HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Highway spill makes sticky mess
It was a sticky mess Thursday afternoon when two trucks collided east of Hillsboro on U.S. 56. Wes McGuire, 41, of Sioux Falls, N.D., was driving a 1995 International truck, owned by Robert McGuire, of Herington, westbound when he collided with the rear of a 2007 Kenworth semitrailer truck driven by Martin Robinson, 45, of Ottawa, and owned by New Life, of Dallas. McGuire was attempting to make a left turn onto Santa Fe Street, north of Hillsboro Industrial Park. The impact of the collision caused a tank on McGuire’s vehicle to split, spilling molasses onto the highway.
Commissioners want tax limit for extension district
Marion County Commissioners want either a limit on how much property tax a proposed extension district could levy or a requirement for county approval before any tax increase. Dickinson County Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday in favor of creating an extension district with Marion County. Marion County Extension Executive Board unanimously supported creating a district, Executive Board Chairman James Riffel said.
Economy affects some nursing home residents
Nursing home administrators are making efforts to insulate residents from the effects of a state Medicaid cut, but sometimes their hands are tied. Frances Kreutziger moved to Parkside Homes in Hillsboro about two years ago. She is happy with the facility and its staff.
Pipes for oil line will be arriving in Marion County soon
Pipe segments for TransCanada’s Keystone Pipeline will be arriving in Marion County in the next week or two, TransCanada representative Tommy Darnell told Marion County Commissioners on Monday. The company has not yet decided where to unload pipe segments from trains. Florence and Elmdale are being considered, Darnell said.
Car, train collide
Four people escaped serious injury Friday afternoon when the car in which they were riding was struck by a train. Christian Petersen, 26, 319 N. Ash, Hillsboro, told authorities he was driving south on Remington Road, southwest of Marion in a 2006 Dodge Stratus when he hit a puddle that blinded him from seeing a train as it was crossing the tracks.
Volunteer tax preparer not stopped by macular degeneration
A year ago, Virginia Downing of Marion wasn’t sure if she would be able to continue processing tax returns for low-income elderly in Marion. She was having an eye problem. The problem began when she started waking up in the morning with her eyes feeling pasted shut. She went to an eye doctor who informed her she was experiencing the onset of macular degeneration. He prescribed eye drops and an eye ointment.

DEATHS

Harry Unger
Harry Unger, 82, of Hillsboro, died Feb. 3 at Newton Medical Center. Born April 11, 1927, in rural Peabody to Peter N. and Mary (Seibel) Unger, he was married Jan. 25, 1975, to Audrey Campbell in Cottonwood Falls.
Viola Weinmeister
Viola Weinmeister, 97, formerly of Hillsboro, died Jan. 29 at Dillion Living Center in Hutchinson. Born June 6, 1912, in Hillsboro to Jacob W. and Katherine (Thiessen) Buller, she was married Sept. 8, 1939, to Emil “Hintz” Weinmeister of Hillsboro.

DOCKET

OPINION

Our voice in Topeka
By Feb. 20, you should receive a survey from me. I hope you will fill it out and send it in as soon as you can. I look forward to finding out what the folks of District 70 think before I am called on to vote on various matters before us this session. Even if you and I have corresponded about an issue, please fill out the whole survey. It will make tallying constituents’ thoughts more accurate. It is possible you won’t receive the survey, because of an incorrect address on our part. We are using the best constituent list we can compile, yet it is not likely to be complete. Anyway, if you don’t get a survey by Feb. 20, please stop by the office of the Hillsboro Star Journal, Marion County Record, Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, and other newspapers to pick one up, fill it out, and mail back to me.
LETTERS:
It's time to rally for repeal of tax exemption

PEOPLE

Veteran looks to become golf pro
Hillsboro resident Pete Richert will only be kept off the golf course by snow. Cold weather, enough to stop the average golf enthusiast, is not enough to stop Richert from playing the sport he loves. “I think he’s crazy,” Krista Richert, Pete’s wife, said. “He just went last week.”
Program provides resources for parents
Elijah Klenda, of Pilsen, spent part of his morning Feb. 2 feeding and watering his animals — a horse, cow, sheep, and rabbit. He did it all from the comfort of his living room floor, because 21-month-old Elijah was playing with his toys. Such pretend play is a good sign of his development, Parents As Teachers educator Ronda Suderman King told Elijah’s mother, Andrea Klenda.
CORRESPONDENTS:
'Round the Town, Northwest of Durham

