HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Donations down but spirits high at blood drive

American Red Cross workers collected only 37 productive units of blood at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro Monday afternoon, but spirits were high among those who donated. “Our goal was to have 60, and we had 48 scheduled appointments,” organizing volunteer Shirley Kasper said. “Some of those were not accepted, and others did not show up, the weather might have kept some away.”

Meth, cocaine found in Marion searches

A child taking a syringe to Marion Elementary School led to the drug and child endangerment arrests of two Marion residents Monday. Ninety minutes after school officials reported the syringe, which Police Chief Tyler Mermis said tested positive for methamphetamines, a search warrant was obtained for the child’s home at 319 S. Cedar St.

Defendant found not guilty in Tabor student's death

A jury found former McPherson College football player Alton Franklin not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Tabor College football player Brandon Brown in September. The jury had the option of convicting Franklin of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, but acquitted him on all charges April 16.

Hillsboro Farmers' Market to start May 2

Spring might be a bit slow coming to Marion County, but the Hillsboro Farmers’ Market crew is ready to get started May 2 at the Scheffler House Museum grounds. “We’ll run from 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday from May through October,” organizer Joni Calam said. “It’s early, but we’ll have plants for sale, eggs, baked goods, and lots of other items. We already have most of the meals scheduled, but there is room for a few more throughout the season.”

Concerned citizens start recycling program in Goessel

A group of concerned citizens in Goessel have joined together to form what they hope will be an alternative method for recycling, as the county-sponsored system is scheduled to end April 30. “The response to recycling here has always been tremendously successful,” said Goessel resident Larry Schmidt. “It will be a huge loss for the city and the surrounding community to lose our recycling avenue through the county, but we hope this new arrangement will provide an opportunity for continued success.”

Max Lee Herzet

Max Lee Herzet passed away on Monday, April 15, 2013, at the age of 79. Max, one of seven children, was born on a farm in Marion, Kan., on Aug. 11, 1933. He attended grade school in a one-room school house and graduated from Marion High School in 1951. Max attended Wichita University and graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree in 1956. He received the Gold Key Award from the Savings and Loan Graduate School of the University of Indiana in the early 1970s.

Herman M. Lovett

Herman M. Lovett, 87, died April 17 in Wichita. He was born July 9, 1925 in Leech, Okla., the son of Monroe and Bessie Hoopengarner Lovett.

Velma Elsie Willems

Velma Elsie Willems, 92, of Newton died Saturday at Kansas Christian Home in Newton. She was born Aug. 7, 1920, to Peter and Mary (Fast) Reimer in Fairview, Okla. She is survived by two sons, Joe Willems of Hillsboro and Harry Willems of Great Bend; a daughter, Sunny Christensen of Marion; a brother, Leonard Reimer of St. George, Utah; a sister, Ruby Watkins Dick of Reedley, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren.

Colleen B. Yoder

Colleen B. Yoder, 83, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody, Kan.

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County still hot on recycling

Marion County Commission collectively expressed continued interest in single-stream recycling. The commissioners would prefer that Marion, Hillsboro, Goessel, and Florence would come on board with a county program. Having Marion and Hillsboro would ensure enough recyclables would make a difference in reducing transfer station trash costs.

CRP workshop is May 8

Pheasants Forever is hosting a workshop for landowners who would like to learn more about the upcoming Conservation Reserve Program signup. The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. May 8 in the city hall basement, Marion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup from May 20 through June 14, 2013. CRP is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to control soil erosion, improve water and air quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 to 15 years. Accepted contracts will begin on Oct. 1, 2013.

Woman plants garden to tie-dye

Betty Williams of Marion wants to plant vegetables and flowers this year for one purpose: to get some natural dye. “I loved tie-dyeing when I was a kid,” the 66-year-old said. “But I didn’t want to use all the chemicals. Then I found instructions on how to make some natural dye and I just have to try it.”

Herbalist says herbs keep her family healthy

Karen Woodward of Florence recommends implanting a regular does of chickweed, wild sage, and dandelions into a routine. All the herbs naturally grow in the Flint Hills environment and can be brewed in a tea. “You could stay extremely healthy,” she said.

Every bird is welcome

Birdhouses are a common sight around Sylvia Bailey’s home in Lincolnville. She took early retirement from a job she held in California and moved to Lincolnville in 2004. Bailey has at least 18 birdhouses of various sizes and shapes in her expansive backyard and another seven in the front yard. Cardinals, blue jays, finches, sparrows, orioles, and robins are among the many birds that find a welcome there. A large fish pond provides water and a feeder provides food.

Bowls of beer solved slug problem

Anyone wanting to know how to deal with slugs in the garden can ask Lenore Dieter of Marion. She knows all about them from firsthand experience. For years, slugs were eating the lower leaves off the trailing petunias in the two brick planters at her house at 737 S. Freeborn. However, it wasn’t until last summer that Dieter finally learned what was causing the damage. She found out from Wendy Youk at Aunt Bee’s Floral and Garden in Marion.

Florence establishes garden

The Fred Harvey Community Garden in Florence, located just east of the Florence Harvey House, now has a special section for children. The children’s garden is being established using a $200 grant to the city from the Florence Community Foundation for that purpose.

