Al Vogts (far right) and his crew with Vogts Construction of Newton finish up their paving job Monday afternoon at Goessel’s new Harvest Meadow housing development along Main Street. “When they’re done doing that, they’ll have a little more dirt work to do to fill in the leveling of the ground,” said developer Duane Unruh. “Then we need to put utilities in, and then we’re ready to go—we’re just several weeks away from being ready to build.” The 37-lot addition’s first home will go in Lot 2 of the 14 lots platted for the first of three phases. Lots sell for $15,000 apiece and are expected to hold houses in the $150,000 range. Unruh said most of the landscaping will be done in the fall.
ABOVE: Marilyn Bartel, pictured with daughter Amy, purchases peanut-butter twists from Kathy Jantz of Durham at Thursday’s Farmer’s Market in Hillsboro.
BELOW: Visitors to the Farmers’ Market enjoy a chicken dinner outside the historic outside the Schaeffler House at Jefferson and Grand.
Laura Campbell / Free Press
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In the first century B.C.E. a Roman named Pubilius Syrus wrote that “everything is worth what it’s purchaser will pay for it.”
To Hillsboro citizen Joni Calam, some things are worth more.
Entering the third week of its second season in Hillsboro, the farmer’s market of course continues to match buyers to sellers.
But to Calam, one half of a tandem of sisters who volunteered to start it a year ago, the market is more than a place to buy and sell; it is a place for a community to come together.
Courtesy photos<p>The Kansas Department of Commerce gave merit awards to six Marion County businesses at its annual Kansas Business Appreciation Month South Central Regional Awards ceremony Friday in Wichita, including Flinthills Junction of Burns (left) and Peabody Market (right), both in the retail category. They were among 270 companies nominated for BAM awards this year.
Forty-eight south central Kansas businesses were recognized Friday for their contributions to their communities and the state economy at the Kansas Department of Commerce’s annual Kansas Business Appreciation Month South Central Regional Awards ceremony in Wichita.
Six businesses from Marion County received merit awards.
Receiving awards in the service category were Ag Service, Inc., Hillsboro ; Kansas Publishing Ventures LLC (aka Hillsboro Free Press), Hillsboro; Soda Pop Hairshop, Burns.
Receiving awards in the retail category were Flinthills Junction, Burns; Peabody Market, Peabody; Wilbur’s Market, Florence.
Friday’s event in Wichita was the first of seven regional events to be held throughout June. At each ceremony, one company in each of three categories—manufacturing/distribution, service and retail—is awarded a Business Excellence Award, with remaining companies given either a Business Achievement Award or a Merit Award.
This year, 270 companies were nominated for BAM Awards. A panel of judges from the business community selected one Business Excellence Award winner and recognized Business Achievement and Merit winners in each category for all seven regions of the state.
The judges then selected five finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence, the top award given to a business by the State, which will be presented at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in Junction City on June 27.
“We are thrilled to visit Wichita and recognize the south central Kansas businesses that make this state strong,” said Commerce Secretary David Kerr.
“By designating June as Business Appreciation Month, we foster a year-long appreciation for the crucial role our Kansas businesses play in the state’s prosperity and quality of life.”
Jayson Hanschu of Hillsboro has been named an All-American Agent by American Family Insurance Co., joining a select group of agents who have distinguished themselves through outstanding sales of AFI products.
Hanschu has been an agent for American Family since 1998.
Brenda’s Bloomers closes original Marion shop
Once again, Brenda’s Bloomers and Gifts has only one location instead of two—owner Brenda McGinness has closed her shop in Marion to focus on the newer Hillsboro shop she just opened in August.
“Both shops were pretty busy, and I just didn’t have enough help to keep me going,” said McGinness, who opened the original Brenda’s Bloomers two summers ago on Marion’s Main Street after running Marion’s Kraft Korner for 14 years and for several years, its Flower Shoppe.
“The reason I chose Hillsboro is because it’s good market with a lot of different opportunities, and there’s a lot of chance for growth here,” she added.
Hours for the full-service flower and gift shop are expanding, starting this week, to add 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to their hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
She can be reached during business hours at 947-2800 and for emergency service on evenings and weekends at 620-382-2975.
The Kansas Farm Service Agency is targeting and reaching out to underrepresented groups like women and minority farmers in the state in an effort to get more of them involved in its farm programs.
“We’re in the business of helping our farmers and ranchers—all of them,” said Bill Fuller, executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency.
“Our programs are generally well known throughout the ag community,” he said. “We do not have to promote their availability to the producers who have traditionally used them.
“But there may be producers, especially among women and minority farmers, who still are not aware of our programs and the benefits that may be available to them.
“We want to reach those producers and tell them the Farm Service Agency is here for them too.”
Fuller said that while FSA programs remain available to all producers, “We want to increase participation by traditionally under-represented groups.
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