HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Train rips car in half as man leaps to safety

Dustin Rhodes, 20, of Ramona, narrowly escaped the destructive force of an oncoming freight train Thursday after surviving a car wreck moments before the train “ripped the car in half.” At approximately 8:37 p.m., Rhodes was westbound in the 1800 block of 360th Rd. attempting to return his sister’s 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass “so she could go to work” when he lost control on an icy curve that veers north just south of Ramona and intersects with an elevated railroad crossing the lights of which were flashing red.

Judge orders hospital corporation to pay up

A North Carolina federal judge on Jan. 20 imposed contempt penalties against the same corporation that owns Hillsboro Community Hospital over its premature closure of Yadkin Valley Community Hospital. Yadkin County, North Carolina, sued Kansas City-based HMC/CAH over its May 2015 hospital closure prior to the expiration of its agreement with the county. A restraining order to prevent the hospital from closing had been issued by Wake County Superior Court, but the corporation failed to comply with that order.

Economic development hindered by errant, disjointed information

What do a dilapidated Chase County bridge, China, and former Marion economic developer Terry Jones have to do with economic development in Marion County? Nothing, of course, but Marion city administrator Roger Holter showed city and county officials Thursday that all three were being used to market Marion County to prospective business developers.

Nabbed nanny goat still missing

A pregnant dappled Boer goat named White Zin that disappeared from a Hillsboro residence around the turn of the New Year may have given birth by now, but she and her kids are still missing. Goat owners Charles and Teresa Naerebout continue the search for White Zin, who Teresa said was a first-time mother.

EMS interim director requests new uniforms

EMS interim director Ed Debesis did not waste any time getting straight to the point with county commissioners at Monday’s meeting. “Something I’d like to look at and get approved is some shirts, hats, for the crews across the county so we have one name,” Debesis said. “That is something I would like to do.”

Searching for a better means of public transportation

Marion resident Evelyn Jewett, who had lunch at the Marion Senior Center on Monday, said she relies on other people to drive her wherever she needs to go because she no longer has a driver’s license. “I’m always begging a ride,” Jewett said. “I try to do as much as I can in Marion. I don’t want to impose on anyone. But I do my banking in McPherson.”

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Caution motorists: winter is here

To drive or not to drive – often that is the question during the winter. Sheriff Rob Craft has several recommendations for winter safe driving.

Give kids a 'boost' in car safety

Does it really take three days of training to learn to install a child car seat? It does if you’re going to be a certified child passenger safety technician, which is what county extension agent Renae Riedy is.

Safety, fuel efficiency featured in new cars

Safety and fuel efficiency features seem to be the trend in new vehicles available to consumers at local car dealerships in 2016. Terry Hagen, sales manager at Hillsboro Ford, said Ford has made a rather large change to its flagship truck line.

Be prepared for bitter cold driving emergencies

Emergency Management Director Randy Frank carries things like blankets and snack bars in his truck for emergencies, and he used them as recently as last week. When an accident happened on 190th Rd. west of Marion, Frank said the occupants of the car were extremely cold and he was able to hand them blankets to warm up.

No good deed goes unrewarded

Laura Legg, manager of Ampride stations in Hillsboro and Marion, has been busy the past few years spreading good will among customers by nominating them for Cenex Tanks of Thanks fuel cards. Evelyn Groop of Marion was one of the delighted recipients.

Michael Hein

Michael Hein, 65, died Friday at McPherson. A funeral service will be 10 a.m. today at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, Hillsboro. Interment will follow at French Creek Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.

Helen Kapaun

Helen M. (Libel) Kapaun, 86, sister-in-law of Father Emil Kapaun, died Jan. 20, at Catholic Care Center, Bel Aire. Rosary was Monday and Funeral Mass was Tuesday. Both were at St. Mark Catholic Church, Colwich.

Eileen Keller

Eileen Keller, 91, Pittsburg, formerly of Hillsboro, died Jan. 20 at Via Christi Village. Services were Monday at First United Methodist Church, Pittsburg. Burial followed in Mount Olive Cemetery.

