HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Historian finds long lost children near Peabody
It was an emotional family history and a deep magnetic pull that drew Brian Stucky of Goessel into the search for 17 children, whose gravesites were lost 138 years ago and found by him recently near Peabody. “I vividly remember my grandmother telling us her story, with tears in her eyes, how Freni, her baby sister, died and she did not know where she was buried,” Stucky said. “She spent many years looking for her, as did the relatives of the other children. One day I figured I could help and that is why I became involved.”
Commission approves road bid
Marion County Commission approved a bid from APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division Friday for four road projects scheduled to begin May 15. The bid from APAC totals to $3,172,260. The largest project is 330th Road, from Meridian to K-15, which accounts for $1,009,836 of the total.
Peters moves on, Schrag steps in at Bethesda Home
Starting next week, Linda Peters will miss the daily contact she had with staff and residents of Bethesda Home in Goessel, but she looks forward to some time off to rejuvenate and prepare for her next job. Peters resigned as CEO/Administrator in November 2011, but didn’t serve her last day until Friday, and was honored with a reception in her honor Saturday. Eric Schrag, an administrator with Bethesda since 2010, stepped in as CEO on Monday. “Getting to know people and their stories made this a very special place to work,” Peters said. “As I look back on my 19 years here, I do so with deep gratitude. I have been blessed.”
Train hits truck near Sunflower Road
A train collided with an empty vehicle on tracks south of U.S. 50 near Sunflower Road on March 27. Austin Jost, 19, of rural Marion, was stuck on the track after trying to turn around a 2003 Dodge pickup truck just before 1 a.m.
K-15 getting resurfaced
A surface recycle of K-15 Highway began Monday. The project began at the Marion and Harvey County line, and will continue north to the K-15 and U.S. 56 junction, a distance of eleven miles. The top 2 inches of asphalt will be removed, mixed in with new oil and emollients, and then laid back down on the roadway. This will be followed with a chip seal.
Hillsboro incumbents win unopposed
Hillsboro City Council incumbents Shelby Dirks and Byron McCarty won re-election to two-year terms Tuesday. No other candidates filed for the election. Hillsboro is divided into two wards for City Council positions. Dirks represents Ward 1, which is roughly the western half of the city. McCarty represents Ward 2, the eastern half of the city. Ward 1
New police dog in training
Hillsboro Police Department recently purchased a new detection dog with help from local donors. Zara, a Dutch Shepherd, fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Rico, a Belgian Malinois in September. “Rico’s a pet now,” officer Brad Richards said Monday.
County to eliminate solid waste fee appeals
“We don’t care if you’re generating trash or not,” Deputy County Clerk Tina Spencer said Friday. “You’re paying for the transfer station like you’re paying for roads.” Spencer was summarizing the requests of Environmental Health Director Tonya Richards and Transfer Station director Rollin Schmidt written into a draft of the county’s solid waste resolution presented to the Marion County Commission. The draft, as written would eliminate the appeals process that allows seasonal residents and residents who otherwise do not generate trash to avoid the transfer station fee.

CAR CARE

Lincolnville mechanic builds reputation
Kevin Tidwell, formerly of Hillsboro and now living in rural Lincolnville, is the head mechanic at Shields Auto Service and Supply in Lincolnville. Tidwell began working there in September, doing small jobs. He now mainly does engine and transmission jobs.
Computers key to Williams in Marion
Starting in about 1998, major car manufacturers made the switch to heavily computerizing engine tuning, and Stan Williams of Marion believes it was a change for the better. Fine-tuning an engine using a computer can take a lot of time and a lot of work, but it is much more customizable than in the past.
Race experience enhances Serene's engine skills
Bruce Serene started racing cars when he was 13-years-old in Herington. That interest developed over the years into a successful business of rebuilding engines, and he depends on skills learned on the job to stay on top of the workload at his Hillsboro shop. “To be good at racing you have to be a great multi-tasker,” Serene said. “Racers make split second decisions and they have to be good ones, or it’s over.”

