HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Hillsboro police dealing with child disputes, forgeries

Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said the department has dealt with many child custody disputes in the last month. He said 12 cases were called in, three of which required serious police intervention. The disputes usually occur when one parent is arriving to pick up the children and the other parent will not release the children into his or her custody.

Goessel Elementary wins Governor's award

Goessel Elementary School Superintendent Dr. John Fast shared news that the school received notification of winning a prestigious Governor’s Achievement Award on Monday. The news topped the agenda of the January U.S.D. 411 school board member meeting. “To receive this award, Goessel Elementary must have achieved the Standard of Excellence in both reading and math on the 2011 assessments, made Adequate Yearly Progress in both reading and math and one additional measure, and must be in the top 5 percent of both reading and mathematics,” Fast said. “There are 812 accredited elementary schools in Kansas, and Goessel Elementary is one of the top 43 schools to receive this honor. Students, teachers and staff are to be credited for the outstanding results.”

Alaskan experience influenced Bartel to become efficient

In December, Herb Bartel of Hillsboro, a State Director for the Kansas Farmers Union, shared memories of his work on the North Slope of Alaska and life in an Eskimo village 35 years ago, at the organization’s annual convention in Topeka. Now, he can see how those experiences shaped and influenced his life to become a self-sufficient farmer in Marion County, producing his own electricity and improving soil and pasture quality. “Up there, I was immersed in a culture that depended completely on whaling for survival,” he said. “What we are doing here, with our use of oil and gas, is completely wrecking them. It is close to climate injustice.”

Restaurant owner arrested on 5 warrants

David Joch, part owner of Classics @ Olde Towne was arrested Jan. 2 by the Hillsboro Police Department in Hillsboro. Joch was brought in for five outstanding warrants from the state of Wisconsin, which include check forgery, theft, and parole violation, Kinning said.

Florence woman killed near Walton

Roberta Ann Winter, 50, of Florence died Monday from injuries sustained in a three-vehicle accident just after 5 p.m. northeast of Walton on U.S. 50. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol accident report, Luke Schmidt, 30, of Socorro, N.M., was driving a 1998 Honda CRV eastbound on U.S. 50, and had stopped to make a left-hand turn onto East Lake Road, which becomes Indigo Road as it crosses into Marion county.

Highway patrol investigating rollover accident

Kirby Jahnke, 40, 603 N. B St., Ramona, was in a one-vehicle accident on 340th Road west of Timber Road at 12:10 a.m. Jan. 1. Jahnke, driving his 2001 Ford Focus. He lost control of the car on the gravel road, propelling it into the north ditch and rolling the vehicle. Jahnke was able to get out of the vehicle and walk to a nearby residence to ask for help. The people at the residence called 911 and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Proffitt, at the time driving near Lincolnville, was the first on the scene.

Presentation combines Marion and Hillsboro chambers

Hillsboro and Marion Chambers of Commerce will jointly host “Tumbleweed Tales of Amazing Kansas: Entrepreneurs in Rural Kansas” a presentation by Ron Wilson at their joint meeting Jan. 23 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Fellowship Hall, 300 Prairie Point, Hillsboro. Doors will open at 6:25 p.m. for attendees to meet and greet. A silent auction will also take place. Panhandlers Catering Service will serve dinner at 6:45 p.m.

Philip Bowen

Philip George Bowen, 58, of Peabody died Saturday in Peabody. He was born June 23, 1953, in Hillsboro to Robert and Esther (Liggett) Bowen. He married Connie Sue Weiser on Dec. 4, 1992.

Beatrice Klein

Beatrice Johanna Henke Klein was born Feb. 24, 1924, in Lincolnville to Herman and Emma (Kaiser) Henke. When she was two weeks old, her parents moved to a farm northwest of Lincolnville, where she grew up. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnville. She attended the Lutheran school for eight year and graduated from Lincolnville High School. She was married to Harold Swanson in September 1945 after he came home from serving in Germany in World War II. They resided in Burdick and on a farm near Lincolnville, where their sons Richard Wayne and Dennis Keith were born. Harold then re-enlisted in the Army and they moved to Junction City. While Harold spent a year serving in the Korean War, Rene Eugene, their third son, was born. He was 4 years old when his father returned from the war.

Anna Busenitz

Anna E. Busenitz, 89, died Jan. 4, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She was born Feb. 13, 1922, in Newton to Herman and Anna (Harder) Entz.

Allen Jay Hein

Allen Jay Hein, 82, of Winfield died Friday in Winfield. He was born on March 10, 1929, to Jake and Anna (Blackim) Hein of Hillsboro. He grew up in Marion and married his high school sweetheart, Jean Muse, on Aug. 27, 1950.

Elton O. Kirstein

Elton O. Kirstein, retired Baptist minister, died Dec. 31, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth; a daughter, Jeannie Hett; a sister, Clara Nelson; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Elsie Tittle

Elsie Berniece Tittle, 92, died Jan. 6, 2012, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. She was born Jan. 16, 1919, in rural Florence to Numa Roberts and Gertrude Bunting. She worked at Sauble Egg Processing in Cedar Point and was a homemaker.