Luella Popp

Luella R. Popp, 93, died Saturday at St. Luke Living Center, Marion. Visitation with family will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Marion. Interment will be 9 a.m. Friday at the Marion Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal reports

Deeds recorded

Dispatches recorded

Fish and game cases

Offenses reported

Police reports

Traffic division

Play together or pay dearly

It’s far past time to get deathly serious about countywide economic development, not just economic development isolated to Marion or Hillsboro or any other city. Prosperity in the years ahead depends on throwing out decades-old animosities and rivalries and pulling together for the common good. Marion, Hillsboro, and county officials met last week in an effort to move that direction. At times the meeting was awkward, particularly when Marion City Administrator Roger Holter demonstrated problems with marketing the county to prospective businesses, even taking a potshot at his own city’s website.

Kapaun's sister-in-law was 'the force behind her husband'

Helen Kapaun, wife of the late Eugene Kapaun and sister-in-law of the late Father Emil Kapaun, died last week in Wichita at age 86. Eugene died in 2010. The couple was married in St. Mark, a small town near Colwich, and their wedding dance was held in Pilsen. They had a large family. Their first child was a baby when Father Kapaun went overseas as an army chaplain.

Ottensmeier attends KLA conference

Tyler Ottensmeier, Marion, attended the Kansas Livestock Association leadership conference in Topeka. The event is designed to expose attendees to services provided by the KLA, advocacy training, and the legislative process.

Senior center menu

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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'ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:

HHS ensemble to perform Feb. 1

Hillsboro High School select vocal ensemble Spirit-N-Celebration will present a concert at 7 pm Feb. 1 in the high school auditorium. Students in the group will perform solos and duets, as well as several ensemble pieces.

Hillsboro High names students of the month

Four students will share student of the month honors at Hillsboro High School. Eva Franz, Marah Franz, Callie Linnens, and Caleb Rempel are January’s winners, selected by faculty and staff.

Area school menus

Hillsboro boys stomp Marion

Hillsboro Trojans faced the Marion Warriors Tuesday night, and the Hillsboro boys showed Marion no mercy. The Trojans scored 27 points in the first half, while the defense clamped down, holding Marion to a single basket and 5 free throws for a 27-7 halftime lead..

Hillsboro salvages fourth, fifth places at Trojan classic

Hillsboro High School basketball teams closed out the 2016 Trojan Classic tournament Saturday in Hillsboro with mixed results. In girls’ action, frigid shooting combined with Riley County’s athleticism spelled doom for the Lady Trojans, who had to settle for fourth place after a 46-34 loss.

Wrestlers finish in Eureka top 10

The Trojans placed 10th of 20 teams Saturday at a Eureka wrestling tournament, scoring 65 points. Coach Scott O’Hare said most brackets were very competitive and deep with talent.

Goessel boys place 6th at Burrton, girls suffer first loss of season

Goessel boys finished in sixth place in the Burrton Tournament with three close games. Goessel trailed by 11 points at the end of the first quarter Thursday in a game with Central Christian. By half time Goessel was behind by one point and it was a close battle to the end of the game with the Bluebirds winning 53-52.

Calendar of events

Chef Rob to offer herb, dessert class

Hillsboro Recreation Commission and chef Rob Scott will be offering an “herbs and dessert” class 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9 in the Hillsboro Middle and High School teacher workroom. In the class, students will make pan seared chicken with garlic sauce and a Valentine’s Day decadent dessert.

Huelskamp staff to be available to discuss tax concerns

A staff representative of Congressman Tim Huelskamp specializing in IRS casework will be available 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Hillsboro City Hall. The representative will be available to meet individually with taxpayers to learn about their concerns.

Farmer's market vendor workshop approaches

A regional farmer’s market workshop for vendors and managers will be 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 6 at KSU Sedgwick County Extension office in Wichita. The event, which is in conjunction with the Central Kansas Market Grower Vendor Workshop, will cover topics including beekeeping, produce safety and food safety updates, using social media, building healthy soil, accepting non-cash payments, and a vendor panel on various marketing topics.

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