HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Tidwell arrested, residents object to cleanup letters

Hillsboro City Administrator Larry Paine expected Kevin Tidwell who lives at 206 W. B to attend the Tuesday council meeting, but as he had been arrested earlier that day, he did not make an appearance to protest city officials’ handling of a junk vehicle violation. Paine said Police Chief Dan Kinning arrested Tidwell Tuesday morning on an accusation of assault against a city worker who was cleaning up Tidwell’s property as per city instructions.

Thiesen prepares to battle brain tumor

A home health nurse came on Friday to draw a vial of Dusty Thiesen’s blood; this is now a daily routine for the 28-year-old. During the session, they started to chat about blood-thinning drugs. Thiesen currently takes Coumadin.

Shared experience knits friends together

As country neighbors, Myrna Hamm and Jeanne Rziha of rural Durham, have shared many experiences. With almost a dozen children between them, husbands that farm, the same home church, and jobs that overlap at Greenhaw Pharmacy downtown Hillsboro, Hamm and Rziha have a lot to discuss when they get together. As Hamm was re-teaching Rziha how to cast-on knitting needles while picking up medical folders, they had a chance to reminisce about an experience they shared 25 years ago that changed their lives forever.

Mayor's prayor breakfast brings community together

Despite dismal weather conditions, community leaders and concerned citizens of Hillsboro gathered at 7 a.m. Thursday for the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Grace Community Church offices. “There was rain and ice and a little bit of snow but we still had a good turnout and a really good service,” Pastor Adam Utecht of Grace Community Church said. “People came in and enjoyed rolls, muffins, coffee, and fruit. We all sat at little round tables, and then the mayor and five or six pastors led us in prayer.”

Quilters donate time for mission

A threaded needle, a silver thimble, a small scissors, and a willing spirit are tools of the trade for women of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. About 15 to 20 women meet each Tuesday morning to quilt and tie projects for mission at the church. “This is therapy for me,” said Marilyn Ratzlaff. “I come here for my own mental health program, to work together with these women. It gives me purpose.”

Diabetic clinics and shoes fill niche

Jeanne Rziha’s genetic history predisposes her to diabetes, but she has set her personal life goal on beating that prediction. She shares her diet and exercise experiences with others through Greenhaw Wellness Clinic diabetic workshops. “My grandfather was diabetic and I have many other close relatives that are diabetic,” Rhiza said. “But I am determined not to become a diabetic. There are things you can do to prevent it.”

Graduation ceremonies begin this weekend

Schools in Marion County will have graduation ceremonies this weekend and next. The first ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion, as Marion County Home Educators have their graduation ceremony with six graduates.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Offenses

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Freeze gave farmers reason for concern

Terry Vinduska of Marion was cautious when he reached down to survey the condition of his wheat crops Monday. “You just don’t know how hard the cold, winter weather hits until you get up close and personal with the plants,” he said. “It’s a gamble. Sometimes I wonder why I am a farmer. I don’t have much patience.”

Farmer educates with videos

The Peterson Brothers of Assaria have generated a big following on YouTube with their videos related to agriculture, and Derek Klingenberg, a 32-year-old farmer from Peabody, is following close on their heels. The 2001 Kansas State University graduate works with his brother, Grant, and father, Vernon, in a large, diversified farming operation. He creates music videos whenever he has time.

Scholarship winner gets busy with bees

Bailey Penner of Peabody was ecstatic when he found out he won a $700 scholarship from the Kansas Honey Bee Producers Association earlier this spring. The 13-year-old middle school student did not expect it to be so hard, however, to get his own bee colony going on his family farm just north of Peabody. Penner used his scholarship money to order a swarm of bees from California, but they died en route to Kansas because of truck driver error. The second order Penner placed also met with disaster when the truck hauling his group, along with 16 million other bees, was detained in a blizzard in Wyoming and the bees arrived dead.

