HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Vol. 118 , No. 36
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Hillsboro, KS 67063
HEADLINES
Voters approve hospital election reform
Voters who crowded a basement meeting room Tuesday approved a change in how St. Luke Hospital directors are elected. They voted 74-17 to shift future elections from annual meetings to regular November ballots beginning in 2027.
Peabody fills 1 of 3 council openings
Peabody restored a legal quorum Monday by appointing Rodney Hague to the city council after weeks of governmental upheaval that included the resignations of Mayor Kevin Burke and council member Julia Ensminger. Two council seats remain vacant, however, continuing to limit how members can discuss city business outside meetings without risking violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
Gearing up: Even the young get in the Grand Prix spirit
Six-year-old Vic Schroer of Strong City climbed onto a borrowed bike for the first race of his life. Before the race, confidence already was high.
2 seriously hurt in ATV crash
Two people were taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita after an ATV crashed Sunday night near Florence’s ball field during the Grand Prix weekend. According to Undersheriff Larry Starkey the ATV was carrying four people, an 18-year-old female driver, a 13-year-old passenger, a 47-year-old female passenger, and 53-year-old Jeffrey Cooper of Cottonwood Falls when the driver lost control.
Young racer suffers significant ankle injury
A 16-year-old motorcycle racer suffered a significant ankle injury Sunday during the Grand Prix in Florence. Ambulance director Mickey Price said the teen wrecked during one of the day’s races and injured the ankle after putting a foot down awkwardly.
Courtroom A/V project approved
County commissioners approved a grant-funded courtroom sound and technology project Tuesday while continuing discussions about county spending and outside funding requests. Commissioners approved improvements to the courtroom after county administrator Tina Spencer presented a proposal that had not been included among meeting documents because final grant information arrived late.
Marion seeking new building inspector
Building inspector James Masters soon will leave Marion for a full-time position with Council Grove, prompting a search for a replacement. A replacement may be hard to find, city administrator Brian Wells said, “Because of his caliber of work”.
DEATHS
Edie Ollenburger
Services for Marilyn Edith “Edie” (Gibson) Ollenburger, 95, Hillsboro, who died May 15, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Durham. Born April 11, 1931, in Newton to James B. and Helen (Meyers) Gibson, she and her sisters lived with their aunt and uncle, Hannah and Will Grove, after Edie’s mother died when Edie was an infant.
IN MEMORIAM:
Richard Lehrman
FARM
Battered by weather, wheat crop declines as harvest nears
What once appeared to be a promising wheat crop has deteriorated across parts of Marion County as harvest approaches. Hail damage, difficult spring weather, and declining yield expectations have clouded outlooks for local producers.
FOR THE RECORD
Accidents reported
County jail arrests and bookings
Deeds recorded
Emergency dispatches
Police activity reports
Offenses reported
Traffic Division cases
OPINION
In memory of democracy
If your relatives are anything like mine, visitors to family gatherings come away with the same question. They have no trouble figuring who likes to talk. What they can’t figure out is who listens. It’s much the same on In-Your-Face-book, which despite slipping into semi-obscurity elsewhere seems to remain the No. 1 anti-social media platform here.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
No such thing as unknown
LETTERS:
Scouting
,
Memorial Day
AMERICA AT 250:
Misreading a nation's morals can turn catastrophic
PEOPLE
New scholarship seeks to combat rural lawyer shortage
A fourth-generation farm family with ties to Marion, Dickinson, and Morris counties has established a perpetual scholarship at the University of Kansas School of Law aimed at helping rural Kansas students pursue legal careers. The James Reidy Scholarship will prioritize students from Marion, Dickinson, and Morris counties attending KU’s law school. If no eligible students from those counties are enrolled, the scholarship will be available to other rural Kansas students.
Weekend of music, activities planned
Flint Hills Counterpoint will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a day of music, food, workshops, speakers, kids’ activities, and a film Saturday afternoon and evening at 1660 90th Rd. Hourly performances from 1 to 8 p.m. will be by Thad Beach, Caleb and Brett Klingenberg, Von Hansen, Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, MHM, Alferd Packer Memorial String Band, Jopara Ensemble, and Tim Snider.
Vet student to work in clinic
Tristan Williams Mallory, daughter of the late Doug and Sheila Williams, was one of 126 Kansas State University veterinary students who received white coats in a special ceremony earlier this month. A 2021 graduate of Centre High School, she will work in clinical practice until next May, when she will graduate from the program.
Library 'crawl' offers prizes
Prizes will be awarded to patrons who visit regional libraries in June and July. Each visit to a different library in north central Kansas will allow one entry in a drawing Aug. 5. Visiting all libraries will qualify a patron for 10 bonus entries.
Marion Middle School honor roll
College degrees and honors
Senior Center menus
MEMORIES:
10
,
20
,
30
,
40
,
50
,
60
,
70
,
110
,
150 years ago
SPORTS
Vogt wins 4th straight state title
Hillsboro’s Lauryn Vogt won her fourth straight state championship in the 50-meter freestyle and added another state title in the 100-meter butterfly at the state swim meet Friday and Saturday. She was among several members of the combined Marion swim team to medal at the meet.
Athletes from 4 schools qualify for state track meet
A large number of county athletes qualified at regional meets last week to compete Friday and Saturday at the state track and field meet at Wichita State University. Marion
MORE…
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