HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Woman comes home to disturbing surprise

When a 55-year-old woman recently discovered she was missing $900 worth of property from her Hillsboro house, it was likely the least of her worries. Renee Livingston, who declined to be interviewed for this story, also discovered animal dung and 50 ominous love notes that might be clues in a case that is currently under investigation by Hillsboro Police.

Noble slams block grant cuts for education

Governor Sam Brownback signed a new funding bill for education last week, saying the new block grant system funds education at historic high levels. USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble said, however, that the money that actually comes to the district to educate students got slashed, and the district will feel the cuts now and for the next two years.

Panzer breaks 100-mile running course record

When extreme long distance runner Kodi Panzer came in third after running the last step of a 100-mile ultra race, she wanted to win, but didn’t expect to best the female course record by over two hours. Panzer’s goal was to run the Prairie Spirit Trail course between Ottawa and Iola in under 20 hours and 30 minutes. She went the distance in 19 hours and 16 minutes, placing first among women runners and third overall.

'Guardian angel' returns lost wallet

Bill Williams was panicking. His wallet was gone. About two weeks ago, Williams, an 85-year-old retired farmer from Wonsevu, was running errands in Marion with his wife, Margie, correspondent for the

County chair says 'state reps think we're stupid'

Marion County Commission Chairman Dan Holub has had it with area state legislators after a question-and-answer session Saturday at the community center in Marion. Holub was critical of the responses given by Representative John Barker and State Senator Richard Wilborn to various issues raised, including the budget shortfall that has Kansas hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

Commission considers ambulance downsizing

A $10,600 engine repair estimate for the Florence ambulance morphed into a suggestion Tuesday by EMS Director Brandy McCarty to replace the ambulance with a smaller van-sized version to be used primarily for transfers. “Right now we do more transfers than any other runs that we do,” McCarty told commissioners. “Last month we did 24, the month before 23. Between transfers and no-transports, which are refusals, those are our two highest categories.”

Deputy brings lights and sound to police cars

Mike Ottensmeier stood in his garage near Hillsboro Cove on Sunday contemplating a puzzle presented by a new Ford police interceptor brought to him by the Park City police department. When he isn’t patrolling Marion County as a deputy for the sheriff’s department, Ottensmeier outfits police cars and other vehicles with emergency lights, sirens, and video equipment. The problem with the Ford: the siren speaker didn’t fit behind the front bumper of the car where Ford said it should go.

Legislative coffee is Saturday

The annual legislative coffee sponsored by the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the city building. Rep. Don Schroeder will attend, along with State Sen. Rick Wilborn.

Open burning prohibited in April

Open burning will be prohibited in Marion County during the month of April, according to a release sent out by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There are several exemptions to the prohibition, which must be requested and granted before any open burn takes place.

Casey Donahew Band to perform at Chingawassa

Chingawassa Committee announced Friday that the Casey Donahew Band will be the headlining act at this year’s Chingawassa Days festival, performing the night of June 6. “We anticipate this band and this type of music to draw a young crowd from outside of Marion County, folks that wouldn’t typically attend Chingawassa Days,” said Tammy Ensey, a committee member.

Harold Farris

Former Canada resident Harold L. Farris, 88, died March 25 at Newton Medical Center. Funeral services were Saturday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home and interment was at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

Helen Jantz

Homemaker and Marion County native Helen R. Jantz died March 24 at Sunrise Assisted Living Center, Overland Park, Kansas. She was born to Jacob and Ruth (Propp) Wunsch on Oct. 15, 1924, in Clark Township, Marion County.

Juliette Tarantino

Homemaker Juliette Tarantino, 78, died March 23 at her home in Lehigh. Born July 10, 1936, to Phillip and Mary (Gredau) Tarantino in the Bronx in New York City, Juliette moved to Lehigh in 1986.

Ruth Weigel

Ruth J. Weigel, 87, mother of Lincolnville resident Terry Klenda, died Monday at the Golden Age Care Home in Cheney. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church, Wichita. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Wichita.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses

Traffic division

Police reports

Agent likes small-town life

Chris Hernandez is the new Edward Jones agent in Marion. His first day was Feb. 9. He replaced Tom Kimbrel, who retired. Hernandez was an Edward Jones agent in Wichita for almost four years. Before that, he owned and operated two businesses and was a client with Edward Jones.

Deductions some taxpayers overlook

Sometimes there is money to be saved hidden in the forms that can bewilder some taxpayers. Professional tax preparer a Woody Crawshaw Jr. said one common deduction taxpayers can claim but tend to overlook is gas expenditures related to business, medical, or charitable miles driven.

Did you get dyed chicks at Easter?

We lived in northern Iowa from the time I was in fifth grade until I was in eighth. Those were fun years. We lived in a neighborhood filled with kids. It was a new development of ranch-style homes with big lawns and a new elementary school. We had a terrific time hanging out and doing kid stuff. At the edge of the development was wooded area in which we built forts, dug trenches, and climbed trees. Clever kids that we were, we called it “The Woods.” There was a tiny general store a few blocks away and back in those days produce and boxed goods were shipped to stores in wooden crates instead of plastic containers or cardboard boxes. We would ride our bikes to the store on delivery days and gather up the wooden crates to build tree houses and forts and cover trenches.

Card shower to ring in couple's 70th anniversary

The children of Tony and Gwen (Wilcox) Gaines of Peabody are requesting a card shower to celebrate their parents’ 70th wedding anniversary April 8. To help the couple mark the anniversary are their children, David Gaines of Peabody, and Marcia Cooper of Manhattan. Cards should be addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Gaines at 611 N. Walnut St., Peabody KS 66866.

Democratic women meet

Marion County Democratic Women met at Marion Senior Center on March 27. After a lunch, Sue Clough conducted the business meeting. Neysa Eberhard reported on Washington Days in Topeka. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was the speaker.

Hillsboro senior center menu

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

'ROUND THE TOWN:

HHS musical talents advance to state festival

Many Hillsboro choir and band students received ‘I’ ratings Saturday at Regional Music Festival in Concordia. Groups that received ‘I’ ratings move on to the state festival at Southeast of Saline High School on April 25. On the vocal side, the 23-student mixed ensemble, the girls’ ensemble, the boys’ ensemble, and Spirit ‘N’ Celebration received ‘I’s. Joyann Dirks, Anna Glanzer, Claire Heyen, Sonja Jost, Vance Klassen, Jazmene May, Daniele Melton, Josiah Melton, Taytum Miller, Chloe Pankratz, Tara Proffitt, Colin Settle, Madi Sheppard, Ryan Stepanek, and Savannah Unruh received ‘I’s as soloists.

School menus

Return to current issue