HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Partially nude pictures found on teacher's and students' phones

Cell phones seized from two students and from Peabody-Burns social studies teacher Chris Young contained partially nude photos of all three, according to a probable cause affidavit released Friday by district court. The affidavit also states that Young gave one of the students a promise ring as a Christmas gift.

Burn ban lifted

County commissioners canceled a countywide burn ban in effect since March 12 this morning. Lincolnville fire chief Lester Kaiser spoke to commissioners requesting that the ban be lifted.

Council has 'Paine-ful' chat about camping

Hillsboro city council members had an unexpected guest at Tuesday’s meeting, but made him right at home in the city administrator’s chair. City administrator Larry Paine, recovering from two surgeries since he collapsed in Topeka in early February, walked into the council room when it was time for the meeting to start.

Hillsboro man dies in accident near Galva

A Hillsboro man and Galva woman died and a teenager was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Thursday east of Galva. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Timothy Kersten, 57, Hillsboro, was driving east at 8:40 p.m. Thursday on US-56 approximately two miles east of Galva when his 1994 Ford pickup crossed the center line to the westbound shoulder and collided head on with a 2001 Honda SUV driven by Abby McIntosh, 34, Galva.

Durham man charged with indecent liberties

A Durham man is under house arrest with electronic monitoring after being charged March 1 with a sex offense. Taylor Giesbrecht, 18, is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14. According to the complaint, the charge stems from a Jan. 21 incident of alleged lewd fondling.

County shares in historic drought woes

After a dry 2016-17 winter, this winter has proven to be even worse, raising concerns on multiple fronts. The period of November through January was the driest statewide since 1895, when records first started being kept, according to the Kansas Water Office.

Coyote hunt nets 25 critters

As Chase Carlson looked over a room full of camouflaged coyote hunters Sunday at the Marion VFW post, he wore a look of satisfaction. “It was a good turnout,” Carlson said. “I was pretty pleased with how it went. We’re going to try to get it to be an annual thing.”

Finding poetry in the voices of Americans

Aspiring poet, recent college graduate, and New Jersey native Margaret wasn’t satisfied. Although she majored in English and received a poetry certificate, her own work felt constrained.

Tourism expert headlines museum dinner

Few know the popular hotspots and hidden gems of Kansas tourism as well as author Marci Penner, who will be featured at the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum annual dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Tabor Mennonite Church. WenDee Rowe, Penner’s co-author of “The Kansas Guidebook 2,” will join her in sharing road trip ideas and telling stories about their adventures.

Commission issues countywide burn ban

Burning in the county has been banned due to dry and hazardous conditions. Acting on a recommendation from fire chiefs, county commissioners approved the ban at Monday’s meeting.

Bina vote prompts policy review by commission

A county commission vote at the year’s second meeting on Jan. 8 will be reviewed during a future meeting. Commission chairman Dianne Novak said at Monday’s meeting she’d spoken with a couple of attorneys about commissioners accepting a resignation with a condition attached on Jan. 8, and both said the commission should not have done things in that manner. Novak doesn’t want to change a vote made in the past, but wants the commission to follow its own rules in the future.

New bait shop is open to fill gap

Marion boasts a new bait and ammunition shop offering 24-hour service. Owned by Shannon Allen, Twila Legg, and Joe Legg, Coyote Crossing Bait and Ammo is located at 404 W. Santa Fe St.

Volunteers assist store in time of need

While Mike Crow’s world has been turned upside down by the sudden illness and death Sunday of his wife Jadina, volunteers have stepped up in a big way to care for Peabody Market, the couple’s investment in Peabody’s future. Jadina was rushed to Via Christi – St. Francis Hospital in Wichita after she suffered an unexpected brain aneurism Feb. 28, and her husband stayed with her during her final days.

County Democrats to offer two scholarships

Marion County Democrats met Saturday at Marion Community Center. Cards with the party platform were distributed.

Timothy Kersten

Services for Timothy Kersten, 57, who died Thursday near Galva, were today at Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, with interment at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. He was born Sept. 4, 1960, to John and Wilma (Groeschel) Kersten in Houston, Texas.

Hilda Schmidt

Services for Hilda Schmidt, 96, who died Monday at Hillsboro Community Hospital, will be at 3 p.m. Friday at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, with interment at Lehigh Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro. She was born April 29, 1921, to Bernhard and Helena (Schmidt) Schmidt in rural Walton. She married Peter Schmidt Jr. on June 11, 1946, at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton.

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Farmers face hay shortages

With continuing dry weather conditions, county farmers are worried about running out of hay for their livestock. They have to feed hay longer than usual because lack of rain is keeping grass from growing. Mark Harms of Lincolnville, who runs a large seedstock operation, is one of those.