Family housing shortage seen

Marion has a shortage of family-size homes — that is the word coming from people who pay attention to the housing market in town. Lori Heerey of Heerey Real Estate said the homes that sell best in town are three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes in the $70,000 to $100,000 range. Those homes seldom stay on the market for long unless they are priced too high.

Time to get serious about recycling

Marion County is planning a meeting May 28 to discuss curbside recycling with four of the five largest cities in the county — Peabody already has curbside recycling. The commission hopes to enlist the cities’ help to make recycling go as smoothly as trash pickup, with the idea that the transfer station could be closed to trash in favor of recycling either certain days of the week or certain hours of the day. The county has been pondering one recycling plan or another since 2006. Over the past four years, it has tried, and ended, a pair of half-measure recycling programs, which required residents to take their recyclables to a collection point. Those kinds of programs primarily serve people who are committed recyclers who will go out of their way to recycle.

BALANCING ACT:

LETTERS:

ONE WOMANS VIEW:

Keep calm and show beef

Weston Schroeder, 9, of Chase County loves making friends with other 4-H’ers at the spring beef show, but this year he learned an important showmanship lesson. “No matter what happens, you just have to know to stay calm,” he said. “That’s the key.”

Development screening is May 14

A free screening for children age 5 or younger will be held May 14 at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. Appointments will be available from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Development will be checked in areas of learning, motor, language, and social development, and vision and hearing will be screened. The process usually takes at least one hour to complete.

Singer brought salvation to Hillsboro resident

A tear fell down Trisha Saunders’ cheek when she heard the news: George Beverly Shea had passed away at 104. “I loved his voice,” the 68-year-old Hillsboro resident said. “The quality and tone of his voice is like no one else’s in the world. He had a way of bringing the Gospel message to your ears, and having your heart respond.”

Young and old join forces to reservoir cleanup

Dozens of volunteers came from all over Marion County; some young, some old. But age didn’t matter. They united under one purpose: to clean the Marion Reservoir. Bob Hoopes, a reservoir resident, was one of the first ones at the 11th annual Marion Reservoir Cleanup Day. Without much encouragement, he grabbed a large trash bag and went to work. He said he often walks along the shoreline, picking up trash — so, today, wasn’t that different, but vital just the same.

CORRESPONDENTS:

Hillsboro students named robotics champions

Eight Hillsboro High School students won awards at the Technology Students Association and VEX competitions March 28 through April 1 at the Webster Conference in Salina. Jordan Bezdek and Evan Ollenberger were the VEX Tournament champion with their robot “Mammoth.”

Goessel FCCLA members qualify for nationals

Goessel FCCLA members brought home three top gold awards from the state competition April 9 in Wichita and qualified six participants for the national convention this summer. Tia Goertzen and Alex Hiebert teamed up to win top gold in the national programs in action category. They presented a body image workshop to high school girls.

Goessel music department receives prestigious award

The Goessel School District will be formally presented with a Best Communities for Music Education award at their annual Community BBQ and Concert May 2 at Goessel High. Goessel joins 307 districts across the United States to receive the prestigious distinction this year from the NAMM Foundation.

Faber wins Trojan boys' tournament

Harry Faber won the Trojan Boys’ Invitational Friday in Hillsboro. Faber defeated Korey Blecha of Neodesha, 8-0, David Kitzinger of Hesston, 8-3, and Collin Martin of Hesston, 8-2.

Versatility key in wins over Canton-Galva

With two lopsided wins Friday in Galva, 18-0 and 11-1, the Hillsboro softball team was only in trouble one time. In the bottom of the fourth inning of the second game, the Eagles had runners on first and second with no outs. At this point, the Trojans were up 6-0 — a big inning from Canton-Galva and the Eagles were right back in the game.

Strength in jumps lands Hillsboro 5th at Halstead

The Hillsboro High School boys’ track and field team placed fifth at the Conrad Nightengale Invitational on Friday in Halstead. Shaq Thiessen won the high jump at 6-3 and long jump at 22-3. Avery Franz was third in long jump, 19-5½ and third in triple jump, 40-1½. Tyler Proffitt placed second in pole vault at 12-06.

Goessel track team sees improvements at Norwich

Every Goessel girl that scored points at Norwich Friday came home with her best time of the season. Tia Goertzen finished second in the 100-meter hurdles, eclipsing her best time of the last two seasons. She finished in 16.50 seconds and then captured third place in the 300-meter hurdles in 51.80 seconds, her best time of this season. Ali Buller circled the track twice in the 800 with her best time this year at 2:35.9 to pick up second place.

Goessel golf team gets best score of season

Temperatures hovered in the forties on April 16, but Goessel golfers battled the elements and came home from the Bluestem Invitational with a team score of 374, their best of the season. Tyler Schulz led the team with his career best, shooting 88 for 12th place individually. Trey Schmidt finished with 89, Lucas Hiebert 98 and Reece Hiebert knocked a stroke off his season best, finishing at 99. Dan Smucker came in at 109 and Zach Showalter ended the day at 128.

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