The annual Maxwell Wildlife Buffalo Auction will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the refuge located six miles north of Canton.
About 85 head of buffalo from the Maxwell refuge and Garden City herds will be sold to the highest bidder. For auction information, call 620-628-4592.
Prior to the auction, Friends of Maxwell will offer a guided-tram tour of the refuge and buffalo herd at 10 a.m. Reservations are required for the tour and can be secured by calling 620-628-4455.
The Friends Tour Center will be open offering tour information and a gift shop. Buffalo burgers, chili and pie will be available at the auction site.
The winter tour season will kick off with tours and a Prairie Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 20. The dinner includes buffalo, turkey and all the trimmings.
For information about the Thanksgiving dinner, call 620-628-4455.
County Toy Run
set for Nov. 6
The 11th annual Marion County Toy Run will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, leaving from the Eastmoor United Methodist Church parking lot in Marion and traveling to Hillsboro.
All cars and bikes are welcome, and organizers ask participants to donate one new toy per entry.
Following the run, a chili feed and auction will be held at the Hillsboro American Legion.
A drawing at the American Legion will be held for a GS-22 Chopper Gas Shooter. Participants do not have to be present to win.
The toy run is sponsored by Abate of Kansas Dist. No. 9, Sons of American Legion Squad No. 366 and Route 56 Classic Cruisers.
All toys will be distributed to children of needy families in Marion County.
Florence UM Church
operating food bank
United Methodist Church of Florence invites others to help the hungry by donating food items to a food bank.
The donation drop-off site is the front door of the church, located at 201 W. Fifth, Florence.
If unable to drop off the items, donors may call 620-878-4341 or 620-878-4310 to leave a message for someone to pick up the items.
Some of the most needed items are mixes, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, pasta, chili beans, artificial sweeteners and other sugar-free products, salad dressings, soups and canned or powdered milk and all kinds of fruit except pumpkins.
Church hosts meal
in Florence Nov. 14
United Methodist Church of Florence invites Florence residents to a Thanksgiving dinner at 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14, at the church.
On the evening of the meal, the church will accept any form of donations to the church food bank. Guests are asked to bring food-bank items to the dinner and place them in boxes provided.
"We have come to appreciate the contributions and friendships of many people in this community, and wanted to share a meal with all who would like to come," said Linda Allison, a church representative.
International music
Nov. 4 at GHS
The Goessel High School Choir and Elbiata Singers will present "Music Around the World," at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, in the GHS auditorium.
The choir is under the direction of Greg Bontrager.
"All too often, we get stuck in our small communities and only hear stories about world travels," Bontrager said.
The concert is designed to allow the audience to "get a taste of the world through music," Bontrager said. "We are performing in seven languages representing six of the seven continents. It is going to be an interesting concert, to say the least."
The public is invited.
Trojan Band Boosters to hold fund-raiser
The Trojan Band Boosters will hold a come-and-go Pampered Chef Fund-raiser from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the Hillsboro High School Technology Presentation Room.
The door to the hallway leading to the technology room is located next to the Brown Gymnasium entrance on A Street.
The event includes the opportunity to sample products in a variety of prices ranges and to order Christmas and birthday gifts and have them wrapped for free. Only products ordered at the fund-raiser qualify for free gift wrapping.
A percentage of the total revenue will go toward the HHS Trojan Band trip to Texas in May.
If unable to attend, call Connie Weber at 947-3689 for a catalog or to place an order. Weber is the coordinating consultant, and only orders submitted by her will qualify for the fund-raiser.
Shaina Makovec earns NSHSS honor
Centre High School student Shaina Makovec of Ramona has recently been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars.
Students who have superior academic achievement and are among the top scholars in the nation are invited by the society with headquarters in Atlanta.
"I congratulate Shaina on this outstanding achievement and applaud the commitment to academic excellence," said Claes Nobel, NSHSS honorary chair.
New Web address
for area 'freecycling'
Anyone interested in "freecycling," as described in a recent Free Press article, should note the Marion County group name and Web site have changed.
The new Web address is www.groups.yahoo.com/group/MarionCofreeRecycle.
The group was created to provide a free, electronic way to connect people who have things to give away with others who can use the items.
Havoc in Arms
to perform Nov. 5
Havoc in Arms, a contemporary/rock music ministry team from Central Christian College in McPherson, will present a concert beginning at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, at Olde Towne Underground, 126 N. Main, Hillsboro.
The concert of original music is geared for a youthful audience.
Members of the team are Chris Biano of Lumberton, Texas; Justin Fletchall of Chillicothe, Mo.; Calvin Rodgers of Valdosta, Ga.; and Ben Siemens of McPherson.
The team director is Benjamin Mattson, professor of music.
Havoc in arms is part of the Central Christian College 2004-05 ministry-team program. Each year, through music and drama, student volunteers minister to people across.
The public is invited.
Hospice training
available in Newton
Central Homecare & Hospice announces there is still time to register for volunteer training sessions at the hospice office in Newton.
The sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13.
Men and women who are interested in becoming a volunteer and those who would like to enhance their care-giving skills are encouraged to attend the training.
The 14 hours of training is free, and there is no obligation.
For more information, call Donna Becker at 316-283-8220 or 800-301-9499 by noon, Friday, Nov. 12.
School retirees
plan Nov. 4 meeting
The Marion County Association of Retired School Personnel will meet at noon, Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Hillsboro Senior Center.
Mavis Schmidt, district director, will offer an update on legislation. The program will be presented by Lowell Goering, who will entertain with his famous one-liners.
For more information or reservations, call Betty Bernhardt at 947-3743 or Pauline Edmonds at 620-382-2532.
The public is invited.
CES honors veterans
with Nov. 11 program
Centre Elementary School will hold its annual Veteran's Day program at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, in the CES gymnasium.
The program will include a small play, "A Beautiful Land we Share," presented by students in kindergarten through fourth grades. All veterans in attendance will be recognized during the program that concludes with a group of children singing patriotic songs.
Following the program, veterans and their spouses are invited for refreshments served in the cafeteria.
The public is invited to attend the program and honor all veterans.
Renewal services
begin on Nov. 7
Trinity Mennonite Church and First Mennonite Church will offer the first of three combined renewal services at 10:45 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, at Trinity Mennonite Church, located at 211 S. Elm.
Palmer Becker, director and professor of Pastoral Ministries at Hesston College, will present "Choose Life" as the theme for the first program.
Becker will also speak at the two other services scheduled for 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, and Monday, Nov. 8, at First Mennonite Church, 102 S. Ash. The service themes will be "Choose Community" and "Choose Service."
Becker has served in Taiwan and also served as pastor in Oklahoma, British Columbia, Minnesota and Oregon; was executive secretary of Home Ministries for the General Conference Mennonite Church; and has developed and published congregational resources for gift discernment, goals discovery, small groups, peace education, evangelism and membership preparation.
The three services are open to the public. For more information, call the church offices at 947-5662 or 947-3824.
Chamber committee
plans holiday events
The Hillsboro Chamber Business Promotions Committee is planning "Holly Days in Hillsboro," Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28, with special events planned for the entire weekend.
The activities will include open houses, Santa will arrive and a parade will take place Saturday.
Watch for entry information in the next edition of the Hillsboro Free Press.
