Hillsboro celebrated its 125th anniversary and 100th anniversary of the Schaeffler House with a vintage fashion show. During its 125th anniversary year, the city of Hillsboro had some nice presents during 2009, but the occasional lump of coal as well—mostly in the form of tight budgets and an uncertain economy.

January

Hillsboro Community Found­ation announced the recipients of its second annual Impact Fund grants Jan. 9. Grants totaling $6,000 went to: Hillsboro High School Chess Guild ($500), Main Street Ministries ($1,000), Kids Connection ($500), Hills­boro Elementary After-School Program ($1,000), Hillsboro Senior Center ($1,000) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County ($1,000).

Sub-state champs at Sterling

The Hillsboro Trojans huddle behind their championship plaque after defeating Remington, 35-21, in the title game Saturday. It will be the second straight state appearance at Hutchinson in three years under coach Nathan Hiebert, and the 14th trip for HHS since high school girls’ basketball was revitalized in Kansas in 1971-72. The Trojans (18-5) will play Garden Plain (18-5) at 8:15 p.m. Thursday. See Sports for tournament details.

The Marion County Board of Commissioners Monday approved a temporary variance by a 2-1 vote that would allows TransCanada Keystone Pipeline to use trucks overloaded to 80,000 pounds in the construction of its oil sands slurry pipeline instead of being limited to the county’s usual legal high weight of 65,000 pounds.

Commissioner Randy Dallke voted against the measure apparently as a precautionary message to Keystone that it must take care of county roadways.

Commissioners Dan Holub and Bob Hein joined in saying that although they voted in favor of the variance, Keystone must understanding that it will pay for any road damage.

The variance was allowed with the condition that Keystone agrees to pay the county’s engineering firm of Kirkham-Michael an estimated $25,000 for mapping its best truck routes through Marion County rather than having county government act as a middle man.

Road and bridge supervisors, John Summerville, acting director, and Tom Holub, shop foreman, noted that Kirkham-Michael doesn’t take responsibility for any damages to the road system that Keystone might do.

They said Keystone may strengthen bridges to go across with new surfacing or supports, or sometimes a company actually will put something like a flat-bed rail car across the stream to drive over.

Holub said the road and bridge department would like to replace its high-mileage winch truck with a single-axle dump truck.

He had one bid on such a truck, but the commissioners decided to wait for additional bids before opening it.

Dallke said he favors buying a snow-plow blade to go with the truck.

Holub, in answer to questions, said a double-axle truck could push a higher load of snow, but the single-axle is more maneuverable. Even the newer county dump trucks have 180,000-plus miles on them, so he said it’s time for new vehicles to be added.

Gayla Ratzlaff, coordinator of the Department for Elderly, said at a county meeting of representatives from senior centers, a majority vote was taken to change the name of department to “Department on Aging.” Ratzlaff said some seniors felt “elderly” had a more negative connotation than saying “aging.”

The commissioners voted 3-0 to make the name-change permanent.

Ratzlaff said she would like to encumber amounts of about $2,500 to make a research directory of services available to those she serves, $3,000 for a laptop computer to use when she visits places such as assisted living homes, and $3,500 to hold an exercise day for senior citizens.

She said computer Internet use is needed to assist senior citizens in such things as signing up for the best medicare pharmaceutical program. Ratzlaff said computer use is increasing among new seniors in their 60s, but not noticeably so among those in their 80s or 90s.

The commissioners appointed Nick Draus to replace Jeff Bina on the planning and zoning commission, and reappointed Linda Johnson to the Mid-Cap board.

County Extension Agent Nancy Pihl said she has been holding health seminars with school children on things such as proper hand washing.

She is beginning a new program on becoming a “Kansas Saver, build wealth, not debt.”

The commissioners voted to lower the county mileage rate for use of employee private vehicles from 55 cents to 50 cents a mile.

They met for the following executive sessions: 10 minutes among themselves; 10 minutes with Ratzlaff; 5 minutes with Rollin Schmidt, director of the transfer station and the Noxious Weed and Household Hazardous Waste Department; and 20 minutes with Teresa Huffman, economic development director.

USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble begins his presentation on youth attraction with a clip from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Nearly 40 community leaders in business, education and city government gathered Friday for a day-long conversation about the future and economic development of Hillsboro.

Billed as the Hillsboro Economic Development Strategy Summit, participants heard presentations on four topics—entrepreneurship, wealth retention, youth attraction and community leadership—then formed breakout groups on each of the topics. Rusty Allen, vice president for athletics at Tabor College, chats with Rod Koons, owner of Rod’s Tire & Service, during a break between sessions. Thirty-eight people attended the summit.

A 21-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped a 17-year-old youth from Lehigh in late October was charged with misdemeanor battery in the Marion County District Court.

Rojelio Hernandez of Texas pled guilty Monday, Dec. 14, which carries a sentence of jail time served and probation, according to Susan Robson, Marion County attorney.

In addition to the charge filed in Marion County, Hernandez was also arraigned in Brown County in November on one count of contributing to a child’s misconduct and driving while his license was suspended.

Contributing to a child’s misconduct, according to Kansas statute, includes encouraging someone under 18 to become a child in need or sheltering or failing to reveal the child with intent to aid the runaway in avoiding detection.

According to Brown County officials, Hernandez was sentenced to 18 months in jail for both offenses, but his sentence was suspended in lieu of a 12-month probation.

Hernandez is still being sought in Ector County, Texas.

But Mark Donaldson, Ector County sheriff, was unavailable for comment Monday.

Hernandez’ involvement in Marion County started Oct. 21 when he was suspected in the disappearance of Tara Simhiser, 17, of Lehigh.

After an Amber Alert was issued, Simhiser was recognized shortly before noon on Oct. 22 by a bank teller in Hiawatha.

Hiawatha police arrested Hernandez the same day and, without incident, after finding him waiting in a car not far from the bank.

The Amber Alert was activated Wednesday, Oct. 20, after family members told Marion County officials that Simhiser was missing.

Prior to the alert, she was reported to have been at home in Lehigh.

Hernandez had a history of visiting high schools in Texas and Kansas, posing as a coach or someone other than who he was, Texas authorities reported last week.

Even though the Amber Alert was called off before knowing Simhiser was located, Michelle Abbott, Marion County Emergency Preparedness director, said that during the activation phase, information is provided to the media and the public with alerts transitioned into news stories.

In that initial phase of an Amber Alert, the goal is to get information out quickly about the child.

Once that is completed, the next phase is handled through news conferences and other media outlets.

Authorities responsible for bringing Simhiser home safely included members of the Brown County Sheriff’s office, Hiawatha Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s office and Kansas Bureau of Investi­gation.

“Without all this cooperation, the outcome may very well have been different,” said Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft, following Simhiser’s return home to Lehigh.