In between, the city experienced both gains and losses in almost every area, from business to government to education.

The following is a chronological summary of the key events that made the news.

January

The family of Siegfried and Lois Snyder of Wichita donated two young Russian black cherry trees to Hillsboro Museums. The trees' ancestors arrived in this country with Mennonite settlers from Russia in the 1870s.

The popular JAM basketball program for children, started by former coaches Jerry Jones and Gary Myers, started in its 25th year this winter.

The Hillsboro Fire Department received state-of-the-art "bunker gear"-protective pants and coats-thanks to a $19,000 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Hillsboro City Council changed the zoning for an area of land on the city's north edge from "agriculture" to "medium density residential" to facilitate a proposed housing development called Windover at Hillsboro.

The council voted to spend "not over $32,000" to install water sprinklers in Memorial Park and the Sports Complex as part of an ongoing park-improvement effort.

The USD 410 Board of Education was informed about a new approach to contract negotiation called "interest-based bargaining" by a representative from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a non-political federal agency serving Oklahoma and Kansas.

Because of heavy electrical usage in the heat of summer, Hillsboro residents were told to expect a 5.3 percent increase in their electrical rates beginning April 1, the city council was informed.

As a preemptive action, the Hillsboro Planning Commission took a first step at its Jan. 29 meeting to establish an ordinance that would restrict adult entertainment enterprises within city limits.

February

Hillsboro received its first big snow of the year as 6 to 9 inches fell from Sunday, Feb.1, through the following morning. A thin glaze of ice on streets and sidewalks on Saturday night, plus the snow, prompted most churches in town to cancel Sunday services.

Youth pastor and musician Rod Jost participated in an invitation-only four-day clinic for bass players in Florida. The event was organized by two giants on the bass scene, Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey. Jost was invited on the basis of an auditioning process.

Hillsboro Community Medical Center's New Year's baby finally arrived on Feb. 28. Taygen Marie O'Hara was born to Tawny and Wes O'Hara of Canton at 11:10 p.m.

March

Lillian Bookless became director of Main Street Ministries March 1.

Fire destroyed the meetinghouse of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church on March 7. Ten community fire departments, involving 80 to 100 firefighters, battled the blaze, which also claimed a neighboring house owned by Beverly Harms. The 59,000-square-foot church facility was valued at $2.3 million. The cause of the fire was never officially determined, but it is believed to have started in the public-address room in the balcony of the sanctuary. The 600-member congregation is using the facility of USD 410 for its Sunday services and First Mennonite Church for many of its midweek programs. It's offices were relocated temporarily in the Loewen Science Building on the Tabor College campus.

The Tabor College drama department presented "All My Sons" March 10 through 13.

Hillsboro High School presented the play "Dearly Departed" March 18 and 19.

For several hours, officials were concerned for the whereabouts of 47-year-old Delores Johnson of Hillsboro, who was last seen the morning of March 22 and had not been heard from by 9:30 that night. Contact was established the following day.

The process of creating a new swimming pool for Hillsboro took its most public step yet when the city council met in session with Nancy Ronto, a representative of Burbach Aquatics, a Wisconsin company that specializes in community pools.

A delegation of three officials from Russia toured Hillsboro Industries and the historic Peter Paul Loewen House as part of its day-long stay in Hillsboro during an eight-day tour of central Kansas.

Tabor College named its faculty lecture series the Richard G. Kyle Faculty Lecture Series to honor the 32-year faculty member who teaches history and religious studies.

April

Incumbents Byron McCarty and Shelby Dirks were reelected to the city council during the April 6 election. Neither candidate had opposition.

The city council approved an agreement with Ryder Brick Co. of Bixby, Okla., for the sale of the majority of the old brick that was removed during the renovation of Main Street in summer 2003. The purchase price was 15 cents per brick. About 30,000 bricks would remain on site for city use. The sale would generate between $70,000 and $100,000 for the city, City Administrator Steven Garrett said.

The council unanimously approved new zoning regulations that would discourage the development of adult entertainment enterprises within the city limits.

In an effort to reduce the budget in the face of lower enrollment, the USD 410 Board of Education agreed April 26 to nonrenew the contracts of three elementary school teachers: Michelle Faul, Sunshine McEwen and Michelle Goldsby.

Throngs of spectators gathered in front of Hillsboro Middle School to watch the arrival of prom night participants April 16.

Demolition and removal of the remains of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church meetinghouse began April 28. The building was destroyed by fire March 7. The cleanup process, to be completed by G&G Dozer of Caney, was expected to take between two and three weeks.