Marion farmer donates eggs to food bank

The 40 hens on John Dvorak’s farm, two miles southwest of Marion, provide more than enough eggs for him and his wife, Carol. They give the excess production to Marion County Food Bank in Marion. Carol Dvorak said they deliver a dozen cartons of the eggs whenever they have extras, which can be as often as every other week or once a month. The chickens have an outside cage but range free for several hours every day. A light bulb in the chicken barn provides eight to 10 hours of light during winter months to extend production.

County drops kitchen proposal

County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman told county commissioners that she felt like the time wasn’t right for her idea of the county opening a certified commercial kitchen for business incubation and cooking classes. Her decision came after a meeting where some county residents raised questions about how the kitchen would be operated. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke told her not to let the idea die completely. He said he is OK with the county investing some money in a project like that to see if it takes off. Commissioner Dan Holub also said he liked the concept.

Lincolnville to maintain recycling bin

Lincolnville City Council members agreed Monday to continue to provide recycling to city residents, even if the city has to deliver the items to the transfer station itself. Council members were upset that the county commission did not give them official notice of the cutoff date before the recycling program stopped. The council found out when it received a two-month bill of $274 from the recycling company.

BALANCING ACT:

Boat inspections available on Saturday

Officers with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism will be conducting courtesy boat safety inspections between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at Marion Reservoir. A wearable, properly fitting, personal flotation device in good condition is required for each person onboard.

Rains raise lake levels

After spending all winter and most of spring with water levels several feet lower than usual, Marion County Lake got closer to its normal water level on Thursday. Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson estimated the lake had been four or five feet below normal as recently as May 1. But runoff from rain and snow brought the water level to within two feet of normal by the end of Thursday.

Green pool water not a concern for director

Murky water in the Hillsboro Family Aquatics Center pool should not dismay passersby or those who look forward to swimming there at the end of the month. “We have to put water in it through the winter to keep the base from floating,” city recreation director Doug Sisk said. “The ground water is so high the whole pool could actually float if we didn’t have that in there.”

Toews to lead brass concert

McPherson Community Brass Choir, directed by Jerry Toews of Goessel, will perform 4 p.m. Mother’s Day, at the McPherson Church of the Brethren. The concert will feature two guest soloists, world-renowned euphonium player Timothy Shade and organist Steven Gustafson.

Goessel museum plans ladies' tea

A ladies’ tea, a presentation on food traditions and an antique quilt display will all be rolled into one program May 18 in the preparatory school at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel. The event will begin with a tea at 3 p.m. Following the tea, Patsy Terrell, social media facilitator and author, will speak on food traditions. Terrell is a columnist for Kansas Country Living and is the author of three cookbooks and five genealogy books. A display of antique quilts will provide the backdrop for the event.

Unruh receives Mid-Kansas Co-op scholarship

Hillsboro High School senior, Nathan Unruh, has been selected to receive a $500 scholarhsip awarded by Mid-Kansas Cooperatvie. MKC awarded a total of $4,500 to students throughout central Kansas. Nearly 100 students submitted applications. Recipients were selected based on academic achievements, honors, leadership, as well as school and community activities. Along with the application, students were asked to submit an essay addressing the value of the cooperative system.

Music students evaluated on piano skills

Marion County students were evaluated on their music skills at the District 6 Kansas Music Teachers Association Music Progressions April 20 at Bethel College. Students performed on the piano and were tested in the areas of listening, keyboard theory, and written theory. Students participating were Megan Bartel, Jordan Creed, Faith Elliot, Abby Kliewer, Lydia Kliewer, Maggie Leaf, Paxton Leaf, Ryan Littlejohn, Anna Lubbers, Eva Noble, Hannah Ostrander, Hope Ostrander, Cara Rue, Rebecca Rue, Laura Savage, Matiya Schmidt, Veronica Stockton, Katelyn Sundquist, and Audrey Tozier.

CORRESPONDENTS:

Circles celebrates first graduation

The fellowship hall at Marion Presbyterian Church was decorated in royal blue Thursday as graduates of the first Circles of Marion County leader class were joined by families and many other supporters for an evening meal and cake and punch. Clusters of blue balloons, blue tablecloths with tableware to match, and a fireplace decorated with blue graduation caps and stars provided a festive atmosphere.

