HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Split vote delays electric hike
Hillsboro electricity users can be certain of one thing: Their rates are going up. Just what the increase will be and how to implement it are still in question, as city council members shot down a resolution that would have raised rates by 1.1 cents per kilowatt hour effective June 1.
Flame jugglers: Crews battle glut of fires
Marion County volunteer firefighters got more than they bargained for this past week, as crews from around the county were called out 15 times to tackle fires that scorched fields and incinerated outbuildings. Monday was a long day for Hillsboro Fire Chief Ben Steketee. He was on call for ambulance duty when a field fire was reported east of Lehigh. Hillsboro firefighters were joined by volunteers from Lehigh, Durham, and Canton.
Annual reservoir cleanup is April 25
Volunteers are being sought for the 13th annual Marion Reservoir Cleanup Day. Volunteers should “dress to get grubby.” They will be tasked with picking up trash around the reservoir, connecting waterways, riparian zones, and wildlife refuges that lie in the North American flyway.
State to quit mailing tag renewal notices
The state budget ax is about to come down on vehicle owners, as the Kansas Department of Revenue will cease mailing tag renewal forms to motorists in July. County treasurer Jeannine Bateman relayed that news to county commissioners Monday.
Commissioners to reconsider road closure
Last week the permanent closure of a portion of Chisholm Trail Rd. between 300th and 310th Rds. seemed imminent, but after a number of individuals spoke to the importance of the stretch of road at Monday’s meeting, Commissioners will reconsider before moving forward. A public hearing garnered multiple attendees Monday, with only one in favor of closing the road permanently. That individual, Dale Christiansen, expressed only a moderate desire to close the road, with lack of necessity as his primary reason.
Cattle caper: Thief caught, cows brought back home
Eight Charolais cattle from a Lincolnville farm took unauthorized trips last week, and a Eureka man is in Marion County Jail accused of stealing them. Michael Combs of Lincolnville noticed the cattle were missing when he returned from a trip to Emporia on Thursday. Sheriff’s deputy Mike Ottensmeier took the initial report and estimated the value of the cattle to be $14,880.
Marion student jumpstarts rabbitry
When she’s not nuzzling her adorable Dutch rabbits, Marion High School sophomore Kaitlyn Goebel is working out a threefold plan to turn a profit off the colony she’s raising. In addition to selling the puffball offspring of her first rabbit couple, Callie and Osweld, she plans to transform their droppings into dollars by mixing pellets with other organic matter to make fertilizer.

OTHER HEADLINES

Water conservation signup available
A new sign-up period for water resources and non-point source cost share practices is available from the Marion County Conservation District. Residents can sign up from Monday through April 10 for funding available in July. Water resources provide monetary assistance to landowners constructing terraces, diversions, grass waterways, grass seedings, and livestock water supply systems.
Highway hay permits available
Landowners may apply for a permit to harvest hay on Kansas highway rights of way through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Applicants with land adjacent to the right of way will receive permit priority through March 31.
Wind farm clears yet another hurdle
This time, it was blade-flung ice hunks. The latest in a series of obstacles presented to Rex Savage and the Windbourne Energy Doyle Creek wind farm was that of safety concerns. Commissioners on Monday approved a resolution allowing landowners to approve turbine construction nearer to their homes than the regulations previously allowed.
What's next for county wind farm?
Rex Savage spent the past decade working toward the answer to one question: Can a wind farm be built in Marion County? With county conditional use permits approved and land use agreements in place, the answer is now “Yes it can.” That begets more questions, the biggest of which are these: Will it be built, and when?

DEATHS

Allan Cochran
Allan Deen Cochran, 24, died Saturday at his rural Hillsboro residence. A service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Marion Christian Church.
Max R. Daniel
Max R. Daniel, 94, died Sunday at Wichita. He was born Feb. 20, 1921 to Howard and Lenore Shahan Daniel, at Marion. He served in the Army during World War II. In July 1943, he was united in marriage to Hazel Hedges. They made their home in Wichita, where Max worked as a welder for Cessna. His wife died July 10, 2014.
Rosemary Garrard
Rosemary A. Garrard, 77, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Valley United Methodist Church.
Rosemary Ritter
Rosemary Ritter, 81, Marion, died Saturday at St. Luke Living Center. She was born April 11, 1933, to William and Iva Mae (Nelson) Harris in Perry, Oklahoma. She was married to Warren Ritter on June 18, 1949.

DOCKET

HEALTH

Neo-Century hears about deep-sea diving
Neo-Century met March 2 at Hilltop Manor with 14 members present. They answered roll call by naming their favorite sea creature. The evening program was presented by Claire Meredith. She shared her experience of deep sea diving and showed pictures.
20th Century Club meets
20th Century Club met March 2 in the Santa Fe Room of Marion City Library. Hostesses were Sondra Mayfield and Carol Laue. Nine members were present. A St. Patrick’s theme was used for the decorations. Members brought hors d’oeuvres to share and the hostesses provided drinks and Blarney stones for dessert.
Senior citizens board to meet
The board of directors of Senior Citizens of Marion County will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Peabody Senior Center. The Peabody seniors will be serving lunch. Reservations are needed by today by calling Peabody Senior Center at (620) 983-2226 or the Department on Aging at (620) 382-3580. For transportation assistance, call the department by Thursday.
Health fair is Saturday
With over 30 vendors attending, the Marion County Health Fair will feature a variety of opportunities to learn about healthy living from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hillsboro Elementary School gym. Featured classes include presentations on poverty, nutrition, diabetes, basic first aid, and substance abuse.

