HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Hefley urges council to support local businesses

Jon Hefley, owner of The Lumberyard, reaffirmed Tuesday for Hillsboro city council his concerns about Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, while making a pitch for more city support of local businesses. “What is the city going to do to help promote downtown businesses?” Hefley asked. “We’ve got to do something to promote, and the city needs to do some of it.”

County denies 'being cheap' in EMS hiring

Despite saving $30,000 a year by rejecting more experienced applicants, county commissioners say they weren’t trying to “get by on the cheap” by instead picking a local EMT with two years’ experience as a volunteer. By restructuring the department, commissioners say, the new ambulance director won’t be setting policy or leading training but rather tending to the logistics of keeping ambulances staffed and ready.

Kids falling behind on immunizations

“On-time” immunization rates for Marion County and Kansas children have fallen sharply, according to a report Tuesday by Kansas Kids Count. In 2012, the state immunization rate was 72 percent. In 2013, it declined to 61 percent as more parents opted out of certain vaccinations.

Voters casting ballots early

County voters started casting ballots last week for the Nov. 4 election, and more are expected to take advantage of early voting and absentee ballots. “I haven’t checked how many, but it’s becoming more and more prevalent for people to want to vote earlier and vote by mail,” County Clerk Tina Spencer said.

Voter abstains to protest ID law

For more than 30 federal and Kansas elections, Jane Johnson of Marion has voted. This Nov. 4, she won’t. It’s a matter of conflicting principles for Johnson, who has been caught up along with thousands of other Kansans in the problems created by a change in voter registration, namely, the requirement to provide proof of citizenship to register.

Williamson is Queen of Halloween

Trisha Williamson of Hillsboro usually celebrates her birthday a day early. Born on Nov. 1, she’s had a lifelong infatuation with the Halloween season. Her home is both a time capsule and a canvas to be painted with decorations. Above her kitchen entrance, a sign reads “Wicked Witch.” Another sign, by her television, proclaims her the
“Queen of Halloween.”

Relay for Life shatters fundraiser goal

Marion County Relay for Life shattered a $24,000 goal Saturday at Warriors Stadium by amassing donations to the tune of $27,687 for cancer research, with money still coming in as of Monday. Area relay specialist Bryn Mecum said the county’s relay committee would be receiving a “very uncommon five-star award” for this year’s effort.

Move-in date pushed back

During a tour of the new USD 411 facilities, Goessel Board of Education members learned the move-in date might be as early as November, but could be pushed back yet again until the end of the semester in mid-December. Superintendent John Fast said the persistent delays were “extremely disappointing.”

Holub's speech stresses compassion for poor

County Commissioner Dan Holub is a jokester. He routinely ribs the other commissioners (and the press) during commission meetings, bringing a lighthearted tint to government work. In Monday’s meeting, however, he brought a very sobering tone when he asked the commission to consider the possibility of repurposing funds the county accrues from scrap metal and the sale of old equipment to help some of Marion County’s most needy citizens.

Runaway eludes cops for 3 hours

A 17-year-old McPherson youth with autism casually eluded officers for nearly three hours Thursday night after a dispute with his family led to the decision to walk from his family’s campsite at Hillsboro Cove to Hillsboro, Sheriff Robert Craft said. Marion County Sheriff’s officers initially responded to the call, then requested assistance from Hillsboro and Marion authorities as darkness complicated the search.

Man dies at Marion Lake campsite

An unresponsive man was pronounced dead at Hillsboro Cove on Oct. 15. The man, of Wichita, was 73. The death was unattended and appeared to be of natural causes, Sheriff Robert Craft said.

Carol Broadstreet

Carol Lynd (Starr) Broadstreet, age 72, of Marion, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at Newton Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. The eldest child of Robert and Ruth (Wright) Starr, Carol was born on Jan. 19, 1942, in Salisbury, Maryland, and lived there until she was seven years old. Then she moved to Ganado, Arizona, with her family. Her dad was a medical missionary doctor with the Presbyterian Church to the Navajos in Ganado, Arizona, and the Tlingits in Klawock, Alaska. Carol then attended East High at Denver, Colorado, until her high school graduation in 1960. Music was always a large part of her life. She had perfect pitch, playing the piano throughout her life, as well as singing with the choir.

