HILLSBORO Star-Journal

These grandmas have tons of class

Seniors volunteer their time to help kids By ROWENA PLETT Staff writer A love for helping children is spurring several senior citizens to stay engaged and active in their communities.

Novak attempts to unseat planning commissioner

An attempt by county commissioner Dianne Novak to replace a member of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals came to an abrupt end Monday after she rescinded her motion to appoint a former road and bridge department employee. Commissioners decided in December to restructure the board to 11 members after five commissioners were seated. Each commissioner would appoint two board members and an 11th member would be chosen at large.

Golf carts coming to Hillsboro streets

Although not official yet, Hillsboro will soon allow utility vehicles, micro utility trucks, golf carts, and all-terrain vehicles on city streets. The idea of permitting their use on city streets was first discussed in September, and ordinance proposals have been written, reviewed, and sent back for amendments.

County's bill for autopsies tops $10,000

Marion County spent $10,216 in 2019 to have autopsies conducted in Kansas City and Wichita but there is no good alternative, said Karen Selznick, an assistant in Marion County Attorney’s office. According to Marion County’s 2019 reports, there were three autopsies conducted at Frontier Forensics Midwest in Kansas City, which cost $5,150 between them.

Game warden heard more often these days

Marion County has seen a spike in scanner activity from game warden Evan Deneke as seasonal changes allow him to be less cautious about being seen — and possibly overheard. “There are certain times of year we don’t want people knowing we’re out as much because people try to pattern us as wardens,” he said.

Diamond Vista's electric box opened

A report last week of suspicious activity at Diamond Vista ended without major incident. An unknown party had opened one of the wind farm’s electric boxes, but nothing was missing or damaged, said Matt Epting, company spokesman for Enel Green Power, the company that operates Diamond Vista.

Tourism bus could transfer

A county tourism bus parked for several years in Marion might hit the road again if any local business association is interested in owning it. Mike Beneke, owner of a Lincolnville feedlot and Marion restaurant Edward’s, asked commissioners if the county would consider donating the bus before the Marion Merchants Association spends raking over the cost of buying it.

Farmers may now apply for conservation assistance

Money allocated by the Kansas Legislature to help promote the reduction of nutrients and sediment is still available to qualified landowners under the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program. Incentive payments range from $162.50 to $225 per acre, depending on the level of impairment as identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Dog park proposed for Marion County Lake

Marion County Park and Lake is the newest proposed site of a dog park Marion’s girl scouts have been working on for months. The original proposed site was south of the Marion High School football stadium.

Cardie Oil pumps for sale in Tampa

Shawmar Oil and Gas Co. is selling its Cardie Oil real estate at Tampa, including fuel pumps and tanks, according to Shawmar president Jim Cloutier. The fuel pumps were shut down late last year.

Lynn Hagaman

Services for Lynn Hagaman, 77, who died Jan. 1 at Salem Home in Hillsboro, were Monday at Cottonwood Valley Baptist Church in Hillsboro. He was born Sept. 20, 1942, in Liberal, to Joseph and Lucille Hagaman. He married Charlotte Brownlee on March 9, 1963, in Satanta.

Kermit W. Smith

Kermit W. Smith, former pastor of Valley United Methodist Church, died recently. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Kansas City, Missouri.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

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State makes changes to individual income tax

This year, state income tax filers will see changes in allowable deductions. Although the tax rate and individual exemption amounts remain the same, a number of itemized deductions will be more generous this year.

Career swap spurs title agent to take his finances seriously

In Roger Hannaford’s time working for Security 1st Title in Marion, he has learned to look at money in a different light. Hannaford’s experience since the 1980s has taught him to think harder about how he managed money.

The ghosts of decades past

Embarking on a new decade, it can be painful to look back at previous decades and see how issues that could have been resolved then continue to plague us today. Take the 2010s, for example. We endured month upon month of argument over whether a wind farm in the northern part of the county was maintaining county roads sufficiently. We even hired an expensive consulting firm to supposedly oversee the process.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

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Mennonite Heritage Museum annual meeting scheduled for Jan. 19

The Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum will hold its annual meeting at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Goessel Mennonite Church. A short meeting will be followed by a program, “2018 Mennonite Experience in Poland — History Tour” given by D.J. and Marilyn Unruh Flaming and Myron and Ruth Goertzen.

Winter gala scheduled

Musician David Vogel will be performing Feb. 25 for Hillsboro Community Foundation’s Winter Gala at Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. The gala includes a silent auction.

Senator Moran to head Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, was named Tuesday as 12th chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Moran has served on the committee since becoming a senator in 2011, and was a Veterans’ Affairs Committee member during his time as a U.S. Representative.

TEEN meeting set for Jan. 15

Technology Excellence in Education Network will hold its monthly meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at Marion District Office. Anyone with questions or needing more information can call Lena Kleiner at(620) 877-0237.

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College degrees and honors

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