Roberta Winter

Roberta Winter, 50, of Florence died Monday in a motor vehicle accident near Walton. Services are pending with Zeiner Funeral home, Marion.

Rose M. Zinn

Rose M. Zinn, 69, died Jan. 3, 2012, at Herington Municipal Hospital. She was born on July 16, 1942, in Herington to Paul E. and Treva C. (Adam) Kellogg. She was a homemaker and drove a school bus for Centre USD 397 for many years. She graduated from Herington High School in 1960.

Mary Piper

Mary Piper, 86, of Cottonwood Falls, died Saturday at Golden Living Center of Chase County in Cottonwood Falls. The daughter of Dewuain and Pearl Mae Mcdiffett Sams, Piper was born Aug. 15, 1925 in Parkersville. She married Roy Sawyer on Jan. 30, 1941, in Cottonwood Falls. He preceded her in death in 1975. She married Milford Piper and he preceded her in death in 1989.

Clayton Strome

Clayton L. Strome, 88, of Herington died Jan. 3, 2012, at Herington Municipal Hospital. He was born Sept. 30, 1923, on a farm southeast of Abilene to John C. and Elizabeth C. (Biehler) Strome.

Accidents reported

Deeds

Emergency responses

Hillsboro police report

Jail roster

Offenses

Peabody police report

Lake aiming for marshmallow world record

Marion County will attempt to set a world record for the number of people toasting marshmallows around a single fire later this year, Marion County Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said Monday. In June 2011, a ferocious windstorm knocked countless limbs out of trees in Marion and at the county lake. Much of the debris at the lake made its way to a pile south of the lake, where it still sits.

Election filing deadline is Jan. 24

The deadline to file for city council elections in Marion, Hillsboro, and Burns is noon Jan. 24. Filing requires either a $5 fee or a petition signed by a number of eligible voters in the city, 25 in Marion and Hillsboro or five in Burns. Candidates may either file in the Marion County Clerk’s office or with their city clerk.

Jail bonds set for 12 years

Interest rates for municipal bonds have remained low enough that Marion County may be able to end sales tax to fund construction of a new jail in eight to 12 years, David Arteberry of bond underwriters George K. Baum & Co. told Marion County Commission on Monday. Because interest rates have remained low, he determined that the county would have more than enough revenue from the 0.5 percent sales tax to meet a 12-year bond schedule. He estimated the annual payments would be $345,000 per year. Based on an average of the past five years, projected annual sales tax revenue would be $527,000, about 50 percent more than the payments.

Well house has heat in Durham

Mayor Mike Sorenson informed Durham City Council that the heaters at the well house are working well at their meeting Jan. 3. The ventilation added in December was effective. Sorenson presented information about a storm siren. After some discussion, the consensus of the council was that the siren was not needed.

Help identify which roads to repair

Two weeks ago, we asked dozens of Marion County residents to list what they thought the county’s New Year resolutions should be. As revealed by the 21 comments selected for publication, two issues dominated: roads and economic development. We applaud recent actions by the County Commission and especially the county’s new roads and bridges superintendent to change the culture of county road crews, prioritize road projects, and begin addressing the most urgent needs.

Spiral up like eagles

A co-worker recently told me about these spiral wires the electric company was installing to keep birds off the lines. Now I have no idea why birds would not be welcome on high wire lines anymore, but it got me to thinking about the things that seem to be spiraling either down or up in my life. I have always taken the philosophy that life is a balancing act and one who finds the right balance is happy. After reading through docket and police news in the paper this week, I now wonder if life is more like a spiral for many in Marion County, with circumstances running unchecked until it is too late to grab control and straighten things out.

Hillsboro Public Library to offer storytime

Hillsboro Public Library will offer storytime for preschoolers ages 3 through kindergarten from 10:20 to 11 a.m., Jan. 18 and 19. Children will read books, have activities, and make crafts directed by Delora Kaufman, children’s librarian.

Flint Hills RECA gets grant for upgrades

The January issue of “Kansas Country Living” reports that Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative Association, headquartered in Council Grove, was awarded a $4.6 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant will provide 75 percent of the cost for retrofitting and strengthening 143 miles of electrical distribution facilities in Marion County. Through the FEMA-approved engineering design, the facilities will be able to better withstand the effects of wind and ice loading in the future. The design will include stronger poles on shorter span lengths using aluminum conductor.

Film festival tour stopping in McPherson

The Tallgrass Film Festival Road Show, featuring a 93-minute presentation of 10 short films that were audience favorites at the Wichita Tallgrass Film Festival, will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday at the McPherson Opera House. The Tallgrass Film Festival was founded in Wichita nine years ago, and the Road Show brings the films to historic theaters, sponsored by the Kansas Historical Theatres Association, of which the McPherson Opera House is a charter member.