Thomas E. Duggan

Thomas E. Duggan, 80, of Tampa, passed away Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. He was born Nov. 20, 1933, to Thomas P. and Elizabeth Katherine (Coyne) Duggan, in Salina, Kansas. Tom was proud of his Irish Catholic ancestry, the Duggan family name, and his roots in the Tampa community. Survivors include his beloved wife, Dolores (Dee) Duggan of Tampa, married November 29, 1975; his daughters, Darla K. Hall of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Deb Hall of Herington, Kansas; and grandchildren, Adam Hall and Kaylee Ann Hall. He loved his sisters, Patricia (Gene) Westerhaus of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Betty (Don) Frick of Topeka, Kansas, and all his nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his brothers, John Duggan and Bernard Duggan, who are still greatly missed.

Ladislav Havlik

Ladislav E. “Laddie” Havlik, 97, of Kanopolis, was born near Bison, OK, Jan. 29, 1917, to Anton and Leopolda (Stary) Havlik. He passed away Oct. 15, 2014, at the Ellsworth Good Samaritan Center, Ellsworth, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, and all nine of his siblings: Anton Havlik, Frances Shimanek, Wenceslaus Havlik, Mary Kristek, Frank Havlik, Dr. Albert Havlik, Polly Belton, Stanley Havlik, and Sister Oswald Havlik. As a small child, he moved with his family to a farm in Marion County, near Tampa, Kansas. He attended a rural elementary school near Tampa and graduated from Tampa High School. He later furthered his education by attending Wichita State University and studying electronics by correspondence from DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago. During his long life, he worked on ranches in Colorado, helped on construction of Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, and enlisted in the Armed Forces, where he served in both the Army Engineers and the Army Air Force before, during, and after WWII. Following the war, he was employed by Quaker Oats Co. in Iowa, operated his own mechanics shop in Marion, Kansas, and at various times, worked for Boeing and Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, and Lockheed in Atlanta, Georgia. He was employed for several years by Hesston Corp., Hesston, Kansas, and owned and operated Tampa Lumber and Hdwe., in Tampa, Kansas.

Charles Priddy

Former pastor and Hillsboro resident Charles W. Priddy, 78, died Sunday at Asbury Park in Newton. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Mennonite Church in Halstead.

Doris Shultz

Doris Shultz, 79, died Friday at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born Oct. 1, 1935, to David and Anna (Friesen) Klassen of rural Lehigh. Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Ken Shultz of Hillsboro; two sons, Rick Shultz of Sachse, Texas and Perry Shultz of Keller, Texas; two daughters, Candi Roberts of Newnan, Georgia, and Gretchen McRae of Irving, Texas; one sister, Bernice Friend; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Roberta A. Slifer

Roberta “Happy” A. Slifer (formerly Work and Miller), 92, died Oct. 14 at St. Luke Living Center. She was born October 17, 1921, in New York, New York. She and her siblings were placed into an orphanage in Bath, New York. From the orphanage, they were put on an orphan train in 1924. Roberta (at that time known as Alberta) was adopted by Walter and Anna Work of Windom. Roberta graduated high school at Windom, and worked as a switchboard operator.

Richard Varenhorst Jr.

Richard W. Varenhorst Jr. was born April 10, 1944, to Richard Wayne Varenhorst Sr. and Dorothy Elizabeth (Miesse) Varenhorst in Wichita, Kansas. Dick grew up in Marion where his parents owned Van’s Department Store. He graduated from Marion High School in 1962, and attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, majoring in theater. Dick was active in the summer theater program and performed in at least 18 productions. He joined the army in September 1964, and was stationed in Germany where he started his own theater company. Later he was deployed to Vietnam as a top secret security clearance courier. Dick served two tours in Vietnam in the 9th Infantry during the Tet Offensive and Dong Tam. After his honorable discharge, Dick returned to Emporia to continue his education. Dick married Pam Stone (whom he met at college) and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. His son Garrett was born in Los Angeles in 1975 and daughter Catie came soon after in 1977 in Santa Rosa. The Varenhorst family moved to Marion in 1980 where he pursued a career in sales, returning to the store his mother still owned, Van’s, managing and opening Van’s Too!, a gift shop, and Van’s Man, a men’s clothing store, to complement the womens’ and childrens’ clothing lines sold at Van’s. He continued his military service in the Kansas Army National Guard for 16 years.