DEATHS

Marcel Wenceslaus Benda
Marcel Wenceslaus Benda, 79, of Pilsen died March 28, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. He was born Oct. 5, 1932, near Pilsen to William J. and Lillian Bina Benda. He attended Pilsen Grade School and graduated from Lincolnville High School. He was a farmer and stockman and lived in the Pilsen community most of his life.
Robert Bob Cordts
Robert “Bob” Cordts, 82, of Hillsboro died March 28, 2012, at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. He was born March 21, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to William and Thelma (Weaver) Cordts. He was a bookkeeper.
Geraldine Frick
Geraldine Frick, 93, of Durham died April 1, 2012, in Enterprise. She was born Jan. 31, 1919, in Durham to Henry and Mattie Grant (Garrett) Christiansen. She was a homemaker. She married Melvin Frick on May 25, 1940, in Durham. He preceded her in death in 1996.
Boyd Victor Higgins Jr.
Boyd Victor Higgins Jr. was born on a farm in Marion County, Kan., on Dec. 20, 1925, the son of Boyd Sr. and Hazel Jones Higgins. He was a graduate of Marion (Kan.) High School and Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kan., he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1944 to 1946 with the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific Theater including Iwo Jima and China.
Don D. Klein
Don D. Klein, 67, of Tampa, died March 27, 2012, in rural Tampa. He was born April 10, 1944, in Hillsboro to Leonard Francis and Elma (Hamm) Klein. He was a farmer. He married Sharon Pschigoda on May 8, 1965, in Durham. She survives of the home.
Judy E. Schroeder
Judy E. Schroeder, 73, of Hillsboro died April 1, 2012, in Marion. She was born Sept. 4, 1938, in Goessel to Jake and Bertha (Epp) Ratzlaff. She was a nurse at Salem Hospital.
William E. Ubben Jr.
William E. Ubben Jr., 76, died March 28, 2012, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. He had been a Lincolnville resident the past 20 years. He was born Nov. 27, 1935, at Marion to William C. and Mable Brown Ubben. He was a 1954 graduate of Marion High School, served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s, and was a member of the American Legion.
Judith Ann Wiens
Judith Ann Wiens, 79, of Wichita died March 22, 2012, at Lakepoint in Wichita. She was born Feb. 24, 1933, in Corn, Okla., to H.R. and Barbara (Kleinsasser) Wiens. She was an aide in pediatrics.

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

City postpones farmers market decision
Hillsboro City Council members discussed moving the Hillsboro Farmers Market venue from the Schaeffler House grounds to the city park again Tuesday at their regular meeting, but postponed a decision for two weeks. “Can we keep it on the burner for a bit yet to see how fast the sod comes in and how quickly things progress?” Mayor Delores Dalke asked.

OPINION

Enjoying the countryside
Sunday evening I decided to try something I hadn’t done in years, probably not since cross-country season my senior year of high school. I went for a walk out in the country. I started my house and walked the back roads out to Marion County Park and Lake, and back home again. As near as I could figure, it was a walk of about five miles.
BALANCING ACT:
When is too much good bad?

OTHER NEWS

Commodities available Friday in Goessel
Commodity distribution for Goessel will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 13, at the Goessel Mennonite Church, 109 S. Church, Goessel. Commodity items are available to any family that meets income guidelines: Household of one — gross monthly income $1,180; family of two — $1,594; family of three — $2,008; family of four — $2.422; family of five — $2,836; and family of six —$3,249.
Seminar to cover insurance
Financial adviser Robert Wall will present a seminar about preparing for the costs of long-term care 10 to 11 a.m. April 14 and 7 to 8 p.m. April 17 at the Everence office, 105 S. Main St., Hillsboro. The seminar will include information about current trends, costs, and the effect of long-term care insurance. Other topics include the interaction between government programs and long-term care insurance, who needs long-term care insurance, coverage options, and how it can affect estate plans.
Easter hymn sing Sunday at Ebenfeld
A special Easter community hymn sing will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, 1498 Kanza Road, rural Hillsboro. The service will include singing, prayer, and scripture reading. Those attending will have the opportunity to select favorite hymns to sing. The theme will be “The Four Empty Things of Easter.” Steve Vincent will be the leader. Choral music will be provided by Parkside Voices.