SCHOOL

Consolidation would affect county schools
Whether Marion County school officials and residents want it to happen or not, consolidation may be on the way. A Legislative Post Audit Performance report released Monday suggests reorganization of Kansas school districts may be the answer to savings the state money.
Special ed 2011 budget in dire straits
Like balancing a checkbook, Marion County Special Education Cooperative board members were told in a meeting Feb. 3 that the cooperative’s “checkbook” was going to be overdrawn in 2011 unless some drastic measures were taken. Cooperative Executive Director Chris Cezar showed projected revenues, expenses, and cash balances for this fiscal year and next.
Hillsboro ed board discusses personnel for 102 minutes
Hillsboro USD 410 Board of Education met in closed session to discuss personnel for 1 hour, 42 minutes Monday night. Debbie Geis, district representative to Marion County Special Education Cooperative, said during open session that her report would have to wait for executive session.
Goessel considers keeping short school year
Goessel USD 411 Board of Education will consider a proposal to keep a short school year for 2010-11. To cope with state funding cuts, USD 411 shortened the 2009-10 school year by 10 days, lengthening time in class each day. The shorter year saves money on bus driver and cook wages, as well as air conditioning expenses in August.
Hillsboro scholars qualify for state
Hillsboro High School scholars’ bowl team earned a spot at the state tournament by placing third out of 15 teams in regionals Thursday at Thomas Moore Prep in Hays. Team members Sam Bookless, Daniel Gray, Jonathan King, Briana Loewen, and Evan Wienck compiled a 5-2 record in pool play, recording wins against Council Grove, 60-40; Norton, 80-50; Smith Center, 30-20; Hoisington, 60-20; and Marion, 50-30. The two losses were to Ellsworth, 50-40; and Thomas Moore Prep, 60-40.

SPORTS

Black Bears complete regular-season sweep of Hillsboro
Through 21 years at Hillsboro High School, Trojan boys basketball coach Darrel Knoll has seen it all. From three Class 3A state championship wins, en route to racking up 389 victories all the way down to a few, rare subpar seasons.
Quick start pushes Lady Trojans by Sterling in league play
One of the Lady Trojans biggest goals this season is to go beyond winning every game and win every quarter. Throughout the year, Hillsboro has done that the majority of the time, rolling to an 11-4 record and staying unbeaten in Mid-Central Activities Association action at 6-0.
Bluebirds win 1, lose 2
Goessel High School Bluebirds battled Inman Friday in the second Heart of America League game, coming up short, 53-39. The Bluebirds scored the first basket, but would never lead again. Goessel trailed, 11-15, at the end of one quarter, and four 3-pointers — two from Corey Buller — in the first half allowed the Bluebirds to stay within striking distance as they trailed, 31-22, at halftime.

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Nursing home administrators are making efforts to insulate residents from the effects of a state Medicaid cut, but sometimes their hands are tied. Frances Kreutziger moved to Parkside Homes in Hillsboro about two years ago. She is happy with the facility and its staff.

Harry Unger, 82, of Hillsboro, died Feb. 3 at Newton Medical Center. Born April 11, 1927, in rural Peabody to Peter N. and Mary (Seibel) Unger, he was married Jan. 25, 1975, to Audrey Campbell in Cottonwood Falls.

Viola Weinmeister, 97, formerly of Hillsboro, died Jan. 29 at Dillion Living Center in Hutchinson. Born June 6, 1912, in Hillsboro to Jacob W. and Katherine (Thiessen) Buller, she was married Sept. 8, 1939, to Emil “Hintz” Weinmeister of Hillsboro.

LETTERS:

Hillsboro resident Pete Richert will only be kept off the golf course by snow. Cold weather, enough to stop the average golf enthusiast, is not enough to stop Richert from playing the sport he loves. “I think he’s crazy,” Krista Richert, Pete’s wife, said. “He just went last week.”

CORRESPONDENTS:

Whether Marion County school officials and residents want it to happen or not, consolidation may be on the way. A Legislative Post Audit Performance report released Monday suggests reorganization of Kansas school districts may be the answer to savings the state money.

Hillsboro USD 410 Board of Education met in closed session to discuss personnel for 1 hour, 42 minutes Monday night. Debbie Geis, district representative to Marion County Special Education Cooperative, said during open session that her report would have to wait for executive session.

Through 21 years at Hillsboro High School, Trojan boys basketball coach Darrel Knoll has seen it all. From three Class 3A state championship wins, en route to racking up 389 victories all the way down to a few, rare subpar seasons.

One of the Lady Trojans biggest goals this season is to go beyond winning every game and win every quarter. Throughout the year, Hillsboro has done that the majority of the time, rolling to an 11-4 record and staying unbeaten in Mid-Central Activities Association action at 6-0.