Northwest of Durham

Lola Redger and her family gathered Dec. 25 with her family for a dinner at the home of Ray Redger. Veria Redger was also a guest. On Christmas Day, Bruce and Cheryl Dirks, Marlin and Bethany Wiebe, Heath and Tannis Dirks, and Ruston and Lydia Dirks and girls joined the rest of the Smith family at the home of Cheryl’s mother,Verna Smith at Hutchinson.

'Round the town guests visit

Christmas Eve supper guests of Duane and Shirley Hamm were Greg and Charlene Thiessen, Dylan, and Whitney of McPherson, Tim and Cherie Goossen and Ty of McPherson, and Justin Hamm of Spring Hill. Jeff and Jenny Price and family of Denver, Colo., were weekend guests of Tim and Donna Diener and Arlene Pankratz. The Prices, David and Sherilyn Kadel, Ken Pankratz, Arlene Pankratz, Kent and Emily Nichols, Travis Passman, and Marissa Diener of Lawrence were dinner guests at Tim Diener’s.

Relatives celebrate Christmas together

The family of Mary Ann Wiens celebrated Christmas on Dec. 26 with a dinner at Eastmoor United Methodist Church parish hall in Marion. The dinner included traditional Christmas ham with homemade horseradish, pluma moos, and steamed date pudding.

HHS Concert Choir holds fundraiser

Wendy’s in Hillsboro is sponsoring a fundraiser Monday on behalf of the Hillsboro High School Concert Choir. Wendy’s will donate 20 percent of all sales from 5 to 8 p.m. toward the choir’s trip to Branson in May.

Goessel junior-senior high honor roll released

Tabor announces Dean's List

Tabor College announced its Dean’s List for the fall 2011 semester, with 172 students receiving honors, including many from Marion County. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must fit into one of three categories based on grade point average: Highest Honors, 3.85 to 4.00; High Honors, 3.70 to 3.849; or Honors, 3.50 to 3.699.

12 Angrey Men cast announced at Tabor

Tabor College Theater has announced the cast for the upcoming production of 12 Angrey Men, directed by Judy Harder, associate professor of communications and drama. The production is based on the 1957 film of the same name. Cast members include Aaron Brooks, Jake Brucks, Nolan Dirks, David Ewert, Ben Heyen, Micah Hiett, Nathan Lawson, Scott Morrow, Don Nelson, Silas Pederson, Aaron Stepanek, and Kelyn Vix.

Financial planning helps people keep their money

Financial planning is not rocket science. In fact, setting a budget, tracking income and expenses, and setting financial goals are things most people can do for themselves, according to Robert Wall in Hillsboro. “The problem most people run into is that they don’t see the need to start planning until the table is already set before them,” Wall said. “It is never too late to put together a financial plan and then find ways to make it work, but it is a lot easier if people get started earlier in life, before they find themselves in trouble.”

Calculate pension benefits online

One of the most crucial aspects of financial planning is knowing Social Security retirement benefit amounts. An instant, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits is available online from the Social Security Administration’s website.

Beef calf prices increase as cowherds dwindle

Area cow-calf producers are profiting from the demand for beef around the world, especially the high-quality beef produced by American ranchers. Tracy Brunner, manager of Cow Camp Feedyard at Ramona, said there were several reasons for the increasingly scarce supplies of feeder cattle. He said rapidly increasing feed and fuel costs have discouraged production. In addition, because of high prices for corn and soybeans, farmers have shifted grazing land into crop production.

Want to move from employer to employee?

A free workshop in Emporia this month is designed to help residents interested in starting their own small business. The two-hour workshop Jan. 26 will offer information about marketing, management, and money that will help participants assess the feasibility of their ideas and start writing business plans.

Trojan girls win big against Pratt

The Hillsboro High School girls’ basketball team defeated Pratt Friday at Pratt, 48-37. It was a statement victory for the Trojans. The Greenbacks will be one of the toughest teams Hillsboro will face this season. They were formerly ranked in 4A.

HHS boys lose big at Pratt

The Hillsboro High School boys’ basketball team lost to Pratt, 55-35, Friday in Pratt. After a 3-pointer by Christian Ratzlaff in the opening minutes of the first quarter, the Trojans struggled to find any offense. Luke Moore added a baseline lay-up off a bounce pass from Jesse Allen to end the opening frame with five points. Devin Dick scored the only points for the Trojans of the second quarter on a corner 3-pointer.

Hillsboro wrestlers Mueller and Jones second

Two Hillsboro High School wrestlers made it to the championship match in their weight classes Saturday at Herington. Senior Bret Mueller lost in the championship match of the 138-pound class. He earned the first takedown in the match but could not hold onto the lead for a victory.

Goessel High School boys basketball loses 2

The Goessel High School Bluebirds boys’ basketball team played very well in stretches in the first week after Christmas break, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Hope or Solomon. Hope 52, Goessel 40

Hiebert leads Goessel girls in scoring

The Goessel High School Bluebirds girls’ basketball team earned a 1-1 record in the week after returning from Christmas vacation, losing to Hope, then defeating Solomon. Hope 42, Goessel 35

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