May

Almost 40 people came to the Hillsboro High School commons May 4 to hear the first public presentation about the recent formation of a charitable entity called the Hillsboro Community Foundation. The foundation is intended to serve the Hillsboro community and the benevolent desires of its current and former members. The foundation was authorized April 12 to operate under the legal auspices of the Newton Community & Healthcare Foundation.

The city council asked at its May 4 meeting for time to consider issues raised by financial and legal consultants regarding the Windover at Hillsboro housing development on the city's north edge.

The city celebrated its 120th birthday during Memorial Day weekend. The celebration officially opened with a pronouncement and street dance at Main and Grand on Friday evening. Saturday included the Family/Folk Festival during the day and an all-school reunion at the high school in the evening that drew more than 350 participants. Fireworks after the reunion climaxed the celebration.

Memorial Park was reopened to the public after being closed for several weeks for the installation of a new irrigation system.

Tabor College graduated 130 students on Saturday, May 22. Brent Warkentin, Buhler pastor, was the featured speaker.

Katie Fast was valedictorian and Allison Kunkel salutatorian for the Hillsboro High School class of 2004, which was graduated May 23.

Hillsboro officials sent a letter to federal lawmakers asking for funding to chemically treat Marion Reservoir in order to avoid another major blue-green algae bloom this summer.

June

Phase 2 of the Main Street renovation project began June 1. It involved replacing the last block and a half of North Main Street as well as pouring new curb and guttering on both sides of the street and new sidewalk on the east side.

The USD 410 Board of Education unanimously approved the purchase of 25 notebook computers and a mobile cart for $35,299, The notebooks will be used by middle school students in fall. The technological initiative will involve at least 15 access points to create a wireless working environment at HMS.

The city held a public hearing June 24 to receive input regarding an inquiry from the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church about closing the 100 block of South Washington Street. The church owns property on both sides of the street and was investigating the possibility of forming a unified campus by closing the street. About 55 people turned out, and the comments were mostly negative toward the idea. The council voted against it, 4-0, at its July 6 meeting.

Ryan Janzen, a 2004 graduate of Hillsboro High, received the prestigious Eagle Scout award at a June 27 ceremony at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. He began his scouting career as a first-grader.

The city council expanded the city ordinance for Fourth of July fireworks by one day because the holiday fell on a Sunday this year.

Karen Wiens completed a 38-year run as a bus driver for USD 410.

July

About 100 people turned out the evening of July 3 at the Schaeffler House for the first "Fourth of July Eve" block party. The event, which included a parade for children, music, food and political speeches, was sponsored by the Hillsboro Museums board.

City employees transported a miniature water-powered mill from the First Street location where it was built to Memorial Park. The mill, the brainchild of Martin Rhodes, city building inspector, will be equipped with a turning water wheel and stream as a novelty for children who visit the park.

About 50 alumni, faculty and friends of Tabor College turned out to lend a helping hand at the annual "Tool Time" volunteer event July 16-17. Projects included painting, landscaping, cleaning and tree-trimming.

August

Friends of Tabor College professor Richard Wall organized a fund-raising booth at the Marion County Fair to help raise support for an upcoming stem-cell transplant. Wall had been diagnosed with a pre-leukemia disease.

A benefit meal was held Aug. 13 at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church to support the family of Merle Decker, who is battling cancer.

The Hillsboro City Council approved an engineering contract with Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates of Great Bend that will start the city on the path to a new sewer-management system. The city hopes develop a lagoon system southeast of town.

The USD 410 Board of Education voted 4-3 to approve a recommendation to raise the local mill levy by 2.123 mills to support district schools. Superintendent Gordon Mohn said if the district did not raise the mill levy, the board would be facing a deficit of nearly $388,800 over the next two years.

Six Hillsboro-area families announced they were planning a mission trip to Mexico around the Christmas holiday and will be raising funds to buy materials that will be used to help poor families there.

Because enrollment for fourth grade exceeded projections, USD 410 will expand Julie Linnens' teaching contract from half time to full time for the 2004-05 school year.

Tabor College celebrated 10 years of having a branch campus in Wichita with a reception for some 200 guests at the Wichita Boathouse Aug. 12.

James Fisher was named the new dean of student development at Tabor College. He began the assignment Aug. 1.

Tabor College was ranked 45th among the top private institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

The city council approved an ordinance that strengthens the city's role in overseeing local museums. The new ordinance replaces the body known as the Hillsboro Historical Society with a structure called Hillsboro Museums, which will work under the authority of the council with guidance of a nine-member advisory committee.

