlers in the varsity line-up due to illness. This group really came together and supported each other in an effort to bring home some team hardware.”

Brubaker to volley for Hesston College

Erin Brubaker, 5-foot-9 outside hitter for the Goessel Bluebirds volleyball team, will be spiking for the Hesston College Larks in 2015. A three-time all-Wheat State League selection, Brubaker was named to the first team as a junior and second team as a senior. She helped Goessel High Volleyball to a state runner-up finish in 2014.

Goessel girls win Bluebird Classic

The Goessel girls’ basketball team captured the Bluebird Classic championship with a 39-31 win over Elyria Christian on Saturday, capping a sweep of all three tournament opponents. The Bluebirds got the opening tip and passed down court where Alicen Meysing finished. Eden Hiebert pushed up the floor on the next possession and the Bluebirds led 4-0. But the Eagles stayed close, closing the gap to 8-7 as the first quarter ended.

Goessel boys pick up first win of season

The Goessel boys’ basketball team defeated Elyria Christian 48-36 in the Bluebird Classic tournament Saturday in Goessel. Goessel jumped out to a 14-7 lead midway through the first period. Elyria Christian trimmed the deficit to 16-12 by the quarter break.

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