HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Quest to serve comes one slice at a time
It’s safe to assume that when Jesus’s disciples received the “Great Commission” to take the Gospel to the rest of the world, none of them rushed home to throw a scrumptious cherry pie into the oven. However, 2,000 years later, they have an enthusiastic accomplice, Tabor College admissions counselor Jessica Garcia, who hopes a revival of Pie Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the historic church on campus will help to propel her to a new chapter of discipleship with MB Mission in Canada and beyond.
Miller gets 12 months on sex charges
A man originally facing seven charges involving alleged incidents involving two teens was given a year in jail April 12 after striking a plea agreement in January that reduced the charges to two counts of sexual battery. Court documents show that on Jan. 26, Jeffrey Allen Miller, 41, Marion, entered an Alford plea on sexual battery charges. An Alford plea is a guilty plea in court but the defendant does not admit the crime and asserts innocence despite the guilty plea.
Badge returned to officer
A Sedgwick County sheriff’s badge stolen nearly five decades ago is back in the hands of its owner, Bill Demain of Peabody, and the man that returned it to him, Shane Marler, finds it hard to believe what transpired to make it happen. “It’s one of those crazy life stories that if you told someone, they wouldn’t believe you,” Marler said. “We’re talking Powerball numbers here; the od=ds are astronomical.”
Volunteers remove loads of brush at lake
Despite complications from rainy, cold weather over the weekend, a dedicated group of volunteers removed loads of trees and brush from the banks of Marion County Lake. Lake residents Dennis and Sherry Conyers, Delmar and Nadine Iseli, and Jim Darrow, who owns property and a dock at the lake, were among volunteers who worked on Monday.

OTHER HEADLINES

Durham landowner's Chisholm Trail dream comes true
For Gerald “Jerry” Unruh, traveling the Chisholm Trail with a bunch of other horse riders was a moving experience. “I just sat there on my horse and tears came to my eyes,” he said. “I can’t believe the history of the West. This history is more valuable than anything money can buy. I want to keep it alive.”
Senator Moran to speak at Hillsboro Community Hopsital grand opening
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran will deliver remarks at a grand opening ceremony for Hillsboro Community Hospital from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Hillsboro, 101 Industrial Rd. Following the ceremony, tours of the new hospital will be available until 11:30 a.m.
County starts tax sale process
A number of properties in the county with real estate taxes three years delinquent will be subject to a Sept. 1 tax sale unless the owners pay the taxes due. County commissioners on Friday signed a resolution to proceed with foreclosure petitions in court and then hold a tax sale.

DEATHS

Raymond Franz
Raymond L. Franz, 87, died Saturday at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, with interment preceding the service at 10 a.m. at the church cemetery. Family will receive guests from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
Donald Hasenbank
Donald Dean Hasenbank, 64, of Tampa, died April 22 at his home following a battle with cancer. Born Feb. 24, 1953, to Cleo Carl and Velma Lorraine Rowe Hasenbank in Manhattan, he attended local schools and graduated in 1971 from St. George High School.
Lois E. Peterson
Lois E. Peterson, 89, of Burdick died Monday at Legacy of Herington. A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Hebron Lutheran Church of Burdick. Her nephew, Bill Peterson will officiate, and inurnment will be in the church cemetery.
Judith Reno
Former nurse and Marion resident Judith Reno, 79, died Thursday at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 1, 1937, to Rhonald and Mary Ruth (Judy) Hogg at Pratt.She married Roger Wayne Reno on Nov. 26, 1959, in Wichita.

DOCKET

HOME AND GARDEN

Byers garden to bear fruit
When Pam Byers looked at her then-future husband’s country property on 230th Rd., she quailed a bit. “I first thought, I can’t take care of all this,” Byers said.
Expert tips for gardening and lawn care in May
Outdoor enthusiasts may want to take some expert tips when maintaining their lawns and gardens. Lawns
Scratch landscaping is a lot of work but has its rewards
When Kim and Deb Unruh purchased a small acreage southwest of Marion 21 years ago, there were no buildings. It was a brome field. Now it boasts a house, horse barn, and craft shed plus beautiful landscaping. They dug a basement close to a hillside and moved a modular home onto the foundation.