September

Howard Keim, academic dean at Tabor College, was named the top candidate for the presidency of Hesston College. Following a final interviewing process, Keim accepted the position. He will make the transition to Hesston after the first of the year.

Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church sponsored a fund-raiser for the fire department Sept. 11. The event, which raised around $2,500, was in gratitude for the department's response to the March 7 fire that destroyed the congregation's meetinghouse. Proceeds were designated for the purchase of a thermal-imaging camera.

The board representing Lehigh, Liberty, Risley and Menno townships agreed to purchase a new tanker-truck for the Hillsboro Fire Department to replace an older model. The 2005 Ford F750 tanker will cost about $47,000.

Temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s didn't seem to affect the number of visitors who came to the annual arts and crafts fairs in Hillsboro and Marion Sept. 18, but it may have shortened their stay, according to Hillsboro fair director Christy Wulf. Police estimated crowd size in Hillsboro at around 45,000 people.

Tabor College's athletic-training program earned full accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Only eight institutions in the state have an accredited program.

October

The Tabor College drama department presented "You Can't Take it With You" during homecoming week, Oct. 7 through 10.

Physician Perry Klaassen of Oklahoma and engineer Bryce Unruh of Colorado were awarded the 2004 Merit and Medallion alumni awards by Tabor College.

Seniors Amy Duerksen and Karl Magnuson were named queen and king, respectively, during homecoming activities at Hillsboro High. Michele Melton and Dustin Dalke were named queen and king, respectively, of the HHS faculty-a new dimension added to this year's activities.

Fall enrollment at USD 410 was larger by 111/2 students than was projected, meaning the general fund budget will be about $51,300 greater than anticipated. Most of the increase was due to enrollment at the Marion County Learning Center.

A garden and two granite markers were dedicated at Tabor College Oct. 9 in honor of H.W. Lohrenz, a founder and first president of the institution.

The Hillsboro Golf Association asked the city council to consider paving the parking area around the club house at a cost estimated to be between $80,000 and $106,000. The council agreed to add the request to its list of potential projects.

November

The city of Hillsboro prepared a proposal to present to Marion leaders that would make Hillsboro the producer of water for Marion County's three largest cities. Hillsboro already provides Peabody with its water. The Marion City Commission later backed off from the proposal and decided to proceed with expensive upgrades to its own water-treatment plant.

The city council agreed Nov. 16 to allow local voters to decide if the city needs a new aquatic center badly enough to increase its local sales tax by one-half cent. Council members agreed that the project, estimated to cost up to $2.5 million, should not be funded with a property-tax increase.

A downtown parade on Saturday highlighted the Chamber of Commerce "Holly Days" weekend that kicked off the holiday season in Hillsboro, Nov. 27-28. Events on Sunday included the annual "Sunday With Santa" event sponsored by the American Legion Post 366 Auxiliary, and the Schaeffler House Open House sponsored by Hillsboro Museums.

About 20 vocalists from 19 musicals presented during the 23-year tenure of music instructor David Clark returned to Hillsboro High School Nov. 27 to sing familiar songs during a program called "HHS Musicals: A Look Back, 1981-2003."

December

Karol Hunt, a member of the teaching faculty at Tabor College, was named interim vice president for academics while a formal search is conducted to replace Howard Keim in that role. Hunt's new assignment begins Jan. 1.

Nancy Ronto of Burbach Aquatics told the city council that it is possible for a city swimming pool to sustain its cost of operation from year to year, but it will take a major shift in management style. She said the pool must be run like a business rather than a service.

A team representing Hillsboro High took third place in the Class 3A school competition at the 2004-05 High Q academic competition Dec. 4 at Washburn University in Topeka. More than 90 schools participated. The contest is sponsored by Washburn and WIBW TV-13. Members of the team were Greta Kliewer, Robert Jost, Kelsey Kaufman and Victor Rogers. The competition will be broadcast on WIBW TV-13 from late January to early May 2005.

The city council approved an ordinance Dec. 7 that will regulate the sale of alcohol and cereal malt beverages within the city limits of Hillsboro. It was initiated following the passage of liquor by the drink in Marion County in the Nov. 2 general election.

USD 410 recognized academic achievement with an "Academic Excellence Night" Dec. 17. During halftime of the boys' basketball game against Wichita Collegiate, students from the 2003-04 fourth-grade, fifth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade, 10th grade and 11th grade received certificates recognizing their high scores in math, reading and writing through the Kansas Assessment Program last spring. Students achieved the Standard of Excellence in the following five areas: fourth-grade math, seventh-grade math, eighth-grade reading, eighth-grade writing and 10th-grade math.