We believe Larry Paine is off to a good start as the new city administrator for Hillsboro. His plan to visit with each business and industry owner in the city is a bridge-building initiative that sets a tone for accessibility and communicates a desire for partnership in making the city a better and more prosperous place to live.
Teamwork is key in a small town, whether it be between local institutions and organizations or between the management and staff who labor within them. With Paine’s arrival, with Doug Huxman stepping in as interim superintendent at Unified School District 410, and with Larry Nikkel looking to complete his term as Tabor College president at the end of December, this is a transitional season in leadership at three key institutions.
So far, it seems the spirit of cooperation we’ve seen in the past will be continued, and perhaps even strengthened. This is one more reason to anticipate a hopeful future. —DR
A touch of Americana was on display Sunday night during the Florence Labor Day celebration. We had never heard the Prairie (no longer Rose) Wranglers before, and after talking with others we were apparently the only ones who hadn’t.
It was a genius move on the part of the committee to bring them to town. These cowboy musicians are very talented and put out a great sound. And they are funny to boot. It was my kind of humor.
The crowd was huge with many familiar faces from all over the county and beyond.
I have had the privilege of observing two incredible high school girls’ basketball teams this season: Hillsboro girls and the girls from Wichita Heights, where I work as a library media specialist.
Both teams made it to state and won their state titles respectively. I think a lot of times people think it’s easy, and that sheer athletic talent will win the game. But I beg to differ.
Through these nine years that we’ve been publishing the Free Press, we’ve been blessed to have more than our fair share of good people serving as members of our team. Some of them have been young, fresh out of college, while others have had significant years of professional and life experience. By “good people” we mean folks who not only possess creative talent and a good work ethic—which has been true. We mean people who also possess good hearts and a caring and positive outlook on life, and are committed to affirming and contributing more of same in our little corner of the universe.
The tradition continues with the addition of Malinda Just to our editorial team as of Aug. 1. A 2005 graduate of Tabor College, she comes to us with journalistic training and experience in writing and editing. Her contributions will make the Free Press a better newspaper than what it would be without her. Above all, she’ll fit in perfectly with the high caliber of people we’ve almost come to take for granted around here.
We say this to welcome Malinda on board, but also to let you know that for whatever successes we’ve experienced during our relatively brief run, we’re well aware they would not have happened without a great team. We are indebted to those who work beside us day after day, issue after issue. With their help, we’ve accomplished a lot in nine years. With they’re help, we have an odds-on chance of accomplishing a lot more. —DR
It’s the end of August, which means we have the opportunity to feature area athletes from six high schools and Tabor College in our annual fall sports “Extra Point” special section in the Free Press this week. Each high school has a minimum of two sports but others have three or four with Tabor having six different competitive teams.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort on the part of our news and sports team as well as our advertising and production crew to make it all come together.
And we couldn’t do it without the cooperation of each of the coaching staffs and the advertisers who make it possible to cover the costs of bringing this information to you. As publisher I thank all who helped make it happen.
The timing of it coincides with the monthly Buyer’s Edge, so this is the one week during the year that we are, as I like to say, “bigger than the Eagle.”
As Trojan Booster Club president, I would like to thank everyone who attended the state basketball tournament at Hutchinson this past week. From the students to the adults, everyone was enthusiastic and supportive.
Opinion 
