Tasia Johnson keeps an eye on her reptilian friend, Cherokee, a green iguana, during her holiday break from classes. The Tabor College junior is the caretaker for some 20-plus critters that have a home in the Loewen Natural Science Center. Jenny Terrell / Free Press
Surrounded by reptiles and loving every minute of it, Tasia Johnson is the caretaker of the animals living in the atrium of the science building at Tabor College.
Johnson, a junior from New Orleans majoring in biology, has been working as caretaker in the Solomon L. Loewen Natural Science Center since January 2008. She got the job when one of the science professors, Jeffrey Henderson, mentioned to another science prof, Karrie Rathbone, that Johnson could do it as a work study. Before then, Johnson just went in and did the job anyway.
The Hillsboro High School wrestling team qualified eight athletes for state competition, won only the second regional team championship in school history and saw Coach Scott O’Hare go home with “Coach of the Year” at the Class 3-2-1A regional tournament in Eureka on Friday and Saturday. Pictured above are state qualifiers, back row (from left), CJ Shaw, Jacob Yoder, Frankie Martin, Gradsy Stultz; front row, Alex Jost, Robby McClelland, Nicholas Mueller and Tyler Jones. For more about their wrestling weekend, see the full article here .
Janet Whisenhunt (left) and Gayla Ratzlaff display one of the prom dresses that will be available at the first Cinderella’s Closet event March 9 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The goal of organizers is to give each girl at Hillsboro High School a chance to wear the dress of her dreams to this year’s prom in April. Malinda Just / Free Press.
Although spring may seem like a far-away dream, for many high school girls, it’s time to start thinking about the glitz and glamour of prom night.
For parents, it may seem like time to start saving for the financial commitments that accompany prom—the dress, the accessories, the perfect up-do.
Marion County was represented at the state caucuses for both the Republicans and Democrats last week. Republicans gathered Saturday, four days after the Democratic meeting on Super Tuesday.
The first Republican Party competitive caucus in 20 years drew 20,000 registered voters to polls across the state.
After several months of anticipating action, the Hillsboro City Council finally approved an ordinance at its Feb. 6 special meeting that would assess a fine up to $500 for anyone creating “unnecessary loud noises” within the city limits.
“In addition to the normal things you’d expect from a pastor, I wear a consultation hat, I wear a facilitation hat, I wear a counseling hat. It’s a ministry of reconciliation.”—Orlan Koehn, Trinity Mennonite Church
Over the past 25 years, a trend has been on the rise for churches going through a transitional phase in pastoral leadership, including Hillsboro churches.