Sheep farm still going strong

It’s lambing season at Stardust Sheep Farm southeast of Lincolnville, and the sounds of lambs bleating for their mothers fill the air. On this bright, sun-filled March morning, the large sheep barn has a unique sheep smell and is full of pens that hold ewes and their babies. Bits of wool are scattered on fresh straw that covers the barn floor. Fat cats can be seen roaming here and there throughout the barn, keeping mice in check.

Family ranch goes on under woman ownership

Jackie Hett and her husband, Walter, farmed from the time they married in 1946. After his death in 1998, Jackie and her son, then her grandson, have continued the cattle operation southeast of Marion.

Ag teacher gets in-depth look into beef industry

What better way to learn about producing livestock and advocating for the industry than by attending a livestock school? Laura Klenda of Pilsen, an ag teacher at Centre, is a member of the 2018 Kansas Livestock Association Young Stockmen’s Academy.

From alpaca farm to the beaches of San Diego

Growing up on an alpaca farm north of Peabody, 24-year-old Michaela Methvin always knew she eventually wanted to travel and live in a bigger city; she just didn’t know how. It wasn’t until she met her fiancé, Brian Heinz, a San Diego, California native, while studying at Kansas State University, that she discovered it would be possible to trade in life on the farm for a life of traveling, experiencing different cultures, meeting people from all parts of the globe, and modeling.

Sorghum board reps sought

Area sorghum producers are eligible for nomination to two positions on the United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Additional information regarding the board and application process is available by calling Jesse McCurry, Kansas Grain Sorghum, (785) 477-9474, or emailing jesse@ksgrainsorghum.org; or Mark Nelson, Kansas Farm Bureau, (785) 587-6000, or emailing nelsonm@kfb.org.

Tips to guard against fire losses

Goessel fire chief Matthew Voth advises people to take precautionary measures to avoid accidental fires. A county burn ban is in effect through Monday and may be extended. “We are in an extremely dry and dangerous situation,” Voth said.

Tabor concert to feature well-known organist

One of the world’s most recognizable organists will take the stage when Diane Bish, host of television’s “The Joy of Music,” performs at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in Richert Auitorium at the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts at Tabor College. “Diane Bish is known world-wide for her concerts and particularly through her show, ‘The Joy of Music,’ in which she not only plays on the greatest instruments in the world in the most beautiful venues in the world, but also is such an educator about the music and composers,” Tabor director of music Bradley Vogel said. “We are incredibly fortunate to have an artist of her renown and skill on our campus, and look forward to sharing our new facility with her and her audience.”

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High school theatre production promises revelry and combat

With the classic story of “Robin Hood” comes a promise of a plethora of nail-biting fight scenes, which will be on full display when Hillsboro Middle/High School presents one of the many variations of the play scripted by Larry Blamire on Friday and Saturday in the school auditorium. “We wanted to do a show people would have some name recognition of,” director Leah Rose said. “This play has built a lot of skills sets for the kids as it has a lot of stage combat. They had to learn and be trained for these scenes. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun, too.”

'Pioneers' topic for Lifelong Learning

Pioneer history will take center stage at Friday’s Lifelong Learning session at Tabor College. Michael Hook, Dickinson County Heritage Center director, will speak about the pioneer movement into Kansas at 9:45 a.m. in Richert Auditorium in the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.

Kindergarten screening set for April 5 and 6

Hillsboro Elementary School will have kindergarten screenings April 5 and 6. Parents with preschoolers who will be eligible for kindergarten in the 2018-19 school year should contact the elementary office at (620) 947-3184, Ext. 1 to set up an appointment.

K-State event aimed at high school sophomores

High school sophomores and their parents can learn about college life by attending “For Sophomores Only,” a two-day event April 6-7 at Kansas State University. Participants will engage in small-group activities, discussions, and social events. Students will participate in a simulation of a year as a college student, while a separate seminar for parents will provide information about admissions, financial aid, and scholarships.

Sports card business takes 1st in entrepreneurship

Who knew that buying and selling sports cards could be a profitable business in more ways than one. Centre seniors Cole Srajer and Max Svoboda were pleasantly surprised to learn that their business, Cole’s Cards, placed first in the Marion County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge last week at Tabor College.

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Zoning board to meet

The county planning commission and board of zoning appeals will meet March 22 at 203 S. Third St., Marion. The board will consider an application for a conditional use permit for Kevin and Michele D. Carter to convert a barn to a residence and retain the existing residence for use as an art studio at 2166 Remington Rd., Marion.

TEEN to meet

A regular monthly meeting of Technology Excellence in Education Network will be at 5:30 p.m March 21 at USD 410 District Office, 416 S. Date St., Hillsboro.

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