HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Disgruntled resident addresses council
A disgruntled resident had words for Hillsboro City Council Tuesday over alleged mistreatment from city building inspector Ben Steketee. Kevin Tidwell, who lives in the 200 block of B St., accuesed Steketee of harassing him for not following city code. Steketee disagreed.
State treasurer: Beware of scam
State Treasurer Ron Estes warned Kansas residents of a scam going around the country involving unclaimed property. The scam works as follows: Postcards marked “Unclaimed Property Notification” are sent out, with instructions to call a toll-free number and enter personal identification information. A recorded message then directs callers to search for unclaimed property at an unauthorized website.
Primary election results
A total of 2,080 ballots were cast in Marion County for Tuesday’s primary election, for a 27 percent voter turnout. Of those votes, 1,863 were from registered Republicans.
Election workers dedicated to service
For Forrest Kelsey, 2014 marks 20 years of service to his country. His military time ended in 1952, but he still works long hours and has no problem giving orders. For a few days out of the year, anyway. “It’s hard to find poll workers, really,” Kelsey said. “And so once they get ahold of one, they pretty well hang on to him or her.”
County looks to hold line on taxes
County commissioners reviewed the proposed budget Thursday, reaching consensus that the mill levy for next year will remain the same. Increased property valuations will bring in $348,000 more tax revenue, but commissioner Randy Dallke questioned whether the windfall should be used to reduce overall expenses.
Prairieland Partners holds tillage event
A tractor and tent village materialized last week in Dennis Funk’s wheat field three miles east of Hillsboro on old US-56. John Deere dealer Prairieland Partners is conducting a tillage training and sales event Tuesday and today for staff and customers from all nine of their dealerships in central Kansas.
New reservoir campsites open
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week opened 23 new campsites in an expansion at Cottonwood Point campground at Marion Reservoir. The new sites feature water, sewer, and electrical hookups, and are available to walk-in campers until Oct. 31.

COUNTY FAIR RESULTS

Results

DEATHS

Morris Engel
Former farmer Morris Engel, 79, died Friday at Valley View Professional Care Center in Junction City. Graveside services with military honors were Monday at St. John’s Cemetery near White City.
Carl Riggs
Former postmaster of 32 years Carl Eugene Riggs, 79, of Burns, died after a battle with cancer among family Saturday in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Viewing will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Burns United Methodist Church with interment following at Burns Cemetery.
Gayle Harvey
Restaurant manager Gayle Harvey, 49, died July 29 at her home in Hillsboro. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, pastor Brian Allen officiating.
Hannah Riffel
Former Tampa resident Hannah Marie Riffel, 79, died July 28 at Waterloo, Iowa. Services were Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Lincolnville. Burial followed at Lincolnville Cemetery. Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge.
IN MEMORIAM:
Rodney Mason Bowen, Gerald Gene Brinkman

DOCKET

PEOPLE

Lawyers attend meeting in NY
Tom Adrian and Marilyn Wilder of Adrian and Pankratz P.A. attended the American Health Lawyers Association annual meeting June 30 to July 2 in New York. There they learned about new developments in business relationships among healthcare providers, medical staff issues, and physician compensation.
Day on the farm to benefit charity
The 17th annual Day on the Farm to benefit Mennonite Agro-Urban Inc. will be Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Duerksen/Knepp farm northeast of Goessel from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Children can milk a goat, make a rope, ride wagons, interact with a variety of farm animals, play in a pile of corn, and take home their own Agri-Urban brand on a piece of wood. All activities are free. The Willow Spring Downs Derby stick horse race will feature experienced and novice jockeys, and children and adults may participate. Participants are encouraged to bring their own stick horses, and additional ones will be available. The “riders up” bugle call for Derby races will be at 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Lunch will be served free of charge at 11:30 a.m.
Binas mark 40th anniversary
Raymond and Denice (Helmer) Bina will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with family and friends Aug. 17 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Pilsen. A holy hour will begin at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow. The Binas were married August 17, 1974, and will conclude the holy hour with a renewal of their vows.
Hodson nears end of practice
Marion physician Don Hodson will end his 32-year practice at St. Luke Medical Clinic on Aug. 29. Hodson thanked his patients for allowing him to provide for their health care needs.
Cards requested to celebrate 65th anniversary
The children of Carl and Dorothy (Wilson) Walter are requesting a card shower in honor of their parents’ 65th wedding anniversary. Carl served in World War II and was among the first American troops at Nagasaki, Japan, after an atomic bomb was dropped.

SENIOR LIVING

Hoopes tours the country by bike
Bob Hoopes finished his last bicycle ride in time to make it to yoga class Monday in Marion’s Central Park. Most people never would have started that ride, let alone finish it. The 74-year-old resident of Eastshore at Marion Reservoir had just returned from a three-week, 720-mile trek along the Great Divide bike trail, riding his bicycle with a BOB trailer in tow along dirt roads and mountain passes from Wyoming to New Mexico.
Retired couples make for friendly faces at campsites
For Jim and Judi Monsees, and their little dog Scruffy, Hillsboro Cove is more than a place like home. It is home, at least during camping season at Marion Reservoir. More accurately, their 40-foot recreational vehicle is their home. They sold their last house in 2001 and have been living the RV life ever since.
Couple migrates to where music is during winter
Although they don’t have wings, beaks, or feathers, Marion County snowbirds Maurice and Twila Pritz annually migrate to a warmer climate during winter months where Maurice sings and plays in regular jam sessions. “We go to Apache Junction in Arizona at Golden Vista Park,” Twila said. “Maurice loves the guitar. He sings and plays quite a bit of country western music in the jams there.”

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

A disgruntled resident had words for Hillsboro City Council Tuesday over alleged mistreatment from city building inspector Ben Steketee. Kevin Tidwell, who lives in the 200 block of B St., accuesed Steketee of harassing him for not following city code. Steketee disagreed.

A total of 2,080 ballots were cast in Marion County for Tuesday’s primary election, for a 27 percent voter turnout. Of those votes, 1,863 were from registered Republicans.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week opened 23 new campsites in an expansion at Cottonwood Point campground at Marion Reservoir. The new sites feature water, sewer, and electrical hookups, and are available to walk-in campers until Oct. 31.

Former farmer Morris Engel, 79, died Friday at Valley View Professional Care Center in Junction City. Graveside services with military honors were Monday at St. John’s Cemetery near White City.

Restaurant manager Gayle Harvey, 49, died July 29 at her home in Hillsboro. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, pastor Brian Allen officiating.

Former Tampa resident Hannah Marie Riffel, 79, died July 28 at Waterloo, Iowa. Services were Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Lincolnville. Burial followed at Lincolnville Cemetery. Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge.

IN MEMORIAM:

Tom Adrian and Marilyn Wilder of Adrian and Pankratz P.A. attended the American Health Lawyers Association annual meeting June 30 to July 2 in New York. There they learned about new developments in business relationships among healthcare providers, medical staff issues, and physician compensation.

Marion physician Don Hodson will end his 32-year practice at St. Luke Medical Clinic on Aug. 29. Hodson thanked his patients for allowing him to provide for their health care needs.

The children of Carl and Dorothy (Wilson) Walter are requesting a card shower in honor of their parents’ 65th wedding anniversary. Carl served in World War II and was among the first American troops at Nagasaki, Japan, after an atomic bomb was dropped.