OPINION

Minus hand grenades
I’m getting to the age where once common phrases aren’t so common anymore, which means that any attempt at being clever with one is as likely to bomb as it is to connect. Does anyone know what goes with that headline up above? Anyone? Does it help if you minus the “minus’” and replace it with “and?”
'Can Man' is retiring
Warren Vincent has been a familiar face in Marion over the last year as he collected aluminum cans in parking lots for Kansas Honor Flights. He’s been doing the same in seven other counties, but the time has come to scale back.
Commission locks sights on extending jail tax
After hitting a brick wall in their efforts to purchase the former Straub building to resolve problems with the county transfer station and recycling center, and the weed and hazardous waste facility, county commissioners are turning their attention to alternative solutions. One of those might be to extend an existing sales tax, set to expire in 2018, imposed for the cost of building a jail.
LETTERS:
Health care flaws

PEOPLE

Police officer receives certification
Aaron Slater of Hillsboro graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, near Hutchinson, receiving a law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training. The center lists him as a patrol officer at Peabody Police Department.
Marion County Democrats to convene Saturday
Marion County Democrats will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Willie J’s Sports Bar and Grill in Marion. Patrons are asked to bring grocery items to donate to the Marion County Food Bank.
Tabor choir will perform multilingual drama
Taking a cue from Punchinello and the Wemmicks, Tabor College women’s vocal ensemble Concerto Bella Voce will perform songs and dramatic readings with the theme “You Are Special” at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. In Max Lucado’s popular children’s book “You Are Special,” Punchinello discovers the key to self-worth is that “the only opinion that matters is God’s,” vocal studies director Jen Stephenson said.
Friendship Day to be observed Friday
May Friendship Day will be observed at a tea at 3 p.m. Friday at Valley United Methodist Church in Marion. The theme is “Kindling New Fires of Love.”
Family requests card shower for Rosse Case's 90th birthday
The family of Rosse Case requests a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday on May 17. Rosse was born and lived in Marion all of his life until he moved to a retirement community in 2015.
Senior menu
NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:
Wedding plans announced
ROUND THE TOWN:
Durham Baptist Church reports activities

SCHOOL AND SPORTS

It's Shaw good to be at home
Hillsboro’s Wes Shaw struck gold Friday at Wiens Stadium, using a near-record throw to win the shot put in the annual James Thomas Invitational track meet. Shaw also picked up points with a second-place showing in discus and fifth place in javelin.
Students perform in 2A state music festival
Hillsboro High School musically inclined students put up a good showing at the 2A State Music Festival on Saturday in Salina. Soloists earning a “I” rating were Sarah Diener (clarinet), and vocalists Breanna Dittert, Eva Franz, Anna Glanzer, Vance Klassen, Chloe Pankratz, Caleb Rempel, and Colin Settle.
Masonic banquet honors education
Select students and parents, teachers, and school administrators were treated to a banquet and honored for educational achievement April 26 at Masonic Advance Lodge No. 114 in Florence. The Florence lodge teamed with Centre Lodge No. 147 of Marion for the event.
Middle school band wins league awards
Hillsboro Middle School earned an excellent rating at the Central Kansas League instrumental music festival April 25 in Lindsborg. A percussion trio of Ethan Plenert, Noah Bartel, and Connor Hiebert achieved the top rating of outstanding, as did tuba soloist Charlie Major. Clarinet soloist Ying Lin achieved an excellent rating.
HHS forensics team perform at state and festival
A theatrical troupe of Hillsboro forensics students will compete in the 2A State Speech and Drama Championship tournament and Festival all day Saturday at Bishop Carroll High School, 8101 W. Central Ave., Wichita. Madi Sheppard, Shelby Johnson, Chloe Pankratz, Trinity Malm, and Sharisse Thiessen will perform poetry readings.
Summer ball sponsors needed
Seven Hillsboro Recreation Commission summer baseball and softball teams are in search of business sponsors. Sponsorship fees range from $75 for blast ball teams to $175 for older baseball and softball squads. Contributing businesses will have their names printed on their team’s T-shirts.
Trojans Fine Arts Festival slated for Monday
In a change from the original date printed in the school calendar, the Hillsboro Middle and High School band, vocal, and art departments will present a Fine Arts Festival on Monday. Student artwork will be on display in the commons from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Music by the fifth grade band, sixth grade band, and choir will begin at 7 p.m. in the gym.
Bluebirds have winners in track and golf
Goessel’s Stephany Meyer scored in three events Friday at the James Thomas Invitational at Hillsboro. Sophomore Meyer took second in triple jump with a leap of 34’5”. She picked up third in long jump and fourth in the 200-meters with a season-best mark of 27.35 seconds.
Area school menus