PEOPLE

Chat and Dine club to meet April 14
The Marion County Park and Lake Chat and Dine Club will have its first potluck dinner of the year at 6:30 p.m. April 14. Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson will update the group on activities at the lake. Organizers encourage everyone to bring a guest for an evening of food and fellowship.
CORRESPONDENTS:
Tampa, Round the town, Northwest of Durham
ENGAGEMENT:
Hiebert-Craig

SCHOOL

BCC announces honor rolls
Butler Community College in El Dorado announced the President’s and Dean’s honor rolls for the fall 2011 semester. Students qualifying for the President’s Honor Roll achieved between a 4.0 and 3.5 grade point average; Dean’s List students earned between 3.49 and 3.0 GPA. President’s Honor Roll
Unrau donated money to FFA
Money in agriculture is not always easy to come by, but rural Goessel farmer DeAlan Unrau got lucky recently and then shared his windfall with the Goessel Future Farmers of America chapter Friday at their annual banquet. He donated a check for $2,500 from Monsanto to the high school organization. “All I did was sign up on their website,” Unrau said. “I’ve actually signed up a number of times, but this year got lucky and was selected.”
Goessel JH musicians lauded
Goessel Junior High School students participated in the Wheat State League Music Festival on March 6 in White City. All students in grades 6, 7, and 8 sang in the choir and earned a I+ rating for their performance and accolades from the adjudicators for their vocal tone quality.
35 GHS students compete at regional festival
Thirty-five Goessel High School music students took part in Regional Music Festival Saturday at Tabor College. Those earning I ratings qualify to compete on April 28 at State Music Festival. Ensembles earning I ratings included clarinet quintet, saxophone quartet, flute quartet, Elbiata Singers, men’s ensemble, women’s ensemble.
HHS students seek service opportunities
Hillsboro High School Student Council has chosen May 2 as a day for students and teachers to work together in community service activities, and Student Council President Courtney Weber is asking local businesses for input for service opportunities. “The student council wanted to check with all of the businesses to see if they had something for students to do,” Weber said.
Tabor student flute recital on Tuesday
Tabor College student Emily Schmidt will perform her junior recital on flute at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Tabor College Chapel. The recital is open to the public. Schmidt is a music education major studying under Joyann Brake. She anticipates graduating in May. Russell Schmidt and Elizabeth Hofer of Wichita are her parents.
Tabor to give 'Another Antigone'
The Tabor College theater department will produce two shows of “Another Antigone” April 26 and 28, directed by Judy Harder. The play features Tabor College English professor Chris Dick as professor Henry Harper, Ashley Bird as Judy Miller, Nolan Dirks as David Appleton, and Maria Loewen as Diana Eberhart.

SPORTS

Panzer runs ultra-marathon
Kodi Panzer said one of the characteristics of a great runner is a devotion to preparation. She has already started packing her luggage for the Cedro Peak Ultra Marathon, April 7 in New Mexico.
3 HHS players honored with all-state selections
Three Hillsboro High School basketball players were named to Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all-state teams. Junior Tena Loewen was named to the second team in 3A and sophomore teammate Addie Lackey was a third team selection.
Hillsboro no. 2 doubles win
The only Hillsboro High School tennis players to earn a victory Thursday at Conway Springs were the No. 2 doubles team of Ty Carey and Tyler Funk. Carey and Funk defeated Trinity Academy’s Jack Kriwiel and Stephen Brunson, 8-4, in their final match of the day.
Gomez places at Kids State Wrestling
Four Hillsboro Wrestling club members competed March 24 and 25 in the USA Wrestling Kansas Kids State Championship Tournament in Topeka. For the second year in a row, Hillsboro Elementary School student Devin Gomez placed in the top six in his age group. He finished third at state last year in the 8-and-younger division.
Talented freshmen lead HHS softball team
Madison Klein did not go into her high school softball debut thinking she would get the winning hit for Hillsboro, one of her four hits in the evening. Her expectations were tempered. She said she just wanted to do her best.
Arnold secures ace pitching postion for HHS boys
In the spirit of an election year, Kale Arnold announced his candidacy as the ace of the Hillsboro High School baseball pitching staff Friday at Nickerson. Behind Arnold’s 7 innings of work, the Trojans won their first game, 7-5, in the second game of a doubleheader with the Panthers.

