Goessel council hears about school’s building plans

Written by Cynthia Goerzen Tuesday, 29 January 2013 14:11

Darcy Nickel explains the school district’s building plans during the city council’s Jan. 21 meeting. John Fast, superintendent of Goessel schools, explained remodeling and construction needs at the school buildings during the Jan. 21 meeting of the Goessel City Council.

Fast said six areas of need have been identified by the school board. Four of those are at the junior high/high school building: agricultural education department, science lab, family and consumer science, and windows and bricks in the 1930s part of the building.

Fast said that the boys’ restroom at the grade school needs to be remodeled, and the grade school needs a storm shelter.

Fast told the council the basement at the grade school is not adequate for a storm shelter.

“Last year we had a tornado going through on prom night,” he said. Prom was at the high...

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200 attend Chamber dinner

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 29 January 2013 14:10

Almost 200 people attended the second annual Marion-Hillsboro Joint Chamber of Commerce dinner Monday in the Marion Community Center Ballroom.

In addition to the dinner, silent auction and other door prizes, Don Macke, director of RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, was the featured speaker.

Don Noller, president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, introduced Macke noting that he has more than 30 years of experience in rural community economic development.

“He has served in the Nebraska Legislature, the cabinet of the Nelson Administration in Nebraska and served as a consultant in nearly 40 states, Canada and the Caribbean,” Noller said.

In his remarks, Macke said he wanted to share 10 keys to community success.

“This is...

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Goessel alum visits school as KSU Wildcat

Written by Cynthia Goerzen Tuesday, 22 January 2013 14:25

Goessel superintendent John Fast, who also is the elementary school principal, told the school board at the Jan. 14 meeting that Weston Hiebert had come to the elementary school the previous week to talk to each class.

Hiebert is a Goessel High School graduate and a Kansas State University football player. His visit was a reward to the elementary students for reaching their goal of donating 375 food items for the Tabor Mennonite Church food pantry before Christmas.

Hiebert wore his football uniform and brought his football along. He told the students about the importance of working hard and learning in school.

Turning to another matter, Scott Boden, junior/senior high school principal, reported to the board that laptop computers have...

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Elmdale singer-songwriter recognized for her music

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 22 January 2013 14:22

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback presents an award naming Anne Wilson of Elmdale a “Flint Hills Balladeer” Jan. 11 at the Flint Hills Visioning summit at Rock Springs 4-H Center. With Wilson his her husband, John O. Wilson, a Chase County rancher. “The Flint Hills are worth singing about,” claims singer-songwriter Annie Wilson of rural Elmdale.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback agreed an presented Wilson with a certificate of recognition for her “outstanding contributions to the State of Kansas,” and recognized her as a “Flint Hills Balladeer” for her “endeavors to share the beauty of the Kansas Flint Hills through words and music, and to inspire an abiding love for the Kansas Flint Hills.”

The ceremony took place Jan. 11 at the third Flint Hills Visioning summit at Rock Springs 4-H Center.

As part of the growing culture of live music in the Flint Hills, Wilson and her band, Tallgrass Express, have delivered more than 200 performances of “Flint Hills music” in the...

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