HILLSBORO Star-Journal

HEADLINES

Losing candidate contests election
A District 1 county commission candidate defeated in the Aug. 7 primary election is accusing County Clerk Tina Spencer and county commissioners of conducting the election illegally and asking a judge to order his name placed on the November general election ballot. Larry Cushinberry, formerly assistant supervisor of the county road and bridge department, filed a petition in District Court Aug. 27 seeking a writ of mandamus against Spencer and the commissioners.
Goessel kinder 'gardeners' dig sunflower house
Start with soil. Drop in a few seeds. Sprinkle with a bit of water. Add kids — all needed for the learning garden at Goessel schools. The garden was planted last spring and is now exploding with fresh produce, thanks to part-time garden coordinator Pam Abrahams, teachers, aides, and students. This year pre-school members will be introduced along with kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Commission agrees to expansion proposal
Marion County Commission might grow by two members in January, depending on how the November election goes. Commissioners at Friday’s meeting passed the decision unanimously, cancelling the need for chairman Dianne Novak to circulate a petition.
EMS director submits resignation
Marion County is in need of a new director for Emergency Medical Services effective Sept. 20. EMS director Ed Debesis gave the county commission his letter of resignation at Friday’s meeting and the board unanimously accepted.
Family wins award for century farm
Tradition and heritage are a big part of what makes agriculture such an attractive way of life for so many Kansans. Jim Enns has spent all but seven years on the family farm west of K-15 on 240th Rd.
City cuts funding to county economic development group
After watching first Marion, then Peabody, withdraw financial support from a countywide economic development corporation, Hillsboro council members did likewise at Tuesday’s meeting. City administrator Larry Paine recommended that the city withdraw its financial support as of July, saying that Marion withdrew financial support several weeks ago and Peabody did so last week.

OTHER HEADLINES

Judge orders silage pile removed
A municipal judge ruled Thursday that a mountain of silage on the west edge of Marion must be removed within 10 days, but how, or whether, that will happen is unknown. “It physically can’t be done in 10 days,” Mike Beneke, owner of the property at 601 W. Main, said.
Farmer escapes rollover with lacerated arm
Eldon Wiens, 84, of Hillsboro was treating a silage pile on his farm Monday when the tractor he was driving rolled off the side. His wife, Lavonne, said Eldon told her the tractor took a somersault and landed on its tires. During the rollover, the tractor windows broke out and Wiens was thrown out. The doors remained closed.
Fire ravages historic Marion home
A Monday night fire devastated a historic Marion house and took firefighters from three towns seven hours to extinguish. The house, at 205 N. Lincoln St., was built in 1885 and was once the home of E.W. Hoch, Kansas governor from 1905 to 1909.
Aug. rain provides feast for late crops
Marion County’s rainfall increased across the board in August, reaching just shy of 7 inches in areas. While the increase was significant, it hit some areas more than others.
Red Cross in need of donors
The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be in Marion 1:15 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Appointment are made by calling (800) RED-CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org, sponsor key “Marion.”
Goessel band selected for convention
Goessel High School concert band has been selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association’s state convention in February at Century II in Wichita. Scott Taylor is the director.

DEATHS

Louise Janzen
Services for former Florence resident Louise Janzen, 98, were Wednesday at Marion Christian Church. Janzen died Friday at Marion.
Johnny Siebert
Services for retired farmer Johnny G. Siebert, 89, Hillsboro, were Sept. 1 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. He died Aug. 28 at his home. He was born June 27, 1929, in Hillsboro to John and Lena (Groening) Siebert. He married Ruby Ens Sept. 3, 1952, in Hillsboro. He was a farmer.
IN MEMORIAM:
Tony Winter
IN MEMORIAM:
Myles Zeller

DOCKET

OPINION

It's Govern-O-Matic, as seen on TV
Lots of things sound like great ideas — until you actually buy into them. Just check your basement. You’ll find all the evidence you need in a stack of Ginsu Knives, Veg-o-Matics and Pocket Fishermen from K-Tel and Ronco. Marion County unfortunately seems poised to buy a shiny new Flowbee Haircutting System to trim up all the unruly elements of its current three-member county commission.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Taxes equal benefits?

PEOPLE

New officer joins Peabody police
“I see people at their worst times and I want to give them hope that tomorrow is a new day,” recently-hired Peabody police officer Megan Chizek said. Chizek, 26, has lived in numerous places around Marion County so she knows the area well.
Old fashioned baseball game highlights Florence Labor Day
Florence’s Labor Day Weekend is like many small town fairs; they have a parade, sporting events, and fireworks. As much as the festivities are characteristics of Anytown, U.S.A., Florence draws a crowd.
Baby llama headed to Hutch zoo
Sherry Nelson of Stardust Sheep Farm was surprised recently when one of her black llamas produced a rare silver leopard cria. “I just thought God gave me a gift,” she said. “I had seen one or two leopards before, but he was just beautiful.”
Surprise showing in the garden
When a unique flower plant sprang up in my garden last spring, I wondered what it was. I did research and discovered it was a wild poinsettia with common names like fireplant, fire on the mountain, paintedleaf, and painted splurge.
Hillsboro Senior Center menu
UPCOMING:
Calendar of events