Hillsboro musicians win awards at festival

The Hillsboro High School Band had four medalists at the 3A State Music Festival on April 27 at Southeast of Saline. The mixed winds trio of Marah Franz, Allison Gray, and Kennedy Klein earned a I rating and medals performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s “German Dance.” Klein earned another medal as a flute soloists performing Victor Herbert’s “Serenade.” Vocal ensemble Spirit-N-Celebration and soloist Daniele Melton received I ratings and medals, as well.

Hillsboro students receive scholarships

Hillsboro High School senior Meghan Leihy and Hillsboro High School graduate Aubrey Meier received scholarships from Washburn University. Leihy was awarded a freshman academic scholarship, given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a Garvey Competitive Exam scholarship. In order to take the Garvey exam, students must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Six homeschool students to graduate

Marion County Home Educators will have a graduation ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Marion. Austin Calam, Madison Dicks, Kolton Krispense, Hunter Thurston, Naomi Walker, and Peter Walker will graduate. Additionally, Klayton Krispense, Lewis Plank, and Caleb Schafer will be promoted from eighth grade.

Tabor choirs to present spring concert

The Tabor College choirs will present a spring concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The women of the Concert Choir and Concerto Bella Voce women’s chorale will join together to perform Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,” accompanied by harpist Jane Hyde of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. It will be directed by assistant professor of choral music Janie Brokenicky. Voice professor Holly Swartzendruber will be a featured soloist and will perform a duet with senior Jessica Coldwell.

Funk steps up for Hillsboro baseball

“I’m so happy for Josh Funk.” Those were head coach Doug Dick’s first words following Hillsboro’s 11-5 and 12-2 wins over Halstead on Friday.

Faber takes second at regional tennis

Hillsboro tennis player Harry Faber earned a spot in the state tennis tournament, May 10 and 11 in Hillsboro, with a second-place finish at regionals Friday in Wichita. Faber defeated Nathaniel Clennan of Hutchinson Trinity Catholic, 7-5 and 6-0, and Caleb Hendricks of Sterling, 6-1, 2-6, and 6-2, in the semifinal match.

Richert wins 1,600 meters

Hillsboro runner Josh Richert won the 1,600-meter run with no time to spare Friday at the Hesston Invitational track meet. Less than a quarter second separated his victory from third place. Richert ran the race in 4 minutes, 52.16 seconds to defeat Jordan Hett of Marion and Drew Hageman of Hesston. “We talked before his 1,600 and he seemed really calm and focused for the day,” coach Dennis Boldt said. “He knows he has an incredible challenge before him each time he steps on the track because of the quality of runners we have in the distance races this year.”

Golf program accepting applications

Registration for the 2013 First Tee of Salina Junior Golf Program is open. Youths from 4 to 14 years are eligible to take golf lessons and learn life skills in this course. Cost is $20 per child. Enroll by calling (785) 826-7450.

Hillsboro golf places fourth at Halstead

The Hillsboro golf team placed fourth at the Halstead Invitational Tournament April 30 with a four-man score of 389. “We are still not where I would like us to be, but under the circumstances this spring, I feel pretty good about the scores these guys shot,” coach Scott O’Hare said.

Loewen shines in softball blow outs

With Tena Loewen’s positive attributes — leadership, tenacity, and intellect — sometimes athleticism can get overlooked. There was a play that did not get much love from the Hillsboro crowd Friday during the Trojan’s second game against Halstead, but it showed Loewen’s incredible speed.

Goertzen, Cook lead Bluebird track teams

The Goessel High School girls’ track team finished fifth Friday at Tescott, led by senior Tia Goertzen who won first and second in the 100 and 300-meter hurdle races. She set personal best records with times of 16.8 seconds in the 100 hurdles and 50.5 in the 300 hurdles. The Bluebird girls’ 4x400 relay team again showed improvement, placing third as Goertzen, Page Hiebert, Ali Buller, and Erin Brubaker compiled a time of 57.1.

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