UPCOMING EVENTS

Chef featured at Lifelong Learning
The culinary skills and story of chef and caterer Rob Scott will be on display for the final spring session of Tabor College’s Lifelong Learning series at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church. Attendees are asked to bring a plate of finger food to share. Registration at the door is $5. Lunch is available in the college cafeteria for $4.
Bison photography event is Saturday
Calendar of events

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran will deliver remarks at a grand opening ceremony for Hillsboro Community Hospital from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Hillsboro, 101 Industrial Rd. Following the ceremony, tours of the new hospital will be available until 11:30 a.m.

A number of properties in the county with real estate taxes three years delinquent will be subject to a Sept. 1 tax sale unless the owners pay the taxes due. County commissioners on Friday signed a resolution to proceed with foreclosure petitions in court and then hold a tax sale.

Donald Dean Hasenbank, 64, of Tampa, died April 22 at his home following a battle with cancer. Born Feb. 24, 1953, to Cleo Carl and Velma Lorraine Rowe Hasenbank in Manhattan, he attended local schools and graduated in 1971 from St. George High School.

Lois E. Peterson, 89, of Burdick died Monday at Legacy of Herington. A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Hebron Lutheran Church of Burdick. Her nephew, Bill Peterson will officiate, and inurnment will be in the church cemetery.

Former nurse and Marion resident Judith Reno, 79, died Thursday at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 1, 1937, to Rhonald and Mary Ruth (Judy) Hogg at Pratt.She married Roger Wayne Reno on Nov. 26, 1959, in Wichita.

When Pam Byers looked at her then-future husband’s country property on 230th Rd., she quailed a bit. “I first thought, I can’t take care of all this,” Byers said.

Outdoor enthusiasts may want to take some expert tips when maintaining their lawns and gardens. Lawns

When Kim and Deb Unruh purchased a small acreage southwest of Marion 21 years ago, there were no buildings. It was a brome field. Now it boasts a house, horse barn, and craft shed plus beautiful landscaping. They dug a basement close to a hillside and moved a modular home onto the foundation.

Warren Vincent has been a familiar face in Marion over the last year as he collected aluminum cans in parking lots for Kansas Honor Flights. He’s been doing the same in seven other counties, but the time has come to scale back.

LETTERS:

Aaron Slater of Hillsboro graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, near Hutchinson, receiving a law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training. The center lists him as a patrol officer at Peabody Police Department.

Marion County Democrats will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Willie J’s Sports Bar and Grill in Marion. Patrons are asked to bring grocery items to donate to the Marion County Food Bank.

May Friendship Day will be observed at a tea at 3 p.m. Friday at Valley United Methodist Church in Marion. The theme is “Kindling New Fires of Love.”

The family of Rosse Case requests a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday on May 17. Rosse was born and lived in Marion all of his life until he moved to a retirement community in 2015.

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

ROUND THE TOWN:

Hillsboro’s Wes Shaw struck gold Friday at Wiens Stadium, using a near-record throw to win the shot put in the annual James Thomas Invitational track meet. Shaw also picked up points with a second-place showing in discus and fifth place in javelin.

Select students and parents, teachers, and school administrators were treated to a banquet and honored for educational achievement April 26 at Masonic Advance Lodge No. 114 in Florence. The Florence lodge teamed with Centre Lodge No. 147 of Marion for the event.

Seven Hillsboro Recreation Commission summer baseball and softball teams are in search of business sponsors. Sponsorship fees range from $75 for blast ball teams to $175 for older baseball and softball squads. Contributing businesses will have their names printed on their team’s T-shirts.

Goessel’s Stephany Meyer scored in three events Friday at the James Thomas Invitational at Hillsboro. Sophomore Meyer took second in triple jump with a leap of 34’5”. She picked up third in long jump and fourth in the 200-meters with a season-best mark of 27.35 seconds.