SPORTS AND SCHOOL

Trojans give Swathers close call
Cheers of joy might have rang out earlier in the week when the Hillsboro Trojans caught word that the football season’s opening opponent, Hesston, would be without its starting quarterback, Cameron Cox. Spearheading an explosive 1-2 punch in the Swather backfield, Cox left Hesston with only one weapon in Friday night’s home opener.
Trojans open cross-country season at Smoky Valley
The Kodi Panzer era got off to a good start Thursday with the Trojan cross-country team opening the year at the Smoky Valley Invitational in Lindsborg. Paced by a 1st place finish from seventh grader Levi Allen, and runner-up Caleb Diener for the freshman-sophomore division, the Trojan boys’ team took fifth with 88 points.
Goessel volleyball aces opponents
Bluebirds volleyball began the season Tuesday at Ell-Saline High School with wins over Haven and Herington. Even though this was their first match, and Haven had already played six matches this year, the Bluebirds seemed to click. Goessel handled the first set 25-11 and the second set 25-19.
Goessel cross-country races well at opener
At the Pretty Prairie cross-country meet Thursday, runners scored well for the Bluebirds despite not being able to compete in all team races. Runners could choose either a 4K or 5K race. Six runners in the girls’ division choose the 4K race.
Goessel football avoids shutout
It took 48 minutes, but the Bluebirds managed a touchdown as time expired in the game with Moundridge on Friday. Moundridge scored on their first possession, but the Bluebird defense came up with stops and created turnovers to keep the margin 8-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Goessel graduate named to All-Academic team
Eastern Mennonite University student Erin Brubaker, of Goessel, has been named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team for Women’s Volleyball. A total of 105 EMU students were named to the ODAC team, setting a new high mark of honorees for the Royals. All 16 of EMU’s ODAC-sponsored sports were represented on the team.
Goessel and Hillsboro School menus

HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Marion County Commission might grow by two members in January, depending on how the November election goes. Commissioners at Friday’s meeting passed the decision unanimously, cancelling the need for chairman Dianne Novak to circulate a petition.

Marion County is in need of a new director for Emergency Medical Services effective Sept. 20. EMS director Ed Debesis gave the county commission his letter of resignation at Friday’s meeting and the board unanimously accepted.

Tradition and heritage are a big part of what makes agriculture such an attractive way of life for so many Kansans. Jim Enns has spent all but seven years on the family farm west of K-15 on 240th Rd.

A municipal judge ruled Thursday that a mountain of silage on the west edge of Marion must be removed within 10 days, but how, or whether, that will happen is unknown. “It physically can’t be done in 10 days,” Mike Beneke, owner of the property at 601 W. Main, said.

A Monday night fire devastated a historic Marion house and took firefighters from three towns seven hours to extinguish. The house, at 205 N. Lincoln St., was built in 1885 and was once the home of E.W. Hoch, Kansas governor from 1905 to 1909.

Marion County’s rainfall increased across the board in August, reaching just shy of 7 inches in areas. While the increase was significant, it hit some areas more than others.

The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be in Marion 1:15 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Appointment are made by calling (800) RED-CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org, sponsor key “Marion.”

Goessel High School concert band has been selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association’s state convention in February at Century II in Wichita. Scott Taylor is the director.

Services for former Florence resident Louise Janzen, 98, were Wednesday at Marion Christian Church. Janzen died Friday at Marion.

Services for retired farmer Johnny G. Siebert, 89, Hillsboro, were Sept. 1 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. He died Aug. 28 at his home. He was born June 27, 1929, in Hillsboro to John and Lena (Groening) Siebert. He married Ruby Ens Sept. 3, 1952, in Hillsboro. He was a farmer.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

“I see people at their worst times and I want to give them hope that tomorrow is a new day,” recently-hired Peabody police officer Megan Chizek said. Chizek, 26, has lived in numerous places around Marion County so she knows the area well.

Florence’s Labor Day Weekend is like many small town fairs; they have a parade, sporting events, and fireworks. As much as the festivities are characteristics of Anytown, U.S.A., Florence draws a crowd.

Sherry Nelson of Stardust Sheep Farm was surprised recently when one of her black llamas produced a rare silver leopard cria. “I just thought God gave me a gift,” she said. “I had seen one or two leopards before, but he was just beautiful.”

When a unique flower plant sprang up in my garden last spring, I wondered what it was. I did research and discovered it was a wild poinsettia with common names like fireplant, fire on the mountain, paintedleaf, and painted splurge.

UPCOMING:

Bluebirds volleyball began the season Tuesday at Ell-Saline High School with wins over Haven and Herington. Even though this was their first match, and Haven had already played six matches this year, the Bluebirds seemed to click. Goessel handled the first set 25-11 and the second set 25-19.

At the Pretty Prairie cross-country meet Thursday, runners scored well for the Bluebirds despite not being able to compete in all team races. Runners could choose either a 4K or 5K race. Six runners in the girls’ division choose the 4K race.

It took 48 minutes, but the Bluebirds managed a touchdown as time expired in the game with Moundridge on Friday. Moundridge scored on their first possession, but the Bluebird defense came up with stops and created turnovers to keep the margin 8-0 at the end of the first quarter.