OPINION

What is economic development?
What is economic development? It’s a question with an ambiguous answer dependent on the people who fill the role of economic development director, the people they work for, and the communities they serve. Business and industrial recruitment is an oft-expressed core theme, augmented in different ways in different circles by things such as “shop at home” initiatives, tourism, public relations, and infrastructure development. It depends on who you ask, and who’s giving the answers.
A light moment
Valentine’s Day was a month ago, and shortly thereafter, my repertoire of “green” songs to sing as I drove past the green lights of Central Park ran out. “Green Tambourine” and “Green-eyed Lady” sound horrible without a band covering up my ill-fitted-to-the-tunes baritone warbling. “Greensleeves” sounds better, but the repetition of “Alas my love, you do me wrong to cast me off discourteously,” is dismal beyond dismal — once a week is more than enough of that one. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I know neither the lyrics or the tune to “Green, Green Grass of Home.”

PEOPLE

Judge Powers: Poet, lyricist, rhythmic sing-talker
When the honorable Judge Mike Powers hangs his robe up and puts away his gavel at the end of the day, there’s a good chance he’s stringing together a rhyme. “He constantly makes up lyrics and songs,” Josh, his youngest son, said. “Sometimes it’s to existing tunes and sometimes it’s all original. Road trips were always fun because of it.”
Senior citizens board to meet
The board of directors of Senior Citizens of Marion County will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Peabody Senior Center. The Peabody seniors will be serving lunch. Reservations are needed by today by calling Peabody Senior Center at (620) 983-2226 or the Department on Aging at (620) 382-3580. For transportation assistance, call the department by Thursday.
Library quilt show to go up Monday
Marion City Library will display more than 30 quilts, wall hangings, and table runners for its annual quilt show. The show will start Monday and continue during normal library hours until April 4. There also will be a barn quilt display. There will be an opportunity to win a quilt made by a library patron. The Marion City Library can be reached at (620) 382-2442.
Specialty crop applications now accepted
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The purpose of the specialty crop program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
'ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:
Correspondent receives visitors
NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:
Wedels attend reunion

SCHOOL

Parables author to talk at Tabor
Alicia Snyder, a Wichita area author and illustrator, will be the presenter for the Lifelong Learning session at9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center at Tabor College. Snyder will share life experiences of how she has seen God in the world around her, and how God led her to turn some of her insights into modern day parables.
GES to screen kindergartners
Goessel Elementary School will screen incoming kindergartners March 30 at Goessel Mennonite Church. Screenings will be administered individually, and scheduled by appointment. They will give both the parent and the school information on children’s school readiness.
Hillsboro Middle School announces 3rd quarter honor roll

SPORTS

Goessel grabs WSL honors
Goessel girls’ basketball coach Ryan Hoopes is the Wheat State League coach of the year, and five Goessel players snared first-team honors, the league announced Monday. Hoopes guided a young Bluebirds team to an undefeated league season and the championship game of the Class 1A Division 1 substate tournament in Rosalia, where Goessel fell to eventual state tournament third-place finisher Centre.
HHS chess team takes 2nd in 3A, 5th overall
Facing 26 other schools, the Hillsboro High School chess team took second in Class 3A competition and placed 5th overall out of all the high school teams in all the classes Saturday at the state chess tournament at Wichita North High School. The middle school chess team came in 12th in the division, and seven out of eight players received medals.
Gymnasts perform well at Goddard
An energetic group of Marion County gymnasts displayed their developing talents Saturday at the Sammy K. Ewertz Memorial Invitational in Goddard. The Marion Skywalkers’ team members each competed in double mini trampoline, trampoline, and tumbling events.

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Hillsboro electricity users can be certain of one thing: Their rates are going up. Just what the increase will be and how to implement it are still in question, as city council members shot down a resolution that would have raised rates by 1.1 cents per kilowatt hour effective June 1.

Volunteers are being sought for the 13th annual Marion Reservoir Cleanup Day. Volunteers should “dress to get grubby.” They will be tasked with picking up trash around the reservoir, connecting waterways, riparian zones, and wildlife refuges that lie in the North American flyway.

The state budget ax is about to come down on vehicle owners, as the Kansas Department of Revenue will cease mailing tag renewal forms to motorists in July. County treasurer Jeannine Bateman relayed that news to county commissioners Monday.

Landowners may apply for a permit to harvest hay on Kansas highway rights of way through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Applicants with land adjacent to the right of way will receive permit priority through March 31.

Allan Deen Cochran, 24, died Saturday at his rural Hillsboro residence. A service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Marion Christian Church.

Rosemary A. Garrard, 77, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Valley United Methodist Church.

Rosemary Ritter, 81, Marion, died Saturday at St. Luke Living Center. She was born April 11, 1933, to William and Iva Mae (Nelson) Harris in Perry, Oklahoma. She was married to Warren Ritter on June 18, 1949.

Neo-Century met March 2 at Hilltop Manor with 14 members present. They answered roll call by naming their favorite sea creature. The evening program was presented by Claire Meredith. She shared her experience of deep sea diving and showed pictures.

'ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

Goessel Elementary School will screen incoming kindergartners March 30 at Goessel Mennonite Church. Screenings will be administered individually, and scheduled by appointment. They will give both the parent and the school information on children’s school readiness.

An energetic group of Marion County gymnasts displayed their developing talents Saturday at the Sammy K. Ewertz Memorial Invitational in Goddard. The Marion Skywalkers’ team members each competed in double mini trampoline, trampoline, and tumbling events.