Accidents reported

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Police reports

Traffic division

Harshmans preserve historic Clover Cliff Ranch

When Warren and Susan Harshman purchased Clover Cliff Ranch in Chase County from the Jim and Joan Donahue Estate in February, they became the fourth owners of the nearly 4,000-acre ranch. “We wanted the property to be locally owned and shared, including its history, beauty, and cultural heritage,” Susan Harshman said.

Gardeners prep for winter, planting

For some, gardening happens between the last and first frosts of the year. For others, like Jana Dalke and Mike Moran, gardening is a process that flows from one season to the next. Late October is transition time for Dalke, who with her husband, Dale, operates Serenity Gardens on 190th Rd. between Marion and Hillsboro. The business side closes in late October, although good weather could extend open hours a few days into early November, Dalke said. Once that happens, the transition to winter, with an eye toward spring, will begin in earnest.

Goessel museum plans hymn-sing

Hymn singing and a traditional Mennonite Low German light meal are the features of the annual Sunday-Afternoon-Faspa-at-the-Museum at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum Oct. 26. The program will begin at 3 p.m. The maroon Mennonite Hymnal will be used. Faspa will be served at 4 p.m. Faspa fare will include zwieback, cheese, jelly and cookies.

Democrat women to meet

Marion County Democratic Women will meet at noon Friday at Marion Senior Center. Bring ramen noodles for the local food bank.

NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

ROUND THE TOWN:

School bands perform Thursday

The Hillsboro band and vocal departments will be presenting their fall concert at 7 p.m. Thursday. Middle school groups performing will be the sixth grade band, seventh and eighth grade band, and seventh and eighth grade choir.

Goessel science classes to build light-eating robots

Thanks to a $3,000 grant from Westar Energy, Donna O’Neill’s physical science and physics classes at Goessel High School will have the opportunity to build solar-powered robots from scratch. The STEM, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics grant, is the largest amount Westar has awarded to any one applicant. O’Neill applied for the grant last spring. She hopes every one of her students can make a robot. The simple bots will be made from “technoscrap,” parts from old or unused electronics, such as CDs and VCRs. They will incorporate biology, electronics, aesthetics, and mechanics, called BEAM robotics.

Hillsboro avenges loss to win tourney

Saturday was payback time. Hillsboro won its own volleyball tournament Saturday by taking down Sterling, the team that dealt the Trojans their first loss of the season Sept. 30.

Goessel volleyball finishes regular season 36-

The Goessel volleyball team earned its fourth consecutive Wheat State League tournament championship Saturday, boosting its record to a perfect 36-0 as players look ahead to substate competition. Goessel tuned up for the tournament with matches Oct. 14 against Little River and Inman.

Swathers steamroll Trojans 56-14

When football players exhort each other to “win the half” as the second half kickoff approaches, it’s a certain sign the first half didn’t go their way. Hillsboro took an early 7-0 lead Friday against undefeated Hesston, but buckled under the weight of a 35-point first-quarter barrage by the Swathers, falling 56-14 at Hesston.

Goessel loses to Solomon

The Goessel Bluebird football team lost a district game 44-8 on Friday at Solomon. Goessel will be at Canton-Galva this Friday for another district contest. Goessel is now 1-6 overall and 0-3 in District play.

Weber claims 3rd in State tennis singles

Hillsboro senior tennis player Allison Weber has good reason to feel satisfied right now. As of Saturday, she could say she is one of the top three 3-2-1A singles players in Kansas in 2014, not to mention she singlehandedly earned 7th place for Hillsboro’s team.

Sechrist wins league championship in cross-country

Hillsboro seniors Emily Sechrist and Karyn Leihy were among the 42 varsity girls who participated Thursday in the Central Kansas League cross-country championship, and both placed in the top 10. Sechrist won the four-kilometer run, finishing in 15 minutes, 16.8 seconds. Leihy finished ninth, with a time of 17:58.8.

Return to current issue