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Marion County Commission approved a bid from APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division Friday for four road projects scheduled to begin May 15. The bid from APAC totals to $3,172,260. The largest project is 330th Road, from Meridian to K-15, which accounts for $1,009,836 of the total.

A train collided with an empty vehicle on tracks south of U.S. 50 near Sunflower Road on March 27. Austin Jost, 19, of rural Marion, was stuck on the track after trying to turn around a 2003 Dodge pickup truck just before 1 a.m.

Hillsboro Police Department recently purchased a new detection dog with help from local donors. Zara, a Dutch Shepherd, fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Rico, a Belgian Malinois in September. “Rico’s a pet now,” officer Brad Richards said Monday.

Kevin Tidwell, formerly of Hillsboro and now living in rural Lincolnville, is the head mechanic at Shields Auto Service and Supply in Lincolnville. Tidwell began working there in September, doing small jobs. He now mainly does engine and transmission jobs.

Robert “Bob” Cordts, 82, of Hillsboro died March 28, 2012, at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. He was born March 21, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to William and Thelma (Weaver) Cordts. He was a bookkeeper.

Geraldine Frick, 93, of Durham died April 1, 2012, in Enterprise. She was born Jan. 31, 1919, in Durham to Henry and Mattie Grant (Garrett) Christiansen. She was a homemaker. She married Melvin Frick on May 25, 1940, in Durham. He preceded her in death in 1996.

Don D. Klein, 67, of Tampa, died March 27, 2012, in rural Tampa. He was born April 10, 1944, in Hillsboro to Leonard Francis and Elma (Hamm) Klein. He was a farmer. He married Sharon Pschigoda on May 8, 1965, in Durham. She survives of the home.

Judy E. Schroeder, 73, of Hillsboro died April 1, 2012, in Marion. She was born Sept. 4, 1938, in Goessel to Jake and Bertha (Epp) Ratzlaff. She was a nurse at Salem Hospital.

Judith Ann Wiens, 79, of Wichita died March 22, 2012, at Lakepoint in Wichita. She was born Feb. 24, 1933, in Corn, Okla., to H.R. and Barbara (Kleinsasser) Wiens. She was an aide in pediatrics.

BALANCING ACT:

The Marion County Park and Lake Chat and Dine Club will have its first potluck dinner of the year at 6:30 p.m. April 14. Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson will update the group on activities at the lake. Organizers encourage everyone to bring a guest for an evening of food and fellowship.

CORRESPONDENTS:

ENGAGEMENT:

Goessel Junior High School students participated in the Wheat State League Music Festival on March 6 in White City. All students in grades 6, 7, and 8 sang in the choir and earned a I+ rating for their performance and accolades from the adjudicators for their vocal tone quality.

Kodi Panzer said one of the characteristics of a great runner is a devotion to preparation. She has already started packing her luggage for the Cedro Peak Ultra Marathon, April 7 in New Mexico.

Three Hillsboro High School basketball players were named to Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all-state teams. Junior Tena Loewen was named to the second team in 3A and sophomore teammate Addie Lackey was a third team selection.

The only Hillsboro High School tennis players to earn a victory Thursday at Conway Springs were the No. 2 doubles team of Ty Carey and Tyler Funk. Carey and Funk defeated Trinity Academy’s Jack Kriwiel and Stephen Brunson, 8-4, in their final match of the day.

Madison Klein did not go into her high school softball debut thinking she would get the winning hit for Hillsboro, one of her four hits in the evening. Her expectations were tempered. She said she just wanted to do her best.

In the spirit of an election year, Kale Arnold announced his candidacy as the ace of the Hillsboro High School baseball pitching staff Friday at Nickerson. Behind Arnold’s 7 innings of work, the Trojans won their first game, 7-5, in the second game of a doubleheader with the Panthers.